💡 Commonly Misunderstood
海外で誤解されがち。正しく説明できると価値が高い
527 entries (page 1 of 9)Tap a title to open the full entry: three lengths of English explanation, the questions people actually ask, ready-made phrases and audio.
- ArtsEssential geisha and maiko芸者と舞妓professional entertainers trained in dance, music and hosting
- ArtsEssential haiku俳句the seventeen-syllable poem
- ArtsEssential ukiyo-e浮世絵woodblock prints
- ArtsEssential bonsai盆栽trees grown in trays
- ArtsEssential wadaiko和太鼓Japanese drums and the ensembles that play them
- BuddhismEssential gassho合掌putting the hands together
- BuddhismEssential Zen禅a school of Buddhism built on seated meditation
- BuddhismEssential nihon no bukkyo日本の仏教how Buddhism arrived, changed, and ended up handling funerals
- Martial ArtsEssential puro yakyuプロ野球Japanese professional baseball
- Martial ArtsEssential rajio taisoラジオ体操the national radio exercise routine
- Martial ArtsEssential kiai気合the shout that focuses breath and energy into a technique
- Martial ArtsEssential gyoji行司the referee who judges a sumo bout
- Martial ArtsEssential sumo相撲Japanese wrestling with Shinto roots, often called the national sport
- Martial ArtsEssential sumo no shiomaki相撲の塩まきthe handful of salt a sumo wrestler throws onto the ring before a bout
- Martial ArtsEssential dojo道場a training hall
- ClothingEssential hankachiハンカチa small cloth or towel that people carry to dry their hands
- ClothingEssential kimono着物the traditional Japanese garment
- ClothingEssential migimae着物の右前wearing a kimono with the left side over the right
- ClothingEssential hachimaki鉢巻a cloth headband tied around the head to show focus and team spirit
- ConceptsEssential omotenashiおもてなしJapanese hospitality
- ConceptsEssential ganbatteがんばってthe encouragement that is not quite good luck
- ConceptsEssential yoroshiku onegaishimasuよろしくお願いしますthe phrase with no English equivalent
- ConceptsEssential aisatsu挨拶greetings as a social duty
- ConceptsEssential kanji hiragana katakana漢字・ひらがな・カタカナwhy Japanese is written with three writing systems at once
- ConceptsEssential kansai-ben関西弁the dialect spoken around Osaka and Kyoto
- ConceptsEssential deru kui wa utareru出る杭は打たれるthe stake that sticks out gets hammered down
- ConceptsEssential josushi助数詞the counters Japanese puts after a number
- ConceptsEssential senpai and kohai先輩・後輩seniors and juniors
- ConceptsEssential meiwaku wo kakenai迷惑をかけないnot causing trouble for others
- ConceptsEssential wasei-eigo和製英語English-looking words made in Japan
- CraftsEssential kintsugi金継ぎrepairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold
- CraftsEssential noren暖簾the split cloth curtain hung at a shop entrance
- Annual EventsEssential goruden wikuゴールデンウィークthe spring holiday cluster
- Annual EventsEssential barentain deバレンタインデーthe day women give chocolate, and the day men return it
- Annual EventsEssential howaito deホワイトデーMarch 14, the return gift for Valentine's Day
- Annual EventsEssential omisoka大晦日New Year's Eve in Japan
- Annual EventsEssential nihon no kurisumasu日本のクリスマスChristmas as a couples' night with fried chicken
- Annual EventsEssential nihon no shukujitsu日本の祝日the national holiday calendar
- Annual EventsEssential bonenkai忘年会the year-end party to forget the year
- FolkloreEssential teru teru bozuてるてる坊主a little white doll hung by the window to wish for sunny weather
- FolkloreEssential engi縁起whether something is considered lucky or unlucky
- FolkloreEssential shi to kyu o sakeru四と九を避けるunlucky numbers in Japan
- FolkloreEssential maneki neko招き猫the beckoning cat
- Food & DrinkEssential ankoあんこsweet red bean paste
- Food & DrinkEssential itadakimasuいただきますwhat we say before eating
- Food & DrinkEssential unagiうなぎfreshwater eel, grilled and glazed
- Food & DrinkEssential otoshiお通しthe small dish an izakaya serves automatically as a seat charge
- Food & DrinkEssential kare raisuカレーライスJapanese curry
- Food & DrinkEssential wasabiわさびJapanese horseradish grated from a fresh root
- Food & DrinkEssential katsuobushi鰹節dried, smoked and fermented bonito, shaved into flakes for stock
- Food & DrinkEssential kushikatsu串カツskewered, breaded and deep-fried food
- Food & DrinkEssential sashimi刺身raw fish served without rice
- Food & DrinkEssential sushi寿司vinegared rice with fish or other toppings
- Food & DrinkEssential shoyu醤油soy sauce
- Food & DrinkEssential tofu豆腐bean curd
- Food & DrinkEssential nihonshu日本酒Japanese rice wine
- Food & DrinkEssential natto納豆fermented soybeans
- Food & DrinkEssential matcha抹茶powdered green tea
- Food & DrinkEssential mochi餅pounded rice cake
- Food & DrinkEssential ryokucha緑茶Japanese green tea