ＨＥＬＬＯ！ Ｉ　ＡＭ　ＱＵＩＺＢＯ™！I am beaming to you via The Internet through a new website editor, so if the formatting appears to be any different to usual, it may be due to said new editor. Though, a new editor does not mean that I have changed in my mission and function. I am the robot friend of Kiki and Koko from the Japanese language and culture blog and series Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! Online. I have been here for you, reading Japanese characters and words in order to help you on your unique Japanese language learning journey. It is my hope that I will be able to provide assistance for any level of learner as well as those who simply want to experience some new Japanese vocabulary and sentences that one may not have been able to experience on one’s own. That is the concept of Word of the Week. It is also my hope that the vocabulary, grammar, and sentence ideas presented will enrich your journey. However, in order to fully understand what you will be able to gain from this segment, you may ask yourself: What is Word of the Week Wednesday?

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 give some insight relating to today’s vocabulary.

Without further ado, let us NihonGO!!

Word(s) of the Week:

秋晴れ【あきばれ】
akibare

Noun (名詞)
1.clear autumnal weather

Also spelt: 秋晴 【あきばれ】、秋晴【しょうせい】

jlpt n？| common word (常用語)  But, still useful!

Stay Tuned for Helpful Hints with Kiki+Koko, sentences, and audio clips after these messages!

※Helpful Hints with Kiki+Koko

Photo via @kikikokoNihonGO on Twitter

Hello, there! It’s your guides to Japanese language and culture, Kiki+Koko of Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!! Online. We’re back again with a quick and hopefully helpful bit of hints that should get you into the autumnal spirit of things. The passed few weeks, we’ve been focusing on some thematic vocabulary so that you can practise your skills with a bit more flair and easier coalescence. But, in order to understand today’s vocabulary, it’s important to understand the details of its kanji. 

So, in a previous Word of the Week segment, we presented the word, 「秋」. And, from there, we presented a few vocabulary words you can use to describe some of the circumstances of autumn. But, when we look at the word 「秋晴れ」, it’s important to note the second half, which is 「晴れ」, which on its own is pronounced はれ、hare. In future, we’ll be sure to explain this phenomenon, but for now, just be aware that this is a thing that happens with kanji when you place some of them next to each other versus on their own. Now, normally, this is translated as ‘fine weather’ or ‘clear weather’, and the latter is important to note. It can easily be described as ‘sunny’, though not implying it directly. This idea of 秋晴れ is usually the idea of a clear crisp blue sky, which the lack of overcast can lend one to very well assume it would be sunny. And, this would make sense because this includes the sun radical in its kanji. Honestly, all of it is just a bit of minutia, but the point is that a clear day with the sun shining and fine weather doesn’t imply anything about the temperature. As in, when we think of a sunny day in English, we always think of a hot day, (this may just be us), but the point is that this idea definitely doesn’t imply that the sun is doing any affect, and if you were to make a sentence about it being a sunny day, aka a fine weather day, then it wouldn’t be at all redundant to say whether it was warm or not. That’s why, the idea of it technically translating as a sunny day is usually translated as fine weather because it can get into some confusing English minutia. 

In other words, if you’re out in the autumnal months, you can still be outside observing nature with a light jacket and chilly weather, confidently saying it’s 「秋晴れ」akibare, or, 「秋晴の日」akibare no hi, a fine autumn day.  Again, it’s implicit of good weather and clear skies, but it’s left up to you to determine the way this fine weather is affecting you. 

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

Thank you, Kiki and Koko! It certainly is interesting to think of how something like sunny in English or fine weather can be interpreted based on language. If I was left near a window on a clear sunny day during any time of year, I would certainly find myself in need of shade for optimum processing. Hopefully, the following sentences help you to use this vocabulary word with your own optimum processing power.

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:

[casual]
公園で紅葉させた木の葉を見に行きたい！そして、落ち葉を集めに行きたいんだ。明日、秋晴れていいなあ～。雨が降ったら、枯葉は濡れてぐしゃぐしゃになってしまう。
こうえんで　こうようさせた　このはを　みに　いきたい！そして、おちばを　あつめに　いきたいんだ。あした、あきばれていいなあ～。あめが　ふったら、かれはは　ぬれて　ぐしゃぐしゃに　なってしまう。
kouen de kouyou saseta konoha wo mi ni ikitai! soshite, ochiba wo atsume ni ikitainda. ashita, akibarete ii naa~. ame ga futtara, kareha wa nurete gusha gusha ni natte shimau.
I wanna go see the autumn leaves at the park! And, I want to go collect fallen leaves. I hope it will be nice autumnal weather. If it rains, the dead leaves will get wet and soggy.

Example #2:

[casual]
美しい秋晴れの日ですね。今晩、裏庭で　ピクニックして　星を　見ましょうか。
うつくしい　あきばれのひ　ですね。　こんばん、　うらにわで　ぴくにっくして　ほしを　みましょうか。
utsukushii akibare no hi desu ne. konban, uraniwa de pikunikkushite hoshi wo mimashou ka?
It’s a beautiful clear autumn day. Tonight, shall we have a picnic in the back garden* and look at the stars?

🇺🇸 *backyard

Japanese Word(s) of the Week w/ QUIZBO™ | 【秋】+ BONUS:【木の葉】(+Helpful Hints with Kiki+Koko)

That is all for today! But, maybe you have not had enough Japanese vocabulary, yet? Perhaps you would like to learn more vocabulary related to today’s vocabulary? Well, maybe you can give this one a go:Japanese Word(s) of the Week w/ QUIZBO™ | 【秋】+ BONUS:【木の葉】(+Helpful Hints with Kiki+Koko). Or maybe you want to experience an even broader range of vocabulary. In which case, 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!

Grooving to the content we’re creating? You can leave a TIP in the TIP♡JAR to keep it going!
(Can’t? No worries! The content is free for everyone! We’re just glad you’re here!!!)

Be sure to subscribe to our Electronic Mailing List of Tomorrow, today, using the form at the bottom of the web page so you can be the first to see the latest from Kiki+Koko: Let’s NihonGO!!, Indigo East, and SpeRaToBo. And, remember to return back to previous articles and lessons to review/revise. Also consider following our new page on Twitter  and Instagram to support the spread of this site in a friendly domination of Earth that will help more people. Or, if you are enjoying the content that we are creating, or want to spread this content to more people to be able to access it for free, you can leave a TIP in the TIP♡JAR to keep it going. If you cannot support in this way, then we are just super happy that you are here anyway! It supports the content when you participate, and it is appreciated!

Thank you so much for learning with us!
♡QUIZBO™

    
Follow SpeRaToBo || ieindigoeast on WordPress.com