Tag - nihongo

 
 

NIHONGO

LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 7, 2016
Don't miss an opportunity when kikkake comes knocking
Introducing u304du3063u304bu3051, which identifies a clue, trigger, motivation or cause to start something.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Mar 7, 2016
Manga and anime goods store opens in Bangkok
An estimated 400 customers lined up in Bangkok for the opening of the first Thai branch of Animate, a Japanese manga and animation goods store.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Mar 7, 2016
Let's discuss the Tokyo Marathon
February in Tokyo was the season for running, as thousands prepared for one of the world's major sports events: the Tokyo Marathon.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 29, 2016
Joining Japanese words together to reveal the true nature of things
Once you understand how the pieces fit together, you can magically turn verbs into nouns and vice versa, expanding your Japanese vocabulary by leaps and bounds.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 29, 2016
Ramming home the point with dokoro ka
Introducing the meaning and usage of the particle of emphasis u3069u3053u308du304b and its related expressions.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 29, 2016
Bid for world heritage status for Christian sites retracted
The government has decided to retract its recommendation to UNESCO that a slew of churches and other Christian sites be listed as World Heritage sites.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 22, 2016
When it comes to taking the temperature and talking about it, Japanese is sensational
Where in English something is just 'cold,' in Japanese it's not so simple.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 22, 2016
Seeing the other side and defying expectations with 'han shite'
Today we will introduce the meaning and usage of the adverbial phrases Xu306bu53cd(u306fu3093)u3057u3066 (contrary to X) and Xu53cdu9762(u306fu3093u3081u3093) (on the contrary), which are mainly used in written language, formal speech, lectures or when talking about a rather serious theme. In the pattern X(noun/noun phrase)u306bu53cdu3057u3066Y(clause), X is usually a word like u4e88u60f3 (u3088u305du3046, anticipation), u671fu5f85 (u304du305fu3044, expectation), u4e88u6e2c (u3088u305du304f, prediction), u610fu5fd7 (u3044u3057, will) or u610fu601d (u3044u3057, intention), u6cd5u5f8b (u307bu3046u308au3064, law) or u30ebu30fcu30eb (rule), and Y is the result or fact that betrays the content of X. In Ms. Yamani's sentence in Situation 1, X is her and her staff's expectation that their product would sell better and Y is the fact that it is not. Its noun-modifying form is uff5eu306bu53cdu3057u305f, as in u5e38u8b58(u3058u3087u3046u3057u304d)u306bu53cdu3057u305fu884cu52d5(u3053u3046u3069u3046) (an action that defies common sense).
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 22, 2016
Password hacks as simple as 1-2-3-4-5-6
Even after tens of millions of people had their online accounts hacked, many Internet users still rely on easy-to-guess passwords.
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 17, 2016
Views from Tokyo and Chiba: Have you made any memorable gaffes while learning another language?
Japanese and foreign nationals share their favorite embarrassing missteps on the long journey to second-language fluency.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 15, 2016
It's the season of love: Won't someone please grab hold of my chin?
In Japan these days, it can seem as if love itself is on the decline — and that no one really cares.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 15, 2016
Since we've come this far, it's time for 'kara ni wa'
Introducing X (phrase) u304bu3089u306bu306f/u304bu3089u3068u3044u3063u3066Y (clause).
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 15, 2016
SMAP's 2003 single tops chart
An old CD single by SMAP returned to No. 1 in the charts as fans alarmed by news of the group's apparently imminent breakup launched a campaign to show their support for the group.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 8, 2016
Words about sentences: the Japanese vocab of crime and punishment
Navigating the terms and kanji involved in the penal process in Japan can be a trial in itself.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 8, 2016
Living up to great expectations with 'dake atte'
Introducing the meaning and usage of Xu3060u3051u3042u3063u3066Y.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 8, 2016
Japan tourism record broken in 2015
A record 19.73 million foreigners visited Japan in 2015, a 47.3 percent increase over the total for 2014.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Feb 1, 2016
Taking a stand and speaking from it with 'to shite'
Introducing various usages of the phrase Xu3068u3057u3066 (as/being X).
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 1, 2016
'Hunk' Nagoya gorilla stars in recruitment drive
A famous gorilla in Nagoya is starring in a video to promote the city's municipal job recruitment effort.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 1, 2016
Look to 'senpai' to help take your Japanese reading to the next level
If not for the generosity of several brave and patient souls, I would never have developed the foundation necessary to read on my own.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan