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 55
Japanese Nasal G (Bidakuon): The Soft 'Nga' Sound Explained
Bidakuon (鼻濁音) is a soft, nasal way of pronouncing g, like the ng in singer followed by a vowel. In traditional standard Japanese it is used for g in the middle of a word and for the particle ga, while g at the start of a word stays hard. Today it is optional and becoming less common.
9 min readJapanese for a Takoyaki Party: Takopa Phrases for Home Parties
A takopa (タコパ) is a takoyaki party: friends gather at someone's home around an electric takoyaki pan and cook the octopus balls together. The key lines are takopa shiyō! (let's have a takopa!), nanika motte iku ne (I'll bring something), hikkurikaeshite ii? (can I flip them?) and yaketa yo! (they're done!).
9 min readJapanese at a Yoga Class: Following Instructions and Poses
A Japanese yoga teacher talks almost entirely in short te-form commands: iki o sutte (breathe in), haite (breathe out), ryōte o ue ni (both hands up). Learn about thirty body and direction words, a handful of pose names and one line about injuries, and you can follow a whole class.
10 min readJapanese at a Bouldering Gym: Grades, Safety and Climber Talk
At a Japanese bouldering gym you will need four kinds of Japanese: the first-visit briefing (hajimete desu), grades (nan-kyū desu ka), cheers (ganba! and naisu!) and turn-taking (osaki ni dōzo). Climbers are famously friendly, and a finished problem is an easy way to start a conversation.
10 min readJapanese for Fishing: Tackle Shops, Piers and Fishing Talk
To go fishing in Japan, ask nani ga tsuremasu ka (what are people catching?) at the tackle shop, esa wa dore ga ii desu ka (which bait is best?), and learn to shout tsureta! when you hook one. If you catch nothing, anglers say bōzu deshita.
10 min readJapanese for Photographers: Camera Talk and Asking to Take Portraits
To ask someone in Japan if you can take their picture, say shashin o totte mo ii desu ka, may I take your photo? Add what you will do with it, such as kao wa utsushimasen (I won't show your face), and accept a no gracefully. The rest of this guide covers camera-shop Japanese and talking settings with other photographers.
10 min readJapanese for Buying Skincare and Makeup at a Drugstore
To buy skincare at a Japanese drugstore, say your skin type (binkanhada nan desu, I have sensitive skin), name the product type (keshōsui, nyūeki, hiyakedome), and ask osusume wa dore desu ka, which do you recommend? Ask tesutā wa arimasu ka before trying anything.
9 min readJapanese for Running a Race in Japan: Marathons and Cheering
Japanese races have their own vocabulary: zekken (bib), kyūsuijo (water station), gōru (finish) and kansō (finishing the race). The crowd shouts faito! and ganbare!, and afterwards runners ask taimu wa dō deshita ka, how was your time?
9 min readJapanese for Dog Owners: Walks, Dog Parks and Chatting with Owners
On a dog walk in Japan, the conversation starts with sawatte mo ii desu ka (may I pet him?), then nansai desu ka (how old?) and otoko no ko desu ka, onna no ko desu ka (boy or girl?). If your dog barks at someone, a quick sumimasen, hoechatte smooths things over.
9 min readJapanese for Volunteering in Japan: Signing Up and Helping Out
To volunteer in Japan, say borantia ni sanka shitai desu (I'd like to volunteer), and on the day ask nani o sureba ii desu ka (what should I do?). End with otsukaresama deshita, thanks for your hard work, to everyone.
9 min readTotonou Meaning: Japan's Sauna Boom and the Words Sauna Fans Use
Totonou (ととのう) is the word Japanese sauna fans use for the deeply relaxed, clear-headed feeling after a cycle of sauna, cold plunge (mizuburo) and resting in the open air (gaikiyoku). The everyday verb means to be in order; in sauna talk it describes being reset.
9 min readJapanese at Round1: Bowling, Batting Cages and Spocha with Friends
At Round1 or any Japanese bowling alley, tell reception ni-gēmu de onegai shimasu (two games, please) and your shoe size in centimetres. In the lane, shout sutoraiku!, groan oshii! and keep track with tsugi, dare no ban? (whose turn next?).
9 min readPractical guides
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