2011年5月20日
Superstitions (Feedback)
Thanks for all your comments. Superstitions is a very interesting topic, and I'm not surprised to hear that Japan has lots of its own.
I had a really strange dream last night, and I found that I could remember it really clearly after I woke up this morning. I dreamt that I went to a party with a girl I had met, and she turned out to be Bruce Springsteen's daughter. There was an old wooden house near the house that was having the party, and there was an emergency in that other house involving a white mouse. The mouse had fallen down a big hole, and people were trying to rescue it. A woman threw a rope down to the mouse, and then tried to pull it up. The rope started slipping, but the mouse was gripping on to it with its teeth. I can't remember whether he made it or not. Later on in the dream, we found out that there had been a fire in that house, but only the top half had burned down. The bottom half was completely undamaged. If any of you are good at interpreting dreams, please let me know what that means! (If the interpretation is that I am going crazy, you don't need to tell me, because I already know that.) Actually, dreams might be a good topic for us to talk about sometime.
Anyway, here is some feedback on this week's comments.
I also learned about a lot of superstitions while I'm growing up.
(...while I was growing up.)
My mother often told me that it was not a good idea to cut your nails at night because you wouldn't be able to be there for your parents when they passes away.
(... because if you do, you won't be able to be with your parents when they pass away.)
I have more to write on this question, but I'll save them for everyone.
(I have more to write on this question, but I'll leave it for everyone else.)
Most of Japanese don't like either of the numbers because
(Most Japanese don't like either of these numbers because...)
I never use these numbers on my car as a license plate!
(I would never use these numbers on my license plate.)
I never place my pillow on the north side because it is the manner for a dead person.
(I never sleep with my head pointing towards the north because that is the traditional position for dead people.)
I answer your this week’s question with an effort.
(I will try to answer this week's questions.)
I come to superstition that it is lucky to see spiders in a morning and it is unlucky to see spiders in a evening.
(I have come to believe that it is luck to see spiders in the morning but unlucky to see them in the evening.)
I have heard a lot of them when I was a child, but I forget most of them.
(I heard a lot of them when I was a child, but I have forgotten most of them.)
nothing springs to mind at the moment
(Nice phrase.)
I've heard if you whistled at the night, a snake came. I don't know why, and what's the problem with that.
(I've heard that if you whistle at night, a snake will come. I don't know why people believe that, and I don't know why it is supposed to be a bad thing.)
I never stand the chopsticks on rice (We do it for dead people). I'm not superstitious, too.
(I never stick chopsticks into rice because that is something we only do at funerals. I'm not superstitious, either.)
I saw a movie "Black Swan" last weekend.
(I saw the movie "Black Swan" last weekend. [If you don't think that people will know this movie, write "I saw a movie called "Black Swan" last weekend."]
I’m sure your mother is very proud of you now, David ^^
(You will have to ask her about that!)
I’ve heard a superstition that is only known in Tokyo many times. There is a big park here called “Inokashira Koen” where people can ride boats in the lake, it says that couples who ride a boat there will break up finally.
(There is a superstition here in Tokyo that I have heard many times. There is a big park in Tokyo called "Inokashira Koen" where people can take boats out on the lake. According to the superstition, couples who go out on the lake together will eventually break up.)
I’ve learned about them from my mother and other adults when I was growing up, and I can name a lot!
("I learned about them...") [Use the past tense for this because the period when you were growing up is not connected to the present time.]
One that I remember well is that your pxxxs will swell if you pee onto an earthworm.
(I will be careful when I go into the forest!)
Some of them are good reasons because eating together disturbs your digestion and is bad for your health, but some are baseless.
(Some of them are based on sound reasoning because eating certain things together disturbs your digestion and is bad for your health, but some of them are just superstitions.) ["Baseless" is not wrong, but it sounds a bit like something you might read in a newspaper.]
Since I grew up in the middle of nowhere, I sometimes found them when I was playing with my friends.
(Nice sentence.)
Here is my answer on your questions.
(Here is my answer to your first question.)
The first I came up was the same as tomo’s.
(The first idea I came up with was the same as Tomo's.)
I heard people in western countries don’t open an umbrella in the room, do they, David? When I heard that, I first thought how they purchase an umbrella without checking its design.
(This is true. My mother always got angry when I did it. I have never bought an umbrella, so I have no idea how people choose them. Maybe there are pictures in the shop? I will ask my mother.)
When you say something that will be good, you will knock on wood to stop it going bad.
(This is true. There was actually a hit song in the 70's called "Knock on Wood."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pMyTMEttd8
Actually, people in the UK usually say "touch wood." For example, a conversation between two mothers might go like this:
A: How is your daughter? When is the baby due?
B: Everything is okay so far, touch wood. It's due in October.)
But I was happy when I got IT under the tree a few weeks ago! It was my first time to get it...
(But I was happy when it happened to me under a tree a few weeks ago. It was the first time!)
My commuper isn't working properly: the screen is very very dark. I manage to read though.
(My computer isn't working properly: the screen is very, very dark. I can just about manage to read it, though.)
Salt is considered to have the power to ward off evil spirits. That's way Sumo wrestlers scatter them before their matches.
(Salt is believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits. That's why Sumo wrestlers scatter it before their matches.)
I would say about them a same word "言霊”
(I would answer both of these questions with the same word: "言霊")
When I was little, my mum kept saying "you eat all the rice served, do not dump even a grain of rice, otherwise you're going to be blind".
("When I was little" is a nice expression. My mum kept saying, "If you leave even a grain of rice, you will go blind.")
I don't think there is an exact word for "縁" in English, but what do you say if you use or describe it, David?
(I would use "fate" or "destiny," as you suggested.)
so make sure your name again before posting.
(Check your name again before posting.)
or
(Make sure that your name is there before you post.)
♪Happy birthday to you from my heart,David! I don't know and said that for the delay.
(Thanks Chiki. You could say "a belated happy birthday.")
I've read comments with fun in this time.
(I had fun reading the comments this time.)
That's all for today. I'm driving up to Matsumoto in Nagano tonight for a conference. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you again on Monday.
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Comments
Hi David,
Thank you for your corrections!
(... because if you do, you won't be able to be with your parents when they pass away.)
When I was writing my original sentence, my brain was confused with indirect speech, sequence of tenses, and conditional. I wouldn't have been able to solve the problem without your help. Thank you:)
(I have more to write on this question, but I'll leave it for everyone else.)
After reading your correction, I realized that the verb "save" sounds strange here. "Leave...for", I got it.
I'm glad the weather is going to be nice this weekend because my children are having their field day tomorrow. I hope they have a great time.
Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
Tomo
PS David - It seems like you had a lot of fun(??) in your dream last night. 笑
- Tomo
- 2011年5月20日 15:19
Hello David and everyone,
I was reading your entry while imagining the white mouse in your dream. When I came to this sentence, “…the rope started slopping, but the mouse was gripping on to it with its teeth.” I was almost about to squirt coffee.
Thank you for your feedback and also thank you for answering my question about an umbrella. Ling’s explanation about this superstition kind of makes sense to me. Thank you, Ling.
I can’t interpret dreams, but I wish the while mouse would bring you luck!
Have a nice weekend in Matsumoto,
taco
- taco
- 2011年5月20日 16:23
Hi David and everyone,
I enjoyed reading member's comments this week^^)
I didnt' know some of the stories, especially ones in foreign countries. I do remember my sons were collecting"ギザ10". ものすごくなつかしかったです。
David, thank you for your feedback.
>(Some of them are based on sound reasoning because eating certain things together disturbs your digestion and is bad for your health, but some of them are just superstitions.) →There are a lot of things to learn, and I'm afraid I need to take much time to use properly. "sound reasoning" is new to me and I'd love to use this some time. As for "baseless", I tried using the word I had learned, but I'm afraid I need to enounter a lot more example sentences.
Bye the way, can I ask one thing?
When I talk about a movie , I usually say,""I saw a movie called "Black Swan" . In your explanation, you would say in two ways depening on the situation:
*I saw the movie "Black Swan."---Everyone is supposed to know about this movie.
*Ｉ saw a movie called "Black Swan."--- Not everyone knows about this movie.
Did I get it right?
Hi Fumie,
How is your computer? I hope it will be fixed and work well soon.
I'm not good at interepreting dreams, but it sounds like a scene in the movie. But why Bruce Springsteen's daughter?
Have a safe drive and lovey weekend in Matsumoto!
Have a great weekend,everyone!
Anne
- Anne
- 2011年5月20日 17:05
Hi Anne,
Yes, your interpretation is correct.
I think that I was thinking about Bruce Springsteen's daughter because I was listening to the BBC on the Internet last week, and one of the DJ's was getting very excited about the fact that Bruce Springsteen was in Britain to watch his daughter riding in a horse show. I was thinking how difficult it must be to have a parent who is a legend. Most children go through a phase of thinking their parents are not cool, but you can't really think that when your dad is one of the coolest people on the planet!
I think the reason I imagined half a house being burned down is that I have been playing a game on my phone recently called "Angry Birds." In the game, you have to knock down buildings, and you quite often have to knock down the top half before you can start on the bottom. I guess that image has stayed in my mind. Dreams are funny things.
- David
- 2011年5月20日 17:15
Hi David,
Thanks for your quick reply! I'm glad I'm able to make it clear because I sometimes write about movies^^)
Your interpretation about your dream is interesting!
I sometime ,not so often, dream a real? dream, and it made me feel strange. Maybe I can tell you about it here some time soon.
Thank again!
- Anne
- 2011年5月20日 17:27
"sometime" should be "sometimes."
Anne
- 匿名
- 2011年5月20日 17:28
Hi David,
I'm glad and relieved that you have got the answer of your dream.
Anne, thank you very much for the hint, otherwise we'll all have to keep our mouths shut because David have said...
Thank you very much for the long feedback,David.
For the sentence you picked from my comment, it took me quite a long time to think about the structure when I wrote it, I thought it should be all right, but I have to say the corrected one has a much better structure than the original one.
Hi animal farm,
Wow,birds and birds sing, squirrels, bees, cows,goats....Are you living in a wonderland? That's exciting.
>Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.
Exactly! Enjoy your life there.
Hi Tomo,
Are you going to watch your children tomorrow? Be careful not to get sunburnt.
Everyone, have a nice weekend!
- Ling
- 2011年5月20日 23:56
Hi David,
Thank you for the feedback. You gave us lots of corrections. Those are really helpful!
You had a funny dream. Dreams have relevance to what we experienced at our life.
And I also learned many superstitions of both Japnese and foreign from members, thanks everyone!
Hi Ling and Anne,
Thank you for concerning about my computer. It has a problem with its liquid crystal. So I wrote a previous comment using a flashlight. Now it is in a repair shop. I'm writing this on our old PC that was infected with virus once, so it's not a good condition. But we can make do with it while the newer one will be back.
Hi Animal farm,
You are living in a lovely place. Surrounding with lots of nature and wild animals. I'm jelous of you!
My youngest son will participate in Sumo tournament for children tommorow.(わんぱく相撲） He definitely wants to get a medal. Being born as a youngest make him being competitive. He really hates to lose.
Have a lovely weekend!
Fumie
- Fumie
- 2011年5月21日 06:26
Thanks Ling：) I'm at the school and watching children running 100 m races now. The weather is very nice(maybe too nice...汗)
Have a good day!
- Tomo
- 2011年5月21日 09:22
Hi David.
Thank you for your correction.
I noted this phrase to remember it.
By the way,have you ever be tired after your dreams?
I like seeing dreams but sometimes it makes me exhauted ;(
Hi Fumie.
Nice to meet you.
"Dreams have relevance to what we experienced at our life. "
I agree with you.
Like David mentioned his dreams,we tend to see a dream that you experiensed before you sleep,don't we?
The other day,I met Japanese famous actor Sorimachi Takashi and fell in love with him
.
I'm not his fan. I watched his drama just before I fell asleep!
I enjoyed reading lots of stories this time ,everyone.
Look forward to meet you all next week.
See you !
- noriko
- 2011年5月21日 11:46
Hi David,
Thanks for your feedback.
(I heard a lot of them when I was a child, but I have forgotten most of them.)
I sometimes (or always?) have trouble which I should use the past or the present perfect when I want to say these kinds of things. By the way, how’s the conference?
Hi everyone,
How’s your weekend? I’ve just stepped out for having my hair dyed. The hair salon is located in ten-minute walk away from my place. When I got there, I was sweating a bit. It’s getting hotter day by day.
Hove a nice weekend,
amo
- amo
- 2011年5月21日 16:37
Hi David,
I also had fun reading feedback this time, thank you! It seems to be getting rain done late at night, so take care!
And thank you for sharing for your dream. It's really interesting. I want to see that you would have a great thing for it! If it does, I'd like to listen to your episode.
I like the phrase "nothing springs to mind at the moment". I want to try that somewhere!
Now, see you next week, and that's wait !
- Chiki
- 2011年5月21日 20:47
Hi David and everyone,
How was your day?
It was hotter than I had expected in the morning today. Tomo, I hope you are not suffering from suntan.
By the way, where do you think was the hottest place in Japan? Kumagaya in Saitama? Tazimi in Gifu? No! It's Matsumoto in Nagano! David, how was your day?
Anne
- Anne
- 2011年5月21日 22:44
Hi Noriko,
You met Sorimachi Takashi and fell in love with him, you mean in your dream, right? I think not only "Dreams have relevance to what we experienced at our life" but also sometimes dreams remind us our inner thought.夢で自分が心の底でこんなこと考えていたんだと気づくありませんか？ In that case people who talk while having a dream must be careful because they might call their secret lover in their dream.
Fumie
- Fumie
- 2011年5月22日 06:39
Hi David and everyone
Thank you for the feedback.
I learn a lot from your corrections.
(I will try to answer this week's questions.#
This is exactly what I wanted to say.
>#I have come to believe that it is luck to see spiders in the morning but unlucky to see them in the evening.)
“I have come to believe~” is the phrase I’d like to use if I get a chance.
And, like Chiki said, “nothing springs to mind at that moment.” too.
It’s getting hotter day by day.
Recently, I have not been able to sleep, let alone dream due to the hot.
Mm,I think I’ll be ready for electric fan.
I’m looking forward to read your stories and answer next week’s question.
Have a nice weekend,everyone.
Cocon
- Cocon
- 2011年5月22日 11:51
Hi, David,
Thank you for your feedback. It always helps me a lot.
This time, I could hear about many interesting superstitions, and interpretation as well. Mysterious stories tend to attract people even though they are not particularly superstitious.
to noriko, Anne and Tomo,
I even didn't know why my name would be missing now and then, so thanks a lot! Now I got it (It happened when I posted my comment for the first time and I can remember that I saw it on the review page, but I don't do it now so never happen again, I bet:))
to Ling,
It's an interesting story! It's a quite distance between Tokyo and Hiroshima, but we have exactly a same story of like 'lady-deities', a story of love, hate and love-hate. It's everlasting from in mythological times!
to Fumie,
please let me know how well your son does in Sumo tournament;)
He should be really good! *fingers crossed*
have a nice Sunday afternoon!
momo
- momo
- 2011年5月22日 13:05
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all having a good weekend.
How is the weather where you are? It was sunny and hot here until this morning, but it started raining in the afternoon and the temperature dropped a lot, it is quite cool (maybe a bit cold) outside now.
I had an unusual day. I had a plan today so I left home very early in the morning, when I got to my station, I heard the announcement say " Due to a 人身事故 happened at this station, all trains are stopped now and are going to delay for 30 minutes". So I had to change my plan. Since then everything I attempted to do went wrong. Fortunately I enjoyed shopping at a place where I rarely go so I can't complain.
- Ling
- 2011年5月22日 16:42
Hi Anne,
Thanks for the info about the weather. Guess where I was yesterday and today... Matsumoto! And yes, it was very, very hot!
- David
- 2011年5月22日 20:54
Hi momo,
Thank you for asking about my son's Sumo tournament. He did really well, although he couldn't get any medal. I'm so proud of him because he gave his all. He won three bouts. He lost at his forth bout whose contestant is mach bigger than him. What mater is not win or lose but giving ones best.
Actually my mom and I cried when my son was fighting bravely. (I don't know the equivalent expression of 頑張る or ベストを尽くす. If I remember correctly "Do one's best " has rather negative connotation than Japanese ベストを尽くす。
Sorry, Am I bragging too much?
Fumie
- Fumie
- 2011年5月22日 21:02
Hi Anne and everyone,
The sun was quite strong yesterday, but I wore a lot of sunscreen, so my skin is OK. Thanks:)
This year, my son was in the red team, and my daughter was in the white team. I had to cheer for both teams, but I was hoping that the read team would win because my son had lost five years in a row. It was his last chance in elementary school, but unfortunately, his team lost again. After the event, we tried to make him feel better. My sister said to him, "You've got a kind of interesting story that you can tell everyone and make them laugh". My oldest son calculated something and said, "It happens 1/xx of the time.(I forgot the number.) It’s very rare, so you are lucky in a way." He laughed and agreed with them. After dinner, he said, "I have to write an essay about the event", so I said, "At least you don't have to worry about what to write for it." It seems that he was able to write longer than usual!
I'm off to bed now. I hope I can see my favorite actor in my dream tonight. 笑
Tomo
PS momo - Glad to be of help:)
PPS Fumie - It's so nice to see your children doing their best, isn't it? お疲れさま＾＾
- Tomo
- 2011年5月23日 00:35
Hi David
Thank you for your corrections.
And thank you for answering Anne's question. I had a same question.
>I've heard if you whistled at the night, a snake came. I don't know why, and what's the problem with that.
>(I've heard that if you whistle at night, a snake will come. I don't know why people believe that, and I don't know why it is supposed to be a bad thing.)
I don't understand why it is present tense in that-clause.
Please tell me.
A dream you had is funny. I've heard that "Angry Birds" is very famous app. But I didn't play it. I'm interesting in that because of your story.
Hi Anne
Did you watched "Balck Swan"? If you watch it, please let me know your impression about the movie :-)
Hi Tomo
Did you find any ギザ10 in your purse?
Have a nice day and week!
trmr
- trmr
- 2011年5月23日 07:01
Hi Fumie,
Thank you for your reply :)
Of course I met him in my dream!
There might have been a wish to have an affar in my mind...ha ha ha :)
BTW, I have another trouble with my PC.
I tried to post this comment many times,but the display told me "banned by cross-site-script"(in Japanese)
I didn't know what happening.
So I hope this comment would be able to up here.
noriko
- noriko
- 2011年5月23日 09:17
Hi noriko,
>"banned by cross-site-script"(in Japanese)
→This has happened to everybody,even to David!
This is not your fault ,so don't worry and take your time. Then post again next day or a few hours later.
That's the way members have been doing, or post from your cell phone( I don't do this recently,though...)
- Anne
- 2011年5月23日 09:39
it's me again.
I forgot to say one more thing.
When my comment was rejected and disappeared, I felt frustrated. I want to avoid these situations, so I copy my comment before posting, and when it is rejected, I save it on some other places like outlook or my document. I usually post it again the next day.
Hi momo,
You are welcome^^)
Hi trmr,
I haven't seen it yet...
Hi Tomo,
Your son seems to have had a lot of stories to share with his classmates. Good for him!
Hi Fumie,
>Am I bragging too much?→Ｎｏ！ That's the happiest moment being a parent,right?
See you soon,
Anne
- Anne
- 2011年5月23日 10:14
Hi momo, Hi Anne,
I am not good at using PC basicly ;(
Thanks for your help!
I'm keeping reading and writing, trying posting with great patient ;(
Thanks anyway ,oh! David still uploaded new one!
See you in the next topic!
noriko
- noriko
- 2011年5月23日 15:58
Hi, everyone.
wow, 1番乗り today!?
Thank you so much David! I really appreciate it always!
I read all your comments quickly because it is almost 2 am. I am going to bed now and I will be back here later... maybe in 3days. I am going to visit my sister-in-law.
I will visit "youtube" after coming back. I can't wait! Thanks for telling me.
I didn't know that there is another way "touch wood", it's interesting!
But I've also heard about "wood" has another meaning.
I am shy a bit so I can't explain it!
anyway...
Please drive safely and see you soon :)
Hi, Ling.
Yes! I live in pretty country. There is a lot of nature! I can get not only birds dropping but also hear their songs every morning!
Many squirrels are running, a lot of huge bees are everywhere and cows,goats....
I also do mow the lawn in my(our) small yard. It's hard a bit... I had never imagine I do mow the lawn in my life.
It reminds me of Forest Gump's mother's message "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get".
Please have a lovely chocolates weekend!
animal farm.