Japan has a whole vocabulary of words that are based on onomatopoeia, words that sound like what they are trying to describe. In a way, it is a very simple way to learn Japanese. Learn a sound that is similar to what you are trying to describe, such as pitter in English, and then a repetition of the sound will give you a word; pitter-patter to describe rain or the scampering of feet or something.
Japanese is FILLED with words like this!!! For example, what do you think "bara-bara" means?
Of course first learning what the sound is in Japanese is the challenge because many sounds do not sound at all the same to foreign ears. Roosters crow "Koke-ko-ko~~" not "Cockadoodledo~". Dogs say "Wan-wan" rather than "Bow-wow." When I go to the doctor's and say I have a headache, he wants to know if it is "Gan-gan" (splitting) or "Zukin-zukin" (throbbing). Food can be "saku-saku" (crunchy) or "fuwa-fuwa" (soft and fluffy) or "atsu-atsu" (steaming hot).
So, did you guess what "bara-bara" means? Here is a hint.
The cat box is now "bara-bara" (scattered, loose, DESTROYED!)
That's the end of the cat box.
8 comments:
*SNORT* *COUGH* Oh my - I wish I didn't have my mouth full of tortilla chips when I got to the last bit! HYSTERICAL!
Our cat was nearly bara-bara himself earlier this evening...when he started to claw on the front of "my" chair :) (And he has his own special place to claw) So, I swatted at him with a book, but fortunately I missed...by the way I should be careful with the book...it belongs to our Pastor!!
Thanks for my first lesson in Japanese....Pat H
Samurai cat! Ha! I have a feeling that this behavior is why the cat was in need of a home. That cat really did a number on the cat box. Glad it was not your furniture. Yikes! When we had a cat, we used to have catnip rope wrapped hanging boards for the cat to claw. I finally just put the cat outside so it could claw the trees before it shredded the house. Some cats just don't want to be domesticated.
Wow. That box is a goner. What does Tetsu think?
The box was made as a gift for the new kitty by a neighbor, right :) I don't suppose that Mi shows any remorse over bara-bara....LOL Pat H
That looks like it was attacked by a bara-bara-cuda. Did she EAT any of the styrofoam during the destruction?
Calico Quilter, I love your bara-bara-cuda :) Got a good laugh from me today..I'm wondering, too, if Mi ate any of the styrofoam...doesn't sound like a kitty delicacy to me :) Blessings all around....Pat H
Eeuww! Did the cat actually eat the polystyrene?? I hope it didn't get indigestion :-) Definitely bara-bara!
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