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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 54
How to Say I'm Broke in Japanese: Kinketsu and Okane ga Nai
The casual way to say I'm broke in Japanese is kinketsu nan da (金欠なんだ), literally I'm short of money. Okane ga nai (お金がない) is the plain I have no money, kongetsu pinchi (今月ピンチ) means money is tight this month, and politely you can say kongetsu wa chotto kibishikute (this month is a bit tough).
9 min readHow to Say I'm Homesick in Japanese: Hōmushikku, Koishii and More
To say I'm homesick in Japanese, say hōmushikku ni natta (ホームシックになった), I've got homesick. To say what you miss, use kazoku ni aitai (I want to see my family) or jimoto no aji ga koishii (I miss the food back home).
9 min readHow to Say It's a Secret in Japanese: Himitsu, Naisho and Koko Dake
To say it's a secret in Japanese, say naisho da yo (内緒だよ) in casual speech or himitsu desu (秘密です) in a neutral way. Koko dake no hanashi (ここだけの話) means just between us, and dare ni mo iwanaide (誰にも言わないで) means don't tell anyone.
9 min readHow to Say Take Your Time in Japanese: Yukkuri de Ii and Goyukkuri
The casual way to say take your time in Japanese is yukkuri de ii yo (ゆっくりでいいよ). Politely, say isoganakute ii desu yo (急がなくていいですよ), no need to hurry. Goyukkuri dōzo (ごゆっくりどうぞ) is what shop and restaurant staff say to customers.
9 min readDatte and Mon: How Japanese Friends Make Excuses (Datte... n da mon)
At the start of a sentence, datte (だって) means but or because, and it introduces an excuse. At the end, mon (もん) is a casual, slightly sulky way of saying that is the reason. Together, as in datte, nemukatta n da mon, they mean but I was sleepy! in a whiny, half-joking voice.
10 min readAno Sa, Nee Nee, Chotto Kiite: Getting a Friend's Attention in Japanese
To get a friend's attention in Japanese, say nē nē (hey, hey) or ano sa (so, listen), and for big news add chotto kiite! (listen to this!). These are casual openers for friends and family; with strangers and staff you still use sumimasen.
9 min readYatsu Meaning: 'That Guy', 'That Thing' and '...tte Yatsu' in Japanese
Yatsu (やつ) means one or thing in casual speech, as in ano akai yatsu, that red one, and it is completely neutral when it refers to objects. About people it means guy or fellow, and it can sound rough or rude, except in warm phrases like ii yatsu, a good guy.
9 min readE? vs Ha? in Japanese: Surprised Reaction or Rude Comeback?
E? (え？) is a neutral huh?: you did not catch something or you are mildly surprised. Ha? (は？) with a sharp rise means excuse me?! and usually signals irritation or disbelief, so it can sound rude. The pitch shape matters as much as the vowel.
9 min readSugee, Umee, Yabee: Why Japanese Vowels Fuse in Rough Speech
Sugē (すげえ) is a rough, casual way of saying sugoi, amazing. In relaxed, often masculine speech, the vowel pairs ai and oi at the end of a word fuse into a long ē: umai becomes umē, yabai becomes yabē, shiranai becomes shiranē.
9 min readJapanese Words for Laughing and Crying: Geragera, Kusukusu, Shikushiku
Japanese describes laughing and crying with sound words: geragera warau is to roar with laughter, kusukusu warau is to giggle, shikushiku naku is to sob quietly and wanwan naku is to bawl. Choosing the right one tells your listener exactly what the scene looked and sounded like.
9 min readTeasing in Japanese: Ijiru, Karakau and How to Take a Joke
Ijiru (いじる) means to tease someone playfully, poking fun at a habit or a slip so the whole group laughs, usually including the target. Karakau (からかう) is broader: to make fun of or to kid someone, which can be gentle or mean. The classic playful comeback is mō! yamete yo, hey, cut it out!
9 min readMaking Up After a Fight in Japanese: Kenka, Nakanaori and Apologies
To make up after a fight in Japanese, apologise for something specific, such as iisugita, gomen (I said too much, sorry), and then suggest nakanaori shiyō, let's make up. Kenka means a fight or an argument, and nakanaori means reconciliation.
9 min readPractical guides
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