Tag - bilingual

 
 

BILINGUAL

Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 7, 2022
I know Japanese. Why can’t I read signs in Hokkaido?
A lot of the readings for kanji on Japan's northernmost island are connected to the language and culture of the Ainu, who are indigenous to Hokkaido.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 30, 2022
How can you fight climate change in Japan? Learn how to talk about it.
A good approach to speaking about hot-button topics in Japanese is to use so-called softeners so that your don't come off as too direct with your opinions.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 23, 2022
What to say (and what not to say) at a Japanese funeral
With the state funeral of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe taking place in the next few days, we take a look at how the Japanese traditionally mourn the recently departed.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 16, 2022
When breaking up in Japanese, be sure to give up the ghosting
It's hard to break up with someone in any language, but the inclination toward “ghosting” may make one side feel even worse.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 9, 2022
The study of Japanese slang is challenging and never stops. Luckily, it’s also a lot of fun.
Wes Robertson set out to engage with other linguists on Twitter and wound up creating a database for modern Japanese slang.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 2, 2022
Body language: Know your Japanese from head to toe
Whether it's the leg of a chair or the ears of your bread, Japanese is just as prone to assigning human body parts to inanimate objects as English is.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 26, 2022
On Japanese Twitter, don’t LOL when you can wwww
Just as in English, Japanese web-speak has developed a few key terms that are unique to the social media landscape of this country.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 19, 2022
That's using your noodle: The linguistic joy of cooking
Looking to up your vocabulary in Japanese? Recipes are actually a great (and delicious) place to start.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 12, 2022
Read between the lines when it comes to party invitations
Japanese people tend to avoid giving a clear 'no' when asked a question. Learn the sentences that infer a negative outcome early on in your studies here.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 5, 2022
Trying to cool down without the air conditioning? Look to Kyoto and Brisbane for some ideas.
Temperatures are up and that means a lot of us are trying anything to beat the heat.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 29, 2022
Cherry blossoms, cranes and the language of Japanese symbols
The bald eagle of the United States and the orchids of China have deeper meanings in their respective cultures. What items do the Japanese give symbolic weight to?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 22, 2022
A shocking incident provides an unexpected language lesson
When former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed this month, the Western media called it an “assassination.” So why did the Japanese media avoid the term?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 15, 2022
Retrieve your lost item in Japan with the right words
Connect verbs and adjectives using the te-form to describe your missing item and you're a step closer to getting back what you've misplaced.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 8, 2022
Why translators are fighting for more credit from Western publishers
Many publishers don't credit translators on book covers, but translators have been pushing for recognition in recent years as they become driving forces for selling books.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 17, 2022
Getting ‘hai’ is more difficult than you think
It's a simple word but sometimes using a well-placed “hai” is all it takes to facilitate a good conversation in Japanese.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 10, 2022
Running your work ideas through a nemawashi cycle
Don't go into a meeting with your guns blazing. In Japan, you need to do a lot of preparation in advance so that things will go smoothly.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 3, 2022
Looking to make an escape in Japanese? You'll need to know your kanji.
As the war in Ukraine looks far from over, there is no shortage of discussions on how to “get out” of such a dangerous situation. Here's a closer look at some escape-related terms.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 27, 2022
Da trouble with da, the less formal cousin of desu
The simple 'da' in Japanese isn't so simple when you delve into the purposes it serves and the ways in you should be using it correctly.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 20, 2022
Use certain Japanese phrases to turn that 'mansplaining' monologue back into a constructive dialogue
Japanese dating sites tend to encourage women to listen to and praise their male partners, but the conversation doesn't have to go in one direction.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 13, 2022
Finding the right words for when you discover a lost item in Japan
Take a verb and turn it into a noun simply by adding 'mono' to the end of it and you're halfway to verbalizing that you've found something that was lost.

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores