葉書（はがき）：PostCard

 葉書（はがき）：PostCard

はがきは宛先と本文を一枚の厚めの紙に書いて、封筒に入れずにそのまま送付する形式の手紙である。

What do you "think" in Japanese

(pict: japanesetest4you.com)

The Japanese word for "think" is "Omou" (思う) or Kangaeru (考える)

Omou (思う) refers to more spontaneous thought that comes from emotion meanwhile kangaeru (考える) is a thought that come from more serious consideration to make a conclusion. In other way, omou (思う) is similar to thinking with your heart and kangaeru (考える) is thinking with your brain. Omou (思う) is a more casual way and common to use when speaking with a friend.

To make a question with the word, you can add どう (dou) that translated as: How, in what way, how about. With only two words, you can actually make a question to someone close to you, "Dou omou?" (どう思う？)

For more, please visit: https://japanesetactics.com/what-do-you-think-in-japanese

五輪塔「ごりんとう」：Five-ringed tower

 五輪塔「ごりんとう」：Five-ringed tower

The 五輪塔 is a type of Buddhist pagoda used for memorial purposes. Each layer symbolises one of the five elements: the earth ring (地) at the bottom as a cube, the sphere representing water (水), the pyramid representing fire (火), the crescent as air (風), and the ether ring or jewel shaped tier representing energy or void (空). After visiting 奥の院「おくのいん」at 高野山「こうやさん」or Mount Koya, I saw many of these 五輪塔. Here is one example that was very large, with our tour guide for comparison!

神様 (Kami-Sama)

 

神様 

• かみさま 
• Kami-sama

Kami-sama means deity/god.

• First Kanji is Kami - means spirits or holy power
• Second Kanji is Sama - is formal honorific for divine gods. 

In Shintoism, there is a belief that everything has Kami-sama from people to lakes and mountains. This is because God is not separate from nature, but are one with nature and connect the energy of the universe.

Tomeishi / とめいし / 留石 : Stop stone in Japanese gardens

Tomeishi (留石) directly translates to 'stop stone'. These stone wrapped in string are found in traditional Japanese gardens or tea gardens. They are used to show entry is not allowed, or to keep visitors on the right path. They are also known as sekimoriishi ('boundary-guard stone').

Kanzashi ・ かんざし・簪：Traditional Japanese hair accessories

Kanzashi ( 簪 ) are ornaments or accessories used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. This includes hairpins, hair ties, fabric flowers or barrettes. Today these hair accessories are not commonly worn, and are mostly seen worn by brides, sumo wrestlers and geisha, however there are some more modern interpretation of these traditional styles seen today.

 リュック (ryukku) is short for リュックサック (ryukkusakku), which means "backback"

 the word's origin is the German word "Rucksack" 

 

 

Itterasshai

 Itterasshai : いってらっしゃい 

You can hear that expression a lot in Japan, for example when you get out of a shop. It means "goodbye and I hope to see you again" but also "take care" or "have a good day". It is a really useful expression to know 

扉 とびら tobira door

 扉　とびら　door

 

曇り [/Kumori/]: cloudy

 

夕食 [/Yūshoku/]: dinner

図書館 [/Toshokan/]: library

 

上り/下がり電車 ： Inbound/Outbound Trains

「上り電車」は、終点から起点へと向かう電車。

「下り」はその逆方向に向かう電車を指します。

空、満、Empty and full signs for car park 「駐車場」

Car park：駐車場　「ちゅうしゃじょう」

Empty：空　そら（e.g. 駐車場は空です。ちゅうしゃじょうはそらです。）

Full：満　まん（e.g. 駐車場は満車です。ちゅうしゃじょうはまんしゃです。）

居酒屋【いざかや】： izakaya

 居酒屋

読み方【よみかた】(reading): いざかや

意味【いみ】(meaning): izakaya; Japanese bar that also serves various dishes and snacks​

 

Kanji and words contained in 居酒屋

酒屋【さかや】： store selling liquor/sake

居【キョ】：reside, to be, exist, live with

酒【さけ】：sake, alcohol

屋 【や】・【オク】：roof, house, shop, dealer, seller

Sources

• jisho.org (definitions)
• https://nomokana.com/1936/ (image)
  

Be careful!

気をつけて

kiwotsukete

Baseball in Japan

 Baseball is a really popular sport in Japan. In Japanese, is is called "Yakyu : 野球 or やきゅう"

It is one of the sports where Japanese teams shine the most. 

There are also many places where you can play baseball indoors: these are called batting centers

飲み放題【のみほうだい】： all you can drink

飲み放題

読み方【よみかた】(reading): のみほうだい

意味【いみ】(meaning): all you can drink (i. e. a flat rate for drinks at an izakaya, bar, etc.)

Words contained in 飲み放題

飲み【のみ】 ： beverage; drinking

放題【ほうだい】：  (doing) as one pleases; to one's heart's content

Sources

• jisho.org (definitions)
• https://gomitori.owst.jp/courses/29192649 (image)
  

蒸し暑い(むしあつい) - Hot/Humid Climate

 Japan is a very humid country in climate - very much more humid compared to the Vancouver climate that I am used to. But how does one describe the humid climate here in Japan?

The word that the Japanese people use is: 蒸し暑い(むしあつい)

蒸し暑い (humid/hot temperatures) contain the word 暑い which of course means "hot" in Japanese, and the first part of the word can also be used to steam something (蒸す). Steamed buns for example also use the same kanji and are called 蒸しパン, literally translating to steamed bread.

Some Japanese people can also use the phrase "蒸し蒸し(ムシムシ)" to describe hot/humid temperatures.

ex. 

aさん: 今日めっちゃ蒸し蒸しするわ。

bさん: うんうん！ すごく蒸し暑いね！

 

狐         kitsune     fox

 

 

 友人 [/Yūjin/]: friend

 森林 [/Shinrin/]: forest

 プレゼンテーション [/Purezentēshon/] : presentation (n.)

This seems to be an anglicism

夏祭り Natsu Matsuri / Summer Festival

 A common game you play on a summer festival in Japan.

金魚すくい　きんぎょすくい　Kingyosukui = Goldfish scooping

芋づる式 いもづるしき imozurushiki

 

It means to start with a single thing, many things related to it will appear one after another. Also, to seek one clue after another.

文庫本

 文庫本（ぶんこぼん）

Small paperback format book. Like those you see people read on the train.

タピオカティー

 タピオカティー　（Bubble Tea)

タピオカティーまたはタピオカミルクティーは、ミルクティーに大粒のタピオカパール（スターチボール）を入れた台湾発祥の飲料です。

 

Electricity Kanji

電 is the kanji that is used for electricity in Japanese. You can find this kanji in many other japanese words. For example Denwa, which means phone uses the 電 and also 話 that is used for the voice. 

Also, in the kanji for the train "Denshia" we can find 電 and the car kanji (kuruma) 車

残業（ざんぎょう）- Overtime work in Japan

 While many of us international students may idealize the idea of living in Japan one day, one thing that is a major issue in Japan more than anywhere else in the world that I am aware of is 残業（ざんぎょう）. 

残業（ざんぎょう）means to work overtime, over hours.

Oftentimes in Japan, when working in companies, many employees are expected to work overtime without pay, and it is a major issue that many Japanese salary men and women have to deal with. In recent times I think people are trying to fight back against the expectations of 残業 but I believe that this is still an ongoing issue that many Japanese workers face to this day.

梅雨（つゆ）- Tsuyu

When I have been spending time with my Japanese friends, many of them have asked me if I am prepared for the upcoming "tsuyu" season. So what exactly is tsuyu?

梅雨 （つゆ）is made up of the characters:

梅 （うめ）which means "ume" and in plum

and

雨 （あめ）which means rain

梅雨 essentially means the rainy season in Japanese.  Apparently, the reason why the plum kanji is being used in the kanji for the rainy season is that this time also connects with the 梅 plum harvesting season.

Grab your umbrellas and teru teru bozu as we are about to experience Japan's 梅雨!

シーサー (Shīsā)

 シーサー are a type of cultural artefact specific to the Ryukyuan islands. They resemble a lion or a dog and are often seen in pairs. They are derived from Chinese guardian lions and are believed to protect people from evil. They are seen on entrances to houses and sold as souvenirs. 

 犬            いぬ        dog