Japanese Learning Blog Japanese Blog

September 2, 2015

Japanese Slang: Mattari (Suru) for Chilling Out!

When you are learning a foreign language, studying slangs is a funny way to deepen your vocabulary. Not only will you speak more fluently but you will sound more like a native speaker. Moreover, slang gives you an interesting point of view on society. Let’s learn more about Japanese slang mattari (suru)! DefinitionOrigins of MattariConversation Examples Definition Japanese […]

August 28, 2015

Japanese Crash Course – Survival Japanese

School News

Welcome to Japan! Along with your first steps in your new life in Tokyo, begin to learn Japanese with Coto’s Japanese Crash Course and feel immediately your improvement. In 4 weeks, your will learn the fundamental of Japanese, directly useful for your daily life, including an introduction to hiragana and katakana. Japanese Crash Course Contents You will […]

August 26, 2015

Taking Pictures – How to ask for Permission to take Photos in Japanese

Japanese Study

Are you wondering if you should know how to ask the permission to take photos in Japanese? When you are in Japan, you will find yourself reaching for your camera more than once. Whether you are facing an interesting scenery, an incredible building, an old town or people, you will want to seize the moment. Concerns […]

August 24, 2015

Japanese Slang : Dekikon

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One of the many ways to become more fluent in a foreign language is to study its slangs. Not only will you speak more fluently but you will sound more like a native speaker. Let’s see today, how you would say “shotgun wedding” in Japanese. Well, with the expression: “dekikon” 「できこん」「でき婚」! This expression describes a wedding that is or was […]

August 21, 2015

What Does Chotto Mean in Japanese?

Some frequently used words convey different meanings according to context, and among them, the Japanese word chotto 「ちょっと」is quite a challenge to master. If you are learning Japanese, you have probably heard this word before. But what is the meaning of chotto? How and when should you use it? 教師：新（あたら）しいうち、見（み）つかった？学生：いいえ、まだです。昨日（きのう）見（み）に行ったけど、家賃（やちん）が９万円だった。教師：ああ、そうか。それはちょっと高（たか）いね。学生：いいえ、ちょっとじゃないです。すごく高（たか）いです。 Teacher: Have you found your new flat?Student: No, not yet. […]

August 19, 2015

Asking to go on a Date with someone in Japanese

We’ve already presented the Japanese slang “nanpa” and “gyakunan” to describe flirting with someone – in particular on the street. This time, let’s get more serious, and develop important words for dating in Japanese. Whether you live in Japan for a short time or for a few years, you never know what might happen. Who […]

August 17, 2015

Coto's events in September 2015

Japanese Culture

This is an older post – to see our upcoming monthly events – click here Monthly Events Join Local festival and Omikoshi experience in Iidabashi 夏祭り・おみこし体験をしよう！ Friday, September 11th 17:00-21:00 in Iidabashi Are you up for the Omikoshi challenge with the locals? The Tsukudo-jinja Shrine Festival is held mid-September in Iidabashi Chiyoda Ward. Every year, […]

August 17, 2015

One Week Special Nail Art Course

Japanese Culture

Learning Japanese is quite captivating isn’t it? Step by step, being able to communicate in a foreign language is really rewarding. We hope you are enjoying your classes! Have you been studying other aspects of Japanese culture besides the language? Discovering Japanese culture is a nice way to deepen your knowledge of the language. That is why Coto Japanese […]

August 17, 2015

Japanese Slang: Nanpa Suru and Gyakunan Suru

Picking People up?Where did the Word come from?Usage Examples When you are learning a foreign language, studying slang is a funny way to deepen your vocabulary. Not only will you speak more fluently but you will sound more like a native speaker. Moreover, slang gives you an interesting point of view on society. Let’s see how Japanese people […]

August 14, 2015

Common Japanese Mistakes: Pronouns 彼 (Kare) and 彼女 (Kanojo)

「彼」Kare and「彼女」Kanojo「私」Watashi Japanese Personal Pronouns are really hard to get for Japanese learners. In truth, we rarely use them. Not only “I” 「私・watashi」and “you”「あなた・anata」are hard to get, but third person pronouns are also problematic. These include “he”「彼・kare」 and “she” 「彼女・kanojyo」which can typically lead to common Japanese mistakes. 「彼」Kare and「彼女」Kanojo Generally speaking, in the […]

August 12, 2015

Common Japanese Mistakes: Using あなた (Anata) to refer to "You"

Contents: Subject Omission Referring to more than 2 People… Why should I avoid using あなた (Anata)? Subject Omission Japanese is not always easy to use, especially when it comes to identifying the sentence’s subject. A sentence in English always requires a subject, but that’s not the case for the Japanese. In particular, personal pronouns such as […]

August 10, 2015

Japanese Slang: Being Egocentric/Selfish/Self-centered in Japanese, 自己中 (Jikochuu)!

Describing someone as Egocentric, Selfish or even Self-centered… Derivation of the Word 自己中 (Jikochuu) In a Formal Context… Describing someone as Egocentric, Selfish or even Self-centered… Jiko chuu「自己チュー」「自己中」「ジコチュー」! It is a well known fact that Japanese society cares for selflessness and considers it to be an important value. For Japanese people, nothing is greater than to put others’ […]