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May 21, 2024
 

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Akemi Tanahashi
For Akemi Tanahashi's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 2, 2015
Get things done faster with 'mo'
Today, we will introduce various ways of using the adverb u3082u3046 (already/no more).
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 23, 2015
It's time to learn how to use 'mada'
Today, we will introduce various ways to use the adverb u307eu3060 (not yet).
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 16, 2015
The magical word that means 'hello' and 'sorry' and 'thank you'
Today, we will introduce various ways to use the adverb u3069u3046u3082, which is difficult to translate into English.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 9, 2015
Teach yourself to master the word 'sensei'
Today, we will introduce various ways of using the noun u5148u751f uff08u305bu3093u305bu3044uff09, which means teacher, as in u9234u6728uff08u3059u305au304duff09u3055u3093u306eu304au7236 uff08u3068u3046uff09u3055u3093u306fu3001u5c0fu5b66u6821uff08u3057u3087u3046u304cu3063u3053u3046uff09u306eu5148u751fuff08u305bu3093u305bu3044uff09u3067u3057u305f (Ms. Suzuki's father was a teacher at an elementary school).
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 2, 2015
Understanding the survival of the fittest with tsuyoi and yowai
Today, we will introduce various meanings and usages of the adjective u5f37uff08u3064u3088uff09u3044 (strong) and its antonym u5f31uff08u3088u308fuff09u3044 (weak).
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 26, 2015
Thanks to okage, it's easier to explain yourself
Last week, we introduced how to use u305bu3044 to express the cause of something (especially something bad) in negative way. Today, we will introduce how to use its antonym u304au304bu3052 (owing to).
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 19, 2015
Explaining the cause of the problem with sei
Today, we will introduce the meanings and usages of the noun u305bu3044 (because of), which expresses someone's belief about the cause of something.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 12, 2015
If the au fits, wear it
Today we will introduce the meanings and usage of the verb u5408uff08u3042uff09u3046 that means to fit. u5408u3046 is used to describe how something or someone (X) fits with something or someone else (Y) using the pattern X(a thing or person)u306fY(a thing or person)u306bu5408u3046, as in u4ecauff08u3044u307euff09u306eu4ed5u4e8buff08u3057u3054u3068uff09u306fu79c1uff08u308fu305fu3057uff09u306bu5408u3063u3066u3044u308b (My current job suits me).
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 5, 2015
20 years of learning Japanese with Well Said!
Today, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Well Said column by talking with some of its characters.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 29, 2014
Feeling good about using kimochi
Today, we will introduce the proper use of u6c17u6301uff08u304du3082uff09u3061, a phrase that refers to a feeling.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 22, 2014
Express yo-self with this one essential particle
Today, we will introduce u3088, a particle which is added to the end of a sentence to show a speaker's intention.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 15, 2014
There's still more to know about ne, after all
Last week, we introduced the end-of-sentence particle u306d and its uses. The basic meaning of u306d is to show or require agreement.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 8, 2014
The greatest of all Japanese particles is ne, isn't it?
Today, we will introduce the proper use of u306d, an end-of-sentence particle that shows the feeling of a speaker.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 1, 2014
Would you rather flunk out of Japanese than learn kurai-nara?
Today, we will introduce two expressions: Xu304fu3089u3044u306au3089Y and Xu304fu3089u3044Y u306fu306au3044/u3044u306au3044, where u304fu3089u3044 shows the degree of something.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 24, 2014
Getting your words just right with pittari
Today, we will introduce some uses of u3074u3063u305fu308a, an adverb that shows the state of something.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 17, 2014
Koto and kedo are useful, but only if you know what to do with them
Today, we will introduce the proper use of the pattern Xu3053u3068u306fXu3051u3069u3001Y, which is used to mean that X may be true, but Y.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 10, 2014
Without kara-de-nai-to, you could be in trouble
Today, we will introduce some uses of the phrase Xu304bu3089u3067u306au3044u3068Yu306au3044, which indicates an essential condition for something to happen.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 3, 2014
Say it with a bang using mō and mattaku
Today we will introduce some uses of u3082u3046 and u307eu3063u305fu304f, which help to emphasize something when speaking.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Oct 27, 2014
Mashō-ka: Let's do this thing
Today, we will introduce some uses of Xu307eu3057u3087u3046u304b. X is a verb in masu-form without u307eu3059.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Oct 20, 2014
Kuyashii: a useful word for those of us who frequently fail miserably
Today, we will introduce proper usage of the i-adjective u304fu3084u3057u3044, which is used to show feeling — it can express anger caused by humiliation, defeat or frustration.
Rare sequel to 'My Neighbor Totoro' to play at Cannes
A screening of "Mei and the Baby Cat Bus," which is being billed as a "mini-sequel" to the Studio Ghibli classic "My Neighbor Totoro," is set to take place at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday.
America wasn’t made for walking, and it’s killing them
A 2010 study found that U.S. adults averaged 5,117 steps daily and that this was lower than the averages found in similar studies in Switzerland, western Australia and Japan.
Fuchu Prison adapting to foreign prisoners
From the outside, the light-brown complex that is Fuchu Prison in western Tokyo could easily be mistaken for a city hall.
Why half of Japan's cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 years
A couple looks out onto the Fukuoka nightscape. Due to its distance from Tokyo and its close proximity to South Korea and China, professor Tomoya Mori believes that Fukuoka is one of the few metropolitan regions of Japan that will see some form of growth in the decades to come.
Japan concerned over U.S. officials' remarks on atomic bombings
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to reporters during a news conference in Washington on Thursday.
Fuchu Prison adapting to foreign prisoners
From the outside, the light-brown complex that is Fuchu Prison in western Tokyo could easily be mistaken for a city hall.
The politicians moving Japan forward on climate
While not the most outspoken politician on the issue, digital minister Taro Kono has a track record of being serious in his commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
Seoul's eclectic Art OnO shines light on Japan's artists and galleries
Art OnO, which took place from April 19 to 21 in Seoul, featured a modest number of 36 participating galleries from 15 countries.
Want to be a voice actor? Stay 'true to the character'
SungWon Cho is a veteran with more than 10 years of experience portraying characters in anime, cartoons and video games.
Local theater in Japan is more than a hobby — it’s a community
Japan Times contributor Laura Pollacco (front right) was offered the role of one of her all-time favorite heroines, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bennet, in the Tokyo International Players’ production of “Pride and Prejudice.”

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.
How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

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