Make your feelings about a situation crystal clear with ‘okage de’ and ‘sei de’
The words “okage de” and “sei de” both mean “because of,” but they have opposite nuances, with the former expressing a sense of gratitude and the latter expressing blame.
Ex-director sues Amnesty Japan for firing him over Japanese ability
Taro O’Sullivan said the organization hired him with the knowledge that he could speak Japanese at a conversational level but could barely read or write it.
Confess! Dating in Japan requires short set phrases to spark the fire
Valentine's Day is coming up, and knowing what to say to make things official with your crush is half the battle. The good news is the steps to a kokuhaku (confession) are straightforward.
The art of the Japanese pun: From classic poetry to dad jokes
Wordplay is used in a non-comical way even in traditional Japanese dishes at the holidays, with the names of ingredients recalling expressions of good tidings.
Casting the demons out with some fiendish Japanese idioms
Setsubun comes before the arrival of spring and it's marked by efforts to cast demons out of your home. However, we can't get the demons out of the Japanese language.
Radical recombinations: Capture the moment with created kanji
A yearly contest asks Japanese speakers to come up with new kanji to reflect modern times, providing a fun way to learn and understand the characters.
A flurry of news means a ton of new Japanese vocabulary
The first few weeks of 2021 have been eventful to say the least. Make sure to take a note of the new vocabulary you're hearing in order to keep up with the talk of the town.
For 25 years, this pair of Japanese teachers said it well
The Well Said column has wrapped up after 25 years of grammar lessons. We speak with the authors for their advice on learning and teaching Japanese.
A third wave of COVID-19 cases has hit the capital, which means that people may want to stay indoors more. It's a good time to make good on that resolution to learn Japanese.
Apologetic words abound amid a new wave of coronavirus cases
The vocabulary surrounding the state of emergency is back in the headlines as Tokyo gets set for new guidelines. When people go against those guidelines, well, the excuses start.
Raise your glasses to 2020: Good riddance!
Drinking culture changed in a lot of ways in 2020. On one hand, we drink alone more. On the other hand, we don't have to worry about the last train as much.
Learning how to use 'ira-ira' without getting frustrated
The onomatopoeic terms "ira-ira" and "unzari" can help express feelings of frustration and being fed up in general. Therefore, they're helpful during a pandemic-related lockdown.
