We’ve already learned some kanji related to 乗り物 (norimono: vehicles) in N5 and N4 levels, such as: 車 (kuruma: car), 電車 (densha: train) and 駅 (eki: station.) In this Kanji worksheet, we will show you Japanese Kanji you will see on the train, on traffic signs, and on tickets.
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When living in Japan, Kanji can be seen in many places. These various locations include traffic signs, shop signs, restaurant advertisements, etc. Let’s practice using this Kanji Worksheet.
In our N3 kanji Workbook unit one, we’ll be presenting to you common kanji you will see on the street.
After working through ‘Minna no Nihongo’, gloriously passing JLPT levels N5 or N4 and mastering the basic grammar needed to order your favourite sushi, your next step should be to level up to JLPT N3.
This level is described as ‘the ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations. Let’s take a look at what skills are needed to do well on each part, and get some useful tips on how to ace the test! Kanji Vocabulary Grammar Reading Listening
Note: Finding the right JLPT N3 textbook is just as important as studying the subject. That’s why we recommend you check our JLPT N3 textbook recommendations before you continue.
Study the JLPT Smarter with Coto Academy!
Getting ready for the JLPT? Boost your chances of passing with Coto Academy’s JLPT Prep Course — designed for busy learners. This class is perfect for students who plan to take the JLPT exam and work optimally towards their objectives. It covers exam practices and explanations of essentials such as Japanese grammar, vocabulary, kanji, and more!
Bad news: You must know approximately 650 kanji in order to pass. Good news: You should already know around 300 of them, from N5 and N4. You are already halfway there! The kanji is getting progressively more difficult. However, what works best is studying the most common radicals first, as it is easier to find meaning in each kanji. Most importantly, practice, practice practice! A website extremely useful is NHK’s New Web EASY. It is not always easy studying for N3, and I usually need a dictionary, but it is great reading practice. The thing that makes it easier, is that most topics will be familiar to you as they would be news articles. As texts on familiar topics are a lot easier to understand, I’m less likely to give up quickly. Another useful N3 Kanji resource is our JLPT N3 Kanji Writing Workbook! This do-it-yourself PDF workbook is downloadable and will help you master the 369 kanji gap between N4 and N3.
2. Vocabulary
For me, the most difficult part of studying Japanese is expanding my vocabulary. Especially at the beginning, all words sounded very similar to me. It’s getting better, but it is still hard. There was one website that greatly helped me expand my vocabulary, and that is renshuu.org. It is free, and one of the best resources for vocabulary cramming out there. I use it on the train, when waiting in line, and even before going to bed. The words are grouped by JLPT level, and I recommend studying N1 or N2, to be well prepared for N3.
3. Grammar
When it comes to grammar, I prefer books over websites. One book I particularly like is ‘An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese’. This book is not just dry grammar, as it contains interesting information about Japanese culture too. If you understand the grammar in the book, you should already be well prepared to take the JLPT N3 test. Another piece of advice I would like to give is to do mock tests online. Whatever you don’t understand you can look up and include in your studies. However, after studying the book mentioned above there shouldn’t be many unknown words or structures in the test anymore. For reference, the official website has a few practice questions.
4. Reading
For the reading portion of the JLPT test, it should not be too difficult after you followed the advice above. Texts in the tests follow a very similar format every time it is conducted, and the subjects of the texts are never too surprising. Even the kanji mostly have furigana to help you. Common themes are emails from a boss/co-worker, a trip (travel), someone talking about a memory they have, a bulletin with date/time information.
5. Listening
The JLPT N3 listening test is something you can’t learn from books only. The age-old adagio of conversation practice wherever you go comes into play here, and the TV can also be a useful study mate in this case. Listening to comedians making fun of each other can help you get used to the flow and sound of the language, but keep in mind that it will be very different from what you will actually hear during the test. What you will hear during the test is usually spoken quite slowly and clearly, so if you are used to people speaking at a natural speed you may be pleasantly surprised. One of the best ways to practice conversation and work on your specific language issues is to go to a language school. At Coto Japanese Academy, the small class size and professional teachers will help you reach your Japanese language goals, not only to pass the JLPT but also to use in your daily life and work! If being too busy is an excuse for you to skip out on your Japanese learning, then we have some advice for how you can learn Japanese on the go! Find out more here. If learning Japanese through the conventional textbook way is too boring, how about learning through some games instead? Find out more here!
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If you’re interested in learning Japanese, you probably want to be able to have conversations about your hobbies and interests with native speakers to make friends. For example, you might consider yourself an “otaku”. This refers to people who are obsessed with anime, manga, and other aspects of Japanese pop culture. It’s not uncommon to see entire stores dedicated to anime merchandise or cosplay events where people dress up as their favorite characters.
Besides that, Japan is also known for its traditional arts and crafts, like bonsai, origami, ikebana, and traditional tea ceremonies. So whether you’re interested in exploring the world of otaku culture or just love to jog, there are a few key phrases and vocabulary words you’ll need to know in order to express yourself effectively. Here are some tips on how to talk about your hobbies and interests in Japanese!
Essential Vocabulary for Hobbies and Interests
Now that we have a basic understanding of Japanese conversation, let’s dive into vocabulary and phrases specifically related to hobbies and interests. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, an artist, or just enjoy spending time outdoors, there is a lot of Japanese vocabulary to help you express your interests and passions.
Japan offers a wide variety of hobbies that cater to all interests. Here are some of the most common hobbies in Japan:
Japanese
Romaji
English
スポーツ
supootsu
sports
旅行
ryokou
travel
ゲーム
geemu
gaming
読書
dokusho
reading
料理
ryouri
cooking
写真
shashin
photography
映画を見る
eiga
movie
ダンス
dansu
dancing
ジョギング
jogingu
jogging
サイクリング
saikuringu
cycling
ボードゲーム
boodo geemu
board games
カラオケ
karaoke
karaoke
スケート
sukeeto
skating
Whether you’re a fan of extreme sports or prefer a more leisurely pace, Japan has something for everyone.
Sports and Physical Activities
Japan offers a variety of outdoor activities that are perfect for those who enjoy staying active. From hiking in the mountains to swimming in the ocean in Kamakura or Okinawa, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get your heart pumping. If you’re into sports and physical activities, here are some essential vocabulary words:
Japanese
Romaji
English
野球
Yakyuu
Baseball
サッカー
Sakkaa
Soccer
テニス
Tenisu
Tennis
バスケットボール
Basuketto booru
Basketball
バレーボール
Barebooru
Volleyball
スノーボード
Sunooboodo
Snowboarding
スキー
Sukii
Skiing
ヨガ
Yoga
Yoga
水泳
Suiei
Swimming
マラソン
Marason
Marathon
ハイキング
haikingu
Hiking
釣り
tsuri
fishing
Artistic and Creative Pursuits
Japan has a rich artistic heritage, and its language reflects this. Whether you’re a painter, musician, or writer, you’ll find plenty of vocabulary to help you express yourself. For those who enjoy artistic and creative hobbies, here are some vocabulary words to know:
Japanese
Romaji
English
絵画
Kaiga
Painting
陶芸
Tougei
Pottery
造形
Zoukei
Sculpting
写真
Shashin
Photography
裁縫
Saihou
Sewing
デザイン
Dezain
Design
手芸
Shugei
Handicrafts
書く
kaku
writing
イラスト
Irasuto
Illustration
Indoor and Outdoor Activities
Lastly, here are some vocabulary words for a variety of indoor and outdoor activities:
Forming Sentences to Describe Your Interests and Hobbies in Japanese
With all this vocabulary under your belt, it’s time to start putting together sentences to talk about your interests! Talking about your hobbies and interests is a great way to connect with others and share your passions.
To introduce your hobbies and interests in Japanese, you can use the following phrases:
私は＿＿＿が好きです。 Watashi wa ___ ga suki desu. I like ___.
私は＿＿＿に興味があります。 Watashi wa ___ ni kyoumi ga arimasu. I am interested in ___.
Please keep in mind that in order to use the sentence structure provided above, it’s necessary to use a noun. If you want to express an action or verb, you should add の or こと after the verb to turn it into a noun. For example:
私は映画を見るのが好きです。 Watashi wa eiga o miru no ga suki desu. I like watching movies.
If it’s obvious who the subject is, you can omit it in the sentence. In this case, you can just say, “Eiga o miru koto ga suki desu.”
When you are talking about another person, you can also use the same Japanese sentence structure.
彼女は絵を描くのが好きです. Kanojo wa e o kaku no ga suki desu.
It’s also helpful to be able to express how often you do a certain hobby, or for how long. Here are some examples:
週に2回サッカーをします. shuu ni nikai sakkaa o shimasu I play soccer twice a week.
彼女はギターを始めて5年です。 kanojo wa gitaa o hajimete go nen desu. She has been playing the guitar for five years
金曜日の夜は映画を見ます kinyoubi no yoru wa eiga wo mimasu We watch movies every Friday night
If you’re particularly skilled or experienced in a certain hobby, you might want to be able to talk about that as well. Here are some phrases to help:
子供の頃から野球をやっています. kodomo no koro kara yakyuu wo yatte imasu. I’ve been playing baseball since I was a kid.
彼女は去年絵画コンクールで優勝しました kanojo wa kyonen kaiga konkuru de yuushou shimashita She won a painting competition last year
Describing Your Interests and Hobbies in Japanese
To describe your hobbies and interests in more detail, you can use adjectives and adverbs. Here are some examples:
楽しい (Tanoshii) – fun
面白い (Omoshiroi) – interesting
難しい (Muzukashii) – difficult
簡単な (Kantan na) – easy
時間がかかる (Jikan ga kakaru) – time-consuming
お金がかかる (Okane ga kakaru) – expensive
For example, if you want to describe that playing soccer is fun, you can say:
サッカーをするのは楽しいです。 Sakkaa o suru no wa tanoshii desu. Playing soccer is fun.
Asking About Others’ Interests and Hobbies in Japanese
Of course, conversations are a two-way street. Here are some helpful phrases for asking about others’ hobbies and interests:
How do Ask “What is Your Hobby?” in Japanese
The most basic way to ask about someone’s hobby is:
あなたの趣味は何ですか？ Anata no shumi wa nan desuka?
This phrase is a great icebreaker and can lead to some interesting conversations. You never know what kind of hobbies people might have!
Inquiring About Specific Interests
If you want to ask about a specific hobby, you can use phrases like:
スポーツが好きですか? Supootsu ga suki desuka? Do you like playing sports?
最近、どこか面白いところに旅行しましたか？ Saikin dokoka omoshiroi tokoro ni ryokou shimashitaka? Have you traveled anywhere interesting recently?
どんな映画が好きですか？ Donna eiga ga suki desuka? What kind of movies do you like?
Asking about specific interests can show that you’re genuinely interested in getting to know the person. It can also give you some insight into their personality and what they enjoy doing in their free time.
Responding to Others’ Hobbies and Interests
When someone asks about your hobbies and interests, it’s polite to reciprocate by asking about theirs in return. Here are some phrases to use:
あなたは？ 趣味はありますか？ Anata wa? Shuumi wa arimasu ka? What about you? Do you have any hobbies?
One thing to note is that it’s better to use the person’s name and attach a suffix like san, kun, or chan, instead of using あなた. If you use “anata” with someone who you know, it can sound rude and disrespectful. For example, if your friend’s name is Tanaka (田中), you can say:
田中さんは? Tanaka-san wa? What about you, Tanaka?
When you respond to someone’s question about your hobbies and interests, be sure to give them some details. This can help keep the conversation going and make it more interesting for both of you. Here’s an example of a conversation between two friends who are talking about hobbies in Japanese:
友達１：最近、何か趣味とかある？ Tomodachi 1: Saikin, nanika shumi toka aru? Friend 1: Do you have any hobbies or interests lately?
友達２：ああ、特にないけど、昔からゲームが好きだよ。 Tomodachi 2: Aa, tokuni nai kedo, mukashi kara geemu ga suki da yo. Friend 2: Not particularly, but I’ve always liked playing video games.
友達１：私もゲームが好き！最近はどんなゲームをしてる？ Tomodachi 1: Watashi mo geemu ga suki! Saikin wa donna geemu wo shiteru? Friend 1: I also like video games! What kind of games have you been playing lately?
友達２：ああ、最近はファイナルファンタジー７リメイクをしているんだ。すごく面白いよ。 Tomodachi 2: Aa, saikin wa Fainaru Fantajī 7 Rimeiku wo shite irun da. Sugoku omoshiroi yo. Friend 2: Oh, lately I’ve been playing the Final Fantasy 7 remake. It’s really interesting.
友達１：私もそのゲームをやってみたいなあ。最近は、ジョギングをすることも多いんだ。身体を鍛えるためにね。 Tomodachi 1: Watashi mo sono geemu wo yatte mitai naa. Saikin wa, jogingu wo suru koto mo ooi nda. Karada wo kitaeru tame ni ne. Friend 1: I want to try that game too. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of jogging. To keep my body in shape.
友達２：ジョギングいいね。私もフットサルをしているよ。週に２回ぐらい。 Tomodachi 2: Jogingu ii ne. Watashi mo futtosaru wo shite iru yo. Shuu ni nikai gurai. Friend 2: Jogging sounds great. I also play futsal twice a week.
友達１：フットサル！面白そうだね。私もやってみたいなあ。 Tomodachi 1: Futtsaru! Omoshirosou da ne. Watashi mo yatte mitai naa. Friend 1: Futsal! That sounds interesting. I want to try it too.
友達２：ぜひ一緒にやりましょう！ Tomodachi 2: Zehi issho ni yarimashou! Friend 2: Let’s do it together sometime!
Conclusion
With these phrases and vocabulary words in your arsenal, you should feel much more confident talking about your hobbies and interests in Japanese. Good luck!
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How do ask "What is your hobby?" in Japanese?
The most basic way to ask about someone’s hobby is:
あなたの趣味は何ですか？ Anata no shumi wa nan desuka?
How do I say "hobby" in Japanese?
“Hobby” in Japanese is 趣味 (shumi).
How do I talk about my hobbies in Japanese?
You can start by saying “Watashi no shumi wa _____ desu” and fill in the blank with your hobby. For example, “Watashi no shumi wa supootsu desu” means “My hobby is sports.”
Japanese adverb, otherwise known as fukushi ( 副詞・ふくし), is an important element in the Japanese language. In fact, it will feel off if you don’t include them. What happens if you want to make your conversation more interesting and descriptive?
If you’re a beginner, it can be frustrating to only be able to explain something with little to no detail. When you’ve mastered the necessary grammar patterns, it’s time to move on to the complexities of using adverbs — although, with practice, you’ll realize that it’s actually not that hard. (See how we use an adverb there?) Really, the rules are simpler than how they sound.
In this article, we’ll be walking you through how to use Japanese adverbs and change adjectives to adverbs. Along the way, we’ll be giving example sentences, too.
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How are English Adverbs Different from Japanese Adverbs?
Although their functions parallel English adverbs, there are a few distinctions between both languages. Japanese adverbs are boxed based on their characteristics. While you’ll find most English adverbs ending with a ~ly (commonly, effectively, fluently — just to name a few), Japanese adverbs are more varied (more of that later).
Another key difference is its placement. Unlike in English, Japanese adverbs can be placed anywhere in a sentence as long as they appear before the verb.
Let’s get one thing straight: no matter which one, adverbs serve the purpose of giving context, and they’re generally used for verbs.
Take a look at the example below.
私たちは
一緒（いっしょ）に
試験(しけん）を
勉強（べんきょう）しています
We
Together
Exam
Learning
Subject
Adverb
Object
Verb
No matter the adverb is placed, the meaning won’t change (“We are learning exam together“).
You can put the adverb before an object or a verb.
Subject は + Object を + Adverb + Verb
Subject は + Adverb + Object を + Verb
一緒に試験を勉強しています。 Issho ni shiken wo benkyou shite imasu.
試験を一緒に勉強しています。 Shiken wo issho ni wo benkyou shite imasu.
How to Use Japanese Adverbs
Of course, as you receive more advanced Japanese study materials, you’ll find that more complex sentence patterns. In fact, you don’t always have to pair an adverb with 「Object を + Verb」.
Unlike an adjective, which can only be paired with a noun, adverbs are more versatile. They can to be paired with a word, be it a verb or 動詞 (doshi), an adjective or 形容詞 (keiyōshi), or even another adverb.
いつも電車で学校へ行きます。 いつもでんしゃでがっこうへいきます。 (I) always go to school by train.
彼女にとっては私が結局ただの友達だ。 かのじょにとってはわたしがけっきょくただのともだちだ After all, I’m just a friend to her.
ワクチンはほとんど痛くなかった。 ワクチンはほとんどいたくなかった。 The vaccine didn’t hurt very much.
In all of the examples above, all of the adverb are tailed by a verb, adjective or a noun. The word ‘barely’ (ほとんど) is put in front of the adjective ‘hurt’ (痛い).
Take a look at another example, where we use an adverb for another adverb.
先生は本当に優しく教えます。 せんせいはほんとうにやさしくおしえます。 The teacher teaches really kindly.
Turning Adjectives into Japanese Adverbs
In the Japanese language, you can modify almost all of its adjectives (形容詞・けいようし) into adverbs. Most of them will share the same meaning — similar to English. The word ‘effective’ and ‘fluent’, for example, can be altered into ‘effectively’ and ‘fluently’.
How you change Japanese adjectives to adverbs is based on conjugation rules — which, again, depending on the type of adjective a word belongs to.
There are two classifications: 「い」adjectives and 「な」adjectives.
「い」Adjectives
You’ve probably heard popular words like「かっこい！」or「かわいい！」on anime, talk shows — or even manga. Notice how all of them end with an ‘i’? That’s how easy it is to identify an 「い」adjective.
By changing the final い (i) to く (ku), an adjective will turn into an adverb. It’s pretty similar to how you add ‘ly’ on adjectives to English.
い-adjectives + い (i) → い-adjectives ＋ く(ku)
Kanji
Adjective
Adverb
強い
つよい Strong
つよく Strongly
弱い
よわい Weak
よわく Weakly
速い
はやい Quick
はやく Quickly
遅い
おそい Slow
おそく Slowly
高い
たかい High
たかく Highly
There is an exception to the い-adjective: 良い・いい. Instead of いく, it will be transformed into よく. This is because the word’s original spelling is よい. Although the form has changed, all its derivations and conjugations remain the same.
「な」Adjectives
Although a bit trickier than the「い」adjective, but you can easily identify a「な」adjective when you hear the particle な (na) adjective before a noun (for example, 幸せ「しあわせ」な 人)
You don’t need to erase anything from the actual adjective word. Instead, replace な with に (ni) to convert a な (na) adjective into an adverb.
な-adjectives + な (na) → な-adjectives ＋ に(ni)
Kanji
Adjective
Adverb
幸せ しあわせ
幸せな Happy
幸せ に Happily
静か しずか
静か な Quiet
静か に Quietly
元気 げんき
元気 な Energetic (healthy)
元気 に Energetically
上手 じょうず
上手 な Skillful
上手 に Skillfully
下手 へた
下手 な Unskillful
下手 に Unskillfully
Although it seems that all adverbs are acquired from adjectives, that is not always the case. These adverbs do not have a specific form or rule to recognize them with, so you must learn each vocabulary word and they are just as important to remember. However, they are utilized in a similar way as all the other adverbs.
Non-adjectival Japanese Adverbs
Although most adjectives can be turned into adverbs, not all adverbs are related to adjectives. This is an important point because Japanese people will use a list of general adverbs that don’t have an original term. They don’t have any identifiable pattern, so you will have to remember each vocabulary alone.
Most non-adjectival adverbs are used to indicate frequency, time and place. Here are a few common examples of adverbs that don’t originate from a parent adjective.
Adjective
Meaning
Example sentence
ゆっくり
Slowly
ゆっくり歩いて(あるいて)います (I am) walking slowly.
たくさん
A lot
たくさんご飯(ごはん)を食べたい(たべたい)です (I) want to eat a lot of food.
ちょっと
A bit
ちょっと待って(まって)よ Please wait a moment.
たぶん
Maybe; perhaps
それはたぶん無理(むり)です That is probably impossible.
徐々に
Gradually; little by little
徐々に上手になります。 Gradually becoming skillful.
やっと
Finally; at last
やっと授業(じゅぎょう)が終わった(おわった)！ The class is finally over!
もっと
More; further; even more
もっと頑張れ(がんばれ) Put in more effort!
きっと
Surely; almost certainly
あなたの願い(ねがい)はきっと叶う(かなう)よ Your wish will surely come true.
ずっと
Always
あなたのことがずっと好き(すき)だった I’ve liked you for a very long time.
We can divide Japanese adverbs into several categories, including time, frequency, place, manner and degree.
Adverbs of degree
Adding one adverb in a sentence can be the difference between making or ruining someone’s day. What if you say “You are not sobeautiful” instead of “You are verybeautiful?”
This is where adverbs of degree are used to stipulate the scale or extent of something. We’ll be listing some of the must-know adverbs in descending order.
Take a look at some examples below.
私は炊事が全然できない。 わたしはすいじがぜんぜんできない。 I can’t cook at all.
彼は非常に意識のある人です。 かれはひじょうにいしきのあるひとです。 He is a man of great knowledge.
Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
Meaning
1.
非常に
ひじょうに
hijou ni
very much
2.
とても
totemo
very
3.
極めて
きわめて
kiwamete
extremely
4.
随分
ずいぶん
zuibun
very
5.
沢山
たくさん
takusan
very
6.
本当に
ほんとうに
hontou ni
really
7.
大体
だいたい
daitai
mostly
8.
大分
だいぶ
daibu
considerably; greatly
9.
丁度
ちょうど
choudo
just; exactly
10.
かなり
kanari
fairly
11.
相当に
そうとうに
soutou ni
pretty
12.
僅かに
わずかに
wazuka ni
slightly; barely
13.
ほぼ
hobo
about; roughly
14.
少し
すこし
sukoshi
a little bit
15.
まあまあ
maamaa
so-so
16.
中々
なかなか
nakanaka
quite
17.
そこそこ
sokosoko
reasonably
18.
余り
あまり
amari
(not) very
19.
たいして
taishite
(not so) much
20.
全然
ぜんぜん
zenzen
(not) at all
The adverb とても is normally only used with positive sentences. If you want the opposite, opt for あまり or ぜんぜん. Both will need a negative sentence.
Adverbs based of frequency
How often do you do something? Is it always, sometimes — or never? This is when Japanese adverbs of frequency are used. They are usually placed before the main action word or another adverb.
もうずっと忘れてた。 もうずっとわすれてた。 Ah, I’ve already forgotten about since ages ago.
Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
Meaning
21.
いつも
itsumo
Always
22.
ずっと
zutto
Always (continuously)
23.
よく
yoku
Often
24.
通常
つうじょう
tsuujou
Usually
25.
度々
たびたび
tabitabi
Often
26.
時々
ときどき
tokidoki
Some
27.
たまに
tama ni
Sometimes
28.
あまり
amari
Rarely (negative form)
29.
滅多に
めったに
metta ni
Rarely (negative form)
30.
決して
けっして
kesshite
Never (negative form)
Adverbs based on level of certainty
Adverbs of this kind are used to expand on the extent of how actions or adjectives (or even another adverb).
Take a look at some examples below.
絶対に諦めない。 ぜったいにあきらめない。 I shall never give up.
何事にも必ず終わりがある。 なにごとにもかならずおわりがある。 All things must have an end.
Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
Meaning
31.
絶対に
ぜったいに
zettai ni
Definitey
32.
必ず
かならず
kanarazu
Without exception
33.
是非
ぜひ
zehi
Without fail
34.
確かに
たしかに
tashika ni
Certainly
35.
やはり
yahari
As expected
36.
きっと
kitto
Surely; undoubtedly
37.
恐らく
おそらく
osoraku
Probably
38.
もしかしたら
moshikashitara
Perhaps; maybe
39.
多分
たぶん
tabun
Maybe
Adverbs based of time
Japanese adverbs of time indicate when something happens.
Take a look at some examples below.
最近虫が多くなった。 ぜったいにあきらめない。 I shall never give up.
しばらくお待ちください。 なにごとにもかならずおわりがある。 All things must have an end.
Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
Meaning
41.
今
いま
ima
Now
42.
今すぐに
いますぐに
ima sugu ni
Right now
43.
先に
さきに
saki ni
Previously
44.
前に
まえに
mae ni
Previously
45.
後で
あとで
ato de
Later
46.
まだ
mada
Yet
47.
また
mata
Still
48.
すぐ
すぐ
sugu
Soon
49.
すでに
Already
50.
先ほど
さきほど
saki hodo
Just now
51.
暫く
しばらく
shibaraku
For a while
52.
結局
けっきょく
kekkyoku
Eventually
53.
今日
きょう
kyou
Today
54.
明日
あした
ashita
Tomorrow
55.
明後日
あさって
asatte
The day after tomorrow
56.
昨日
きのう
kinou
Yesterday
57.
一昨日
おととい
ototoi
Two days ago
58.
今朝
けさ
kesa
This morning
59.
今夜
こにゃ
konya
Tonight
60.
毎日
まいにち
mainichi
Daily; every day
61.
毎週
まいしゅう
maishuu
Weekly
62.
毎月
まいげつ
maigetsu
Monthly
63.
毎年
まいねん
mainen
Annually
64.
やっと
yatto
Finally
65.
最近
さいきん
saikin
Recently
66.
最初に
さいしょに
saisho ni
First
67.
最後に
さいごに
saigo ni
Last
Adverbs based of manner
Also called 方法の福祉・ほうほうのふくし, Japanese adverbs of manner describe how an action or thing happen. This is where you’ll find most adjective-derived adverbs being used.
Take a look at the example down below.
私は早く朝ご飯を食べます。 わたしははやくあさごはんをたべます。 I eat my breakfast quickly.
私は朝ご飯を早く食べます。 わたしははやくあさごはんをたべます。 I quickly eat my breakfast.
Kanji
Hiragana
Romaji
Meaning
68.
固く
かたく
kataku
Hardly; firmly
69.
優しく
やさしく
yasashiku
Softly
70.
明るく
あかるく
akaruku
Brightly
71.
暗く
くらく
kuraku
Darkly; grimly
72.
高く
たかく
takaku
Highly
73.
低く
ひくく
hikuku
Low
74.
ゆっくり
yukkuri
Slowly
75.
遅く
おそく
osoku
Tardily
76.
早く
はやく
hayaku
Quickly
77.
静かに
しずかに
shizuka ni
Quietly
78.
うるさく
urusaku
Loudly
79.
簡単に
かんたんに
kantan ni
Easily
80.
丁寧に
ていねいに
teinei ni
Carefully; politely
81.
特に
とくに
toku ni
Especially
82.
一緒に
いっしょに
issho ni
Together
83.
そのまま
sono mama
as it is; without change
84.
急に
きゅうに
kyuu ni
Suddenly
85.
突然
とつぜん
totsuzen
Suddenly
86.
偶然に
ぐうぜんに
guuzen ni
Accidentally
87.
新しく
あたらしく
atarashiku
Newly
Japanese Adverbs: Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is a word that resembles the actual sound of the thing they refer to. In English, you’ll encounter words like “tick-tock” from a clock, or “vroom” from a car.
Although it falls under the same umbrella, Japanese onomatopoeia has a wider range of meanings. Not just sound sources, these words can also reflect a mood or emotion. This is why it’s hard to guess the meaning of the word just from the sound alone. For example, ペラペラ means fluent — but you probably don’t know about it.
The good news is this: common onomatopoeia are reduplications — meaning, the whole word is repeated exactly or with a slight change. They sound catchy (like ドキドキ or ペコペコ), so it’s not half as bad as memorizing, say, the wholeN4 kanji unit. A lot of onomatopoeia is followed by the particle と (to).
俺はイライラと試験を復習しました。 おれはイライラとしけんをふくしゅうしました I annoyingly reviewed the exam.
Subject は + Adverb (onomatopoeia) と + Predicate
去年の冬がめちゃくちゃ寒かっただ。 きょねんのふゆがめちゃくちゃさむかっただ。 Last year’s winter was very cold.
Hiragana
Romaji
Meaning
88.
ぶつぶつ
butsu butsu
grumble; domplain
89.
もぐもぐ
mogu mogu
mumble
90.
ペラペラ
pera pera
fluently
91.
ペコペコ
peko peko
very hungry; starving
92.
ちびちび
chibi chibi
little by little
93.
むしゃむしゃ
musha musha
(munch) ravenously
94.
ズルズル
zuru zuru
slowly; slurp
95.
パリパリ
pari pari
crunchy; rispy
96.
いそいそ
iso iso
cheerful
97.
いらいら
ira ira
irritated, annoyeed
98.
ふわふわ
fuwa fuwa
soft; fluffy
99.
モチモチ
mochi mochi
springy; doughy; chewy
100.
くらくら
kura kura
feel dizzy; giddy
101.
むしむし
mushi mushi
hot and humid
Conclusion
Learning Japanese adverbs is the next step after you’ve mastered all the basic Japanese words and phrases. Instead of memorizing everything at once, we recommend going over them slowly.
If you want to learn more, we offer a variety of online, group, and private lessons — not to mention other free content on our blog, too.
Of course, as you receive more advanced Japanese study materials, you’ll find that more complex sentence patterns. In fact, you don’t always have to pair an adverb with 「Object を + Verb」.
Unlike an adjective, which can only be paired with a noun, adverbs are more versatile. They can to be paired with a word, be it a verb or 動詞 (doshi), an adjective or 形容詞 (keiyōshi), or even another adverb.
What does zettai mean in Japanese?
Zettai means absolutely in Japanese and it is usually follows up by negative tense. For exmaple: 絶対に諦めない。ぜったいにあきらめない。I shall never give up.
Learn “Real” Conversational Japanese at Coto Japanese Academy
Need help with learning different Japanese vocabulary about education? Check out the cheat sheet that we have created for the all the terminology that you need!
Here, we have included the vocabulary on the eight education levels, starting from nursery school to university.
People are always surprised to know just how different the Japanese school system is from the system in other countries.
The Japanese school system consists of six years of elementary school, three years of junior high school, three years of high school, and lastly, university.
Here is how the school years in Japan are divided :
Nursery school from 3 to 6 years old.
Elementary school from 6 to 12.
Middle School from 12 to 15.
High school from 15 to 18.
University from a duration of 2 to 4 years.
The majority of Japan’s junior high and high schools students are also required to wear uniforms, or seifuku (せいふく), which play an important role in Japan’s culture.
The uniform also rotates seasonally and varies between one school and the other, with some schools known for their particular design. Students are taught to have a sense of discipline and community among youth by wearing uniforms.
This is part one of our Japanese education vocabulary series, so make sure to continue to part two.
Continue on below for more vocabulary and sentence examples.
Japanese Education Vocabulary Sentence Examples
Here is how you form basic sentences with the terminology:
Example 1:
おとうとはあしたのしょうがっこうのにゅうがくしきがたのしみでしかたないのだ。
otōto wa ashita no shōgakkō no nyūgakushiki ga tanoshimi de shikatanai noda.
My younger brother can’t help but look forward to his entrance ceremony of elementary school tomorrow.
Example 2 :
こうこうをそつぎょうしたら、だいがくにしんがくするよていです。
kōkō wo sotsugyō shitara, daigaku ni iku tsumoridesu.
When I graduate from high school, I plan to go to university.
Japanese Education Vocabulary –
Japanese
Pronunciation
Meaning
ほいくえん
hoikuen
Nursey School
ようちえん
yōchien
Preschool
しょうがっこう
shōgakkō
Elementary School
ちゅうがっこう
chūgakkō
Middle School
こうこう
koūkō
High School
だいがく（がくし）
daigaku (gakushi)
University (bachelor)
だいがくいん（しゅうし）
daigakuin (shūshi)
Graduate School (masters)
はくし
hakushi
PH.D.
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!
Start taking Japanese lessons and master these terminology today!
Learning Japanese for beginner is a journey that appears to be terrifying. The process of understanding the grammar structure, building up a good vocabulary based, and strengthening communication skills may seem too much of a work to do.
Let’s be honest, learning a new language is not easy. But with endurance, a motivated attitude and with a determined goal, anything is possible.
How many times have you written “to learn a new language” or “to master the Japanese language” on your new year’s resolution? It is now almost halfway through the year, and how did that progress go?
If you have not even remotely gotten close to begin, don’t worry, many others are on the same boat as you.
In this article, we will introduce a number of ways to learn Japanese consistently, without getting side-tracked.
1.Study with mobile apps
If you have experience with studying with textbooks and this did not work out for you, why not try to study with Japanese language applications on your phone?
Just set a small starting goal of 5 minutes of studying on the Japanese language app, so that your goals are more achievable.
If you are struggling with memorizing kanji, we have compiled a few Kanji apps here in the blog post, recommending different type of learners.
The apps here help beginners to practice with remembering and understanding the Hiragana and Katakana writing system. The apps have a build-in tracing system, where you can practice writing Japanese letters.
Read more about kanji app and our review of the popular study app Duolingo here!
2. Study with social media,
If you have a habit of spending more than an hour on social media all together, why not use some of the time to allocate to your Japanese studies? Here we show you some ways to learn Japanese through social media.
Instagram
It is easy to get lost within the world of Instagram with so much content and inspiration out there. One way to get your Japanese study time while going on Instagram, is to follow some of the Japanese learning Instagram accounts.
We, Coto Academy, have our own Instagram account where we post every single day on Japanese vocabularies, phrases, and current events.
IG Stories of JLPT Kanji, Grammar, Vocabularies Quizzes
Themed Japanese Vocabulary
How to use onomatopoeia
Kanji Vocabulary
Japanese Phrases
Grammar videos on IGTV
By following us, you would not have to specifically find the time in your day to study Japanese, but we provide the information for you on Instagram, where you can engage with.
YouTube
To get more accustomed to the Japanese language and to get used to native Japanese speaking in Japanese, using YouTube to study is the best method.
With a visual aid, it is easier to understand Japanese grammar particles and structures. We post weekly JLPT grammar videos, introducing new concepts. If your main source of social media is YouTube, this is the perfect method for you to squeeze in bits of studying time.
Additionally, listening to our Native teachers speak Japanese may help you to get used to the pronounciation of Japanese words.
Coto provides short educational videos, but if you would like to delve into longer videos, that thoroughly explains grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension, check out our list of 50 Youtube channels here.
The YouTube channels we have compiled here varries in learning formats. Ranging from traditional formats of explaining each grammar concept to you to channels that explains through a song so that the concepts are easier to remember to many vlog channels going through their daily life in Japan.
For Japanese learners that want to learn Japanese, learning videos is one of the best methods to do so, because the educational videos are delivered as if it is a personal lesson between the teacher and the student. Learning through Japanese vlogs
Following our blog
Our blog includes a variety of content you can highly benefit from, which contributes to learning Japanese!
We write blogs on topics such as grammar blog posts, tips on how to study Japanese, and how to pass each JLPT level. We also combine Japanese culture with Japanese learning, such as our blog post on teaching Japanese learners how to maximize their learning with using phrases from Japanese anime.
We also create our own Coto Kanji practice worksheets and provide them on our blog. Our Coto blog provides a wide array of Free Kanji practice worksheets ranging from JLPT N5~N2 Kanjis. This way, learners that are starting out can have easy access to resources to study Japanese straightaway.
3. Listen to podcasts and join clubhouse
Traditional methods of studying Japanese is great, but if you want to progress to another level, listening to Japanese podcasts and joining a clubhouse group is one way to do so.
Joining clubhouse Japanese language groups encourages Japanese learners to strengthen communication skills. The groups we have compiled allows members to practice the language together.
Why you should learn by listening to podcasts or Clubhouse:
Easy to slot in time for it –
For when you often communte to work or school,
Exercise throughout the day
Strengthen listening skills
Gain communications skills for casual conversations
Become friends with like minded people to encourage each other to study
If you like to watch Japanese tv shows or anime, what better way to learn Japanese than to learn by continuously watching the shows? This way, you can learn natural phrases used for daily life, during your leisure time.
Did you also know that by adding this extention on your google chrome, you can learn Japanese on Netflix? By installing this extention, you can hover words you are unfamiliar with in the subtitles, and save the words to review for later. This extention translates the words for you, and provides romaji on top of kanji so you can practice reading the Japanese subtitiles.
5. Learn through songs
Do you like listening to J-pop? Want to learn how to sing them, or understand what the song lyrics mean without having to search it up everytime? In our previous post, we have compiled Japanese songs and artists we recommend learning Japanese from!
By practicing sing the Japanese songs, this can improve your Japanese pronounciation, which can aid you in the future when you want to improve communication skills. Trying to understand the story behind the lyrics include understand vocabulary and grammar structure.
By accomplishing this, learning throught the lyrics also can link to strengthening reading comprehension skills.
6. Sign up to Coto Academy!
There are many free and affordable resources out there on the internet. Coto Academy provides many ways for people that are interested in learning Japnese.
Sign up to Coto online classes, affordable and consistent
Coto Academy provides Japanese lessons for anyone in the world. We have online group lessons, as well in-person group lessons. The classes we have arranged are very affordable, which makes students easier for them to continue the classes.
Consistency is a very key aspect in studying languages, so that your muscle memory does not forget what you have learnt.
Among the variety of classes we offer, we highly recommed the Japanese Crash Course for beginners with zero experience with Japanese.
