Useful Japanese Lessons

Asking someone, “How old are you?” seems simple enough, but it is a little more complicated in Japanese. There are different ways to ask someone their age, depending on the situation. Knowing how to answer this question properly is also important.   So, let’s jump right into the different ways to ask, “How old are you?” … Read more

Have you tried practicing lines out of a Japanese textbook only to get blank stares from native speakers? As you may already know, the material in textbooks can sound stiff and unnatural. Take a look at the following two examples; which do you think sounds more natural?  1a. 私はお酒を飲みに行きました。すごく楽しかったです。 (Watashi wa osake o nomi ni … Read more

People have always been fascinated by pseudosciences such as astrology, tarot cards, and personality typing. The Japanese are no different. In addition to regular fortune telling, personality typing by blood types, and palm reading, zodiacs are especially popular in Japan. There are two prevailing zodiac systems in Japan; one is the traditional Chinese zodiac, which … Read more

Have you had a dream recently? Was it a good dream or a nightmare? The word for “dream” in Japanese is “夢 (yume),” but there are several types of dreams. This guide will teach you words and expressions for different types of dreams and nightmares in Japanese. Some terms in this guide express things that … Read more

やった (yatta) has a few meanings, but one that you might have heard before is, “I did it!” In Japan, school starts in April, but before that, most students must pass the entrance exam to enter high school or a university. They study very hard, with some students going to cram school until late at … Read more

Working in Japan can be very difficult. Many people work long hours and even have to work on the weekends.  Karōshi (death by overwork) is a real thing in Japan. At the very least, business owners, company workers, and even students work hard and can get very tired.   Here’s how native Japanese speakers express their … Read more

Don’t you think it’s true that laughter is one of the most important things in our life? Check out this Japanese proverb:   笑う門には福来たる (Warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru)Laughter will bring luck. / Fortune comes to those who laugh/smile Let’s break this down: The Standard Way to Say Laugh in Japanese There are a variety of … Read more

Giving and understanding directions may just be the most underrated skill you need to survive in Japan. I know, I know— gone are the days of printing out MapQuest directions— we all have Apple or Google Maps and can see traffic conditions in real time. However, you’d be surprised how many traditional attractions are off … Read more

あなた (anata) means “you” in Japanese. While we use “you” all the time in English, it is not quite the case for the Japanese language.  It is better to avoid using あなた (anata) in most situations as it could come across as strange, distant, or even rude.  Why is this, you ask? Let’s see why. … Read more

美月：この味、マジやばい～。美味しすぎる!Mitsuki: (Kono aji, maji yabai~. Oishi sugiru!)Mitsuki: This tastes absolutely incredible! So good! 雪子：確かに、これはマジでくせになるね。Yukiko:  (Tashika ni, kore wa maji de kuse ni naru ne.)Yukiko: Absolutely, this is seriously addictive. What Does まじ (Maji) and まじで (Maji De) Mean? まじ (maji) and まじで (maji de) are interchangeable in many cases. They both can mean: まじ (Maji) … Read more

There are many ways to say “okay” in Japanese using different levels of politeness. This article will teach you how to say “okay” naturally in different situations.   Ways to Say Okay to Confirm Things Here are the natural ways to say “okay” in Japanese to confirm things. 1. オッケー(Okkē): Okay This is the simplest and … Read more

The expression “〜方がいい (hou ga ii)” is used when giving advice or suggestions to someone. It translates to “It’s better to do ~” or “You should do ~” in English. Another expression, “〜(する)べきだ (suru beki da),” also means “You should do ~.” However, it is direct and can sound condescending. 方がいい is a much softer … Read more

すみません。（私は）日本語が分かりません。(Sumimasen. (Watashi wa) nihongo ga wakarimasen.)Sorry. I don’t understand/don’t know Japanese.   The Many Ways to Say “I Don’t Know” in Japanese  “I don’t know” is one of the first things you should learn when studying a foreign language because it will surely come in handy! In this article, I will introduce many ways to say … Read more

ところ (tokoro) in Japanese is a noun that has a few meanings and usages. Here is a quick list of the ways ところ is used in Japanese: 1. To Describe a Place or Location Describing a place, location, site, scene: Written in hiragana (ところ) or in kanji (所). 食べる所。(Taberu tokoro.)A place to eat. 2. Explaining … Read more

大変 (taihen): Very, Great, Serious, Terrible, Trouble, Serious, Awfully 大変 (taihen) + adjective/adverb/verb/expressions = Very, Extremely, Terribly, Awfully adjective/adverb/verb 大変 (taihen) is used to express something extreme. This word can be used for both negative and positive situations.  1. 大変 (Taihen) As An Adverb= Very, Extremely, Terribly, Awfully When you use 大変 (taihen) as an … Read more

ここのお寿司はめっちゃうまい！(Koko no osushi wa meccha umai!)The sushi here is super delicious! What is うまい (Umai) in Japanese?  うまい (umai) is a word that native Japanese speakers commonly use. It has several meanings.   うまい (Umai) Can Mean: It can be written in: However, it is most often written using hiragana (うまい). We’ll go into more detail … Read more

お元気ですか (ogenki desu ka) is an expression that is often translated to “How are you?” in English. This expression is used in both spoken conversations and in writing (letters, emails, texts, etc.) However… お元気ですか is NOT commonly used by native speakers.     One reason is that お元気ですか is a formal expression, so you wouldn’t use it … Read more

There are many ways to say “good” in Japanese, but the most straightforward words are いい (ii) and 良い (yoi).  While いい and よい mean the same thing, which word you use will depend on the situation. Also, the meaning can change depending on the context. Let’s see how to use both of these words … Read more

Ah, happiness. As elusive as it can be in real life, grasping the nuances of different Japanese words for “happy” can be almost as puzzling.  While I can’t help you find inner peace and happiness in real life, I can teach you 7 different ways to say happy in Japanese, how they differ, and when … Read more

If someone is bothering you or is making you uncomfortable, you need to tell them, “stop it!” やめてください (yamete kudasai) is one way to tell someone to stop doing something in Japanese. Today, let’s look at the different ways to say “stop it” in Japanese and the appropriate situations to use them in.  We also take … Read more

私は田中さんの招待を断った。(Watashi wa Tanaka-san no shōtai o kotowatta.)I turned down Mr. Tanaka’s invitation. The most common meaning of 断る (kotowaru) is “to decline” or “to refuse.” Let’s take a look at more examples of how 断る (kotowaru) is used naturally in Japanese.   Examples:   1. 友達と映画に行くことになっていたが、熱が出てしまったので、残念ながら断った*。 (Tomodachi to eiga ni iku koto ni natteita ga netsu ga … Read more

The words “hot” and “cold” are very easy to master in English, but they can be a little tricky in Japanese.   In Japanese, there are different words for hot and cold depending on what you are talking about. For example, talking about the weather uses a different word than if you were talking about an … Read more

There is a simple way to say “Come here” in Japanese. However, there are many other less direct and polite ways to say it.   Here are 10 natural ways to say “Come here” in Japanese. 1. Standard Expression: ここに来て下さい (Koko Ni Kite Kudasai): Please Come Here ここに来て下さい (Koko ni kite kudasai) is the typical phrase … Read more

よかった (yokatta) is the past tense of 良い (yoi/ii), which means “good.”The meaning of よかった (yokatta) is: “It was good.”  It is often used to express positive feelings, such as happiness, being glad about something, or being relieved from anxiety. When used with the negative conditional form, it can also express regret. Yokatta can be … Read more

Imagine traveling in the beautiful green countryside of Japan when you suddenly feel a sharp pain in your stomach. You go to a hospital, but the doctors there don’t speak English. You find yourself unable to explain your symptoms. This hopefully will never happen, but just in case, it would be nice to be able … Read more

When people talk about Japanese cuisine, the focus always goes to sushi, tempura, or ramen. No one ever talks about the amazing vegetables used in Japanese cooking. If you love cooking or eating, knowing how to say the names of vegetables in Japanese will be super helpful.   In this guide, you’ll learn the names of … Read more

ばか means idiot, ridiculous, silly, foolish, stupid, or ignorant. It can be written in hiragana, ばか (baka), in katakana, バカ (baka), or kanji, 馬鹿 (baka). 馬 means “horse,” and 鹿 means “deer.” You must be asking yourself, “Why in the world would a horse and deer be considered stupid?” These characters are known as 当て字 … Read more

なければならない (nakereba naranai)is used to express an obligation to do something. It means “must, “have to,” or “should” in English. For example, “I have to do my homework” or “I must study for the test tonight.” It also means “has to” when talking about someone else. For example, “She has to finish up her work.” … Read more

さすが (sasuga) has many uses in Japanese. It generally means: As one would expect. / Just as you’d expected. Compliment (That’s awesome. That’s great. I’m proud of you. Amazing.) さすが (sasuga) is an adverb used to express surprise and admiration for something we expected that then came true. It’s like saying, “I knew you would … Read more

Depending on how it’s used, もう (mō) and まだ (mada) can have different meanings. Generally, they can have the following meanings: もう (mō) can mean: already, not anymore, again, soon, almost certain, or even “come on!”    まだ（mada) means “not yet” or “still.” What is もう(Mō) in Japanese?  もう(mō) is an adverb that can mean “already, soon, … Read more