gokigen japanese blog – Grammar, Culture & Beyond - Page 3 of 16 - Explore essential grammar tips, JLPT strategies, and real-world cultural insights.

Mottainai: The Japanese philosophy of respecting resources/Guilt towards wasting

Learn what mottainai (もったいない) means - the Japanese philosophy against waste - its origins, everyday uses, examples, and easy ways to live it anywhere.

20 Ways to Say “You’re Welcome” in Japanese: From Casual to Formal

Discover 20 authentic ways to say “you’re welcome” in Japanese, from everyday casual replies to polite and formal expressions used in business and cultural settings.

V-stem + にくい: Beginner’s Guide to Saying “Hard to Do” in Japanese

Learn how to use V-stem + にくい to say something is hard to do in Japanese. Formation rules, i-adjective conjugations, natural examples, practice drills, and common mistakes—perfect for JLPT N4 beginners.

V-stem + やすい: Beginner’s Guide to Saying “Easy to Do” in Japanese

Learn how to use V-stem + やすい to say something is easy to do in Japanese. Clear formation rules, i-adjective conjugations, natural examples, practice drills, and common mistakes—perfect for JLPT N4 beginners.

V-stem + nagara (〜ながら): Beginner’s Guide to Saying “While ~ing” in Japanese

Learn V-stem + nagara (〜ながら) to express two actions happening at the same time in Japanese. Clear form rules, same-subject requirement, examples, drills, and common mistakes for N4 beginners.

V-nai de (～ないで): Beginner’s Guide to Saying “Without ~ing” in Japanese

Learn V-ないで to say “without ~ing” in Japanese (plus the formal 〜ずに). Clear steps, natural examples, drills, and pitfalls—perfect for N4 beginners.

Arigato Gozaimasu: How Do You Say Thank You in Japanese

Learn what “arigato gozaimasu” means, how to pronounce it, and the different ways to say thank you in Japanese, from casual to formal expressions.

Japanese Names: Popular Surnames, Meanings, and Name Generator Guide

Explore the meanings, origins, and most common Japanese last names. Learn pronunciation, cultural insights and genealogy tips.

short-present + と: Beginner’s Guide to “Whenever A Happens, B Happens” in Japanese

Learn the pattern "event A [short/ present] + と Event B" to describe constant results and natural consequences in Japanese. Form rules, examples, practice drills, key contrasts with toki, and common pitfalls for JLPT N4 beginners.

toki (時): Beginner’s Guide to Saying “When (Sentence 1), Sentence 2” in Japanese

Master the toki (時) clause pattern to link two actions in Japanese. Learn the short-form rule, tricky tense choice, clear examples, drills, and common pitfalls—perfect for JLPT N4 beginners.

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