How do you say ‘thank you’ in Japanese?
Look in any dictionary and you’ll find the phrase ‘arigatō’ （ありがとう), or ‘arigatō gozaimasu’ （ありがとうございます）. So, simple. Problem solved. It’s like saying ‘cat’ is ‘neko’ (猫), or ‘book’ is ‘hon’ （本）: there is a clear and well-defined correspondence. Isn’t there?
(more…)Here’s a good Japanese word you’re not likely to find in a textbook. It’s 成金 (narikin).
Looking at the kanji characters, the word literally means ‘become money’. So any ideas what it might mean?
If you guessed something like ‘nouveau riche’, then you’re correct. And just like the English (or French, to be more exact), it conveys an air of slight vulgarity.
Koborebanashi 