By Joe Meadows

TODAY’S TOPIC:

KANJI: 四字熟語

KANA: よじじゅくご

ROMAJI: yo-ji-juku-go

ENGLISH: Four Character Compound

EXPLANATION: Yojijukugo are used as a set phrase or to describe certain situations. Test them out! Not only are they fun to learn, but when a non-native speaker uses them, Japanese people are usually very impressed.

JAPANESE: 興味津津 (kyou-mi-shin-shin)

MEANING: Very interesting; of absorbing interest; having a keen interest.

USAGE: Most often used as an adverb with the particle で (de)

EXAMPLE: 彼は興味津津で話を聞きました。

ROMAJI: Kare wa kyoumishinshin de hanashi o kikimashita.

TRANSLATION: He listened to the story with rapt attention.

INDIVIDUAL KANJI MEANINGS:

興 (kyou) = interest; entertainment; pleasure

味 (mi) = flavor; taste

津 (shin) = maritime port

津 (shin) = maritime port

KANJI PAIR MEANINGS:

興味 (kyoumi) = interest (in something)

津津 (shinshin) = brim full; being full

Joe Meadows

Joe, a.k.a. Hiroshima-joe, is a Hiroshima-ken JET who resides in Hiroshima city. When he's not teaching, he can be found scaling mountains around the city and capturing those pesky wild boars with his bare hands.