Hannah Stafford 
‘Good job’ is one of those phrases of encouragement we all love to hear, especially if it’s in relation to our Japanese skills! In Japanese, there are multiple ways to say ‘good job’, depending on hierarchy, social context and even the effort someone is putting in. Even people who don’t speak Japanese may recognise the … Read more
In an ideal world, we would understand everything in any language! Unfortunately, we are only human and that cannot always be the case. This is why it is important to know how to express our confusion when we didn’t quite get the message! There are two common phrases to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I … Read more
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend school in Japan? Or maybe you are thinking about attending yourself, or perhaps even teaching in Japan! The Japanese education system is quite unique and you may find it slightly different to your own school experience growing up. In this post we will go … Read more
Pet culture in Japan has developed in recent years to become a truly interesting thing! As the birth rate slows, many adults opt for a ‘fur baby’ to fulfil their paternal instincts. On my most recent trip to Japan, there were countless times where I spotted a pram in a restaurant and upon taking a … Read more
The most common word for baby in Japanese is akachan (赤ちゃん / あかちゃん). But, as always, there are a few different ways to say ‘baby’ in Japanese depending on the context, child’s age or formality of the situation! In this article we will walk you through the various terms and when to use them, as … Read more
‘Teacher’ is actually a widely used word in everyday conversation in Japanese. Many different people go by the title ‘teacher’, even if they don’t work in a school. I know, sounds confusing, right?! This is because ‘teacher’ can have a deeper, cultural meaning in the Japanese language. You might have heard the word sensei (先生 … Read more
Let’s be honest… when you’re learning a language, one of the most important things to say is that you’re hungry. Especially when you are travelling around Japan with soo many delicious food options to get your stomach rumbling! From expressing your hunger in casual or polite ways, to describing what exactly you are craving, this … Read more
If you have ever been exposed to Japanese culture, whether it be spending time with Japanese friends or enjoying an anime or drama, you will have likely heard the phrases itadakimasu and gochisousama. If you pay particular attention, you will notice that these terms are always reserved for meal time! This is a really beautiful … Read more