スコービルの日本語のブログ

     Comedy frequently ranks among the most difficult concepts for a foreign language learner to grasp. So, this weekend I challenged myself by listening to a Japanese comedy performance. In the video, ナイツ - - - 「自己紹介」／『ナイツ独演会 其の二』より  the Japanese comedy duo (ナイツ) performs a routine in a traditional Japanese style known as まんざい (漫才) which relies on the exchange between two people for comedic effect.      From the performance title 「自己紹介」, I gathered that the comedy would be based on the each performer’s self-introduction. But the speed of the dialogue prevented me from effectively understanding the performers, let alone the jokes. Nevertheless, I observed that one of the two performers seemed to act expressively and whimsically. Meanwhile, the other performer, who maintained a more reserved demeanor, chastised his partner for comedic effect.      Interestingly, many jokes towards the end of the performance seemed to involve a Japanese so...

  The video 日本習字漢字部令和6年8月号行書課題「山遥かに不断の雲」, offered an interesting glimpse into the traditional Japanese art of calligraphy or shodou (書道) . In the video, an artist briefly explained the techniques for creating different strokes in shodou before demonstrating how to write the Kanji dan (断)、 fu (不)、 kumo (雲)、 haruka (遥)、and yama (山).  While observing the artist, it was interesting to see the subtle differences between shodou and standard techniques for writing Kanji. Although he consistently followed standard stroke order conventions, the artist frequently wrote two ordinarily separate strokes in a continuous movement of the brush. In fact, even when the artist lifted the brush from the paper entirely, he seemed to gradually move the brush along a continuous path without ever pausing abruptly. While I have typically admired the content of writing, it was striking to see how shodou makes an art of Japanese orthography itself. The painstaking attentiveness that shodou pr...

  春休みを楽しみにしています。土曜日にひまですが、日曜日にバンドといっしょにひこうきでサウスベンドからノースカロライナ州のチャロレットというまちに行きます。 ノースカロライナ州でバスケットボールのしあいに行って バンドと音楽をえんそうします。 そして、かんこうしてみます。ひまな時、そして、しゅくだいをして数学や宗教をべんきょうします。 でも、春休みはとてもいそがしくてちょっとたいへんですから、私も休みます。 よんでくれてありがとうございます。すぐに会いましょうね。

       The video「 尊敬語！これだけ覚えれば、とりあえず大丈夫！」provides an introduction into a Japanese system of very polite speech called sonkeigo (尊敬語). In fact, sonkeigo is one of three categories of polite speech within the complex honorific system of the Japanese language, which also includes kenjougo (謙譲語) and teineigo (丁寧語). But unlike kenjougo , which involves using language to humble oneself, or teineigo , which describes standard polite speech, sonkeigo specifically aims to elevate someone above oneself. Therefore, sonkeigo is common in professional environments as a way to respect one’s superiors.       Although verbs used in sonkeigo occasionally resemble their polite forms, the two often differ significantly. While the verb hairimasu (入ります) , meaning to think, becomes ohairininarimasu  (お入りになります) in sonkeigo , the verb ikimasu (行きます) becomes irasshaimasu (いらっしゃいます). The use of so many different verb forms in sonkeigo makes the system of honori...

  子どもの時、私はりょうしんに おもしろくていい ひこうきの本をもらってうれしかったです。ひこうきは大すきでしたから、よくネットやきょうかしょて゛ひこうきをべんきょうしました。そして、ひこうきのパイロットになりたかったです。 私は毎日いそがしくてたくさんしゅくだいがありますから、もっと時間がほしいです。すうがくのじゅぎょうのしゅくだいがむずかしいですから、 一週間に十五時間くらいすうがくをべんきょうします。

The video 「剣道~現代に生きる侍の精神」explores the historically traditional Japanese art of kendo (剣道), which traces its roots to the swordsmanship of Japanese warriors (侍). Typically kendo combatants wield bamboo swords and don protective gear, including a face mask and breastplate. Matches involve two competitors who each aim to score points against their opponent by striking them with their bamboo sword in one of four locations: the mask, wrist, stomach, or throat. Despite its martial nature, kendo master Morimasa Okada ( 岡田守正 ) clarifies that kendo is not about learning to fight, but cultivating the responsibility and discipline necessary of a swordsman. Therefore, following a martial code of honor that emphasizes dedication, humility, and respect is essential to kendo. In competition, for example, adversaries must demonstrate proper Zanshin (残心) or fighting etiquette, by accompanying attacks with spirited shouting and avoiding prideful behavior. This is crucial since a lack of Zanshin can ea...