Thea Ongchua 
Where ‘stop’ in English can be used in a variety of situations, in Japanese, it’s quite complicated. Each word for ‘stop’ is dependent on a number of things, like the context, or what is stopping and how. Words for stop in Japanese are situational. The kanji you use to write it also gives a clue … Read more
How do you wish someone good luck in Japanese? Saying the phrase ganbatte (頑張って / がんばって) or ganbare (頑張れ / がんばれ) is the most common way to do it. Its original meaning is ‘to persevere’. Just recently, I was preparing for an internship interview at a Japanese company, so I asked for corrections from my … Read more
Who’s a good boy? The best feeling in the world is coming to a happy doggo, tail wagging after eagerly awaiting its hooman’s return! Inu (犬 / いぬ) is the word for dog in Japanese, while koinu (子犬 / こいぬ) is the Japanese word for puppy. Japan is home to popular native breeds like the … Read more
Nya-ice to meet you! If you love cats and Japan, you’ve come to the right place! From Hello Kitty to maneki neko figurines that wave at you nonstop from shop windows, or even cat cafes for ailurophile foodies – there’s something cat people will love. The word for cat in Japanese is neko (猫 / … Read more
Do you have a Japanese boyfriend or girlfriend and want to take it to the next level by calling them by a sweet, cute nickname? If you’re stuck on what to call your lover in Japanese, this is the guide for you! Terms of endearment work uniquely in Japan because of its formal and introverted … Read more
‘Cool’ is a very flexible word in the English language. It can be used to describe someone’s fashion sense, action movie stunts, or a gift you received from a friend. It’s also used as a response in agreement to something or someone: ‘Let’s head to the amusement park.’ ‘Cool!’ The most popular Japanese word for … Read more
Feeling like your Japanese learning is getting a little ho-hum? Let’s take a break from all the grammar and daily vocabulary. The best part of learning a new language is the funny words! Some of these Japanese words and phrases have a funny sound, or mean something funny when translated into English. There are a … Read more
Ah, love! One of the greatest feelings on earth. In English, ‘love’ encompasses varying degrees of liking, admiration, or passion for something or someone. Meanwhile, the Japanese language has many different words for ‘love’. The most common Japanese words for ‘love’ are koi (恋 / こい) and ai (愛 / あい). Love like koi can … Read more