If you come to Japan it is impossible to avoid the phrase "sho ga nai" which means "it can't be helped". This phrase along with it's more formal version "shikata ga nai" is used to express the concept of "c'est la vie" when life throws an unpleasant situation your way and you feel powerless to avoid or correct it.

It's raining today, we can't go on a picnic, "sho ga nai".

I failed my entrance exams, "sho ga nai".

The entire world is against us on our whaling policy, "sho ga nai".

"Sho ga nai" has been interpreted as the stoic self sacrificing nature of the Japanese which can also be found in Buddhist teachings and their emphasis on group identity.

"I have to go into work on sunday- sho ga nai"

The ultimate expression of "sho ga nai" was at the end of the second world war when their emperor asked his people to endure the unendurable and embrace defeat.

An unkinder and more western interpretation would conclude "sho ga nai" means "I can't be bothered". Arguably, you cannot run a sucessful company by shrugging your shoulders when your employees are lazy and unmotivated.

Regardless of whether you think "sho ga nai" expresses a fatalistic unwillingness to make changes or is an enlightened acceptance of life, "sho ga nai" is an essential phrase for students of Japanese.

In this lesson, Waka teaches us how to use "sho ga nai" just like a native. Enjoy.

Links:
Kyuma Fumio and Sho ga nai

I hung out with Waka sensei again, sipped tea on her beautiful deck and talked our heads off.  First off we discussed some news stories including whalers missing their targets thanks to the efforts of the Sea Shepard and other anti whaling groups. Apparently by the end of March, the whalers will only have caught 500 or so whales well under their original quota of 900. We also briefly talked about the Tax dodging sisters who got busted for stashing an incredible $56 million in their garage.

We talked a little about retro Japanese games including Super Mario and about how I will be setting up a shop to sell Japanese goods abroad. Stay tuned for more info.

For useful links for improving your Japanese check out Freejapaneselessons.blogspot.com and boostyourjapanese.com

Finally we listened to some tracks from the hilarious show Sora mimi Awa (video).  Viewers of the show submit songs in other languages that sound like they contain funny phrases or words in Japanese. Submissions tend to vary in quality but the good ones are hilarious including "Through the never "by Metallica. In the chorus James Hetfield sings "Twisting
Turning, Through the never". However, to Japanese people it sounds like "Sushi, Tori, Furo, Nero" or "Sushi, chicken, bath, sleep". This show never ceases to cause a few giggles.

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