Thea Ongchua

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

In Japan, whether you’re sightseeing, trying on a kimono, or shopping for household decor, you’re bound to find something beautiful.  The most common words for ‘beautiful’ in Japanese are kirei (綺麗 / きれい), and utsukushii (美しい / うつくしい). However, the degree of beauty being described by each word is different. While kirei can be used … Read more