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.
お正月
oshougatsu
(during the) New Year
結婚式の披露宴
kekkonnshiki no hirouenn
wedding receptions
エビ料理が
ebi ryouri ga
lobster dishes
出るけど、
deru kedo,
are served
何か意味が
nanika imiga
any reason (for this)
縁起がいい
enngi ga ii
(these dishes) lucky
っていわれてるよ。
tte iwareteruyo.
are considered
タイは
tai ha
seabream (tai)
高級な魚
kokyuu na sakana
(a) high-quality fish
「たい」は
tai ha
(the word) tai (in Japanese)
「めでたい」
medetai
(the) word medetai (blessing)
通じるから。
tsuujiru kara.
associated
それじゃあ、
sorejyaa,
well then
エビは?
ebi ha
how about lobster ?
背中が
senaka ga
(its) back
象徴
shouchou
(a) symbol as
なんだって。
nanndatte.
it’s regarded
縁起がいい食べ物は
enngi ga ii tabemono ha
lucky dishes
たくさんある
takusan aru
there are many
昆布は
konnbu ha
konbu (kelp)
「よろこぶ」
yorokobu
the word yorokobu (pleased)
から
kara
can be used (and as such)
縁起物の食材。
enngimono no shokuzai.
(to be a) lucky ingredient is considered
それから
sorekara
there’s also
「数の子」は
kazunoko ha
kazunoko (herring roe)
子だくさん
kodakusann
(the couple) have many children
子孫繁栄
shisonn hannei
(their) descendants prosper
るんだって。
runndatte.
(which) can be used to
ある?
aru
any other (lucky charms) are there ?
鶴と亀
tsuru to kame
cranes and turtles
かな。
kana.
there are <perhaps>
千年、
senn nenn
one thousand years (live for)
亀は万年
kame ha mann nenn
and that turtles ten thousand years
いわれてるからね。
iwareterukarane.
it is said
松と
matsu to
pine tree (matsu)
縁起がいい
enngi ga ii
are good luck charms
聞いたけど。
kiita kedo.
I’ve heard
三つそろって
mittsu sorotte
a set of these three
「松竹梅」って
shou'chiku'bai tte
shouchikubai
喜びごとの
yorokobigoto no
(a) blessing of
象徴
shouchou
(they) symbolise
食事の
shokuji no
cuisines
ランク付けに
rannkuzuke ni
to rank
使われることも
tsukawareru kotomo
used
一番上が
ichibann ue ga
(the) highest
その次が
sono tsugi ga
followed by
数字の8が
suuji no hachi ga
number eight
ラッキーナンバー
rakki-nannba-
(a) lucky number
聞いたけど、
kiita kedo,
(I) heard
どうして?
doushite
why is that ?
漢数字の
kannsuuji no
kanji in (the) number
「八」の形が
hachi no katachi ga
eight stroke
下に
shitani
(the) lower part (of)
「末広がり」
suehirogari
suehirogari
といって、
toitte,
this is called and
栄えるって
sakaerutte
becoming prosperous
縁起が悪い
enngi ga warui
unlucky
数字は?
suuji ha
what numbers are?
音が同じ
otoga onaji
(it) sounds the same as
「死」に
shi ni
(the) word for death (shi)
つながる4(4)
tunagaru yonn si
the number four (shi)
「苦しい」の苦に
kurusii no ku ni
(the) word severe (ku)
つながる
tsunagaru
is connected to
9(9)は
kyuu ku ha
nine (kyuu/ku)
嫌われる。
kirawareru.
(people) dislike
オリンピックと
orinnpikku to
(in) the Olympics
メダルが
medaru ga
(a) medal
もらえない
moraenai
(as) it stands for failing to gain
4番と、
yonnbann to
(the) number four and
入賞できない
nyuushou dekinai
(as it indicates a) failure to win a prize
9番は、
kyuubann ha,
(the) number nine
アスリートに
asuri-to ni
athletes
嫌われてる。
kirawareteru.
dislike