Erin Himeno 
失礼します (shitsurei shimasu) is a staple phrase in Japanese work and school environments. It’s used to excuse oneself for doing something rude. 失 means flawed or defective, and 礼 means etiquette or manners. Put this word 失礼 with します, or to do, and you’ve got 失礼します: “to do something rude.” A good English translation of … Read more
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
The Japanese word for “boy” is 男子(danshi). There are several other words for boy that depend on the person’s age and life phase in question. In this article, we’ll cover the different ways to say boy in Japanese and when and how to use them. Be sure to check out our free resources to learn … Read more
Happy birthday in Japanese is 誕生日おめでとう (tanjoubi omedetou). Birthday celebrations in Japan are quieter and more personal than they are in other countries, but Japanese people do extend birthday wishes and cards. Several Japanese birthdays are considered to be extra special. In this article, we’ll cover the two major ways to say happy birthday in … 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
You need to learn thousands of core vocabulary words to be fluent in Japanese. This is a daunting task; it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that the only way to learn that much vocabulary is to memorize it. Enter iKnow. While iKnow is one among a handful of successful vocabulary apps that have risen … Read more
Did you know that it’s possible to learn Japanese for free? All you need is an internet connection, some note-taking tools, and the desire to study. In this article, we’ll share the best resources for learning Japanese—completely free of charge! If you want more, check out our complete list of learning Japanese resources. Free Resources … 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
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
The word 大丈夫 (daijoubu) means certainly, undoubtedly, alright, okay, problem-free. If you want learn how to speak Japanese quickly, daijoubu is must-learn word. Daijoubu is one of the most useful words to learn. With this word alone, you’ll be able to politely refuse offers, ask if someone is okay, tell people that you’re feeling okay, and … 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
The word すごい (sugoi) is very popular, even among people who don’t know a lot of Japanese. Sugoi has two major definitions: amazing and terrible. That’s pretty sugoi itself, right? Not only does sugoi have two very different meanings, but it’s also quite flexible within a sentence. Sugoi can be an adverb, adjective, or just an exclamation of delight. You can use it with your friends and your … Read more
If you’ve watched anime or other Japanese media, you’ve probably heard the phrases いただきます(itadakimasu) and ごちそうさまでした (gochisousama deshita). But what do they mean? When eating food is involved, Itadakimasu is translated as, “I receive this meal.” Gochisousama deshita means “thank you for the meal.” However, there are deeper meanings to both of these humble Japanese phrases. In this article, we’ll be … Read more
If you’re studying Japanese, then you know it can be a tricky language. However, it can also be an incredibly useful language. In this article, we’re going to look at some ultra useful Japanese words and phrases that are so handy we only wish they had an English equivalent. Most of these will be helpful … Read more
The word ヤバい (yabai) is used so often by young Japanese people that many of them might struggle to explain what it means in English. While this makes it a volatile and useful word, ヤバい (sometimes written as やばい or ヤバイ) is challenging to translate. In this article, we’ll peek into the word’s history and … Read more
Keigo is considered one of the more challenging aspects of studying Japanese. Its three-tier system of honorific levels is a challenge to native and foreign students alike. In this article, we’ll explore the three major categories of Japanese keigo, how and when to use them, and why Japan uses this polite language in the first … Read more
Some Japanese words are so succinct and deeply ingrained in Japan’s culture that they can’t be easily translated. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn them. These are amazingly beautiful and cool Japanese words that often describe concepts that we don’t have in English. It will impress your Japanese friends too! Let’s look at some of … Read more
Say you’re watching the sun setting behind Mt. Fuji. How do you tell your Japanese friend that the scene is beautiful? Or perhaps your partner just walked in wearing a new dress. How would you compliment them? Let’s look at how to say beautiful in Japanese. Beautiful in Japanese: Utukushii (美しい) or Kirei (綺麗)? … Read more
Along with kanji and onomatopoeia, counting is an element of Japanese that seems daunting due to the sheer amount of words involved. There seems to be a counter for everything—in fact, the Japanese language has about 500 – 600 counters! (reference page is in Japanese only) Even native speakers will confess they don’t know all of them. … Read more
Learning Japanese can be daunting. It is a language with three levels of formality depending on social standing and the situation the speaker is in. There are easy and fun ways to learn Japanese though. “ありがとう” (Arigatou), or thank you, is one of the first textbook Japanese phrases we are taught. But if you are the one … Read more