Want to get better at Japanese? Reading is one of the best ways to improve your language skills. It’s especially important to read a lot when you’re learning a language with a different writing system, like Japanese. Hiragana, katakana and kanji can be overwhelming at first. But with enough reading practice, reading these characters will … Read more
The Japanese greeting hajimemashite (はじめまして) is a commonly used term in Japanese daily life that you may very well have come across before. It is often translated as ‘nice to meet you’, or ‘how do you do’ – and that’s not exactly wrong, as it is used in this way. However, hajimemashite is one of … Read more
Once you’ve got the basic greetings covered in Japanese you are ready to engage in conversations and make new friends! When meeting someone for the first time they may ask you: anata no namae wa nan desu ka? (あなたの名前はなんですか / あなたのなまえはなんですか) meaning ‘what is your name?’. In this post, you will learn just how to … Read more
One of the most useful phrases to learn when speaking any language is ‘how are you?’. After learning how to say ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’ or ‘thank you’, showing that you can say ‘how are you’ brings you one step further in impressing others with your language skills. It also allows for a conversation to grow where … Read more
need more Japanese listening practice? Here’s an epic list of free and affordable resources for Japanese listening practice at every level (beginner, intermediate and advanced)
Speaking is the ultimate goal of most language learners. It’s one thing working through textbooks or watching anime in Japanese. But if you ever go to Japan, how will you order your lunch, buy a train ticket or make Japanese friends, if you can’t actually speak Japanese? But speaking can definitely be the most nerve-wracking … Read more
Japanese writing can be one of the scariest aspects of learning Japanese! And there’s no shortcut to success – you simply have to get your Japanese writing practice in. Luckily there are no shortage of tools to help you with this! Whether you are a beginner looking to practise your Japanese handwriting, or an advanced … Read more
Whether you are brand new to Japanese or approaching fluency, writing can be one of the most challenging aspects of the language. And the only way to improve your Japanese writing is to write, write, write! Of course, you can practise your Japanese writing on any old scrap of paper you can get your hands … Read more
Did you know that your pet cat won’t go ‘meow’ in Japanese? Instead, a cat’s meow would be nyaa-nyaa (ニャーニャー)! In Japanese, animal sounds are replicated through onomatopoeia. Each sound differs from the biggest and baddest, to the smallest and fluffiest animals. Some don’t even have an English equivalent, making them very unique to Japan. … Read more