Vocabulary and phrases
Practical guides on speaking, grammar, pronunciation, listening, and study planning, written for learners who want to use Japanese in real life.
Vocabulary and phrases · Page 8
Zettai Meaning: How to Use 絶対 (Absolutely) in Japanese
Zettai (絶対) means absolutely, definitely or for sure. You hear it in promises (zettai iku, I'll definitely go), bans (zettai dame, absolutely not) and refusals (zettai muri, no way). With a negative verb, it means never.
9 min readSuteki Meaning: How to Use 素敵 (Lovely, Wonderful)
Suteki (素敵) means lovely, wonderful, charming or delightful. It is a warm, gentle compliment for clothes, places, people, ideas and moments, and suteki desu ne is one of the safest polite compliments in Japanese.
9 min readHima Meaning: 暇 for Free Time, Boredom and Invitations
Hima (暇) means free time, or having nothing to do. Among friends, hima? (are you free?) is the classic opener for an invitation, but with teachers or bosses it can sound rude, so you ask o-jikan arimasu ka instead.
9 min readAnata Meaning: Why Japanese Rarely Says あなた (You)
Anata (あなた) means you, and it is the first word for you in most textbooks. In real conversation, though, Japanese speakers rarely say it to someone's face. They use the person's name or title, or leave you out altogether.
9 min readUse Mocchi to Separate Similar Japanese Vocabulary Words
When two Japanese words blur together, ask Mocchi for contrasting situations instead of another pair of broad English glosses. Identify the action or relationship each word describes, then make a small card that preserves the difference you keep missing.
4 min readPractice Japanese Verb Pairs With Mocchi: 開ける and 開く
To practice Japanese transitive and intransitive pairs, begin with the event you want to describe. Ask Mocchi to compare someone opening a door with the door opening, then choose the verb and particles together instead of guessing from a verb ending alone.
4 min readLearn Japanese Word Partners With Mocchi, Not Just Glosses
A Japanese word becomes easier to use when you learn some of the words that naturally accompany it. Ask Mocchi for a useful word partner and a situation, then make a changed sentence rather than relying only on a dictionary gloss.
4 min readPractice Japanese Counters With Mocchi in Small Situations
Practice Japanese counters by choosing a clear object and a small quantity before learning the spoken form. Ask Mocchi to build a short situation around the expression, then check counter choice and pronunciation as separate steps.
4 min readExplore Japanese Sound-Symbolic Words With Mocchi AI
Japanese sound-symbolic words become easier to remember when you connect them to a scene and impression. Ask Mocchi for a small contrast, such as different kinds of rain, and use the expressions in complete sentences rather than collecting a long list of entertaining sounds.
4 min readChoose Japanese Vocabulary for the Audience With Mocchi
The right Japanese word depends partly on who acts, who is listening, and what relationship the sentence expresses. Ask Mocchi to compare ordinary, respectful, and humble wording with a clear scenario instead of replacing every familiar verb with a formal-looking alternative.
4 min readMake Better Japanese Flashcards From a Mocchi Lesson
A good flashcard begins with a word you have a reason to learn and one meaning you can test clearly. Ask Mocchi to suggest a small set from a reading or correction, review the proposed examples, then choose pictures and save the cards you actually want.
4 min readBimyou Meaning: Japanese 微妙 for So-So, Iffy and Awkward
Bimyō (微妙) literally means subtle or delicate, but in everyday spoken Japanese it usually means so-so, iffy or not quite right. Saying chotto bimyō ka na about a meal, a film or a plan is a soft way to show you are not impressed without sounding harsh.
10 min readPractical guides
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