Part of conversations is not only letting the other person speak, but also communicating that you are listening. In Japanese, this is known as 相槌 (aizuchi). Aizuchi are conversational interjections that Japanese speakers use when speaking with one another. They are one of the most important aspects of speaking Japanese since it is considered polite […]

If you and your family have just moved to Tokyo, finding the right Japanese preschool or kindergarten for your child can be a daunting prospect. You’re settling into a new country where English isn’t widely spoken, so it’s natural to wonder whether a local Japanese youchien or an international preschool is the better fit. Should […]

In Japan, you might run into plenty of situations where you will need to say “I don’t understand,” especially if you’re just starting to learn Japanese. The most common and straightforward way to say “I don’t understand” in Japanese is わからない (wakaranai) in casual speech, or わかりません (wakarimasen) in its polite form. But Japanese actually […]

Learn how many hours of study it will take you to pass each level of the JLPT. This illustrated guide compares how many hours of Japanese study per JLPT level. Did you know that it takes just as long to pass the N2 as it does to become a certified public accountant in the US?

Did you know that the Japanese language has three types of writing systems? They are hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Hiragana is curvy, represents small syllables, and is used for grammatical information, particles, and native Japanese words! Katakana is straight, also represents small syllables, and is used for loanwords from other languages. Kanji are complex characters […]

After mastering hiragana, one of the three Japanese writing systems, the natural next step is to learn katakana, the second Japanese syllabary. Commonly used to write loanwords, katakana represent the same set of sounds as hiragana, but they look completely different. Katakana characters are typically boxier and more geometric, with sharp corners, in contrast to […]

Between people’s fascination with Japanese culture and the desire to live in Japan, Japanese has become one of the most popular languages to learn – but also the hardest, too.

In English, an interjection is a word or expression meant to express sudden emotion or an immediate reaction. Have you ever heard your Japanese friend say things like “I see,” “Is that so,” or even “That’s amazing?” These interjections, or “aizuchi,” can be heard throughout their conversations, and they can be handy if you’re trying […]