Saturday, January 24, 2026

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Learning English and Japanese

For everyone learning English/Japanese

Culture Essay Idiom Japanese tradition Slang Uncorrected

Toru May 26, 2017Jan 03, 2024 communication, cool, dehanai, euphemism, expression, intention, Japanese, negative, positive, yabusaka

Yabusaka dehanai

Japanese people tend to avoid direct expressions, and use euphemism/ambiguous ones in daily communication. やぶさかではない You may think that it’s Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Kanji Slang Uncorrected

Toru May 25, 2017Jan 04, 2024 Buddhist, calculating, difficult, Japan, sechigarai, secular wisdom, shrewd, world, worldly talent, yononaka

Sechigarai

Recently in Japan, you can hear the keyword “sechigarai (世知辛い)” frequently. 世知辛い This term means that it’s difficult to live Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Onomatopoeia Proverb Uncorrected

Toru May 24, 2017Jan 04, 2024 agreement, argument, crane, influence, opinion, silence, sparrow, statement, suzume no senkoe, tsuru no hitokoe

Tsuru no Hitokoe

When discussing with a lot of people, it’s difficult to reach agreement. 鶴の一声 In such a case, a person of Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru May 23, 2017Jan 04, 2024 attitude, attractive, deep inside, elegant, fascination, Japan, modest, okuyukashii, sensitive, woman

Okuyukashii

What is the element required for an attractive woman in your country? 奥ゆかしい In Japan, we tend to regard “okuyukashii Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Onomatopoeia Slang Uncorrected

Toru May 22, 2017Jan 04, 2024 change, dictionary, Japanese, meaning, misunderstanding, niyaniya, onomatopoeia, poll, smile, verb

Niyakeru

“Niyakeru (にやける)” is a Japanese verb that is commonly used. にやける However, according to a poll conducted several years ago, Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru May 21, 2017Jan 04, 2024 bad aspects, decision, good aspects, idiom, itashi kayushi, itchy, Japanese, painful, scratch, situation

Itashi Kayushi (Mixed Blessing)

Itashi Kayushi 痛し痒し If you do what you want to do, some problems may happen. 何かをしたいと思っても、それをすると困ることがあるかもしれません。 In such a case, Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Proverb Uncorrected

Toru May 20, 2017Jan 04, 2024 blame, extra money, harakiri, idiom, jibara, kiru, metaphor, resolve, samurai, seppuku

Jibara wo Kiru

Today I would like to talk about the Japanese idiom “jibara wo kiru (自腹を切る).” 自腹を切る “Ji (自)” means yourself, “bara Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Idiom Japanese tradition Onomatopoeia Proverb Uncorrected

Toru May 19, 2017Jan 04, 2024 carpenter, chiguhagu, etymology, hammer, harmony, incongruous, Japanese term, master carpenter, nail puller, tool

Chiguhagu

Today I’d like to talk about the Japanese term “chiguhagu.” ちぐはぐ “Chiguhagu” means that two or more things/people are incongruous, Read More

Culture Essay Etymology Food Idiom Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru May 18, 2017Jan 04, 2024 coffee, consumption, daily, Japanese, nichijou, rice, routine, sahanji, tea, term

Sahanji (Everyday Affairs )

Today I will talk about the Japanese term “sahanji.” 茶飯事 Sahanji means ordinary things that are not uncommon in everyday Read More