Words May 2026 Week 2

The Chogenbo (チョウゲンボウ) is the Japanese name for the Common Kestrel. (It is a small falcon roughly the size of a pigeon.)

They are known for hovering in the air while hunting. (To hover means to stay in one place in the air, like a helicopter.)

Vegetable shoots are also called sprouts and seedlings. (It is easier to plant these instead of seeds.)

We removed a wall to make a large room. (It was more convenient after their children moved out.)

We make appointments with people and make reservations for places. (I made an appointment with my dentist and reserved a table for lunch.)

The fish were contaminated with mercury. (I used to play with mercury from a thermometer when I was a child.)

A floorplan shows the locations of the shops in a department store. (You can also call it a floor map or floor guide.)

“There was not enough food” is the common way to say, “there was an insufficient amount of food.” (The word insufficient sounds too formal.)

 Shrinkflation is reducing a product's size while keeping the same price. (The amount of the product is smaller, but the price is the same, so it is more expensive.)

"Bochi bochi" is an Osaka dialect phrase meaning "so-so," "not bad," "hanging in there," or "little by little". (Akisamiyo (あきさみよー), or akisamiyoo, is a very common Okinawan (Uchināguchi) exclamation expressing surprise, shock, amazement, bewilderment, or frustration. It is roughly equivalent to phrases in English like "My goodness!", "Oh wow!", "Holy cow!", or "Oh my gosh!".)

Do you have the time? (What time is it?)

Do you have time to help me? (If you are not busy, could you help me?)

You can watch Reality TV Dumpster Diving on YouTube. (A dumpster is a very large trash container.)

The trains are packed during rush hour. (The train cars are very full when people are heading to work or heading home.)

The word “mokushoku” (黙食), or "Silent eating," was coined during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage eating alone in silence to avoid spreading the virus. (In this case, “to coin” means to make a new word or phrase.)

 Mitake Tozan Railway was made in Japan and started operating in 1935. (The train was made in Japan. I mistakenly said that it was made in Germany.)

The word parishioner is usually used to describe a member of the Catholic church. (For other religions, members, followers or congregation is more common.)

The students’ ages vary from young to old. (The students were learning how to care for the elderly or for people with physical or mental disabilities.)

I feel scared passing bicycles while driving. (Passing bicycles is scary.)

ChatGPT is the most popular AI app, but Gemini is also very good. (I’ve tried ChatGPT a few times.)

Italy is less dependent on the US military for protection than Japan. (Japan has the right to prevent the US from using bases in Japan to attack Iran but is politically advised to not do so.)

You caramelize onions by cooking them in butter over low heat for about one hour. (I like a grilled steak smothered in caramelized onions.)

The Ome Festival has 13 Japanese style floats. (American floats are on trailer where you cannot see the thriller wheels, so it looks like they are floating.)

Chinese 100-year eggs are called as Pidan in Chinese meaning "leather egg" or "skin egg". (There are several other names for this Chinese delicacy.)

In the 1500s, the verb "to bob" described shortening a horse's tail. (In the 1920s the bob haircut became popular to represent independence, rebellion, and a move away from traditional, long Victorian hair.)

The little girl wore pigtails. (When long hair is in one bunch in the back of a head, it is called a ponytail. When two bunches are on the side of the head, they are called pig tails.)