Alphabet is the foundation of English language, and the same thing can be said about hiragana in the Japanese language. Mastering hiragana is important for anyone who want to learn the basics of Japanese. As one of the two Japanese alphabets — right next to katakana — hiragana is used for both Japanese grammars and function words.
Because of this, having a strong foundation of hiragana means having a generally strong foundation of Japanese skills, too. Yet despite its importance, it shouldn’t take a long time for you to master hiragana. In fact, with the right teacher and support, it should only take no longer than a week for you to master hiragana, including reading and writing them. Hiragana’s shapes are relatively simple, especially if you compare them to kanji. Dwell no further. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down all the Japanese phonetics (AIUEO or あいうえお) for beginners.
Want to take your kanji skills up a notch? Check our comprehensive kanji page for study tips, kanji life hacks and free worksheets!
Today’s Japanese Hiragana: Wa (わ）
Wa (わ) consists of the consonant “w” and the Japanese vowel “a”. Pronouncing the wa sound is pretty easy, too — you purse your lips and open your mouth when you make the sound. As the last kana or Japanese alphabet on every hiragana chart, wa (わ) is often associated with a word on a brighter note: warai (わらい), meaning laughter.
There’s a Japanese proverb that goes warau kado ni wa fuku kitaru (笑う門には福来る), and who can say no to that? The phrase means “good fortune and happiness will come to those who smile.”
And who shouldn’t live by the statement? In Japan, owarai (お笑い） is a broad term used to describe Japanese comedy. They can be seen on televisions and, just recently, YouTube, but owarai is a deep-seeded representation of Japanese culture. You’ll find that a lot of Japanese comedy can be traced from thousands of years ago, passed from one generation. There are three styles of owarai that perfectly captures the essence of Japan.
Manzai
Manzai was once a traditional art of storytelling with roots that stemmed from the Heian period. Believed to have its beginnings from the song and dance performances, manzai perfomers would tour around courts, shrines and temples in celebration of the newyear. Manzai was reintroduced in Osaka by Yoshimoto Kogyo, and has since structured modern Japanese comedies.
Today, manzai is generally performed by two comedians, who play the roles of boke (ボケ) and tsukkomi (ツッコミ). Another characteristic is that the pair tend to match their outfits with each other. Boke, otherwise known as the funny man, delivers funny (and otherwise stupid) lines. They’re forgetful and airheaded, and it’s precisely their silly mistakes that stresses their partner, tsukkomi. Tsukkomi will usually hit the boke’s head or chest in retaliation.
Conte
Originating from the French word, “conte,” refers to funny skits. In Japanese, the word is written as konto (コント). It’s a type of manzai performance that focuses on storytelling, so it’s not uncommon to find a conte incorporating props and elaborate stage settings. In recent years, you can find a lot of rapid-fire short conte, which only goes less than 30 seconds.
Rakugo
Rakugo is a type of traditional Japanese storytelling that has been handed down since the early modern era. Performers sit on a zabuton cushino, centered on a stage, and let their bodies narrate the story. Interestingly enough, rops, costumes and music are abandoned in favors of fans and tenugui (thin cotton towels). A rakugo performer will adopt various gaze, postures and demeanors to play multiple roles. It is through the performer’s skill and sublime imagination that we can see a world unfurled and understand a deeper meaning in the art of Rakugo.
Pop Quiz
Here’s a question: In 2015, a certain manzai duo debuted and shocked the world. Who was the partner of a male named Kaneko from Tokyo?
The answer might be mind-boggling to some. Believe it or not, a robot named Pepper debuted as part of a duo called “Peppers”. They were able to successfully get past the first round of “M-1,” the most famous manzai contest in Japan. Kaneko went as far as to create a background for Pepper: a part-time worker born in Tokyo in December 1990.
Alphabet is the foundation of the English language, and the same thing can be said about hiragana in the Japanese language. Mastering hiragana is important for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Japanese. As one of the two Japanese alphabets — right next to katakana — hiragana is used for both Japanese grammars and function words. Today, we’ll be learning about the Japanese hiragana ro and rotenburo.
Because of this, having a strong foundation of hiragana means having a generally strong foundation of Japanese skills, too. Yet despite its importance, it shouldn’t take a long time for you to master hiragana. In fact, with the right teacher and support, it should only take no longer than a week for you to master hiragana, including reading and writing them. Hiragana’s shapes are relatively simple, especially if you compare them to kanji. Dwell no further. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down all the Japanese phonetics (AIUEO or あいうえお) for beginners.
Want to take your kanji skills up a notch? Check our comprehensive kanji page for study tips, kanji life hacks and free worksheets!
Today’s Japanese Hiragana: Ro (ろ）
The hiragana characters for the ‘R’ family have one of the most simple strokes — most of them are less than one stroke and, at the very most, two. There’s the ra, ri, ru, re, ro (ら、り、る、れ、ろ). The character for ro is is similar to ru (る). The only difference is that there is no tail that curls inward. Remember to follow the stroke order and practice writing them as it is a great way to help you master hiragana in a short time. Be careful not to get ro and ru mixed up.
Learn a Japanese word from Ro (ろ): Rotenburo (ろてんぶろ)
What is a Rotenburo?
A rotenburo is an open-air hot-spring bath. “Ro” (露) means is exposed without walls or fences. “Ten” (天) means the sky, while “furo” (風呂) is, well, a bath in Japanese. Rotenburo is the second most common Japanese bath, right next to onsen.
Have you ever bathed in a rotenburo?
These days, rontenburo can be found on the rooftops of business hotels and in super sento bath houses even in Tokyo. The scenery can be breathtaking. Soaking your body into warm, mineral-rich hot water while getting the full view of gleaming city skyline is an experience a lot of people dream of. But while city rotenburo are just fine, without a doubt, rotenburo that offer natural views of the mountains or ocean is on another level.
Author’s experience
There are a lot of impressive rotenburo. One of the greatest that I’ve visited so far was at an inn in Tobira Onsen spa in Nagano Prefectre. The surrounding was so white it was like stepping into a magical world. I felt like I was in some hazy dream.
Another one I’d like to mention was a rotenburo at an old inn in Ojiro Onsen spa town in Shizuoka Prefecture. The rotenburo was really close to the ocean — or more precisely, it sat on top of the ocean. The hot water would overflow from the bath to the sea water. It was as if I was bathing in the vast open sea instead of a small hot tub.
Japan’s Onsen Culture and History
By the way, wouldn’t you agree that the Japanese are unmatched their love of hot baths or onsen? Japan has about 100 active volcanoes, and this is why the country has lots of hot springs. Apparently, there are about 3,000 hot springs scattered throughout all 47 prefectures. There are also theories that say that Japan’s bathing culture started as much as 6,000 years ago, with rotenburo being one of the main predecessors. We can wonder if the Japanese who lived thousands of years ago had the same kinds of feelings about bathing in rotenburo as we do now.
Japan’s bathing culture continued on for centuries since then. During the Edo period (1603–1868), the city of Edo (or present-day Tokyo) had lots of public bathhouses (these were not rotenburo, but baths inside buildings). Not many of the houses in Edo had a bath, so lots of people would go to the bathhouse. Japanese bathouses turn into something. Not just a place for, well, taking baths, it becomes a spot for townspeople to get together and foster a sense of community.
These days, small bathhouses are disappearing from towns and cities. On the other hand, facilities such as super sento are visited by lots of people, from children to old folks. They enjoy a variety of bathing styles.
About this week’s blog author:
Shigemi Matsumoto was a junior high school Japanese teacher for 23 years before joining Coto Language Academy. He is an experienced Japanese language teacher. He currently teaches Coto’s Intensive Courses (intermediate and advanced), Business Courses and Part-time N1 grammar and reading classes. He is also involved in developing teaching materials at Coto Academy. (さらに…)
Alphabet is the foundation of the English language, and the same thing can be said about hiragana in the Japanese language. Mastering hiragana is important for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Japanese. As one of the two Japanese alphabets — right next to katakana — hiragana is used for both Japanese grammars and function words. Today, we’ll be learning about the Japanese hiragana ru and routine (stylized as ru-tin in katakana).
Having a strong foundation of hiragana means having a generally strong foundation of Japanese skills, too. Yet despite its importance, it shouldn’t take a long time for you to master hiragana. In fact, with the right teacher and support, it should only take no longer than a week for you to master hiragana, including reading and writing them. Hiragana’s shapes are relatively simple, especially if you compare them to kanji. Dwell no further. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down all the Japanese phonetics (AIUEO or あいうえお) for beginners.
Want to get a fuller view of the hiragana chart for your Japanese study? Check out our article on learning hiragana!
Today’s Japanese Hiragana: Ru (る)
The hiragana characters for the ‘R’ family have one of the most simple strokes — most of them are less than one stroke and, at the very most, two. There’s the ra, ri, ru, re, ro (ら、り、る、れ、ろ). The character for ru is similar to ro(ろ). The only difference is that there is no tail that curls inward. Remember to follow the stroke order and practice writing them as it is a great way to help you master hiragana in a short time. Be careful not to get ro and ru mixed up.
Want to take your kanji skills up a notch? Check our comprehensive kanji page for study tips, kanji life hacks and free worksheets!
Learn a Japanese word from Ru (る) Routine (ルーティン)
The Japanese word for ルーティン is a loan word from the English word routine, and it has the same meaning. While it might not be a Japanese hiragana, the word routine is still interesting and evokes several opinions. Some food for thought: Do you have a fixed daily routine?
Japanese definition of routine
Routines are used to refer to “a fixed task every time.” People might have the impression that having a routine means having a boring life.
However, ever since a few years ago, it has been used more often to refer to a series of motions that an athlete goes through before an important match. At crucial moments, they go through some fixed motions to stabilize their mental state, strengthen their muscles and heighten their focus.
Routine of a Japanese language teacher
In my opinion, routines produce results. I eat natto and eggs for breakfast, drink coffee when I reach my workplace and stretch before sleeping. It helps me stay grounded in life, and once I get used to it, I don’t think of doing them consciously. It becomes a rhythm that I look forward to at the beginning and end of the day.
Examples of Japananese routine
As for Japanese people, you can look at our star example Ichiro Suzuki — the baseball athlete, national treasure, and first MLB player to enter the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. Ichiro works out at least four times a day and uses eight high-tech sports machines. By consciously doing the same motions that you usually do, you will be able to show off your true abilities without succumbing to the pressure in situations that make you nervous.
There are likely many athletes who stick to a fixed routine not just in crucial moments, but for their daily schedules as well. From the meals they eat and the clothes they wear, small, mundane practices help nurture their mental health.
You don’t need to be an athlete to develop your own life routine. You can start by thinking about the best Japanese study routine. Maybe brew a cup of coffee before settling in on your desk? Maybe draw a fixed schedule?
I know a few people who have succeeded in making studying a habit. One person comes to our Coto class and revises one hour before class. Another person uses an app to learn new words for 15 minutes every morning. One person listens to Japanese podcasts on the train on the way to work. After three months, these routines will become a small form of self-confidence.
About this week’s blog author:
Yumi Yoshida is one of our great Coto Japanese language teachers who’s from Tohoku. She has 16 years of experience working as a Japanese teacher. In her free time, Yumi loves to hike, travel and drink Japanese sake. She thinks the best way to learn Japanese is to engage in fun and friendly conversations in Japanese.
Alphabet is the foundation of the English language, and the same thing can be said about hiragana in the Japanese language. Mastering hiragana is important for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Japanese. As one of the two Japanese alphabets — right next to katakana — hiragana is used for both Japanese grammars and function words. Today, we’ll be learning about the Japanese hiragana ra and ramen.
Having a strong foundation of hiragana means having a generally strong foundation of Japanese skills, too. Yet despite its importance, it shouldn’t take a long time for you to master hiragana. In fact, with the right teacher and support, it should only take no longer than a week for you to master hiragana, including reading and writing them. Hiragana’s shapes are relatively simple, especially if you compare them to kanji. Dwell no further. In this blog series, we’ll be breaking down all the Japanese phonetics (AIUEO or あいうえお) for beginners.
Want to get a fuller view of the hiragana chart for your Japanese study? Check out our article on learning hiragana!
Today’s Japanese Hiragana: Ra (ら)
The hiragana characters for the ‘R’ family have one of the most simple strokes — most of them are less than one stroke and, at the very most, two. There are the ra, ri, ru, re, ro (ら、り、る、れ、ろ). The character for ra contains two strokes. Remember to follow the stroke order and practice writing them as it is a great way to help you master hiragana in a short time.
Learn a Japanese word from Ra (ら): Ramen (ラーメン)
When you learn the Japanese hiragana alphabet ra (ら), you may think of the ramen (ラーメン). The world loves ramen, but no one can match the same obsession that Japanese people have. In fact, it’s so popular, that there are over 30,000 ramen shops in Japan. Depending on the area and shop (and local specialties), the taste of the soup and the type of noodles also vary. Everyone has their own favorite, but each one of these bowls is just as delicious. This time, I am going to tell you about the phrases that you need to know when ordering ramen at a shop.
A ramen enthusiast? Check out our article for the best ramen shops in Tokyo (or click here you’re channeling your inner Gordon Ramsey)!
Common Japanese phrases when ordering at a ramen shop
A lot of popular ramen chains in Tokyo provide English menus, but small ramen shops are the true hidden gems — and, most of the time, they will only hand out Japanese menus. Learn these useful Japanese words and phrases so you don’t get lost when ordering a bowl of ramen.
Japanes Vocaulary for Noodles
Let’s start with noodles! Depending on the shop, you might be able to choose how firm you want your noodles.
Soft – やわらかめ(yawarakame)
Medium – 普通（futsuu)
Slightly Firm – やや硬め（yaya-katame)
Firm – 硬め(katame)
Hard – バリ硬(bari-kata)
Wire – 針金（harigane)
As you go down the list, the noodles get firmer. When you challenge noodles with “Wire 針金（harigane)” hardness, it would be best to do it when your stomach is feeling well.
Want to take your kanji skills up a notch? Check our comprehensive kanji page for study tips, kanji life hacks and free worksheets!
Japanese Vocabulary for Ramen Soup Preference
Next up is the soup base. People’s preferences are pretty divided in this aspect.
Light – あっさり（assari): Soup is refreshing and not greasy.
Rich – こってり(kotteri): Soup is oily with a strong flavor and stock from pork bones.
Very Rich and Thick – 超こってり(cho-kotteri): Soup has a very strong flavor with lots of oil.
Japanese Vocabulary for Ramen Toppings
Now we will move on to toppings! What toppings do you like?
Cha-siu – チャーシュー（cha-shu): The king of ramen toppings! It is marinated pork that is cooked and thinly sliced.
Aji-tsuke Tamago – 味付け卵（ajitsuke-tamago), or Aji Tama味玉(ajitama): A boiled egg that is marinated in soy sauce.
Menma – メンマ（menma): Bamboo shoot that is boiled and fermented.
Green onions – ねぎ（negi): A herbal flavor that ramen must have! In Kanto(Eastern Japan), white long onions are popular, while green onions are popular in Kansai(Western Japan).
There’s a lot of ways you can customize your ramen — although we can’t guarantee the salaryman beside your booth won’t raise an eyebrow. It’s easy to fall into the temptation of ordering all the toppings.
Additional Information
On top of all the information above, here’s two additional things which, if you know, would make you an expert!
Kae-dama – 替え玉（kae-dama): Asking for seconds on only the noodles, without soup.
Soup Wari – スープ割り(soup-wari): After finishing the tsukemen noodles, diluting the tsuke sauce with stock soup so that you can drink it.
Quiz!
At a particular ramen shop in the city, there is a menu called “Designated R-20” (individuals who are under 20 years old cannot order from it). So, what’s the secret indgredient in that ramen? ?
The answer is tequila! The menu has a notice, stating “Entirely Alcohol”. I heard that it even comes with lime, which is a must-have with tequila. It seems to be quite a special custom. If you want to experience getting drunk while eating ramen, definitely go try it!
About this week’s blog author:
Ayana Nezu has a long history in education and training. In 2017, she joined Coto Language Academy – her first time in a Japanese Language School. She currently is based at our Azabu Coto Japanese Club location and is recently obsessed with Rakugo. (さらに…)
Originally, the Japanese language did not have a phoenetic writing system. Around the fifth century, they starting using kanji, ideograms that were adopted from China and Korea. They only used the phonetic reading of the kanji, regardless of their meaning. At that time, the ideograms were called manyogana (万葉仮名).
However, kanji’s characters are composed of many strokes. They take longer to write, as we are sure you have noticed by now! Due to their difficulty, those ideograms were slowly simplified into kana alphabets, namely Hiragana and Katakana. They are called syllabograms, as each character corresponds to one sound in the Japanese language. According to historians, the change was initiated by Buddhist priests who thought kanji was unable to accurately represent the Japanese language, and that a phonetic alphabet would be better.
Examples of Change
On the left is the manyogana, and on the right are simplified hiragana and katakana forms.
安 →あ 阿 → ア (a)
以 →い 伊 → イ(i)
宇 →う、ウ(u)
衣 →え 江 → エ(e)
於 →お、オ(o)
This change is thought to have taken place between the eighth and ninth century. Hiragana can be considered a simplified calligraphy form of the kanji’s strokes. On the other hand, katakana is taken from a single element of a kanji. In some cases, they are created from different ideograms.
Some characters in the Japanese alphabet express the same sound and have similar shapes, such as り and リ. However, some can be dissimilar, such as あ and ア. Hiragana is said to be cursive while katakana is more angular. Do take note that one sound can have more than one hiragana. In 1900 the two kana scripts, hiragana, and katakana were codified. This led to the clear establishment of rules for the Japanese system in 1946.
Difference between Hiragana and Katakana
Why are there 2 syllabic Japanese scripts? In the event that the difference is stylistic, you will learn that hiragana is used to write native Japanese words. Those words will have no kanji representation or the ideogram is too ancient or too difficult to write. This kana script is also the one used to write grammatical elements such as particles: を (wo)、に (ni)、へ (he;e)、が (ga)、は (ha)…
On the contrary, Japanese use katakana to write words of foreign origin and foreign names. If you like to read manga in Japanese, you will have certainly noticed that katakana is also used to represent onomatopoeia and emphasis.
Have you heard of the word “furigana”? Furigana is Hiragana and Katakana characters written in small forms above kanji in order to show pronunciation. Furigana is used in kids’ books and Japanese language textbooks for learners, in order to teach the reading of unknown kanji.
Credits (CC BY 4.0): Kevin Poh Title: Night Life @ Shinjuku, Tokyo source: Flickr
Coto Japanese Academy is a unique Japanese Language School in Iidabashi Tokyo, we offer relaxed and fun conversational lessons for all levels of Japanese learner. Coto Japanese Academy prides itself on its community atmosphere and fun lessons that focus on creation of opportunities to speak and learn Japanese. If you are interested in studying Japanese in Tokyo – please visit our contact page here.
Learning Japanese can feel overwhelming at first, but mastering basic greetings and essential vocabulary is a great way to start. Whether you’re planning a trip to Japan, interacting with Japanese speakers, or just curious about the language, these words and phrases will help you build a solid foundation.
At Coto Japanese Academy, we specialize in creating personalized learning experiences for Japanese language learners. Located in the heart of Tokyo, we offer small class sizes, experienced teachers, and a variety of courses tailored to meet your goals—whether you’re looking to improve conversational skills, prepare for the JLPT, or immerse yourself in Japanese culture. Start your language journey with us today!
Mastering Basic Japanese Greetings and Essential Words
Basic Japanese Words for Greetings
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
おはようございます
Ohayou gozaimasu
Good morning (formal)
こんにちは
Konnichiwa
Hello/ good afternoon
こんばんは
Konbanwa
Good evening
おやすみなさい
Oyasuminasai
Goodnight (formal)
ありがとうございます
Arigatou gozaimasu
Thank you
すみません
Sumimasen
Excuse me/ sorry
ごめんなさい
Gomennasai
Sorry (formal)
はい
Hai
Yes
いいえ
Iie
No
Cultural Tip: In Japan, bowing while saying greetings is a common practice and shows respect. Try incorporating a slight bow when greeting people.
Talking About Family in Japanese
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
わたし
Watashi
I/me
あなた
Anata
You
お母さん
おかあさん Okaasan
Mother
お父さん
おとうさん Otousan
Father
お爺さん
おじいさん Ojiisan
Grandfather
お婆さん
おばあさん Obaasan
Grandmother
おじさん
Ojisan
Uncle
おばさん
Obasan
Aunt
お兄さん
おにいさん Oniisan
Older brother
お姉さん
おねえさん Oneesan
Older sister
弟
おとうと Otouto
Younger brother
妹
いもうと Imouto
Younger sister
Did you know? The use of honorifics like “-san” adds politeness and respect to family terms.
Counting in Japanese: Numbers 1-10
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
一
いち Ichi
One
二
に Ni
Two
三
さん San
Three
四
し/よん Shi/yon
Four
五
ご Go
Five
六
ろく Roku
Six
七
しち/なな Shichi/nana
Seven
八
はち Hachi
Eight
九
きゅう Kyuu
Nine
十
じゅう Juu
Ten
Tip: “Shi” (four) is sometimes avoided because it sounds like the word for “death” in Japanese.
Months of the Year in Japanese
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
一月
いちがつ Ichigatsu
January
二月
にがつ Nigatsu
February
三月
さんがつ Sangatsu
March
四月
しがつ Shigatsu
April
五月
ごがつ Gogatsu
May
六月
ろくがつ Rokugatsu
June
七月
しちがつ Shichigatsu
July
八月
はちがつ Hachigatsu
August
九月
くがつ Kugatsu
September
十月
じゅうがつ Juugatsu
October
十一月
じゅういちがつ Juuichigatsu
November
十二月
じゅうにがつ Juunigatsu
December
Days of the Week & Times of the Day in Japanese
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
月曜日
げつようび Getsuyoubi
Monday
火曜日
かようび Kayoubi
Tuesday
水曜日
すいようび Suiyoubi
Wednesday
木曜日
もくようび Mokuyoubi
Thursday
金曜日
きんようび Kinyoubi
Friday
土曜日
どようび Doyoubi
Saturday
日曜日
にちようび Nichiyoubi
Sunday
昨日
きのう Kinou
Yesterday
今日
きょう Kyou
Today
明日
あした Ashita
Tomorrow
朝
あさ Asa
Morning
昼
ひる Hiru
Noon
夕方
ゆうがた Yuugata
Evening
夜
よる Yoru
Night
Quick Fact: The days of the week are named after natural elements such as the moon (Getsu) and fire (Ka).
Must-Know Japanese Adjectives
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
楽しい
たのしい Tanoshii
Happy
悲しい
かなしい Kanashii
Sad
高い
たかい Takai
High/expensive
低い
ひくい Hikui
Low
安い
やすい Yasui
Cheap
早い
はやい Hayai
Fast/early
遅い
おそい Osoi
Slow
忙しい
いそがしい Isogashii
Busy
美味しい
おいしい Oishii
Delicious
不味い
まずい Mazui
Awful
甘い
あまい Amai
Sweet
塩っぱい
しょっぱい Shoppai
Salty
酸っぱい
すっぱい Suppai
Sour
苦い
にがい Nigai
Bitter
辛い
からい Karai
Hot/ spicy
熱い
あつい Atsui
Hot
暖かい
あたたかい Atatakai
Warm
冷たい
つめたい Tsumetai
Cold
明るい
あかるい Akarui
Bright
暗い
くらい Kurai
Dark
Try This: Describe your meal using these adjectives next time you eat Japanese food!
Common Japanese Verbs for Daily Use
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
する
Suru
To do
見る
みる Miru
To see
聞く
きく Kiku
To listen
話す
はなす Hanasu
To talk/speak
言う
いう Iu
To say
書く
かく Kaku
To write
食べる
たべる Taberu
To eat
飲む
のむ Nomu
To drink
歩く
あるく Aruku
To walk
走る
はしる Hashiru
To run
座る
すわる Suwaru
To sit
立つ
たつ Tatsu
To stand
Practice Tip: Create sentences combining verbs with nouns, like “ごはんを食べる” (Gohan o taberu – I eat rice).
Food Japanese Vocabulary
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
食べ物
たべもの Tabemono
Food
飲み物
のみもの Nomimono
Drinks
ご飯
ごはん Gohan
Rice/meal
水
みず Mizu
Water/cold water
お湯
おゆ Oyu
Hot water
肉
にく Niku
Meat
野菜
やさい Yasai
Vegetable
魚
さかな Sakana
Fish
ラーメン
Ra-men
Ramen
寿司
すし Sushi
Sushi
おにぎり
Onigiri
Onigiri
For the next step after learning these basic Japanese words, equip yourself with basic Japanese grammar.
If you wish to have a short-term study in Tokyo, Check out our 3-month intensive Japanese courses. Also, feel free to send us an inquiry if you have any questions!
How to Ask Fundamental Questions in Japanese: Who, What, Where, and More? More commonly known as the 5W’s and 1 H, these are more or less the essentials to almost every language when it comes to asking questions. In this blog, we’ll cover how to express who, what, when, where, why, and how in Japanese!
Who
First, let’s look at how to express “Who” in Japanese! The word 誰 (だれ, Dare) can more commonly be used in the Japanese language to express “Who”. Below is a sample sentence in how 誰 (だれ) can be commonly used!
誰が好き？
Romaji: Dare ga suki?
English: Who do you like?
What
Next, let’s examine how to express “What” in Japanese. The word 何 (なに/なん, Nani/Nan) is commonly used to express “What” in Japanese and can be used in a variety of situations. From anime and television dramas to popular culture, this has got to be one of the most popular words that non-native speakers know about! Let’s now examine how we can use this!
何が可笑しいの？
Romaji: Nani ga okashii no?
English: What’s so funny/weird?
それは何？
Romaji: Sore wa nani?
English: What is it?
When
Now, let’s take a look at how to express “When” in Japanese with the word “いつ (Itsu)”. Unlike 誰 (だれ, Dare), attaching a “か (Ka)” to “いつ” makes it “いつか,” a word that indicates “Some time (in the future).” If you want to ask a question, look at the sample sentence later! As for attaching “も (Mo)” to “いつ”, the word “いつも” can be more or less translated to “Always, Usually or All the time”.
いつから漫画が好きなの？
Romaji: Itsu kara manga ga suki na no?
English: Since when did you like manga?
Where
Moving on, we look at expressing “Where” through the use of the Japanese word “どこ (Doko)”! This word may often be familiar to those who love Doraemon! Why? Well, he has a door known as the “どこでもドア (Doko demo doa)” that can bring him anywhere, of course!
どこでその話を聞いたの？
Romaji: Doko de sono hanashi wo kiita no?
English: Where did you hear that from?
Why/How
Lastly, let’s examine expressing “Why” and “How.” In the Japanese language, some words have overlapping meanings, whereas some can mean “Why” and “How ” simultaneously. As such, it can be really hard to differentiate between the two sometimes. Nevertheless, some more common words can be used interchangeably to mean “Why” and “How”!
The first word, なぜ (Naze), can be used in various contexts to refer to “why” or “how.”
なんで(なぜ)お父さんがここにいるの？
Romaji: Nande (Naze) otousan ga koko ni iru no?
English: Why is dad here?
Note: なんで is used in a more Casual Setting.
The second word, どうして (Doushite), can be used in certain contexts to express “How/Why did that happen?” “Why?”
どうしてそう言ったの？
Romaji: Doushite sou itta no?
English: Why did you say that?
Last but not least, we have どう (Dou), specifically referred to as “How.” When used as a question, it can also mean “In what way/How was it done?” or “How was it?”.
そのドーナツはどう？
Romaji: Sono donaatsu wa dou?
English: How was the donut?
As confusing as it sounds, some Japanese words tend to have overlapping meanings. When to use them can largely vary and often depend on the context. Once you can familiarise yourself with when to use the word, we’re sure you’ll be able to ask questions in Japanese like a pro!
Let’s watch an animated video to revise what you have learned!
Konnichiwa 「こんにちは」 is one of the first words you learn in Japanese. Often times, on social media posts, you may see it spelled as 「こんにちわ」. However, as you may have learned in your studies, the correct spelling is actually 「こんにちは」.
「こんにちは」is usually written in hiragana, but if you write it in kanji, it’s「今日は」, which can also be read as 「きょうは〜, kyo wa〜」 . This directly translates to “today is ~ ”. Originally, people often greeted each other with 「今日は天気が良いですね、kyou wa tenki ga ii desune- Today, the weather is nice.」or「今日は暑いですね、kyou wa atsui desune- Today, it is hot.」. Over time, people began to shorten their greetings by cutting off the latter portions, eventually resulting in 「こんにちは, konnichiwa」.
What Part of Speech is Konnichiwa?
At times, people ask me, “What part of speech is 「こんにちは, konnichiwa- good day」? Is it a noun? Greetings, including 「おはよう,ohayo- good morning」,「こんにちは, konnichiwa- good day, 」, and「こんばんは, konbanwa- good evening」are not nouns, but interjection s. Interjections are words which we use when our hearts are stirred.
For example, the 「わぁー。」in「わぁー。きれいだなぁ。Waa-, kireidanaa- Waa, it’s so beautiful!」, and the 「あっ。」in「あっ。宿題を忘れた。 Aa, shukudai o wasureta- Aa, I forgot my homework!」are interjections. Therefore, greetings are words which encompass the stirring of our hearts when we meet someone, and the feeling of wanting to communicate with the people we meet.
Other Greetings Besides Konnichiwa
When do I use おはよう (Ohayou) then?
Well then, everyone, at what time do you change your greeting from 「おはよう, ohayo- good morning」to「こんにちは, konnichiwa- good day」? This is quite a difficult question! There is actually no fixed rule. The television and radio station NHK, which uses the most correct Japanese in Japan, states that “The greeting「おはよう,ohayo, good morning」is generally acceptable until 9:00 am.
However, you should be cautious when using it after 9:00 am.” In addition, a famous Tokyo hotel states that “For guests, we use 「おはようございます, ohayogozaimasu- good morning (polite)」until around 10:30 am, and after that we use 「いらっしゃいませ, irasshaimase- welcome」.
What about こんばんは (Konbanwa)?
How about the transition from 「こんにちは, konnichiwa- good day」to「こんばんは, konbanwa- good afternoon」? This is actually even more difficult! NHK states that “「こんばんは,konbanwa- good afternoon」is generally used after the sun has gone down and it gets pretty dark. It is better not to use it when the sun is still out.” In short, when you transition greeting is dependent on the season. For me, I think in the summer I switch greetings around 7:00 pm, and in the winter around 5:30 pm.
Japanese greetings allow you to communicate with the people you meet, while also keeping the seasons and time in mind. However, do you ever think that the greetings used by some store clerks in Japan are a little too obnoxious? I think those type of greetings might just be the requirements of the store manual and perhaps aren’t the most sincere.
After having learned all of these, why not try putting these to use by greeting people over the phone? Or, if you have a friend that you haven’t met in awhile, why not try using “Hisashiburi” with them!
“Konnichiwa” is a common Japanese greeting that translates to “Hello.” However, the most appropriate English equivalent can vary depending on the time of day.
When do you use "Konnichiwa"?
“Konnichiwa” is a versatile greeting used in various situations. It’s a polite way to greet someone, especially when meeting someone for the first time or addressing someone of higher status. While it can be used at any time of day, it’s more commonly used as a general greeting.
What's the difference between "Ohayō" and "Konnichiwa"?
“Ohayō” means “Good morning” and is primarily used in the morning. “Konnichiwa” is a more general greeting, but “Ohayō” is considered more appropriate in the morning.
What's the difference between "Konbanwa" and "Konnichiwa"?
“Konbanwa” means “Good evening” and is primarily used in the evening. “Konnichiwa” is a more general greeting, but “Konbanwa” is more appropriate in the evening.
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.
