Japanese Bad Mouth Kuchi

3

5-minute Japanese Class by Hitomi Hirayama

Vol.

Mr. Pole

There are many interesting expressions that use words for body parts, and they are frequently used in daily conversation. Can you guess, for example, how many expressions use the word "eye(s)" (目[me])? The answer is as many as 140! In this lesson, let us look at some useful expressions combining i-adjectives and body parts. The good news is, you can create sophisticated expressions by using beginning-level i-adjectives at below left. Mr. Pole, don’t think so hard. If you look below, you will understand what this man is like.

I was in a coffee shop the other day and overheard an interesting conversation between two young women at the next table. One of them asked the other, "So what is your boyfriend like?" Her friend replied, "Well, his face is wide and his head is soft, but his mouth is a little light." What is this man really like? Soft head? Is there something wrong with her boyfriend?

atama

kao

mimi

hana

me

kuchi

head

face

ear(s)

nose

eye(s)

mouth

■ Did all the expressions on the left make sense to you? Now, let's see if you can apply what you just learned to the phrases below.

頭

Education for children is a nagging problem to parents in any country, isn't it ? 子供 の 教育 は どの 国 の 親 も to worry over ですね。 kodomo no kyoiku wa dono kuni no oya mo a problem desu ne education for children

鼻が hana ga

1

good 

ss ake

柔らかい yawarakai

長い nagai

light

軽い karui

g ou

tin lu r b

p el

・By adding "desu" to these expressions, you can make a sentence. e.g., Mr. Pole is smart. Pole-san wa atama ga ii desu

顔

face

かお  kao

have a wide circle of acquaintances 顔 が kao ga

7

wide 

th

long

soft 

h i s thinking, bu

高い takai

6

ear(s)

le in

14

tall high

頭 が atama ga

耳

xib

11

はやい hayai

flexible ; receptive to new things

th

10

early  fast

hard 

みみ  mimi

8

fast 

be ashamed to hear  耳 が 9 painful  mimi ga

for being old-fashioned . そんな事 を 言っていると、 oldsonna-koto o itte-iru to fashioned

high 

10

eye(s)

such things

目

め  me

顔

12

と 笑われますよ。 to waraware-masu yo will be ridiculed

keep saying

I tell you

You know a variety of people. You must have a wide circle of acquaintances . いろいろな 人 を 知っています ね。 have a wide circle ですね。 iro-iro na hito o shitte-imasu ne of acquaintances desu ne variety of people know

耳

What ? You already know about it! You are quick-eared , aren't you? えっ？ もう その話 を 知っていますか。 ですね。 quick-eared e? mo sono hanashi o shitte-imasu ka desu ne

have an expert eye for 目 が me ga

isn't it?

If you keep saying such things, you will be ridiculed

・There are many other expressions that have similar meanings, but this one is humorous and less offensive compared to others. It applies to men.

already

that story

know

good  Being told the same thing over and over, I am quite embarrassed .

mouth

quick-eared ; have sharp ears 耳 が mimi ga

a

8

spacious  広い wide hiroi

5

e

7

頭 が atama ga

painful 

n'

6

4

ec a

5 13

t a s ecret. That m

soft

inflexible ; stubborn

to worry over a problem

of

頭 が atama ga

old 

pl

hard

堅い katai

3

pe o

痛い itai

h e knows a l o t

頭 が atama ga

hurtful painful

ant

4 9

me

old-fashioned

はな  hana

to be flirtatious; to like women 鼻 の下 が 11 long  hana no shita ga

Ah

e!

en

s

fool ; not smart  頭 が 2 bad  atama ga

ey

古い furui

頭 が atama ga

Th

old

to be proud of

a!

3

bad

悪い warui

bright ; smart ; sharp

fle

2 15

いい ii

鼻

nose

is

1 12

nice good

頭

head

■ For answers to fill in the boxes, check with i-adjectives on the left that have corresponding numbers.

あたま  atama

nd

i-adjectives

any country parents also

口

くち  kuchi

can keep a secret ; closed-mouthed 口が kuchi ga

13

hard 

cannot keep a secret  口が 14 light  kuchi ga have a sharp tongue ; have a bad mouth 口が kuchi ga

15

いつも 同じ事 を 言われて itsumo onaji-koto o iwarete

bad 

always

口

same matter

be ashamed to hear

です。 desu

being told

That person keeps secrets , so please don't worry.  あの人 は ano hito wa

closed-mouthed

that person

です から 安心 を して下さい。 desu kara anshin o shite-kudasai ...so please relax

He is a good person, but has a bad mouth . いい人 なん です が、 ii hito nandesu ga good person

has a bad mouth

です。 desu

...but

Copyright 1999 The Yomiuri Shimbun