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.
-
Figure Out The Way To Use Both 専門 and 専攻
I study Japanese at university. When someone asks what I study, should I say 専門 or 専攻? Both relate to your field of study, but 専攻 is specifically your academic major. 専門 is broader — it means your area of expertise in any context... -
What’s Better: 総額 or 全額 You Should Know
I keep seeing 総額 and 全額 in Japanese shopping receipts and contracts. What's the difference? They both relate to 'total amount' but with different nuances! 総額 is the grand total of multiple items added together. 全額 is the full amo... -
What’s the Difference Between “zehi”, “mochiron”, and “zettai”?
When I want to say 'definitely' in Japanese, should I use ぜひ, もちろん, or ぜったい? They all seem similar! They all express certainty or enthusiasm, but they have very different feelings! ぜひ is an eager invitation, もちろん is 'of c... -
“shitsubou suru” vs. ”zetsubou suru”：Which is Really Better to Use For You?
I know 失望 and 絶望 both relate to hopelessness or disappointment. But when should I use each one? They're related but very different in intensity! 失望 is disappointment — hopes didn't pan out. 絶望 is despair — a complete loss of hope... -
Commonly Confused Words: “sewa wo suru” and “mendō wo miru”
I want to say 'I take care of my little sister' in Japanese. Should I use 世話をする or 面倒を見る? Great question! Both mean caring for someone, but they have slightly different nuances and registers. Let me break them down! Both 世話を... -
切ない vs. 苦しい：Do You Know Which Should We Use?
I've seen 切ない in song lyrics a lot. Is it the same as 苦しい? They both seem to describe pain. They're related but very different feelings! 切ない is that bittersweet ache — nostalgia, longing, tender sadness. 苦しい is physical or in... -
“wazawaza” vs “sekkaku”：What’s The Difference with 16 e.g.
I always mix up わざわざ and せっかく. They both seem to involve effort or going out of one's way. What's the difference? Great observation — they're both about extra effort, but from opposite perspectives! わざわざ is often used to ackn... -
Easily Confused Words : shōgatsu vs. gantan vs. shinnen
New Year is one of the biggest events in Japan, but talking about it in Japanese is trickier than you might expect. Three words — 正月 (shinnen) — all relate to New Year but they are not interchangeable. Using the wrong one can make your... -
Most Effective Ways To Use ずいぶん, とても and かなり
I want to say 'This is very delicious' but I'm not sure whether to use とても, ずいぶん, or かなり. They all seem to mean 'very'! They all intensify adjectives, but they have different nuances! とても is neutral, ずいぶん implies surpris... -
“sunao” vs. “shōjiki”：What is The Difference Between Them?
My teacher said 素直になって about me being stubborn, but I thought 素直 meant honest. Isn't that 正直? This is a super common point of confusion! 素直 and 正直 both relate to honesty, but they mean different things. Let me clarify! Both...
