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You never know how your answer makes questioners happy!!!
*SPECIAL THANKS IN ADVANCE
- We have answered more than 750 questions from viewers who are both Japanese and foreigners. And about 40 volunteer answerers who are mostly Japanese helped us but not enough because we have only a few native answerers and it is a bit hard for me to ask them all the time. So we need your hands. We also need your better answer or correcting this web site.
*IN RETURN
- If you give us any kind of help about this web site, I am willing to give you a stamp (GIF file) which has your name in Japanese Kanji and Katakana like these on your request.
*** LATEST UNSOLVED MYSTERIES !!!
- * 1. "planning scores"
I heard the mob had a $500，000 price on my head， so I don't use my real name much anymore. To keep one step ahead， I use several aliases， which are printed on everything from my driver's license to my checkbook. Living in hiding is a legacy from my days as an undercover agent working for the FBI. I had a false name then， too. You might have heard of it: Donnie Brasco. They used it for the title of a movie. Before， it was what the wiseguys called me.I know a thing or two about wiseguys. For five years， I pretended to be one of them. I breathed their air， ate dinner in their homes， and was privy to their crimes. Having grown up as a street guy in Paterson， New Jersey， I was， as they say， "street smart." I knew wiseguys in my old neighborhood， knew how they talked and walked. So I was comfortable in the role of Brasco. Life in the mob was about eating well， dressing sharp and planning scores. I got respect from people who thought I was a gangster. But I spent most of my time gathering evidence and trying not to get killed.
We guess 'Planning scores' in this sentences means, Planning
A. The act or an instance of buying illicit drugs.
B. A successful robbery.
C. A sexual conquest.
- * 2. What is your image of
Japan? Manga???
- * 3. Is Learning Japanese
popular in your country?
- * 4. If you find any
English mistakes in this site, please correct them.
SEND YOUR ANSWER
*SAMPLE QAs written in English!!!
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Q1. whistling in Japan
Hi, I like to whistle to tunes (not loudly) that's stuck in my head, whilst walking on the street, or even in trains... I was wondering why I do not see the Japanese whistle... is it rude to whistle?Since I do get glares coming my way every now and then. Thanks for answering my question. JeffA1. While whistling in public can be regarded as rude in Japan, just like singing or eating as you walk can be, most of the people here probably just look your way hearing you whistle, not meaning to glare.
Whistling at night, though, is regarded as bad in many places around Japan. If you ask a Japanese person what they think will happen when you whistle at night, you might get answers like "A snake shows up" "You'll have a thief in your house".
Whistling is said to have had a sexual meaning in the past. It's what “nighthawks (prostitutes in Edo Period)” did when soliciting on the street at nighttime. It’s also said to have been used as a sign by lovers for a secret rendezvous. I once heard that people back then told their kids not to whistle at night for its vulgarity and used snakes or thieves as excuses.
I personally think, though, that whistling is a nice way to let people know you’re having a good day, or so trying to be. I suck at whistling. Wish I could, while I go for a ride. Kaori
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Q2. Could you tell me if there is a Japanese proverb (kotowaza) equivalent to:
'You can not please all of the people all of the time' or simply You can not please everyone. Your reply will be greatly appreciated.
I am collecting proverbs that have equivalents in Taiwanese, Chinese,Japanese and English. Each of these languages all have thousands of proverbs but there are not that many which has equivalents in all four languages. I alreday have close to 101 of them which is my first goal. The proverb I mentioned in English has equivalents in Taiwanese which says "Even God can not satisfy every one" and in Chinese "It is difficult to cook and satisfy a hundred people". I was hoping there is a similar one in Japanese also that I did not know. If you think of something, please let me know. Albert F. Chang
A2. We do not have that sense of kotowaza. But we say 'Happo Bijin' for a person who are all things to all people. Then you might be able to say 'Happo bijin dewa irarenai' for the meaning of ' You cannot be a person who are all things to all people'. This is not a proberb though.
http://www.ok312.com/
This site describes many proverbs in English and Japanese but you need Japanese fonts to see Japanese.
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Q3. Would you know how to write the name "Jaret" in Kata-Kana, or any other form of Japanese, because i can't find a web-site that will. Jaret E-MAIL ADDRESS:thefirstanimeboy@hotmail.com SEX:Male AGE:Forgotten AREA:CANADA
A3. Jaret-san, arigato for your message. This is TRANSJAWS, yukara. I can answer your question. But the point is whether you have Japanese fonts in your computer or not.
If you have;ジャリットin katakana じゃりっとin hiragana 蛇利島 in kanji
(your kanji means 'snake islands', I feel sorry this is not so good!!!)
In case you do not have japanese fonts: open the file with this mail. I hope I helped you.
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Q4. What does ki in japanese mean? I would like the translation in English! JB
E-MAIL ADDRESS:Icez4@building.com SEX:Male AGE:20's AREA:USA
A4. JB-san, arigato for your question.This might be an answer.
The Many Meanings of Ki in Japanese Conversation
Ki is a word that everyone associated with Aikido has heard of. It is most often translated as "spirit" or "energy". However, Ki is not only a concept associated with Aikido or the martial arts. The concept of Ki can have many meanings in Japanese language and culture. Ki is used conversationally everyday in Japan in ways you might not imagine. It is utilized in hundreds of common idioms and phrases. Youﾕll find it in newspaper headlines, novels, jokes, and on TV. It can be heard in virtually any conversation in Japanese. In fact, if you decided to walk around Tokyo and listen in on peoples' conversations, youﾕd hear Ki mentioned thousands of times and almost everywhere, on the subway, in restaurants, department stores, even in the weather reports.
Ki is frequently used when speaking of health, emotions, intentions, opinions, and in human relations in general. The dictionary contains dozens of meanings for Ki ranging from spirit to temperament, awareness to concern, and even the atmosphere.
The following examples illustrate how the character for "KI", combined with other characters, is used in many words and phrases in the Japanese daily conversation.
TENKI ("sky's KI") means weather. TEN means sky.
KIATSU ("KI pressure") means atmospheric pressure. (ATSU means pressure).
YOKI ("sunny or positive KI") means "sunshine", "jolly" or "cheerful".. YO also means "YANG".
INKI ("shadow KI or negative KI") means "gloomy", "melancholy" or "cheerless". IN also means "YIN".
GENKI ("root KI") means "vigor", "energy", "vitality" or "spirit". GENKI is a word often used in Japanese conversation. For example, one common phrase for "how are you" in Japanese is "GENKI?" or "GENKI desuka?" Its literal translation could be "Are you spirited?"
What happens when you lose KI? We have an exact phrase for that: "KI wo ushinau". It means to "loose consciousness" or "faint away".
Some Japanese expressions refer to the length of KI. When we say "KI ga mijikai", for example ("KI is short"), it means "short-tempered" or "impatient". On the contrary, "KI ga nagai" ("KI is long") means "patient".
Other expressions refer to the size of KI. When we say "KI ga okii" ("KI is big"), it means "generous" or "large-hearted". On the other hand, "KI ga chiisai" ("KI is small") means "timid" or "fainthearted".
There are many more words and phrases that use KI. Some of them are: "KI wo kubaru" ("distribute KI") means "pay attention" or "be watchful". "KI ga omoi" ("KI is heavy") means "feel down" or "depressed".
"KI wo hikishimeru" ("tighten up KI") means "brace oneself" or "pull oneself together".
"KI ga susumanai" ("KI doesn't go forward" or "KI doesn't come along") means "not in the mood".
"KI wo rakunisuru" ("make KI at ease") means "relax".
"KI ga chiru" ("KI falls") means "One's attention is distracted"
As you can see, Ki has a wide variety of meanings in Japanese culture. Hopefully, this article will be useful in gaining a broader understanding of the concept of Ki and be helpful in placing this often elusive concept in perspective as we apply it to our Aikido training.
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Q5. Hi. When I was reading an On Line Japan Times' article---
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20010418a1.htm
I happened to come across a word, stone leek. Although I think it refers to a kind of leek, or green onion, I couldn't find such a phrase as stone leek by any dictionary around. Now I'd very pleased if you give me some informations about the phrase, stone leek. shu
A5. As you guess, 'stone leek' is green onion. You can find it in The Cook's Thesaurus.
http://www.foodsubs.com/Onionsgreen.html
green onion = scallion = bunching onion = shallot (in Australia) = spring onion (in Britain) = Chinese onion = stone leek = cibol Equivalents: 1 bunch = 1/4 pound = 1/2 cup sliced Notes: These are onions that have small bulbs and long green stalks. They're usually eaten raw, but you can also grill or saut them. Some people also use the term green onions to refer to onion tops, shallot tops and young leeks. Substitutes: spring onions OR leeks OR shallots OR chives (if used raw)
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Q6. Now I wonder how we can grip the following sentence gramatically...."She was incensed at the idea of having to apologize for something she was convinced was not her fault,..." (1998,the first stage examination of the state examination for the interpreter, tourguide) I think the latter half of the sentence should be "...something that she was convinced was not her fault,...", unless a subjective relative pronoun can be elliptical for any reason or other. As I regard the phrase, "she was convinced" as a parenthesis, the relative pronoun seems the only way to connect "was not her fault" to "something".... But I'm still not convinced of this...I'm afraid if I disturb you by my mailing, but could you kindly help me again, please? shu
A6. About the sentence, "She was incensed at the having to apologize for something she was convinced was not her fault." The sentence is perfectly grammatical as it is written. It would also be perfectly grammatical if it read as you suggested, "...something that she was convinced..." You can often find the relative pronoun "that" omitted when the meaning is clear without it. For example, "The automobile I bought at that dealership was a bargain"; "The suit I wore at my graduation still fits me." In these sentences, there is no doubt that the relative clauses refer to "automobile" and "suit." (In the sentence I just wrote, "that" could be omitted. Then the sentence could read "...there is no doubt the relative clauses..." and be grammatical.)
The verb "was convinced" has a noun clause as its direct object: "...she was convinced [that] was not her fault." What I've underlined is the direct object of the verb. If "She was convinced" was omitted, then it would be necessary to say "something that was not her fault."
At the same time, it may be that the people who made up the state examination are following a rule (don't omit pronouns) much too rigidly and would mark a person wrong for omitting "that." We have our own bureaucrats who follow rules too rigidly. Is it possible to find out what the state examiners regard as grammatical? Jim
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Q7. hello I am from U.S.A. and i want to learn to speak Japanese and I know your site doesn't teach Japanese but i'm wondering if you know about any website that will help me learn how to speak Japanese i would be grateful for your help Thank You! ~`FiN`~
A7. I do not know your Japanese level but I hope some of this sites will help you to speak Japanese. You can study basic Japanese words with pronunciation here.
http://www.twics.com/~ysdrunka/top.html
There are some Japanese learners links here.
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~tx2h-mtok/jalearn.html
This is mainly written in Japanese but there are several links where you can study Japanese.
http://www.t3.rim.or.jp/~tomamu/cgi-bin/search/search.cgi?category=Japanese
On the other hand, I think the best way to speak Japanese is to use Japanese.I recommend you to have some Japanese friends. There are many viewers of my site who like to have language exchange partners. I am sure they will willingly help your Japanese. For example, if you prepare AOL instant messenger or other similar software, you can seek Japanese friends who have it, too. Then you can enjoy conversation or learning Japanese by not only chat but talk to them like a phone on the Internet. It is all free except usual provider's fee if you already have a microphone. Please send your message from my website if you like.
http://homepage3.nifty.com/transjaws/indexe.htm
I hope this helps you.
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Q8-1. Hi, Is there some sort of business organization that checks on business` reputation? My daughter will be using a home study Japanese Juku system. We signed a 4 year contract that we must commit to by Friday. I want to check on the business before then just to make sure they are good.Thanks TOM Stanley
A8-1. Hello, Tom-san, this is TRANSJAWS, Yukara. Just tell me the name of Juku. I might be able to help you. For example, 'KUMON' is very famous and has a good reputation. But I think a 4 year contract is too long. I guess there is a way to make it short or there should be a cancellation clause.
Q8-2. Hi Yukara -san, It is a self study program that you do at home. They have free dialing for help from University students. Name of the company is Rxxxx Up Gxxxxx (Kabushikikaisha- xxx) phone number is 033-xxx-xxxx
They seem ok to omoimasu, demo sono contract wa nagasugiru mitai. dake do watashi no musume wa namakemono kara kono home study wa i mitai to omou. TOM
A8-2. I could not find that company on the net and I called but a lady who answered didn't know even there is a web site or not and about the contract as well. I guess it is a newly made small company. I could not find any reputation from other sources such as company reputation books. I feel sorry for that. I could not helpyou. Of course it is your choice to decide. If there is a nice teaching method and materials, it might be good for your daughter. I hope after checking the nagasugiru contract you decide.
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Q9. Could you explain the difference of 'clash,' 'crash' and 'crush?'
A9. I can understand why the student would be confused by these three words. Just changing one or two letters turns one word into another, and there's also some overlap in meaning. Let me try to show how they are used.
Clash: This usually refers to some kind of conflict. It can be an armed conflict. The English poet Matthew Arnold uses the word in a line in his famous poem Dover Beach, "where ignorant armies clash by night." The conflict doesn't have to be an armed struggle; we sometimes talk about the clash of opinions, for example, in a legislative body. Used like that, the word implies a noisy debate, almost as if it were an armed struggle. It's sometimes used just to refer to a loud noise: in an orchestra, the cymbals clashed.
Crush: This refers to applying great pressure to something so as to change the structure of that thing. For example, "The tree fell over in a storm and crushed the car that was parked near it." Sometimes, after we have drunk a beverage from a paper cup, we crush the cup and throw it away. We can talk about a crush of people, a large crowd of people jammed into a space. A while ago there was a terrible accident at a football game when a crowd of people were crushed into a space with no way to get out, and several were injured. The papers might have begun a report of the accident by saying, "There was a crush of people." There is another meaning to crush. When I was a teenager, I seemed to have a crush on a different girl every other week. In this sense, crush means to be strongly attracted to someone, to be infatuated. I can't explain how it came to have that meaning, but people often use the word in that way.
Crash: A crash is something we would all like to avoid. A car crash, an airplane crashﾑthe word indicates a breaking up of things, and it usually implies something serious. If you have what we call a fender bender with your carﾑjust denting the fenderﾑthat's not a car crash. Because the word implies something serious, we speak of a financial crash, as in the Wall Street crash in 1929. Used like this, the word means something much more serious than a stock slipping a few points. Crash can also refer to a loud noiseﾑthe crash of thunder in a bad storm.
I hope this is of some help to the student. I'm very glad you asked me; any time you have questions like that, please let me help. Tell the young lady I wish her well on her report. JIM
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Q10. I have a Japanese husband and of course their relatives are all Japanese. I would like to know the meanings of their names. Their names are Kazuo, Tadao, Noboru, Nobuo, and Kiyoko. Sharon
A10. Sharon-san, arigato for your message. This is TRANSJAWS, Yukara.
If I know their KANJI(Chinese letter), I would be able to tell you their meanings. Each Kanji has some meanings and for example Kazuo has several ways of writing in Kanji meaning 'first' 'peace' 'man' 'live' and so on. But I can guess some of them.
Tadao: 'loyalty' 'sincere' 'man'
Noboru: 'going up' 'rise' male's name
Nobuo: 'creditable' 'trust' 'faith' 'man'
Kiyoko: 'clear' 'pure' , ko suggests female's name
I hope this is helpful.
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Q11. buddy hughes
SEX:Male AGE:10's AREA:OTHERS ladysman19862002@yahoo.com
how do i say my name in japanese calligraphy???
A11. Hi, buddy hughes-san, this is TRANSJAWS, Yukara. Thank you for your message.
There are several ways to write your name in Japanese. In case you cannot display Japanese words on your computer, I attached a GIF file. I hope you like them.
YOUR NAME IN JAPANESE (You need Japanese fonts to see this)
馬出井 飛雄逗 (by Kanji)
バディ ヒューズ (by Katakana)
ばでぃ ひゅーず (by Hiragana)
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Q12. NAME：Julie E-MAIL ADDRESS: Belfairhs@aol.com SEX:Female AGE:40's AREA:USA
MESSAGE: A friend and I are starting a Homestay company. We won't be ready for students until next summer. But I am looking for some help. We want to make it affordable for everyone, but at the same time, know that Japanese people want quality. We are about 1 hour 15 mins from Seattle. Far enough away from the crime, but close enough for the attractions. I would appreciate the Japanese perspective on the following:
What is the best amount of time for a homestay? We are thinking 3 weeks in the summertime, or 10 days over Christmas.
What do students want most in a homestay?
How many field trips per week should be included? How long is too long for a drive?
Is a homestay without formal instruction something people would be interested in (at a lower price, of course), or is formal school a necessary component?
What types of activities would you like to do while you are here? For instance, go see Mt. St. Helens (volcano), traditional American beach party, nightclubs, amusement parks, etc.
Is it better to include the airfare, or to let individual families make the best deal they can on their own?
What is a good price for a homestay program? We are thinking US$500 for a 10-day, no-school program (only activities and instruction outside of a traditional school); or US$1500 for a 3-week program with instruction at a traditional school. Is that higher, lower, or about the same as other programs?
Thank you so much for your help! Julie
A12. Julie-san, arigato for your message. This is TRANSJAWS, Yukara.
I really hope your company will be going well and many Japanese visitor will enjoy staying at your place. It would be nice if we could help your Japanese web site for promotion.
I have our mailing list and email magazine and am going to ask readers about your questions but next magazine will be delivered on 1st of August so please wait for their answers. Many of them are interested in going abroad or study abroad. This time I will answer of my own. I took so many students to the U.S, NZ and Australia for homestay when I was a high school teacher.
What is the best amount of time for a homestay?
As for Japanese 10 days and 3 weeks would be appropriate. But it might be better to have some other choices such as from 1 week to 4 weeks.
What do students want most in a homestay?
Improving their English ability not only at school but at home with family. I mean they need good relationship with friendly homestay family. I really admire American hospitality.
How many field trips per week should be included?
Once a week (weekend) is enough for school program. A bit more for no-school program.
How long is too long for a drive?
It depends, but 2 hours or so (one way).
Is a homestay without formal instruction something people would be interested in (at a lower price, of course), or is formal school a necessary component?
I recommend there will be 2 courses, school program and non school program for 10 day program. In summer school is necessary because they will be bored without school for 3 weeks. And most parents will think it better to have a school program.
What types of activities would you like to do while you are here?
Ichiro-tour. Ski, if possible.
Is it better to include the airfare, or to let individual families make the best deal they can on their own?
It depends on the airfare. If you can get the cheaper air ticket, the total fare is better.
What is a good price for a homestay program?
Is that higher, lower, or about the same as other programs?
I think the price you are thinking is reasonable. As you said the quality of tuition is also important for Japanese. A good price must be considered in total. I guess basically less than 50 dollars a day is preferable.
Many happy days to you,
Yukara
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Q13. Custom?
We will be meeting our new Japanese daughter-in-law soon in Honolulu. Her parents will be coming from Japan and my son tells me they will be bringing us a gift?
What is the custom? Should we buy a gift for just the Mother and a second gift for the Father? Should the gift be for their home and what price range are we talking about?
A13. The best way for you I guess is that you do not prepare your gift. After getting their gift you will find the price range and the number. It is not rude at all to give them your gift during their stay in Hawaii or after going back to Japan you can send it.
Japanese usually do not exchange gift at the same time. You can welcome them in your best way in Honolulu first. After getting their gift then you can give them yours nearly the same price of it. If they give each of you their gifts, then you can give each of them some gifts in return but just one gift for them is OK, too. I hope I was able to help you.
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Q15. Dear Sirs,
I fortunately arrived at your web site. I've been looking for such a suit which will be able to accept questions from visitors. Sometimes, I encounter an usage of English which is not explained in text books. Please help me with the following question.
Let me have a short introduction of myself. My name is Yoshihiko Ueda -Japanese who is working for a trading company. My job is to communicate in English with the engineers of our customers for technical discussion. So I have to read, write and speak English for my job.
Recently I received the following sentence from an engineer. "The effect is minimal and I am happy to accept the parts of on a Deviation." (whose background; our manufacturer produced some parts which slightly did not live up to the specification, but it is very slightly in dimension. Then our supplier raised a request for acceptance of deviation. We use the word deviation calling parts which are not exactly to the specification. The request was accepted with the example sentence raised above.
My question is about "of on". To my knowledge, "of" is followed by nouns. However, this case is followed by a prepositional phrase like"on a Deviation". Prepositional phrase should be a adjective or adverb. If that's so, why this usage is allowed.
Looking at an expression pattern of "of on a" at Web site, I found the following examples. They look similar to the example - "of on a Deviation". The followings are the URLs and the samples I found.
http://www.mandarin.demon.co.uk/She started "of on" a Yamaha V-Star
www.1startdepot.com To form in colors a figure or likeness "of on" a flat surface, as upon canvas;
http://www.builtinvacuum.com/testimonials.html
These same companies spend millions of dollars a year in generalized mainstream advertisement, but do not understand the benefit of spending a tiny fraction "of on" a marketers dream. Thank you for your teaching me the usage of "of on". Best regards, Yoshihiko Ueda
A15. Mr. Ueda is right to be concerned about the phrase “of on.” It is totally ungrammatical. Both “of” and “on,” when used as prepositions, would be followed by nouns. I wonder if there is an omission in the letter the engineer sent Mr. Ueda. Or could the engineer have revised the sentence and not taken out the parts he wanted to change.
One of the examples Mr. Ueda found on a Web site looks to me as though the writer confused “off” and “of.” “She started off on a Yamaha V-Star” means“She began to drive away on a Yamaha V?Star.” To say, “She started of on a Yamaha V-Star” is not idiomatic English. I cannot understand the meaning of the other two examples.
My congratulations to Mr. Ueda. He has a good eye for English idiom. I would be just as confused as he was if I received the letter he received. JIM
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