My Favorite Japanese Words

While listening to the people around me or while listening to TV programs, I regularly hear some interesting sounding Japanese words. 

Some time ago, I learned that these words have become increasingly popular in Japan. They are called onomatopoeias. 

Onomato  - What?

According to Taylor (2014), "Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which the sound of the word is used to deliberately echo or underline the meaning". They are, in other words, words that actually sound like the object, feeling or occurrence they are seeking to describe. 

Japanese Onomatopoeias 

If you're an English teacher in Japan, there are times when you say something that draws laughter from your students. Or you find them mimicking you. Sometimes I'm annoyed when it happens but then I catch myself doing the same thing when I hear the words below! Oops! LOL. For some reason they have a funny sound to them. 

Here are 10 of my favorite Japanese words: 

1. バラバラ (barabara) - I learned this one in the classroom. The kids or teachers often use it to mean things are scattered around. It might also be used if we're playing a game involving the use of cards and the cards need to be spread out on the table. 

2. ギリギリ (girigiri) - I was a few minutes late one morning and found myself using this one. The morning anxiety coupled with the fact that I had caught a cold, resulted in the morning being all rushed and confusing. The word indicated that, "I barely made it to work". 

3. ふわふわ (fuwafuwa) - I really like this one. It's winter time now so all the furry coats and fluffy blankets are out. If your new blanket is all soft and nice, this is the word to describe that feeling. 

4. ガラガラ (garagara) - I think I usually hear this one on the news. If there was an earthquake or landslide or explosion, people use it to describe a rattling sound they may have heard. 

5. パラパラ (parapara) - I hear this one on a rainy day. If it's raining lightly, this is the one to use to describe that. 

6. ピカピカ (pikapika) - I really like this one as well. It's Christmas time with lots of illumination around. In Jamaica, all the floors are clean and shiny with wax! LOL. The sparkling lights and shiny floors can be described using this one. 

7. ドンドン (dondon) - Who's that at the door? If you want to talk about the knocking on the door, this is the one to use. 

8. ワクワク (wakuwaku) - How exciting! If you use this one, you'll be sure to express how exciting something is/was. 

9. ニコニコ (nikoniko) - Can't stop smiling at the fact in a few days it'll be the holidays? Your smile can be expressed as nikoniko. 

10. ゴロゴロ (gorogoro) - I think I usually hear this one on the news as well. It's used to express a thundering sound. 

There are a whole lot more of these words, but these are the ones I've heard before and hear the most. 

If you're interested in knowing more about these words, you might like this post, http://www.tofugu.com/guides-old/japanese-onomatopoeia-guide/ 

バイバイ! Baibai! 

Reference

Taylor, R. (2014). Retrieved Monday December 8, 2014. http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/onomatopoeia-may-be-the-linguistic-remnant-of-the-beginnings-of-human-speech-1688/

Why Sit We Here Until We Die?

And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? (2 Kings 7:3, KJV).

 

I love the way that these men reasoned out their situation. It's like they said, "What have we to lose?" Where they were wasn't good. They were hungry. They could either enter the city and find some food; or not find any food and die there. Or they could stay where they were and die just the same. They had nothing to lose.

 

The fact that they went and found an abundance of food was amazing. But not only did they find food and eat until dem belly full, they found a whole 'eep of silver and gold and other things! It's so sweet, mi haffi chat likkle patwa! I love it!

 

Now just imagine. You are stuck in a situation. You either stay where you are and never come out of it, or you try something and see what happens. If what you tried didn't work, at least you can be comforted in knowing that you tried. But what if it worked? What if you don't need to stay in the rut that you are in? What if some gold and silver are awaiting you but you need only to take the first step?

 

What a waste it would have been if these men hadn't decided to move from where they were. What  a good thing they had said, "Why sit we here until we die?"

 

Nothing beats a try!

Make Your Wants/Thoughts Known To The Lord

A few days ago, a teacher asked me what it is that I am always writing. LOL. I told her that I write about my thoughts, dreams and other things. She told me that it is easy for her to talk about what she feels. I told her that it is easier for me to write my thoughts. I shared with her that expressing my thoughts verbally is something that I'm trying to work on. She said that she's often wondered what people truly feel - people who don't express themselves.

I thought about our conversation and said to myself, God must be saying the same thing, too. He must want to hear what I'm thinking. Of course, He knows all my thoughts, but He wants me to TALK to Him. I need to let my wants, desires and thoughts known to Him.

I have trouble expressing myself generally, and I take that same approach in my relationship with God. Some time ago, I was talking to the Lord asking Him what he wanted me to do with my life. I felt like He asked me, "What do you want to do?" I didn't really have an answer.

I think I'm getting better at it though. The first step in growing is recognizing that you have a problem and then taking steps to correct it. That's how we grow.

I still have to work hard at saying what's on my mind and letting God know (verbally) what it is that I'd like Him to do.

Perhaps you have the same problem. Perhaps, it comes from feeling as if there is no use in asking, God won't hear or answer. But that's not true. God does hear us when we pray. He hears every prayer and He sees every tear. He might not answer us the way in which we hoped, but the answer He provides will always be what is best for us.