Tag - language

 
 

LANGUAGE

Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 13, 2018
Japanese surnames: Among the usual suspects, you're bound to find some curveballs
How many Japanese surnames are there anyway? It's a tricky question, because the total depends on how you decide to count them.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Aug 13, 2018
The good, the bad and the 'by all means' of 'zehi' in Japanese
A closer look at u662fu975e(u305cu3072), which means 'good and/or bad' or 'by all means.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 6, 2018
Spooky Japanese tales will scare the summer's heat out of you
Until recently, summer nights involved turning off the AC and doing things like kurumaza ni natte kaidanbanashi (sitting in a circle and telling ghost stories).
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Aug 6, 2018
Raise a glass, count your squid, say you're full but watch your tone with 'hai'
Introduce the word u4e00u676f (u3044u3063u3071u3044, one cup) and its related expressions.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 30, 2018
Get a handle on kanji in Japanese with the hand classifier
Considering the versatility of the human hand, it should come as no surprise that it can be found within more than 1,000 kanji.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jul 30, 2018
In Japanese, 'sorosoro' shows what's coming slowly and carefully, or what's coming up
The adverb u305du308du305du308d can be used to indicate that an action is done not only slowly but also carefully, or that it is almost the time for something.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 30, 2018
Let's discuss the heat wave
Twelve people died and nearly 10,000 people were taken to hospitals with heat exhaustion or heatstroke during the week through July 15, as a heat wave continued to scorch wide areas of Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 23, 2018
Wherever you go in Japanese, you'll always find your 'tokoro'
The word 'tokoro' can be used to pin down a place in space, time or in a more abstract sense.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jul 23, 2018
Much ado about 'nothing but' in Japanese with 'shika nai'
Introducing some uses of the phrase Xu3057u304bu306au3044/u3057u304bu3042u308au307eu305bu3093 (There is nothing but X).
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jul 23, 2018
Kids cheer on their bugs at the Kabutomushi Sumo Competition
The National Kabutomushi Sumo Tournament, where rhinoceros beetles are made to fight on tree branches instead of sumo rings, was held recently in Yamagata Prefecture.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 23, 2018
Let's discuss the flooding disaster in western Japan
Thousands of people are still staying at shelters, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, after special storm warnings were issued in eight prefectures in western and southwestern Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jul 16, 2018
There's quite a lot you can do in Japanese with 'nakanaka'
Introducing some uses of the word u306au304bu306au304b (quite)
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jul 16, 2018
Three Mount Fuji trails open for the climbing season
The three trails on the Shizuoka Prefecture side of Mount Fuji opened on July 10 at the start of the climbing season.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 16, 2018
Let's discuss the death penalty in Japan
While the execution of cult founder Shoko Asahara may offer a degree of closure on a string of crimes that shocked Japan, it also creates an opportunity for further debate about the death penalty.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 11, 2018
Speak Japanese like a biker punk from the future with 'Akira'
Those looking to give their Japanese a bit of biker edge could do worse than take in a screening of the classic sci-fi anime 'Akira.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jul 9, 2018
'Beki,' the little Japanese word that's 'should'
Introducing some uses of the word u3079u304d (should).
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jul 9, 2018
'Hidden Christian' sites added to World Heritage list
UNESCO has decided to add 12 sites in southwestern Japan linked to the history of the country's persecuted Christians to the World Heritage list.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 2, 2018
In Japanese, finding 'beauty' in plump sheep and toadies
Kanji with ovine roots turns up all over the place in Japanese vocabulary.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jul 2, 2018
Take care in Japanese when using 'sewa' or you could offend
Introducing some uses of the noun u4e16u8a71 (u305bu308f, care) and related expressions.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?