My books got here today!! I ended up reading all of ハイキュー!! vol 2. My first time reading a full volume in Japanese in a single day! It took me about 4.5 hours, so half an hour or so per chapter. That’s not too bad. Ah man, I really wish I had the full series on me though lol, but it’s gonna be a while. Anyway, it seems Tsukki just does use 僕 as his personal pronoun, which is somewhat unexpected but also kinda fitting. Also I love the way Tanaka talks, and that I can appreciate it more now that I’m reading it. He’s so great. And I don’t know if this is my first time seeing Ukai’s name in kanji, but it is the first time that I know what it means: 烏養, one who fosters crows. Although if I hadn’t already known his name and/or it weren’t for the furigana, I’d have no idea how to read it lol
Also! I finally learned what exactly it is they call Kindaichi (らっきょうヘッド, among other nicknames involving らっきょう), and I don’t understand why I so often see him referred to as “radish-head” in English. らっきょう is a type of leek or onion. Because they both start with “ra”??
TIL that ハゲ (“baldie”) also can mean “idiot; moron.” Characters sometimes calling others who aren’t even remotely bald “baldie” as like a reactionary insult or whatever suddenly makes a lot more sense.
I also started ボーイミーツマリア, reading act 1. I love this book so much. [Tetsu: (futilely physically holding Taiga back from going to confess to Maria because she’s way outta his league) / Fukumaru: Just leave him, he needs to learn the harshness of reality. / Tetsu: What are you, his father?!] or [Tetsu and Fukumaru: Huh, it seems Maria is actually a guy. Well, too bad, right, Taiga? / Taiga, too lovestruck to pay attention: She has a husky voice and she uses 僕, she’s so cool!!] lol he’s such a dumbass, I love him. Also I think this manga is the first time I’ve seen 台詞 (outside of songs, of course) without furigana. And the Kansaiben isn’t giving me any trouble at all so far, which is nice.
I had jury duty today, although we ended up getting released early because the defendant didn’t show up. I’d brought 夜カフェ along with me, and I had half an hour or so to read, and I read all of ch 8 (15 pages) in that time.
Some vocab of note:
真骨頂 (しんこっちょう) [noun] one’s true worth; one’s true self; what one is really made of
一段落つける (いちだんらくつける) [expression, 一] to settle (a matter) for the time being; to complete the first stage (of something)
土日 (どにち) [noun] weekend; Saturday and Sunday
活かす (いかす) [サ五, transitive] to make the best use of; to put to good use; to leverage (skills, attributes, experiences, etc.); to capitalize on (experience, etc.)
とどめを刺す (とどめをさす) [expression, サ五] to finish off; to ensure (something) is dead; to deliver the coup de grâce; to put an end to; to deliver the final blow
お世辞にも (おせじにも) [expression] by any standard; (not) even as flattery
一朝一夕 (いっちょういっせき) [四字熟語, noun] in a day; in a brief space of time
ダントツ [noun] far and away the best; the very best; cream of the crop; decisive lead; commanding lead. Abbreviation of 断然 “firmly; absolutely; flatly; resolutely; decisively; definitely; by far; far and away; by a long shot; hands down” + トップ.
身の程 (みのほど) [expression, noun] one’s social position; one’s place; one’s standing
高嶺の花 (たかねのはな) [expression, noun] goal which is unattainable; prize beyond one’s reach; woman who is out of one’s league; flower on a high peak
名を馳せる (なをはせる) [expression, 一] to win fame; to be widely known; to be well-known; to make a name for oneself
正真正銘 (しょうしんしょうめい) [四字熟語, noun] genuine; authentic; true; real
変わってる (かわってる) [expression, 一] to be unusual (of a person or thing); to be uncommon; to be peculiar; to be crazy; to be eccentric; to be different. Sometimes derogatory.
A lot from ハイキュー!! today, though that’s not unexpected lol