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
It is widely known that Japan has a culture of utmost courtesy and politeness. So, although your curiosity may push you to ask ‘why, why, why?’, it is important not to be overly intrusive when speaking with your Japanese acquaintances. The standard way to say ‘why’ in Japanese is naze (なぜ). In this post, we … Read more
Now that we know how to express happiness in Japanese, it’s time to learn how to express sadness 😢 Of course, no one likes to feel sad… However, it’s important and healthy to express our emotions and talk out our feelings, whether they be sad or happy. The most common way to say ‘sad’ in … Read more
If you go to Japan, hopefully you will experience a lot of happy times during your visit! But how would you express this happiness in Japanese conversations? The two most common ways to say ‘happy’ in Japanese are ureshii (嬉しい / うれしい) and shiawase (幸せ / しあわせ). Generally, ureshii describes that temporary feeling of joy … Read more
Seeing as our earth revolves around the sun, it is safe to say that it is a central entity in our lives, whether it be culturally, religiously or otherwise. For many cultures, including Japanese culture, the sun represents light and energy. Japan is even known as the Land of the Rising Sun! So, let’s get … Read more
The moon is considered one of the most beautiful sights to behold from our earth. That is why it is a common depiction in various stories, artworks, songs and more. If you look to Japan, you will also find that the moon is referenced in abundance throughout its culture and mythology. The word for moon … Read more
If you are thinking of visiting Japan, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the Japanese currency, yen. Not only that, but you should also know a bit about the social norms surrounding money in Japan. Let’s start off with how to say ‘money’ in Japanese, and then we will discuss other money-related terms and tips … Read more
Legends of a great beast known as the dragon have been recorded from all corners of the world. Humans seem to be predisposed to the idea of dragons, as you will find stories about them from pretty much any ancient society, such as the Fáfnir from Scandinavian mythology, the Ninki Nanka from West Africa and the … Read more
As you may already know, sayonara (さよなら) is the Japanese word for ‘goodbye’. However, if you want to say ‘see you later’, sayonara would not be the most suitable term. Instead, a more natural way to say ‘see you later’ in Japanese would be mata ne (またね)! Even in English, you can feel the difference … Read more