Kotoba 千載一遇 vs 一世一代!

This week we are going to look at two expressions which more or less mean the same thing:

1.
千載一遇　せんざいいちぐう　senzaiichiguu = once in a lifetime (opportunity), (a golden opportunity that may) happen only once in a thousand years

2.
一世一代　いっせいいちだい　isseiichidai or いっせいちだい　isseichidai = once in a lifetime, the first and last occurrence (event, experience) of one’s lifetime

Both are common expressions used today. Although the younger generation opt not to use it, as more and more foreign loanwords enter the Japanese dictionary. The word チャンス　(chansu = chance, opportunity) is perhaps easier to remember and now a common J-lingo.

Katakana-a-day ィ

Katakana-a-day
ィ　I

Hiragana-a-day い

Hiragana-a-day　
い　I

eg.

いす　isu = chair
いぬ inu = dog

Kanji-a-day 二 NI / futa / futa(tsu)

二　NI / futa / futa(tsu)
two

JLPT Level 4, Jouyou Kanji, Kyouiku Grade 1

eg.

二月　nigatsu - February

二日　futsuka - the second day of the month

二つ　futatsu - two (things)

二本　nihon - two (long, thin things)

二人　futari - two people

40 VERBS 2. listen, hear, ask ききます kikimasu

2. listen, hear, ask ききます　kikimasu
eg. でんしゃの　なかで　ＣＤを　ききます。
densha no nakade CD o kikimasu
I listen to the CD in the train.

FOCUS
でんしゃ　densha = (electric) train
なかで　nakade =　in (the)

Kotoba ならうよりなれよ

Kotoba

Entry 習う夜慣れよ　
Reading ならうよりなれよ narauyorinareyo = practice makes perfect (implying that it is better to learn from personal experience than from an instructor)

It’s a mouthful but it is a very useful expression.

がんばてね。

Katakana-a-day ァ

Katakana-a-day
ァ　A



I've been practising writing Hiragana and Katakana to improve my recall. Each character has a special order of strokes when writing. I find it facinating.

Hiragana-a-day あ

Hiragana-a-day
あ　A

eg.

あか　aka = red
あし　ashi = foot

Kanji-a-day 一 ICHI / ITSU / hito / hito(tsu)

一　ICHI / ITSU / hito / hito(tsu)
one


JLPT Level 4, Jouyou Kanji, Kyouiku Grade 1


eg.

一月　ichigatsu - January

一日　tsuitachi - the first day of the month


一つ　hitotsu - one (thing)

一人　hitori - one person

40 VERBS 1. watch, see, look みます mimasu

1. watch, see, look みます　mimasu
eg. まいばん　うちで　二ュースを　みます。
maiban uchide nyusu o mimasu
= I watch the news every night at home.

FOCUS
うちで　uchide = at home
まいばん　maiban = every night

EXPANSION
いえで　iede = in (the) house
まいにち　mainichi = every day