Way of Language: Severance

“Gongodōdan” (言語道断) can be divided into “gongodō” (言語道) and “dan” (断). “Gongodō” means “the path of expressing in words,” and adding “dan” (“to cut off,” “cannot”) gives the sense that “the way to express it in words is cut off = one is so appalled that there are no words.” Therefore, the correct division is “gongodō ・ dan.”

New Zealand

“New Zealand” is the name of a country in the Southern Hemisphere. The term can be divided into two parts: “New” and “Zealand.” It was originally named from Dutch, meaning “new sea land.” Splitting it as “New Zea-land” or “New Zealan-d” is incorrect; the standard division is “New” and “Zealand.”

Triceratops

"Triceratops" can be broken down into three parts. "Tri" comes from Greek meaning "three," "kerat" means "horn," and "ops" means "face." So "triceratops" literally means "a face with three horns." It's a dinosaur name familiar even to many older adults, but since it originally comes from English and Greek, knowing the etymology makes it easier to remember.

three; semicircular canal(s)

The correct answer is “three semicircular canals.” The semicircular canals are located in the ear and are essential for maintaining the body’s balance. “Three” is the number 3, and “semicircular canals” refers to the fact that there are three half-circle-shaped canals. They not only help us hear sounds but also help us stand and move without wobbling. When the phrase is divided correctly, the meaning becomes clear.

Kiyohara no Sosei and Sei Shonagon

It is correct to read “Sei Shōnagon” by dividing it into two parts: “Sei” and “Shōnagon.” “Sei” is her father’s surname, and she was referred to together with the court title “Shōnagon,” an official rank at the time. Sei Shōnagon was a female writer of the Heian period, known for authoring The Pillow Book. Since an incorrect division can lead to a completely different meaning, it is very important to know the correct way to divide historically significant names like this.

cholesterol

“Koresuterooru” is a katakana word derived from the English “cholesterol.” To make it easier to pronounce in Japanese, it is naturally divided and read as “kore” and “suterooru.” Dividing it as “koresu–tero–ru” or “ko–resuterooru” sounds unnatural, so the correct way to split it is “kore–suterooru.” Also, knowing how to segment the word in a quiz can help you better understand its correct meaning.

Puerto Rico

“Puerto Rico” is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the Caribbean. When dividing the word, the correct form is “Puerto Rico.” “Puerto” in Spanish means “port,” and “Rico” means “rich,” so together it means “rich port.” The division point is easy to get wrong, but “Puerto Rico” is the official name.