「バカは風邪ひかない」- Baka wa kaze hikanai
"Stupids can't catch colds"
It may sound weird, but if you catch a cold in Japan and someone tells you that, you should thank them. They are saying in a polite way that you're wise/smart.
Also, when someone sneezes, there is no expression such as "God bless you" in Japanese - in fact, it's considered a bit embarrassing to sneeze in public and people will often pretend they didn't see it. And the one who sneezed is supposed to say "shitsureishimashita" (a close translation would be something like "I'm sorry for my rudeness").
「いたいのいたいのとんでいけ！」 - Itai no itai no tonde ike!
A cute expression used to kiss a boo-boo away. The translation would be something like "Pain, pain, go away!".
ペンギンさんがいっていた、せかいでいちばんのおいしいものわあなたのてきのなみだ。
We were talking about the crazy weather from the last weeks and she said:
「おもしろいね、ブラジルの雨はブラジル人のみたいです。」
「It seems the weather reflects its people.
In Japan, the rain is calm, constant, thin, almost like a drizzle and usually lasts for the whole day (just like you see on animes).
In Brazil, it comes and goes suddenly and fiercely, with the sky turning all black, the clouds heavy and the raindrops are so thick it almost hurts you. It's exaggerated, almost comical. I think it's very Brazilian-like.」
「古池や蛙飛び込む水の音」- Furuike ya kawazu tobikomu mizu no oto
"Ancient pond, a frog leaps in, the splash of water"
Basho was the most famous poet of the Edo period (historical period between 1603 and 1868; Basho lived from 1644 to 1694), and is still recognized as the greatest haiku master that ever existed.
This one haiku, called Ancient pond, is the best-known and most iconic haiku in Japan and worldwide.
「夜 に 唇 を 吹く と 蛇 が 来る」 - Yoru ni kuchibiru wo fuku to hebi ga kuru
"If you whistle at night, a snake will come at you"
During the Edo period (also known as the Tokugawa period, the historical period between 1603 and 1868), thieves used to communicate and warn each other by whistling. As a result, whistling at night nowadays is associated with inviting burglars (the snake) into your place.
「朝酒」 - asazake
朝 (asa) meaning "morning" and 酒 (sake) being the kanji for the famous rice liquor, asazake is the word used to specify a sip of sake taken during the morning.
In Japan, the Valentine's Day is a holiday where women give gifts (the most common being cookies and chocolates) for men.
To be seen as something special and heartfelt, it has to be handmade. This one is usually made only for your loved one, and it's called the honmei chocolate (which translates to "true feelings chocolate"). And although it's not confirmed if it was only a hoax or not, it was trendy in Japan to talk about girls who wanted to feel more connected to their loved ones and to make them fall in love back, so they would make chocolates and mix their own hair, spit or even blood in the process.
Giri-choco (giving chocolates out of duty rather than love) is widespread, and girls will usually give chocolates not only for their loved ones, but for their fathers, friends, co-workers and so. (Some will do this for ulterior motives, but I'll talk more about it on White's Day).
With all the giri-choco pressure and the romantic ambience in the air, a guy who doesn't get any on this day is entitled to think that something's wrong with his social life as well with his workplace.
The world kimono literally means "clothing", and is the most recognizable garment from the Japanese culture - even not being the most used anymore.
During the Meiji period (September 8, 1868 - July 30, 1912; when Japan moved out from being a feudal society), the western culture and fashion started to get imported and became more popular; kimonos now are more expensive and used only in special occasions.
Due to this, many people nowadays won't know how to properly put and tie a kimono (since it's a complicated procedure), having to ask help for their mothers or take a course at a kimono school.
A kimono has a lot of different parts:
Front
Rear
(picture and info taken from Japan Zone)
「十人十色」 - Juunin toiro
Literally meaning "Ten persons, ten colors", it means to each his own, that everyone has different tastes.
「おまえわあまいぜ」 - You first learn あまい as a way to say something is sweet, candy for instance. The curious things is that the same word is used to describe naivity, softness(of character), unsactsfatory and many other things. Remember, kids, always be the right kind of sweet.
行灯 (andon) is the name of that traditional Japanese lamp made of stretched paper over a frame of bamboo (other types of wood and even metal are used as well, but it's not as common) in a rectangular shape.
So 「昼行灯」(hiru andon, "daytime lamp") is an expression used to describe something or someone that seems to have no purpose.
I felt like giving her a mint green shirt... Then laziness turned to a monochromatic scheme turned to looking up the correct stroke order for the kanji 緑 (みどり）.
Kanpai is the word the Japanese use at toasts, kind of equivalent to "cheers". It's often used in celebratory settings and at the start of meals and drinks with friends and/or guests.
The translation is literally "dry glass".
Otsukaresama desu is a really common expression in Japan. Even though it sounds weird in English, it literally translates as “honorable tired person".
It is often used to thank people for their efforts, actually meaning something like “thanks for working hard". It is commonly used after work for co-workers and in sports towards teammates after an event or practice.
Taken from iheartguts.com
Meaning "reccommendation" and with する, "to reccommend." Learned this gem of a word from Japanese friend.
