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May 27, 2009

Useful Japanese expressions #3

遠慮のかたまり

en-ryo no ka-ta-ma-ri

The last piece of food that sits and sits because no one wants to be the one to finish it.
One literal translation: the lump of hesitation.

Someone asked,"What do you call that in the US?"
Hm, a stumper. I think we don't need a word for it in our language.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I agree, we aren't polite enough. Plus it's gone in 5 seconds.

Holly said...

yes, i am using this phrase all the time now! "eat that lump of hesitation!"

titivil said...

I always call it, "You gonna eat that?"

Sandra Barron said...

Yes, exactly, all around. I think another word for it is "Dibs!"

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