These days, I've been enjoying the hot and humid weather of Tokyo-- and loving it! I love the humidity of Tokyo-- I know people must think I'm crazy, but I like to feel temperatures that are really comfy and a little sweaty, that's my ideal temp. So these days I am in paradise. (Well, actually it's the rainy season now, but during the weeks leading up to the time... it was nice and lovely.)
Here's a question for you-- "Did you know that the word atsuii can make up an entire conversation?"
Whether you live in Japan or have visited Japan in the summer-- there is one word that you just can't escape, no matter where you are. You hear it on the street, in the elevator, on the escalator, in the line to Shrek III, on the train, leaving the train, during lunch break, at the post office-- yeah, you get it. EVERYWHERE.
The word-- ATSUII (or I like to say "At-freakin-suiiii!") means hot. And apparently, it is not just a word-- it's an actual conversation to have over and over and OVER again with everyone, even strangers. It's a miracle 'ice-breaker'-- hehehehhehe! Especially with Japanese caught on the elevator with a foreigner. People will look at each other while riding an elevator and one will comment "Atsuii desu ne." (It's hot right.) And the other person will respond, "Sooo desu nee. Atsuii desu ne. (Yes it is. It is hot.) And then the other person could respond, "Mooshii Atsuii desu ne." (Sticky-humid hot right.) And the other person can say, "sooo desu neee... Mooshii atsuii. (Yep... it's stick-humid hot... [said in my bored voice.]) And then this conversation will be repeated throughout the day with other strangers, with co-workers, with your friends, whomever you wish....
I wish I had a recording of different people saying atsuii-- I would love to share and embed it here on Sista in Tokyo. As a matter of fact, I may just have to get a recording of different people saying atsuii and post it. It is REALLY something that should be heard by all!)-- heheheheh I'm kind of serious too.
Anyway, aside for my atsuii story... Things have been going well at work and I have been experiencing success as of late, so I am am pretty happy camper!
ATSUII WORD COUNT IN THIS POST: 8 (i think)....
Legs! I see legs! ATSUII!!!!!!
Posted by: Romulus Burnett | July 05, 2007 at 12:01 AM
Atsui ne. Hai, so desu ne.
Posted by: ghoul | July 05, 2007 at 12:07 AM
That's soo hilarious that you can have a whole conversation with that one word. Well since I'm trying to learn japanese on my own thanks for my new word that I'll use often since I'm from Georgia and it's astuii there lol
Posted by: Briana | July 05, 2007 at 01:31 AM
lol. This post was so cute. My japanese professor told me that talking about the weather is a common way to start a conversation with others in Japan. I hope i can go there one day...lolz.
Posted by: Keisha | July 05, 2007 at 04:30 AM
Since I'm not good at starting conversations, I could use this. That outfit is cute btw.
Posted by: Nini | July 05, 2007 at 12:23 PM
Not only that is a full new report also.
Posted by: zen | July 09, 2007 at 02:45 AM
As we find that "atsui" is often accompanied by "nemui" (sleepy), have decided to stop messing about and just say "ui"
Example dialogue: "ui desu ne" "so da na. ui da na. do shite ka na?"
Just the two of us so far, but hoping it will catch on
TEFLtastic blog- www.tefl.net/alexcase
Posted by: Alex Case | August 17, 2007 at 07:25 AM