Language | BILINGUAL Nov 19, 2019
Reuniting with old Japanese friends of all different kinds
by Samantha Seghers
Whether they're your "shin'yū," your "tomodachi" or your "nakama," reuniting with Japanese friends is always a blast.
Language | WELL SAID Nov 19, 2019
Get some experience using 'keiken' and 'taiken'
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
Two words that convey the meaning of experience, "keiken" and "taiken," have slightly different nuances when used in Japanese.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Nov 19, 2019
Full-scale Godzilla-themed area to open at western Japan park
A Kyodo piece focuses on a new attraction at an amusement park in Hyogo Prefecture involving one of Japan's most popular film icons.
Language | BILINGUAL Nov 12, 2019
Middle? Inside? Relax, the kanji for naka has this one in the bag
by Peter Backhaus
The kanji for "naka" is used in many different ways. A rectagle with a line cutting it in half, the kanji is also one of the easiest to remember.
Language | WELL SAID Nov 12, 2019
Here's some advice. If you want to help a friend out, stick to -tara ii desu
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
With your friends, giving and asking for advice in Japanese can be done in several ways. Just make sure you don't accidentally use these structures with your boss!
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Nov 12, 2019
The number of foreign students landing jobs after graduation hits a record high
A Kyodo article looks at good news for non-Japanese individuals studying in Japan with regards to their chances of landing a job after graduation.
National Nov 8, 2019
Rugby, disasters and social change generate buzzwords this year in Japan
by Masumi Koizumi and Satoshi Sugiyama
The 2019 Rugby World Cup, natural disasters and cashless payment inspired a large portion of the nominations for the annual buzzword of the year awards. The words selected for the 2019 U-Can Shingo Ryukogo Taisho (2019 U-Can New Words and Buzzword Awards) reflect the nation’s ...
Language | BILINGUAL Nov 4, 2019
How to express the ups and downs of a tax hike
by Kaori Shoji
Describing the rise in a tax hike and a rise in prices means using two different words in Japanese. In either case, things aren't looking up.
Language | WELL SAID Nov 4, 2019
Getting up front with 'omote' and then back to 'ura'
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
It's 4 p.m., do you know where your children are? Maybe they're "omote," which is a way of expressing that they're out in front of the house playing.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Nov 4, 2019
Number of Japanese language institutions soars in Asia: survey
A Japanese news article looks at the rising number of Japanese-language institutions in Vietnam and Myanmar.
Language Oct 28, 2019
Words to live by: The vocabulary of evacuation
by Kaori Shoji
There are a few Japanese words and phrases that can help you out when it looks like disaster is about to strike.
Language | WELL SAID Oct 28, 2019
By the way, do you know how to use 'hanashi wa kawaru kedo' in a sentence?
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
Changing the topic in a Japanese conversation is easier than you think and two terms in particular can help. 'Tokorode,' have you been studying Japanese long?