Laksa vs Rakusa らくさ

Do you know the meaning of both the word laksa (in Singapore context) and rakusa らくさ (in Japanese context)?

Note: Both laksa and rakusa らくさ have the same pronunciation.

Laksa is a spicy cuisine in Singapore. It is a coconut curry soup with thick rice noodles, usually served with sliced fish cakes and fried bean curd puffs. The eateries in Singapore usually customise their laksa with a wide range of ingredients such as seafood and chicken. Despite the warm and humid climate, this spicy dish is rather popular in Singapore.

Now, are you craving for a bowl of  piping hot laksa? =P

Although laksa and rakusa らくさ have the same pronunciation, their meanings differ to a large extent.

Do you want to take a guess at the meaning of rakusaらくさ?

In the Japanese Language, the word rakusa らくさ（落差） means difference.

For example, risou to genjitsu no rakusa 理想と現実のらくさ means the difference between ideal and reality.

The Japanese (especially the older generations) enjoy playing with common-sounding words to create a humorous or rhetorical effect. This is known as dajare in Japanese. It is actually similar to punning in the English Language. Using both laksa and rakusa, we can create a dajare as follows:

 

シェフが変わってから、特にラクサの味の落差がはげしい。

(Shefu ga kawatte kara, toku ni rakusa no aji no rakusa ga hageshii.)

Meaning: The taste of the laksa differs to a great degree after a change of chef.

 

Perhaps, it might be a little difficult for some to enjoy this pun if you do not have some knowledge of the Japanese language. However, at least we have learnt the meaning of both words for now :)

 

If you have enjoyed this dajare entry, please stay tuned for more! We will be updating the blog with similar entries every now and then. If you don’t, let us know what you would like us to write about. Who knows? Your idea may be the next entry we will be working on. :)