If you love the spirit of a city that never stops moving, we recommend making Shinjuku your home base for learning Japanese.

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 […]

Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring (according to the old Japanese lunar calendar) when people chase away demons to welcome a new season. It usually falls around February 2, 3 or 4.

Coto Japanese Institute, Coto Academy’s new full-time Japanese language school opening in 2026, is now accepting pre-applications for the October 2026 intake. Through this online pre-application, students interested in studying at our school can submit an inquiry and begin their journey with us. From there, we’ll gradually guide applicants through the screening and application process […]

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 […]