gokigen japanese blog – Grammar, Culture & Beyond

Nとして (N to shite) Meaning & Usage: “As N / in the role of N” in Japanese

Learn JLPT N3 grammar Nとして (“as N / in the role of N”). Clear meaning, natural examples, common patterns like NとしてのN and Nとしては, and related grammar such as Nで and Nにとって.

Nにとって (N ni totte): For N / from N’s standpoint in Japanese

Learn JLPT N3 grammar Nにとって (“for N / from N’s standpoint”). Clear meaning, natural examples, common mistakes, and related patterns.

何といっても (nanto ittemo) — “Above all / undeniably”

Learn JLPT N3 grammar 何といっても (“above all / undeniably / no question”). Clear meaning, natural examples, common mistakes, and related patterns like 何より(も).

Nといえば (N to ieba): “Speaking of…” / “When you mention…”

Learn JLPT N3 grammar Nといえば (“speaking of / when you mention…”). Clear meaning, natural examples, common mistakes, and related patterns like NといえばNだ and Nといったら.

V (short) + ことにしている: How to Say “Make it a Habit to …”

Learn V (short) + ことにしている to express “I make it a habit to …” in Japanese. Clear formation, nuance vs. ことにする / ことになる / ことになっている, natural examples, practice, and common mistakes.

V (short) + ことにする: How to Say “Decide to do …” in Japanese

Learn V (short) + ことにする to express “decide to do …” in Japanese. Clear formation, nuance vs. ことになる and ことにしている, natural examples, practice prompts, and common mistakes—perfect for JLPT N4 learners.

N のように / N のような: How to Say “Like N / Similar to N” in Japanese

Learn N のように (like N + verb/adj) and N のような (N-like + noun) to express similarity in Japanese. Clear rules, natural examples, common mistakes, and practice for JLPT N4 learners.

V-stem + 方 (kata): How to Say “How to do ~” in Japanese

Learn V-stem + 方 (kata) to express “how to do ~” in Japanese: formation (ru/u/irregular), particle changes (を→の), への for destinations, natural request patterns, examples, practice, and common mistakes. Perfect for JLPT N4 learners.

V/adj-て + も: How to Say “Even If …” in Japanese

Master V/adj-て + も to express “even if/ even though” in Japanese. Clear formation for verbs and adjectives (positive/negative), usage notes, contrast with のに and たら, natural examples, practice, and common mistakes.

[Japanese idioms] どんぐりの背比べ (donguri no seikurabe) – One is no better than the others

Learn the Japanese idiom どんぐりの背比べ (donguri no seikurabe), which describes a situation where everyone is nearly the same and none stands out. Includes meaning and an easy example sentence for beginners.

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