Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Sep 8, 2020
Kabukicho host club workers seek more serious expression in poetry
A Kyodo article looks at a book of poetry written by men who work in host clubs in Tokyo's notorious Kabukicho district.
Language | BILINGUAL Sep 1, 2020
Talking about your (un)productive COVID-era hobbies
by Eric Margolis
A lot of us took up new hobbies during the pandemic, but not all of have stuck with our activities.
Language | WELL SAID Sep 1, 2020
Whether or not you'll succeed in Japanese is up to 'ka dōka'
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
The "ka dōka" structure helps to explain that there's a choice between one option or the other and is quite convenient in conversational Japanese.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Sep 1, 2020
#MeToo movement journalist sues lawmaker for liking defaming tweets
A Japanese-language Kyodo piece looks at Shiori Ito's most recent actions to defend her reputation.
Language | BILINGUAL Aug 25, 2020
What bugs me most about the summer
by Kaori Shoji
It's summertime and that means the sounds of cicadas and the bites of mosquitoes.
Language | WELL SAID Aug 25, 2020
When it comes to Japanese, 'mamire' and 'darake' have you covered
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
While "darake" and "mamire" both have different nuances, the one thing they have in common is that they always refer to something bad.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Aug 25, 2020
Japanese social conformity behind wearing of face masks amid pandemic
A Kyodo piece explores the language of peer pressure after a study shows that Japanese people tend to wear masks in order to fit in.
Language | BILINGUAL Aug 18, 2020
Talking about the weather is increasingly extreme
by Eric Margolis
As the weather gets more extreme we will no doubt be talking about it a lot more. Get a start on your climate vocabulary so you can join the conversation.
Language | NEWS IN NIHONGO Aug 18, 2020
Fears grow over heat exhaustion during summer classes amid pandemic
Schools have to worry about heatstroke and COVID-19 according to a Japanese article by Kyodo.
Language | WELL SAID Aug 18, 2020
Take the time to study 'narubeku' and 'dekiru dake' if possible
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
"Narubeku" conveys the idea of "as … as possible," while "deikru dake" conveys the same idea with stronger intent.
Language | BILINGUAL Aug 11, 2020
Finding the right words for a solemn occasion
by Haruka Murayama
As Japan marks some war anniversaries, certain vocabulary tend to pop up again and again.
Language | WELL SAID Aug 11, 2020
Have you heard? 'Rashii' can help you with your office gossip
by Akemi Tanahashi and Hitomi Tashiro
The term "rashii" is used when you've heard about something and want to talk about it without using assertions.