Hannah Stafford 
Water is one of the most essential elements of life – and it shows up in many parts of the Japanese language too! The everyday word for water in Japanese is mizu (水). But did you know there are separate words for hot and cold water in Japanese? There are also several interesting kanji compounds … Read more
Fire is a force of nature in every culture, and Japan is no exception! The main word for fire in Japanese is hi (火 / ひ). You will also come across the word kaji (火事 / かじ), which is used for a destructive blaze such as a house fire. In Japanese, there are several words … Read more
Conversing about the weather is essential when it comes to making small-talk in Japan! Whether it be by the water cooler in the workplace, or a one-liner at the beginning of an email, some form of acknowledgment of the current weather is a great way to break the ice and get a conversation flowing. Below … Read more
There are so many pleasant ways to describe a woman’s beauty: pretty, cute, gorgeous, the list goes on! For a more masculine beauty, we can always use neutral terms such as ‘good-looking’ or ‘attractive’, and even ‘cute’ – but ‘handsome’ gives off a certain air of charm and manliness that a guy might like to … Read more
Whether you are learning Japanese for use in everyday life or just for fun, body parts are a practical set of vocabulary to have under your belt! Not only will it improve your speaking and comprehension skills in day-to-day conversations, it would also be extremely helpful if you find yourself in an emergency situation such … Read more
‘To wear’ in Japanese is kiru… It’s also haku, kaburu, kakeru… and the list goes on! Depending on which article of clothing you are wearing, there is a suitable corresponding verb to mean ‘wear’. It’s easy enough to get the hang of, as each of the different verbs are designated to respective categories of clothes … Read more
Whether you are particularly into fashion or not, clothing is an essential part of our everyday lives. So, if you’re learning Japanese, it’s important to know the most common words to talk about clothes in Japanese! Japan is well known for its unique and innovative clothing styles, with Tokyo being regarded as one of the … Read more
Japan is well-known for its strong cultural identity and pride in its traditional clothing, with perhaps the strongest example being the kimono. Such traditional Japanese outfits have been worn in Japanese society for thousands of years. That being said, Japan is not stuck in its tradition! Its biggest cities such as Tokyo and Osaka are … Read more