Japanese learning blog
Practical guides on speaking, grammar, pronunciation, listening, and study planning, written for learners who want to use Japanese in real life.
All articles · Page 118
Kagiri in Japanese: As Long As, As Far As, Ni Kagiru and Ni Kagitte
Kagiri means limit, and almost every pattern built on it draws a boundary: as long as this holds, as far as I can see, only today, or nothing but this.
12 min readJapanese at a Flower Shop: Bouquets, Budgets and O-mimai Flowers
Ordering a bouquet at a Japanese flower shop is a short, friendly conversation, and the florist will ask almost the same four questions every time: what it is for, what budget, what colours and whether to wrap it.
12 min readJapanese at a Bakery: Trays, Tongs, Melon Pan and Shokupan
Japanese bakeries run on a simple self-service system: pick up a tray and tongs, choose your bread, and let the staff do the rest at the till.
11 min readJapanese at a Wedding as a Guest: Go-shūgi, Uketsuke and Imikotoba
A Japanese wedding follows a clear script from the reply card to the after-party, and a guest who knows a dozen phrases and a few customs will feel completely at ease.
12 min readJapanese at a Cat Cafe: Rules, Time Fees and Cat Words
A neko kafe visit starts with a short rules briefing and a clock, and understanding both is what turns an awkward hour into a relaxed one with the cats.
11 min readJapanese at a Bar: Ordering Drinks, Otōshi, Highballs and Last Order
Japanese bars run on a small set of drink words and a few charges that surprise first-time visitors, and once you know them a solo evening at the counter becomes easy.
11 min readJapanese on a Ferry: Tickets, Cabin Classes and Announcements
Ferries link Japan's islands, from short hops across a bay to overnight routes of many hours, and the Japanese you need follows the same pattern on almost every one of them.
11 min readJapanese at a Coin Locker: Sizes, IC Cards and Screen Prompts
Coin lockers let you drop your bags at a station and explore hands-free, and once you can read a handful of words on the door and the screen, they are quick and easy to use.
10 min readJapanese at a Home Center: DIY Words, Wood Cutting and Delivery
A hōmu sentā is where people in Japan buy everything from screws and paint to storage boxes and garden soil, and a small set of words unlocks almost every aisle.
10 min readJapanese at a Purikura Booth: Poses, Rakugaki and Printing
Purikura photo booths talk to you constantly, in fast, cheerful Japanese, and the whole experience runs on a timer, so knowing the prompts in advance makes it far more fun.
10 min readJapanese at a Nail Salon: Booking, Gel Designs, Off and Aftercare
Japanese nail salons are known for detailed gel art, and a short list of menu words lets you book, choose a design and ask for changes without guesswork.
10 min readBikkuri Meaning: Surprise, Shock and Startle in Japanese
Bikkuri means surprised or startled, and bikkuri suru is the everyday verb for being taken aback by anything from a loud noise to unexpected news, in a word that sounds like the jump it describes.
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