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Learn a little Japanese everyday with the free Japanese Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary! 花 (はな) flower (noun) 毎週日曜、私は妻に新鮮な花を摘んでくる。まいしゅうにちよう、わたしはつまにしんせんなはなをつんでくる。Every Sunday morning I bring my wife fresh flowers.その少年は黄色い花を摘んでいる。そのしょうねんはきいろいはなをつんでいる。The boy is picking yellow flowers.一輪の花いちりんのはなsingle flower摘みたての花つみたてのはなfresh flower咲いた花さいたはなflower in bloom Own a blog or website? Share free language content with your readers with the Japanese Word [...]

Learning Japanese- TOP TIPS　「日本語を勉強するアドバイス」
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Learn a little Japanese everyday with the free Japanese Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary! ドキュメンタリー (ドキュメンタリー) documentary (noun) 男性はドキュメンタリーを撮影している。だんせいはドキュメンタリーをさつえいしている。The man is shooting a documentary.ドキュメンタリー映画ドキュメンタリーえいがdocumentary film Own a blog or website? Share free language content with your readers with the Japanese Word of the Day with Audio Widget. Click here for instructions on [...]

Learn a little Japanese everyday with the free Japanese Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary! 脚 (あし) leg 雨が降ると、足が痛みます。あめがふると、あしがいたみます。I have pain in my legs when it rains.折れた足おれたあしbroken leg Own a blog or website? Share free language content with your readers with the Japanese Word of the Day with Audio Widget. Click here for [...]

Learn basic Japanese #4 - 1 Sentence in 1 minute - 日本語の勉強はどうですか？
Today's sentence: 日本語の勉強はどうですか？ Let's study Japanese one sentence at the time. By breaking down the Japanese language into manageable sentence we can learn h... From: F Varisco Views: 8 0 ratings Time: 03:49 More in Education

0078　Apprenons le japonais dans la rue
0078 - Apprenons le japonais dans la rue - 寺 - - 0078 - Japanese lesson on the street - 寺 - From: Apprenons japonais dans la rue Views: 1 1 ratings Time: 01:30 More in Education

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Learn Japanese through Anime 8 Part 2 - 夏目友人帳 - Learn Japanese words, and Kanji the easier way through anime. A short video with a couple of Japanese sentences and kanji meanings.... From: F Varisco Views: 0 0 ratings Time: 04:30 More in Education

I usually know a good location when I see one. The Red Villa, as the nickname goes, looked like a place with a story. Mentioned on very few websites, save for one or two about modern history and architecture, this western-style family home oozed exploration appeal. Surrounded by a thick, Japanese bamboo grove and well [...]

立

Grade Level: 1
JLPT Level: 4

Frequency: 58

Bushu (Radical) Info:
立 (たつ)
stand

Henshall Mnemonic:
person standing
Stroke Order Diagram (SOD): 5 Strokes



Click the image above to re-display this Kanji On-Yomi Reading(s):
リツ
リュウ
リットル
Kun-Yomi Reading(s):
た.つ
-た.つ
た.ち-
た.てる
-た.てる
た.て-
たて-
-た.て
-だ.て
-だ.てる
たち
たっ
たつ
だて
つい
English Meaning(s):
stand up

Popular words and/or phrases using this kanji:
Click any individual kanji to view it in a new window. Click the [K] after each definition to look up that character at WWWJDIC; Click the [D] to look up that word in WWWJDIC (the definition is the same but other features exist, like sample usage, variations of the word, etc.)
王立   [おうりつ]
(n) royal [K] [D] 確立   [かくりつ]
(n,vs) establishment [K] [D] 顔立ち   [かおだち]
(n) looks; features [K] [D] 起立   [きりつ]
(n,vs) standing up [K] [D] 逆立ち   [さかだち]
(n) handstand; headstand [K] [D] 共立   [きょうりつ]
(n) joint; common [K] [D] 区立   [くりつ]
(adj-no,n) established by the ward [K] [D] 建立   [こんりゅう]
(n,vs) (act of) building (temple, monument, etc.); erection [K] [D] 献立   [こんだて]
(n) menu; program; schedule [K] [D] 県立   [けんりつ]
(n) prefectural (institution) [K] [D] 孤立   [こりつ]
(n) isolation; helplessness [K] [D] 公立   [こうりつ]
(n) public (institution) [K] [D] 国立   [こくりつ]
(n) national [K] [D] 国立劇場   [こくりつげきじょう]
National Theater [K] [D] 国立博物館   [こくりつはくぶつかん]
national museum [K] [D] 際立つ   [きわだつ]
(v5t) to be prominent; to be conspicuous [K] [D] 仕立て   [したて]
(n) tailoring; dressmaking; sewing; making; preparation [K] [D] 仕立てる   [したてる]
(v1) to tailor; to make; to prepare; to train; to send (a messenger) [K] [D] 市立   [しりつ]
(n) municipal [K] [D] 私立   [しりつ]
(n) private (establishment) [K] [D] 自立   [じりつ]
(n,vs) independence; self-reliance [K] [D] 取り立て   [とりたて]
(n) collection (of a debt); patronage [K] [D] 手立て   [てだて]
(n) means; method [K] [D] 樹立   [じゅりつ]
(n) establish; create [K] [D] 申し立て   [もうしたて]
(n) allegation [K] [D] 成り立つ   [なりたつ]
(v5t) (1) to consist of; (2) to be practical (logical, feasible, viable); to be concluded; to hold true [K] [D] 成立   [せいりつ]
(n,vs) coming into existence; arrangements; establishment; completion [K] [D] 生い立ち   [おいたち]
(n) upbringing; personal history [K] [D] 積み立て   [つみたて]
(n) savings [K] [D] 積立金   [つみたてきん]
(n) deposit [K] [D] 設立   [せつりつ]
(n) establishment; foundation; institution [K] [D] 組み立て   [くみたて]
(n) construction; framework; erection; assembly; organization [K] [D] 組み立てる   [くみたてる]
(v1) to assemble; to set up; to construct [K] [D] 創立   [そうりつ]
(n) establishment; founding; organization [K] [D] 巣立ち   [すだち]
(n) leaving the nest; becoming independent [K] [D] 存立   [そんりつ]
(n) existence; subsistence [K] [D] 対立   [たいりつ]
(n,vs) confrontation; opposition; antagonism [K] [D] 中立   [ちゅうりつ]
(n) neutrality [K] [D] 都立   [とりつ]
(n) metro; municipal [K] [D] 独立   [どくりつ]
(adj-na,n) independence (e.g. Ind. Day); self-support [K] [D] 独立国   [どくりつこく]
(n) independent state or nation [K] [D] 二本立て   [にほんだて]
(n) double feature (movie) [K] [D] 日立   [ひたち]
Hitachi (company) [K] [D] 表立って   [おもてだって]
publicly; openly; ostensibly; formally [K] [D] 表立つ   [おもてだつ]
(v5t) to become public; to be known [K] [D] 不成立   [ふせいりつ]
(n) failure; rejection; rupture [K] [D] 府立   [ふりつ]
(n) managed by an urban prefecture [K] [D] 分立   [ぶんりつ]
(n) segregation; separation; independence [K] [D] 並立   [へいりつ]
(n) standing abreast [K] [D] 棒立ち   [ぼうだち]
(n) standing upright; standing bolt upright; rearing [K] [D] 埋め立て   [うめたて]
(n) filling up; reclamation [K] [D] 埋め立て地   [うめたてち]
(n) reclaimed land [K] [D] 目立つ   [めだつ]
(v5t) to be conspicuous; to stand out [K] [D] 役に立たない   [やくにたたない]
(exp) be of no avail; be useless [K] [D] 役に立つ   [やくにたつ]
(v5t) to be helpful; to be useful [K] [D] 役立つ   [やくだつ]
(v5t) to be useful; to be helpful; to serve the purpose [K] [D] 夕立   [ゆうだち]
(n) (sudden) evening shower (rain) [K] [D] 擁立   [ようりつ]
(n,vs) back; support [K] [D] 乱立   [らんりつ]
(n) flood (of candidates) [K] [D] 立ち   [たち]
(n) stand [K] [D] 立ちなおる   [たちなおる]
(v5r) to regain one\'s footing; to recover; (of the market) to improve [K] [D] 立ち往生   [たちおうじょう]
(n,vs) bring to a standstill [K] [D] 立ち会い   [たちあい]
(n) presence; session [K] [D] 立ち寄る   [たちよる]
(v5r) to stop by; to drop in for a short visit [K] [D] 立ち去る   [たちさる]
(v5r) to leave; to depart; to take one\'s leave [K] [D] 立ち合い   [たちあい]
(n) initial charge in sumo [K] [D] 立ち止まる   [たちどまる]
(v5r) to stop; to halt; to stand still [K] [D] 立ち消え   [たちぎえ]
(n) die out; fall through [K] [D] 立ち上がり   [たちあがり]
(n) (1) start; (2) how well a pitcher pitches at the start of the game (baseball) [K] [D] 立ち上がる   [たちあがる]
(v5r) to stand up [K] [D] 立ち退き   [たちのき]
(n) eviction [K] [D] 立ち退く   [たちのく]
(v5k) to evacuate; to clear out; to vacate; to withdraw; to take refuge [K] [D] 立ち直り   [たちなおり]
(n) recovery; restoration [K] [D] 立ち直る   [たちなおる]
(v5r) to regain one\'s footing; to recover; (of the market) to improve [K] [D] 立ち読み   [たちよみ]
(n) reading while standing (in a bookstore) [K] [D] 立ち入り   [たちいり]
(n) entering [K] [D] 立ち入り禁止   [たちいりきんし]
(exp,n) no entry; Keep Off!; No Trespassing [K] [D] 立ち入禁止   [たちいりきんし]
(exp,n) no entry; Keep Off!; No Trespassing [K] [D] 立ち話   [たちばなし]
(n) standing around talking [K] [D] 立つ   [たつ]
(v5t) to stand [K] [D] 立てる   [たてる]
(v1) to stand (something) up; to erect (something) [K] [D] 立て込む   [たてこむ]
(v5m) to be crowded; to be busy [K] [D] 立て札   [たてふだ]
(n) notice; bulletin board [K] [D] 立て続け   [たてつづけ]
(n) succession [K] [D] 立て替える   [たてかえる]
(v1) to pay in advance; to pay for another; to pay someone else\'s debt as a loan to him [K] [D] 立て直す   [たてなおす]
(v5s) to rally; to make over; to rearrange; to reorganize [K] [D] 立案   [りつあん]
(n) draft; (rough) design [K] [D] 立脚   [りっきゃく]
(n,vs) being based on [K] [D] 立憲   [りっけん]
(n) constitutionalism [K] [D] 立候補   [りっこうほ]
(n,vs) announcing candidacy [K] [D] 立国   [りっこく]
(n) founding of a nation [K] [D] 立札   [たてふだ]
(n) notice; bulletin board [K] [D] 立春   [りっしゅん]
(n) first day of spring [K] [D] 立証   [りっしょう]
(n,vs) establishing proof; demonstration; substantiation [K] [D] 立場   [たちば]
(n) standpoint; position; situation [K] [D] 立体   [りったい]
(n) solid body [K] [D] 立体的   [りったいてき]
(adj-na) three-dimensional [K] [D] 立地   [りっち]
(n) location [K] [D] 立入り禁止   [たちいりきんし]
(exp,n) no entry; Keep Off!; No Trespassing [K] [D] 立入禁止   [たちいりきんし]
(exp,n) no entry; Keep Off!; No Trespassing [K] [D] 立派   [りっぱ]
(adj-na,n) splendid; fine; handsome; elegant; imposing; prominent; legal; legitimate [K] [D] 立腹   [りっぷく]
(n,vs) anger; offence; rage; taking offense [K] [D] 立方メートル   [りっぽうメートル]
cubic meter [K] [D] 立法   [りっぽう]
(n) legislation; lawmaking [K] [D] 立法府   [りっぽうふ]
(n) assize [K] [D] 旅立つ   [たびだつ]
(v5t) to begin a trip [K] [D] 両立   [りょうりつ]
(n) compatibility; coexistence; standing together [K] [D] 林立   [りんりつ]
(n,vs) stand close together [K] [D] 連立   [れんりつ]
(n) alliance; coalition [K] [D] The sofware code used to make this page uses the EDICT and KANJIDIC files. These files are the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group at Monash University, and are used in conformance with the Group\'s licence.

The SOD image used on this page is from the New Japanese-English Character Dictionary and the Kodansha Kanji Learners Dictionary (see http://www.kanji.org), and is used with the kind permission of Mr. Jack Halpern. This image must not be copied or used elsewhere without Mr Halpern\'s permission. Use of this image without permission is a violation of copyright laws.

The Henshall Mnemonics are the copyright of Tuttle Publishing and are the result of the hard work by Professor Henshall. See the list I used here.

If you are curious about the lexicography shown in the word definitions, visit http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/edict_doc.html#IREF05

礎

Grade Level: 8
JLPT Level: 1

Frequency: 1224

Bushu (Radical) Info:
石 (いし)
stone

Stroke Order Diagram (SOD): 18 Strokes



Click the image above to re-display this Kanji On-Yomi Reading(s):
ソ
Kun-Yomi Reading(s):
いしずえ
もと
English Meaning(s):
cornerstone
foundation stone

Popular words and/or phrases using this kanji:
Click any individual kanji to view it in a new window. Click the [K] after each definition to look up that character at WWWJDIC; Click the [D] to look up that word in WWWJDIC (the definition is the same but other features exist, like sample usage, variations of the word, etc.)
基礎   [きそ]
(n) foundation; basis [K] [D] 礎   [いしずえ]
(n) foundation stone; cornerstone [K] [D] 礎石   [そせき]
(n) foundation stone; cornerstone [K] [D] The sofware code used to make this page uses the EDICT and KANJIDIC files. These files are the property of the Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group at Monash University, and are used in conformance with the Group\'s licence.

The SOD image used on this page is from the New Japanese-English Character Dictionary and the Kodansha Kanji Learners Dictionary (see http://www.kanji.org), and is used with the kind permission of Mr. Jack Halpern. This image must not be copied or used elsewhere without Mr Halpern\'s permission. Use of this image without permission is a violation of copyright laws.

The Henshall Mnemonics are the copyright of Tuttle Publishing and are the result of the hard work by Professor Henshall. See the list I used here.

If you are curious about the lexicography shown in the word definitions, visit http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/edict_doc.html#IREF05

I was messaging with a buddy from my JET days yesterday who was proud to have just finished slogging through the English translation of 1Q84. He lives over on the West Coast and teaches Japanese (or at least he did…and … Continue reading →

Changes on the horizon for the YouTube channel, and for us in general.

Back to Japan, back to work, and back to the kind of focus on building something that I haven't had the need for in about a year.

So in that spirit, I'm stubbornly persisting in my "America's Best Japanese Teacher" series, in the hopes that one day it'll pay off. I upped the editing ante for the bulk of this one. Trying to get a handle on Final Cut Pro. Advice always appreciated.





Here's what's up with teh jokes this time around:

It's a Q and A session (Get it? Cause "nine" is "kyuu" and "rays" are "eis?" GET IT?????)

and the questions are all invented. The first one asks why Japanese people use the expression "18-ban" to talk about either something they've cooked, or a song that they sing. It actually means that the dish or the song is their specialty, and there's a really interesting origin for this that we posted about a long long time ago. Check the excerpt, and if you want to, the full original post.

The predominant theory is that this expression comes from kabuki theater, way back in the day (early 1800s) when kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjuro VII selected the 18 kabuki plays that he believed to be the best representations of the aragoto style of kabuki. The kabuki plays that are still performed today are taken from these 18. It took me a while to figure out why, of the 18, the 18th was considered the best. But then I realized that the phrase doesn't have to translate as "the eighteenth." It might just be "the eighteen." So when you say your 十八番、 you're not neccesarily identifying the 18th in a series, you're just referencing the idea of the best selection.
In the video, I'm being an idiot and taking it upon myself to decide that this means they're ranking themselves out of 100, and Japanese people, being big into humility ("Allow me to introduce my homely wife and my dumb-ass son.") would never dare to rank themselves any higher than 18.

The biggest joke here is suggesting that you respond to this by saying "It's not actually bad," which would be okay to say if someone WAS really being humble. If you said that to someone who was offering you their "specialty," on the other hand, they would probably NOT きっと喜ぶ*.


In Question #2, I'm asked to explain the word "幼なじみ" (osananajimi) in relation to a picture of two older gentlemen. The word means "a long time friend." Someone you were close with since you were 幼い (osanai)、which means "very young." However, since both gentleman in this picture could be identified, unflatteringly, as "おっさん" (ossan; rude for "old man"), Bobby-Sensei explains that the asker is mistaken the word is actually "おっさんの馴染み," (ossan no najimi) closeness between old men.


And finally a question perfectly matched to this brand of Japanese teaching: It asks about how "Japanese people often use the expression "その場だけの関係 (sono ba dake no kankei)." This refers to a romantic/sexual relationship that is limited to a certain place or time. Like... summer camp. You met someone, you had a thing, but it was never going to be anything outside of the environment it was born in. But since the Japanese expression relies on geography "only at that place," the questioner has assumed that there is actually a place he can go to for such a relationship.

And instead of explaining his mistake, Bobby-Sensei tells him plainly: That place is Roppongi. Off you go."

The end.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas on places I could take this series, and what, if anything, you get from it. How do you think Japanese people will take it? Would it be insulting, or funny, or not even enough of a joke?

*definitely be pleased.

For Golden Week, I took a trip to Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, & Kyoto w/ a friend visiting from the United States. While we were in Takayama, Laura & I stopped in a nice restaurant recommended by one of the locals. At one point, my friend wanted a taste of my apple cider drink. It was kind of frothy, so I stirred it a bit, and then took the long spoon out of the drink so it wouldn't poke her in the eye.

Apparently, I didn't stir it enough because she proceeded to use the opposite end of her used chopstick to stir the drink, rather than ask me for the long spoon. My first reaction was to shout something like ***GAAAAAH***, then I sputtered something like "what are you doing?!? the spoon is right here! don't use your chopsticks for something like that...they're practically sacred!!" She didn't seem particularly fazed by it, and made it seem like I overreacted.

Well, maybe I did overreact, but it was a good exuse for me to do a little research into the terms used to describe the ways one can violate chopstick etiquette in Japan. If you ever commit a violation, it's good to know a few of these to have a conversation about chopstick-etiquette; my Japanese co-workers seemed to like trying to remember as many as they could.

Here are the ones I could find. I put a star next to the ones that seem to be the most common or at least widely recognized terms. (It seems that no one had even contemplated my friend's particular violation, so maybe I should invent a new one: 混ぜ箸 maze-bashi ("stirring chopsticks"). Otherwise, it's probably a combination of (3), (5) and (13).)

*(1) 迷い箸（惑い端） mayoi-bashi ("wavering chopsticks")
口に運ぶ料理に迷い、箸先を料理に向けて迷い動かすこと。
being indecisive about bringing food to one's mouth, that is, moving the tips of one's chopsticks over different plates before deciding which to choose

(2) 移り箸 utsuri-bashi ("transfering-chopsticks")
ある料理に箸を付けたり、付けようとしたにもかかわらず、気が変わり他の料理へ箸を移すこと。
in spite of having touched food with one's chopsticks, changing one's mind and moving the chopsticks toward another dish.
also defined as: helping oneself to two side dishes successively (instead of eating rice in between)

(3) 涙箸 namida-bashi ("teardrop-chopsticks")
汁物料理の汁を箸先から落としながら食べること。
dripping liquid (soup, sauce, etc.) from the tips of one's chopsticks

*(4) 突き箸 tsuki-bashi or 刺し箸 sashi-bashi ("penetration/stabbing-chopsticks")
料理に箸を突き刺して食べること。
stabbing food with one's chopsticks

*(5) 探り箸 saguri-bashi ("searching-chopsticks")
汁物料理の御椀の中で箸を使い、かき回して具を探すこと。
using one's chopsticks to find a food one likes by rummaging in one's dish, pot, etc.

(6) 寄せ箸 yose-bashi ("drawing near-chopsticks")
遠くの食器を取る際に箸を使い手元に引き寄せること。
using one's chopsticks to draw a bowl closer

(7) 空箸 sora-bashi ("empty-chopsticks")
一度、箸を付けた料理を食べずに戻すこと。
touching food with one's chopsticks, then removing the chopsticks without having taken the food

(8) 重ね箸 kasane-bashi ("pile-chopsticks")
同じ料理ばかりを食べ続けること。
continuing to eat the same dish, i.e., not alternating between types of dishes

(9) 椀ぎ箸 mogi-bashi ("tearing off-chopsticks")
箸先についた料理を口でもぎ取ること。
using chopsticks to tear food away from one's mouth

(10) 持ち箸 mochi-bashi ("holding-chopsticks")
片手で箸を持ちながら器を持つこと。
taking hold of something (e.g., a bowl) while simultaneously holding one's chopsticks

*(11) 指し箸 sashi-bashi ("pointing-chopsticks")
箸で人や物を指すこと。
pointing at something with one's chopsticks

*(12) 渡し箸 watashi-bashi ("traversing-chopsticks")
箸休めの際、箸置きを使わずに食器の上に箸を置くこと。
resting one's chopsticks across the top of one's bowl, like a bridge

(13) 洗い箸 arai-bashi ("washing-chopsticks")
汁物料理に箸を入れ、洗うこと。
sticking one's chopsticks into broth, etc., to clean them off

*(14) 舐り箸 neburi-bashi ("licking-chopsticks")
箸をなめること。
licking one's chopsticks

(15) 噛み箸 kami-bashi ("biting-chopsticks")
箸を噛むこと
biting one's chopsticks

(16) 掻き箸 kaki-bashi ("scooping-chopsticks")
料理を口に掻き込むこと。
shoveling food into one's mouth
(17) 握り箸 nigiri-bashi ("grasping-chopsticks")holding two sticks together as one would grasp a knife to attack *(18) 仏箸Hotoke-bashi ("Buddha-chopsticks")
standing chopsticks up in a ricebowl (resembling joss sticks) *(19) 箸渡しhashi-watashi ("chopstick-transfer")transfering food to another person's chopsticks (apparently, the action is frowned upon because it resembles the rite of transfering a deceased family member's bones. Fair enough!)>>NB: Not to be confused with 橋渡し 【はしわたし】 (n,vs) bridge building; mediation; intermediary; through the good offices of, etc. Phew! That's a lot to remember! Did I miss any?

I was at a kaiten-sushi the other day and a friend visiting from NY asked what the "kappa" was in "kappa-maki" so I told her that the river imp in Japanese folklore, the kappa, likes to eat cucumber, which is the main ingredient in a kappa-maki.

However, I couldn't answer her question about the tekka-maki. I looked up tekka and the dictionary only had "red hot iron" so the etymology wasn't clear to me. I looked it up on wikipedia and here is the entry:

"Tekkamaki (鉄火巻き) is a kind of Hosomaki filled with raw tuna. Although some believe that the name "Tekka", meaning 'red hot iron', alludes to the color of the tuna flesh, it actually originated as a quick snack to eat in gambling dens called "Tekkaba (鉄火場)", much like the sandwich."

Interesting!