Hello everyone! Welcome to Honto no Nihongo with Maiko! 💖
In this episode, we explore the magic of the number "3" (San) in Japan. 
Why is it so special? 
Maiko Sensei explains it all using simple Japanese!


[About Maiko Sensei]


I am a Japanese teacher with experience in over 450 online lessons on platforms like italki and Preply. 
I love sharing real, useful Japanese with all of you!


[What you will learn in this episode:]
​ The "-San" mystery: Why do we add "-san" to animals and even food?​ Mikka Bozu (3-day monk): A funny idiom for when we quit something too soon.​ Sandome no Shojiki: The Japanese version of "Third time's a charm."


HONTO NO NIHONGO with Maiko

EP3: Why Japanese People Love the Number "3" (San)?

在这一集中有一只昆虫：一只蝴蝶。为什么呢？好吧...你得听下去才知道 :) 

西班牙语表达

A otra cosa mariposa

** This story contains graphic and explicit material it is not recommended for children. For mature audiences only. ** 18+
The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig from Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris Illustrations by Ian Falconer
Read by me Teacher Alyse. Listen and follow along.
Send me a message me for your free pdf copy of this book.

The way the pig is labeled based on his Vietnamese heritage, despite being born in the U.S., mirrors the real-world experiences of many immigrants and their descendants. Even when someone identifies as fully American, they can still be seen as "other" because of their background. The parrot's insistence on framing the pig's identity through an ethnic lens—rather than his actual achievements—reflects how media narratives and public discourse can shape (and sometimes distort) the way individuals are perceived.
This is especially important now, given the ongoing discussions about immigration in the U.S. Many immigrants and first-generation Americans face similar struggles with identity, belonging, and how they're portrayed in society. The story also highlights how insecurities—whether about identity, appearance, or status—can be exacerbated by external judgments.
Themes and Interpretation
•	Identity and Stereotyping: The pig’s frustration highlights how labels—whether about ethnicity or body image—can shape and limit a person’s self-perception.
•	Media Manipulation: The parrot, representing a journalist, distorts facts for a sensationalized story, raising questions about bias and ethics in reporting.
•	Self-Perception and Insecurity: The pig’s struggles with his body image illustrate how external judgments can create deep-seated insecurities.
•	Cultural Commentary: The story subtly critiques societal assumptions about identity and heritage, showing how people (or animals) can be boxed in by others’ perceptions.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk and other stories from David Sedaris ( Adult 18+) 

The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig

엄마, 저 군고구마 너무 먹고 싶어요.
妈, 我很想吃烤地瓜。 

마침 지난주에 고구마 사놨지. 
正好上周买了地瓜。

지난번에 에어프라이어에 구운 고구마 정말 맛있었어요.
上次用空气炸锅烤的地瓜真的很好吃。

조금만 기다려. 엄마가 지난번처럼 맛있게 구워줄게.
稍等一下。妈妈给你做像上次那样好吃的烤地瓜。

군고구마 烤地瓜
에어프라이어 空气炸锅
조금만, 잠시 기다리다 稍等

[YOON] 1분 한국어

엄마, 저 군고구마 너무 먹고 싶어요. 妈, 我很想吃烤地瓜。 

日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)するとき、いちばん大切(たいせつ)なことって何(なに)？
What is the most important thing when you study Japanese 🇯🇵?
일본어를 공부할 때 가장 중요한 것은?


NANAのにほんごpodcast 

日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)するとき、いちばん大切(たいせつ)なことって何(なに)？

Learn numbers in Spanish. Book a trial lesson and start understanding spanish and communicate naturally and with more confidence. Follow me on Instagram Spanishlang.lovers

Spanglish in 3 minutes

Numbers in Spanish 

In this episode, I share who I am and how I learned Portuguese as a Spanish speaker. I talk slowly and naturally, so you can listen, relax, and enjoy real Spanish without pressure.

Slow & Real Spanish

My Experience Learning Portuguese

yǒu rén wèn，rú guǒ dí rén qiáng dà，wǒ men gāi zěn me bàn？
有人问，如果敌人强大（强大means strong），我们该怎么办？
Someone asked: If the enemy is strong, what should we do?

Sūn zǐ shuō，zhǎo dào dí rén zuì ruò de dì fāng，rán hòu gōng dǎ。
孙子说，找到敌人最弱的地方，然后攻打（攻打means ATTACTK）。
Sunzi said: Find the enemy's weakest point, then attack.

What can we learn from this? 

wǒ men hé kè hù tán pàn shí，bú yào xiān zhēng lùn jià gé，zhǎo dào kè hù zuì guān xīn de wèn tí，
我们和客户谈判（to negociate)时，不要先争论(to argue)价格，找到客户最关心的问题，
When we negotiate with clients，don't argue about the price first，find out what the client cares about most.
shuō míng kě yǐ jiě jué tā men de wèn tí，ràng kè hù jué de zhè ge jià gé shì zhí dé de
说明可以解决（to solve）他们的问题，让客户觉得这个价格是值得(be worth it)的。
Explain that you can solve their problems.Make the client feel the price is worth it.

For more learning, welcome to book <Sunzi military strategy >!