Tag - vocabulary

 
 

VOCABULARY

Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 9, 2023
Make sure your nouns and verbs match when talking about what to wear
Did you notice more kimono than usual being worn on Jan. 9 this year? That's because it was Coming of Age Day, an occasion for which Japanese youth sport their 'Sunday best.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 3, 2023
Sticking to your Japanese New Year’s resolutions
When speaking about resolutions, it's better to use a more decisive grammatical structure in Japanese than the regular 'I want' pattern.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 30, 2022
There’s more going on in a haiku than just the 5-7-5 syllable rule
Dive into one of Japan's most fascinating art forms during the holidays and think up a couple of haiku poems to celebrate the season.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 23, 2022
A few phrases for when you head to dinner at your in-laws' house
Maybe you just want to compliment someone's cooking, or maybe you want to avoid a fight? Either way, brushing up on some Japanese before heading to your in-laws doesn't hurt.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 16, 2022
If you thought 2022 was a battle, this year's top kanji pick shows you weren’t alone
The kanji of the year for 2022 is used for wars and struggles, while this year's buzzwords referenced sports lingo and a Norwegian pop tune.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / Vocabulary Boost
Dec 16, 2022
Merriam-Webster’s word of the year is ‘gaslighting,’ and don't try to tell us there isn't a Japanese equivalent
Merriam-Webster saw a huge spike in people looking up the word “gaslighting” in 2022, and Japan is also no stranger to the concept.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 9, 2022
The language of c-c-c-cold!: You can say more than just ‘samui desu
The temperature may be dropping but that doesn't mean your vocabulary can't be on the rise. Start expanding on the ways you can express how you feel during the winter.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 2, 2022
The linguistic side-effects of yet another year with COVID-19
As we the end of our third year of life in the pandemic, it's time for a review of all the newly popular vocabulary that has sprung up as a result.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 25, 2022
How to put your best foot forward when stepping into a Japanese tatami room
You get an invite to your landlord's place, which is great. However, now you have to navigate the etiquette rules of the tatami room they will entertain you in.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 18, 2022
Warming up to onsen: The quirks and customs of public baths
Japan's hot spring baths are often on the to-do list of many tourists, just make sure you know the rules before heading inside.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 2, 2022
Use 'Book Week' to finally get to those titles piling up on your shelves
Started by publishers and librarians decades ago, Book Week is a way to get people reading. Though, the fact that it's autumn may also provide some encouragement.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 28, 2022
If there's something strange in your neighborhood, it could be a yōkai
Yu014dkai can take any form as they are our fears and imaginations made manifest. They make for easy scapegoats, and can be used as warnings to keep children on their best behavior.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / Vocabulary Boost
Oct 28, 2022
A verb you're bound to wear out on Halloween
The verb 'kiru' (to wear) is a necessary bit of a vocabulary to know on a night like Halloween. Its usage is about more than just costumes, though.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 21, 2022
Walk this way, talk this way: The Japanese vocabulary of going on a pilgrimage
Get back to nature and take a break from the rat race by embarking on one of Japan's many storied pilgrimages.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 14, 2022
Planning a trip to Japan? Here are a few key terms you can use at your hotel.
Hotel staff speak an honorific form of Japanese that isn't always the first thing taught to budding language students. However, understanding it can give an insight into the culture.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Oct 7, 2022
I know Japanese. Why can’t I read signs in Hokkaido?
A lot of the readings for kanji on Japan's northernmost island are connected to the language and culture of the Ainu, who are indigenous to Hokkaido.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 30, 2022
How can you fight climate change in Japan? Learn how to talk about it.
A good approach to speaking about hot-button topics in Japanese is to use so-called softeners so that your don't come off as too direct with your opinions.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 23, 2022
What to say (and what not to say) at a Japanese funeral
With the state funeral of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe taking place in the next few days, we take a look at how the Japanese traditionally mourn the recently departed.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 16, 2022
When breaking up in Japanese, be sure to give up the ghosting
It's hard to break up with someone in any language, but the inclination toward “ghosting” may make one side feel even worse.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 9, 2022
The study of Japanese slang is challenging and never stops. Luckily, it’s also a lot of fun.
Wes Robertson set out to engage with other linguists on Twitter and wound up creating a database for modern Japanese slang.

Longform

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