Navigating pregnancy and childbirth in Japan can feel overwhelming, especially in a city as busy and diverse as Tokyo, if you are not familiar with the local language. From prenatal checkups to hospital visits and birth planning, knowing the right Japanese vocabulary can make communication with doctors, nurses, and support staff much smoother. Expecting a […]

Have you heard of the term kakkoi (かっこいい)? When you step onto the streets of Tokyo, the fashion alone is enough to stop you in your tracks. You might constantly find yourself doing a double-take at the effortless style surrounding you. In English, you might instinctively reach for a phrase like, “Oh my God, that’s […]

If you are an avid anime viewer, you will probably have the infamous Japanese swear word “baka”, which simply translates to stupid or foolish. It’s one of the most commonly used insults in Japanese, and from the way characters shout it, you may have already guessed that it’s meant as an insult. But did you […]

How do you say “I love you” in Japanese while hitting all the right nuances and intentions? In Japanese, romantic is often viewed through two distinct lenses: 恋 (koi) and 愛 (ai). 恋 (koi) refers to romantic love or the initial spark of attraction. Interestingly, Japanese uses the same figure of speech as English when […]

If you’ve ever dined at a Japanese restaurant, you’ve likely seen people press their palms together and say “Itadakimasu” before eating and “Gochisousama deshita” afterward. In English, these are usually translated as “Let’s eat” and “Thank you for the meal.” But while they function like “saying grace,” the meaning goes much deeper than simple manners. […]

気味（ぎみ) is a JLPT N2 grammar pattern used to describe a tendency or slight condition. It translates loosely as “looks,” “seems,” or “tends to,” and often carries a slightly negative nuance. Because of this, we often use 気味 (gimi) to describe things like being prone to illness, feeling a bit tired, or having a mild […]

The JLPT N3 phrase そんなに (sonna ni) is a very useful everyday phrase that means, “that much,” “so much,” or “to that extent.” Most often, そんなに appears in negative sentences to downplay or deny the extent of something, making statements sound softer or more polite. When used in positive sentences, it typically conveys surprise or […]

In Japanese, the word “どうも” (doumo) is a very versatile and frequently used word that can mean a few different things depending on the context.  どうも, pronounced “dou-mo,” is a phrase you’d come across when you’re eating in at an izakaya or a restaurant. You can also use it to thank someone. You can also […]

The JLPT N3 〜み (~mi) is a suffix that attaches to adjectives (mostly い-adjectives) and turns them into nouns. It’s similar to adding ~ness to an adjective in English (i.e., sweetness). However, there are some differences, the biggest being that nouns with 〜み express a quality or condition that cannot really be measured. They are […]

The JLPT N3 grammar 切る (kiru) means “to do completely” or “to do to the end”. It’s also a verb meaning “to cut,” but as a JLPT N3 grammar point, it’s a phrase that you can use to express a sense of completion or accomplishment. It generally refers to: Make Sure to Watch Coto Academy’s YouTube […]