Author Archives: ChaySchiller

後輩 – Junior people

Posted on January 13, 2014 by ChaySchiller

In the first sentence, the phrase “I rounded up three coworkers for a bicycle trip” is not quite the same as the original Japanese. In the original, it is expressed thusly: 職場後輩と3人で自転車を持ち寄り 職場 – Workplace 後輩 – Junior people 持ち寄り … Continue reading →

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生まれて初めての書き初め（かきぞめ）です。

Posted on January 4, 2014 by ChaySchiller

with chilly winds and audacious dreams it starts again 寒風と野太い夢や再開始 かんぷう と　のぶとい ゆめ や　さいかい し – Chay Schiller

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Haiku Poem

Posted on December 28, 2013 by ChaySchiller

restful day I eat with my wife roasted bird 祝日に鳥の丸焼き妻と共 しゅくじつ に　とり の まるやき　つま と とも – Chay Schiller

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“konnyaku sweeps away the body’s sand” (蒟蒻は体の砂払い)

Posted on December 18, 2013 by ChaySchiller

Most cultures include a smattering of homespun wisdom regarding the benefits of certain foods. In American culture, it is said that carrots are good for the eyes, roughage (like lettuce) is good for digestion, and chicken soup is good for … Continue reading →

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Today’s yoji jukugo – 頭寒足熱　ずかんそくねつ, “head cold, feet warm”

Posted on December 14, 2013 by ChaySchiller

One of the fundamental aspects of oriental culture is the theory of the yin and the yang. Grouped within this set are numerous other pairs of opposites – female and male, cold and hot, sinking and rising, earth and sky … Continue reading →

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an ogre getting sunsick (鬼の霍乱)

Posted on December 3, 2013 by ChaySchiller

Today we will study the Japanese expression “an ogre getting sunsick” (鬼の霍乱), which is used to express surprise when a strong person falls ill unexpectedly. The figurative language found in this expression is somewhat unique in that it does not … Continue reading →

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Haiku Poem

Posted on December 2, 2013 by ChaySchiller

tables joined a river of plates we begin 卓合わせお皿の川で始めよう たく あわせ　おさら の かわ で　はじめよう – Chay Schiller

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Today’s yoji jukugo

Posted on November 18, 2013 by ChaySchiller

Today’s yoji jukugo is ichi nichi sen shuu (一日千秋), meaning “one day, thousand autumns”. It’s important to note that an autumn is a traditional way of saying year in Japanese. Thus, this word could be translated to “a thousand years … Continue reading →

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日本語と英語俳句について

Posted on November 11, 2013 by ChaySchiller

Ruminations on English, Japanese, and haiku. English and Japanese have completely different vocabularies and grammatical structures. Everyone knows this. Yet what not many are aware of are the imprints that words and thought patterns leave on our minds. Those of … Continue reading →

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Haiku Poem

Posted on November 9, 2013 by ChaySchiller

this cold night even geckos are fleeing powerful rain 大雨や守宮も逃げる寒い夜 おおあめ や　やもり も にげる　さむい よる Usually there are geckos on my window at night. They like to hunt the bugs that are drawn by the light from my office. There … Continue reading →

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