Japanese Kanji ’Ageless' Shirt

Do people tell you that you look so young that it's impossible to guess your age? If not, why not encourage them to do just that by stating it on this shirt? 'nenreifushou'(ねんれいふしょう in hiragana script) is the reading for these kanji, literally 'age unknown.' It's used as a compliment for actors and others who time has been kind to. If you're of a certain age but don't look or act it, or know someone who fits that description, look no further than this shirt for your next gift to yourself or that special person. This is part of my collection of shirts and such that feature idioms that are made up of four kanji characters. These 'yoji jukugo' (四字熟語） compounds are required study for Japanese children and appear on school entrance exams, as well as in the conversation of well read people. They are linguistic gems, conveying meaning compactly, colorfully, and quite often, profoundly! Using them in speech shows that you have a feel for the culture as well as the language,as they are often infused with references to such things as classical Chinese and Japanese literature and history and Buddhist precepts. Japanese people are often surprised when foreigners know such expressions and can use them in the right context. Wearing this shirt and remembering how to read it is a great way to motivate yourself to go beyond the surface level of Japanese language and culture studies and explore the nuances that make Japan so endlessly interesting!