Words December 2024 Week 4

Camping gear is also called camping equipment. (The Japanese word “doogu” can mean “tool” or “equipment.)

We had chicken-fried steak for dinner. (This is called “chicken-fried steak” because the tenderized steak is cooked similar to fried chicken.)

Cube steaks, a.k.a. minute steaks, are pounded to make them tender. (These steaks are very thin and are cooked quickly.)

We own Seibu Bank stocks. (They are stockholders.)

Did you cremate the cat? (They held a mass cremation where many animals were cremated at one time.)

He died from old age. (He didn’t die from an illness.)

You should knead the bread dough for three to fifteen minutes. (Kneading is like massaging.)

She is a high school senior. (In Japan, she is a third-year high school student. In the US, she is a third year or fourth year high school student.)

My cooking may not be delicious, but it is edible. (It might not be tasty, but you can safely eat it.)

They took the 12:03 train from Haijima Station bound for Hachioji. (The time is pronounced “12 oh three.”)

I have two left feet. (I can’t dance.)

He had a stroke. (The proper name is “cerebral infarction.”)

Japan's jury system is called the “saiban-in” system, which translates to "lay judge" system. (One of my students received notice that he may be chosen to be a lay judge.)

The oldest use of "coasting" as a verb referred to sailing from coast to coast. (Today, to coast means to move without using power, such as a vehicle going downhill with the motor turned off.)

She will stay in the US indefinitely. (She doesn’t know how long she will stay with her father.)

I got my husband, and he talked with the couple at our door. (The couple wanted to talk about religion.) 

Her YouTube channel has over two million followers. (Followers, in this case, are people who sign up to receive notifications when the person posts a new video.)

Anindofu is made with agar which is a type of gelatin and almond milk. (This is a popular dessert at Chinese restaurants.)

Japan puts 0.1 mg of chlorine per liter in the drinking water. (The chlorine helps kill bacteria.)

He will apply to several universities. (He will request admission to a few colleges.)

People who are claustrophobic fear small spaces or being surrounded by a crowd of people. (These people might have anxiety attacks in elevators, caves, etc.)

The walls are closing in on me. (You feel like you are in prison and can’t escape.)

I was pleasantly surprised when many cars stopped for people waiting at crosswalks. (You can be fined nine thousand yen in Japan if you don’t stop for a pedestrian.)

Jaywalking is illegal. (It is against the law to cross the street in between intersections.)

I gave myself a pat on the back. (She congratulated herself for the successful end-of-year party.)

I enjoyed it very much. (Don’t say, “very enjoy.”)

It is an unwritten rule that you let people off the train before you try to enter. (Most unwritten rules are just common sense.)

He has sepsis. (His immune system isn’t working properly. This can cause infections or bacteria to cause much damage to different organs in the body.)

He had a bloody nose. (The bleeding didn’t stop for several hours and was caused by medicines for treating his cancer.)

He takes blood thinners. (This helps the blood flow smoothly but if you start bleeding, it is difficult to stop the bleeding.)

He is anemic. (This is when you don’t have enough red blood cells.)

Outlet malls were originally created to sell last season's products or "seconds" that were damaged at a discounted price. (Today, large shopping centers located outside of the city are called outlet malls.)

Intuitions are feelings that something will happen. (This is commonly called our sixth sense.)

I caught the flu. (“Flu” is short for “influenza.”)

I got a chemical burn on my lower back from a disposable warmer. (She forgot to remove it while sleeping.)