Comments on: Random Japanese Words Are Awesome. Sometimes.

By: lary

lary — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:55:08 +0000

japan is like the coolest langues, except it’s not sexy enough to fall in lovwe with

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:36:19 +0000

I have to admit that ‘baka neko’ sounds pretty odd to me, but I can’t deny the fun of bringing new words into ones personal vocabulary. :)

By: Yoko

Yoko — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:33:07 +0000

Really sorry for commenting this late again, but i just had to. :))
My favorite Japanese words are “baka” and “yosh”. Ever since i watched Fruits Basket, i got stuck with this thing: “baka neko!” So every time someone or something annoys me, i keep yelling “baka neko!!” If i had yelled the same thing in my own language, people would have definetly said that i’d gone crazy, but in Japanese it sounds so cool! If i translate “baka” in Romanian, it has a whole different meaning, on a more serious note, more insulting.
As for “yosh!” i even corrupted my sister to say it whenever we’re getting ready to go somewhere or do something. It doesn’t really have a translation in Romanian… At least not one to express the exact meaning.
Well anywayz, these are my favorite words. :D

By: Kiri

Kiri — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:18:42 +0000

I think the odd thing about translating “tadaima”/”okaeri” is that the order is interchangable, but in English as it’s commonly translated, you can really only say “I’m home”/”Welcome home” in that order. It doesn’t make much sense to say “I’m home” after someone has already said “Welcome home,” but “tadaima” following “okaeri” still makes sense.

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:48:45 +0000

I can understand using ‘ganbatte’ too, although it took me a long time to separate the Japanese meaning and the common English translations for it. When people said I had ‘ganbarimashita’ at the end of the working day, I used to take it to mean that I had *tried* hard and it took me a while to realise there was, in fact, an element of success built in to the expression! :)

‘Tadaima’ and ‘okaeri’ are a bit more blurry for me. I can think of expressions we could use in English, although I’m not sure we really greet people as they come home (outside of “Honey, I’m home!” of American sitcoms). I remember running to my father as he came home from work, but I can’t remember what we really said.

By: Kiri

Kiri — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:09:00 +0000

I think “ganbatte” a lot, but never “good luck” or “do your best.” I think it just just encompasses the idea of “encouraging word” more wholly. I also don’t think there’s a very good English equivalent of “tadaima” or “okaeri.”

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:38:48 +0000

Yeah. One of the most challenging things after work is to be able to speak fluent English. I been speaking Japanese and basic English all day.

If you aren’t able to talk much in German, I recommend… a blog. :P

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:35:13 +0000

I can see why, although ’sasuga’ hasn’t been adopted into English in the same way as ‘kawaii’. But it definitely combines two concepts (both good, but as expected) that a single English word doesn’t.

By: Ela

Ela — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:38:49 +0000

I’m having this with both English and Japanese, depending on what language I most associated with recently (i.e. usually English unless I binge on dorama for three days straight).

I’m actually a bit worried about my stay abroad now – most talking will be done in English/Japanese/Dutch for the next two years and since I don’t have to many German friends I talk in German with… this might be interesting.

By: Tayles

Tayles — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:46:08 +0000

I am constantly using ‘naruhodo’ instead of ‘I see’. It just… encompasses the whole idea better. Same with ’sasuga’ when someone does something typical of them. Katherine volunteered to do lifts for our evening out – sasuga Katherine. Hannah ate the last of the ice cream when we weren’t looking – sasuga Hannah ¬_¬