まめ = 忠実 & 豆 = Mame

:maggie-small: 「返事書いたからね！」

= Henji kaita kara ne!

= I just wrote you a reply, OK?

(The letter says :

:s: ゆかりへ　お手紙ありがとう　マギー

= Yukari ye.  Otegami arigatou. Maggie

= To Yukari, Thank you for your letter, Maggie)

「でも私、ここにいるけど…」

= Demo watashi koko ni iru kedo…

= Well, but I’m here…

皆さん、今日は！

= Minasan Konnichiwa!

= Hi, everyone!

Today I will teach you a word まめ ( = mame)

The adjective : まめな  ( = mamena)

The adverb : まめに ( = mameni)

The kanji for まめ is 忠実.  It can also be read ちゅうじつ = chuujitsu = loyal but today we’ll be talking about まめ ( = mame).

まめ also means to work diligently or hard

or describes sincere, honest, and devoted people, hard workers, or people who do certain things diligently or frequently.

(In modern day Japanese, you will see a lot of people write this word in katakana, マメ）

(as a noun)

Ex. 彼はまめだ。

= Kare wa mame da.

= He is devoted/diligent.

(as an adjective)

Ex. 彼女はまめな人だ。

= Kanojo wa mame na hito da.

= She is a devoted/diligent person.

(as an adverb)

Ex. まめに働く

= Mame ni hataraku

= to work diligently, to work hard

Ex. まめに日記を書く

= Mame ni nikki wo kaku

= to write in one’s diary frequently

Ex. まめに実家に行く

= Mame ni jikka ni iku

= to go to one’s parents house frequently

Note : It also means “to be healthy”

Ex. まめに暮らす

= Mame ni kurasu

= to live a healthy life.

That is why we eat 黒豆 = kuromame = black beans  on New Year’s Day.

!to right! まめに暮らせますように = Mame ni kurasemasu you ni. = May my life be healthy.

Let’s look at the picture above.

:maggie-small: 「返事書いたからね！」

= Henji kaita kara ne!

= I just wrote you a reply, OK?

「でも私、ここにいるけど…」

= Demo watashi koko ni iru kedo…

= Well, but I’m here…

Maggie Sensei is a very attentive dog :h: and writes letters frequently.

マギー先生はまめに返事を書く。

= Maggie sensei wa mame ni henji wo kaku.

= Maggie Sensei is good about replying (to messages).

People would say,

「マギー先生、まめですね。」

= Maggie Sensei mame desune.

= You are a very good correspondent, Maggie Sensei!

A good correspondent who writes letters, thanks note frequently or sends reply as soon as they get a letter or email is called

筆まめ= fude mame

As I mentioned above, we often write it in katakana and it is used casually.

Ex. マメ男 (= mameo) or マメな男= mame na otoko

Refers to a man who is very attentive and good at organizing or arranging things for girls.

For example, a man who arranges a perfect date by finding a good restaurant,  making a reservation,  and/or buying tickets to a concert or movie ahead of time is considered マメ男 ( = mameo) or マメな男 ( = mame na otoko.)  This kind of man is also good aboutemailing his girlfriend frequently, giving her flowers, etc.

You might have seen this kind of title in men’s magazines.

Ex. マメな男はモテる！

= Mame na otoko wa moteru!

= Attentive guys are popular!

Generally speaking, girls like マメ男 = mameo

And if you see someone who is very attentive or writes frequently or goes somewhere often you say

Ex. マメだね〜！(casual/colloquial)

= Mame danee!

Ex. わあ、マメ〜！(casual/colloquial)

= Waa Mamee!

!to right! Synonyms:

まめまめしい =（忠実忠実しい）=  mamemameshii

Ex. まめまめしく働く

= mamemameshiku hataraku

= to work diligently

Ex.まめまめしく人の世話をする。

= Mamemame shiku hito no sewa wo suru.

= to take care of someone attentively

小まめ = (小忠実）komame

Ex. 小まめに水を取り替える

= Komame ni mizu wo torikaeru.

= to change water often

****

Now as many of you have already known, まめ (= mame) has another kanji and meaning.

豆 = mame/tou/zu = beans

Ex. 納豆 = nattou = fermented beans

Ex. 小豆 = azuki = red beans

Ex. 大豆 = daizu = soy beans

Ex. 豆腐 = toufu = tofu

Ex.枝豆 = edamame = green soybean

Besides all the names of beans, we also use 豆 ( = mame) when we describe something small, mini, miniature

•豆本 = mame hon = a miniature book

•豆電球 = mame denkyuu = miniature bulb, small light bulbs

•豆知識 = mame chishiki = bits of knowledge

There is a breed of dogs called 豆柴= mameshiba = Miniature Shiba ( = 柴犬 =  shibaken)

Some of you might have seen  the animated 豆しば ( =  Mame Shiba) commercial.

豆しば ( =  Mameshiba) is a character in a CM which is created by 電通= Dentsu. (Their official site is here.)

This talking bean which looks like a dog appears here and there and shares its random trivia.

Wherever it appears people get surprise and get depressed somehow after hearing its trivia /fun facts = 豆知識  = mame chishiki
The humor is very very “subtle”.

(There is a video with English subtitles but I will translate the whole thing with some notes. )

 

Note : 豆しば = mameshiba, (the character), has a series of commercials. It appears each time as a different kind of bean.

All the 豆しば= mameshiba’s name changes depending on the type of bean it has become. For example when it appears in the form of a peanut it referred as ピーナツしば = piinatsu shiba.

The pattern is:   bean type + しば ( = shiba)

!yflower! 納豆しば = Nattou Shiba

「ふぁ〜！ン？」
= Fuaaa… N?
= (Yawning) Whooaa…

「お早うございます。」
= Ohayou gozaimasu.
= Good morning!

「何？」
=  Nani?
= What?

「フランスでは白アスパラガスをマドモアゼルの指って言うんだよ。」
= Furansu dewa shiroasuparagasu wo madomowazewru no yubitte iun dayo.
= White asparagus is called “Fingers of Mademoiselle” in France.

♫　毎日一つ、豆知識ランランラン　♫
= Mainichi hitotsu mamechishiki ranranran.
= One small bit of knowledge every day.

Note :

Like it or not, many of you must have heard about this Japanese food known as, 納豆= nattou = fermented soybeans. It is sticky and stringy and has a pungent smell.

It is supposes to be very healthy and many Japanese people eat it for breakfast or dinner. You mix it up with raw eggs and a little bit of sauce that comes with the Natto or with soy sauce with mustard and stir it well. It is very sticky.

:w: ピーナッツしば = Piinattsu Shiba = Peanuts Shiba

「今晩は！」
= Konbanwa
= Good evening!

「今晩は。」
= Konbanwa
= Good evening.

「キスをすると一秒間に２億個の細菌が口の中を行ったり来たりするんだよ。」
= Kisu wo suruto ichibyoukan ni niokuko no saikinga kuchi no naka wo ittari kitari surundayo.
= When you kiss, 200 millions germs per second pass back and forth between mouths.

「えっ！え〜〜〜。。」
= Eh? Ehhhhhh….
= What? Ohhhh….

Note: 行ったり来たり = Ittari kitari = comes and goes, to go back and forth

:kkk:  枝豆しば = Edamame shiba = Soy Bean Shiba

「むにゅ〜。ねえ知ってる？」
= Munyuuu. Nee shitteru?
= (coming out sound) Hey, do you know…

「なんでしょう。」
= Nandeshou.
= What is it?

「カンガルーのお腹の袋の中はすっごい臭いらしいよ。」
= Kanagaruu no onaka no fukuro no nakawa suggoi kusai rashii yo.
= It supposedly really stinky the inside of Kangaroo’s pouch.

「ごちそうさま」
= Gochisou sama
= I am done eating. Thank you.

Note :

枝豆 = edamame = soybeans in pods

You boil them and put a bit of of salt and served  with beer or sake.

(Here’s a cute video with my friend, Nina :) )

When we finish eating, we say ごちそうさま＝gochisou sama.
Go check itadakimasu + gochisousama lesson

  小豆しば = Azuki shiba = Red beans Shiba

「野郎出てこないっすね。」
= Yarou dete konaissune.
= The guy hasn’t come out yet, huh?

「ああ。」
= Aa
= Yeah…

「お疲れ様です。」
= Otsukare sama desu.
= You must be tired from working so hard.

「えっ！？」
= Eh?
= What?

「ねえ知ってる？イカには心臓が三つあるんだよ。」
= Nee shitteru? Ika niwa shinzou ga mittu arundayo.
= Hey, do you know a squid has three hearts?

「今日は帰るわ。」
=  Kyou wa kaeru wa.
= I am done for the day. I will go home now.

「先輩！？」
= Senpai?

Note : 野郎 = yarou= a derogatory term to refer a guy = guy/dude

•お疲れ様 = Otsukare sama = Thank you for your hard work./ You must be tired.
There is no equivalent phrase in English. We say this to acknowledge that a person has worked hard.

•先輩 = senpai = to refer to someone older, like an older student or coworker or towards a coworker who has been at the company longer.

(The oppositve of  先輩 ( = senpai)  is 後輩 (= kouhai) , a younger or newere student or employee )

:k: 甘納豆しば = Amanattou shiba = Sweet Beans Shiba

TV （タカシ！= Takashi!　ヨーコ！= Yoko!）

「よかったわねえ。」
= Yokattawa nee.
= I am happy for them.

「どっこいしょ。」
= Dokkoisho.
= Whew….

「あらま」
= Arama

= Oh…

「ねえ、知ってる？おしどりの夫婦って仲がいいのは巣を作るまでなんだって。」
= Nee shitteru? Oshidori no fuufutte naka ga ii nowa su wo tsukuru made nandatte.
= Hey, did you know mandarin duck couples stick together until they make a nest.

TV もう君を離さない = Mou kimi wo hanasanai.= I will never let you go…

Note : どっこいしょ = dokkoisho  or よっこいしょ= yokkoisho is a sound when we make when we sit down or put down heavy

things. The older people say this sound more often.

!carnation! コーヒー豆しば = Koohii mameshiba = Coffee Beans Shiba

「コーヒー下さい。」
= Koohii kudasai.
= I’ll have a cup of coffee, please.

「かしこまりました。」
= Kashikomarimashita.
= Yes, sir.

「わお！みつかっちゃった。」
= Wow! Mitsukacchatta.
= Wow! You’ve found me.

「みつけちゃいました。」
= Mitsukechaimashita.
= I’ve found you.

「ねえ、知ってる？フラミンゴは赤い母乳を出すんだよ。」
= Nee shitteru? Furamingo wa akai bonyuu wo dasunda yo.
= Hey, did you know, Flamingos release red milk?

「ええっ！？今日は閉店です。」
= Eeh?? Kyou wa heiten desu.
= What? We are going to close for the day now.

Note :

•かしこまりました (= kashikomarimashita)  is a very formal way to say “Yes!” or “OK!”

• みつかっちゃった = mitsukachatta = You’ve found me.

casual suffix : ちゃった (= chatta) = to have + past perfect (casual)

ちゃいました= chaijmashita = to have + past perfect. (casual but politer than ちゃった= chatta)

*They are both very casual suffixes.

For the more explanation: Go to chau+chattta lesson

•閉店= heiten = to close a store, restaurant, or bar for the day

→•開店 = kaiten = to open a store, restaurant, or bar

:qq: ３：０１ カシューナっしば = Kashuu nasshiba = Cashew Nuts Shiba

 

「おつまみどうぞ」
= Otsumami douzo.
= Here’s your snack.

「ああサンキュー」
= Aa sankyuu
= Oh thank you!

「着陸成功」
= Chakuriku seikou.
= Landing succeeded!

「ええっ！？」
= Eeh?
= What?

「ねえ、知ってる？」
= Nee shitteru?
= Hey, you know

「雌のかまきりは雄のかまきりを食べちゃうんだよ。」
= Osu no kamakiri wa mesu no kamakiri wo tabechaun dayo.
= You know female preying mantis eat male preying mantis.

「ええっ〜！？」

=Eeh?
= What!?

「お客様！お客様！」
= Okyakusama! Okyakusama!
= Sir, Sir, (Are you OK?)

Note : お客様= okyaku sama = I translated as “Sir” but お客様(= okyakusama) is a polite way to address 客=kyaku= customers

 

:kk: ジェリービーンしば = Jerry Beans Shiba

•Hey What’s up?

= 「よう元気？ 」

= you genki?

•What’s up?

•You wanna try some?

「これ食べる？」

= Kore taberu?

•Thanks

「ありがとう」

= arigatou

•Oh, what?

•「ハロー 」

= Hello!

•Hello!

•Do you know

「ねぇ知ってる？」

= Nee shitteru?

A koala’s appendix is about 2 meter long.

=「コアラの盲腸は約２メートルあるんだよ。」

= Koara no mouchou wa yaku nimeitoru arundatteyo.

•Oh my god…/Seriously? 

= マジかよ

= Majikayo

•(I changed my mind.) No thanks

= 「やっぱりいらない 」

= Yappari iranai

 

マギー先生より = Maggie Sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

ねえ、知ってる？ = Nee shitteru? = Hey, did you know…

フレンチブルの先生に日本語を習うと日本語がすっごく上達するんだって！

= Furenchi buru no sensei ni nihongo wo narau to nihongo ga suggoku joutatsu surundatte!

= If you learn Japanese from a French Bulldog teacher, your Japanese will drastically improve!

 

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