If you’re learning Japanese, you’ve probably heard of Kansai-ben (関西弁), the vibrant dialect spoken in the Kansai region, which includes Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and Wakayama. But did you know that Kyoto has its own unique dialect? Known as Kyoto-ben (京都弁), this variation of Kansai-ben is softer, more elegant, and deeply influenced by Kyoto’s historical […]
Japan is famously divided into 47 unique prefectures, each boasting its own distinct heritage, food culture, and breathtaking sights. Whether you’re planning a short visit or a grand tour, use this guide to discover what makes each corner of Japan special. From the snowy landscapes of Hokkaido to the sun-soaked beaches of Okinawa, there’s something […]
Learning kanji can seem like an overwhelming task for native English speakers, especially given that Japanese uses thousands of characters, each with multiple readings. However, with the right approach, you can break it down into manageable steps and steadily build your knowledge. Below are the most effective and practical methods to start learning kanji as […]
Learning kanji can be one of the most challenging parts of learning Japanese, especially for beginners. This post introduces 100 of the most useful and commonly seen kanji in everyday Japanese. These are foundational characters you’ll encounter in signs, menus, labels, dates, and basic vocabulary. Mastering them will give you a strong start in reading […]
Kyoto, the cultural heart of Japan, is known not only for its historical landmarks but also for its unique dialect, Kyoto-ben (京都弁, きょうとべん [Kyoto-ben]). Kyoto-ben has a refined, gentle tone, often reflecting the elegance of Kyoto’s rich cultural heritage. For Japanese learners, understanding Kyoto-ben can add depth to your linguistic skills and make your interactions […]
If you’re studying Japanese and want to explore regional dialects, Tohoku-ben (東北弁) is a fascinating and unique choice. Spoken in the Tohoku region (northeastern Japan), Tohoku dialect is known for its distinct sounds, unique vocabulary, and rural charm. This guide will introduce you to the basics of Tohoku-ben, including pronunciation, common phrases, and grammar differences […]
The Hakata dialect, or Hakata-ben (博多弁), is a charming regional variety of Japanese spoken in Fukuoka, Kyushu. Known for its warm and friendly tone, Hakata-ben is a must-learn for anyone living in or visiting the area. This blog post will introduce you to the basics of Hakata-ben, from grammar and verb conjugations to common phrases […]
If you’re studying Japanese and want to expand your understanding beyond standard Japanese (標準語・ひょうじゅんご・hyoujungo), exploring regional dialects (方言・ほうげん・hougen) can be a fascinating journey. One of the most unique and vibrant dialects is Hiroshima-ben (広島弁・ひろしまべん・hiroshimaben), spoken in Hiroshima Prefecture and surrounding areas. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key features of Hiroshima-ben, including common phrases, […]
If you’ve ever visited Osaka or watched movies or shows set in the Kansai region, you’ve probably noticed that people in Osaka speak a little differently. The Osaka dialect (大阪弁, おおさかべん) is one of the most iconic and fun regional dialects of Japan. Known for its friendly and expressive tone, mastering even a little bit […]
Learning the Okinawan dialect (also known as Uchinaaguchi うちなーぐち) can be a fascinating journey for any intermediate Japanese language learner. Okinawan Japanese is a branch of the broader Ryukyuan language family and differs significantly from standard Japanese in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. While the standard dialect is commonly spoken today, understanding the traditional Okinawan language […]
Proverbs carry timeless wisdom, and 井の中の蛙、大海を知らず (A frog in a well does not know the great ocean) is one of Japan’s most cherished. This saying has long encouraged us to broaden our horizons and seek greater knowledge beyond our immediate surroundings. It speaks to the dangers of limited perspectives and calls for exploration. However, what […]
If you’re an advanced Japanese learner, you’ve likely come across the unique, gruff way yakuza characters speak in movies, dramas, or even anime. The yakuza way of speaking is a stylized version of Japanese that emphasizes masculinity, toughness, and dominance. It’s fascinating and rich in linguistic nuance, making it a great exercise for advanced learners. […]
The grammar point “〜てみる” (te miru) is a useful construction for intermediate Japanese learners. It combines the て-form of a verb with the verb “みる” (to see/look) to express the idea of “trying to do something” or “doing something to see what happens.” What is てみる? The grammar point 〜てみる combines the て-form of a […]
In Japanese grammar, “〜たところで” (ta tokorode) is a phrase that means “even if an action or a state were realized” or often (to put it even more simply) just “even if”. It suggests that even if the action were to occur, the result would not change. Here’s how to use “〜たところで” in a sentence: Note: […]
Ask Japanese learners what the hardest part of the language is, and one of the most common answers will be ‘kanji’ (sometimes accompanied by a thousand-yard stare). Anyone who’s attempted to master it will know that while it’s fascinating and beautiful, it’s also very challenging — why is there more than one pronunciation? Why do these […]
Wondering whether or not JapanesePod101 is the right platform to advance (or even begin) your Japanese language skills? In this post I’ll be reviewing (and assessing) everything JapanesePod101 has to offer. Focusing on its Premium plan, I’ll be taking an in-depth look at how the courses are structured, the methods it uses to teach, what you […]
In Japanese, the grammar pattern “〜てみせる” (te miseru) is used to express a strong determination or intention to perform an action and show the result or outcome to someone. It is formed by combining the te-form of a verb with “みせる” (miseru), which means “to show” or “to display,” as explained in the previous answer. […]
In Japanese grammar, “〜んとする” (n to suru) is a phrase that means for “someone to try to do” or for “something to be about to occur.” It is very often used to describe an action that someone is attempting to do or is in the process of doing. Here’s a few examples of 〜んとする in […]
In Japanese grammar, “〜そうになる” (sou ni naru) is a phrase that means “for something to almost happen” or “to be about to happen.” It is very often used to describe a situation in which something looks like it’s about to happen. Here’s a few examples of 〜そうになる in action: Bonus: The phrase “そうになる” is often […]
For anyone interested in studying jinmeiyō kanji and wondering where to start, here’s a list of all of the jinmeiyō kanji found in one of the all-time classic Japanese novels: Botchan (坊っちゃん) by Natsume Sōseki (夏目 漱石). How many jinmeiyō kanji are these in Botchan? Good question! There are approximately 135 of them! And here […]
For quite a while now I’ve been trying to come up with an effective way to study non-jōyō kanji (technically known as jōyōgai kanji [常用外漢字] i.e. the kanji that are NOT within the 2,136 jōyō kanji), and although I’m still nowhere near achieving this goal, I recently had an interesting idea: obtain a book written […]
Wondering how to write furigana (those little hiragana characters you sometimes see above Japanese kanji) in WordPress? Here’s how: Step 1. Step 1 – You’re going to need to use the ‘Custom HTML’ WordPress Block (note: not sure what WordPress Blocks are? – here’s a quick YouTube video). Here’s how to find it: click the […]
Okurigana (送り仮名 – literally: “accompanying characters”) are characters that appear after a kanji character in a Japanese word. They are used to indicate the inflection or pronunciation of the kanji, and are typically written in hiragana. For example, in the word “読よめる” (yomu, meaning “can read”), the kanji is “読” and the okurigana are “め” […]
Come across the word Furigana in the context of Japanese kanji and wondering what it means? Furigana (振り仮名 – literally: “assigned characters”), also known as ruby text or ruby characters, are small kana characters that are written above or to the side of a kanji character in a Japanese word. They are used to indicate […]
To write furigana (振り仮名) in HTML, you can use the <ruby> element, which is a part of the HTML Ruby Extension. The <ruby> element is used to mark up ruby text, which is a type of small, annotated text that is used to provide pronunciation or other information about a character or word. Here’s an […]
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The Japanese Kanji for Crab (蟹)
The kanji 蟹 (かに(kani))is a logographic character that is used in the Japanese writing system. It is composed of four parts: the radical 虫 (くも), which means “insect” or “bug,” and the radical 角 (かど), which means “angle” or “corner”, the radical 刀 (とう), which means sword, and the radical 牛 (うし), which means cow. […]
In Japanese, the particle は is used to indicate the topic of a sentence, while the particle が is used to indicate the subject of a sentence. The topic of a sentence is the general subject being discussed, while the subject is the specific thing performing the action of the verb in the sentence. For […]