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 41
Valentine's Day and White Day in Japan: Customs and Phrases
In Japan, Valentine's Day traditionally runs in one direction, and a second holiday a month later exists so the gift can come back.
6 min readChristmas in Japan: Customs, Couples and Useful Phrases
Christmas in Japan is everywhere in December and almost gone by the 26th, and the day that matters most for families comes a week later.
6 min readTanabata: The Star Festival and How to Write a Wish
Once a year, bamboo branches across Japan fill with paper strips, and each strip is a wish written with the same small grammar pattern.
6 min readJapanese Superstitions: Numbers, Chopsticks and Night Habits
Most Japanese superstitions are not about fear. They are about avoiding things that echo death or a funeral, and knowing them spares you an awkward moment.
6 min readJapanese Summer Festivals and Fireworks: Stalls, Yukata and Phrases
A Japanese summer festival is mostly short, cheerful exchanges: one yakisoba, a turn at the goldfish game, and a shout when the first firework opens.
5 min readAutumn Leaves in Japan: Momijigari Words and Phrases
Autumn leaf viewing has its own small vocabulary, and most of the conversation turns on one question: are the leaves at their best yet?
6 min readHinamatsuri and Children's Day: Japan's Festivals for Kids
Twice each spring, Japanese homes and shops celebrate children, and each day comes with its own decorations, sweets and greetings.
5 min readJapanese for Cosplay and Anime Events: Photos, Queues and Fans
Anime and cosplay events in Japan run on clear rules and polite requests, and a few set phrases make you a welcome visitor rather than a confused one.
6 min readHow to Say How Are You in Japanese, and What People Really Say
Most learners meet o-genki desu ka in their first lesson and then wait years to hear someone use it. That is not a gap in your listening; it is how the language works.
7 min readHow to Say Beautiful in Japanese: Kirei, Utsukushii and Suteki
Say kirei about a view and you sound natural. Say it about someone's apartment and you may have called it clean. The word you choose for beautiful decides what you actually praised.
6 min readHow to Say Happy in Japanese: Ureshii, Tanoshii and Shiawase
After a great party, learners often say ureshikatta and get a puzzled smile. The party was fun, not good news, and Japanese uses a different word for each.
7 min readHow to Say Friend in Japanese: Tomodachi, Shinyū and Nakama
Tomodachi works almost everywhere, but a wedding speech needs yūjin, your closest friend is a shinyū, and a team you have been through something with are nakama.
6 min readPractical guides
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