Salaryman Senryu

[Harisenbon]

Well, if you just want to GIVE him the answer.

After reading the thread up to this point, I do.

I was about to give it to him myself, actually. I was just bitter that you beat me to it.

[leonl]

Well, if you just want to GIVE him the answer.

After reading the thread up to this point, I do.

I was about to give it to him myself, actually. I was just bitter that you beat me to it.

Either way the answer is much appreciated. Now the fun part begins explaining(In Japanese) why its funny or clever from a Japanese perspective, Sigh, long nights ahead for me

[Oyaji]

Now the fun part begins explaining(In Japanese) why its funny or clever from a Japanese perspective, Sigh, long nights ahead for me

Perhaps the speaker has had one too many conversations like this:

何を食べる？

カツ丼がいい

すみません、ないです

じゃあ、うどんでいい

ないです

ラーメン

ありません

餃子

ない

おでん

ない

すし

ありません

てんぷら

ないです

ステーキ

ないです

[Harisenbon]

Sounds like someone is speaking from personal experience, Oyaji.

And welcome back to the forums!
It's been a while!

[chikara]

..... welcome back to the forums!
It's been a while!

I was thinking the same thing.

お帰りなさい

[Oyaji]

Sounds like someone is speaking from personal experience, Oyaji.

I can definitely relate to this 川柳.

And welcome back to the forums!
It's been a while!

Thank you. Actually I do stop by and lurk every so often, but generally before I can add anything to a thread someone beats me to it, and says it better than I would have.

[NileCat]

Nice to meet you, Oyaji-san.

Either way the answer is much appreciated. Now the fun part begins explaining(In Japanese) why its funny or clever from a Japanese perspective, Sigh, long nights ahead for me

Guess who said to whom.
(Note it's "Salaryman Senryu")

ブス女
一度褒めると
逃げられぬ

-me-

Applause!!

[furrykef]

ブス女
一度褒めると
逃げられぬ

Lemme see if I understand it correctly: "Once you praise an ugly woman, there's no escaping her"? ('Course, that doesn't sound nearly so poetic, but...)

[NileCat]

[Lemme see if I understand it correctly: "Once you praise an ugly woman, there's no escaping her"? ('Course, that doesn't sound nearly so poetic, but...)

I think you got it. But the art of Mike's is his choice of the word "ブス女" and its contrast with the word "褒める".

About the "何食べる?" one,

Psh, "what do you want to eat," he asks! Tell me what you have first!

Well...maybe...I think...many Japanese salarymen wouldn't agree with your translation, I'm afraid.
I'm not saying it's wrong. (This kind of guessing is the fun part of enjoying senryu.)

Well...it's "she", I think.

[Hyperworm]

Husband and wife's conversation as the salaryman returns home late?

"What you want tonight?" [5]
What do we have in the house? [7]
Try telling me first [5]

or 3-5-3

"Meal tonight?" [3]
What've we got in? [5]
Not psychic [3]

[NileCat]

Salaryman Senryu is known as their complaining, whining, or elegy.

My interpretation is like this.

Maybe it's Sunday afternoon. He is lying on the couch in the living room, watching TV perhaps. He is worn out after a hard working week. He's exhausted. On the other hand, his wife is tired of taking care of him on every Sunday after having her busy week doing a lot of chores. Then she asks reluctantly."What do you want for lunch?". He thinks in his mind."Whatever I answer, we'll have frozen pizza or something at best...Why don't you tell me that before asking me?" But he can't say it to her face. Because he's afraid of his wife. (See his pen-name) It's a sorry tale of a poor lonely Japanese salaryman...

[tōkai devotee]

Poor little salaryman. My heart goes out to him.

[furrykef]

But the art of Mike's is his choice of the word "ブス女" and its contrast with the word "褒める".

Hmm. I'm not sure I understand... ^^;

[inuinu]

English beginner senryu

Hi の声
とっさの返事
はいでした

(;´∇｀)　- inuinu

[NileCat]

But the art of Mike's is his choice of the word "ブス女" and its contrast with the word "褒める".

Hmm. I'm not sure I understand... ^^;

Sorry,furrykef. I couldn't explain well in English.
ブス女 sounds childish. And as you see, the katakana looks very simple.
褒める on the contrary, is quite difficult kanji. And the behavior that saying something nice to the girl seems being mature.
The conflict of the two "concepts" leads to the tragedy that he can never run away from her.

Do you know what I mean?