Interested in someone at the office, at university, or at your local bar, but don’t know how to flirt in Japanese? Or maybe you just want to make your friend groan with a cheesy one-liner. Either way, you might be wondering: do pick-up lines even work in Japanese? It takes confidence to ask someone out, […]

Have you ever been stuck in a situation where you wanted to compliment someone, but didn’t know how to express it naturally in Japanese? Knowing how to homeru (褒める) — the Japanese word for “to praise” or “to compliment” — is one of the simplest ways to make friends and form genuine connections. But getting […]

In Japan, you might run into plenty of situations where you will need to say “I don’t understand,” especially if you’re just starting to learn Japanese. The most common and straightforward way to say “I don’t understand” in Japanese is わからない (wakaranai) in casual speech, or わかりません (wakarimasen) in its polite form. But Japanese actually […]

If you’ve ever wanted to say “me too!” in Japanese, も (mo) is your particle. One of the most natural and frequently used particles in the language, も marks inclusion. It signals that something is being added to a group, a conversation, or a shared experience. Think of it as the Japanese way of saying […]

The JLPT N3 phrase, にしては, is often used to express a contrast or comparison of someone or something. It is similar to saying “for” or “considering that,” and it is often used to express how something or someone is somewhat different from the norm or what is expected. So, let’s learn how to use this […]

The JLPT N4 grammar 〜させてください (~sasete kudasai), which closely translates to “please let me do…” It is often used as a polite way of asking for permission to do something.  So, let’s learn how to use this JLPT N4 grammar point by breaking down its meaning, structure, and example sentences. Make Sure to Watch Coto […]

The Japanese particle に (ni) is one of the language’s most essential — and most versatile — building blocks. Used to mark location, destination, time, purpose, and more, に roughly corresponds to “in,” “at,” “to,” or “towards” in English, though its exact meaning always depends on context. If you’re a beginner trying to get a […]

In Japan, streets are not named but have numbers – with the exception of the main roads. Thus, finding your way around the cities can be challenging.