Etymology – Page 101 – Learning English and Japanese

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

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Learning English and Japanese

For everyone learning English/Japanese

Toru Dec 30, 2016Jan 03, 2024 body, China, consciousness, Edo period, emotions, guilts, idiom, insects, mushi no shirase, Taoism

Mushi no Shirase (Word of Insects)

Mushi no Shirase 虫の知らせ Today I will talk about the idiom “mushi no shirase”, the literal meaning of which is Read More

Culture Diary Etymology Food History Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Dec 29, 2016Jan 03, 2024 Chinese, draw, e ni kaita mochi, etymology, mochi, mochitsuki, proverb, realize, Sangokushi, useless

E ni Kaita Mochi (A Rice Cake Drawn in a Picture)

E ni Kaita Mochi 絵に描いた餅 Yesterday I wrote about “mochitsuki” (rice cake pounding). 昨日は「餅つき」について書きました。 Today I will talk about the Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Slang Uncorrected

Toru Dec 27, 2016Jan 03, 2024 hemp threads, hesokuri, housewife, Japanese word, mad money, saving money, secret money, sideline business, stash of money, thread winding

Hesokuri

Today I will talk about the Japanese word “hesokuri”. へそくり “Hesokuri” means saving money that is piled up economically and Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Slang Uncorrected

Toru Dec 26, 2016Jan 03, 2024 expression, Japanese, literal meaning, mono no kazu, negative, problematic, special, term, usage, valuable

Mono no Kazu

Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term “mono no kazu.” 物の数 The literal meaning of “mono no Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Food Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Slang Uncorrected

Toru Dec 21, 2016Jan 03, 2024 butter up, expression, favor, goma suri, goma wo suru, idiom, Japanese, mortar, sesame seeds, vulgar

Goma wo Suru (To Butter Up)

Goma wo Suru 胡麻をする Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom “goma wo suru.” 今日は「胡麻をする」という慣用句を紹介します。 The literal meaning is Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Gaming Idiom Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Dec 20, 2016Jan 03, 2024 dealer, dice, expected, gambling, Japanese, meaning, omou tsubo, situation, term, thought pot

Omou Tsubo (Thought Pot)

Omou Tsubo 思う壺 Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term “omou tsubo”. 今日は「思う壺」という言葉を紹介します。 The literal meaning is Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Dec 19, 2016Jan 03, 2024 doctoral course, economic, independence, Japanese idiom, labor, parents, shin, sune wo kajiru, support, synonym

Sune wo Kajiru

Today I will talk about the Japanese idiom “sune wo kajiru.” 脛をかじる “Sune” means “shin”, “kajiru” means “to bite”, and Read More

Business Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Dec 18, 2016Jan 03, 2024 ancestors, cuckoo, customers, idiom, kanji, lonely, nature, proverb, sad, shops

Kanko-dori ga Naku

Today I will talk about the idiom “kanko-dori ga naku.” 閑古鳥が鳴く “Kanko-dori” means “cuckoo”, “naku” means “to sing”, and this Read More

Business Culture Essay Etymology History Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Dec 17, 2016Jan 03, 2024 barber shop, Edo period, etymology, floor, hair salon, hairstyle, Japanese word, men, occupation, shop

Tokoya (Barber Shop)

Tokoya 床屋 Today I will talk about the etymology of the Japanese word “tokoya”, which means “barber shop”. 今日は「理髪店」を意味する「床屋」という日本語の語源を紹介します。 The Read More