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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すぐ vs. もうすぐ: Native Speakers Often Use These
You hear すぐ and もうすぐ dozens of times in a normal Japanese conversation. Both relate to "soon" or "in a moment," but they do not mean quite the same thing — and mixing them up can create subtle misunderstandings about timing. Here i... -
“sukunaku tomo” vs. “semete” : Most People Don’t Know How to Use
"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... -
“sukoshi” vs. “shōshō”：Do You Know Which is Used As Casual?
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... -
テンパる vs. ショック: The Easiest Way to Understand
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... -
“gohan” vs. “shokuji”: An Easy Way to Use Them You Gotta Know
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... -
正直 vs. ぶっちゃけ: Magical Words to Get New Friends
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... -
“mirai” vs. “shourai” : What’s The Difference? With 10 Examples
"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... -
“shōgo vs. yūgata vs. shin’ya”：How Do Native Speakers Use These?
You already know 午前 (shinya — midnight/late night). Getting these right makes your Japanese sound much more native. 今日か。 (Shall we have lunch at noon today?) いいよ。夕方でね。 (Sure. I can be back by evening, so don't stay ou... -
“gozen” and “gogo”：What Do They Mean?
When scheduling an appointment or making a plan in Japanese, mixing up AM and PM is a disaster waiting to happen. The two core words — 午前 (gogo) for PM — are easy enough to remember, but native speakers layer in several other time-of-d... -
Difference Between TALK, SPEAK, SAY in Japanese
When you try to describe a conversation in Japanese, you quickly run into a problem: there are three common verbs that all seem to mean "to talk" or "to say." Native speakers choose between 話す (iu) based on subtle but important differe...
