Tag - vocabulary

 
 

VOCABULARY

Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 18, 2021
Take in the beauty of Hokusai's wave and then give your verdict on it in Japanese
Learn the basics of art criticism in Japanese while taking in Katsushika Hokusai's iconic print, 'Under the Wave off Kanagawa.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 12, 2021
What exactly does it mean when someone tells you to ‘act your age’?
The phrase 'ii toshi shite' can make someone chuckle or could cause offense. Make sure you use it carefully.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jun 4, 2021
Dress like Naruto? Great cosplay. Speak like Naruto? Hmm, chotto
With anime's popularity booming, some may see it as a shortcut to learning Japanese. But you wouldn't necessarily learn English from Donald Duck, would you?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 14, 2021
When you find the right notes to learn Japanese, even karaoke can be your classroom
From children's lullabies to visual-kei, writing out lyrics and singing along to Japanese pop can help you with everyday conversation.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 4, 2021
Focus on sentence endings to 'see the future' in Japanese
Once you get an idea of what kinds of verbs come at the end of Japanese sentences, particularly in news reports, your brain can concentrate on deciphering the rest in more detail.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 30, 2021
With all due respect, here's how you give a speech at a Japanese wedding
Japanese uses a lot of set phrases on formal occasions, you'll need to know them if you're going to give a speech at a wedding.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 16, 2021
'Bidenese' returns interpreters and translators to a linguistic safe zone
Japanese translators made news when they expressed difficulties in translating former U.S. President Donald Trump. So, how are they doing with Joe Biden?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 9, 2021
LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai gives us an object lesson in referencing proverbs
LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai was called out for using the term 'tazan no ishi,' which in English can be described as an 'object lesson.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Apr 2, 2021
Put your yen to work with the language of investing
If you're looking at investing in your Japanese ability, check out some terms that center around the stock market.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / Vocabulary Boost
Mar 26, 2021
COVID-19 continues to infect the way we speak Japanese in 2021
Rebounds, dominoes and life after corona are some of the English terms that have been popping up in Japanese conversations recently.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 19, 2021
What makes beautiful Japanese? It's as simple as a morning greeting
A word that sounds good rolling off the tongue? Or an everyday greeting that lets people know you care? Japanese speakers sound off on what words they think are beautiful.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 12, 2021
Achieving solidarity requires more than words
With the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we're reminded of the solidarity of the people of Tohoku. Now if only we could find that unity in our politics.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 5, 2021
Emergency Japanese that, fingers crossed, you'll never need to use
As with most disasters, it's better if you do your preparations for some scenarios while things are safer. Of course, that includes knowing the language of emergencies.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 25, 2021
Japanese vaccine vocabulary is just what the doctor ordered
With coronavirus vaccines slowly making their way through the country, it's as good a time as any to administer a shot of new Japanese words and terms.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 18, 2021
Make your feelings about a situation crystal clear with ‘okage de’ and ‘sei de’
The words “okage de” and “sei de” both mean “because of,” but they have opposite nuances, with the former expressing a sense of gratitude and the latter expressing blame.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 5, 2021
The art of the Japanese pun: From classic poetry to dad jokes
Wordplay is used in a non-comical way even in traditional Japanese dishes at the holidays, with the names of ingredients recalling expressions of good tidings.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 29, 2021
Casting the demons out with some fiendish Japanese idioms
Setsubun comes before the arrival of spring and it's marked by efforts to cast demons out of your home. However, we can't get the demons out of the Japanese language.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 22, 2021
Radical recombinations: Capture the moment with created kanji
A yearly contest asks Japanese speakers to come up with new kanji to reflect modern times, providing a fun way to learn and understand the characters.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 19, 2021
A flurry of news means a ton of new Japanese vocabulary
The first few weeks of 2021 have been eventful to say the least. Make sure to take a note of the new vocabulary you're hearing in order to keep up with the talk of the town.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 8, 2021
Apologetic words abound amid a new wave of coronavirus cases
The vocabulary surrounding the state of emergency is back in the headlines as Tokyo gets set for new guidelines. When people go against those guidelines, well, the excuses start.

Longform

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