Showing posts with label Japanese language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese language. Show all posts

Monday, August 29, 2016

Answering Phone Calls

Luffy introduces himself as the man who will become the Pirate King
Luffy introduces himself as the man who will become the Pirate King
At one point, Luffy developed a habit that every time the Den Den Mushi rings, he picks it up and say: “もしもし! 俺はモンキDルフ! 海賊になる男だ!” (Moshi Moshi! Ore wa Monkii Dii Rufi! Kaizoku ou ni naru otoko da!), which mean “Hello! I am Monkey D. Luffy! The man who will become the Pirate King!”
He did that recklessly without thinking who may be on the other side of the Den Den Mushi.  The first time he said that was to Big Mom, then to a random person asking for help from Punk Hazard, and then to Doflamingo.  This especially annoys Usopp, who thought that they had enough enemies already.

Of course, when we pick up the phone, we do not speak like Luffy did.  Though greeting with もしもし (moshi moshi) is correct.  もしもし is the most common Japanese way of greeting when answering the phone, similar to “hello” in English.  After that, you can probably introduce yourself, ルフィです (Rufi desu), or if you work in a company or agency, the name of the company and agency.

Den Den Mushi of Trafalgar Law
Den Den Mushi of Trafalgar Law 
In One Piece, the Den Den Mushi is used for communication.  In our world, we have telephones, 電話 orでんわ (denwa) and mobile phone, 電話 or けいたいでんわ (keitaidenwa).  When you want to ask someone their phone number, say 電話番は何ですか (denwa bangou wa nan desuka). 

If someone asks that to you, you can tell your phone number like this, の一三四五の六七八九です (zero ni zero no ichi san yon go no roku nana hachi kyuu desu).  Add  between the codes and you will need to know the numbers from one to nine plus zero.  You can add  or ばん (ban) if you want to ask for someone else’s number, like ルフィさんの電話番は何ですか (Rufisan no denwa bangou wa nan ban desu ka).

Try practicing it, or you can introduce yourself as the man who will become the Pirate King like Luffy.



Thursday, August 25, 2016

Midnight Diner, 深夜食堂

深夜食堂, Midnight Diner
深夜食堂, Midnight Diner
Recently I came across an interesting Drama Series and Movie, 深夜食堂 or しんやしょくどう (shinya Shokudou).  深夜 (shinya) means midnight, while 食堂 (shokudou) is an eatery or diner.  Therefore, 深夜食堂 literally means midnight diner.  This show is based  on the manga series, 深夜食堂 by 安倍夜 (Yaro Abe).
master
Master
As its title suggest, the diner only opens at midnight.  The owner, played by Kaoru Kobayashi, 小林, is known as Master by the customers.  The diner opens till 7 a.m. and has a small menu.  Only Pork Miso Soup, 豚汁 or とんじる (tonjiru), Beer, (biiru), Sake, or さけ (sake), and Shochu, or しょうちゅう (shouchuu) was listed.  Master also limits alcohol to three servings per customer as his diner is not a bar.
A simple menu
A simple menu
Despite the simple menu at めしや (meshiya - shown on the sign outside the shop, meaning a restaurant that makes simple food), Master has a business policy of trying to make anything the customers asked for if he is able to. 
Octopus Shaped Red Wiener, 赤いウインナ (akai uinna)
 Octopus Shaped Red Wiener, 赤いウインナ (akai uinna)
For each story, there will be a dish associated with the background story or memory of the characters.  Usually Master will have customers with some concern or problem at that moment, and as they dined at the めしや, we will slowly learn the plot and Master will usually offer some advice or go out of his way to help his customers.  After every episode, there will be some tips on how to make the dish of that episode. 

While watching, I can’t help wanting to make most of the dishes.  You will come across many famous dishes in Japan like お茶漬け (ochazuke), バタライス (bataaraisu), ルキャベツ (rourukyabetsu), 玉子 (tamagoyaki), から揚げ (karaage), とろご飯 (tororogohan), and many other.

Japanese
Romaji
English
豚汁 or とんじる
Tonjiru
Pork Miso Soup
Biiru
Beer
or さけ
Sake
Sake
or しょうちゅう
Shouchuu
Shochu
お茶漬け
Ochazuke
Steamed rice with Green Tea
バタライス
Bataaraisu
Butter Rice
ルキャベツ
Rourukyabetsu
Cabbage Roll
玉子
Tamagoyaki
Japanese Rolled Omelette
から揚げ
Karaage
Japanese Fried Chicken
とろご飯
Tororogohan
Steamed Rice topped with Grated Yam
赤いウインナ
Akai Uinna
Red Wiener

Enjoy the Show and try the foods.



Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Royalty

Right after entering into the Grand Line, the Straw Hat Pirates encounters the gigantic whale, Laboon and Crocus, the Lighthouse caretaker who is also a doctor treating Laboon.  Crocus was once the doctor on the ship of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, 海賊王 or かいぞくおう  (kaizoku ou).
Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King
Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King
Also present is Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday, two agents of the criminal organization, Baroque Works.  The two are under a mission to kill Laboon so that the whale meat can serve as food for the bounty hunters in their island.  Miss Wednesday is actually a spy infiltrating Baroque Works.  Her real name is Nefeltari Vivi, Alabasta’s princess, 王女 or おうじょ (oujo).
Vivi instructs Carue to go beforehand to Alubarna Palace
Vivi instructs Carue to go beforehand to Alubarna Palace
What is happening in Alabasta is that a rebellion, or はんらん (hanran) is imminent.  Since a drought struck, there was no rain and the people are suffering.  Crocodile uses his sinister plans and wins the heart of the citizens, or こくみん (kokumin), while pushing the blame of the people’s sufferings on Nefeltari Cobra, Vivi’s father and also the King, or おう (ou).
Nefeltari Cobra, the King
Nefeltari Cobra, the King
The truth is, Cobra is a kind and righteous king who cares deeply for his people.  He refused to clash with the rebel army and is even willing to face death.  Cobra always affirms to Pell and Chaka that a country, 国 or くに (kuni) is its people.  Even if the palace, 宮殿 or きゅうでん (kyuuden) is destroyed, the people will still be able to rebuild the country. 

Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
English
くに
Kuni
Country
こくみん
Kokumin
Citizen
おう
Ou
King
女王
じょおう
Joou
Queen
王子
おうじ
Ouji
Prince
王女
おうじょ
Oujo
Princess
宮殿
きゅうでん
Kyuuden
Palace
はんらん
Hanran
Rebellion



Monday, August 15, 2016

Planets and Days of the Week


People who watched the Sailor Moon, (se-ra-mu-n) will know that the characters can transform into Sailor Soldiers that fights against evil.  Each Sailor Soldiers are named after a planet of the Solar System and are able to use powers of the planets' element.  

Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
English (Literal Meaning)
水星
すいせい
Suisei
Mercury (Water Star)
金星
きんせい
Kinsei
Venus (Gold Star)
地球
ちきゅう
Chikyuu
Earth (Earth Ball)
火星
かせい
Kasei
Mars (Fire Star)
木星
もくせい
Mokusei
Jupiter (Wooden Star)
土星
どせい
Dosei
Saturn (Earth/Soil Star)
天王星
てんのうせい
Tennoosei
Uranus (Heaven/Sky King Star)
海王星
かいおうせい
Kaioosei
Neptune (Sea King Star)
冥王星
めいおうせい
Meioosei
Pluto (Underworld King Star)

In the Japanese and Chinese language, the first five planets of the Solar System are named after the five elements of Water, Gold/Metal, Fire, Wood, and Earth, while the other three have names of kings, though the ninth, Pluto is not considered a planet anymore, but a dwarf planet. In addition to that, or おう (ou) means King.  

Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
English
すい / みず
Sui / Mizu
Water, Liquid, Fluid
きん /  かね
Kin / Kane
Gold, Metal
/
Ka / Hi
Fire, Light, Heat
もく /  
Moku /  Ki
Tree, Wood
/ つち
Do / Tsuchi
Earth, Soil, Ground
天王
てんのう
Tennou
Heaven + King
海王
かいおう
Kaiou
Sea + King
冥王
めいおう
Meiou
Underworld King

In the Solar System, there are also the Sun and Moon.  The Sun is 太陽 or たいよう (taiyou) and the Moon is  or つき (tsuki).  is another word that can mean the Sun when it's read as (hi), and when  is read as にち (nichi) it is a short form for Japan and also the suffix (-th).  can also be read as がつ (gatsu) which is a suffix for months of the year.

in Sunday is also read as にち (nichi); Sunday, 日曜日 or にちようび (nichiyoubi).  can also be read as げつ (getsu) as in Monday, 月曜日 or げつようび (getsuyoubi).  The other days of the week are elements of planets.  The Korean days of the week have similar meanings as well.
Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
English
日曜日
にちようび
Nichiyoubi
Sunday
月曜日
げつようび
Getsuyoubi
Monday
火曜日
かようび
Kayoubi
Tuesday
水曜日
すいようび
Suiyoubi
Wednesday
木曜日
もくようび
Mokuyoubi
Thursday
金曜日
きんようび
Kinyoubi
Friday
土曜日
どようび
Doyoubi
Saturday

Let’s learn how to say the month of the year and days in the month in the next post, and we will be able to tell what day is today, the date, and month in Japanese.