ほら吹き Blowing a Shell or Tell a Lie

ほら吹き
Blowing a Shell or Tell a Lie

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
ほら吹き hora fuki Blowing a shell (as musical instrument) -or- Tell a lie / exaggerate	ほら hora Shell ; Trumpet Shell 吹き fuki to blow	吹き飛ばす fuki tobasu - to blow off, (literally and metaphorically), brush away [A] 吹き替え fuki kae - dubbing (movies) [I]

Wilber's mind was bubbling with the beginnings of a mighty fine misunderstanding.

SUGGESTED USAGE:

趣味ですか？それはね、ほらを吹くことです。
shumi desu ka? sore wa ne, hora o fuku koto desu.
My hobby? Well, that's ???

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

趣味 shumi - hobby A common question at introductions
ですか desu ka - (question marker)
それはね sore wa ne - That is... You will often hear *introductions* such as this to what the speaker is saying. You can imagine this gives the listener a dramatic pause before being belted with something profound
ほらを吹く hora o fuku - blowing a shell -or- lying through his teeth HORA O FUKU basically means the same as HORA FUKI. We changed it to the basic verb form in order to use KOTO (see below)
こと koto - thing You could say [hora fuki desu.], Adding the koto may give it umph, but really there is no difference. To make this form, use the simple form of the verb (FUKU) plus koto

変身 metamorphosis, transformation

変身
metamorphosis, transformation

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
変身 hen shin metamorphosis, transformation	変 hen change 身 shin body	大変 tai hen - terrible, very, awful [B] 出身 shusshin - come from (your country/city) [I] 独身 doku shin - bachelor, single, not married [I]

SUGGESTED USAGE:

ゴジラは変身する前は実は可愛いトカゲだった。
gojira wa henshin suru mae wa jitsu wa kawaii tokage datta.
Godzilla, before his transformation, was actually a cute lizard.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ゴジラ gojira - Godzilla [The Japanese gojira comes from gorira (gorilla) and kujira (whale)]
前 mae - before
実は jitsu wa - actually, in reality...
可愛い kawaii - cute this is usually not written in kanji, but only in hiragana
トカゲ tokage - lizard usually words with difficult (or unknown) kanji tend to be written in katakana even if it is a native Japanese pronunciation - Here is the actual kanji [蜥蜴] (Dont worry, you wont be tested)
だった datta - was past simple of desu verb

天敵 Natural Enemy

天敵
natural enemy

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
天敵 ten teki natural enemy	天 ten heaven, nature 敵 teki enemy, opponent	天の川 ama no gawa - the Milky Way [note the pronunciation is ama] [I] 天下一 ten ka ichi - best thing on earth [I] 天国 ten goku - heaven [B] 強敵 kyou teki - strong enemy [I]

DISCLAIMER: What you are about to see may not present a fair coverage of the whole story. The present writer admits to have never actually tasted, but only to have smelled it and observed it from a distance.

SUGGESTED USAGE:

プーさんは忍術の訓練のあとで、ハチたちの強敵になった。
pu-san wa ninjutsu no kunren no atode, hachi tachi no kyou teki ni natta.
Pooh, after his ninja training became a formidable enemy of Beekind.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ネズミ nezumi - mouse, mice (mouses) :)
の no - 's; possessive marker mouse's natural enemy...
猫 neko - cat, cats, catkind
私 watashi - I 私の watashi no - my
納豆 nattou - natto or the-more-delicious-sounding-name: fermented soybeans

天然ボケ Naturally Air Headed

天然ボケ
Naturally Air Headed

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
天然ボケ ten nen boke Naturally Air Headed	天 ten heaven, nature 然 nen sort of thing, but, however ボケ boke touched in the head, out of it, spacey	天の川 ama no gawa - the Milky Way [note the pronunciation is ama] [A] 天国 ten goku - heaven [B] 自然 shi zen - nature [B] 全然 zen zen - not at all, entirely [B] 寝惚ける ne bokeru - be half asleep [I] 一目惚れ hito me bore - love at first sight [I]

SUGGESTED USAGE:

私は天然ボケなので、あまり期待しないで、ね。
watashi wa tennenboke na node, amari kitai shinaide, ne.
I am naturally air headed, so please dont expect too much.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

私 watashi - I, me
なので na node - node means because and is followed by an explanation.
あまり amari - not too much there is always a negative ending with amari - in this case nai
期待 ki tai - expectations
しないで shinaide - dont do ~

弓を引く Draw the bow; rise up against...

弓を引く
Draw the bow; rise up against...

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
弓を引く yumi o hiku Draw the bow; rise up against...	弓 yumi bow を o [direct object marker] 引く hiku to pull, draw	弓道 kyuu dou - Japanese archery [I] 割引 wari biki - discount, 10% off, [B] 引越し hikkoshi - to move (to a different house or area) [B]

So you see how important it is to study kanji! - Yumi

SUGGESTED USAGE:

由美さんはブルータスとシーザーに弓を引きました。
yumi san wa buru-tasu to shi-za- ni yumi o hikimashita.
Yumi rose up against both Brutus and Ceasar. Et tu Yumi.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

由美 yumi - Yumi (girl\'s name) Just happens to have the same pronunciation as bow - of course I didnt exploit this fact...
さん san - added to names for politeness; similar to Miss (or Mr.)
ブルータス buru-tasu - Brutus (of et tu Brutus fame)
と to - and
シーザー shi-za- - Ceasar
に弓を引きました。 ni yumi o hikimashita - drew the bow against The NI shows where the action goes - in this case \'against\'

Of course the most common meaning of this phrase is its literal meaning - to draw a bow. When I heard this little idiom while watching a jidai (samurai) drama, I couldn\'t resist. How popular is this idiom now? I have no idea...

Some synonyms for 弓を引く are: そむく (somuku) and 反抗 (han kou)

犬掻きで泳ぐ dog paddling, swim like a dog

犬掻きで泳ぐ
dog paddling, swim like a dog

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
犬掻きで泳ぐ inu kaki de oyogu dog paddling, swim like a dog	犬 inu dog 掻き kaki scratch, paddle, shovel 泳ぐ oyogu swim	盲導犬 mou dou ken - seeing eye dog [A] 泳ぐ oyogu - to swim [B] 水泳 sui ei - swimming (you can also say suimingu [I]

A bewildered fish returned to his kind with reports of a strange new terror...

SUGGESTED USAGE:

あの猫は猫のくせに犬掻きで泳ぎます！
ano neko wa neko no kuse ni inu kaki de oyogimasu!
That cat, although a cat, is dog paddling!

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

あの ano - That (followed by a noun)
猫 neko - cat
猫のくせに neko no kuse ni - kuse ni means although or for a... (he) sure is... This is used often when the speaker sees something he thinks is ridiculous or shouldnt be. kodomo kuse ni tabako o suite imasu. (Although hes a child, he smokes.)
泳ぎます yogimasu - the masu form of 泳ぐ

猫ばば take something someone left as your own

猫ばば
take something someone left as your own; pocket (to swip something regardless of whose it is)

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
猫ばば neko baba take something someone left as your own; pocket (to swip something regardless of whose it is)	猫 neko cat ばば baba poop [kanji: 糞 (with the character for rice [米] and different [異] - rice becomes something different)]	猫舌 neko jita - sensitive to hot food or drink; weak tongue (like a cat lapping too hot milk) [A] 子猫 ko neko - kitten [lit. child cat] [B]

SUGGESTED USAGE:

犬のポチは猫のタマのごはんを猫ばばした。
inu no pochi wa neko no tama no gohan o nekobaba shita.
Pochi the dog swipped Tama the cats food.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

犬のポチ inu no pochi - Pochi the dog NOTE: in Japanese it is the dog Pochi. Pochi is a generic dog name like Rover is a Western dog name.
猫のタマ neko no tama - Tama the cat Tama is a common cat name
ごはん gohan - food it really means rice but is usually used to mean a meal

目に入れても痛くない So Cute!

目に入れても痛くない
Even if it pokes me in the eye, it wont hurt (it is VERY cute!)

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
目に入れても痛くない me ni iretemo itakunai Even if it pokes me in the eye, it wont hurt (it is VERY cute!)	目 me eye に ni particle showing direction 入れても irete mo even if entered - も implies even if 痛くない itakunai doesn't hurt - negative form of 痛い itai	一目ぼれ hito me bore - love at first sight [A] 注目 chuu moku - attention; object that draws attention; notice [B] 立入禁止 tachi iri kin shi - keep out! dont enter [I] 入口 iri guchi - entrance (of a store...) [B] 痛み止め itami dome - pain killer [I] 頭痛 zu tsuu - headache [B]

Harold has yet to learn the lesson of... Safety First.

SUGGESTED USAGE:

ハロルドはメガネを忘れてしまったので、「目に入れても痛くないほどかわいいうちの猫がここにいる！」と見知らぬハリネズミに向かって言いました。
harorudo wa megane o wasurete shimatta node, me ni irete mo itakunai hodo kawaii uchi no neko ga koko ni iru! to mishiranu harinezumi ni mukatta iimashita.
Having forgotten his glasses, Harold said, 'My adorable and cuddly cat is here!' to a porcupine.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ハロルド harorudo - Harold
メガネ megane - glasses (eye) You can write this in Hiragana, Katakana or Kanji - 眼鏡
を o - direct object particle This can be pronounced WO or O; This usually depends on the preceeding sound
忘れてしまった wasurete shimatta - (unfortunately) forgot
ので node - therefore, because of that
猫だ neko da - cat DA is the simple, past form of DESU
と to - quotation particle TO after a quote is similar to saying Quote, Unquote in English
ハリネズミ hari nezumi - porcupine lit. needle mouse
に向かって ni mukatte - facing, directed to NI is often used as the direction marker for 向
言いました iimashita - said

瞬間 a Moment

瞬間
moment, an instant

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
瞬間 shun kan moment, an instant	瞬 shun wink, twinkle 間 kan interval, space	一時間 ichi ji kan - one hour (interval) [B] 居間 i ma - living room [I] 人間 nin gen - human beings [B] 瞬き matataki - wink (eye), twinkle (star) [A] 瞬く間に matataku ma ni - in a split second [A]

No longer do the particles cause Henry to sweat...

SUGGESTED USAGE:

天才ヘンリー君が、世界一難しい問題を解いた瞬間。
tensai henri- kun ga, sekai ichi muzukashii mondai o toita shunkan.
The actual moment when boy genius Henry solved the world\'s most difficult problem.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

天才 ten sai - genius, very smart
ヘンリ君 henri kun - Henry [foreigner names are always written in katakana] KUN is usually used only with boys, but can b
世界一 se kai ichi - the most ---- in the world - Just put something after seikaiichi
難しい muzukashii - difficult
問題 mon dai - problem
解いた toita - solved (a problem) [from 解ける (to solve)]

雪男 Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot

雪男
Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
雪男 yuki otokko Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot	雪 yuki snow 男 otoko man	大雪 oo yuki - heavy snow [B] 初雪 hatsu yuki - first snow of the season [B] 男らしい otoko rashii - manly, like a man [B] 男の子 otoko no ko - boy, man-child [B]

While sleeping... a child's prank

SUGGESTED USAGE:

雪男はビューティーコンテストになんなく入賞しました。
yuki otoko wa byu-ti-kontesuto ni nan naku nyuushou shimashita.
The Abominable Snowman won the beauty contest hands down.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

雪男 yuki otoko - abominable snowman lit snow man
ビューティーコンテスト byu-ti-kontesuto - beauty contest
なんなく nan naku - easily lit. without troubles - 難なく
入賞 nyuu shou - win a contest

馬が合わない Not get along

馬が合わない
Not get along

The word:	Closer look at the kanji:	B = Beginner \| I = Intermediate \| A = Advanced
馬が合わない uma ga awanai Not get along	馬 uma horse 合わない awanai not match (neg of 合う)	竹馬 take uma - stilts, walking on stilts (bamboo horse) [I] 馬鹿 ba ka - fool, idiot [B] 子馬 ko uma - pony [B] 具合がいい gu ai ga ii - healthy, good condition [I] 試合 shi ai - match, game, contest [I] 知り合い shiri ai - an acquaintance; someone you know [B]

Will our hero, Wilber, return home in time...?

SUGGESTED USAGE:

ウィルバーの弟は、ミスターエドと馬が合わなかったので、有名なテレビ番組は悲劇に終わった。
wiruba- no otouto wa misuta- edo to uma ga awanakatta no de yuumei na terebi bangumi wa higeki ni owatta.
Wilbers younger borther never really hit it off with Mr. Ed, so a famous television program ended in tragedy.

ABOUT SUGGESTED USAGE:

ウィルバー wiruba- - Wilbur (Mr. Eds owner)
の no - possessive marker acts like the apostraphe S here
弟 otouto - younger brother older brother is ANI and brothers in general is KYOUDAI
ミスターエド misuta- edo - Mister Ed The famous Mister Ed
ので node - therefore this is a connector of phrases that shows cause and effect
有名な yuu mei na - famous the NA is used before nouns (BANGUMI)
番組 ban gumi - (TV) program
悲劇 hi geki - tragedy Romeo and Juliet is a HIGEKI
終わった owatta - finished, ended simple past

Animals and Nature

ほら吹き Blowing a Shell or Tell a Lie

変身 metamorphosis, transformation

天敵 Natural Enemy

天然ボケ Naturally Air Headed

弓を引く Draw the bow; rise up against...

犬掻きで泳ぐ dog paddling, swim like a dog

猫ばば take something someone left as your own

目に入れても痛くない So Cute!

瞬間 a Moment

雪男 Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot

馬が合わない Not get along