Looks good enough to eat
Posted by Alei in January 16, 2010
A really cool kanji that comes up a lot with eating out, especially if you like yakitori is the word ‘kushi’.
This kanji just makes so much sense！
Kushi = skewer stick.
It’s so visual. The actual kanji for skewer （くし） looks like this:
串
An actual skewer stick with chunks of meat on it. Now there’s an [...]
Sunday roast at Sekka
Posted by Alei in November 15, 2009
A ridiculous amount of eating (and drinking) has been going and I haven’t had time to catch up on all the blogging.
I’ve also learnt a new word to accompany all this eating.
常連客 = regular customer/patron/frequenter of a place.
It has become my local study cafe. They do great teas in pots with hot water refills, and [...]
No talents, big eater
Posted by Alei in October 25, 2009
I came across another Yojijukugo today which I could totally relate to, unflattering as it is.
無芸大食 むげいたいしょく
Let’s break it down:
無 = not existing (negation)
芸 = arts, skills, talents
大 = big
食 = meal/eat
Literal translation is: no talents, big eater/meals
Someone whose only talent is eating, essentially an unaccomplished person.
To have no special talent besides the ability to eat [...]
Live drunk and die dreaming
Posted by Alei in October 24, 2009
今日の用事熟語
Youjijukugos are four kanji compounds to form an idiomatic expression.
Here’s one for today, after last night’s big drinking episode.
酔生夢死 すいせいむし
Let’s break it down:
酔 = drunk
製 = live/life
夢 = dream
死 = die
Live drunk and die dreaming. To drink your life away, idle one’s life away.
And now for today’s Word of the day:
解毒する - げどくする (’dissolve’ + ‘poison’) = to detox. [...]
Mount Youtei
Posted by Alei in September 9, 2009
みね
mountain peak
峰
A couple of weekends ago, I hiked Mount Youtei - the local majestic mountain which towers over the local surrounds. It’s nickname is Ezo Fuji.
It is 1898 metres high, and it took 8 hours return to hike to the summit and back.
We set off hiking at 7am and got back at 3pm, for [...]
Pearls of wisdom
Posted by Alei in September 8, 2009
Today’s Japanese word of the day is ‘Pearl’ ー真珠
Here is an idiom using that word:
豚に真珠 ぶたにしんじゅ , literally pearls on a pig, or in English, “to cast pearls before swine”.
It basically means, that regardless of the jewels and pearls you adorn yourself with, you’re still pretty ugly and not really attractive. You’re mutton [...]
Random words for the day
Posted by Alei in September 2, 2009
雨どい あまどい gutter
蜂の巣 はちのす bee’s nest
水溜り みずたまり puddle
水玉 みずたま polka dot
選挙日
Posted by Alei in August 30, 2009
I’ve never been much of a political follower, but today is election day in Japan. So today’s word for the day is 選挙日 せんきょび。
It is a national election which could see a major shake-up to Japan’s government. The BBC are calling it a ‘landmark election’. I don’t know if I would go so far as [...]
That’s so Japanese
Posted by Alei in August 20, 2009
In English there is the expression, “the walls have ears”.
In Japan there is not only a Japanese translation of it, but there’s even a further Japanese extended version of it. I learnt it today from a work colleague. I found it most amusing.
壁に耳あり （かべにみみあり）
障子に目あり （しょうじにめあり）
The translation being, not only do “the walls have ears but the shouji [...]
Word for the day: 呼気 (アルコール濃度) 検査
Posted by Alei in July 12, 2009
呼気 (アルコール濃度) 検査= breath test for alcohol
｛こきのうど けんさ｝
‘Breath’ testing for alcohol in Japan is quite literal.
Last night I was out with some friends for dinner and then an after-dinner drink at a bar, as you do on a Friday night. Drink driving in Japan is illegal as it is in most countries, so being the [...]
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