Language Studies

You’ve probably learned the Japanese word ちょっと (chotto), but did you know it can be used for almost any situation? While most people learn ちょっと as meaning “a little,” it actually has a much wider variety of uses for different contexts.  As we dive into how ちょっと is actually used…

In Japan, “rock paper scissors” is referred to as “じゃんけん”(Janken). Although it is called different names in different places, the rules of the game are generally the same in every country. The full countdown phrase is じゃんけんぽん (Janken pon!), equivalent to “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot!”In Japan, janken is used to…

Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you wanted to compliment someone, but didn’t know how to express it naturally in Japanese? Knowing how to homeru (褒める) — the Japanese word for “to praise” or “to compliment” — is one of the simplest ways to make friends and…

Do you want to ask someone on a date, but you don’t know what to say in Japanese? Asking someone on a date takes a bit of confidence, especially in a new language. So, let’s go through some key phrases for dating in Japanese. Whether you live in Japan for…

Part of conversations is not only letting the other person speak, but also communicating that you are listening. In Japanese, this is known as 相槌 (aizuchi). Aizuchi are conversational interjections that Japanese speakers use when speaking with one another. They are one of the most important aspects of speaking Japanese…

After mastering hiragana, one of the three Japanese writing systems, the natural next step is to learn katakana, the second Japanese syllabary. Commonly used to write loanwords, katakana represent the same set of sounds as hiragana, but they look completely different. Katakana characters are typically boxier and more geometric, with…

If you have started learning Japanese or thinking about doing it soon, you might ask yourself: How long does it take to learn Japanese? It’s an honest question, and probably the most important. Between people’s fascination with Japanese culture and the desire to live in Japan, Japanese has become one…

The JLPT N3 phrase, にしては, is often used to express a contrast or comparison of someone or something. It is similar to saying “for” or “considering that,” and it is often used to express how something or someone is somewhat different from the norm or what is expected. So, let’s…