Misadventures in Japanese

OK, this is my last post in Japan. Earlier today we went to train station to go visit Asakusa district in Tokyo, in order to see Sensoji temple. More on that on a later post when I get back; it was a great experience. Baby was in the stroller, so my wife and mother in law went to take the elevator down to the next floor of the station. I wanted to take the stairs so I said to my wife: kaidan wo ochiru (階段を落ちる).

What I wanted to say was kaidan wo oriru (階段を降りる), which means “I’ll go down the stairs.”

What I had said to my wife was “I’ll go fall down the stairs.”

The verb oriru means to get off something (train, car, etc). The verb ochiru means to fall down.

The difference between the two, kanji aside, was one letter: り not ち, or “ri”, not “chi”.

I suppose this is where Buddhist mindfulness really helps, so you can catch yourself before you make such little, but silly oversights.

I’ll go fall down the stairs now. Thanks!

Namuamidabu