Learn what time phrase we can use for each time of the day in Japanese as well as what we say for “every morning,” “every night,” etc. in Japanese.
Japanese Greetings around Christmas Time
Today is Christmas Eve. Here in Australia, people are frantically preparing for Christmas. Christmas and Boxing Day (26th) are both…
~まで vs ~までに
~まで and ~までに are both used with a time phrase and they look almost the same. However, their meanings have a rather large difference. Read the explanation here.
天気 – weather
Weather is always a good topic to start a conversation on. This post introduces and explains common weather 天気 (てんき) related words and expressions in Japanese.
~こそ
~こそ is an expression for emphasis. It emphasises someone/something by selecting him/her/it over others. This post explains how it’s used.
JLPT N5 Grammar and Vocab List
I have re-organized grammar explanation posts so that you can build up your skills in order. First download the list…
およそ、ぐらい、ごろ、やく
Today’s post is about how to say “approximately” in Japanese. Some are used before a number phrase and others are used after.
便利(べんり)
Which べんり is used incorrectly? a. この かばんは たくさん ポケットが あるから べんりです。b. ジョンさんの アパートは べんりな ばしょに あります。c. すいようびは べんりですか。d. ちかてつが…
AからBまで
Today’s Grammar Point: ~から~まで “Aから” means “from A” or “since A” and it can be used for both time and place.…
“何 (What)” – “なに” vs “なん”
何 meaning “what?” is sometimes pronounced なに and なん at other times. This post explains when to read なに and when to use なん.
しりません vs しっていません
The English verb “to know” is usually translated as しっています in Japanese but the opposite, “not knowing” is NOT しっていません. This post explains why.
~ようでもあり…/~ようでもあるし…/~ような…ような
Today’s grammar point is ~ようでもあり…, which is used in an ambivalent situation. I can be rephrased as ~ようでもあるし… or in a conversation, ~ような…ような can be used.
~べつに/~べつで/~べつの/~べつ
Today’s grammar point is ~べつに/~べつで/~べつの/~べつ. This べつ follows a noun only and means “classified by ~.” Check examples here.
~ぶり
Today’s grammar point is ~ぶり. This ぶり follows a phrase that describes the length of time and means “for the first time in ~.”
~ぬ/~ん
Today’s grammar point is an archaic expression ~ぬ/~ん that replaces ~ない (negative ending). It is more often used in written passages than speech.
~にしろ/~にせよ/~にしても
~にしろ/~にせよ/~にしても are all used to express a concession, “even if ~.” Sometimes にしろ/にせよ/にしても can be repeated with 2 totally opposing phrases in a sentence.
~にたいして/~たいし
Today’s grammar point is ~にたいして/~たいし, which is used either to clarify the target of an action or to show a contrast between 2 things.
~において/~における
Today’s grammar point is ~において/~における. They mean almost the same but while ~において makes an adverbial phrase, ~における is an adjectival phrase.
~なんて/とは/って/は、あんまりだ
If あんまり is used without a negative ending, it is a なadjective meaning “awful” or “unreasonable.” It usually follows phrases like “~なんて,” “~とは,””~って” or “~は.”
~ながら/~ながらも
Today’s ~ながら means “in spite of ~,” “although ~,” etc. The “~” part is usually a verb or phrase that describes a condition, rather than a momentary action.