Grammar– category –
The backbone of natural Japanese. Browse 1,000+ grammar articles covering particles, verb conjugation, sentence patterns, conditionals, and nuanced expressions. Organized by JLPT level: grammar-n4-n5, grammar-n2-n3, grammar-n1-n2. See also: /japanese-grammar-guide/ for a curated starting point.
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結構です vs 大丈夫です: Which Is the Politer Way to Refuse in Japanese?
Someone offered me more food at a dinner in Japan and I said 大丈夫です — but they kept offering. Later I heard I should have said 結構です. What's the difference? Great experience to learn from! Both can decline an offer, but 結構です i... -
担当 vs 担任: How to Use These Japanese Words Correctly
At my Japanese company I hear 担当 and 担任 all the time, but I'm never sure which one applies. Are they interchangeable? Not quite! 担当 (tantou) is for any assigned responsibility — used in workplaces, businesses, and general life. 担... -
短所 vs 長所: How to Talk About Weaknesses and Strengths in Japanese
In a Japanese job interview I have to talk about my 長所 and 短所, but I always mix them up — which is strengths and which is weaknesses? Great question to sort out before your interview! 長所 (chousho) = strengths / good points. 短所 (t... -
短時間 vs 長時間: How to Express Short and Long Periods of Time in Japanese
I want to say 'it only takes a short time' in Japanese but I'm not sure whether to use 短時間 or 少し. What's the right word? 短時間 (tanjikan) and 長時間 (choujikan) are the go-to words for short and long periods of time in Japanese. Th... -
から vs ので vs ため: Expressing Reasons in Japanese
I know から, ので, and ため can all mean 'because' — but when I try to explain why I chose one over the other, I can't explain it. Help! This is one of the most important grammar distinctions in Japanese! から is direct and subjective, ... -
足りない vs 不足: What Is the Difference in Japanese?
I've seen both 足りない and 不足 used for 'not enough.' Do I just pick whichever I feel like? They mean the same thing at heart, but 足りない is casual and conversational while 不足 is formal and used in business or written Japanese. The... -
Do You Know The Difference Between “tamatama” and “gūzen”
Both たまたま and 偶然 seem to mean 'by chance' or 'coincidentally.' Are they really the same? Very close, but not identical! たまたま emphasizes the rarity or unexpectedness — it just happened to be that way. 偶然 focuses on the lack of... -
頼み and 頼り: They Are Absolutely Different
I've seen 頼み and 頼り both come from 頼む/頼る, but what's the actual difference between them? Good eye! 頼み (tanomi) is a request or a favor you ask of someone. 頼り (tayori) is what or who you rely on — your support, your anchor. Bo... -
Are You Sure That “ryokou” Sounds the Same As “tabi”?
I've seen both 旅行 and 旅 for 'travel' or 'trip.' When do I use which one? 旅行 (ryokou) is the everyday word for a trip or travel — practical and common. 旅 (tabi) has a more poetic, journeying quality — it can mean a trip, but also th... -
忙しい vs. 多忙: Which Is Much Busier? You’d Be Using
I know 忙しい means 'busy,' but I've also seen 多忙 used in business contexts. Are they different? Yes! 忙しい is your everyday word for busy — casual and conversational. 多忙 is formal and written — it implies an extremely heavy workloa...
