Kawaii Culture: Meaning of “Cute” in Japanese and Why It Matters
Discover the true meaning of kawaii (かわいい) in Japanese — more than just “cute,” it’s a cultural force shaping fashion, entertainment, language, and... Read more.
Japanese Causative: V-せる／させる & “(Causer) は (Causee) に V-せる/させる”
Introduction Want to say “I made my brother clean his room” or “My parents let me live alone” in Japanese? You’ll use the causative: This form covers both... Read more.
Imperative Form in Japanese (命令形)
Introduction Need to say “Hurry up!”, “Stop!”, or “Sit here!” in Japanese? That’s the imperative form (命令形)—a very strong command used sparingly... Read more.
V-stem + なさい: How to Give Firm “Do ~” Commands in Japanese
Introduction Want to say “Clean up now,” “Study hard,” or “Go to bed” in Japanese? The pattern you need is V-(stem) + なさい. It’s a direct, firm... Read more.
Before/After in Japanese: V (present short) + 前に / V (past short) + 後で
Introduction Want to say “before I sleep, I brush my teeth” or “after I studied, I came to Japan”? Use these two super-handy patterns: These are the standard... Read more.
Make It ~ in Japanese: い-adj + くする / な-adj + にする
Introduction Want to say “Make the room brighter,” “Make the soup spicier,” or “I made my hair shorter”? Use い-adj + くする and な-adj + にする... Read more.
V (short) + 間に (aida ni): How to Say “While / During …” in Japanese
Introduction Want to say “While I was sleeping, there was an earthquake” or “I want to travel while my friend is in Japan”? Use (short/plain form) + 間に... Read more.
Japanese V-てある: Result of Preparation
Introduction How can we say “Plans have been written down on the notebook.” or “A hotel has been booked.” in Japanese? The grammar is V-てある. V-てある... Read more.
Japanese Passive Form れる・られる: How to Say “be ~ed” and “be done by” with Natural Examples
Introduction This lesson explains how Japanese uses the passive form to focus on the person or thing affected by an action. You will learn the core pattern, how... Read more.
short form + はずです: Beginner’s Guide to Saying “I’m sure / It should be …” in Japanese
Introduction Want to say “It should be sunny tomorrow” or “I’m sure he’s a student”? Use short form + はずです. This pattern states a strong expectation... Read more.