ニコニコ動画 Tuesday Class, March 31, 2009

This is a review of words used in
the LIVE NICO NICO CLASS
broadcast on March 31, 20009.
--------------------------------------------
~ はどこですか？
Where is the restroom?
Excuse me, where is the toilet?
toilet＝regular
restroom＝more polite
bathroom＝remember this is NOT お風呂
powder room＝very polite, women use it
ladies room=polite
men's room=polite
the loo＝British English
the head＝military English
Example: I gotta hit the head.
the john＝men's casual English

Excuse me, how can I get to the station?
Do you know the way to ~.
Could you direct me to the station?
Could you show me the way to the station?
Could you tell me where the ladies room is?
Excuse me, could you tell me where the luggage claim is?

It's located in Sakae.=The word "located" is formal and not necessary.
It's in Sakae.

New way to say お久しぶり！
"Look who's here!"

On the telephone: "Long time no talk!"
or "It's been forever."
-------------------
It's 花見 Season!
-------------------
We're having a cherry blossom viewing party this weekend.
The flowers are in full bloom.
満開=full bloom

裁判English.

---------------
裁判English.
---------------
to break the law=法律を破る
to go to jail=刑務所に送る
to go to prison=入獄する、獄門に下る、投獄される
to go to prison for life=終身刑になる
a detention center=拘置所
to go to court=裁判所に行く、裁判に訴える、裁判［訴訟］を起こす、提訴する
to try a case=事件を審理する［裁判にかける］
to try someone for a crime=（人）を裁判にかける
to try someone for murder=（人）を殺人容疑で裁判する
a court=裁判,公判
a judge= 裁判官
to judge sb=～を裁く、裁判する、～に判決を下す, ～を（…で）判断する
Don't judge me.=私を判断するな。, 私を攻めないで。
a jury= 陪審、陪審員団
a juror=juryの一員、陪審員
It depends on the state.= それは州それぞれによります。/ それぞれの州による。
He got the death
sentence.= 彼は死刑判決を受ける。
He got life.=彼は終身刑になった。
He got time off for good behavior.= 彼は服役中に模範的な行動をしていたので刑期が短縮された。

ニコニコ動画 Friday Class, March 27, 2009

Talking about
Norika Fujiwara!
----------------------
Norika Fujiwara
is in the spotlight.
It's rumored that she
was romantically
involved with Andy Hug.

People say she and
Andy Hug were involved.

I heard that she and
Andy Hug were secretly
seeing each other.

She did the voice of
Princess Fiona in the
Japanese-dubbed
version of Shrek.

She just got divorced
from Tomonori Jinnai.

She divorced Tomonori Jinnai.

She divorced him
over an affair.

He cheated on her.

He had an affair
with someone.
----------------------------
Vocabulary building
----------------------------
1. I was surprised.
2. I was at a
loss for words.
3. I was speechless.
4. I was alarmed.
5. I was astonished.
6. I was astounded.
7. I was bewildered.
8. I was confounded.
9. I was dazed.
10. I was frightened.
11. I was shocked.
12. I was startled.
13.I was stunned.
14. I was stupefied.
15. I had no idea
that would happen.

ニコニコ動画 Wednesday Class, March 25, 2009

Basic Translation Mistakes!
---------------------------

Translate the following:
1. パーティーに参加しますか？

---------
Answer:
---------
1. Are you going to the party?
Typical Mistake:
X Are you joining the party.
a) "join"は決まっているグループと一緒に使う.
Example:
When did you join the company?
Are you going to join the club?
Ichiro joined the Mariners.

b) "join"は人間と一緒に使う。
Example:
Would you like to join us for dinner?
Do you mind if I join you?

2. 今度のパーティーに行けません。
2. I'm not going to be able to go to the party.
I'm not going to make the party.

3. 今日駄目です。約束が入っているんだ。
3. I can't today. I already have plans.

NOTE: plans is usually plural (複数)
--------------------
MAKE IDIOMS!
--------------------
1. I made a mistake.
2. She made me mad!
3. Don't make me go!
4. I made lunch.
5. I made up my mind.
6. He made the bed.
7. You made my day!
These flowers really make this room.
That song really made the movie.
8. We made it! = We succeeded!
9. I don't think I'm going to make my train.
Are you going to make your plane?
10. The cops made him! = He's been made.
= They identified him or recognized him.

-----------
News
-----------
Japan opposition leader's aide indicted in scandal
to indict sb: 人を非難する、起訴する、告訴する、告発する

Hawker's family hopes Japan will eliminate statute of limitations
a statute of limitations: 時効

ニコニコ動画 Monday Class, March 23, 2009

Must know slang:
"piss" has 3 meanings
1) おしっこ=pee, urine
Examples:
The dog pissed on the tree. (動詞)
I have to piss. (動詞)
I stepped in piss. (名詞)
2) 怒っている=angry、まd
Examples:
I am pissed.
I am pissed off.
She really pissed me off
I'm p.o.'d. (short for: I'm pissed off.)
3) 酔っている=drunk
He is pissed.
----------------------------
Speaking of "drunk".
----------------------------
a) I'm a little drunk. = I'm tipsy.
b) I'm really drunk. = I'm trashed.
----------------------------
Speaking of "trash".
----------------------------
Someone or something that is of very low quality is considered "trash".
Examples:
That movie was trash.
That magazine is trash.
That criminal is trash.
a crime: 犯罪
a criminal =犯罪者
--------------------------------
Speaking of criminals:
--------------------------------
Vocabulary:
the death penalty=死刑
to sentence sb to death: 死刑を宣告する、死刑判決を下す
to sentence a murderer to death: 殺人者を死刑に処する
to sentence sb to life imprisonment: 終身刑を宣告する
life imprisonment: 終身刑.
Example:
He got life. = He got life imprisonment.
to be sentenced to ten years at ［of］ hard labor: 重労働10年を申し渡される.

Last Wednesday a Nagoya court sentences 2 men to death and a third to life imprisonment for killing a woman.

A court sentenced 2 men to death.

to turn oneself in: 自首する
The third man turned himself into the police.

厳しい=strict
反対語=opposite
What is the opposite of "strict"?
lenient (形容詞): 寛大な
leniency: 寛大さ
There is no room for leniency=情状酌量の余地はない。
He got leniency. = That means the court went easy on him.
Take it easy on me.
Go easy on him.
-----------------------------------
The airplane accident.
-----------------------------------
An airplane crashed today.
An airplane crashed today.
The pilot and copilot died in the accident.
犠牲者=victims
My condolences.
I'm sorry for your loss.

----------------------------------------------
Baseball Game: Japan v.s. USA
-----------------------------------------------
Japan beat the USA today.
The USA lost to Japan.
Japan trained harder than the USA.
Japan has a good chance of winning.
Who are you rooting for?
to root for sb= 応援する

ニコニコ動画 Sunday Class, March 22, 2009

---------------------------
Useful Idiom point
---------------------------
Use these with people: to bump into sb: ばったり会う
to run into sb:ばったり会う
Example: I bumped into an old friend at the mall yesterday.

Use this with things: to come across st:
Example: I came across an interesting article in the newspaper today.

-----------------------
Listening point for today:
-----------------------
What we hear: It's preddy good, isn dit?
What we write: It's pretty good, isn't it?

Another listening variation: It's preddy good, idnit?

Yes! idnit=isn't it!

The math: t → d
------------------------
Fruit Expressions:
------------------------
Fill in the following blanks with the best fruit:
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Thanks so much, honey! You're a~!
2. An ~ a day keeps the doctor away.
3. I bought a new car, but it broke down after one week. What a ~!
4. You can't compare rock music
and opera! They're (fruit A)s and (fruit B)s.
5. I heard through the ~vine that you got a new girlfriend! What's she like?
-------------------------------
Explanation of above:
-------------------------------
1. a peach: a very nice person or thing
2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.: something that you say which means eating an apple every day will keep you healthy
3. a lemon st you buy that broken, has problems or is low quality
4. apples and oranges: used to talk about 2 things that are too different to compare
5. the grapevine: gossip
------------------------------------------
Obama news:
-------------------
He made a joke comparing his bowling ability to that of the Special Olympics.
Special Olympics: 特別オリンピック、スペシャル・オリンピックス◆知的障害者｛ちてき しょうがいしゃ｝のためのオリンピック

Fill in the blank: He put his ~ in his mouth.


Answer: ʇooɟ
-------
Idiom!
-------
to put one's foot in one's mouth
へまなことをうっかり言ってしまう、失言する、問題発言をする、へまをする、どじを踏む、しくじる、失敗

to make a (verbal) gaffe:　 失言をする

Aso said stock traders can be shady.
Shady is あやしい。

What are other words for 「あやしい」?
dubious, dodgy,suspicious, questionable, fishy

Thanks for coming today!
Victor

ニコニコ動画 Wednesday Class, March 18, 2009

------------------
Today's Listening:
------------------
So, wuddayawannado?
=
So, what do you want to do?

Listening math:
what + do = wudda
want + to = wanna
--------------------------------------
Translate the following into English!
-------------------------------
1. 先の話に戻るけど。
2. さっそくだけど。
3. おもいついたんだけど。
4. ちなみに。
5. その話はおいといて
6. そうじゃなくて
7. よく言うよ。　
----------------------
Answers to the above:
----------------------
1. Getting back to what we
were talking about before.
Let's get back on track.
You were saying?
Where were we?
Where was I?
What was I saying?
Let's get back to what
we were talking about.
2. Let's get to the point.
Let me get right to the point.
Let's get right to the point.
Getting to the point, ~.
3. I just realized something.
It just occurred to me.
I just had an idea.
I just had a thought.
4. Incidentally
By the way
That reminds me
Speaking of
5. Let's change the subject for a moment.
Let's put that aside for a moment
Putting that aside
6. That's not what I meant.
What I meant to say was...
I didn't meant that.
7. There you go again.
Shut up. (Smile!)
I bet you say that to all the girls.

Iraqi who threw shoes at
Bush jailed for 3 years
To jail sb means to
put them in jail.
He was convicted of assault.

FOCUS:
--------------
to make it.
--------------
I can't make it?
By what time can
you make it?
He finally made it!
I made it myself.
He made a goal.


Today's complaint:
X Present for you. <--NOT natural!

O This is for you.
O I have a present for you.
O I bought this for you.
O I got you something.
O I got you a present.
O I got a present for you.
O I have a little something for you.
O This is a small token of my appreciation.
O This is a small token of my gratitude.

ニコニコ動画 Tuesday Class, March 17, 2009

Let's learn new ways to say easy things:
1. He's old.
2. She's young.
3. She's rich.
4. He has no money.
5. He died.
6. I feel sick.
7. I'm tired.
8. I'm hungry.
9. He's crazy.
10. That's easy.
11. I am surprised.
12. I can't go tonight.
----------------------
Answers to above!
----------------------
1. He's over the hill.
2. She's a spring chicken.
3. She's loaded.
4. He's broke.
X He's broken.
一門なし。He's flat/dead broke.
5. He passed away. (formal)
He kicked the bucket.
He bought the farm.
6. I'm a little under the weather.
7. I'm pooped.
I'm beat.
I'm exhausted.
I'm dead tired.
8. I'm starving/
starved/
ravenous/
famished/
peckish/
so hungry
I could eat a horse.
9. He's nuts/insane/bananas.
O He's a nut. but
X He's a banana.
10. That's a piece of cake.
That's a walk in the park.
That's as easy as pie.
That's child's play.
11. I'm speechless.
I'm at a loss for words.
12. I can't make it tonight.
I'll take a rain check.

ニコニコ動画 Friday Class, March 13, 2009

How can you say the following in English?
1. いただきます。
2. ごちそうさま。
3. おめでとう！
4. どうぞ。
5. お先にどうぞ。
6. いいえ、とんでもない。
7. 遅れて、すみません。
------------------------



Answers to the above...
1. I'm hungry. This looks good.
2. That was great/delicious.
3. Congratulations!
Good job!
Kudos!
Props!
4. Please go ahead.
Help yourself.
Be my guest.
5. After you!
Age before beauty.
Youth before beauty.
6. Don't mention it.
Forget it.
7. Sorry, I'm late.

------------------------
Today is Friday the 13th.
superstitious?
5 facts about Friday the 13th...

1. Fear of Friday the 13th - one of the most popular myths in science - is called paraskavedekatriaphobia as well as friggatriskaidekaphobia. Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13.

2. Many hospitals have no room 13, while some tall buildings skip the 13th floor and some airline terminals omit Gate 13.

3. President Franklin D. Roosevelt would not travel on the 13th day of any month and would never host 13 guests at a meal. Napoleon and President Herbert Hoover were also triskaidekaphobic, with an abnormal fear of the number 13.

4. Mark Twain once was the 13th guest at a dinner party. A friend warned him not to go. "It was bad luck," Twain later told the friend. "They only had food for 12." Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.

5. The number 13 suffers from its position after 12, according to numerologists who consider the latter to be a complete number - 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the zodiac, 12 gods of Olympus, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 days of Christmas and 12 eggs in a dozen.

ニコニコ動画 Wednesday Class, March 11, 2009

Today's Class if for Intermediate to Advanced students.
I plan to do a short 公開 class -- open to non members. If you go to both, you may see me repeat some of the information here:
------------------------
First, let's warm-up!
------------------------
Translate the following to English!
1. また後で。
2. まだ今度.
3. お元気で。
4. いってきます。
5. いってらっしゃい。
6. ただいま。
7. おかえりなさい。
Bonus Questions:
8. はっきりしないお天気ですね。
9. お願いがあるんだけど。
10. それで思い出したんだけど。

------------------
Answers to above:
------------------
1. See you later!, Later! Hasta la vista! See you later, alligator!, Take care! See you in a little while!, See you soon!
2. Some other time., We'll do next time., I'll take a rain check.
3. Take care. Take it easy.
4. I'm going out now., See you later.
5. Have a good day., Have a good one.
6. I'm home!, Honey, I'm home!
7. Welcome home!
8. The weather has been really fickle.
9. I have a favor to ask you.
10. That reminds me.

From Heroes today:
You're a very resourceful woman.=あなたは機略に富んだ女性です。
a resourceful person=力［能力/才能/才覚］のある人
--------------
Today's news:
--------------
1. Who is Kim Hyon Hui?
(Answer using "former" or "ex")

2. Is she famous or infamous?

3. What did she do?
(Hints: airplane, South Korean, 1987)

4. What did she do when they arrested her?

5. Was she found guilty or not guilty?

6. What was her punishment?

7. Why is she alive today?

8. Why was she pardoned?

9. How did Kim learn Japanese?

------------------
Answers to above:
------------------
1. She is an ex-North Korean spy. / She is an former North Korean agent.

2. Trick question! She is actually both! She was first infamous for her crimes. Then later she became famous because her husband wrote a book about her.

3. She planted a bomb on an airline. The bomb detonated.
to plant a bomb: 爆弾を仕掛ける
to detonate: 爆発する

4. She tried to commit suicide by swallowing cyanide tablets.

5. She was found guilty.

6. She was sentenced to death.
to sentence sb to (punishment) =（人）を～の刑に処する

sentenced to death
《be ～》死刑判決を受ける

7. She was pardoned.
to pardon sb=(人）に完全な赦免を与える

8. She was pardoned because she was believed to have been duped into committing her crime by the North Korean government, specifically Kim Jon Il.
to dupe=だます, to fool sb

9. She learned Japanese from Taguchi, a Japanese woman who was kidnapped when she was 22 years old in June 1978.
------------------
Newspaper quote:
------------------
"I have no doubt your mother is still alive. I’m sure you will be able to meet her if you continue to make the effort," Kim told them in Japanese. Kim is believed to have learned from Taguchi.

ニコニコ動画 Class, March 9, 2009

犬を飼っています。
X I keep a dog.
O I have a dog.

犬は好きですか？
X Do you like dog?
O Do you like dogs.

どんな犬が好きですか？
X What kind dog do you like?
O What kind of dogs do you like?

何匹飼っていますか？
X How many of dogs do you have?
O How many dogs do you have?

She chewed off his face.

How many toys
has Maggie broken?

Are you a dog person
or a cat person?

They look alike.

あなたの犬は可愛いです。
X Your dog is pretty.
O Your dog is cute/adorable.

どんな犬が好きですか？
What kind of dogs do you like?

どんな種類の犬ですか？
What kind of dog is that?
What type of dog is that?
What breed of dog is that?

a mutt
I'm a mutt.
a mixed breed
a mix
I'm of mixed descent.

What kind of camera is that?

What type of camera is that?

What brand of camera is that?

What make of camera is that?

Did you get the make?

Where was that camera made?

Today's weather:
雨がぽつぽつ降って来たね。
It's sprinkling.
It's sprinkling rain.

ザアザア降りだね.
It's raining hard.
It's pouring.
It's pouring down rain.
It's pouring rain.
It's pouring down.
It's pouring outside.
It's really coming down.
It's coming down in buckets.
"It's raining cats and dogs."
(I never use this, but
it some people use it.)

多くの人は 小沢氏に民主党の代表を辞任して欲しい
Most people want Ozawa to quit as leader of the as the head of the Democratic Party of Japan.
to step down
to resign

ニコニコ動画 Class, March 8, 2009

Tonight on Niko Niko Douga, I plan to study these words/phrases.
You can become a member here.
http://ch.nicovideo.jp/channel/ch208

お久しぶり。

Easiest: Long time.

Most common: Long time no see.

Slang: It's been [ages / years / a while / forever].

Surprise: I haven't seen
you in a while.

Formal: It's been a while.

Casual/cool: Well, hello stranger!

Positive: It's good to hear from you again!

Idiom to use when someone comes in suddenly: Look what the cat dragged in.

久しぶりに５年ぶりに会った。=
I haven't see you for 5 years.
This is the first time I've seen you in 5 years.

久しぶりに最高のニュースを聞いたよ.=
That's the best news I've heard for a long time.

1念ぶりに寿司を食べに行った。=
I went out for sushi for the first time in a year.

ひさしぶりに=
For the first time in a long while
For the first time
in a long time

子供の時以来久しぶりに=
for the first time since one was a child

"finally" is usually translated to "at last" or "やっと" but in some cases it is also a kind of 久しぶり。
久しぶりに晴れましたね。
We finally got some sunshine.


懐かしい=natsukashii, nostalgic

That (song) sure brings back memories.

That (song) takes me back.

That takes me back to the good old days.

It feels like the good old days.

News:
Monkeys at the Awajishima Monkey Center are suffering from 花粉症
花粉症=
I'm allergic to pollen.
I have a pollen allergy.
I have hay fever.

counterfeit 10,000-yen notes

偽札, 偽造 紙幣(ぎぞう しへい),にせ札=
counterfeit bills

Ｑちゃん、ありがとう「最後の雄姿」にファン大声援
雄姿=
beautiful figure ,majestic figure, magnificent view

声援=
applause
support

ニコニコ動画 Class, March 5, 2009

I’d like to see a movie.
I feel like seeing a movie.
I’m in the mood for seeing a movie.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a movie.
I could go for a movie.

a film


a flick

to go to the movies

to go see a movie

to go to the cinema

to catch a movie

to catch a flick


I'm a movie buff.
I'm a horror movie aficionado.
Who's in it?
Who does it star?
What's is about?
What's the premise?
How are the reviews?
The reviews have been gushing.

What are the critics saying about it?
They are raving about it.

Where does it take place?
What do you want to see?
I don't know. What's showing?
Would you recommend it?
I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.
On a scale from 1 to 10, I'd give it a 7.

Do you think I'd like it?
Yeah, I think you'd like it.
I don't think it's your
kind of movie.

I don't think it
would be your cup of tea.

2 thumbs up
2 thumbs down

We should watch that
movie on the big screen.

That movie is so bad,
it's not even worth
watching it on DVD.

Johnny Depp stars as
Captain Jack Sparrow.

Johnny Depp, who will
reprise his role as Captain
Jack Sparrow in a fourth
Pirates Of The Caribbean film.

a sequel

a trilogy

a prequel

a movie critic

a sneak-preview=試写会

to bring a character to life

convincing

a premise

hokey

corny

predictable/unpredictable

a summer block buster

a block buster

to rake in money

overly sentimental

That movie had me on the edge of my seat.

a period piece

Nico Nico Tues, March 3, 2009 Show

Today we talked about Hina Matsuri.

Hina Matsuri is (held/hold) (on/at) March 3rd every year.

The Japanese Doll Festival ~ place on March 3 and celebrates "Girls' Day".

The custom of displaying dolls began (during/while) the Heian period.
The Shimogamo Shrine celebrates the Nagashibina (by/with) floating these dolls between the Takano and Kamo Rivers to pray for the safety of children.
It is customary to drink amazake on this day.
Dolls are displayed on a 7 tier display.
On the top tier of the display are the Emperor (御内裏様, odairisama) and Empress (御雛様 O-hina-sama)
---------------------------
Weather:
--------------------------
It is raining in Nagoya.
X Today is hard rain.
O It poured.= It rained hard.

It's drizzling.=細かい雨が降ってる。

Remember to use "It" sentence to talk about weather or uncontrollable environment (環境) things.
Examples:
It's raining today.
It's dark outside.
It's cold outside.
It's 11:20pm.
It's Tuesday night.
It's March.

It was crowded on the train today.
It is a problem.

It's difficult to find a job now.
---------------------------------
Rules:
on + day
I was born on April 2nd.

to take place=to happen
When does the doll festival take place?

in + month/year
They celebrated his birthday in July.
The USA was born in 1776.

during + noun
Someone called during the meeting.
It rained during the night

while + sentence / verb-ing
I like to listen to music while I jog.
I like to listen to music while jogging.

with + tool
I fixed it with the hammer.

by + activity
I fixed it by using the hammer.

It is customary to + verb
People celebrate by + verb-ing