Bonjour, everyone!!

Yep! I’m a French Bulldog so I am Francophille! J’adore France!

Today’s first word is 　「〜かぶれ」 (=~kabure)

The verb form is かぶれる/気触れる (=kabureru)

The original meaning of かぶれ(=kabure) is a rash or inflammation from something.

Like if you are walking around the bushes and get a rash from certain plants or when you use some cosmetic products and your skin gets itchy, you say,

〜にかぶれた。(=~ni kabureta.) to react to something, get a rash or inflammation from something.

The other meaning of かぶれ(=kabure) or かぶれる(=kabureru) is to get overly influenced / infected by something or to be big on something. (Usually some culture but  we can also use it  to describe a person who is a huge fan of somebody.    Ex.  龍馬かぶれ(=Ryoma Kabure) a person who is addicted to Ryoma ←From the latest Softbank, cell phone company,  TV commercial)

フランスかぶれ(=Furansu kabure) is a person who is overly influenced by French culture or addicted to France. Imagine someone who has just visited France and she always talks about France or tries to adopt everything from French culture.It is often used with country names which you long for.

Country name + かぶれ(=kabure)

:rrrr: Ex. 英国かぶれ(eikoku kabure) →UK /アメリカかぶれ(Kabure) →The. U.S. or 西洋かぶれ(seiyou kabure) →Western countries

The verb form is フランスにかぶれる(=Furanse ni kabureru.) The adjective form is ~かぶれの(=~kabureno)／~にかぶれている (=ni kaburete iru)

Ex. 「さっき、マギー先生が脇にフランスパンを抱えて歩いていたよ。」

(=Sakki Maggie sensei ga waki ni furanse pan wo kakaete aruite itayo.)

I just saw Maggie-sensei walking with a baguette under her arm!

「ああ、マギー先生はフランスかぶれだからね。」

(=Aa Maggie sensei wa furansu kabure dakara ne.)

Yeah, she is crazy about France.

Ex. 「お姉さん、先月アメリカから帰って来たの？」

(=Oneesan sengetsu amerika kara kaette kitano?)

“Did your sister just came back from the U.S. last month?”

「うん、すっかりアメリカにかぶれて帰って来たよ。 今日も朝からずっと英語一人で話してるし..」 (=Un sukkari amerika ni kaburete kaette kitayo. Kyoumo asa kara zutto eigo hitori de hanashiterushi…) “Right, she is totally influenced by the U.S.. She has been speaking English alone since this morning.”

Do you want to learn more?

:u: Related words:

1) 影響を受ける(=eikyou wo ukeru)〜の影響を受ける(=~no eikyou wo ukeru) to get influenced by ~

or 影響される(=eikyou sareru) to be influenced by

Ex. モネは浮世絵の影響を強く受けたと言われる。(Mone wa ukiyoe no eikyou wo tsuyoku uketa to iwareru.)

It is said that Monet was strongly influence by Ukiyo-e.

2) 感化される(=kanka sareru) 〜に感化される(=~no kanka wo ukeru) to get influenced by ~

Ex. 私はマギー先生に感化されて日本語の勉強を始めた。

(=Watashi wa Maggie sensei ni kanka sarete nihongo no benkyou wo hajimeta.)

Influenced by Maggi-sensei, I have started to study Japanese.

3) 染まる(=somaru) 〜に染まる(=~ni somaru)　be tainted with／to get influenced by ~／to be infected by

Ex. 彼女はすっかりアメリカに染まって帰ってきた。(=Kanojo wa sukkari america ni somatte kaette kita.)

She came back completely Americanized.

4) 〜びいきの(=biiki)

Ex. 日本びいき（の） (=nihon biiki) Japanism

Ex. イギリスびいき（の） (=igirisu biiki) Anglicism

5) 〜気違い(きちがい）(=kichigai)

Ex. 彼はフランス気違いだ。(=Kare wa furansu kichigai da) He is crazy about France. (too much)

6) かぶれる(=kabureru) 〜にかぶれる(=~ni kabureru) to get overly influenced by ~ (too much)

<S L A N G !!! >

OK, let’s move on to the next verb which is かぶる(=kaburu). It is a relatively new verb which came from mah-jong terms.

Usually かぶる/被る(=kaburu) means

to wear (a hat, mask)

*帽子をかぶる／被る(=boushi wo kaburu)、to wear (a hat, mask)

*お面をかぶる／被る(=omen wo kaburu)

or to suffer

*損害を被る(=songai wo koumuru* different way of reading) to suffer a loss, etc.

But today I will introduce you another meaning of かぶる(=kaburu).

Can you guess the meaning from the below pictures?

:u:

Cookie : 「ゲっ！マギーとかぶっちゃった！」(=Ge! Maggie to kabucchatta)　“Oh no, I am wearing the same thing as Maggie!”

Maggie :「完全にかぶってる！クッキーそれ取りなさいよ！」(Kanzen ni kabutteru! Cookie sore torinasai yo!)

“We are wearing completely the same thing. Cookie! Take that thing off!”

:mm: 「かぶる」(=kaburu) means to overlap, to have someting exactly the same or very similar.

Have you ever had an experience that you find somebody wearing exactly the same clothes as yours in a party? Very awkward, right?

You can use 「かぶる」(=kaburu) for that kind of situation!

(somebody) と(something) がかぶる (somebody to something ga kaburu) To happen to wear / have the same thing as somebody.

:rrrr: 彼女とドレスがかぶる (Kanojo to doresu ga kaburu) or かぶっている(kabutteiru).

I am wearing the same dress as hers. (She is wearing the same thing as mine.→We are wearing the same dress! )

Other examples:

Ex.「どうしてこのバッグ買わないの？」(=Doushite kono baggu kawanaino?) “How come you don’t buy this bag?”

「あの子とかぶっちゃうから… 」(=Anoko to kabucchau kara.) “‘Cause she already has the same one!(I don’t want to have the same thing.)”

It doesn’t have to be things. For example, when comedians happen to prepare the same kind of gags,

:rrrr: ネタがかぶる(=neta ga kaburu)

If there are the same kind of characters in a group, we say:

:rrrr: キャラがかぶる(=kyara ga kaburu)

Ex. 「アダム•サンドラーとベン•スティラーって何か、キャラがかぶるよね。」

(=Adam Sandler to Ben Stiller tte nanka kyara ga kaburu yone.)

“Somehow Sandler and Ben Stiller represent the same kind of characters.”

マギー先生より (=Maggie sensei yori) From Maggie-sensei

私の ル•プティ•デジュネ、いえ、朝ご飯まだかしら？(=Watashi no ru puchi dejune, ie asagohan mada kashira?) “ Is my le peptit dejeuner I mean breakfast ready yet?”

クロワッサンとカフェオレにしてね。(=Kurowassan to kafe ore ni shitene.) Please serve me “un croissant et cafe au lait!”

「マギー先生、今日のレッスン、やばかったっす！」
Miss Maggie! Your lesson today was totally awesome!”

:maggie-small: 「なれなれしいなあ…」
” He is way too casual with me!”

Today’s slang is 「タメ口」(=tameguchi), a casual talk, to talk like equal friends.

*タメ口を効く (=tameguchi wo kiku)

Ex. 彼は先生にタメ口を効いていた。(=Kare wa sensei ni tameguchi wo kiite ita.)

He was talking to his teacher too casually.

*タメ口で話す (=tameguchi de hanasu)

*タメ口を使って話す (=tameguchi wo tsukatte hanasu.)

Ex *タメ口でいいよ 。(=tameguchi de iiyo.) You can talk to me (more) casually.

They all mean to talk to someone very casually like a close friend.

タメ (=tame) means “equal”.

(Note : It is originally from a dialect and it means 同級生 (=doukyuusei) peers, classmates, the same year students.

:i: Japanese school has 先輩 (=senpai) senior students 後輩(=kouhai) junior students relationship and you are supposed to use 敬語（=keigo) honorific language towards 先輩(=senpai) senior, older students .

タメ口(=tameguchi) is なれなれしい言葉使い (=narenareshii kotoba zukai) too familiar way of talking

:rrrr: なれなれしい・馴れ馴れしい（=narenareshii)＝too familiar, too friendly, too casual

CF. 遠慮がない(=enryo ga nai hito) no reservation (→See 遠慮(enryo) lesson!)

For example, if you have just met a person and he talks to you as if he were your old friend, you might naturally feel a little uncomfortable.

Ex. 彼は初対面なのになれなれしい。(=Kare wa shotaimen nanoni narenareshii)　

I just met him for the first time but he behaves or talks to me like we were buddies.

Or when someone talks to you in a way that you find to be too friendly or touches you too much as if you were very close, you can tell that person,

Ex. なれなれしくしないで！(=Narenare shiku shinai de!)

“Don’t get fresh with me!”

:i: So what kind of talk is タメ口 (=tameguchi)?

See the picture above!

「マギー先生、今日のレッスン、やばかったっす！」

Miss Maggie! Your lesson today was totally awesome!”

:rrrr: やばい、ヤバい (=yabai) or ヤバ! (=yaba!) is a very casual expression.

It is originally a very vulgar term meaning risky or dangerous.

If , for example, a criminal sees a police coming, he might say,

Ex.「ヤバい！サツだ！」(=Yabai! Satsu ga kita!) “Oh shit! The cops!)

Note ：サツ (=satsu) is a derogatory term for 警察(=Keisatsu) police.

Ex. 「あいつヤバいからあまり近付かない方がいいよ。」(=Aitsu yabai kara amari chikazukanai hou ga iiyo.) He is very dangerous so you’d better stay away from him.

But lately it is used in more casual way like ”Oops!”

Ex.「やっば〜！宿題忘れちゃった！」(=Yabbaaaa… Shukudai wasurechatta!)

“Oh damn! I forgot my homework!”

Also, we used it when something is GREAT or DELICIOUS!

Ex.「これやばいよ！」(=Kore yabaiyo!)

The literal meaning is, “This is dangerous!”

:u: “This is REALLY yummy!” /”This is awesome!” /”This is remarkable!”

You might think it’s confusing because we use this word as “dangerous” and “great”. You just need to figure it out by its context. You may notice that yabai and maji are overly used among young people or TV personalities nowadays…

Variation : This is really casual but you can also hear or see in “Japanese anime“「やべっ！」(= Yabe!) 「やべ〜!」 (Yabee) ”Oops!”"Oh-No…”

One more point from the phrase.

:rrrr: 「今日のレッスン、やばかったっす！」(=kyou no ressun yabakattassu!) “The lesson today was totally awesome!”

You see the odd ending 「っす」?

The original sentence should be:

「今日のレッスン、とても面白かった/素晴らしかったです。」(=kyou no ressun totemo omoshirokatta／subarashikatta desu)

:maggie-small: <Note>

There is a tendency to finish the sentence with 「〜っす。」(=ssu) instead of 「〜です。」(=desu) especially among young boys. They try to speak politely by using this 「〜っす。」(=ssu) ending.

Ex. 「これは君がやったの？」(=Kore wa kimi ga yattano?) “Did you do this?”

:rrrr: 「そうっす！」(=Soussu!) “That’s right!” 　　(←「そうです。」(=Soudesu))

:rrrr: 「そうじゃないっす！」(=Soujanaissu!) “That’s not right!”

(←「そうじゃないです。」(=Soujanaidesu))

Ex.「奥さんの料理やばいっすねえ。」(=Okusan no ryouri yabaissu nee.) ”Your wife’s cooking is incredible!”

(←「奥様のお料理美味しいですねえ。」(=Okusama no oryouri oishii desu nee)　more polite

:i: As other slangy expressions, be careful when to use this, OK?

マギー先生より(=Maggie-sensei yori) From Maggie-sensei

このブログに来てくれる人は皆、私にタメ口で話してもらっていいですからね。

(=Kono burogu ni kite kureru h ito wa mina watashi ni tameguchi de hanashite moratte iidesu karane.) All of you who visit this blog can talk to me casually, OK?

今日のレッスン、ちょっとやばかった？(=Kyou no ressun chotto yabakatta?)

Is today’s lesson “awesome”?

:maggie-small: 「どうしてクリスマスに働かなきゃいけないの？」

(=Doushite kurisumasu ni hatarakanakya ikenaino?)

”How come I have to work at Christmas?”

Today’s verb is ぼやく (=boyaku) to complain like a grouch or in a grouchy way.

These are the synonyms:

•不満を言う(=fuman wo iu.) to complain or to bitch

Ex. 妻は朝から不満ばかり言っている。（=Tsuma wa asa kara fuman bakari itte iru.)

My wife has been complaining since the morning.

•不平を言う(=fuhei wo iu) to complain

•不平不満を言う (=fuhei fuman wo iu) to moan and groan

•文句を言う(=monku wo iu) check 苦情 (kujou) Lesson

•愚痴を言う(=guchi wo iu) to whine

Ex. 母は嫁が手伝わないと愚痴ばかり言っている。（=Haha wa yome ga tetsuzawanai to guchi bakari itte iru.)

My mom is always complaining about her daughter in law for not helping her.

•泣き言を言う(=nakigoto wo iu.) to whine

Ex.もう泣き言は言わずに前に進もう。（=Mou nakigoto wa iwazu ni mae ni susumou.)

I will stop whining and move on! (Imagine you are talking to yourself.)

•ぐずぐず言う(=guzuguzu iu)　to grumble

Ex.ぐずぐず言ってないで何かやり始めたら？（=Guzuguzu itte nai de yarihajimetara?)

“Why don’t you quit complaining and start to do something! “

Also we often use ぶつぶつ or ブツブツ(=butsubutsu)、ぐだぐだ (=gudaguda), etc. to describe complaints.

Ex. ぐだぐだ文句を言う。(=Gudaguda monku wo iu.)

Ex.ぶつぶつ不平を言う。(=Butsubutsu fuhei wo iu.)

:rrrr: ぼやく(=boyaku) means to grumble, to grouch, to bitch or complain. ぼやく(=boyaku) could be “bitching about something even if nobody is listening to you.

:rrrr: 一人でぼやく (=Hitori de boyaku) to grumble about to oneself

Cf. 一人でつぶやく(=Hitori de tsubuyaku) to mutter to oneself

•「彼はいつもぼやいてばかりいる。」 (=Kare wa itsumo boyaite bakari iru.) He is always whining about something.

•「ぼやいていてばかりいても仕方がないから仕事します。」

(=Boyaite bakari ite mo shikata ga nai kara shigoto wo shimasu.)

“Just complaining won’t get me anywhere so I’ll just work!)

It is a negative behavior, but we do it once in a while to vent the frustration.

So we say : :u:

•「ちょっとぼやいていい？」(=Chotto boyaite ii?) “Can I vent a bit?”

•「 ちょっとぼやかせて。」(=Chotto boyakasete!) “Let me whine a bit.”

•「誰にでもぼやきたい時はあるよね。」(=Dare ni demo boyakitai toki wa aru yone.)

“Everybody wants to grouch once in a while.”

•「ぼやいていいよ！」(=Boyaite iiyo) “You can complain (in front of me)!”

The noun form is ぼやき(=boyaki) complaints

Ex.父は最近ぼやきが多い。(=Chichi wa saikin boyaki ga ooi.)

My father complains a lot lately.

Every year, we announce 新語、流行語大賞(=shingo, ryuukougo taishou), award for the new and popular key word of the year.

:rrrr: 流行 (=ryuukou) trend, fad, fashion → 流行る(=hayaru)

Ex. 日本でも袖付き毛布が流行する(流行る）かもしれない。

(=Nihon demo sodetsuki moufu ga ryuukou suru (or hayaru) kamo shirenai.)

The blanket with sleeves might be a big hit in Japan.

大賞(=taishou) grand prize

They are not necessarily new or coined words. Many of them simply reflect what is happening in society.

This year they awarded this word!

:rrrr: 政権交替 (=Seiken koutai), change of political administrations. A slogan of 民主党 (=minshutou) The Democratic Party of Japan and it actually happened this year.

And ぼやき is one of the TOP 10 “New and popular key words” for this year.

Why? 野村克也監督 (Nomura Katsunori Kantoku) , a baseball coach/director of 楽天ゴールデンイーグルス（=Rakuten Golden Eagles) who led the team to their best-ever record of second place in 2009, was always grumbling his team’s record. The media has made fun of his ぼやき(=boyaki) , grumbling.

He also said,

「ぼやきたくないけれど、ぼやきたくなる。」(=Boyaki taku nai keredo, boyaki takunaru.)

“I don’t want to grumble but I can’t help grumbling!”

OK, let me introduce the rest of the top 10 words! How many words do you know?

:u:

*草食男子 (=soushokudanshi)　Please check 草食系男子 lesson！

*事業仕分け(=jigyoushiwake)　(Political) budget screening to eliminate wasteful spending

事業(=jigyou) business, projects　仕分け(=shiwake) sort

*新型インフルエンザ(=shingata infuruenza)　New influenza (Check the related 風邪 lesson)

* 脱官僚 (=datsu kanryou) (Political) debureaucratizing, to wrest control of politics from bureaucrats

脱(=datsu) to leave, to get rid of　　　官僚(=kanryou) government bureaucrat

*派遣切り(=haken giri) firing of the temp (due to the bad economy)

*ファストファッション (=fasuto fasshion) “fast fashion”

It has derived from a word “fast food”. It means trendy but cheap clothing as typified by H&M, Forever 21, Zara, GAP, Uniqlo and etc.

*歴女 (=rekijo) (young) women who are interested in history, especially in 戦国時代 (=sengoku jidai) period of Civil war and some of them are fanatic about 戦国武将（=sengoku bushou) the warlords and participate in certain events in costume.

It’s an abbreviation of 「歴史好きな女性」(=Rekishi zuki na josei) Women who like history.

:maggie-small: From the picture above.

「どうしてクリスマスに働かなきゃいけないの？」

(=Doushite kurisumasu ni hatarakanakya ikenaino?)

”How come I have to work on Christmas?”

•どうして(=doushite) Why

•クリスマスなのに(=kurisumasu nanoni) even at Christmas

なのに (=nanoni) is an emphasizing form of クリスマスに(=kurisumasu ni)

•働かなきゃいけないの？(=Hatarakanakya ikenai no?) Do I have to work?

なきゃ (=nakya) is a casual form of なくては(=nakute wa)

:rrrr: 働かなくてはいけないのですか？(=Hatarakanakute wa ikenai no desuka?) is more formal

Ex. もう行かなきゃ！(=Mou ikanakya) ←もう行かなくては（いけません。）(=Mou ikanakutewa (ikemasen.)) I have to go now.

マギー先生より (Maggie sensei yori) From Maggie-sensei

皆さんはクリスマスはお仕事しますか？平日だから日本では仕事する人が多いです。

(=Minasan wa kurisumasu wa oshigoto shimasu ka? Heijitsu dakara Nihon dewa shigoto suru hito ga ooi desu.)　Do you work on Christmas? It is a weekday so many people work on that day. 　私も早くお休み欲しいよお！！(=Watashi mo hayaku oyasumi hoshi yoo!)

I want my (Christmas) holidays soon!! あら、またぼやいちゃった？(=Ara mata boyaichatta?)

Oh, was I grumbling again?

お風呂(=ofuro) bath

「あ〜さっぱりした！」(=Aa sappari shita!)

“Boy I felt so refreshed!”

「いいお湯だったよ。お先に！」(=Ii oyu datta yo. Osaki ni!)

“It was nice and warm water.(→The bath felt good!) Thank you for letting me go first!”

:maggie-small: From Maggie’s picture above

♦さっぱりした(=sappari shita) Felt very refreshed or clean (past tense)

This is a very common line that Japanese say after they take bath or after they get their hair cut or change out of their dirty clothes into clean clothes.

Also you can say this when you describe refreshing taste. さっぱりした味(=sappari shita aji)

♦ 「いいお湯だった 」(=Ii oyu datta) It was nice warm water!

いい(=ii) ：good

（お）湯(=(o)yu) : hot water

だった(=datta) : was (でした。(=deshita) is more polite.)

♦「お先に！」 (=Osakini! ) Thank you for letting me go first!

You say this to a person who lets you go first or was waiting for you to finish something before them.

「お先に失礼しました！」 (=Osaki ni shitsurei shimashita.) is more polite.

If you want to say “Go ahead!” and let someone go before you:

「お先にどうぞ！」 (=Osaki ni douzo) “Please go ahead!”

Or if you want to use something or leave / go before someone, you say,

「お先に失礼します！」 (=Osaki ni shitsurei shimasu!) “I am sorry to leave early!” “I am sorry to use this before you!”

→We also say this to our coworkers if we leave work before them.

:rrrr: OK, today we will use a TV commercial to learn Japanese.

You will be surprised how much you can learn from such a short TV commercial.

Did you know that lots of Hollywood movie stars routinely appear in Japanese TV commercials.

This is one of my favorites. Tommy Lee Jones is an alien and he was sent to the earth, (in this case Japan), to do some research!

It is part of a long running series of commercials. In every commercial he changes his job (presumably to help him do his research better). In this one he is working at a hot-spring 「温泉 」(=onsen) hotel.

宇宙人ジョーンズ(=Uchuujin jounzu)　Alien Jones

地球調査中(=Chikyuu chousa chuu.) researching the earth

K : 客(=Kyaku) a customer

J : ジョーンズ(=Jounzu) Jones

会話（=kaiwa) Dialogue

J : 「いらっしゃいませ！」(=Irasshaimase!)
“Welcome! ”　”Thank you for coming!”

K : 「….この雪景色が綺麗ですねえ。」(=….Kono yukigeshiki ga kirei desunee.)
This snowscape is so beautiful.

J : 「この惑星の住人は温泉と呼ばれる場所に来ると…」 (=Kono wakusei no juunin wa onsen to yobareru basho ni kuruto..)

When people on this planet come to a place called “onsen (hot-spring)”

K;「つるつるになりますよ、これ！」(=Tsurutsuru ni narimasu yo, kore)
“This hot spring makes my skin silky smooth! “

J :「何故妙にテンションが上がるのだろうか 。 」(=Naze myou ni tenshon ga agaru no darou ka.)
“It’s curious why they get so excited (when they come to hot springs.).”

K : 「う〜ん、口の中に甘みがぱあっと広がってですねえ….」(Uun.. Kuchi no naka ni amami ga paatto hirogatte desunee..)

”Umm… the sweetness (of the food) spreads in my mouth and..”

K : 「あ〜やりませんか？」(Aa, yarimasen ka?)

”Ah, do you wanna play (with me)? ”

J : 「ただ、この惑星の温泉卓球は…」 (=Tada kono wakusei no onsen no takkyuu wa.)
“But the table tennis at the hot springs on this planet is…”

K : 「番頭さん、ただ者じゃないねえ..」 (=Bantou san, tadamono jya nai nee.)

“Manager, you are not just a common sort of guy! “

K : 「あ〜〜〜」 (=Aaaa..)

”Ah….!”

J : 「楽しい！」(=Tanoshii)

“Fun!”

このろくでもない (=Kono rokudemo nai) This darn (but)

すばらしき世界。(=Subarashiki sekai) wonderful world

Vocabulary and grammar

• 宇宙人（=uchuu jin）alien

• 宇宙(=uchuu) universe
• 宇宙飛行士(=uchuu hikoushi) astronaut

• 地球(=chikyuu) the earth

→地(chi/ji) earth, ground
→球 (kyuu/tama) globe

• 調査(=chousa)　：to research,to investigate,study

→調(chou/shirberu) to check、to look up, to search

Grammar :

~中(＝chuu) in middle of , verb + ing, during some action.

調査中(=chousa chuu) to be researching (now)
食事中(=shokuji chuu) :to be eating (now) during a meal
Ex. 「マギーは今、食事中です。」 (=Maggie wa ima shokuji chuu desu.) Maggie is eating right now.
Ex. 「食事中にテレビを観てはいけません。」(=Shokuji chuu ni terebi wo mite wa ikemasen.) “Don’t watch TV during a meal.”

食事(=shokuji) meal, to eat

• 勉強中(=benkyou chuu) : to be studying

勉強（＝benkyou) study

• 工事中(=kouji chuu)：under construction

工事(=kouji) construction

• （電話が）話し中(=denwa ga hanashi chuu) : (the telephone line is ) busy

cf. 真っ最中(=massaichuu) at the middle of / right in the middle of some action

Ex.「マギーはテレビを観ている真っ最中です。」(Maggie wa terevi wo miteiru massaichuu desu.)

Maggie is right in the middle of watching TV.

Note: 最中(=saichuu)：in the middle of some action

You can emphasize more by adding 真っ (=ma) in front.

Remember 真っ+color in my color lesson?→真っ黒 (=makkuro) very black, 真っ赤 (=makka) very red)

• 惑星 (=wakusei) a planet

• 住人 (=juunin) dwellers,inhabitant

→住（juu/sumu) to live

→人 (nin/hito) person/people

• 温泉(=onsen) hot spring

→温(on/atatakai/atatameru) : warm / to warm up/temperature
→泉(sen/izumi): spring/fountain

Culture note : Japan has lots of volcanos and they have developed nice hot spring resorts all over Japan.

It is supposed to be really good for your health and skin because it has lots of good minerals. We love to go there on our vacations to relax. We often hear the conversations like this one: 「ああ〜疲れた！温泉にでも行ってゆっくりしたい！」(=Aa…tsukareta onsen ni demo itte yukkuri shitai!)　“Oh, I am so tired. I feel like going to hot-spring and just relax!”
Most of the onsens are public baths. (It considered sanitry and considerate to wash and rinse our bodies outside before stepping into the common (public) bathtubs.) We are not inhibited about taking off our clothes and becoming naked in a public bath. They are separated into 男湯(=otokoo yu) for men and 女湯(=onna yu) for women.

Occassionaly there is 混浴風呂 (=konyoku buro) bath that men and women take bath together, mixed bathing

混(=kon/majiru/mazeru) means to mix 浴（＝yoku/abiru) to bathes

Also there are 露天風呂(=roten buro) open air bath.

While you stay there, you eat good food, take baths and drink and take more baths…Many people take baths three times a day, in the morning, before dinner and after dinner.

• 温泉と呼ばれる場所 (=onsen to yobareru basho) : a place called “onsen”(=hot spring)

〜と呼ばれる+noun (=to yobareru) : noun called ~

場所(=basho) a place

Ex. マギー先生と呼ばれる犬(=Maggie sensei to yobareru inu ) : a dog called “Maggie-sensei”.

• 〜（する）と (=(suru) to) When (the subject) does something+ result

Ex.あまり食べると太る(=Amari taberu to futoru) If I eat too much, I get fat.

• 〜来ると(=~kuru to) When (the subject) comes+ result

Ex.春が来ると暖かくなる (=Haru ga kuru to atatakaku naru.)

When spring comes, it will be warmer.

Ex.生徒達は、先生が教室に入って来ると静かになる。(=Seito tachi wa senesei ga kyoushitsu ni haitte kuru to shizuka ni naru.)

When the teacher comes into the classroom, the students get quieter.

• 雪景色(=yuki gesihki) snow scape

→雪(yuki/setsu) snow
→ 景色(kei/keshiki/geshiki) scene, scenery, view, landscape

• 綺麗(=kirei) beautiful, pretty

Ex.マギーは綺麗ですね。(=Maggie wa kirei desu ne.) :kkk: Very very useful sentence!

• つるつる(=tsuru tsuru) We use it when we describe something smooth, like silky skin.

Ex.彼女の肌はつるつるだ。(=Kanojo no hada wa tsuru tsuru da.)
Her skin is smooth.

Ex. このクリームを使うと肌がつるつるになる。(=Kono kuriimu wo tsukau to hada ga tsuru tsuru ni naru.)

This cream makes our skin smooth.

つるつる（=tsuru tsuru) also is used for something slippery.

Ex「床がつるつるしているから気をつけて！」(=Yuka ga tsuru tsuru shiteiru kara ki wo tsuke te!)

Be careful. The floor is slippery.

•何故(=naze )　Why?

• 妙に(=myou ni) oddly, curiously, surprisingly, in a strange way, unusually

Ex. 秋は、何故妙に物悲しくなるのだろう。(=Aki wa naze myou ni monoganashiku naru no darou.)

“Why do I feel sad for some reason in autumn?”

•テンションが上がる(=tenshon ga agaru) : to get excited, raise one’s spirits, be psyched up

テンション(=tenshon) is originally from the English word, “tension”. But it differs in meaning.

When you see or hear something pleasant or exciting, you say 「テンション（が）上がる。」(=tenshon (ga) agaru ) “to be excited!” “psyched up” or “hyped up”

他動詞(=tadoushi) transitive verb

→上げる(=ageru) to raise to turn up

→下げる(=sageru) to let down, to turn down, to get down

自動詞(=jidoushi) intransitive verb

→上がる(=agaru) to go up

→下がる(=sagaru) to go down

On the contrary, when you see or hear something depressing, you say 「テンション（が）下がる。」(=tenshon (ga) sagaru!) which means “to lose one’s motivation” or “to be depressed.”

•口の中に広がる(=kuchi no naka ni hirogaru)

口の中(=kuchi no naka) inside of mouth

広がる(=hirogaru) to spread, extend, expand

Cultural note:

You will be surprised to see the amount of TV shows that introduce delicious or special food in Japan.

That is called 「グルメ番組」(=gurume bangumi) Gourmet program.

They introduce lost of nice restaurants in the city and local areas. There are special reporters for that kind of programs who are called as グルメレポーター(=gurume repootaa) We simply see them eating delicious food and they have to know how to describe the food in a professional way. 「~が口の中（一杯に）広がる」(= ga kuchi no naka (ippai) ni hirogaru) is one of the typical lines to describe the taste. Or 「この味はまったりしていて…」（ Kono aji wa mattari shiteite.) It tastes very mild and…is another typical line for this kind of show.

So this scene is funny because the customer sounds like one of the reporters.

• やりませんか？(=Yarimasenka?)

一緒に〜をやりませんか？(=Issho ni ~ wo yarimasen ka?)It

一緒に〜をしませんか？(=Issho ni ~ wo shimasen ka?)

•やる(=yaru) to do (basic form)→やります(=yarimasu) (basic polite form)→やりませんか？(yarimasen ka?) (when you ask/invite someone to do somehting)→やりません。(yarimasen.) (negative form)

•する(=suru) to do (basic form) →します(=shimasu.) (basic polite form)→しませんか？(shimasen ka?)(when you ask/invite someone to do somehting)→しません。(=shimasen)(negative form)

What’s the difference between 「やる」”yaru” and　「する」” suru”?

They both mean to do (something.) Some says 「する」”suru” is more polite than「やる」 “yaru”. That could be true in certain cases but usually 「やる」“yaru” is to do something more special than 「する」“suru”.

私がやります。(=Watashi ga yarimasu.>私がします。(=Watashi ga shimasu.) “I will do (it).”

Note : Have you seen the popular TV series, “Heroes”? Hiro’s famous line is「やった！」(=Yatta!)

It is a very casual expression but everybody uses it. It means, “I did it!” “I made it!” ”All right!””Great!” or “Yes!!” We used it when things work out great.

•一緒に(=issho ni) together, with me (us)

Do you want to do ~ with me? (together)?

It is a useful phrase when you want to invite someone to do something with you.

•ただ、(=tada) but, however, simply

•温泉卓球(=onsen takkyuu) table tennis in a hot-spring hotel.

Many of the big hot-spring hotels have karaoke,game corner and table tennis tables for customers.

It is kind of old fashioned to play table tennis in hotels nowadays. There is a comedy movie called 「卓球温泉」(=takkyuu onsen) , hot-spring spas which have table tennis, about a group of people who want to promote an old hot-spring town using a table tennis tournament. As you can see in the video, people who stay in Japanese hotels can go anywhere in 浴衣(=yukata) (casual kimono) and they even play table tennis wearing 浴衣(=yukata).

•番頭（さん）(＝bantou-san) Head clerk of the hotel, bath attendant, manager

•ただ者(=tadamono) an ordinary person

Usually use this word in a negative form

→ただ者ではない(=tadamono dewa nai) or ただ者じゃない(=tadamono ja nai)

means “Not just an ordinary person”. (You must have hidden your special ability or background.)

ただ者じゃないねえ..(=tadamono ja nai nee) : You add “ね(え)”(ne(e)) in conversation when you want to express your feelings or opinions.

Ex. 「いいね（え）..」）(＝Ii ne(e) ) :“This(It’s/That’s) good/nice!”

•楽しい(=tanoshii) fun, pleasant, amusing (i-adjective)

Grammar :

~は楽しい（です）(=~wa tanoshii (desu)) ~ is/are fun

Ex. 旅行は楽しい(です）。(=Ryokou wa tanoshii (desu)) Travelling is fun.

→楽しい(=tanoshii) + noun

Ex. 楽しい旅行(=tanoshii ryokou) a fun trip a fun trip

Past tense

→~は楽しかった（です）(=~wa tanoshi katta(desu)) ~ was/were fun (+desu = more polite)

Ex. 旅行は楽しかった(です）。(=Ryokou wa tanoshikatta(desu))

Ex.
旅行は楽しかった？ (=Ryokou wa tanoshikatta?) Was the trip fun? or

Ex. 御旅行は楽しかったですか？ (=Goryokou wa tanoshikatta desuka?) Was your trip fun?

(more polite)

→楽しかった(=tanoshikatta) + noun

Ex. 楽しかった旅行(=tanoshikatta ryokou) A fun trip (Past tense :It implies the trip is already over.)

→楽しい旅行だった。 (=Tanoshii ryokou datta.)　“It was a fun trip.“

→楽しい旅行でした。 (=Tanoshii ryokou deshita.) “It was a fun trip.”(more polite)

•ろくでもない(=rokudemo nai) darn, worthless

ろくでなし(=rokudenashi) (This is a kind of old fashioned way to insult someone. ) good-for-nothing

Ex. 「このろくでなし（が）！」(=Kono rokudenashi (ga)!) ”You, asshole (bastard)!”

•素晴らしき(=subarashiki) wonderful ＝素晴らしい(=subarashii) wonderful

•素晴らしき世界(=subarashiki sekai) wonderful ＝素晴らしい世界(=subarashii sekai) wonderful

Note: 素晴らしき(=subarashiki) and 素晴らしい (=subarashii) both mean “wonderful” and it can modify the nouns.

While you can say 「この世界は素晴らしい。」(=Kono sekai wa subarashii), you can’t finish the sentence with “rashiki”: 「この世界は素晴らしき。」(=Kono sekai wa subarashiki)

マギー先生より(=Maggie-sensei yori) From Maggie-sensei,

日本の温泉に行ったことありますか？(=Nihon no onsen ni itta koto arimasuka?) Have you ever been to a Japanese hot-springs?)

私には温度が高すぎますが、温泉に浸かった後の御馳走は美味しいよ！（＝Watashi niwa ondo ga takasugi masu ga, onsen ni tsukatta ato no gochisou wa oishii yo!”

It is too hot for me but I will tell you that the meal after taking a bath is just delicious!

今日は、皆さん！Konnichiwa minasan! Hi, everyone!

Today’s lesson is about Japanese manners.

Japanese people say 「いただきます」“Itadakimasu” before they have meals at the table.

It means, “I will eat now!” “Dig in!” or “Let’s eat!”. Many Japanese people say that automatically without thinking but

「頂きます」（＝ Itadakimasu ）is a polite form of

「もらいます 」（=moraimasu) “to receive“

or

「食べます」（=tabemasu) “to eat“

It is originally meant to show your appreciation to life, nature, a person who cooks a meal, serves the food or makes money to feed you, etc.

You put both of your hands in front of your chest or put them on your laps and say 「いただきます」“Itadakimasu.”

People with good manners do that every meal when they eat with their family or when they are invited to other people’s houses as well. Also it is customary for children to say “itadakimasu” all together before eating lunch at school. 給食係 (=kyuushoku gakari), a student who is in charge for lunch says 「手を合わせて下さい！」(=te wo awasete kudasai”) “Put your hands together”. And then all the kids say 「いただきます！」(=itadakimasu) together out loud.

:ss: When you finish your meal, you should say「御馳走様(でした)！」=Gochisou sama (deshita), Thank you for the delicious meal!

By saying that, you show your appreciation again to the person who serves, cooks, or provides the food.

The original meaning of ごちそう＝御馳走 ＝gochisou is :rrrr:

御馳走 gochisou = a feast, nice meal, good food, etc.

Ex. 「今日は御馳走だよ！」(=Kyou wa gochisou dayo! )（~dayo = casual)

It’s a nice meal today!

Ex. 「今夜は腕をふるって御馳走を作ります。」Konya wa ude wo furutte gochisou shimasu.

I will do my best to cook a nice meal tonight.

Ex. 「すごい御馳走ですね。」（=Sugoi gochisou desu ne.)

What a feast! / It looks great! (Said as a compliment to a person who serves or cooks a nice meal for you.)

If someone treats you or invites you for a meal at their house, you should say 御馳走様（＋でした）(=gochisou sama (＋deshita)）

“Thank you for the nice meal!” after the meal.

Ex. 「昨日は御馳走様でした。」 Kinou wa gochisou sama deshita.

Thank you for the meal yesterday. (→This can be used when you are invited to someone’s family or when you are taken out to eat.)

Also when you treat someone you can also use this word.

The verb is 「御馳走する」 (=gochisou suru), and when someone treats you, the action will be passive, 「御馳走になる」（=gochisou ni naru)

Ex. 今夜は私が御馳走します。 Konya wa watashi ga gochisou shimasu.

It’s my treat tonight!

Ex. この間、鈴木さんに御馳走になりました。　Kono aida Suzuki san ni gochisou ni narimashita.

Suzuki-san treated me the other day.

:u: Check out the Audio file for the example sentences.

マギー先生より Maggie-sennsei yori　From Maggie-sensei

今度、誰か御馳走してね。Kondo dareka gochisou shite ne.

Somebody treat me next time!

お気に召して頂けるかどうかわかりませんが、日頃の感謝の気持ちです。」

Oki ni meshite itadakeru ka dou ka wakarimasen ga higoro no kansha no kimochi desu.

I am not sure if you would like this or not but this is just a token of my appreciation.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Today we will learn 「敬語」(= keigo).

Uh-oh….tough one! Yep! It is difficult and many Japanese people get confused as well.

敬語 (= keigo) or 尊敬語 (=sonkeigo) is “honorific expression/language“.

In order to speak Japanese properly, we have to learn this 「敬語」（=keigo) and 「 謙譲語 」(=kenjyougo) , humble or modest version of Japanese.

The Kanji of 「 敬」(kei/ uyamau ) means “to respect” or “to admire”. (尊敬=sonkei means the same.)

You use 敬語 (=keigo) towards people who are socially higher, customers, or people you are not familiar with.

You, students have to use 敬語 (= keigo) towards 先生= sensei, (=teachers) as myself!

You hear 敬語 (=keigo) in daily conversation all the time in the stores, the restaurants, on the street, on the phone, etc.

Let’s take a look at the phrase in the picture first.

My student says : 「お気に召すかどうかわかりませんが、」

oki ni mesuka douka wakariamsen ga..

(I am not sure if you would like it or not but..)

(Basic form) 　→→→→→→→ 敬語 (Keigo)

* 気に入る ki ni iru to like something/s.o. →お気に召す oki ni mesu

日頃の感謝の気持ちです。 Hirogo no kansha no kimochi desu.

* 日頃：higoro everyday, continuous

* 感謝：kansha gratitude, appreciation

* 気持ち：kimochi feelings, a token of ~

This is a token of my (continuous) appreciation.

*クンクン : kunkun : sniffing sound

Now, before going to 敬語(=keigo)、let’s see the patterns of making 丁寧語 (=teineigo) polite form.

The simplest way to make some Japanese words more polite is to put“ o “ or “ go “ on the beginning of the words.

*お口 okuchi → (o + kuchi) mouth

Ex. 「お口に合うかどうか..」Okuchi ni au ka douka..

(I wonder if this tastes good enough for your mouth..)→“I am not sure if you like this food but (I do hope you like it) .”

*お元気ですか？ ogenki desuka?→ (o+genki desuka?) How are you?

*お時間 ojikan →(o+jikan) time

Ex. 「ちょっとお時間ありますか？」Chotto ojikan arimasuka? “Do you have time?”

*お忙しい　 oisogashii →(o+isogashii) in hurry

Ex. 「お忙しいですか？」oisogashii desuka? “Are you busy? ”

The Kanji for “ o ” is 御 and its’ other way of reading is “ go “. So some words take “ o “ and some take “ go “. (And some can’t take either one.) It depends on the word.

* 御主人(様） goshujin(sama) When you refer to someone’s husband or an owner of the stores, restaurants,etc. The original meaning of shujin is a master. (Note: The polite word for “wife” is 奥様 okusama)

* 御機嫌 gokigen mood

* 御住所 gojyuusho address

* 御相談 gosoudan to consult

* 御名前 is read “onamae” not “gonamae”. So if you see the kanji, 御、you have to figure out whether it is go or o (or on →御社 onsha your company )

But don’t overuse this. It would sound funny if you use it too much and sometimes it sounds strange if men use it.

* お野菜 (oyasai) vegetable :Fine and acceptable!

* おジュース (ojyuusu) : juice This is possible but sounds a bit overdone.

* おバナナ (obanana) : banana Too much. This sounds really strange
* お骨 (okotsu) : bone :i: Never use it for the fish or meat bone!! Only for funeral…

<How to address other people’s family >

When you refer to someone’s family, you have to keep it in mind to use the polite form.

For example, 母 (=haha) usually refers to your own mother. お母さん(=okaasan) could be your mother or another person’s mother. お母様 okaasama or お母様方 okaasama gata (=plural mothers) are very polite form to address other people’s mothers.

Ex. 私の母は６０歳 です。Watashi no haha wa 60 sai desu. My mom is 60 years old.

Ex. お母様はお元気でいらっしゃいますか？ okaasama wa ogenki de irasshaimasuka? How is your mother? (very polite)

父 chichi <お父さん otousan < お父様 otousama father
兄 ani <お兄さん oniisan <お兄様 oniisama brother

姉 ane <お姉さん oneesan <お姉様 oneesama

:mmmm: 敬語の動詞 Keigo no doushi <honorific verbs>

How to change regular verbs into 「丁寧語」（=teineigo / polite form) （ex. 〜です、ます desu, masu form. Usually you can use it both when you refer to your actions and other people’s actions.) and「 敬語」 (keigo) (ex. 〜になる。〜になられる その他 ~ninaru, ~ninarareru　sonota=and etc. You only use them when you refer other people’s actions.）

(Basic form) < 丁寧語 (Polite form) < 敬語 (Keigo) : ＜= more polite

飲む nomu　 < 飲みます nomimasu <　お飲みになる onomininaru to drink

急ぐ isogu < 急ぎます isogimasu <　お急ぎになる oisogini naru be in hurry
試す tamesu < 試します tameshimasu < お試しになる otameshini naru to try

買う kau　 < 買います kaimasu <　買われる　kawareru to buy

書く kaku < 書きます kakimasu <　書かれる　kakareru to write

来る kuru < 来ます kimasu <　来られる korareru to come

* Also いらっしゃる (=irassharu ) or お超しになる (=okoshi ni naru) can be keigo for this.）

試す tamesu < 試します tameshimasu <　お試しになる otameshini naru to try

食べる taberu < 食べます tabemasu　< 召し上がる meshiagaru to eat

いる　iru < います imasu < いらっしゃる irassharu to be there

言う　iu < 言います　iimasu < おっしゃる ossharu to say

Note : The first three verbs are ~(ni)naru form. The next three verbs are ~(ra)reru form. The last three verbs are the one which take special forms.

Test yourself!

Now your turn! Read the following casual sentences and make them in 丁寧(=teinei) ,polite form, and then try to make them in 敬語 form! Good luck!

１）明日、会社に来る？ Ashita kaisha ni kuru?

Are you coming to the office tomorrow?

２）今週の会議はどうする？ Konshuu no kaigi wa dousuru?

What are you going to do about the meeting this week?

３）この映画観たことある？ Kono eiga mita koto aru?

Have you seen this movie?

４）今、鈴木さんは出かけているの？ Ima, Suzuki san wa dekakete iru no?

Is Suzuki-san out now?

５）料理、冷めるから早く食べたら？ Ryouri, sameru kara hayaku tabetara?

Help yourself before the food gets colder.

６）これ誰が描いた絵？ Kore dare ga kaita e?

Who drew this picture?

７）田中さんって知ってる？ Tanaka sanntte shitteru?

Do you know Mr.Tanaka?

:jjj: (答え）Kotae　Answers

(1) 明日会社 に来ますか？

Ashita kaisha ni kimasuka?

明日は、会社にい らっしゃいますか？

Ashita wa kaisha ni irasshaimasu ka?

(2) 今週の会議はどうしますか？

Konshuu no kaigi wa doushimasu ka?

今週の会議はどうされますか？

Konshuu no kaigi wa dou saremasu ka?

(3) この 映画を観たことはありますか？

Kono eiga wo mita koto wa arimasu ka?

この映画をご覧になったことはありますか？

Kono eiga wo goran ni natta koto wa airmasu ka?

(4) 今、鈴木さんは出かけていますか？

Ima, suzuki san wa dekakete imasu ka?

只今、鈴木様はお出かけでしょうか？

Tadaima, Suzuki-sama wa odekakete de shouka?

(5) 料理が冷めてしま うので早く食べたら如何ですか？

Ryouri ga samete shimau node hayaku tabetara ikaga desuka?

どう ぞ、お料理が冷めてしまいますのでお早くお召し上がり下さい。

Douzo, oryouri ga samete shimaimasu node ohayaku omesiagari kudasai .

(6) これは 誰が描いた絵ですか？

Kore wa dare ga kaita e desu ka?

こちらの絵はどなたがお描きになったのでしょうか？

Kochirano e wa donata ga okaki ni natta node shouka?

(7) 田中さんを知っていますか？

Tanaka san wo shitte imasu ka?

田中さんをご存知ですか？

Tanaka-san wo gozonji desu ka?

Note　:

コンビニ敬語 (=conbini keigo) 、ファミレス敬語(=famiresu keigo)　or バイト敬語 (=baito keigo) バイト＝part-time.

Recently the peculiar form of 敬語 (= keigo) among young people who work for the family restaurants or convenience stores is getting controversial.

The examples of those “konbini”or “famiresu” keigo are…

* こちらメニューになります。→こちらがメニューでございます。

* お会計、２０００円になります。→お会計は、２０００円でございます。

*こちら、Aランチのほうになります。→こちらがAランチでございます。

* １万円からお預かりします。→１万円をお預かりします。

* 温めますか？ →温めましょうか？

They even have manuals using these 敬語（＝keigo)

So like all anguages, the Japanese language has been changing,too.

マギー先生より Maggie sensei yori 　From Maggie-sensei

本日、御多忙中、こちらのブログにいらっしゃって下さった皆様、誠に有難うございました。

またのお越しを心からお待ち申し上げております。

honjitu gotabouchuu kochirano burogu ni irasshatte kudasatta minasama , makoto ni arigatou gozaimashita.

mata no okoshi wo kokoro kara omaci moushiagete orimasu.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to visit this blog. I really hope you come visit us again.

「ちょっと噛んだだけなのに壊れました。」

Chotto kanda dake nanoni kowaremashita.

“I just chewed a little bit and it broke just like that.”

Today’s word is 苦情 Kujyou! It means “complaint(s)” or“grievance”

I chewed my toy just a little bit but it broke right away..

「ちょっと噛んだだけなのに壊れました。」

Chotto kanda dake nanoni kowaremashita.

:jjj: Sentence pattern : ちょっと〜(し)た／（〜だ） だけなのに（or だけで）*****(し)た。chotto ~ (shi)ta (or ~da) dakenanoni (or dake de) ****(shi)ta.

Just did something and …→+ Result

( “dakenanoni”or “dakede” : almost the same meaning but “nanoni” involves more emotion.)

Ex. 1) ちょっとからかっただけなのに彼女はめちゃくちゃ怒った。 chotto karakatta dake nanoni kanojyo wa mechakucha okotta.

I just teased her a little bit but she got really mad.

Ex. 2) ちょっと泳いだだけで疲れた。 chotto oyoida dake de tsukareta.

I just swam a little bit but I got tired (already).

So, I have to go “ complain” to the store where I bought the toy.

This kind of complaints is called 苦情 (=kujyou)

Let’s take a look at the kanjis first.

:jjj: 苦：ku / nigai / kurushimu : distressful, painful, rough

情：jyou/nasake feeling 事情：jijyou = circumstance, situation

If you happen to purchase defective products or you are treated badly or unfairly in the places like hotels, restaurants or public places, you are going to….

• 苦情を言う　kujyou wo iu. to complain

• 苦情を申し立てる kujyou wo moushitateru. to file a claim/a grievance

Also some people make 苦情の電話 (kujyou no denwa ) (=calls to make complaints) to the TV station when they hear or see something unacceptable on TV.

If a company sell a bad product, they have to anticipate upcoming 苦情（kujyou)

• 苦情が寄せられる　kujyou ga yoserareru. to draw complaints

• 苦情に対処する　kujyou ni taisho suru. to respond to a complaint

• 苦情の電話が殺到する　kujyou no denwa ga sattousuru to be flooded with complaints over the phone

苦情 is something more official and it is usually towards some entities such as stores, restaurants, companies, schools or groups but it can be used in a daily conversation in a person-to-person level.

• 苦情が来る　 kujyou ga kuru. to get a complain

Ex. ゴミを間違った日に出したらご近所から苦情が来た。

Gomi wo machigatta hi ni dashitara gokinjyo kara kujyou ga kita.

I took out the trash in a wrong day so the neighbors complained.

（ :i: Note! →If you are going to live in Japan, you have to be very careful when to take out the trash and how to divide the trash. Every residential area has a different system. Each type of trash (burnable, nonburnable, plastic, paper trash, big trash) has different day and different plastic bag to throw away to avoid 苦情 from your neighbors.)

You often see some mothers yelling at their children,

“そんなにうるさくしているとご近所から苦情が来ますよ！”

sonnani urusaku shiteiru to gokinjyo kara kujyou ga kimasuyo.

“If you make that loud noise the neighbors will complain” →”Keep it quiet or the neighbors will complain! ”

「文句」monku “complaint” is a common word in a daily life.

「文句を言う」(monku wo iu) to complain, to bitch about something

Don’t complain about what I do so much! (Please don’t…!)

Ex. 妻はいつも私の給料が少ないと文句を言う。

Tsuma wa itsumo watashi no kyuuryou ga sukunai to monku wo iu.

My wife always bitches about my low salary.

(These cases are all personals o we don’t use “苦情” )

cf. 文句なしの monku nashi no No complains →perfect ,well-done

Ex. 文句なしの作品 monku nashi no sakuhinn an excellent piece of work

Now, let’s see the modern Japanese for 苦情 (kujyou) which is クレーム kureemu.

（Please see the difference between 苦情 (kujyou) and クレーム kureemu in the comment below.)

It originally came from an English word, “to claim”

The real meaning of to claim is “to assert”or “to proclaim” (「要求する」( youkyuu suru)or「主張する 」(shuchou suru) in Japanese) . However Japanese people mistook the word and use it in Katakana as in “to complain” and an equivalent term of 苦情 even in a business situation.

• クレームをつける kureimu wo tsukeru to complain

• クレームが出る kureimu ga deru. to complain

• クレームに対処する kureimu ni taisho suru. to respond to a complaint

• クレームレター kureimu retaa. letters to make complaints

• Ex.「お客様から沢山のクレームを頂きました。」okyakusama kara takusan no kureimu wo itadakimashita.

We have received lots of complaints from our customers.

And this is a relatively new word but the people who complain a lot is called クレーマー kureimaa 　a complainer.

It has a negative connotation. Some クレーマー (kureimaa) complain falsely to take advantage of their position and get some benefits such as money or some gifts in return.

Also the parents who complain a lot to the school are called モンスターペアレンツ. monsutaazu pearentsu. (←Monster Parents.) They are overly protective parents and spoil their children. Whatever problem they find in a school, they complain selfishly.

Sometimes their behaviors are very extreme.

For example, when a teacher scold their kids, they called the school immediately and ask for the apology. If their kids are often late for the school they ask their teachers to come pick them up. Or when their kids failed an entrance examination, they ask the school to pay back the tuition and etc.

cf. モンスターペーシェント monsutaa peishento (←Monster patient ) : You can guess its meaning. The patients who complain to their doctors or hospitals and claim money back unreasonably.

:rrrr: If you want to hear all the pronunciation, click here!

マギー先生から Maggie-sensei kara From Maggie-sensei

私のブログに間違いがあってもクレームつけないでね。

Watashi no burogu de machigai ga attemo kureimu tsukenai dene.

Even if you find a mistake in my blog, don’t complain!