日本人の知らない日本語 (The Japanese that the Japanese Don't Know) Episodes 7 & 8 Ikea Anne Natividad 1st Period
Episode 7
色 (Colors) Although some shades may be considered "red," Japanese still has many names for different shades of color 赤 (aka) = red - 朱色 (shu iro) = vermillion - 緋色 (hi iro) = scarlet -真紅 (shinku) = crimson - 紅梅 (kou bai) = pink (?) - 茜色 (akane iro) = red madder
色 (Colors) [cont.] Although there are words for 青 (blue) and 緑 (green) now, "ao" (blue) used to be used for many kinds of colors, including shades of green. 青 (ao) = blue - 群青色 (gunjou iro) = ultramarine - 青磁色 (seiji iro) = celadon - 青朽葉 (ao kuchiba) = olive green (?) - 青竹色 (ao takeiro) = green bamboo color - 青たい (sei tai) = black/dark blue (?)
色 (Colors) [cont.] Originally, the character for green represented youth/ the budding youth of plants. Examples: - Glossy hair: みどりの黒髪 (midori no kurokami) = "greenish black hair" - Newborn baby: みどりのご (midori go) = "green child"
Episode 8
3 Steps for Using Keigo (敬語) STEP 1: Use passive voice. - Ex:課長がご飯を「食べられます」。 = The section chief eats. STEP 2: Add "になります" (ni narimasu) to the verb - Ex:部長がご飯を「お食べになります」。 = The department head eats. STEP 3: Use the special form of the verb - Ex: 社長がご飯を「召し上がります」。 = The president eats. Each step increases the amount of respect conveyed in a sentence.
Special Verb Forms Certain verbs have special forms that they change into when you're trying to be respectful. Examples: いる, 行く, 来る (iru, Iku, kuru) = いらっしゃる (irassharu) 言う (iu) = おっしゃる (ossharu) する (suru) = なさる (nasaru)
Keigo (敬語) "Osore irimasu ga" = Sorry to impose - Lowers your status, but it's like a command; implies that the partner should give a certain answer "Sashitsukae nakereba" = Not to interfere (apologizing) - Lowers your status and lets your partner make up their own mind "Omemoji" = a humble way to say "to meet"