味噌汁（みそしる/Misoshiru） is a traditional Japanese soup. It is made with 出汁（だし/dashi – stock） with a small amount of 具（ぐ/gu –…
しゅせき, しゅうせき, しゅっせき
Today’s sound comparison is among しゅせき, しゅうせき and しゅっせき. Listen and repeat the sound. If you can pronounce them correctly, it’s easier to hear them apart.
母
Meaning: mother Recognized Reading: ボ、モ、はは、おも 母子（ボシ）: mother and child(ren)母語（ボゴ）: one’s mother tongue母国（ボコク）: one’s native country父母（フボ/ちちはは）: parents, father and mother祖母（ソボ）:…
アイス
The picture is of a cup of “shaved ice” but the caption says “アイスをたべましょう (aisu wo tabemashou)” is not right.…
父
Meaning: father Recognized Reading: フ（プ）、ちち 父母（フボ/ちちはは）: parents, father and mother父兄（フケイ）: a parent, a guardian父子（フシ）: father and (a) child(ren)祖父（ソフ）: a…
Obento
The Japanese word, Obento, seems to be getting accepted in Australia to call a set menu with rice served in…
ようやくりょかんのよやくがとれました
ようやくりょかんのよやくがとれました means “I could finally get an inn booked.” ようやく means “finally” and よやく means “a reservation.” They both go…
族
Meaning: family, clan Reading: ゾク、やから＊ 族生（ゾクセイ）する: grow in clusters家族（カゾク）: a family, one’s family (members)一族（イチゾク）: one’s relatives, one’s kin親族（シンゾク）: a…
サンド
When you saw the picture, did you think I ate “sand” there? Sand there was very nice, but it was…
わかりません
If you are asked: あしたなにをしますか。(What are you going to do tomorrow?) and if you “don’t know yet,” the recommended answer…
家
Meaning: houseReading: カ、ケ、いえ、や、うち＊ 家族（カゾク）: a family, one’s family (members)家庭（カテイ）: a household, a family一家（イッカ）: (somebody’s) entire family, a family 家来（ケライ）:…
If you want to drink English tea in Japan…
On Tuesday, I talked about Japanese tea. Today, I’m going to talk about “English style tea.” “English style tea” is…
しょちゅう, しょっちゅう, しょうちゅう
Today’s sound comparison is among しょちゅう, しょっちゅう and しょうちゅう. Listen and repeat the sound. If you can say them correctly, it’s easier to hear them apart.
私
Meaning: private, me Reading: シ、わたくし、わたし 私立（シリツ）（の）: private, non-government私見（シケン）: one’s personal view私服（シフク）: civvies, plain clothes私財（シザイ）: private funds私費（シヒ）: private expense私利私欲（シリシヨク）: greed,…
グリーンティー
Tea in Japanese is お茶（ちゃ）(ocha) and if you ask for お茶 in Japan, you will probably get a cup of…
様
Meaning: a state, condition Reading:ヨウ、さま（ざま） 様子（ヨウス）: the state of affairs, the situation様態（ヨウタイ）: condition, a state様式（ヨウシキ）: a mode, a manner一様（イチヨウ）（な/の）:…
漬物（つけもの/Tsukemono）
つけもの 漬物 (tsukemono) is a generic word for Japanese pickles. Although the consumption of Tsukemono is on a decrease due…
かこ、かっこ、かこう、かっこう
I’m listing up 4 words today but the first pair (かこ and かっこ) and the last pair (かこう and かっこう)…
神
Meaning: god, spirit Reading: シン（ジン）、かみ（がみ）、かん、こう 神経（シンケイ）: a nerve; neuron神仏（シンブツ）: the gods and Buddha; Shintoist and Buddhist deities神聖（シンセイ）（な）; sacred, holy神社（ジンジャ）:…
サイダー = Cider?
The caption in the photo says: お祭（まつ）りの日（ひ）にはサイダーが飲（の）みたい。 omatsuri no hi ni wa saida- ga nomitai. I want to drink サイダー…
