Suppin (Unpainted Face)
Yesterday I talked about the Japanese word “beppin,” which means a beautiful woman. すっぴん Today I’m going to talk about
Read More
Learning English and Japanese
For everyone learning English/Japanese
etymology
Nureginu (Innocent Sins)
Nureginu 濡れ衣 Today I will talk about the Japanese term “nureginu.” 今日は「濡れ衣」という言葉を紹介します。 The literal meaning is “wet clothes,” and it
Read More
Omisoka (New Year’s Eve)
Omisoka 大晦日 Today is 大晦日 (omisoka), which means new year’s eve. 今日は大晦日です。 “晦日 (misoka)” was originally written as “三十日 (misoka)”,
Read More
E ni Kaita Mochi (A Rice Cake Drawn in a Picture)
E ni Kaita Mochi 絵に描いた餅 Yesterday I wrote about “mochitsuki” (rice cake pounding). 昨日は「餅つき」について書きました。 Today I will talk about the
Read More
Tokoya (Barber Shop)
Tokoya 床屋 Today I will talk about the etymology of the Japanese word “tokoya”, which means “barber shop”. 今日は「理髪店」を意味する「床屋」という日本語の語源を紹介します。 The
Read More
Neko wo Kaburu (To Wear a Cat)
Neko wo Kaburu 猫をかぶる Today, I will talk about the Japanese phrase “neko wo kaburu.” 今日は「猫をかぶる」という表現を紹介します。 The literal meaning is
Read More
Yubi wo Kuwaeru
Today, I will talk about the phrase “yubi wo kuwaeru.” 指をくわえる The literal meaning of this phrase is “to put
Read More
Teppan (Iron Plate)
Teppan 鉄板 Today, I will talk about the Japanese slang “teppan”. 今日は、日本のスラング「鉄板」を紹介します。 “Teppan” usually means “a iron plate” literally, but
Read More