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!
1/28/17
【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,
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,
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!
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,
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.
* 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,
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!
1/15/17
【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 ....
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!!
1/14/17
【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
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
1/6/17
【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?
"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?
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