The Japanese language uses three writing systems: kanji, hiragana, and katakana. Kanji are logograms – each character has a specific meaning. It is used to write “content” words such as nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives. Hiragana and katakana are syllabaries – each character represents a single syllable sound rather than a meaning. Hiragana is used for showing verb inflections, for prepositions, and otherContinueContinue reading “Japanese Writing Systems”
Tag Archives: Japanese words
我慢 (ga-man) “Endure!”
“Gaman” is a zen Buddhist term which loosely translates to “enduring the unbearable with patience and dignity”. In Japan, putting up with a seemingly unbearable situation is seen as a sign of maturity. In the notoriously tough Japanese workplace, employees are expected to “Gaman” as much as possible. You can read more about it here: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20190319-the-art-of-perseverance-how-gaman-defined-japan
臥薪嘗胆 (ga-shin-sho-tan) “stopping at nothing to achieve one’s goal”
One of my favourite Japanese 4-character idioms. 臥 = to bow 薪 = fuel 嘗 = burn up 胆 = courage
Calligraphy by Vicky 