Dearest Minasan,

Oh dear oh dear! I have really taken a long break from writing the Colloquial Japanese Lesson series since February this year, and I was wondering if I should just stop at Lesson 40, until Larry Ong motivated me again at the comment column! The wonder of words : ) 本当にありがとうございました！

Well, I have been studying Korean seriously since early this year and even became the Assistant Organiser for Korean Meetup as well, so I was really busy and couldn't find time to continue the writing for Colloquial Japanese Lessons. Nevertheless, I still keep in contact with Japanese language. I listen to Japanese songs everyday, and yes, I still keep track the number one singles and albums in the Oricon charts every week (though I have cut down buying lots of CDs per month). By the way, the current number one single is '妖ーあやかし' by 堂本光一(one of the Kinki Kids' member) and the number one album is 'Hello-Goodbye' by Coming Century (from V6).

Sorry I have digressed.

The topic today is the usage of '--sugiru' (過ぎる), which means 'too much'. For example:

飲みすぎる (nomisugiru) - drink too much

食べ過ぎる (tabesugiru) - eat too much

暗すぎる (kurasugiru) - too dark

緊張しすぎる (kinchoushisugiru) - too nervous

Usually, one would think that '--sugiru' would have negative connotation. However, in Japanese language, it is NOT necessarily true.

One of my Japanese friends saw my nephew's picture in my facebook and commented:

かわいすぎるんですけど！！！！！！！！

Though the literal meaning is 'too cute' (which usually has negative connotation in English and Chinese), in Japanese language, it's meant to be a compliment! Believe it or not! It actually means 'very cute'!

Likewise, if your Japanese friend were to compliment you: 頭が良すぎる！Don't misinterpret as 'too clever', but take it as 'very clever'!

面白すぎるでしょう！


Jeryl Lu

堂本光一 - 妖 ～あやかし～(Short version)

Hi Jeryl.

I have just seen this Colloquial Japanese lesson and find it interesting. Can you please tell me where can I find the previous lesson as I wish to read more. Thanks:D

Jas

Hi Jasmine,

You can follow this link here: http://japanese.meetu...

Tsubasa san has also kindly threaded the titles to the relevant links as well. Arigato!

Jeryl Lu

can i ask how come "kedo" is added after the "kawaisugiru" sentence? what does it mean? is it to soften the sentence/tone?

can i ask how come "kedo" is added after the "kawaisugiru" sentence? what does it mean? is it to soften the sentence/tone?

kedo means "but" in Japanese. It has the same meaning as "ga".
It is used in a few ways:
1) "but" to change the direction of the sentence.
2) to refuse someone softly: kedo ...
3) to encourage someone else to continue: hima desu ka? (are you free)
hima desu kedo ... (yes, but ... (what do you want to do?))

Hello Jeryl,

I think your material is very good, in a sence that very easy to understand, and yet very practical. Good luck as you proceed this into publishing a book:)))

I just wanted to make a small correction in a use of Sugiru, though. You wrote, 緊張すぎる (kinchousugiru) - too nervous. However, when we say Too Nervous, the correct way is, 緊張しすぎる (kinchou shisugiru).

Okay i just wanted to point that out. Thanks and please continue to do your awesome work! :)))

Koko さん、

その通りですね！ありがとうございます！

When I was writing that lesson, やっぱり緊張し過ぎましたかな。。。
すごい久しぶりに書いていたから！

I have just made the correction above. Once again, thanks a lot!!

Hi Jeryl,

I'm new to this meet-up.
Clicked on the link today and really enjoyed your lesson 41.
However, I'm unable to click on many of the links to other lessons.
Is there somewhere where I can read them all?

Thanks very much.

Here you go! Huge thanks to Carleen who connected the links for me!


Colloquial Japanese lesson 1: Bimyou!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 2: Uzai!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 3: Yabai!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 4: Imaichi!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 5: Dai Pinchi!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 6: Paper Driver
Colloquial Japanese lesson 7: Onamae wa vs Onamae o kudasai)
Colloquial Japanese lesson 8: Why are you so KY?!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 9: Mummy’s Boy
Colloquial Japanese lesson 10: WOW! Kusai!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 11: You Are Fired!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 12: Cinderella was a murderer?!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 13: Dasai!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 14: Your number 18th please!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 15: Ponyo Ponyo
Colloquial Japanese lesson 16: Ohaiyogozaimasu!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 17: Toiuka
Colloquial Japanese lesson 18: I am so pissed off!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 19: Yappari!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 20: Jan Jan Jan
Colloquial Japanese lesson 21: Stand Up!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 22: 風太郎
Colloquial Japanese lesson 23: 癒し系
Colloquial Japanese lesson 24: ナツメロ
Colloquial Japanese lesson 25: Choice Suru
Colloquial Japanese lesson 26: X ichi
Colloquial Japanese lesson 27: 変な話ですけど。。。
Colloquial Japanese lesson 28: Because you are cute, I’ll…
Colloquial Japanese lesson 29: Yeah! Yatta!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 30: Face Cannibal
Colloquial Japanese lesson 31: あのさ。。。
Colloquial Japanese lesson 32: OH! さぶっ！
Colloquial Japanese lesson 33: Parasite Single
Colloquial Japanese lesson 34: Copycat
Colloquial Japanese lesson 35: Another way to say: ‘SHUT UP!’
Colloquial Japanese lesson 36: It’s a secret!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 37: Popular!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 38:Araxxx
Colloquial Japanese lesson 39: 売れっ子
Colloquial Japanese lesson 40: Free Service!
Colloquial Japanese lesson 41: You're TOO MUCH!

can i ask how come "kedo" is added after the "kawaisugiru" sentence? what does it mean? is it to soften the sentence/tone?

Hi!

Maybe a simple way to understand "kedo" is to associate with the use of "though".

For example:

I am not interested though... -　興味がないけど。。。(Kyoumi ga nai kedo...)

A bit stupid though... - ちょっと馬鹿だけど。。。(chotto baka dakedo...)

It's ok though.... -　大丈夫ですけど。。。(daijoubu desukedo...)

Of course there are also other meanings as well, as Den has mentioned before.