CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected Toru Dec 10, 2017Jan 03, 2024 1990, appointment, cancel, commonly used, dotakyan, dotanba, entertainment industry, last moment, travel industry, trust Dotakyan (ドタキャン – Cancelling at the Last Minute) Dotakyan ドタキャン Yesterday, I introduced the Japanese word “dotanba,” which means the last moment that you’re required to make a Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Dec 09, 2017Jan 03, 2024 change, criminals, critical moment, decision, dotanba, earthen platform place, Edo period, execute, literal meaning, meaning Dotanba (土壇場 – Critical Moment) Dotanba 土壇場 I don’t like a situation called “dotanba” (土壇場) very much. 私は「土壇場」があまり好きではありません。 “Dotanba” means a critical moment or the Read More
ClimateCultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaUncorrected Toru Dec 08, 2017Jan 03, 2024 comfortable, comical, hitting, Japanese, manga, onomatopoeia, poka poka, spring, tapping, warmth Poka Poka (ぽかぽか) Poka Poka ぽかぽか Today I would like to introduce the Japanese onomatopoeia “poka poka” (ぽかぽか), which has two different meanings. Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaSlangUncorrected Toru Dec 07, 2017Jan 03, 2024 "dada wo koneru", "iyada iyada", "jidanda", frustration, Japanese, koneru, parents, selfishness, spoiled child, stamp your feet Dada wo Koneru (駄々をこねる – Acting like a Baby) Dada wo Koneru 駄々をこねる Have you ever acted like a spoiled child or say selfishness to your parents when you Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected Toru Dec 06, 2017Jan 03, 2024 ability, admonish, belief, etymology, fall for oneself, Japanese, overconfident, student, unubore, unubore-ya Unubore (うぬぼれ – Egotism) Unubore うぬぼれ Yesterday, I used the Japanese term “unubore” (うぬぼれ), in order to admonish a student. 私は昨日、学生を戒めるために「うぬぼれ」という言葉を使いました。 “Unubore” means that Read More
CultureEssayFoodIdiomJapanese traditionScienceUncorrected Toru Dec 04, 2017Jan 03, 2024 aona ni shio, depressed state, energy, green leafy vegetables, idiom, Japanese, salt, spinach, water, wilt Aona ni Shio (青菜に塩 – Crestfallen) Aona ni Shio 青菜に塩 I’m in a state called “aona ni shio” (青菜に塩) right now. 今の私は「青菜に塩」です。 “Aona ni shio” is Read More
BusinessCultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Dec 03, 2017Jan 03, 2024 break, express, failed, heart, Japanese, job interview, kanashii, kanji, meaning, sad Kanashii (悲しい – Sad) Kanashii 悲しい I’m very sad now. 私は今、とても悲しいです。 Because I had a interview for a new job and failed it. なぜならば、ある仕事の採用面接を受けて、落ちてしまったからです。 Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomKanjiSlangUncorrected Toru Nov 30, 2017Jan 03, 2024 cowardly, etymology, evolution, Japanese, language, makeshift, meaning, misuse, temporizing, word Kosoku (姑息 – Temporizing/Cowardly) Kosoku 姑息 Today I’d like to introduce the Japanese word “kosoku” (姑息), but you need to pay attention when using Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected Toru Nov 29, 2017Jan 03, 2024 big, bold, Buddhist, exaggerate, grandiose, inordinate, Japanese, meaning, oogesa, term Oogesa (大げさ – Exaggerated) Oogesa 大げさ If you make a grandiose claim or exaggerate something, you may be said “oogesa” (大げさ) in Japanese. 物事を実際よりも誇張して見せることを、「大げさ」と言います。 Read More