ぼく、大吾だいごです。I‘m Daigo. - Kanji and Japanese Culture

Before we move on, let's talk briefly about two new kanji. Additionally, we'll take our first journey in discovering Japan.

Kanji

Let's explore two new kanji: 先 and 生. Remember from our review of kanji previously, it’s better to learn kanji in words rather than isolating one kanji because they change the reading (sounds), depending on how they are used.

**Two New Kanji with Reading Examples**
Kanji	Base Meaning	Example 1	Example 2	Example 3	Example 4
先	せん earlier	先週せんしゅう = last week	先月せんげつ = last month	先日せんじつ = the other day	N/A
生	せい born; living	生徒せいと = student	たん生日たんじょうび = birthday	生きるいきる = (verb) live	生まれましたうまれました = was born

The following image will help you learn the proper method for writing these kanji. Please practice, even if just with your finger, to write these new kanji. After practicing with your finger a few times, try to write them in your notebook using the proper strokes.

A series of images show the proper order to create the kanji 先 and 生

One more vocabulary word featuring these kanji:

先生＝せんせい = (sen-sei) = teacher. This word literally means someone born earlier; therefore, older than you and wiser than you. In Japan, students are expected to use polite format (ex., verbs ending with -ます) when speaking to a teacher. Remember the difference between おはよう and おはようございます?

Discover Japan - 洋食ようしょく Vs. 和食わしょく

洋 = western; 和 = Japanese; 食 = foods, eat

Japanese culture is a fusion of Western elements and Japanese elements. It is often pointed out Japanese adopt other cultures coming from overseas and blend them into their own culture. This is how culture lives and grows. It breathes, changing as people live from generation to generation.

Food culture in Japan is one that grew as a mixture of cuisines from all over the world. For example, in the US, you may try Sushi; however, California Sushi rolls did not originate in Japan. The ingredients are Americanized to better suit American tastes. Likewise, some Western dishes are Japanized from the original styles to meet the tastes of Japanese. The same thing happens to the naming. Even McDonald’s in Japan named a Big Mac "侍マック = Samurai Mac!" What a great way to rename this famous burger!

Note: the kanji 侍＝さむらい.

Final Thoughts: Japanese Food Culture

Do some research for fun to explore how to cook a Japanese dish. You can try, and you may have an idea of how to Americanize some cuisines to meet an American’s taste.

[CC BY-NC-SA 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION - INTENDED ONLY FOR USE WITHIN THE LESSON.