Learn the JLPT N5 grammar という (to iu), used to connect nouns and introduce something by name, meaning “called” or “known as.”

Downloading and using Anki decks can be one of the most effective and easiest ways to learn Japanese. Anki is a free, open-source flashcard program that uses a spaced repetition system (SRS), allowing you to revisit new vocabulary repeatedly but in a programmed time frame. Through this, you can spend more time on words you […]

Japanese honorifics are suffixes or prefixes used to show respect or familiarity when addressing other people. How do you use them?

One of the most essential Japanese particles, で, is commonly used to indicate the location where an action takes place—similar to the English prepositions “at,” “in,” or “on.” However, many learners struggle to distinguish between で and に, since both can relate to place.  Beyond marking the location of an action, で also has several […]

If you need to provide a reason or explanation for an action, you can use the JLPT N5 grammar, 〜ので (~node). It is similar to saying “because…” in English. It is often used to make a cause-and-effect statement, such as “since A, then B.”  Essentially, you can use 〜ので to logically connect 2 statements, similar […]

Spring, or haru (春), has arrived in Japan, and that means a few things! The cherry blossoms are blooming, temperatures are warming, and locals and tourists alike have gathered to enjoy and appreciate them. In Japan, the spring season typically lasts from the beginning of March to the end of May, and you know that […]

To ask someone not to do something in Japanese, you typically use the JLPT N5 grammar pattern 〜ないでください (naide kudasai).  It is similar to saying “please do not do (something)” in English and is a polite way to request that someone refrain from an action, though it can also be framed as an instruction, advice, […]

What’s the difference between kudasai (ください) and onegaishimasu (おねがいします)?