Omoshiroi is a Japanese word that means many things. It can be used to describe something as “Interesting, Amusing, Fascinating, Funny, Enjoyable, Entertaining, Fun” and more!
The Kanji for Omoshiroi is 面白い and Omoshiroi written in Hiragana is おもしろい.
Omoshiroi is an I adjective, and it’s a JLPT N5 Level Vocabulary word – so chances are, you will encounter it very early in your Japanese learning.

Example Sentences using Omoshiroi (面白い)

Omoshiroi is primarily used to either mean Interesting or funny.
It’s hard to describe exactly how you draw the line between when and how to use it. In English, it would be similar to someone telling you, “You’re interesting.” This phrase could mean several things depending on the tone of voice you use.
Omoshiroi in Japanese is very similar – depending on the tone of voice that you are using, it can change the meaning of the sentence entirely.

• その本は面白いと思います。
• sono hon wa omoshiroi to omoimasu
• I think that book is interesting.

• トランプはとても面白い。
• Toranpu ha tottemo omoshiroi
• Playing cards is very fun!

• あなたは面白い人です。
• Anata wa omoshiroi hito desu
• You are a funny person.

• ピアノを弾くことは面白い。
• Piano wo hiku koto wa omoshiroi
• Playing the piano is fun

• そのアニメはとても面白いです。
• Sono anime wa tottemo omoshiroidesu.
• That anime is very interesting

When NOT to use Omoshiroi

One important thing to note is that you should not use it to describe tragic events. Just like when speaking English, there is a time and a place for certain words. Describing an unfortunate situation or a tragic event with this word could be seen as very rude or strange.
Friend 1: “Did you see a large fire in an apartment building?”
Friend 2: “That’s funny!” <—- See how this is inappropriate?
So, for example, you would not say that a very sad movie is Omoshiroi. You could—and some people do—but you really have to know how to use the word appropriately to avoid creating uncomfortable situations for the people with whom you are speaking Japanese.
For a general rule of thumb, think of it as a word meant to describe interesting, amusing, entertaining, and fun things.
So, for interesting things with a sad or bad component, skip it!

You Might Be Wondering…

How do you use "omoshiroi" in a sentence?

Here are some examples:

• Fun: この映画はおもしろい。 (Kono eiga wa omoshiroi.) – This movie is fun.
• Funny: あの人のジョークはおもしろい。 (Ano hito no jōku wa omoshiroi.) – That person’s jokes are funny.
• Interesting: この本はおもしろい。 (Kono hon wa omoshiroi.) – This book is interesting.

Is there a difference between "omoshiroi" and "tanoshii" (楽しい)?

While both “omoshiroi” and “tanoshii” can be used to express enjoyment, there is a subtle difference:

• Omoshiroi: Emphasizes the quality of being interesting or entertaining.
• Tanoshii: Emphasizes the feeling of happiness or pleasure.

Are there other words for "fun" or "interesting" in Japanese?

Yes, there are other words that can be used depending on the context:

• Exciting: 興奮する (kōfun suru)
• Hilarious: 腹を抱えて笑う (hara o kakaete warau)
• Fascinating: 魅惑的 (miwakuteki)

Study with us and learn more Japanese phrases like “Omoshiroi”! Fill out the form below to learn more.

Have you ever thought about what kind of Japanese words you have studied or learned that made you think “wow, this is so useful! How did I go so long without learning this?”. If you have not, here we have some of the most useful Japanese phrases for you to learn!

Without further ado, let’s get started!

• とりあえず
• ところで
• ちなみに
• おごり
• さすが
• もったいない
• どうも
• マジ
• とにかく
• じつは

Phrase 1: とりあえず Toriaezu
This phrase is used to say you would do something in the meantime.

For example, you use とりあえず (toriaezu) in this situation「とりあえず、行きましょう」(toriaezu, ikimashou)。This means you are going even when you have not completely decided that it would be a good idea to go.

Phrase 2: ところで Tokorode
This is used when the speaker would want to change the topic totally unrelated to the current topic. It can be meant as “by the way”.

For example, you can say「今日はいい天気だね！ところで、しゅくだいは終わりましたか？」(kyou wa ii tenkida ne! Tokorode, shukudai wa owarimashitaka?). This means “today’s weather is great! By the way, did you finish your homework?”.

Phrase 3: ちなみに Chinamini

This phrase means “incidentally”. ちなみに (chinamini) is used when you say additional information, which is related to the topic and not necessary to mention it but the speaker thinks it is better to mention.

For example, if someone asks you for directions to Coto;
JRの駅からCotoまで何分ですか？
JR no eki kara Coto made nanpun desuka?
How long does it take from JR to Coto?

CotoはJR駅から徒歩５分で来られます。ちなみに地下鉄でも来られますよ。
Coto wa JR eki kara toho 5 fun de koraremasu. Chinamini chikatetsu de mo koraremasu yo. 
It is a 5 minutes walk from the JR station to Coto. By the way, you can come by the subway.

Phrase 4: おごり Ogori
This phrase means “it’s on me” or you can use this phrase when you want to treat someone a drink or a meal.

For example, you can say「のみものは私のおごりです」(nomimono wa watashi no ogoridesu) which means “the drink is on me”. You can also use this phrase when you would want to pay for a meal or a movie ticket.

Phrase 5: さすが Sasuga

When you use this phrase, the implication would be that you are not surprised by the fact that they did a good job. It was expected of that person to do a good job. Therefore, you are impressed by the person.

For example, you can say like「さすがですね！」(sasuga desune!) which means “you are great!”. This phrase is usually said as a compliment.

Phrase 6: もったいない Mottainai

You can use this phrase in 2 contexts. The first one would be “what a waste!” or “it is a pity to waste”. For example,「じかんがもったいない」(jikan ga mottainai) which means “waste of time”.

Another content when you can use this phrase would be when you are putting yourself lower than the person you are speaking or talking to.

For example,「しんせつなおことばありがとうございます。わたしにはもったいないおことばです」(shinsetsu na okotoba arigatou gozaimasu. watashi niwa mottainai okotoba desu) which means “thank you for your kind words. Those words are too good for me”.

This imply that the compliments given to you by someone else were too precious or too good for you. Therefore, you are putting yourself lower than the other person you are speaking too.

Phrase 7: どうも Doumo

You might have heard of this phrase before whether on the streets of Japan or in an anime. The phrase is usually combined with「ありがとう」(arigatou) or「ありがとうございます」(arigatou gozaimasu). 

Most polite: どうもありがとうございます (doumo arigatou gozaimasu)

Very polite: ありがとうございます (arigatou gozaimasu)

Casual (a bit polite): どうもありがとう (doumo arigatou)

Casual: ありがとう (arigatou)

Very casual: どうも (doumo)

Phrase 8: マジ Maji

マジ (maji) means “really?” or “yes, really” depending on the tone you put on the word. However, there is a difference between the phrase「本当」(hontou) and「マジ」(maji)

For example, 「本当」(hontou) sounds more polite and feminine as compared to「マジ」(maji) which sounds more rough and crude. Do take note that you should be very careful when using「マジ」(maji) to your superiors.

All in all,「マジ」(maji) is a really useful word when you are talking casually with your friends.

Phrase 9: とにかく Tonikaku

Be careful when you use「とにかく」(tonikaku) and「とりあえず」(toriaezu) as both meant a different meaning. For「とにかく」(tonikaku), it means “anyway” or “in any case”.

For example,「とにかく、行きましょう」(tonikaku, ikimashou) which means “in any case, let’s go.” It is used to change the subject of the conversation or topic.

Phrase 10: じつは Jitsuwa

じつは」(jitsuwa) means “actually” or “as a matter of fact”. It can mean either a positive response or a negative response, please be careful on how you tone and form your sentences.

You can say like「じつはそれ、ほんとうなんだ。」(jitsu wa sore, hontou nan da) which means “as a matter of fact, it is true”.
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Have you ever wonder how and where did the Japanese language come about? or any Japanese language facts?

Here are the top 10 mindblowing ones for you!

1. There are many ways to refer “I” in Japanese

In English, you refer yourself as “I”. But in Japanese, there are many more ways to refer to yourself. Other than 私 (watashi), there are 僕 (boku), 俺 (ore), 俺様 (oresama), 自分 (jibun) and 拙者 (sessha).

“僕” (boku) ー It is often ussed by males. This is less formal than “私” but usually accepted in a business settling as well.

“俺” (ore) ー Similar to “僕””, it is often used by males. However, “俺” has a more aggressive tone than “僕”. I would not recommend using this word as it would be considered rude towards the Japanese.

“俺様” (oresama) ー You might have heard this word in a couple of animes like Dragon Ball. For this word, you should not use it in front of your boss.

“自分” (jibun) ー This word is referred to yourself. The interesting part is you can use “自分” as a second person too! Confusing right?

“拙者” (sessha) ー Another classical way of saying “I” which means “clumsy person”. You should use this word only when you are a samurai because being humble about their abilities was a samurai thing to do.

2. Japan is the only country to have the Japanese language as their official language.

But, this does not mean Japan is the only place where the language is spoken.

For example, in the Republic of Palau, Japanese is considered a minority language is spoken there. As of 2010, 1% of Californians and 15% of Hawaiian residents speak Japanese!

3. The Japanese language is one of the most fast-paced spoken languages in the world. 

Research has been done and shown that Japanese is confirmed as one of the most-fast paced spoken languages in the world! It has an informational density of 0.49, a syllabus rate of 7.84 and an information rate of 0.74.

Compared to 6 other more major languages like English and Mandarin, the Japanese language definitely out beat them.

4. The Japanese language has no genetic relation to any other languages.

Kanji is adopted from Chinese characters and used as a Japanese writing system. Despite popular beliefs, Japanese is not related or derived from the Chinese language at all.

They do not belong to the same language family as Chinese. Considered to be one of the most unique languages in the world, the Japanese language is said to have no direct derivation! How interesting is that!

5. Romaji has an interesting origin.

During the 16th century, some may think Romaji came from the European countries. But, as a matter of fact, it does not!

Romaji has its roots in Christianity!

During the 1500s, the romaji is developed by a Japanese Catholic. They wanted to help European missionaries evangelize and promote their Jesuit religion in Japan without having to learn the complex character systems of Japanese. The oldest form of Japanese romanization is based on Portuguese.

Fun fact, the first Japanese-English dictionary to feature romaji was published by James Curtis Hepburn in the 1800s. Thus, Hepburn Romanization.

6. Japanese is the 9th most commonly spoken language by native speakers.

With around 130 million native Japanese speakers, this makes it the 9th most spoken language. It is most space-concentrated of all the most spoken languages.

Even though Through Globalisation Japanese cultures such as anime, manga and even JPop are becoming more popular. Thus, foreigners are interested in learning Japanese due to the spread of Japanese culture.

7. The Japanese language boasts a specific alphabet system for writing foreign words.

During the Heian period, Kanji words are hard to read and to accommodate this, 片仮名 (カタカナ) is adopted for the purpose of aiding in the reading of Kanji. Thus, making it easier for the Japanese to read them. 

Back to 951AD, 片仮名 (カタカナ) was used by Buddhist monks to annotate Chinese writing for Japanese readers, similar to 振り仮名 (ふりがな).

Over time, it became a way for Japanese officials to communicate with foreign traders. 片仮名 (カタカナ) consists of 48 syllabograms.

8. Japanese is not a tonal language.

The Japanese language is monotonous as compared to English. Many East Asian languages are toned in nature. For example, Mandarin and Thai rely on tone to convey meaning.

Like all languages, the Japanese do have a certain rhythm and cadence to its words and sentences. For non-native Japanese speakers, learning the cadence of the language can be difficult and challenging.

9. Little is known about the Japanese language during their prehistory.

The Japanese language’s origins that came about is still unknown today. Some sources claim that the Japanese language was brought to Japan during the early-to-mid 2nd century BC.

Others say that Japanese is connected to the Ural-Altaic language family, which includes Turkish, Mongolian, Machu, and Korean. Japanese also shows similarities to Austronesian languages like Polynesian.

There is no direct evidence that can be discerned about this period of Japanese must be based on the reconstruction of the old Japanese.

10. The Japanese language does not have a plural form

Those who have studied the Japanese language would have noticed that they do not have a plural form.
For example, in English, if it is in the singular form, we say “This is a book”. In plural form, we say “these are books”. But, Japanese is otherwise.

We say “これはほんです” (kore wa hon desu.) – This is a book, does not matter if it is singular or plural. Japanese have counters to explain if it is a lot such as ”たくさん” (takusan) – A lot or ”さまざま” (samazama) – Various.

Despite whether its singular or plural, the form of the word does not change.

Do you feel that your mind has been blown by these facts? Does it excite you to learn more Japanese? Click the link below for the different types of Japanese courses you can take,

If you are interested in studying Japanese in Tokyo, find out more about our school by filling out the form below.

Let’s face it: Japanese YouTube channels redefine what it means to go above and beyond for online entertainment.

Content creators in Japan wear a lot of faces — both literally and figuratively. They’re propelled by outlandish challenges, mukbangs and squeamish close-ups of fish cutting. We’re talking about consuming ten packs of fire noodles in one seating and cracking open sea cucumbers and poisonous starfish.

But behind the questionably thick veil of Japanese Youtubers, a lot of Japanese Youtube channels have dedicated themselves to helping their international audience learn the Japanese language and culture, proving that YouTube can be an educational platform, too.

So where do you go when you’re looking to climb out of the rabbit hole of freaky Japanese content — and into something more, say, digestible?

Of all the many gathered in the digital creative landscape, we’ve collected 50 of our top Japanese YouTube channels you should subscribe to. A lot of them provide free online Japanese learning resources.

Regardless of whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced, there are Japanese YouTube channels waiting for you.

We’re breaking them down into three categories: Teachers, vloggers and Japanese culture content creators.

Don’t know where to start? Check out Coto’s YouTube account or Coto’s blog section for more helpful Japanese tips and learning materials.

Japanese Youtube Channels: Japanese Teachers

JapanesePod101.com

Recommended for beginners, JapanesePod101 is a channel that covers topics ranging from grammar to vocabulary to reading and many more! It is a verified Japanese Youtube channel with over 2.3 million subscribers. They would host daily YouTube live streams for Japanese listening, speaking and writing. 

Kendra’s Language School

This channel has listening practices. Not only that, the videos give you practice and they have romaji and Japanese words on the screen. It would be easy to follow. Their videos cater to both English and Chinese learners.

Nihonhonomori

This channel has listening practices. Not only that, the videos give you practice and they have romaji and Japanese words on the screen. It would be easy to follow. Their videos cater to both English and Chinese learners.

Minori Education

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4ba3Wx7JiQ

Minori is perfect for beginners learning N5 and N4 who want to take a challenge. All of their videos are in Japanese to hone your listening skills, but you can always turn on their multilingual subtitles if the lesson goes a bit too hard. The YouTube channel uploads almost daily, and all of the Japanese tutorials are designed for students to map smooth progress. They break down vocabularies, grammar structures and questions. You will also have a practice session at the end.

NihonGoal

There’s an ongoing debate among the Japanese learning community about textbooks: Minna no Nihongo, or Genki? Helmed by Rose, you pick the prior, then NihonGoal is the perfect YouTube channel to walk you through the book. They break down the study into three series: vocabulary, grammar and Kanji. Rose isn’t a native Japanese speaker, though, so if you are focusing on speaking and Japanese pronunciation, head somewhere else.

Tokini Andy

Andy’s presence is unmatched. Combining playful monologues and great presentation skills, Tokini Andy becomes a channel to help Japanese learners nail Japanese conversational fluency — all while having fun. The textbooks he uses are also the Genki books, and his videos are aptly slow and practical. You’ll get sample sentences, extra tips for Japanese grammar and useful vocabulary. He also has his own Patreon.

Dogen

If you hear him blindfolded, you might assume he’s a Japanese — or at the very least, a hafu — but Dogen is one of the few talented international Youtuber who just so happens to nail that spot-on Japanese native-level accent. His YouTube channel primarily consists of comedic skits and quirky storytelling about very relatable Japanese antics that foreigners will understand if they live in Japan long enough. You can head to his Patreon for more thorough (and serious) Japanese phonetic lessons. 

Japanese Ammo with Misa

Japanese Ammo with Misa is flexible for both beginners and advanced learners. She gives lessons on Japanese grammar and vocabulary. There are also videos for useful Japanese phrases as well as topics on Japanese culture. The channel has many playlists that can help you enhance your Japanese learning.

Miku Real Japanese

Miku’s videos are a fun and effective way of learning Japanese. Her playlist has grammar and listening to videos for practice for beginner to intermediate learners. Not only that, you can practice your speaking skill, as well as she has a playlist called “speak with me”. She also does videos on learning Japanese with Terrace House as it would be interesting and fun to take it out of the classroom. You’ll also have access to extra videos if you sign up for her Patreon.

Learning Kanji

This is one of our recommended Japanese Youtube channels that’s perfect if you are considering taking the JLPT exam. The person goes through questions about how to answer and tips on how to answer them. He explains vocabulary to suit everyone’s needs. His videos have a variety of question papers from JLPT, kanji, grammar, hiragana, and katakana. As for JLPT, he has N5 to N2 practice papers which he goes through it. He also does a video on the MEXT scholarship exam.

BondLingo

Learn Japanese Online with BondLingo upload videos about the Japanese language and cultures. Not only are there online lessons, but there are apps on mobile as well. Their playlist consists of the JLPT practice exam – grammar, N5 to N2 but also pronunciation videos as well! They also have live streams for Japanese study sessions, and it’s always good to join the room to make your learning journey less lonely.

Learn Japanese

This Japanese Youtuber gives free videos for JLPT preparations ranging from all levels. His lessons are pretty laidback and chill, and he even has some content dedicated to learning Japanese from anime. He has a dedicated playlist called the Writing Systems for introductions to all aspects of the Japanese writing system: hiragana, katakana and kanji.

Learn Japanese From Zero!

Learn Japanese From Zero is an informative channel that posts videos every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Every video goes through a respective lesson on the channel’s textbook, and materials are only available online. This makes it easy for anyone to learn Japanese and take notes. He also has his own Japanese textbook. 

Yuko Sensei

Yuko Sensei has been teaching Japanese at the university level for 20 years, so to say that she is a Japanese language expert would be a safe bet. Her videos discard any boring PowerPoint, and instead focuses on interactive color-coded animations to help you understand Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and scripts. For those learners who cannot attend classes or do not know where to start learning, this channel is good for online learning courses. She also offers free trial courses.

PuniPuniJapan

PuniPuniJapan’s videos are well-illustrated and narrated with clear explanations. It is more recommended for beginners who started learning Japanese. They cover topics such as katakana, grammar, vocabulary and more. Besides that, PuniPuniJapan also uploads videos about Japanese culture.

Tae Kim

The channel provides step by step learning. They have different episodes and on the episodes, they teach learners different topics such as negative state, adjectives and sentence ending. This channel has a lot of different variables when it comes to learning Japanese. Their video areas are very classroom-based and it is very easy to follow.

ライト Japanese Library 

ライト Japanese Library features Light, who is a foreigner who speaks Japanese, English, and Afrikaans. On his channel, he has videos teaching Japanese as well as some daily vlogs with his daughter. He also gives many different tips for living in Japan.

WORDPIE

This channel is good to learn Japanese because their videos are in songs. Their videos are appealing and it is easy to follow as they have Japanese words plus English words are well. Not only that, their videos are all about Japanese vocabularies.

Kanji – Link

It is very easy to learn Japanese grammar and kanji on this channel. Their videos have an animation of a teacher teaching. Their video content is also very easy to understand. Their kanji videos are step by step and it teaches you basic kanji and how to write it.

Organic Japanese with Cure Dolly

This channel is very good at making simplifying Japanese and making it easier to understand. Their videos are taught by an “android sensei”. Their explanations are very good and their content is original and engaging. Her methods of teaching Japanese are a little unorthodox, but very effective. Unfortunately, the owner of the channel has passed away, but the channel remains up and is still a very good resource.  

FunNihongo

This channel is good to learn basic Japanese because they make learning videos into songs so it would be easier to learn. The videos are interesting as well. They only have 1 playlist of videos such as day of the week song or the hiragana song. This channel is good for both adults and children.

わさび Japanese Teacher Vtuber

わさび or Wasabi is a Japanese Vtuber teacher that makes videos that are great for Beginner and Intermediate learners. She makes grammar and listening videos as well as a lot of YouTube shorts that go over vocab words. She is a much smaller creator, and is able to respond to a lot of questions in her comments.

Nami Ohara

Nami Ohara is another tJapanese grammar, vocabulary, and listening. Also, there are many videos on Japanese culture. Another feature of this channel is that there are many listening quizzes and tests for you to practice your listening skills. Not only that, they have many videos on learning Japanese through songs.

Masa Sensei

This channel is great for beginners in learning Japanese. Masa Sensei, the creator of this channel, makes weekly videos on Japanese grammar. In every video, she explains what grammar means and how to apply it. She also gives clear illustrations and examples in her videos.

三本塾 -Sambon Juku- 

This channel is very good for Intermediate and Advanced learners.  Sambon Juku has multiple playlists for everything from Phrases to Hiragana. He also has series going over N3, N2 and N1. He has very clear explanations and example sentences. His videos are narrated in Japanese, but he also has English subtitles if needed.

myjapanese

myjapanese is a channel covering levels from beginner to advanced. The topics covered are hiragana, kanji, JLPT, and business Japanese. There are many informative videos and are all well narrated and explained in English. The channel posts a new video every week.

Easy Peasy Japanesey

Watching anime and Japanese TV programs is a great vehicle to accelerate your Japanese skill. Easy Peasy Japanesey disects scenes from iconic anime like Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer and breaks down the Japanese vocabularies and grammar structure involved. It’s a great, seemingly effortless away to learn Japanese — just don’t binge watch them all at once if you’re an anime fan who’s avoiding gut-wrenching, tear-inducing spoilers. 

Yumi Ura

Yumi Ura is a channel that is especially good for Japanese students preparing to take the JLPT N2 and N3 level tests. All the videos in this channel are on topics for the N2 and N3-level tests. Their videos allow viewers to practice their listening skills as it is everything is explained Japanese.

Japanization

Japanization is good for learning basic Japanese. Started by a native Japanese, he makes lesson videos on Japanese grammar and vocabulary, as well as on different aspects of Japanese culture. He explains well in English in every video too. Thus, making it easy for non-Japanese listeners to follow.

Clayton MacKnight

Registering for a JLPT exam can be unnerving, let alone preparing for it. Enter Clayton MacKnight, your perfect virtual study buddy. He’s currently residing in Osaka and has recently passed N2. His channel that features a variety of videos to help those taking JLPT. Expect all things Japanese covered in his channels, from grammar and kanji to study guides to Japanese culture. It’s also great to get a learning support from a foreigner. The videos have graphic illustrations to them more engaging. .

Michiyo Wojnovich

Michiyo Wojnovich is a good channel for those learning Japanese with Genki textbooks. All the videos on the channel cover topics from the Genki textbooks. The teacher, Michiyo, narrates and explains each topic in every video in English.

31. Japonin

6 thousand subscribers

Japonin is a channel that can help learners to improve and enhance their Japanese reading skills. There are many videos that feature a text with clear narration. There are also various cultural topics such as ‘imported words’ and ‘origami’ for learners to enhance their Japanese culture knowledge.

Plain Japanese

Plain Japanese’s online lessons are being taught by a native Japanese teacher. Their videos are well-illustrated and explained, covering many different topics on the Japanese language such as grammar and kanji. There are also other informative videos such as ‘Japanese Greetings’ and ‘Counting Numbers in Japanese’.

Top Japanese Youtube Channels: Vloggers

Nihongo Mantappu 

You can leave it up to Jerome Polin to give you a full angle of what it’s like to live in Japan as a university student. As a MEXT scholarship awardee, Jerome is enrolled at Waseda University. His videos started from a humble ground: to help potential Japanese international students learn Japanese and kickstart their life here. It didn’t take long for his channel to skyrocket. After several vlogs, collaborations and fun challenges with his university friends, Jerome quickly grew to be the biggest star in Japan’s creator platform. Now, he has more than 7.5 million subscribers, and the numbers aren’t slowing down. 

Rachel and Jun

This channel is good for learning Japanese because they do vlogs about their daily lives. The channel, started by a Japanese husband and an American wife, who are both living in Japan. Rachel would speak in English while her husband would speak in Japanese. Sometimes both would speak each other’s languages. Their videos have Japanese subtitles so it would be easy to follow and learn about new words. Their videos are very interesting and sometimes funny too. They do not post on their main channel anymore, but still regularly upload on ‘Rachel & Jun’s Adventures!‘

Abroad in Japan

Abroad in Japan does vlogs which talk about how his interreaction experience with the Japanese culture and people here. Some of his interesting vlogs are “how to lose weight in Japan” and “Japanese thoughts on London magic man”

Life Where I’m From

Life Where I’m From has a series of Japanese documentaries and life in Japan starring their children. They give interesting and educational insight into their everyday. They also show how is life in Japan through a series of vlogs. 

39. Bilingirl Chika

A Japanese Youtube celebrity with over 1.4 million subscribers. Her channel has videos in both English and Japanese. Having moved to America at a young age, she has many things to learn about Japan and shares about them on her channel. She also shared many vlogs on her daily life.

Tokyo Lens

The name of this Youtuber is pretty self-explanatory. Tokyo Lens offers an interesting, otherwise unseen, angle to Japan. From exploring Japan’s smallest apartment to visiting Japan’s most active volcano, his videos provide a unique take on living in Japan. 

Tokyo Creative

(さらに…)

Want to know a list of popular Japanese anime phrases that you can use in real life? Yes, you can learn Japanese from anime — but only if you do it right. The thing is, a lot of students mindlessly copy phrases they found on their favorite anime TV shows and films, but if you sound too much like an anime character, you’re in for a cringefest. At best, you’re stuck with saying “~senpai” and “eto“.

Here’s the problem: most anime — especially the seinen or shounen genre — use too-casual slang phrases. Apply them in real life, and you may sound like a yankee (Japanese juvenile deliquent), which isn’t the first impression you’d want to give to your Japanese friends.

In this blog post, we figured we’d share some natural Japanese anime phrases. They’re easy and, most of all, common. They’re perfect for beginners to mimic without being at risk of sounding stiff. You’ll hear them in popular series, like Naruto, Attack on Titan and Demon Slayer.

Here are the top 20 Japanese anime phrases that you can use to converse with your Japanese friends.

Note: Before we go further into the article, note that this article will mostly use hiragana, so prior knowledge of them is a must. If you’re still learning them, don’t worry — take a look at our hiragana chart to review them.

Part One

• Akiramenaide
• Chotto matte
• Yokatta
• Shikatanai
• Ryoukai
• Chigau
• Ganbatte
• Iya da
• Sugee
• Shinjirarenai
  

1. あきらめないで: Never give up!

The spirit of fighting and never giving up is the core of every action-packed or hero-themed anime. Think Naruto, Attack on Titan and Haikyuu. When you’re on the verge of giving up, think, “I can’t give up (あきらめないで)!” When your Japanese friend is struggling to learn English, encourage them by saying the popular anime phrase “あきらめないで.“

あきらめなくてよかった!
Akiramenaide yokatta!
I’m glad I didn’t give up!

Check out: 100 Common Words You’ll Find in Anime

2. ちょっとまって (ください): Wait a moment!

Another basic Japanese anime phrase you’ll find across all genres: ちょっとまって. It’s a casual, shortened form of ~てください, which means to “please do something”. ちょっとまってください is more polite, but it can still sound like you’re ordering someone.

We recommend saying ちょっとまって to your friends — or at least someone your age. For example, when your friend is walking too fast, you can say ちょっとまって!

Another indirect translation of this word is the English equivalent of “give me one second”. Technically, it holds the same meaning as “wait a moment”, but in Japanese, “one second” is “いちびょう”. It’s not culturally (nor contextually) understood. One way to avoid a few imaginary question marks is by making sure the direct translation (English-Japanese) is accurate.

急いで！電車に間に合わないよ！
Isoide! Densha ni maniawanai yo!
Hurry up! We won’t make it on time for the train!

ちょっと待って！
Chotto matte!
Wait a moment!

Check out: The difference between ください and おねがいします.

3. よかった: Thank goodness!

There’s a lot of translation to the Japanese adjective よかった. It’s the past tense of the word 良い, which can be both read as よい and いい.

Keep in mind that you can interpret よかった with a few things. The closest expression to in English is “Thank goodness” or “I”m glad.” In anime shows or films, you can see parents exclaim よかった when they found their lost child.

Another instance would be when someone finds their lost phone or wallet. They would sigh and exclaim “よかった!”

Alternatively, you can say よかったね～ which can mean, “Good for you,” or, “That’s great!”

財布をなくしてしまったと思ったけど、テブルの上にあった！
Saifu o nakushite shimatta to omotta kedo, teburu no ue ni atta!
I thought I lost my wallet, but it was above the table!

よかったね！
Yokatta ne!
I’m so glad to hear that!

Check out: 100 Most Common Japanese Adjectives You Need to Know

4. しかたない or しょうがない: Can’t be helped

The meaning of this Japanese anime phrase is quite straightforward. The kanji しかた means “method” or “way”. ない is the casual form of ありません, which is a negative form of the verb あります. A more grammar-accurate form of しかたない is しかたがない, which directly translates to “There is no way.”

The phrase means, “It can’t be helped”, and is used to indicate something is a foregone conclusion in a negative sentence.

For example, when you have to cancel a trip due to bad weather, there’s nothing you can do, so you’ll say しかたない or しょうがない.

Keep in mind that this common anime phrase is a casual expression, used between coworkers and friends. Don’t turn it into a formal form (しかたがありません) and expect to sound professional at work.

5. りょうかい: Roger!

りょうかい or りょうかいです can be used informally with your friends or family! It is an affirmation that means “Yes, I’ve got it!”

It is used to indicate that you understand something and you will execute on the person’s request. For example, when your mom asks you to buy eggs from the supermarket, you can use りょうかい or りょうかいです。

宿題を終わってから、必ず提出をください。
Shukudai o owattekara, kanarazu teishutsu o kudasai.
After you finished the homework, please submit it.

りょうかい！
Ryoukai!
Understood!

6. ちがう: Not right, the wrong way

The word 違う means “wrong”, and you’d usually use it to deny or refute something. Like よかった, Japanese people tend to use this in a lot of situations. It can simply mean “No,” “That’s not it,” or “It’s different.”

Your Japanese friend would say ちがう if you said something wrong or if they disagree on something. The more polite form of this verb is ちがいます. Japanese society practices being agreeable, so you might want to avoid (explicitly) contradicting someone in a formal setting. The last thing you’d want is to prove a point to your Japanese boss.

自分のシャツ、これでしょう？
Jibun no shatsu, kore deshou?
This is my shirt, right?

違う！ それは私の!
Chigau! Sore wa watashi no!
No! That’s mine.

7. がんばって: I (You) will do the best!

You will come across one of these Japanese anime phrases very often. The word ganbatte stems from the verb ganbaru, or 頑張る (がんばる), which means “To do one’s best” or “Hang in there!”

The phrase がんばって (formally がんばってください) is used to encourage people to try hard. It can also be interpreted as “Good luck”. You can often hear people shouting がんばって in sports matches and marathons in Japan.

A more casual way to say がんばって is がんばれ

もう諦めたいよ。
Mou akirametai yo.
I want to give up already.

あと少し！頑張ってください！
Ato sukoshi! Ganbatte kudasai!
A little bit more! Hang in there!

Other variations include 頑張りましょう (“Let’s work hard together”) and 頑張ってくれ (“Do your best for me”).

8. いやだ: No way!

The phrase いやだ means “No way” or “Not a chance.” It simply means refusal to do something or you do not want to do it. It shows the speaker’s negative feelings, and it’s generally used to express something that is detestable or unpleasant. For example, if you are forced to go to a haunted house, you can say “いやだ”!

In spoken conversations where people speak fast (and cut things short), いやだ can turn into its colloquial form やだ.

ボクちゃん、野菜食べてくれる？
Boku-chan, yasai tabete kureru?
Little boy, can you eat your vegetables?

やだ！
Ya da!
No!

Check out: The Use of “Boku” for Young Boys

10. すげえ or すごい: Awesome!

Although the Japanese language isn’t gendered, there is a certain speaking preference used by boys, like specific Japanese first-person pronouns that are perceived as “masculine”. すげえ is mainly used by boys, and it is super casual. The word stems from すごい, but instead of an ending that sounds like “oi”, they’d drag the vowel into a long “ee”.

Instances such as if you are a boy, when your Japanese friend scored highly on an exam, you can say すげえ! You can use すごい when you feel happy about your friend’s accomplishment, “ええ？すごいじゃん!”

Check out: 20 Ways to Use Sugoi

11. しんじられない: I don’t believe it!

Have you ever taken a leap of faith — and actually succeeded? You can express your state of shock by saying 信じられない alone or add a よ particle at the ending to magnify your disbelief.

Let’s say that your friend is cooking for you, and you’ve heard that they are not a good cook. However, when you try their dish and find that it’s actually delicious, you might exclaim “I can’t believe it!”

信じられないほど美味しい！
Shinjirarenai hodo oishii!
I can’t believe it’s delicious!

Part Two

In this second part of Japanese phrases from anime that have real-world use cases, we introduce you to ten more phrases from anime.

11. 相変あいかわらず: As usual

This is a Japanese phrase (or part of a phrase) that is commonly used to describe specific people or their behavior. The kanji for aikawarazu (相変わらず) first uses 相, which means: “mutual” or “together”. The second kanji in the word is 変わる which means “to change”. Put them together and you get “as usual” or “Without changing~”.

The phrase 相変わらず can be used for both making positive or negative judgments towards something or someone. In anime, you’ll find people can use it when they’re impressed or when they’re disappointed at a character’s unchanging attitude.

相変わらず彼女が美しい。
Aikawarazu kanojo ga utsukushii.
She is pretty as ever.

相変わら彼が酷い。
Aikawarazu kare ga hidoi.
He is as cruel as always.

12. ドキドキ: My heart is racing!

This is a Japanese onomatopoeia that describes the sound of your heart thumping.  In particular, it’s used when you are nervous or flustered during an interaction with a crush.

You may have heard this multiple times if you watch romantic-comedy anime. Japanese people love onomatopoeia, and they often use repetitive words (such as doki doki).

Maybe doki doki doesn’t sound exactly like a heartbeat, but it’s pretty close.  If you find yourself feeling nervous and notice your heart thumping, instead of using kinchou (緊張), you can use ドキドキ to describe your emotions.

先美人と話したんで、めっちゃドキドキだったよ！
Saki bijin to hanashitan de, meccha dokidoki datta yo!
I was talking to a pretty girl just now, and my heart was racing!

13. 任まかせて下ください: Leave it to me!

You have most likely heard this phrase in several different anime.  You can use this in any situation where you are stepping in to help. The casual form you may have heard is 任せとけ (makasetoke) or 任せて(makasete). Both mean “leave it to me” or “I’ll handle this!”

Although you may have heard this used in anime fight scenes, you can of course use it in everyday situations. To use it at work, say the polite version 任せてください (makasete kudasai).

14. 気きを付つけて: Take care

Simply put, ki o tsukete means “take care”, or “be safe.”  Since this uses the te-form, it is also a command or request.  But in Japanese, these “commands” are not so strict.  It’s like a friendly comment. To make it polite, add ください on the end (as with many Japanese phrases).

コンビニ行ってきますよ。
Konbini itte kimasu.
I’m going. tothe konbini (and returning).

うん。気をつけてね！
Un. Ki o tsukete ne!
Okay. Be careful!

15. びっくりする: To be shocked/surprised

Bikkuru suru means to be shocked or surprised.  This word is used across all anime genres and shows of many kinds!  Suru is sometimes omitted, but either way, the sentiment is the same.

16. 面倒めんどくさい: What a pain!

Alright, we know you know this one.  Mendokusai is used to express frustration.  Pretty straightforward, めんどくさい just means “what a pain”, and used for situations that are inconvenient or something you would rather not deal with.

It’s not heavy enough to be used for very serious matters – mostly just frustrating or potentially stressful scenarios.

17. ぎりぎり: Just in time

This is another Japanese onomatopoeia that literally means something along the lines of “just barely”.  It is often used with time measurements, such as to be ぎりぎりセーフ (girigiri seefu), which means to “just barely be safe” – or “just barely made it”.

終電にギリギリのところで間に合った。
Shuuden ni girigiri no tokoro de maniatta.
I was just in time for the last train.

ギリギリのところで間に合う。
Girigiri no tokoro de maniau.
I just made it under the wire.

18. 申もうし訳わけございません: I am deeply sorry

Possibly one of the most practical phrases on this list for polite scenarios, 申し訳ございません (moushi wake gozaimasen) is a very formal and sincere apology often used in business or customer service situations.

This phrase utilizes the humble form keigo. It literally translates to “I have no excuse” and should be used for very serious apologies.  It is important in Japanese culture to also express your apology with your body language.  This means bowing deeply and showing your face.

19. とりあえず: For now

This is usually used at the beginning of a Japanese sentence to mean, “meanwhile, I will …” or “for now”.  Although it often appears in anime,  you can use this in a variety of different situations.

It can be used in either casual or formal settings. It is often used in business settings to complement explanations.

20: 久ひさしぶり: Long time no see!

久しぶり (hisashiburi) is a one of the commonly used Japanese anime phrases that means “long time no see” in English. There isn’t a set time span for using this phrase as it’s highly subjective.

Use this with friends or family. Or, if you want to be polite you can say お久しぶりです. Adding the お at the beginning and the です at the end makes it more formal!

お久しぶりです。お元気ですか？
Ohisashiburi desu. Ogenki desu ka?
Long time no see. How are you?

Is it possible to learn Japanese through anime?

Yes, it’s possible to learn Japanese through anime as long as you use it as a supplement to your regular Japanese learning materials and resources.

How effective is learning Japanese through anime?

Learning Japanese through anime can be effective, especially for improving your listening comprehension and picking up new vocabulary, but it’s important to also study Japanese grammar and practice speaking and writing in Japanese.

What are some good anime to watch for learning Japanese?

Some good anime to watch for learning Japanese include “Your Name,” “Spirited Away,” “Attack on Titan,” “One Piece,” “Naruto,” and “Death Note.”

Should I watch anime with English subtitles or Japanese subtitles?

It’s recommended to watch anime with Japanese subtitles as this can help you improve your reading comprehension and pronunciation.

How can I improve my Japanese listening skills with anime?

To improve your Japanese listening skills with anime, try listening to the dialogue multiple times, pausing and rewinding when necessary, and practicing shadowing to improve your pronunciation and intonation.

What are some common Japanese phrases used in anime?

Some common Japanese phrases used in anime include “arigatou” (thank you), “sumimasen” (excuse me), “ohayou” (good morning), “daijoubu” (it’s okay), and “gomennasai” (I’m sorry).

Are there any online resources for learning Japanese with anime?

Yes, there are many online resources for learning Japanese with anime, including websites like Animelon and FluentU, and YouTube channels such as Japanese Ammo with Misa and Nihongo con Teppei.

Can I learn japanese by only watching anime?

It’s not recommended to learn Japanese by only watching anime, as it’s important to have a well-rounded approach to language learning that includes studying Japanese grammar, practicing speaking and writing, and using various learning materials and resources. While anime can be a fun and engaging supplement to your Japanese learning, it’s not a comprehensive or structured way to learn the language on its own. Additionally, some anime use slang or colloquial language that may not be appropriate in formal settings or everyday conversation

Start taking Japanese lessons and master anime phrases!

Get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you achieve your Japanese language target. If you’re unsure where you are, we provide a Japanese level check. 

Mastering a language is a slow and gradual process. you have to be able to read, write, listen and speak in the language to become fluent. That’s why today, we will introduce to you some great ways to improve Japanese listening, and very fast as well!

Listening can be considered the hardest skill to learn, but we believe that no longer be the case with these resources.

Why Japanese Listening is both difficult and fun!

To many Japanese learners, listening is a big challenge. Native Japanese speak at a fast rate of speed – much quicker than the audio examples that are given in most Japanese learning textbooks. 

Native Japanese speakers also may use long sentences with complex grammar.  They also mix dictionary and casual forms.

For a learner that is usually only exposed to listening practice through dialogues in their textbook – this type of natural Japanese can be hard to understand.

Some people may think that this is difficult because they don’t have the time to dedicate to it.  This is true – but if you surround yourself with opportunities – improving your listening practice can be really fun. 

The more you listen – the easier it becomes to understand, so as time goes on – your listening practice will become more and more enjoyable!

Watch Japanese YouTube Channels

YouTube has been expanding rapidly in Japan in recent years. Talented YouTubers have launched channels that cover a wide range of interesting topics – making Japanese youtube quite fun to watch.

You can always find a Japanese YouTube Channel with videos that match your specific interests. As most Japanese YouTubers speak in Japanese at native speed with colloquial speech, your ears will get trained as you enjoy the videos.

Don’t worry if you can’t understand everything they say, you will figure out the meanings of words you did not understand as you watch as time goes on and you study kanji and vocabulary.

If you do not know which channel to watch, here is a list of the Top 10 popular Japanese YouTube Channels.

Top 10 Popular Japanese Youtube Channels by July 2019

Channels	Category	Subscriber
はじめしゃちょー (hajime)	Experiments & Pranks	8.06 M
HikakinTV	Experiments & Pranks Pets	7.52 M
Fischer’s-フィッシャズ-	Experiments & Pranks	5.66 M
Yuka Kinoshita	Food	5.29 M
avex	Music	4.82 M
東海オンエア	Experiments & Pranks	4.63 M
HikakinGames	Games	4.28 M
SUSHI RAMEN【Riku】	Experiments & Pranks	4.24 M
JunsKitchen	Pets Cooking Vlogs	4.05 M
MTV Tokyo fried rice Guys	Experiments & Pranks	4.02 M

Of course, you can also watch Japanese tutorials on YouTube. There are many good YouTube Channels for Japanese learning.

For intermediate learners, the channel we recommend is “日本語の森“. “You can find Japanese tutorials for grammar related to the N3 to N1 levels of the JLPT (taught in Japanese)

We would like to also recommend you our YouTube Channel Coto Japanese Academy. We upload interesting and unique Japanese tips that you can hardly learn from your textbook.

Watch Japanese Live Steams

Besides watching Japanese YouTube Channels, watching Japanese live streams is another interesting way to improve your listening. The largest live streaming platform in Japan is “SHOWROOM“.

You can find a large number of live steamers under different categories such as celebrities, voice actors, comedians and many.

By doing this, you will get to listen to native Japanese talking about things you like and interact with them through replying in the comments.

Watch Japanese Tv Shows Without Subtitles

Many people love to watch Japanese variety shows, drama, or anime. They help you get used to the ways natives speak and words they use.
Here is an example of how you can improve your Japanese with Terrace House(a Japanese reality show).

Most people watch them with subtitles and believe that it can help improve their listening skills. In fact, it produces little effect.

Since it is effortless to read the subtitles, they are just enjoying the story and not listening carefully to the Japanese language. As a result, to improve your listening, you should focus on listening to the Japanese without looking at the subtitle.

You can do this by looking for resources without subtitles or block the subtitle with something while watching an English-Subbed Show. You will find it challenging at first for sure.

However, you should understand that the whole point of the game is to get you used to what you could not. If you choose the easy way, your Japanese will not improve much.

Improving your Japanese listening takes time and consistent effort. Try these recommended ways in your free time and your listening will get better over time.

If you wish to learn Japanese by going for Japanese classes, we offer conversation-focused Japanese Courses with flexible scheduling.

If you are interested in studying Japanese, find out more about our school by filling out the form below.