ＨＥＬＬＯ！ Ｉ　ＡＭ　ＱＵＩＺＢＯ™！You may remember me from such lessons as the Let’s Read Hiragana series or the Basic Classroom Vocabulary set from Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! Online. I always do my best in joining Kiki and Koko to assist you in learning Japanese language and culture along with hopefully broadening your horizons. Though our lessons and Word of the Week segments are meant to be evergreen, being applicable through any point in time, we felt that these two vocabulary words should hopefully always be relevant. In fact, it would be worrisome if either of these concepts ever become irrelevant. As a computer robot running on Heisei era hardware, my capabilities are limited, but it is my hope that our benevolence will always show through each lesson and article. And, Word of the Week stands as a special occasion in which I am able to express such ideas directly along with completing the main objective. But, What is Word of the Week? you may ask.

During what some may refer to as the ‘before times’, the site had begun as a place where Japanese lessons and articles regarding language and culture were regularly created and uploaded regularly, every Monday and Friday. Though such a consistent flow of information would seem to be enough for other sites, it was clear that there could be even more. For between Monday and Friday was a long gap in which there was no new information being presented. Not only was there a long gap between information, but many would forget to return to revise previous lessons. In learning any language, it is important to be consistent, even if it is only once a day. Thus, Japanese Word of the Week Wednesday was born.

Word of the Week Wednesday not only acts as a great reminder for those who have either missed previous lessons or those who simply require revision, returning to previous lessons and articles, but it also gives just enough new information for students and visitors not to feel overwhelmed. Whether it is simply a quick addition to their vocabulary or studying sentence structure and pronunciation or reading, this segment serves beginners and more advanced learners alike. However, What happens during Word of the Week Wednesday?

During Word of the Week Wednesday, with the assistance of Kiki and Koko, a Japanese word or phrase is chosen and presented to you with the possibility of a bonus word, as well. I provide a definition and other useful information about the vocabulary word, and if applicable, Kiki and Koko provide a helpful hint in using the word or phrase. However, that is not the whole of it. I personally sound out each word or phrase aloud for you to repeat as many times as you wish, and you can ask me to say it as many times as you wish. I will never tire of it, as it is my function.

From there, an example sentence is created. You can not only use the sentence to see how the word is used or to see the definition in action, but you can also use it to practise your reading and writing. You can compose your own sentence based on it; you can use it to see examples of grammar; or you can even use it to learn other adjacent vocabulary. Each sentence is written in a way that is useful to beginners through advanced learners. So, there is something for everyone. And, again, I will be there to read it aloud for you. I can only read it at one speed, so there is no need to repeat after me, but it can still assist you in picking out vocabulary within natural speeds of speech. And, if you would like to know more about how to create your own sentences, be sure to consult the grammar section of the Essentials.

And, now it is time for the essential part of this segment, which is the vocabulary! Kiki and Koko will be joining us in their Helpful Hints segment of this corner to assist in today’s vocabulary.

Without further ado, let us NihonGO!!

Word(s) of the Week:

平等【びょうどう】
byoudou
na-adjective (ナ形容詞), no-adjective (ノ形容詞); noun (名詞)
1.equality(名詞), equal(形容詞), equally(副詞)
2.impartiality (名詞), impartial (形容詞), impartially(副詞)

jlpt n3 | common word (常用語)

Bonus Word(s) of the Week:

人類【じんるい】
jinrui
noun (名詞)
1.humanity; mankind

jlpt n3 | common word (常用語)

※Helpful Hints with Kiki+Koko

Photo via @kikikokoNihonGO on Twitter

Hello, there!

We’re Kiki and Koko of Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! Online. Optimistically, in future, there will be a time where Earthlings aren’t under crisis, where everything is in harmony and balance. And, even if such an idea seems too good to be true, it’s still something for which人類,（じんるい） humanity, should continue to strive. As current residents of Earth, we feel that the current main vocabulary word is certainly a timeless message that should always exist. As your personal guides to Japanese language and culture, we like to keep things light and provide you with positive and encouraging messages whilst broadening your horizons and giving you new perspectives to enrich your life. It’s been our mission from the start, and hopefully, today’s vocabulary will be able to help you to communicate important messages now and in future for ideals that the modern world should continue to hold paramount. It really goes without saying that we, here, at Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! Online and SpeRaTobo || ieIndigoEast stand behind equality, and again, hopefully, in future, there will be a time where such a statement will feel unnecessary and almost silly to have to mention because it will be 当たり前（あ　　　まえ）, obvious/commonplace. But, until that time, and even when that time arrives, you’ll still have today’s vocabulary so you can spread this idea across the globe in multiple languages.

In Japanese, there are so many words that mean ‘equality’! There’s 同等, 対等、均等、同格、同一、相等、等価値ーLet’s just stop there and say, there’s a lot. And, many of them work for many different situations. However, narrowing it down for things like 男女平等, danjoubyoudou, gender equality, or 人種平等, jinshubyoudou, race equalityーwell, actually, even still, there are many ways for you to express that as well, but it depends on the subtext. But, as we’re using these terms, today, at its complete face value of equality, or basically implying a lack of discrimination, this seemed to match nicely. It can be helpful to create sentences to practise using current events for inspiration, which can create a deeper connection and maybe even communicate something personal and helpful across language barriers. But, in order to break those barriers a bit more, let’s have a look at what makes up this word.

If you’re familiar with Japanese eras, you’ll be familiar with the first kanji, 平, hei, pronounced here as byou, meaning: even, flat, or peace. The latter kanji, 等, tou, pronounced here as dou, implies equal, quality, or class. So, even when looking at each of these characters at face value, it can be determined that they imply peaceful or even equality. even quality, or the like.

The second word that seemed to fit with the topic is 人類, jinrui, or humanity. However, this is not the idea of humaneness or compassion, which is also important, but the point is 人類共通, jinruikyoutsuu, or the idea of the collection of humanity as a whole. We discussed using 生類, seirui, meaning living things, but for this, we just wanted to keep things simple and more focused on human Earthlings. 人類, jinrui, broken down into its kanji means human kind.

Hopefully, with these vocabulary words, you can create some useful sentences of your own. No matter the time in history or in future you experience this lesson, even a century from now, the same ideas should still be relevant: be kind, be fair, stay safeーand wash your hands.

We hope that helps!! Until the next lesson!
♡Kiki+Koko

Thank you, Kiki and Koko. Even as a computer robot, it is easy for me to agree with your analysis. Hopefully humanity continues to strive for equality. Even if it is reached, it is always important to be conscious of it. It is easy for humanity to become complacent, and at the heart of all of this, the major component is caring for each other. But, I digress. Let us continue to the sentence portion!

Example Sentences:

The first row is in Japanese with Kanji. The Next row is in hiragana, then romanised using rōmaji with the final row translated into English.
(Japanese→Hiragana→Rōmaji→English)

Example #1:

人類は　平等を達成するに　励み続くことを　期待いたします。
じんるいは　びょうどうを　たっせいするに　はげみつづくことを　きたいいたします。
jinrui wa byoudou wo tassei suru ni hagemi tsudzuku koto wo kitai itashimasu.
We hope that humankind will continue to strive towards achieving equality.

Example #2:

将来は人類が火星に住むことができるようになるのだろうかなぁ。
しょうらいは　じんるいが　かせいに　すむことが　できるようになるの　だろうかなあ。
shourai wa jinrui ga kasei ni sumu koto ga dekiru you ni naru no darou kanaa.
I wonder if humankind will be able to live on Mars in future.

Example #3:

世界中、平等のために　人類の皆との連帯を　示しました。
せかいじゅう、びょうどうのために　じんるいの　みんなとの　れんたいを　しめしました。
sekaijuu, byoudou no tame ni jinrui no minna to no rentai wo shimemashita.
Throughout the world, they displayed their solidarity with all of humanity for equality.

🔊Japanese Word(s) of the Week w/ QUIZBO™ | 【心配】+ BONUS:【安心】(+Helpful Hints with Kiki+Koko)

That is all for today! But, maybe you have not had enough Japanese vocabulary, yet? Perhaps you have more feelings and ideas you would like to express? Well, maybe you can give this a go: 🔊Japanese Word(s) of the Week w/ QUIZBO™ | 【心配】+ BONUS:【安心】(+Helpful Hints with Kiki+Koko) . Or maybe you need an even broader vocabulary in order to communicate. You can have a look at our fine selection of segments on the main Word of the Week page. Or, you can be sure you are caught up with the latest with the sidebar link: 今週の単語 | Word of the Week. These segments alone serve as weeks of material. Share these segments with your friends and family who may be interested in broadening their Japanese vocabulary, that is if you would like to spread the knowledge and show the fun things you are learning with us. Be sure to return often to keep your pronunciation properly in check, as well! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us, and we will do our best to assist how we can. We hope to see you at the next lesson!

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