大袈裟

大袈裟
おおげさ
Oogesa
Exaggerated

大袈裟に感動するの表情
Oogesa ni kandou suru no hyoujou
To make an exaggeratedly touched expression



Above is one of my favorite Japanese actresses Tanaka Rena (田中麗奈). Her expression is not exaggerated. I am posting her picture because I learned the above kanji when I was looking at the Hondashi TV commercial titled 「大袈裟な母篇」。I can't believe she is turning 25 this year! :O She was just a kid in GTO and Overtime (オーバー・タイム).

*Personally, I do not recommend using Ajinomoto's products...it's MSG equivalent.

ギャル文字

ギャル文字
Gyaru moji (Gyaru = gal)
Abbreviated characters used by gal to message one another

For those interested to learn more, look at this link.
You can learn how to do it by typing it in here.

Above is the latest way they communicate. Write it on a piece of paper, take a picture and send it to the other person.

着メロ

着メロ
Chakumero
Ring tone (ring melody)

携帯着メロ着うた(着歌)サイト。
Keitai chakumero chakuuta saito.
Cell phone ring tone ring song site.

歓迎会

かんげいかい
Kangeikai
Welcome party

We have some new people joining us (and 1 leaving). We will be having a kangeikai in San Francisco at Brothers and then go hiking at Marine Headlands tomorrow. Afterwards we will go drinking and play poker at a coworker's house. I am so not looking forward to it.

物語

物語
ものがたり Monogatari
Story / Tale

Above is the DVD cover of the movie April Story [四月物語] with Matsu Takako.


Shimotsuma Monogatari 下妻物語 Is another very different movie. Both won some movie awards.

七五三

Shichi go san

子供の成長を祝う様々な風習、七五三。
Kodomo no seichou o iwau samazamana fuushuu, shichi go san.

This ceremony is conducted at many shrines in Japan on November 15. On this day, parents with children 7, 5, and 3 years old come a shrine to express their gratitude to Kami (deity) because the children have reached those critical ages. They also come to invoke future blessings. The occasion was marked by ceremonies of putting up the hair of a 3-year-old girl (we call Kami-oki), of placing a hakama (pleated skirt) on a 5-year-old boy, and of giving a 7-year-old girl an obi (silk girdle), to be worn for the first time.


For more information on this day: Nov 15

蜂蜜

蜂蜜
はちみつ
Hachi mitsu

はちみついり紅茶
Hachimitsu iri kocha
Black tea with honey

はちみついり果汁
Hachi mitsu iri kajuu
Juice with honey

自修

自修 / 自習 (じしゅう)
Self study
*It's interesting how these two have the same pronounciation....

日本語の自学自修法
Nihongo no jigakujishuu bou.
The way to teach yourself Japanese.

今日の自習課題が大変です 。
Kyoo no jishuu kadai ga taihen desu.
Today's self study topic is difficult.

適切な自習の方法を教えます。
Tekisetsu na jishuu no houhou oshiemasu.
We teach the appropriate self study method.

香港の夜景

Q: Is there a more natural or easier way to say "香港の夜の景色"?
A: Per Tae's reply just say "香港の夜景"

渡船の窓から香港の夜景を眺めながら...
Tosen no mado kara hon kon no yakei o nagame nagara ...
While looking out at the night scenery of Hong Kong from the window of the ferry ...

Off topic: This is something you MUST do if you are ever in Hong Kong.
Take the Star Ferry from Kowloon side at Tsim Sha Tsui to Hong Kong's Central on a clear day while the sun is setting or in the evening.
Enjoy the view, the waves, the sea breezes and listen to the sound of the ferry. That's something I will never get tired of.

場違い

場違い (ばちがい)
Bachigai
Out-of-place

ちょっと場違いな感じでした。
Chotto bachigai na kanji deshita.
I felt a little bit out of place.

指切りげんまん

Yubikiri genman
Two people lock their pinkies when making a promise

More explanation here.

I think this lock pinkies thing has spreaded to the rest of Asia without having to sing the song. By locking the pinkies, the promise is officially "sealed" and to be remembered, that's all. I'm a bit shock to see the Japanese song of "drink 1000 needles and cut the finger" part...

初心者

初心者
しょしんしゃ
Shoshinsha
Beginner, newbie

初心者の為にインターネットマナーと注意点。
Shoshinsha no tameni intaanetto manaa to chuuiten.
Internet manners and important points for the beginners.

初級者
しょきゅうしゃ
Shokyuusha
Beginner, people at beginner's level

初級
Shokyuu
Beginner's Level

(X 誤) 初心者からやったほうがいい。
(O 正) 初級からやったほうがいい。
Shokyuu kara yatta hoo ga ii.
It's better to do it from the beginner's (level).

働きます

はたらきます
Work, labor

休日も働きます。
Kyuujitsu mo hatarakimasu.
I work also on my day off.

公共のために働きます。
Koukyou no tameni hatarakimasu.
I work for the public.

来週から働きます！
Raishuu kara hatarakimasu!
I will (start) work from next week!

抹茶

まっちゃ
maccha (powered green tea)

I wonder if I can get some matcha Kit Kat here. :-? I should make a run to Nijiya tonight to check since it's available in Japan now and it's 期間限定 (kikan gentei / limited time period).

Updates: Saw 抹茶 everything else but no 抹茶 Kit Kat. Maybe I should check Mitsuwa...even though I like Nijiya better.

今日の御奨め

Kyoo no osusume

Today's recommendation (chef's special, special of the day)

捏ね = つくね = chicken or fish meatloaf made with egg (Yum yum!!)

お任せ

お任せ
Omakase

What to eat at a fancy Japanese restaurant? If it is a place you have been before or you are feeling adventurous, you can simply say "omakase" and let the chef prepares what he feels like for you (usually without knowing the price). It's usually worth a try because we have had very good experiences in fine Japanese restaurants in Vancouver where we got the best sashimi and other goodies for a price that we are willing to pay for (well, maybe not everyday... but once in a while is ok).

Omakase is the polite way to say "I leave it up to you (to decide for me)".

芸術品

げいじゅつひん
Gei jutsu hin
Work (an object) of art

Jean (Hans) Arp
Fruit hybride dit la Pagode (Hybrid Fruit Called Pagoda)
1934

*This piece of art is really cute!! I love it! The last time it was showing at UCLA's North Campus.

トレーナー

Toreenaa
Trainer (sweatshirt)

仕事に没頭している

完全に仕事に没頭しているようです。
Kanzen ni shigoto ni bottou shite iru you desu.
It seems you are completely absorbed by your work.

普段着

ふだんぎ
fudangi
Casual wear

４人は普段着だった。
Yonin wa fudangi datta.
The 4 people were in casual wear.

よくある質問

Who in the above picture is a female?

Yoku aru shitsu mon
FAQ (Frequently Asked Question)

手のひら

掌 or 手の平
te no hira
One's palm

Here is the first line of the direction I saw on the back of my 化粧水 (けしょうすい - facial lotion)

洗顔のあと、手のひらまたはコットンに500円硬貨大をとり、顔全体になじませます。
Sengan no ato, te no hira mata wa kotton ni gohyaku en kouka dai o tori, ganzentai ni najimasemasu.

If you know Chinese...you can pretty much guess what it's saying...
After you wash your face, in your hand or cotton, 500 yen coin size, "doing something" to the entire face. :-)

ややこしい

complex, complicated, puzzling

懐かしい

なつかしい

To miss something, something that brings back old memories.

なつかしい写真
なつかしい歌
なつかしい音楽

抹茶の苦味が懐かしい。
Maccha no kumi ga natsukashii.
The biter taste of green tea brings back old memories.

はな

Which hana are you referring to?
花 or 鼻
Flower or Nose.

Yah, nose is also hana!

E.g.
鼻水 = はなみず

鼻 another pronounciation is び

燦々

さんさん

太陽はさんさんと輝き
Taiyou wa sansan to kagayaki
The sun is bright and shiny

燦

税

ぜい
zei

April 15 is when the tax is due in US.
Hope you have a 還付税 (かんぷぜい tax refund) coming your way.

グッドラック!
Guddo Rakku!
Good Luck!

挑戦

ちょうせん
Challenge

いい機会ということで、今回はスノーボードの挑戦しました。
Ii kikai to iu koto de, konkai wa sunooboodo no chousen shimashita.
With the good opportunity, I was challenged to snowboard this time.

楽しみのスポーツはしかし練習しなければならない。
Tanoshimi no supootsu wa shikashi renshuu shinakereba naranai.
It's a fun sports but it will not be if I don't practice.

あんきも

Ankimo - monkfish liver

We went to this best Japanese restaurant in San Francisco after snowboarding in Tahoe today. This place is no longer the biggest secret and the line is just too long, so I will not mention the name here. We set down hungry and started going through all the appetizers in the menu. It's the first time I saw they have ankimo and I love it the last time I tried it in Japan. But my friend did not want to try it so we did not order it. I will go back and order it with raw oyster and uni next time with some other people. :-)

In case you are wondering what ankimo looks like, here is a the recipe I found online.

大福餅, 団子

大福餅 daifuku mochi = Sweet rice balls with sweet fillings



団子 dango = sweet dumplings

Here are some more pictures of Japanese sweets.

I brought these back as お土産 (omiyage) from Japan at the airport. :-P They ran out so quickly during meetings that I have to go to Nijiya (Japanese Super) to buy more. :-) It's best to serve with hot green tea since it could be too sweet for some.

*I think food is my favorite thing to post...

圧力

あつりょく
atsu ryoku

Pressure, stress.

My work sucks this week. Ok, maybe just Thursday. Let's see how Friday is going to end.

I hope I have a positive word for Friday.

Updates: Friday turned out GREAT! We (a team of 6 people after a night of torments) figured out the perfect combination and got it working consistently before noon! We went to By-Th-Bucket Italian Seafood resutoran for lunch (where the 49'ers like to party at) and I was just too happy to finish my food! The afternoon went by quickly and I am going snowboarding on Sunday and taking Monday off! :-D

Word for Friday: すげい Terrific/Incredible!

山掛けスタミナ丼

yamakake sutamina don

You can get it from them. It's very delicious!

I missed it a lot!!! And it's only 500円!!

お勧めです。

寝過ごした

nesugo shita
Overslept!

最悪?
Sai aku?
The worst?

Not really ... unless I have an appointment or need to catch a flight. :-)

反省

はんせい
hansei
rethink, reconsider, contemplate (previous actions)

私の日常を反省しました。
Watashi no nichijou o hansei shimashita.

粗同じです

Almost the same

粗
ほぼ
hobo = almost, roughly, approximately

という感想は私も粗(ほぼ)同じです。
toiu kansou wa watashi mo hobo onaji desu.

I also feel almost the same way with what you said your impression was.

片道, 往復

かたみち = one-way

おうふく = round trip

河豚

ふぐ
fugu

ふぐ料理

Looks like Asakusa is the place for fugu ryori. I will try it next time I visit. :-)

旧

This is a very unusal kanji ... I have not seen it very often and it's not from Chinese word.

旧
kyuu
It means old (times, friends, things) ex-, or former (sth.)

Read here for more usage of this word.

締め切り

しめきり
Deadline

今日は締め切り２本。
Kyoo wa shimekiri nihon.
I have 2 deadlines today.

偶

偶々
tamatama
accidentally, unexpectedly

たまたまテレビを見ていた時, ちょっと感動した
Accidentally when I was watching it on the television, I was a bit impressed.

偶に
tama ni
occasionally, once in a while

嫌な世の中だけど、偶には良い事もあるよ
Iyana yo no naka dakedo, tamani wa yoi koto mo aru yo.
In this unpleasant society however, there is also good thing occasionally.

唐揚げ

からあげ (Fried)

Today I was reading this good site on fried chicken breast. It looks easy enough.

茶わん蒸し
Chawan mushi looks delicious, too.

I will make this this weekend! Home cooking is great!

Wow, so many cooking ideas for the month!! Lucky!

納豆素麺 (Natto somen) is a great idea!

*揚げ出し
*agedashi = deep fried

Is there really any difference between agedashi vs. karaage?