Thea Ongchua 
Ever wondered what to do when celebrating your birthday in Japan? Or how the Japanese celebrate birthdays? Or most importantly – how to say ‘happy birthday’ in Japanese? We’ve got you covered! Up until the 1950s, celebrating birthdays in Japan was not customary. In fact, they considered every new year a common birthday for everyone! … Read more
When we say ‘yes’ in Japanese, there is actually more than one way to express our agreement depending on the situation and who we’re talking to! The first word we encounter when we’re learning how to say ‘yes’ in Japanese is hai (はい). But there are many other words and phrases you can use together … Read more
The Japanese are known for their politeness, but because of their polite nature, it can be hard to say no in a straightforward way. That’s why there are many ways to say no in Japanese! There are words for declining invitations, offers, and even disagreeing with someone else’s ideas or opinions. Each of them has … Read more
After you learn to say ‘hello’ in Japanese, next you’d be curious about how to say ‘goodbye’, right? How do you say goodbye in Japanese? Naturally, the first Japanese word for goodbye that we learn is sayonara (さよなら). Well, it does not mean ‘goodbye’ the same way the English word does! In context, sayonara means … Read more