Welcome to the room of interesting trivia! vol.7

@@@@@ようこそトリビアの部屋へ@@@@@
Welcome to the room of interesting trivia!

Today’s theme is ギザギザ[giza giza](in Katakana, ぎざぎざ in Hiragana).

It is classified as Gitaigo (mimetic word) and it means jagged.

What do you think the origin of the Gitaigo is historically?

The answer is “gather[ギャザー]” in English.
For example “gathered” skirt is made by cloth folded.

One day when Japanese coins came to be made, there was a desire to put groove edge on the coins. But it was hard to explain it because there was no word for it. So, it is said that using the word, ギャザー, people gradually said the condition which is jagged as “ギャザ” then it transformed to “ギザギザ[giza giza]”

Information of regional Ramen-new year series vol4

◆—Information of regional Ramen ——–◆

Hello everyone! Thank you very much for your reading regularly!
It’s good to travel to Japan and experience Japanese local and special ramen, “ご当地[gotochi]” ramen!
Have you ever tried the regional and special ramen?
Are you interested in Japanese ramen tours?
“Ramen” came from China and first became well-known as Nankin or Shina Soba at China town in port cities, such as Kobe and Yokohama in Meiji period. Japanese ramen culture has continued evolving since then. Miso ramen was created at Sapporo city in Hokkaido made from Japanese rice miso. Each ramen has a different style of noodle and soup stock “dashi” at each ramen shop but I will introduce some features of regional ramen in Japan from the north to the south little by little.

★札幌味噌ラーメン(Sapporo Miso Ramen)
– Miso ramen originated from Sapporo, Hokkaido in 1951.
– tonkotsu soup, pork bone broth ramen which is thick
– as the toppings, butter and corn, and or seafood
– Sappro Ramen Yokocho

★札幌えびそば(Sapporo Ebi Soba)
– thick soup made from shrimp(ebi), miso or shio(salt) or soy sauce based soup
– recently it’s getting popular.

★函館塩ラーメン(Hakodate Shio Ramen)
– a lightly salt base soup but the soup base varies including miso
– tonkotsu, pork bone or chicken base soup with Hokkaido konbu(kelp) and or seafood
– info

★旭川ラーメン(Asahikawa Ramen)
– Soy sauce base made from tonkotsu, pork bone broth and seafood
– not only soy sauce based soup but also miso or shio(salt) based soup exists
– info

★釧路ラーメン(Kushiro Ramen)
– a lightly soy sauce base soup but the soup base varies including miso
– tonkotsu, pork bone or chicken base soup or vegetable base soup with Hokkaido konbu(kelp) or bonito dashi
– info

★室蘭カレーラーメン(Muroran Curry Ramen)
– spicy and thick curry base soup with vegetable, wakame(seaweed), roasted pork fillet etc
– info

Information of regional Onsen spots-new year series vol3

◆—Information of regional Onsen spots ——-◆

Hello everyone! Thank you very much for your reading regularly!
It’s a good season to travel and experience Japanese natural hot spring!
Have you ever tried Japanese Onsen? It is very effective for not only your skin but also your mind-body relaxation. In fact, the natural hot spring, Onsen is said to have benefits of overall health, such as recovery from various kinds of pain. It is also effective for recovery from fatigue and even for skin health.
I will introduce some features of regional Onsen spots in Japan little by little.

★ニセコ温泉郷(Niseko onsenkyo)
-北海道(Hokkaido)
It is well-known as a hot spring　area where there are many kinds of natural hot springs.
ex)
Niseko Konbu onsen(ニセコ昆布温泉) : chloride, hydrocarbonate spring
Niseko Annupuri onsen(ニセコアンヌプリ温泉): Sodium hydrocarbonate spring
Niseko Niimi onsen(ニセコ新見温泉): chloride, sulfate spring
Niseko Yumoto onsen(ニセコ湯本温泉): mainly sulfate, iron mineral spring
Niseko Goshiki onsen(ニセコ五色温泉): Acidic sulfate spring
Niseko Higashiyama onsen(ニセコ東山温泉): Sodium hydrocarbonate, sulfate spring

★洞爺湖温泉(Toyako onsen): Sodium, chloride spring
-北海道(Hokkaido)
有珠山(Usu-zan): active volcano, it is located in the south of Lake Toya.
The hot spring source is a parasitic cone of 有珠山(Usu-zan), 四十三山(Yosomi-yama).

★登別温泉(Noboribetsu onsen): sulfur spring, hydrogen sulfide, iron-containing spring
-北海道(Hokkaido)
Noboribetsu is derived from “nupurpet” in Ainu language, which means a river having mysterious powers.

★別府温泉(Beppu onsen):
-大分県(Oita Pref.)
There are eight hot spring areas called “Beppu hattou(別府八湯)” including Beppu onsen. The natural hot spring source is located along a huge cliff. Especially Kannawa and Myouban onsen area are designated as “important cultural landscapes” in Japan.
ex)
Kannawa onsen(鉄輪温泉): chloride spring, metasilicic acid (weak acidity)
Myouban onsen(明礬温泉): acidic spa water of a hydrogen sulfide type, iron sulfate spring

★有馬温泉(Arima onsen): hot spring with high iron, salt, carbonic acid gas content
-兵庫県(Hyougo Pref.)
It is the oldest onsen in Japan, as written in Nihon-shoki (the oldest chronicles of Japan).
It is also well-known as a hot red onsen. The natural hot spring source is surprisingly the mantle of the earth. The hot spring is said to have been produced passing through the fault for so many more years than the history of the mankind.

Don’t you think that you would like to visit and experience Japanese Onsens, too?

Special New Year series vol2-Today’s Gitaigo

Today’s Gitaigo
– 擬態語 – mimetic word;
expressions about a situation/ condition of things or gesture/ motion of people or any other creatures

くねくね　- in Hiragana
クネクネ – in Katakana
[kune-kune]

meaning:
winding, meandering, zigzag
wriggling, wiggling, waving

implications:
a situation/ condition that something is winding or meandering and
turns repeatedly in a zigzag or like a snake
a situation/ condition that causes something to wriggle or wave

practical usage:
It is used for something which is winding, meandering or waving.
It is also used for something, such as body if you twist or contort your body

私(わたし)は、くねくね曲(ま)がった道（みち）を歩(ある)きます。
[Watashiwa kunekune magatta michiwo arukimasu]
I walk on a road which turns in a zigzag.
私(わたし)は、くねくねした道（みち）を歩(ある)きます。
[Watashiwa kunekuneshita michiwo arukimasu]
I walk on a winding road.

私(わたし)は、腰(こし)をくねくね動かします。
[Watashiwa koshiwo kunekune ugokashimasu]
I wiggle my hips.

photo:
We went hiking with our dog recently. We plan to go hiking and exercise more this year as our New Year’s resolution. What is your New Year’s resolution?
The road was ‘kunekune’ and it turns in a zigzag like a snake.

****similar Gitaigo
くねくねと[kune-kune-to] as adverb
: in a zigzag, like a snake
くねくねした[kune-kune-shita] as adjective
くねくねとした[kune-kune-toshita] as adjective
くねくねする[kune-kune-suru] as verb

うねうね[une-une]
: especially something, such as a mountain which has a height difference and is winding
うねうねした[une-une-shita] as adjective
うねうねとした[une-une-toshita] as adjective
うねうねと[une-une-to] as adverb
うねうねする[uen-une-suru] as verb

Special New Year series vol1

Happy New Year!
明けましておめでとうございます! [Akemashite Omedetou gozaimasu!]
今年もよろしくお願いいたします。[Kotoshimo yoroshiku onegaiitashimasu]
-Special New Year series vol1
◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇
2018 is the year of the Inu (Dog) in Zodiac, Japanese 干支 [Eto].
It is called as 戌年 [Inu doshi].
We hope it brings you good health, lots of joy, happiness, and success this year.

This week “Special New Year series” start.
I introduce some simple Japanese style, healthy food I made through Special New Year series.
I plan to introduce interesting Japanese culture and custom more and more as well this year.
I hope you can enjoy all!
– photos taken by Mina, Copyright © 2013 MIJC

Today’s Gitaigo

Today’s Gitaigo
– 擬態語 – mimetic word;
expressions about a situation/ condition of things or gesture/ motion of people or any other creatures

つるつる　- in Hiragana
ツルツル – in Katakana
[tsuru-tsuru]

meaning:
smooth, slippy, slippery

implications:
a situation/ condition that the surface is smooth or slick or sleek
and or has a sheen
a situation/ condition that causes things to slip or slide

practical usage:
It is used for things which is smooth, slick or sleek.

このクリームはあなたの肌をつるつるにします。
[Kono kuriimu was anata no hada wo tsurutsuru ni shimasu]
This cream makes your skin smooth.

温泉に入ったらつるつるの肌になります。
[Onsen ni haittara tsurutsuru no hada ni narimasu]
If you take a hot spring bath, your skin becomes smooth.

私達はそばをつるつるとすすって食べます。
[Watashitachi wa soba wo tsurutsuru to susutte tabemasu] or
私達はそばをつるつると音を立てて食べます。
[Watashitachi wa soba wo tsurutsuru to oto wo tatete tabemasu]
We slurp up and eat soba. or
We eat soba with a slurping sound.

この道路はつるつると滑ります。
[Kono douro wa tsurutsuru to suberimasu]
This road is slippery.

彼はツルツル頭にしました。
[Kare wa tsurutsuru atama ni shimashita]
He had his head shaved.

photo:

I cooked a new Japanese product, molokheiya soba which is made in Japan and
the noodle was ‘tsurutusuru’ and I could eat it ‘tsurutsuruto’.
It is healthy and delicious as well.

****similar Gitaigo
すべすべ
[sube-sube] : things that is originally soft and that don’t always have a sheen but smooth

つるっと : similar as つるつると
[tsurutto] as adverb
つるんと : similar as つるつると
[tsurunto] as adverb
つるんとした : similar as つるつるな or つるつるとした
[tsuruntoshita] as adjective

Today’s Giongo

Today’s Giongo
– 擬音語 – onomatopoeia;
you can imagine and perceive the state through the five senses using the expression

Today I introduce a Giongo about food.

しゃきしゃき in Hiragana
シャキシャキ in Katakana
[shaki-shaki]

meaning:
crisp

implications:
Can you imagine and sense how the sound is like when you eat fresh and crisp salad?
crisp leaf of lettuce
crisp texture

practical usage:
– when you describe crispy food such as a crisp leaf of lettuce and crisp apple
※Fresh Japanese Daikon (white raddish) is also described as shakishaki.

This salad is very fresh and crisp!
[Kono sarada wa totemo shinsen de Shakishaki desu.(or Shakishaki shiteimasu.)]
For Thanksgiving, I made a Pineapple salad with Japanese Fuji apple!
This salad is ‘shakishaki’ with ‘shakishaki’ apple and ‘shakishaki’ lettuce!

****similar Giongo
パリパリ[pari-pari]
カリカリ[kari-kari]
サクサク[saku-saku] -> light

For its Gitaigo, しゃきしゃき or しゃきしゃきと:
meaning:
brisk
briskly

Brisk walking is good for your health.
[Shakishakito arukukoto wa anatano kenkou ni yoi desu.]

The woman works briskly and efficiently.
[Sono josei wa Shakishakito hatarakimasu.]

****similar Gitaigo
てきぱき[teki-paki]
きびきび[kibi-kibi]

Today’s Gitaigo

Today’s Gitaigo
– 擬態語 – mimetic word;
expressions about a situation/ condition of things or gesture/ motion of people or any other creatures

うきうき　- in Hiragana
ウキウキ – in Katakana
[uki-uki]

meaning:
with a light heart
be stoked

implications:
うき[uki] -> 浮く[uku] (verb) = float
-> floating status/condition
-> mind and or behavior is bouncy and restless/fidgety for exciting things

practical usage:
It is used for specific things that you have already decided.
クリスマスに家族と会うので私はうきうきします。
[Christmas ni kazokuto au node Watashiwa ukiuki shimasu]
Because I am seeing with my family in Christmas, I am stoked.

****similar Gitaigo
わくわく
[waku-waku]
わく -> 沸く[waku] (verb) = boil
-> expectation gushes out
It is used for something you are expecting.
私は初めて海外旅行に行くのでわくわくする。
[Watashiwa hajimete kaigairyokou ni iku node wakuwaku suru]
Because I am going abroad for the firs time, I feel excited.

Today’s Yojijukugo – four-character idiomatic phrase

Today’s Yojijukugo – four-character idiomatic phrase

七転八起　（しちてんはっき）
Shichiten Hakki

key words:
七[shichi] = seven
八[hachi] = eight

implications:
転[ten] -> 転ぶ[korobu] = fall -> the time when life knocks you down and you face troubles
起[ki] -> 起きる[okiru] = stand up ->
the time when you never give up and stand up to the troubles
The number eight is larger than seven. -> the frequency of standing up to the troubles
-> No matter how many times you face any trouble, you never give up and stand up to it.

usage:
Literally it means that you fall seven times and you stand up eight times.
You can say when you are facing any trouble, you never give up and
七転八起[shichiten hakki]して[shite = suru(= do) and]　you will overcome it.

Interestingly in King James version of the Bible you can find it; Proverbs 24 verse 16 tells you that “For a just man, falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

Do you “七転八起” suru when you are in trouble? (^^)/

similar:
七転び八起き[nanakorobi yaoki]
不撓不屈[futou fukutsu]

Let’s use correct Keigo!

◇◇◇Let’s use correct 敬語[Keigo](polite language)! part.3◇◇◇

Today I introduce Kenjougo using simple examples.

謙譲語 I [Kenjougo] – humble language/form I – ex) Ukagau, Moushiageru

謙譲語 I is used for the direction toward whom you pay due respect to.
In 謙譲語, you should lower your position for the person whom you pay due respect to.

[plain sentence] —> [Kenjougo]
To your superiors such as your teacher or elders
明日、午後２時に行く。　—>　明日、午後２時に先生のところに伺います。
Asu, gogo niji ni iku. —> Asu, gogo niji ni Sensei no tokoro ni Ukagaimasu.

明日、午後２時に行く。　—>　明日、午後２時に先生のところにお伺いします。
Asu, gogo niji ni iku. —> Asu, gogo niji ni Sensei no tokoro ni Oukagaishimasu. [more polite]

Both are the same meaning and Kenjougo. “O–shimasu” is more polite in these Kenjougo I sentences.
Tomorrow, I’m going at 2pm. –> Tomorrow, I am going to my teacher at 2pm.
In English it is almost the same between the plain sentence and the Kenjougo sentence.
The difference is whether you clearly mention the direction.
The Kenjougo I sentence always has a direction toward whom you pay due respect to.

#basic key words:
asu = tomorrow
gogo = afternoon
niji = 2 o’clock
iku = go
sensei = teacher
no = [possessive particle]: the ‘s in English
tokoro = place, location