J-WOTD: 波瀾万丈Blue on Sep 08 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
はらんばんじょう (haranbanjyou)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“Full of ups and downs” This pharse basically means that something has been eventful, but in a negative way.
Examples: 彼女の波瀾万丈な生活にずっとつきあってきたよ。 “I have put up with her rollercoaster of a life for so long”
It can be used for almost anything, even for more formal usages, 波瀾万丈な経歴 means a [...]
J-WOTD: 物別れBlue on Sep 07 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
ものわかれ (monowakare)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
I thought this was a cool phrase, and I was surprised that I had never heard anyone use it before yesterday..
Basically points out a situation or a confrontation, or even just a discussion between two parties that did not go well, and ended with no conclusion. [...]
J-WOTD: 実るほど頭を垂れる稲穂かなBlue on May 26 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
みのるほど こうべをたれる いなほかな (minoruhodo koubewotareru inahokana)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“Those ears of rice that bear the most grain (people in high positions) should be the ones that bow lowest”
This is a kotowaza.. Heard it used (sarcastically) today about an 偉そうな guy at work, who is supposedly a head of a division, [...]
J-WOTD: 力任せBlue on May 08 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
ちからまかせ (chikaramakase)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“do something in an angry state” (not sure about this… some Japanese person, please leave a comment?)
子どもが親に怒って庭で力任せにボールを蹴り続けていました
The kid was angry with his parents, and just kicked the ball for hours in the garden.
J-WOTD: ほんわかした気持ちBlue on May 02 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
ほんわかしたきもち (honwakashita kimochi)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“warm fuzzy feeling”
それでほんわかした気持ちになりました！
That gave me a nice warm and fuzzy feeling!
J-WOTD: 形ばかりBlue on May 02 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
かたちばかり (katachibakari)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“token” “fake” (used for when someone does something, without really meaning it, or for ulterior motives)
形ばかりのお礼
slight token of gratitude, very small token of gratitude
形ばかりのもてなし
reception given for form’s sake
形ばかりの抵抗を見せる
put up only a token resistance
例(cchi)：昨晩遅かった事をカタチばかり文句言ってみたら 今日は早く帰るって言って朝出ていった。
J-WOTD: 虫がいいBlue on May 02 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
虫がいい (mushi ga ii)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“push one’s luck” “take a lot for granted” “take too much for granted”
虫がいい話だ
sounds too good
それは虫がいいね
That’s asking too much
自分の都合いいときだけあおうっていうのは虫が良すぎるでしょー？
It would be pushing my luck to ask that we only meet when it suits me right?
J-WOTD: ずんどうBlue on May 02 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
ずんどう (zundou)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“waistless” “have no curves”
彼女はずんどうだ
She has no waist
J-WOTD: 侮れないBlue on May 02 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
あなどれない (anadorenai)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“look tough” “(be) a force to be reckoned with”
手ごわい［侮れない］ライバル
rival to be reckoned with
無視できないもの、侮れないもの
something to be reckoned with
Usage: An friend of mine in an old company, said this about a manager that was trying to make us work hard on the very last day of our assignment on [...]
J-WOTD: おちょくるBlue on May 02 2006 | Filed under: WOTD - Japanese
おちょくる (ochokuru)* “J-WOTD” = “Japanese Word of the Day”
“make fun of” “wind up” “take the piss out of” etc..
～をおちょくる
make fun of.., make a mock of..
～をおちょくる余裕がある
see the funny side of
「日本人をおちょくってんの？」
“Are you taking the piss out of Japanese people!?”