Complete Japanese Expression Guide - Mizue Sasaki

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no senkyō no kekka wa igai deshita ne.

      SEIJIKA:

      Hontō desu yo. K-shi ga shushō ni naru to wa, taihen na bankuruwase desu.

      REPORTER:

      The outcome of the recent election was quite a surprise.

      POLITICIAN:

      Indeed. It was a real surprise to see Mr. K become prime minister.

      Ban-kuruwase comes from the world of sumo and refers to a surprise upset. Before each tournament, a list of the wrestlers (banzuke) is posted, ranking the wrestlers from lowest to highest. When a higher-ranked wrestler is beaten by someone of lower rank, the order of the banzuke is upset (kuruwaseru).

      EXAMPLES

      1. Kyō no sumō wa, yokozuna ga makeru to iu ban-kuruwase ga atta.

       There was a surprise upset in today's sumo; one of the top wrestlers was defeated.

      2. Kare ga ichi-i ni naru to wa, tonda ban-kuruwase datta.

       It was quite an upset for him to finish in first place.

      3. Kaigi de kanojo ga hantai shita no wa, ban-kuruwase datta.

       It was quite a surprise to have her express her opposition at the meeting.

      4. Ban-kuruwase no kanojo no hatsugen ni, minna odoroita.

       Everyone was shocked by her unexpected announcement.

      5. Ryokō-chū ni resshajiko ni au to wa, tonda ban-kuruwase deshita.

       It was a great shock to be in a train accident while we were on vacation.

      bita ichimon

      a single penny

      KYAKU:

      Nē, ojisan, kore o-make shite.

      TENSHU:

      O-kyakusan, kore wa bita ichimon makerarenai yo.

      CUSTOMER:

      How about knocking a little off the price for me?

      STORE OWNER:

      Sorry, I can't cut the price a single cent.

      Bita is an abbreviation for bitasen, a crude coin produced in the 16th century. At that time, a mon was the smallest unit of currency. Though these coins no longer exist today, their names live on in such expressions as bita ichimon mo nai (not have a cent) and bita ichimon makerarenai (not come down in price one cent).

      EXAMPLES

      1. Ano mise wa takusan katte mo, bita ichimon makete kurenai.

       No matter how much you buy in that shop, they won't give you any discount.

      2. Bita ichimon makete kurenain'

       nara, kono mise de wa kaimasen.

       If you won't budge an inch on the price, I'll go elsewhere.

      3. Watashi wa kore de bita ichimon mōkeru tsumori wa arimasen.

       At this price I don't expect to make a cent of profit.

      4. Kare wa isshō asonde kurashi, bita ichimon kaseida koto wa nai.

       He has lived a life of leisure and never earned a penny.

      5. Jibun no chokin kara bita ichimon musuko ni yaru tsumori wa nai.

       I have no intention of giving my son a single cent of my savings.

      bō ni furu

      spoil, ruin

      KAISHAIN 1:

      Kinō wa kachō no hikkoshi no tetsudai datta sō desu ne.

      KAISHAIN 2:

      Sō nan' desu. O-kage de nichiyōbi o ichinichi bō ni furimashita yo.

      EMPLOYEE 1:

      So you helped the section chief move house yesterday, didn't you?

      EMPLOYEE 2:

      That's right. It spoiled my whole Sunday.

      Bō nifuru means to waste or ruin something. A bō is a long slender pole made of wood, metal, or bamboo. Bō ni furu, literally "to brandish a pole," is said to originate from the former practice of peddlers bearing poles on their shoulders when doing business. Until all their goods were sold, the peddlers would have to brandish that pole. If they didn't sell all their goods, they would be financially ruined.

      EXAMPLES

      1. Kinō wa kimi no kichō na yasumi o maru ichinichi bō ni furasete, sumanakatta ne.

       Sorry I ruined your holiday yesterday.

      2. He, bō nifutta wake de wa arimasen.

       Not at all—it wasn't ruined.

      3. Kare wa mayaku ni te o dashite, isshō o bō ni furasareta. He became involved with drugs, which ruined his life.

      4. Sonna koto de, kyaria o bō nifutte mo iin' desu ka?

       Is that worth forfeiting your whole career for?

      5. Watashi wa sonna koto de, isshō o bō nifuru tsumori wa arimasen.

       I have no intention of making a mess of my life because of that.

      boro o dasu

      expose one's faults

      (miai no seki de)

      MUSUME:

      Okōsan, nani o o-hanashi shitara ii kashira.

      HAHAOYA:

      Hanasanai ho ga ii wa. Amari hanasu to boro ga demasu yo.

      (at a meeting for an arranged marriage)

      DAUGHTER:

      What should I talk about, Mom?

      MOTHER:

      You'd be better off keeping as quiet as possible. If you talk too much, you'll reveal too many of your faults.

      Boro refers to rags or tatters and with dasu (put out or show) means to expose one's faults and shortcomings. Other variations include boro ga deru (have one's faults revealed) and boro o dasareru (be made to show one's weaknesses).

      EXAMPLES

      1. Ukkari suru to boro ga desō da.

       If we're not on guard, we may reveal our weak points.

      2. O-miai de wa boro o dasanai yō ni ne.

       When you meet your prospective spouse at a meeting for an arranged marriage, be careful not to show your bad side.

      3. Anata ga boro o dasun ja nai ka to shinpai shite itan' desu yo.

       I was worried that you might reveal your faults.

      4. Kaigi no seki de machigatta hokoku o shite, boro o dashite shimatta.

       I gave an incorrect report at the meeting and lost my credibility.

      5. Yokatta! Boro o dasanakute sumimashita.

       Whew! I managed to keep up appearances until the end.

      bu ga yoi / bu ga warui

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