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New Japanese word Jiwaru

Japanese new words

In many languages including English, there is a growing number of words as modern vocabulary increases. Technology and trends change, and create an addition to the jargon used in every day speech.

In Japanese too, there are always new words added to the vocabulary. Some are imported into the language and use the Katakana alphabet to write them. Some are new uses of old words that use Japanese Kanji. And some use Hiragana as well.

This week's Japanese teacher's audio blog, by Takane sensei, is about the new word which was nominated for the grand prize in 2015. Read more to increase your Japanese vocabulary.

じわる
New Japanese word - Jiwaru

takane

By TAKANE Yukiko

jiwaru

みなさんの国では2015年、どんな新しい言葉が生まれましたか。 日本では2015年の「今年の新語」の大賞に「じわる」が選ばれました。 この「今年の新語」は一般公募をします。選ばれる辞書にのります

「じわる」は、副詞の「じわじわ」に動詞の辞書形「る」をつけて、グループ1の動詞になります。 おもしろさなどが、時間の経過ともにじわじわと感じられるという意味です。 私は聞いたことはありませんでしたが、SNSでよく使われる言葉だそうです。 例えば、おもしろい画像を見たら「いいね」ボタンを押します。 あとからじわじわおもしろいと思った画像には「じわる」という言葉を使うそうです。

辞書にのる言葉もありますが、きえる言葉もあります。 「空手チョップ」や「使い切りカメラ」など・・。 きえる言葉を見ながら、を思い出し、じわりました。

To listen to this blog, please watch our Youtube video.

じわる

みなさんの国(くに)では2015年(ねん)、どんな新(あたら)しい言葉(ことば)が生(う)まれましたか。 日本(にほん)では2015年(ねん)の「今年(ことし)の新語(しんご)」の大賞(たいしょう)に「じわる」が選(えら)ばれました。 この「今年(ことし)の新語(しんご)」は一般公募(いっぱんこうぼ)をします。選(えら)ばれる辞書(じしょ)にのります

「じわる」は、副詞(ふくし)の「じわじわ」に動詞(どうし)の辞書形(じしょけい)「る」をつけて、グループ1の動詞(どうし)になります。 おもしろさなどが、時間(じかん)の経過(けいか)ともにじわじわと感(かん)じられるという意味(いみ)です。 私(わたし)は聞(き)いたことはありませんでしたが、SNSでよく使(つか)われる言葉(ことば)だそうです。 例(たと)えば、おもしろい画像(がぞう)を見(み)たら「いいね」ボタンを押(お)します。 あとからじわじわおもしろいと思(おも)った画像(がぞう)には「じわる」という言葉(ことば)を使(つか)うそうです。

辞書(じしょ)にのる言葉(ことば)もありますが、きえる言葉(ことば)もあります。 「空手(からて)チョップ」や「使(つか)い切(き)りカメラ」など・・。 きえる言葉(ことば)を見(み)ながら、昔(むかし)を思(おも)い出(だ)し、じわりました。

New Japanese word - Jiwaru

In your country what new words were created in 2015? In Japan, the word “Jiwaru” was elected for the grand prize for “New Word of the Year” in 2015. This “New Word of the Year”is opened to public subscription. And the chosen word appears in the dictionary.

The word “Jiwaru” is formed by adding the dictionary form ending “ru” to the adjective “Jiwa jiwa” and becomes a Group 1 verb conjugation. It means to find something funny or interesting etc and especially gradually along with the passage of time. I've never actually heard being used, but it is apparently used a lot on social network sites. For example, when you find an image instantly funny, you click the 'like' button. But for an image that you find funnier and funnier over time, you use the word “jiwaru”.

There are some words that are added to the dictionary and some that disappear. For example, the phrases “Karate chop” and “disposable camera”. While looking through the words that have disappeared, I thought about the old days and I found that more and more interesting, in other words - “jiwarimasita”.

新語(しんご) new word

大賞(たいしょう) grand prize

選(えら)ばれる to be elected 

[辞書(じしょ)に]のる to appear (in print)

一般公募(いっぱんこうぼ) public subscription 

じわじわ slowly(but steadily), gradually, bit by bit

時間(じかん)の経過(けいか) passage of time

ともに along with

感(かん)じられる to be able to feel something

画像(がぞう) image

使(つか)いきりカメラ disposable camera

昔(むかし) olden days

takane

Hajimemashite, I am Yukiko Takane.
I live in Chiba Prefecture. My hometown is near the ocean and is surrounded by rice fields - its a laid-back place. The sashimi and rice is really good here. My family home makes rice as well, so I usually help out during the harvest season. I may look weak, but actually I can lift a 30kg bag of rice.

In the past, I taught Japanese in Saipan and Cebu islands. The people I got to know there are precious to me. I am really looking forward to meeting you all in the online classrooms. I have been called 'Takani' Sensei or 'Okane' sensei by my students. Well, I am not a 'crab' nor am I 'money' - the name is Takane. Doozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

Try to use your newly learned vocabulary and phrases all the time in the lessons. Looking forward to meeting you all in class !

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Tagged in: Japanese language