A Makoto+ member had a question for Yumi. "Why are Diet members (Japanese parliament) called "kun" when "kun" is mostly for little boys?" Good question. Listen as Yumi delves into the fascinating history behind this common honorific title.

KEY VOCABULARY:

子供(こども)の頃(ころ) when I was a kid; childhood

そういう感(かん)じ such a feeling; that's how (I) feel

新聞社(しんぶんしゃ) newspaper company

決(き)まりがある there's a rule

年下(としした) younger (person)

現代(げんだい)の日本(にほん) modern Japan

国会議員(こっかいぎいん) Diet member

子供(こども)っぽい childish

年齢(ねんれい)の高(たか)い方(かた)  older people

違和感(いわかん) feeling out of place; uncomfortable feeling; bad feeling

明治時代(めいじじだい) Meiji period (1868-1912)

江戸時代(えどじだい) Edo period (1603-1868)

武士(ぶし) samurai; warrior

農民(のうみん) farmer

商人(しょうにん) merchant

身分制度(みぶんせいど) status system; class system

廃止(はいし) abolish

敬称(けいしょう) honorary titles

平等(びょうどう) equality; impartiality

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-92

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-92-m

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