花かつお（はなかつお/hana_katsuo）, often translated as “bonito flakes,” is shaved 鰹節（かつおぶし/katsuobushi）. 鰹節（かつおぶし/katsuobushi） is dried, fermented and smoked skipjack tuna fillet. Did you…
かき、カーキ、かっき
Today’s post is about the sound differences among かき, カーキ and かっき. If you can pronounce them, it’s easier to hear them apart.
妹
Meaning: a younger sister Reading: マイ、いもうと、いも 姉妹（シマイ）: sisters義妹（ギマイ）: a younger-sister-in-law (the wife of one’s younger brother or a younger…
ポット
ポット is the transliteration of the English word “pot,” so can you spot a ポット in the photo? If you…
弟
Meaning: a younger brother Readings: ダイ、デ、テイ、おとうと 兄弟（キョウダイ）: sibling (including sisters) 弟子（デシ）: a disciple, a follower 兄弟（ケイテイ）: brothers…
Daikon radish
The other day, I got asked a very strange question: If you are to eat only one kind of vegetable…
ほる, ほうる, ホール and ボール
Today’s sound comparison is among ほる, ほうる, ホール and ボール. Listen and repeat the sound here. If you can say them correctly, it’s easier to hear them apart.
姉
Meaning: an older sister Recognized Reading: シ、あね 姉妹（シマイ）: sisters姉弟（シテイ）: an older sister and a younger brother長姉（チョウシ）: the eldest sister義姉（ギシ）:…
ミシン/mishin
When I was young, I used ミシン a lot. I was aware that it was written in Katakana but I…
兄
Meaning: an older brother Recognized Reading: キョウ、ケイ、あに 兄弟（キョウダイ）: a sibling (including sisters) 兄弟（ケイテイ）: brothers兄妹（ケイマイ）: older brother and younger…
Miso Soup
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…
