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 130
Japanese at a Bookstore: Finding, Ordering and Covering Books
A Japanese bookstore asks you one question you will not hear anywhere else: would you like a cover on that?
10 min readCycling in Japan: Bicycle Rules, Registration and Phrases
A bicycle is the cheapest way to own your neighbourhood in Japan, and it comes with its own small vocabulary, from the registration sticker to the parking lot.
10 min readJapanese New Year (Oshōgatsu): Customs, Food and Greetings
Oshōgatsu is the biggest holiday of the Japanese year, and it has two sets of greetings: one you stop using at midnight and one you start.
11 min readObon in Japan: Ancestors, Bon Odori, Going Home and Phrases
Obon is when families in Japan welcome their ancestors home for a few days, and when half the country seems to be on the road at the same time.
10 min readSetsubun in Japan: Bean Throwing, Oni and Ehomaki Explained
Once a year, in early February, people across Japan throw roasted soybeans at a demon and shout for good luck to come inside.
9 min readJapanese for Flight Attendants: Announcements, Service and Safety
On a flight with Japanese passengers, a few well-chosen lines of polite Japanese change how the whole cabin feels about the service.
10 min readJapanese for Translators: Clients, Terminology, Style and Checks
Translating Japanese well is one skill; talking to Japanese clients and agencies about the work is another, and it decides whether you get the next job.
10 min readKekkō Desu and Ii Desu: Yes or No Thanks?
A shop clerk asks if you want a bag, you say ii desu, and you walk out with a bag. Or without one. Both phrases point in two directions, and the situation decides which.
7 min readDame Meaning: No Good, Not Allowed, and Hopeless
Dame is one of the first Japanese words children hear and one of the bluntest words adults use. It says no, it does not work, and it is not allowed, all in two syllables.
6 min readMuri Meaning: Impossible, No Way, and Too Much
Muri desu is honest, clear and short. It is also one of the fastest ways to sound blunt in a Japanese office. The word is essential; the question is when to say it aloud.
5 min readTaihen Meaning: Very, Serious, and That Must Be Hard
A colleague mentions they are moving house, and the natural Japanese response is not good luck or how exciting. It is taihen desu ne, which acknowledges how much work it is.
5 min readEnryo Meaning: Holding Back, Signs, and Don't Be Shy
A host tells you enryo shinaide, and a sign on the train says go-enryo kudasai. One invites you to take more; the other tells you not to do something. Both come from the same idea.
5 min readPractical guides
Turn Japanese knowledge into speaking confidence
Practice with Unihongo's AI Sensei in an immersive 3D classroom, with roleplay missions, pronunciation coaching, useful feedback, and learning games that build your vocabulary while you play.