Learn Japanese Today

I’ve decided that this blog needs a little more routine. Especially on Saturdays. Man, I never have anything to post about on Saturdays. Until now.

That’s right, it’s Word of the Week, or WotW for short (not to be confused with World of the Warcraft). Everyweek I’ll take a look at a word I find interesting, funny, or useful in a way that isn’t generally addressed in class.

Alright, time for this week’s word:

暖かくなかった

Reading: atatakakunakatta

Definition: Was not warm

This definitely used to be my favorite word, scratch that, it still is. I mean, just try saying it a couple of times.

Atatakakunakatta, atatakakunakatta, a-ta-ka-ta-tu - CRAP!

Not only is this word a natural tongue-twister, it also sounds like it could be something someone is saying in the background over and over in an underground rap song. Something with a lot of bass drum and sitar.

I suppose you grammar-lings will fuss at me if I don’t tell you that this is just a conjugation of the adjective atatakai, which means warm.

I’m going to level with you, this word does not get said very often. At least it’s rare enough that I still giggle every time I say it. You basically say it when something that was supposed to be warm (bath, meal, etc) was in fact, not warm. GASP! If it’s snowing outside, you aren’t going to go around saying atatakakunakatta. Unless you’re kidding. If you’re kidding, Japanese people will find it hilarious. Then you can all laugh at this hilarious word.

And now it’s time for a real life practice sentence so you can be cool and use the Word of the Week in REAL LIFE!

お風呂に入ったけど、水は暖かくなかったから、びっくりした。

Ofuro ni haitta kedo, mizu wa atatakakunakatta kara, bikkuri shita.

I got in the bath, but I was shocked to discover the water wasn’t warm.

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