Tag Archives: Japanese language

睦月 (mu-tsu-ki) “January” (archaic)

Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally “Month One”, February is “Month Two”, etc: 一月 = January 二月 = February However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar toContinueContinue reading “睦月 (mu-tsu-ki) “January” (archaic)”

抱負 (hō-fu) resolution

Some more new year’s related vocabulary. New Year’s resolutions are just as popular in Japan as they are in western countries. In Japanese “New Year’s resolution” is 新年の抱負 (shin-nen-hō-fu). 新年 = New Year (see my previous post) 抱負 = resolution What’s your new year’s resolution?

新年 (shin-nen) New Year

The New Year’s holiday is one of the most important times for Japanese people. It’s a time to clean the house, make resolutions, forget the old year, and make a clean start. The kanji should be pretty easy for Japanese learners:新 = new (pronounced “a-ta-ra-shi-i” by itself, and “shin” when in conjunction with other kanji)年ContinueContinue reading “新年 (shin-nen) New Year”

あけおめ (a-ké-o-mé) “Happy New Year”

To wish someone “Happy New Year” in Japanese, say: あけましておめでとうございます！ (a-ké-ma-shi-té o-mé-dé-tō go-zai-masu) Or, more casually, take the first 2 syllables from each word and say: あけおめ！ (a-ké-o-mé)

桜梅桃李 (ō-bai-tō-ri) “never compare yourself to others”

This yo-ji-juku-go (Japanese 4-character idiom) is comprised of 4 beloved Japanese trees. They are: 桜 = cherry (sakura) 梅 = apricot (ume) 桃 = peach (momo) 李 = plum (sumomo) 桜 (sakura) are of course the cherry blossom trees famous for blooming spectacularly and incredibly briefly once a year, usually in April. Sakura trees inContinueContinue reading “桜梅桃李 (ō-bai-tō-ri) “never compare yourself to others””

熊蟄穴 When bears begin to hibernate

In ancient times Japanese people divided the year into 72 “micro-seasons”. These seasons were based on natural events such as the weather and appearance of various flora and fauna. Today marks the start of 熊蟄穴熊 = bear蟄 = hibernation. (It traditionally refers to the hibernation of insects; the more common word for animal hibernation isContinueContinue reading “熊蟄穴 When bears begin to hibernate”

七転八起 “fall 7 times, get up 8 times” or “never give up!”

七 = seven 転 = fall down 八 = eight 起 = get up In other words, “fall down seven times, get up eight times”, or “even if you fail a lot, don’t give up!” 七転八起 is a special kind of Japaneses idiom known as a 四字熟語 (よじじゅくご、yo-ji-juku-go), or 4-character idiom. As the name suggests,ContinueContinue reading “七転八起 “fall 7 times, get up 8 times” or “never give up!””

師走 (shiwasu) “December” (archaic)

Like many countries, Japan uses a 12-month calendar. The names are very simple. January is literally “Month one” 一月, February is “Month two” 二月, etc. However, before the Meiji Restoration (mid-1800s) it was common to use an older 12-month system. These months’ names referenced the weather and the seasons (similar to the French Revolutionary calendar).ContinueContinue reading “師走 (shiwasu) “December” (archaic)”