This evening I enjoyed a short three-page essay by Haruki Murakami titled 真っ白な嘘 (mashiro na uso – White Lies) . I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it was in the original Japanese. As the book had furigana, a CD attached, and translation notes it wasn’t such hard going. Here are some words from the essay that students of Japanese/English might enjoy learning:
でたらめ – nonsense
でっち上げ – fabrication, hoax
でまかせ – speaking without thinking
世間を惑わせる人 – people who disturb the public order
例によって – as usual, as is one’s habit, as per usual, just like always
It was a playful and witty little essay. Give it a read. You’ll enjoy it.