For fans of anime and manga, one of the first few Japanese words you can quickly get acquainted with is senpai (先輩 / せんぱい). You may hear this frequently in stories set in schools. A senpai is someone’s senior or superior, an older person who is looked up to in school or the workplace because … Read more
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
The short answer is: No, Japanese is not a tonal language. Rather than being a tonal language, Japanese is considered a ‘pitch-accent language’. You might be wondering why. If you’re interested in finding out more, read on for the long answer too! What is a tonal language? Before looking at why Japanese is not a … Read more
Although life in Japan can be pretty hectic at times, tea culture is also a central part of life. That means slowing down and taking time to appreciate the small pleasures of a refreshing drink and an exquisitely made snack. Sakuraco is a monthly subscription box from Japan that aims to bring traditional Japanese snacks … Read more
Craving a bite of Japan? Among the many fantastic things Japan is known for, delicious food is near the top of the list! Even if you can’t get to Japan to sample its delights yourself, there are many subscription boxes that will bring a taste of Japan to you. TokyoTreat is one of the better … 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