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.