Nihongo no Tane 170: 日本のお風呂 Japanese Bath | Japanese Immersion podcast

In this episode, Yumi returns to Japan in the dead of winter, navigating the chill of an old house, the busyness of inheritance matters, and the quiet grief of family loss. Amid the hardship, she rediscovers the simple joy of soaking in a deep, warm bath. A heartfelt story of discomfort, tradition, and small comforts

 

 

KEY VOCABULARY:

1. はや — "Already; soon." Often implies that time has passed quickly. In the phrase はや3週間(しゅうかん), it intensifies the feeling of how fast those three weeks went by. Common in conversational and narrative contexts.
2. 相続(そうぞく) — "Inheritance." 相 means "mutual" or "together," and 続 means "to continue." Refers to the process of passing assets or rights from the deceased to their heirs.
3. 手続(てつづ)きなど — "Procedures and such." 手続(てつづ)き means "procedure" or "formalities" (手(て) = hand, 続(つづ)き = continuation). The など ("etc.") softens the statement and implies that other tasks were also involved.
4. ドタバタしていて — "Being hectic or frantic." ドタバタ is onomatopoeic, evoking loud, busy movement. していて is the て-form of する + the progressive いる, showing an ongoing hectic state.
5. 追(お)われているような — "As if being chased." 追(お)われている is the passive progressive form of 追(お)う ("to chase"), indicating "being chased." ような compares the speaker’s situation to that of someone being chased.
6. 断熱材(だんねつざい) — "Insulation material." 断 = to block/cut off, 熱 = heat, 材 = material. Used to describe materials that prevent the transfer of heat in buildings.
7. ほぼ — "Almost; nearly." An adverb used to express approximation, indicating that two things are nearly the same (e.g., temperatures inside and outside the house).
8. 襲(おそ)われる — "To be struck; attacked." Passive form of 襲(おそ)う ("to attack"). Here, used metaphorically to describe the sharp, overwhelming feeling of cold when leaving the futon.
9. 着替(きが)えなくてはいけません — "Have to change clothes." 着替(きが)える = to change clothes. 〜なくてはいけません is a grammatical structure meaning "must" or "have to." Expresses necessity or obligation.

• 燃料代(ねんりょうだい) — "Fuel cost." 燃料(ねんりょう) = fuel, and 代(だい) = fee or cost. Together, refers to the expense of heating fuel.
• 電気代(でんきだい) — "Electricity bill." 電気(でんき) = electricity, 代(だい) = cost. Common compound used to refer to household electricity expenses.
• 非常(ひじょう)に — "Extremely; very." A formal adverb often used in written or polite speech to emphasize intensity.
• ままならず — "Unable to; not going as desired." Classical negative form of ままなる ("to go as intended"). This structure implies a frustrating lack of control, often due to circumstances.
• 唯一(ゆいいつ) — "Only; sole." A compound meaning "one" (唯) and "exist" (一), used to describe something that is one-of-a-kind or exclusive.
• 幸(さいわ)い — "Fortunately; luckily." Can function as both a noun and an adverb. Formal or literary in tone; expresses relief or unexpected fortune.
• ゆったり — "Leisurely; relaxed." An adverb describing a calm, spacious, and unhurried manner—often used for comfort or space, such as in a bath.
• 伸(の)ばして — "Stretching out." 伸(の)ばす = to stretch or extend. The て-form (伸(の)ばして) is used here to connect to the next verb 浸(つ)かる ("to soak").
• 浸(つ)かる — "To soak; to immerse." Often used for soaking in water (like in a bath). The verb implies full bodily immersion and comfort.
• 野生(やせい)の猿(さる) — "Wild monkeys." 野生(やせい) = "wild," and 猿(さる) = "monkey." Describes animals living naturally in the wild, untouched by domestication.
• 気持(きも)ちよさそうな — "Looks pleasant/comfortable." 気持(きも)ち = feeling, よい = good, よさそう = seems good. The full phrase is the adjective form used to describe something that appears to feel good.
• 済(す)ます — "To get by with; to finish." The verb 済(す)ます means "to complete" or "to manage with." In context, it implies using only a shower instead of a bath, often out of convenience.
• 銭湯(せんとう) — "Public bathhouse." 銭 = money/c