Japanese Riddles: Link to the Quiz
<Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate>
(1) コトリ(kotori): KOTORI is a soft clink, the sound when an object are moved or put down. KOTORI also means 小鳥(a small bird).
(2) ひっぱりだこ（hippari-dako）： being very popular; being in great demand
ひっぱる(hipparu, pull)
たこ(tako, octopus)
In old days, they pulled all the legs to different directions when making a dried octopus.
Pulled from all the directions ------> very popular; being in great demand.
"Tako" becomes "dako" when used in the second half of a compound word. The first consonant turns into a voiced sound d. (vs t is a voiceless sound)
(3) スカンク (sukanku, skunk)
すかん(sukan)＝すきではない (suki dewa nai, dislike)
く(ku)＝pain
<Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate>
Answers:
(1) コトリ(kotori): KOTORI is a soft clink, the sound when an object are moved or put down. KOTORI also means 小鳥(a small bird).
(2) ひっぱりだこ（hippari-dako）： being very popular; being in great demand
ひっぱる(hipparu, pull)
たこ(tako, octopus)
In old days, they pulled all the legs to different directions when making a dried octopus.
Pulled from all the directions ------> very popular; being in great demand.
"Tako" becomes "dako" when used in the second half of a compound word. The first consonant turns into a voiced sound d. (vs t is a voiceless sound)
(3) スカンク (sukanku, skunk)
すかん(sukan)＝すきではない (suki dewa nai, dislike)
く(ku)＝pain
