2013.09.02
Tip 56 ”once in a blue moon” 無料ビジネス英語学習
無料ビジネス英語学習 Words & Phrases 第56弾は、”once in a blue moon” です。
滅多にない状況であることを伝えたい際に使えるフレーズです。
例えば同僚から、
“How often do you work on Saturdays?” 「土曜は働くことはどれくらいあるのですか？」
と聞かれた際に「滅多にないよ。」と伝えたい場合、あなたならどう言いますか？
日本人の多くは、
“It is a very very rare case.”
などと答えるかもしれません。
もちろん意味は伝わります。
でも、よりナチュラルな表現を使うなら、
“Once in a blue moon.” 「滅多にないよ。」
と言いましょう。
ぜひ覚えておいてください！
Hello and welcome to this Bizmates words and phrases
video series for Japanese businesspeople.
And today's phrase is once in a blue moon.
What does this mean?
Well, we will find out. OK.
But first let's do our usual test.
So last time we learned cut corners.
So please tell me about a time you had to cut corners.
OK, so you took shortcuts to save money,
or to save time, not a good thing to do but
tell me about a time you had to cut corners.
OK, all right.
So once in a blue moon, what does this mean?
It's kind of a strange phrase, isn't it?
A blue moon, how often is a moon blue?
It's usually kind of a yellowish color right?
Well it's really rare and that's what it means.
OK, so let me show you.
So here's what I often hear.
OK, so if I ask Taro, you know,
Taro's my colleague and we're talking.
And I say, Taro, how often do you work on Saturdays?
You're always busy. You're always working.
How often do you work on Saturdays?
And he says, yeah it is a very very rare case.
OK, makes sense, yeah.
He doesn't work so often, very very rare.
But it's missing that natural, that natural touch right? Yeah.
So what we could say is this...
If I say, Taro, how often do you work on Saturdays?
He can say, once in a blue moon.
Wow, once in a blue moon.
That's rare, very rare.
Just like that, yeah so once in a blue moon.
It means a very very rare case.
But it just sounds a lot more natural.
OK, so let's look at pronunciation.
Onceina, Onceina blue moon.
OK, just like that. Put those words together.
Onceina blue moon.
You try.
One more time.
Onceina blue moon.
OK, so let me ask you the question.
So how often do you work on Saturdays?
Oh, not very often, I see.
Just like that.
OK for homework, tell me
what do you do once in a blue moon?
OK, very very rare case.
I drink once in a blue moon.
It's just, I'm not a drinker.
You know, I'll listen to reggae music once in a blue moon.
I'm more of a pop guy, you know,
something like that.
Well, you tell me in the next video lesson.
Thank you.
video series for Japanese businesspeople.
And today's phrase is once in a blue moon.
What does this mean?
Well, we will find out. OK.
But first let's do our usual test.
So last time we learned cut corners.
So please tell me about a time you had to cut corners.
OK, so you took shortcuts to save money,
or to save time, not a good thing to do but
tell me about a time you had to cut corners.
OK, all right.
So once in a blue moon, what does this mean?
It's kind of a strange phrase, isn't it?
A blue moon, how often is a moon blue?
It's usually kind of a yellowish color right?
Well it's really rare and that's what it means.
OK, so let me show you.
So here's what I often hear.
OK, so if I ask Taro, you know,
Taro's my colleague and we're talking.
And I say, Taro, how often do you work on Saturdays?
You're always busy. You're always working.
How often do you work on Saturdays?
And he says, yeah it is a very very rare case.
OK, makes sense, yeah.
He doesn't work so often, very very rare.
But it's missing that natural, that natural touch right? Yeah.
So what we could say is this...
If I say, Taro, how often do you work on Saturdays?
He can say, once in a blue moon.
Wow, once in a blue moon.
That's rare, very rare.
Just like that, yeah so once in a blue moon.
It means a very very rare case.
But it just sounds a lot more natural.
OK, so let's look at pronunciation.
Onceina, Onceina blue moon.
OK, just like that. Put those words together.
Onceina blue moon.
You try.
One more time.
Onceina blue moon.
OK, so let me ask you the question.
So how often do you work on Saturdays?
Oh, not very often, I see.
Just like that.
OK for homework, tell me
what do you do once in a blue moon?
OK, very very rare case.
I drink once in a blue moon.
It's just, I'm not a drinker.
You know, I'll listen to reggae music once in a blue moon.
I'm more of a pop guy, you know,
something like that.
Well, you tell me in the next video lesson.
Thank you.
