Now that we have our own japanstudies academics I think it'd be beneficial to share any funny, important, or unique vocab words we come across in the wild. For me the 10ten Japanese Reader (Rikaichamp) extension has helped a lot in this regard. I hope anyone planning to perform the Hajj one day (even those that haven't yet learned kana) contribute too.
My favorite nipponese word:
(noun, +suru verb) (usually kana) broken into small fragments; smashed to atoms; fragments and splinters; smithereens
My favorite nipponese word:
木端微塵, 木っ端微塵, 木葉微塵, こっぱ微塵, 木っ端みじん [こっぱみじん / koppamijin]
(noun, +suru verb) (usually kana) broken into small fragments; smashed to atoms; fragments and splinters; smithereens
Liked/funny words:
我儘 わがまま wagamama = selfish, egoist (名詞 noun, ナ形容詞 na adjective). The kanji, however, is very rarely used.
便所 べんじょ benjo = toilet (名詞 noun).
脳味噌 のうみそ noumiso = brain (名詞 noun). I really like this one because it gives me the idea as if the brain is submerged in miso soup.
驚愕 きょうがく kyougaku = Astonishment, amazement, surprise, fright, shock ((名詞 noun + する動詞 suru verb).
Interesting kanji:
旦: (音) タン、ダン。(訓)あき、あきら、ただし、あさ、あした。= daybreak, dawn, morning.
Ex: 歳旦 saitan = New Year's morning. 旦那 danna = master (household, shop, etc.)
操:(音)ソウ、サン。(訓)みさお、あやつ。= maneuver, manipulate, operate, steer, chastity, virginity, fidelity.
Ex: 体操 taisou = gymnastics, physical exercises. 操を守る misao wo mamoru = to adhere to one's principles.
謎:(音)メイ、ベイ。(訓)なぞ。= riddle, puzzle, enigma
Ex: 謎語 meigou = mysterious/confusing words.
Four character idioms (四字熟語):
一石二鳥 いっせきにちょう issekinichou = Killing two birds with one stone.
自業自得 じごうじとく jigoujitoku = You reap what you sow.
金融恐慌 きんゆうきょうこう kinyuukyoukou = Financial panic.
Slang (俗語):
スタバる sutabaru = To go to starbucks.
ヤバい yabai = This honestly can mean everything you want ranging from good to bad.
ちな china = This is an abbreviation of ちなみ chinami which pretty much means by the way.
ウケる ukeru = That's funny.
That was it for now.
hosimati suisei please
Never thought I would be able to post in this thread but I think that the fact that the term クソゲー (kusoge) exists is insanely funny.
According to Wikipedia: "In Japanese video gaming, a kusoge (クソゲー, kusogē, pronounced [kɯ̥soɡeː]) lit. 'crappy game', is an unenjoyable or poorly made video game. Though the label is usually applied disparagingly, there is a subculture of celebrating kusoge."
The article also mentions this: "A variety of similarly constructed terms exist to describe other subjective attributes – for example, kamigē (神ゲー, lit. 'god game'; used as 'amazing game'), bakagē (バカゲー, 'stupid game'), and kigē (奇ゲー, 'uncanny game')."
According to Wikipedia: "In Japanese video gaming, a kusoge (クソゲー, kusogē, pronounced [kɯ̥soɡeː]) lit. 'crappy game', is an unenjoyable or poorly made video game. Though the label is usually applied disparagingly, there is a subculture of celebrating kusoge."
The article also mentions this: "A variety of similarly constructed terms exist to describe other subjective attributes – for example, kamigē (神ゲー, lit. 'god game'; used as 'amazing game'), bakagē (バカゲー, 'stupid game'), and kigē (奇ゲー, 'uncanny game')."
I did not post in here every weekend like I planned to, gomennasory !!!! (。-人-。) ゴメンネ
爆買い ばくがい bakugai = Binge shopping, Shopping spree. What makes this one funny is because it was originally used to describe Chinese tourists their shopping habits in Japan
爆笑 ばくしょう bakushou = Roar of laughter, Laughing hard.
溺れる おぼれる oboreru = To struggle in the water, To sink below the surface and become unable to breath.
There is a lot more, but they are not coming to my brain as of right now.
七転八倒 しちてんばっとう shichitenbattou = Writhing in agony.
I will be taking a few of the 65 most used onomatopoeia in the year 2018 (https://style.ehonnavi.net/baby/stylenews/2018/04/23_039.html)
わんわん wanwan = The barking sound of a dog.
ぴよぴよ piyopiyo = The tweeting a birdlike creature makes when it's a baby.
ぴかぴか pikapika = When something is so clean it sparkles.
まぜまぜ mazemaze = Is an onomatopoeia used to describe the mixing of stuff.
Next post i hope to add more to the non textbook vocab
Words you will likely not find in a language learning textbook:
爆買い ばくがい bakugai = Binge shopping, Shopping spree. What makes this one funny is because it was originally used to describe Chinese tourists their shopping habits in Japan
爆笑 ばくしょう bakushou = Roar of laughter, Laughing hard.
溺れる おぼれる oboreru = To struggle in the water, To sink below the surface and become unable to breath.
There is a lot more, but they are not coming to my brain as of right now.
Another four character idioms (四字熟語):
七転八倒 しちてんばっとう shichitenbattou = Writhing in agony.
Everyone's favourite, onomatopoeia オノマトペ:
I will be taking a few of the 65 most used onomatopoeia in the year 2018 (https://style.ehonnavi.net/baby/stylenews/2018/04/23_039.html)
わんわん wanwan = The barking sound of a dog.
ぴよぴよ piyopiyo = The tweeting a birdlike creature makes when it's a baby.
ぴかぴか pikapika = When something is so clean it sparkles.
まぜまぜ mazemaze = Is an onomatopoeia used to describe the mixing of stuff.
Next post i hope to add more to the non textbook vocab
hosimati suisei please
I know next to nothing but I do like some of the historical four character phrases. Here are some that come to mind:
fukoku kyouhei - enrich the nation, strengthen the military
haibutsu kishaku - abolish Buddhism, destroy Shakyamuni
honji suijaku - original nature and providential manifestation (of Buddhas as native Japanese gods)
koubu gattai - union of bakufu and court (policy of Ii Naosuke in the 1850s)
wakon yousai - western learning, Japanese spirit
youmu undou - western affairs movement (in Qing China under the Empress Dowager)
ekisei kakumei - change in government by loss of mandate of Heaven
taisei houkan - restoration of Imperial rule
tenka fubu - all under heaven by force of arms (political catchphrase of Oda Nobunaga)
I hope you Japanese learners found these interesting, they're all the ones I can remember off the top of my head from studying Japanese or Chinese history, I actually like the ring to four character phrases especially when they're said in Japanese
fukoku kyouhei - enrich the nation, strengthen the military
haibutsu kishaku - abolish Buddhism, destroy Shakyamuni
honji suijaku - original nature and providential manifestation (of Buddhas as native Japanese gods)
koubu gattai - union of bakufu and court (policy of Ii Naosuke in the 1850s)
wakon yousai - western learning, Japanese spirit
youmu undou - western affairs movement (in Qing China under the Empress Dowager)
ekisei kakumei - change in government by loss of mandate of Heaven
taisei houkan - restoration of Imperial rule
tenka fubu - all under heaven by force of arms (political catchphrase of Oda Nobunaga)
I hope you Japanese learners found these interesting, they're all the ones I can remember off the top of my head from studying Japanese or Chinese history, I actually like the ring to four character phrases especially when they're said in Japanese
Today I will contribute a singular word.
空中給油機 くうちゅうきゅうゆき kuuchuukyuuyuki = air tanker, airborne refuelling craft
空中給油機 くうちゅうきゅうゆき kuuchuukyuuyuki = air tanker, airborne refuelling craft
hosimati suisei please