May 2010
1 post
Japanese for Life is dormant for now. Check out my... →
April 2008
2 posts
2 tags
The Japanese Lunisolar Calendar
In addition to the four seasons familiar to Westerners, Japan and other East Asian countries observe 24 “solar terms” that mark off segments of the lunisolar calendar. In some ways, these shorter periods and their names are a closer reflection of the actual changes nature and the weather go through during the year.
The solar terms can be divided even more finely, into three 5-day...
日本の伝統色 和色大辞典 — Japanese Traditional Color Names →
March 2008
5 posts
3 tags
Kanji Up Close: 阜
As pointed out in a post at Nihongo Jouzu, 10 kanji are being added to the Joyo general use kanji list for school. They’re all used to write the names of Japanese prefectures.
This one caught my eye, since it’s used in the name of the prefecture next door, and I see it all the time:
阜
This kanji is usually pronounced with its on-reading ふ and is the second character in 岐阜 (Gifu),...
Kanji Up Close: 麺
Here’s a useful kanji you don’t see in the classroom character lists:
麺 （めん）
Meaning: noodles, particularly those made from wheat flour, including udon, soba, and spaghetti.
Where Seen: Find it on menus at restaurants and cafés everywhere across Japan.
Details: The character is one of the few that uses the mugi (麦) radical, which acts as an enclosure. Inside the enclosure, we...
Shodou for the DS: 毛筆で書く・相田みつをDS →
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Kanji Up Close: 琥珀
Today’s interesting kanji:
琥珀 （こはく）
Meaning: “amber”
Recently spotted: It’s in the title of 琥珀の望遠鏡, the Japanese edition of The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman. There is also a Kuji Amber Museum (久慈琥珀博物館) in Iwate Prefecture, and kohaku beer by Yebisu. Details: The こ character consists of the jade radical plus “tiger”. The はく character consists of jade...
この漢字読めるかな？ →
This Japanese-language blog introduces a new word with difficult-to-read kanji daily. Check it out if you’d like to test your kanji power.
January 2008
1 post
2 tags
