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EVERYDAY LIFE WORDS

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サボる saboru
(to cut class, play hooky, be truant)
- Once as a child I confused hooky with hockey and asked my mother, "Did you ever play hockey?" When she said, "Yes, many times." I was quite taken back.
寝癖 ne guse
'morning hair' that is, hair that sticks up due to sleeping.
When applied to myself, this word is useful daily

SUGGESTED USAGE: しまった。また寝癖!
shimatta. mata neguse!
Oh no. Morning hair again!

寝惚ける ne bo keru
(to be half asleep)

SUGGESTED USAGE: 寝惚けてコーヒーに塩を入れちゃった。
nebokete ko-hi- ni shio o irechatta.
Being half asleep, I placed salt into my coffee.

退屈しのぎ taikutsu shinogi
(killing time (lit. endure boredom))
useful if someone asks you what you are doing.

朝寝坊 asa ne bou
(to oversleep)
わがまま waga mama
(selfishness)

SUGGESTED USAGE: ゴジラのわがままによって東京は壊滅した。
gojira no wagamama ni yotte toukyou wa kaimetsu shita.
Tokyo was destroyed by Godzilla's selfishness.

食べこぼし tabekoboshi
(food falling from mouth - like a baby eating)
- I don't know when you can use this one.

自問自答 ji mon ji tou
(ask oneself and answer oneself)

SUGGESTED USAGE: 自問自答でいつも正しい答えが手に入ります。
jimonjitou de itsumo tadashii kotae ga te ni irimasu.
Asking and answering my self a question, always gives me the correct answer.

口を滑らす kuchi o suberasu
(slip of the tongue (mouth))

話題を変える wadai o kaeru
(change the subject)

誤解 go kai
(misunderstanding)
- This page is ample proof of a need for such a word

弱い yowai
(weak)
- Della (a friend) was awakened one morning by a young man shouting this word. The word just hasn't been the same since...

Click for sound22k 試行錯誤 shi kou saku go
(trial and error)
This answers many questions!

頭越し atama goshi
(over one's head)
Useful!

初歩的 sho ho teki
(elementary; easy)
When solving problems, say this with a Sherlock Holmes feel:

初歩的だよ
shohoteki da yo!
It's elementary!

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ラブレター rubu reta-
(Love Letter)

手を抜く te o nuku
(to cut corners; take it easy on something)

問題の発現 mondai no hatsugen
(the discovery of a problem)

無茶苦茶 mu cha ku cha
confused, mixed up, jumbled

SUGGESTED USAGE: 朝のコーヒーに塩を入れるなんて無茶苦茶だ。
asa no ko-hi- ni shio o ireru nante muchakucha da.
Putting salt in the morning coffee! How 'muchakucha.'

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Wow me Baby!

Essential Phrases * Everyday Life Words * Archaic 'no gaijin could ever learn it' words * Interesting Words * Spy & Ninja Words * Pop Culture Words * Poetry and Literary Essential knowledge * I, me, you, thou... * Favorite words * Comments and Suggestions

By
Clay & Yumi Boutwell

Last updated:
Saturday, September 02, 2000