2007-11-16

Huffing Puffing Tatami Stroke

Extra Notes from the I.K. Class (2007/11/07)
Vocabulary
  1. stroke: A stroke is the sudden death of brain cells in a localized area due to inadequate blood flow. 脳卒中
  2. fall: [someone/something] has fallen down (on the floor); lying on the floor (after passing out; fainting; or suffering from a physical or mental ailment) 卒倒する、気絶する; 倒れていた
  3. aftereffects: (脳卒中)の後遺症に苦しむ
Example
  • I came home and found my husband lying on the floor. I called an ambulance and they took him to the hospital. The doctor said he had had a stroke. I hope he doesn't suffer from any serious aftereffects.
Easy Example
  • My friend's husband had a stroke and was taken to the hospital by ambulance!
Vocabulary
  1. huff: 息を吹く［切らす]
  2. puff: プッと飛び出す
Dialog Example

A: Why are you huffing and puffing?
B: I went jogging, but I am so out of shape I couldn't breathe!

Phrases
  • Close, but no prize! 正解に近いが賞品はあげられない
  • Opposites:
    • hot ←→ cold
    • warm ←→ cool
    • burning ←→ freezing
Vocabulary
  • Telephone Keypad:
    • 米印 → the star key
    • シャープ印 → the pound key
  • Swing = 遊具の一。腰を掛ける横板の両端に二本の綱や鎖を付けてつり下げたもの。板に乗って前後に揺らして遊ぶ。ふらここ。しゅうせん。[季]春。〔補説〕 語源はポルトガル語 balanco からという説がある
More Examples of sentences
  • The tatami mats are of such quality that I won't have to change them for maybe another 10 years or so.
  • The wax job on my car is so durable that I don't have to wax the car again for another six months.
References:
1. Medical Encyclopedias
2. 英辞郎第三版
3. CD-The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
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2007-11-07

Postal Workers

Notes from the IK Class:

郵便局員

×　 post officer; post office staff
◎　postal worker

Sample Dialog:

外国人：

How do you buy a stamp to mail to the States?

日本人：

Just take your letter to the post office, and the postal worker will tell you how much to pay for the postage.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke.
Don't fix it if it ain't broken.
Don't fix it if it isn't broke.
Don't fix it if it isn't broken.
If it's not broken, don't fix it.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If it ain't broken, don't fix it.
  • 壊れていないものを修理するな。／《諺》触らぬ神にたたりなし。／へたにかき回すな。
  • 壊れていないなら直すな。
  • 機能しているシステムなどを下手にいじると、かえって問題が生じるという意味。
  • まだ問題になっていないのに解決しようとして頭を痛めるな。
References:

1. 英辞郎第三版
2. CD-The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
3. American Postal Workers Union
4. Canadian Union of Postal Workers
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2007-11-04

Gibberish Baggy Anniversary

Notes from the SA Class

Here are some vocabulary that came up in the SA class:
  • gobbledygook, gobbledegook: (noun) Unclear, wordy jargon
    • 分かりにくい言葉、ややこしい言葉、たわ言、ナンセンス、役所言葉[官庁用語], 回りくどくてチンプンカンプンの表現, 冗長で分かりにくい文言, 文字化けした文
When I opened the page with Internet Explorer, all the characters were gobbledygook.
  • gibberish: 1. Unintelligible or nonsensical talk or writing. 2. Highly technical or esoteric language. 3. Unnecessarily pretentious or vague language.
    • わけのわからない言葉[文, 話]
When I opened the page with Internet Explorer, all the characters were gibberish.
  • anniversary: 1. The annually recurring date of a past event, especially one of historical, national, or personal importance: a wedding anniversary; the anniversary of the founding of Rome. 2. A celebration commemorating such a date.
    • an ～ (～周年)記念, ～周年祭; ～周年記念の, 例年の
×　We are especially busy this year because it is the 30 years birthday of our company's Mashi brand products.

◎　We are especially busy this year because it is the 30th anniversary of our company's Mashi brand products.
  • baggy: Bulging or hanging loosely: baggy trousers.
    • だぶだぶの、袋のような、垂れ下がった
Baggy pants are easy to move in.
Baggy pants are more comfortable to where when I play sports or do some work outside.

Additional Phrases that came up in class:
  • "cease and desist" letter: 使用停止を求める文書
  • You betcha! (You bet!): 確かにそうです。／そのとおりです。／もちろん。
References:

1. CD-The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
2. 英辞郎第三版
3. CD-ビジネス技術 実用英語大辞典
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