In this episode of "Nihongo no Tane," Yumi reflects on her experience welcoming the New Year amidst a busy holiday season. She shares insights into traditional Japanese New Year customs, from preparing osechi ryori to watching NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen and giving otoshidama. Despite these celebrations, Yumi explains why this year felt less "new" to her, revealing how a cluttered home and a packed schedule impacted her perspective. Tune in to explore the contrasts between Japanese and American New Year traditions and discover Yumi’s goals for the year ahead!

KEY VOCABULARY:

1. ばたばた — Hustling and bustling; being in a hurry or busy state.
2. 支払(しはら)いを済(す)ませたり — 支払(しはら)い: payment; を: [object marker]; 済(す)ませたり: settling or completing (済(す)ませる in たり-form, "to settle/finish"). Completing payments or taking care of payments.
3. おせち料理(りょうり) — Traditional Japanese New Year’s cuisine, often served in a multi-tiered box.
4. 大晦日(おおみそか) — New Year’s Eve (December 31).
5. 紅白歌合戦(こうはくうたがっせん) — 紅白(こうはく): red and white (symbolic colors of Japan); 歌合戦(うたがっせん): singing contest. "Kōhaku Uta Gassen," a famous Japanese New Year’s Eve singing contest.
6. ゆったり — Feeling relaxed; leisurely.
7. 寝正月(ねしょうがつ) — 寝(ね): sleep; 正月(しょうがつ): New Year. Spending the New Year’s holidays lazing around at home, often sleeping.
8. ゴロゴロ — Lounging around; idling; onomatopoeia for rolling or loafing.
9. フレッシュ — Fresh (a loanword from English).

• 心当(こころあ)たりがありました — 心当(こころあ)たり: having an idea or clue about something; が: [subject marker]; ありました: there was; had. "I had a clue/idea about it."
• とっ散(ち)らかっていた — とっ散(ち)らかる: to be messy; scattered everywhere; いた: past progressive form (was messy). "It was all over the place/messy."
• 日常(にちじょう) — Everyday life; routine.
• おうち — Home (casual or polite term for 家(うち), house).
• 感覚(かんかく) — Sense; sensation; feeling.
• お雑煮(ぞうに) — Traditional Japanese soup with rice cakes (mochi), eaten during New Year’s celebrations.
• お屠蘇(とそ) — Spiced sake traditionally drunk during New Year’s for good health.
• 初詣(はつもうで) — 初(はつ): first; 詣: pilgrimage/visit. First shrine visit of the New Year.
• 初日(はつひ)の出(で) — 初日(はつひ): first sunrise; の出(で): appearance; rising. The first sunrise of the New Year.
• お年玉(としだま) — Money given to children as a New Year’s gift.
• 年賀状(ねんがじょう) — 年賀(ねんが): New Year’s greetings; 状(じょう): letter/card. New Year’s greeting card.
• 書(か)き初(ぞ)め — 書(か)き: writing (noun form of 書(か)く, to write); 初(はじ)め: first time; beginning. First calligraphy of the year.
• お習字(しゅうじ) — お: honorific prefix; 習字(しゅうじ): calligraphy. Calligraphy practice.
• 抱負(ほうふ) — Resolution; aspiration; ambition.
• 早速(さっそく) — Immediately; at once; without delay.
• 下(した)っ腹(はら)が出(で)てきました — 下(した)っ腹(ぱら): lower belly; が: [subject marker]; 出(で)てきました: started to stick out. "My lower belly started sticking out."

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-165

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-165-m

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