Tag - nihongo

 
 

NIHONGO

Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 28, 2020
Filled to the brim with tips on how to use 'zukume' and 'zukushi'
The suffixes 'zukume' and 'zukushi' express the idea of 'entirety' and 'variety,' and are sure to give you an edge in more formal situations.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jan 28, 2020
A robot-staffed cafe in Shibuya creates a buzz
A Kyodo article on a new robot cafe introduces us to Pepper and its friends.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 21, 2020
The great (and not-so-great) escapes of 2020
Whether it's Carlos Ghosn escaping the country, Prince Harry and Meghan escaping the royal family or someone trying to escape a bad party, there are a lot of ways to describe getting out of a situation in Japanese.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 21, 2020
At least 'semete' can help you describe the bare minimum in Japanese
The adverb 'semete' can mean 'at least' in English, but there's a nuance that goes with it that further specifies how it can be used.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jan 21, 2020
The Times picks Shinjiro Koizumi as someone to watch in 2020
A Kyodo article looks at the attention Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is receiving overseas.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 14, 2020
Life begins at 60 (or at least it starts anew)
Japan Times writer Daniel Morales celebrates his 60th column with a lesson on turning 60, a special birthday in Japan.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jan 14, 2020
Record low number of babies born in Japan in 2019
A Kyodo article looks at number of babies born in Japan last year while comparing it to the country's mortality rate.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 14, 2020
If you study just one thing this week, make it 'bakari'
The word 'bakari' can be used in many situations in Japanese and can be seen in some of these cases as a replacement for the two different meanings of the English word 'just.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 7, 2020
Divining fortunes and reading blood types in the Year of the Rat
It's the Year of the Rat and writer Haruka Murayama dips into the language of the zodiac.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 7, 2020
Despite the fact 'noni' is difficult for some, it's still a particle you should learn early
Whether it's used to connect sentences or simply to add emphasis, 'noni' is important to convey the idea of 'even though.'
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jan 6, 2020
'Low IQ' kids, parental rights and problematic terminology dogged Japan's international community in 2019
Of the issues non-Japanese had to deal with in the past year (and even the past decade), some were major news stories and some fell quietly into the cracks.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Dec 31, 2019
Cleaning house (and head) at the end of the year
In the tradition of year-end cleaning, writer Daniel Morales takes a look at his Japanese study notes and tidies up some loose ends.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 31, 2019
Uh, if you want to speak Japanese like a local, you'll, er, need to master 'eeto' and 'anō'
Words expressing hesitation and thoughtfulness can differ depending on the formality of a situation.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Dec 31, 2019
'Hagoita' paddles feature big names of 2019
A Kyodo article on Hagoita paddles comes filled with the kanji of this year's newsmakers.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 24, 2019
'Tis the season for a lot of gift-giving
If you want to give gifts at Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year's Eve, then get the language of giving and receiving down pat
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 24, 2019
You've got nothing to lose if you start studying the meanings of 'motomoto'
The word 'motomoto' conveys a sense of 'originally,' but it can also be used to express that you have nothing to lose in a given situation.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Dec 23, 2019
Brave Blossoms motto 'One Team' is 2019's Japanese buzzword of the year
A Kyodo article explains why 'One Team' is the one winner of this year's buzzword award and looks at what other terms caused buzz in 2019.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Dec 17, 2019
What would a 'kanji of the decade' say about the state of Japan?
This year's kanji of the year is 'u4ee4,' but writer Paul Dargan posits a guess as to what the kanji of the decade might be while looking back on the annual tradition and what the top picks say about the state of the country.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 17, 2019
The structure 'to itta' is a great example of the ways Japanese give examples
Not to be confused with 'to iu,' the structure that uses 'to itta' can help when you're providing examples for things in a designated category.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Dec 10, 2019
The grammar point known as 'to iu'
When you're trying to describe what something is in Japanese, the structure 'to iu' can come in very handy.

Longform

A store clerk tries to cool things down in front of their shop by spraying a hose.
Is extreme weather changing the way Japan shops?