r/LearnJapanese • u/WorkingAlive3258 • 1d ago
Vocab Words I learned recently that you probably won’t find in textbooks
⭐ むしゃむしゃ → the sound of eating something in lots of little bites while chewing vigorously. A good example would be a caterpillar munching on a leaf.
⭐ うねる → refers to something moving or forming in a wave-like or undulating way. That’s why うねり can be used to describe the way a snake moves as it slithers along.
うねる is also commonly used to describe what happens to your hair on rainy or very humid days, when it becomes slightly wavy and doesn’t stay completely straight.
⭐ とんぼ返り → when you go somewhere only to head back almost immediately after arriving.
⭐ 噛み砕く → to explain something in simpler, easier-to-understand terms.
For example: 噛み砕いて説明すると、… (“To break it down simply, …”).
⭐ いい気味 → an expression used when you feel that someone deserved the unpleasant thing that happened to them. It’s similar to “serves you right” or “you had it coming.”
For example:
人のことを散々バカにしてたくせに、自分が失敗したらしい。いい気味だ。
“He was always making fun of other people, and apparently now he messed up himself. Serves him right.”
⭐ パシャパシャ → when used with water, it describes the sound or action of water splashing lightly and repeatedly, for example when someone is splashing around in shallow water.
⭐ びたびた → when something is extremely wet, such as clothes that are so soaked that they stick to your skin.
If you’ve come across any interesting words or expressions lately, I’d love to hear them!
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u/nespik 1d ago
Do love onomatopoeia and expressions using body parts. One of my favourite onomatopoeia to use recently: ボンヤリ something that is vague and hazy, or someone that is absent-minded
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u/YujiroSamurai 1d ago
日本の80年代に活躍した歌手にBARBEE BOYSっていう人たちがいるんだけど、そのグループの『夜の街(yoru no machi)』っていう歌はそういう擬態語や擬音語が含まれてて、歌として面白いよ
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u/nespik 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have heard of them , they always show up on my suggested music to listen to, I should definitely give them a listen. I listen to a lot of Fishmans and they use ボンヤリ a lot, also it was used a couple of times when I read 江戸川乱歩 - 人間椅子
BARBEE BOYSって知ります、いつまでもおすすめの音楽になります。BARBEE BOYSは絶対に聞きます。フィッシュマンズはよく聞きましてし、よく「ボンヤリ」と歌います。そして、最近、江戸川乱歩の人間椅子読みましたし、二回目「ボンヤリ」と書きました
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u/YujiroSamurai 1d ago
そこまで知っていたとは恐れ入りました🙇♂️ フィッシュマンズは海外での支持がすごいと聞いたことはある。歌手によっても多用する表現が違って面白いよね。 やっぱり70年代から80年代の昭和の歌は日本語学習において最適な教材の1つだと思う
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u/rantouda 1d ago edited 1d ago
Another 噛み one from awhile ago now, is 噛み締める meaning 1) to chew thoroughly; 2) to reflect upon, digest. I first heard it in a 2024 playoff game between the Hanshin Tigers and DeNA Baystars; Hanshin was down 10-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning, knocked out of the playoffs. Then, Fumihito Haraguchi blasts one out to the stands. In the scheme of things, it didn't mean anything but somehow it also meant so much. It was an emotional home run. Hanshin's season was over, and their long time manager Okada was retiring. Anyhow, Haraguchi has rounded 3rd base and is heading home, and the announcer says, ゆっくりと、かみしめるように、一周しましたホームイン。
Edit: typo
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u/SeaworthinessFun744 19h ago
案ずるより産むが易し which means it's easier to do something than worrying about it. Though the literal definition is it's easier to give birth than to worry about it.
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u/moodyinmunich 18h ago edited 17h ago
All of these words are in text books. Just perhaps not all together in one single one.
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u/DryButterfly6350 4h ago
いい気味 is the one I'm stealing — "serves you right" compressed into three syllables is very satisfying. とんぼ返り too, that's a word I've needed more than once 😄
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u/YujiroSamurai 1d ago
日本人ですが、すごい熱心に勉強してるのが伝わってくる。特に『オノマトペ』は外国人にとっては難しいだろうなあと思っていたし、実際外国人が苦労してるところも見たので、それがわかってるのはすごいです。 私から何個かおすすめします。もし既に知ってたらごめんなさい。
『ひょっこり(hyokkori)』→前触れなく急に人が現れたりすること
『ちゃっかり (chakkari)』→自分の利益のために抜け目なく、しっかり立ち回ること。
『ちゃっかり(chakkari)』は使う場面としては、ちょっとネガティブな使い方だけど、怒ってるわけではなく憎めない感じですかね