Edo – Learning English and Japanese

Nen-nen Korori (ねんねんころり)

09/05/2019 Toru 0 Comments boy, child, Edo, good boy, good child, lie down, lullaby, melody, roll, sleep, song

Nen-nen Korori ねんねんころり I think that the most well-known traditional lullaby in Japan is Edo Komoriuta (江戸子守唄 – “Edo Lullaby”).

Etymology Japanese tradition Latest Uncorrected

Sudōfu (酢豆腐 – Know-it-all)

06/01/2019 Toru 0 Comments attitude, bean curd, comic, Edo, know-it-all, storytelling, vinegar

Sudōfu 酢豆腐 Young people these days do not use it very much, but there is a Japanese term, sudōfu (酢豆腐),

Essay Etymology Latest Slang Uncorrected

Kamatoto (かまとと – Playing Innocent)

02/21/2019 Toru 0 Comments artificial way, Edo, fish, ignorant, innocent, know, paste, play, pretend, prostitute, story

Kamatoto かまとと When someone (especially a woman) pretends she does not know something even if she knows it well, we

Essay Etymology History Latest Uncorrected

Namahanka (生半可 – Half-Hearted)

01/07/2019 Toru 0 Comments acquainted, attitude, Edo, familiar, fashion, half-hearted, halfway, immature, know-it-all, lukewarm, play, possible

Namahanka 生半可 If you want to change yourself, you must not have an attitude of ‘namahanka‘ (生半可). 自分自身を変えたいなら、「生半可」な気持ちで臨んではいけません。 ‘Namahanka’ means

Culture Essay Etymology History Uncorrected

Inase (いなせ)

10/17/2018 Toru 0 Comments back, Edo, flathead grey mullet, fresh, gallant, hairstyle, masculine, young

Inase いなせ We sometimes use the word ‘inase‘ (いなせ) to describe a gallant and fresh young man. 勇み肌でさっぱりしている若者のことを、「いなせ」と言うことがあります。 This word

Essay Etymology History Japanese tradition Latest Uncorrected

Omaru (おまる – Jerry/Potty)

08/29/2018 Toru 0 Comments bowel, child, discharge, Edo, evacuate, jerry, oval gold coin, portable indoor toilet, potty, tiger, urine, wood

Omaru おまる In Japan, we call portable indoor toilets ‘omaru‘ (おまる). 室内用の携帯型便器のことを、日本語で「おまる」と言います。 ‘O‘ (お) is a polite prefix, and ‘maru‘

Essay History Latest Slang Uncorrected

Choromakasu(ちょろまかす – Sneaking)

07/22/201807/22/2018 Toru 0 Comments boat, cheat, cover up, defeat, Edo, quick, sneak, steal

Choromakasu ちょろまかす To steal something surreptitiously or to cheat on someone’s money is called ‘choromakasu‘ (ちょろまかす) in Japanese. 人の目をごまかして何かを盗むことや、金銭などをごまかすことを、「ちょろまかす」と言います。 There