Here is a list of Japanese Words of the Day shared in October 2021 on Takashioanry. See the Word of Today here.
独身貴族 (どくしんきぞく)
[31 October 2021]
He fully enjoys living a single life
袋叩き (ふくろだたき)
居留守 (いるす)
The doorbell rang at 10 pm and a stranger was on the camera, so I pretended I was not at home
死亡(しぼう)フラグ
Literal Meaning “Death Flag”
このセリフは完全に死亡フラグだろ
This line is nothing but a “death flag”, i.e. This line totally suggests someone’s death or complete failure.
雨男/女 (あめおとこ/おんな)
[27 October 2021]
Literally “rainy man/woman”
Meaning “men/women who often allegedly ’cause’ rain to fall when they go out (with their friends)”
Other Info: Its antonym is 晴(は)れ男/女, “sunny man/woman”
私雨女だから、旅行する時いつも雨が降るんだよねー
Since I’m a rainy woman, it rains whenever I travel.
島国根性 (しまぐにこんじょう)
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.”
面(めん)食(く)い
オブラートに包(つつ)む
To be candid with you, this isn’t very tasty
くりそつ
脈(みゃく)あり
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)
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]
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)
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.”
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)
A plan to master Japanese in 10 days is a pie in the sky!
ヤマを張(は)る
[16 October 2021]
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)
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。
すっからかん
Other Info: It is often used when your wallet gets completely empty (after you gamble away your savings, splurge on fancy clothes, etc.)
Because of the coronavirus crisis, the shelves of toilet paper at supermarkets have become completely empty.
虫(むし)の知(し)らせ
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.
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)
やらせ
心臓(しんぞう)に毛(け)が生(は)えている
へそで茶を沸かす
Meaning: “That is impossible/ridiculous; What a joke”
Other Info: It is used to scorn someone when you hear them saying something ludicrous.
Xの口(くち)になる (X = food/drink)
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.
思(おも)い出(だ)し笑(わら)い
サバを読む
するする詐欺 (さぎ), slang
Other info: You can replace する with another verb, as in “やめるやめる詐欺 (quit-quit fraud)”
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