gokigen japanese blog – Grammar, Culture & Beyond - Page 2 of 16 - Explore essential grammar tips, JLPT strategies, and real-world cultural insights.

V-te + yokatta desu (〜てよかったです): The Beginner’s Pattern for “I’m glad that …” in Japanese

Learn how to say “I’m glad that …” with V-て + よかったです in Japanese. Clear meaning, how to form positives and negatives (〜なくてよかったです), natural examples, practice, and common mistakes for JLPT N4 beginners.

20 Ways to Say “Hi” in Japanese (With Audio & Examples)

Learn 20 natural ways to say “hi” in Japanese—ohayō, konnichiwa, konbanwa, plus workplace and casual greetings. With audio, examples, and politeness tips.

Online Japanese Lessons for Beginners to Advanced Learners

Master Japanese from the comfort of your home with online lessons tailored to your level — from beginner basics to advanced fluency and JLPT preparation.

Master “Sumimasen”: One of the most commonly used phrases in Japanese

Learn the meaning of sumimasen and use it for apology, thanks, “pardon me”, getting attention, and asking permission—with real-life examples and audio.

How to Say “I Should Have…” in Japanese (V-ば + よかったです)

Learn V-ば + よかったです to express past regret in Japanese: “I should have…” / “I shouldn’t have…”. Clear formation, examples, common mistakes, and quick practice.

How to Use “〜てしまう” in Japanese: Finish or Accidentally End Up Doing

Learn the Japanese grammar 〜てしまう. Say you’ve completely finished something or accidentally ended up doing it, with examples, structure, and practice sentences.

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verb Pairs in Japanese (有対動詞) + 〜ている

Learn Japanese verb pairs (transitive/intransitive: 有対動詞) and how 〜ている changes meaning: action-in-progress vs. result state. With core pairs (開ける/開く, 閉める/閉まる, つける/つく, 消す/消える…), examples, drills, and common mistakes for N4 beginners.

(short form) + ka / (short form) + ka dou ka: Beginner’s Guide to “whether/if …” in Japanese

Learn how to embed questions with (short) + か and (short) + かどうか to say “whether/if …” in Japanese. Clear rules, when to use か vs かどうか, verb/adjective/noun patterns, examples, drills, and common pitfalls for JLPT N4 beginners.

N1 to iu N2 (〜という): Beginner’s Guide to “a N2 called N1” in Japanese

Learn the pattern N1 という N2 to say “a N2 called/named N1” in Japanese. Clear rules, natural examples, handy variants (という名前の, っていう), drills, and common mistakes—perfect for JLPT N4 beginners.

21 Japanese Swear Words, Insults, and Bad Language to Avoid in 2025

Learn 21 Japanese swear words, insults, and slang terms to avoid in 2025, with clear explanations, cultural context, and tips for speaking respectfully in Japan. Below are some phrases used in Anime but not in real life.

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