CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbSlangUncorrected Toru Mar 20, 2018Jan 02, 2024 burn, difficulty, expression, graduation ceremony, idiomatic phrase, literal meaning, students, te wo yaku, trouble, university Te wo Yaku (手を焼く – Having Trouble with Something) Te wo Yaku 手を焼く Today a graduation ceremony took place at my university. 今日は私の大学の卒業式でした。 In this year, it was hard Read More
CultureEssayFoodIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiSlangUncorrected Toru Feb 24, 2018Jan 02, 2024 etiquette, expression, itadaki, Japanese language, leave, meal, oitoma, politeness, tachi, visit Itadaki Dachi (いただき立ち) Yesterday, I introduced you to the word “oitoma,” which is used when you leave a house you’re visiting. いただき立ち Today Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbSlangUncorrected Toru Feb 20, 2018Jan 02, 2024 attitude, beautiful woman, culture, eight directions, expression, happou bijin, idiom, ironic, Japanese, pleasing everybody Happou Bijin (八方美人 – Everybody’s Friend) Happou Bijin 八方美人 A woman who tries to please everybody is called 八方美人 (happou bijin) in Japanese. 誰に対しても如才なくふるまう人のことを、日本語で「八方美人」と言います。 八方 (happou) Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiProverbUncorrected Toru Feb 13, 2018Jan 02, 2024 courage, expression, heart, idiomatic, Japanese, liver, mind, stability, stout, symbol Kimo ga Suwaru (肝が据わる) Kimo ga Suwaru 肝が据わる Yesterday, I introduced you to the expression; 心臓に毛が生えている (shinzo ni ke ga haeteiru – hairs are Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Feb 12, 2018Jan 02, 2024 brazen, courage, expression, heart, influence, Japanese, liver, stout, symbol, tradition Shinzo ni Ke ga Haeteiru (心臓に毛が生えている – Stout) Shinzo ni Ke ga Haeteiru 心臓に毛が生えている We sometimes call a person who is stout and brazen 心臓に毛が生えている (shinzo ni ke Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected Toru Jan 29, 2018Jan 03, 2024 eagerly, expression, idiom, Japanese, lengthen, literal meaning, neck, proverb, verb, waiting Kubi wo Nagaku-suru (首を長くする – Waiting Eagerly) Kubi wo Nagaku-suru 首を長くする There is a Japanese idiom: 首を長くする (kubi wo nagaku-suru). 日本語には「首を長くする」という慣用句があります。 首 (kubi) means “neck” and 長くする Read More
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
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
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