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 28
Flu Season in Japan: Japanese Phrases for Infuru, Clinics and Work
In Japan, influenza is usually called infuru (インフル), and winter is flu season. If you have a fever, phone the clinic before you go, describe your symptoms, and tell your school or workplace; they will tell you their rules for staying home.
9 min readJapanese for Snow Days and Winter Commutes: Delays and Messages
When snow hits a Japanese city, trains run late or stop, roads freeze and everyone messages work. The key words are chien (遅延, delay), unten miawase (運転見合わせ, suspended service), tsurutsuru (icy and slippery) and yukikaki (雪かき, shovelling snow).
9 min readKakizome and New Year Goals in Japanese: How to Talk About Them
Kakizome (書き初め) is the first calligraphy of the New Year, traditionally done on 2 January: you write a word or short phrase that expresses your hopes for the year. To talk about New Year goals, use kotoshi no hōfu (今年の抱負) and three patterns: ~ tai, ~ yō to omotte iru and ~ koto ni shita.
9 min readŌmisoka: New Year's Eve in Japan and What People Say That Night
Ōmisoka (大晦日) is New Year's Eve in Japan, 31 December. Many families finish the big clean, eat toshikoshi soba (year-crossing noodles), watch a long year-end music show on TV, and listen to temple bells ring out the old year. Until midnight, people say yoi otoshi o, have a good New Year.
9 min readJapanese for a Winter Trip to Hokkaido: Snow, Skiing and Onsen
For a winter trip to Hokkaido, learn the Japanese for slippery pavements (suberiyasui), cancelled flights (kekkō) and trains (unkyū), road conditions (dōro jōkyō) and onsen manners. Locals describe the deep cold with the dialect word shibareru, and using it will make them smile.
9 min readJapanese for New Year with a Japanese Family: Greetings and Manners
When you spend New Year with a Japanese family, greet everyone with akemashite omedetō gozaimasu, kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu. Bring a small gift, say ojama shimasu as you enter, offer to help, praise the food, and when you leave, say ojama shimashita and thank them for the meal.
9 min readHow to Say Happy Anniversary in Japanese: Kinenbi Omedetō and More
The natural way to say happy anniversary in Japanese is kinenbi omedetō (記念日おめでとう), or kinenbi omedetō gozaimasu in polite speech. For a wedding anniversary say kekkon kinenbi omedetō, and between partners it is very common to name the length instead: tsukiatte ichi-nen da ne, it's been a year since we got together.
10 min readHow to Say Have a Nice Day in Japanese (and Why It Is Tricky)
Japanese has no single phrase that people say as casually as have a nice day. Instead, you pick the line that fits the moment: itterasshai when someone leaves home or the office, ki o tsukete to wish them a safe trip, and yoi ichinichi o or yoi shūmatsu o, which you will mostly see in writing, shops and hotels.
9 min readHow to Say I Agree in Japanese: Sō Desu Ne, Tashika Ni, Sansei Desu
The everyday way to say I agree in Japanese is sō desu ne, that's right, or watashi mo sō omoimasu, I think so too. Tashika ni agrees with a good point, and sansei desu means you are in favour of a proposal.
10 min readHow to Say I Will Do My Best in Japanese: Ganbarimasu and Beyond
The standard way to say I will do my best in Japanese is ganbarimasu (がんばります), or ganbaru with friends. For more weight, say sei-ippai ganbarimasu, I'll do everything I can, and in formal settings zenryoku o tsukushimasu, I'll give it my all.
9 min readHow to Say It Depends in Japanese: Ni Yoru, Shidai, Baai ni Yorimasu
The core way to say it depends in Japanese is ~ ni yoru, it depends on ~: hito ni yoru, it depends on the person, or baai ni yorimasu, it depends on the situation. ~ shidai means it is up to or it depends entirely on, as in anata shidai, it's up to you.
9 min readHow to Say I Am Interested in Japanese: Kyōmi ga Aru, Ki ni Naru
The standard way to say I am interested in Japanese is ~ ni kyōmi ga arimasu (〜に興味があります). For something that has caught your eye, say ki ni naru, and for a hobby you are hooked on, ~ ni hamatte iru.
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