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“hakkiri” vs. “shikkari”：A Simple Guide To Telling The Difference
はっきり (hakkiri) and しっかり (shikkari) are two of the most commonly confused adverbs in Japanese. Both end in り, both describe how you do something — yet they paint completely different pictures. はっきり is about clarity; しっかり ... -
22 Simple Ways to Use Quiet (静か) in Japanese
At a Glance WordReadingMeaning 静かshizukaquiet / silent / calm 静かなshizuka naquiet (adjective, before noun) 静かにshizuka niquietly (adverb) 静まり返るshizumari kaeruto fall completely silent Picture a library, a temple garden at dawn... -
Top 12 Examples to Use About Instructions in Japanese
At a Glance WordReadingMeaning 指示shijiinstruction / directive 指示するshiji suruto give instructions 指示を受けるshiji wo ukeruto receive instructions 指示書shijishowritten instructions On your first day at a Japanese company, your sup... -
26 Ways to Use Words Related to Test You’ll Use
At a Glance WordReadingMeaning テストtesutotest (casual/school) 試験shikenexam (formal) 検定kenteicertification exam 合格goukakupass 不合格fugoukakufail Whether you're studying for the JLPT, a university entrance exam, or just a school q... -
The Complete Guide to Figuring out “okoru, shikaru, donaru”
Imagine someone loses their temper at you, a parent corrects a child's behaviour, or a boss shouts across the office. In English, "getting angry," "scolding," and "yelling" each describe a different shade of anger — and so does Japanese.... -
12 Examples of Using “Happy(shiawase)” You Can Easily Use
If you look up "happy" in a Japanese dictionary, you'll find several candidates — but which one do native speakers actually use for deep, lasting contentment? Many learners default to 嬉せ (shiawase). This guide explains what makes it sp... -
Did You Know Other Meaning of さくさくJapanese Use?
さくさく is one of Japanese's wonderful onomatopoeia words that does double duty: it describes the satisfying crunch of crispy food, and it also captures the feeling of getting things done efficiently and without friction. Once you know ... -
Creative Ways To Correctly Use “sakarau”, “tatetsuku” and “oshikiru”
Japanese has several words for pushing back against someone or something — but 逆る each capture a different flavor of defiance. Mixing them up can make a gentle situation sound confrontational or miss the point entirely. Yuka: What's th... -
74 Must-Know The DATE in Japanese for Making Better Conversations
At a Glance ExpressionReadingMeaning 今日kyoutoday 昨日kinouyesterday 明日ashitatomorrow 曜日youbiday of the week 日付hizukedate Imagine you're in Japan and someone asks: "今日は何日ですか？" (What's today's date?) — and you freeze. Know... -
You Will Be Able To Use “That’s too bad.” in Japanese in 10 Seconds.
When something disappointing happens — a cancelled plan, a missed chance, bad news from a friend — the word you want in Japanese is 残念 (zan'nen). It covers everything from a light "that's a shame" to a heartfelt "I'm really gutted," de...
