Tag - language

 
 

LANGUAGE

Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 8, 2017
Webster's throws shade on no one as it goes on word binge, even revives 'snollygoster'
The next time someone throws shade at you for ghosting them so you can binge-watch a TV show or retreat to your safe space, you can let them know your behavior has been recognized by the leading U.S. dictionary publisher.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 6, 2017
Some fiendishly complex archaic kanji just won't die
Even in the 21st century, a whole bunch of difficult, nonstandard and archaic kanji don't appear to be in any danger of being phased out.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 6, 2017
Do the whole shebang and take it to the limit with 'kiru'
Introducing the verb u5207(u304d)u308b and its related expressions.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 6, 2017
Eight men hold half of the world's wealth, Oxfam study says
Just eight superrich men own as much wealth as the 3.6 billion people who make up the poorest half of the world's population, according to an analysis by Oxfam.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Feb 6, 2017
Let's discuss Kisenosato, Japan's new yokozuna
Kisenosato is the only Japanese-born wrestler of the four current yokozuna — a designation that will carry enormous expectations.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 30, 2017
A woman's lowly place in Japan, mirrored in its language
Given that so many demeaning and negative words related to women endure, is it any surprise that sexism is still rife in Japan?
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 30, 2017
Showing things are tough or a breeze using 'nikui,' katai' and 'yasui'
Introducing two kinds of compound adjective, Xu3084u3059u3044 (easy to X) and Xu306bu304fu3044 (difficult to X).
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 30, 2017
Groups call for redefinition of elderly
Japanese aged between 65 and 74 should no longer be classified as elderly because they are physically and mentally much younger than their predecessors were decades ago, according to a proposal.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jan 30, 2017
Let's discuss the recent heavy snow
A wide swath of the Sea of Japan coast was hit by heavy snow recently as a strong wintry air mass gripped much of the Japanese archipelago.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 23, 2017
Better to be read than end up misled about the uses of 'mashi'
Introduce the na-adjective u307eu3057u306a — meaning better — and its related expressions.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 23, 2017
Aoyama Gakuin rules the Hakone ekiden again
Aoyama Gakuin University won the Tokyo-Hakone collegiate ekiden road relay for the third straight year on Jan. 3 after completing the two-day race with a lead of more than seven minutes.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 23, 2017
New Year's festivities in Japan ain't what they used to be
For one thing, it's too warm. Back in mid-century Tokyo, お正月 (o-Shōgatsu, New Year's Day) used to be so cold, according to my grandmother, that peoples' laundry froze on the 物干し竿 (monohoshizao, bamboo drying pole).
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 16, 2017
Shiritori: a simple game that's great for practicing your Japanese vocab
It's a game that can be played anytime, anywhere. All you need is two players, some rudimentary kana knowledge — and a lot of words.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 16, 2017
Do not disturb: Mind your 'jamas' and 'shitsureis' as you come and go in Japan
Introducing two expressions used in formal comings and goings: u304au3058u3083u307eu3057u307eu3059 and u5931u793c(u3057u3064u308cu3044)u3057u307eu3059.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 16, 2017
'Your Name.' becomes China's No. 1 Japanese film
The Japanese anime film “Your Name.” is now the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time in China.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jan 16, 2017
Let's discuss 119 emergency calls
Some callers just want a ride. Others are lonely and simply want to chat. The problem? They've called 119.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 9, 2017
Play down the hype with a so-so phrase
Un ... māmā-kana. (Hmm. It was ... so-so.)
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 9, 2017
Amazon testing cashier-free retail store
Amazon on Dec. 5 unveiled a new kind of retail store, with no cashiers. In the concept store in Seattle, customers start by scanning an app on their smartphones when entering the store, and then they can fill their shopping carts and walk out —- with the costs tallied up and billed on their accounts with the U.S. online giant.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jan 9, 2017
Let's discuss the disappearance of traditional festivals
Sixty traditional festivals and dances in 20 prefectures designated by local governments as intangible folk culture assets have been ended or suspended due to declines in population and the aging of rural communities, a survey has found.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan