NOTE: JLPT stands for "Japanese Language Proficiency Test"
Yesterday I somehow became immersed in a conversation revolving around the uvula. I explained that many English speakers don't even know what the uvula is called, and if they do it's only after a certain amount of memory-jogging. As a result, most people end up simply referring to it as "that thing that hangs in the back of your throat." Upon hearing this, every Japanese person thus far as replied "that's way too long."
As it turns out, Japanese is similar. Almost no one knows the medical term for it (the Japanese equivalent of "uvula"), so pretty much everyone simply refers to it by its much weirder but more common name: 喉ちんこ (nodochinko). Well, it's certainly shorter than the English version.
Regardless, I still can't get over how a vast amount of people can with a perfectly straight face refer to the thing in the back of your throat as "throat penis."
Comments
Wow. That's even better than my previous favorite, boogers: Hanakuso, or "nose shit."
Posted by: Will | November 2, 2006 12:36 PM
Yeah that's a good one too, though I'll admit I had forgotten about it after my students gave me a gift of candy with the same name.
Mmm appetizing...
Posted by: Justin | November 2, 2006 3:48 PM
Huh. Throat penis--that just had never occurred to me. And this is ME we are talking about.
Posted by: jansen | November 3, 2006 3:36 AM
Anyone over there try to get a throat PA?
Posted by: Nina | November 3, 2006 8:31 PM
Wouldn't something like "throat weewee" be a more accurate translation? I mean, it is a child's word, right? Penis sounds so clinical.
Guess I missed the booger post...
Posted by: Ibadairon | November 8, 2006 7:24 PM