Quiz #10 (6/20/11- 6/26/11)
(1) Kanji
Write in hiragana + translate:
1. 家風:
かふう; family tradition
When used casually, it means 我が家のやり方(=the way one's family does things).
2. 肩を持つ
かたをもつ; take sides with
彼の肩をもつな (Literal: Don't hold his shoulder); Don't take sides with him. / Don't take his side.
3. 顔が広い
かおがひろい; know a lot of people; have a lot of friends
仕事をさがしているなら、Aさんに連絡するといい。彼、顔が広いから。
If you are looking for a job, you should contact A. He knows a lot of people.
(2) Translation
Translate. (JP to ENG)
- Beginner -
1. この草の根はとても長い。
The roots of this grass are long.
- Intermediate/Advanced -
2. 「草の根を分けても犯人の使った武器を捜し出せ。」と、所長は部下に命じた。
草の根を分けても: leave no stone unturned - to do everything possible to find something
"Leave no stone unturned until you find the weapon that the criminal used," the Chief ordered his subordinates. / Do whatever it takes to find the criminal's weapon," the Chief ordered his subordinates.
(3) Reading comprehension / colloquialism
1. Which speaker is a boy?
2. Has "A" tried on the jacket yet?
A: あ、このジャケットかしてっ。
B： ダメよっ、これ女物だって。
A: オレ、けっこー女物似合うよ？！
B: うそっ...私より似合ってる...
...............................................................
1. A
2. Yes
A (a boy): あ、このジャケットかしてっ。 ＝ このジャケットをかしてください。
Let me borrow this jacket.
B (a girl)： ダメよっ、これ女物だって。 ＝ ダメですよ。これは女物です。
No, it's for girls. /No, it's girls' (jacket).
<He could put on the jacket here, but it seems more natural to do that next* >
A (a boy): オレ、けっこー女物似合うよ？！＝ 私は、女性用の服がよく似合うと思います(が、どうですか)。
I look pretty good in girls' clothing. (Since the JP txt has the affirmative sentence structure plus ? mark at the end, you can tell that A is just joking and not saying it seriously.)
<* He puts on B's jacket.>
B (a girl): うそっ...私より似合ってる... ＝ 信じられない。私よりあなたの方がよく似合っているではないですか。
Gosh/Can't believe it ... the jacket looks better on you...
(4) Riddles 
１．とても速く走るバスは、何バス？
What bus moves very fast?
飛ばす(tobasu)： speed up
とばす(tobasu) also means 都バス(tobasu)：都営バス public bus operated by Tokyo Prefecture.
2. 滝があるのは、どの方角？
Which direction is the waterfall?
南（South）
滝(たき;ta・ki; waterfall)
Reverse たき ---> きた north
The opposite direction of きた(north) is South.
北（きた; kita; North)
南（みなみ; minami; South）
東（ひがし; higashi; East）
西（にし; nishi; West）
3. サイと、ラクダと、カメが一緒に買ったものはなあに？
What item did サイ, ラクダ, and カメ buy together?
カメラ (a camera)
サイ: rhino
ラィダ: camel
カメ: turtle
Rearrange [サイと、ラクダと、カメ] to [カメ, ラクダ, サイ].
[カメ(kame), ラクダ(rakuda), サイ(sai)] ＝ カメラください。(Kamera kudasai.) A camera, please.
And I must say I would hate to have to ask for directions in Kansai. But if I had no choice, I would go to B, as I think どんつき is the Kansai-ben equivalent of 突き当たり? 
