Here is a list of “Japanese Word of the Day” shared in September 2021.
二日(ふつか)酔(よ)い
猫舌 (ねこじた)
飲兵衛 (のんべえ)/ 飲み助 (のみすけ)
炎上 (えんじょう)する
あの芸能人が「浮気は必要悪だ」と言って炎上した
The celebrity said, “Cheating on one’s wife is a necessary evil” and came under fire.
猫 (ねこ) の額 (ひたい)
猫の額ほどの庭(にわ)で野菜(やさい)を育(そだ)てている
I grow vegetables in a very small garden.
泣(な)いても笑(わら)っても
マンネリ化(か)する
日常茶飯事 (にちじょうさはんじ)
オーバー
[22 September 2021]
ふつつか者(もの)ですが…
A:出会った時から、あなたの事がずっと好きでした!僕と付き合ってくれませんか?
B:はい、喜んで!ふつつか者ですが、どうぞよろしくお願いします!
A: Since I saw you for the first time, I have been in love with you. Would you be my girlfriend?
B: Yes, I’m happy to! Although I’m a clumsy and immature person, I’d love to build a close relationship with you (as your girlfriend)!
窓際社員(まどぎわしゃいん)
未練 (みれん)
意味深 (いみしん)
[18 September 2021] (na-adj)
一時(いちじ)はどうなることかと[+思った]
信者 (しんじゃ)
He is a believer in Christianity.
According to fanatic fans of ONE PIECE, you can understand the “meaning” of life by reading ONE PIECE.
ウンチク
新米 (しんまい)
[14 September 2021]
Other Info: It is a bit old-fashioned word, used by older people (with a slightly condescending tone) or by oneself in a modest way.初(はじ)めてみる顔(かお)だな、新米か?
I see your face for the first time. Are you a rookie?
スッポンポン
まことしやか (na-adj)
Other Info: It is often used as “まことしやかに囁(ささや)かれている”, meaning “(a rumour) is whispered as if it is real”
彼が来年引退するという噂が、まことしやかに囁かれている。
A rumour that he’s going to retire next year is whispered as if it’s real.
取(と)り急(いそ)ぎ
Other info: It is usually put at the end of a message/email (esp. in business) when one informs someone of new information in a rushed way (e.g. without providing/confirming its details).
次の会議の日にちは来週の水曜日に決まりました。取り急ぎ。
The date of our next meeting has been fixed for next Wednesday. I’ll give you the details later.
モテ期(き)
[10 September 2021]
Meaning: “a period of time when you become very popular with men/women (people of the gender you are attracted to)”.
誰でも人生でモテ期を3回経験すると言われている。
It is said that anyone experiences “Moteki” in his/her life three times.
道草(みちくさ)を食(く)う
Other Info: This idiom alludes to a horse that suddenly stops to eat grass on the way (which is a waste of time in the eyes of humans)
I wasted time doing random stuff on the way, such as taking photos and stopping at a convenience store, and I ended up being late.
残(のこ)り物(もの)には福(ふく)がある
Other Info: What it suggests is that the most popular one is not necessarily the best, or good luck comes to those who are not desperate or greedy残(のこ)り物(もの)には福(ふく)があるって言うし、くじは最後に引きたい。
瓜(うり)二(ふた)つ
高嶺(たかね)の花(はな)
Because she is too hot/popular for me, I cannot confess my feelings to her.
けりをつける
ひっぱりだこ
手前味噌 (temae miso)
[3 September 2021]
Literal Meaninig “this-side (my) miso”
Other Info: a very advanced phrase to use when you brag about yourself but still want to sound modest. See the blog post for its origin.
I’m afraid it may sound boastful, but my book has sold a million copies.
空元気(からげんき)
言霊 (ことだま, Kotodama)
[1 September 2021]
Literal Meaning “Soul of Word/Language”
Meaning “superstitious (or maybe real) influence that a word/utterance has on real life (e.g.) a negative/positive word causes such results
” 言霊になるから「もし負けたら」なんて言うな
Don’t say “If I lose” as it’ll be kotodama (≒ Don’t jinx it)