April 30, 2018　=========

☆  delicate  繊細な

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We use delicate to describe a situation, problem or conversation that is sensitive, and needs to be dealt with carefully in order to avoid upsetting or offending people. In Japan, what sorts of things might be considered delicate topics?

In Australia, topics such as life, death, abortion, religion and even politics are often considered to be delicate topics. If you know the person really well, then it’s probably OK to raise this kind of delicate topic. However, if you’re not sure about the other person’s views it’s probably best to stick to more lighthearted topics, like the weather, ha ha! Just kidding, of course you don’t needRead more about Today’s Word: delicate[…]

April 29, 2018　=========

☆  take stock  吟味する

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One of the useful phrases for this week is, “Let’s take stock of the situation.” You could use this when something has happened and you need to think about all the aspects of the situation before deciding what to do next. For example, something might have gone wrong at your work, and you and your coworkers need to take stock. Or maybe you have ended a relationship and need to take stock before deciding what to do next.

For me, even though I’m in Australia at the moment, I tend to take my holidays at the same time as Japan, so Golden Week and Obon, andRead more about Today’s Word: take stock[…]

April 28, 2018　=========

☆  engage  参加する

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There are a few different ways to use today’s word. Let’s look at some of them and see which ones you are familiar with.

If you engage in an activity, you are actively involved in it. For example, I never engaged in sports when I was at school, but now I quite like taking part in sport.

If you engage someone in conversation, you have a conversation with them. For example, I tried to engage him in conversation, but he just ignored me.

If you engage with something or with a group of people, you get involved with that thing or group, and feel connected with it. For example,Read more about Today’s Word: engage[…]

April 27, 2018　=========

☆  consider  検討する

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When you consider something, you think about it carefully. For example, if you haven’t made a decision about X yet, and someone asks you what you decided about X, you could reply by saying, “I haven’t had enough time to consider X yet, I’ll get back to you.” Or, if you have made your decision, you could say, “I have considered all the factors, and have decided to do ….” and insert your decision.

You can also “consider doing Y” in the future. So, for example, “I’m considering going to New York for my summer vacation.” Next week is Golden Week, do you have time off? WhatRead more about Today’s Word: consider[…]

April 26, 2018　=========

☆  bite one’s tongue  発言を控える

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If you “bite your tongue” it means that you stop yourself from saying something that you want to say, because it would be the wrong thing to say in that situation. The useful phrase for this week, “I really had to bite my tongue at the meeting!”, would be used for example if your boss was suggesting something that you thought was ridiculous, but as it’s your boss, you have to agree.

In Australia, most people don’t usually worry too much about what other people think, so they tend to speak their mind, rather than bite their tongue! Of course, there are some situations, whereRead more about Today’s Word: bite one’s tongue[…]

April 25, 2018　=========

☆  retort  反論する

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To retort means to reply angrily to someone. It is mostly used in written English, such as newspapers and novels. Here are some examples on how to use it:

She opened her mouth to retort, but nothing came out.
I wish I hadn’t retorted at the time, it just made things worse.
There was no point in retorting, he wasn’t listening.
It’s best not to retort in the heat of the moment.

It’s not a commonly used word, but still useful to know. Can you use it in a sentence?

Bye,

Chris

April 24, 2018　=========

☆  divulge 暴露する

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Another formal word, like yesterday. Today’s word means to tell someone a piece of secret of private information. Words with similar meaning, that are less formal are: reveal, declare, let slip (although this is more “accidental” in nuance.”) and if the information is about yourself, then you could also use “confess.”

Often when someone divulges some information, it is because they are forced to do so, for example, by the police – someone might be forced to divulge the location of another person. Or even in a personal situation, you might be forced to divulge to your boss which coworker had made the mistake. Or if youRead more about Today’s Word: divulge[…]

April 23, 2018　=========

☆  ruminate  熟考する

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This is the formal word for thinking about something very carefully. It is like you are thinking about it over and over – and so there is also one more meaning to this word and that is how animals eat! Cows ruminate – which means that they bring food back from the stomach to their mouth to chew it again. Very similar in meaning, right? Well, OK… kind of similar. 😀

Ruminate is a formal word (or technical term when talking about animals) so it isn’t used that often, but it can be used for serious topics, such as pollution, global warming, plastic waste in the oceanRead more about Today’s Word: ruminate[…]

April 22, 2018　=========

☆  frustration  欲求不満

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Another useful phrase for the week using today’s word: “Try not to let the frustration build up.” This is very true for learning and speaking English. Sometimes I see students try to think of the “perfect” word and the correct grammar, and of course, this leads to frustration – a lot of frustration.

Instead, just try to let the English flow… I know that’s not easy, but concentrate on being relaxed and present, rather than trying to find the best word. Sometimes, there really is a perfect word to use, but this is rare. So, let go of frustration and use the words you know!

Bye,

Chris

April 21, 2018　=========

☆  real-life example  実例

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This week’s useful phrase is a real-life example of the word, “real-life example” in use! Ha ha! It is “You need a real-life example to help you explain it better.” This is so true! Real-life examples really help. Recently, I’ve noticed a lot of “strange” English on the web. A lot of native speakers make mistakes between “you are” and “you’re” and “your”. And also, “their” or “there” or “they’re.”

However, something new that I have seen really confuses me! People have started writing “his” instead of “he is” or “he’s” … and to be honest, I’m not sure if it is an actual mistake, orRead more about Today’s Word: real-life example[…]

April 20, 2018　=========

☆  humiliation   恥

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Humiliation is the embarrassment and shame you feel when someone makes you appear stupid, or when you make a mistake in public… now hopefully this isn’t a feeling you have very often! Even if you don’t, it’s always good to know these kinds of words, so you don’t feel any humiliation by not knowing the word! 😉

Here are some example sentences:

The humiliation boiled up inside him making him feel angry and frustrated.
I tried to save him from such humiliation.
Even though she felt humiliation, she didn’t let it show.
I couldn’t believe how much humiliation I felt after the accident.

Can you make a sentence with humiliation?

Bye,

Chris

April 19, 2018　=========

☆  credibility  信頼

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If someone has credibility, people believe in them and trust them. The most common time you’ll hear this word is during elections. People and journalists will talk about which politician you should vote for, and which politician has the most credibility. Unfortunately, in Australia, recently it’s been shown that most politicians are just good actors as opposed to having a credibility!

However, it’s not just politicians that need credibility. If you’re the boss at your company, having credibility will mean that people listen to you and trust you. At home, parents seem to have credibility with their kids when they are young, but once they reach aRead more about Today’s Word: credibility[…]

April 18, 2018　=========

☆  attitude 態度

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Late again! Did I mention it is school holidays here in Australia? You would think that would mean that my mornings are easier because there is no rush to make school lunches and take kids to school… but instead, it is more chaotic! Ha ha! In fact, this morning gave me a good example of today’s word!

Your attitude means the way you feel about something and how it shows in the way you behave.

However, it can also refer to someone as a having attitude, and this is usually used with kids. In particular, when kids are talking back to their parents and not doing as theRead more about Today’s Word: attitude[…]

April 17, 2018　=========

☆  pride  プライド

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Pride has two uses, a positive one and a negative one. A feeling of pride is the feeling of satisfaction that you have because you have done something good. For example, a sense of pride in a job well done. Or a company might pride itself on offering the best quality product. This kind of pride doesn’t really interfere with good communication.

On the other hand, the second use of pride is the feeling that you are better or more important than other people. As you can imagine, this kind of pride will be a hindrance to good communication! It’s hard to communicate well when you feelRead more about Today’s Word: pride[…]

April 16, 2018　=========

☆  honesty  正直

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In the quote for the week, Brian Tracy says that, “Communication is a skill that you can learn.” What kinds of things are important for communication? Honesty, definitely, right? Imagine if at your work, or within your family, you couldn’t speak with honesty and integrity. It would be very hard to have good communication, right?

You can’t control how others communicate, but if you know that you value honesty in communication, then you will be able to speak with honesty even when it is difficult and a little “white lie” might seem easier. So, for me, honesty is critical as a communication skill. How about you?  

Bye,

Chris

April 15, 2018　=========

☆  intriguing  面白い

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If you describe someone or something as intriguing, you mean that they are interesting or strange. For example, an intriguing book, or an intriguing question. In fact, if you want to do a search on Google, you can find out about intriguing things! I did a search and found out many intriguing facts about the human body, including this one:

“The body can detect taste in .0015 seconds, which is faster than the blink of an eye.”

This one is intriguing for me, I never knew this! My son is always tasting dinner when I am cooking it and as soon as he tastes it, he responds immediatelyRead more about Today’s Word: intriguing[…]

April 14, 2018　=========

☆  earnest 真剣な

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If you are an earnest person, it means that you are very serious and sincere in what you say and do, because you think your actions and beliefs are important. I think being earnest is a good trait, what do you think?

Sometimes, when someone communicates in an earnest way, it might seem a bit too intense, but I would prefer someone to speak in a sincere and honest way, rather than not! For example, if you asked someone a serious question, you would want an earnest answer, right? You wouldn’t want an answer that was frivolous and not really considerate of your serious situation, right?

Bye,

Chris

April 13, 2018　=========

☆  reticent  無口な

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Ooh, it’s Friday the 13th… 

Reticent isn’t a word you hear very often these days. Someone who is reticent does not tell people about things… so I guess it’s pretty hard to be reticent in the age of social media! Everyone tells everyone else about everything! I guess that’s not really true, people do still keep some things private, but I really do think that social media may be a reason why I don’t hear about people being reticent very often these days.

Other words that you could use instead of reticent are uncommunicative, quiet, reserved, silent, or tight-lipped. Is being reticent a common character trait in Japan?

Bye,

Chris

April 12, 2018　=========

☆  eager  熱心な

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If you are eager to do something, you are excited and enthusiastic about doing that thing. In English, there is a fun phrase, “eager beaver” this describes a person who is very excited to do what they are doing. A person who is an eager beaver is a hardworking and eager person. For example, “She started her new job last week and she is a real eager beaver!”

The reason for this “eager beaver” phrase is of course because of the hardworking beaver, building their dams. The phrase is originally from Canada I believe. I guess because they have a lot of beavers there?! Have you everRead more about Today’s Word: eager[…]

April 11, 2018　=========

☆  reproachful  非難するような

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Wow, where did the time go this morning? I’m running a bit late with this email. I usually like to send them around 8am… I hope I don’t get any reproachful emails from readers for being late! 🙂

A reproachful remark or facial expression shows that you are disappointed, upset, or angry because someone has done something wrong. For example:

She gave him a reproachful look.
When he spoke to his staff his tone was very reproachful.

Have you heard of this word before? If not, try and use it in a sentence. You might also like to try these similar words: critical and disapproving.

Bye,

Chris

April 10, 2018   　=========

☆  obstinate  頑固な

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If you think someone is obstinate, you have a negative image of them because they are determined to do what they want and refuse to change their mind or be persuaded to do something else. Other words with a similar meaning are: stubborn, inflexible, pig-headed, self-willed, strong-minded, and willful. These words all have a negative nuance to them.

On the other hand, when you think that someone being obstinate is a good thing, you can use words like determined, persistent or tenacious. I was once described as tenacious, and at the time, I thought it was just like being stubborn or obstinate, so I was offended!Read more about Today’s Word: obstinate[…]

April 9, 2018   =========

☆  terse そっけない

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A terse comment or statement is brief and unfriendly. Other words with a similar meaning are: curt, abrupt, short, and snappy. This is a negative word, and so although being brief and concise might be positives when you are communicating, being terse is not a positive thing!

Sometimes, when we’re in a hurry, for example, trying to get everyone ready for school in the morning, I definitely sound terse! I don’t really want to get angry or be terse with anyone, but no one seems to listen in my house unless I am! For example, when we’re not in a rush, I might say, “Alright, timeRead more about Today’s Word: terse[…]

April 8, 2018      =========

☆  device  （携帯などの）装置

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A device is an object that has been invented for a certain purpose, for example, our smart phones are devices created to help us communicate with each other in many different ways. Unfortunately, these devices have kind of stopped us communicating with each other in person, don’t you think?

I’m definitely guilty of communicating with my device rather than in person… for example, I’d rather send a text than make a phone call. That way, I can just wait for the other person to respond when they have time. When my phone rings, I usually answer it, which can disturb my concentration, so I much preferRead more about Today’s Word: device[…]

April 7, 2018 =========

☆  disposition 性質

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Your disposition is your character, the way that you tend to behave or feel. For example, she has an adventurous disposition. Or, he seems to have a nervous disposition.

Have you heard of the phrase, “resting bitch face” (or RBF)? It is a funny term that describes a facial expression which unintentionally makes it seem like the person is angry or annoyed. However, the person’s true disposition is relaxed and resting, and they are actually not expressing any emotion.

This article shows a few celebrities that have RBF, even though they actually have pleasant dispositions! https://www.refinery29.com/2016/03/101608/celebrities-resting-bitch-face?bucketed=true

Is RBF a thing in Japan, too??

Bye,

Chris

April 6, 2018　=========

☆  skill スキル

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Improving your communication skills can really help your English, however, have you ever wondered if there are some communication skills that can help specifically with your English? In other words, they are relevant to communicating in English, but maybe not to communicating in Japanese. Here are a couple of “skills” that I think are definitely important for English communication:

Speak loudly. I often say it’s important to speak loudly, because when people don’t feel confident they speak quietly, and that can make it difficult to understand them.

Speak slowly. If you speak more slowly, you’ll give yourself more thinking time. It really doesn’t matter if you make mistakes,Read more about Today’s Word: skill[…]

April 5, 2018　=========

☆  theory  持論

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If you have a theory about something, you have your own opinion about it, which you believe to be true, but cannot prove. So, if you wanted to talk about your thoughts on a certain matter, you could say, “My theory is …” You could also say “My opinion is….” Or even, “My hypothesis is….” Here are some example sentences:

It’s just my theory, but I think he really wants to ask her out on a date.
Her theory is that robots and AI will soon replace most of the people working at her company.
People often try to explain an event in a way that fits with theirRead more about Today’s Word: theory[…]

April 4, 2018　=========

☆  curiosity  好奇心

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Do you think technology has affected the way you communicate? I think being on social media, like Facebook and Twitter, has taken away some of the curiosity we have in other people and what is going on in their lives.

My friend often posts about where she is travelling for work and what she ate for lunch, and what exercise she did that day… so when I see her in person, I already know so much about her everyday life, my curiosity is gone! Ha ha! Not gone completely of course, but when she tells me something, I feel like, “Oh you already told me this.” ButRead more about Today’s Word: curiosity[…]

April 3, 2018    =========

☆  obligation 義務

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If you have an obligation to do something, it is your duty to do that thing. One of my favorite authors, Danielle Laporte, has an interesting blog article about obligations. She says that we all have so many obligations that we must do throughout the day – feed pets, go to work, care for elderly parents, saying thank you for a thoughtful gift even though you don’t like it, attending funerals and so on…

She says that when we have these obligations and don’t do them, we could be seen as heartless, irresponsible, out-of-integrity, but at the same time, there are many obligations that just makeRead more about Today’s Word: obligation[…]

April 2, 2018      =========

☆  respect  敬意

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One of the useful phrases this week is, “Respect for each other is so important in the workplace.” This is so true, but as I mentioned yesterday, I think respect needs to be across the board – as in, everywhere. We need to respect each other at the workplace, at home, at school, and online.

I find it really distressing to see people attack each other online, with violent words and hatred. So, I made a rule for myself that I wouldn’t read the comments on any articles, even if it was one that a friend shared or that I was really interested in.

Does this happenRead more about Today’s Word: respect[…]

April 1, 2018　    =========

☆  disagree  賛成できない

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This month, we’re talking about How to be a great communicator. An important topic – no matter what language you are speaking! If you disagree with someone, you don’t accept or agree with what they are saying. Being able to disagree with someone in a positive way, without it becoming an argument is a really important communication skill.

Sometimes, when I read news articles online, and then read the comments by people, I am shocked at how badly people communicate with each other. For example, if you read a political article about Trump, there will always be people who agree with him, and those who disagree,Read more about Today’s Word: disagree[…]