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Andrew Garrison Archive

A young male wearing trousers, a blue button up shirt and jacket leaning against a wall. He is also wearing sunglasses, a necklace, and a hat. He is starting off on something on this left, smiling.

What Does 格好いい (Kakkoii) Mean and How Do You Use It?

November 6, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
“He’s so cool!”  This kind of comment is common in many different cultures, including Japanese. But, how do …
The words "WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? WHY? HOW?" written in white on a grey background. In the middle is a crumpled up ball of yellow paper, with white lines drawn around it and under it to look like a light bulb.

Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How in Japanese: A Complete Guide

October 26, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
You may remember studying the “5ws” (and how) in English class at some point. These words are essential …
Silhouettes of two men can be seen bowing towards each other. They are in a building with glass windows, and in the background, other tall buildings can be seen.

What Does すみません (Sumimasen) Mean and How Do You Use It?

September 11, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
The word すみません (sumimasen) is one of the first words you learn in Japanese class. It is an …
Two young, Asian women dressed in colorful (one in blue the other in purple) Japanese yukata outfits. They are walking arm-in-arm, on a path with sakura trees on both sides. The woman on the left is pointing at something in the distance.

Mastering the と (To) Conditional in Japanese

September 3, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
There are multiple ways to form conditional statements in Japanese, often known as “if” statements in English. One …
An illustration of a woman to the left and a man on the right, both wearing white shirts (woman is wearing a grey skirt and the man is wearing grey pants). They are facing each other and bowing to each other.

What Does よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku Onegai Shimasu) Mean?

July 30, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
One of the most famous phrases in Japanese is the greeting よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegai shimasu). よろしくお願いします is commonly …
A wooden "house-shaped" Japanese style sign with black text on it that reads, "The Ba Form in Japanese A step-by-step guide."

An in-Depth Look at the ば (Ba) Form in Japanese

July 15, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
For students of Japanese who have progressed to an intermediate level in their studies, one of the best …
A young, Asian woman dressed in a blue and red kimono holding a blank, white sign. On the sign is text that reads, "The Japanese Conditional Form Tara If/When ~."

How to Use the Japanese Conditional Form たら (Tara)

June 25, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
The たら (tara) form is often used in Japanese, and it can be a valuable tool if you …
An Asian groom lifting up the bridal veil of the young Asian bride.

How to Say Congratulations in Japanese

May 21, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Uncategorized
In any language, the ability to offer congratulations is a valuable tool and a great way to make …
A picture of a calendar with a pink piece of notepaper stuck in the middle of it with a red pushpin. On the note it reads, "The Days of the Month in Japanese."

The Days of the Month in Japanese

May 21, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
When making plans or discussing future events in Japanese, the ability to say the days of the month …
A wooden sign with the words, "UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL" written on it. The blue sky and white clouds is in the background.

The Japanese Potential Form: A Complete Guide

May 6, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
In English, the potential form of verbs uses the word “can” (can do, can see, etc.). How do …
Someone wearing a white karate gi uniform with a black belt, standing in front of the flag of Japan.

How to Use Ganbatte in Japanese: Along With Ganbaru, Ganbarimasu, & More

April 24, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
The word 頑張って (ganbatte) is a common and useful word when speaking Japanese. It means “do your best” …
A picture of tree going through the four seasons; on the left, the pink flowers are in bloom. Next, to the right of it, is green leaves. To the right of that, yellow leaves. And last, to the far right, a bare tree with no leaves.

How to Say the Seasons in Japanese

April 20, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
Japan takes great pride in its seasons, each with its own characteristics. If you plan to visit Japan …
A Japanese Torii Gate looking outside into nature, with the title of the article on a black rectangle that says, "How to Use the たり (-Tari) Form in Japanese.

Japanese Tari Form: Listing Actions Or Qualities

March 30, 2021 • Andrew Garrison • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons
There are multiple ways to string verb phrases together in Japanese, one of which is by using the …
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