Japanese grammar explained with anime: real lessons, common mistakes, and practice questions.https://www.animesenseijp.com/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/why-in-japanese-doushite-naze-nande/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/why-in-japanese-doushite-naze-nande/Why in Japanese: なんで (casual), どうして (neutral), なぜ (formal). Polite forms, why questions that sound like blame, and how to answer.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/animal-in-japanese-doubutsu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/animal-in-japanese-doubutsu/Animal in Japanese is 動物 (doubutsu). Learn how it differs from 生き物, ペット and 獣, common animal names with kanji, 匹/頭/羽 counters, and anime foxes and tanuki.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/enjoy-in-japanese-tanoshimu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/enjoy-in-japanese-tanoshimu/Enjoy in Japanese is 楽しむ (tanoshimu), but "I enjoyed it" is usually 楽しかった. Learn 楽しむ vs 楽しい vs 楽しみ, "enjoy your trip", and common mistakes.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fruit-in-japanese-kudamono/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fruit-in-japanese-kudamono/Fruit in Japanese is 果物 (kudamono), with a reading learners rarely guess. See 果物 vs フルーツ, hiragana, katakana and kanji for common fruits, and 実がなる.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/idea-in-japanese-aidea-kangae/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/idea-in-japanese-aidea-kangae/Idea in Japanese is アイデア (aidea) in katakana, but 考え, 案 and 発想 fit many cases better. Learn how to say "good idea" and "no idea" naturally, plus mistakes.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/meat-in-japanese-niku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/meat-in-japanese-niku/Meat in Japanese is 肉 (niku). Learn how to read 牛肉, 豚肉, 鶏肉, ひき肉 and 焼肉, why 牛肉 is not "ushi niku", and how to say you cannot eat meat.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/medicine-in-japanese-kusuri/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/medicine-in-japanese-kusuri/Medicine in Japanese is 薬 (kusuri), often お薬 when polite. Learn the verbs 飲む, 塗る and さす, pharmacy words, 医学 vs 薬, and anime potions.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/place-in-japanese-basho/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/place-in-japanese-basho/Place in Japanese is 場所 (basho). Learn 場所 vs 所 (tokoro), 居場所, 会場, 席, the 〜のところ trick, and why 1st place is not 場所. Includes practice.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/police-in-japanese-keisatsu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/police-in-japanese-keisatsu/Police in Japanese is 警察 (keisatsu) for the organization, 警察官 for the officer, お巡りさん in speech. Learn 交番, 110 vs 119, 刑事, and what to say.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/restaurant-in-japanese-resutoran/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/restaurant-in-japanese-resutoran/Restaurant in Japanese is レストラン (resutoran), but it sounds Western. Learn 店, 食堂, 居酒屋, ファミレス, plus what to say when you enter, order, pay and leave.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tea-in-japanese-ocha/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tea-in-japanese-ocha/Tea in Japanese is お茶 (ocha), usually green tea. See why 茶 alone is rare, how 紅茶 means black tea, and what お茶する and お茶でもどう？ really mean.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/vegetable-in-japanese-yasai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/vegetable-in-japanese-yasai/Vegetable in Japanese is 野菜 (yasai). Learn the polite お野菜, menu words like 野菜炒め, nine common vegetable names, and how to say you do not eat meat.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/visit-in-japanese-houmon-tazuneru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/visit-in-japanese-houmon-tazuneru/Visit in Japanese is usually 行く or 遊びに行く in conversation. Learn when 訪問する, 訪ねる, 訪れる and 伺う fit, how formal each is, and the mistakes to avoid.Sat, 10 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bright-in-japanese-akarui/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bright-in-japanese-akarui/Akarui means bright in Japanese: a bright room, a cheerful person, a bright color. 部屋が明るい means "The room is bright." Here is how it behaves.Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/another-in-japanese-mou-hitotsu-hoka-no/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/another-in-japanese-mou-hitotsu-hoka-no/Another in Japanese depends on what you want: もう一つ is one more of the same, 他の and 別の mean a different one. Learn which to use when you order or shop.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anything-in-japanese-nanika-nandemo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anything-in-japanese-nanika-nandemo/Anything in Japanese is 何か in questions (何か食べますか), 何でも for "whatever" (何でもいい), and 何も plus a negative for "not anything." Here is how to pick.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bring-in-japanese-motte-kuru-motte-iku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bring-in-japanese-motte-kuru-motte-iku/Bring in Japanese is 持ってくる when the thing comes toward you and 持っていく when it goes away. Plus 連れてくる for people and 持参 for formal Japanese.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/everyone-in-japanese-minna-minasan/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/everyone-in-japanese-minna-minasan/Everyone in Japanese is みんな (casual), 皆さん (polite, when addressing people), 皆様 (very formal) or 全員 (counting every member). Here is when to use each one.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/find-in-japanese-mitsukeru-mitsukaru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/find-in-japanese-mitsukeru-mitsukaru/Find in Japanese is 見つける when you spot something and 見つかる when it turns up. 探す is to look for it. Plus how to say "find out" and "I find it fun".Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/heavy-in-japanese-omoi-karui/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/heavy-in-japanese-omoi-karui/Heavy in Japanese is 重い (omoi), written おもい in hiragana. Its opposite is 軽い (karui). Learn the conjugations, idioms, and how to ask about weight.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ride-in-japanese-noru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ride-in-japanese-noru/To ride in Japanese is 乗る (noru), and it takes に, not を: 電車に乗る means "ride the train." Plus 乗り換える, 降りる, 乗せる and idioms like 調子に乗る.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ugly-in-japanese-minikui-busaiku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ugly-in-japanese-minikui-busaiku/Ugly in Japanese is 醜い in writing, ブサイク for faces, ダサい for uncool clothes or taste, and 汚い for dirty things. Here is which one is safe and which one hurts.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wash-in-japanese-arau/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wash-in-japanese-arau/Wash in Japanese is 洗う (あらう): 手を洗う, 顔を洗う, 皿を洗う. Clothes use 洗濯する, teeth use 磨く, and お手洗い is a polite word for the toilet. Masu form: 洗います.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/arrive-in-japanese-tsuku-touchaku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/arrive-in-japanese-tsuku-touchaku/Arrive in Japanese is 着く (tsuku) for people, 届く (todoku) for packages. Learn 到着する, 来る, 帰る and 間に合う, and why it is 駅に着く, not 駅で着く.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/be-careful-in-japanese-ki-wo-tsukete/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/be-careful-in-japanese-ki-wo-tsukete/Be careful in Japanese is usually 気をつけて (ki wo tsukete). Learn when to say 危ない, 注意して, 慎重に or 無理しないで instead, and why お大事に is not "take care".Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/by-the-way-in-japanese-tokorode-chinamini/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/by-the-way-in-japanese-tokorode-chinamini/By the way in Japanese is ところで (tokorode) for a new topic and ちなみに (chinamini) for related extra info. Learn そういえば, 余談ですが and how anime says them.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/calm-down-in-japanese-ochitsuite/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/calm-down-in-japanese-ochitsuite/Calm down in Japanese is 落ち着いて (ochitsuite). Learn 落ち着け, 冷静に, まあまあ, 焦らないで and 深呼吸して, plus who you can safely say each one to.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/continue-in-japanese-tsuzukeru-tsuzuku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/continue-in-japanese-tsuzukeru-tsuzuku/Continue in Japanese is 続ける (tsuzukeru) when you do the continuing and 続く (tsuzuku) when something just goes on. Plus 〜続ける, 続き, 継続する and 引き続き.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/decide-in-japanese-kimeru-kimaru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/decide-in-japanese-kimeru-kimaru/To decide in Japanese you pick between 決める (I decide it), 決まる (it gets decided) and ことにする (I decided to). Here is how they differ, with anime examples.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/leave-in-japanese-deru-dekakeru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/leave-in-japanese-deru-dekakeru/Leave in Japanese is not one word: 出る for exiting a place, 帰る for heading home, 置いていく for leaving behind, やめる for quitting. Learn which verb fits.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/practice-in-japanese-renshuu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/practice-in-japanese-renshuu/Practice in Japanese is usually 練習 (renshuu), and 練習する is the verb. But 稽古, トレーニング, 訓練, 実践 and 習慣 cover the other meanings of "practice."Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/put-in-japanese-oku-ireru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/put-in-japanese-oku-ireru/Put in Japanese depends on where the thing ends up: 置く for a surface, 入れる for inside, 着る for clothes, 貼る for stickers. Here is the full set with examples.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/whats-wrong-in-japanese-doushita-no/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/whats-wrong-in-japanese-doushita-no/What's wrong in Japanese is どうしたの (doushita no), not the word-for-word 何が悪い, which sounds like a challenge. Polite, casual and anime versions explained.Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/boyfriend-girlfriend-in-japanese-kareshi-kanojo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/boyfriend-girlfriend-in-japanese-kareshi-kanojo/Boyfriend in Japanese is 彼氏 (かれし) and girlfriend is 彼女 (かのじょ), which also means "she". Learn 恋人, 付き合う, 元カレ, 今カレ and how to ask 彼氏いる？Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/breakfast-lunch-dinner-in-japanese-asagohan/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/breakfast-lunch-dinner-in-japanese-asagohan/Breakfast, lunch and dinner in Japanese are 朝ご飯 (あさごはん), 昼ご飯 (ひるごはん) and 晩ご飯 (ばんごはん). Learn 朝食, 朝飯, ランチ, 夜ご飯 and when each one fits.Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/achieve-in-japanese-tassei/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/achieve-in-japanese-tassei/Achieve in Japanese is 達成する (たっせいする), as in 目標を達成する. Learn 達成感 (sense of accomplishment), 夢を叶える, 実現する, やり遂げる, 成し遂げる, and when to use each one.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/addicted-in-japanese-chuudoku-hamaru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/addicted-in-japanese-chuudoku-hamaru/Addicted in Japanese is ハマる for being hooked on a hobby and 〜中毒 (ちゅうどく) for a stronger "addict". Learn スマホ中毒, 依存症, やめられない, 沼, and how serious each one sounds.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/allergy-in-japanese-arerugii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/allergy-in-japanese-arerugii/Allergy in Japanese is アレルギー. Learn 卵アレルギーがあります, 〜は入っていますか, 〜抜きでお願いします, 乳製品, 小麦, 花粉症, and how to explain an allergy clearly at a restaurant.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anata-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anata-meaning-japanese/Anata (あなた) means "you", but saying it to someone can feel distant or rude. When あなた is natural, how 君 (kimi) differs, and what Japanese speakers say instead.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/angel-in-japanese-tenshi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/angel-in-japanese-tenshi/Angel in Japanese is 天使 (てんし, tenshi). Learn fallen angel 堕天使, 天使の輪 for shiny hair, nurses as 白衣の天使, the compliment 天使すぎる, and angels in anime.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ara-ara-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ara-ara-meaning-japanese/Ara ara (あらあら) means "oh my" or "my, my": a soft sound of surprise, mostly used by women. Why anime gave it a teasing image, plus あら, あらら, おやおや and まあまあ.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/arm-in-japanese-ude/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/arm-in-japanese-ude/Arm in Japanese is 腕 (うで). Learn 腕を組む, 腕立て伏せ, 二の腕, and how 腕 also means skill in phrases like 腕がいい, 腕を上げる, 腕前, and 腕によりをかける, with practice.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/autograph-in-japanese-sain/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/autograph-in-japanese-sain/Autograph in Japanese is サイン. Learn how to ask サインをいただけますか, サイン会 (signing event), サイン入り, 色紙 boards, 直筆, and why documents use 署名 or a ハンコ.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/baby-in-japanese-akachan/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/baby-in-japanese-akachan/Baby in Japanese is 赤ちゃん (あかちゃん, akachan). Learn 赤ん坊 and 新生児, 抱っこ and おんぶ, ハイハイ, いないいないばあ, how to congratulate a new parent, and why a stroller is a ベビーカー.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/back-in-japanese-senaka/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/back-in-japanese-senaka/Back in Japanese is 背中 (せなか) for the body part. Learn 腰 for the lower back, 後ろ for behind, 戻る for coming back, 裏 for the reverse side, and 背中を押す.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bag-in-japanese-kaban-fukuro/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bag-in-japanese-kaban-fukuro/Bag in Japanese is かばん or バッグ for a bag you carry, and 袋 (ふくろ) for a plastic or paper bag. Learn レジ袋, 袋いりますか at the konbini, リュック, エコバッグ, and 紙袋.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bath-in-japanese-ofuro/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bath-in-japanese-ofuro/Bath in Japanese is お風呂 (おふろ), and taking a bath is お風呂に入る, "enter the bath". Learn シャワーを浴びる, 湯船, 銭湯 (public bath), 温泉, 長風呂, and 風呂上がり.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bed-in-japanese-beddo-futon/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bed-in-japanese-beddo-futon/Bed in Japanese is ベッド, but many people sleep on a 布団 (ふとん) on the floor. Learn 布団を敷く, 布団をたたむ, 布団を干す, 枕 (pillow), 寝る, and 寝坊 (oversleeping).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/beginner-in-japanese-shoshinsha/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/beginner-in-japanese-shoshinsha/Beginner in Japanese is 初心者 (しょしんしゃ). Learn まだ初心者です, 初級 vs 入門 for classes, 初心者向け, 新人 at work, 素人 vs プロ, and gaming words like 初見.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bird-in-japanese-tori/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bird-in-japanese-tori/Bird in Japanese is 鳥 (とり, tori). Learn 小鳥 and 鶏, why 焼き鳥 means chicken, 鳥肌 for goosebumps, 一石二鳥, 立つ鳥跡を濁さず, the paper crane, and bird sounds like チュンチュン.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/black-in-japanese-kuro/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/black-in-japanese-kuro/Black in Japanese is 黒 (くろ), or 黒い as an adjective. Learn 真っ黒, 黒字 (profit), 腹黒い (scheming), 白黒つける, ブラック for black coffee, and the slang 黒歴史.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/blood-in-japanese-chi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/blood-in-japanese-chi/Blood in Japanese is 血 (ち). Learn 血が出る (to bleed), 血液型 (blood type) and its personality myths, 鼻血 (nosebleed), 献血 (blood donation), 血圧, and 血がつながる.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/blue-in-japanese-ao/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/blue-in-japanese-ao/Blue in Japanese is 青 (あお), or 青い as an adjective. Learn why a green light is 青信号, 真っ青 (deep blue or pale), 水色 (light blue), 紺 (navy), 青春 (youth), and 青二才.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/body-in-japanese-karada/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/body-in-japanese-karada/Body in Japanese is 体 (からだ). Learn 体にいい (good for you), 体調 (physical condition), 体力 (stamina), 体重 (weight), 体が硬い (stiff), and お体に気をつけて (take care).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bone-in-japanese-hone/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bone-in-japanese-hone/Bone in Japanese is 骨 (ほね). Learn 骨折 (a broken bone), 魚の骨, 豚骨 ramen, and idioms like 骨が折れる and 骨休め, with examples, a table, and practice.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/book-in-japanese-hon/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/book-in-japanese-hon/Book in Japanese is 本 (ほん, hon), counted with 冊. Learn 本屋 and 図書館, 小説, 文庫本 and 単行本, 立ち読み, the free bookstore cover, and 積読, a stack of books you never read.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/boss-in-japanese-joushi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/boss-in-japanese-joushi/Boss in Japanese is 上司 (じょうし) for your manager and 社長 for the company president. Learn 同僚 (coworker), 部下, 部長, 課長, 店長, and the anime bosses 親分 and ボス.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/brain-in-japanese-nou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/brain-in-japanese-nou/Brain in Japanese is 脳 (のう). Learn 脳みそ, 頭脳, 脳トレ (brain training), 脳内 (in my head), 頭を使う, and how Japanese usually talks about being smart.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/breath-in-japanese-iki/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/breath-in-japanese-iki/Breath in Japanese is 息 (いき). Learn 息を吸う and 息を吐く, 深呼吸, ため息, 息が切れる, and the idioms 息抜き, 一息つく, 息が合う, and 息をのむ, with practice.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bridge-in-japanese-hashi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bridge-in-japanese-hashi/Bridge in Japanese is 橋 (はし). Learn how it differs from 箸 (chopsticks) and 端 (edge), 歩道橋, つり橋, 橋渡し, and the idiom 危ない橋を渡る, with practice.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/brown-in-japanese-chairo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/brown-in-japanese-chairo/Brown in Japanese is 茶色 (ちゃいろ), "tea color", or 茶色い as an adjective. Learn 茶髪 (dyed brown hair), こげ茶 (dark brown), ベージュ, ブラウン, and 小麦色 for tanned skin.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/buy-in-japanese-kau/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/buy-in-japanese-kau/Buy in Japanese is 買う (かう), a godan verb: 買います, 買った, 買って. Learn 買い物, 買ってくる, これをください, 買える, 購入 and 売る (sell) with examples.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/call-in-japanese-denwa-yobu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/call-in-japanese-denwa-yobu/Call in Japanese is 電話する (でんわする) for a phone call and 呼ぶ (よぶ) for calling someone over or calling them a name. Learn 電話をかける, タクシーを呼ぶ, 〜と呼ぶ, and 折り返し電話.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/car-in-japanese-kuruma/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/car-in-japanese-kuruma/Car in Japanese is 車 (くるま). Learn 車に乗る (get in a car), 車で行く, 自動車, 駐車場 (parking lot), 軽自動車 (mini car), 車酔い (carsickness), and counting cars with 台.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cat-in-japanese-neko/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cat-in-japanese-neko/Cat in Japanese is 猫 (ねこ, neko). Learn kitten, stray cat and calico, how to count cats with 匹, what ニャー and ゴロゴロ mean, and idioms like 猫舌 and 猫をかぶる.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/chair-in-japanese-isu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/chair-in-japanese-isu/Chair in Japanese is 椅子 (いす). Learn 座る, the difference between 椅子 and 席, 車椅子, 座布団, 正座, 椅子取りゲーム, and how to say "chairperson" with 議長.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cherry-blossom-in-japanese-sakura/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cherry-blossom-in-japanese-sakura/Cherry blossom in Japanese is 桜 (さくら, sakura). Learn お花見, 満開 and 散る, 夜桜 and 花吹雪, the proverb 花より団子, why サクラサク means you passed, and サクラ as a shill.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/choice-in-japanese-sentaku-erabu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/choice-in-japanese-sentaku-erabu/Choice in Japanese is 選択 (せんたく), and options are 選択肢 (せんたくし). Learn 選ぶ (to choose), どっちにする？, 〜しかない (no choice), いい選択, 二択, and おまかせ (chef’s choice).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/city-in-japanese-machi-shi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/city-in-japanese-machi-shi/City in Japanese is 都市 (とし), 市 (し) for an official city, or 町/街 (まち) in conversation. Learn 都会 vs 田舎, 下町, 市役所, 街並み, and 地元 (your hometown).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/clean-in-japanese-kirei-souji/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/clean-in-japanese-kirei-souji/Clean in Japanese is きれい (kirei) for "clean/pretty" and 掃除する (souji suru) for "to clean". きれい looks like an い-adjective but is a な-adjective.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cliche-in-japanese-arikitari-beta/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cliche-in-japanese-arikitari-beta/Cliché in Japanese is ありきたり (unoriginal) or ベタ (corny, predictable). Learn ベタな展開, お約束 (an expected trope), 王道, 定番 (a staple), テンプレ, and マンネリ.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/clock-in-japanese-tokei/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/clock-in-japanese-tokei/Clock in Japanese is 時計 (とけい). Learn 腕時計 (watch), 目覚まし時計 (alarm clock), 時計回り (clockwise), 体内時計, and how to say a clock is fast or slow.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/close-in-japanese-shimeru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/close-in-japanese-shimeru/Close in Japanese is 閉める (shimeru) for a door or window. Learn 閉まる, 閉じる, 閉店, and the other "close" words: 近い for near and 親しい for close friends.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/clothes-in-japanese-fuku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/clothes-in-japanese-fuku/Clothes in Japanese is 服 (ふく). Learn why Japanese uses 着る for shirts but はく for pants and shoes, かぶる for hats, 脱ぐ, 着替える, 私服, and 着物.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cloud-in-japanese-kumo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cloud-in-japanese-kumo/Cloud in Japanese is 雲 (くも). Learn 曇り (cloudy), 雲一つない, 入道雲, うろこ雲, idioms like 雲行きが怪しい and 雲の上の人, and クラウド for cloud storage.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/confidence-in-japanese-jishin/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/confidence-in-japanese-jishin/Confidence in Japanese is 自信 (じしん). Learn 自信がある, 自信を持って, 自信満々, 自信過剰, 自己肯定感, 堂々と, and how not to confuse 自信 with 地震 (earthquake).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/convenient-in-japanese-benri/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/convenient-in-japanese-benri/Convenient in Japanese is 便利 (べんり), a な-adjective for things and places. For schedules, use 都合. Learn 不便, 都合がいい, コンビニ, 楽 and 使いやすい with examples.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cook-in-japanese-ryouri-suru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cook-in-japanese-ryouri-suru/To cook in Japanese is 料理する (りょうりする), but people usually say ご飯を作る. Learn 自炊, 煮る・焼く・炒める・揚げる・茹でる, 料理人 and how to say you cook well.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/country-in-japanese-kuni/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/country-in-japanese-kuni/Country in Japanese is 国 (くに). Learn お国はどちらですか, 外国 vs 海外, 国内 (domestic), 母国 (home country), 国際 (international), and counting countries with 〜か国.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/crowded-in-japanese-konderu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/crowded-in-japanese-konderu/Crowded in Japanese is 混んでいる, said 混んでる in speech. Learn 空いてる (not crowded), 混雑, 満員, ぎゅうぎゅう, and how to ask 混んでますか at a restaurant.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cry-in-japanese-naku-namida/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cry-in-japanese-naku-namida/Cry in Japanese is 泣く (なく, naku), and tears are 涙 (なみだ). Learn 泣き虫, 号泣, 嬉し泣き, 泣ける for a moving story, sounds like うるうる and しくしく, and 鳴く for animals.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dance-in-japanese-odoru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dance-in-japanese-odoru/Dance in Japanese is 踊る (おどる) as a verb and ダンス or 踊り as a noun. Learn ダンスを踊る, 振り付け (choreography), 盆踊り, 舞う, and the 踊ってみた video genre.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dangerous-in-japanese-abunai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dangerous-in-japanese-abunai/Dangerous in Japanese is 危ない (あぶない) in speech and 危険 (きけん) on signs. Learn the shouted 危ない！, 危なかった, やばい, 気をつけて and how 怖い differs.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/darkness-in-japanese-yami/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/darkness-in-japanese-yami/Darkness in Japanese is 闇 (やみ, yami); "dark" is 暗い (くらい). Learn 真っ暗 and 暗闇, light 光 as the opposite, 心の闇, and the anime word 闇落ち.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dattebayo-meaning/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dattebayo-meaning/Dattebayo (だってばよ) is Naruto's catchphrase, a pushy "I'm telling you!" on the end of his lines. What each part means, the real ってば, and other anime tics.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/death-in-japanese-shi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/death-in-japanese-shi/Death in Japanese is 死 (し, shi); "to die" is 死ぬ, and the polite "pass away" is 亡くなる. Why 4 is unlucky, condolence phrases, chopstick taboos, and 死ぬほど.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/demon-in-japanese-oni-akuma/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/demon-in-japanese-oni-akuma/Demon in Japanese is 鬼 (oni) for the horned demon of folklore and 悪魔 (akuma) for the Western devil. Learn 魔王, 妖怪, 鬼滅の刃, slang like 鬼かわいい and 小悪魔.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/desk-in-japanese-tsukue/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/desk-in-japanese-tsukue/Desk in Japanese is 机 (つくえ). Learn デスク, 勉強机, 机の上, the idiom 机に向かう, デスクワーク, and how to say "front desk" with 受付 and フロント.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dirty-in-japanese-kitanai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dirty-in-japanese-kitanai/Dirty in Japanese is 汚い (きたない), an い-adjective. Learn 汚れる vs 汚す, 汚れ, 散らかっている, 不潔, ずるい, and why anime heroes shout 汚いぞ! at cheaters.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/discrimination-in-japanese-sabetsu-kubetsu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/discrimination-in-japanese-sabetsu-kubetsu/Discrimination in Japanese is 差別 (さべつ), unfair treatment. 区別 (くべつ) is neutral "telling things apart". Learn 差別される, 人種差別, 区別がつかない, 見分ける, and business 差別化.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/doctor-in-japanese-isha/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/doctor-in-japanese-isha/Doctor in Japanese is 医者 (いしゃ), politely お医者さん, and you call a doctor 先生. Learn 医師, 診てもらう (to see a doctor), and clinic departments like 内科, 外科, and 皮膚科.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dog-in-japanese-inu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dog-in-japanese-inu/Dog in Japanese is 犬 (いぬ, inu). Learn puppy, Shiba and Akita, the bark ワンワン, dog commands like お手 and おすわり, idioms like 犬猿の仲 and 負け犬, and ハチ公.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/doll-in-japanese-ningyou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/doll-in-japanese-ningyou/Doll in Japanese is 人形 (にんぎょう). Learn ひな人形 for the Girls' Day festival, だるま, こけし, フィギュア, 人形みたい, and how ぬいぐるみ differs from 人形.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/door-in-japanese-doa-tobira/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/door-in-japanese-doa-tobira/Door in Japanese is ドア, with 扉 (とびら) for grand or fantasy doors and 戸 (と) for traditional ones. Learn 引き戸, 自動ドア, ノック, and train door announcements.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dragon-in-japanese-ryuu-tatsu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dragon-in-japanese-ryuu-tatsu/Dragon in Japanese is 竜 or 龍, read りゅう or たつ. Learn which kanji to use, when anime says ドラゴン instead, the 辰 zodiac year, and words like 恐竜 and 竜巻.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/drink-in-japanese-nomu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/drink-in-japanese-nomu/Drink in Japanese is 飲む (のむ), a verb that also covers medicine and soup. Learn 飲み物, 飲みに行く, お酒, 飲めない and how to politely say you do not drink.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/drive-in-japanese-unten/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/drive-in-japanese-unten/Drive in Japanese is 運転する (うんてんする). Learn ドライブ (a pleasure drive), 運転免許 (driver’s license), 運転手, 左側通行, 安全運転, and the wasei-eigo ペーパードライバー.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ear-in-japanese-mimi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ear-in-japanese-mimi/Ear in Japanese is 耳 (みみ). Learn 初耳 (news to me), 耳が痛い (it stings to hear), 耳にする (to happen to hear), 耳が遠い (hard of hearing), 耳を傾ける, and 耳打ち (whisper).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/earth-in-japanese-chikyuu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/earth-in-japanese-chikyuu/Earth, the planet, is 地球 (ちきゅう) in Japanese. Learn 地面 (the ground), 土 (soil), 大地, 地震 (earthquake), 地球温暖化 (global warming), and 地球に優しい (eco-friendly).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/eat-in-japanese-taberu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/eat-in-japanese-taberu/Eat in Japanese is 食べる (taberu). Learn its forms, "let's eat" with 食べよう, the rough 食う, polite 召し上がる, why soup is "drunk", and words like 食べ放題.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/efficient-in-japanese-kouritsu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/efficient-in-japanese-kouritsu/Efficient in Japanese is 効率がいい or 効率的 (こうりつてき). Learn 効率よく, 非効率 (not 不効率), 効率化, 要領がいい, 手際がいい, and how 効率 relates to タイパ.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/energy-in-japanese-genki-enerugii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/energy-in-japanese-genki-enerugii/Energy in Japanese is 元気 (げんき) for a person and エネルギー for power. Learn 体力, 気力, テンション, 元気が出る, 元気をもらう, and エナジードリンク, with practice.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/excited-in-japanese-wakuwaku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/excited-in-japanese-wakuwaku/Excited in Japanese is usually ワクワク (wakuwaku). Learn 楽しみ, ドキドキ, テンションが上がる and 盛り上がる, plus why 興奮する can sound intense or awkward.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/excuse-in-japanese-iiwake/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/excuse-in-japanese-iiwake/An excuse in Japanese is 言い訳 (いいわけ). Learn 言い訳しないで, 言い訳になりますが, 口実, 理由 vs 言い訳, and why "excuse me" is すみません or 失礼します, not 言い訳.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/excuse-me-in-japanese-sumimasen/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/excuse-me-in-japanese-sumimasen/Excuse me in Japanese is usually すみません (sumimasen). Which phrase to use to get attention, squeeze past people, enter a room, ask a stranger, or call a waiter.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/exercise-in-japanese-undou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/exercise-in-japanese-undou/Exercise in Japanese is 運動 (うんどう). Learn 運動する, 運動不足, 筋トレ, ジムに行く, 体を動かす, ラジオ体操, and 練習問題 for the other kind of "exercise".Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/experience-in-japanese-keiken-taiken/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/experience-in-japanese-keiken-taiken/Experience in Japanese is 経験 (けいけん) for experience built over time and 体験 (たいけん) for a hands-on, one-time experience. Learn 経験者, 未経験, 体験レッスン, 経験を積む and 〜たことがある.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/eye-in-japanese-me/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/eye-in-japanese-me/Eye in Japanese is 目 (め). Learn 目がいい (good eyesight), 目が覚める (to wake up), 目がない (to be crazy about), 目立つ, 目を通す, 一目惚れ (love at first sight), and 目薬.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/face-in-japanese-kao/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/face-in-japanese-kao/Face in Japanese is 顔 (かお). Learn 顔を洗う, 顔色 (complexion), 顔に出る, 顔が広い (well-connected), 顔を出す (to show up), ドヤ顔 (smug face), and 顔文字 (kaomoji).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/famous-in-japanese-yuumei/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/famous-in-japanese-yuumei/Famous in Japanese is 有名 (ゆうめい), a な-adjective. Learn 有名な人, 〜で有名, and the key contrast with 人気 (popular), plus 名物, 話題, 有名人 and 超有名.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fate-in-japanese-unmei/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fate-in-japanese-unmei/Fate in Japanese is 運命 (うんめい). Learn 運命の人, 運命に逆らう, how 宿命 and さだめ differ, 縁 for meant-to-be connections, 赤い糸, and 自分の運命は自分で決める.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fear-in-japanese-kyoufu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fear-in-japanese-kyoufu/Fear in Japanese is 恐怖 (きょうふ) for terror and 怖さ for the scariness of something. Learn 恐れ, 怖がる, phobias like 高所恐怖症, 不安 (anxiety), 恐ろしい, and the slang ビビる.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fight-in-japanese-tatakau-kenka/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fight-in-japanese-tatakau-kenka/Fight in Japanese is 戦う (たたかう) for battles and 喧嘩 (けんか) for arguments and brawls. Learn 戦え, 喧嘩する, 争う, 闘う vs 戦う, 口喧嘩, and ファイト as "you can do it".Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fire-in-japanese-hi-honoo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fire-in-japanese-hi-honoo/Fire in Japanese is 火 (ひ, hi); a flame is 炎 (ほのお) and a house fire is 火事 (かじ). Learn 花火 and 火山, 火をつける, 119, 火に油を注ぐ, and the internet word 炎上.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/flower-in-japanese-hana/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/flower-in-japanese-hana/Flower in Japanese is 花 (はな, hana). Learn 花びら and 花束, seasonal flowers, idioms like 高嶺の花, 両手に花 and 花を持たせる, 華がある, and the homophone 鼻 (nose).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/forever-in-japanese-eien-zutto/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/forever-in-japanese-eien-zutto/Forever in Japanese is 永遠に (えいえんに) in songs and vows, and ずっと in everyday speech. Learn いつまでも, 永久, 一生, the slang ズッ友, and which one sounds natural.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/forget-in-japanese-wasureru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/forget-in-japanese-wasureru/Forget in Japanese is 忘れる (わすれる). Learn 忘れました vs 忘れていました, 忘れないで, 忘れ物 for things left behind, 忘れっぽい, ど忘れ, 置き忘れる and 忘れられない.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fox-in-japanese-kitsune/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fox-in-japanese-kitsune/Fox in Japanese is 狐 (きつね, kitsune). Learn the nine-tailed fox, Inari shrine foxes, きつねうどん, the sound コンコン, and idioms like 狐の嫁入り and 狐につままれる.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/friendship-in-japanese-yuujou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/friendship-in-japanese-yuujou/Friendship in Japanese is 友情 (ゆうじょう). Learn 絆 (bond), 仲直り (making up), 喧嘩するほど仲がいい, 犬猿の仲, 腐れ縁, and why 友情・努力・勝利 is a famous shonen motto.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/futsuu-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/futsuu-meaning-japanese/Futsuu (普通) means normal, usual or ordinary. Learn 普通の, 普通は, the slang 普通においしい ("actually good"), 普通電車, 普通預金 at the bank, and when 普通 is an insult.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ghost-in-japanese-yuurei-obake/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ghost-in-japanese-yuurei-obake/Ghost in Japanese is 幽霊 (ゆうれい, yuurei); the casual, cartoon word is お化け (おばけ). Learn うらめしや, お化け屋敷, 肝試し, 怪談, and why ghosts are a summer thing.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/gift-in-japanese-purezento-okurimono/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/gift-in-japanese-purezento-okurimono/Gift in Japanese is プレゼント in everyday speech and 贈り物 (おくりもの) in polite language. Learn 贈る, お祝い, お返し, 包む, 気持ちばかりですが, and how to accept a gift.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/god-in-japanese-kami/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/god-in-japanese-kami/God in Japanese is 神 (かみ, kami), or politely 神様. Learn goddess and shrine words, the 八百万の神, 死神, and slang like 神回 and 神対応, plus the かみ homophone trap.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hangover-in-japanese-futsukayoi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hangover-in-japanese-futsukayoi/Hangover in Japanese is 二日酔い (ふつかよい). Learn 二日酔いです, 飲みすぎた, ほろ酔い, 酔っ払い, お酒に弱い, 迎え酒 and what to say the morning after a drinking party.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/healthy-in-japanese-kenkou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/healthy-in-japanese-kenkou/Healthy in Japanese is 健康 (けんこう) for body condition, 元気 (げんき) for energy, ヘルシー for low-calorie food. Learn which to use, plus 体にいい and 丈夫.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/heart-in-japanese-kokoro/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/heart-in-japanese-kokoro/Heart in Japanese is 心 (こころ) for the emotional heart, 心臓 (しんぞう) for the organ, and ハート for the shape. Learn 心から, 胸, ドキドキ, and why 心 sits inside 愛 and 思.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/homework-in-japanese-shukudai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/homework-in-japanese-shukudai/Homework in Japanese is 宿題 (しゅくだい). Learn 宿題をする, why teachers 宿題を出す, 提出, 課題 and レポート, summer homework, and the business phrase 宿題にさせてください.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/honest-in-japanese-shoujiki/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/honest-in-japanese-shoujiki/Honest in Japanese is 正直 (しょうじき). Learn 正直に言うと for "to be honest", casual ぶっちゃけ, how 素直, 誠実 and 嘘つき differ, and how anime uses 正直に言え.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hospital-in-japanese-byouin/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hospital-in-japanese-byouin/Hospital in Japanese is 病院 (びょういん). Do not mix it up with 美容院 (びよういん), a hair salon. Also clinic, doctor, 入院, 救急車 and 薬局, with practice.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-memorize-kanji/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-memorize-kanji/How to memorize kanji: learn each one inside a word, break it into parts, use the sound hints, and review with spaced repetition. 10 practice questions.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTStart hereN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ikigai-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ikigai-meaning-japanese/Ikigai (生きがい) means "something that makes life worth living". How Japanese people really use it, why the four-circle diagram is Western, and words like やりがい.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/in-my-opinion-in-japanese-kojinteki-ni-wa/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/in-my-opinion-in-japanese-kojinteki-ni-wa/In my opinion in Japanese is usually 個人的には (こじんてきには) plus 〜と思います. Learn 私としては, 私から見ると, あくまで個人的な意見ですが, and how to ask どう思いますか.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-lessons-akihabara/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-lessons-akihabara/Japanese lessons for Akihabara: schools, short courses, tutors or online prep? Compare them, then learn the tag words that matter: 中古, 買取, ジャンク, 税込.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTAkihabara & otaku JapanN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/lazy-in-japanese-namakemono/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/lazy-in-japanese-namakemono/Lazy in Japanese: 怠け者 describes a lazy person, but めんどくさい is what people say about their own feeling. Learn 怠ける, サボる, だるい, ぐうたら and more.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/listen-in-japanese-kiku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/listen-in-japanese-kiku/To listen in Japanese, say 聞く (kiku): 音楽を聞く is "listen to music". The same verb also means "hear" and "ask". Here is how to tell the three apart.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/married-in-japanese-kekkon/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/married-in-japanese-kekkon/Married in Japanese is 結婚しています. Learn why 結婚します means "will marry", why you marry someone with と, and the words 独身, 既婚, 婚約, 新婚, 離婚 and 俺の嫁.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/money-in-japanese-okane/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/money-in-japanese-okane/Money in Japanese is お金 (おかね). Learn why the お stays, what bare 金 sounds like, how 円 prices are read, and when to use 代, 料金 or 費.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/moon-in-japanese-tsuki/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/moon-in-japanese-tsuki/Moon in Japanese is 月 (つき, tsuki). Learn full moon, crescent and moon viewing, why 月 also means month and Monday, the moon rabbit, and the famous 月が綺麗ですね line.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/near-far-in-japanese-chikai-tooi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/near-far-in-japanese-chikai-tooi/Near in Japanese is 近い (ちかい), far is 遠い (とおい). Learn 駅に近い vs 駅から遠い, 近く, 近所, そば, 隣, 歩いて5分, and how anime uses 遠い for distance of the heart.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/new-in-japanese-atarashii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/new-in-japanese-atarashii/New in Japanese is 新しい (あたらしい), an い-adjective. Learn 新品, 新鮮, 最新, 新作, 新学期 and how to ask "anything new?" with 最近どう？ and 何か新しいこと？Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/omae-wa-mou-shindeiru-meaning/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/omae-wa-mou-shindeiru-meaning/Omae wa mou shindeiru (お前はもう死んでいる) means "You are already dead", from Fist of the North Star. Word by word, why ている means "is dead", and the NANI meme.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/pay-in-japanese-harau/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/pay-in-japanese-harau/Pay in Japanese is 払う (はらう). Learn 払います and 払わない, how to ask カードで払えますか, what 一括 means at the register, おごる for "my treat", 払い戻し and 注意を払う.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/please-in-japanese-kudasai-onegaishimasu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/please-in-japanese-kudasai-onegaishimasu/Please in Japanese is ください (kudasai) or お願いします (onegaishimasu) when you ask, and どうぞ (douzo) when you offer. Which to use, casual forms, and anime lines.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/poor-in-japanese-binbou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/poor-in-japanese-binbou/Poor in Japanese is 貧乏 for no money, 貧しい for serious poverty, かわいそう for pity, and 下手 for bad at something. Learn which one fits and how it sounds.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/quiet-in-japanese-shizuka/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/quiet-in-japanese-shizuka/Quiet in Japanese is 静か (しずか), a な-adjective. Learn 静かな場所, 静かにしてください, 大人しい, 無口, and how うるさい and 黙れ really sound in anime.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/read-in-japanese-yomu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/read-in-japanese-yomu/Read in Japanese is 読む (よむ), a む-verb. Learn 読みます, 読んで, 読める vs 読めない, 読み方 (how to read a kanji), 音読, 読書, and 空気を読む (read the room).Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/respect-in-japanese-sonkei-sonchou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/respect-in-japanese-sonkei-sonchou/Respect in Japanese is 尊敬 (そんけい) for people you look up to and 尊重 (そんちょう) for respecting wishes and choices. Learn 敬意, 憧れ, リスペクト and 舐めるな.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/run-in-japanese-hashiru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/run-in-japanese-hashiru/Run in Japanese is 走る (はしる), a godan verb that looks like an ichidan one: 走ります, 走って, 走った. Plus 逃げる, ジョギング, and why "run a business" is not 走る.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/side-job-in-japanese-fukugyou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/side-job-in-japanese-fukugyou/Side job in Japanese is 副業 (ふくぎょう). Learn how it differs from バイト and パート, plus 本業, 掛け持ち, 副収入, 稼ぐ, 副業禁止 and how to talk about your own side hustle.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sleep-wake-up-in-japanese-neru-okiru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sleep-wake-up-in-japanese-neru-okiru/Sleep in Japanese is 寝る (neru) and wake up is 起きる (okiru). Learn 眠る, 目が覚める, 起こす, おやすみ, 寝坊, 昼寝 and why 寝ている means "is asleep".Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/small-talk-in-japanese-sekenbanashi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/small-talk-in-japanese-sekenbanashi/Small talk in Japanese is 世間話 (せけんばなし) or 雑談 (ざつだん). Learn the weather openers, the ね that invites agreement, safe topics, aizuchi and polite closers.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/smell-in-japanese-nioi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/smell-in-japanese-nioi/Smell in Japanese is におい: 匂い for nice or neutral smells, 臭い for bad ones. Learn いい匂いがする, 嗅ぐ, 臭い (くさい), 香り, 焦げ臭い, and the anime line 臭うな.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/speak-in-japanese-hanasu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/speak-in-japanese-hanasu/To speak in Japanese, use 話す (はなす). Learn 日本語が話せます vs 日本語を話す, 少し話せます, and how 話す differs from 言う and しゃべる, with practice.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/stubborn-in-japanese-ganko/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/stubborn-in-japanese-ganko/Stubborn in Japanese is 頑固 (がんこ). Learn 頑固な人, 頭が固い, the anime favorite 意地っ張り, and positive words like 粘り強い for "won't give up".Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/student-in-japanese-gakusei-seito/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/student-in-japanese-gakusei-seito/The word student in Japanese is 学生 (gakusei) for university students and 生徒 (seito) for middle and high school pupils. Learn 児童, 留学生, 生徒会 and more.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/think-in-japanese-omou-kangaeru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/think-in-japanese-omou-kangaeru/Think in Japanese is 思う (omou) for opinions and feelings, 考える (kangaeru) for deliberate thinking. Learn と思います, ようと思う, 思いつく, and how "I think" softens speech.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/thirsty-in-japanese-nodo-ga-kawaita/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/thirsty-in-japanese-nodo-ga-kawaita/Thirsty in Japanese is のどが渇いた (nodo ga kawaita), literally "my throat has dried." Learn why it uses past tense, plus casual forms and 何か飲みたい.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/train-in-japanese-densha/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/train-in-japanese-densha/Train in Japanese is 電車 (でんしゃ) in daily speech. Learn 列車, 汽車, 新幹線, 地下鉄, 駅, 電車に乗る and 降りる, 乗り換え, 終電 and station announcements.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/walk-in-japanese-aruku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/walk-in-japanese-aruku/Walk in Japanese is 歩く (aruku). Learn 歩いて行く, why you walk 道を not 道で, plus 散歩, 徒歩5分, 歩ける and 歩きスマホ, with practice and anime lines.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/water-in-japanese-mizu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/water-in-japanese-mizu/Water in Japanese is 水 (みず), or お水 when polite. Hot water is お湯, and restaurant water is お冷. Learn how to ask for water, plus 水曜日, 香水, 水着 and anime 水 moves.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/where-is-the-bathroom-in-japanese-toire/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/where-is-the-bathroom-in-japanese-toire/Where is the bathroom in Japanese? Say トイレはどこですか. Learn why トイレ, お手洗い and お風呂 are different rooms, plus how to ask to borrow one and read signs.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/young-in-japanese-wakai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/young-in-japanese-wakai/Young in Japanese is 若い (わかい), an い-adjective. Learn 若者, 年下, 若手, 少年, 若く見える and 若造, plus when "you look young" is a safe compliment.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/amazing-in-japanese-sugoi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/amazing-in-japanese-sugoi/Amazing in Japanese is すごい, but it is casual. Learn すげえ, 最高, 素晴らしい, 見事, さすが and やばい, and which one fits news, food or business.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cheap-in-japanese-yasui/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cheap-in-japanese-yasui/Cheap in Japanese is 安い (やすい), an い-adjective. It sounds like 〜やすい (easy to do) and 易しい (easy). Learn 安い, お得, 安っぽい, 格安 and how to haggle politely.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fun-in-japanese-tanoshii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fun-in-japanese-tanoshii/Fun in Japanese is 楽しい (tanoshii). Learn 楽しい vs 面白い, 楽しかった, 楽しみにしています and 楽しんで！, plus 遊ぶ and 盛り上がる, with anime examples.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/happy-birthday-in-japanese-tanjoubi-omedetou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/happy-birthday-in-japanese-tanjoubi-omedetou/Happy birthday in Japanese is 誕生日おめでとう (tanjoubi omedetou). Add お and ございます for a boss, or say たんおめ to friends. Hiragana and dates inside.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson noteshttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-are-you-in-japanese-genki/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-are-you-in-japanese-genki/How are you in Japanese? 元気？ is casual and お元気ですか is formal, but Japanese people rarely ask either one the way English speakers do.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/lets-go-in-japanese-ikou-ikuzo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/lets-go-in-japanese-ikou-ikuzo/Let's go in Japanese is 行こう (casual) or 行きましょう (polite). 行くぞ is a hero's "here we go!", not an invitation. Learn each, plus common mistakes.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/long-time-no-see-in-japanese-hisashiburi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/long-time-no-see-in-japanese-hisashiburi/Long time no see in Japanese is 久しぶり with friends, お久しぶりです when polite, and ご無沙汰しております in business. Learn who gets which, and how to reply.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/miss-you-in-japanese-aitai-koishii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/miss-you-in-japanese-aitai-koishii/Japanese has no single verb for "miss." Say 会いたい to miss a person, 寂しい when you feel lonely, 恋しい for home. Texts, anime lines and mistakes.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nice-to-meet-you-in-japanese-hajimemashite/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nice-to-meet-you-in-japanese-hajimemashite/Nice to meet you in Japanese is はじめまして, your name, then よろしくお願いします. Formal, casual, hiragana and kanji forms, plus how to reply.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/now-in-japanese-ima/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/now-in-japanese-ima/Now in Japanese is 今 (いま, ima). Learn 今すぐ, 今から, 今まで, たった今, and why English "now, ..." is さて or じゃあ, plus how anime says 今だ！Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/today-tomorrow-yesterday-in-japanese-kyou-ashita-kinou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/today-tomorrow-yesterday-in-japanese-kyou-ashita-kinou/Today, tomorrow and yesterday in Japanese are 今日 kyou, 明日 ashita and 昨日 kinou. Readings, formal forms, and why no に follows them.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/youre-welcome-in-japanese-dou-itashimashite/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/youre-welcome-in-japanese-dou-itashimashite/You're welcome in Japanese is どういたしまして, but people rarely say it. Learn いえいえ, とんでもないです, 気にしないで and when to say nothing at all.Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/believe-in-japanese-shinjiru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/believe-in-japanese-shinjiru/Believe in Japanese is 信じる (shinjiru). 君を信じてる means "I believe in you", and 信じられない means "I can't believe it". Plus 信用 vs 信頼 vs 思う.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cheers-in-japanese-kanpai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cheers-in-japanese-kanpai/Cheers in Japanese is 乾杯 (kanpai), said as everyone lifts a glass. Learn かんぱーい, 〜に乾杯, glass etiquette, and why it is not "thanks".Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/crazy-in-japanese-atama-okashii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/crazy-in-japanese-atama-okashii/Crazy in Japanese is やばい, 頭おかしい, 狂ってる or クレイジー, but each one hits differently. Learn which are safe, which are rude, and what to say instead.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cute-in-japanese-kawaii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cute-in-japanese-kawaii/Cute in Japanese is かわいい (可愛い, kawaii), an i-adjective used for people, pets and objects. Learn the variants, the かわいそう trap and how to compliment safely.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dream-in-japanese-yume/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dream-in-japanese-yume/Dream in Japanese is 夢 (ゆめ), for both the dream you have in your sleep and the dream you chase in life. The verb is 見る: 夢を見る, not 夢をする.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson noteshttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/embarrassed-in-japanese-hazukashii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/embarrassed-in-japanese-hazukashii/Embarrassed in Japanese is usually 恥ずかしい (hazukashii), but 照れる, 気まずい and 恥をかく cover other kinds of embarrassment. Learn which one fits and why.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/favorite-in-japanese-ichiban-suki-okiniiri/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/favorite-in-japanese-ichiban-suki-okiniiri/Favorite in Japanese is usually 一番好き (most liked), as in 一番好きなアニメは〜です. Learn when to use お気に入り, 大好き, 好物 and 推し, with kanji and hiragana.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/forgive-in-japanese-yurusu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/forgive-in-japanese-yurusu/Forgive in Japanese is 許す (yurusu). 許してください means "please forgive me", but daily life usually calls for ごめん or すみません. Learn when each fits.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hate-in-japanese-kirai-daikirai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hate-in-japanese-kirai-daikirai/Hate in Japanese is 嫌い (きらい), as in 〜が嫌い, and 大嫌い is the strong form. Learn 嫌, 苦手 and あまり好きじゃない, plus when each one is rude.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/lucky-in-japanese-un-ga-ii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/lucky-in-japanese-un-ga-ii/Lucky in Japanese is ラッキー in casual speech and 運がいい in neutral speech. ついてる means "on a roll", and 縁起がいい describes lucky signs, numbers and charms.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nervous-in-japanese-kinchou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nervous-in-japanese-kinchou/Nervous in Japanese is 緊張する (kinchou suru). 緊張している means "I am nervous right now"; ドキドキ is a pounding heart, あがる is stage fright.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/play-instrument-in-japanese-hiku-fuku-tataku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/play-instrument-in-japanese-hiku-fuku-tataku/Play piano in Japanese is ピアノを弾く (hiku). Japanese has no single "play": 弾く for strings and keys, 吹く for wind, 叩く for drums. Which verb for which instrument.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/proud-in-japanese-hokori-jiman/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/proud-in-japanese-hokori-jiman/Proud in Japanese is 誇らしい or 誇りに思う for pride, 自慢 for something you show off, and 鼻が高い for a close person. Here is what to say instead of "I'm proud of you."Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sleepy-in-japanese-nemui/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sleepy-in-japanese-nemui/Sleepy in Japanese is 眠い (ねむい, nemui), as in 眠いです, "I am sleepy." Learn ねみー, 眠くなる, 眠そう, 眠たい, 眠気 and うとうと, plus when each one fits.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/smart-in-japanese-atama-ga-ii-kashikoi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/smart-in-japanese-atama-ga-ii-kashikoi/Smart in Japanese is usually 頭がいい (atama ga ii), "good head." Learn 賢い, 頭が切れる, 優秀 and 天才, plus why スマート means slim, not smart.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/stupid-in-japanese-baka-aho/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/stupid-in-japanese-baka-aho/Stupid in Japanese is バカ (馬鹿, baka) in Tokyo and アホ (aho) in Kansai. Learn how they differ, softer and harsher alternatives, and when to never say them.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/surprised-in-japanese-bikkuri-odoroku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/surprised-in-japanese-bikkuri-odoroku/Surprised in Japanese is びっくりした (everyday) or 驚いた (neutral, written). Learn the past-tense trap, the に particle, えっ and うそ, and 驚かせる.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/very-in-japanese-totemo-sugoku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/very-in-japanese-totemo-sugoku/Very in Japanese is とても in neutral speech, すごく in casual speech, and 非常に in formal writing. Here is how めっちゃ, 超, かなり and あまり fit in.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/worried-in-japanese-shinpai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/worried-in-japanese-shinpai/Worried in Japanese is 心配 (shinpai): 心配です, 心配している, 〜が心配だ. Learn how it differs from 不安, 気になる and 悩む, plus how to say "don't worry."Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/again-in-japanese-mata-mou-ichido/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/again-in-japanese-mata-mou-ichido/Again in Japanese has three main words. また means again or see you later, もう一度 means one more time, and 再び is formal and written. Here is which to use.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/almost-in-japanese-hotondo-hobo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/almost-in-japanese-hotondo-hobo/Almost in Japanese is three different words: ほとんど and ほぼ for "nearly all," そうになった for near misses, もうすぐ for "almost there." Which to use, when.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/already-still-in-japanese-mou-mada/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/already-still-in-japanese-mou-mada/もう is "already" or "no longer," まだ is "still" or "not yet." Learn how negatives flip both words, how to answer もう食べましたか, and how anime uses もういい and まだまだ.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/also-in-japanese-mo-particle/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/also-in-japanese-mo-particle/The main way to say "also" or "too" in Japanese is the particle も. It replaces は, が and を, but attaches after に, で and と. Learn the rules and the traps.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/angry-in-japanese-okoru-mukatsuku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/angry-in-japanese-okoru-mukatsuku/Angry in Japanese is 怒っている (okotte iru), from the verb 怒る. Learn 怒られる, 叱る, ムカつく, イライラ, キレる and 腹が立つ, and why 怒い is wrong.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/before-after-in-japanese-mae-ni-ato-de/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/before-after-in-japanese-mae-ni-ato-de/Before in Japanese is 前に after the dictionary form (寝る前に). After is 後で after the た-form (食べた後で). Learn the tense trap and the noun pattern with examples.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/big-small-in-japanese-ookii-chiisai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/big-small-in-japanese-ookii-chiisai/Big in Japanese is 大きい (ookii) and small is 小さい (chiisai). But 大きな works only before a noun, and a big room is usually 広い, not 大きい.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bored-in-japanese-taikutsu-tsumaranai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bored-in-japanese-taikutsu-tsumaranai/Bored in Japanese is 退屈, つまらない, 暇 or 飽きた, and each one means something different. Learn which word fits, with a table and anime examples.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/busy-in-japanese-isogashii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/busy-in-japanese-isogashii/Busy in Japanese is 忙しい (isogashii) for people and schedules, but 混んでいる for crowded places and 話し中 for a phone line. Here is which one to use.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cool-in-japanese-kakkoii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/cool-in-japanese-kakkoii/Cool in Japanese is not one word. かっこいい is stylish, 涼しい is a cool breeze, 冷たい is cold to the touch, and being cool with something is いいよ. Here is which to use.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/definitely-never-in-japanese-zettai-kanarazu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/definitely-never-in-japanese-zettai-kanarazu/Definitely in Japanese is 絶対 or 必ず, but only 絶対 also works with a negative (絶対行かない). Learn 必ず, 決して, 一度も, 全然 and 二度と, with examples and a chart.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/different-in-japanese-chigau-betsu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/different-in-japanese-chigau-betsu/"Different" in Japanese is 違う (chigau), a verb, not an adjective. "Same" is 同じ (onaji), a な-adjective that drops な before nouns. Plus 別, 異なる and 様々.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/easy-in-japanese-kantan-yasashii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/easy-in-japanese-kantan-yasashii/Easy in Japanese is 簡単 for simple steps, 易しい for low-level problems, and 楽 for effortless or comfortable. Here is how to pick, plus the 優しい trap.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fast-slow-early-late-in-japanese-hayai-osoi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/fast-slow-early-late-in-japanese-hayai-osoi/Fast in Japanese is 速い, early is 早い, and both are read はやい. 遅い covers slow and late. Plus 遅れる, 早め, ゆっくり and the risky 手が早い.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/friend-in-japanese-tomodachi-shinyuu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/friend-in-japanese-tomodachi-shinyuu/Friend in Japanese is 友達 (tomodachi), but 友人, 親友, 仲間, 知り合い and 幼なじみ each mean something different. Learn which word fits which relationship.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/funny-in-japanese-omoshiroi-okashii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/funny-in-japanese-omoshiroi-okashii/Funny in Japanese splits in two: 面白い for ha-ha and interesting, おかしい for strange or broken. Learn 笑える, 爆笑, 草, and why calling someone おかしい is rude.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/good-job-in-japanese-yoku-yatta-sasuga/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/good-job-in-japanese-yoku-yatta-sasuga/Good job in Japanese depends on who praises whom: よくやった goes downward, さすが fits people you respect, and 勉強になりました is the safe reply to a superior.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/good-morning-good-night-in-japanese-ohayou-oyasumi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/good-morning-good-night-in-japanese-ohayou-oyasumi/Good morning in Japanese is おはよう (casual) or おはようございます (polite). Good night is おやすみ, but only when someone is going to bed. Here is what to say in between.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/heisha-onsha-meaning-our-company-your-company/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/heisha-onsha-meaning-our-company-your-company/Heisha (弊社) means "our company" in humble Japanese; onsha (御社) means "your company." Learn 貴社, 当社 and うち, and which one to use in an interview.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/help-in-japanese-tasukete-tetsudatte/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/help-in-japanese-tasukete-tetsudatte/Help in Japanese splits in two: 助けて means rescue me (an emergency), 手伝って means give me a hand with a task. Plus 助かる for "that helps" and 救う.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hope-in-japanese-to-ii-na-kibou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hope-in-japanese-to-ii-na-kibou/Hope in Japanese is usually said with 〜といいな or 〜ますように, not the noun 希望. For example, 明日晴れるといいね means "I hope it is sunny tomorrow." Here is how each form works.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hungry-in-japanese-onaka-suita/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hungry-in-japanese-onaka-suita/Hungry in Japanese is お腹が空いた (onaka ga suita). Learn why it uses the past tense, what it means for right now, plus ペコペコ, 腹減った, 小腹が空いた and お腹いっぱい.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hurry-up-in-japanese-isoide-hayaku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hurry-up-in-japanese-isoide-hayaku/Hurry up in Japanese: 急いで asks someone to speed up, 早く urges them to do it soon, and さっさと is the irritated version. Learn which to use and to whom.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/i-dont-care-whatever-in-japanese-betsuni/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/i-dont-care-whatever-in-japanese-betsuni/English "I don't care" is two different things in Japanese. どうでもいい and 別に are cold; なんでもいい, どちらでもいい and お任せします are soft ways to say "anything is fine."Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/i-see-in-japanese-naruhodo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/i-see-in-japanese-naruhodo/There is no single "I see" in Japanese. なるほど, そうなんだ, そうですか, わかりました and へえ each mean something different, and this guide shows when to use which.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/important-in-japanese-daiji-taisetsu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/important-in-japanese-daiji-taisetsu/Important in Japanese is 大事, 大切, or 重要. 大事 is the everyday word, 大切 adds feeling, 重要 is for writing and business. Plus 肝心 and 〜ことが大事だ, with examples.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jet-lag-in-japanese-jisaboke/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jet-lag-in-japanese-jisaboke/Jet lag in Japanese is 時差ボケ (jisaboke): 時差 (time difference) plus ボケ (fogginess). Learn how to use it, plus 寝ぼけ, 休みボケ, 平和ボケ and one risky ボケ.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/later-soon-in-japanese-atode-mousugu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/later-soon-in-japanese-atode-mousugu/Later in Japanese is 後で (ato de) for plain "later", のちほど for formal, もうすぐ and まもなく for "soon", すぐ for "right away". Here is how they differ.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/limited-in-japanese-gentei/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/limited-in-japanese-gentei/Limited in Japanese is usually 限定 (gentei), as in 期間限定 "limited time" or 限定版 "limited edition". Learn 以上, 以下 and 未満 too, so you can read signs correctly.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/motomoto-meaning-originally-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/motomoto-meaning-originally-in-japanese/Motomoto (もともと) means originally, to begin with, or by nature. Learn how it differs from もっと (more), 最初から, 本来 and 元来, with examples and practice.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/next-in-japanese-tsugi-kondo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/next-in-japanese-tsugi-kondo/Next in Japanese depends on the kind of next: 次 for order, 来週 for the coming week, 今度 for next time, 隣 for beside. Here is how to pick the right one.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/of-course-in-japanese-mochiron/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/of-course-in-japanese-mochiron/Of course in Japanese is もちろん. But 当然 and 当たり前 can sound cold. Learn which "of course" fits each situation, with a table, examples and practice.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/probably-in-japanese-tabun-deshou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/probably-in-japanese-tabun-deshou/Probably in Japanese is たぶん in conversation, おそらく in the news, and でしょう at the end of a sentence. きっと is stronger, かもしれない is weaker.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/promise-in-japanese-yakusoku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/promise-in-japanese-yakusoku/Promise in Japanese is 約束 (yakusoku). Learn 約束する, 約束を守る and 約束を破る, 約束だよ, 指切りげんまん, and why 約束がある can also mean "I have plans."Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/really-in-japanese-hontou-ni/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/really-in-japanese-hontou-ni/Really in Japanese is two different words: ほんと？/本当？ as a reaction, and 本当に/すごく/めっちゃ as an intensifier. Here is how to pick by job and politeness.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sad-lonely-in-japanese-kanashii-sabishii/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sad-lonely-in-japanese-kanashii-sabishii/Sad in Japanese is 悲しい when something happened, 寂しい when someone or something is missing. Learn 切ない, 落ち込む, 悲しむ, 寂しがる and 泣ける with examples.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/scary-in-japanese-kowai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/scary-in-japanese-kowai/Scary in Japanese is 怖い (kowai), and the same word also means scared. Learn how to tell the two apart, plus 怖がる, 恐ろしい, ゾッとする, ビビる and 苦手.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/should-have-in-japanese-ba-yokatta/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/should-have-in-japanese-ba-yokatta/"Should have" in Japanese is usually 〜ばよかった: 早く予約すればよかった means "I should have booked earlier." Learn how to build it and how it differs from 〜べきだった.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/shut-up-in-japanese-urusai-damare/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/shut-up-in-japanese-urusai-damare/Shut up in Japanese is うるさい (noisy!) or 黙れ (a harsh command) in anime, but 静かにしてください in real life. Here is how strong each one is and who you can say it to.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/stop-in-japanese-yamete-tomatte/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/stop-in-japanese-yamete-tomatte/Stop in Japanese has three main verbs: やめる (quit doing something), 止まる (something halts) and 止める (you halt it). See which one fits, with examples.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/strong-weak-in-japanese-tsuyoi-yowai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/strong-weak-in-japanese-tsuyoi-yowai/Strong in Japanese is 強い (tsuyoi) and weak is 弱い (yowai). Add に and they become skills: 数字に強い means good with numbers, お酒に弱い means bad with alcohol.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/take-care-in-japanese-ki-wo-tsukete/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/take-care-in-japanese-ki-wo-tsukete/There is no single "take care" in Japanese. Use 気をつけて when someone heads out, お大事に when they are sick, お元気で for long goodbyes, ご自愛ください in writing.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/together-in-japanese-issho-ni/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/together-in-japanese-issho-ni/Together in Japanese is usually 一緒に, as in 友達と一緒に行く, "go with a friend." But みんなで, 共に and plain と also carry "together." Here is which to use.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wait-in-japanese-matte/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wait-in-japanese-matte/Wait in Japanese is 待つ (matsu). 待って is casual, 待ってください is polite, and 少々お待ちください is what shops say. Here is when each one fits, with examples.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/welcome-in-japanese-youkoso-irasshaimase/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/welcome-in-japanese-youkoso-irasshaimase/Welcome in Japanese is ようこそ when you greet a guest, いらっしゃいませ in shops, and どういたしまして for "you're welcome". Here is which one to use and when.Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/honki-meaning-serious-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/honki-meaning-serious-in-japanese/Honki (本気) means "in earnest" or "for real". Learn how it differs from 真剣, 真面目, 深刻 and マジ, the other Japanese words for "serious", with anime examples.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson noteshttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mikata-meaning-ally-enemy-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mikata-meaning-ally-enemy-japanese/Mikata (味方) means "ally" or "someone on your side" in Japanese, and its opposite is teki (敵), "enemy". Learn 味方をする, 肩を持つ, and the anime phrases.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/old-in-japanese-furui-toshi-wo-toru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/old-in-japanese-furui-toshi-wo-toru/Old in Japanese is 古い for things, but people who are old are 年をとった or 年配の方, and an older person is 年上. 古い人 means old-fashioned, not elderly. Examples inside.Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/aka-meaning-japanese-slang/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/aka-meaning-japanese-slang/垢 (aka) is internet slang short for アカウント (account), the base for compounds like 裏垢 (secret account) and 鍵垢 (locked, private account).Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAkihabara & otaku JapanN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/amaeru-vs-amayakasu-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/amaeru-vs-amayakasu-japanese/甘える is acting sweetly dependent, leaning on someone's kindness. 甘やかす is the other side — indulging or spoiling that person. Here is how the verb pair works.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/black-company-japanese-meaning/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/black-company-japanese-meaning/ブラック企業 (burakku kigyou) is slang for an exploitative employer — illegal overtime, harassment, no balance. Nothing to do with race. ホワイト企業 is its opposite.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/business-trip-in-japanese-shutchou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/business-trip-in-japanese-shutchou/出張 (shutchou) is a work trip your company sends you on. 旅行 (ryokou) is travel for fun. 遠征 (ensei) is an "expedition" — anime fans use it for pilgrimage trips.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/complain-in-japanese-guchi-monku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/complain-in-japanese-guchi-monku/愚痴 (guchi) is venting to a friend who listens. 文句 (monku) is complaining with an edge, to the person responsible. クレーム is a formal business complaint.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/disappointing-in-japanese-kitai-hazure/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/disappointing-in-japanese-kitai-hazure/がっかり is plain disappointment. 期待外れ is a thing that failed to meet expectations. いまいち is a mild "meh." 拍子抜け is letdown after built-up tension.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dokoroka-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dokoroka-grammar-japanese/どころか rejects a modest idea outright and replaces it with something far more extreme in the same direction. "Far from X" — the truth goes well beyond it.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN2https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/douyara-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/douyara-meaning-japanese/どうやら marks an inference from clues you noticed. きっと is a confident personal prediction, with or without evidence. Different questions, same "probably."Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/exaggerate-vs-vague-in-japanese-kochou-aimai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/exaggerate-vs-vague-in-japanese-kochou-aimai/誇張 (kochou) and 大げさ mean exaggerating — making something sound bigger than it is. 曖昧 (aimai) means vague or unclear. One inflates, the other blurs.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/feel-uneasy-in-japanese-iwakan/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/feel-uneasy-in-japanese-iwakan/違和感 (iwakan) is the feeling something is off, not fear or worry. 不安 is anxiety about the future; 心配 is worry about someone specific. Uneasy blurs all three.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/girigiri-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/girigiri-meaning-japanese/ぎりぎり marks anything sitting right at a limit — time, money, a passing grade — with a casual, slightly breathless feel. かろうじて says the same thing formally.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hame-wo-hazusu-let-loose-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hame-wo-hazusu-let-loose-japanese/羽目を外す (hame wo hazusu) means to let loose or go overboard at a party. 調子に乗る is getting carried away or cocky. はしゃぐ is innocent excitement — three tones.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hekomu-feeling-down-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hekomu-feeling-down-in-japanese/へこむ (hekomu) literally means "to dent," and casually means feeling down after a specific setback. 落ち込む is more neutral and can describe deeper, longer sadness.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hen-na-me-de-mirareru-weird-look-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hen-na-me-de-mirareru-weird-look-japanese/To get a weird look in Japanese is 変な目で見られる, literally to be seen with strange eyes. 白い目で見られる is a colder, disapproving look. Examples and mistakes.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hitomishiri-vs-uchiki-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hitomishiri-vs-uchiki-japanese/人見知り is shyness specifically around people you do not know yet, fading with familiarity. 内気 is a lasting quiet personality. Here is how to tell them apart.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-a-deadline-extension-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-a-deadline-extension-in-japanese/Asking for more time in Japanese pairs an apology with a specific new date you can commit to — 〇日まで延ばしていただけますか — never an open-ended "more time."Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-cancel-a-reservation-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-cancel-a-reservation-in-japanese/予約をキャンセルしたいのですが ("I would like to cancel my reservation, but...") is the standard opener. のですが leaves room for staff to ask for details before you finish.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-change-your-order-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-change-your-order-in-japanese/Changing your mind after ordering leads with すみません and やっぱり ("actually, on second thought"), framing the change as your own imposition, not a complaint.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-reschedule-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-reschedule-in-japanese/リスケ (resuke) is shorthand for rescheduling, but the word alone is not the request — it needs a proposed new date or a question about theirs attached.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-return-or-exchange-something-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-return-or-exchange-something-in-japanese/Returning or exchanging an item in Japan starts with the receipt — レシートはお持ちですか — since most stores will ask for it before hearing your reason at all.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-retire-in-japanese-intai-taishoku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-retire-in-japanese-intai-taishoku/引退 (intai) is retiring from a career or sport for good. 退職 (taishoku) is leaving a company job. Idols use a third word entirely: 卒業.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-thank-you-again-later-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-thank-you-again-later-in-japanese/Japanese re-thanks people days after the fact. 先日は covers a few days ago, 先ほどは covers minutes, and その節は is for one big favor, formally.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-you-will-be-late-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-you-will-be-late-in-japanese/Being late in Japan is less rude than being late without warning. A short text with a new arrival time — 10分ほど遅れます — is the expected move, before you arrive.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-send-a-polite-reminder-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-send-a-polite-reminder-in-japanese/A Japanese reminder softens with 念のため (just in case) and 行き違いでしたら (if we crossed messages) so it never reads as an accusation, even for money or deadlines.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/innate-in-japanese-umaretsuki-sententeki/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/innate-in-japanese-umaretsuki-sententeki/Innate in Japanese is 生まれつき (umaretsuki) in everyday speech and 先天的 (sententeki) in formal or medical talk. Its opposite, acquired, is 後天的.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/isso-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/isso-meaning-japanese/いっそ (isso) means giving up on a half-measure for a more drastic option — "might as well." どうせ is resignation; むしろ is a preference, not an escalation.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jirai-kei-meaning-japanese-slang/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jirai-kei-meaning-japanese-slang/地雷系 (jirai-kei), literally "landmine type," names a fashion style — pink, frilly, gothic, sickly-sweet — and a personality type people warn you about.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTOtaku JapaneseN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/karatoitte-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/karatoitte-grammar-japanese/からといって names a reason people assume leads to a conclusion, then denies that conclusion. "Just because X" is true, but Y does not automatically follow.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kataomoi-vs-ryouomoi-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kataomoi-vs-ryouomoi-japanese/片思い is one-sided romantic feelings, unreturned. 両思い is when both people like each other, mutually. Here is the vocabulary for the whole arc between them.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kekkyoku-vs-toutou-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kekkyoku-vs-toutou-japanese/結局 sums up the final outcome after twists and turns, sometimes despite effort. とうとう marks the exact moment a long-awaited or long-dreaded thing arrives.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ki-ga-au-vs-uma-ga-au-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ki-ga-au-vs-uma-ga-au-japanese/気が合う means clicking with someone effortlessly, same wavelength, same sense of humor. 馬が合う is an idiom about a horse and rider that means exactly the same thing.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kimazui-vs-bimyou-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kimazui-vs-bimyou-japanese/気まずい is the tension you actually feel around someone after something happened. 微妙 is when a relationship, opinion, or situation is simply hard to classify.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kosupa-vs-taipa-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kosupa-vs-taipa-japanese/コスパ (cost performance, value for money) and タイパ (time performance, value for time spent) are two of modern Japanese's most common efficiency buzzwords.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/koto-ni-suru-vs-koto-ni-naru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/koto-ni-suru-vs-koto-ni-naru/ことにする marks a decision you made yourself. ことになる marks an outcome, arrangement, or rule that came about without you deciding it. Same こと, opposite direction.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kudoi-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kudoi-meaning-japanese/くどい (kudoi) describes anything excessive and wearying: food too rich, a story too long-winded, a point made too many times. It always signals "enough already."Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kusa-meaning-japanese-slang/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kusa-meaning-japanese-slang/草 (kusa, "grass") and the letter w are Japanese internet slang for laughing, born from stacking w after w until the row of w's started looking like grass.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/makezugirai-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/makezugirai-meaning-japanese/負けず嫌い describes someone driven by hating to lose, competitive by nature. 頑張り屋 describes someone who always tries hard, whether or not anyone is competing.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mamire-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mamire-meaning-japanese/まみれ (mamire) attaches to a noun to mean physically covered or smeared in something messy — blood, mud, sweat, dust. だらけ covers abstract "full of" instead.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/manin-vs-urikire-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/manin-vs-urikire-japanese/満員 (manin) means full of people — a packed train, a full venue. 売り切れ (urikire) means sold out of stock — no more tickets, food, or products left to sell.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/min-suffix-japanese-slang/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/min-suffix-japanese-slang/The suffix 〜民 (min), literally "citizen" or "people," attaches to almost any noun online to mean "the people of X" — Twitter民, ジブリ民, and more.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAkihabara & otaku JapanN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/namaiki-vs-zuuzuushii-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/namaiki-vs-zuuzuushii-japanese/生意気 criticizes someone for acting above their station — a junior talking back to a senior. 図々しい criticizes boldness regardless of rank. Here is the difference.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/natural-disaster-in-japanese-tensai-jinsai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/natural-disaster-in-japanese-tensai-jinsai/天災 (tensai) is a natural disaster; 人災 (jinsai) is human-caused. 天災 is also a perfect homophone of 天才, "genius" — same sound, unrelated word.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-vs-e-particle-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-vs-e-particle-japanese/に and へ both mark direction, and are usually interchangeable. に also marks the exact arrival point, existence, and time — jobs へ simply cannot do.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nijigen-vs-sanjigen-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nijigen-vs-sanjigen-japanese/二次元 (2D) means fictional anime, manga, and game characters; 三次元 (3D) means the real, physical world — a dividing line fandom culture jokes about constantly.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAkihabara & otaku JapanN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nimo-kakawarazu-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nimo-kakawarazu-grammar-japanese/にもかかわらず means "despite" or "in spite of" — it names a strong fact that should block an outcome, then reports the outcome happened anyway.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN2https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nonbiri-vs-tekipaki-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nonbiri-vs-tekipaki-japanese/のんびり (nonbiri) describes a relaxed, unhurried pace. てきぱき (tekipaki) describes moving briskly and competently through tasks. Neither means lazy or careless.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/notorious-in-japanese-akumei-takai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/notorious-in-japanese-akumei-takai/悪名高い (akumyou-dakai / akumei-dakai) is notorious — famous for something bad. 有名 is just famous, no judgment. 評判がいい/悪い is a milder good or bad reputation.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ojousama-meaning-hakoiri-musume/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ojousama-meaning-hakoiri-musume/Ojousama (お嬢様) means a young lady from a wealthy or well-bred family, or a polite word for someone else's daughter. 箱入り娘 is a sheltered daughter.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/omowazu-vs-tsui-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/omowazu-vs-tsui-japanese/思わず marks a sudden, involuntary reaction to something — a gasp, a laugh. つい marks a small, often repeated lapse in self-control, like eating one more snack.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/osekkai-vs-mendoumi-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/osekkai-vs-mendoumi-japanese/お節介 is unwanted meddling dressed as help. 面倒見がいい is the same initiative, but welcome. The difference is not the act itself, it is whether anyone asked for it.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/popular-in-japanese-ninki-hayari/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/popular-in-japanese-ninki-hayari/Popular in Japanese is 人気 (ninki) for things people like over time and 流行り (hayari) for what is in fashion right now. How to choose, with examples.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sorena-meaning-japanese-slang/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sorena-meaning-japanese-slang/それな is casual Japanese slang for "exactly," "same," or "so true," used to agree enthusiastically with what someone just said, especially in texting.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/stuck-in-japanese-tsumaru-hamaru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/stuck-in-japanese-tsumaru-hamaru/Stuck in Japanese depends on what is stuck: 詰まる for a blocked pipe or a word you cannot get out, 行き詰まる for a plan going nowhere, and 挟まる for a trapped finger.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/supacha-nagesen-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/supacha-nagesen-japanese/スパチャ (super chat) is YouTube's paid highlighted comment; 投げ銭 (nagesen, "throwing money") is the broader Japanese word for tipping any streamer.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAkihabara & otaku JapanN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/supply-and-demand-in-japanese-jukyuu-kyoukyuu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/supply-and-demand-in-japanese-jukyuu-kyoukyuu/需要 (juyou) is demand, 供給 (kyoukyuu) is supply — 需要と供給 reverses the English word order. 需給バランス is the balance; 品不足 is what happens when it breaks.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tamatama-vs-guuzen-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tamatama-vs-guuzen-japanese/たまたま is an adverb for your own circumstance happening by chance. 偶然 names the coincidence itself and can stand alone as a noun. Both mean "by chance."Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tekkiri-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tekkiri-meaning-japanese/てっきり (tekkiri) marks a confident assumption that turned out false, used with と思ったら. まさか is different: disbelief at something surprising, not a wrong guess.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/to-vs-ya-particle-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/to-vs-ya-particle-japanese/と links nouns into a complete, closed list — nothing else exists. や links nouns into a partial list, leaving items unnamed. One word changes the promise.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tonari-no-shibafu-wa-aoi-grass-is-greener/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tonari-no-shibafu-wa-aoi-grass-is-greener/隣の芝生は青い (tonari no shibafu wa aoi) is Japanese for "the grass is greener." ないものねだり is wanting what you can't have; 足るを知る is being content instead.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tonikaku-vs-tomokaku-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tonikaku-vs-tomokaku-japanese/とにかく means "anyway, just do it" and doubles as a casual intensifier for "extremely." ともかく is its more literary cousin, mainly used to set something aside.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/totan-ni-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/totan-ni-grammar-japanese/たとたんに means "the instant X happened, Y happened" — a sudden, unplanned event triggered right after the first. It only ever describes the past.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN2https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ukkari-vs-wazato-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ukkari-vs-wazato-japanese/うっかり marks a careless slip — forgetting, dropping, mixing up. わざと is the opposite: doing it on purpose. Swap them and you flip the meaning entirely.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wanchan-meaning-japanese-slang/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wanchan-meaning-japanese-slang/ワンチャン is short for ワンチャンス, "one chance." Often traced to mahjong slang, it now means "maybe, possibly" in casual Japanese, especially among younger speakers.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wazawaza-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wazawaza-meaning-japanese/わざわざ (wazawaza) means going out of your way, an effort beyond what was needed. It can express gratitude for the effort, or gently question why someone bothered.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/you-ni-suru-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/you-ni-suru-grammar/ようにする means making an effort to do something, an intention you act on. ようになる means a change happened over time — you now can, or now do. Effort vs result.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/youyaku-vs-yatto-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/youyaku-vs-yatto-japanese/ようやく is the neutral, slightly formal "finally," comfortable in writing and gradual change. やっと is the personal, relieved "finally!" of everyday speech.Mon, 28 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/chuunibyou-meaning-chuunibyou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/chuunibyou-meaning-chuunibyou/Chuunibyou (中二病) means "eighth-grader syndrome": acting as if you have secret powers or a dark destiny. It is a teasing label, not an illness.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/goal-in-japanese-mokuhyou-mokuteki/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/goal-in-japanese-mokuhyou-mokuteki/Goal in Japanese is usually 目標 (mokuhyou), a target you can reach and measure. 目的 (mokuteki) is the purpose behind it. Here is how to tell them apart.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/lottery-in-japanese-chuusen-tousen/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/lottery-in-japanese-chuusen-tousen/Lottery in Japanese is 宝くじ for tickets and 抽選 for a draw, like concert tickets. You win with 当たる or 当選する, and lose with 外れる or 落選する.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-watatte-ni-kakete-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-watatte-ni-kakete-grammar/〜にわたって means "over the whole span" of a time, place or range: 三日間にわたって. 〜にかけて means "from around A to around B." Here is how to tell them apart.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN2https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/picky-eater-in-japanese-kuwazugirai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/picky-eater-in-japanese-kuwazugirai/A picky eater in Japanese is 好き嫌いが多い人. 食わず嫌い means refusing food you have never tried, and it is also used for anything you dismiss without trying.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/prejudice-in-japanese-henken-sennyuukan/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/prejudice-in-japanese-henken-sennyuukan/Prejudice in Japanese is 偏見 (henken). 先入観 is a preconception you had before you knew anything, and 決めつける means jumping to a conclusion about someone.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/progress-in-japanese-joutatsu-shinpo-shinchoku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/progress-in-japanese-joutatsu-shinpo-shinchoku/Progress in Japanese depends on what is moving. A skill improving is 上達, society or technology advancing is 進歩, and a task moving forward is 進捗.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ruined-in-japanese-dainashi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ruined-in-japanese-dainashi/Ruined in Japanese is usually 台無し (dainashi): 台無しになる when it gets ruined, 台無しにする when someone ruins it. Here is when to use だめ, 壊す or 水の泡.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/victim-in-japanese-higaisha/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/victim-in-japanese-higaisha/Victim in Japanese is usually 被害者 (higaisha). 犠牲者 is a victim who died, 被災者 is a disaster victim, and 被害者ヅラ means playing the victim.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/art-style-in-japanese-egara-gafuu-sakufuu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/art-style-in-japanese-egara-gafuu-sakufuu/Art style in Japanese is 絵柄 (egara) for manga and anime drawings, 画風 for a painter, 作風 for a creator's whole style including story, and 作画 for animation.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/contagious-in-japanese-utsuru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/contagious-in-japanese-utsuru/Contagious in Japanese is usually said with the verb うつる: 風邪がうつる, a cold spreads to you. うつす is giving it. 感染 is the formal word, and yawns うつる too.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/elderly-in-japanese-otoshiyori-nenpai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/elderly-in-japanese-otoshiyori-nenpai/Elderly in Japanese is お年寄り in everyday speech, 年配の方 for a polite "older person," 高齢者 in news and forms. 老人 can sound blunt, and 古い人 means old-fashioned.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/good-at-bad-at-japanese-jouzu-tokui-heta-nigate/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/good-at-bad-at-japanese-jouzu-tokui-heta-nigate/Good at in Japanese is 上手 (jouzu) or 得意 (tokui); bad at is 下手 (heta) or 苦手 (nigate). 上手 and 下手 judge skill, 得意 and 苦手 are about you. Do not brag with 上手.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-gaming-terms-slang/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-gaming-terms-slang/Japanese gaming terms gamers really say: genre slang like 死にゲー, 音ゲー and 格ゲー, verdicts like 神ゲー and クソゲー, plus クリア, 詰む, 課金 and ネタバレ, with examples.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-proverbs-kotowaza/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-proverbs-kotowaza/Japanese proverbs are called ことわざ (kotowaza). Here are the ones people still use, grouped by money, perseverance and life, and how they sound in conversation.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/rebel-in-japanese-hankou-hangyaku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/rebel-in-japanese-hankou-hangyaku/To rebel in Japanese is usually 反抗する. 反逆 is rebellion against a ruler, 反乱 is an armed uprising, and 反旗を翻す is the idiom. 反旗 is a noun, not a verb.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/survive-in-japanese-ikinokoru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/survive-in-japanese-ikinokoru/Survive in Japanese is 生き残る (ikinokoru) when others did not make it, 生き延びる when you get through danger, and 乗り切る for surviving a hard week. Not 生き残す.Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/courage-in-japanese-yuuki/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/courage-in-japanese-yuuki/Courage in Japanese is 勇気 (yuuki). You 勇気を出す to find courage, and something 勇気が要る when it takes courage — not 勇気がかかる. Plus 度胸, 根性 and 勇者.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dousei-vs-doukyo-living-together-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dousei-vs-doukyo-living-together-japanese/同棲 (dousei) is a couple living together before marriage; 同居 (doukyo) is sharing a home with family. How to pick the right word, and the neutral way to say it.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jealous-in-japanese-urayamashii-shitto/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jealous-in-japanese-urayamashii-shitto/羨ましい (urayamashii) is friendly envy, 嫉妬 (shitto) is real jealousy, and やきもち is jealousy in love. Which one to say, plus the slang うらやま and いいなあ.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mushiro-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mushiro-meaning-japanese/むしろ (mushiro) means "rather" or "if anything": the opposite of what someone expected is closer to the truth. How to use it, and how it differs from かえって.Fri, 25 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/enough-in-japanese-juubun/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/enough-in-japanese-juubun/十分 means sufficient, 足りる means the amount covers what you need, and もういい means stop. 15 example sentences cover money, time, and politeness.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-relative-clauses/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-relative-clauses/Japanese has no word for "that" or "who". Put the whole clause in front of the noun: 昨日買った本 is "the book I bought yesterday." How it works, with examples.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jikka-jimoto-kisei-meaning/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jikka-jimoto-kisei-meaning/実家 is your parents' home, 地元 is your hometown area, and 帰省 is the trip back there. Why "I went to my town" sounds odd in Japanese, and what people say instead.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ki-ni-naru-meaning/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ki-ni-naru-meaning/気になる means something caught your attention and will not let go: curious, bothered, or interested in someone. How it differs from 心配, 気にする and 気に入る.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/remember-in-japanese-oboeru-omoidasu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/remember-in-japanese-oboeru-omoidasu/Remember in Japanese is 3 verbs: 覚える oboeru (memorize), 覚えている oboete iru (still remember) and 思い出す omoidasu (recall). 1 table and 6 example sentences.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/to-ieba-souieba-speaking-of/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/to-ieba-souieba-speaking-of/と言えば means "speaking of" and links to what someone just said. そういえば means "that reminds me" and changes the subject. How to use both, plus と言ったら.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ukeru-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ukeru-meaning-japanese/受ける means to take a class or exam, or to receive something. Written ウケる, it is slang for "that's so funny." How one verb covers both, with examples.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/you-to-suru-vs-te-miru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/you-to-suru-vs-te-miru/ようとする is "try to" when the attempt is interrupted or fails; てみる is "try it and see" when you actually do it. 開けようとした vs 開けてみた — same English, opposite result.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-abbreviations-ryakugo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-abbreviations-ryakugo/Japanese shortens long words by taking the first two sounds of each half — スマートフォン becomes スマホ, 就職活動 becomes 就活. Once you know the rule you can decode new ones.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-job-interview-phrases/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-job-interview-phrases/The set phrases a Japanese interview runs on, in order: 失礼します at the door, 御社 for their company, 申します for your name, and the question to ask at the end.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-sarcasm-hiniku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-sarcasm-hiniku/Japanese sarcasm is not delivered by tone of voice. It arrives as excessive politeness, over-praise or a stated obvious fact — why learners miss it entirely.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tokoro-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tokoro-grammar-japanese/ところ turns a verb into a point on a timeline. 食べるところ is about to eat, 食べているところ is mid-meal, 食べたところ is just finished — three tenses, one word.Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/chotto-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/chotto-meaning-japanese/ちょっと means "a little" — and also softens requests, gets attention, and refuses invitations. How to hear which one, and why 今日はちょっと… is a complete answer.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/daijoubu-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/daijoubu-meaning-japanese/大丈夫 covers fine, safe, no problem, and at a shop counter it is usually a polite no thanks. 19 example sentences show which meaning you are hearing.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-goodbye-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-goodbye-in-japanese/さようなら sounds final and Japanese adults rarely say it. The goodbyes people actually use — お疲れさま, 失礼します, じゃあね, また明日 — and how to pick one by situation.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-yes-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-yes-in-japanese/はい, ええ, うん, そうです, わかりました — the Japanese words for yes, what each one really agrees to, and why はい to a negative question means the opposite of English.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-type-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-type-in-japanese/Set up Japanese input on Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, then learn the four keystrokes that trip everyone up: ん, っ, ー and choosing the right kanji.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGetting startedN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-write-your-name-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-write-your-name-in-japanese/Foreign names go in katakana and follow the sound, not the spelling. How to convert your name, the rules that decide ー and ッ, and why kanji names are a trap.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGetting startedN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-past-tense-mashita-ta/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-past-tense-mashita-ta/How to make the Japanese past tense: ます→ました, the plain 〜た built from the te-form, the negative 〜ませんでした — and the た that means "it just happened".Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar that clicksN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-plurals-tachi-ra/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-plurals-tachi-ra/Japanese nouns do not mark number. What 〜たち, 〜ら, 〜がた and 〜ども actually do, why 本たち is wrong, and how 田中さんたち means "Tanaka and the others".Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar that clicksN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-word-order-sov/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-word-order-sov/Japanese is subject-object-verb, but particles do the real work, so the middle of a sentence reorders freely. What stays fixed, and why you must hear the end.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar that clicksN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jlpt-levels-explained/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jlpt-levels-explained/What N5 through N1 certify, the official pass marks and section minimums, and how to pick the level worth sitting — from a teacher who preps students.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGetting startedN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wakaranai-vs-shiranai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wakaranai-vs-shiranai/分からない (can't work out) vs 知らない (never learned it) — 9 sections, 6 common mistakes, and 10 practice questions, including why 知っていません doesn't exist.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wo-particle-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wo-particle-japanese/を marks what a verb acts on — but it also marks the space you move through and the place you leave. Why it is written を and read "o", and when を becomes が.Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar that clicksN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/all-day-in-japanese-juu-chuu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/all-day-in-japanese-juu-chuu/一日中 (いちにちじゅう) is all day long; 会議中 (かいぎちゅう) is in the middle of a meeting. One kanji, two readings, two completely different meanings.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/business-japanese-vocabulary/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/business-japanese-vocabulary/御社, 弊社, 進捗, 懸念, 承知しました — the words that fill a Japanese workplace and barely appear in textbooks. What each one means and who says it.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peoplehttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/gachi-nariyasui-tend-to-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/gachi-nariyasui-tend-to-japanese/〜がち marks a bad habit that repeats, 〜ぎみ marks a slight lean in that direction, and 〜やすい marks something that happens easily. And why 成功しがち is wrong.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-disagree-politely-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-disagree-politely-in-japanese/違います is for facts, not opinions. The phrases Japanese actually uses to disagree — たしかに〜ですが, とは少し違って, それはどうでしょうか — and when to use each.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peoplehttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ichiou-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ichiou-meaning-japanese/一応 means "just in case," "more or less," and "technically yes" — one word covering four jobs. Here is what it actually signals, and when it undersells you.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundhttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nazeka-for-some-reason-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nazeka-for-some-reason-japanese/なぜか marks something outside you that has no explanation, なんだか marks a feeling inside you, and なんとなく means you did it with no reason at all.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-totte-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-totte-japanese-grammar/〜にとって marks whose point of view a judgement comes from — 私にとって大切です. It only works with evaluations, which is why 私にとって勉強します is wrong.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/per-person-in-japanese-atari/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/per-person-in-japanese-atari/一人あたり is "per person" for calculations, お一人様につき is "per person" for rules, and 一人ずつ is "one at a time" — three phrases English collapses into one word.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tadaima-okaeri-japanese-home-greetings/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tadaima-okaeri-japanese-home-greetings/ただいま means "I am back" and おかえり means "welcome back" — two halves of one exchange. Here are all four door greetings, plus why anime wives say おかえりなさい、あなた.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/written-vs-spoken-japanese-kakikotoba/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/written-vs-spoken-japanese-kakikotoba/Written Japanese swaps けど for が, でも for しかし, and 〜てる for 〜ている. The full conversion list, plus the four habits that mark an essay as spoken out loud.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yojijukugo-four-character-idioms-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yojijukugo-four-character-idioms-japanese/A 四字熟語 packs a whole proverb into four kanji — 一石二鳥, 十人十色, 臨機応変. Which ones are used in daily life, and how to fit them into a sentence.Mon, 21 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peoplehttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/atsui-atatakai-japanese-temperature/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/atsui-atatakai-japanese-temperature/Learn how Japanese distinguishes hot weather from hot objects and warm air from warm things, using different kanji for atsui and atatakai.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/daitai-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/daitai-meaning-japanese/Learn how daitai means roughly, mostly, or in the first place in Japanese, with natural examples, common mistakes, and practice questions.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-honorifics-san-kun-chan-sama/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-honorifics-san-kun-chan-sama/さん is the safe default, くん and ちゃん are warmth with a direction, さま is distance upward — dropping all of them is its own loud statement. How the set works.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-words-for-beautiful/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-words-for-beautiful/きれい is the everyday word and also means clean. 美しい is beauty with distance. かわいい is not "beautiful" at all. What each word actually claims.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-words-for-delicious/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-words-for-delicious/"Delicious" in Japanese is 美味しい (oishii) — polite anywhere. うまい means the same but sounds blunt and male-coded; 絶品 is for truly outstanding food only.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-words-for-happy/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-words-for-happy/"Happy" in Japanese splits three ways: 嬉しい reacts to something that happened, 楽しい describes an enjoyable activity, and 幸せ is the settled happiness of a life.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-words-for-tired/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-words-for-tired/Tired in Japanese: 疲れた, 眠い, だるい and へとへと explained with audio and a comparison table so you pick the right word every time. Updated 2026.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jimi-vs-hade-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jimi-vs-hade-japanese/地味 is usually translated as "plain" and 派手 as "flashy", and both translations are misleading. Here is what the pair actually means, and when 地味 is a compliment.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kagiru-kagiranai-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kagiru-kagiranai-japanese-grammar/限る means "to limit". 〜に限る says this is the best option, 〜とは限らない says it is not necessarily so, and 〜限り sets a boundary. Here is the whole family.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kurai-vs-gurai-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kurai-vs-gurai-japanese/Learn why kurai and gurai are usually interchangeable in Japanese, where the choice is fixed, and how their uses extend beyond meaning about.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/muzukashii-vs-taihen-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/muzukashii-vs-taihen-japanese/Learn how muzukashii describes difficulty and taihen describes hardship in Japanese, with vocabulary to explain how challenging something feels.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nashi-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nashi-grammar-japanese/なし is the noun form of ない, and it ends sentences with a flatness that ありません cannot. Here is なし, なしで, なしに, ぬきで, and why anime uses the short one.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-ataru-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-ataru-japanese-grammar/Learn how ni ataru expresses equivalents, dates, and matching relationships in Japanese, and how its meaning differs from ni atatte.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ningyo-vs-ningyou-long-vowels/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ningyo-vs-ningyou-long-vowels/にんぎょ is a mermaid, にんぎょう is a doll — the only difference is one extra beat. How Japanese long vowels work, and how to hear them.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sei-de-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sei-de-grammar-japanese/Learn how no sei de assigns blame and no okage de gives credit in Japanese, how to build both forms, and when the ending changes from de to da.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/zenkai-konkai-jikai-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/zenkai-konkai-jikai-japanese/Learn zenkai, konkai, and jikai for last time, this time, and next time in Japanese, and distinguish zenkai from its sound-alike meaning full power.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ikura-desu-ka-asking-prices/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ikura-desu-ka-asking-prices/Learn to ask prices with ikura desu ka, handle fast replies with useful follow-up questions, and read Japanese price tags before you ask.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/itadakimasu-gochisousama-meaning/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/itadakimasu-gochisousama-meaning/いただきます is said before eating in Japanese — the humble form of "to receive." ごちそうさまでした is said after, thanking whoever prepared or provided the meal.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-work-vocabulary-zangyou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-work-vocabulary-zangyou/Learn Japanese workplace vocabulary for overtime, going to work, and paid leave, with the verbs and particles needed to use each term naturally.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mottainai-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mottainai-meaning-japanese/Explore how mottainai describes wasted food, money, talent, and opportunities in Japanese, and how it can also be used to turn down a compliment.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/netabare-spoiler-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/netabare-spoiler-in-japanese/ネタバレ is the Japanese word for a spoiler — literally "the material leaked". Here is how to use it, how to warn people, and the fandom words that sit next to it.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-wa-particle-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-wa-particle-japanese/には is に plus は. Once you can see the two jobs separately — target and topic — you know when to use it, and when the plain は you already had was enough.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nomikai-bureikou-japanese-drinking-party/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nomikai-bureikou-japanese-drinking-party/Explore Japanese drinking party vocabulary, what happens at a nomikai, and why a bureikou announcement does not always erase workplace rank.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ojamashimasu-visiting-a-japanese-home/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ojamashimasu-visiting-a-japanese-home/お邪魔します literally means "I am going to be a nuisance" — what you say at the door. The phrase on the way out is the same verb, past tense.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/otsukaresama-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/otsukaresama-meaning-japanese/お疲れさまです is the most-used phrase in Japanese work life, and it is not about tiredness. What it does, who you say it to, and why ご苦労さま gets people in trouble.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/senpai-kouhai-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/senpai-kouhai-japanese/Learn how senpai, kouhai, and douki describe relationships in Japanese, how to address each person, and when polite speech fits school or work.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-days-ago-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-days-ago-in-japanese/Two days ago in Japanese is おととい ototoi when counted from today and 二日前 futsuka mae from any other moment. 3 tables, plus weeks, months and years.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kedo-japanese-meaning/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kedo-japanese-meaning/Learn how kedo means but between Japanese clauses and softens requests, refusals, and introductions when it appears at the end of a sentence.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kyuukei-vs-kyuuka-japanese-break/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kyuukei-vs-kyuuka-japanese-break/Learn how kyuukei, kyuuka, and yasumi describe breaks and leave in Japanese, and why taking leave uses the verb toru instead of suru.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sensei-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sensei-meaning-japanese/先生 literally means "born before" — someone further along a path. It covers doctors, politicians and artists, and is the one title you cannot apply to yourself.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tada-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tada-meaning-japanese/Learn how tada can mean free of charge, nothing more than, or but in Japanese, and use its position in a sentence to work out the intended meaning.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/asking-directions-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/asking-directions-in-japanese/すみません、駅はどこですか gets you a direction; understanding the answer needs まっすぐ, 右, 左 and 曲がる. Here is the full exchange, plus 最寄り駅 and how to check you understood.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/at-least-in-japanese-sukunakutomo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/at-least-in-japanese-sukunakutomo/"At least" in Japanese depends on intent: 少なくとも states a minimum, せめて makes a wish ("at least let me pay"), and 最低でも sets a hard floor like a deadline.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/baai-grammar-in-case-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/baai-grammar-in-case-japanese/Learn how to use baai wa for formal conditions in Japanese, how it differs from tara and toki, and why it can sound stiff among friends.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/douyatte-how-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/douyatte-how-in-japanese/How in Japanese splits into どうやって (method), どう (state), and どうすればいいですか (advice). Comparison table showing which one fits. Updated 2026.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ganbatte-meaning-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ganbatte-meaning-japanese/頑張って and 頑張れ both push someone to try harder, which backfires on a person already trying their hardest. 13 example sentences show the safer alternative.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hajimete-vs-saisho-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hajimete-vs-saisho-japanese/Learn the difference between hajimete for a first experience, saisho ni for sequence, and the similar verb form meaning to begin in Japanese.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/honne-tatemae-meaning/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/honne-tatemae-meaning/Explore honne and tatemae in Japanese, from private thoughts to socially appropriate words, and learn why politeness is not simply dishonesty.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundhttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-do-you-say-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-do-you-say-in-japanese/Learn how to ask what something is called in Japanese, use shorter everyday phrases, and ask for a word even when you do not know it in English.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-in-japanese/Learn to ask how long something takes in Japanese with kakaru, answer questions about time and cost, and avoid a particle mix-up that matters.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-ask-someone-to-repeat-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-ask-someone-to-repeat-in-japanese/すみません、もう一度お願いします is the core phrase. 21 example lines add slower speech, simpler words, and how to name the one part you missed.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-a-lot-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-a-lot-in-japanese/A lot in Japanese is たくさん or いっぱい — but not 多い, which cannot sit before a noun. Comparison table shows where each word goes. Updated 2026.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-expensive-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-expensive-in-japanese/Expensive in Japanese is 高い (takai), which also means tall. Learn 安い, 高すぎます, polite ways to decline, and what to say about gifts.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-or-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-or-in-japanese/Or in Japanese: か links alternatives, それとも introduces another option in a question, and または suits written text. Table and practice. Updated 2026.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-your-age-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-your-age-in-japanese/Ages take the counter 歳: 三十歳 is さんじゅっさい. Four numbers change the reading, and 20 has its own word — 二十歳 is はたち. Here is the full set plus how to ask politely.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/igai-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/igai-grammar-japanese/Learn how igai means other than in Japanese, how positive and negative verbs change its effect, and how it compares with hoka ni and o nozoite.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-dialects-hougen/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-dialects-hougen/Japanese dialects differ in copula, negation, vocabulary and pitch. Here is what 方言 changes, the main regional groups, and why some get subtitles on TV.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-duration-counters-kan/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-duration-counters-kan/Learn how Japanese distinguishes clock times and calendar dates from durations, with counters for hours and months and tricky readings explained.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-frequency-adverbs/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-frequency-adverbs/Always in Japanese is いつも, sometimes is ときどき. See the full frequency scale and why あまり and ぜんぜん only work with a negative verb.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-hobbies-vocabulary/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-hobbies-vocabulary/趣味は何ですか is easy to ask and surprisingly hard to answer well. Here is the vocabulary, the 〜ことです and 〜のが好きです patterns, and why a bare noun often sounds flat.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-personality-adjectives/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-personality-adjectives/Learn Japanese personality adjectives, from kind and serious to cheerful, and spot words that sound like compliments but can cause offense.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-position-words/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-position-words/Learn Japanese position words, how no connects them to nouns, and how choosing ni or de changes what you say about a location or activity.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-sneeze-hakushon-and-what-to-say/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-sneeze-hakushon-and-what-to-say/Japanese has no everyday equivalent of "bless you" — the normal response to a sneeze is silence. If someone keeps sneezing and looks unwell, say 大丈夫ですか or お大事に.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-superlative-ichiban/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-superlative-ichiban/Learn how to form Japanese superlatives with ichiban, compare it with mottomo, and ask which option is best using natural question patterns.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-transportation-vocabulary/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-transportation-vocabulary/Learn Japanese transportation vocabulary and the particles used with noru and oriru, so you can talk about getting on and off vehicles correctly.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-weather-vocabulary/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-weather-vocabulary/Japanese weather words split by whether you like the temperature: 暑い is unpleasantly hot, 暖かい is pleasantly warm, same split covers 寒い and 涼しい.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jukujikun-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/jukujikun-japanese/Discover how jukujikun gives a whole kanji compound one reading, why kyou is read as a unit, and how these readings differ from ateji in Japanese.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kara-made-from-to-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kara-made-from-to-japanese/Learn how kara and made mark starting and ending points in Japanese time and place, and why made ni changes until into a deadline meaning by.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nareru-japanese-get-used-to/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nareru-japanese-get-used-to/Get used to in Japanese is 慣れる, and it takes に, not を. Comparison table of 慣れました, 慣れています and related forms. Updated 2026.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-tsuite-vs-to-shite-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-tsuite-vs-to-shite-japanese/Learn how ni tsuite marks a topic and to shite marks a role in Japanese, plus how ni taishite differs and how to use the noun form ni tsuite no.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/otaku-slang-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/otaku-slang-japanese/Learn Japanese fandom slang such as oshi, toutoi, numa, and kamikai, with literal meanings and examples that help you use these words naturally.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTAkihabara & otaku Japanhttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/seiyuu-meaning-japanese-voice-actor/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/seiyuu-meaning-japanese-voice-actor/Explore what seiyuu means, how Japanese voice acting differs from dubbing elsewhere, and the vocabulary for discussing who voices each character.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teacheshttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/shikata-ga-nai-shouganai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/shikata-ga-nai-shouganai/Learn how shikata ga nai and shouganai express acceptance in Japanese, plus related patterns meaning there is no point or something is unbearable.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tadoku-reading-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tadoku-reading-japanese/Extensive reading (多読) means reading far below your ceiling without a dictionary. How to pick a level and find furigana material for a real novel, early.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTLesson notesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/to-iu-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/to-iu-japanese-grammar/〜という attaches a name or a piece of speech to a noun: 田中という人, 忙しいということ. Here is what the と is doing, the four jobs という does, and why っていう is the same word.Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/both-in-japanese-ryouhou-dochiramo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/both-in-japanese-ryouhou-dochiramo/Both in Japanese: 両方 (ryouhou), どちらも (dochiramo) or 〜とも. 2 comparison tables, 11 example sentences plus the trick that flips both into neither. 2026.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/congratulations-in-japanese-omedetou/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/congratulations-in-japanese-omedetou/Learn how to say congratulations in Japanese for birthdays, weddings, graduations, and New Year, plus casual forms and when to avoid them.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/de-gozaimasu-meaning-service-keigo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/de-gozaimasu-meaning-service-keigo/でございます is the extra-formal version of です. Here is when it is used, how it differs from ございます and いらっしゃいます, and why 〜になります on a coffee cup is a famous mistake.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-haircut-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-haircut-in-japanese/Learn Japanese words for haircuts, trimming, and shaving, plus practical salon and barber phrases to explain how you want your hair cut.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-hello-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-hello-in-japanese/Japanese greetings depend on time of day and relationship, and several have no English equivalent — おはよう, こんにちは, お疲れ様, ただいま — and when each one fires.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-no-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-no-in-japanese/いいえ answers yes/no questions, but a bare いいえ is rarely how Japanese refuses. Here is how they actually refuse — ちょっと, 大丈夫です, 難しいです.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-sick-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-sick-in-japanese/Learn Japanese words for feeling sick, how to describe your symptoms, and practical phrases for telling your workplace you need a day off.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-sorry-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-sorry-in-japanese/すみません is the middle rung of the Japanese apology ladder: ごめん for friends, 申し訳ありません at work. Which fits, why すみません also means thank you, and how to reply.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-thank-you-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-say-thank-you-in-japanese/ありがとうございます is thank you for now; ありがとうございました closes the whole thing. The full ladder from ありがとう to 助かりました and おかげさまで, plus what to reply.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-study-japanese-by-yourself/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-study-japanese-by-yourself/Build a practical Japanese self-study routine with kana, grammar, listening, and speaking exercises, plus ways to spot gaps and get useful feedback.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTStart hereN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/i-love-you-in-japanese-suki-aishiteru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/i-love-you-in-japanese-suki-aishiteru/Learn why Japanese couples rarely say aishiteru, what suki communicates, why it uses ga, and how people express love in everyday conversation.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-colors-akai-vs-midori-no/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-colors-akai-vs-midori-no/赤い, 青い, 白い, 黒い, 黄色い and 茶色い are い-adjectives; every other colour, including 緑 (green), is a noun that needs の before another noun — 緑の車, not 緑い車.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-family-words-ani-vs-oniisan/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-family-words-ani-vs-oniisan/Brother in Japanese is 兄 ani for your own and お兄さん oniisan for someone else's. 2 tables and 11 examples cover the family words you need and the uchi-soto rule.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-numbers-1-100/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-numbers-1-100/Learn to build Japanese numbers from 1 to 100, handle alternate readings for 4, 7, and 9, understand the 10,000 unit, and start counting objects.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTStart hereN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-self-introduction-jikoshoukai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-self-introduction-jikoshoukai/A Japanese 自己紹介 (jikoshoukai) follows a fixed five-part shape: greeting, name, where you are from, one detail, and closing — the same template every time.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-taste-words-amai-suppai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-taste-words-amai-suppai/Japanese taste words cover the same five basics as English — 甘い (sweet), 酸っぱい (sour), しょっぱい (salty), 苦い (bitter), 辛い (spicy) — plus texture words English lacks.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-writing-systems/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-writing-systems/Hiragana, katakana, and kanji each do a different job inside one sentence. Learn what every script signals and how to start reading Japanese today.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTStart hereN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yabai-meaning-japanese-slang/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yabai-meaning-japanese-slang/Explore how yabai shifted from dangerous to a flexible Japanese slang word, learn to read its context, and discover terms like gachi and emoi.Tue, 15 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/aru-vs-iru-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/aru-vs-iru-japanese/ある vs いる both mean "there is": いる for things that move under their own power, ある for everything else, plants and events included. Negative of ある is ない.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bakari-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/bakari-grammar-japanese/ばかり after a noun means "nothing but" and usually criticises. After a past verb it means "just did." Same word, two jobs, and the た version is subjective.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/beki-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/beki-grammar-japanese/べき is a moral should — what is right, not what is advisable. Pointed at a person it sounds preachy, which is why ほうがいい exists.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dake-vs-shika/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/dake-vs-shika/だけ states a fact. しか demands a negative verb and adds "and that is not enough." 1000円だけあります and 1000円しかありません are different feelings.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/de-vs-ni-japanese-particles/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/de-vs-ni-japanese-particles/に marks a point — a destination, a location of existence, a time. で marks where an action happens. 東京に住む but 東京で働く, and the verb decides.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hazu-grammar-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hazu-grammar-japanese/はず means "it should be so, based on what I know." It never means "you should do this" — that is べき, and English hides the difference behind one word.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hitsuyou-ga-aru-need-to-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hitsuyou-ga-aru-need-to-japanese/"Need to" in Japanese is 〜必要がある — it states a requirement as a fact rather than an obligation, and attaches with が, not です, where most learners go wrong.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hoshii-vs-tai/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hoshii-vs-tai/ほしい wants a noun, たい wants a verb, and neither can be used about another person. 彼は行きたいです is wrong — it has to be 行きたがっています.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/i-adjectives-vs-na-adjectives/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/i-adjectives-vs-na-adjectives/い-adjectives conjugate themselves; な-adjectives behave like nouns. きれい and 嫌い end in い and belong to the second group, which is where everyone gets caught.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/iku-vs-kuru-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/iku-vs-kuru-japanese/行く and 来る in Japanese both anchor to the speaker: 来る means moving toward the speaker, so answering a call with 今行きます ("I'm going") is correct, not 来ます.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/janakute-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/janakute-japanese-grammar/じゃなくて is the connecting negative for nouns: 学生じゃなくて、先生です. い-adjectives take くなくて, and verbs split between なくて and ないで depending on meaning.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-idioms-kanyouku/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-idioms-kanyouku/Most Japanese idioms are built from body parts, and a second family is built from other people's eyes. Both tell you something about how the language thinks.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-verb-groups/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-verb-groups/Group 1, Group 2 and the two irregulars. Some Group 1 verbs end in る too — 帰る, 走る, 知る — and the negative form is the test that never lies.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kamoshirenai-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kamoshirenai-grammar/かもしれない attaches to the plain form, but nouns and な-adjectives drop their だ first. 学生だかもしれない is wrong; 学生かもしれない is right.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/koto-vs-no-nominalizer/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/koto-vs-no-nominalizer/こと is for abstract facts, の for things you can see and hear. 泳ぐのを見た, never 泳ぐことを見た — and some verbs only accept one of them.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ku-naru-ni-naru-become-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ku-naru-ni-naru-become-japanese/い-adjectives take く, な-adjectives and nouns take に, and then both take なる. 忙しいになる is the error almost every beginner makes at least once.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mama-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mama-japanese-grammar/まま describes a state left unchanged. It takes the past form for verbs — 靴を履いたまま, never 履くまま — and そのまま is the phrase you will use most.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mitai-rashii-you-da/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mitai-rashii-you-da/ようだ is your own judgement, みたい is its casual twin, and らしい means you heard it somewhere. The attachment rules differ too, which is where it gets messy.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-yoru-to-according-to/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-yoru-to-according-to/〜によると names your source, and the sentence has to end in そうです or らしいです. Ending it flatly turns reported information into your own claim.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/noni-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/noni-japanese-grammar/のに means "even though" and adds disappointment or surprise. けど is the neutral version. If you would not roll your eyes saying it, use けど.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/question-word-mo-negative-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/question-word-mo-negative-japanese/"Nothing" in Japanese is 何も plus a negative verb — 何も食べません means "I eat nothing." The same pattern gives you "nobody" and "nowhere" too.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sugiru-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sugiru-japanese-grammar/すぎる attaches to a verb stem or a bare adjective: 高すぎる, not 高いすぎる. It becomes a Group 2 verb, and in casual speech it stops meaning "too" at all.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tabi-ni-every-time-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tabi-ni-every-time-japanese/〜たびに needs an occasion, not a clock. Every time you meet someone is 会うたびに; every three days is 3日ごとに. The two are not interchangeable.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tame-ni-vs-you-ni/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tame-ni-vs-you-ni/ために needs a verb you control; ように needs one you do not. That single test decides which to use, and it explains why 忘れないために is wrong.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tari-tari-japanese-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tari-tari-japanese-grammar/〜たり〜たりする lists example actions and implies you left some out. It is built from the past form, and the sentence must end in する — the piece learners drop.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-kara-grammar-after-doing/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-kara-grammar-after-doing/〜てから says one action must finish before the next begins. Swap the て for a た and you get 食べたから — "because I ate" — which is a different sentence entirely.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-oku-grammar-doing-in-advance/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-oku-grammar-doing-in-advance/〜ておく means doing something in advance, or leaving it as it is. In speech it collapses to 〜とく, which is why 買っとく sounds like a word you never learned.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/to-omoimasu-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/to-omoimasu-japanese/と quotes a whole sentence, and what it quotes must be in plain form. 高いですと思います is wrong; 高いと思います is right. The politeness lives on 思います.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/toki-grammar-when-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/toki-grammar-when-japanese/〜とき means "when," but the tense in front of it is relative, not absolute. 日本に行くとき happens before you arrive; 日本に行ったとき happens after.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wake-dewa-nai-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wake-dewa-nai-grammar/One noun, four grammar points. わけではない is a partial denial, わけがない is a flat impossibility, and mixing them up makes you sound much harsher than you meant.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yasui-nikui-easy-hard-to-do/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yasui-nikui-easy-hard-to-do/Add やすい or にくい to a verb stem and you get a new い-adjective. But やすい also means "tends to," which is a different idea hiding in the same ending.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/you-ni-naru-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/you-ni-naru-grammar/〜ようになる marks a change in ability or habit that happened gradually. It is the sentence every learner actually wants: 日本語が話せるようになりました.Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ageru-kureru-morau-giving-receiving/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ageru-kureru-morau-giving-receiving/Japanese has two verbs for "give" because it tracks who the thing is moving toward. あげる goes away from you, くれる comes to you, もらう is you taking it.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anime-de-nihongo-wo-oboeta/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anime-de-nihongo-wo-oboeta/「アニメで覚えました」という生徒は毎週来ます。語彙は妙に豊かなのに、敬語だけが丸ごと抜けている——これがアニメ経由の日本語学習に共通する型です。授業で実際に起きた3つのつまずきと、その原因、そして日本語話者にとって面白い理由を、教える側の視点から書きました。Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT日本語で読むhttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ba-hodo-the-more-the-more/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ba-hodo-the-more-the-more/読めば読むほど means "the more you read, the more…". The verb appears twice — once in the ば form, once plain — and that repetition is the whole grammar point.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/causative-passive-japanese-saserareru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/causative-passive-japanese-saserareru/させられる stacks the causative and the passive to mean "I was made to do it," and with action verbs it carries a complaint. Plus the contraction nobody teaches.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/days-of-the-week-and-dates-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/days-of-the-week-and-dates-in-japanese/The seven weekday kanji are the same seven planets behind Tuesday and Saturday in English. Plus the irregular dates: ついたち, はつか, しがつ, くがつ.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hou-ga-ii-giving-advice/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hou-ga-ii-giving-advice/〜方がいい gives advice in Japanese by comparing two options — 行った方がいい means "you should go" — and it takes the past-tense verb even though it is about the future.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-ask-what-does-this-mean-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-ask-what-does-this-mean-in-japanese/Ask どういう意味ですか for a word's meaning, 何と言いますか to say it, 何と読みますか for a kanji. A 6-row cheat sheet and 10 practice questions.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-tell-time-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-to-tell-time-in-japanese/4時 is よじ, 9時 is くじ, and 3時 and 3時間 mean completely different things. The irregular readings, the に rule, and where 午前 goes.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-adjective-past-tense/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-adjective-past-tense/Japanese い-adjectives carry their own past tense: 高い becomes 高かった, never 高いでした. な-adjectives and nouns take でした. One 7-row card, 10 practice questions.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-causative-form-saseru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-causative-form-saseru/The causative means both "make someone do it" and "let someone do it". How to conjugate させる, and why に or を decides who is doing what to whom.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-conditionals-tara-reba-to-nara/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-conditionals-tara-reba-to-nara/Japanese has four ways to say "if": と means the result is automatic, ば is hypothetical, たら marks one specific event, and なら responds to what was just said.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-counters-how-many/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-counters-how-many/You cannot say "two beers" in Japanese without a counter. Learn つ, 人, 本, 枚, 個 and 杯, the sound changes that break them, and what to do when you forget one.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-filler-words/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-filler-words/えーと is thinking out loud, あの is aimed at the listener, なんか is "like". The fillers that buy you time, plus the あいづち that keep the other person talking.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-homophones/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-homophones/Japanese has many homophones because it has few sounds. Pitch separates some, kanji separates the rest, and speakers work around the ones that survive both.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-onomatopoeia-giongo-gitaigo/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-onomatopoeia-giongo-gitaigo/Japanese onomatopoeia splits into 擬音語 (giongo), actual sounds like ワンワン, and 擬態語 (gitaigo), states like ドキドキ or ワクワク — everyday adult words, not just comics.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-passive-form-rareru/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-passive-form-rareru/The passive is built from 〜れる／〜られる. Japanese also has a suffering passive — 雨に降られた, "I got rained on" — which English has no form for at all.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kara-vs-node-because-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kara-vs-node-because-japanese/から gives your own reason, ので just states how things are and reads softer in an apology. 18 example sentences show when to attach each one and why.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kasu-vs-kariru-lend-borrow/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kasu-vs-kariru-lend-borrow/"Lend" in Japanese is 貸す (kasu); "borrow" is 借りる (kariru) — the particle に does not tell you which, only the verb does. Pattern and examples here.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kore-sore-are-dore-demonstratives/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/kore-sore-are-dore-demonstratives/これ and この are not interchangeable, そ belongs to the listener, and あ is for things you both already know. One grid covers all twenty words.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mashou-grammar-lets-shall-i/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/mashou-grammar-lets-shall-i/ましょう assumes you already agree, ませんか asks first, and ましょうか offers to do it for you. Which one to use, and why ましょう can sound pushy to a boss.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/n-desu-explanatory-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/n-desu-explanatory-japanese/〜んです does not add meaning — it says "this explains something." How to build it, why 学生んです is wrong, and why too many んですか sounds like an interrogation.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nagara-grammar-while-doing/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nagara-grammar-while-doing/〜ながら joins two actions by the same person, and the second one is the main action. How to build it, why 間に exists, and the literary ながら that means "although".Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nakutemo-ii-you-dont-have-to/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nakutemo-ii-you-dont-have-to/〜なくてもいい comes from the negative te-form and literally means "even if you don't, it's fine." How to build it, and why も disappears in speech.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/no-particle-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/no-particle-japanese/の links nouns, replaces a noun you already know, turns verbs into nouns, and ends casual questions. Why 高いの本 is wrong and 赤いの is right.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sae-grammar-even-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sae-grammar-even-japanese/さえ picks the least likely example to make a point, and 〜さえ〜ば means "if only that one thing". How it eats を and が, and why すら is its bookish twin.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/shi-grammar-listing-reasons/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/shi-grammar-listing-reasons/〜し lists reasons and implies you have left some out. One し alone is enough, and it is why 疲れたし、帰ろう sounds so much more natural than 疲れたから.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/shidai-grammar-as-soon-as-depends-on/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/shidai-grammar-as-soon-as-depends-on/次第 does three different jobs: 着き次第 means "as soon as", 天気次第 means "depends on the weather", and 〜次第です closes business emails. How to tell them apart.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sou-desu-looks-like-vs-i-heard/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/sou-desu-looks-like-vs-i-heard/雨が降りそうです and 雨が降るそうです differ by one syllable and mean completely different things. How the two そう attach, and why よさそう is not いいそう.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-kudasai-making-requests-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-kudasai-making-requests-japanese/〜てください is an instruction with a please on it. How to build it, the negative 〜ないでください, and the four rungs above it for when you need to actually ask.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-shimau-chatta-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-shimau-chatta-grammar/てしまう does two jobs at once: it finishes an action completely, and it adds regret. Here is how to tell the two apart, and why ちゃった is everywhere in anime.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/teiru-form-progressive-and-state/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/teiru-form-progressive-and-state/〜ている has two meanings — an action in progress, and a state left behind. The verb decides which, and that is why 知っている is "I know" and 行っている is "has gone".Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/temo-grammar-even-if-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/temo-grammar-even-if-japanese/〜ても is the te-form plus も. It means "even if," and with a question word it becomes 何をしても — "no matter what I do." Plus when けど is right instead.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/transitive-intransitive-japanese-verbs/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/transitive-intransitive-japanese-verbs/Japanese has verb pairs where English has one word. 開ける takes を and names who did it; 開く takes が and does not. The endings that hint at which is which.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tsumori-grammar-intending-to/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/tsumori-grammar-intending-to/つもり states a settled intention. 〜ないつもり and つもりはない are not the same strength, and 〜たつもり means you only thought you had done it.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wa-vs-ga-japanese-particles/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wa-vs-ga-japanese-particles/は sets the topic, が points at the subject. Start with the question-word rule — 誰が, never 誰は — and the rest of は vs が follows from it.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wasei-eigo-english-words-that-arent/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/wasei-eigo-english-words-that-arent/マンション is not a mansion and コンセント is not consent. A guide to 和製英語 — where these words come from, the four types, and why they are hardest for English speakers.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-question-words-nani-doko-itsu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-question-words-nani-doko-itsu/Japanese question words — 何 (what), どこ (where), いつ (when), 誰 (who), どう (how), なぜ (why) — slot into the sentence where the answer goes, then add か to ask.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/keigo-vs-casual-japanese-when-to-switch/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/keigo-vs-casual-japanese-when-to-switch/Keigo has five official categories, but three jobs matter first: polite, respectful and humble. Here is what each does and when speakers actually switch.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/koto-ga-dekiru-potential-form/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/koto-ga-dekiru-potential-form/Japanese has two ways to say "I can" — 話せます and 話すことができます. Here is how to build both, and the particle that quietly changes between them.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nakereba-naranai-must-have-to/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/nakereba-naranai-must-have-to/Nakereba naranai means "must" or "have to" in Japanese, expressing obligation. For example, 明日、早く起きなければなりません means "I have to get up early tomorrow."Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-yotte-grammar-depends-on/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ni-yotte-grammar-depends-on/It depends in Japanese is 場合によります. によって names the factor: 人によります. Comparison table covering によって, 次第, により. Updated 2026.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN3https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/podcast-ep1/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/podcast-ep1/Shiritori: say a word starting with the last sound of the one before it, going around the circle — you lose on ん, a repeat, or no answer. Rules here.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTFrom the podcasthttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/podcast-ep43/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/podcast-ep43/Yes, you can study Japanese with anime — but two traps wait: genres that teach Japanese nobody speaks, and voices too clear for real speech. How to avoid both.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTFrom the podcasthttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/podcast-ep48/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/podcast-ep48/Seichi junrei (聖地巡礼) means visiting the real places an anime is set in — the topic of episode 48 of the NihonGO podcast. How to plan the trip, 5 FAQs and the Japanese you need.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTFrom the podcastN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ta-koto-ga-arimasu-have-you-ever/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ta-koto-ga-arimasu-have-you-ever/たことがあります is not a past tense — it says a time exists when you did something. How to build it, and why it breaks if you use it for yesterday.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-form-japanese-how-to-make-it/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-form-japanese-how-to-make-it/The te-form connects a verb to what follows without ending the sentence: drop -u, add -te (or -de) — the exact rule depends on the verb group, below.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-mo-ii-desu-ka-asking-permission/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-mo-ii-desu-ka-asking-permission/Te mo ii desu ka means "may I" or "can I" in Japanese, asking permission to do something. For example, 写真を撮ってもいいですか means "May I take a photo?"Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-wa-ikemasen-prohibition/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/te-wa-ikemasen-prohibition/てはいけません states a rule, not a request. Here is how it differs from だめ, ないでください, and the anime shout んじゃない, with a strength ladder.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yamanote-line-game/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yamanote-line-game/The Yamanote Line game: pick a category, clap a steady rhythm, and name something in it on your beat. Miss, repeat or break rhythm and you are out. Rules here.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTFrom the podcasthttps://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yori-no-hou-ga-comparison-grammar/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yori-no-hou-ga-comparison-grammar/AよりBの方が puts the winner right before の方が. The other basic shape, AはBより, puts it first. The full comparison set, including ほど and 一番.Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTGrammar, one piece at a timeN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/akihabara-shop-phrases/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/akihabara-shop-phrases/Ten Japanese shopping phrases for Akihabara: これ、いくらですか？ (How much is this?), what staff will say to you, and the one question that finds the item you came for.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTAkihabara & otaku JapanN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anime-japanese-sounds-rude/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anime-japanese-sounds-rude/Anime is full of real Japanese — spoken by characters who are allowed to be rude. Here is what to keep, what to soften, and how to tell which is which.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/best-anime-to-learn-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/best-anime-to-learn-japanese/Choose anime that builds useful Japanese, compare six shows, avoid copying character speech, and turn short scenes into everyday conversation practice.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/da-vs-desu/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/da-vs-desu/Learn when to use だ and です, how verbs and adjectives change, and why plain forms belong inside polite sentences, with examples and practice.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/first-lesson-what-happens/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/first-lesson-what-happens/See what happens in a first Japanese lesson, from introductions to speaking practice, with useful phrases and a clear plan for your next step.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTStart hereN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hiragana-katakana-kanji-order/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/hiragana-katakana-kanji-order/Learn hiragana first, katakana next, and kanji through useful words. I explain the order, study-time estimates, common mistakes, and reading practice.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTStart hereN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/honorifics-san-kun-chan-sama/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/honorifics-san-kun-chan-sama/Learn what san, kun, chan, and sama signal about relationships, how to choose a name, and when dropping an honorific can sound too familiar.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-long-to-learn-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/how-long-to-learn-japanese/The Foreign Service Institute number is 2200 hours, but ordinary conversation arrives far sooner. See what each stage costs and how to reach it faster.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTStart hereN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-subtitles-method/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/japanese-subtitles-method/Learn a manageable Japanese subtitle routine for anime: study one short scene, choose useful lines, and practise speaking without losing the fun.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ore-boku-watashi/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/ore-boku-watashi/"I" in Japanese depends on who is speaking: わたし is the safe, neutral default, ぼく is soft and used by men, and おれ is blunt, for men with close friends only.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTHow you soundN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/what-apps-cannot-teach/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/what-apps-cannot-teach/Learn what Japanese app drills leave out, from choosing polite speech to repairing misunderstandings, and practice turning familiar words into conversation.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTStart hereN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yare-yare-anime-phrases/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/yare-yare-anime-phrases/Learn what yare yare means, how tone changes eight familiar anime phrases, and how to use them naturally in everyday Japanese conversations.Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTWhat anime teachesN4https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/two-questions-that-keep-a-conversation-alive/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/two-questions-that-keep-a-conversation-alive/Learn two simple Japanese questions for asking about meaning and finding missing words, then practise using the answers to keep a conversation going.Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/talking-about-your-job-in-japanese/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/talking-about-your-job-in-japanese/Learn to describe your job and workplace in Japanese, choose the right particle, and answer everyday work questions with clear examples.Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTTalking to real peopleN5https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anison-bon-odori-goes-global/https://www.animesenseijp.com/blog/anison-bon-odori-goes-global/Discover how anime songs bring bon-odori to overseas conventions, and learn useful Japanese for joining the dance and talking with other fans.Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMTAkihabara & otaku JapanN4