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 19
Tōji and the Yuzu Bath: Japan's Winter Solstice Customs
Tōji (冬至), the winter solstice, falls around 21 or 22 December, and in Japan it is the day for a yuzu bath, yuzuyu (ゆず湯): whole yuzu citrus fruits floating in a hot bath. Many families also eat kabocha squash, and some eat foods with the sound n in their names for luck.
10 min readWinter Illumination Date in Japanese: Invite, Meet and Enjoy
To invite someone to see the winter lights in Japanese, say irumi mi ni ikanai? (casual) or yokattara, issho ni iruminēshon o mi ni ikimasen ka (polite). At the lights, people say wā, kirei!, offer to take photos with shashin torō ka, and check on each other in the cold with samukunai?
10 min readYakiimo: Japan's Roasted Sweet Potato Truck and How to Buy One
Yakiimo (焼き芋) is a whole roasted Japanese sweet potato, and in winter it is sold from small trucks that drive slowly through neighbourhoods playing a long, sung call of ishi-yakiimo. To buy one, wave or call out to the vendor, then say hitotsu kudasai or ippon kudasai, one please.
10 min readYukidaruma and Snow Play Words in Japanese: Snowmen to Sledding
A snowman in Japanese is yukidaruma (雪だるま), a snowball fight is yukigassen (雪合戦) and sledding is sori asobi (そり遊び). To suggest building one, say yukidaruma tsukurō!, let's make a snowman, and the rest of a snow day's play follows the same easy pattern.
10 min readAkogare Meaning: Longing, Admiration and Dream Goals in Japanese
Akogare (憧れ) means longing or admiration for someone or something you see as an ideal and do not have yet: a senior you look up to, a city you dream of living in, a job you hope to do one day. The verb is akogareru, and it always takes the particle ni.
10 min readNakayoshi Meaning: Close Friends and Getting Along in Japanese
Nakayoshi (仲良し) means close friends or people who get along well, literally good relationship. You can call two classmates, a couple, siblings or even a cat and a dog nakayoshi, and the related phrases naka ga ii and nakayoku naru cover getting along and becoming friends.
9 min readKuchisabishii Meaning: When Your Mouth Feels Lonely in Japanese
Kuchisabishii (口寂しい) literally means my mouth is lonely, and it describes the urge to put something in your mouth when you are not really hungry: a sweet while studying, gum on a long drive, a snack in front of a film. It is an everyday, slightly humorous i-adjective.
9 min readBoketto Meaning: Zoning Out, Spacing Out and Doing Nothing
Boketto (ぼけっと) describes being vacant or absent-minded: staring into space, zoning out, standing around doing nothing. It is often used with suru, as in boketto suru, and it can be gentle or critical depending on who says it and why.
9 min readHara Hachi Bu Meaning: Eating Until 80 Percent Full in Japanese
Hara hachi bu (腹八分, usually said hara hachibunme, 腹八分目) means eating until you are about 80 percent full. It is a familiar Japanese saying about moderation, often quoted in the proverb hara hachibunme ni isha irazu: eat to eight tenths and you won't need a doctor.
8 min readMoe Meaning: From Budding Leaves to Anime Fan Slang
Moe (萌え) is anime and fan slang for a warm, protective, heart-melting affection towards a character, usually a cute one. It comes from the ordinary verb moeru, 萌える, which means to sprout or bud, and the original meaning is still used for spring leaves.
9 min readChibi Meaning: Little Ones, Cute Art and When It Is an Insult
Chibi (ちび) means a small person or a little one. Said fondly it means little kid, said as a taunt it means shorty, and abroad it is best known as the name for the tiny, big-headed cute art style. Related words include chibikko, little kids, and chibichibi, little by little.
8 min readAnshin Meaning: Relief, Peace of Mind and Feeling Safe in Japanese
Anshin (安心) means peace of mind: the relief and calm you feel when a worry goes away or when you can trust that things will be fine. Anshin shita means what a relief, anshin shite means don't worry, and go anshin kudasai is the formal please rest assured.
9 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.