It can be used as both a way to show deference to someone of higher status such as the nobility or as a demonstration of shame or disgrace during a heartfelt apology. Dogeza, 土下座 (kneeling prostrate)ĭogeza (土下座) is a gesture steeped in tradition and Japanese etiquette, where one kneels prostrate with the forehead touching the ground as a sign of humility.

“Since I have cat tongue, I can’t eat it.” 2. The Japanese have kept cats as pets for more than a thousand years and Japanese folklore depicts cats as symbols of feline good fortune. These furry balls of feline play a prominent role in Japanese culture that goes well beyond the global appeal of Hello, Kitty. This word for which there is no Japanese to English equivalent is one of many involving cats or neko (猫). You know that feeling when something is too hot to eat and you find yourself blowing on it incessantly while others get right down to business? The Japanese have a word for this and its nekojita (猫舌) or “cat’s tongue.” While it might sound similar, this Japanese word has no relation to the English idiom “cat got your tongue.” It simply means food or a drink is too hot (not to be confused with too spicy) for you to eat. So step this way for a deeper dive into Japanese words that don’t translate from Japanese to English and what they can teach us about the language, its culture, and the people. You’ll also miss the chance to learn more about Japanese philosophy and daily life. When you use a google translate of English to Japanese words, you’ll not only open yourself to misunderstandings by potentially using the wrong words in the wrong context. Often, the words for which there is no Japanese to English translation have important things to teach us about regional traditions and culture. There are nuances of societal expectations conveyed through language that just don’t make sense when directly translated from English to Japanese or vice versa. When you’re learning a new language, you’re likely to stumble across words for which there’s no equivalent in your native tongue.

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