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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“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... -
へんこう vs しゅうせい vs ていせい：You Should Know The Way to Use
When you need to say something was changed, modified, or corrected in Japanese, you have three main options: 変更する. Dictionaries often list them as synonyms, but native speakers use them in distinct situations. Getting them right will... -
What is The Difference Between “simekiri” and “kigen”?
Miss a 締 (kigen) pass and things just... expire. Both words relate to time running out, but they are used in very different situations. Once you understand the one key distinction between them, choosing the right word will always be eas... -
Full Guide: Difference Between 警戒, 注意報 and 警報
At a Glance WordReadingLevelMeaning 警戒keikaiPersonal vigilancecaution / being on alert 注意報chuuihouLevel 1 — Advisorybe aware / weather advisory 警報keihouLevel 2 — Warningdanger / take action 特別警報tokubetsu keihouLevel 3 — Specia... -
Commonly Confused Words: 閉まる and 閉める
At a Glance VerbReadingTypeMeaning 閉まるshimaruIntransitive (自動詞)to close (by itself) 閉めるshimeruTransitive (他動詞)to close (something) 開く / 開くaku / hirakuIntransitiveto open (by itself) 開けるakeruTransitiveto open (something... -
支払う vs 5 means of 払う: What’s the difference?
At a Glance WordReadingCore Meaning 払うharauto pay / to brush away (broad) 支払うshiharauto pay money (formal, financial) 現金払いgenkin baraicash payment カード払いkaado baraicard payment 分割払いbunkatsu baraiinstallment payment At a ... -
Natives Speakers Avoid Using “shinu” Instead of “nakunaru”
Talking about death in Japanese can feel uncomfortable even for native speakers. That is why the Japanese language has a spectrum of expressions — from blunt and direct to gentle and respectful. Learning which word to use and when is not... -
“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 ... -
“sarigenaku” vs. “nanigenaku”: A Quick Guide How To Use
Both さりげなく and 何気なく can be translated as "casually" — but they carry a crucial difference in intention. Using the wrong one can completely change what you are implying about a person's actions. Yuka: What's the difference betwee...
