sword – Learning English and Japanese

Toru Jul 23, 2021Jan 02, 2024 0 Comments 1913, Benkei, Heian period, samurai, strong, sword

Benkei ni Naginata (弁慶に薙刀 – Adding Wings to a Tiger)

Benkei ni Naginata 弁慶に薙刀 In yesterday’s post, I introduced the idiom oni ni kanabō (鬼に金棒), which means “making an already Read More

Culture Essay Japanese tradition Kanji Uncorrected

Toru Sep 23, 2019 0 Comments autumn, delicious, fish, Pacific saury, poor catch, saury, season, sword

Sanma (サンマ – “Pacific Saury”)

Sanma サンマ The season when sanma (サンマ) becomes delicious is approaching. 「サンマ」が美味しい季節になってきました。 Sanma means “Pacific saury,” and is sold throughout Read More

Essay Etymology FEATURED Japanese tradition Uncorrected

Toru Feb 24, 2019 0 Comments emergency, family, generation, heirloom, house, last resort, measure, pass down, sword, tradition, treasure

Denka no Houtou (伝家の宝刀 – A Last Resort)

Denka no Houtou 伝家の宝刀 A measure of last resort that you use in an emergency is referred to as ‘denka Read More

Culture Essay Etymology History Uncorrected

Toru Jan 09, 2019 0 Comments attached, blade, borrowed wisdom, burnt, durable, hastily, inefficient, knowledge, long-lasting, measure, sharp, skill, stopgap, sword, swordsmith, wisdom

Tsukeyakiba (付け焼き刃 – Borrowed Wisdom)

Tsukeyakiba 付け焼き刃 Have you ever been hastily acquired knowledge or skill as a stopgap measure? その場しのぎのために、間に合わせで一時的な知識や技術を身に着けたことはありますか？ Such a not-so-great measure Read More