Tom: What does “tsuyu” mean?
Miho: It is the rainy season that lasts from June to July.
Tom: How do you write it in kanji?
Miho: You would write ume (plum) and ame(rain). I have heard that this is because it’s the season in which plums ripen.
Tom: There are many onomatopoeic words in Japanese, what onomatopoeic terms are commonly used for rain?
Miho: When rain starts to fall, we say“potsuripotsuri.”
Tom: Is this any different from “shitoshito”?
Miho: That means that a light rain continues to fall.
Tom: Then, how about heavy rain?
Miho: That’s “za-za-.”
Miho: People say “pichapicha” when the rain is falling so hard that it rebounds off the pavement.
Tom: What do you say for the English phrase “raining cats and dogs”?
Miho: You could say “doshaburi.” If your clothes become soaked because of this, you might say, “my clothes are ‘bishobisho.’ ”
Tom: I’ve noticed many people using transparent umbrellas in Japan.
Miho: Ah, you’re referring to plastic umbrellas, aren’t you? They are cheap, and so many people don’t go back to a place to collect them if they’ve forgotten them.
Tom: I also see many people using small umbrellas.
Miho: I think you are referring to foldable umbrellas. These are fairly useful in light rain. I also carry one in my bag when it looks like it will rain.
かけての
kakete no
(that) lasts
書くの?
kakuno
do (you) write (it) ?
書くの。
kaku no
(you) would write
梅が
ume ga
(in which) plums
季節
kisetsu
(it’s the) season
だから
dakara
(this is) because
聞いたことある。
kiitakoto aru.
(I) have heard
オノマトペが
onomatope ga
onomatopoeic (words)
使われる
tsukawareru
are used
のは?
noha
what (onomatopoeic terms)
少し降り始めた
sukoshi furi hajimeta
rain starts to fall
「ぽつりぽつり」って
potsuri potsuri tte
potsuripotsuri
「しとしと」
shito shito
shitoshito
違うの?
chigau no
(is this) any different
小雨が
kosame ga
(a) light rain
続けている
tsuzuketeiru
continues
ようすね。
yousu ne.
means (that)
激しく降る
hageshiku furu
heavy
激しく降る
hageshiku furu
is falling so hard
道路で
douro de
(the) pavement
跳ね返る
hanekaeru
(it) rebounds off
「ぴちゃぴちゃ」
picha picha
pichapicha
っていうよ。
tte iuyo.
(people) say
英語
eigo
(the) English (phrase)
「キャッツアンドドッグズ」
Cats and Dogs
cats and dogs
何ていうの?
nannte iuno
what do you say ?
「土砂降」り。
doshaburi.
(you could say) doshaburi
それで
sorede
because of this
すごくぬれた
sugoku nureta
(your clothes) become soaked
「服が
fukuga
(my) clothes are
『びしょびしょ』になった」
bisho bisho ni natta
bishobisho
っていう。
tteiu.
(you) might say
透明の傘を
toumei no kasa wo
transparent umbrellas
持っている
motteiru
using <have>
多いね。
ooi ne.
(I)’ve noticed many
ビニール傘の
bini-rugasa no
plastic umbrellas
ことね。
kotone.
(you) re referring to aren’t you?
安いから
yasui kara
(they) are cheap and
置き忘れた
okiwasureta
(if they’ve) forgotten (them)
取りに行かない
torini ikanai
don’t go back to collect (them)
小さい傘を
chiisai kasa wo
small umbrellas
折りたたみ傘の
oritatamigasa no
foldable umbrellas
ことね。
kotone.
(I) think (you) are referring to
それで十分だから。
sorede jyuubunn dakara.
(these) are fairly useful
雨が降り
amega furi
(it) will (rain)
持っていく。
motteiku.
carry (one)