CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaUncorrected Toru Oct 25, 2017Jan 03, 2024 going well, hitting, Japanese term, losses, meaning, negociation, onomatopoeia, profits, rhythm, tonton byōshi Tonton Byōshi (とんとん拍子 – Swimmingly) Tonton Byōshi とんとん拍子 I often use the Japanese term “tonton byōshi” (とんとん拍子), when things go as I want them to. Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionKanjiOnomatopoeiaSlangUncorrected Toru Oct 06, 2017Jan 03, 2024 drinking party, drunk, etymology, fool, guden guden, hebereke, honorific, Japanese term, kiden, onomatopoeia Guden Guden (ぐでんぐでん) Yesterday we held a drinking party. ぐでんぐでん I got back to work in the middle of the second party, but Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaProverbUncorrected 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
CultureEssayEtymologyFoodHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionProverbUncorrected Toru Apr 22, 2017Jan 04, 2024 asameshi mae, before breakfast, breakfast, easy tasks, Edo period, Japanese term, meaning, real strengths, simple tasks Asameshi Mae (Before Breakfast) Today I’d like to talk about the Japanese term “asameshi mae.” 朝飯前 “Asameshi” of “asameshi mae” means “breakfast,” “mae” means Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaUncorrected Toru Mar 18, 2017Jan 06, 2024 busy, dancing, drumming, hurriedly, Japanese term, kiri kiri mai, moving, onomatopoeic, spinning top, ten teko mai Ten Teko Mai Today I will talk about the Japanese term “ten teko mai.” てんてこまい “Ten teko mai” means that something is very Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionOnomatopoeiaSlangUncorrected Toru Mar 04, 2017Jan 06, 2024 armor, army, bibiru, Heian period, intimidated, Japanese term, onomatopoeia, scared, slang, young people Bibiru (To Be Scared) Bibiru びびる Today I will talk about the Japanese term “bibiru.” 今日は「びびる」という表現を紹介します。 “Bibiru” means to be scared or feel intimidated. Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyHistoryIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected Toru Feb 16, 2017Jan 02, 2024 dictionary, Heian Era, Japanese term, kahina dayushi, kattarui, lazy, sluggish, tired arms, tiring, translation Kattarui Today I will talk about the Japanese term “kattarui.” かったるい “Kattarui” means “to feel sluggish” or “to feel lazy.” 今日は「かったるい」という言葉を紹介します。 Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionProverbSlangUncorrected Toru Feb 03, 2017Jan 02, 2024 activity, enrichment lesson, hebi-geiko, hibernate, idiom, Japanese term, mikka bozu, origins, quit, snake Hebi-geiko Today I will talk about the Japanese term “hebi-geiko.” 蛇稽古 The literal meaning of “hebi” is “snake,” “geiko” means “enrichment Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected Toru Jan 17, 2017Jan 02, 2024 burnt, clothes, dubious, expression, gunpowder, Japanese term, kinakusai, meaning, smell, war Kinakusai Today I would like to talk about the Japanese term “kinakusai”. きな臭い “Kinakusai” means that something or someone is dubious Read More