2010年2月アーカイブ

Hello!

I hope you aren't too busy at work!

I am on holiday until April, so I would like to tell you about my holiday plans.  

Firstly, I plan to study a lot over the holidays- I'm not lying!

I have to write my thesis in Japanese,

so I'm going to study reading and writing Japanese a lot.

I'm also going to review lots of Chinese characters.

So far, I can read and write about 1,900, but I always forget them.

Remembering Chinese characters is hard!

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firstly　　　　　　　　 まず初めに

plan to    　　　　　　  ～をする計画

over the holidays　　　休暇の間中

I'm not lying!　　　　　 嘘じゃないよ！

my thesis              　　 論文

Chinese characters　   漢字

So far                   　 　今のところ

I can read and write about 1900, 　　

1900語の漢字を読み書きできる

Remembering Chinese characters

                            　　漢字を覚えること

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Secondly, I'm going to study more about Japanese music.

Recently, I've become interested in Japanese court music (gagaku),

so I want to learn more about it.

Also, I will be taking gagaku classes at my school from April,

so I need to prepare for the classes. 

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Secondly                            次に

Recently                             最近

will be taking                       ～を取っているでしょう

need to prepare for～          ～のために準備する必要がある

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Finally, if I have the chance, I'd like to go to Busan in Korea.

My friend from England will be teaching English in Busan from March,

so I'd like to see him. Also, I have many Korean friends who I would also like to visit.

It would be nice to eat lots of yakiniku with my friends in Korea!

Anyway, I hope I get the chance to do all these things!

See you soon!

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Finally                                 最後に

It would be nice to～           ～できたら素晴らしい

Anyway                               ところで

all these things                    それらすべての事

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◆ Salmiakki ◆

本日はフィンランドのお土産で頂戴した

サルミアッキというお菓子についてご紹介いたします。

このサルミアッキというお菓子。

聞いたことのある方はいらっしゃると思いますが

「世界で一番独特な味（？）の飴」と言われています。

食べてみると噂に違わない、とても不思議なお味。

味は・・・率直な感想をお伝えすると

私、小学生の頃、消しゴムをカジッた経験があるのですが

香り付きの消しゴムをたべたときのソレに似ています。

イマージのフリードリンクのコーナーに置いていますので

レッスン後に召し上がっていただくことをオススメ致します。

Valentine's day is coming soon!

In Japan, Valentine's day is very different than in the UK and other Western countries.

When I first came to Japan I wondered why girls bought the guys chocolates, whilst the guys bought nothing.This was very strange for me because in the UK it's the opposite.

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When I first came to Japan　　初めて日本に来てから

I wondered why～        　　　なぜ～なのか不思議に思う

guys                    　　　（ここでは）男性

whilst (while)          　　　～なのに、しかし一方で

bought nothing            　　（buyの過去形）何も買わない

the opposite            　　　反対（全く逆）の事

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Back home, guys take their girlfriend or wife out for dinner and buy them chocolates or flowers.

Couples may also buy each other greeting cards or show their affection.

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Back home               　　　うちでは、故郷では

take ～ out for dinner  　　　ディナーに～を連れていく

affection               　　　愛情、好意

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Younger people may also send a secret or surprise card to the person that they are interested in.

When I was young, I never received one of these :( but I did send one to a girl once!

I was really nervous, but luckily the girl liked me and we became girlfriend and boyfriend! :)

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the person that they are interested in  　（若者みなそれぞれの）好きな人

I never received one of these           　（カードを）一つももらった事がない

                ※one of these　　　　　　それら（カード）のうちの一つ

I did send one                  　　　　　なんと僕はそれを贈りました！

※do + sendでsend（贈る）の意味を強調。

nervous                         　　    　緊張する

luckily                                 　幸運にも

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Also, in Japan there is "giri-choco".

I think this is purely a Japanese invention!

In the UK we don't have to buy our boss or coworkers any chocolates.

If you did do this, they would get the wrong idea. ;) So be careful!

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purely                          純粋に、全く

invention                       発明、生み出したもの

don't have to ～                ～しなくても良い

coworkers                       同僚、仕事仲間

if you did do this              もしあなたが本当にそれをしたなら

※do + doでdoの意味を強調。

would get the wrong idea        勘違いするかもしれない

be careful!                     気をつけて！

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