It looks like you're using an ad blocker.

To enjoy our content, please include The Japan Times on your ad-blocker's list of approved sites.

Thank you for supporting our journalism.

  • HOME DELIVERY |
  • SUBSCRIBE |
  • Login
  • My Account
TODAY'S PRINT EDITION

The Japan Times The Japan Times

grammar

  • Login
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • My Account
  • HOME DELIVERY ≫
  • (FREE ARTICLE)
  • MENU
  • Search
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Life
  • Community
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • City Guide
  • Support
  • Search
  • News
    • National
    • World
    • Business
    • Asia Pacific
    • Reference
    • Columns
    • Multimedia
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Commentary
    • Cartoons
  • Life
    • Travel
    • Digital
    • Food & Drink
    • Environment
    • Style & Design
    • Language
    • Lifestyle
    • People
    • Columns
    • Multimedia
  • Community
    • Voices
    • Issues
    • Our Lives
    • Event listings
    • How-tos
    • Columns
  • Culture
    • Film
    • Music
    • Art
    • Stage
    • Events
    • Festivals
    • Books
    • TV
    • Columns
    • Multimedia
  • Sports
    • Rugby
    • Baseball
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    • Sumo
    • Figure Skating
    • Tennis
    • More Sports
    • Columns
    • Multimedia
  • City Guide
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • Support
    • About us
    • Faqs
Tell people your hopes and wishes using '<em>kana</em>'

Language | WELL SAID May 26, 2020

Tell people your hopes and wishes using 'kana'

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro

Stating your desires in Japanese can be done using a number of different structures.

It would be great if you could master '<em>to ii</em>'

Language | WELL SAID May 19, 2020

It would be great if you could master 'to ii'

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro

A grammar lesson looks at the structures "X to ii" and X-ba yokatta no ni" as was of suggesting an outcome would be good.

The adjective '<em>hoshii</em>' is something you'll want to remember

Language | WELL SAID May 12, 2020

The adjective 'hoshii' is something you'll want to remember

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro

Adding "hoshii" to a verb can help you express an informal request or wish in a different way than the "~tai" form.

<em>'Nashi ni'</em> and <em>'nuki de'</em> will help you do without

Language | WELL SAID Apr 28, 2020

'Nashi ni' and 'nuki de' will help you do without

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro

The "nashi ni" structure can sound somewhat formal, so you wouldn't necessarily use it when you want to hold the bacon on a pasta dish. That's where "nuki de" comes in.

You can count on '<em>zutsu</em>' to help with dividing up your Japanese study tasks

Language | WELL SAID Apr 21, 2020

You can count on 'zutsu' to help with dividing up your Japanese study tasks

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro

A grammar lesson goes over each and every aspect of the particle "zutsu," which is used to indicate both quantity and degree.

Expressing a sense of degree with '<em>kurai</em>'

Language | WELL SAID Apr 14, 2020

Expressing a sense of degree with 'kurai'

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro

The particle "kurai" is very helpful in trying to illustrate the degree of something happening, though translating it isn't as straightforward as you'd think.

What to do when a Japanese word shows signs of needing '<em>meku</em>' attached to it

Language | WELL SAID Apr 7, 2020

What to do when a Japanese word shows signs of needing 'meku' attached to it

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Toshiro

Attaching the verb "meku" to certain Japanese words can emphasize the idea of showing signs of something or appearing to look like something.

The Japanese words used to encourage self-restraint

Language | BILINGUAL Mar 31, 2020

The Japanese words used to encourage self-restraint

by Shaun Mckenna

As concern over the new coronavirus increases so does a Japanese learner's vocabulary. Get to know the words that are most commonly being used in news stories about the outbreak.

The '<em>ni ataranai</em>' structure is actually a grammar point that's worth learning

Language | WELL SAID Mar 31, 2020

The 'ni ataranai' structure is actually a grammar point that's worth learning

by Amemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Toshiro

The terms "ni(wa) ataranai" and "made mo nai/naku" point out things that aren't worth doing, but they have slightly different nuances.

Pointing out the family with '<em>ni ataru</em>'

Language | WELL SAID Mar 24, 2020

Pointing out the family with 'ni ataru'

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Toshiro

Mari-chan wa Nana no obasan ni ataru. (Mari is Nana’s aunt.) ...

Celebrating special occasions with '<em>ni atatte</em>' and '<em>ni saishite</em>'

Language | WELL SAID Mar 17, 2020

Celebrating special occasions with 'ni atatte' and 'ni saishite'

by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Toshiro

A more formal construction, "ni atatte" is used when you are marking the occasion. "Ni saishite" has a similar nuance, think of both as a fancy way to say "when."

'<em>Masaka</em>,' it's good to know this expression in a pinch

Language | WELL SAID Mar 11, 2020

'Masaka,' it's good to know this expression in a pinch

The adverb "masaka" can be used to express the level of an emergency or a certain level of disbelief.

« 1 … 5 6 7 … 10 »
  • WHAT’S TRENDING
  • EDITORS’ PICKS
  • Nadeshiko Japan downs Costa Rica to move into knockout stage

    Thumbnail image
  • AI is rewriting the rules of $200 billion games industry

    Thumbnail image
  • Indonesia rides EV rush to domestic IPO boom

    Thumbnail image
  • 'Japan's Anatolia' becomes a home away from home for Kurds and Turks

    Thumbnail image
  • From 'Young General' to 'Supreme Leader': The evolution of Kim Jong Un

    Thumbnail image

PODCAST

  • DEEP DIVE

    A tale of two Fujis: Bullet climbs, crowds and Lizzo

Return to The Japan Times top page
JT Digital Archives The Japan Times Alpha JT Bookclub The Japan Times Jobs Education in Japan
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • NEWSLETTERS
  • ePaper Edition
  • News
    • National
    • World
    • Business
    • Asia Pacific
    • Reference
    • Columns
    • Multimedia
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Commentary
    • Cartoons
  • Life
    • Travel
    • Digital
    • Food & Drink
    • Environment
    • Style & Design
    • Language
    • Lifestyle
    • People
    • Columns
    • Multimedia
  • Community
    • Voices
    • Issues
    • Our Lives
    • Event listings
    • How-tos
    • Columns
  • Culture
    • Film
    • Music
    • Art
    • Stage
    • Events
    • Festivals
    • Books
    • TV
    • Columns
    • Multimedia
  • Sports
    • Rugby
    • Baseball
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    • Sumo
    • Figure Skating
    • Tennis
    • More Sports
    • Columns
    • Multimedia
  • City Guide
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • Support
    • About us
    • Faqs
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Link policy
  • Republishing
  • FAQs
  • Announcements
  • Press
  • Sitemap
  • Advertise

The Japan Times LTD. All rights reserved.

The Japan Times