CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected Toru Aug 21, 2021Jan 02, 2024 child, culture, etymology, expression, idiot, Japanese, kobaka, oyabaka, parent, parenting Oyabaka Kobaka (親馬鹿子馬鹿 – A Doting Parent and Spoiled Child) Oyabaka Kobaka 親馬鹿子馬鹿 When a parent loves his/her child so much that he/her is unaware of the child’s foolish behavior, Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Aug 20, 2021Jan 02, 2024 aid, economic blockade, enemy, Japanese, Kenshin Uesugi, salt, Sengoku period, Shingen Takeda, teki ni shio wo okuru, tradition Teki ni Shio wo Okuru (敵に塩を送る – Helping One’s Enemy in Difficulty) Teki ni Shio wo Okuru 敵に塩を送る When you help your enemy in trouble or distress, it is called teki ni Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Aug 19, 2021Jan 02, 2024 communication, culture, Japanese, letter, nai, no news is good news, proverb, saying, tayori, yoi Tayori no Nai no wa Yoi Tayori (便りの無いのは良い便り – No News Is Good News) Tayori no Nai no wa Yoi Tayori 便りの無いのは良い便り Recently, I haven’t been in touch with my sister and brother. 最近、私は兄弟とあまり連絡をとっていません。 Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbSlangUncorrected Toru Aug 18, 2021Jan 02, 2024 atatakai, cold, futokoro, Japanese, kimono, money, phrase, poor, samui, wallets Futokoro ga Samui (懐が寒い – Having a Thin Purse) Futokoro ga Samui 懐が寒い In yesterday’s post, I introduced the phrase futokoro ga atatakai (懐が暖かい), which means that you have Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected Toru Aug 17, 2021Jan 02, 2024 atatakai, futokoro, idiom, Japanese, kimono, literal meaning, money, wallets, warmth Futokoro ga Atatakai (懐が暖かい – Having a Fat Purse) Futokoro ga Atatakai 懐が暖かい When you have much money in your pocket, it can be described as futokoro ga atatakai Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected Toru Aug 16, 2021Jan 02, 2024 body, cherish, elegant, emails, expression, Japanese, letters, phrase, politeness, take care Okarada wo Oitoi Kudasai (お身体をおいといください – Please Take Care of Yourself) Okarada wo Oitoi Kudasai お身体をおいといください In yesterday’s post, I introduced the phrase gojiai kudasai (ご自愛ください), which means “please take care Read More
ClimateCultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Aug 15, 2021Jan 02, 2024 e-mail, gojiai kudasai, health, Japanese phrase, letter, love oneself, polite, seasonal changes, self-care, take care Gojiai Kudasai (ご自愛ください – Please Take Care of Yourself) Gojiai Kudasai ご自愛ください Recently, more and more people around me have been getting sick. 最近、身近で体調の悪い人が増えています。 It is easy to get Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiScienceSlangUncorrected Toru Aug 14, 2021Jan 02, 2024 gin-nagashi, Japanese term, mercury, metallic product, phony, quality, silver, specious, stream, surface Gin-nagashi (銀流し – Specious) Gin-nagashi 銀流し To describe something specious or phony, you can use the Japanese term gin-nagashi (銀流し). 見かけだおしのものや、まがいもののことを、「銀流し」と言うことがあります。 (Young people these Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Aug 13, 2021Jan 02, 2024 flower, folktale, Hanasaka Jiisan, Japanese, kareki ni hana, miraculous, phrase, withered tree Kareki ni Hana (枯れ木に花 – Regaining Vigor) Kareki ni Hana 枯れ木に花 When something that was once thought to be in decline regains its vigor, it can be Read More