Lost in Translation
Aegyo (애교)
“Every dog has its day.”
United States
(Although this saying dates back over 450 years, popularized by English authors like Shakespeare and John Heywood)
This sparkling wine drink, whose namesake is the Northeastern French town from which it originates, is made primarily from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes.
Champagne
Married to Louis XVI, this queen became a symbol of royal excess during the French Revolution.
Marie Antoinette
This Japanese genre of anime/manga is primarily marketed towards young males, characterized by high-action, comradeship, and themes of perseverance.
Shonen (少年) manga/anime
Japanese term best translated as "It cannot be helped." This term is connected to the idea of fate and encourages us to accept the things that are out of our control.
Shouganai (しょうがない)
“A thief that steals from a thief, has 100 years of forgiveness.”
Latin American/Spanish-speaking countries
(Any Spanish-speaking country guessed gets full points).
Popular South Korean street food dish of chewy rice cakes simmered in a spicy, sweet, and savory sauce, typically made with gochujang (Korean chili paste) and gochugaru (chili flakes)
Tteokbokki (떡볶이)
The iconic ruins of Machu Picchu are the remnants of this pre-Columbian South American civilization.
Incas
(occupying the Andean regions of modern day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile)
This South Korean title made history in 2020 as the first non-English film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Parasite (기생충)
French term best translated as “out of sorts when away from home”; often mistranslated as “homesickness,” this word is more about the disorientation and lack of familiarity you experience outside your normal surroundings.
Dépaysement
“A nearby stranger is better than a distant relative.”
Japan
遠くの親類より近くの他人 (Tōku no shinrui yori chikaku no tanin)
Created in the 1930s as a non-alcoholic cocktail for the child actor for which it is named, this American beverage is made with ginger ale or lemon-lime soda, a splash of grenadine, and garnished with a maraschino cherry, often with a citrus wedge.
Shirley Temple
In traditional Japanese mythology, this Shinto sun goddess is considered the primordial ancestor of the imperial family.
Amaterasu Ōmikami (天照大)
This unincorporated U.S. territory is known for pioneering reggaeton, a high-energy dance music genre emerging during the 1990s, blending hip-hop, reggae, and Caribbean dancehall with Spanish-language rapping and singing.
Puerto Rico
Spanish term referring to the time you spend at the table after you’ve finished eating. It’s not about the food anymore; it’s about the conversation, the laughter, the shared stories, and the slow digestion of both your meal and the company.
Sobremesa
“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”
France
(most famously attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, reflecting his philosophy of self-reliance and control)
A speciality of the Hokkaido prefecture, this Japanese dish is made with squid stuffed with seasoned rice, and simmered in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce.
Originally created during wartime to stretch rice supplies, it's now a popular comfort food, often served in bento boxes (ekiben) and enjoyed hot or cold.
Ikameshi (烏賊飯)
This city, founded in 1565 by Don Pedro de Aviles of Spain, in considered the oldest European-founded city in United States.
Saint Augustine, Florida
This 2001 French film by Jean-Pierre Jeunet follows a whimsical Parisian woman who secretly improves the lives of people around her.
Amélie
This English word describes a person’s ever-present urge or desire to travel. The extent of the trip doesn’t matter as you could want to travel even just to the next state or country.
Wanderlust
“Birds hear the words spoken in the day, and mice hear the words spoken at night.”
South Korea
낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다. (Natmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deudneunda)
This traditional South American herbal drink is made from steeped Ilex paraguariensis leaves, known for its bold, earthy, and bitter flavor. Rich in caffeine (similar to coffee), it’s enjoyed for enhanced focus, antioxidants, and as a social ritual, typically sipped from a gourd via a metal straw.
Yerba Mate
While not widely known, this East Asian country is responsible for pioneering the metal moveable type before Europe, predating Johannes Gutenberg by about 200 years.
South Korea
This American artist currently holds the record for most-watched Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Kendrick Lamar