Here’s a learning tool I use a lot.
When I come across a word I want to learn how to use, I use this prompt with Claude.ai.
Using the Feynman technique, explain the meaning of [word] in the sentence [sentence].
I just saw this sentence in an article:
パリの寒空の下でタクシーを待つ2人の男性が抱いた素朴な疑問が、後に1,200億ドル規模のビジネスを生み出すことになる。
Well that’s interesting: “Hug a question?” I’m not familiar with this usage of 抱く.
So I ask Claude,
Using the Feynman technique, explain the meaning of 抱いた in the sentence 男性が抱いた素朴な疑問
And I get this:
Let me break down 抱いた (daita) using the Feynman technique – explaining it simply and clearly.
The Basic Meaning:
抱いた literally means “held” or “embraced,” but in this sentence it means “harbored” or “had” (a feeling or thought).
Breaking It Down:
The verb 抱く (daku) has two main uses:
- Physical holding – like holding a baby or embracing someone
- Mental/emotional holding – like holding onto thoughts, feelings, or doubts
In Your Sentence:
男性が抱いた素朴な疑問 = “A simple question that the man harbored/had”
Think of it this way: just like you can physically hold something in your arms, you can mentally “hold” thoughts or feelings in your mind. The man didn’t just think of a question once – he “held onto” it, carried it with him mentally.
A Simple Analogy:
Imagine doubt or curiosity as a small object. Instead of just touching it briefly, you pick it up and carry it with you. That’s what 抱く does – it suggests the emotion or thought isn’t fleeting, but something you’re actively holding onto.
Other Examples:
- 希望を抱く (kibou wo daku) = to harbor hope
- 不安を抱く (fuan wo daku) = to harbor anxiety
- 疑いを抱く (utagai wo daku) = to harbor doubt
So 抱いた here means the man didn’t just have a passing thought – he genuinely held onto and pondered this simple question.
Here’s another one, just for shits and giggles. It’s 2 am and I’m getting my learn-on.
Using the Feynman technique, explain the meaning of 軋轢 in the sentence 顧客の心理的軋轢を減らすことが、ウーバーの重要な課題となった。
Let me break down 軋轢 (atsureki) using the Feynman technique.
The Basic Meaning:
軋轢 means “friction” or “conflict” – but not the physical kind. It’s the tension or resistance that happens between people, groups, or in situations.
Breaking Down the Characters:
- 軋 = creaking, groaning sound (like old wood under pressure)
- 轢 = running over, crushing
Together, they create the image of something grinding against something else, creating resistance and uncomfortable tension.
In Your Sentence:
顧客の心理的軋轢 = “customers’ psychological friction/resistance”
The sentence means: “Reducing customers’ psychological friction became an important challenge for Uber.”
A Simple Analogy:
Think of two rough surfaces rubbing against each other – they don’t slide smoothly, they create resistance, heat, and an unpleasant grinding sound. 軋轢 is exactly that feeling, but in human relationships or situations.
In Uber’s Context:
Customers might feel psychological friction when:
- They’re unsure if the driver will show up
- They don’t know the exact fare beforehand
- They feel awkward about payment
- They’re nervous about getting in a stranger’s car
This mental “roughness” or discomfort is what Uber needed to smooth out.
Other Examples:
- 両国間の軋轢 = friction between two countries
- 世代間の軋轢 = generational conflict/tension
- 社内の軋轢 = internal company friction
So 軋轢 captures that uncomfortable resistance or tension that makes interactions feel rough rather than smooth.
