Learning Japanese can be a fun and engaging experience, not just a series of textbooks and quizzes. We know your interest in learning Japanese has sparked from watching Japanese anime or playing games made by Nintendo, Sega, or Capcom. In our previous blogs, we’ve also shared some exciting ways to start learning the language, such as learning Japanese with video games and kanji games. Now, we are ready to introduce another new game, tested by our staff and teachers, that’s perfect for beginners who want to learn Japanese in a fun way: Wagotabi. In this blog, we will explore how the Wagotabi game works, its benefits, and why it is an excellent tool for anyone learning Japanese.

Wagotabi: Immersive Japanese Learning Game

About Wagotabi

Why Wagotabi? A few weeks ago, the Wagotabi development team reached out and invite us to try their newly launched game. We never heard about the game before, but as soon as we did, we were intrigued and excited to give it a go. Here’s our take on it!

Wagotabi is more than just another Japanese learning game. It’s an immersive and interactive language-learning RPG game designed to help players practice and learn Japanese by teaching vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension, and kanji recognition exercises throughout the game. Released recently, this game was created to make studying Japanese fun for passionate language learners by providing experiences that take them on a journey through Japan’s geography, history, and local culture. We love how detailed the developers were when designing the game. While we were exploring the city, we saw the architecture in the game, which is almost the same design as the real-life one, and we were mindblown. We all think this game is entirely accessible to beginner learners because the level of the game starts from zero, following the JLPT N5 content introduction, and begins with easy vocabulary and grammar. It teaches most practical Japanese words and grammatical concepts. One thing to mention also is that this game is localized in 7 languages.

Wagotabi is made by a small indie team of four people passionate about learning Japanese and want to make this process fun and enjoyable. Read below to learn more about them:

We are a team of four passionate Japanese language learners from different countries and backgrounds who decided to unite to create our dream game based on our own experience of learning Japanese from scratch to a high level of proficiency. We wanted to create an immersive experience that could keep learners motivated throughout their Japanese learning journey— the type of game we would have loved to have when we first started learning the language. All Wagotabi members have either studied or worked in Japan. One of our team members works professionally in the game industry and has already shipped several games, which helped us release the game smoothly and solve technical issues.

Wagotabi Team

The origin of the name Wagotabi is also very interesting. The word “Wagotabi” is derived from “Wago” (和語), meaning Japanese language or words, and “tabi” (旅), meaning journey. Hence, the game’s title suggests the players take on a “journey through the Japanese language,” progressing through different challenges as they improve their Japanese skills.

Wagotabi draws inspiration from the beloved game Pokemon but with a unique twist. Instead of catching Pokemon, the players collect Japanese words, grammar expressions, and characters! As they progress through the towns, the players will earn Hanko stamps from Japanese Masters in their traditional castles by battling with them with Japanese knowledge. We believe those challenges will help sharpen your Japanese skills. Wagotabi’s interactive elements, such as ordering food, asking for directions, and expressing interests, provide a practical and enjoyable way to learn Japanese.

Features On Wagotabi

  • Role Play: Players can customize their characters, talk to the NPCs, and learn Japanese during conversations.
  • Real-life Scenes: All the scenes shown in the game are based on actual Japan’s geography, allowing you to travel to Japan virtually.
  • Lessons: The game uses bite-sized learning, introducing each concept in an easy-to-understand and suitable portion.
  • Smart Test: With more than 15 question types, the built-in Spaced Repetition System allows players to focus on difficult-to-remember words. 
  • Mini Games: The game includes several mini-games that allow players to learn enjoyably.

  • Boss Fight: To proceed to each adventure, the player must fight bosses that challenge their Japanese skills.
  • Interactive Dictionary: Review all the Japanese words, vocabulary, and more anytime with the dictionary. The players can also practice writing the kanji in the game!
  • Fill Your Kanjidex: Collect’em all ! Look for all the Japanese words during the journey!
  • Progress Tracking: The Dynamic dashboard will closely monitor the player’s improvements.
  • Leaderboards: Share your scores and compete with your friends and the community

Partnerships with Japanese Prefectures

Wagotabi’s immersive and engaging Japanese learning approach is further enhanced by its partnerships with Japanese prefectures. We were very surprised and impressed that a Japanese learning game could collaborate with the government when we first heard of it, which is why we want to share this game so much with you. More information about the partnership is that the game’s first map, based on Kagawa Prefecture, features town elements inspired by real-life architecture. The developer has said that future collaborations with other prefectures will happen. It will promise to provide an authentic and immersive learning experience rooted in real Japanese locations and culture.

How Do You Learn Japanese Through Wagotabi?

In short, through interactive quests in the game!

Wagotabi offers a series of quests or missions that take players through different storylines and environments that focus on Japanese culture. These quests and missions work by asking the players to complete a sentence by choosing the correct particle or the proper kanjis. As players progress, they will face more challenges that require them to use the Japanese knowledge they gained in Wagotabi creatively and practically.

During these journeys, the game will gradually introduce more advanced grammar, characters, vocabulary, and kanjis. As the players progress, they will face more challenges that require them to use the Japanese knowledge they gained in Wagotabi creatively and practically.

Now, instead of looking through and memorizing the endless vocabulary list, people can learn Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji, grammar, and more as they appear in the Japanese learning adventure. The content used in the game is derived from the JLPT N1-N5 levels. Is the content accurate? No worries. 300 teachers and natives have tested this game, and we played through them! Here are some statistics for you to know about Wagotabi:

  • +190 carefully selected words and grammar points 
  • +100 Kanji
  • +250 example sentences
  • +750 voiced Japanese dialogues
  • +190 unique NPCs in-game
  • +300 teachers in +60 countries reviewing the app

Wagotabi releases new content regularly, featuring new lessons, areas, and improvements, so stay tuned!!

Benefits of Learning Japanese Through Wagotabi

First, we want to share that Wagotabi and Coto’s approach to teaching Japanese to passionate learners is the same: making learning fun. At the same time, both of us want to provide opportunities for the learners to immerse themselves in Japanese culture; hence, Wagotabi created these amazing in-game arts, and our school has rolled out multiple Japanese cultural activities for students to participate in.

Gamification Makes Learning Fun

One advantage of learning Japanese through Wagotabi is its gamified approach. Traditional language-learning methods often need to be more varied and varied. However, by integrating fun challenges, storylines, and rewards, Wagotabi keeps Japanese language learners engaged and motivated.

Active Learning and Immediate Feedback

Wagotabi encourages active learning by requiring players to interact with the language in the game. Many features in the game help reinforce memory retention. The instant feedback feature lets the players know if they have selected the correct word or proper grammar. For the parts that the players have struggled with, they can always go back to review and practice as many times as they want to.

Personalized Japanese Learning Path

Wagotabi allows players to learn Japanese at their own pace. The game starts at a beginner level, and the difficulty increases as you progress. However, if you are an experienced learner, you can also advance the journey by skipping some of the stories. However, it is recommended that you play the game throughout. If the players are stuck, no worries; the game is designed so that you can focus on areas that need improvements.

Rich Cultural Insights

Wagotabi also collaborates with the local prefectures to give players a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. Many of the game’s quests are themed around traditional and modern Japanese life, helping learners understand everything about Japan. This cultural context makes language learning feel more meaningful and relevant and can enrich your travel or study experience in Japan.

How Learning Through Wagotabi Reflects Coto Teaching Methods

We are convinced that the best way to learn is through interactions. We believe that learning Japanese should be fun and immersive. At Coto, we do our best to get students out of the classroom and immersed in practical, everyday situations. 

From the moment we heard about Wagotabi—a game designed to teach Japanese through fun and engaging missions—it immediately caught our attention. We couldn’t help but draw a parallel with our courses at Coto Japanese Academy, where interactive and practical learning is at the heart of what we do.

In our Crash Course— where our students practice real-life skills like asking for directions or buying an item at the convenience store— Wagotabi helps learners apply Japanese in context. Both methods focus on learning by doing, allowing students to build confidence and develop practical communication skills they can use immediately.

We also share a philosophy: there are many ways to learn a language. At Coto, we encourage a mix of methods to complement classroom learning—be it interactive games like Wagotabi, focused reading exercises, or conversation practice. By combining these approaches, learners can engage with Japanese in a dynamic, adaptable way suited to their personal goals.Whether through our classes or Wagotabi’s challenges, the goal is to make Japanese learning effective, enjoyable, and memorable. That’s the power of interactive learning.

How to Download the Free Wagotabi Demo

How to Download the Full Version of Wagotabi

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How do you download Wagotabi?

You can download the game here

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How can you learn Japanese through games?

Yes, learning Japanese through games can be highly effective. They make practicing language skills fun and engaging. They can help you learn vocabulary, grammar, kanji, characters, and pronunciation naturally.

Learn Japanese to Survive: An RPG game that teaches Japanese games through Hiragana Battle, Katakana War, and Kanji Combat.

Wagotabi: An RPG-style game that takes you on a virtual journey through Japan.

Influent: Japanese: A game designed to put sticky notes all over their homes to learn Japanese.

What is Wagotabi?

Wagotabi is a unique RPG-style Japanese language learning game combining immersive gameplay and effective language instruction. It takes the players on a virtual journey through towns in Japan, where they learn Japanese by collecting Japanese characters.

You have probably heard that Japanese people are known to be polite. That’s why it is no surprise that there are various ways to say “you’re welcome” in Japanese.

In a country brimming with respectful people, “Thank You!” can often be heard along the streets or at one’s workplace! However, reciprocating the Japanese’s goodwill may be one of the challenges most beginners would initially face.  As such, today we’ll cover a few ways in which you can say “You’re Welcome!” in Japanese.

Interested in learning more or have specific questions? Contact us here — we’d love to help you get started.

The Most Common Way to Say “You’re Welcome!” in Japanese

More often than not, when we look up a Japanese Dictionary, this may be the first word that pops up: どう致しまして (Dou itashimashite).

In Japanese, the word would mean something like “You are Welcome!” However, the phrase is rarely used in Casual Conversations amongst Native Speakers. With these in mind, let’s look at some other ways.

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Saying “You’re Welcome!” in a more Casual Situation

First up, let’s take a look at “いえいえ (ieie).” When taken literally, the phrase itself means “No, No”. This is typically used when someone is expressing their innermost gratitude towards you. However, all you wanted to tell them was something along the lines of “Nah, don’t mention it”

By the way, there are many ways to say “no” in Japanese

Next, we take a look at “とんでもない (Tondemonai),” a phrase used to indicate that “It’s nothing” in a casual conversation. Usually, some Japanese people use this as an informal way of saying “You’re Welcome” as well.

Next up, we have “よかった (Yokatta)“. This phrase would usually be “I’m glad.” When placed following the Te-form of a word (E.g., 好きで/助けになれて), it can mean something like “I’m glad you liked it/I was able to help you,” whatever you feel is appropriate or relevant to the context of the conversation.

Another word that’s occasionally used is “気にしないで (Kinishinaide).” The phrase means “No Worries” but can also be used in certain contexts to say “You’re Welcome.”

For example, someone may go on to say something like “Oh my, thank you so much, is there anything I can do to repay you a favour?” in Japanese. In this case, you can simply use the word “気にしないで (Kinishinaide)” to tell them, “It’s okay, no worries.”

Lastly, we look at a phrase known as “いえいえ、いつでも声かけて (Ieie, itsudemo koe kakete)“. The phrase itself is composed of “いえいえ” and “いつでも声かけて”. Of which, the former we had covered in an earlier part of this section.

As such, let’s take a look at the latter, “いつでも声かけて.” The second part of this phrase would mean something like “I’m here for you if you need help” or “Let me know if you need help again.”

Adding the two together would make the phrase mean, “It’s fine. Let me know if you ever need help again!”

In a more Formal Situation…

But then again, there must be other alternatives for a more formal and business context, right? This is where the next 3 phrases and expressions come in. Other Formal Japanese(Keigo) used in formal situations can be found here

The first of which would be “恐縮でございます (Kyoushuku de gozaimasu)“. The word “恐縮  (Kyoushuku)” refers to feeling obliged.  The word “でございます (de gozaimasu),” on the other hand, refers to “Being.”

When put together, the phrase would refer to “I am Obliged,” or so you would say in a formal situation when somebody thanks you.

Moving on, we take a look at the phrase: お役に立ってよかった (Oyakunitatte yokatta).  “役に立って (Yakunitatte)” refers to being helpful or useful. By adding the Honorific Prefix “お (O)” to the front of the word, we can, in turn, make it sound more polite towards the other party.

“よかった (Yokatta)” can be translated to “I’m glad,” as mentioned in the earlier section. Combining the two, the phrase/expression somehow means, “I am glad that I was of use to you.”

Last but not least, another phrase in which you can use is こちらこそ (Kochirakoso). “こちら (Kochira)” refers to over here but can also refer to me, Myself. “こそ (Koso)” refers to for sure and can be used to emphasize the preceding word.

When the words are combined, they mean “(Surely it should be me) It is I, who should say so.” This expression can often be used when someone thanks you for something, but you would also like to thank them back.

Let’s watch a video to recap on what we have learned today!

With these words, phrases, and expressions up your sleeves, are you ready to use them in your daily Japanese conversations?

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FAQ

How do you say "you're welcome" in Japanese?

The most common and polite way is どういたしまして (dō itashimashite). For informal situations, いえいえ (iie iie) or とんでもない (tondemo nai) are often used.

What is the polite way to say "you're welcome" in Japanese?

Use どういたしまして.

What are some casual ways to say "you're welcome" in Japanese?

You could use いえいえ or とんでもない.

Are there regional variations in how to say "you're welcome" in Japanese?

You could use いえいえ or とんでもない.

Are there regional variations in how to say "you're welcome" in Japanese?

While these are the most common ways, regional variations or nuances may exist.

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There are four basic Japanese greetings, or aisatsu (挨拶), that can be used at different times of the day. If you’re starting to learn Japanese, this will be the first thing you’re introduced to. After all, you don’t want to accidentally claim “Good morning” in the middle of the night or say “Have a good rest!” when you wake your friend to start the day.

But beyond that, there are many other ways to say hello in Japanese. Want to know other Japanese greetings besides saying “ohayou gozaimasu” and “konbanwa”? In this article, you’ll learn not only the basic Japanese greetings, but also more intermediate and advanced ways to say “hi” in Japanese different contexts.

1. Ohayou Gozaimasu (おはようございます): Good Morning in Japanese

おはようございます (ohayou gozaimasu) is the polite way to say “good morning” in Japanese and is commonly used until around noon. Having a good command of Japanese greetings is the first step toward building smooth relationships in Japan. Whether you are coming for a short trip or a few years, learning to greet people confidently in Japanese is the key to leaving a good impression.

Of course, knowing how to say good morning is important if you are working with Japanese. The impression you give is largely determined by the morning greetings.

In Japanese, we have a phrase that encourages initiative.

相手より先に!
Aite yori saki ni!
Be earlier than others (to say it)!

Of course, you might not always be the first to notice a colleague or someone you know in the hallways or the elevators. But if you were to be the first, you should greet the person as soon as you notice her presence. You should care to say ohayou gozaimasu regardless of the person’s rank: whether you encounter your chief or the new intern. Actually, even if you meet someone who never cares to answer back, you should care to say hello anyway.

Greeting a colleague:
○○さん、おはよう。
○○ san, ohayou.

Greeting your chief:
○○課長、おはようございます。
○○ kachou, ohayou gozaimasu.

Ohayou gozaimasu is not only a way to say good morning but also to create a certain intimacy and the art of starting a conversation. The most common topic is the weather of the day and the season in general.

Japanese also like to discuss sports, news, and cultural events. These small talks are very useful for creating a nice atmosphere between people, and more than the topic, the conversation itself is the key to getting along with others.

おはようございます。今日も朝から暑いですね。
Ohayou gozaimasu. Kyou mo asa kara atsui desu ne.
Good morning. Today too, it is hot from the morning.

おはようございます。昨日のサッカー見ました?すごかったですね。
Ohayou gozaimasu. Kinou no sakkaa- mimashita? Sugokatta desune.
Good morning. Did you watch the football last night? It was really great.

おはようございます。昨日はどうもご馳走様でした。
Ohayou gozaimasu. Kinou ha doumo gochisousamadeshita. 
Good morning. Thank you for yesterday’s feast.

In Japan, especially in the working environment, the importance of greetings is serious. Outside your workplace, if you miss the chance to say ohayou gozaimasu to clients or people who know your company, here’s the Japanese thinking: “the employee of this company did not greet us decently”. Their opinion of the entire company will take a hit!

Another point you might have noticed or heard is that Japanese people bow even when they are on the phone and their interlocutors cannot see them. Bowing is not only a habit but also a way to be respectful at all times and to give a good impression to people around.

How is this greeting used at work?

A: おはようございます。
A: Ohayou gozaimasu.
A: Good morning.

B: おはようございます。
B: Ohayou gozaimasu.
B: Good morning.

A: 今日はいい天気ですね.
A: Kyou wa ii tenki desune.
A: The weather is fine today.

B: そうですね。いい天気ですね。
B: Sou desune. Ii tenki desune.
B: Yes, the weather is nice.

The unique thing about おはようございます is that it can be used at any hour of the day. You will notice this in a lot of work environments, like your part-time job.

The first thing you need to say as a greeting when you clock into your shift is おはようございます, even if you are doing a late-night shift.

The reason? It’s because, instead of the exclusively “good morning”, you use おはようございます to greet someone new for the first time that day.

2. Konnichiwa (こんにちは): Good Afternoon in Japanese

Afternoon - Konnichiwa

What does こんにちは (Konnichiwa) mean? こんにちは (konnichiwa) is a standard greeting that means “hello” or “good afternoon,” typically used from late morning to early evening.
Usually, it can be used as the Japanese word for saying “hi” or “hello”.

こんにちは(Konnichiwa) 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.

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).

At times, people ask, “What part of speech is こんにちは?”

Is it a noun? Greetings, including おはよう (ohayou), こんにちは (konnichiw) and こんばんは (konbanwa)are not nouns, but interjections. Interjections are words that we use when our hearts are stirred.

For example, look at what someone said when given a flower bouquet. You would say:

わぁー。きれいだなぁ。
Waa! Kirei da naa!
Waa, it’s so beautiful!

Another example is someone forgetting their homework.

あっ。宿題を忘れた。
Aa, shukudai o wasureta.
Aa, I forgot my homework!

In both cases, the phrase phrases “わぁー” and “あっ” are interjections. Therefore, greetings encompass the stirring of our hearts when we meet someone and the feeling of wanting to communicate with the people we meet.

3. Konbanwa (こんばんは): Good Evening in Japanese

Evening - Konbanwa

Sounding similar to こんにちは (Konnichiwa), こんばんは (Konbanwa) is the Japanese greeting for “good evening”. According to NHK, the national public broadcasting organization in Japan, こんばんは should be used when the sun has already set and it has gotten dark usually at around 7 pm in summer and in winter time it will be around 5.30 pm.

How to use this Japanese greeting

How you can use “Konbanwa ” is actually similar to how you can use “ohayougozaimasu” in the morning. Besides saying it as a simple greeting, It is a good phrase to start friendly small talk with your friends

For example:

こんばんは!今日のテストどうだった?
Konbanwa! Kyounotestodoudatta?
Good evening! How was the test today?

こんばんは!今日は一日中雨降っていましたね。
Konbanwa! Kyouwa ichinichijuu amefutteimashitane
Good evening! It was raining all day today, wasn’t it?

こんばんは!飲みにいきましょう!
konbanwa! Nomini ikimashou!
Good evening! Let’s go and have a drink!

4. Oyasumi (おやすみ): Goodnight in Japanese

Generally, the Japanese expression for saying” good night is “おやすみ“(Oyasumi). However, it may be inappropriate to use it sometimes, depending on the situation.

Night - Oyasumi

Situation 1: When Someone Is Going to Bed

Similar to you saying “goodnight” when your friend (or someone who is close to you) is going to bed, you can use “Oyasumi” to wish goodnight to your friend. You can also say “oyasumi” to your friend when you are about to sleep.
For Example: When you are on the phone with your friend.

そろそろ寝(ね)るね、おやすみ
Sorosoro nerune, oyasumi
I’m about to sleep, goodnight.

おやすみ。
Oyasumi
Goodnight.

When your friend says ”oyasumi” to you, you should also reply to your friend with “oyasumi”.

When wishing goodnight to someone superior to you, instead of saying “oyasumi”, you should use the more formal form “おやすみなさい“.

For example, when you are on a business trip with your supervisor, he is going to sleep.

今日はちょっと疲れたから、先に寝るよ, おやすみ
Kyouwa chotto tsukaretakara, sakini neruyo, oyasumi
I will sleep first because I’m a little tired today, goodnight.

はい, おやすみなさい
Hai, oyasuminasai.
Sure, goodnight!

Situation 2: When Leaving to Go Home Late at Night

Oyasumi can also be used when it is late at night and someone is leaving to go home. For example, when you and your colleagues are on the last train, your friend is alighting before you.

You can say:

今日は一日お疲れ様でした、おやすみなさい。”
Kyowa ichinichi otsukaresamadeshita, oyasuminasai
Thanks for your work today, good night.

However, unless you are very close with him/her, do not use “おやすみ (oyasumi)” to someone superior to you as it may be considered impolite. Use the more formal form: “おやすみなさい” instead.

It is rarely the case that some people may find”おやすみなさい” inappropriate to be said to a superior person. This is because, in the strict sense, “おやすみなさい (oyasuminasai)” does not belong to any type of Japanese Keigo.

To avoid trouble, alternatives you can use one of the two:

お疲れ様でした
Otsukaresamadeshita.
Thank you for your hard work.

今日はありがとうございました
Kyouwa arigatougozaimashita.
Thank you for today.

5. もしもし (Moshi moshi): Hello (on the phone)

Moshi moshi is a phone-specific greeting in Japanese. It’s used when you answer the phone or when you’re trying to get someone’s attention over the line. It’s casual and never used in face-to-face conversation. You can also use it to check if the other person is still on the line if the connection seems quiet.

Example:
もしもし、田中ですが、佐藤さんはいらっしゃいますか?
Mosho moshi, Tanaka-san desu ga, Satou-san wa irasshaimasuka?
Hello, this is Tanaka. Is Sato-san there?

6. いらっしゃいませ (Irasshaimase): Welcome (to a store)

Irasshaimase is a very polite phrase used by shop and restaurant staff to welcome customers. It’s not typically used in everyday conversation, but you’ll hear it constantly in Japanese stores. It doesn’t expect a response. It’s purely a greeting to acknowledge your presence.

Example:
いらっしゃいませ!本日はこちらがセール中です。
Irasshaimase! Honjitsu wa kochira ga seeruchuu desu.
Welcome! These items are on sale today.

7. いってきます (Ittekimasu): I’m off / I’ll be back

Ittekimasu is said when leaving home or a familiar place, with the nuance that you’ll be back soon.

Example:
いってきます!今日も頑張ります。
Ittekimasu! Kyou mo ganbarimasu.
I’m off! I’ll do my best today.8. いってらっしゃい (Itterasshai): Take care / See you later

Itterasshai is the typical reply to ittekimasu, said by the person staying behind. It means “Go and come back safely” and expresses care and encouragement for the person leaving. It’s a warm and common phrase used between family members and close colleagues.

Example:
いってらっしゃい!気をつけてね。
Itterasshai! Ki o tsukete ne.
Take care! Be safe.

9. ただいま (Tadaima): I’m home

Tadaima is said when returning home or back to a familiar place. It literally means “just now” but functions as “I’m back.” It’s a phrase that signals your return and lets others know you have arrived safely.

Example:
ただいま戻りました。
Tadaima modorimashita.
I’m back now.

10. おかえり / おかえりなさい (Okaeri / Okaerinasai): Welcome back

Okaeri (casual) and okaerinasai (polite) are used to greet someone who has just returned home. It’s the customary response to tadaima, showing warmth and hospitality. These phrases strengthen bonds within families and communities.

Example:
おかえりなさい。今日は早かったですね。
Okaerinasai. Kyou wa hayakatta desu ne.
Welcome back. You’re home early today.

11. おひさしぶりです (Ohisashiburi desu): Long time no see

Ohisashiburi desu is used when meeting someone after a long time apart. It’s polite and expresses happiness to see the person again. The casual form hisashiburi can be used among close friends or peers.

Example:
おひさしぶりです!お元気でしたか?
Ohisashiburi desu! O-genki deshita ka?
Long time no see! How have you been?

12. はじめまして (Hajimemashite): Nice to meet you

Hajimemashite is the greeting used when meeting someone for the first time. It shows respect and friendliness. Usually, it’s followed by an introduction of your name and yoroshiku onegaishimasu to express a desire for a good relationship.

Example:
はじめまして、ジョンと申します。よろしくお願いします。
Hajimemashite, Jon to moushimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Nice to meet you. My name is John. Please take care of me.

13. おつかれさまです (Otsukaresama desu): Thank you for your hard work

Otsukaresama desu is a polite phrase commonly used in workplaces to acknowledge someone’s effort or hard work. It can be said during or at the end of the workday. It helps create a positive and respectful work environment.

Example:

おつかれさまです。先ほどの会議、よかったですね。
Otsukaresama desu. Sakihodo no kaigi, yokatta desu ne.
Thank you for your hard work. That meeting earlier went well, didn’t it?

14. お世話になっております (Osewa ni natte orimasu): Thank you for your continued support

Osewa ni natte orimasu is a very formal phrase used mainly in business to express gratitude for someone’s ongoing help or support. It is often used in emails, phone calls, and formal meetings. This phrase helps maintain good professional relationships.

Example:
いつもお世話になっております。株式会社〇〇の山田です。
Itsumo osewa ni natte orimasu. Kabushikigaisha 〇〇 no Yamada desu.
Thank you for your continued support. This is Yamada from 〇〇 Corporation.

15. おじゃまします (Ojama shimasu): Excuse me for intruding

Ojama shimasu is said when entering someone’s home or private space. It expresses humility and acknowledges that you are entering someone else’s territory. It is a polite way to announce your arrival.

Example:
おじゃまします。今日はお招きありがとうございます。
Ojama shimasu. Kyō wa omaneki arigatou gozaimasu.
Excuse me for intruding. Thank you for inviting me today.

16. ようこそ (Youkoso): Welcome

Youkoso is a warm and formal way to say “welcome.” It is often used in speeches, signage, or to greet guests warmly. This phrase conveys hospitality and friendliness, making guests feel appreciated.

Example:
日本へようこそ!楽しんでくださいね。
Nihon e youkoso! Tanoshinde kudasai ne.
Welcome to Japan! Please enjoy your stay.

Want to learn Japanese beyond basic Japanese greeting?

Whether you’re aiming to master everyday conversations, business Japanese, or prepare for the JLPT, Coto Academy offers flexible and comprehensive courses tailored to your level and goals. We have Japanese language schools in Shibuya, Iidabashi and Yokohama.

With experienced native teachers, small classes, and personalized support, Coto Academy helps you speak confidently and naturally in real-life situations.

FAQ

What are the four basic Japanese greetings?

The four basic Japanese greetings are “Ohayou gozaimasu” (Good morning), “Konnichiwa” (‘Hello’ or ‘Good day’), and “Konbanwa” (‘Good evening’)

How to say thank you for the hard work in Japanese?

お疲れ様, or “otsukare sama”, means “thank you for your hard work.

How to say good morning in Japanese?

Ohayo (おはよう) means “good morning” in Japanese.

What is the difference between Konbanwa and Oyasumi?

Konbanwa is used to greet someone anytime in the evening, but oyasumi is strictly used when you want to go to bed and sleep.

What is the meaning of konnichiwa in Japanese?

In Japanese, konnichiwa means “Hello” or “Good Day” in Japanese. It is used when meeting someone during the day, until the evening.

Learning Japanese can be a fun and exciting journey. It helps you understand a rich culture, connect with people from Japan, and enjoy a language with unique characters. The best part is you don’t have to spend much money to get started. Many free online resources exist for all levels, from beginners to advanced learners.

Getting Started Learning Japanese Online for Free

Starting a new language (or starting again) can feel like a steep, overwhelming mountain that’s impossible to traverse, however, apps can be a great way to make language learning much less intimidating. Tackling any huge goal, like getting fluent in another language (or climbing Mt. Everest), takes breaking things down into actionable steps which is what many apps do very well! 

Instead of a vague and rather overwhelming goal like “get fluent in Japanese”, apps instead break down the language into different categories such as:

  • Hiragana ひらがな
  • Katakana カタカナ 
  • Food & Drinks
  • Hobbies
  • Etc.

Each of these steps are achievable and, therefore, more rewarding which helps motivate you to continue learning. So we picked out some of the best free apps and tools at doing just that! 

We could only name a few so if you’re interested in discovering more apps hand-picked by professional teachers, please check out our blog, Top 30 Apps To Learn Japanese in 2025.

Best Free Apps to Kickstart Your Japanese Learning Journey (A great way to start learning or improve your Japanese)

Duolingo

Duolingo Logo
Image by Duolingo

Duolingo is a fantastic free app that uses gamified lessons to introduce hiragana, katakana, kanji, and grammar in a user-friendly way. The app uses fun interactive lessons, quizzes, and daily challenges to engage users and incentivize them to gain points and level up making learning feel like a game. 

Duolingo is perfect for beginners, providing a solid foundation in vocabulary, grammar, and basic sentence structure. It motivates learners to study regularly by encouraging them to maintain their ‘streaks’ by sending reminders to finish daily lessons and offering rewards for maintaining long streaks. This feature helps in developing a consistent language-learning routine. Check out our complete review of Learning Japanese with Duolingo here.

We recommend using duolingo in conjunction with other memorization apps to ensure material sticks. The games allow for great exposure but they can sometimes be solved by using logic rather than gained language abilities.

Drops

Logo for Drops, an online japanese learning app using gamified lessons
Image from Drops

Drops is a language learning platform and app that also uses gamified lessons to drill and memorize vocabulary. The platform uses pretty illustrations as visual associations with new words. This method is supposed to help you more easily remember and recall new vocabulary. Like Duolingo, the app also uses daily reminders and a level up system to motivate users to form daily habits of practicing the target language. 

The app also offers listening practice with audio of native speakers saying phrases clearly and easy to understand for learners. It is another app that is great for accompanying other studying methods such as flash card apps, classes, or watching T.V. Shows and dramas.

Dr. Moku

Logo for Dr.Moku, an online japanese learning site
Photo By Dr. Moku

Dr. Moku is a free app that prides itself on pioneering Japanese character memorization through mnemonic learning tricks. Its interactive lessons use recognizable shapes and visualizations that look similar to the character, forcing your brain to make associations and therefore, remember more effectively. 

The app uses this method to help students study and recall hiragana, katakana and kanji. It also has a phrase book of over a thousand Japanese words and phrases to assist users with practicing conversations. 

Anki

Logo for Anki, a flash card study app
Image by Anki

Anki may not be a gamified app with everything already at your fingertips but it is a powerful flashcard app that is very effective in reinforcing vocabulary. From personal experience, this app helped me get through tests and even interviews in Japanese. The app uses spaced repetition to help learners memorize vocabulary, phrases and kanji efficiently. 

This app pairs well with duolingo or drops due to its high customizability. Just add words you learnt into a deck and the app will help you reinforce them into memory by using intervals of repetition. The app determines when to repeat the card again based on how you rate your understanding out of these 4 categories: EasyGoodHard, or Again.

Numerous pre-made decks are available for Japanese learners, covering everything from basic vocabulary to advanced kanji. From my own experience and the opinion of professional teachers, this simple app is a great tool to add to your study arsenal. 

Memorization is essential in your learning journey; find Easy Ways to Remember Japanese here, and make your learning simple with Anki.

Memrise

Logo for Memrise, a flashcard app with functions to learn Japanese online
Photo By Memrise

Memrise is an excellent app especially when combined with gamified learning apps like Duolingo and Drops. It offers spaced repetition flashcards to solidify your memory. The app helps learners retain information by combining video clips featuring native speakers, interactive quizzes, and mnemonic devices.

The free version includes access to substantial content, making it a valuable tool for vocabulary building and listening practice.

Language Exchange Apps 

Once you have accumulated enough vocabulary (you actually don’t need too much), you’re ready to take on the next step of learning Japanese: jumping into Japanese conversation. However, you need to find a conversation partner and the good news isーthere are apps and platforms designed to match language exchange partners all for free! 

Hello Talk

Logo for HelloTalk, a language exchange app
Photo by Hello Talk

HelloTalk is a language exchange app that connects you with native Japanese speakers who want to learn a language from you as well. The app connects you to natives of your target language who want to learn your native language in exchange. You and your partner can text, voice and video to learn and teach each other. The text function even lets your language partner make corrections to texts you wrote.

Tandem

Logo for tandem, an app that allows users to exchange language learning including Japanese for free.
Photo by Tandem

Tandem is another language exchange app that matches you with a partner who wants to learn a language from you while you learn your target language from them. Most of the functions are similar to Hello Talk but Tandem offers a separate tutoring service and each app offers different features for paid subscriptions. 

Online Materials and Resources

There are some wonderful websites and apps that prove to be a very useful resource. They can help you get started on your language journey, provide study materials, and/or be a convenient place of reference when needing some help wrapping your head around confusing aspects of Japanese. These are some of our favorite online materials and resources that are free to use.

Tae Kim’s Guide To Learning Japanese

Brand Logo for Tae Kim's guide to learning Japanese online
Photo By Tae Kim’s Guide

Tae Kim’s Guide is an extraordinary resource and prides itself for cutting through all the noise to break down the Japanese language to its fundamentals. It argues that most traditional textbooks make decisions behind your back and use the closest English equivalent to make things easier to understand for beginners but ends up leading to more confusion later. 

So, Tae Kim’s Guide uses easy to understand explanations, examples and dialogues to thoroughly ensure you understand how Japanese works inside and out. It’s a very useful resource to frequently refer to when you are stuck and having trouble understanding specific concepts, grammar, etc. in Japanese.

Imabi

Brand logo for Imabi
Photo by Imabi

Imabi is an extensive resource that offers detailed lessons on Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and writing. The site is well-organized, with lessons categorized by difficulty level as well as specific topics. Imabi is particularly useful for intermediate and advanced learners seeking in-depth explanations and examples. 

Like Tae-Kim’s Guide, Imabi boasts giving users access to resources that are meant to ensure you thoroughly understand the concepts. You can also provide feedback directly to the creator of the site.

Tofugu

Logo for Tofugu, a Japanese online learning platform
Image by Tofugu

Tofugu offers a variety of free resources, including guides on learning hiragana and katakana, comprehensive articles on Japanese culture and language, and tips for effective learning.

Tofugu’s content is well-researched and quite engaging due its humorous presentations, making it a great resource for learners looking for information and entertainment.

Coto’s Blogs

Coto Japanese Academy

Coto Japanese Academy not only provides a variety of Japanese classes for students of all levels, but we also have tons of free guides, tips, resources, and blog lessons. Our blogs and other free online resources contain detailed explanations and infographics to help you remember and understand Japanese thoroughly. These are meant to aid in your studies as well as be used as stand alone materials to teach you something new.

We also have guides discussing how Anime can actually help you learn Japanese and other amusing topics surrounding Japanese culture, travel and daily life. Explore our catalogue of blogs here

Translation Apps

DeepL

Google translate is very convenient and useful but for anyone studying Japanese long enough, you probably noticed it spits out translations that can be rough around the edges. It’s not very good at translating more complicated sentences and even gets single words wrong depending on context. 

So, DeepL fills in that gap by using a more advanced AI designed by linguists to understand the nuances in human language. This allows the app to produce substantially more accurate translations and is more efficient at translating much longer text. 

Chat gpt

Chat gpt is one of the most advanced language learning AI’s ever created making it a very accurate translator that understands linguistic nuance and an incredibly useful tool for learning and studying Japanese. You can get creative and use it for just about anything you need like for double checking things you wrote, as a messaging partner to practice conversation, or for asking questions about certain Japanese concepts. 

The options are seemingly endless, however, keep in mind, Chat gpt is far from perfect and would never replace the human intuition of a native speaker. So, for the best guidance to achieve the most natural and fluent Japanese, online classes with a professional teacher might prove to be the most effective. 

Online Japanese Lessons, Courses, & Study Tools (Paid)

While free resources are a great way to start learning, Paid Japanese courses & study tools are often considered the most efficient way to learn Japanese Online. If you’re serious about improving your conversational skills, grammar, and kanji reading, these top-rated online Japanese lessons, courses, and apps will help you become fluent quicker. 

Online Japanese Classes & Tutors (Live Lessons & Speaking Practice)

Coto Online Japanese Classes – Flexible & Personalized Learning

A Coto Academy Teacher waving at their laptop while in a video call.

Coto Academy offers real-time, interactive online Japanese classes, taught by professional native Japanese teachers. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine advanced skills, we offer flexible courses tailored to your learning goals and schedule.

Why Choose Coto Academy’s Online Japanese Classes?

  • Comprehensive Course Options: Over 60 courses designed for all proficiency levels, from beginner to advanced.
  • Personalized Learning: Choose from private or small-group lessons for a more tailored learning experience.
  • Flexible Schedule: Study anytime, anywhere—our teachers are available 24/7 to accommodate your schedule.
  • Specialized Tracks: Prepare for the JLPT, focus on business Japanese, or improve your conversational skills with our specialized courses.
  • Unique Point System: Mix and match courses based on your interests and goals, creating a fully customized learning path.

“Coto Online helped me improve my Japanese skills quickly and confidently. The flexible courses allowed me to focus on real-world conversations, which made it easier for me to live and work in Japan.”
— Camilo S.

Ready to Take Your Japanese to the Next Level?
Explore our detailed course offerings and find the perfect class for you with our Online Japanese Lessons.

Italki & Preply– Personalized Online Japanese Lessons with Native Tutors

Logo for Italki, an online language learning app that allows users to do online lessons in a variety of languages including Japanese
Image from Italki
Logo for Preply
Image from Preply

If you’re looking for one-on-one Japanese tutoring with native speakers, both Italki and Preply offer flexible and personalized lessons. These platforms connect you with Japanese tutors, allowing you to book lessons based on your schedule and learning needs. They are excellent choices if you want to focus on conversation practice, grammar, pronunciation, or JLPT preparation.

What do Italki & Preply have in common?

Wide selection of native Japanese tutors to match your learning style

Flexible scheduling – book lessons when it suits you

Affordable pricing – choose a tutor within your budget, but keep in mind that better and more experienced teachers will often be more expensive

Customizable experience – focus on conversation, business Japanese, JLPT prep, and more, just discuss with the teacher

Italki vs. Preply – Which One to Choose?

Italki includes a free language exchange feature, letting you practice with partners in addition to professional tutors. This makes it great if you want structured lessons combined with casual language practice.

Preply is more focused on structured lessons with tutors, making it a better choice if you want a more guided learning approach rather than casual conversation.

Pricing and flexibility: Italki allows one-off lessons or package purchases, while Preply operates on a subscription model, meaning you must use all your lesson credits within a set time or lose them. 

Group Lessons: If you prefer group learning, Italki offers this option, while Preply is strictly one-on-one.

Online Japanese Courses (Self-Paced & Interactive Learning)

If you’re looking at how to learn Japanese at your own pace, there are several excellent options available online. Whether you prefer structured lessons, interactive content, or audio-based learning, these platforms allow you to study whenever and wherever suits you. Below are some of the best online courses for learning Japanese at your convenience.

JapanesePod101 – Online Audio & Video Lessons 

JapanesePod101 offers a mix of audio and video lessons designed to improve your Japanese listening, speaking, and conversation skills. They offer some lessons for free, to get you started, but if you’re committed to learning Japanese, you might get more out of their premium subscription.  

Pimsleur Japanese – Learn Japanese Online through Audio-Based Lessons

Pimsleur Japanese focuses on audio-based learning, which is perfect for those looking to improve their Japanese speaking and listening skills. With interactive audio lessons, you can practice pronunciation and vocabulary at your own pace. Free trials are available to test out their proven method before committing.

Udemy – Learn Japanese with Structured Online Courses

Udemy offers affordable online Japanese language courses for beginners and advanced learners. This platforms allow you to learn Japanese online at your own pace. Udemy is known for its flexibility and offers one-time purchases for courses, meaning you have lifetime access to the materials after purchase.

Best Paid Japanese Resources and Study Aides

These tools are designed to help you improve different aspects of Japanese learning, from kanji memorization to grammar and reading comprehension. Depending on your goals, some of these will be more useful than others.

Wanikani – Kanji & Vocabulary

Logo for WaniKani, an online Kanji learning app
Image from Wanikani

WaniKani helps you learn kanji with an easy-to-follow method. It uses a smart system that helps you remember characters over time by showing them to you at the right moments.

This is a good option for anyone who wants to learn kanji quickly (and remember it).

BunPro – Japanese Grammar Made Simple

Logo for Bunpro, an online app for studying Japanese grammar
Logo from Bunpro

BunPro is an online grammar study tool designed for JLPT preparation. It provides step-by-step explanations, example sentences, and quizzes to reinforce learning. Great for those who want structured grammar practice.

LingQ – Reading & Listening with Native Japanese Content

Logo for LingQ
Logo from LingQ

LingQ provides real-world Japanese content, like news articles, podcasts, and YouTube videos. A great way to practice listening and reading using natural Japanese. 

Satori Reader – Guided Reading for Japanese Learners

Logo for SatoriReader, an online resource for Japanese reading practice
Logo from Satori Reader

Satori Reader offers Japanese stories for different levels of fluency, with interactive translations and grammar explanations. It helps learners improve reading fluency while understanding natural Japanese sentence structures in context.

Learn Japanese Online by Watching and Listening (Immersion)

Watching and listening to native content is one of the best ways to improve your understanding of a language. This is also true when it comes to learning Japanese. Whether you prefer YouTube videos, Podcasts, or Japanese TV shows, here’s a list of some good options to get you started on your Japanese learning journey. 

Best YouTube Channels to Learn Japanese Online

These YouTube channel recommendations provide structured lessons, grammar explanations, and real-world Japanese conversations to help you learn Japanese online effectively.

Learn Japanese – Coto Japanese Academy

Professional lessons by native teachers, covering everything from grammar and JLPT prep to conversational Japanese. Almost all of the videos are in Japanese, but there are subtitles available if you’re not that advanced yet.

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101

Comprehensive lessons for all levels, including grammar, vocabulary, listening practice, and JLPT prep. 

Japanese Ammo with Misa 

Clear and detailed grammar explanations with natural examples. Good for learners who want to improve their understanding of Japanese sentence structure.

Nihongo no Mori

Focussed on JLPT preparation, particularly N3-N1, with in-depth grammar explanations and practical exercises.

That Japanese Man Yuta

Cultural insights and real-life conversations and interviews with native speakers providing learners with an authentic view of Japanese as it’s spoken daily.

Dogen

Focuses on Japanese pronunciation and intonation, with a humorous and educational approach to mastering natural-sounding Japanese.

Comprehensible Japanese

Uses simple Japanese stories and explanations to help you understand basic Japanese clearly and approachably.

Speak Japanese naturally

Offers real-life, casual conversations in vlog style.

If these are not quite what you’re looking for, please look at our earlier blog about YouTube channels for more inspiration, here.

Best Podcasts for Learning Japanese

One way to make it even easier to incorporate Japanese Learning into your daily routine is by listening to podcasts. Perfect for when you’re going to work or simply just can’t keep looking at your screen. Here’s some suggestions for podcasts that might help you to learn Japanese online while you’re on the go.

Coto Radio (by Coto Japanese Academy)

A fully Japanese podcast for foreigners covering cultural topics, daily life in Japan, and language explanations. Episodes are often in an interview or conversation style. A good mix of learning practice and cultural learning. 

Many popular YouTube channels offer podcast versions of their content. If you already have a YouTube channel that you like, check to see if they have a podcast! Some of the ‘YouTube’ creators that we mentioned above, JapanesePod101 and Japanese Ammo with Misa, also have podcast versions where they cover similar content but adapted for listening only. Some other notable mentions include:

Nihongo Con Teppei

Teppei speaks slowly and clearly, helping beginners and intermediate learners build a solid foundation in everyday Japanese

Learn Japanese with Masa sensei

A structured learning podcast that explains grammar, expressions, and useful phrases in an easy-to-follow way. 

Let’s Learn Japanese from Small Talk

Casual, unscripted conversations between native speakers help learners get used to spoken Japanese in real life. 

Bilingual News

A bilingual duo that has conversations about recent news articles in both Japanese and English, offering a mix of language exposure and updates on current events around the world. 

Learn Japanese Online through T.V. Shows, Movies, And Music

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to improve your Japanese, watching TV shows and movies and listening to Japanese music are a great addition to your study routine. While it’s not the fastest or most effective method on its own, it can still help with understanding the language. It is best to include this in addition to other ways of learning. Please be careful when learning from anime. While it’s a good tool for listening practice, much of the language used in anime is exaggerated and often seen as extreme or simply rude in actual conversations. But overall, you can still learn a lot from any medium you use. 

Pro tip: Use a subtitle/learning plugin like Language Reactor (formerly known as: Language Learning with Netflix) while watching for a better understanding and to enhance your learning experience.

How To Make The Most Of Learning Japanese Online

Using Both Free Resources And Online Japanese Classes 

Using online classes in conjunction with the plethora of online resources, apps, and games out there is a great way to expedite your Japanese learning. Especially when starting out, it can feel like a steep learning curve, so real teachers are trained to help you set realistic targets to reach for effective progress. Plus, most apps and online resources have already done the same thing, but a teacher may help you navigate where to go first, depending on your goals. 

For instance, by going to online classes a teacher may point out that you are having trouble with particles which is an area you can focus on when referring to online resources or using an app like Duolingo or Anki. By the way if you are having trouble with particles, check out our blog: Japanese Particles Explained.

Free resources and online classes are an excellent way to learn Japanese since you are exposing yourself to the language more and more often. But there are proven methods that really solidify your language learning abilities.

Shadowing and Immersion Methods

Learning Japanese online offers limitless opportunities, but optimizing your approach can make all the difference. By combining structured apps, interactive websites, and engaging media like anime and TV shows, you can create a well-rounded learning experience.

Use the Immersion Method Effectively

To accelerate fluency, surround yourself with Japanese as much as possible. Change your phone’s language settings, follow Japanese social media accounts, and listen to native speakers daily. Passive exposure helps reinforce vocabulary and natural sentence structures.

Master Pronunciation with the Shadowing Technique

Shadowing—repeating sentences immediately after native speakers—improves pronunciation, rhythm, and listening skills. Practice with podcasts, dramas, and YouTube videos, mimicking speech patterns and intonations.

Stay Consistent and Engaged

The key to mastering Japanese online is consistency. Set daily goals, use a mix of learning tools, and make studying enjoyable. By integrating immersion and shadowing into your routine, you’ll transform passive exposure into active learning, bringing you closer to fluency.

In Conclusion

Learning a language doesn’t require going to a physical classroom (although that setting can help), and there are countless resources you can use online. There are plenty of beginner-friendly guides or apps you can use to start, and there are communities out there that genuinely want to help. 

If you want to start learning online today, the best place to start is by consulting a professional teacher who can help you set your goals and recommend online resources that are best for you. 

Whether you are interested in online classes or if you are in/planning to go to Japan already, check out our course catalogue or fill out the form below!

FAQ

Time will vary based on your goals, study methods, and consistency. Generally, reaching conversational proficiency may take 1-2 years of dedicated study/exposure, while achieving advanced fluency will take longer.


Online courses and tutoring services are the most effective for teaching the ins and outs of Japanese grammar. There are also a variety of websites with interactive lessons and materials that are excellent resources to reinforce Japanese grammar.


Yes, you can definitely learn Japanese online for free as there are a plethora of resources available including Game Apps, Learning Websites (Tae Kim’s learning guide), Language Exchange Apps (Hello Talk, etc.), and Japanese Media (podcasts, youtube, T.V. Shows, etc.).


Yes, joining online communities can provide support and motivation:

  • Reddit’s r/LearnJapanese: A subreddit where learners share resources, ask questions, and engage in discussions
  • Language Learning Forums: Participate in forums dedicated to Japanese language learners to exchange tips and experiences.
  • Social Media Groups: Join Facebook groups or Discord servers focused on learning Japanese to connect with fellow learners

Engaging with these communities allows you to share experiences, seek advice, and find language exchange partners, enhancing your learning journey.


There are a variety of resources available but the most effective methods would have you actually practice the language. Language Exchange Platforms, Online Tutoring Services (Italki, Preply, etc.), and Japanese Media (T.V. shows, youtube, etc.) are all amazing resources for practicing Japanese.


Yes, achieving fluency in Japanese through online learning is possible. Consistency, dedication, and utilizing a variety of resources—such as interactive lessons, language exchange platforms, and immersive content like Japanese media—are key to success.

Want to study Japanese with us?

Once you get the hang of basic Japanese grammar structure, you will want to form more complex sentences. After all, you’re not going to master the Japanese language by just learning how to say “それはいぬです” (that is a dog). What happens if you want to say that the dog is cute? Or short? Or friendly? This is where Japanese adjectives come in: to make you express more, rather than just stating the obvious. (Sure, that is a dog, but what about it?)

Japanese adjectives aren’t just used to describe physical appearance or behavior. They’re used as quantifiers — to express emotions and detail dimensions. They’re used to modify a noun. While they function similarly to English, the grammar rules of Japanese adjectives are a little bit complex, too.

This will be a self-study guide on Japanese adjectives, complete with example sentences. We’ll talk you through the two kinds of adjectives and how to use them, but if you want to get more support and direction from native instructors, we suggest you take a look at our online Japanese course.

Before we go further into the article, note that this article will mostly use hiragana, so prior knowledge of them is a must. If you’re still learning them, don’t worry — take a look at our hiragana chart to review them.

Also check out our video explaining い-adjectives and な-adjectives!

Tyes of Japanese Adjectives (And How to Use Them)

Japanese adjectives are categorized into two: な-adjectives and い-adjectives. Their main function is to describe nouns, but these adjectives can also be transformed into nouns themselves.

The easiest way to separate な-adjectives and い-adjectives is by checking the adjective’s ending. More precisely, if the word ends with い or not. Of course, this is a rule of the thumb, but there are exceptions you need to note as well. What you need to note are the grammar particles and changes (to past, negative or past-negative forms) — what’s required to join an adjective to a noun.

We’ll be introducing a few Japanese vocabularies, so make sure you know all the basic Japanese words before moving forward. We have like, a hundred of them (yes, literally).

To know all the Japanese adjectives, check out the 100 most common adjectives we’ve collected.

japanese i adjective

い-adjectives in Japanese

The い-adjective is easy to identify: they end in い and are written in hiragana. Some い-adjectives might also have a double い (いい), but its stem form will usually stay the same regardless of the form it takes.

In this case, we’ll be using the example 高い (たかい), which means high (height) or expensive (price). Briefly, this is how you will transform an い-adjective into different tenses and forms.

FormKanjiHiraganaMeaning
Positive (Present)高いたかいHigh
Negative (Present)高くないたかくないNot high
Positive (Past)高かったたかかったWas high
Negative (Present)高くなかったたかくなかったWas not high

Present Tense for I-adjectives

To express an い-adjective in the present tense, simply let it take its original stem form and add an 〜い (already joined). A tricky thing to keep in mind is that the Japanese language doesn’t recognize present and future tense. Rather, they consider it one. Take a look at the sentence below.

今日の天気はいいです。
きょうのてんきはいいです。
The weather is nice today.

明日の天気はいいです。
あしたのてんきはいいです。
The weather (will be) nice tomorrow.

Negative (Present) Tense for I-adjectives

To make a present-tense い-adjective negative, replace the 〜い with 〜くない

さむ → さむくない

今日は寒くないです。
きょうはさむくないです。
It is not cold today.

Past Tense for I-adjectives

To express an い-adjective in the present tense, you must omit the 〜い from the word’s stem form and join it with a 〜かった.

たか → たかかった

あの車が高かったです。
あのくるまがたかかったです
That car was expensive.

Negative (Past) Tense for I-adjectives

For this, similar to negative and past adjectives, you can change the 〜い with a new conjugation, which is a combination of くない and かった: くなかった.

たか → たかくなかった

Exceptions and What You Need to Know for I-adjectives

Remember what we say about stem forms for adjectives will stay the same regardless of the form and tense it takes? There’s one exception to the rule: the Japanese adjective いい (good; well).

Why? The word, in its kanji form, is written 良い, which can also be read as よい (yoi). When it’s in a positive and present tense, you can use either one and it’ll be as fine (although よい has a more formal sound to it). However, when you want to transform the word to negative or past tense, the stem word becomes よ instead of い

FormKanjiHiraganaMeaning
Positive (Present)良いよい;いいGood; well
Negative (Present)良くないよくないNot good
Positive (Past)良かったよかったWas good
Negative (Present)良くなかったよくなかったWas not good


The same thing can be said with かっこいい. When it becomes a negative form or past tense, the stem changes to よ. Instead of かっこいくない, change it to かっこよくない.

One last thing: also it seems like it, きれい (pretty or clean) and きらい (hate or dislike) is actually a na-adjective even though the word ends with, so be careful!

野菜がきらくない。
Yasai ga kirakunai.
I don’t hate vegetables. (Wrong)

野菜がきらいじゃない。
Yasai ga kirai ja nai.
I don’t hate vegetables. (Correct)

Casual Form for I-adjectives

For the polite form of い-adjective, you will need to add the auxiliary verb of です. For negative and past adjective forms, follow the same conjugational transformation as well.

FormCasual FormPolite formMeaning
Positive (Present)よいよい;いいですGood; well
Negative (Present)よくないよくないですNot good
Positive (Past)よかったよかったですWas good
Negative (Present)よくなかったよくなかったですWas not good

Making it a casual form is easier; simply remove the です and leave it as it is. However, note that this only applies when the adjective is put at the end of the sentence.

A lot of Japanese people will even shorten the adjective and omit the . For example, when talking with friends in a good mood, people will say すげー instead of すごい to express something amazing, or うまー instead of うまい to compliment a very delicious meal.

japanese na adjective

な-adjectives in Japanese

Unlike い-adjectives, you can’t modify conjugations in な-adjectives directly to express tense or form. Instead, think of them as nouns (although they’re not, so be careful). This is because the way you modify its value is the same as how you would with nouns. What you want to do instead is to change the auxiliary verb of the whole sentence or phrase:です、ではありません、 でした or ではありませんでした.

The way you can identify a な-adjective is by looking at the particle attached to it: な. For example, 元気人・げんき人, which means a healthy (or happy, depending on the context) person. A lot of people find な-adjectives to be easier to learn because of their simple (and easy modification) rule.

Like い-adjectives, you can put a  な-adjective before a noun. When you do so, the adjective-noun combination becomes the subject.

Adjective + + Noun + です | ではありません | でした | ではありませんでした

You can also put a な-adjective at the end of a sentence. When that happens, the form is like this:

Adjective + です | ではありません | でした | ではありませんでした

In this case, we’ll be using the example 元気, which means happy or healthy. Briefly, this is how you will transform an な-adjective into different tenses and forms.

Present Tense for Na-adjectives

The most basic form of な-adjectives — meaning, positive value in the present tense — is followed by the auxiliary verb of です (polite) or だ (casual). Keep in mind that, similar to い-adjectives, present and future tense uses the same form. To describe a noun, you need to put the particle な in the middle of the adjective and the noun (hence, it’s called na-adjective). Take a look at the example below.

FormKanjiHiraganaMeaning
Positive (Present)元気だげんきだHealthy; lively
Negative (Present)元気じゃないげんきじゃないNot healthy; lively
Positive (Past)元気だったげんきだったWas healthy; lively
Negative (Present)元気じゃなかったげんきじゃなかったWas not healthy; lively

好きな人は田中さんだ。
すきひとはたなかさん
The person I like is Tanaka-san.

As we mentioned before, the conjugation rules for な-adjectives are the same as nouns, so even when the adjective is put at the end of the sentence, you will still use だ.

田中さんが好きだ。
たなかさんがすきだ
I like Tanaka-san.

Negative (Present) Tense for Na-adjectives

Similarly, too conjugate the auxiliary verb to get to the negative form for な-adjective, add 〜じゃありません. You can also use 〜ではありません that has the same meaning (negative value), but sounds more polite and is usually used in written Japanese.

To make it casual, you can shorten it into 〜じゃない or 〜ではない.

あのウェイターはお客さんに親切ではない。
あのウェイターはおきゃくさんにしんせつではない
That waiter is not kind to guests.

あまり歌っていなくて、カラオケが上手じゃない。
あまりうたっていなくて、からおけがじょうずじゃない
Because I don’t sing so much, I’m not good at karaoke.

You can also put a negative な-adjective before a noun.

元気じゃない人はカフェに入れません。
げんきじゃないひとはカフェにはいれません。
Unhealthy people are not allowed to enter the cafe.

Past Tense for Na-adjectives

To indicate that something was true before (and is not now), you will need to add だった (casual) or でした (polite) at the end of the sentence or phrase with a な-adjective.

あの歌手は有名な人だった。
あのかしゅはゆうめいひとだった
That person was once a famous singer.

子供の頃、お風呂が嫌いだった。
こどものころ、おふろがきらいだった
When I was a kid, I hated taking a bath.

Negative (Past) Tense for Na-adjectives

As with previous Japanese adjective modification, to make a Na-adjective negative and in the past tense, simple add じゃありませんでした or ではありませんでした

You can make it more casual by just transforming the auxiliary verb like this:

じゃありませんでした  → じゃなかった
ではありませんでした → ではなかった

この街は静かじゃなかった。
このまちはしずかじゃなかった
This town wasn’t peaceful (before).

リノベーションの前に、ホテルはきれいではありませんでした。
リノベーションのまえに、ホテルはきれいではありませんでした
Before the renovation, the hotel wasn’t pretty.

Casual Form for Na-adjectives

We’ve touched up how to change polite forms to casual forms for な-adjective, but we’ve made a table to sum it all up.

FormCasual FormPolite Form
Positive (Present)元気だ元気です
Negative (Present)元気じゃない元気じゃありません
Positive (Past)元気だった元気でした
Negative (Present)元気じゃなかった元気じゃありませんでした

Exceptions and What You Need to Know for Na-adjectives

You can immediately modify な-adjectives into a negative value, past tense — or both and join it with a noun. However, keep in mind that this is only applicable if you use casual auxiliary verbs.

Here are a few examples:

元気じゃない人
Genki ja nai hito. (Correct)

元気じゃありません人
Genki ja arimasen hito. (Wrong)

元気だった人
Genki datta hito. (Correct)

元気でした人
Genki deshita hito. (Wrong)

Another thing to keep in mind is an exception: the Japanese adjective おなじ・同じ. Even though it is technically a な-adjective, you will have to remove the な when you combine it with a noun.

君は僕と同じな背の高さです。(Wrong)
きみはぼくとおなじせのたかさです
You are as tall as I am.

君は僕と同じ背の高さです。(Correct)
きみはぼくとおなじせのたかさです

Learning to use and modify Japanese adjectives can be tricky, especially with the exceptions and grammar rules to remember. However, mastering the distinction between い-adjectives and な-adjectives will help you add more color and detail to your sentences.

Once you’ve learned some Japanese adjectives, we recommend practicing them with immersive Japanese listening conversations. Our Japanese podcasts are a great way to do this. Additionally, the NHK World Japan Audio Shows offer excellent listening practice for learners at any level.

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FAQ

What’s the difference between い-adjectives and な-adjectives?

い-adjectives directly modify nouns and change form based on tense, while な-adjectives require the particle before a noun and use auxiliary verbs to change tense.

Can I use い-adjectives and な-adjectives interchangeably?

No, they follow different grammatical rules. Make sure to use them appropriately based on the sentence structure.

What are the exceptions to na-adjectives?

While most な-adjectives follow a consistent rule, there are a few notable exceptions to keep in mind:

  • きれい (kirei) – Meaning “pretty” or “clean,” this adjective ends with い but is still considered a な-adjective. It requires the particle when used before a noun (e.g., きれいな花 – a pretty flower.
  • きらい(kirai) – Meaning “hate” or “dislike,” this adjective also ends in い but functions as a な-adjective. It uses the particle when modifying a noun (e.g., きらいな食べ物 – a disliked foods.
  • おなじ (onaji) – Meaning “same,” this adjective is usually a な-adjective, but when modifying a noun, the particle is often omitted (e.g., 君は僕とおなじ背の高さです – You are the same height as me.
  • だめ (dame) – Meaning “no good” or “unacceptable,” this adjective doesn’t require when used before a noun in many cases (e.g., だめなこと – “a bad thing”).

In this article, we will cover:

What does こんにちは (Konnichiwa) mean?
When do I use おはよう (Ohayou) then?
What about こんばんは (Konbanwa)?

What does こんにちは (Konnichiwa) mean in Japanese?

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)?

konbanwa good evening in japanese

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!

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FAQ

What does "Konnichiwa" mean in English?

“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 written as 面白い and in Hiragana as 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)

The term 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.” So, 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!

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How do you use Omoshiroi in Japanese?

Here are some examples:

Interesting: この本はおもしろい。 (Kono hon wa omoshiroi.) – This book is interesting.

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.

Are Omoshiroi and Tanoshii the same?

While both “omoshiroi” and “tanoshii” can be used to express enjoyment, there is a subtle difference:

Tanoshii: Emphasizes the feeling of happiness or pleasure.

Omoshiroi: Emphasizes the quality of being interesting or entertaining.

Are there other words that can be used instead of Omoshiroi?

Yes, there are other words that can be used depending on the context:

Fascinating: 魅惑的 (miwakuteki)

Exciting: 興奮する (kōfun suru)

Hilarious: 腹を抱えて笑う (hara o kakaete warau)

Ganbare (頑張れ) or ganbatte (頑張って) is a Japanese phrase that means “Come on!” “Let’s go!” or “Go for it!” in English. It means “Do your best,” and it can be used to cheer for your favorite team during a sporting event.

If you want to know more about using those words in Japanese, watch the YouTube video below, and read our full guide!

Meaning of Ganbare, Ganbatte and Ganbarimasu

FormJapaneseRomajiUsage / Meaning
Dictionary FormがんばるganbaruBase form: “to do one’s best” / “to persist.” Used in casual, non-conjugated contexts.
Polite FormがんばりますganbarimasuPolite present/future tense. “I will do my best.” Used in formal situations.
Te-formがんばってganbatteTe-form: Used to request or connect sentences. Also used to cheer someone on.
Imperative (Casual)がんばれganbareCasual command: “Do your best!” Often used to cheer someone informally.

The Japanese word for ganbare, ganbatte and ganbarimasu is based on the same Japanese verb: ganbaru.

頑張る is a very commonly used Japanese verb that means to do one’s best

Ganbaru combines the kanji 頑 (stubborn, firm) and 張 (to stretch or extend).

So in a literal sense, 頑張る conveys the idea of stretching yourself to your limit or pushing through something with effort and determination.

The Spirit of Ganbare or Ganbatte in Japanese Culture

Although a seemingly simple term, ganbare, ganbatte, or their other modifications have roots in Japanese culture and a view on perseverance and determination, you’ll hear it chanted in sports competitions and anime series, mostly to encourage the other party to do their best and never give up, no matter how hard the challenge.

Saying those words isn’t just preserved for special occasions, though. From a young age, Japanese people are exposed to ganbatte through various mundane activities: doing homework, studying for a test, or fighting with friends.

The word ganbare is ingrained in almost every stage of life in the Japanese community. As you grow old, you’ll face even more significant problems, like finding a job, overcoming a hard breakup, or confronting a problem at work. In the end, the spirit of ganbatte reminds individuals in Japan that even in times of great hardship, you need to trust your ability.

Japanese Kanji and Writing for Ganbare or Ganbatte

The Japanese word for ganbatte originated from the verb 頑張る (read as ganbaru), which means “to do your best” or “to work hard.” However, people tend to follow the first definition more in many social contexts more. The Japanese kanji 頑 (gan) means “tough” or “stubborn”, while the last character 張る (haru) means “to be prominent”.

Ganbare vs Ganbatte

How did it turn to ganbare or ganbatte? The term ganbatte (頑張って) is the conjunctive form of 頑張る. Ganbatte is the shortened form of てください, which is to turn a plain Japanese verb into a polite command or request: “I would ask you to (verb).”

The longer version of ganbatte is ganbatte kudasai (頑張ってください), but this might sound a bit too formal if you’re speaking to your friends or close family members. This is why sometimes people just opt to say “ganbatte”. It can be written in kanji as 頑張って, in hiragana as がんばって, or in katakana as ガンバッテ.

You might wonder: ganbatte is not a loanword that the Japanese language takes, so why can we use katakana? This is because katakana emphasizes things, especially on signs, advertisements, or texts. Examples are gomi (ゴミ) and megane (メガネ), each meaning trash and glasses, respectively. When you type ガンバッテ, it shows you want the reader to pay attention to your words of encouragement.

It may also be said as “ganbatte ne”( 頑張ってね) or “ganbatte yo” (頑張ってよ) for more emphasis on overcoming the task at hand.

You can also add ね or よ for more emphasis.

頑張ってね!
Ganbatte ne!

頑張ってよ!
Ganbatte yo!

Ganbare (がんばれ), on the other hand, stems from the same verb, but it’s in a command form. The verb conjugation changes action in solid commands, and it’s less polite than saying ganbatte kudasai (がんばってください),

The Best Time to Use Ganbare or Ganbatte

Ganbare has a positive connotation; you need to use it with empathy and without being flippant or joking, which could be seen as insensitive.

  • A coworker or friend is taking an exam or a test
  • A friend is playing in a sporting match or running a marathon
  • A friend will do something difficult, like asking someone to marry them.
  • A friend has expressed a worry about a big event or challenge that they have coming up.

Inappropriate Situations to Use Gabare or Ganbatte

Despite the versatility of ganbare and ganbatte, there are some situations where it’s far from appropriate. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to face your vulnerability. When someone is facing genuine trouble, read the room and show empathy. Saying, “Let’s do our best!” to someone having a hard time can make us sound tone-deaf and insensitive instead.

Here are a couple of situations where saying ganbare or ganbatte is not advisable.

  • A friend has had something tragic happen to them or their family
  • A friend is expressing a deep level of sadness or worry

Video Transcript

頑張れ!頑張れ!
Ganbare! Ganbare!
Ganbare! Ganbare!

皆さん、「頑張れ」この言葉聞いたのことがあすか?
Minasan, “ganbare” koto kotoba kiita no koto ga arimasuka?
Hi everyone, have you heard the word “ganbare” before?

「頑張れ」は試合毛ていると応援する時に使う言葉です。
“ganbare” wa shiai geteiru to ouensuru toki ni tsukau kotoba desu
When people are at a sporting match and they are supporting their team, they will use this word!

例えば、野球の試合を呼びに行きます好きな選手が出ています。
Tatoeba, yakyuu no shiai o yobini ikimasu suki na senshu ga deteimasu
For example, next time you go to a baseball game and your favorite player appears,

「頑張れ!頑張れ!」
“ganbare! ganbare!”
You can scream “Ganbare! Ganbare!”

ラグビーやサッカーのワールドカップオリンピックでも「頑張れ頑張れ」と応援することができます。
Ragubi ya sakka no Warudokapu orinpikku demo “ganbare ganbare” to ouensuru koto ga dekimasu.
You can use the word to support your team at the Rugby and Soccer World Cup, and the Olympics.

「頑張れ」この言葉は「頑張って」や「頑張ってください」よりも
“ganbare” kono kotoba wa “ganbatte” ya “ganbatte kudasai” yori mo
The word “ganbare” is similar to “ganbatte” or “ganbatte kudasai.”

強いの言葉です。
tsuyoi no kotoba desu.
But it has a stronger meaning.

すこし、男っぽくて強い言葉なので試合を応援する時に使います。
Sukoshi, otokoppokute tsuyoi kotoba nano de shiai o ouensuru toki ni tsukaimasu.
It’s a very manly word that you can use to support your team during a sporting match.

試合はワクワクドキドキしますね、ですから女の人も試合の時は「頑張れ」と言ってもいです。
Shiai wa waku waku doki doki shimasune, desukara onna no hito mo shiai no toki wa “ganbare” to itte mo idesu.
When you get excited during a football match or a baseball game and you want to support your team, women can also use “ganbare”.

「頑張って」この言葉は色々なシチュエーションでいろことができます。
“Ganbatte” kono kotoba wa iro iro na tsuchinoeshion de iro koto ga dekimasu.
“Ganbatte” is a word that can be used in many different types of situations.

例えば、友達がこーいます「あ、明日試験があるんだ」
Tatoeba, tomodachi ga koiimasu : “a, ashita shiken ga arunda.”
For example, when your friend tells you: “Ugh, I have an exam tomorrow.”

「頑張って!」
“Ganbatte!”
“Do your best!”

「あ、明日彼女にプロポーズするんだ」
“a ashita kanojo ni puopozu surunda”
“I’m going to propose to my girlfriend tomorrow.”

「頑張って!」
“Ganbatte!”
“Do your best!”

「頑張って」はカジュアルの表現なので家族や恋人友達に使ってください。
“Ganbatte” wa casuaru no hyougen nanode kazoku ya koibito tomodachi ni tsukatte kudasai.
“Ganbatte” is a casual expression that you can use when talking to family and friends.

最後に、もう一つ「頑張ります」を紹介します。
Saigo ni, mou hitotsu “ganbarimasu” o shoukai shimasu.
Finally, we have one more word to introduce: “ganbarimasu.”

「頑張ります」はいつ使うのでしょうか?
“ganbarimasu” wa itsu tsukau no deshouka?
When should we use “ganbarimasu”?

そうれでは説明します。
Sourede wa setsumenshimasu.
Let’s break it down.

実は私来年の3月に東京マラソンに出ます。
Jitsu wa atashi rainen no sangatsu ni toukyou maranson ni temasu.
I will really be running the Tokyo marathon next year in March.

そのことを先輩や他の先生に言うと先輩や他の先生はこう言いました「え~すごいね。頑張ってね!」
Sono koto wo senpai ya hoka no sensei ni iyuto senpai ya hoka no sensei wa kouiimashita: “e~ sugoi ne. Ganbatte ne!”
So my coworkers, and other more senior teachers, told me: “oh wow, do your best (good luck)!”

その時私はこう言います「ありがとうございます、頑張ります!」
Sono toki watashi wa kouiimasu: “arigaritou gozaimasu, ganbarimasu!”
At that time, I replied by saying: “Thank You so much, I will try my best!”

「頑張ります」は自分より上の人
“Ganbarimasu” wa jibun yori ue no hito
“Ganbarimasu” is used when people that are above me,

例えば、上司や先輩の人が頑張ってねと
tatoeba joushi ya senpaino hito ga ganbattene to
like my boss or my senior coworkers tell me to do my best.

応援してな時に
ouen shitenatoki ni
When they show their support

「はい、頑張ります」と答えます。
“hai, ganbarimasu” to kotae masu.
I can answer them by saying: Yes, I will try my best!

はい、皆さん、今日のビデオはここまです。
Hai, minasan, kyou no bideo wa koko made desu.
Okay, everyone! That is all for today’s video.

皆さんは日本語の勉強頑張っていますね!
Minasan wa nihongo no benkyou ganbatte imasune!
Everyone, you’re all doing your best to learn Japanese!

皆さん、頑張って!
Minasan, ganbatte!
Everyone, do your best!

もし質問があったたら、是非このコメントに残してください。私たちが答えられるかもしれません。
moshi shitsumon ga atta tara, zehi kono komento ni nokoshite kudasai. Watashitachi ga kotae rareru kamoshiremasen.
If you have any questions, please share them in the comment section. We might answer them!

それでは皆さん、頑張ってね!
Sorede wa minasan, ganbatte ne!
So then, everyone, go for it/do your best!

Start taking Japanese lessons and learn Ganbare, Ganbatte, Ganbarimasu and more!

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FAQ

What is the difference between ganbatte and ganbaru?

Ganbare is a command form, which has a stronger imperative tone. Ganbatte is the shortened version of ganbatte kudasai, which is more or a request and therefore sounds less demanding.

What is the original word for ganbare and ganbatte?

Ganbare and ganbatte comes from the word ganbaru (頑張る) or ganbarimasu (頑張ります), which means “do your best”

There’s a running joke among foreigners living in Japan: when they encounter something they don’t understand in a Japanese conversation, they will say, “そうです (Sou desu)!” But why is that? Think of そうです and its other variations as sort of a safety net. The concept here is that sou desu expresses affirmation, which accompanies almost all statements.

今日、めっちゃ暑い!
Kyou, meccha atsui!
It’s really hot today!

そうですね!
Sou desu ne!
That’s right!

あの子はお母さんに怒鳴っていた。失礼ですね。
Ano ko wa okaasan ni donatte ita. Shitsurei desu ne.
That boy was shouting at his mom. He’s rude, isn’t he?

そうですよね…
Sou desu yo ne…
You’re right…

In other words, to say that we use そうです (sou desu) in a lot of situations is an understatement. It’s definitely on the top list of phrases that Japanese people — and learners — like to say, falling just behind hai (はい) and sumimasen (すみません). It has a lot of variations too, ranging from formal to casual forms. In terms of use, the different endings of そうです and intonations affect the implication of this phrase. Generally, however, they’re used to confirm or ask about the way things are.

When someone says “sou desu ka” or “sou desu” as a response, what exactly does it mean? Let’s look at some examples. At the end of this article, we hope you know how to use them — and understand why sou (そう) in Japanese will be one of the most useful words you’ll learn. 

This article will use hiragana. If you’re still learning them, don’t worry. Take a look at our hiragana chart to review them.

そうです (Sou Desu): That’s right. 

Let’s start with its most basic form: そうです. The expression is used to affirm a statement said by your conversation partner. It can both be a fact or an opinion. そうです (sou desu) means “It is so” or “That’s right.” Sometimes, it can also mean a simple “yes”. 

In this case, そうです is used as a positive affirmation to express that you agreed with what your partner said. As this article progresses, そうです and its variation can often be a subtle way to disagree. 

In casual speech, you can leave off です (desu) and just say そう (sou). Generally, you’ll hear people partner this word with other ways to say “yes” in Japanese, like hai (はい) or un (うん).

Let’s take a look at the example below. 

田中さんは学生ですね。
Tanaka-san wa gakusei desu ne.
Tanaka-san is a student, right. 

はい、そうです。
Hai, sou desu.
Yeah. That’s right. 

Sometimes, we can also use そうだ (sou da). This is also the informal version of そうです. だ (da) is the informal copula です (desu). 

昨日雨が降ったから、洗濯物が濡れちゃった。
It rained yesterday, so the laundry got wet. 

そうですか。残念ですね。
Sou desu ka. Zannen desu ne.
That’s right. It’s such a shame!

When you’re talking with your friends, you can omit the desu and da and repeat the word そう. This is usually to show excitement.

このコーヒー、めっちゃおいしいよ!
Kono koohi, meccha oishii yo!
This coffee, it’s really good! 

そうそうそう!
Sou sou sou!
Yeah, yeah, yeah!

そうですか (Sou Desu Ka): Is that so?

The か addition is a question particle you would often hear, like お元気ですか. This is partially true.  However, you need to know that the interpretation of そうですか depends on the intonation. 

The first one is a falling intonation at the end. This indicates an understanding of a situation as if you are saying, “Is that so,” in a flat tone.  With flat intonation, it’s closer to “I see.”

部長が、明日までに報告書を出すようにと…
Buchou ga, ashita made ni houkoku-sho o dasu you ni to…
The manager wanted you to submit the report by tomorrow… 

そうですか。わかりました。
Sou desu ka. Wakarimashita.
Is that so? I understand. 

Said with rising intonation, sou desu ka means closer to “Is that so?” The rising intonation makes it a question, which is often used in sentences to indicate doubt or ask for assurance. It can also be a response to something surprising, like saying, “Really?”

聞きましたか?田中さんが会社を辞めるそうです。
Kikimashitaka? Tanaka-san ga kaisha o yameru sou desu!
Have you heard? Tanaka-san quit the company!

えぇ?そうですか?
Ee? Sou desu ka?
What? Really?

 In casual Japanese, you can use そうか (sou ka) instead.

Because of this, そうですか can be used to express a different opinion or disagreement indirectly. Because you are not explicitly rejecting their statement, Japanese people will often find this a more polite way to keep a conversation going. 

今日の試験、簡単だったよ!
Kyou no shiken, kantan datta yo!
Today’s exam, was easy!

そうですか。難しかったと思うんですけど。
Sou desu ka. Muzukashikatta to omoun desu kedo.
Is that right? I thought it was hard, though…

“Sou desu ka?” is a general response to any new information and doesn’t have to necessarily imply any doubt about what was just said.

そうですね (Sou Desu Ne): That’s Right/Let Me See…

When said with a neutral intonation, the ね (ne) at the end of そうですね adds a layer of assurance to the confirmation.

雪の日は、温かいお茶が一番ですね。
Yuki no hi wa, atatakai ocha ga ichiban ii desu ne.
When it’s snowing, warm tea is the best, right?

そうですね。私もそう思います。
Sou desu ne. Watashi mo sou omoimasu.
That’s right. I think so too. 

You will also notice that Japanese people say sou desu ne with a long intonation. This is usually to show that they are considering how to respond to your comment. Generally, そうですね (sou desu ne) is used when agreeing with a statement.

In casual speech, そうだね can be used instead of そうですね, such as between friends.

最近、暗くなるのが早いね。
Saikin, kurakunaru no ga hayai ne.
Recently, it’s been getting dark fast. 

そうですね。もうすぐ冬ですね。
Sou desu ne. Mou sugu fuyu desu ne.
That’s right! It’s going to be winter soon!

そうですよ (Sou Desu Yo): That’s Right

Adding よ (yo) to yield そうですよ also adds a layer of affirmation of the fact to the listener. Unlike そうですね), which can sometimes be a way to express consideration,  そうですよ can also give authority to the speaker.

そうだよ is the casual form of そうですよ and can be used among friends and people of equal status.

ケーキには大量のカロリーが含まれています。
Keeki ni wa tairyou no karorii ga fukuma rete imasu.
The cake contains high amount of calories. 

そうですよ。食べ過ぎてはいけません。
Sou desu yo. Tabesugitehaikemasen.
That’s right. You can’t eat too much.

One thing to note is that the combination of そう and よ softens the way of affirmation. For example, if you replace the example sentence above with そうでね, you’ll find that it sounds more masculine (in this case, it doesn’t mean strictly men use them). 

そうですよ: That’s right

If そうですね expresses a firm agreement and そうですよ shows softer agreement, then the combination of ね and よ is a gentler way to show strong agreement. In conclusion, the variants, including yo and ne, all express agreement with what the other person just said.

ね and よ are added onto the sentence そうです to create a feeling of “Don’t you think so?” and “Definitely!” or “Absolutely!”  It’s more economical in Japanese to convey the sentiment with そうですよね or, more informally, そうだよねー.

Conclusion

“Sou desu” is a very versatile Japanese phrase, but we’re just scraping the surface of Japanese culture. Learning the Japanese language that you can use in real life can be tricky. Coto Academy offers lessons from beginner to advanced if you want to earn more.

What is Sou Desu?

そうです (sou desu) means “It is so” or “That’s right.” Sometimes, it can also mean a simple “yes”. 

How do you use "Sou desu ne"?

When you agree with what the speaker said, the best way to show your agreement is by saying, “Sou desu ne”.

What is the casual form of そうです (sou desu)?

The various forms of そうです (sou desu = (things are/in) that way) are used in many ways, in formal and casual forms. In the casual register, you can simply say “Sou” or “Sou da”.

How do you use "Sou desu"?

Sou desu is used to give affirmation to a statement said by your conversation partner. As a question with a rising intonation, it also means, “Is that so?”

What is the meaning of Sou Desu Ka?

“そうですか (sou desu ka)” translates to “Is that so?” or “I see.” It’s often used when responding to new information to show understanding or acknowledgment. It can express surprise, interest, or simply that you’re taking in what was just said.

If you’re an auditory learner, you might notice that you like to listen to educational podcasts to improve your Japanese listening skills.

Do you hate when people give you written directions? Do you often talk to yourself? Auditory learning is just one of the main methods that people use to learn new information; as the name suggests, auditory learners process information best when they can listen to it.

While you might already know what learning method suits you best, finding out how to apply this method in real life is often harder. What do auditory learners do to learn? And how can you use this knowledge to improve your Japanese?

Keep reading to see some Japanese learning strategies for auditory learners — and tips for making the Japanese language go in one ear and stay there!

 Jump to:

What is an Auditory Learner?

As mentioned earlier, auditory learners learn best by hearing information, but there’s more to it than that. Many auditory learners find it helpful to talk things out, express emotions through their voice (using pitch, tone, and volume), and tend to be very descriptive.

Others are easily distracted by sounds, enjoy dialogues and plays, and are great at remembering names. Additional characteristics include being musically gifted, quickly recalling the way things sound, and being able to pick up on social cues in speech.

Finally, talking to oneself and preferring classrooms where discussion is encouraged is also common.

By answering questions about different scenarios, you can see how you usually learn information and how this corresponds to a particular learning style.

Many people also use multiple learning styles so that you may discover a new aspect of yourself! If you are also a visual learner, you can check out our guide for visual learners here.

If you’re definitely an auditory learner, keep reading to learn how you can use this style to make your Japanese learning much easier and more effective!

Strategy 1: Record Information

No, we don’t just mean taking notes (though that is also really good)! If you learn best by hearing, you should try to listen to the information as often as possible; repetition is a key factor in making new ideas stick in your mind.

As a result, try to audio-record information whenever you can – record your lectures, record yourself reading the lessons out loud, and record practice conversations. Then listen to these recordings as often as possible – during a walk, driving to work or school, or just doing tasks around the house!

The more times you hear the information, the more likely it is to stick with you.

You can use a voice memo app, such as Apple’s Voice Memo app, Alice (which also automatically transcribes your recordings), or Tape-a-Talk (for Android).

Strategy 2: Listen Carefully

This is probably the most obvious of our strategies! If you learn best by hearing, you need to have a purpose in your listening—you can’t just listen passively.

It can be easy to let your mind wander during lectures or to get distracted by other sounds, but being intentional with your attention can make all the difference. One way to do this is to take notes on the taught topics.

Another way is to pay attention to how people are speaking. What tone are they using? What speed are they talking at? What does this say about the subject they are talking about?

You can also listen better by reducing the number of distractions around you; try sitting in quiet areas, sitting closer to your teacher, staying away from doors and windows (where sounds come in from outside), or using noise-canceling headphones when listening to recorded information.

If you prefer to listen to music while studying, avoid music with lyrics (as this can divert your attention from your lesson).

By the way, did you know that Coto has several podcasts, including Coto Sounds, Coto Radio, and Coto Hajime? Here are some episodes you can start with!

Strategy 3: Find Japanese Audio Resources

While we already talked about recording and listening to your lectures and notes, it’s also a good idea to find other resources that will allow you to practice hearing and understanding Japanese.

One of the best ways to do this is to find Japanese podcasts. JapanesePod101 is a great option for learners of all levels; when listening to Japanese speech, you can choose your learning level and speech speed, get word lists and line-by-line breakdowns for each episode, and even record yourself speaking the lesson to practice your pronunciation!

Learn Japanese Pod offers Japanese mini-lessons; you can listen to the whole lesson or just the dialogues, see the Romanji and English transcriptions, and even join their discord server!

The Japanese Page offers a variety of different podcasts – language lessons, listening practice, Japanese stories – whatever you think is interesting!

Aside from podcasts, using the audiobook version of your textbook (if it is available) is also a good idea; you could listen and follow along in your book at the same time!

You can also use Radio Garden, a free site that allows you to listen to radio stations all over the globe, to tune into Japanese talk shows and music.

If you’re a fan of Japanese anime or film, try watching a scene with the subtitles on; then, rewatch the same scene without the subtitles and try to pay attention to the dialogue.

As long as you are learning something new and having fun while doing it, you can’t go wrong with these options! 

Strategy 4: Talk Things Out

This may sound counter-intuitive at first, to talk rather than to listen. However, talking about what you’re learning (either to yourself or with others) and hearing the information spoken out loud is very helpful; many auditory learners find it helpful to process information by speaking about it.

This may look like reading aloud, discussing material with friends or teachers, or sounding out vocabulary. You can also talk through given problems and rephrase lessons in your own words.

Participating in class discussions is also important; if you don’t feel comfortable speaking up, you can always whisper your answer to yourself or take notes about what everyone else is saying. (Don’t be afraid to ask questions, though!)

If you want to talk with native speakers, the language exchange app HelloTalk, which connects you to Japanese people learning English, is a great place to start; you can text, send voice messages, call, or video chat!

If you prefer talking in person, why not attend a Japanese language exchange event and talk with a partner? Check out our list of language exchange events in Tokyo here or search in your area at Meetup!

You can also use talk-to-text apps to have these verbal exchanges written down in text format. Some of the best options for these are Notta (which can also sync to Notion), Just Press Record (only available for Apple users), and Speechnotes (which works on PCs).

Strategy 5: Don’t Neglect Other Ways of Learning

It might be tempting to focus solely on listening and not put much effort into other learning methods. However, these are still important ways for you to review lessons and understand what is being taught.

You still need to read your textbook, take notes, make flashcards, practice writing kana and kanji, read in Japanese, and so on.

Once you do these things, you can use the strategies above to really cement them in your mind – reword your notes, say your flashcards out loud, or discuss kanji with others, for example. The main point is to use listening as a tool, but not your only tool!

Additional Tips on Japanese Learning Strategies for Auditory Learners

– Try using rhymes and other mnemonics to help you remember vocab or grammar points.

– Using songs or different sounds to remember information can be really helpful; try making a song that lists all of the week’s vocab items, for example! Or, you can check out other songs on YouTube, such as this one for hiragana!

– Many auditory learners can also associate songs with different topics. When you study, try listening to different music for different topics. (For example, classical music for grammar and lo-fi for vocabulary!)

– When studying, reciting information with your eyes closed can help to reduce distractions and help you focus on what you are saying.

– Try role-playing with a friend or classmate to practice dialogues. How would a student communicate a message? How would a teacher? This can be a great way to incorporate Japanese societal etiquette into your practice!

– When taking notes, leave extra space for any realizations that may come about as a result of discussions.

– If you are taking a Japanese class, make sure to attend all of the lectures and discussion groups; being able to hear information in settings like these is very useful (especially if you have questions)! If there isn’t a discussion group already, consider making one! There will probably be other auditory learners in the class that would benefit from this as well.

– Don’t give up on forming new habits; it can be hard to stick to a new routine or a new learning strategy, but you will thank yourself in the end!

Conclusion        

Sometimes, when learning a new language, it seems like information comes in one ear and immediately goes out the other! It can be hard to recall exactly what you have learned, even if you regularly study.

Now that you have these new strategies, however, you will be much better equipped to hear that new information and keep it with you! You’ll be listening to and understanding Japanese like a pro in no time!

Still, keeping an ear out for extra learning opportunities? Why not check out courses at Coto Academy? By accommodating a variety of different learning styles and paces, these classes are sure to help you achieve your Japanese language goals!

What is an auditory learner?

Auditory learners learn best by hearing information; but, of course, there’s more to it than that. Many auditory learners find it helpful to talk things out, express emotions through their voice (using pitch, tone, and volume), and tend to be very descriptive.

Is HeloTalk a good app to practice Japanese?

If you want to talk with native speakers, the language exchange app HelloTalk, which connects you to Japanese people learning English, is a great place to start; you can text, send voice messages, call, or video chat!

How should I learn Japanese if I'm an auditory learner?

One of the best ways to do this is to find Japanese podcasts. Try role-playing with a friend or classmate to practice dialogues. Participating in class discussions is also important, and you can speak out loud when you are studying — as if reviewing something with a friend.