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 31
How to Say I'm Lost in Japanese: Michi ni Mayotta and Asking for Help
Japanese streets rarely have names, so getting lost is a normal part of life in Japan, and so is asking a stranger for help.
10 min readHow to Say I'm Full in Japanese: Onaka Ippai, Kekkō Desu and More
Saying you are full in Japanese is easy; saying it at someone's dinner table without sounding ungrateful takes a few more words.
10 min readHow to Say I'm Sleepy in Japanese: Nemui, Nemutai and Uto Uto
Sleepy after lunch, nodding off on the train, groggy after an alarm: Japanese has a precise word for each, and most of them start with nemu.
9 min readHow to Say Hot and Cold in Japanese: Atsui, Samui and Tsumetai
English uses cold for the weather and for a drink; Japanese uses two different words, and three different kanji share the sound atsui.
10 min readHow to Say I'm Bored in Japanese: Taikutsu, Hima and Tsumaranai
Bored with nothing to do, bored by a film, bored of a game you have played too much: Japanese has a different word for each, and one of them can offend.
9 min readHow to Say Congratulations in Japanese: Omedetō and Beyond
One word, omedetō, covers almost every happy occasion in Japanese; what changes is the politeness and the word you put in front of it.
8 min readJapanese at a Sentō: Phrases for Your Neighbourhood Public Bath
A sentō is the neighbourhood public bath, and once you know the routine it is one of the most relaxing and most local things you can do in Japan.
11 min readJapanese at a Gas Station: Regular, Mantan and Self-Service Pumps
Filling up in Japan is quick once you know two things: whether the station is full-service or self-service, and which fuel your car actually takes.
9 min readJapanese at a Dry Cleaner: Tickets, Stains and Pickup Dates
The small kurīningu shop on the corner is one of the most useful places in any Japanese neighbourhood, and a visit follows the same short script every time.
9 min readHow to Say I'm Thirsty in Japanese: Nodo ga Kawaita and O-mizu
Japanese does not have a single adjective for thirsty. Instead, you say that your throat has dried: nodo ga kawaita.
10 min readHow to Say Sorry to Keep You Waiting in Japanese: Omatase Shimashita
Japanese has a fixed phrase for the moment you finally arrive or return: omatase shimashita, "I have made you wait". You will hear it every day, from friends to waiters to call centres.
10 min readHow to Say Let Me Think in Japanese: Chotto Kangaesasete and Kentō
Japanese gives you plenty of ways to pause before answering, and some of them quietly mean no. Knowing which is which is as useful as knowing how to say them.
9 min readPractical guides
Turn Japanese knowledge into speaking confidence
Practice with Unihongo's AI Sensei in an immersive 3D classroom, with roleplay missions, pronunciation coaching, useful feedback, and learning games that build your vocabulary while you play.