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Team Japanese
  • Japanese lessons
  • How to learn Japanese
  • Japanese culture
  • Courses and resources

Japanese lessons

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!

How to Say Grandmother in Japanese

by Hannah Stafford
An older woman with red glasses and a young girl with a ponytail smile and embrace outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery.

‘Grandmother’ is one of those terms that is notorious for differing from family to family. You have granny, gran, nana, nonna, mimi, grammy… the list goes on. Luckily, in Japanese, there are only a couple of words that are used to say ‘grandmother’. Just learn these few terms and you will be up to speed!  … Read more

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What Does Otaku Really Mean? All About Otaku in Japanese Culture

by Hannah Stafford
An otaku in a red and white costume with a headpiece holds a yellow plush toy, standing proudly in front of a green-tinted glass wall, embodying the vibrant spirit of Japanese pop culture.

Otaku culture is a craze which began in Japan but has since spread all across the globe! In English, the Japanese word otaku is often translated as ‘geek’. Specifically, it’s usually used to mean someone obsessed with anime or manga. But in Japanese, as we’ll learn, the meaning is a little more nuanced than that! … Read more

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60+ Vibrant Japanese Onomatopoeia Words To Bring the Language to Life

by Hannah Stafford
The person in the pink shirt and overalls holds a hand to their ear, embodying Japanese onomatopoeia with an intent listen against the vibrant orange background.

The world of onomatopoeia in Japanese is one of the more amusing aspects of this wonderful language! So what is onomatopoeia?  Simply put, onomatopoeia are words which read or sound like the word they are describing. In English, think of words like bang, buzz or hiss. You will see that onomatopoeia is a fun way … Read more

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How to Say ‘Rain’ in Japanese

by Hannah Stafford
Visitors with umbrellas stroll under a large red torii gate at a Japanese shrine, surrounded by traditional lanterns and lush greenery, as the rain gently falls.

What better to do on a rainy day than learn some new vocabulary? If we were to really dive deep, we could discuss the hundred-odd of ways to describe rain. Ranging from light to heavy rain, morning to evening rain or even winter to summer rain. I know, when it rains, it pours! But don’t … Read more

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How to Say ‘Star’ in Japanese

by Hannah Stafford
A night sky adorned with stars, or "hoshi" in Japanese, stretches above the silhouette of a snow-capped mountain and a glowing cityscape.

We have already discussed how to say ‘moon’ and ‘sun’ in Japanese, so it is only right that we teach you how to say ‘star’ as well! The main Japanese word for ‘star’ is hoshi (星 / ほし). This the word we use to talk about a star in the night sky. For those of … Read more

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How to Say Drunk in Japanese (and More Essential Drinking Vocab!)

by Hannah Stafford
A person in a red shirt holds a frothy glass of beer forward, smiling in a blurry restaurant setting.

Drinking in Japan can be such a fun experience. There are many interesting bars, delicious drinks and good company to enjoy at any given time in this bustling country. That being said, entertaining such activities can leave you feeling ‘drunk’! But how would you express that in Japanese? Would you even remember, in a drunk … Read more

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How to Say Cheers in Japanese (Kanpai and More!)

by Hannah Stafford
Three people in traditional Japanese yukata raise their glasses of beer, smiling warmly as they say "kanpai" (cheers in Japanese) in a room with a shoji screen backdrop.

No matter where in the world you visit, ‘cheers’ is one of the most useful phrases to learn in a country’s local language! There is a sense of community and warmth when a group of people come together and clink their glasses, toasting to health, to congratulate or even to remember someone. You may even … Read more

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Top Useful Japanese Restaurant Phrases and Vocabulary

by Hannah Stafford
Entrance to a Japanese restaurant greeting you with traditional decor elements, a display of menu items, and patrons' shoes neatly placed by a step leading indoors. Learn japanese restaurant phrases to enjoy an authentic experience like this!

Eating out in Japan can seem a bit daunting at times. There are so many options it can be overwhelming, and not being able to read the restaurant name makes it hard to know what the restaurant even serves… One top tip is to look out for restaurants with food displays in the window! Don’t … Read more

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