Beginner lessons

Here are some more incredibly useful Japanese expressions that will help you communicate more naturally in daily conversations. 「てしまう」 (Te Shimau): Completely Do / Accidentally Do / Regrettably Do This versatile expression attaches to the te-form of a verb and conveys several nuances, often related to completion or an unexpected outcome. 「のように／のような」 (No Yō ni / No Yō na): Like / Similar to / As If These expressions are used to make comparisons, describe appearances, or state how something is done. 「はず」 (Hazu): Should / Is Expected to / It must be 「はず」 expresses expectation, presumption, or certainty based on some information or reasoning. It implies a high probability or […]

Mastering everyday expressions can significantly boost your confidence and fluency in Japanese. Let’s break down some common and highly useful phrases, focusing on how they’re used in real conversations. 「もう」 (Mō) and 「まだ」 (Mada) These adverbs are crucial for indicating whether an action or state is completed or ongoing, often reflecting expectations or surprise about timing. 「もう」 (Mō): Already / No Longer 「まだ」 (Mada): Still / Not Yet 「〜つもりだ」 (Tsumori da): Intend to / Plan to 「〜つもりだ」 expresses the speaker’s strong intention or plan, or sometimes their estimation of a situation. 「どこかに／どこにも」 (Doko ka ni / Doko ni mo): Somewhere / Nowhere These expressions are used when you don’t know

The Japanese causative-passive form (使役受け身 – shiekiumikei), taking the form 「〜させられる」, means “to be made to do something by someone.” This powerful grammatical structure combines the rules of both the causative (使役形 – shiekikei) and passive (受け身形 – ukemikei) forms. It fundamentally shifts the perspective to the person who is being made to do the action. What the Causative-Passive Expresses The causative-passive primarily conveys two main meanings: How to Form the Causative-Passive Forming the causative-passive involves applying passive rules to the causative form. Here’s a breakdown by verb type: Verb Type Plain Form (Example) Causative Form (Example) How to Form (Applying Passive to Causative) Causative-Passive Form (Example) Colloquial Shortening (U-verbs

The Japanese causative form (使役形 – shiekikei) is a versatile grammatical structure that allows you to express “making someone do something” or “letting someone do something.” It’s similar to English phrases like “make/have someone do X” or “let/allow someone to do X.” The causative form primarily conveys two nuances: How to Form the Causative The formation of the causative form depends on the verb type: u-verbs (五段動詞 – godan dōshi), ru-verbs (一段動詞 – ichidan dōshi), and irregular verbs. Verb Type Plain Form (Example) How to Form Causative Form (Example) English Equivalent (Example) U-verbs (五段動詞) 読む (よむ) Add -seru to the a-form (読ま-, 書か-, etc.) 読ませる make/let (someone) read 書く (かく)

The Japanese passive voice (受け身形 – ukemikei), much like the English passive voice, expresses that the subject of the sentence “had something done to it” or “was subjected to an action.” Instead of focusing on the person performing the action (the agent), the passive voice highlights the person or thing that receives the action. When to Use the Passive Voice You’ll primarily use the passive voice in Japanese in these situations: How to Form the Passive Voice The way you form the passive voice depends on the type of verb. Japanese verbs are generally categorized into “u-verbs” (五段動詞 – godan dōshi), “ru-verbs” (一段動詞 – ichidan dōshi), and irregular verbs. Verb

Japanese honorifics, known collectively as Keigo (敬語), can be a daunting aspect of the language for learners. Among the three main categories – Teineigo (丁寧語), Sonkeigo (尊敬語), and Kenjōgo (謙譲語) – Kenjōgo often poses a particular challenge. While Teineigo is polite everyday language and Sonkeigo elevates the status of the person you’re speaking to or about, Kenjōgo serves a unique and crucial purpose: to humble yourself or your in-group in order to show respect to an out-group individual. Think of it as gracefully lowering your own status to elevate the listener’s. This subtle act of self-effacement is a cornerstone of Japanese politeness and essential for navigating formal and business interactions.

Japanese honorifics, or keigo (敬語 – けいご), are a vital part of the language, reflecting its deep cultural emphasis on respect and social hierarchy. Among the different types of keigo, Sonkeigo (尊敬語 – そんけいご) is used specifically to show respect towards the person you’re talking to or the person you’re talking about (the subject of the sentence). You’ll use Sonkeigo primarily when addressing or referring to people of higher status, such as your teachers, superiors, customers, or even someone you’ve just met. How to Form Sonkeigo: Types and Usage There are a few ways to transform a verb into its Sonkeigo form. The “お (o) / ご (go) 〜になる (ni

Understanding the difference between intransitive verbs (自動詞 – jidōshi) and transitive verbs (他動詞 – tadōshi) is crucial for anyone learning Japanese. While it might seem a bit tricky at first, grasping this concept will significantly improve your sentence construction and overall comprehension. Let’s break it down! What Are Intransitive and Transitive Verbs? In Japanese, verbs are broadly categorized into these two types based on how their action relates to a subject and an object. Intransitive Verbs (自動詞 – Jidōshi) Transitive Verbs (他動詞 – Tadōshi) How to Tell the Difference: Practical Tips! Knowing the definitions is one thing, but how do you actually identify them in practice? Here are some useful

When it comes to expressing “if” or conditional statements in Japanese, you’ll encounter several options. While each has its own nuance, 「～たら」 (tara) stands out as the most flexible and frequently used conditional form in daily conversation. Compared to other conditional expressions, 「たら」 can be applied in a remarkably wide range of situations. Let’s dive into how to form 「たら」 and explore its diverse uses. 1. How to Form 「～たら」 Forming 「たら」 is straightforward: simply attach 「ら」 (ra) to the past tense (ta-form) of verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Part of Speech How to Form Examples Verbs ta-form + ら 行く (iku) ⇒行ったら (ittara) – if/when I go食べる (taberu) ⇒食べたら (tabetara)

When you want to talk about something you’ve heard, seen, or inferred in Japanese, you’ll often encounter 「そうです」 (sō desu), 「ようです」 (yō desu), and 「みたいです」 (mitai desu). While they all relate to making educated guesses or reporting information, their usage depends heavily on the source of your information and your level of certainty. Let’s break down each one. 「そうです」 (Sō desu) – The Dual-Purpose Inference The versatile 「そうです」 has two distinct uses, differentiated by how the verb or adjective connects to it. Use A: Indicating Appearance or Seeming (Direct Observation) This usage implies that something appears to be or looks like something, based on your direct sensory observations (what you