Jaw Dropping Words |
Jaw Dropping Words |
Hello All! Today let's look at 'Jaw Dropping' Words
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hese words are guaranteed to make your Japanese friends THINK you know it all! That can be good or bad, of course. These are words most learners of Japanese are NOT expected to know. Therefore today's email is a practice for a verbal SNEAK ATTACK! We shall begin with 'easy' words and progress to more difficult ones. Ja, Gambarimashou! |
| BEGINNER: |
1) ピンクレデイ pinku redi (Pink Lady)
ABOUT:
- A 1970's disco-dancing duo. These two ladies were extremely popular back in the day. They can perhaps be compared to their contemporaries in America "The Village People." I think you understand. ANYWAY, even kids know at least one song from Pink Lady's illustrious career. That is "UFO" - pronounced like the two English words, "You Foe" (yu- fo). The song explains how a young woman is tired of earth men and wants to date aliens. The song shows up on Japanese TV commercials and programs ever so often. So it is NOT going away. Learn this ever so useful cultural jaw-dropping word. I have yet to meet a Japanese who has not been surprised that I knew about Pink Lady.
(BTW be careful on pronunciation - Pink - pinKU ** Lady - Redi and the above mentioned UFO)EXAMPLE:
ピンクレデイが好きですか？
pinku redi ga suki desu ka?
Do you like Pink Lady?
VOCAB:
pinku - pink (color)
redi - (English- sort of) lady
ga - subject marker
suki - to like
desu - ending verb - functioning like 'to be'
ka - "?" makes a question. (with out the 'ka' the meaning would be, "I like Pink Lady."=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2) UFO - (UFO)
ABOUT:
The key point here is pronunciation - (yu fo) NOT (U F O) - Unidentified Flying Object
EXAMPLE:
ＵＦＯを見たことがある？
UFO o mita koto ga aru?
Have you ever seen a UFO?VOCAB:
を o - object marker
見た mita - saw (past of see)
こと koto - thing, event
が ga - subject marker
ある aru - to have, exists **** POINT "~ta koto ga aru." means 'Have you ever done this...' Where the "~ta" is the past tense of any verbOTHER EXAMPLES: yonda koto ga aru? - Have you ever read? tonda koto ga aru? Have you ever flown? ...
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| INTERMEDIATE: |
3) 腹八分 hara hachi bun - My stomach is 80% full (not very hungry).
ABOUT:
I think this word is used mainly by obaasans (older ladies) and ojiisans (older men). So if you are young the use of this word may be unexpected and humorous.
EXAMPLE:
もういいです。腹八分ですから。
mou ii desu. hara hachi bun desu kara.
I don't want any more. I am 80% full!
VOCAB:
もう いいです mou ii desu - that's enough
腹 hara - stomach (also maybe you have heard 'hara' in the unsettling phrase, "hara kiri" - to commit suicide by cutting one's stomach)
八 hachi - the number 8, eight
分 bun - a portion. In this case it takes on the meaning of 10 Percent.
八分 hachi bun - 80%=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
2) 脱帽 (する) datsu bou (suru) - lit. 'take off my hat' it means, "My hat's off to you." or "I realize now that you are great and I am less than great so my hat's off to you, sire."
EXAMPLE:
脱帽いたしました
datsu bou itashimashita.
"My hat's off to you!"
VOCAB:
いたしました itashimashita - past, more humble form of 'suru'
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PINK LADY LINKS:http://www.pinkladyamerica.com/ - Pink Lady, the Website!
http://members.aol.com/ILUMINUTIE/PinkLadyandJeff.html - Their American debut history
http://www.pinklady.org/world.htm - The official international fan club website
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MATA NE! See you next timeThis page is from the How to Wow! Henna Nihongo Email List - Click here to learn more
