put a dot next to passages that they felt were well written. This mark indicating the master's approval came to be known as a gaten. Today, gaten ga iku is used to indicate that something previously not clear is now understandable.
EXAMPLES
1. Kare no setsumei o kiite, yatto gaten ga itta.
After listening to his explanation, it finally made sense.
2. Kare ga kaisha o yameta to wa, gaten ga ikanai.
It doesn't make sense to me why he quit the company.
3. Kanojo ga ryūgaku shite it a to kiite, gaten ga itta.
It all made sense after I learned that she had spent time studying abroad.
4. Dō desu ka? Kore de gaten ga itta deshō.
Well, does that bring things into focus for you?
geta o azukeru
entrust a matter to a person
TOMODACHI 1:
Kono mondai wa, anata ni geta o azuketai to omoimasu ga.
TOMODACHI 2:
Wakarimashita. Doryoku shite mimashō.
FRIEND 1:
I'd like to pass this problem on to you.
FRIEND 2:
All right. I'll see what I can do.
Geta are wooden clogs and azukeru means to leave something for another person to do. Geta o azukeru is used when the speaker, anxious to have a particular matter attended to, entrusts someone else with the task. The passive form is geta o azukerareru (be left with a matter).
EXAMPLES
1. Amerika-seifu wa, sono mondai ni kanshite, Nihon-seifu ni geta o azuketa.
The American government has left the handling of that question up to the Japanese government.
2. Nihon-seifu wa geta o azukerareta kakkō to natta.
The Japanese government was entrusted with conducting the affair.
3. Kare ni geta o azuketa tame ni, mondai ga kojireta.
The matter was left up to him and this aggravated the problem.
4. Geta o azukerareru hō mo, meiwaku desu.
It is also an annoyance for the person who is delegated with the task.
5. Kono ken ni tsuite wa, gichō ni geta o azuketai to omoimasu.
Regarding this issue, I'd like to pass the matter to the chairman.
giri-date
decorum, something done to be polite
BUKA:
Ojōsanno go-kekkon, omedetō gozaimasu. Kore, o-iwainisashiagete kudasai.
JŌSHI:
Kimi, sonna ni giri-date shite kurenakute mo yokatta noni.
SUBORDINATE:
Congratulations on your daughter's wedding. Please give this present to her for me.
SUPERVISOR:
You didn't have to go to all this trouble just to be polite.
At one time giri referred to what was considered rational behavior, but now it means good manners or social decorum. If we don't do something that we are expected to do, it is attributed to a lack of giri (giri o kaku) or bad manners (giri ga warui). To do what is polite is giri o tatsu (giri-date is a contracted form of this), whereas doing something merely because it is required is o-giri ni suru.
EXAMPLES
1. Ikura toshiue to itte mo, watashi ni giri-date nado shinaide kudasai.
No matter what the difference in our ages is, please don't feel you must be so polite with me.
2. On no aru sensei o uragitte wa, giri ga tatanai.
It's wrong to betray a teacher who has been good to you.
3. Joshi ni giri o kaku yō na koto, shinaide ne.
Don't be inconsiderate to your supervisor.
4. Buchō no eiten de, minna o-giri ni miokuri ni itta.
The boss was going to be promoted and transferred, so just to be polite everyone went to see him off.
gishin anki
suspicion begets fear, paranoia, anxiousness
ŌKURA DAIJIN:
Sekaijū ga Nihon no yarikata nifuman o motte iru yō de.
SŌRI DAIJIN:
Sekaijū nante sore wa, anata no gishin anki desu yo.
MINISTER OF FINANCE:
It seems that there is dissatisfaction throughout the entire international community with the way Japan is handling things.
PRIME MINISTER:
The entire international community? You're being paranoid.
According to Chinese folklore, when one is doubtful (gishin) about something, even though there's nothing to fear, one is apt to see monsters hiding in the dark (anki). In both Japanese and Chinese mythology, the monster (oni) is an imaginary creature with human form, a frightening face, and horns, who symbolizes human fears.
EXAMPLES
1. Itsu no ma ni ka, gishin anki ni ochiitte shimatta.
Suddenly I was feeling frightened and anxious about everything.
2. Kare ga kigyo supai nante, gishin anki desu yo.
You're just being paranoid in thinking that he's an industrial spy.
3. Kore ga gishin anki da to, wakatte wa iru no desu ga...
I realize that I'm probably
