Start Learning Japanese– category –
New to Japanese? Start here. Beginner guides covering the learning path, kana, numbers, basic phrases, and core grammar. See /how-to-start-learning-japanese/ for a curated starting point.
-
What Is Difference Between “ie”, “uchi” and “otaku”?
I keep seeing 家, うち, and お宅 all translated as 'house' or 'home.' Are they really the same? Not quite! They all relate to home, but they emphasize different things — the physical building, your personal home/family, or someone else's... -
Words with Multiple Meanings in Japanese: 高い
My Japanese teacher said 高い can mean both 'expensive' and 'tall' — and sometimes even 'high.' How do I know which meaning is intended? Great question! 高い is a classic multi-meaning word in Japanese. Context and what it modifies alway... -
38 Faculty of Department in Japanese
My Japanese friend asked me 「学部はどこですか？」and I didn't know how to answer! What's 学部 and how do I talk about my major or faculty in Japanese? Great question! 学部 (gakubu) and 学科 (gakka) are the words you need for talking abo... -
そそっかしい Sounds Native Japanese Speakers You’d Be
My Japanese friend called me そそっかしい when I forgot my keys again. Is that a bad thing? Ha! It's not terrible — そそっかしい means you're careless or absent-minded. It's actually a pretty common word in everyday Japanese! そそっかし... -
Why Native Japanese Speakers Use the Word そんな風に
I keep hearing そんなふうに in Japanese conversations and dramas, but I'm not quite sure what it means or how to use it properly. そんなふうに is a really natural expression! It means "in that way" or "like that" — and once you get it, y... -
How to Celebrate April Fool’s Day in Japan
Do Japanese people celebrate April Fools' Day? I've never heard much about it in Japanese culture! They do! But it has its own Japanese twist — the rules and limits on lying are quite different from in the West. Let's explore it together... -
そのうち with 2 Means: You Should Be Understanding
I keep hearing Japanese people say そのうち… but it seems to mean different things in different situations. What's going on? Great observation! そのうち (sonouchi) actually has two distinct meanings depending on context. Once you learn b... -
Improve Your Japanese Skill By Using そのまま
I hear そのまま used a lot but I'm not always sure what it means. Can it mean both 'as it is' and 'stay still'? Yes! そのまま is very versatile. At its core it means 'as it is / without change.' It's used for leaving things unchanged, st... -
Make Sure The Way to Use “sorenari” Japanese Often Use
I've seen それなりに used in Japanese and it seems to mean 'in its own way' or 'decent enough.' Is that right? Exactly! それなり means 'appropriate to its level' or 'decent for what it is.' It's a very nuanced and useful word — let me wa... -
Using “son’nani” and “sorehodo” Shouldn’t Be Complicated
I'm still confused about そんなに and それほど. Can you show me more examples of when to use each? Of course! Let's do a deep dive comparing them side-by-side with plenty of real examples. They're very close in meaning but different in f...
