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 Potential Form: られる vs できる (Can You…?)
Learn how to say 'can' in Japanese using the potential form られる/れる and できる. Includes conjugation rules, particle shift (を→が), and ら抜き explained. -
Te-Form Japanese: 10 Uses Every Learner Must Know
Master the Japanese te-form: conjugation rules for all verb groups plus 10 essential uses including requests, ongoing actions, permission, and more. -
yon vs shi, nana vs shichi: Which Japanese Number Reading to Use
The number 4 in Japanese can be yon or shi. The number 7 can be nana or shichi. If you've tried memorizing Japanese numbers and wondered why there are two readings for the same number — this guide finally explains the rule. Hint: it depe... -
Transitive vs Intransitive Verbs in Japanese: 他動詞 vs 自動詞
One of the most consistent sources of confusion for English-speaking Japanese learners: transitive and intransitive verb pairs. Japanese has verbs that come in pairs — 開ける (to open something) and 開く (to open by itself). Use the wron... -
ながら: How to Say ‘While Doing’ in Japanese (N4 Grammar)
Eating while watching TV. Listening to music while studying. Japanese has a dedicated grammar pattern for actions done simultaneously: 〜ながら. It's one of the most practical N4 patterns you'll use every day — and it's refreshingly simp... -
てしまう vs ておく vs てみる: Te-Form Auxiliaries Explained
You know te-form. Now it's time to level up. てしまう, ておく, and てみる are three auxiliary patterns that attach to the te-form of verbs and dramatically change the nuance. All three are N4-level and appear constantly in natural Japane... -
ほしい vs たい: How to Express Wanting in Japanese
'I want a coffee.' 'I want to drink coffee.' In English these feel similar, but in Japanese they use completely different grammar. ほしい and たい are both 'want' — but ほしい wants THINGS (nouns), while たい wants to DO things (verbs). ... -
Japanese Counters: How to Count People, Things, and Animals
In Japanese, you can't just say 'three dogs' or 'five sheets of paper' — you need a counter word that matches what you're counting. 三匹 (san-biki) for small animals, 五枚 (go-mai) for flat objects. It sounds complex at first, but once y... -
Japanese Conditionals: と vs ば vs たら vs なら — Complete Guide
📖 At a GlanceTopicJapanese conditionals: と, ば, たら, ならLevelN4–N3Key ruleEach form encodes a different relationship between condition and resultBiggest trapたら is the most flexible but overusing it sounds unnaturalTime to re... -
そう vs よう vs らしい vs みたい: Hearsay and Inference in Japanese
📖 At a GlanceTopicそう vs よう vs らしい vs みたい — "seems like"LevelN4–N3Key ruleEach word signals a different type of evidenceBiggest trapそう has two completely different meanings depending on conjugationTime to read~10 min Y...
