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Practical guides on speaking, grammar, pronunciation, listening, and study planning, written for learners who want to use Japanese in real life.
All articles · Page 53
Nantonaku Meaning: Saying 'Somehow' and 'Just Because' in Japanese
Nantonaku (なんとなく) means somehow, vaguely or for no particular reason. It is the honest casual answer to 'Why?' when you do not have a clear reason, and it also describes half-understanding (nantonaku wakaru) and moods you cannot explain.
9 min readZutto Meaning: 'All Along', 'Forever' and 'By Far' in Japanese
Zutto (ずっと) means the whole time, all along or for a long time, and in comparisons it means by far or much. Zutto matteta is 'I waited the whole time', zutto mae kara is 'since long ago', and kotchi no hō ga zutto ii is 'this one is far better'.
9 min readChanto Meaning: ちゃんと, Doing Things Properly in Japanese
Chanto (ちゃんと) means properly, correctly or as it should be. It is the word behind a parent's chanto tabeteru? (are you eating properly?), a nag like chanto kiite (listen properly), and praise for a chanto shita hito, a reliable, decent person.
9 min readNantoka Naru Meaning: 'It'll Work Out' and Nantoka in Japanese
Nantoka naru (なんとかなる) means 'It'll work out somehow'. Nantoka means somehow or one way or another, and it builds a whole family of phrases: nantoka shimasu (I'll manage it), nantoka maniatta (I just about made it) and the polite plea nantoka narimasen ka (is there any way?).
9 min readKomaru Meaning: Komatta, 'I'm in a Bind' in Japanese
Komaru (困る) means to be in trouble, at a loss or inconvenienced. Komatta is a quiet 'Oh dear, I'm stuck', komatteru n desu is a polite way to ask for help, and sore wa komarimasu is a calm but firm 'That's a problem for me'.
9 min readKuso and Chikushou Meaning: Anime Swearing, Explained Safely
Kuso (くそ) literally means crap and is used like 'Damn!'; chikushō (ちくしょう) literally means beast and is used like 'Dammit!'. Both are rough, mostly heard in anime, sport and among close friends, and most adults vent with milder words like shimatta, ā mō or kuyashii.
9 min readHow to Say I'm Jealous in Japanese: Urayamashii, Ii Nā and Yakimochi
For the friendly "I'm so jealous!" you say when a friend has something nice, Japanese uses urayamashii (うらやましい), I'm envious, or simply ii nā (いいなあ), lucky you. Romantic jealousy is a different word: yakimochi o yaku (やきもちを焼く), and the strong, serious word is shitto (嫉妬).
10 min readHow to Say I'm Proud of You in Japanese (and Why It's Tricky)
Japanese has a literal I'm proud of you, hokori ni omou (誇りに思う), but it sounds formal and weighty, like a speech. In everyday life people say yoku ganbatta ne (よく頑張ったね), you worked so hard, or sugoi ne, that's amazing, and parents may say hana ga takai (鼻が高い) about their children.
10 min readHow to Say I'm Disappointed in Japanese: Gakkari, Zannen and More
The everyday way to say I'm disappointed in Japanese is gakkari shita (がっかりした). Zannen (残念) means that's a shame and is softer and more polite, kitai hazure (期待外れ) means a letdown, and chotto ochikonderu (ちょっと落ち込んでる) means I'm a bit down.
10 min readHow to Say I Can't Believe It in Japanese: Shinjirarenai, Uso and Maji
The direct way to say I can't believe it in Japanese is shinjirarenai (信じられない). With friends, uso deshō (うそでしょ), no way, and maji de? (まじで？), seriously?, are more common, and with anyone senior, e, hontō desu ka (really?) is the safe choice.
9 min readHow to Say I'm Drunk in Japanese: Yotta, Horoyoi and Futsukayoi
The everyday way to say I'm drunk in Japanese is yotta (酔った) or, softer and more casual, yotchatta (酔っちゃった). Horoyoi (ほろ酔い) means pleasantly tipsy, nomisugita (飲みすぎた) means I drank too much, and the morning after you have a futsukayoi (二日酔い), a hangover.
9 min readHow to Say I'm on a Diet in Japanese: Daietto-chū and Polite Refusals
To say I'm on a diet in Japanese, say daietto-chū desu (ダイエット中です). In Japanese, daietto almost always means trying to lose weight. For cutting back on something, use hikaete imasu (控えています), and to decline food kindly, say ato de itadakimasu (I'll have it later) or chotto dake itadakimasu (just a little).
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