WORD OF THE WEEK: 10.29.00 - 11.4.00

変身 hen shin
metamorphosis, transformation, disguise

SUGGESTED USAGE: ゴジラは変身の前は実は可愛いトカゲだった。
gojira wa henshin no mae wa jitsu wa kawai tokage datta.
Godzilla, before his transformation, was actually a cute lizard.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 10.22.00 - 10.28.00

目の前で me no mae de
Before one's very eyes [lit. in front of eye]

SUGGESTED USAGE: 皆さんの目の前で「クッキーを盗んだのはぼくだ」と告白した。
mina san no me no mae de "kukki- o nusunda no wa boku da" to kokuhaku shita.
In front of everyone I confessed, "The cookie theif is I!"

WORD OF THE WEEK: 10.15.00 - 10.21.00

万年床 man nen doko
leaving a bed unmade; not putting up the futon [lit. 10,000 year bed]

SUGGESTED USAGE: クレイの諺： 「僕の万年床は僕の自慢」
kurei no kotowaza: "boku no mannendoko wa boku no jiman"
Clay's proverb: My unmade bed is my pride.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 10.8.00 - 10.14.00

居留守 irusu
pretending to be out

SUGGESTED USAGE: 窓に新聞屋さんの影を見たので居留守を使った。
mado ni shinbunyasan no kage o mita node irusu o tsukatta.
Seeing the newspaper collection man's shadow on the window, we made it as if no one was home.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 10.1.00 - 10.7.00

本音 hon ne
real intentions, motive

SUGGESTED USAGE: 皆さんの常識とはちがって、あかずきんちゃんの本音は「今晩はオオカミを食べたい。」だった。
minasan no joushiki to wa chigatte, akazukin-chan no honne wa, "konban wa ookami o tabetai." datta.
To everyone's surprise, Little Red Riding Hood's hidden intention was, "I want to eat wolf tonight."

WORD OF THE WEEK: 9.24.00 - 9.30.00

雲散霧消 un san mu shou
Vanishing like a mist [not used in speech, but good kanji practice]

SUGGESTED USAGE: 蜂達が来たので腹減った熊のプーさんの希望は雲散霧消した。
hachi tachi ga kita node hara hetta kuma no pu-san no kibou wa unsanmushou shita.
Bees came, and a hungry Winnie the Pooh's hopes vanished.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 9.17.00 - 9.23.00

島破り shima yaburi
escape from an island exile

SUGGESTED USAGE: 番組のプロデューサーの勝手でギリガンたちは島破りができませんでした。
bangumi no purodu-sa- no katte de girigan tachi wa shimayaburi ga dekimasen deshita.
Due to the selfishness of the show's producers, Gilligan and his friends couldn't escape from the island.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 9.10.00 - 9.16.00

読唇術 doku shin jutsu
lip reading

SUGGESTED USAGE: 読唇術を使ったのでクレヨンしんちゃんは母ちゃんの秘密を知った。
doku shin jutsu o tsukatta node kureyon shin chan wa kaa chan no himitsu o shitta.
Because he read her lips, Crayon Shin-chan learned mama's secret.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 9.3.00 - 9.9.00

身元確認 mi moto kaku nin
ID, checking background

SUGGESTED USAGE: 身元確認の結果、赤ずきんの本当の名前は鈴木とわかった。
mimotokakunin no kekka, akazukin no hontou no namae wa suzuki to wakatta.
The results of the ID check revealed Little Red Riding Hood's real name to be Suzuki.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 8.27.00 - 9.2.00

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.'

WORD OF THE WEEK: 8.20.00 - 8.26.00

四面楚歌 shi men so ka
surrounded by enemies on all sides.

SUGGESTED USAGE: プーさんは急に蜂に囲まれてしまい、四面楚歌に陥ったことに気づいた。
pu-san wa kyuu ni hachi ni kakomarete shimai, shimensoka ni ochiitta koto ni kizuita.
Winnie the Pooh suddenly realized the condition of things as bees surrounded him.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 8.13.00 - 8.19.00

接着剤 secchaku zai
super glue

SUGGESTED USAGE: 彼の悪巧みで私のいつもの歯磨きは接着剤と取り替えられていました。
kare no warudakumi de watashi no itsumo no hamigaki wa secchakuzai to tori kaerarete imashita.
Through his evil plot, my usual toothpaste was replaced with super glue.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 8.6.00 - 8.12.00

武士階級 bu shi kai kyuu
warrior class

SUGGESTED USAGE: 仕事ですか？私は武士階級なので、会計士という仕事に決めました。
shigoto desu ka? watashi wa bushikaikyuu nanode, kaikeishi toiu shigoto ni kimemashita..
My work? Well, because I am of the warrior class, I decided to become an accountant.
[WARNING: this is an American joke] [注意：これはアメリカンジョーク]

WORD OF THE WEEK: 7.30.00 - 8.5.00

女の直感 onna no chokkan
women's intuition

SUGGESTED USAGE: キティちゃんは、女の直感でゴジラの悪巧みから逃げました。
kiti chan wa, onna no chokkan de gojira no warudakumi kara nigemashita.
By Hello Kitty's women's intuition, she escaped Godzilla's sinister scheme.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 7.22.00 - 7.28.00

密室 misshitsu
a secret room

SUGGESTED USAGE: 密室でプーさんは偽造の蜂蜜を密かに作りました。
misshitsu de pu-san wa gizou no hachi mitsu o hisoka ni tsukurimashita.
In a hidden room, Pooh stealthily crafted his counterfeit honey.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 7.16.00 - 7.22.00

命拾い inochi biroi
to barely escape with your life

SUGGESTED USAGE: 熊のプーさんは蜂蜜取りで蜂の攻撃から命拾いした。
kuma no pu-san wa hachimitsu tori de hachi no kougeki kara inochibiroi shita.
Winnie the Pooh barely survived the bee's offencive during his honey gathering trip.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 7.9.00 - 7.15.00

宝の地図 takara no chizu
treasure map

SUGGESTED USAGE: 熊のプーさんの宝の地図には秘密の蜂蜜のありかが書いてある。
kuma no pu-san no takara no chizu ni wa himitsu no hachimitsu no arika ga kaite aru.
On Winnie the Pooh's treasure map, the locality of the hidden stash of honey is recorded.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 7.2.00 - 7.8.00

仮説 ka setsu
hypothesis, supposition

SUGGESTED USAGE: ホームズの仮説によって犯人の熊のプーさんは捕まりました。
ho-muzu no kasetsu ni yotte hannin no kuma no pu-san wa tsukamarimashita.
By Holmes' hypothesis, the offender, Winnie the Pooh, was caught.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 6.25.00 - 7.1.00

追放 tsui hou
banishment

SUGGESTED USAGE: 僕は追放されたので、来日しました。
boku wa tsuihou sareta node, rainichi shimashita.
Because I was banished, I came to Japan.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 6.18.00 - 6.24.00

ふられる (furareru)
to be rejected, to give the cold shoulder

SUGGESTED USAGE: ゴジラはキティちゃんにふられて絶望的になった。
gojira wa kiti chan ni furarete zetsubou teki ni natta.
Being jilted by Hello Kitty, Godzilla slipped into despair.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 6.11.00 - 6.17.00

寝惚ける (nebokeru)
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.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 6.4.00 - 6.10.00

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

SUGGESTED USAGE: 自問自答の場合。答えはいつも正しい。
jimonjitou no baai. kotae wa itsumo tadashii.
When asking and answering myself a question, the answer is always correct.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 5.28.00 - 6.3.00

一目ぼれ (hito me bore)
Love at first sight

SUGGESTED USAGE: ある日ゴジラは東京を破壊中にキティに一目ぼれしちゃった。
aru hi gojira wa toukyou wo hakai chuu ni kiti ni hitomebore shichatta.
One day while destroying Tokyo, Godzilla saw Hello Kitty and it was love at first sight!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 5.21.00 - 5.27.00

 三度の飯より... (sando no meshi yori)
(something) is better than even 3 square meals
(lit. 3 times meal less than...)

SUGGESTED USAGE: 三度の飯よりスカイダイビングが好き。
sando no meshi yori sukaidaibingu ga suki.
I like skydiving better than eating!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 5.14.00 - 5.20.00

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.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 5.6.00 - 5.13.00

寝癖 (neguse)
morning hair (hair that sticks up due to sleep)

SUGGESTED USAGE: しまった！また寝癖！
shimatta! mata neguse!
Darn! Morning hair again!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 4.30.00 - 5.5.00

密輸 (mitsuyu)
to smuggle

SUGGESTED USAGE:

熊のプーさんは日本にはち蜜を密輸しました。
kuma no pu- san wa nihon ni hachimitsu wo mitsuyu shimashita.
Winnie the Pooh smuggled honey into Japan.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 4.13.00 - 4.29.00

用心棒 (you jin bou) a bodyguard

WORD OF THE WEEK: 4.16.00 - 4.22.00

根負け (kon make)
to give up due to being worn out by someone's persistence

SUGGESTED USAGE: ゴジラは熊のプーさんの熱心さに根負けした。
gojira wa kuma no pu- san no nesshin sa ni konmake shita.
Godzilla, perceiving Winnie the Pooh's unbounded courage, admitted defeat.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 4.8.00 - 4.15.00

悪巧み (warudakumi)
a trick, or a evil plot

SUGGESTED USAGE: 熊のプーさんは心の中で悪巧みをしました。
kuma no pu- san wa kokoro no naka de warudakumi o shimashita.
In the secret depths of his heart, Winnie the Pooh contrived an evil plot.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 4.1.00 - 4.7.00

久方振りでございます。(hisa kata buri de gozaimasu)
"It's been a long time." - but in samurai language!

SUGGESTED USAGE: When you haven't seen someone in a while, in a samurai voice say, 久方振りでございます。
How long hast thy presence failed to grace my sight!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 3.26.00 - 4.1.00

顔面蒼白 (ganmen (face) souhaku (pale, blue & white))
(someone's) face becoming white or pale because of a sudden fear or shock

SUGGESTED USAGE: ゴジラは熊のプーさんの筋肉を見て、顔面蒼白になった。
gojira wa kuma no pu-san no kinniku wo mite, ganmensouhaku ni natta.
Upon seeing Winnie the Pooh's muscles, Godzilla's face paled.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 3.19.00 - 3.25.00

本名 (hon myou) (one's real name)

SUGGESTED USAGE: クレイと呼んでもいいですけど私の本名はスーパーマンです。
kurei to yonde mo ii desu kedo, watashi no honmyou wa su-pa-man desu.
You can call me Clay if you want to, but my REAL name is Superman!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 3.12.00 - 3.18.00

虫眼鏡 (mushi megane) (lit. 'bug' 'glasses')
magnifying glass

SUGGESTED USAGE: ホ-ムスはやっと虫眼鏡で 証拠を見つけました。
ho-musu wa yatto mushimegane de shouko wo mitsukemashita.
Holmes, at long last, found the evidence with his magnifying glass.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 3.5.00 - 3.11.00

着の身着のまま (kinomi kinomama)
With only the clothes on your back.

SUGGESTED USAGE: 着の身着のままで 宇宙へ 旅に出ました。
kinomi kinomama de uchuu he tabi ni demashita.
I ventured to outer space with but the clothes on my back.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 2.27.00 - 3.4.00

優柔不断 (yuu jyuu fu dan)
indecision; irresolution

SUGGESTED USAGE: If someone pauses in thought, simply say 優柔不断 yuu jyuu fu dan

WORD OF THE WEEK: 2.27.00 - 3.4.00

独り言 (hitori goto)
monologue; talking to oneself

SUGGESTED USAGE: ハムレットは独り言を言いました。hamuretto ha hitori goto wo iimashita.
Hamlet said a monologue.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 2.20.00 - 2.26.00

流鏑馬 (yabusame)
Horseback archery
The first samurai were measured by their skill of yabusame

SUGGESTED USAGE: 流鏑馬ができますか？
yabusame ga dekimasu ka?
Canst thou shoot an arrow whilst riding a beast?

WORD OF THE WEEK: 2.13.00 - 2.19.00

身振り 手振り (miburi te buri)
body language and hand gestures
身 mi means body; 手 te means hand; 振り buri means to shake or move

SUGGESTED USAGE: 身振り手振りでコミュニケーションができました。
miburi teburi de comyunike-shon ga dekimashita.
By shaking my hands and using my body, I was able to communicate.

WORD OF THE WEEK: 2.6.00 - 2.12.00

身の代金 (mi no shiro kin)
a ransom

SUGGESTED USAGE:

WORD OF THE WEEK: 1.30.00 - 2.5.00

アジト(ajito)
A bad guy's hideout

SUGGESTED USAGE: スーパーマンはルーサーのアジトを見つけたか？ Did Superman find Luther's hideout?

WORD OF THE WEEK: 1.23.00 - 1.29.00

無理矢理 (muri yari)
to be forced into something against one's will

SUGGESTED USAGE: 無理矢理 I must do this, and I'm sad :(

WORD OF THE WEEK: 1.16.00 - 1.22.00

しびれる
become numb; (foot) go to sleep

SUGGESTED USAGE: あしが しびれた、動(うご)かない。My foot fell asleep and I can't move!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 1.9.00 - 1.15.00

降参 （こうさん）
surrender, give in

SUGGESTED USAGE: 武器(ぶき)を捨(す)てて、降参(こうさん) しろ！ Drop your weapon, and surrender!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 12.19.99 - 1.8.00 (winter vaction)

弁解の余地はない （べんかい の よち は ない）
No room for excuses!

SUGGESTED USAGE: 弁解の余地はない ！ No room for excuses! Don't do it again!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 12.12.99 - 12.18.99

エイリアン  襲来 （しゅう  らい）
alien invasion

SUGGESTED USAGE: エイリアン  襲来 だ！ It's an alien invasion!

WORD OF THE WEEK: 12.5.99 - 12.11.99

世界制覇（せかいせいは）
(To rule the world; Be the champion of the world)

SUGGESTED USAGE: ぼくは世界制覇しました。I took over the world!