CultureEssayEtymologyFoodIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected Toru Oct 08, 2016Jan 06, 2024 cross section, expression, fruits, Japanese word, melons, similar, two eggs, two melons, uri futatsu, vegetables Uri Futatsu (Two Melons) Uri Futatsu 瓜二つ Today, I will talk about the Japanese word “uri futatsu.” 今日は「瓜二つ」という日本語を紹介します。 The literal translation is “two melons,” Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbUncorrected Toru Oct 07, 2016Jan 06, 2024 ashi wo arau, crime, etymology, get one's feet wet, hard-to-quit, inks, Japanese idiom, te wo someru, to dye, to start Te wo Someru (To Dye One’s Hand) Te wo Someru 手を染める Yesterday, I introduced a Japanese idiom “ashi wo arau” (to wash one’s feet), which means “to Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected Toru Oct 06, 2016Jan 06, 2024 ashi wo arau, Buddhism, disciples, etymology, evil jobs, Japanese idiom, Jesus Christ, purifying spirits, quit crime, wash one's feet Ashi wo Arau (Wash One’s Feet) Today, I will talk about the Japanese idiom “ashi wo arau.” 足を洗う The literal meaning is “to wash one’s feet,” Read More
CultureEssayHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Oct 05, 2016Jan 06, 2024 autumn, cheating, Edo period, equality, feelings, men, proverb, sex discrimination, weather, women Onna Gokoro to Aki no Sora (Women’s Feelings and Autumn sky) Onna Gokoro to Aki no Sora 女心と秋の空 There is the proverb “onna gokoro to aki no sora,” the meaning of Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected Toru Oct 04, 2016Jan 06, 2024 1970s, brains, empty, etymology, expression, green pepper, insult, Japanese, phrases, pīman Atama ga Piman (Your Head is a Green Pepper) Atama ga Piman 頭がピーマン Today, I will talk about the Japanese insult “atama ga piman,” whose literal meaning is “your Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Oct 03, 2016Jan 06, 2024 carefully, cautiously, confirming, English proverb, fail, irony, Japanese proverb, safe conditions, similar meaning, stone bridge Ishibashi wo Tataite Wataru Today, I will talk about the Japanese proverb “ishibashi wo tataite wataru.” 石橋を叩いて渡る The literal meanings is “to cross a Read More
ClimateCultureEssayFoodJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Oct 02, 2016Jan 06, 2024 air conditioner, chilled, cool, hieru, kanji, paper fan, refrigerator, rice, sameru, temperature Hieru” and “Sameru Today, I will talk about the similar Japanese words “hieru” and “sameru”. 「冷える」と「冷める」 Both of them use the same kanji Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Oct 01, 2016Jan 06, 2024 Chinese medicine, Edo period, give up, Japanese idiom, medicine, pharmaceutical, saji o nageru, senryu, spoon, treatment Saji o Nageru (Throw a Spoon) Saji o Nageru 匙を投げる Today, I will talk about the Japanese idiom “saji o nageru.” 今日は日本の慣用句「匙を投げる」を紹介します。 The literal meaning is Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Sep 30, 2016Jan 06, 2024 boastful, etymology, expression, hana ga takai, Japanese idiom, mythical creature, nuance, proud, symbol of pride, Tengu Hana ga Takai (Long Nose) Today, I will talk about the Japanese idiom “hana ga takai,” whose literal meaning is “long nose”. 鼻が高い Of course, Read More