Grammar– category –
Japanese grammar for English speakers. Particles, verb conjugation, sentence patterns, conditionals, and nuanced expressions organized by JLPT level N5 to N1. Browse by level: N4/N5, N2/N3, N1/N2. By topic: Particles, Verb Conjugation, Conditionals, Sentence Patterns. Full overview at the Japanese Grammar Hub.
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Japanese Giving and Receiving: How to Use あげる, もらう, and くれる
Imagine you want to tell your Japanese friend, "My teacher gave me a book." Simple enough, right? In English, you just use the verb "give" and you're done. But in Japanese, there are three different verbs for giving and receiving — and c... -
japanese-ni-vs-he-particles.md
You've just started studying Japanese and you're feeling good — you know how to say 学校（がっこう）に行く, "I go to school." Then someone shows you the exact same sentence written as 学校（がっこう）へ行く. Same meaning? Different feeli... -
Expressing Wants in Japanese: 〜たい, ほしい, and 〜てほしい Explained
You see a beautiful piece of wagashi at a Japanese confectionery and think, "I want to eat that." Later, your friend keeps interrupting you while you study, and you wish they would just be quiet. That evening, browsing an online store, y... -
japanese-expressing-obligation.md
You’ve just arrived in Japan and your host family says, “靴を脅いでくださいね。お客さんの前でスリ̌... -
japanese-noun-modification.md
In English, you describe a noun by adding information after it: "the person who ate sushi," "the movie that I watched," "the bag I bought in Tokyo." Japanese works the opposite way — every modifier, no matter how long, goes before the no... -
Ageru, Morau, Kureru: The Complete Guide to Japanese Giving and Receiving Verbs
Imagine you want to say "My friend gave me a book" in Japanese. You look up the word for "give" and find あげる. So you say: 私は友達に本をあげた — and every Japanese person in the room quietly winces. You just said you gave your friend ... -
Expressing Reason in Japanese: 〜から, 〜ので, 〜ため, and 〜て
Picture this: your Japanese teacher asks why you didn't finish your homework, and you want to say "because I was busy." Simple enough — but in Japanese you have several options: から, ので, ため, and even the humble 〜て form. Pick the w... -
Japanese Frequency Expressions: How to Say Always, Sometimes, and Never
How often do you study Japanese? Do you always review vocabulary before bed, or only sometimes? Can you say that in Japanese yet? Frequency expressions — words like "always," "often," "sometimes," "rarely," and "never" — are among the mo... -
japanese-humble-form.md
Picture this: you've just been handed a business card at your first meeting with a Japanese client. You want to say "I will come to your office on Monday" — but you're not sure whether to use 行きます or something more formal. If you've ... -
Asking Permission in Japanese
窓を開けてもいいですか。(Mado o akete mo ii desu ka.) — May I open the window? どうぞ、かまいませんよ。(Douzo, kamaimasen yo.) — Please go ahead, I don't mind at all. ### Refusing Permission Politely Saying "no" in Japanese requires care...
