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Key Differences Between Chinese vs Japanese Languages

While China and Japan may be relatively close geographically and both shape today’s cultural, economic, business, and pop culture landscapes, the Chinese and Japanese languages have clear distinctions. The Chinese language is estimated to be spoken by more than one-fifth of the world’s population. Japanese, on the other hand, is primarily spoken in Japan. And […]

chinese vs japanese language

How to Order And Customize Your Coffee in Japanese

Nothing beats the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning, but if you know anything about Japan, it is that they take their coffee culture seriously, almost to the same respect reserved for tea ceremonies. However, before you can sip on your choice of coffee in your favorite coffee shop, whether it is in […]

Image of a latte; how to order coffee in Japanese

2025 Year-End Japanese Lesson Sale! Up to 10% Off at Coto Academy

As the year comes to a close, Coto Academy is bringing the holiday cheer early! From November 1 until December, new and continuing students can enjoy up to 10% off on select course packages when they make a purchase within the campaign period, regardless of when they start their classes. Whether you’re just beginning or […]

year end campaign coto academy

Japanese Kanji Emojis: What Do They Actually Mean?

You’ve probably seen them before — tiny block symbols with Japanese characters that sneak into your Android or iPhone emoji keyboard. They look official, almost cryptic. These aren’t random at all. They’re part of the Japanese Kanji emoji series. But why do these even exist to begin with? Well, here’s something interesting: the word emoji […]

Close-up of Japanese and Chinese kanji flashcards showing stroke order and meanings, commonly used to learn character writing — symbolizing the link between kanji and emoji meanings.

How Long It Takes for Chinese Speakers to Learn Japanese

It is well-known that the Japanese language is considered one of the hardest languages to learn. According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains U.S. diplomats and government officials in languages and cultures, Japanese is classified as a “Super-Hard” language. But there’s an important caveat: FSI’s rankings are based on how long it takes […]

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