May 2023
Japanese language lesson: Body Part Idioms
5 most used idioms in Japanese 開いた口が塞がらない | aita kuchi ga fusagara nai This phrase literally translates to "the opened mouth doesn't close," and it's used when something is so surprising or shocking that one is left speechless. It's similar to the English idiom "my jaw hit the floor." Example: 「大切な会議で取締役たちが寝落ちしたって?!」「 開いた口が塞がらないわ。」 "Taisetsu na kaigi […]
“An Inconvenient Truth” Is a Reality
Author: Natsuko Seki When reading on a smartphone, we recommend turning the screen to landscape mode. Warming up Audio Keywords and Summary Japanese Word Furigana English Word Example Sentence (Japanese & English) 記録的な きろくてきな Record-breaking 世界中で40度を超える記録的な高温が森林火災を引き起こし、日本でも6月以降に記録的な猛暑が続きました。 Global record temperatures surpassing 40°C sparked wildfires, while Japan had record-breaking heat from June. 洪水 こうずい Flooding 河川や湖が干上がる一方で、大雨で洪水が発生しました。The torrential […]
Waita [New Expression and Buzzword]
Author: Natsuko Seki When reading on a smartphone, we recommend turning the screen to landscape mode. 沸いたーBoiled Warming up Audio Keywords and Summary Japanese Word Furigana English Word Example Sentence (Japanese & English) 沸騰 ふっとう boil 「沸いた」は、本来はお湯が沸騰したことを表す言葉です。“Waita” (boiled) is originally a word that expresses when water is boiled or reaching boiling point. 興奮 […]
Yuru Bukatsu [New Expression and Buzzword]
Author: Natsuko Seki When reading on a smartphone, we recommend turning the screen to landscape mode. ゆる部活Laid-back club activities Warming up Audio Keywords and Summary Japanese Word Furigana English Word Example Sentence (Japanese & English) 勝ち負け かちまけ winning or losing 「ゆる部活」は、勝ち負けよりも運動を楽しむことに重点を置いています。The focus of "Yuru Bukatsu" (laid-back club activities) is to enjoy exercising rather […]
What Saved Asakusa’s Rickshaws
Author: Natsuko Seki When reading on a smartphone, we recommend turning the screen to landscape mode. Warming up Audio Keywords and Summary Japanese Word Furigana English Word Example Sentence (Japanese & English) 人力車 じんりきしゃ rickshaw 東京・浅草では人力車に乗ることができます。In Asakusa, Tokyo, you can experience riding a rickshaw. 昨年 さくねん last year 昨年まで人力車のお客は減っていました。Until last year, the number of rickshaw […]
Dejitaru Seppuku [New Expression and Buzzword]
When reading on a smartphone, we recommend turning the screen to landscape mode. デジタル切腹Digital Seppuku Warming up Audio Keywords and Summary Japanese Word Furigana English Word Example Sentence (Japanese & English) 責任 せきにん responsibility 「デジタル切腹」はデジタル上で責任を取ることを表しています。"Dejital Seppuku" (Digital Seppuku) represents taking responsibility in the digital realm. 削除 さくじょ delete 責任を取るために、ゲームのキャラクターやアカウントを自分で削除します。To take responsibility, they delete their game […]
How to Learn Japanese Language
Japanese is often seen as a very difficult language to learn. This is because of its complex writing system (related to the Chinese one but also different), the variety in saying the same concept in different ways and the pronunciation which can result in tough for Western learners. To improve your Japanese, consider learning its […]
Ideas and Ingenuity Come From Chaos
Author: Natsuko Seki When reading on a smartphone, we recommend turning the screen to landscape mode. Warming up Audio Keywords and Summary Japanese Word Furigana English Word Example Sentence (Japanese & English) 公共 こうきょう Utilities ウクライナ戦争による原油高により、公共料金が高騰しています。 High oil prices and import/export restrictions from the Ukraine war are causing utility prices to skyrocket. 物価 ぶっか Price […]
Neo Dekora [New Expression and Buzzword]
Author: Natsuko Seki When reading on a smartphone, we recommend turning the screen to landscape mode. ネオデコラNeo Decora Warming up Audio Keywords and Summary Japanese Word Furigana English Word Example Sentence (Japanese & English) 流行 りゅうこう trend 「デコラ」は1990年後半から2000年代に流行しました。"Decora" was a fashion trend that became popular in the late 1990s to the 2000s. 発祥 はっしょう origin, […]
LEGO® Work on Display in the USA
Author: Natsuko Seki When reading on a smartphone, we recommend turning the screen to landscape mode. Warming up Audio Keywords and Summary Japanese Word Furigana English Word Example Sentence (Japanese & English) 商業施設 しょうぎょうしせつ Commercial facility 大阪市の商業施設でプロビルダーである三井淳平さんの作品を楽しむことができます。You can enjoy the works of professional builder Junpei Mitsui at commercial facilities in Osaka City. 美術館 びじゅつかん Museum […]