Everyday, I explain a Japanese word or expression that I find interesting and worth sharing. See the top page for the Word of Today (I also share interesting words on my social media accounts). For some words, the links to the relevant blog posts are provided, where I give you more detailed explanations (e.g. Usage, Origin, Related Words)
Table of Contents
島国根性 (しまぐにこんじょう)
[26 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “island nation spirit”
Meaning “a narrow, exclusive mindset, often exemplified by the act of bashing or ostracising ‘outsiders’, e.g. those who appear to deviate from social norms or standards, or who seem to enjoy privileged opportunities.”
Meaning “a narrow, exclusive mindset, often exemplified by the act of bashing or ostracising ‘outsiders’, e.g. those who appear to deviate from social norms or standards, or who seem to enjoy privileged opportunities.”
Other Info: This term is often used when one criticises a common mindset and behaviour of Japanese people that he/she regards as narrow-minded
「『出る杭は打たれる』という諺が日本人の島国根性を表している」と彼は言った
“The proverb ‘the nail that sticks out gets hammered down’ represents the exclusive mindset of Japanese people”, he said.
面(めん)食(く)い
[25 October 2021]
Meaning “love or be always attracted to good-looking people”
私、面食いだからケチでもかっこいい男と付(つ)き合(あ)いたい
Because I really love handsome men, I wanna date a cool man even if he is stingy
オブラートに包(つつ)む
[24 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “to wrap (something) in oblaat”
Meaning “Say something in a roundabout way”
Other Info: Oblaat is a thin edible layer of starch used to coat bitter medicines
Antonym: 単刀直入 (たんとうちょくにゅう)
オブラートに包まず言うと、これあまりおいしくない
To be candid with you, this isn’t very tasty
To be candid with you, this isn’t very tasty
くりそつ
[23 October 2021]
Meaning “look very alike”
Other Info: It is a back slang of そっくり
彼と彼の弟(おとうと)はくりそつだ
He and his younger brother look very alike
脈(みゃく)あり
[22 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “There is a pulse”
Meaning “be in with a chance of getting in a relationship with someone you like”
Other info: In contrast, 脈なし means “have no chance”
ハートの絵文字 (emoji) ❤️ を脈ありのサインだと勘違(かんちが)いする可哀想（かわいそう）な男(おとこ)が多(おお)い
There are a lot of hapless men who misunderstand that the heart emoji ❤️ is a sign of “a pulse”.
There are a lot of hapless men who misunderstand that the heart emoji ❤️ is a sign of “a pulse”.
てっきり(…かと思っていた)
[21 October 2021]
Meaning “I undoubtedly thought/believed/assumed that … (but it turns out to be wrong)”
Other Info: It is used when what you have believed or guessed turns out to be completely wrong
花子と太郎ってただの友達？かなり仲がいいから、てっきり付き合っているのかと思っていたよ
Hanako and Taro are just friends? Because they are very close, I completely thought they would be dating.
逆(さか)立(だ)ちしても[+ negative potential form]
[20 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “Even if I stand on my hands, (I cannot do …)”
Meaning: “No matter how hard I try, (I can’t do …); it is nearly impossible to do …”
Meaning: “No matter how hard I try, (I can’t do …); it is nearly impossible to do …”
Other Info: It is often used as “逆立ちしても勝(か)てない”, meaning “No matter how hard I try, I cannot beat (someone)”
彼(かれ)には逆立ちしてもスマブラで勝(か)てない
No matter how hard I try, I can never beat him in Smash Bros.
鬼電 (おにでん) [+する]
[19 October 2021]
Blog Post: Japanese Slang and Idioms about 鬼 (Oni): Meaning and Usage
Meaning “to call someone millions of times”
Other Info: It’s short for “鬼(おに)のように電話(でんわ)する”, meaning “to call like Oni”. While 鬼(おに, Oni) indicates a mythical Japanese creature, 鬼のように or just 鬼 figuratively mean “so/intensely” (see the blog post above for more details)
友達に連絡しても返事がなかったので、寝ていると思って鬼電したら起きた
I texted my friend but he didn’t reply, so I thought he was sleeping and called him millions of times, and he wake up.
餅（もち）は餅屋（もちや）
[18 October 2021]
Blog Post: Japanese Idioms about Mochi: 餅 (もち), Japanese Rice Cake!
Literal Meaning: “When it comes to mochi, a mochi shop (is the best)”
Meaning “It’s always the best to consult an expert.”
日本人の友達（ともだち）に「に」と「で」の違（ちが）いを聞（き）いても、全然（ぜんぜん）わからなかったけど、日本語の先生（せんせい）に聞いたらすぐにわかった！やっぱり餅は餅屋だね！
When I asked my Japanese friends what are the differences between ni and de, I couldn’t understand them at all, but when I asked my Japanese teacher, I did immediately. Indeed, it is always the best to consult an expert!
When I asked my Japanese friends what are the differences between ni and de, I couldn’t understand them at all, but when I asked my Japanese teacher, I did immediately. Indeed, it is always the best to consult an expert!
絵(え)に描(か)いた餅(もち)
[17 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “mochi depicted in a picture”
Meaning “(a plan/goal) sounds good but is unrealistic”
日本語を１０日でマスターするなんて計画 (けいかく)は、絵に描いた餅だ！
A plan to master Japanese in 10 days is a pie in the sky!
A plan to master Japanese in 10 days is a pie in the sky!
ヤマを張(は)る
[16 October 2021]
Meaning “to make a guess, especially when you guestimate the questions/topics you will be asked in an exam (and focus on studying them only while ignoring the other topics)”
明日 (あした) 、日本語の試験(しけん)があるけど、時間(じかん)がないから ヤマを張って敬語(けいご)だけ勉強 (べんきょう)しよう。
I have a Japanese exam tomorrow, but I don’t have much time left so I’ll guestimate the questions and study keigo only
I have a Japanese exam tomorrow, but I don’t have much time left so I’ll guestimate the questions and study keigo only
自作自演 (じさくじえん)
[15 October 2021]
Meaning “to disguise as someone and promote or support your work/opinion; to attack oneself and play the victim”
Other Info: When you see or feel someone doing 自作自演, you may say “自演乙 (じえんおつ)”, meaning “自作自演お疲(つか)れ様(さま)”, i.e. “well done on your 自作自演!”. But I feel this expression is getting less common nowadays. It also has a very strong slangy, internet-jargonish tone.
ネット掲示板で自作自演する人は多い。
A lot of people disguise themselves as someone else and promote their ideas on the internet forum.
すっからかん
[14 October 2021]
Meaning “be completely empty; become penniless”
Other Info: It is often used when your wallet gets completely empty (after you gamble away your savings, splurge on fancy clothes, etc.)
Other Info: It is often used when your wallet gets completely empty (after you gamble away your savings, splurge on fancy clothes, etc.)
スロットで負(ま)けて、すっからかんだよ
I lost at a slot machine and I am penniless.
コロナ禍(か)で、スーパーのトイレットペーパの棚（たな）がすっからかんになった
Because of the coronavirus crisis, the shelves of toilet paper at supermarkets have become completely empty.
Because of the coronavirus crisis, the shelves of toilet paper at supermarkets have become completely empty.
虫(むし)の知(し)らせ
[13 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “the insect’s message/notification”
Meaning “the sixth sense/event that tells you something bad will happen/has happened”
Other Info: That insect was believed to be in your body in the old days. This phrase is often used when you have a premonition of someone’s death, as in the example sentence below.
Other Info: That insect was believed to be in your body in the old days. This phrase is often used when you have a premonition of someone’s death, as in the example sentence below.
突然昔の友人が夢に出てきて、後日、彼がその日亡くなったという事を知った。あれは虫の知らせだったのだろう。
Suddenly one of my old friends appeared in my dream, and later I found out he had passed away on that day. It would have been the portent of the unfortunate incident.
Suddenly one of my old friends appeared in my dream, and later I found out he had passed away on that day. It would have been the portent of the unfortunate incident.
自称(じしょう)
[12 October 2021]
Meaning “self-styled/so-called” (often sarcastic)
Other Info: It can be used before a noun or adjective
Twitterには、自称成功者(せいこうしゃ)がたくさんいる
There are many so-called “successful persons” on Twitter
自称童顔(どうがん)なオッサン
an old man who regards himself as “baby-faced”
やらせ
[11 October 2021]
Meaning “(a show or video is) scripted”
某(ぼう)サイトには、やらせ動画(どうか)がたくさんアップされている
On that website, a lot of scripted videos are uploaded.
心臓(しんぞう)に毛(け)が生(は)えている
[10 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “Hair is growing on one’s heart”
Meaning “have a lot of nerve; audacious; immune to criticism/pressure; thick-skinned” (positive or negative)
彼は心臓に毛が生えているから、炎上しても気にしない
As he is thick-skinned, he doesn’t care even if he comes under fire
へそで茶を沸かす
[9 October 2021]
Literal Meaning: “make tea using one’s navel”
Meaning: “That is impossible/ridiculous; What a joke”
Other Info: It is used to scorn someone when you hear them saying something ludicrous.
Meaning: “That is impossible/ridiculous; What a joke”
Other Info: It is used to scorn someone when you hear them saying something ludicrous.
今からサッカー選手を目指す？へそで茶を沸かすわ！
Do you aim to become a professional soccer player from now? That’s ridiculous!
Xの口(くち)になる (X = food/drink)
[8 October 2021]
Literal Meaning: “have a mouth for X”
Meaning: “be emotionally ready to eat X; cannot think about eating anything but X at the moment”
Other Info: For instance, you may have “a mouth for ramen” after watching a TV show that features famous ramen restaurants, or after talking about ramen with your friends.
Meaning: “be emotionally ready to eat X; cannot think about eating anything but X at the moment”
Other Info: For instance, you may have “a mouth for ramen” after watching a TV show that features famous ramen restaurants, or after talking about ramen with your friends.
好(す)きなラーメン屋(や)に行(い)ったら休(やす)みだった。もうラーメンの口になっているから、他(ほか)のラーメン屋を探(さが)さないと。
I went to my favourite ramen restaurant but it was closed. Because my mouth has got so ready to eat ramen, I’ve gotta find another ramen restaurant.
思(おも)い出(だ)し笑(わら)い
[7 October 2021]
Meaning: “suddenly remember something funny and laugh”
電車（でんしゃ）の中（なか）で突然（とつぜん）思い出し笑いをして、変（へん）な目（め）で見（み）られた。
I suddenly remembered something funny and laughed on a train, and was seen as a weird person by people around me.
サバを読む
[6 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “read mackerels”
Meaning “lie about a number for one’s benefit (e.g. age, height, salary)”
彼女が１０歳もサバを読んでいたことを知って、ショックだった
I was shocked to find out that my girlfriend had been pretending she were 10 years younger than she actually is.
するする詐欺 (さぎ), slang
[5 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “do-do fraud”
Meaning “being all talk and no action”
Other info: You can replace する with another verb, as in “やめるやめる詐欺 (quit-quit fraud)”
Other info: You can replace する with another verb, as in “やめるやめる詐欺 (quit-quit fraud)”
Twitterやめるやめる詐欺を彼は2年間くらいしている
He has been saying he will quit Twitter for about 2 years but never does.
役者(やくしゃ)の卵(たまご)
[4 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “an egg of an actor/actress”
Meaning: “an actor/actress in the making; an aspiring/unfledged actor/actress”
Other Info: It can be used with other occupations, such as 研究者(けんきゅうしゃ)/弁護士(べんごし)の卵 (researcher/lawyer in the making)
彼はまだ役者の卵なので、コンビニでバイトをして生計を立てている
Because he is still an actor in the making, he works part-time at a convenience store to make ends meet.
武勇伝 (ぶゆうでん)
[3 October 2021]
Meaning: “a (doubtful/exaggerated) episode of one’s audacious behaviour or glorious achievement in his/her youth, which he/she repeatedly tells others in a flashy way”
Other Info: Originally, it refers to a heroic and brave story of someone famous, but nowadays it often describes far-fetched stories told by old men at Izakaya… (and hence it often has a negative connotation, but not necessarily)(e.g.) “I used to be very popular with guys/girls”, “I often had a flight with yobs and beat ’em up”
また彼が高校生の時にモテモテだったという武勇伝を語り始めた。
Again, he has started telling his “brave” episode about him having been very popular with girls when he was in high school.
プリン
[2 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “flan/crème caramel”
Slang Meaning “a brown/blonde-dyed hair with grown-out dark roots” (disapproving); also プリン頭(あたま)
Other info: It is a loanword from “pudding”. This is because such hair looks like a flan (dark caramel on top of a light brown custard)
プリン になっちゃったから、そろそろ美容院(びよういん)に行って根元（ねもと）を染（そ）め直（なお）さないと
Because I have a “flan hair” (“my dark roots have grown out”), I’ve gotta go to a hair salon and get my roots retouched.
一人（ひとり）歩（ある）きする
[1 October 2021]
Literal Meaning “walk alone”
Meaning “(a false or exaggerated story or information/rumour about someone) spreads beyond one’s control”
私が彼と付き合っているという噂が一人歩きして困っている。
I’m in trouble because the rumour has been spreading beyond my control that I’d be in a relationship with him.