Daily Phrase

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Daily Phrase 2 : https://japanesestudynow.wordpress.com/daily-phrase-2/

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・いざという時(に) (iza to iu toki ni) = when the chips are down，in a pinch， in an emergency， when hard pressed, when it comes down to the crunch

Ex) 彼は、いざという時には必ず助けてくれます。 (kare wa iza to iu toki ni wa kanarazu tasuketekuremasu.)

=　He will always help me when I’m in trouble.

必ず(kanarazu) = definitely

助ける(tasukeru) = to help

Ex) いざという時のために、貯金しています。 (kare wa iza to iu toki ni wa kanarazu tasuketekuremasu.)

=　I save money for a rainy day.

～のために(~ no tameni) = for ~

貯金する(chokin-suru) = to save money

Ex) いざという時、頼れる人がいますか？ (iza to iu toki、tayoreru hito ga imasu ka?)

=　When the chips are down, do you have someone around you that you can depend on(count on)?

頼る(tayoru) = depend on、count on

頼れる(tayoreru) = I can depend on、I can count on ; potential : http://japanesestudynow.com/?p=2867

人(chito) = person, people

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・侮る(anadoru) = to make light of somebody or a matter. It’s like you let your guard down because you underestimate his/her ability.

Ex) 自然を侮っていてはいけません。 (Shizen o anadotteite wa ikemasen.)

Ex) 自然は侮れません。 (Shizen wa anadoremasen.)

=　We must not underestimate mother nature’s power.

自然(shizen) = nature

～てはいけません(～tewaikemasen) = You/she/he must not (verb)

Ex) 彼の実力を侮ってはいけません。 (Kare no jitsuryoku o anadotte wa ikemasen.)

= You shouldn’t make light of his ability.

= His ability is considerable.

実力(jitsuryoku) = ability

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・目が冴える(me ga saeru) = the condition you get excited and can’t fall asleep, so you are wide awake.

目(me) = eye

冴える(saeru) = it indicates something is clear and sharp

Ex) ゆうべは目が冴えて眠れませんでした。 (Yuube wa me ga sae te nemuremasendeshita.)

=  I was wide awake all night last night.

=  I was wide awake last night so I couldn’t sleep.

ゆうべ(yuube) = last night

眠る(nemuru) = to have a sleep

眠れる(nemureru) = I can have a sleep ; potential : http://japanesestudynow.com/?p=2867

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・命日(mei nichi) = A death anniversary, the anniversary of one’s death

命(inochi)：life ／　日(hi)：Day

Ex) 今日8月17日は、ソフィーの命日です。 (Kyou hachi gatsu Juu-shichi nichi wa Sophie no meinichi desu.)

= Today, August 17th is the anniversary of Sophie’s death.

④数(kazu) – numbers : months, the date, and days of the week

Ex) 毎年ソフィーの命日には、お墓参りに行きます。 (Maitoshi, Sophie no meinichi ni wa, ohakamairi ni ikimasu.)

= Every year, I visit Sophie’s grave on the anniversary of her death.

毎年(mai toshi) = every year

お墓(ohaka) = grave

お墓参り(ohaka mairi) = visiting one’s grave

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・上下関係(jouge kankei) = hierarchical relationship(one’s rank at work)

Ex) 日本の社会には、上下関係がある。 (Nihon no shakai niwa, jouge kankei ga aru.)

= There is a hierarchical relationship in Japanese society and culture.

日本の(Nihon no) = Japanese

社会(shakai) = society and culture

Ex) うちの職場は、上下関係がとても厳しいです。 (Uchi no shokuba wa jouge kankei ga totemo kibishii desu.)

= My workplace has very strict relationships between superiors and inferiors.

うちの(uchi no) = My

職場(shokuba) = workplace

厳しい(kibishii) = strict

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・沸く(waku) = boil, be excited, be in an uproar

Ex) お湯が沸いたよ。 (oyu ga waita yo.)

= The water is boiling.

お湯(oyua) = hot water

Ex) ロンドンは、オリンピックに沸いている。 (London wa Olympic ni waiteiru.)

= People in London are thrilled by the Olympics.

オリンピック(orinpikku) = Olympics

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・あっけない(akkenai) = This is an expression you use to show your disappointment. Things are not so interesting than you thought, so you feel disappointed.

Ex) なんかあっけなかったね。 (nanka akkenakatta ne.)

= What? Is that it? I thought there will be more. It ended all too soon. That was disappointing.

なんか(nanka) = I feel like~/somehow~ : You say “なんか” at the beginning of the sentence.

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・善は急げ(zen wa isoge) = This is an expression we use if you think the idea is good and worth to act, you should act without hesitation. Never hesitate to do what you think is right.

Ex) 善は急げっていうし、早速始めましょう！ (zen wa isoge tte iu shi, sassoku hajimemashou!)

= We have a saying “zen wa isoge,” so let’s start now!

～って言う(～tte iu) = we say ~ *casual

～し(～shi) = Predicate comes before し explains one of the reason.

早速(sassoku) = immediately，now

始める(hajimeru) = to start

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・ふりかけ(hurikake) = Japanese condiments you sprinkle on steamed plain rice to add flavor.

My furikake blog : http://japanesestudynow.com/?p=109

Ex) 私は、ふりかけがないと、白いご飯が食べれません。 (watashi wa furikake ga naitoshiroi gohan ga taberemasen.)

= I can’t eat plain rice without furikake.

～がないと(～ga nai to) = without (item: not a person)

白いご飯(shiroi gohan) = white rice, steamed plain rice

食べれません(taberemasen) = I can’t eat (ら抜き言葉　Many Japanese people drop ら off.)

食べられません(taberaremasen) = I can’t eat * potential : http://japanesestudynow.com/?p=2867

Ex) 白いご飯は、ふりかけをかけるとおいしいよ。 (shiroi gohan wa furikake o kaketeru to oishii yo.)

= Steamed plain rice tastes good topped with furikake.

～をかけるとおいしい(~ o kakeru to oishii) = be delicious topped with

～をかける(~ o kakeru) = sprinkle ~

と(to) = Placed after an adj. or a verb, creates a conditional “if” “when“

おいしい(oishii) = delicious

Ex) すみません、ふりかけあります? (sumimasen, furikake arimasu?)

= Excuse me, do you have furikake?

～がある(~ga aru) = There is/are (item)

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・お腹の調子が悪い(onaka no choushi ga warui) = There is something wrong with my stomach．

Ex) お腹の調子が悪いみたいです。 (onaka no choushi ga warui mitai desu.)

= I feel like my stomach is upset.

= I think there is something wrong with my stomach.

お腹(onaka) = stomach, abdominal area, belly

～の調子(～no choush = condition of ~

悪い(warui) = In this context, it means “something is wrong.”

～みたい(～mitai) = In this context, みたいgives a nuance of uncertainty.

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・霊感(reikan) =extrasensory perception, sixth sense, Some kind of supernatural sense. You can sense spirits or ghost. / inspiration

Ex) 私は霊感が強いです。(watashi wa reikan ga tsuyoi desu.) = I have strong extrasensory perception.

強い(tsuyoi) = strong

Ex) 彼女は霊感が強くて、時々幽霊が見えます。(kanojo wa reikan ga tsuyokute, tokidoki yuurei ga miemasu.)

= She has (stronger) sixth sense, so she could see ghost sometimes.

時々(tokidoki) = sometimes

幽霊(yuurei) = ghost

見える(mieru) = s/he can see

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・食わず嫌い(kuwazu girai) = This is an expression. You hate food or things without even trying them, or without even trying to understand them. It’s like prejudice.

Ex)

A : すしが好き? (Sushi ga suki?)

B ： 私は、すしが好きじゃありません。 (Watashi wa sushi ga suki jaarimasen.)

A ： すしを食べたことがある? (Sushi o tabetakoto ga aru?)

B ： いいえ、ありません。 (iie, arimasen?)

A : じゃあ食わず嫌いだね。 (jaa, kuwazu girai da ne.)

☆Translation☆

A : Do you like sushi?

B ： I don’t like sushi.

A ： Have you ever had sushi?

B ：No, I haven’t.

A : Oh, so you are just being picky. (You just hate it without even trying them.)

 

Ex) 彼は、納豆を食わず嫌いしている。 (kare wa nattou o kuwazu girai shiteiru.) = He dislikes nattou without ever having tasted any.

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・日帰り旅行(higaeri ryokou) = Day trip

・日帰り旅行者(higaeri ryokousha) = Day tripper

Ex) 日帰り旅行で東京に行きました。(higaeri ryokou de Tokyo ni ikimashita.) = I took a day trip to Tokyo.

You can also say like this.

Ex) 日帰りで東京に行きました。(higaeri de Tokyo ni ikimashita.) = I took a day trip to Tokyo.

～で(～de) = Particle で ： In this context, the particle で indicates time consumed for a certain action or occurrence.

Trip(n.)：一般的に言う旅、短い旅

Travel(v. & n.)：一般的に言う旅行

Journey(n.)：長距離を示す、冒険的な旅

http://www.espressoenglish.net/difference-between-travel-trip-and-journey/

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070812032659AA4v4aq

http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic6661.html

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・脱帽する(datsubou suru) = I take my hat off to somebody

Something that you say which means that you admire and respect someone for something they have done.

相手に敬意を表して、かぶっている帽子をぬぐこと。 もしくは、相手に敬意を示すこと。感服すること。

Ex) あなたには脱帽します。(anata niwadatsubou shimasu.) = I take off my hat to you.

Ex) 彼の仕事に対する情熱には脱帽します。(kare no shigoto ni taisuru jounetsu niwadatsubou shimasu.)

= I take off my hat to his passion for work.

仕事(shigoto) = job, work

～に対する(~ni taisuru) = for~

情熱(jounetsu) = passion

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This is formal:

・私事で恐縮ですが、…(watakushi goto de kyoushuku desu ga, …) =Excuse me if I mention something personal, but …

 

 

This is casual:

・私事で、悪いんだけど、…(watakushi goto de waruindakedo, …) =Excuse me if I mention something personal, but …

自分の個人的な事柄について言及する際に、その非礼を断り詫びる表現。

We start a conversation by saying, 「私事で恐縮ですが、～」or 「私事で、悪いんだけど、～」to apologize for our impoliteness when making reference about a personal matter. This sounds like really modest Japanese.

Ex) 私事で恐縮ですが、娘が病気なので帰ります。

(watakushi goto de kyoushuku desu ga, musume ga byouki na node kaerimasu.)

= Excuse me if I mention something personal, but I must go home because my daughter is sick.

娘(musume) = daughter

病気(byouki) = sick

～ので(~node) = because~

帰る(kaeru) = go home

 

Ex) 私事で、悪いんだけど、明日デートがあるからバイト変わってくれない?

(watakushi goto de waruindakedo, ashita baito kawattekurenai?)

= Excuse me if I mention something personal, but I have a date tomorrow, so can you take my shift?

明日(ashita) = tomorrow

デートがある(deeto ga aru) = I have a date

バイト(baito ) = part-time-job

バイトを変わる(baito o kawaru) = to change a shift (take my shift and I’ll take yours next time)

Some modest Japanese use this phrase even when they mention something nice about them.

Ex) 私事で恐縮ですが、今度息子が生まれるんです！

(watakushi goto de kyoushuku desu ga, kondo musuko ga umarerundesu!.)

= Excuse me if I mention something personal, but my son will be born shortly! (I’m so happy!)

 

 

今度(kondo) = shortly, near future

息子(musuko) = son

～が生まれます(～ga umaremasu) = (someone) will be born

～んです(ndesu) = the mode of explaining things : ～んです click here to find out more about “んです.”

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・ラストスパート(rasuto supaato) =final spurt

To make a final effort.　To give his/her best in the final phase.

Ex) 明日テストがあるので、今からラストスパートをかけてがんばります。

(ashita tesuto ga aru node, ima kara rasuto supaato o kakete ganbarimasu)

= I’m going to cram for the test tomorrow.

= Literal translation : I’ll put out a last spurt now for the test tomorrow.

ラストスパートをかける(rasuto supaato o kakeru) = to put out a last spurt

明日(ashita) = tomorrow

テストがある(tesuto ga aru) = there will be a test

～ ので(～ node) = because ～

今から(ima kara) = from now

がんばる(ganbaru) = to do one’s best

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・てっきり～と思いました。(tekkiri～to omoimashita) =I assumed …, took ~ for granted

You assumed something; You accepted something without verification or proof, but it turned out that was not the case.

Ex) てっきりあなたがやったんだと思いました。(tekkiri anata ga yattanda to omoimashita.) It could be something wrong.

= I assumed you did that.

Ex) てっきりあなたがやってくれたんだと思いました。(tekkiri anata ga yattekuretanda to omoimashita. ) Someone did something nice for you.

= I assumed you did that for me.

Ex) てっきりそうだと思った。(tekkiri sou da to omotta.)

= I assumed that was the case.

Ex) てっきりそうに違いないと思った。(tekkiri sou ni chigainai to omotta.)

= I assumed that there was no doubt about it.

そうに違いない(souni chigainai) = no doubt about it

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・逆効果(gyaku kouka) =adverse effect

Having the opposite of the desired effect.

Ex) そんなことしたら、逆効果です。(sonnakotoshitara, gyaku-kouka desu. )

= It would have the opposite effect if you do such thing.

そんなこと(sonnakoto) = such thing

～たら(~tara) = if~, when~

Ex) 痩せるために食べないのは、逆効果だよ。(yaseru tameni tabenai no wa, gyaku-kouka dayo.)

= That can be counterproductive if you don’t eat in order to lose weight.

痩せる(yaseru) = to get skinny, to lose weight

～ために(~tameni) = in order to ~, for ~

～のは、(~nowa) = の is a nominalizer: that is, it turns what comes before it into a noun phrase.

The は after の indicates contrast.

よ(yo) = Emphasizes a statement of suggestion.

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・爆睡する(bakusui suru)、 熟睡する(jukusui suru) = to sleep like the dead, dead sleep, to sleep like a log, to sleep well

 

爆睡する(bakusui suru) is a youth slang, so I think it’s probably better not to use it to seniors or superiors.

Ex) 昨日10時間も爆睡しました!　(kinou 10jikan mo bakusui shimashita. )

=  I slept through like the dead as long as 10 hours yesterday!

昨日(kinou) = yesterday

 

Ex) 毎晩、熟睡できなくて、困っています。　(maiban jukusui dekinakute, komatteimasu )

=  I’m having difficulty sleeping well every night.

毎晩(maiban) = every night

熟睡する(jukusui suru) = to sleep well

熟睡できない(jukusui deikinai) = I can not sleep well

困る(komaru) = have a hard time, be in trouble (difficulty)

Ex) 昨日の夜は、久々に熟睡できました。　(kinou wa, hisabisani jukusui dekimashita )

=  For the first time in so long I slept well last night.

= I haven’t slept well for a long time, but I slept like the dead last night.

昨日の夜(kinou no yoru) = last night

久々に(hisabisa ni) = for the first time in many years,　after a long time

熟睡できました(jukusui deikimashita) = I slept well

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・ハードルを上げる(ha-doru o ageru) = raise the bar

To raise expectations and make it harder for the performer before s/he performs.

You can use this phrase when you feel pressured by increased expectation.

Ex) ちょっと、ハードル上げないでよ～!　(chotto, hardle agenaide yo~! )

= Hey, thank you for raising the bar! (You are being sarcastic.)

Or sometimes, you might raise the bar yourself by saying how good you can perform.

Ex) あ～あ、自分でハードルを上げちゃったね。(jibun de hardle o agechatta ne.)

= Uh-oh, s/he challenged herself/himself.

= Uh-oh,  s/he raised the bar herself/himself.

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・できる(dekiru) = describe potential, ready, done, finished, be made, describe being competent …

できる(dekiru) has many usages.These are just a part of it.

potential

Ex) うるさすぎて、読書できません。　(urusasugite dokushodekimasen. )

= I can’t read because it’s too noisy.

ready

Ex) ご飯ができました。(gohan ga dekimasita.)

= Dinner is ready.

done, finished,

Ex) 宿題ができました。　(shukudai ga dekimashita. )

= I have finished my homework.

be made

Ex) お酒は米でできています。(osake wa kome de dekiteimasu.)

= Sake is made from rice.

competent

Ex) 彼は勉強ができる。(kare wa benkyou ga dekiru.)

= He does well at school. He does well in study.

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・持ちつ持たれつ(mochitsu motaretsu) = the idea of people managing to get along by supporting each other

 

 

Ex)

A : 助けてくれてありがとうございます!　(tasuketekurete arigatou gozaimasu! )

= Thank you so much for helping me!

B ： 持ちつ持たれつですよ。(mochitsu motaretsu desu yo.)

= You would do the same if you were me.

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・急かす(sekasu) = rush someone

 

 

Ex) そんなに急かさないで下さい!　(sonnani sekasa nai de kudasai! )

= Please don’t rush me so much!

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・用意周到(youi shuutou) = circumspect, prepared,　prudent, heedful of circumstances and potential consequences

Ex) 母は、いつも用意周到で、必要な時に必要なものを持っている。

(haha wa itsumo youishuutou de, hituyouna toki ni hituyouna mono o motteiru )

= My mother is always well prepared. She has what I need when I need it.

必要(hitsuyou)= necessary, necessity

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・抜かりない(nukari nai) = shrewdly, without fail, be all prepared well, nothing is missing and nothing to worried about because everything is well taken care of,

Ex) 準備万端です。抜かりありません。 (junbibantan desu. nukari arimasen)

= We are all set. I took care of everything shrewdly.

準備万端(junnbibantan)= (be) all set, everything’s ready

準備(junnbi)= preparation

Ex) 彼は何事にも抜かりありません。 (kare wa nanigotonimo nukari arimasen)

= He always knows what he is doing. He won’t make slip-up in whatever he does.

何事にも(nanigoto nimo)= for everything, about everything, in everything

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・地元(jimoto) =Hometown, The town where one was born or grew up

Ex) 彼女は地元の友達です。 (kanojo wa jimoto no tomodachi desu)

= She is one of my friend from my hometown.

彼女(kanojo)= She

友達(tomodachi)= friend(s)

 

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・実家(jikka) = the home where your parents live

Ex) しばらく実家に帰らせていただきます。 (shibaraku jikka ni kaerasete itadakimasu)

= I’m going back to my parents’ home for a while.

しばらく(shibaraku)= for a while

帰る(kaeru)= to return home

【polite, strong declaration】

I’d say causative+ていただきます is a polite, strong declaration and you are telling what you are going to do. Since this is just a nuance, you wouldn’t be able to figure out when you see English translation.

This form also allows for expressing the feeling of respect toward the listener.

 

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・苦戦する(kusen suru) = to have a hard time , struggle, fight against heavy odds

You make an effort with suffering in order to  achieve a thing (get things done).

 

 

Ex) 日本語を書くのに苦戦しました。 (nihongo wo kaku noni kusen shimashita.)

= I had a tough time for writing Japanese.

書く(kaku)= to write

~のに(~noni)=  in this case ~のに means “for / as a means for doing.”

 

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・やる時はやるよ！(yaru toki wa yaru yo!) =I’m pretty capable when I have to do it! / I have my moments! / cross that bridge when one come to it

やる(yaru)= to do

時(toki)=  time, occasion, when

 

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・ボツ(botsu) =this is used to mean someone’s ideas are rejected.

ボツになる(botsu ni naru)= the idea is rejected

ボツにする(botsu ni suru)= you reject someone’s idea, to turn someone’s idea down

 

Ex) 私の企画提案書は、ボツになりました。 (watashi no kikaku-teian-sho wa, botsu ni narimasita.)

= My project proposal has been rejected.

企画提案書(kikaku teian sho)= project proposal

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・えこひいきする(ekohiiki suru) =treat someone with favor, A display of partiality toward a favored person or group.

 

This word is usually used in a negative context.

Ex) 一部の生徒をえこひいきするのは、よくありません！ (ichibu no seito o ekohiiki suru nowa, yokuarimasen.)

= It’s not good to favor partial students over the others.

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・記憶が飛ぶ(kioku ga tobu) / 記憶がない(記憶がない) = blackout : A temporary loss of memory or consciousness.

 

 

 

記憶(kioku)= memory

飛ぶ(tobu)= jump

Ex) 昨日飲みすぎて、どうやって帰ったのか記憶がありません。 (kinou nomisugite, douyatte kaettanoka kiokuga arimasen.)

= I don’t remember how I got home last night, since I drunk too much.

飲む(nomu)= to drink

どうやって(verb past short form)のか分からない(douyatte ~noka wakaranai)

= I don’t know how did I (verb past short form)

帰る(kaeru)= to return home

Ex) 記憶が飛ぶほど飲みました。 (kioku ga tobu hodo nomimashita.)

= I drunk to the extent of blackout.

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・事実を盛って話す(jijitsu o motte hanasu) = you are exaggerating a story : speak in hyperbole : You add more to the story to enlarge the fact.

 

 

 

Ex) ちょっと盛りすぎました。 (chotto, morisugimasita.)

= I was exaggerating a bit.

Ex) ちょっと盛りすぎじゃない? (chotto morisugi janai?)

= Don’t you think you are exaggerating?

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・もどかしい(modokashii) = the feeling of frustration because things are not going the way you want, or you can’t make the desired progress, or you can’t fulfill your desire.　/　irritating　/　impatient

 

Ex) 言いたいことが言えなくて、もどかしいです。 (iitaikoto ga ienakute, modokashii desu.)

= I feel frustrated because I couldn’t say what I want to say.

Ex) うまく気持ちを伝えられなくて、もどかしいです。 (umaku kimochi o tsutaerarenakute, modokashii desu.)

= I feel frustrated because I couldn’t express my feelings well.

うまく(umaku)= well

気持ち(kimochi)= feeling

伝える(tsutaeru)= to convey

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・弱肉強食(jakuniku-kyoushoku) = law of the jungle

“every man for himself”, “anything goes”, “might makes right”, “survival of the strongest”, “survival of the fittest”, “kill or be killed”, “dog eat dog” and “eat or be eaten”

 

 

 

Ex) この世は弱肉強食の世界です。 (konoyo wa, jakuniku-kyoushoku no sekai desu.)

= This is a world where the weak are victims of the strong.

この世(konoyo)= this world, this life

弱い(yowai)= week

肉(niku)= meat

強い(tsuyoi)= strong

食べる(taberu)= to eat

世界(sekai)= world

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・梅雨(tsuyu) = Rainy season

 

Japan’s rainy season is around May to July, but it’s depending on the regions. I’d say June is definitely the rainy season in Japan. It’s rainy, gloomy, and humid. Since rainy season is not such an ideal season to visit to Japan, airplane ticket might be cheaper.

Ex) 梅雨の季節が始まったね。 (tsuyu no kisetsu ga hajimatta ne.)

= The rainy season has begun, huh?

季節(kisetsu)= season

～が始まる(~ga hajimaru)= something starts, or begins

Ex) 梅雨の時期に入ったね。 (tsuyu no jiki ni haitta ne.)

= The rainy season has begun, huh?

時期(jiki)= period, time of year, season

～に入る(~ni hairu)= to enter ~

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・ちくる(chikuru) or 告げ口する(tsugegushi suru)= tell the boss,teacher, mother, father on someone, tell tales on ~, peach on ~

 

To tell someone in authority about something bad that someone has done because maybe you want to cause trouble for them. Or you just don’t like dishonest act, so you won’t let them get away with their dishonest act.

* ちくる is a slang especially for a young kids, but you can use it if you want.

Ex) ねぇ、先生にちくったでしょ？ (Nee, sensei ni chikutta desho?)

= Hey, you told tales on me to teacher, didn’t you?

Ex) ねぇ、先生に告げ口したでしょ？ (Nee, sensei ni tsugeguchi shita desho?)

= Hey, you told tales on me to teacher, didn’t you?

Ex) さぁね～(Saa ne~) = I don’t know what you are talking about. （・3・）～♪　(You are pretending you don’t know anything about.)

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・気分爽快です！(kibun soukai desu!) = I feel great! I feel refreshed!

 

 

気分(kibun)= feeling

爽快(soukai)= brisk, exhilarating, invigorating

* 爽快な気分です。(soukai na kibun desu!) = I feel fantastic!

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・なんか、ここ、空気がこもってない?(nanka kuuki ga komottenai?) = Somehow the air is stuffy here, isn’t it?

なんか(nanka)= somehow (なんか is from なんだか)

ここ(koko)= here

空気(kuuki)= air

空気がこもっている (kuuki ga komotteiru)= (the air is) stuffy

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・ 人の振り見て我が振り直せ(hito no huri mite waga huri naose) = By others’ faults wise men correct their own.

人の(hito no)= others’,  someone’s

振る舞い(hurumai)= behavior (振り is from 振る舞い)

我が~ (waga)= My~, one’s~

直す (naosu)= to fix, to correct, to change

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・ 病名が分かれば半分治ったも同然(byoumei ga wakare ba hanbun naotta mo douzen) = A disease known is half cured.

病名(byoumei)= disease name

～が分かれば(wakareba)= if you can find out ~

半分 (hanbun)= half

治った (naotta)=cured

～も同然 (~mo douzen)=be the same as ~, as good as ~

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・ 継続は力なり(keizoku wa chikara nari) = A sustained effort will be rewarded. Endurance makes you stronger.  Slow and steady wins the race. Little and often fills the purse.

Slow and steady wins the race : If you work slowly but constantly, you will succeed better than if you work fast for a short while and do not continue.

Little and often fills the purse : If you get a little bit of money frequently, you will always have enough.

Ex) 継続は力なりってよく言うけど、本当ですね。 (keizoku wa chikara nari tte yoku iu kedo, hontou desu ne.)

= They always say “keizoku wa chikara nari,” I think that’s right.

継続(keizoku)=continuation

本当 (hontou)=true

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・ 無神経(mushinkei) = insensitive, inconsiderate

Ex) そんなこと言うなんて、ちょっと無神経なんじゃない? (sonnakoto iu nante chotto mushinkei nanjanai?)

= It’s inconsiderate of you/him/her saying such a thing, don’t you think so?

そんなこと(sonnakoto)=such a thing

無(mu)=nothingness, emptiness

神経(shinkei)= nerve

Ex) 彼(彼女)は、無神経な言葉にとても傷ついた。 (kare(kanojo) wa mushinkei na kotoba ni totemo kizutsuita.)

= The  insensitive remark lacerated him(her).

傷つく (kizutsuku)=feel hurt(emotionally), get hurt(physically)

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・ とどまるところを知らない(todomaru tokoro o shiranai) = know no boundaries, to have no limit

Ex) 日本の健康ブームは、とどまるところを知らない。 (nihon no kenkou bu-mu wa todomaru tokoro o shiranai.)

= Health boom(fad) in Japan know no boundaries.

健康ブーム(kenkou bu-mu)=health boom, health fad

Ex) 人の欲望は、とどまるところを知らない。 (nihon no yokubou wa todomaru tokoro o shiranai.)

= There is no limit to people’s desire.

欲望 (yokubou)=desire

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・ 春一番(haru ichiban) = first spring storms,  the first strong south winds of the year

春一番(haru ichiban) blows  between Rissyun(at about Feb 4th or 5th) and Syunbun( at about March 21th).　This phenomenon has been seen on the Pacific side. Due to wintry pressure pattern, the temperature will rise on the day 春一番(haru ichiban) blows, and the cold weather will be back on the next day.

Wikipedia ： http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%A5%E4%B8%80%E7%95%AA

Ex) わぁ～すごい風！ 春一番 かな? (Waaa sugoi kaze! haru ichiban kana?)

= Wow, what a blustery winds! This might be the first strong south winds of the year.

= Wow, what a blustery winds! I wonder if this is the first strong south winds of the year.

風(kaze)= wind

～かな(kana)= I wonder …

Ex) 今日、春一番が吹き荒れていました。 (kyou haru ichiban ga hukiareteimashita.)

= The first strong south winds of the year blew hard all day today.

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・ ワルノリ(warunori) =  to get carried away, do something you normally don’t do, go overboard, go too far, overdo something, to lose self control./act in a funny or teasing way

You get carried away by force of circumstances or under the influence of liquor or just take advantage of the circumstances, or in the mood of the circumstances.

Ex) 昨日 ワルノリしてお酒をたくさん飲んだので、今日気分が悪い。 (kinou warunorisite osake o takusan nondanode, kyou kibun ga warui.)

= I feel sick today because I got carried away yesterday and drank too much.

気分が悪い(kibun ga warui)= I feel sick(ill). /I’m disturbed.

Ex) 最近、ちょっとワルノリしすぎじゃない? (saikin chotto warunorishisugi janai?)

= Don’t you think you go too far lately?

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・ 金銭感覚(kinsen kankaku) =  Money sense, sense in money matters

Ex) 私には彼女の金銭感覚が理解できない。 (watashi ni wa kanojo no kinsen kankakuga rikai dekinai)

= I just can’t understand her money sense.

理解する(rikai suru)= to understand

できない(dekinai)= I/s/he can’t

 

Ex) 金銭感覚を身につけることは大事ですよ。 (kinsen kankakuo minitsukeru oto wa daiji desu yo )

= It’s important to get(learn) a sense of value for money.

身につける(mini tsukeru)= to get(learn) the skills, to acquire, to wear

大事(daiji)= important

Ex) 彼女は金銭感覚がしっかりしている。 (kanojo wa kinsen kankakuga shikkari shiteiru )

= She has a firm sense of money.

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・ 百発百中(hyappatsu hyakuchuu) =  Every shot tells, never miss the target, right on target

Hit a target in the middle every time you shoot / never missed the mark / make a correct assumption(guess) every time

Ex) 彼は百発百中で的を射る (kare wa hyappatsu hyakuchuude mato o iru)

= He hit a target every time he shoot.

的(mato)= target

射る(iru)= to hit

Ex) 彼の予想は百発百中で当たる。 (kare no yosou wa hyappatsu hyakuchuude ataru)

= He makes a correct guess every time.

予想(yosou)= guess, prediction

当たる(ataru)= to hit, to come true, to make a correct guess

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・ 思い立ったが吉日(omoitattaga kichijitsu) = Procrastination is the thief of time. There’s no time like now.

 

 

Ex) 思い立ったが吉日って言うし、今日から始めよう! (omoitattaga kichijitsutte iu shi, kyou kara hajimeyou!)

= You know, we have a saying “Procrastination is the thief of time,” so let’s start it today.

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・ 草食系男子(soushoku-kei danshi) =  A type of man who has a mild personality, cooperate minded and have little obsession with(lust for) a girl. They don’t approach to a girl so much. The word comes from herbivore since herbivore won’t lust for fresh(meat).

I’d say some girls might not like to feel overwhelmed from boy’s approach, but some girls might get tired of waiting to be asked for a date.

草食系男子(soushoku-kei danshi) : This word is one of the buzzwords in 2009.

 

 

Ex) 草食系男子と肉食系男子、どっちが好み? (soushoku-kei danshi to nikushoku-kei danshi , docchi ga konomi?)

= Which types of boys do you like(prefer), “Soushoku-kei danshi” or “Nikushoku-kei danshi“?

草食動物(sou-shoku doubutsu)= Herbivore

In Japanese, definition of 草食系男子 is “協調性が高く、家庭的で優しいが、恋愛に積極的でないタイプ。” “性格がおだやかで協調性に富み、恋愛や異性関係に対して執着の薄い男性。肉（肉欲）を求めないところから、草食動物になぞらえたもの。“

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・ 肉食系男子(nikushoku-kei danshi) =  A type of man who is considered not being shy but rather aggressive to get a girl. These boys have aggressive stance on love life.

肉食系男子(nikushoku-kei danshi) : This word is one of the buzzwords in 2009.

 

 

Some girl find its masculine charm as attractive, but some girl think it’s too much.

 

 

Ex) 日本では、最近は肉食系男子が減ってきていますね。 (nihon de wa, saikin wa, nikushoku-kei danshi ga hettekiteimasu ne)

= Recently, the number of “Nikushoku-kei danshi” has been on the decline in Japan．

肉食動物(niku-shoku doubutsu)= Carnivora

男子(danshi)= boy, boys, male, man , men

系(kei) indicates “that kind of group.” When you talk about fashion styles, you can’t categorize fashion so specifically. For example, “ethnic style” fashion might encompass many different looks. There’s no one definitive look to “ethnic fashion” (like a African look or a Parisian look…) So we add this word 系(kei) as “kind of”, to add an approximation to the word. http://japanesestudynow.com/?p=1464

This is just an aside. If you get confused “what do you mean aggressive?” – “Aggressive” just mean he won’t hide his feeling to ask her out or ask her phone number or exchange email address in order to get her. But in Japan, recently, some boys are not so “aggressive” in that way. Maybe it’s a psychological thing. Maybe these boy don’t want a girl to think he is desperate to get a girl. Probably many American boys are naturally get into the category of “肉食系男子“, because many of them are probably not so shy to ask a girl out. I guess this must be a cultural thing. Being “肉食系男子” is not a bad thing, but he might give an impression of desperation and some girls might feel overwhelmed by his approach.  But I would say pick up a girl you like in a good manner, that’s all.:)

This is another way to understand what is “肉食系男子.” Imagine this. Replace boys with carnivora and herbivorous animal. Characteristic of carnivora, such as cheetah or wolf,is very wild. They eat fresh meat and chasing prey, whereas herbivorous animal such as horse or rabbit, they eat vegetables and not so wild, more peaceful image. Image of  肉食系男子 is Carnivor.(L) I know this sounds exaggerating and it is exaggerating, but the root word of 肉食系男子comes from this.

In Japanese, definition of 肉食系男子 is “恋愛の行動時、女性に果敢に攻める男性のこと。” “恋愛にも積極的で昔ながらの男らしい魅力に溢れた人.”

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・ 肩が凝る(kata ga koru) = get stiff shoulders

Ex) デスクワークは肩が凝ります。 (desk work wa kata ga korimasu)

= I get stiff shoulder from sedentary work.

Ex) 彼女は肩凝りに悩まされています。 (kanojo wa kata-kori ni nayamasareteimasu.)

= She suffers from stiff shoulders.

肩こり(kata-kori)= stiff shoulder

～に悩まされる(~ni nayamasareru)=suffer from ~

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・ 寝起き(neoki) = the state you just woke up / or it just mean “to live” ; sleep and wake up

Ex) その子はいつも寝起きが悪い。 (sono ko wa itsumo neoki ga warui)

= That child always finds it difficult to get up. / That child is a bad riser. /That child always wakes up in a bad humor.

寝起きが悪い(neoki ga iwarui)= difficult to get up, bad riser

寝起きがいい(neoki ga ii) = easy to get up, good riser

Ex) そのホームレスは、路上で寝起きしている。 (sono homeless wa, rojou de neoki shiteiru)

= That homeless sleeps on the street.

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・ 画質(gashitsu) = image quality(TV, Video, camera)

Ex) このテレビは、画質がいいですね。 (kono terebi wa gashitsu ga ii desu ne)

= The picture quality of this TV is good.

テレビ(terebi) = TV

Ex) 画質が荒い。 (gashitsu ga arai)

= The picture quality is not clear.

荒い(arai) = in this context it means ;  not clear, not sharp,

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・ 集中力(shuuchuuryoku) = concentration, ability to concentrate

Ex) なんか、集中力が切れてきたみたい。 (nanka shuuchuuryoku ga kiretekita mitai)

= It seems like my power of concentration is running out.

なんか～みたい(nanka ~ mitai) =it seems like ~, it’s like ~, it sounds like

~が切れる(~ga kireru) =something is running out.

Ex) 読書は集中力を養います。 (dokusho wa shuuchuuryoku o yashinaimasu)

= Reading will develop your concentration.

養う(yashinau) =to develop, support, maintain

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・ 虐待する(gyakutai suru) = mistreat, abuse, cruel treatment, to treat roughly, wrongly or harmfully

虐待する(gyakutai suru) by itself doesn’t mean “sexually molest or abuse.”

 

 

Ex) 使用人達は長い間 不当に虐待されてきました。(shiyounin-tachi wa nagaiaida hutouni gyakutai saretekimashita.)

= Servants have been unfairly mistreated(abused) for a long time.

使用人(shiyounin) =servant

不当に(hutou ni) =unfairly, unjustly

虐待される(gyakutai sareru) = mistreated, abused ; passive form of 虐待する(gyakutai suru)

Ex) それって、ちょっと虐待入ってるよね。(sorette, chotto, gyakutai haitteru yo ne?)

= That’s kind of abusive isn’t it?

～入ってる(~haitteru) = Describing one’s state of being. It’s like “entering to one condition to another condition.”： This phrase is applicable in many ways.

Ex) ブルー入ってる(blue haitteru) = I’m/s/he’s kind of depressed now.

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・ 贅肉(zei-niku) = flab, extra pounds( fat), unsightly or unwanted fat on the body

Ex) ちょっとお腹に贅肉がついてきました。(chotto onaka ni zei-niku ga tsuitekimashita.)

= My stomach is getting fatter a bit.

贅肉がつく(zei-niku ga tsuku) = to put on excess weight

Ex) お腹の贅肉を落とすのは、難しいです。(onaka no zei-niku o otosu no wa muzukashii desu.)

= It’s difficult to trim excess fat on stomach.

贅(zei) = luxury / Usually, we say “贅沢(zei-taku)” to mean “luxury.“

肉(niku) = meat, flesh

So, 贅肉(zei-niku) literally means “luxury meat.“

You got the extra fat on you by eating more than you need to. Thus, that comes from luxury(indulgence) way of life.

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・ 上から~(ue kara ~) = You can use this word when you feel like s/he looks down on you or s/he talks like s/he knows better than you.

・上から~(ue kara ~) literally means from above.

 

 

Ex) 上から物を言うのはやめてください。(ue kara mono o iu nowa yametekudasai.)

= Please stop talking to me as if you know better than me.

Ex) 皆は、上から目線で話してきました。(minna wa ue kara mesen de hanashite kimashita.)

= They all talked to me as if they know better than me.

目線(mesen) = the direction of eyes, eye level

Actually, usage of 上から~(ue kara ~) can be tricky. There is a case you CAN tell, s/he, the speaker, is obviously thinks s/he is better than you, the listener. However, it could be up to the recipient’s interpretation.

In Japanese language, we use helping verb “～あげる、～くれる、～もらう” with verb many times.  “～あげる、～くれる、～もらう” is really untranslatable, but when you do something nice to someone or someone does something nice to you, we use this helping verb. Thus, our way of thinking could be affected.

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・一喜一憂する(ikki ichiyuu suru) = to feel ups and downs as the situation changes, your emotions are affected by some even easily,  feeling fluctuate between hope(joy) and despair

Ex) 毎日 子どもの事で 一喜一憂してます。(mainichi kodomo no koto de ikki ichiyuu shitemasu.)

= I feel happy and worried about my kids(babes) everyday.

子どもの事(kodomo no koto) = about (my) kids

Ex) 彼女の言う事に いちいち 一喜一憂してたら疲れちゃうよ。(kanojo no iukoto ni ichi ichi ikki ichiyuu shite tara tsukaretyau yo.)

= You’ll get tired to let yourself be affected each time she said something.

言う事(iukoto) = things someone says

言う事 に(対して)(iukoto ni (taishite)) = for the things someone says

いちいち(ichi ichi) =each time, one by one, in detail

疲れる(itsukareru) = to get tired

At this present time of life, we can use 一喜一憂する(ikki ichiyuu suru) to say something like：

Ex) 福島のニュースを聞くたびに一喜一憂してます。(Hukushima no news o kiku tabi ni ikki ichiyuu shitemasu.)

= I get happy and worried(sad) every time I hear the news about Hukushima.

*Hukushuma is the prefecture we had the big earthquake & radioactive disaster on March 11, 2011.

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・悪意(akui) = Hatred feelings you have to someone and have a desire to harm others or to see others suffer. bad feeling, malice, ill will, amiss

Ex) 彼女の行動に、悪意を感じた。(kanojo no koudou ni akui o kanjita.)

= I felt the malice from her behavior.

Ex) 彼女は悪意に満ちた態度を取った。(kanojo wa akui ni michita koudou o totta.)

= She acted venomously.

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・雪崩(nadare) = avalanche

Ex) その人は雪崩に巻き込まれて死亡しました。(sono hito wa nadare ni makikomarete shibou shimashita.)

= That parson was caught in avalanche and died(killed).

Ex) 新雪は雪崩を引き起こします。(shinsetsu wa nadare o hikiokoshimasu.)

= Fresh snow  trigger an avalanche.

Ex) ここは雪崩がおきやすいので、気をつけてください。(koko wa nadare ga okiyasui node kiwotsukete kudasai.)

= This is an avalanche-prone area, so please be careful.

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・やりがい(yarigai) = Something that could be fun and challenging, rewarding, satisfying and worth pursuing for you.You do it with enthusiasm.

Ex) やりがい の ある仕事がしたいです。(yarigai no aru shigoto ga shitai desu.)

= I want to do the job something worthwhile and challenging.

Ex) この研究にとてもやりがいを感じています。(kono kenkyuu ni totemo yarigai o kanjiteimasu)

= I find this research worthwhile.

Ex) 私は、自分の仕事にやりがいを感じています。(watashi wa jibun no shigoto ni yarigai o kanjiteimasu)

= I’m satisfied with my job.

Ex) その仕事は、やりがいがありそうですね。(sono shigoto wa yarigai ga arisou desu ne)

= It seems like that job is worthwhile.

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・ばたばたする(batabata suru) = It describe a condition that things are hectic. / The way you act : you are rushing yourself to get things done quickly.

Ex) せっかく来てくれたのに、ばたばたしちゃって、ごめんね。(sekkaku kitekuretanoni, batabata shityatte, gomen ne)

= You had come all the way to see me but I’m sorry that things are so hectic today (so I couldn’t treat you well the way I wanted to.)

Ex) 最近ばたばたしてて、ろくに寝ていません。(saikin batabatashitete roku ni neteimasen)

= Recently, things have been hectic that I can hardly sleep.

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・目が離せない(me ga hanasenai) =  can’t take one’s eyes off

Ex) 今年も、彼女から目が離せませんね！(korekara mo kanojo no katsuyaku kara me ga ahanasemasen ne!)

= Don’t take your eyes off her again this year!　(It’s like “Don’t miss it!”)

Ex) 危なっかしくて、目が離せません！(abunakkashikute me ga hanasemasen!)

= I can’t take my eyes off that because it looks dangerous!

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・こつ を つかむ(kotsu o tsukamu) =  to get the knock(hang) of it, trick

Ex) こつさえつかめば、簡単です。 (kotsu sae tsukame ba, kantan desu.) = It will be easy once you get the knock(hang) of it.

～さえ(sae) = If only ~ (If one thing is fulfilled, other thing will be fulfilled.)

～ば(ba) = if ~

簡単(kantan) = easy

Ex) それには、こつがあります。 (sore niwa, kotsu ga arimasu.) = There is a trick for that.

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・若返る(wakagaeru) = rejuvenesce, to become young again.(Literally(physically) or metaphorically(you feel that way.))

Ex) なんだか若返ったみたい♪ (Nandaka wakagaetta mitai.) = I kinda feel young again!

Ex) 10歳若返った気分です♪ (10sai wakagaetta kibun desu.) = I feel 10 years younger!

・若く見える(wakaku mieru) = to look younger

Ex) 実際の年齢より、若く見えますね。(jissai no nenrei yori, wakaku miemasu ne.) = You look younger than your actual age.

 

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・正義の味方(seigi no mikata) = a hero of justice, a side of the justice

This example is like a Japanese joke.

Q : あなたはどっちの味方? (Anata wa docchi no mikata?) = Which side are you on?

A : 正義の味方です。(seigi no mikata desu.) = I’m on a side of justice.

正義(seigi) = justice

味方(mikata) = one’s side (Like you are on someone’s side)

Q : なんとも思わないの? (Nantomo omowanai no?)  = Don’t you care about it? Don’t you think about anything? Don’t you feel bad about it?

A : 言っておきますけど、私は正義の味方じゃありません。 (Itteokimasu kedo, watashi wa seigi no mikata jaariamsen.) = Let’s get something straight, I’m not a hero of justice.

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・過労死(karoushi) = death from overwork

Ex) 彼は働きすぎて、過労死しました。(kare wa hataraki sugi te karoushi shimashita.) = He worked himself to death.

過労(karou) = overwork, strain

死(shi) = death

About 過労死(Karōshi) → http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kar%C5%8Dshi

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・七草粥(Nanakusa gayu) = seven-herb rice porridge

Ex) 1月7日に七草粥を食べると、一年健康に過ごせますよ。(ichi gatsu nanoka ni Nanakusa gayu o taberu to, ichi-nen kenkou ni sugosemasu yo.)

= If you eat Nanakusagayu on January 7th, you can be healthy for the year.

Read more about 七草粥(Nanakusa gayu). → http://japanesestudynow.com/?p=6160

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・干支(eto) = Chinese zodiac animals / Chinese zodiac signs

Ex) 2012 年の干支は、辰です。(2012nen no eto wa, tatsu desu.)

= Chinese zodiac signs in 2012 is the dragon.

Ex) 今年は、辰年です。(kotoshi wa, tatsu-doshi desu.)

= This is the year of the dragon.

These are the 12 animals in Chinese zodiac signs. The sign rotates every year. We go back to “the rat” after “the wild boar.”

鼠（ねずみ） = Rat

牛（うし）= Ox

虎（とら）= Tiger

兎（うさぎ）= Rabbit

竜（たつ）= Dragon

蛇（へび）= Snake

馬（うま）＝ Horse

羊（ひつじ）= Sheep

猿（さる）= Monkey

鶏（とり）= Bird

犬（いぬ）= Dog

猪（いのしし）= Wild Boar

This is how we remember the eto in Japanese： 鼠（ne）、牛（ushi）、虎（tora）、兎（u）、竜（tatsu）、蛇（mi）、馬（uma）、羊（hitsuji）、猿（saru）、鶏（tori）、犬（inu）、猪（i）

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・初夢(hatsu yume) = First Dream of the Year ： “Hatsu yume” is considered the dream you see on the day 1st or 2nd. January 1st or 2nd.

In Japan, since ancient times, Japanese people think “Hatsu yume” tells our fortunes of the year. So, we want to have a great dream on the day 1st or 2nd (January 1st or 2nd) and try to remember the dream.　It is considered to be particularly good luck to dream of Mount Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant. (Ichi-Fuji(一富士), Ni-Taka(二鷹), San-Nasubi (三茄子))

BTW, I didn’t see a dream of Mount Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant, but my first dream of the year was about my pets : Sophie and Big Steve. I lost Sophie last year. She went to the heaven, so I was so excited to see her and hugged her so much!! My first dream can’t be better than that!! (^▽^*)

Ex) どんな初夢を見ましたか?(donna Hatsuyume o mimashita ka?) =  What was your first dream of the year?

初(hatsu) = for the first time, The first ～

夢(yume) = dream

Ask your friend or family about their Hatsuyume!

 

More about Hatsuyume → From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ： http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsuyume

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・休みボケ(yasumi boke)= (This is your condition.) After a vacation, you don’t feel like doing anything(unmotivated) and being idle. It’s like you are still on vacation mood.

Ex) なかなか休みボケから ぬけだせません。(nakanaka yasumi boke kara nukedasemasen.)

=  I can’t get out from this “vacation mood” yet. / It’s hard to get out from “Yasumi boke.”

お正月(oshougatu) ‐ New Year is the biggest holiday in Japan, and soon, we are gonna have to deal with this “正月休みぼけ – shougatu yasumi boke. – this feeling like unmotivated or being idle after the New Year.”

If someone says, “You look tired” after New Year’s holiday, you can say, “正月休みボケかもしれないです。(shougatsu yasumi boke kamo shirenai desu.) – I guess I’m being idle after the New Year’s holiday.I’m still in vacation mood.”

-Good luck!

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・不器用(bukiyou)= clumsy, awkward, all thumbs, inept, bungling, klutz, have two left feet

Ex)不器用で、すみません。(bukiyou de sumimasen.) =  I’m sorry, I’m such a klutz /clumsy/all thumbs.

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・器用(kiyou)= dexterous (Skillful in the use of the hands.) / smooth operator / skillfulness

Ex) 器用ですね(kiyou desu ne) =  You are dexterous.

Ex) 手先が器用ですね(tesaki ga kiyou desu ne) = You are good with your hands.

Ex) 彼女は、なんでも器用にこなします。(kanojo wa nandemo kiyou ni konashimasu)

= She manages(handles, copes) everything well.

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・～値(～chi) or (“atai” if you use this kanji by itself.) = numerical value(the number of something is big or small)

Ex) 血糖値(kettouchi) = blood glucose level

– 血糖値が下がってきた。(kettouchi ga sagattekita)

= My blood sugar is dropping now.

Back in Japan, I used to say this phrase when I’m getting to feel weak because of hunger(low energy).

Ex) コレステロール値(koresuterooruchi) = cholesterol level

– コレステロール値が高いです。(koresuterooruchi ga takai desu)

= Your(My) cholesterol levels are high.

• Check 価値感

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・誠心誠意(seishin seii) = in a cordial manner / in all sincerity / to put yourself in someone’s shoes and treat people with great cordiality without hypocrisy or pretense.

Ex) 誠心誠意がんばります！(seishin seii ganbarimasu!)

= I’ll do my best in a cordial manner.

– がんばる(ganbaru) = to do your best

Ex) 何事も、誠心誠意努力する事が大切です。(nanigoto mo, seishin seii doryokusuru koto ga taisetsu desu.)

= It’s important to make good-faith efforts for anything.

– 努力する(doryokusuru) = to make effort / to do your best

– 大切(taisetsu) = important

Ex) 誠心誠意訳を話せば、きっと分かってもらえるよ。(seishin seii wake o hanaseba, kitto wakatte moraeru yo.)

= If you explain wholeheartedly, I’m sure that they will understand you.

– 訳を話す(wake o hanasu) = to explain why

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・幼稚(youchi) = childish / immature / the way you think and the way you act is childish

・大人げない(otonage nai) = childish / immature / the way you think and the way you act is childish

・子どもっぽい(kodomo ppoi) = child-like / childish / immature / the way you think and the way you act is childish

You can use 子どもっぽい(kodomo ppoi) both positive and negative.

 

 

Ex) 幼稚なんだから！(youchi nanda kara) = You’re so childish!

Ex) 大人げないんだから！(otonage nai nda kara) = You’re so childish!

Ex) 考え方が幼稚すぎる。(kanngaekata ga youchi sugiru) = Your way of thinking is too immature.

Ex) 大人げないまねは、やめなよ。 (otonagenai mane wa, yamena yo.) = Don’t behave so childishly.

Ex) そんな事で怒ったりして、大人げないよね。 (sonnakoto de okottarishite otonagenai yone.) = How childish of me getting mad about something like that.

In this context, たり means “cites one action as one example.” English approximation will be “such a thing as.”

Ex) 子どもっぽい笑顔がかわいい。(kodomoppoi egao ga kawaii) = I think your child-like smile is cute.

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・引っ掛る(hikkakaru) = fall for somebody’s tricks / to be taken in

Ex) 何度も同じ手に引っ掛かる。(nando mo onaji te ni hikkakaru) = I / You fall for the same tricks again and again.

Ex) 引っ掛け問題 (hikkake mondai) = trick question

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・～期(～ki) = during a block of time or period characterized by certain occurrences.

We use this phrase to describe some certain types of time or period.

 

 

Ex) 思春期(shishunki) = period of adolescence, puberty

– うちの子、思春期なんです。(uchi no ko, shishunki nandesu.)

= You know my kids, s/he  is at a period of adolescence.

Ex)Ex) 反抗期(hankouki) = rebellious period

– うちの子、今、反抗期なんです。(uchi no ko, ima, hankouki nandesu.)

=You know my kids, s/he‘s going through a rebellious stage now.

 

Ex) モテ期(moteki) = some certain amount of time or period that you are extraordinarily, unusually popular from the opposite sex. You fascinate them.

– 人生で、モテ期は、3回来るらしいです。(jinsei de, moteki wa san-kai kuru rashii desu.)

= It seems like we get “moteki” 3 times in each people’s life.

– もてる (verb) = to fascinate someone, to be in the condition that you are popular by the opposite sex.

モテキ(moteki) is a title of anime by Mitsurou Kubo. I think we change キ(katakana)  into 期(kanji form) and made up this word, then”モテ期(moteki)” became a slang after that. 

 

 

Ex) 氷河期(hyougaki) = ice age, glacial age

Ex) 幼年期(younenki) = infant stage, childhood

 

Ex) 成長期(seichouki) = stage of growth, period you are growing (around the age of 15 to 18)

Ex) 更年期(kounenki) = during menopause

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・勘(kan) = guess, hunch, intuition, it’s like a  sixth sense

We guess things all the times. I guess this must be a world wide habit. If you can tell things and you don’t know why, you can use this word.

 

 

Ex) どうしてそう思うの?(doushite sou omou no?) = Why do you think so? Why do you think that way?

Ex)勘です。(kan desu) = It’s just my guess. My intuition tells me that.

 

Ex) 勘が当たった。(kan ga atatta.) = My hunch was right.

Ex) 勘が外れた。(kan ga hazureta.) = I missed my guess.

Ex) 勘が鋭いですね。(kan ga surudoi desu ne.) = You have such a shrewd instincts, huh.

Ex) 勘違いでした。(kan chigai deshita.) = I guessed wrong. I got the wrong idea.

similar expression

 

 

・直感(chokkan) = intuition, inspiration

勘 and 直感 are very similar. 直 in 直感 means “directly,” so think in this way :

直感 = it’s an intuition comes directly in your head or mind. It strikes into you directly. It’s like a inspirational thing.

Ex) 直感が鋭い。(chokkan ga surudoi) = You have a keen instinct.

Ex) 直感で決めました。(chokkan de kimemashita.) = I made an intuitive decision.

Ex) 直感に従う(chokkan ni shitagau) = to follow one’s （own） instincts

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・臨機応変(rinkiouhen) = play it by ear, (to act) depending on the time and situation, (to act) according to circumstances, (to act) on a case-by-case basis, to take means suited to the occasion

There are some manuals or rules to live in our society in this world, but we have to be flexible depending on the situation. So, we use this phrase “臨機応変(rinkiouhen)” to express that kind of thing.

 

 

Ex) 場合によっては、臨機応変に対応してください。(baai ni yotte wa, rinkiouhen ni taioushite kudasai.)

= Please respond(act) flexibly, depending on the circumstances.

Ex) 何か起きたら、臨機応変におねがいします。(nanika okitara rinkiouhen ni onegaishimasu.)

= If something happen, please play it by ear.

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・疑似体験する(giji taiken suru) = to have a simulated experience, virtual experience

Ex) この機械を使って、スペースシャトルの上昇を疑似体験できます (kono kikai o tukatte, space shuttle no joushou o gijitaiken dekimasu.)

= You can have a simulated experience the liftoff of space shuttle orbiter by using this machine.

Ex) Wiiで、スポーツを疑似体験できます (Wii de suport o gijitaiken dekimasu.)

= You can have a simulated experience of sports using Wii.

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・厄介(yakkai) = trouble, a burden, biggest headache, something is hard to deal with

Ex) それは、厄介な問題だね。(sore wa yakkai na mondai da ne.) = That must be a can of worms, huh? That must be a headache, huh? That’s a tough problem to deal with, huh?

 

 

– 厄介な(yakkai na) = same as 厄介(yakkai), but it’s なAdjective.

– 問題(mondai) = problem

 

 

Other expression

厄介になる(yakkai ni naru) = “to stay with someone and to be taken care of by them. ” “to be under the care of someone.”　Replace with 世話になる(sewa ni naru.)

厄介になる(yakkai ni naru) = “give someone trouble.”

Ex) これから1年間、厄介になります。(korekara ichi-nen-kan, yakkai ni narimasu.)

= I’ll stay with you for a year.

Literally; I’ll be taken care of by you guys for a year from now on.

 

Ex) 警察の厄介にだけはならないでね。(keisatsu no yakkai ni dake wa naranai de ne.)

= Whatever you do, please don’t get into trouble with the police.

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・早期発見 早期治療(souki hakken souki chiryou) = Early detection and treatment, Early detection, rapid cure.

– 早期(souki) = early, promptly

– 発見(hakken) = detection, discovery

– 治療(chiryou) = cure, medical treatment, therapy

We use this long phrase as a subject of the sentence.

Ex)癌は、早期発見 早期治療が大切です。(gan wa soukihakken soukichiryou ga taisetsu desu.)

= Early detection and treatment is important for cancer.

You can also use 早期発見(souki hakken) and 早期治療(souki chiryou) separately.

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・屁理屈(herikutsu) = Things you say that is illogical, quibble, sophism(A plausible but fallacious argument.), twisted logic

Ex) 屁理屈を並べる(herikutsu o naraberu) = Give(Say) a number of illogical thing

– 並べる(naraberu) means to line up something. In this case, you give a list of your illogical theory.

Ex) 屁理屈をこねる(herikutsu o koneru) = sophistic, to say that is illogical, quibble,  split hairs

– こねる(koneru) is like “to say” in this context.

Ex) 屁理屈ばっかり言ってないで! (herikutsu bakkari ittenai de!) =  Stop quibble!

– ばっかり(bakkari) is stronger than ばかり(bakari) and it means “do (something) all the time”

Ex) 屁理屈はいいから、やること やりなさい。(herikutsu wa ii kara, yaru koto yarinasai.)

= (I don’t want to hear your B.S./ Stop quibble and) do what you gotta do. – It’s like “Just do it!“

– いい(ii) can mean “No thank you,” or “I don’t want it.” In this context, you don’t want to hear “屁理屈(herikutsu).”

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・深読みする(fukayomi suru) = to read(look into) things more than what really meant, overinterpret

Ex) いや いや いや、深読みしすぎだよ。 (iya iya iya, fukayomi shisugi dayo) = No no no(Wait wai wait), (I really think) you overinterpret.　You read too much into this.

If you want to use in the positive context, you can say：

・読みが深い(Yomi ga fukai) = To have a deep insight, You can deeply read(look into) things, so you can see/read something behind

Antonym

・読みが浅い(Yomi ga asai) = To have a shallow insight, You don’t read(look into) things

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・偶然(guuzen) = By chance, coincidence, by accident, happen to

 

 

Ex) こんな偶然って、あるんですね。 (konna guuzen tte aru ndesu ne) = What a coincidence!

Literally, it sounds like “Wow, I’m surprised this kind of coincidence could happen, huh?“

こんな(konna) = this kind of

～んです  the mode of explaining things

ね ： Express a casual exclamation. Not translatable.

Ex) すごい偶然ですね!(sugoi guuzen desu ne) = What a coincidence!

Ex) 偶然彼女に会った。(guuzen kanojo ni atta) = I met her by accident.

Ex) 昨日 町で 偶然彼に出くわした。(kinou machi de guuzen kare ni dekuwashita)

= I happened to run across him by chance at town yesterday.

昨日(kinou)= yesterday

町で(machi de)= at a town

出くわす(dekuwasu) = to happen to run across (someone) by chance

Ex) 偶然にも、私も あなたと同じバンドがすきなんですよ。(guuzen nimo watashi mo anata to onaji bando ga sukina ndesu yo.)

= I happen to like the same band as you.

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・ウォール・ストリートを占拠せよ！(Wall Street o senkyo seyo!) = Occupy Wall Street

・ウォール街を占拠せよ！(Wall gai o senkyo seyo!) = Occupy Wall Street

占拠する(senkyo suru) verb = occupy, to fill up space, to take over a place

It’s not so conversational, but if you use it in a normal conversation, sounds dramatic and funny.

～せよ(seyo) indicates “order” and is a conjugated ending. Only a verb like する(suru) or compound verb like 勉強する(benkyou suru) will conjugated to せよ.　Take する off and add せよ at the end. It’s not so normal to use せよ in a normal conversation. Sounds very ordering like army kind. If you use it in a normal conversation, sounds dramatic and funny.

This was one of the joke I saw an episode on “South Park.”

One of the character, “Butter,” was using the bathroom and a reporter reported how the bathroom is now occupied by one of 99%; However, we use different term for that kind of “occupied” in Japanese. It has nothing to do with political “occupy” activity.(L)

・使用中(shiyouchuu) noun phrase = A place is used now, occupied now.

Ex) 使用中のトイレ(shiyouchuu no toire) = an occupied bathroom

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・恩人(onjin) = Someone who really gave you support you need and helped you so that you can get through or deal with it. / benefactor

Ex) 命の恩人(inochi no onjin) =someone who saved someone’s life (literally or we might use this figuratively, metaphorically.)

恩(on) in 恩人(onjin) is “debt, owe” or “the action or support or kindness you receive from someone.”

You can use it by itself, or if you see “恩” in a word, it has something to do with “debt, owe” or “the action or support or kindness you receive from someone.”

Ex) 恩に着ります。(on ni kirimasu) = I’m obliged. Thank you. I owe you one. Thank you for giving me your support I need.

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・なんだか～気がする(nandaka～ki ga suru) = I feel like ~

Ex) なんだかできそうな気がします！(nandaka dekisouna ki ga shimasu.) = I feel like I can do it!

Ex) なんだか夢みたいです！(nandaka yume mitai desu!) = I feel like it’s like a dream come true!

できそう＝できる＋そう (～そう is “なadjective,” so you say ～そうな before a noun.)

できそう means “seemingly possible to do.”

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・自尊心(jisonshin) = self-esteem, self-worth, self-respect, pride

You can use “自尊心(jisonshin)” in both positive way and negative way.

Ex) 自尊心が低い(jisonshin ga hikui) = S/he has low self-esteem.

Ex) 自尊心が高い(jisonshin ga takai) = S/he has high self-esteem.

Ex) 自尊心が傷つきました。(isonshin ga kidutsuki mashita.) = You hurt my self-esteem. My self-esteem is hurt.

Ex) 自尊心が強い(jisonshin ga tsuyoi) = S/he is very proud. S/he has great self-respect.

Ex) あなたには、自尊心ってものが ないんですか?(anata niwa, jisonshin tte mono ga nai ndesu ka?)

= Don’t you have the pride? (I hope this is correct English.)

＿＿ってもの = Something like ___, The ____

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・嫌味(iyami) = sarcasm, sarcastic

Action and behavior that makes other feel uncomfortable. / Things you may take it personally, irony /

・皮肉(hiniku) = irony, sarcasm

To criticize or blame someone in a roundabout way /A situation or result become something that you didn’t expect.

Ex) 嫌味を言う(iyami o iu)= make a sarcastic remark

Ex) (それは、)嫌味ですか?(sore wa, iyami desu ka?)

= Are you being sarcastic? / Is that a sarcastic remark?

Ex) それは、嫌味ですか?　それとも、褒めてくれているんですか?(sore wa iyami desu ka? soretomo momete kureteiru ndesu ka?)

= Is that a sarcastic remark or praise?

Ex) 彼は、いつも皮肉っぽいです。(kare wa, itsumo hiniku ppoi desu.)

= He is always sarcastic.

っぽい(ppoi) is like “-tic.”　You can also say “嫌味っぽい(iyamippoi)” which means “sarcastic.”

Ex) がんの名医が、自らがんで死ぬとは 皮肉だ。(gan no meii ga, mizukara gan de shinu towa, hiniku da.)

= It is very ironic(of fate) that a great cancer doctor should die of cancer himself.

Ex) 皮肉なことに、彼は死んだ後 有名になった。(hiniku na koto ni, kare wa shin da ato yuumei ni natta.)

= Ironically, he became popular after he died.

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・価値観(kachikan) = one’s sense of value, It’s likewhat you believe what’s good and not, your philosophy

Ex) 私達は、価値観が似ています。(watashitachi wa, kachikan ga niteimasu) – We have a similar sense of value

Ex) 価値観は、人それぞれです。(kachikan wa hito sorezore desu.) – Values can differ from person to person.

Ex) 価値観の違い(akchikan no chigai) – difference in value

Ex) その事を知って以来、価値観が変わりました。(sono koto o shitte irai, kachikan ga kawarimashita.) – My sense of value has changed since I’ve learn about it.

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・嫌なら見なければいい (iya nara minakereba ii) = You don’t have to watch it f you don’t like.

嫌なら ＋ Verb negative : な (from ない) + ければいい = you don’t have to do(verb) if you don’t like.

– This could sound offensive. This could be used to give a nice advice. Depending on the context.

な from Verb negative + ければいい literally means “It’s good if you don’t do(verb).”

Ex) 嫌なら食べなければいい(iya nara tabenakereba ii) = You don’t have to eat if you don’t like.

 

Depending on the situation, this could sound offensive.

If you cook something and you get this impression that your partner didn’t like it, you might be upset and if you say : 嫌なら食べなければいい(iya nara tabenakereba ii) sounds like you are pissed at him/her.Therefor it’s offensive.

If you feel bad for him/her to feed something that s/he doesn’t like you can say : 無理しないでいいよ。(muri shinaide ii yo) = You don’t have to do something that is impossibly tough for you to do. This is very kind.

• Check 無理

 

 

If you see someone suffering to eat something, you may say this as your opinion: 嫌なら食べなければいい(iya nara tabenakereba ii)

*Recently, I often see this phrase “嫌なら見なければいい (iyanara minakereba ii) ” online. People are talking their opinion about someone who appears on TV. Then if the opinion is negative, other people who read/heard their opinion said, “嫌なら見なければいい (iyanara minakereba ii)” to the person who made the opinion. I think it makes sense only if the TV show is about entertainment, something for fun; however, when it comes to politics, people should be able to say their concerns. Kids may not be able to judge what’s right and what’s not on TV. So they are more likely to be affected. After all, it affects our lives later.

If you just want to say “You don’t have to do(verb),“ you would say “しなくてもいい(shinakutemoii).”

Add よ at the end of the sentence to make it softer.“しなくてもいいよ(shinakutemoii yo).”

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・じゃあ、お言葉に甘えて。(jaa okotoba ni amaete.) = If you insist / I’ll take you up on your kind offer

When you accept someone’s offer, you can say “ありがとう” = Thank you.  お言葉に甘えて is another way to accept someone’s offer. I feel this phrase sounds very Japanese and modest.

Ex) You finished your work and want to go home, but you see everybody else is still working and feel bad to leave early. Now, your boss might say, “If you finished your work, you can go home.” Then you feel comfortable to leave now. You’d say “ じゃあ、お言葉に甘えて。(jaa okotoba ni amaete.) ” to response what your boss said.

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・余裕(yoyuu) = You have extra something more than necessary, leeway / You are mentally relaxed, no rushed,  room to breath

余裕(yoyuu) often is accompanied by these verb “ある” or “ない”.

Ex) 余裕がある。(Yoyuu ga aru) = I have room.

Ex) 余裕がない。(Yoyuu ga nai) = I don’t have room.

What does this “room” mean? “Room” for free movement within limits, as in action or expenditure, or you can use this to talk about psychologically.

Depending on the context, the meaning of these sentence will change.

Add “topic に” at the beggining of the sentence to make sure what you are talking about.

Time

Ex) 時間に 余裕がある。(jikan ni yoyuu ga aru.) = I have leeway.I have plenty of time to do something.

Ex) 余裕を持って準備する。(Yoyuu o motte, junbi suru) = To make preparations in good time.

Ex) バスにはまだ 1 時間余裕があります。(Basu niha mada ichi-jikan yoyuu ga arimasu.) = You still have an hour to catch the bus.

Money

Ex) お金に 余裕がある(okane ni yoyuu ga aru.) = I have enough money to buy something.

Mentally

Ex) 精神的に 余裕がある.(seishin-teki ni yoyuu ga aru.) = I have room to breath mentally,spiritually.

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・(話が)脱線する((hanashi ga) dassen suru) = go off on a tangent. – When one is talking one topic, it suddenly changes to other.

Ex) ちょっと、話が脱線しましたが…(chotto hanashi ga dassen shimashita ga…)

= I went off on a tangent, but (let’s get back to the original topic…)

By saying this phrase, you will be back to the original topic.

 

You can also use “脱線する(dassen suru) ” when train went off the track.

脱線事故(dassenn jiko) = derailment accident

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・人目(hitome) = Literally, it means other people’s eye, but it really means the way/thing other people think about you by seeing you. self conscious

I think this word is pretty common in Japan, because Japanese people worried about what other people think about them.

 

 

Ex) 人目が気になる。(hitome ga kininaru)

– I’m worried about what people think about me by seeing what I am doing. I get self conscious.

人目につく(hitome ni tsuku) = attract public attention

人目につかない場所(hitome ni tsukanai basho) = an out-of-sight place

Ex) 人目につかない場所で話しましょう。(hitome ni tsukanai basho de hanashimashou.)

– Let’s talk at an out-of-sight place.

人目を引く(hitome o hiku) = attract people’s attention, catch to the eye, showy

人目をはばかる(hitome o habakaru) = avoid (the) attention

 

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・ぐず(guzu) = Procrastinator

– It’s pretty offensive to use to others.

ぐずぐず する(guzuguzu suru) Verb = take all day to do things, being really slow that makes others frustrated

Ex) ぐずぐず しないで！(guzu guzu shinaide!) – use by both men and women.

Ex) ぐずぐず するな！(guzu guzu suruna!) – manly

– chop-chop, be quickly, hurry up

– Literally: Don’t procrastinate!

 

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・怠け者(namakemono) = a person who is lazy

Ex) この怠け者！(kono namakemono!) = You lazy bum!

ナマケモノ(namakemono) = sloth(animal)

怠ける(namakeru)verb = to be lazy, you don’t do what you supposed to do, idle

Ex) 仕事を怠ける(shigoto o namakeru) = I/she/he neglect one’s work.

Ex) 怠けてばかりいないで、勉強しなさい。(namakete bakari inaide, benkyou shinasai)

– Stop being lazy already and go study!

 

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・見て見ぬ振りをする(mite minuhuri o suru) = to pretend you didn’t see anything

Ex)見て見ぬ振りをするなんて、できません。(mite minu huri o suru nante dekimasen.)

– I can’t pretend as if I didn’t see.

見て見ぬ振りをする(mite minuhuri o suru) can be used in the situation that you “pass over one’s fault” or “let it pass.”

Similar expression : 知らんぷり(shiranpuri) = to pretend that you don’t know or see. Kind of like ignore.

 

 

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・若手(wakate) ‐ young people, junior, young people in some group(comparing others they are young).

若い(wakai) = young / 手(te) = hand (But 若手(wakate) has nothing to do with hand.)

Ex) 若手芸人(wakate geinin) Or 若手の芸人(wakate no geinin) – young comedian

What age of groups would be called 若手(wakate) is tough to answer, but I would say maybe up to 30 years old.

Or, you can use in this way.

If you are 40 years old, and the others in the group you belong to are all 50s, you might say

“__の中では、若手です。(__no naka dewa, wakate desu.)” = I’m young in ____.

If you just mean “young people” like teenagers, we say “若者(wakamono)”.

若手(wakate)=young people, 中堅(chuuken)=middle aged group, ベテラン(beteran)=veterans

I sometimes feel like 若手(wakate) means like a “newcomer” : a person who has recently started to participate in something.

Ex) それは、若手の仕事です。(sore wa wakate no shigoto desu.) – That’s a kind of job for young people.

 

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・さしいれ(sashiire) ‐ food or drink you deliver/bring for someone to show your appreciation.

This is another common word we often use in Japan.

For example, your friends belong to a soccer team. One day you decided to see their game to cheer them. You also decided to bring some food for the team. When you give those food, you would say

“これ、さしいれです。皆で食べてください。”(Kore, sashiire desu. Minna de tabete kudasai.)

– This is something for you guys. Please have them.

 

皆で食べてください。Minna de tabete kudasai. =  Literally : “with everybody, Please eat.”

Well, in this case, you want to support the team in some way, and you want the team to do great. So, you give .さしいれ.

 

 

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・とりあえず(toriaezu) ‐ first of all, tentatively, Anyway

 

 

とりあえず is pretty common word you hear in Japan. It has many nuance depending on the context.

Let me give you some nuance of とりあえず : “From the many choices I have, first of all, I do this.” “I don’t know if it’s the best idea, but anyway, let’s do it.” “I don’t know what’s gonna happen if I do this, but anyway, let’s do it.“

If you are in any situations like that, you can say “とりあえず ” at the beginning of the sentence.

Ex) とりあえず、ご飯を食べよう! (toriaezu, gohan o tabeyou!)

– (We have so many things to do, but) First, let’s eat!

Ex) とりあえず、ビールいっぱい下さい! (toriaezu, biiru ippai kudasai!)

– (I’m gonna order more later, but) First, a glass of beer please! / I’ll start with beer!

Ex) とりあえず、これで代用してください。 (toriaezu, kore de daiyoushite kudasai.)

– Please use this tentatively as a substitute.

 

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・心当たりはありますか?(Kokoroatari wa arimasuka?) ‐　Do you have any idea?/ Is there anything you can think of about ~? ~: whatever the topic you guys are talking about. / Do you think you are onto something?

 

 

・心当たりはありませんか?(Kokoroatari wa arimasenka?) ‐　Don’t  you have any idea? / Isn’t there anything you can think of about ~?

*心当たり(Kokoroatari) = something you can think of

 

 

Ex) 彼がどこへ行ったか心当たりがあります［ありません］ (Kare ga doko e itta ka kokoroatari ga arimasu/arimasen.)

‐I have an [no] idea where he might be.

Ex) 誰がこんなことをしたのか心当たりはありませんか?(Dare ga konna koto o shita no ka kokoroatari wa arimasenka?)

– Do(Don’t) you have any idea who might have done this?

 

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・(～する)にはもってこいの日(~suru niha mottekoi no hi ) = the best sort of day to (verb)

Ex) 泳ぐにはもってこいの日(oyogu niwa mottekoi no hi)= It’s the best sort of day to swim!

Ex) 泳ぐのにもってこいの日(oyogu noni mottekoi no hi)= It’s the best sort of day to swim!

には＆のに is interchangeable.

– Noun にもってこいの日= the best sort of day for Noun

Ex) バーベキューに もってこいの日(Baabequ- ni mottekoi no hi)= It’s the best sort of day for BBQ!

 

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・にわか雨 (niwaka ame) = a sudden rain

にわかに(niwaka ni) = Suddenly, at once

“とつぜん(totsuzen) = suddenly” : とつぜん(totsuzen) is commonly used.

 

 

・にわか仕込の〇〇(niwaka jikomi no 〇〇) = hastily 〇〇

You can put a noun in 〇〇. You can use this word, when you/someone acquire or learn something in such a short time.

This could sound like you put yourself/other down.

Ex) にわか仕込みの知識 (niwaka jikomi no chishiki) = hastily-crammed knowledge, hastily acquired knowledge

Ex) にわか仕込みの英語では、理解できませんでした。(Niwakajikomi no eigo dewa, rikai dekimasen deshita.)

= My haisty English was not enough to understand.

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・他力本願。 (tarikihongan) = Rely on some religious power, someone’s power.

When we use this, usually it means the latter.

You make your wish come true by relying on someone’s power/work.

 

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・やってみなくちゃわからない。 (yatteminakucha wakaranai) = You’ll never know unless you try. You can’t tell unless you try.

 

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・気が効く。(ki ga kiku) = You are sensible/considerate/thoughtful.

You can say this to someone who will notice a thing well and being helpful.

 

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・〇〇の常習犯 (〇〇 no joushuuhan) = habitual ~. The one who does the same mistake all the time. For negative thing.

窃盗の常習犯(Settou no joushuuhan) = habitual thief

万引きの常習犯(Manbiki no joushuuhan) = habitual shoplifting

遅刻の常習犯(Chikoku no joushuuhan) = the one who is always late

 

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・後から思えば、・・・/後から考えると、・・・(ato kara omoeba, / ato kara kangaeru to, ) = In hindsight,・・・・

後悔先に立たず。(koukai saki ni tatazu.) = Hindsight is 20/20.

 

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・捨てる神あれば拾う神あり(suteru kami areba, hirou kami ari.) = When one door is shut, another is open.

 

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・有言実行(Yuugen jikkou) = talk the talk and walk the walk

Ex) 有言実行します。(Yuugenjikkou shimasu.) = I’ll carry out my word.

 

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・けりをつける(Keri o tsukeru) = to settle things once and for all / to get ~ finished / to end, wind up the problems

-We used this word when you finally try to settle a difficult issue or problems.

 

 

Ex) そろそろ、あの問題にけりをつけなくてはいけません。(sorosoro, ano mondai ni keri o tsukenakute wa ikemasen.)

= It’s about time to wind up that issue(problem). We have to take care of that issue.

 

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・けじめをつける(kejime o tsukeru) = to draw a clear line / to take clear responsibility for (mistakes)

 

 

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・意表を突かれました。(ihyou o tsukaremashita.) = You/He/She/They did something I didn’t expect.

– 意表を突く(Ihyou o tsuku) : it means one does something the others don’t expect.

– You can use this to modify noun.

Ex) 意表を突く質問に、驚きました。(Ihyou o tsuku shitsumon ni odorokimashita.)

 

= I was surprised by the question I didn’t expect.

 

 

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・タフだね。(Tahu dane.) = You are a tough guy.

– Both physically & mentally.

– Used for both men & women.

 

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・苦労が報われて、嬉しいです。(kurou ga mukuwarete ureshii desu.) = I’m glad that all the efforts are paid off.

苦労(くろう) : noun = one’s struggle / hardships / hard time

苦労する(くろうする) : verb = have trouble / experience hardships / have a hard time of it

 

努力が報われて、嬉しいです。(Doryoku ga mukuwarete ureshii desu.) = I’m glad that all the efforts are paid off.

 

 

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・望むところです。(nozomu tokoro desu) = I’ll take that challenge.

You can use this phrase when you accept someone’s dare, provocation, challenge.

Other expression : やってやろうじゃないか。(Yatte yarou janai ka) : This is used by a man usually.

望む(のぞむ) : verb = desire / hope  / want / will

 

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・干渉しないでください。(kanshou shinaide kudasai) = Don’t meddle in my life.

 

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・動機は?(Douki wa?) = What is the cause? What is your motivation?

 

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・｢危ない！｣と思わず叫んだ。(abunai! to omowazu sakenda) = Watch out! I cried out in spite of myself.

思わず(omowazu) can be replaced with つい(tsui).

つい笑ってしまった。(tsui waratte shimatta) = I laughed in spite of myself.

 

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・捨て身で行きます。(sutemi de ikimasu) = I’ll do this at the risk of my life, in desperation.

Even though you might think it’s a losing battle, still you’ll do it at the risk of your life, in desperation.

 

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・気分転換でもしたら?(Kibun tenkan demo shitara?) Casual = Why don’t you take a break(do something) for a change, refreshing.

気分転換(Kibuntenkan) Literally means change your feeling, so it’s like refreshing yourself.

 

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・困りました。(Komarimashita) Normal

・困った。(Komatta) Casual

= I’m in trouble.

 

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・ぼーっとする。(Bo~tto suru) : This explains your state of being. Do nothing and being relax pretty much.

昨日は、一日中 ぼーっ と していました。(kinou wa, ichinichijuu bo~tto shiteimashita.)

= I was just being relaxed without doing anything or without thinking anything all day long yesterday.

Or if you are not paying attention to any of your surroundings at all, like you suddenly freeze, out of it, you can also use ぼーっとする。(Bo~tto suru)

(Casual conversation)

おーい！おーーーい！聞いてる? (o-i! o–i! kiiteru?) = Hello? Hello? Are you listening to me?

あ、ごめん。ぼーっとしてた。(a gomen. bo-tto shiteta.) = Oh, I’m sorry. I was spaced out.

 

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・飲酒運転はいけませんよ。(inshu unten wa ikemasen yo) = Don’t drink and drive.

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・お勘定おねがいします。(okanjou onegaishimasu) ‐ Check, please. May I have the bill, please.

 

 

・別々でお願いします。(betsu betsu de onegaishimasu) = We’ll pay separately. Separate checks, please.

You will pay for what you ordered.

・割り勘(warikan) = split the check, go fifty-fifty

It’s not you pay for what you ordered. Split the bill into the same amount and everybody pay the same amount.

 

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・しまった!(shimatta!) = Darn it! Oops! shoot! Oh, no!

We say this when we realize we made a mistake or forgot to do something.

 

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・懐かしいな(natsukashii na) = I feel nostalgic. This brings back memories.

～を思い出す(~o omoidasu) = reminds me of ~

 

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・いいかげんにしてください!(iikagenni shitekudasai) normal = That’s enough already! Please! Give me a break!

You can say this :

when you want someone to stop what they are doing to you.

to show that you are annoyed by him/her who are speaking to you.

to someone who is bothering you, messing  you around.

to someone who is persistent and keeps asking you the same thing after you already reject or refuse it.

 

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・どうしたの? (doushitano) casual

・どうしたんですか? (doushitandesuka) normal

= What’s the matter? What happened? What’s going on?

 

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・あなたのせいじゃありません。(anata no sei ja arimasen.) = It’s not your fault.

・仕方ありません。(shikata arimasen) = It can’t be helped.

 

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・面倒かけて、ごめんなさい。(mendou kakete gomennasai) = Sorry for the trouble.

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・たいした事じゃないです。(taishitakoto janai desu) = It’s nothing. (literally; it’s no big deal.)

面倒(mendou) … trouble, bother

迷惑(meiwaku)… nuisance, annoying

When you cause some trouble to someone, you say ；面倒 を かける or 迷惑 を かける

 

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・なんとかします。(nantoka shimasu) Normal = I’ll do something. I’ll take care of it. (Nuance : I’ll manage to do something to make thing work out.)

 

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・はい、喜んで。(Hai yorokonde.) Normal = Yes, I’d be happy to. (You can say this to accept someone’s offer or request.)

 

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・気分はどうですか?(Kibun wa dou desu ka?) Normal = How do you feel?

気分(kibun) Noun = Feeling according to the condition of your body and mind. / Feeling to do something. / Feeling according to the condition of your health.

気分が悪い(ん)です。(Kibun ga warui (n)desu.) = I feel sick. ((~んです is mode of explaining things))

気分が悪いです。(Kibun ga warui desu.) = My feeling was bothered by the event that has just happened.

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・病は気から。(Yamai wa Ki kara.) proverb = All illness comes from the mind.　Care will kill a cat.

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・がんばって! (ganbatte!) Casual

・がんばってください! (ganbatte kudasai!) Formal

= Good luck!  Do your best!  Hang in there!

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・気をつけてね。(Ki o tsukete ne) Casual

・お気をつけください。(O ki o tsuke kudasai) Polite

= Take care. Watch out for yourself.

(You can use this when someone is leaving. So, it’s sort of “いってらっしゃい.”)

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・立ち直れそうもありません。(tachinaore soumo arimasen) = I think I can’t get over it.(It seems like I’m not going to get over it.)

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・無理です。(Muri desu) Normal = That’s not possible. It doesn’t work out. I can’t do it (because it’s difficult(impossible) to do.)

無理な(Murina) なAdjective = unreasonable / 〔不自然な(ふしぜんな)〕unnatural / impossible

無理する(Murisuru) Verb = overwork　/ to force yourself to do something

無理を承知で、お願いします。(Muri o shouchi de onegaishimasu!)

= I know this is a tough(unreasonable) request for you, but I’m gonna ask you this! Please help me!

彼女が怒るのも無理ない。(Kanojo ga okoru no mo muri nai)

= It’s no wonder she got angry.　I don’t blame her for getting angry.

無理しないで(Murishinai de)

= Take it easy.

 

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・その調子！(sono choushi!) Casual = Way to go! Stay at it! Keep it up!

 

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・ちょっと、付き合ってほしいんだけど。(chotto tsukiatte hoshii ndakedo) Casual = Will you keep me company for a while? / I want you to come with me.

You can say this phrase when you want someone to come to somewhere with you. http://japanesestudynow.com/?p=4381

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・そこが、ネックなんだよね～。(soko ga nekku nanda yo ne~) Casual = There, that is the problem. (Literally : That’s the bottleneck.)

This word “ネック” comes from bottleneck.

Bottleneck = To slow down or impede by creating an obstruction.

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・実は、小心者なんです。(jitsuwa, shooshinmono nandesu) – boy & girl = Actually, I don’t have balls.

小心者 (しょうしんもの) = timid person

 

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・今日は、私のおごり。(kyou wa watashi no ogori) – girl / (boy) = This is on me today.

・今日は、僕のおごり。(kyou wa boku no ogori) – boy. = This is on me today.

 

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・一つに決めるのは、難しいです。(hitotsu ni kimeru nowa muzukashii desu) normal = It’s difficult to decide on one.

 

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・やっぱり(ね)!(Yappari (ne)!) kind of casual = I knew it!

Depending on the context, やっぱり(yappari) can be “after all” or this will be used when you have changed your mind.

Ex) やっぱり だめ か。 = After all, it didn’t work….

At the restaurant.　You ordered your food, but you have changed your mind.

Ex) やっぱり、これをおねがいします。= I’ve changed my mind, I’ll have this.

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・あ、間違えました！(A, machigaemashita!) Formal = Oops, I made a mistake!

・あ、間違えた！(A, machigaeta!) Casual = Oops, I made a mistake!

 

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・ごめん！今 金欠だから、また今度ね！(Gomen! ima kinketsu da kara, mata kondo ne!) Casual = Sorry! I’m broke now, so maybe next time!

 

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・覚えてる?(Oboeteru?) Casual form = Do you remember?

・覚えていますか?(Oboeteimasu ka?) Polite form

 

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・気にしないでね。(Ki ni shinai de ne) Casual = Don’t worry about it. Never mind.

・気にしないで下さい。(Ki ni shinaide kudasai) Polite

 

 

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・朝は苦手なんです。(asa wa nigatenandesu) Normal = I’m not a morning person. /　Literally it means : I’m not good at morning.

 

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・お腹 が すいた！(onaka ga suita!) Casual = I’m hungry!

Hindsight is 20/20. 後悔先に立たず。