Master “Sumimasen”: One of the most commonly used phrases in Japanese
If you have interacted with Japanese people, you might have heard people use “Sumimasen” quite often. It is such a useful, yet complicated phrase. Let’s... Read more.
Mottainai: The Japanese philosophy of respecting resources/Guilt towards wasting
Have you heard of the Japanese word mottainai (もったいない, pronounced “moh-tai-nai”)? It captures the feeling that it’s a shame to waste anything valuable—food,... Read more.
How to Say “You Should” in Japanese | Using V-ta / V-nai + hou ga ii desu（〜たほうがいいです）
Introduction Want to say things like “You should sleep early,” “You should study more,” or “You shouldn’t lie” in Japanese? To give advice or make... Read more.
How to Say “I’ve Done It Before” in Japanese | Using V-ta + koto ga aru（〜たことがある）
Introduction Want to say “I’ve been to Japan” or “I’ve eaten sushi before” in Japanese? In English, we use the present perfect (“have done”) to talk... Read more.
How to Say “Must Do” in Japanese | Using なければ／なきゃ + いけません
Introduction How do you say “I must study” or “I have to go to school” in Japanese? In this lesson, we’ll introduce two very common and useful grammar... Read more.
How to Say “Because” in Japanese | Using ～ので for Giving Polite Reasons
Introduction You’ve probably already learned that から can be used to say “because” in Japanese. But did you know that there’s a softer, more polite way... Read more.
How to Use “～んです” in Japanese | Giving Explanations Naturally
Introduction Have you ever wanted to explain something politely or say “actually…” in Japanese? In English, we might say: In Japanese, the go-to expression... Read more.
How to Say “Because” in Japanese | Using ～から with Short Form Verbs, Adjectives, and Nouns
Introduction Want to say things like “Because I’m tired,” “Because it’s cold,” or “Because I have an exam” in Japanese? The most natural and useful... Read more.
How to Say “Doing Something” in Japanese | Using Verb + の to Nominalize
Introduction In English, we can turn verbs into nouns by adding “-ing”: In Japanese, you can do the same thing using: Verb (short form) + の= “doing something... Read more.
How to Say “Please Don’t” in Japanese | Using nai-de kudasai（〜ないでください）
Introduction What if you want to tell someone politely not to do something in Japanese? Whether it’s “Please don’t smoke,” “Please don’t call,” or... Read more.