単語 (Vocabulary)

皮肉(ひにく): Sarcasm
冗談(じょうだん): Joke
礼儀(れいぎ): Etiquette
行動(こうどう)する: Act; Behave
寄(よ)せ箸(ばし): Chopstick dragging
ボーダーライン: Threshold ;Boundary
縁(ふち): Edge / Rim
馴染(なじ)み深(ぶか)い: Deeply Familiar / Familiar
気(き)づき: Insight / Epiphany / Realization
苦笑(にがわら)い: Bitter smile / Forced smile / Wry smile
立場(たちば): Position /Status

会話の話題 (Conversation Topics)

日本(にほん)で「外人(がいじん)カード」を使(つか)った瞬間(しゅんかん)や、それに関連(かんれん)する話(はなし)がありますか？
Do you have any stories or experiences in Japan where you felt you used the "Gaijin Card"?

日本(にほん)のマナーや習慣(しゅうかん)で、特(とく)に学(まな)びたいと思(おも)ったものや驚(おどろ)いたものは何(なに)ですか？
Are there any Japanese manners or customs that you particularly want to learn about or that surprised you?

あなたの国(くに)の文化(ぶんか)や習慣(しゅうかん)で、日本人(にほんじん)がモヤモヤしたりイラッとするかもしれないものは何(なに)だと思(おも)いますか？
What cultural or customary aspects of your country do you think might frustrate or irritate Japanese people?

外国(がいこく)で経験(けいけん)した、文化(ぶんか)や習慣(しゅうかん)の違(ちが)いによるトラブルや面白(おもしろ)いエピソードはありますか？
Do you have any interesting stories or troubles you've experienced abroad due to cultural or customary differences?

Japanese Onomatopoeia: Understanding "モヤモヤ", "イライラ", and "ヒヤヒヤ"

Japanese is a language rich in onomatopoeic expressions, which are words that phonetically imitate, resemble, or suggest the sound they describe. These expressions add depth and vividness to conversations, making them more expressive and relatable. Today, we'll delve into three such expressions: "モヤモヤ", "イライラ", and "ヒヤヒヤ".

モヤモヤ (Moyamoya)

Meaning: This term describes a feeling of unease, vagueness, or haziness. It can refer to both a physical fog or haze and a mental state of confusion or uncertainty.
English Equivalent: The feeling when something is "foggy" or "cloudy", not in terms of weather, but in terms of one's thoughts or feelings. It's like having a "clouded mind" or feeling "unsettled".
Usage in a sentence:
試験の結果が出るまでの間、モヤモヤした気持ちが続いた。
I felt uneasy waiting for the exam results.
先輩の言ったことが建前か本音かよく分からず、一日中モヤモヤしていた。
I was left feeling uncertain all day, not knowing if what my senior said was sincere or just lip service.
最新のジブリ映画は解釈が難しく、モヤモヤした気分になった。
The latest Ghibli movie was hard to understand, leaving me feeling a bit lost.

イライラ (Iraira)

Meaning: This word captures the feeling of irritation or annoyance. It's the emotion you feel when something or someone is getting on your nerves.
English Equivalent: "Irritated" or "annoyed". It's that feeling when you're "on edge" due to minor annoyances.
Usage in a sentence:
お腹が減っているとイライラしやすい。
I tend to get irritable when I'm hungry.
仕事が思うように進まなくて、イライラする。
I get frustrated when things don't go as planned at work.
彼の言い訳を聞くたびにイライラしてしまう。
I get annoyed every time I hear his excuses.

ヒヤヒヤ (Hiyahiyah)

Meaning: This expression describes the sensation of nervousness or anxiety, especially when you're worried about a potential danger or problem.
English Equivalent: Feeling "on pins and needles" or "on tenterhooks". It's that heart-in-your-mouth sensation when watching a suspenseful scene in a movie.
Usage in a sentence:
子供が高い所に登っていて、落ちそうでヒヤヒヤした。
My heart raced seeing my child climbing so high, fearing they might fall.
家にパスポートを忘れたかとおもってヒヤヒヤした。
I had a mini heart attack thinking I had left my passport at home.
初対面で年上だろうととタメ口で話す人を見るとヒヤヒヤする。
It makes me nervous seeing someone use informal speech with an elder upon first meeting.

お箸の使い方とマナー

Video Podcast and Japanese Transcripts (Furigana Included/Excluded)