Blog– category –

"At least" sounds like one simple concept — but in Japanese, two different words carry it in two very different emotional directions. 少なくとも (sukunakutomo) is the objective, factual minimum. せめて (semete) is the emotional appeal. M...

There is one Japanese grammar pattern that learners pick up fast and then use everywhere — because it is just so satisfying: ～過ぎる (-sugiru). Whether you ate too much, studied too hard, or find someone incredibly cute, ～すぎる lets y...

One of the fastest ways to connect with Japanese people is to talk about what you love. Whether it is music, food, travel, or a person, Japanese gives you a whole spectrum of words for "like" and "favourite" — from the everyday 好り (oki...

You are sitting in a cafe in Tokyo and your friend says something you don't understand. Your instinct is to say "just Google it!" — but how do you say that in Japanese? The answer is one slick little verb: ググる (guguru). It's one of th...

Whether you are at a restaurant asking for a little less salt, or on the phone asking a client to wait just a moment, Japanese has exactly the right word for "a little" — if you know which one to reach for. 少 (shōshō) look and sound sim...

We all have those moments — the presentation slides go blank, your train is cancelled, or you get an unexpected test result. In Japanese, there are two go-to words for those panicked, shocked moments: テンパる (tenparu) and ショック (sho...

Picture this: your Japanese friend texts "ご飯 (shokuji) is a small step that makes a big impression. 今日のご飯、何にする？(What shall we have for our meal today?) [casual] 食事はよろしいですか？(Would you have time for a meal?) [formal...

Have you ever wanted to say "honestly" in Japanese but weren't sure which word fits? Native speakers switch between 正直 (shoujiki) and ぶっちゃけ (bucchake) constantly — but the choice reveals register and relationship. Get this right a...

"What do you want to be in the future?" is a question every child is asked — and in Japanese there are two completely different words for future depending on what kind of future you mean. 未来 (shourai) both translate as "future" in Engl...

You are standing in a busy station in Tokyo and realize you do not have your phone. You need to ask someone the time. You know 今何時ですか from your textbook, but is that the most natural way to ask? And how do native speakers actually ...