Move a small amount
and each day things will improve
as you will, yourself
Today I had my second session with the lovely old lady who does acupuncture and massage next to where I work. This time I went prepared, having learned some important vocabulary. The two key words I learned were neck (kubi) and pain (ita or itami), but I also learned some phrases and vocabulary passively (ESL teachers term meaning you would know it when you hear it but not well enough to produce it yourself). It really helped out and the therapist seemed really happy that I had made an effort, although she seems really happy about everything all the time. Her laugh is hilarious and contagious. Interestingly enough, she tried to figure out more about my ankles this time. I have some issues with them and did my best to explain their weird features, such as the extra piece of bone, a chip that sticks out just above my right foot. She managed to figure a lot out, which was great. She's basically doing what my physiotherapists in Vancouver do, attempting to add a little more movement every time they work on me.
This led me to a great new Japanese phrase. As she demonstrated the plan on a small skeleton in her office, she continuously said "sukoshi zutsu". Over and over. Her eventual translation was "little move". My students helped me learn about the phrase and it is quite versatile. The phrase, I now know, can mean a little movement, or can mean little by little, or can mean improving slightly. I thought it was a great phrase to know because I am trying to improve my Japanese little by little. I also think it is a great idea to try to improve at something every day of your life as well.
少しずつ (sukoshi zutsu)
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