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sake_shinigami2021-01-04 03:53 am
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The Art of Japanese Culture through Untranslatable Words; Monday, Fourth Period [01/04].
Shunsui had a very good feeling about this semester's class! Not had it been placed in the fourth period so he didn't even have to get up early for his class this semester, but there were only two students, and those two students just so happened to be his own employees! His own little Turtle & Canary, as it were. Kame-chan and kanaria-chan! (Was Astrid Kanaria-chan based soley on her blonde hair? Yes, pretty much. He was a simple man). So he suspected his Mondays were going to be a deightful breeze.
And the classroom, of course, was set up with the desks all pushed aside and a circle of pillows at the center of the room instead, with offerings of hot cocoa and tea for the girls and a small whiteboard for him to write on. With it being just the three of them, it made far more sense than the formality of desks and a blackboard!
"Ohayō gozaimasu, ducklings~~ ♥!" he started cheerfully, although it was very clearly not morning, and since this was part language, part culture class, he would definitely give either of them extra credit for pointing that out. "Welcome to my little class on Japanese culture based around untranslatable...or at least difficult to make a direct translation of...words ♥! Since we all know each other from work, we can likely skip the introductions and just move along to our first word and concept, neh ♥? One that one might argue is rather the opposite of work, which we pursue for the very specific reward of monetary compensation."
This is when he lifted the whiteboard to show them exactly that, neatly written with the kanji, then the English romanization, and the pronounciation:
嗜む, たしなむ
tashinamu
(to privately dedicate oneself to a cause or project)
"Now," he ventured, "this is an example of how context in Japanese can make a world of difference, because directly translated, tashinamu means 'to have a taste for,' 'to be fond of,' or, and here is where the cultural context of it comes in, 'to have a hobby.' More specifically, a hobby that one enjoys immensely and dedicates a good deal of their time to, simply for the sake of that hobby, with no expectation of reward or recognition ♥. Tashinamu is something you do merely because you enjoy doing it, a pursuit just for yourself and the pleasure derived from that pursuit. It can most certainly be something enjoyed in your spare, private time, such as tending to bonsai, or something that can be shared with others, such as helping to keep a local park clean in your spare time or volunteering for a cause. One could argue that the alturistic nature of these things are the benefit, that one gets good feeling from doing good things, but in the spirit of tashinamu, that is enough ♥.
"We will now be exploring this idea two-fold for today's class, ducklings ♥. First, perhaps we will do a little bit of getting-to-know each other, because I would like to discuss and explore things in your life that might be considered tashinamu: what do you like to do that you do merely for the enjoyment of it ♥? I mentioned bonsai; I am not as passionate about it as some that I know, but it is something I like to indulge in for no reason other than it makes me happy. I might make a case for the art of a good nap in this respect, as well! And I'm sure you ducklings have something you're passionate about, as well...let us share the happiness that those things bring to us with each other ♥!
"And, secondly, regarding the other aspect of tashinamu, I would like for each of you to think of a private cause you can dedicate yourselves to throughout the week, something to do, for yourself or for others, that you do just for the sake of the thing itself. Expect no reward or recognition, just a personal sense of satisfaction for having done it, and we can discuss it next week, neh ♥?" He chuckled lightly. "Even I shall try to contribute my own tashinamu for the discussion ♥."
"Now which of you would like to go first ♥?"
And the classroom, of course, was set up with the desks all pushed aside and a circle of pillows at the center of the room instead, with offerings of hot cocoa and tea for the girls and a small whiteboard for him to write on. With it being just the three of them, it made far more sense than the formality of desks and a blackboard!
"Ohayō gozaimasu, ducklings~~ ♥!" he started cheerfully, although it was very clearly not morning, and since this was part language, part culture class, he would definitely give either of them extra credit for pointing that out. "Welcome to my little class on Japanese culture based around untranslatable...or at least difficult to make a direct translation of...words ♥! Since we all know each other from work, we can likely skip the introductions and just move along to our first word and concept, neh ♥? One that one might argue is rather the opposite of work, which we pursue for the very specific reward of monetary compensation."
This is when he lifted the whiteboard to show them exactly that, neatly written with the kanji, then the English romanization, and the pronounciation:
tashinamu
(to privately dedicate oneself to a cause or project)
"Now," he ventured, "this is an example of how context in Japanese can make a world of difference, because directly translated, tashinamu means 'to have a taste for,' 'to be fond of,' or, and here is where the cultural context of it comes in, 'to have a hobby.' More specifically, a hobby that one enjoys immensely and dedicates a good deal of their time to, simply for the sake of that hobby, with no expectation of reward or recognition ♥. Tashinamu is something you do merely because you enjoy doing it, a pursuit just for yourself and the pleasure derived from that pursuit. It can most certainly be something enjoyed in your spare, private time, such as tending to bonsai, or something that can be shared with others, such as helping to keep a local park clean in your spare time or volunteering for a cause. One could argue that the alturistic nature of these things are the benefit, that one gets good feeling from doing good things, but in the spirit of tashinamu, that is enough ♥.
"We will now be exploring this idea two-fold for today's class, ducklings ♥. First, perhaps we will do a little bit of getting-to-know each other, because I would like to discuss and explore things in your life that might be considered tashinamu: what do you like to do that you do merely for the enjoyment of it ♥? I mentioned bonsai; I am not as passionate about it as some that I know, but it is something I like to indulge in for no reason other than it makes me happy. I might make a case for the art of a good nap in this respect, as well! And I'm sure you ducklings have something you're passionate about, as well...let us share the happiness that those things bring to us with each other ♥!
"And, secondly, regarding the other aspect of tashinamu, I would like for each of you to think of a private cause you can dedicate yourselves to throughout the week, something to do, for yourself or for others, that you do just for the sake of the thing itself. Expect no reward or recognition, just a personal sense of satisfaction for having done it, and we can discuss it next week, neh ♥?" He chuckled lightly. "Even I shall try to contribute my own tashinamu for the discussion ♥."
"Now which of you would like to go first ♥?"