【Culture】花粉症 かふんしょう Kafun-shou

Spring is the pleasant season for almost everyone. Gentle sunshine and warm breeze bring blooming flowers and help the vegetation.  The warmness of spring gives us peaceful moments.......What a wonderful season.....!

Well, but maybe not for people like me; have an allergy to pollens...!!!! (＠_＠;)

Today's word is
" 花粉症　かふんしょう　Kafun-shou   =  a pollen allergy "

"花粉症　かふんしょう　kafun-shou" is a big annual problem for a number of Japanese people.
Between February to May when cedar trees produce pollens, many people get allergic symptoms and suffer from sinus problems.
It is not because only cedar pollen but in fact there are huge amount of cedar trees in Japan which we used to use it in order to build a house back in day. However now we don't use woods for building house as much as we did,  there are still huge number of cedar trees growing in Japan. So that cedar pollen is the one of big part of reason why we get a pollen allergy.

Here are the words of symptoms caused by "花粉症　かふんしょう　kafun-shou" and Japanese translations.

くしゃみ　kushami　　＝　　Sneezing
鼻水　　はなみず　hanamizu　　＝　　Runny nose
鼻づまり　はなづまり　hanazumari　　＝　　Nasal congestion
頭痛　 ずつう　zutsuu　　＝　　Headache
目のかゆみ　me no kayumi　　＝　　Itchy eyes
涙目　なみだめ　namida-me　　＝　　Watery eyes
のどのかゆみ　nodo no kayumi　　＝　　Itchy throat


When you say, " I have a pollen allergy." it goes,

私は花粉症です。　わたしは かふんしょうです。　watashi wa kafun-shou desu.

In direct translation, you can read this sentence as "I am a pollen allergy." though, this is how you say in Japanese.

While "花粉症　かふんしょう　kafun-shou" goes mess around all over Japan, quite a lot of Japanese people wear masks to avoid inhaling a pollen. This may be looks odd to people from where never have a pollen allergy though, in spring, especially in Tokyo, you may see almost everyone include high school students wear masks. You may think that something bad going on in that area or everybody is incredibly sick; you may want to stay away from them.
Well, that is usual and annual looks of Japanese people in spring. Don't worry.
We wear a mask to be polite to other people when we sneeze. Wearing a mask is manner in public environment of Japanese when we are sick or have symptoms to sneeze or cough.
So when you are in Japan and got cold or sneeze/cough often, you've better to wear a mask especially in public area.   

So......this is how I look in spring. Even if I live in the united states, I have very bad pollen allergy. So that I must to wear a mask and sun glasses to protect my eyes not to get pollens....

I know this look like I'm going to rob a bank or store...hahaha well, I'm just protecting myself from pollens as much as I can.. :p

Have a nice day!

【Slang】やばい yabai

Hi there!

Today I would like to introduce the other most common slang,

which is "やばい　yabai"  {I Adjective}

Quite a lot of young people between teenager to 40's use this word in a casual conversation.

Some of linguists say that the origin of this word comes from Edo period (1603-1868 CE) when there were many Samurai existed. Then, the meaning of word has been changed depend on the age and how people used the word.

Well, in recent year, this word is used as slang; spoken Japanese.

There are three situations that could use "やばい　yabai" as following.

A. Inconvenient situation

- got a big trouble or come across unwelcomed things

Ex)  Oh, gosh!  Already 7 o'clock?  I gotta go now.

*The part of "Oh, gosh!" is the part you could say "yabai" instead.

やばい！もう、７時？　いかなきゃ。

やばい！もう　しちじ？　いかなきゃ。

yabai! Mou, shichi ji? Ikana-kya.

B. Dangerous situation

- be in danger or doing something risky, hazard

Ex) You've better not to go. Because over there is dangerous.

行かないほうがいいよ。あそこはやばいから。

いかないほうがいいよ。あそこはやばいから。

Ikanai houga iiyo.  Asoko wa yabai kara.

C. When you found a very attractive thing which makes you absorbed

Ex) I got a crush! He is my type of man very much!

*The part of "I got a crush!" is the part you could say "yabai" instead.

やばい！彼、とても私のタイプ！

やばい！かれ、とても　わたしの　タイプ！　

Yabai!  Kare, totemo watashi no taipu!

A: やばい！　ねぼうした！　ちこくする！
　　Yabai!   Nebou shita!   Chikoku suru!

  =  F**k!  I slept in!  I'm gonna be late!


B: うわ！　やばい！　さめだ！
　  Uwa!   Yabai!    Same da!

  =  Woaw!  Holly sh*t!  A shark!


C: ①　あ、おはよう！　
　　　　 Ah, Ohayou!      = Ah, Morning!

     ②　おはよう！
　　　　 Ohaoyou!    = Morning!

         ( やばい。　かわいい♡）
　　　　Yabai. Kawaii.   =   God, (she is) pretty!




Conjugated form

やばい　yabai  {I Adjective}
やばくない　yabakunai
やばかった　yababatta
やばくなかった　yabaku-nakatta



People use this word quite often in any situations.

やばい！おいしい！　
yabai! Oishii!    = Gosh! Delicious!  (C)

やばくない？
yabakunai?   = Isn't is bad? / Isn't it risky? / Isn't is freaking good?  (A/ B /C)

やばかった。
Yabakatta.   = It was close. / It almost got me.  (B)

やばいなあ。　どうしよう。
Yabai naa.  Dou shiyou.  =   This is not good. What should I do? (A)




Have a nice day!

【Vocabulary】幸せ者 しあわせもの shiawase-mono

So today (for me in US); February 14th is Valentine's Day!
There must be a lot of people who is spending romantic time with their lovers. :)
And there must be a lot of people who have no such time, as well. :(

Well, today's word is "幸せ者　しあわせもの　shiawase-mono". {noun}
This word is constructed with following 2 words.

幸せ　しあわせ   shiawase   =  happy　 {NA adjective}
者　　 もの           mono        =  person *This is not an independent word.
                                                                It makes sense when combined other words.


Yes. Now you know what dose it means.
It means, "happy person"

ex)  私は幸せ者です。
わたしは　しあわせもの　です。
watashi wa shiawase-mono desu.

  =  I'm a happy person. / I'm the happiest person.


 私は世界で一番の幸せ者です。
 わたしは　せかいで　いちばんの　しあわせもの　です。
watashi wa sekai de ichiban no shiawase-mono desu.

  =  I'm the happiest person in the word.




There are more words in the same form with  "～者　～もの　～mono".

◆人気者　にんきもの　ninki-mono  =  a popular person

ex) 彼はおとなしいですが、みんなにやさしくてクラスの人気者です。
かれはおとなしいですが、みんなにやさしくて　クラスの　にんきもの　です。
kare wa otonashii desuga, minna ni yasashiku te kurasu no ninki-mono desu.

 =  He is quiet but being nice to everyone, so (he is) a popular boy in a class.


◆愛され者　あいされもの　aisare-mono  =  a be loved person

ex)  A: そのお弁当、奥さんが作ったんですか？ おいしそう！
そのおべんとう、おくさんが　つくったんですか？ おいしそう！
sono obentou, okusan ga tsukutta n desuka? Oishisou!

  =  The packed lunch, did your wife cook? Looks delicious!

       B: そうです。ありがとうございます。
sou desu. Arigatou gozaimasu.

  =  That's right. Thank you.

       A: 愛され者ですね。
あいされものですね。
aisare-mono desune.

  =  You are a be loved one.


◆嫌われ者　きらわれもの　kiraware-mono  =  the most hated person, a disliked person

ex) 私はきびしいので、会社で嫌われ者です。
わたしは　きびしいので、　かいしゃで　きらわれものです。
watashi wa kibishii node, kaisha de kiraware-mono desu.

  =  I'm strict person, so that in the company people hate me.
                                            (I'm the most hated person in the company.)


◆　臆病者　おくびょうもの　okubyou- mono  = a coward, chicken(slang)

ex) 私は臆病者ですから、一人でお化け屋敷に入れません。
わたしは　おくびょうもの　ですから、　ひとりで　おばけやしきに　はいれません。
watashi wa okubyou-mono desukara, hitori de obake-yashiki ni hairemasen.

  =  I'm chicken so that I can not enter a haunted (spooky) house alone.




Who is  "幸せ者　しあわせもの　shiawase-mono" today?

I hope you are!

【Vocabulary】音痴 おんち onchi

Do you like to sing a song?
Do you enjoy karaoke with your friends?

Well, I like to sing a song... but only when I am alone in my room or when I'm driving my car alone!
Because I'm a very bad singer and feel embarrassed to have somebody listen to my singing! ((+_+))


So how can we say "I'm a bad singer. / I'm not good at singing." in Japanese?

私は歌が下手です。　
わたしは　うたが　へたです。
watashi wa uta ga heta desu.

= I'm not good singer. (I'm a bad singer.)

私は歌が苦手です。
わたしは　うたが　にがてです。
watashi wa uta ga nigate desu.

= I'm not good at singing.


These are the most simple ways to say that you are not good at singing.

Today, I would like to introduce new word to express "A BAD SINGER".　　
It is........

音痴　おんち　onchi   {noun}

Originally, "音痴　おんち　onchi" means "have no sense of tone" or "be tone-deaf".

①　ねえ、カラオケいかない？
  Nee, karaoke ikanai?        =  Hey, don't you wanna go Karaoke? (Wanna go Karaoke?)

②　いかない。　わたし、おんちだから。
  Ikanai.   Watashi, onchi dakara.    = I don't go. Because I'm a bad singer.

③　だいじょうぶだよ！　　きにしないで！
        Daijoubu dayo!    Kinishinaide!     =   That's all right!  Don't worry!


④　ほんとうに、おんち。　
        Hontou ni onchi.        = Really, a bad singer.

ヘビーメタルにきこえる。
        Hebii metaru ni kikoeru.    =  It sounds Heavy Metal to me.



So now you can say "I'm a bad singer"；

私は音痴です。
わたしは　おんちです。
watashi wa onchi desu.



Well, this is not the end for today.
There are few more words you need to know which are related to  "音痴　おんち　onchi"


◆　方向音痴
ほうこうおんち
houkou-onchi      =  have no sense of direction / be bad with direction

方向　ほうこう　houkou   " direction"

ex)  私は方向音痴なので、いつも道に迷います。
  わたしは　ほうこうおんちなので、　いつも　みちに　まよいます。
watashi wa houkou-onchi nanode, itsumo michi ni mayoimasu.

I have no sense of direction so that I am always lost.


◆　機械音痴　
きかいおんち
kikai-onchi     =   be bad with machines

機械　きかい　kikai     "machines"

ex) 母は機械音痴で、パソコンが使えません。
はは　は　きかいおんちで　パソコンがつかえません。
haha wa kikai-onchi de pasokon ga tukaemasen.

My mother is bad with machines, so she can't use a computer.


◆　運動音痴
うんどうおんち
undou-onchi   =  be uncoordinated / be bad at playing sports

運動　うんどう　undou   "exercise"

ex) 私の弟は運動音痴ですが、足は速いです。
わたしのおとうとは　うんどうおんちですが、あしは　はやいです。
watashi no otouto wa undou-onchi desuga, ashi wa hayai desu.

My younger brother is not good at playing sports but he runs fast.
*あしが（は）はやい　legs are fast = run fast








彼女は歌は上手ですが、運動音痴です。
かのじょは　うたは　じょうずですが、　うんどうおんちです。
kanojo wa uta wa jouzu desuga, undou onchi desu.

= She sings well but she is bad at playing sports.

She is not "onchi" but is "undou-onchi".


Did you get it? 👆


For me, I am onchi (a bad singer) and houkou-onchi (have no sense of direction).
I love to travel to foreign countries alone but I am not able to drive anywhere without car navigation!!


See you!

【Slang】まじ maji

Have you ever heard this word?  "まじ　maji" {NA adjective}
If you are in Japan, you should heard this word quite often.
If you watch Japanese anime in Japanese sounds, you may have heard this as well.
This word is a slang among young people* and used in very casual conversation. So please be careful when you use this word. Using a slang is always makes your language sounds very native but you must choose right occasion, otherwise you may make yourself sound impolite.

*nowadays, people between 10 to 40 years old tend to use this slang.


"まじ　maji" comes from a word; "真面目　まじめ　majime" which means "serious".
So まじ　maji is literally means "serious"


When you want to use this word as adverb "seriously", you say "まじで majide".

  え！うそ、、　　　　　　　　　Eh! Uso..

  パスポートがない。。　　　Pasupooto (pasport) ga nai

  まじで？！　                      Majide?!

  ほんとうに、イタリアご　わかるの？　　　　　hontou ni italia-go wakaru no?

  イタリアごは、えーと、、、、　　　　　　　　　　 Italia-go wa eeto...

  Bon appetite!  Ciao!                            

  まじ？　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Maji? 

Here are the variation of using  まじ maji that people use in a conversation.

1.
まじな話し　まじなはなし　majina hanashi  =  serious story, tell you serious one, tell you real one

ex) まじな話し、今日、トイレで１万円ひろった。
 maji na hanashi, kyou,  toire de 1manen hirotta.
= I tell you serious one*, today I picked up a 10,000en bill at a bathroom.

2.　
Use with other adjective
まじでうれしい　majide ureshii  =  seriously glad
まじでこわい　　majide kowai  =  seriously scary
まじでおいしい　majide oishii  =  seriously tasty
まじで有名　まじでゆうめい　majide yuumei  =  seriously famous     etc.

ex) これ、今渋谷でまじで有名なクレープ。まじでおいしいよ。
Kore, ima Shibuya de majide yuumei na kureepu. Majide oishii yo.
= This, is the seriously famous crepe in Shibuya right now. (It's) seriously tasty!


3.
まじじゃない　maji janai  = not serious *negative form

4.
まじかも　maji kamo  =  may be serious





まじで　日本語おもしろい！
まじで　にほんご　おもしろい！
Majide Nihongo omoshiroi!

= Serioulsy Japanese language is fun!


Hehehe

【Culture】節分 せつぶん Setsubun

Do you know what "節分　せつぶん　setsubun" is?
It is one of annual event in Japan on February 3rd.

Originally "節分　せつぶん　setsubun" means "border of season" which shows when spring, summer, autumn, winter begins.
However in old Japanese calendar, beginning of spring meant as a new year, so Setsubun on the beginning of spring became the most meaningful as annual event. Now when we say Setsubun, it is February 3rd; eve of the beginning of spring.

In old Japanese calendar, the beginning of spring means new year as stated above.
So on Setsubun, in order to welcome new year with good fortune, we have ceremony of driving out evil spirits which brings bad luck to our home.

There are three things what we can do on Setsubun.

1. Roasted soy beans
Throw roasted soy beans in and out of the house as if we beat up and sweep out evil spirits from inside  house at the night of Setsubun.
When we do this, we say

鬼は外　福は内　　おにはそと　ふくはうち
oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi

= Evil be gone out, Good fortune come in

and we eat roasted soy beans as same number as own age to wish for sound health.

Sometimes adults in family disguise as evil by wearing a mask and children throw beans at him.
Nowadays, depends on where you live, you must clean the beans you throw outside after this ceremony. Because these beans can make a mess on a street.


2. Sardines
When we bake sardines, it makes very fishy stinky smoke which ancient Japanese believed that the smoke will driving out evil spirits.
Some area in Japan put the head of sardines to stick on holly branch in front of house.

3. Futomaki zushi
"Futomaki zushi" is a thick roll sushi.
In Kansai area (west side of Japan), people have a customs to eat Futomaki zushi silently by facing good fortuned direction. 
Good fortuned direction will change every year. This year 2017 is North-northwest.
In recent years, this customs became popular almost all over Japan, and now it's called  "恵方巻　えほうまき　ehoumaki".
On Setsubun, you can easily find this thick roll sushi at super market or even convenience store such as Seven Eleven.

Do you think this is too much things to do?
Well, I usually do all of these because I want good fortune come to me desperately! Hahaha
Yes, I'm very greedy. :p

By the way, baking Sardines at home may be horrible idea. It literally make whole your house stinky!
Personally, I like stinky fish smell (yes I know I'm weird.) though my neighbors may not be happy......

Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!

【Proverb】失敗は成功のもと しっぱいは せいこうのもと Shippai wa seikou no moto

失敗は成功のもと　しっぱいは　せいこうのもと
Shippai wa seikou no moto


This is my one of favorite Japanese proverb which my parents told me often when I was a little child.
This proverb includes words as below.

失敗　しっぱい　Shippai  =  failure, mistake
成功　せいこう　Seikou  =  success
　　　　もと　　　　Moto  =  basis, origin, element

I think you can easily guess what does this proverb mean.
Direct translation is, " Failure is origin of success."
Yes, in English it's same as "Failure teaches success."


We learn the thing from repetition of failure.
Failure often makes us feel like giving up our dreams. But don't get tripped up by those failure, failure is the step leads to path of success.

When you fail, it doesn't mean that you can not make it. You are about stepping forward to the success.

がんばりましょう！　
Ganabri mashou!
Let's do our best!

【Proverb】諺 ことわざ Kotowaza

Do you know what does "ことわざ  kotowaza" means?
In English, it's "Proverb".
As you know, proverb is the short saying to express common sense or experience of our daily life.
Almost every culture have their own proverb and it comes from their culture and language.
However some proverbs express same thought even if the language and background culture are different.
For example,


◆　(JP)
     郷に入っては郷に従え　ごうにはいっては　ごうにしたがえ　
　　Gou ni haitte wa, Gou ni shitagae
　　*when you visit the country, follow the rule of its country.

     (EN) 　　When in Roma, do as the Romans do.

     (TH) 　　เข้าเมืองตาหลิ่ว ต้องหลิ่วตาตาม
　　* when you go to the town which everyone look with one eye,
　　　you must follow to look with one eye.


It is interesting that it shows we all human have same sense and perspective at some point of view even if we live in different culture and use different language. I think this is awesome!

I love to lean foreign proverb. Because each language have unique proverb and it teaches me the culture behind language. Also it is fun to know how each language describe same thought with different metaphor.
For example,


◆ (JP)
　　馬の耳に念仏　うまのみみに　ねんぶつ　
　　Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu
　　*say a prayer to the Buddha towards horse's ears

    (EN) 　　to preach to the wind
　　to pray to deaf ears
　　In one ear and out the other

    (TH) 　　ตักน้ำรดหัวตอ
　　*draw water and give water to a stump

See! It is interesting, isn't it?


And using proverb in a conversation makes my language sounds very fluent with the language. Yeah! ;)


◆　千里の道も一歩から！　せんりのみちも　いっぽから！
　　 Senri no michi mo ippo kara!
      * Even if thousand miles starts from one step

      Roma was not build in a day!

【Vocabulary】数字 すうじ number

Hi there!
Today I would like to introduce "数字　すうじ　suuji = number". 
Do you know how to count number in Japanese?
If you have studied Japanese about a month, I guess you've already known how to count number in Japanese.
Is this too easy? Well, just try to read till the end! You may enjoy this! ;)

For beginner people, here are basic numbers from 0 to 10.

0  =  ゼロ　zero  ／  れい　rei
1  =  いち　ichi
2  =  に　ni
3  =　さん　san
4  =　よん　yon　／　し shi
5  = 　ご　go
6  = 　ろく　roku
7  = 　なな　nana 　／　しち　shichi
8  =　はち　hachi
9  =　きゅう　kyuu
10  =　じゅう　jyuu

As for "0", if it stands for number such as phone number etc., we say "ゼロ zero".
But if it stands for temperature, fraction (ex. 0.5) and so on, we say "れい rei".

As for "4", usually we say "よん yon" in any case. Only when we count numbers from 0, some people say "し shi". 
Japanese people don't like number "4". Because sound of  number "4  = し shi" reminds us, "death = 死　（し）　shi". In Japan, we believe number 4 is bad fortune number. So sometimes we avoid using number 4. If you look at parking lot in Japan, you'll see that we skip number 4.
Worst number is "42" which means "死人　しにん　dead person".

As for "7",  we really don't say "なな nana" except counting numbers. In words, we use "しち shichi" often. For example, 7 o'clock is "しちじ shichiji"  July is "しちがつ shichigatsu".


If you can count 0 to 10, which means you can count 0 to 99 already!

11  =  10 ・ 1  =  じゅう・いち  juu ・ ichi 　= 　じゅういち  juuichi
23  =  2 ・ 10 ・ 3 =  に・じゅう・さん　ni ・ juu ・ san  =  にじゅうさん nijuusasn
99  =  9 ・10・ 9  =  きゅう・じゅう・きゅう　kyuu ・ juu ・ kyuu  =  きゅうじゅうきゅう　kyuujyuukyuu

See it's easy!

By the way, can you count numbers backward from 10 to 0 in Japanese?
This song is from 80's kids TV show.  I used to sing this song when I was child. Yeah, I was born in 80's....guess how old I am.

The title is ....

なんでもできる　nandemo dekiru

(I) can do anything!

　わたしは　なんでもできる。　I can do anything.

   わたしは　なんでもできます。 I can do anything. (polite)

  

This song about the little boy who is lazy to get up in the morning, also lazy to help his mom cooking lunch, and hates to go to bed because he wants to watch TV more...... then he sings,

これをいえば　なんでもできる　 koreo  ieba  nandemo dekiru

When I say this, I can do anything

10, 9 , 8 , 7 , 6 , 5 , 4 , 3 , 2 , 1, 0  !!

Here's the song!!

In the song, MOM is not human but she is a pelican.....

Well, I love 80's craziness... :D

Hope you enjoy this!!

【Idiom】三日坊主 みっかぼうず mikka bouzu

三日坊主　みっかぼうず　mikka bouzu

This word is compound with two words.

三日　みっか mikka  =  three days, 3rd (date)

坊主　ぼうず　bouzu  =  Buddhist monk

So direct translation is " Three days Buddhist monk" ??
Well, what does it mean?


This word describes a person who easily give up things after three day.

Becoming a Buddhist monk is not easy as most people think.
Their training begins from early morning  and take very simple diet twice a day.
So person who decided becoming a monk with impulsive decisions, usually can't stand it even three days and quit becoming a monk eventually.

So "みっかぼうず  mikka bouzu" means,

- Person who easily quite what he decided to do
- Person whose intention never lasts more than three days

"みっかぼうず　mikka bouzu" is an idiom to be used as {noun} .

◆　  私はいつも三日坊主です。　
　　　わたしはいつもみっかぼうずです。
　　　watashi wa itsumo mikka bouzu desu.

   =   I always give up a thing in three days. / My intention always never lasts more than three days.



◆　  たばこをやめてから、一か月！今回は、三日坊主じゃないよ！
　　　たばこをやめてから、いっかげつ！　こんかいは、みっかぼうずじゃないよ！
　　　tabako wo yamete kara, ikkagetsu! Konkai wa mikka bouzu janaiyo!

   =   Since I quite (smoking) cigarette, it's a month!
        This time, I'm not giving up in three day! / This time, my intention lasts more than three days!

①　よし！きょうから、ダイエットをはじめよう！
        All right!  Let's start diet from today!


②　うっ！
       Ugh!


③　え！ドーナツ？　ダイエットは、どうしたの？
        Eh!  A doughnut?  What's wrong with your diet?


④　もぐもぐ、、、もぐもぐ、、、
       nom nom ... nom nom ...

⑤　また、みっかぼうずね。
      "Mikka Bouzu" again, huh....
　　(It didn't last more than three day again, huh....)





Well, I wish I won't be a "Mikka Bouzu" with my blog.... hehehe

【Vocabulary】おたく オタク otaku ／ ～好き -zuki

What kind of OTAKU you are?

"Otaku" is well know as big fan of anime or manga, comic books.
But actually, "otaku" doesn't mean only anime or manga lover.
Original meaning comes from "someone with strong interests or desire in particular areas or fields with deep knowledge and an abiding love" towards anime, comic books, idol, train and air craft, computer and so on.  This new word popped up and became familiar among Japanese people around late 1970's. Otaku people tend to be indoor person and love to correct particular thing that they are into. For long time, this word had negative image to express people who spend their time mostly at home or always sitting in front of computer and show their interests only what they love.
(Well, this sounds really like a lot of people these days though!)
In English, otaku can be translated as "geek" "nerd" or  "freak" such as computer freak.
Nowadays, this Japanese word has been used in all over the world.

Today "otaku" expand its meaning and we use this word to describe things that you love and shows that you have a lot of knowledge about it.

おたく　otaku {noun}

Example....

◆コンピューターおたく  computer otaku  =  computer freak

◆ゲームおたく　geemu otaku  =  game lover

◆スポーツカーおたく　supootsu kaa otaku  =  sports car lover

◆映画おたく eiga otaku  =  movie lover *person who loves to watch every king of films and know all about films

◆魚おたく　sakana otaku  = fish lover *person who loves all about fish and loves to learn about fishes

◆英語おたく　eigo otaku  = English lover *person who loves to study anything about English

So here is the reason why I named my blog as "Nihongo Otaku"!
My blog is for all "Nihongo Otaku" who loves to study anything about Japanese language from old proverb to new slang.

By the way, how do we spell "otaku"? in hiragana or katakana?
Answer is both. This is a coined word or a part of slang, so that sometimes people write in katakana.
I would say, it depends on person.


There are some people who know about particular area very deep almost like they can have a degree with it as a professor.
If so, you can call them "博士　hakase", in English "an expert" "Doctor" to show your respect, in stead of "otaku".

And also, people who love to collect particular stuff is called "コレクター　korekutaa", in English "collector".

##### Similar word #####

～好き　～ずき　-zuki   = --- lover  {NA adjective}
This word describes a favorite or hobby that the person loves to do.


◆カラオケ好き　karaoke zuki  =  karaoke lover    × we don't say, karaoke otaku.

◆甘いもの好き　amaimono zuki  =  sweets lover  *such as cake, ice cream  × we don't say, amaimono otaku

◆女好き onna zuki  =   woman chaser  *man who easily go after a woman × we don't say, onnna otaku

◆男好き otoko zuki  =  man chaser *woman who easily go after a man × we don't say, otoko ootaku

◆いたずら好き　itazura zuki  =  prank lover *person who always does prank

◆旅行好き　ryokoo zuki = travel bug, travel lover *person who loves to go travel



So are you a "otaku" for something?