Useful Japanese Lessons

A sentence that reads, “I MUST DO THIS!” in white chalk on a black/gray surface. The “O” in the word “DO” is replaced with a small, red heart figure.

What Is なければならない (Nakereba Naranai) In Japanese?

October 18, 2022 • Yumi Nakata • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

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” …

An illustration of three sets of hands clapping in the middle bottom of this image. On the left and right and side, there is a hand giving a thumbs up. There are small white circles and stars on a blue background in this image.

What Is “さすが (Sasuga)” in Japanese? How Do You Use It?

October 14, 2022 • Yumi Nakata • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

さすが (sasuga) has many uses in Japanese. It generally means: As one would expect. / Just as you’d …

A picture of a large, orange Japanese Torii gate in the middle of a calm ocean in shallow water. In the background, there are mountains and land with some buildings. Text on this image in reads, "Using もう (Mō) and まだ (Mada) in Japanese"

Using もう (Mō) and まだ (Mada) in Japanese: An In-Depth Guide

October 6, 2022 • Yumi Nakata • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Depending on how it’s used, もう (mō) and まだ (mada) can have different meanings. Generally, they can have …

A picture of the blue sky with white clouds above a snow-capped Mt. Fuji. In the foreground on the left and right side of this image, are branches with pink flowers on them extending out into the image. There is a text overlapped on this image that reads, “What Does どうも (Dōmo) Mean?.”

What Does どうも (Dōmo) in Japanese Mean? 7 Ways to Use it Naturally

September 25, 2022 • Taiko • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

You hear the word どうも (dōmo) all the time in Japan. どうも (dōmo) has many different meanings. It …

A strip of red and white checkered cloth on top of a wooden surface. On top of this strip of cloth at the top are two red and black ladybug figures. Below this is a white card with the text, Good Luck!” on it. On top of this white card is a stem of a plant being clipped by a small clothespin. This stem has a flower at the top with black and green petals.

How to Say Good Luck in Japanese: 4 Different Ways

September 3, 2022 • Naoko Kimura • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

The most common way to wish someone good luck in Japanese is “頑張って(ね) (ganbatte (ne)).” However, “頑張って(ね) (ganbatte …

Two young women are standing on a platform at a train station. They are facing each other (with one woman’s back facing toward the camera), and have their arms open ready to embrace each other. The woman with her face towards the camera has a big smile, and looks extremely happy.

What Does お久しぶり (Ohisashiburi) in Japanese Mean?

August 29, 2022 • TheTrueJapan • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

“お久しぶり！ (ohisashiburi!)” or “久しぶり！ (hisashiburi!)” is a common Japanese greeting that is said whenever you haven’t seen someone …

An image of a clear glass cup tipped over on a brown wooden floor. There is a pool of milk all over the floor, which appears to have come from the tipped over glass.

What Does しょうがない (Shōganai) Mean? A Guide to Shōganai and Shikata Ga Nai

August 24, 2022 • Dallen Nakamura • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Have you ever been in a situation you couldn’t control, and the only thing you could do was …

A young couple embracing one another. The woman on the left has her arms wrapped around the man’s neck, while the man to the right has his arms wrapped around her back. Their faces are close to each other as if about to kiss. Blurry buildings can be seen in the background.

How to Say I Miss You in Japanese: 3 Natural Ways

August 24, 2022 • Naoko Kimura • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

“I miss you” is such a versatile expression in English. You can use it with friends, family, or …

Pieces of paper on a desk that have Japanese kanji characters written on them with a brush and black ink. On top of these papers is a red notebook in the center on the image and a Japanese notebook for practicing writing characters is on top of it.

Award-Winning Japanese Words You Should Know

August 23, 2022 • Hiroko America • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

The “buzzwords award” started in Japan in 1984, and since then, the “words of the year” get announced …

A woman’s hands are touching at the wrists to form a cup with her hands. She is holding her cupped hands up to the sky as if cupping the sun in her hands.

How to Say Sun in Japanese: Words and Related Expressions

July 30, 2022 • Miguel Angel Morcillo • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

The sun. The source of life and even considered a god among many cultures. Japanese culture also values …

A red heart that is on a blackish-grayish blackboard type of background. On the blackboard in white chalk, a EKG line is drawn from the left side of the heart, extending to the right side of the heart. In front of the heart, a white, curvy line is overlaid on it and connects to the two white, chalk lines on the left and right side of the heart. This makes it appear as if the white EKG line is one solid line that is running above the red heart.

What Does Doki Doki in Japanese Mean?

July 30, 2022 • Naoko Kimura • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

ドキドキ (doki doki) is used to express emotions such as nervousness, excitement, expectation, surprise, and so on. It …

A birds-eye image of a group of 8 people sitting around a large, yellow, tabletop. Only the arms and hands of most people at the table can be seen. There are also cups of coffee, notebooks, and books on the table. In the center of the table is a white speech bubble with a black border, both of which are created by white or black colored squares. In this speech bubble, the words, “WHAT’S UP?” is displayed.

8 Ways to Say “What’s Up” in Japanese

July 25, 2022 • Sonya S • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Most beginner Japanese classes teach you “konnichi wa” or “ogenki desu ka” as ways to greet people, but …

An image of two human silhouettes climbing up a hill. The person at the top is extending their hand to the outstretched hand of the person below. The shining sun is in the background, peering through space between the two people’s outstretched hands.

What Does 助けて (Tasukete) Mean in Japanese?

July 19, 2022 • TheTrueJapan • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

If you are in serious trouble, you can ask for help using the phrase 助けて (tasukete). 助けて (tasukete) means …

An image of a large, red, Japanese Toori gate in the background with sakura trees on either side of it and grass below. There are five Japanese girl dolls dressed in traditional Japanese clothes standing in a row and smiling in the foreground.

Japanese Names For Girls: Common, Popular, and Unconventional Names

July 16, 2022 • Orie Adams • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Japanese girl names changed a lot with the times. In this list, you’ll find some of the most …

An illustration of what appears to be Mt. Fuji in Japan with its image reflecting off the water below. There is also a cherry blossom branch with flowers in bloom in the foreground, and the moon in the background in the sky.

How to Say Moon in Japanese: Words and Related Expressions

July 12, 2022 • Miguel Angel Morcillo • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

The moon is full of symbolism, relevant to any culture in the world, and Japanese culture is no …

A close-up image of a young businesswoman holding up a smartphone to her ear.

What Does Moshi Moshi Mean in Japanese? Does It Really Mean “Hello?”

July 8, 2022 • Naoko Kimura • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Using もしもし (Moshi Moshi): Saying Hello on the Phone In Japan, もしもし (moshi moshi) is commonly used when some …

A man, woman, and two little girls are standing in front of a blackboard. Each of them are pointing to a picture on the blackboard drawn in white chalk. The items written on the blackboard are $ = + (image of a) house + (image of a) dress + (image of a) hand-held gaming system.

Using 欲しい (Hoshii) in Japanese: A Way to Express Desire

July 6, 2022 • TheTrueJapan • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

In Japanese, 欲しい (hoshii) means “to want” and is used when: you want a physical object (noun) you …

An illustration of the man and woman bathroom figures. On the left, the background is blue with the male figure crossing his legs and arms as if he really needs to use the bathroom. On the right on a red background, the woman figure is also crossing her legs and arms in front of her as if she needs to use the bathroom.

How to Say Poop in Japanese: 7 Ways to Be An Expert in Excrement!

July 6, 2022 • Katherine B • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Poop. Everyone does it, but nobody talks about it. Or at least, not often. Even so, there are …

A photo of a young boy lying down on top of a white rug, with his feet extending past the left side of the picture. A baby boy is also lying on the rug, with his head next to the young boy’s, with his feet extending past the right side of the picture.

Japanese Names For Boys: Crazy, Popular, and Traditional Names

June 29, 2022 • Orie Adams • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Names reflect the times and the era. Here are some common 2022 Japanese names for boys. Common Japanese …

A close up of pink cherry blossom flowers.

How to Say Flower in Japanese: Words and Expressions

May 30, 2022 • Orie Adams • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Flowers play an essential role in the culture of Japan. Every spring, people in Japan enjoy hanami, or …

A young, Asian woman is standing in front of a group of people sitting around a desk apparently in a business setting. The group of people are clapping.

How to Introduce Yourself in Japanese: The Complete Guide to Jikoshōkai

May 26, 2022 • Kristin Szabo • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Have you ever daydreamed about introducing yourself in Japanese? Maybe you are thinking about getting a job, making …

A young woman with brown hair is standing in front of the flag of Japan. She is smiling and holding a red book that has Japanese characters on it that translates to "Japanese."

100 Essential Japanese Phrases and Words You WILL Use

May 19, 2022 • Orie Adams • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

These 100 Japanese phrases are a great starting point for communicating with people from Japan. Knowing these common …

Three young, Asian women walking in a park. One of the women in the foreground is seen laughing while facing the camera.

10 Funny Japanese Phrases That You Can Actually Use in Conversation

April 11, 2022 • Orie Adams • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

The Japanese language has many funny expressions to represent their feelings and ideas. These expressions are connected to …

A young, Asian woman dressed in a black chef's uniform holding a small Japanese flag in her right hand. Her left hand is making an "okay" sign and holding it in front of her left eye.

7 Different Ways to Say “No Problem” in Japanese

March 24, 2022 • Sara Ceasrine • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

One of the most common English phrases used when replying to someone is “no problem.” This is quite …

An overhead shot of 2 businessmen and 2 businesswomen sitting at a small wooden desk doing work. The two women are focusing on a notepad, while one man's right hand is holding a coffee, and the other man's hands are typing something on his silver laptop.

How to Say Because in Japanese: 5 Major Ways

March 23, 2022 • Orie Adams • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

There are many ways to say “because” in Japanese. One way is 何故なら (nazenara); however, 何故なら may be …

A black, stone-like, flat plate on a black background. On the right side, is a branch with white flowers. On the plate, the text, "おいしい (Oishii) What Does It Mean?" is displayed.

Useful Japanese: What Does Oishii Really Mean?

March 9, 2022 • Orie Adams • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

おいしい (oishii): delicious, yummy, tasty: can also mean attractive, favorable, or convenient The most common use for oishii …

A bowl of cooked, white rice in a porcelain-like bowl on top of a wooden mat with a pair of brown chopsticks in front of it and nori blurred in the background.

How to Say “Rice” in Japanese: Many Different Ways

March 9, 2022 • Sara Ceasrine • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

They say there’s nothing better than sliced bread, but as far as Japan is concerned, there’s nothing better …

An Asian woman in a black business jacket and blue checkered shirt holding out her right hand as if to say "stop." Her left hand is holding a white sight that has the text, "How to Say "Stop" in Japanese" on it.

How to Say Stop in Japanese: A Complete Guide

February 7, 2022 • Sara Ceasrine • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

The Most Common Ways to Say Stop in Japanese If we want to describe things stopping in English, …

A young Asian boy crouching down and picking up books for a young girl, also crouching down and smiling at the boy. Both are wearing a school uniform (white dress shirt with a blue tie and grey skirt/pants).

How to Say “Are You Okay?” in Japanese

January 7, 2022 • Risa • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

The simplest way to ask “are you okay?” in Japanese is 大丈夫ですか？ (daijōbu desu ka?) Although you can …

Houses that uses traditional Japanese architecture in the winter. The area and the houses themselves are covered by snow.

How to Say Snow in Japanese and More: The Master Guide to Winter in Japanese

December 22, 2021 • Sara Ceasrine • No Comments • Useful Japanese Lessons

Winter plays an important part in Japanese culture, and the amount of winter-related words in the language reflects …

Useful Japanese Lessons Archive