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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お vs ご: 日本語の敵語接頭辞の使い分け方
Japanese has two honorific prefixes — お (o) and ご (go) — that make words sound polite, respectful, or simply more refined. But which one do you use? And why do some words take o while others take go? This guide breaks it al... -
Japanese Causative Form: How to Use させる (Saseru) and させられる (Saserareru)
Your Japanese teacher gives you a pile of homework. Your boss makes you stay late again. Your mum finally lets you have dessert first. Every one of these situations needs the same grammar tool in Japanese: the causative form (使役形／し... -
Japanese Formal Numerals: Daiji (大字) Guide for Bank Forms and Legal Documents
If you have ever filled out a Japanese bank form, looked at a formal contract, or noticed the numbers on Japanese banknotes, you may have seen characters like 壱 (ichi), 弐 (ni), and 参 (san) instead of the familiar &#x... -
Japanese Counters Deep Dive: Animals, Flat Things, Long Objects, and More
Japanese counters are one of the first big grammar challenges for learners. When you count objects in Japanese, you cannot just say "one, two, three" and stop — you have to attach a special suffix called a counter (助数詞, josusushi) to ... -
Japanese Verb Groups Explained: U-verbs, Ru-verbs, and Irregular Verbs (Complete Guide)
Master the three Japanese verb groups — U-verbs (Group 1), Ru-verbs (Group 2), and irregular verbs — so you can conjugate ANY verb correctly. Essential foundation for all Japanese grammar. -
temo ii vs te wa ikenai Permission and Prohibition N4 Grammar Guide
Can I sit here? You can't park here. May I open the window? — these everyday situations all require knowing how to express permission and prohibition in Japanese. Two grammar patterns handle most of this: 〜てもいい (te mo ii) and 〜ては... -
Japanese Passive Voice (受け身形): The Complete Guide for English Speakers
Master the Japanese passive voice (受け身形) — including the tricky "suffering passive" that has no English equivalent. Clear rules, examples, and practice quizzes for N4/N3 learners. -
ように vs ために: How to Express Purpose in Japanese
Learn the difference between ように and ために — both mean 'in order to' but follow different verb rules. Covers volitional vs non-volitional verb distinction with clear examples. -
Nai-Form Japanese: How to Make Any Verb Negative
Learn the Japanese nai-form (ない form) for all three verb groups. Covers negative present, past, requests (ないでください), obligation, and permission patterns. -
Japanese Sentence Structure: SOV for English Speakers
Why Japanese word order is SOV (Subject-Object-Verb) and what that means for English speakers. Covers particles, subject dropping, and modifiers before nouns.
