Japanese Lucky Charms

JAPANese Q&A Casual Conversation | 日本の縁起物

Japanese Lucky Charms

Tom: During the New Year or at wedding receptions, seabream and lobster dishes are often served, is there any reason for this? Miho: These dishes are considered lucky. Seabream (tai) is a high-quality fish and the word “tai” in Japanese is associated with the word “medetai” (blessing). Tom: Well then, how about lobster? Miho: Its back is curved, so it’s regarded as a symbol of longevity. Tom: Are there any other lucky dishes? Miho: There are many… Konbu (kelp) can be used to refer to the word yorokobu (pleased) and as such is considered to be a lucky ingredient. There’s also kazunoko (herring roe) which can be used to refer to a wish that the couple have many children and that their descendants prosper. Tom: Besides dishes and drinks, are there any other lucky charms? Miho: Well, there are cranes and turtles. It is said that cranes live for 1,000 years and that turtles live for 10,000 years. Tom: I’ve heard that pine tree (matsu), bamboo (take), and plum trees (ume) are also good luck charms. Miho: A set of these three is called “shouchikubai.” They symbolise a blessing, but are often used to rank cuisines. Pine is the highest, followed by bamboo, and then plum. Tom: I heard that the number eight is a lucky number in Japan. Why is that? Miho: Because in kanji the lower part of the number eight stroke widens. This is called “suehirogari” and means gradually becoming prosperous. Tom: Conversely what numbers are unlucky? Miho: People dislike the number four (shi)as it sounds the same as the word for death (shi), whereas nine (ku) is connected to the word “severe (ku).” Tom: I see. It’s the same in the Olympics. Athletes dislike the number four as it stands for failing to gain a medal and the number nine as it indicates a failure to win a prize.

トムとむ
tomu
Tom
正月しょうがつ
oshougatsu
(during the) New Year
ya
or
結婚式けっこんしき披露宴ひろうえん
kekkonnshiki no hirouenn
wedding receptions
de
at
タイたい
tai
seabream
ya
and
エビえび料理りょうり
ebi ryouri ga
lobster dishes
よく
yoku
often
るけど、
deru kedo,
are served
なに意味いみ
nanika imiga
any reason (for this)
あるの?
aruno
is there ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
縁起えんぎがいい
enngi ga ii
(these dishes) lucky
っていわれてるよ。
tte iwareteruyo.
are considered
タイたい
tai ha
seabream (tai)
高級こうきゅうさかな
kokyuu na sakana
(a) high-quality fish
で、
de,
is and
「たい」は
tai ha
(the word) tai (in Japanese)
「めでたい」
medetai
(the) word medetai (blessing)
ni
is with
つうじるから。
tsuujiru kara.
associated
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
それじゃあ、
sorejyaa,
well then
エビえびは?
ebi ha
how about lobster ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
背中せなか
senaka ga
(its) back
がってる
magatteru
is curved
から、
kara,
so
長寿ちょうじゅ
choujyu
longevity
no
of
象徴しょうちょう
shouchou
(a) symbol as
なんだって。
nanndatte.
it’s regarded
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
縁起えんぎがいいもの
enngi ga ii tabemono ha
lucky dishes
ほかにも
hoka nimo
any other
ある?
aru
are there ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
たくさんある
takusan aru
there are many
けど……
kedo
[but]
昆布こんぶ
konnbu ha
konbu (kelp)
「よろこぶ」
yorokobu
the word yorokobu (pleased)
ni
to
つうじる
tsuujiru
to refer
から
kara
can be used (and as such)
縁起物えんぎもの食材しょくざい
enngimono no shokuzai.
(to be a) lucky ingredient is considered
それから
sorekara
there’s also
かず」は
kazunoko ha
kazunoko (herring roe)
だくさん
kodakusann
(the couple) have many children
ya
and that
子孫しそん繁栄はんえい
shisonn hannei
(their) descendants prosper
wo
(that)
ねがって
negatte
(a) wish
るんだって。
runndatte.
(which) can be used to
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
もの
tabemono
dishes
ya
and
もの
nomimono
drinks
以外いがいにも
igai nimo
besides
ある?
aru
any other (lucky charms) are there ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
そうだね、
soudane,
well
つるかめ
tsuru to kame
cranes and turtles
かな。
kana.
there are <perhaps>
つる
tsuru ha
cranes
せんねん
senn nenn
one thousand years (live for)
かめまんねん
kame ha mann nenn
and that turtles ten thousand years
きる
ikiru
live for
って
tte
that
いわれてるからね。
iwareterukarane.
it is said
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
まつ
matsu to
pine tree (matsu)
たけ
take
bamboo (take)
to
and
うめ
ume
plum trees (ume)
mo
also
縁起えんぎがいい
enngi ga ii
are good luck charms
って
tte
that
いたけど。
kiita kedo.
I’ve heard
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
みっつそろって
mittsu sorotte
a set of these three
松竹梅しょうちくばい」って
shou'chiku'bai tte
shouchikubai
いうよ。
iuyo.
is called
よろこびごとの
yorokobigoto no
(a) blessing of
象徴しょうちょう
shouchou
(they) symbolise
だけど、
dakedo,
but
食事しょくじ
shokuji no
cuisines
ランクらんくけに
rannkuzuke ni
to rank
使つかわれることも
tsukawareru kotomo
used
おお
ooi
often
かな。
kana.
are
一番いちばんうえ
ichibann ue ga
(the) highest
まつ
matsu
pine
で、
de,
is
そのつぎ
sono tsugi ga
followed by
たけ
take
bamboo
それから
sorekara
and then
うめ
ume.
plum
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
日本にほん
nihonn
Japan
では
deha
in
数字すうじ8はち
suuji no hachi ga
number eight
ラッキーナンバーらっきーなんばー
rakki-nannba-
(a) lucky number
って
tte
(is) that
いたけど、
kiita kedo,
(I) heard
どうして?
doushite
why is that ?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
漢数字かんすうじ
kannsuuji no
kanji in (the) number
はち」のかたち
hachi no katachi ga
eight stroke
した
shitani
(the) lower part (of)
ひろがってる
hirogatteru
widens
から。
kara.
because
末広すえひろがり」
suehirogari
suehirogari
といって、
toitte,
this is called and
次第しだい
shidai ni
gradually
さかえるって
sakaerutte
becoming prosperous
意味いみね。
imine.
means
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
ぎゃく
gyaku ni
conversely
縁起えんぎわる
enngi ga warui
unlucky
数字すうじは?
suuji ha
what numbers are?
美穂みほ
miho
Miho
おとおな
otoga onaji
(it) sounds the same as
だから
dakara
as
」に
shi ni
(the) word for death (shi)
つながる4よん(4)
tunagaru yonn si
the number four (shi)
と、
to,
whereas
くるしい」の
kurusii no ku ni
(the) word severe (ku)
つながる
tsunagaru
is connected to
9きゅう(9)
kyuu ku ha
nine (kyuu/ku)
きらわれる。
kirawareru.
(people) dislike
トムとむ
tomu
Tom
それじゃ、
sorejya,
I see
オリンピックおりんぴっく
orinnpikku to
(in) the Olympics
おな
onaji
the same
だね。
dane.
(it)’s
メダルめだる
medaru ga
(a) medal
もらえない
moraenai
(as) it stands for failing to gain
4番よんばんと、
yonnbann to
(the) number four and
入賞にゅうしょうできない
nyuushou dekinai
(as it indicates a) failure to win a prize
9番きゅうばんは、
kyuubann ha,
(the) number nine
アスリートあすりーと
asuri-to ni
athletes
きらわれてる。
kirawareteru.
dislike

More from Hiragana Times

Learn anytime, anywhere and experience more on app

Explore Japanese culture with Hiragana Times

Subscribe
00:00 / 00:00