住宅

Here are some differences between Japanese and British homes.

In Japan, front doors open outwards but in Britain, front doors usually open inwards.

In Japan, the washing machine is usually in the washroom (attached to the bathroom) but in Britain, the washing machine is usually in the kitchen or utility room.

In a Japanese house, the bathroom is usually downstairs but in a British house, the bathroom is usually upstairs. Many years ago, bathrooms were downstairs in British houses and toilets were in a small room outside.

無精ひげ

There is another way to describe stubble:

• 5 o'clock shadow

This expression describes stubble that appears on a man's face late afternoon despite shaving in the morning.

5 o'clock shadow is a noun-phrase.

Example:

• Your 5 o'clock shadow is terrible. You should buy a new razor.
• My facial hair grows very quickly so I always get a 5 o'clock shadow.

Back in the 1980s, designer stubble was fashionable. The pop singer George Michael was famous for his designer stubble.

迷信

Superstition

There are many superstitions but not everyone is superstitious.

Here are some common superstitions in Britain:

• If you break a mirror, you'll have seven years of bad luck.
• If you spill salt, you must throw some over your left shoulder using your right hand.
• A black cat crossing your path is bad luck.
• Walking under a ladder is bad luck.
• Opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck.
• Seven (7) is a lucky number.
• Thirteen (13) is an unlucky number.
• Friday 13th (any month) is an unlucky day.

Some people carry a lucky charm or talisman. A popular lucky charm is a rabbit's foot.

Some people believe a horseshoe is lucky and will protect buildings and ships. We can sometimes see a horseshoe on the front door or above the front door of a building.

良かった！

Idiom:

• That's music to my ears.

Meaning:

• That's good news!
• I'm pleased to hear that.

We use this idiom when the good news affects us directly.

Example:

Kenta: "We are getting a pay rise."

Yoichi: "That's music to my ears."

避ける

Verbs:

• avoid
• keep away from
• steer clear of

Examples of advice:

• Steer clear of Kabuki-Cho because it's dangerous.
• Steer clear of Mr Sato because he's always angry.
• Steer clear of the curry because it's too spicy.

Every sentence can use avoid or keep away from and the meaning is the same.

イケメン

Adjectives:

• handsome
• good-looking
• attractive

A handsome and muscular man:

• hunk

A chivalrous and romantic man; a perfect man:

• prince charming
• knight in shining armour

Verbs:

• like
• fancy

Examples:

• I like a guy at the gym; he's such a hunk!
• I fancy a fireman at the station next to my office.
• Wow, your boyfriend is really handsome!
• I'm waiting for a knight in shining armour to marry me.
• I can't find my prince charming.

運転免許証

I renewed my driving licence a few days ago; it was my first renewal in Japan and now I have a blue licence. I had to attend a lecture for two hours at the local culture centre, after which I was given my new licence. The lecture included a 20-minute documentary film about road safety.

Several people fell asleep which annoyed the lecturer but they were allowed to receive their new licences anyway.

In the lecture, we were informed of the penalty system for driving offences, accident statistics for Kanagawa Prefecture and new badges for elderly drivers, deaf drivers and disabled drivers.

The experience was interesting and very different to the UK. For a normal car licence in the UK, we don't need to renew our driving licence until 70 years old. In Japan we have to renew our first licence after 3 years and subsequent renewals every 5 years.

I have a PSV (bus) licence too. In the UK, a bus licence must be renewed at 45 years old and every 5 years thereafter. I also have a full motorbike licence and a forklift truck licence.

Please note:

• driving licence (UK)
• driver's license (USA)

Elderly driver (Japan)

Deaf driver (Japan)

Disabled driver (Japan)

誇張

Idiom:

• Make a mountain out of a molehill.

Meaning:

• exaggeration of a problem

Examples:

• The problem is not serious; don't make a mountain out of a molehill!
• Why are you so angry? You're making a mountain out of a molehill.
• He's making a mountain out of a molehill but it's really not important.

嫌い

Verbs:

• hate
• dislike
• can't stand
• don't like

We prefer to use don't like; it's more polite and more natural:

• I don't like coffee.
• He doesn't like his mother-in-law.

However, if we feel strongly, we often say can't stand:

• I can't stand natto.
• She can't stand her new boss.

The word dislike is rarely said. The word hate is considered very strong and offensive, especially about people.

A polite expression is not keen on something:

• I'm not keen on shellfish.
• He isn't keen on pop music.
• She isn't keen on baseball.

A nice idiom is not my cup of tea:

• Bungee jumping is not my cup of tea.