Do you want to learn Japanese? Start by reading through these posts for a fun introduction to the Japanese language, including useful Japanese words, basic Japanese grammar and other Japanese lessons for beginners!
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
‘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
Filler words are a phenomenon in every language. They are used to ‘fill in’ spaces in conversations, perhaps to give yourself time to think about what you want to say or as conversational padding. In Japanese they are known as tsunagi kotoba (つなぎ言葉 / つなぎことば), literally translating as ‘linking words’. What are filler words? English … Read more
When it comes to learning languages, we usually start off with fun and light topics such as greetings, colours or daily conversation. However, there may come a time when you have to express your condolences and offer support to those around you who find themselves going through difficulties, such as bereavement. As we know, Japanese … Read more
In English, we use the word ‘amazing’ to describe a multitude of things, ranging from food to experiences to the weather! The most common way to say amazing in Japanese is sugoi (すごい). Like ‘amazing’, this word can be used in a variety of situations. However, it leans more on the casual side, so depending … Read more
‘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