The first question I asked was "Which do you prefer fish or meat?" . I asked this question to many different ages-from 4-71. Some gave me reasons why they picked one over the other. Most like both but preferred one a bit more.
Sarina-(girl, 17) LOVES meat -HATES seafood/fish
Saya (girl, 16) fish
Mifuyu (girl, 15) meat
Kayo (woman, Dr. 60's) Loves meat-Likes sashimi and sushi.Hates cooked fish because of bones.
Kyoko (girl, 12) meat
Riho (girl, 9) meat HATES fish
Sawa (girl, 9) fish - meat is too fatty
Hina (girl, 9) meat-hates fish
Kazuki (boy, 10) meat
Shuhei (boy,8) meat
Ayano (girl, 8) fish
Yayoi (girl, 7) meat
Yoshihide (boy,9) fish
Aiko (girl, 7) fish
Haru (girl, 13) fish
Airi (girl, 12) fish
Saki (girl, 13) meat -hates fish
Ren (girl, 12) fish
Michiyo (woman, teacher, 50's) fish-She likes it because it is simple and she like simple.
Yuika, (girl, 13) meat
Mako (girl, 14) meat
Takeko (woman, housewife, 60's) fish-because it is healthy
Kodai (boy, 7) fish
Hina (girl, 7) fish
Mai (girl, 6) meat
Manami (girl, 6) fish
Kana (girl, 6) fish
Natsumi (girl, 17) meat
Chika (girl, 16) meat
Yuna (girl, 16) meat
Yuka (girl, 15) meat
Sachiko (woman, housewife, 71) meat
Litsuko (woman, works in a dentist's office, 61) fish- HATES meat.
Kikue (woman, business owner, 56) fish
Aiko (girl, 4) fish
Rena (girl, 10) fish
Risa (girl, 8) meat
Wakaba (girl, 8) meat
Mami (girl, 9) meat
The next questions I only asked teenagers and women. It would have been too difficult to ask the younger kids.
What is your favorite word in English? What is your favorite word in Japanese?
Sarina (girl, 17) Her favorite English word is "guilty" but not because of the meaning...she likes the sound. Her favorite Japanese word is "kitsui"which means "tired".
Saya (girl, 16) Her favorite English word is "struggle". She doesn't have a favorite Japanese word but she has a Japanese word that she really really hates. She hates "gambare" which means "good luck" or "do your best". She feels it is used too much and that it really has lost meaning. It is true....it really is thrown around a lot!
Haru (girl,13) Her favorite English word is "happy". Her favorite Japanese word is "zamamiro"
which means "I told you so".
Airi (girl, 12) Her favorite English word is "thank you" and her favorite Japanese word is "ikiru" means "to live" or "life".
Saki (girl,12) Her favorite English word is "crazy" and her favorite Japanese word is "okebokujyo"which really just means "ok" but because this word was in a popular movie it is a little famous to say ok this way.
Ren (girl, 12) Her favorite English word is "idiot" and her favorite Japanese word is "ukeru" which means "so funny".
Michiyo (woman, teacher, 50's) Her favorite is "love" in both English and Japanese. In Japanese "love" is "ai".
Yuika (girl, 13) Her favorite English word is "thank you". She doesn't have a favorite Japanese word.
Mako (girl, 14). Her favorite English word is "happy". She doesn't have a favorite Japanese word.
Natsumi (girl, 17) Her favorite English word is "summer". Her favorite Japanese word is "warau" which means "smile".
Chika (girl, 16) Her favorite English word is "meat" (she really really loves meat!!). Her favorite Japanese word is "tanoshim" which means "enjoy" or "having fun".
Yuna (girl, 16). Her favorite English word is "fun". Her favorite word in Japanese is "warau" which means "smile".
Yuka (girl, 15) Her favorite English word is "smile". Her favorite Japanese word is "arigatou" which means "thank you".
Sachiko (woman, housewife, 71) Her favorite word is "fantastic". Her favorite Japanese word is "yasashisa" which means "kindness".
Litsuko (woman, works in a dental office, 61) Her favorite word in English is "happy". Her favorite Japanese word is "wa" which means "harmony".
Kikue (woman, business owner, 56) Her favorite English word is "beautiful". Her favorite Japanese word is "nasebanaru" which means something close to "may all your dreams come true".
I also asked some teens about today's popular words.
"googoolu" from "google". Means "to search" on the internet.
"amazoru" from "amazon.com" and it means "to shop".
Now the next one is a bit strange to me. The say "zabito" in the Hakata dialect or "zabiru" in proper Japanese. This is used when you see old men with "unique" hair. What is unique about this is that it comes from Francisco de Xavier, a Spanish Jesuit missionary who came to Japan in 1549. I"m not sure I have the right picture to show his "unique" hair but maybe the just mean bald on top?
Young Japanese really love to shorten words so for example "Mcdonalds" (which is pronounced macu donaludo) is "macu" and "starbucks" is just "staba". So "tanjobi presento" (birthday present) is too long so it is now "tanpre".
I will post more questions and answers another day.
6 comments:
wow, thanks for sharing all these!! it was so fascinating to read through the list!
I love the favourite words :)
Thanks for sharing, I really enjoyed reading their favorite Japanese words!
OMG. I loved that an older woman's favorite word was FANTASTIC!
That's neat!! Also, I love how they all have different names.... I should have asked you for some girl names when we were thinking of names for her. My father named her Natsumi seeing as though she was born in the summer and our lil' beauty, princess - our first girl! =)
Glad you all enjoyed it!
Catwrangler-Sachiko (the older woman whose favorite word is "fantastic") is truly amazing. I don't think any one would guess she is 71...she is a real role model!
Grace-I love the name "Natsumi" though I have to say I hate Japanese summers! I'm melting!!!
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