Yuzuru Hanyu: Beyond the Gold
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EN: The use of a colon (:) is a punctuation mark used to introduce an explanation, a list, or a clarification of the preceding clause. In this sentence, it specifies what the 'ultimate dream' was.
She had one goal in mind: to break the world record.
EN: Compound adjectives with ages (e.g., '19-year-old') function as a single modifier before a noun. Note that 'year' is singular and hyphens are required.
A five-year-old child can already use a tablet.
EN: Yuzuru Hanyu is a national icon in Japan, often referred to as the 'Ice Prince.' His victory in 2014 was particularly significant as it brought hope to his hometown, Sendai, which had been devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
EN: Appositive Phrase: A noun phrase placed next to another noun to rename or describe it. Here, 'a historic achievement' describes the entire preceding clause or the fact of him becoming a champion.
She won the marathon, a remarkable feat for a beginner.
EN: Superlative Adjectives: Used to describe an object which is at the upper or lower limit of a quality (the + adjective + -est).
This is the oldest building in the city.
EN: Yuzuru Hanyu's 2014 gold medal was a pivotal moment for Japan, as he was the first Japanese man to win Olympic gold in figure skating, sparking a massive boom in the sport's popularity in the country.
EN: The sentence uses a 'Reduced Relative Clause' (filled with pride...). This is a past participle phrase that functions as an adjective to describe the subject 'The nation'. It is a shortened form of 'which was filled with pride'.
The students sat in silence, exhausted from the long exam.
EN: The verb 'erupt' is used metaphorically here. While it literally refers to a volcano, in this context, it describes a sudden and intense outbreak of noise or emotion among a large group of people.
The stadium erupted when the home team scored the winning goal.
EN: In Japan, Olympic success is often viewed as a collective national achievement. The phrase 'The nation erupted' reflects the deep sense of unity and shared identity Japanese people feel with their athletes, especially a figure like Yuzuru Hanyu who represents resilience.
EN: Apposition: The phrase 'tears of joy and relief...' acts as an appositive, which is a noun or noun phrase that renames or provides more specific information about a preceding noun ('the tears').
He gave her a gift, a beautiful gold watch.
EN: Adverbial Placement: Starting a sentence with a prepositional phrase like 'In Sendai' sets the scene or location (Adverbial of Place) before the main action occurs.
In the garden, the flowers were blooming.
EN: Sendai is Yuzuru Hanyu's hometown. In Japanese culture, the concept of 'hometown hero' (kyodo no eiyu) is very strong, representing local pride and the deep emotional connection between a community and its successful representatives.
EN: The colon (:) is used here to introduce an explanation or clarification. It signals that the second part of the sentence provides specific details about the 'disaster' mentioned in the first part.
The team faced a major problem: they had run out of funding.
EN: The Past Simple tense ('struck', 'suffered') is used to describe completed actions or events that happened at a specific time in the past.
The storm struck the coast early yesterday morning.
EN: The 2018 PyeongChang Olympics were a pivotal moment for Yuzuru Hanyu. His injury was a major news story in Japan and the figure skating world, as it threatened his ability to defend his gold medal. The phrase 'disaster struck' reflects the high stakes and the dramatic nature of this event in sports history.
EN: The modal verb 'couldn't' (could not) is the past tense of 'can't', used here to express a lack of ability or possibility in the past due to external circumstances (his injury).
She couldn't attend the meeting because she was ill.
EN: The verb 'withdraw' is often followed by the preposition 'from' to indicate leaving or retreating from a specific event, competition, or organization.
The candidate decided to withdraw from the election.
EN: In the context of elite sports, 'withdrawing' is often seen as a difficult decision that balances health against national or personal expectations. For Yuzuru Hanyu, his refusal to withdraw despite a severe injury added to his legendary status in Japan.
EN: The structure 'without + having + past participle' is a perfect gerund phrase used to indicate that an action (competing) did not happen before the main action (arriving).
She passed the exam without having studied much.
EN: The present participle phrase 'facing...' acts as a reduced relative clause or a simultaneous action modifier, describing the subject's state or situation while performing the main verb.
He walked onto the stage, feeling very nervous.
EN: In the context of elite sports, 'that season' refers to the competitive calendar leading up to a major championship. For a top athlete like Yuzuru Hanyu to arrive at the Olympics without prior competition is extremely rare and highlights the severity of his injury and his mental strength.
EN: The preposition 'Despite' is used to express contrast. It must be followed by a noun, a noun phrase, or a gerund (-ing form), rather than a full clause with a subject and verb.
Despite the heavy rain, the outdoor concert continued as planned.
EN: The present participle phrase ('showing...') acts as a supplementary clause, describing an action that happens at the same time as the main verb or as a result of it.
She walked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
EN: In the context of sports, 'defending a title' refers to a previous champion competing to win the same event again. For Yuzuru Hanyu, this refers to his 2018 PyeongChang victory after winning in 2014, a feat that is extremely rare in figure skating due to the physical toll on the body.
EN: The preposition 'Despite' is used to express contrast. It is followed by a noun or a noun phrase (in this case, 'his injury'), not a full clause with a subject and verb.
Despite the heavy rain, the outdoor concert continued as planned.
EN: The present participle phrase 'achieving the impossible' functions as a resultative participle. It describes the result or consequence of the main actions (defied and won).
She worked hard all year, eventually earning a promotion.
EN: Yuzuru Hanyu is a national icon in Japan. His 2018 victory was particularly significant because he was the first male skater to win consecutive Olympic golds since Dick Button in 1952. The phrase 'defied expectations' reflects the intense media scrutiny and skepticism he faced due to his injury before the games.
EN: The phrase 'back-to-back' is a compound adjective used to describe events that happen one after another without interruption. In sports, it specifically refers to winning consecutive championships.
The team won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021.
EN: The present participle phrase (V-ing), 'cementing his place...', acts as a resultative clause. It describes a consequence or a secondary action that happens as a result of the main clause.
She broke the world record, inspiring millions of young athletes.
EN: In the context of the Olympics, winning 'back-to-back' gold medals is an extremely rare feat, especially in figure skating where physical longevity is short. Yuzuru Hanyu's achievement in 2014 and 2018 made him a national hero in Japan.
EN: Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the focus is on the action or the receiver of the action rather than the performer. Here, 'was considered' indicates the public's general opinion of the performance.
The novel was considered a classic by many critics.
EN: Appositive Phrase: A noun or noun phrase that renames another noun right beside it. 'A display of artistry and athleticism' acts as an appositive to 'masterpiece', providing more detail.
My brother, a talented musician, plays the piano every day.
EN: 'SEIMEI' refers to the soundtrack of the film 'Onmyoji', composed by Shigeru Umebayashi. By choosing this music, Yuzuru Hanyu showcased Japanese traditional culture on the global stage, embodying the character of Abe no Seimei, a legendary cosmologist.
EN: The verb 'showcase' is used as a transitive verb meaning to display or exhibit something's best qualities in a positive way.
The exhibition showcased the latest technological innovations.
EN: Compound adjectives like 'unwavering' (prefix 'un-' + 'wavering') are used to modify nouns to provide specific character traits or states.
She has an unwavering commitment to her goals.
EN: In Japanese sports culture, the concept of 'determination' and 'effort' (often referred to as 'ganbaru') is highly valued, especially when overcoming injuries to achieve success for the nation.
EN: The Present Participle Phrase (V-ing) is used here as a 'reduced relative clause' or a 'resultative/simultaneous action' modifier. It describes an action that happens at the same time as or as a direct result of the main verb.
She left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
EN: The phrase 'turn professional' (or 'go pro') is a specific collocation used when an athlete or performer moves from amateur status to a paid career.
After winning the national championship, the young golfer decided to turn professional.
EN: In the world of figure skating, 'turning professional' means retiring from ISU-sanctioned competitions (like the Olympics) to focus on ice shows and commercial performances. For a legend like Yuzuru Hanyu, this was a monumental shift in the sport's landscape.
EN: Appositive Phrase: A noun or noun phrase that sits next to another noun to rename or describe it. Here, 'a jump...' describes 'the elusive quadruple axel'.
My brother, a talented chef, lives in Paris.
EN: Relative Clause (Adjective Clause): A clause starting with 'that' or 'which' used to provide more information about a noun. 'that no one has ever successfully landed' modifies 'a jump'.
This is the book that I told you about.
EN: The 'quadruple axel' (4A) is the most difficult jump in figure skating, requiring 4.5 rotations in the air. As of Yuzuru Hanyu's professional turn, it remained the 'ultimate frontier' of the sport, symbolizing his relentless pursuit of perfection beyond medals.
EN: Present Participle Phrase (V-ing): Used here as a 'reduced relative clause' or to describe a simultaneous action, providing additional information about the subject (He).
She walked out of the room, smiling at everyone.
EN: Preposition 'Across': Used to indicate movement or extension from one side to the other, or to describe something happening throughout a whole area.
The news spread across the country quickly.
EN: In Japan, figure skating is immensely popular, and top skaters like Yuzuru Hanyu are treated like major celebrities. 'Solo ice shows' are a unique professional path where a single skater headlines an entire production, which is a testament to their massive drawing power.
EN: The 'not A, but B' structure is used to contrast two ideas, emphasizing that the second part (B) is the true or more important one.
Success is not about luck, but about hard work.
EN: The present participle phrase (pushing...) acts as a 'resultative' or 'circumstantial' modifier, describing an action that happens simultaneously with the main verb or as a consequence of it.
She walked out of the room, slamming the door.
EN: Yuzuru Hanyu's transition from competitive skating to professional performance reflects a deep cultural respect in Japan for 'do' (the way) or mastery of an art form beyond mere winning.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
Happening one after another without interruption; consecutive.
To compete in a tournament to keep the championship won in a previous year.
To test or extend the limits of what is possible or allowed.
A sudden and serious problem or accident occurred.
A sport where people perform artistic jumps, spins, and movements on ice skates.
The second and longer part of a figure skating competition, also known as the long program.
To successfully complete a jump by returning to the ice on one's skates without falling.