the narrow house
Many a time I've heard a Japanese person telling a gaijin in English that their house is "narrow", and many a time I've heard the gaijin explain that, "No, you mean small, not narrow." Apparently when a Japanese person is speaking Japanese, as they often do, and they want to say that their house is small, they use the word "semai".
However, this word means "narrow" when translated. So you can see why they say "narrow", right? - except if they happen to be living in THIS house....from the front it looks roomy and brick-like....
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/78/4139/320/146_46205.jpg)
....but from the side it looks bloody narrow and metal-like
However, this word means "narrow" when translated. So you can see why they say "narrow", right? - except if they happen to be living in THIS house....from the front it looks roomy and brick-like....
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/78/4139/320/146_46205.jpg)
....but from the side it looks bloody narrow and metal-like
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/img/78/4139/320/146_46181.jpg)
On Wednesday, 23 March, 2005,
Lewis said:
On Wednesday, 13 April, 2005,
Skippy-san said:
On Wednesday, 13 April, 2005,
Skippy-san said:
When Japanese use semai, they are using it in this context to be a contrast to the word hiroi(広い)。
For some reason Japanese do not refer to houses as Ookii or Chisai
(大きい vs 小さい。) My GF says it has to do with custom. Objects are big or small, things with area are roomy or not.
On Sunday, 17 April, 2005,
Budi Akbarsjah said:
On Tuesday, 28 March, 2006,
Anonymous said:
On Friday, 31 March, 2006,
Davecat said:
On Monday, 17 April, 2006,
Gunnella said:
On Saturday, 22 April, 2006,
Anonymous said:
On Friday, 14 July, 2006,
Zen said:
It could happen
On Saturday, 16 September, 2006,
Marie said:
On Saturday, 06 October, 2007,
John Buchanan, Teacher said:
verycoolwinter(@)yahoo.com Thanks, John
On Friday, 24 July, 2009,
Kevin said:
On Wednesday, 09 September, 2009,
Anonymous said:
On Wednesday, 30 December, 2009,
Anonymous said:
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