Читать книгу Complete Japanese Expression Guide - Mizue Sasaki - Страница 7
ОглавлениеA GUIDE TO
JAPANESE
EXPRESSIONS
abura o shiboru
reprimand, reproach
TOMODACHI 1:
Dō shimashita ka?
TOMODACHI 2:
Kaisha no kuruma o butsukete, buchō ni abura o shiboraremashita yo.
FRIEND 1:
What's the matter?
FRIEND 2:
I had an accident with the company car and the department chief really gave me hell.
Abura o shiboru, literally "to squeeze out oil," means to severely reproach a person. When extracting oil from sesame seeds, rapeseeds, or soybeans, they are crushed, squeezed, and thoroughly pulverized. This process is similar to that of severely scolding someone.
EXAMPLES
1. Shukudai o wasurete, sensei ni abura o shiborareta.
I forgot my homework and was chewed out by the teacher.
2. Kare wa saikin, namakete iru node, sukoshi abura o shibotte oko.
Lately he's become lazy, so let's have a little talk with him.
3. Kaigi de okashi na hatsugen o shite, buchō ni abura o shiborareta.
The department chief gave me a sound scolding because I said something out-of-line in the meeting.
4. Anata ga sensei ni abura o shiborareru no wa atarimae da.
The teacher has good reason to rake you over the coals.
5. Suzuki Sensei, uchi no kodomo, sukoshi abura o shibotte yatte kudasai.
Professor Suzuki, please give our child a bit of a talking-to.
abura o uru
idle away one's time
SENPAI:
Kaeri ga osokatta ne. Doko de abura o utte itan' da?
KŌHAI:
Abura nanka utte imasen. Chanto shigoto o shite imashita yo.
SENIOR:
You're late getting back. Where were you loafing off?
JUNIOR:
I wasn't loafing off! I've been busy working.
Abura o uru means either to pass the time by engaging in idle talk or to waste time while at work or while attending to something. During the Edo period, people bought lantern oil from wandering merchants. When the oil containers became low, the oil would become viscous and thus took longer to pour. When this happened, the merchants would engage the housewives in light conversation. From this came the meaning of idling away one's time.
EXAMPLES
1. Doko de abura o utte ita no desu ka?
Where have you been loafing?
2. Konna tokoro de abura o utte inaide, shigoto o shinasai.
Stop shooting the breeze—here, of all places—and get back to work!
3. Kare wa doko de abura o utte iru no ka, mada kaeranai.
He's still not back. Where can he be loafing off?
4. Anata ni wa, watashi ga abura o utte iru yō ni mierun' desu ka?
Does it look to you as if I'm loafing off?
5. Kanojo wa shigoto-chu ni muda-banashi o shite, abura bakari utte iru.
She does nothing but gossip at work.
ago de tsukau
boss around
OTTO:
Oi, soko no shinbun, totte kurenai ka? Ā, megane mo.
TSUMA:
Hito no koto, ago de tsukawanaide, jibun de nasattara ii noni.
HUSBAND:
Hey, would you get me that newspaper over there? Oh, and my glasses too.
WIFE:
Instead of bossing other people around, you should do it yourself.
Ago de tsukau, literally "to use the chin," means to order someone around or to have someone at one's beck and call. This expression comes from the way people tend to stick out their chins when ordering others to do something. Another expression using ago is ago o dasu, which means to bum oneself out.
EXAMPLES
1. Shachō wa itsumo, shain o ago de tsukatte iru.
The boss is always ordering the employees around.
2. Hito o ago de tsukaeru tachiba de wa arimasen.
You are in no position to be ordering people around.
3. Kare ni ago de tsukawareru yō de wa, o-shimai da.
It's all over once he starts ordering you around.
4. Kare no ago de hito o tsukau taido ni wa, gaman dekinai.
I just can't put up with the way he orders people about.
5. Kachō wa buka o ago de tsukatte iru.
The section chief orders his subordinates around relentlessly.
aiso ga tsukiru
lose patience with, lose interest in
MUSUKO:
Otōsan, boku, arubaito-saki, kubi ni natta yo.
CHICHIOYA:
Chikoku bakari shita kara da. Shachō mo kitto omae ni aiso ga tsukitan' da yo.
SON:
Dad, I've been fired from my part-time job.
FATHER:
It's because you were always late. You must have tried your boss's patience to the limit.
Aiso (affability) is a shortened form of aiso, and together with tsukiru (use up) implies completely losing patience or interest. Other forms of this expression are aiso o tsukasu (be fed up), aiso o tsukasareru (be given up by someone), and aiso-zukashi (spiteful remarks).
EXAMPLES
1. Uso bakari tsuku node, kare ni wa aiso ga tsukimashita.
He's such an habitual liar. I've had it with him.
2. Kare wa, koibito ni aiso o tsukasareta yō desu yo.
It appears that his girlfriend has lost patience with him.
3. Anna hito nara, kanojo ga aiso o tsukasu no mo tozen desu.
It's only to be expected that she'd lose interest in someone like that.
4. Shomin o wasureta seijika ni wa, sukkari aiso ga tsukite shimatta.
I'm tired of politicians who don't care about the public.
5. Kanojo wa uwaki suru otto ni aiso ga tsuki, rikon suru koto ni shita.
She was fed up with her unfaithful husband, so she divorced him.
aizuchi o utsu
chime in
BUCHŌ:
Kono yō ni susumetai to omoun' da ga.
BUKA:
Ē, sore de iin ja nai deshō ka?
BUCHŌ:
Sakki kara, kind wa aizuchi o utsu dake dejibun no iken o iwanai ne.
DEPARTMENT CHIEF:
This is the kind of direction I'd like to move in.
SUBORDINATE:
Yes, I guess that would be fine.
DEPARTMENT CHIEF:
You've just been echoing me and not giving me your own opinions on the matter.
Aizuchi o utsu, literally "a set of hammers striking," originally described when an apprentice blacksmith worked with the master and they would coordinate their hammer strokes, one striking after the other. Thus, the expression refers to tactful responses that keep a conversation moving, phrases like "I see" and "really?"
EXAMPLES
1. Kare wa hito no hanashi ni aizuchi o utte bakari iru.
All he does when you talk to him is agree with what you say.
2. Dōshite, aizuchi bakari utsuri desu ka?
Why do you only echo what I'm saying?
3. Ē? Kare ga aizuchi o uttan' desu ka?
What? You mean you actually got a response out of him?
4. Kare ni aizuchi o utaseru to wa, kimi mo sugoi ne.
It really is impressive how you are able to get him to respond.
akaji ni naru
be in the red
OTTO:
Kozukai, mō sukoshi agete kurenai ka?
TSUMA:
Ie no rōn ya kyōikuhi ga kasande, maitsuki akaji na no. Totemo muri yo.
HUSBAND:
Can't you give me a little more pocket money?
WIFE:
With the way the house loan and school expenses have been mounting up, we're in the red every month. There's just no way.
Akaji ni naru means to be in the red; in other words, when one's expenses are more than one's earnings. The expression comes from the practice of filling in the deficit column in account books with a red pen.
EXAMPLES
1. Maitsuki akaji na node, tsuma mo pāto de hataraku koto ni shita.
Since we're in the red every month, my wife began a part-time job.
2. Kono mama uriage ga ochikomu to, akaji ni naru.
If sales continue to go down like this, we'll end up in the red.
3. Kono mise wa hanjō shite iru yō de mo, akaji o kakaete imasu.
This store may appear to be prospering, but actually it's in the red.
4. Kokka yosan ga akaji no kuni ga oi.
Many countries have a budget deficit.
5. Hoikuen no akaji o bazā de oginau.
The day-care center holds bazaars to make up for its losses.
amaku miru
think little of, not take seriously
DŌRYŌ 1:
Ano kaisha no saikin no uriage, sugoi desu ne.
DŌRYŌ 2:
Sukoshi amaku mite ita kamo shiremasen ne. Uchi mo ganbaranai to...
COLLEAGUE 1:
That company's recent sales figures are impressive, aren't they?
COLLEAGUE 2:
Maybe we were underestimating them. We'd better get going ourselves.
Amai has many meanings, including sweet, romantic, indulgent, and optimistic. Amaku miru means to think lightly of or not to take something seriously. Other forms are amaku mirareru (be taken too lightly) and amaku mite shimau (underestimate).
EXAMPLES
1. Kanojo o amari amaku mite wa ikenai.
You'd better not underestimate her.
2. A-sha ni zuibun amaku miraremashita ne,
Company A doesn't think of us as serious competition at all.
3. Onna da to omotte, amaku minaide kudasai.
Don't underestimate me because I'm a woman.
4. Shiken o amaku mita no ga shippai no gen' in desu yo.
The reason you failed is that you didn't take the exam seriously.
asameshi-mae
a cinch, easy to do
TSUMA:
Kono nimotsu, suimasen kedo, todana ni shimatte. Anata nara, asameshi-mae deshō?
OTTO:
Ii yo. Shokuji no ato de, shimatte oku yo.
WIFE:
Could you put this luggage away in the closet, please? For you, its so easy.
HUSBAND:
Sure. I'll put them away right after I finish eating.
Asameshi-mae means something that is a cinch or a piece of cake. Literally "before breakfast," the phrase implies that something requires little energy and can be done with hardly any effort.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare ni totte, Eibun no tegami o kaku no wa asameshi-mae da.
It's a cinch for him to write a letter in English.
2. Otto ni wa, katei no daiku-shigoto nado, asameshi-mae da.
Taking care of the carpentry work around the house is a cinch for my husband.
3. Kanojo ni totte, kyoshitsu nofuriiki o akaruku suru no wa asameshimae datta.
It was easy for her to brighten up the classroom atmosphere.
4. Nihon no keizai-ryoku nara, ano kuni o enjo suru no wa asameshi-mae desu.
Providing support for that country is a simple matter considering Japan's economic might.
ato no matsuri
too late
SEITO:
Konna ni shiken ga muzukashiin' dattara, motto benkyō shite okeba yokatta.
SENSEI:
Ima kara itte mo, ato no matsuri da yo. Kondo ganbarinasai.
STUDENT:
If I had known that the exam was going to be this difficult, I would have studied harder.
TEACHER:
It's too late to say that now. You'd better try harder next time.
Ato no matsuri, literally "after a festival," means being too late for something. This expression comes from going to the site of a festival after it's over and seeing the floats and stalls that have served then-purpose and no longer have any use.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare ni ima sara ayamatte mo, ato no matsuri deshō ne.
Even if I apologize to him now, probably the damage is already done.
2. Ima goro, shōbōsha ga kite mo, ato no matsuri desu yo.
Even if the fire engines came now, it's too late for them to be of any help.
3. Saishūkai ni niten ireta ga, ato no matsuri datta.
We scored two points in the last inning, but it was too late.
4. Ima sugu ni, taisaku o kangaenai to, ato no matsuri ni narimasu yo.
If we don't think of a countermeasure right now, we'll have missed our chance to do anything.
5. Kyanseru shita kippu o kai-modosō to shita ga, ato no matsuri datta.
I tried to repurchase the cancelled ticket, but it was too late.
atogama ni suwaru
succeed or replace someone
KAISHAIN 1:
Buchō wa konogoro, byōkigachi de, dōmo taishoku suru rashii desu yo.
KAISHAIN 2:
So naru to, kare no atogama ni suwaru no wa, dare deshō ne.
EMPLOYEE 1:
The department chief tends to get sick a lot these days. It looks like he's going to have to retire.
EMPLOYEE 2:
In that case, I wonder who will replace him.
Atogama, literally "the following pot," refers to a replacement or successor. It is also used to refer to a second wife. An atogama was a pot put on the hearth when there was still heat remaining from the previous cooking. The phrase implies that very little time has passed before a successor, or a new wife, comes along.
EXAMPLES
1. Kachō ga mae no buchō no atogama ni suwatta.
The section chief replaced the department chief.
2. Buchō no atogama ni suwatta hito wa, kare hodo yūnō de wa nakatta.
The person who succeeded the department chief was not as capable as the chief had been.
3. Kare no atogama ni suwaritai hito wa ōzei iru.
Many people would like to step into his position.
4. Kanojo ga senpai no atogama ni suwaru koto ni natta.
She ended up replacing one of her seniors.
ba-chigai
out of place
(kaisha no keieisha no kaigi de)
KAISHAIN 1:
Kono kaigi ni, zuibun ba-chigai na hito ga kite imasu ne.
KAISHAIN 2:
Ē, tashika kare wa, tenisu no senshu deshita yo ne.
(at a company management conference)
EMPLOYEE 1:
There are people at this conference who really look quite out of place.
EMPLOYEE 2:
Yes, take that fellow—he's a tennis player, isn't he?
Ba-chigai, which combines the ba from basho (place) and chigai (difference), indicates something that does not belong or is unsuitable for a particular place. Other expressions employing chigai are ire-chigai (pass a person at an entrance), omoi-chigai (misapprehension), kan-chigai (misunderstanding), kiki-chigai (mishearing), and dan-chigai (vast difference).
EXAMPLES
1. Kare wa kekkon-shiki ni ba-chigai nafukuso de shusseki shita.
He attended the wedding reception wearing clothes inappropriate for the occasion.
2. Ba-chigai na hito ga, kono kaigi ni dete imasu ne.
There are people at this conference who don't really belong.
3. Koko ni kare ga iru no wa, ba-chigai ja arimasen ka?
This isn't the kind of place you would expect to find him, is it?
4. Yahari, kaigi de no ano hatsugen wa ba-chigai datta deshō.
As I had thought, his comments in the meeting were out of place.
baka shōjiki
foolishly honest
TOMODACHI 1:
Dōshite koibito nifurareta no?
TOMODACHI 2:
Kanojo ni imōto nō ho ga kirei da ne 'tte ittan' da.
TOMODACHI 1:
Kimi wa hontō ni baka shōjiki da ne.
FRIEND 1:
Why did your girlfriend dump you?
FRIEND 2:
I told her I thought her younger sister was better looking.
FRIEND 1:
You really are too honest for your own good.
Baka shōjiki means being honest to such an extreme that it becomes foolish. Baka (foolish) is written with the characters for horse and deer, but these are merely phonetic substitutes and offer no insight into the word's meaning. Shōjiki means honest. Another common expression using baka is baka ni tsukeru kusuri wa nai, literally "no medicine can cure a fool."
EXAMPLES
1. Anata wa dōshite sonna ni baka shōjiki na no?
How can you be so naively honest?
2. Kare ga anna ni baka shōjiki na hito da to wa omowanakatta.
I never thought of him as being so gullible.
3. Kanojo ni hontō no koto o itte okoraseta no wa, baka shōjiki datta ka na?
I wonder if I was being too honest—telling her the truth and making her angry like that.
bakyaku o arawasu
show one's true colors
DANSHI GAKUSEI:
Asu wa shigoto no mensetsu nan' da. Keiken ga nai kara, shinpai da
JŌSHI GAKUSEI:
Hen na koto o itte, bakyaku o arawasanai yō ni ne.
MALE STUDENT:
Tomorrow I have a job interview. I don't have much experience, so I'm worried.
FEMALE STUDENT:
Well, just be careful you don't say something strange and give yourself away.
Bakyaku o arawasu, literally "to reveal the horse's legs," means to reveal one's true character and thus give oneself away. In Japanese drama, when people played the part of a horse, one person would act as the forequarters and one as the hindquarters. If the actor's legs became exposed, the audience would know the truth. From this came the meaning of showing one's true feelings or thoughts.
EXAMPLES
1. O-miai no seki de kanojo wa bakyaku o arawashita.
Upon meeting with her prospective husband, she showed her true self.
2. Musuko ga mensetsu shiken de bakyaku o arawasanai ka to shinpai desu.
I worry that my son might show his true colors during the job interview.
3. Sonojiken de, kare no bakyaku ga arawareta.
It was that incident that gave him away.
4. Kare wa yopparatte bakyaku o arawashita.
He got drunk and showed himself for what he really was.
ban-kuruwase
an upset, surprise
KISHA:
Kondo no senkyō no kekka wa igai deshita ne.
SEIJIKA:
Hontō desu yo. K-shi ga shushō ni naru to wa, taihen na bankuruwase desu.
REPORTER:
The outcome of the recent election was quite a surprise.
POLITICIAN:
Indeed. It was a real surprise to see Mr. K become prime minister.
Ban-kuruwase comes from the world of sumo and refers to a surprise upset. Before each tournament, a list of the wrestlers (banzuke) is posted, ranking the wrestlers from lowest to highest. When a higher-ranked wrestler is beaten by someone of lower rank, the order of the banzuke is upset (kuruwaseru).
EXAMPLES
1. Kyō no sumō wa, yokozuna ga makeru to iu ban-kuruwase ga atta.
There was a surprise upset in today's sumo; one of the top wrestlers was defeated.
2. Kare ga ichi-i ni naru to wa, tonda ban-kuruwase datta.
It was quite an upset for him to finish in first place.
3. Kaigi de kanojo ga hantai shita no wa, ban-kuruwase datta.
It was quite a surprise to have her express her opposition at the meeting.
4. Ban-kuruwase no kanojo no hatsugen ni, minna odoroita.
Everyone was shocked by her unexpected announcement.
5. Ryokō-chū ni resshajiko ni au to wa, tonda ban-kuruwase deshita.
It was a great shock to be in a train accident while we were on vacation.
bita ichimon
a single penny
KYAKU:
Nē, ojisan, kore o-make shite.
TENSHU:
O-kyakusan, kore wa bita ichimon makerarenai yo.
CUSTOMER:
How about knocking a little off the price for me?
STORE OWNER:
Sorry, I can't cut the price a single cent.
Bita is an abbreviation for bitasen, a crude coin produced in the 16th century. At that time, a mon was the smallest unit of currency. Though these coins no longer exist today, their names live on in such expressions as bita ichimon mo nai (not have a cent) and bita ichimon makerarenai (not come down in price one cent).
EXAMPLES
1. Ano mise wa takusan katte mo, bita ichimon makete kurenai.
No matter how much you buy in that shop, they won't give you any discount.
2. Bita ichimon makete kurenain'
nara, kono mise de wa kaimasen.
If you won't budge an inch on the price, I'll go elsewhere.
3. Watashi wa kore de bita ichimon mōkeru tsumori wa arimasen.
At this price I don't expect to make a cent of profit.
4. Kare wa isshō asonde kurashi, bita ichimon kaseida koto wa nai.
He has lived a life of leisure and never earned a penny.
5. Jibun no chokin kara bita ichimon musuko ni yaru tsumori wa nai.
I have no intention of giving my son a single cent of my savings.
bō ni furu
spoil, ruin
KAISHAIN 1:
Kinō wa kachō no hikkoshi no tetsudai datta sō desu ne.
KAISHAIN 2:
Sō nan' desu. O-kage de nichiyōbi o ichinichi bō ni furimashita yo.
EMPLOYEE 1:
So you helped the section chief move house yesterday, didn't you?
EMPLOYEE 2:
That's right. It spoiled my whole Sunday.
Bō nifuru means to waste or ruin something. A bō is a long slender pole made of wood, metal, or bamboo. Bō ni furu, literally "to brandish a pole," is said to originate from the former practice of peddlers bearing poles on their shoulders when doing business. Until all their goods were sold, the peddlers would have to brandish that pole. If they didn't sell all their goods, they would be financially ruined.
EXAMPLES
1. Kinō wa kimi no kichō na yasumi o maru ichinichi bō ni furasete, sumanakatta ne.
Sorry I ruined your holiday yesterday.
2. He, bō nifutta wake de wa arimasen.
Not at all—it wasn't ruined.
3. Kare wa mayaku ni te o dashite, isshō o bō ni furasareta. He became involved with drugs, which ruined his life.
4. Sonna koto de, kyaria o bō nifutte mo iin' desu ka?
Is that worth forfeiting your whole career for?
5. Watashi wa sonna koto de, isshō o bō nifuru tsumori wa arimasen.
I have no intention of making a mess of my life because of that.
boro o dasu
expose one's faults
(miai no seki de)
MUSUME:
Okōsan, nani o o-hanashi shitara ii kashira.
HAHAOYA:
Hanasanai ho ga ii wa. Amari hanasu to boro ga demasu yo.
(at a meeting for an arranged marriage)
DAUGHTER:
What should I talk about, Mom?
MOTHER:
You'd be better off keeping as quiet as possible. If you talk too much, you'll reveal too many of your faults.
Boro refers to rags or tatters and with dasu (put out or show) means to expose one's faults and shortcomings. Other variations include boro ga deru (have one's faults revealed) and boro o dasareru (be made to show one's weaknesses).
EXAMPLES
1. Ukkari suru to boro ga desō da.
If we're not on guard, we may reveal our weak points.
2. O-miai de wa boro o dasanai yō ni ne.
When you meet your prospective spouse at a meeting for an arranged marriage, be careful not to show your bad side.
3. Anata ga boro o dasun ja nai ka to shinpai shite itan' desu yo.
I was worried that you might reveal your faults.
4. Kaigi no seki de machigatta hokoku o shite, boro o dashite shimatta.
I gave an incorrect report at the meeting and lost my credibility.
5. Yokatta! Boro o dasanakute sumimashita.
Whew! I managed to keep up appearances until the end.
bu ga yoi / bu ga warui
advantage /disadvantage
MUSUKO:
Otōsan, shōgi shiyō yo.
CHICHIOYA:
Omae to de wa, kochira no bu ga warusō da na.
SON:
Come on, Dad. Let's have a game of Japanese chess.
FATHER:
If I play with you, the odds are against me.
Bu ga yoi indicates that a person is in a favorable position in situations where competition is involved—for example, games, sports, or the corporate ladder. Bu ga warui has the opposite meaning; that one is not in a favorable position. Other forms include kochira ni bu ga aru (our side has a better chance of success) and achira ni wa bu ga nai (the odds are against them).
EXAMPLES
1. Otōsan, shōgi nara boku ni bu ga arimasu yo,
Dad, I think I can go one better than you when it comes to Japanese chess.
2. Dōmo, sochira no bu ga warusō desu ne.
It seems as if you are at a disadvantage.
3. Hajime no uchi wa kochira ni bu ga attan' desu ga ne.
Well, in the beginning our side was doing better.
4. Itsu no ma ni bu ga waruku nattan' desu ka?
How is it that our luck has turned against us?
5. Shiai wa kore kara desu shi' mada mada kochira ni mo bu ga arimasu yo.
The match has just started and we still have every possibility of winning.
bunan
acceptable, safe
TSUMA:
Ribingu rumū ni kono e, dō kashira?
OTTO:
Chotto hade-sugi da to omou kedo.
TSUMA:
Ja, mō chotto bunan na mono ni shimashō ka?
WIFE:
What do you think of this painting for the living room?
HUSBAND:
I think it's a bit too gaudy.
WIFE:
Well then, shall we pick something a little more subdued?
Bunan describes something that is neither bad nor particularly good, but that is the safest. Nan means misfortune or difficulty, and the prefix bu negates the meaning of nan. Other uses of bu include buji (safely, without incident), burei (impoliteness), buaiso (brusqueness), and busho (indolence, laziness).
EXAMPLES
1. Kekkon suru nara, bunan na hito o erabinasai.
If you are going to marry, choose a conventional partner.
2. Anmari bunan sugiru no mo, tsumarimasen ne.
Something too conservative becomes boring, doesn't it?
3. Kinō wa bunan na hatsugen shika shinain' da ne,
Every comment you make is just so innocuous!
4. Sore ni kimenasai. Sono hō ga bunan da.
Take that one. That would be safer.
cha o nigosu
deceive, evade, save appearances
TOMODACHI 1:
Kinō wa dēto dattan' deshō. Oishii mono, gochisō shite kureta?
TOMODACHI 2:
Sore ga nē, hanbāgā de o-cha o nigosarechatta.
FRIEND 1:
You went on a date yesterday, right? Did he buy you a good meal?
FRIEND 2:
He led me to believe that but all I got was a hamburger.
Cha o nigosu, literally "to cloud the tea," means to make words, attitudes, or facial expressions vague and ambiguous so as to deceive someone. Kotoba o nigosu has the same meaning. Other idioms using cha are chabara mo ittoki (a cup of tea will satisfy one's hunger only for a short while) and chaban geki (slapstick comedy).
EXAMPLES
1. Sonna mono de o-cha o nigosu tsumori desu ka?
Are you trying to evade the issue?
2. Konna mono de, o-cha o nigosarechatta.
I was taken in with something like this.
3. Kēki de o-cha o nigosō nante kangaenaide ne.
Don't think you can get out of it by buying me cake.
4. Iya, o-cha o nigoshita wake ja arimasen yo.
No, I'm not trying to avoid the issue.
5. Shain-ryokō, yasui hoteru de o-cha o nigosu hōhō wa arimasen ka?
Is there any way we can keep the company trip expenses down—like using a cheaper hotel?
chinpun-kanpun
incomprehensible, not understandable
BUCHŌ:
Kimi ashita shōgi o shi ni, uchi ni konai ka?
BUKA:
Zan'nen desu ga, watashi shōgi chinpun-kanpun nan' desu.
DEPARTMENT CHIEF:
Would you like to come to my place tomorrow for a game of Japanese chess?
SUBORDINATE:
I'm sorry but Japanese chess is all Greek to me.
Chinpun-kanpun describes a word or thing that one does not understand at all. It is said that this expression came about when a person teasingly used it after having failed to understand the meaning of a Chinese word. Another theory suggests this word was an attempt to mimic a foreigner speaking. The shortened form is chinpunkan and is chiefly used in conversation.
EXAMPLES
1. Gaijin ni hanashi-kakerareta ga, chinpun-kanpun de wakaranakatta.
A foreigner spoke to me but I couldn't make head nor tail of what he said.
2. Watashi wa kottō no koto wa, mattaku chinpun-kanpun desu,
I don't have an inkling when it comes to antiques.
3. Kare no setsumei wa, watashi ni wa chinpun-kanpun da.
His explanation was just gibberish to me.
4. Konpyūtā no setsumeisho o yonda ga, marude chinpun-kanpun datta.
I read the computer operating instructions, but it was all Greek to me.
5. Watashi wa Supeingo wa chinpun-kanpun desu.
Spanish is unintelligible to me.
chōchin-mochi
flatterer
DŌRYŌ 1:
Ano hito, shachō ni o-seji bakari itte iru.
DŌRYŌ 2:
Ā iu no o, chōchin-mochi 'tte iun' desu yo.
COLLEAGUE 1:
That person is always flattering the president.
COLLEAGUE 2:
You call that type of person a brownnoser.
Chōchin-mochi refers to an assistant who is always trying to flatter his boss. This phrase comes from long ago, when wedding processions, funeral processions, and processions for people of importance were led by lamp bearers (chōchin-mochi).
EXAMPLES
1. Anata wa, itsu kara shachō no chōchin-mochi ni natta no desu ka?
Since when are you the president's minion?
2. Kare, tanomareta wake de mo nai noni, shachō no chōchin-mochi o shite iru.
He acts like the president's assistant even though he wasn't asked to.
3. Shinbun ga seijika no chōchin-mochi o suru to wa, nasakenai.
For a newspaper to be a pawn of politicians is shameful.
4. Kyōju, gakuchō no chōchin-mochi wa, yamete kudasai.
Professor, please stop playing up to the dean.
5. Anata ga buchō no chōchin-mochi o suru to wa omowanakatta.
I didn't think you would be the department chief's toady.
chōshi o awaseru
adjust to, adapt to, get along with
KAISHAIN 1:
Ashita, yasumō to omoun' da. Kachō ni kikaretara, byōki to itte oite kurenai ka.
KAISHAIN 2:
Wakatta. Umaku chōshi o awasete oku kara, shinpai suru na yo.
EMPLOYEE 1:
I think I'll take tomorrow off. If the boss asks, tell him I'm sick.
EMPLOYEE 2:
OK. Don't worry, I'll cover for you.
Chōshi o awaseru means to adjust pitch or tempo, to adjust one's attitude in order to get along well with others, or to adjust or fine tune a machine. Chōshi o awasareru is the passive form and chōshi o awasesaseru is the causative form. Expressions using chōshi include chōshi ga yoi (be skilled at getting along with others), chōshi ni noru (get carried away), and chōshi-hazure (be out of tune).
EXAMPLES
1. (ōkesutora de shikisha ga) Kimi, chōshi o awasete kuretamae.
(an orchestra conductor) You, get in tune with everyone else.
2. Kare ni chōshi o awaseru no mo, taihen desu ne.
It's difficult to get along with him.
3. Muri ni chōshi o awasenakute mo ii desu yo.
Just relax and be yourself.
4. Hontō wa, chōshi o awasetakunan' desu.
I really don't like to deal with him.
5. Onaji kurasu no hito-tachi to chōshi o awaso to dory oku shitan' desu ga.
I tried to get along with my classmates.
daikoku-bashira
mainstay, breadwinner
CHICHIOYA:
Watashi mo teinen-taishoku da. Kore kara wa omae ga kono ie no daikoku-bashira da yo.
MUSUKO:
Wakarimashita, Otōsan.
FATHER:
I've reached my retirement. From now on you are going to be the breadwinner in this family.
SON:
I understand, Dad.
Daikoku-bashira refers to the central figure that supports a household or a nation. When a wooden house is built, a thick pillar is erected in the center to support the whole building. This pillar is called the daikoku-bashira (central pillar). From this, the expression has come to describe a person who sustains a house or company.
EXAMPLES
1. Boku ga uchi no daikoku-bashira ni natte, ganbarimasu.
I'll become the breadwinner in the house and try my best.
2. Kare ga daikoku-bashira de wa, tayori ni narimasen ne.
He is unreliable as a breadwinner.
3. Kare wa nagai aida, kono kaisha no daikoku-bashira datta.
For a long time, he was the pillar of this company.
4. Ie no daikoku-bashira ga inaku natte, taihen da.
Things are difficult at our house since we lost our breadwinner.
5. Daikoku-bashira no kare ni tayori-sugite wa kawaisō desu yo.
It's unfair that people depend on him so much as their mainstay.
daikon yakusha
poor actor
TSUMA:
Kono haiyū, suteki da wa.
OTTO:
Mikake wa yokute mo, daikon yakusha de wa shiyō ga nai yo.
WIFE:
This actor is so handsome.
HUSBAND:
He may be good-looking but that's not much use when he's such a lousy actor.
Daikon yakusha describes an actor with no talent. There are a few theories as to why daikon (Japanese radish) is employed in this expression. One theory claims that since the roots of the Japanese radish are shiroi (white), there is a relation to the sound of the word shirōto (amateur, novice). Another claims no matter how radish is eaten, it does not upset (ataranai) the stomach. This is the same ataranai that refers to an actor not hitting it off well with an audience.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare wa daikon yakusha desu ne.
He is a lousy actor, isn't he.
2. Shuyaku ga daikon yakusha de wa, omoshiroku arimasen yo.
The play isn't interesting, what with the leading actor being such a ham!
3. Kanojo ga anna ni daikon yakusha da to wa omowanakatta.
I didn't think that her acting would be so wooden.
4. Kare wa daikon dakara, yamesasemasho.
Since he's a poor actor, let's dismiss him.
dairokkan
sixth sense, intuition.
TOMODACHI 1:
Kanojo, kimi no koto suki mitai da ne.
TOMODACHI 2:
Dōshite wakaru?
TOMODACHI 1:
Boku no dairokkan ga hatarakun' da.
FRIEND 1:
It seems that she likes you.
FRIEND 2:
How do you know?
FRIEND 1:
It's just a feeling.
Dairokkan is one's intuition or sixth sense. Human beings possess five senses, namely sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Many people believe there is also a sixth sense (dairokkan) that enables one to intuitively recognize or know something. This sense is referred to as kan (intuition).
EXAMPLES
1. Watashi no dairokkan'tte, yoku ataru no yo.
My sixth sense often proves to be right.
2. Kimi no dairokkan nante ate ni naranai yo.
Your intuition cannot be depended upon.
3. Dairokkan de, kono senshu ga marason ni katsu'tte pin to kitan' da.
I could feel it in my bones that this athlete would win the marathon.
4. Dairokkan ni tayori-sugite wa ikenai yo.
You shouldn't rely too much on a hunch.
dame-oshi suru
double-check
TOMODACHI 1:
Kare, hontō ni tenisu oshiete kurerun' deshō ne?
TOMODACHI 2:
Daijobu da to omou kedo, ichio dame-oshi shite okimasu yo.
FRIEND 1:
Do you think he'll really teach us tennis?
FRIEND 2:
I think it'll be all right, but I'll double-check with him just to be sure.
Dame-oshi suru has two meanings: the first is to double-check something, and the second is to add up the points (in a game, for example) even when it is fairly clear who is winning and who is losing. This meaning derives originally from the game of go, where the word dame refers to a neutral square that is not controlled by either player. Moves that lead to the forming of such squares need to be very carefully calculated before they are played.
EXAMPLES
1. Ashita no kaigi no ken, buchō ni dame-oshi shite okimashō.
Let's double-check with the boss about tomorrow's meeting.
2. Watashi no an ga saiyō sareru ka, dame-oshi shite kudasai.
Could you make doubly sure that he's going to accept my proposals?
3. Kare ni sonna ni dame-oshi suru hitsuyō wa arimasen.
There's no need to check more than once with him.
4. Kare wa dame-oshi sareru to iya ni nam tachi desu.
He tends to get irritated when you keep checking everything with him.
5. Kore dake katte ireba, dame-oshi suru hitsuyō wa nai.
With the way we're winning, there's no need to play it safe.
dan-chigai
vast difference in levels
TOMODACHI 1:
Saikin, Eikaiwa, narai-hajimetan' desuyo.
TOMODACHI 2:
Sore de, Eigo ga dan-chigai ni umaku nattan' desu ne.
FRIEND 1:
I've recently started to study English conversation.
FRIEND 2:
So that's why your English has gotten so much better.
Dan-chigai, refers to two things that cannot be compared because of extreme differences (chigai) in level (dan). This phrase comes from go, where players are ranked according to their ability. For example, someone with skill level eight would be no match for a person with skill level two; the lower the level, the greater the skill.
EXAMPLES
1. Anata no ie, uchi to wa dan-chigai ni hirokute urayamashii desu.
Your place is so much bigger than mine, it makes me jealous.
2. Sasuga, ichi-ryū no resutoran wa dan-chigai no umasa desu ne.
Indeed, the food at this first-rate restaurant outclasses others.
3. Nichiyōbi no kanchōgai wa, heijitsu to wa dan-chigai ni shizuka da.
On Sundays the government district is much quieter than on weekdays.
4. Anata no shūnyū to watashi no de wa, dan-chigai desu.
There is a big difference in our income levels.
5. Futari no jitsu-ryoku wa dan-chigai de, shiai ni naranai.
Our levels are completely different so we wouldn't be a good match.
dandori ga yoi
efficient arrangements
BUKA:
Kaigi-yō no shiryō ojunbi shite okimashita.
BUCHŌ:
Kimi wa shigoto no dandori ga yoi node, tasukaru yo.
SUBORDINATE:
I've prepared the data for the conference.
DEPARTMENT CHIEF:
It's a great help that you're so well-organized.
Dandori ga yoi means that something is undertaken with much care and efficiency. This expression is originally a term from the construction industry. When building stairs, how the dan (steps) will be taken (toru, which becomes dori) or determined is a calculated procedure. This dandori (determination of the height of the step) was an important criterion for the safety standard of a building. From this practice, the expression has derived its present meaning. Dandori often appears on its own.
EXAMPLES
1. Kyō no kaigi wa totemo dandori ga umaku itta.
The arrangements for today's conference went very smoothly.
2. Shikai no dandori ga warukute, kaigi ga nagabiita.
The meeting dragged on because the chairperson hadn't prepared for it.
3. Kekkon-shiki no dandori, kyō sōdan shimashō.
Let's discuss the plans today for the wedding.
4. Niji kara kaikaishiki o okonau dandori ni natte imasu.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at two o'clock.
5. Hachigatsu wa kaigai-shutchō ni iku dandori ni natte imasu.
I have arranged to take an overseas business trip in August.
dashi ni suru
use as a pretext
CHŌNAN:
Otōsan, Hiroshi ga sukiyaki ga tabetai'tte.
CHICHIOYA:
Otōto o dashi ni shite wa ikenai yo. Hontō wa jibun ga tabetain' darō?
ELDEST SON:
Dad, Hiroshi says he wants to eat sukiyaki.
FATHER:
You shouldn't use your brother as an excuse. The truth is that you want to eat sukiyaki, right?
Dashi ni suru means to use a person or a thing to suit one's own convenience. Dashi is the nominalized form of the verb dasu (bring out, produce). The expression dashi ni tsukau also has the same meaning as dashi ni suru.
EXAMPLES
1. Shachō no tanjōbi o dashi ni shite, pātii o hiraita.
Using the company president's birthday as a pretext, we threw a party.
2. Watashi o dashi ni tsukawanaide kudasai.
Please don't use me as an excuse.
3. Kare wa dashi ni sareta koto o shirimasen.
He doesn't know that he has been taken advantage of.
4. Imōto o dashi ni shite, kare to yūenchi ni itta.
I used to take my younger sister along as an excuse for going to the amusement park with my boyfriend.
debana o kujiku
thwart at the outset
OTTO:
Musuko no nyūgaku-shiki da to iu noni, ante ga futte iru yo.
TSUMA:
Kawaisō ni, debana o kujikarete shimaimasu ne.
HUSBAND:
You say our son has his school entrance ceremony today—well, it's raining.
WIFE:
The poor boy—that will put a damper on things for him.
Debana indicates the very outset of something, and with kujiku (crash), describes a situation where a person is eager to begin an undertaking or conversation but is prevented from doing so. The phrase debana o oru (oru means break) has the same meaning as debana o kujiku. Debana o tataku (tataku means strike) means to thwart an opponent at an initial stage.
EXAMPLES
1. Sekkaku no nyugaku-shiki ni ante de, debana o kujikaremashita.
Their enthusiasm was dampened by the rain at the entrance ceremony.
2. Shinkon-ryokō dejiko ni ai, debana o kujikarete shimatta.
They had an accident during their honeymoon, and that put a damper on things from the very outset.
3. Mazu itten senshu shite, aite no debana o otte shimaimasho.
First of all, let's get one point and baffle our opponent at the start.
4. Kenka de wa, saisho ni aite no debana o tataku no ga katsu kotsu desu.
The trick to winning a fight is to get the jump on your opponent.
dō ni iru
excel, be outstanding
KANKYAKU 1:
Kyō no konsāto wa hontō ni yokatta desu ne.
KANKYAKU 2:
Ē, pianisuto no ensō mo, dō ni itte imashita shl
AUDIENCE MEMBER 1:
Today's concert was really excellent, wasn't it?
AUDIENCE MEMBER 2:
Yes, the pianist gave a highly polished performance.
Dō ni iru indicates that one has become highly proficient. Prior to the Meiji era, all education in Japan took place in temples. Do (temple) ni iru (entering) referred to entering school to study and learn.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare no supiichi wa dō ni itte ita.
His speech was masterful.
2. Dō ni itta shikai-buri datta.
His way of chairing the meeting was excellent.
3. Kare no kyōshi-buri mo dō ni itte kita.
His style of teaching has become that of a seasoned veteran.
4. Anata no ocha no o-temae wa dō ni itte imashita yo.
You have great expertise in the art of tea serving.
5. Kare no nenrei ni shite wa, dō ni itta aisatsu o shita.
Despite his youth, he delivered an excellent address.
dōdō-meguri
going round and round
RŌSŌ-GAWA:
Giron shite mo, zenzen matomarimasen ne.
KAISHA-GAWA:
Kore de wa, dōdō-meguri o kuri-kaesu dake desu yo.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE:
No matter how much we argue, we don't seem to be getting anywhere at all.
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE:
We're just repeating ourselves and going round and round in circles.
Dōdō-meguri has three meanings: first, circling around a dō (a Buddhist temple or Shintō shrine) offering prayers or holding ceremonies; second, repeating the same thing endlessly with no progress being made; and third, voting whereby Diet members cast ballots in a box placed on the rostrum. In conversation, the second usage is the most common.
EXAMPLES
1. Dōdō-meguri no giron wa mō yamemashō.
Let's stop discussing this same thing over and over again.
2. Anata to wa, ikura hanashite mo dodo-meguri suru dake desu.
No matter how much I talk with you, we just go round in circles.
3. Hanashiai wa, itsumo no yō ni dōdō-meguri desu.
As always, the negotiations are getting nowhere.
4. Kaigi wa dōdō-meguri shite owarisō mo nai.
It doesn't appear that the meeting will be ending for some time since the discussion is going round and round in circles.
dosakusa ni magireru
take advantage of confusion
IE NO HITO:
Yūbe, pātii o shite iru aida ni dorobō ni hairaremashite ne.
KEISATSU:
Ā, dosakusa ni magirete haittan' deshō ne.
HOMEOWNER:
A thief got into the house last night while we were having a party.
POLICE OFFICER:
Oh, I see. So he probably slipped in while everyone was distracted.
Dosakusa ni magireru is used to describe taking advantage of a chaotic situation. In the Edo period, people who were caught during raids on gambling dens were sent to Sado Island to do forced labor. Using an inversion of the word Sado, the gamblers coined the phrase dosa o kū (kū literally means to eat) to refer to these sudden, chaotic raids. Over time this changed to the noun dosakusa which is also often used on its own to describe a confused situation.
EXAMPLES
1. Watashi wa dosakusa ni magirete, senjō o nigedashita.
Taking advantage of the confusion, I fled from the battlefield.
2. Kono dosakusa ni magirete, futari de dokoka ni ikimashō.
Let's sneak out of here while everyone's distracted.
3. Kare wa sekiyu-shokku no dosakusa ni magirete, ōmōke shita.
He made a lot of money during the disorder caused by the oil shock.
4. Tsuma to kekkon shita no wa, sengo no dosakusa no naka deshita.
I married my wife in the midst of the postwar commotion.
dotanba
the last moment
MUSUKO:
Okāsan, boku konban tetsuya de benkyō shinakutcha. Ashita, shiken nan' da.
HAHAOYA:
Anata wa dōshite dotanba ni natte awaterun' deshō ne.
SON:
Mom, I'll have to stay up all night studying tonight. I have an exam tomorrow.
MOTHER:
Why is it that you leave everything to the last minute and then go into a panic?
Dotan is made up of the kanji for earth (do) and platform (dan) and formerly referred to the place where decapitations were performed. From this dotanba has come to be used when describing a situation in which one has one's back to the wall—a time when something has to be taken care of.
EXAMPLES
1. Dotanba ni kite hanashiai ga okonaware, sensō wa kaihi sareta.
Last-minute negotiations took place and war was averted.
2. Jitai wa dō naru ka, dotanba ni naranai to wakarimasen.
We can't tell how things will turn out until the last moment.
3. Iyoiyo dotanba desu.
The long-awaited moment has finally arrived.
4. Dotanba ni natte, awatenaide kudasai.
When you reach that critical moment, don't lose your cool.
5. Dōshite shiai mae no dotanba made, renshū shinakatta no desu ka?
Why didn't you do any training until the match was almost upon you?
en no shita no chikara-mochi
person whose work is not recognized
BUCHŌ:
Kimura-kun no shigoto-buri wa dō dai?
BUKA:
Yoku yatte kuremasu. Wareware no ka no en no shita no chikaramochi desu yo.
DEPARTMENT CHIEF:
How is Kimura getting on with his work?
SUBORDINATE:
He's doing well. He does all the thankless tasks in our department.
En no shita is the space beneath the veranda or floor and the ground, and chikara-mochi refers to a strong person. As this space under the porch is hidden from sight, so is the work of an en no shita no chikara-mochi, a person who bears continuous hardship for the benefit of others, unnoticed by the outside world.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare wa kono ka no en no shita no chikara-mochi da.
He does the unrewarded drudgery work in this department.
2. Haha wa wagaya no en no shita no chikara-mochi da.
Mom is the one who carries out the thankless tasks in our house.
3. Seijika no hisho wa itsumo en no shita no chikara-mochi desu.
Politicians' private secretaries always do the unappreciated jobs behind the scenes.
4. Anata wa en no shita no chikara-mochi de mo ii no desu ka?
Are you content even though your efforts go unappreciated?
5. En no shita no chikara-mochi de iru no wa totemo muzukashii.
It's very difficult to carry on when one's efforts go unrecognized.
engi ga ii/warui
good/bad omen
TSUMA:
O-mikuji o hiitara, daikichi ga atattan' desu yo.
OTTO:
Sore wa engi ga ii ne. Kitto ii koto ga aru yo.
WIFE:
When I drew my fortune-telling lot, it said I would be very lucky.
HUSBAND:
That's a good omen. Something good is sure to happen.
Engi ga ii refers to something that foretells good fortune. An engi is an omen. The opposite of engi ga ii is engi ga warui.
EXAMPLES
1. Kekkon-shiki wa engi no ii hi ni kimemashō.
Let's decide on a lucky day for our wedding.
2. Engi o katsugu nante, furui desu yo.
You're so old-fashioned, believing in omens.
3. O-iwai no supiichi de, engi no warui koto wa iwanaide ne.
Don't say anything about bad luck in your congratulatory speech.
4. Obāsan wa engi o katsugi-sugi desu yo.
Grandma carries things too far with her superstitions.
5. O-shōgatsu ga tanjōbi to wa, engi ga ii desu ne.
New Year's Day? What a lucky day to have your birthday.
etai ga shirenai
mysterious-looking, unfamiliar
MUSUME:
Okāsan, kono o-ryōri tabete minai?
HAHAOYA:
Kore wa nan' na no? Etai no shirenai mono wa tabetakunai wa.
DAUGHTER:
Mother, will you taste what I've cooked?
MOTHER:
What is this? I don't want to eat anything that's unrecognizable.
Etai indicates the real nature or appearance of something. Etai ga shirenai means that the true appearance of something is not known. In Buddhism, the color of the robes determined the particular sect or status of the wearer. If the sect or status of a person could not be ascertained by giving a cursory look at the robes that person was wearing, then people would say etai ga wakaranai (of indeterminate appearance). From this expression came etai ga shirenai.
EXAMPLES
1. Tonari no hito wa shokugyō mo naku, etai ga shirenai.
The person next door is unemployed, and rather suspicious looking.
2. Etai ga shirenai hito to wa, kuchi o kikanai koto ni shite imasu.
I make it a rule not to talk to suspicious-looking people.
3. Etai ga shirenai mono ga sora o tonde iru.
There's a mysterious-looking object flying across the sky.
4. Doa no mukō ni, etai no shirenai dōbutsu ga imasu yo.
There's some kind of animal outside the door.
5. Etai no shirenai hito to wa, tsukiatte wa ikemasen.
You shouldn't associate with dubious people.
fu ni ochinai
hard to swallow, not convincing, not clear
BUKA:
Chōsa no kekka ga demashita ga.
BUCHŌ:
Kono kekka wafu ni ochinai ne. Mō ichido shirabete kurenai ka?
SUBORDINATE:
The results of the survey are available.
DEPARTMENT CHIEF:
These results don't seem quite right. Check them again for me, will you?
In the past, it was thought that discretion and judgment resided in the fu (internal organs). From this,fu ni ochinai, literally "not go down to the internal organs," came to mean not convincing. Another expression employing fu is fu no nuketa yo, which describes a complete loss of vigor caused by fright or sorrow.
EXAMPLES
1. Kono tesuto no kekka wafu ni ochimasen.
This test result doesn't sit right with me.
2. Supiido mo dashite inai noni, tsukamaru to wafu ni ochinai.
I don't understand how I could be arrested when I wasn't even speeding.
3. Kono mitsumorisho no kingaku gafu ni ochinakattara, dōzo jibun de otashikamenasai.
If you find this estimate hard to believe, please verify it for yourself.
4. Kanojo ga dōshite okotte iru no ka, fu ni ochinain' da.
It's not clear to me why she became angry.
5. Chokin no zandaka ga zero to wat funi ochinai.
I can't comprehend why my savings balance is zero.
fui o utsu
take a person by surprise, catch a person napping
SENSEI:
Kimi-tachi, kyō wa kore kara tesuto o shimasu.
SEITO:
E, fui o utsu nante hidoi desu yo.
TEACHER:
OK, everyone, we're going to have a test today.
STUDENT:
What? That's not fair giving a surprise test like that.
Fui o utsu, which combines fui (unexpectedness) and utsu (hit, strike), implies doing something without warning, especially after having observed the other person's unpreparedness. Fui-uchi (surprise attack) is also used. The passive form is fui o utareru (be caught unaware), and fui o kurau has the same meaning.
EXAMPLES
1. Nihon no Shinju-wan kōgeki wa fui-uchi datta.
The Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack.
2. Fui o utareru to wa, hidoi desu ne.
It feels terrible to be caught off-guard.
3. Yonaka ni yūjin ga fui-uchi de yatte kita.
A friend dropped in unannounced in the middle of the night.
4. Shachō no kōjō shisatsu wa fui-uchi de, nan nojunbi mo dekinakatta.
We weren't given any warning about the president's factory inspection and hadn't made any preparations.
5. Sekkaku hisashiburi ni au no nara, kondo kara fui-uchi wa yamete kudasai.
It's been so long since we've met, next time please give me some notice.
furi-dashi ni modoru
go back to the starting point, return to square one
KAISHAIN 1:
Kono aida no kaigi, nanika shinten ga arimashita ka?
KAISHAIN 2:
Sore ga, shinten suru dokoro ka, furi-dashi ni modotte shimaimashita yo.
EMPLOYEE 1:
Was there any progress made in the meeting the other day?
EMPLOYEE 2:
Rather than making progress, we ended up right back where we had started.
Furi-dashi ni modoru means to return to an original state or condition. There is a board game played at New Year called sugoroku, in which dice are thrown and players advance the number of squares indicated by the number thrown. The first person to reach the end becomes the winner. The starting point of sugoroku is called the furi-dashi. During the game, if players happen to land on a square marked furi-dashi ni modoru, literally "return to the starting point," they must start all over.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare no kyōkō na hantai de, hanashi wa furi-dashi ni modotte shimatta.
Due to his strong opposition, the discussion ended up going back to square one.
2. Furi-dashi ni modotte, kangae-naoshite mimashō.
Let's rethink things, starting right from scratch.
3. Hanashi wa dōdō meguri de, kekkyoku furi-dashi ni modotte shimau.
The discussion is going round and round in circles and is eventually going to end up right back at the starting point.
furui ni kakeru
screen, select
BUKA:
Nyūsha shiken ni, saiyō yotei no nanabai no gakusei ga kimashita yo.
BUCHŌ:
Furui ni kakete, shōrai, yūbō na hito dake nokoshitai.
SUBORDINATE:
The number of students taking the company entrance exam is seven times the number we plan to employ.
DEPARTMENT CHIEF:
I'd like to screen the applicants so we are only left with the ones with the most potential.
Furui ni kakeru means to select from a larger group only those things or people that meet certain standards or requirements. A furui is a round net used to sift sand or dirt so that the coarse grain is separated from the fine grain. Some things put in the net and shaken (furui ni kakerarete) are filtered out; other things remain in the net.
EXAMPLES
1. Nikai-me no shiken dejukensha wa furui ni kakerareru.
The examinees are screened with a second test.
2. Furui ni kakerarete, yūnō na mono dake ga nokotta.
After the screening, only the capable ones remained.
3. Watashi-tachi o nankai furui ni kakeru tsumori desu ka?
How many times do you intend to screen us?
4. Ano kaiga konkūru de mo, sakuhin wa mazu, shorui senko de furui ni kakerareru.
Even at the painting contest, the first screening is done with portfolios.
futokoro ga sabishii
be short of money
DŌRYŌ 1:
Asoko no resutoran, oishiso desu yo. Itte mimasen ka?
DŌRYŌ 2:
Saikin futokoro ga sabishikute ne. Zan'nen dakedo, kondo ne.
COLLEAGUE 1:
That restaurant is supposed to be good. Shall we give it a try?
COLLEAGUE 2:
Sorry, but recently I've been so short of money. Let's go there some other time.
Futokoro ga sabishii means to be short of money. Originally, futokoro referred to the pocketlike space in a kimono that was used to hold one's money. From this, futokoro came to mean the amount of money that a person had at any one time. Futokoro ga samui also means to be short of money whereas futokoro ga atatakai means to be carrying lots of money.
EXAMPLES
1. Anata, konban futokoro ga sabishisō ne. Ogorimashō ka?
You seem to be a bit hard up tonight. Why don't I treat you to this?
2. Kare wa it sumo futokoro ga sabishisō da.
He never seems to have any money on him.
3. Kyō wa kyūryō-bi de, futokoro ga atatakain' desu yo.
I'm in the money today—it's my payday.
4. Konpyūtā o kattara, kyii ni futokoro ga samuku natta.
Since I bought the computer, I've suddenly become short of funds.
5. Ryokō ni ikitai ga, futokoro ga samukute ikesō ni mo nai.
I want to go away on holiday, but I'm so short of money at the moment that it doesn't look like I'll be able to.
gaten ga iku
make sense, have things come into focus
DŌRYŌ 1:
Yasui kyūryō de yoku konna hiroi ie ga tateraremashita ne.
DŌRYŌ 2:
Jitsu wa, chichioya no isan nan' da.
DŌRYŌ 1:
Ā, sore de gaten ga ikimashita.
COLLEAGUE 1:
On your small salary you've managed to build a large house.
COLLEAGUE 2:
Well, actually, I inherited the house from my father.
COLLEAGUE 1:
Ah, now that explains it.
Long ago, when masters of waka poems evaluated works written by their students, they would put a dot next to passages that they felt were well written. This mark indicating the master's approval came to be known as a gaten. Today, gaten ga iku is used to indicate that something previously not clear is now understandable.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare no setsumei o kiite, yatto gaten ga itta.
After listening to his explanation, it finally made sense.
2. Kare ga kaisha o yameta to wa, gaten ga ikanai.
It doesn't make sense to me why he quit the company.
3. Kanojo ga ryūgaku shite it a to kiite, gaten ga itta.
It all made sense after I learned that she had spent time studying abroad.
4. Dō desu ka? Kore de gaten ga itta deshō.
Well, does that bring things into focus for you?
geta o azukeru
entrust a matter to a person
TOMODACHI 1:
Kono mondai wa, anata ni geta o azuketai to omoimasu ga.
TOMODACHI 2:
Wakarimashita. Doryoku shite mimashō.
FRIEND 1:
I'd like to pass this problem on to you.
FRIEND 2:
All right. I'll see what I can do.
Geta are wooden clogs and azukeru means to leave something for another person to do. Geta o azukeru is used when the speaker, anxious to have a particular matter attended to, entrusts someone else with the task. The passive form is geta o azukerareru (be left with a matter).
EXAMPLES
1. Amerika-seifu wa, sono mondai ni kanshite, Nihon-seifu ni geta o azuketa.
The American government has left the handling of that question up to the Japanese government.
2. Nihon-seifu wa geta o azukerareta kakkō to natta.
The Japanese government was entrusted with conducting the affair.
3. Kare ni geta o azuketa tame ni, mondai ga kojireta.
The matter was left up to him and this aggravated the problem.
4. Geta o azukerareru hō mo, meiwaku desu.
It is also an annoyance for the person who is delegated with the task.
5. Kono ken ni tsuite wa, gichō ni geta o azuketai to omoimasu.
Regarding this issue, I'd like to pass the matter to the chairman.
giri-date
decorum, something done to be polite
BUKA:
Ojōsanno go-kekkon, omedetō gozaimasu. Kore, o-iwainisashiagete kudasai.
JŌSHI:
Kimi, sonna ni giri-date shite kurenakute mo yokatta noni.
SUBORDINATE:
Congratulations on your daughter's wedding. Please give this present to her for me.
SUPERVISOR:
You didn't have to go to all this trouble just to be polite.
At one time giri referred to what was considered rational behavior, but now it means good manners or social decorum. If we don't do something that we are expected to do, it is attributed to a lack of giri (giri o kaku) or bad manners (giri ga warui). To do what is polite is giri o tatsu (giri-date is a contracted form of this), whereas doing something merely because it is required is o-giri ni suru.
EXAMPLES
1. Ikura toshiue to itte mo, watashi ni giri-date nado shinaide kudasai.
No matter what the difference in our ages is, please don't feel you must be so polite with me.
2. On no aru sensei o uragitte wa, giri ga tatanai.
It's wrong to betray a teacher who has been good to you.
3. Joshi ni giri o kaku yō na koto, shinaide ne.
Don't be inconsiderate to your supervisor.
4. Buchō no eiten de, minna o-giri ni miokuri ni itta.
The boss was going to be promoted and transferred, so just to be polite everyone went to see him off.
gishin anki
suspicion begets fear, paranoia, anxiousness
ŌKURA DAIJIN:
Sekaijū ga Nihon no yarikata nifuman o motte iru yō de.
SŌRI DAIJIN:
Sekaijū nante sore wa, anata no gishin anki desu yo.
MINISTER OF FINANCE:
It seems that there is dissatisfaction throughout the entire international community with the way Japan is handling things.
PRIME MINISTER:
The entire international community? You're being paranoid.
According to Chinese folklore, when one is doubtful (gishin) about something, even though there's nothing to fear, one is apt to see monsters hiding in the dark (anki). In both Japanese and Chinese mythology, the monster (oni) is an imaginary creature with human form, a frightening face, and horns, who symbolizes human fears.
EXAMPLES
1. Itsu no ma ni ka, gishin anki ni ochiitte shimatta.
Suddenly I was feeling frightened and anxious about everything.
2. Kare ga kigyo supai nante, gishin anki desu yo.
You're just being paranoid in thinking that he's an industrial spy.
3. Kore ga gishin anki da to, wakatte wa iru no desu ga...
I realize that I'm probably just being paranoid about this, but...
4. Minna ga anata no uwasa o shite iru? Sore wa gishin anki da.
Everyone has heard that rumor about you? Come on, you're being paranoid.
5. lie, gishin anki nado de wa arimasen.
No, I'm not being overly suspicious.
gojuppo-hyappo
the same difference
MUSUKO:
Dotchi no e o konkūru ni daso ka na?
HAHAOYA:
Dotchi mo gojuppo-hyappo ne.
SON:
I wonder which picture I should enter in the competition?
MOTHER:
I don't think it matters really; it's the same difference.
Gojuppo-hyappo indicates that there is not much difference between two or more things, and that none of them are especially good. The original saying is gojuppo o motte hyappo o warau (the man who has fled from the battlefield by fifty paces is laughing at the man who has fled by a hundred paces). As far as cowardice goes, there is really little difference between them.
EXAMPLES
1. Futari no tenisu no jitsuryoku wa gojuppo-hyappo da.
Neither of them is particularly good at tennis.
2. Koko ni arujisho wa dove mo gojuppo-hyappo de, yaku ni tatanai.
There's not a lot of difference between these dictionaries; neither of them is of much use.
3. Ano garo ga motte iru sakuhin wa dore mo gojuppo-hyappo, ii mono ga nai.
The works in that gallery are all the same—none are very good.
4. Kimi-tachi no repōto wa gojuppo-hyappo, toku ni yoi mono wa nai.
There's not much to choose from among your reports—none of them are particularly good.
gokuraku tonbo
a happy-go-lucky fellow, a layabout
DŌRYŌ:
Musuko-san, dochira ni o-tsutome desu ka?
CHICHIOYA:
Sore ga, gokuraku tonbo de mainichi burabura shite irun' desu yo.
OFFICE COLLEAGUE:
Where does your son work?
FATHER:
He's such a happy-go-lucky type that he's just idling his days away.
Gokuraku (Buddhist paradise), used in contrast to jigoku (hell), is a world free of worry. Tonbo (dragonfly) suggests something carefree. Combined gokuraku tonbo refers to either a son who has been constantly sheltered by his parents or an unemployed person who spends his time doing nothing.
EXAMPLES
1. Aitsu wa itsu made tatte mo, gokuraku tonbo da ne.
He'll always be an easygoing fellow.
2. Otto ga gokuraku tonbo no uwakimono de, kurō shite imasu.
I'm having a hard time, what with my husband being a happy-go-lucky womanizer.
3. Anna gokuraku tonbo to kekkon suru no wa, yurushimasen.
I won't allow you to marry such an easygoing character.
4. Hataraki-bachi ni naru yori, gokuraku tonbo de itai.
I'd rather be a happy-go-lucky type than become a workaholic.
5. Anata no yō na gokuraku tonbo wa, mita koto ga arimasen.
I've never come across a person as carefree as you are.
goma o suru
curry favor
GAKUSEI (JOSEI NO KYŌSHI NI):
Sensei, konogoro masumasu chāmingu ni nararemashita ne.
SENSEI:
Goma o sutte mo, yoi ten wa agemasen yo.
STUDENT (TO A FEMALE PROFESSOR):
You are becoming more and more attractive these days.
TEACHER:
Your flattery won't get you a good grade.
Goma o suru means to court a person's favor without any sense of principle. When grinding sesame seeds in a mortar, the sesame seeds stick to the sides of the mortar. From this, the phrase has come to refer to someone attaching himself to various people, trying to curry favor. The nominal form goma-suri (a flatterer, flattery) and passive form goma o surareru (be flattered) also are frequently used.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare wa itsumo buchō ni goma o sutte iru.
He is always currying favor with the department chief.
2. Anata ni goma o surarete mo, ureshiku wa arimasen yo.
Even if you try to butter me up, I won't be pleased.
3. Watashi ni goma o suru hitsuyō wa arimasen.
There is no need to court my favor.
4. Anata o homete irun' desu. Goma-suri de wa arimasen. I am complimenting you. This is not bootlicking.
gongo-dōdan
scandalous, perfectly outrageous
SHACHŌ:
Kaisha no kane o tsukai-komu to wa gongo-dōdan, kind wa kubi da.
KAISHAIN:
Hontō ni mōshiwake arimasen deshita.
COMPANY PRESIDENT:
It's perfectly outrageous of you to have embezzled the company's money. You're fired.
EMPLOYEE:
I'm very sorry for what I've done.
Gongo-dōdan means being flabbergasted by something and unable to put one feelings into words; it can also be used to describe something that is wrong and reprehensible. The term originally meant a profound Buddhist truth that cannot be expressed in mere words.
EXAMPLES
1. Kokkai-giin ga kaigi-chū ni inemuri o suru to wa gongo-dōdan da.
It's scandalous for a Diet member to doze off while a parliamentary debate is in progress.
2. Watashi ni damatte, chokin o tsukai-hatasu to wa gongo-dōdan da.
To spend all of our savings without consulting me—that is utterly outrageous.
3. Takushii no untenshu no kuse ni, inemuri-unten o suru to wa, gongodōdan desu yo.
Falling asleep at the wheel is an inexcusable offense, especially for a taxi driver.
4. Masaka, kare ga sonna gongo-dōdan na koto, shita no desu ka?
You mean he actually committed such an unspeakable act?
gori-muchū
up in the air, no idea what to do
TOMODACHI 1:
Kimi no kaisha, tōsan shitan' datte?
TOMODACHI 2:
Sō nan' da. Kore kara saki dō nam no ka, gori-muchū sa.
FRIEND 1:
What's this I hear about your firm going under?
FRIEND 2:
That's right. I'm at a loss as to what will happen to me now.
Gori-muchū refers to a situation in which a person does not know what to do or how things will turn out. In China, there is a story about a well-known scholar who detested meeting people. In order to avoid them, he used sorcery to conjure up a fog which covered a radius of five ri (one ri is 2.44 miles). Originally, gori-muchū meant to conceal oneself, but this meaning has gradually altered to that of not knowing what has or will happen.
EXAMPLES
1. Sono keikaku wa gori-muchū nojotai desu.
I have no idea of what will become of that project.
2. Kore kara kono kaisha ga do naru ka wa, gori-muchū desu.
We haven't the foggiest idea of what is going to happen to this company.
3. Shikin ga sutoppu shita node, sakiyuki wa gori-muchū da.
Since funding has been cut, we are quite in the dark about our future.
4. Kaigai de no seikatsu ga dō naru ka wa, mattaku gori-muchū desu.
I have absolutely no idea what it will be like living abroad.
5. Gori-muchū no naka o tesaguri de aruite iru yō najōtai desu.
I'm quite at a loss—as if I were groping around in the midst of a thick fog.
guchi o kobosu
grumble, complain, gripe
TOMODACHI 1:
Mō, kaisha yametai desu yo. Kyūryō wa yasui shi, hitozukai wa arai shi.
TOMODACHI 2:
Sonna ni, guchi o kobosu no nara, kaisha o yametara dō desu ka?
FRIEND 1:
I really want to quit. The pay is poor and they work me like a slave.
FRIEND 2:
Well, since you're complaining so much, why don't you quit?
Guchi o kobosu, which combines guchi (complaint) and kobosu (spill), means to repeatedly talk about a problem without solving it. Guchi was originally a Buddhist word used to describe a person who is unable to appreciate the true meaning of existence and is therefore a fool; gu means witless and chi means foolish.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare wa itsumo guchi o koboshite bakari iru.
He never does anything but complain.
2. Anna ni atama no ii musume-san na noni, dōshite anata wa sonna ni ano ko no guchi o kobosun' desu ka?
Even though your daughter is so smart, why do you complain about her so much?
3. Guchi bakari kobosanaide, dōryōku shite goran nasai.
Instead of just complaining, put some more effort into it.
4. Kare wa tsurakute mo kesshite guchi wa kobosanakatta,
Even though it was difficult, he never complained.
gyūjiru
control, run, dominate, be at the helm
DŌRYŌ 1:
Kare, itsu no ma ni ka shusse shimashita ne.
DŌRYŌ 2:
Saikin wa kaisha o gyūjiru hodo ni narimashita yo.
COLLEAGUE 1:
That guy was promoted quickly, wasn't he?
COLLEAGUE 2:
These days, he's practically running the company.
Gyūjiru means to control an assembly, group, or organization and derives from the rite of sealing a promise among feudal lords during the Warring States period in ancient China. At that time, the ears of an ox (gyūji) were cut off and then split so that both sides could sip the ox blood in recognition of a promise made. The correct expression is gyūji o toru (take the ears of an ox); however, in conversation, gyūjiru is commonly used.
EXAMPLES
1. Kono kai o gyūjitte iru hito wa dare desu ka?
Who is in charge of this meeting?
2. Kare ga kono kaisha o gyūjitte iru hito desu,
He is the one running this company.
3. Shiranai aida ni, kare ga gakusei-kai o gyūjiru yō ni natta no desu.
Before he realized it, he was in charge of the student meeting.
4. Dōshite, bugai-sha no kanojo ni gyūjirarete iru no desu ka?
Why are you dominated by an outsider like her?
5. Anata ni, kono kaigi o gyūjiru shikaku wa arimasen.
You don't have the qualifications to run this meeting.
ha ni kinu o kisenai
not to mince words
TOMODACHI 1:
Kyō wa sukoshi ii-sugita deshō ka. Dō ka, ki ni shinaide kudasai ne.
TOMODACHI 2:
Iie. Ha ni kinu o kisezu itte moraete, kaette yokatta desu yo.
FRIEND 1:
I may have said too much today. Please don't take it to heart.
FRIEND 2:
Not at all. It was good of you to be frank with me.
Ha ni kinu o kisenai means to speak one's mind without considering other people's feelings. It was believed that if one didn't put (kiseru) a covering (kinu) over one's teeth (ha), whatever one was thinking would automatically come out of the mouth. Okuba ni mono ga hasamata yō na iikata is a way of speaking which conceals something or is not entirely honest.
EXAMPLES
1. Kokusai-kaigi nado de wa, ha ni kinu o kisenai de, jibun no iken o nobeta hō ga yoi.
At international conferences and the like, it is better not to mince your words when expressing your opinion.
2. Kare no ha ni kinu kisenai iikata wa, aikawarazu shinratsu da.
When he laid it on the line, his comments were biting, as usual.
3. Kanojo wa,jōshi no shigoto-buri o, ha ni kinu kisezu ni, hihan shita.
She bluntly criticized her superior's work style.
4. Kare no ha ni kinu kisenai tsuikyū ni, aite wa tajitaji datta.
The subject wilted under the direct assault of his persistent questioning.
5. Okuba ni mono no hasamatta yō na iikata wa yamete kudasai.
Stop beating around the bush.
haisui no jin
a desperate, final effort
JŌSHI:
Kondo no shinseihin ga urenai to, kaisha wa tōsan da.
BUKA:
Haisui no jin no kakugo de, ganbarimasu.
SUPERVISOR:
If our new product doesn't sell well, the company will go under.
SUBORDINATE:
I'm prepared to give my utmost in a last-ditch effort.
Haisui no jin originally referred to taking up a position (jin) from which there was no way to retreat (haisui). From this, the expression has come to refer to being placed in a position where, in the event of failure, an opportunity will not present itself again. According to Chinese folklore, in the Han dynasty there was an outstanding military commander who by fighting with his back to the wall, successfully led his allies to victory.
EXAMPLES
1. Kyōryoku na raibaru mo senkyō ni shutsuba shita node, kondo no senkyō wa, haisui no jin de tatakawanakereba naranai.
Because a powerful opponent will also run, we will have to fight a last-ditch battle in the next election.
2. Keisatsu wa, haisui no jin de bōryokudan-tsuihō ni nori-dashita.
The police have launched an all-out effort to eradicate organized crime.
3. Seitokai wa haisui no jin dejugyoryo-neage ni kogi shimasu.
The student council is fighting valiantly in a protest against the raising of tuition fees.
haji o kaku
be humiliated, be embarrassed
OTTO:
Kinō wa konsāto de inemuri shite, warukatta ne.
TSUMA:
Hontō desu yo. O-kage de watashi haji o kaita wa.
HUSBAND:
It was awful of me to fall asleep during yesterday's concert.
WIFE:
You're quite right. I was really embarrassed, thanks to you.
Haji (shame) o kaku (bear) means to be embarrassed in front of people. The causative form is haji o kakaseru and the causative passive form is haji o kakasareru. Other expressions employing haji include haji no uwanuri (one embarrassing experience is compounded with another) and haji shirazu (nonchalantly do embarrassing things).
EXAMPLES
1. Supiichi no monku o wasurete, hitomae de haji o kaite shimatta.
I was embarrassed because I forgot the text for my speech in front of all those people.
2. Otto no warukuchi o shinseki no atsumari de ii, tsuma wa otto ni haji o kakaseta.
That woman embarrassed her husband by speaking ill of him at a gathering of their relatives.
3. Tsuma ni haji o kakaseru to wa omowanakatta.
I didn't expect to be humiliated by my own wife.
4. Anata ni haji o kakaseru tsumori wa nakatta noni.
But I didn't intend to embarrass you...
hako-iri musume
girl who's had a sheltered upbringing, naive girl
GĀRUFURENDO:
Watashi no uchi, mongen ga hachiji na no.
BŌIFURENDO:
Ā, hako-iri musume to tsukiau no wa taihen da na.
GIRLFRIEND:
I have to be home by eight o'clock.
BOYFRIEND:
Ah, it's hard seeing a girl who's watched so carefully by her parents.
Hako-iri musume refers to a daughter whose upbringing is so strict that she is hardly ever allowed to go out. Originally, hako-iri referred to things of value that were placed in boxes, carefully stored away, and rarely taken out. Precautions were taken to ensure that the box and its contents were not infested by insects. In modern usage, the threat is not insects but young men.
EXAMPLES
1. Watashi wa hako-iri musume nankaja arimasen.
I'm not a naive girl who knows nothing of the world.
2. Uchi no hako-iri musume ni, te o dasu na yo.
Keep your hands off our precious daughter.
3. Hako-iri musume ni sodateta no wa, mazukatta.
It was wrong to give our daughter such a cloistered upbringing.
4. Hako-iri musume wa seken-shirazu ga oi.
Many girls from respectable families who have had a sheltered upbringing know nothing of the world.
5. Uchi no oyome-san wa, hako-iri musume datta.
Our daughter-in-law had a sheltered upbringing.
haku ga tsuku
gain prestige, have a feather added to one's cap
TOMODACHI 1:
Satō-san, kondo hakase-gō o totta sō desu yo.
TOMODACHI 2:
Kore de, kare ni mata haku ga tsukimashita ne.
FRIEND 1:
I hear that Sato recently obtained his doctorate.
FRIEND 2:
That will be yet another feather in his cap, won't it?
Haku ga tsuku means being recognized by society and gaining prestige. Haku is foil or leaf made of gold, silver, copper, or tin, and is produced by beating out the metals until they are paper-thin. It is then added to structures or craftwork, giving the surface an attractive finish and increasing the value of the object. It is the association with this idea that gives the expression its present-day meaning. Haku o tsukeru (build up one's reputation) is the corresponding transitive form.
EXAMPLES
1. Kokku ga Furansu de shugyō shi, haku ga tsuita.
The chef added to his reputation by undergoing training in France.
2. Furansu ni itta no wa, tan ni haku o tsukeru tame desu,
The reason I went to France was merely to build up my reputation.
3. Haku ga tsuite mo, dōryōku shinakatta sei de shigoto nojitsuryoku wa amari arimasen.
Even though he has gained in prestige, he isn't very competent.
4. Piano-konkūru de yūshō shi, haku ga tsuita.
Winning the first prize in the piano competition added a feather to his cap.
hame o hazusu
have a wild time, get out of control
BUCHŌ:
Konban wa ōi ni nomō. Tsukiatte kureru ne.
BUKA:
Jitsu wa kanai ga byōki de, hame o hazusu wake ni ikanain' desu.
DEPARTMENT CHIEF:
Let's go out and have a good time drinking tonight. You'll come along, won't you?
SUBORDINATE:
Actually, my wife's sick so I can't really do anything too wild.
Hame o hazusu means to let oneself go and have a wild time. There are two suggested explanations as to the origin of this idiom, the first of which claims that hame means the bit that a horse holds between its teeth. Once this is removed, the horse can no longer be restrained or controlled. The second explanation claims that hame comes from hameita, a board that covers a hole or trench. Removing this board could lead to disaster.
EXAMPLES
1. Kimi, yūbe wa hame o hazushi-sugita yo.
You were way out of control last night, you know.
2. Jibun de wa, sukoshi wa yotte ita kedo, kesshite hame o hazushita tsumori wa arimasen.
I was a little drunk, but I didn't think I was out of control.
3. Gaikoku dakara to itte, hame o hazushite mo ii wake de wa nai.
Being abroad is no excuse for acting wild.
4. Anata, hame o hazusu ni mo gendo ga arimasu.
It's all right to let yourself go up to a point, but there are limits.
hana ga takai
proud, stuck up
GAKUSEI:
Sensei, o-kagesama de, Tōdai ni gōkaku shimashita.
SENSEI:
Sore wa omedetō. Watashi mo yūshū na seito o motte, hana ga takai yo.
STUDENT:
Thank you for all the support you've given me. I have been accepted into Tokyō University.
TEACHER:
Congratulations. I am proud of having an excellent student.
Hana ga takai, literally "high nose," means to feel proud; hana o takaku sum is another phrase with the same meaning. Other phrases using hana include hana ni kakeru (be conceited or vain) and hana ni tsuku (get tired of or be fed up with).
EXAMPLES
1. Rippa na musuko-sano o-mochi de, sazo hana ga takai deshō.
You must be so proud to have such a wonderful son.
2. Kanojo wa totemo hana ni tsuku hito da.
She is really stuck up.
3. Boku wa kimi no yō na koibito ga ite, hana ga takai yo,
I'm so proud to have a girlfriend like you.
4. Sensei wa anata no koto de, totemo hana o takaku shite imashita yo.
The teacher was very proud of you.
hana-mochi naranai
detestable, disgusting
DŌRYŌ 1:
Suzuki-san no hanashi wa musuko-san no jiman bakari de, iya ni narimasu ne.
DŌRYŌ 2:
Hontō ni, are wa hana-mochi narimasen ne.
COLLEAGUE 1:
Doesn't it make you sick the way Suzuki constantly brags about his son?
COLLEAGUE 2:
Yes, it really is hard to take.
Hana-mochi naranai combines hana (nose), mochi (endure, stay long), and naranai (not become), and translates as "so foul smelling that one cannot bear the stench." Thus this expression describes anything detestable or disgusting.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare no gōman na hanashikata wa hana-mochi naranai,
I cannot stand his stuck-up way of talking.
2. Seijika no taido no ōkisa wa hana-mochi narimasen ne.
I find the overbearing attitudes of politicians to be obnoxious.
3. Kimi no ima no ōhei na ukekotae wa, hana-mochi naranai ne.
I find your arrogant answer to that question really disgusting.
4. Hontō ni, Satō-san'tte, hana-mochi naranai hito ne.
Satō really is a horrible person, isn't he?
hana-muke no kotoba
farewell remarks
SHIKAISHA:
Sore de wa, futari no kadode o iwatte, sensei ni hana-muke no kotoba o itadakimasu.
SENSEI:
Go-kekkon omedetō...
MASTER OF CEREMONIES:
I'll now call on the professor to extend a few words of farewell to the couple, wishing them good luck for their new life ahead.
PROFESSOR:
Congratulations on your marriage...
Hana-muke no kotoba, a combination of hana (nose) and muke (point or direct), refers to the heartfelt words one expresses to someone from whom one is parting. In the past, it was a common practice to point the nose of one's horse towards his or her destination and pray for safety. Hana-muke ni (as a farewell present) refers to money or other valuables that are given as a parting gift.
EXAMPLES
1. Ryūgaku sum kimi ni, hana-muke no kotoba o okurō.
Let me extend some farewell wishes before you leave to study abroad.
2. Subarashii hana-muke no kotoba, arigatō gozaimasu.
Thank you very much for your splendid farewell speech.
3. Sotsugyō suru seito-tachi ni, hana-muke no kotoba o o-negai shimasu. Would you mind saying a few words to the graduates to wish them good luck for the future?
4. Kono hon, tenkin no hana-muke ni sashiagemasu.
Since you are going to be transferred, I'd like to give you this book as a farewell gift.
hanashi ga nitsumaru
discussion narrows down
TOMODACHI 1:
Shain-ryokō no keikaku, dō narimashita ka?
TOMODACHI 2:
Hanashi ga dandan nitsumatte kimashita yo.
FRIEND 1:
How are the plans for the company trip progressing?
FRIEND 2:
The discussion is gradually starting to get somewhere.
Nitsumaru, and its intransitive form, nitsumeru, means to boil a liquid until the excess moisture disappears. When combined with hanashi (talk), it indicates that negotiations have reached a final stage. Other expressions using nitsumaru include giron ga nitsumaru (the discussion seems like it will finally reach a conclusion), mondai-ten ga nitsumaru (the controversial point is close to resolution), and keikaku ga nitsumaru (the planning is in its final stage).
EXAMPLES
1. Hanashi mo nitsumatta yō na node, ketsuron o dashimashō.
Since the talks seem to be winding down, let's make our conclusions.
2. Mō sukoshi, hanashi o nitsumete kara ni shimashō.
Let's do it after the discussion has narrowed down a little more.
3. Hanashi wa nakanaka nitsumarimasen ne.
The talks don't seem to be progressing at all.
4. Hanashi ga nitsumatte kara, ato no keikaku o o-hanashi shimasu.
Once this matter is worked out, we can discuss the rest of the plans.
hane o nobasu
kick up one's heels
KAISHAIN 1:
Buchō, ashita kara shutchō datte?
KAISHAIN 2:
Sore wa ureshii ne. Shibaraku no aida, hane o nobasesō da.
EMPLOYEE 1:
I hear the chief is going away tomorrow on business.
EMPLOYEE 2:
That's great. It looks like we'll be able to kick up our heels for a while.
Hane (wings) o nobasu (spread) refers to behaving in a relaxed, unrestrained fashion—just like a bird spreading its wings and flying freely in the sky. Another phrase with hane is hane ga haete tobu yd (as if it had grown wings and flown away), which describes goods selling like hot cakes.
EXAMPLES
1. Ie ni chichioya ga iru to, nakanaka hane o nobasenai.
When my father's at home I can't unwind at all.
2. Kaigai-ryokō ni ittara, omoikkiri hane o nobasō.
When we go overseas let's really have ourselves a good time.
3. Buchō ga bā de hane o nobashite iru tokoro o mite shimatta.
I came across our department chief having a binge in a bar.
4. Natsu-yasumi wa benkyō o wasurete, hane o nobashitai mono desu.
When the summer vacation comes I'd like to forget my studies and have a good time.
5. Watashi ga ryokō ni ittara, anata wa kitto hane o nobasun' deshō?
When I go away on my trip, I'm sure that you'll start fooling around.
happō bijin
everyone's friend
DŌRYŌ 1:
Kimura-san wa, kono kikaku o totemo homete kuremashita yo.
DŌRYŌ 2:
Amari, matomo ni toranai hō ga ii desu yo. Kare wa happō bijin dakara.
COLLEAGUE 1:
Kimura spoke very highly of this plan.
COLLEAGUE 2:
You'd be better off not trusting him too much. He always just tells people what they want to hear.
Happō bijin refers to people who try to make others believe that they are their friend. Happō describes the eight points of the compass— north, south, east, west as well as northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest; in other words, all directions. When bijin (beautiful girl) is added to this, it indicates that the person is a beauty, no matter what angle she is viewed from.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare ga anna ni happō bijin to wa omowanakatta.
I didn't think that he would try to please everybody that much.
2. Amari happō bijin da to shin'yo sarenaku naru.
If you try too hard to be everyone's friend, you'll lose people's trust.
3. Nihon no gaikō wa happō bijin gaiko to iwareru.
Japan's foreign policy is referred to as the policy of trying to be every nation's friend.
4. Kanojo no tachiba de wa, happō bijin ni narazaru o enai.
In her position, she cannot help but try to please everybody.
hara no mushi
one's mood, feelings
TOMODACHI 1:
Nani o okotte irun' desu ka?
TOMODACHI 2:
Kanojo no itta koto ga amari ni hidoi node, hara no mushi ga osamaranain' desu.
FRIEND 1:
What are you so upset about?
FRIEND 2:
I just can't get over what my girlfriend said.
Hara no mushi, literally "stomach bug," refers to an imaginary bug in one's stomach that is the source of one's mood and that growls when one is hungry. Expressions using hara no mushi include hara no mushi ga osamaranai and hara no mushi ga shochi shinai, both meaning to be irritated beyond one's patience, and hara no mushi no idokoro ga warui, meaning to be in a bad mood.
EXAMPLES
1. Shachō wa ima, hara no mushi no idokoro ga warui desu yo.
The company president is in a bad mood right now.
2. Hara no mushi no idokoro ga warui toki ni wa, kare ni chikazukanai ho ga ii.
