The Japanese word for girl is 女子 (joshi). As with the Japanese word for boy, there are several other words for girl in Japanese that changes depending on the girl’s age and life stage. Let’s look at the other ways to say girl in Japanese and how and when to use them. 1. 女の子 (Onna … Read more
Tsumori is a “must-know” grammar point when we want to talk about our plans and intentions. Let’s see how to use it properly and sound natural in everyday conversation! つもり(Tsumori): Plan (To Do), Intention Tsumori is used to express strong intentions and plans, and it is widely used in daily conversations. It can be used … Read more
Do you know how to say Monday in Japanese? How about Tuesday? In this article, you can learn each day of the week in Japanese and the meaning of each kanji. I will also cover how to use the days of the week naturally in conversations. Also be sure to check out our days of the … Read more
When making plans or discussing future events in Japanese, the ability to say the days of the month is a necessity. These days of the month can be tricky, but we’ll break it down step-by-step so you can learn them as easily as possible. Before we break all of the days down, let’s look at all … Read more
We use そうです (sou desu) and its variations to confirm or ask about the way things are. Related to the demonstrative pronouns これ (kore)、それ (sore)、あれ (are)、and どれ (dore)、the word そう (sou) means “that.” The various forms of そうです (sou desu = (things are/in) that way) are used in many ways, in formal and casual registers, … Read more
What are honorifics? Honorifics are words used to imply high status, politeness, or respect. The Japanese language has many different honorifics. One of the challenges Japanese language learners face is how to differentiate between the various honorifics depending on gender, social hierarchy, age, and other factors. This article will explore common Japanese honorifics: san, sama, … Read more
In English, the potential form of verbs uses the word “can” (can do, can see, etc.). How do you use the potential form in Japanese? In this article, we will discuss the different forms and uses of the Japanese potential form and some of the nuances within them. できる (Dekiru): The Backbone of the Potential … Read more
The standard way to say “only” in Japanese is だけ (dake). However, there are many other ways to say only. Which word you use depends on the situation. In this article, we will look at 6 natural ways to say “only” in Japanese. 1. だけ (Dake): Standard Way to Say Only As I already mentioned, … Read more
Let’s have a look at the three common ways to say “I’m hungry” in Japanese: お腹が空いた。 (Onaka ga suita.) 腹が減った。 (Hara ga hetta.) お腹がぺこぺこ。 (Onaka ga peko peko.) We’ll also talk about the sound your stomach makes when you are hungry: お腹がぐーぐー鳴る。(Onaka ga guu guu naru.) Be sure to check out our “Learning Japanese … Read more
The word 頑張って (ganbatte) is a common and useful word when speaking Japanese. It means “do your best” or “fight” as a form of encouragement. While many learners of Japanese pick this word up early, no matter where you are in your journey, 頑張って is an excellent word to have in your toolbelt. In this … Read more
Imagine that you’re a genius high school student who is the vice president of the school council. You have a crush on the council president, but you can’t confess your feelings because that would mean admitting that you liked them first, making you the loser in the relationship! But what do you do if you … Read more
If you’re speaking English, you probably don’t think much about whether your verbs are transitive or intransitive. In Japanese, though, the difference matters a lot. You might have to use a different sentence structure or even a different word! First, you might be wondering… What Are Transitive and Intransitive Verbs? A transitive verb is a … Read more
Bakari (ばかり) is a word that Japanese learners usually stumble upon early in their studies. We use the bakari form mainly with the meaning of “only,” “just,” or “nothing but ~.” It can be tricky, but together we will understand its meaning, structure, and how to use it naturally. As you can see, bakari has … Read more
Have you ever wanted to say “shut up” in Japanese? Even though Japan is a polite society, there may be times when you just want to tell someone to “shut up!” As a Japanese person, I don’t think we say “shut up” directly compared to other countries. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t have powerful … Read more
When you live in Japan, you’ll encounter times when you’d like to say “no.” There are many phrases you can use, which change according to the situation you find yourself in. Knowing these will help to make life easier. So let’s check out all of the different ways to say no in Japanese! 1. いいえ … Read more
There are multiple ways to string verb phrases together in Japanese, one of which is by using the て (te)-form. The て-form is used to comprehensively list the actions of someone or something like: 夜ご飯を食べて寝た。(Yoru gohan o tabete neta.) I ate dinner and slept. Another grammar point can also be used to make a list: … Read more
The general way to refer to yourself in Japanese is by using the word 私 (watashi). While this is the most common way to say “I” in Japanese, there are many more words to indicate I, my, or me. It depends on your personality, your gender identity, your age, and the context in which you’re … Read more
While the standard textbook definition for you in Japanese is あなた (anata), this pronoun is highly nuanced and depends on the situation and to whom you speak. This can be difficult to master, but this article will teach you how Japanese people say you naturally and discuss the most common Japanese words for the pronoun. … Read more
There are two ways to say “please” in Japanese: ください（Kudasai）– often used when requesting an action or a specific object. お願いします（Onegai shimasu）– a slightly more polite word used when asking for a service or favor. Both words are acceptable in polite conversation. Depending on the sentence structure and the situation, one might be better than … Read more
The generic word for friend in Japanese is 友人 (yuujin). Japanese people have many different ways to say the word friend. These words depend on how close the relationship is and with whom they are speaking. This article will discuss the words you can use to talk about your friend in Japanese. Be aware that, … Read more
In this article, you will learn how to tell time in Japanese. This is an essential skill in Japan, where punctuality is very important, and transportation always runs on time. Before we begin, you may wish to review the numbers from 1 to 59. Let’s start with the basic vocabulary of telling time. Time-Related Vocabulary … Read more
The Japanese for older sister is 姉 (ane), while the word for younger sister is 妹 (imouto). Unlike English, there is no general way to say sister in Japanese without implying age difference. However, there are a few ways to say sister in Japanese. Let’s take a look at the different ways to say sister … Read more
The word for brother in Japanese depends on whether they are older or younger than you. Your older brother is 兄 (ani) in Japanese, while younger brother is 弟 (otouto). There is no way to say brother in Japanese without implying the sibling’s age. 7 Ways to Say Brother in Japanese Let’s look at 7 … Read more
The “standard” word for husband in Japanese is 夫 (otto). Whereas there are many nuanced words for wife in Japanese, “husband” has only a few specific terms that depend on whose husband is being referred to. In this article, we’ll look at the different ways to say husband in Japanese. 1. 主人 (Shujin) – (One’s … Read more
In Japanese, yes is often translated as はい (hai). However, there are more meanings to the word hai than just yes. Sometimes a question shouldn’t be answered with hai. In this article, we’ll discuss the many ways to say yes in Japanese. Polite Ways to Say Yes in Japanese In Japan, it’s considered impolite to … Read more
The general word for father in Japanese is お父さん (otousan). However, there is more than one way to say father in Japanese. In a previous article, we discussed the various terms for mother in Japanese and when to use them. The same rules apply here: depending on whose father you’re speaking about and the social … Read more
The “standard” word for wife in Japanese is 奥さん (okusan). However, there are actually many different ways to say wife in Japanese. Which one you use will depend on who you are talking to. In this article, we’ll look at the many ways to say wife in Japanese and how to use each one correctly. … Read more
The “general” Japanese word for mother is お母さん (okaasan). However, there are many different ways to say mother in Japanese, depending on who you are talking to. Knowing the right word to use can be complicated, but are ways to learn Japanese quickly and easily. Let’s take a look at the different ways to say … Read more
In Japanese, the ～たい（-tai）form is used to express desire. When a verb is conjugated using the -tai form, it means, “I want to [verb].” To conjugate the -tai form, remove -masu from the -masu form of the verb and add -tai in its place. Using the -Tai Form The -tai form is used when you … Read more
Whether you’re settling into your Japanese homestay, trying to fit in better at the office, or just wanting to make some new friends, you’ve probably heard these phrases: ittekimasu, itterasshai, tadaima, and okaerinasai. It’s safe to say that people in Japan use them every day! But what do they mean? Let’s take a look at the definitions of these vital Japanese … Read more