Hannah Stafford 
Sentence ending particles – called shuujoshi (終助詞 / しゅうじょし) in Japanese – are small words that come at the end of a sentence in Japanese to give nuance and feeling. Though they don’t change the fundamental meaning of phrases, their value lies in how they convey things like emotion, tone, emphasis and agreement. They usually … Read more
Particles are the parts of Japanese grammar which are essential in stringing a coherent sentence together. In Japanese, these particles are called joshi (助詞 / じょし). They help to clarify vital information such as who is doing what, how it’s done, where it took place and more! Most particles in Japanese have a variety of … Read more
Japanese culture has a few staple greeting phrases used when leaving and returning home. These are a fundamental part of every Japanese person’s day. If you’ve ever watched any Japanese slice-of-life drama, movie or anime, you are very likely to have heard these greetings! These phrases are essential to learn if you want to immerse … Read more
When traveling to Japan, there are so many types of accommodation to choose from: from both modern hotels and traditional Japanese ryokan, to tiny capsule hotels and AirBnBs. Another underrated possibility is a home stay! This is an arrangement where you rent a room in someone’s home, often sharing common areas. Home stays are a … Read more
In our previous post, we discussed the customs and habits to know when visiting a Japanese home, from taking off your shoes to bringing a small gift. Now we will learn what to actually say during your visit! Like the customs mentioned before, it is not that these phrases are necessary in order to make … Read more
Being invited into someone’s home is a lovely way to experience Japanese culture firsthand, beyond the tourist attractions! Japan is a country of strong, long-standing traditions and customs. This is of course true not only out in public spaces, but also in one’s home. It is not that there are strict rules per se, but … Read more
‘Wait’ is one of the most useful verbs to know when starting to learn a language! It’s useful for a variety of situations: whether you want to make plans with friends and need to tell them where you will be waiting, instructing them where to wait for you, or even expressing that you can’t wait … Read more
How do you say ‘Japan’ in Japanese? If you thought this would be a simple, straightforward answer, think again! Of course I could just make this a short post and tell you that the answer is: Nihon or Nippon, but the truth is that there is a bit more to the story. I would be … Read more