Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Words From the Heart

     "Monku, monku, monku," said my mom as I refused to get up from bed. "I tell you this everyday." And she's right. I am the worst of all of my siblings. Although my mom says it to all of her kids, she says it to me the most. It can be for complaining about homework to how my whole body hurts. My mom's answer is always "monku, monku, monku".

     Monku is a Japanese word that means "grumble". So basically, when my mom calls me this she is saying that all I do is grumble all the time. My mom tells me this whenever I'm grumbling or if I don't do what she's telling me to. She told this to all of her children, but it is more important for me because she didn't tell my brothers this as much as she had to to me. She has been using this phrase since she had her first child. But, she didn't make up this phrase herself. She learned it from her mother, my grandma.

     "I said that to my children," my grandma stated. My mom took after her mother and that's why she says it to me and my brothers. But, even my grandma didn't make up this phrase. She learned it from her parents who used to tell her this, and they are from Japan. When they migrated from Japan to Hawaii, they carried along their Japanese language. Now, my grandma only uses some Japanese words such as "monku, monku, monku" and "ikimashoo" (let's go). These are phrases that have been used for at least three generations.

     Another perspective on this is from my brother Kaz. "I've heard mom say this, but mostly to you Zak." He said that our mom says this because I grumble all of the time. He also said that he has been hearing this phrase since he could understand words. But, since Kaz is the "good child" he isn't told this nearly as much as I am. That's why this phrase is so important to me. When I hear it, I automatically think they're talking to me.

     "Monku, monku, monku" was used for at least three generations and I will definitely use this phrase on my children. It is really important to me because it is kind of from my Japanese culture and I know I have at least one thing that has been used by my ancestors. I will never forget this phrase and I will certainly make sure it is passed down to the next generation of Tachino's.

3 comments:

  1. Great writing, I like how you identified where the phrase has been used since your grandmother.

    However I see a few grammar errors in your text. Like in the fourth paragraph, you should add a comma after 'brother'. There are also a few problems in the first paragraph, that are involved with commas.

    Overall, this is a pretty good paragraphs. It has a good structure and content. Which are really important!

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  2. Great writing overall with the use of evidence, it made this essay seem legit. Although, you only stated a few sentences on why this word is so special to you. I couldn't real understand how this word was so special to you. Overall though, great use of evidence.

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  3. MS(3-) GREAT OPENING PARAGRAPH. AND GREAT TRANSITIONS FROM ONE IDEA TO THE NEXT. ONE THING YOU NEED TO WORK ON IS JUST EXPANDING YOUR IDEAS AND THOUGHTS. THERE NEEDS TO MORE COMPLETE PERSONAL REFLECTION. DO YOU LIKE WHEN YOU HEAR OR IT NOT? HOW DOES THIS REPRESENT YOUR FAMILY? DISCUSS YOUR FAMILY MORE IN CONNECTION THE PHRASE AND HOW IT REPRESENTS THE WAY YOU GUYS ARE. ALSO, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PHRASE COMPARED TO EVERYTHING ELSE? HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN YOU HEAR IT, WHAT DOES IT REMIND YOU OF.

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