CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiOnomatopoeiaUncorrected Toru Jan 28, 2018Jan 03, 2024 dissatisfaction, doubt, expression, hineru, idiomatic, Japanese, kubi, neck, tilt, twist Kubi wo Hineru (首をひねる – Twisting One’s Neck) Kubi wo Hineru 首をひねる I 首をひねりました (kubi wo hineri mashita). 私は首をひねりました。 This Japanese expression, “kubi wo hineru” has two different Read More
CultureEssayFoodIdiomJapanese traditionProverbSlangUncorrected Toru Jan 27, 2018Jan 03, 2024 bags, children, delicious meals, Japanese, marriage, scrotum, sex life, stomach, tradition, weddings Itsutsu no Fukuro (五つの袋 – Five Bags) Itsutsu no Fukuro 五つの袋 Yesterday, I introduced you to 三つの袋 (mittsu no fukuro – three bags), which is often told Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Jan 26, 2018Jan 03, 2024 economic stability, endurance, married life, matrimonial harmony, mother-in-law, parents, patience, pay envelope, three bags, wedding Mittsu no Fukuro (三つの袋 – Three Bags) There is a classic story called 三つの袋 (mittsu no fukuro), which is used in a Japanese wedding. 三つの袋 The literal Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Jan 25, 2018Jan 03, 2024 creation, etymology, first, foundation, grass, mow, person, pioneer, \創始者, 草分け Kusawake (草分け – Pioneer) Kusawake 草分け A person who did something for the first time is called 創始者 (soushisha). 何かを初めてする人のことを「創始者」と言います。 創 (sou) means “creation,” Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Jan 24, 2018Jan 03, 2024 hospital, muscle ache, nechigae, neck, pain, posture, sleep, symptom, unnatural, verb Nechigae (寝違え – Sprained Neck) Nechigae 寝違え Yesterday, maybe I got a bad symptom called 寝違え (nechigae). 私は昨日、寝違えたかもしれません。 “Nechigae” refers to a symptom accompanied with Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Jan 23, 2018Jan 03, 2024 accept, depend, expression, insist, Japanese, kind offer, literal meaning, offer, polite, prefix Okotoba ni Amaete (お言葉に甘えて – If You Insist) Today I’d like to talk about the convenient Japanese expression, お言葉に甘えて (okotoba ni amaete), which can be used in various Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Jan 22, 2018Jan 03, 2024 apology, appreciation, awe, expressions, Japanese, osoreirimasu, polite, scared, sorry, thanks Osoreirimasu (恐れ入ります – Thanks/Sorry) Yesterday and the day before yesterday, I introduced you to Japanese expressions that mean the feeling of apology or appreciation. Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionUncorrected Toru Jan 21, 2018Jan 03, 2024 appreciation, arigatou, dramas, etymology, expression, Japanese, katajikenai, period films, sumimasen, thank you Katajikenai (かたじけない – Thanks) Yesterday, I introduced you to the expression すみません (sumimasen), which is used when expressing the feeling of apology or appreciation. Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Jan 20, 2018Jan 03, 2024 apology, appreciation, comfortable, expression, feeling, Japanese, negative form, polite, sumimasen, verb Sumimasen (すみません – Sorry/Thanks) Sumimasen すみません Japanese people often say すみません (sumimasen) when they want to express their feelings of apology or appreciation. 日本では、謝罪や感謝の気持ちを表す時、よく「すみません」と言います。 Read More