つきがきれいですね

A short easy Japanese culture note about a poetic phrase for love.

満月

みなさんは「つきがきれいですね」というフレーズをっていますか?🌕

Do you know the phrase “Tsuki ga kirei desu ne”?

明治時代めいじじだい英文学者えいぶんがくしゃ夏目漱石なつめそうせきは、英語えいごの「I love you」を「あいしている」ではなく、「つきがきれいですね」とやくしたそうです。

The Meiji-era English literature scholar Natsume Soseki is said to have translated “I love you” not as “I love you,” but as “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?”

日本人にほんじんはシャイなので、あい告白こくはくするとき、直接的ちょくせつてき表現ひょうげんをしないとかんがえたそうです✨

He believed Japanese people are shy and avoid direct expressions when confessing love. Isn’t that just wonderfully romantic?

今日きょう日本語にほんごメモ

「〜そうです」は、いたはなしんだ情報じょうほうつたえるときに使つかいます。

“Sou desu” is useful when you share something you heard or read in Japanese.

Today's Words

  • つきmoon
  • あいlove
  • 告白こくはくするto confess love
  • 直接的ちょくせつてきdirect
  • What does tsuki ga kirei desu ne mean?Literally, it means “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” It is also known as a poetic indirect love expression in Japanese culture.
  • Is “The moon is beautiful” a common Japanese love phrase?It is famous as a literary and romantic phrase, but it is more poetic than a normal everyday confession.

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