Speaking and pronunciation
Practical guides on speaking, grammar, pronunciation, listening, and study planning, written for learners who want to use Japanese in real life.
Speaking and pronunciation · Page 17
Japanese Networking Speaking Practice: Short and Natural
A professional attending Japanese events needs more than another list of features. This guide turns the decision into a real speaking test with a result you can hear.
5 min readJapanese Small-Talk Speaking Practice: Keep It Moving
A learner who can answer but struggles to extend conversation needs more than another list of features. This guide turns the decision into a real speaking test with a result you can hear.
5 min readJapanese Conversation Practice for Couples Learning Together
A couple studying Japanese together needs more than another list of features. This guide turns the decision into a real speaking test with a result you can hear.
5 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).
9 min readHow 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 readPractical guides
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