Kanji – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Feb 07, 2024Feb 11, 2024 hardships, idiom, Japanese, Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari, joys, life, mountain, proverb, valley

Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari (人生山あり谷あり – Life Has Its Ups and Downs)

Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari 人生山あり谷あり In a long life, there are hardships as well as joys. 長い人生、つらいこともあれば、楽しいこともあります。 This idea Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language Uncorrected

Toru Jan 31, 2024Feb 11, 2024 Chinese Buddhist historical texts, difference, distinction, diversity, enlightenment, idiom, sensa banbetsu, thousand

Sensa Banbetsu (千差万別 – Divers)

Sensa Banbetsu 千差万別 Everything is different, and the world is full of diversity. どんな物事にも、それぞれに何かしらの違いがあり、一つとして同じものはありません。 The four-character idiom sensa banbetsu (千差万別) Read More

Culture Essay History Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language Proverb Uncorrected

Toru Jan 28, 2024Jan 29, 2024 anecdote, character, Japanese proverb, Kōbō mo fude no ayamari, Kūkai, Kyoto, missing stroke, Ōtenmon gate

Kōbō mo Fude no Ayamari (弘法も筆の誤り – Even Homer Sometimes Nods): Part 2

Kōbō mo Fude no Ayamari: Part 2 弘法も筆の誤り Part 2 The Japanese proverb Kōbō mo fude no ayamari (弘法も筆の誤り) originates Read More

Art Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language Uncorrected

Toru Jan 24, 2024Jan 27, 2024 colors, consider, crimson, flowers, four-character idiom, purple, senshi bankō, ten thousand, think, thousand

Senshi Bankō (千紫万紅/千思万考 – Multitude of Colors / Repetitice Thinking)

Senshi Bankō 千紫万紅/千思万考 The four-character idiom senshi bankō (千紫万紅) describes a beautiful scenery of many flowers blooming or something having Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Japanese tradition Kanji Language Uncorrected

Toru Jan 19, 2024Jan 23, 2024 death, fukumo, fukumochū, Japanese culture, mo ni fukusu, mochū, mourning, period, relative, spend time

Mo ni Fukusu (喪に服す – Mourning): Part 1

Mo ni Fukusu: Part 1 喪に服す Part 1 In Japanese culture, after the death of a loved one, people refrain Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language Uncorrected

Toru Jan 17, 2024Feb 11, 2024 abilities, bite, compete, ha ga tatanai, hard, idiom, Japanese, negative suffix, stand, tooth

Ha ga Tatanai (歯が立たない – Unable to Compete With)

Ha ga Tatanai 歯が立たない The Japanese idiom ha ga tatanai is used to describe a situation where someone is beyond Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language Uncorrected

Toru Jan 16, 2024Jan 17, 2024 helpless, idiom, Japanese, literal meaning, negative suffix, te mo ashi mo denai, unable to handle, unable to move

Te mo Ashi mo Denai (手も足も出ない – Helpless)

Te mo Ashi mo Denai 手も足も出ない The Japanese idiom te mo ashi mo denai describes a situation where there is Read More

Culture Essay Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language Uncorrected

Toru Jan 14, 2024Jan 15, 2024 black and white, eye, idiom, Japanese, make, suffering, surprise

Me wo Shiro Kuro Saseru (目を白黒させる – Rolling One’s Eyes)

Me wo Shiro Kuro Saseru 目を白黒させる The Japanese idiom me wo shiro kuro saseru (目を白黒させる) can be used to describe Read More

Art Corrected Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Language

Toru Jan 11, 2024Jan 13, 2024 ancient Chinese legend, dragon, experience, idiom, mountain, negative connotation, sea, sly, thousand, umisen yamasen

Umisen Yamasen (海千山千 – Experienced and Cunning)

Umisen Yamasen 海千山千 The four-character idiom umisen yamasen (海千山千) describes someone who has many years of experience, knows everything good Read More