At a high level, the verbs 帰る (kaeru) and 戻る (modoru) both mean ‘to return’, but there are some contexts in which they might seem interchangeable which leads to confusion about which verb to use. However, by looking closely at the specific meanings and nuances of each, you will be able to accurately differentiate and…

At a certain point in learning Japanese, you will have come across the words なぜ (naze), どうして (doushite) and なんで (nande), which are all interrogative adjectives that mean why. Perhaps you learned どうして first, but now with three options to choose from the challenge is choosing the most appropriate one to use in a given…

There are many verbs (and nouns) in Japanese to describe when something gets changed or a change happens on its own. Looking at the subtleties of these verbs will help you determine how to use each one. The most common and broadly used verbs for change are 変える (kaeru) and 変わる (kawaru) which are different…

To be able to communicate in Japanese for yourself, you need lots of exposure to how the language is used in realistic situations. This is exactly what you get with JapanesePod101.com. It’s a highly effective system for learning Japanese that works by incrementally providing you with realistic and practical language that steadily builds up your…

If you are primarily an auditory learner, then rejoice because you can learn quite a lot of Japanese just by listening. In fact, learning a language necessitates taking in a lot of input with audio input being particularly important. It’s going to feel so great to finally understand authentic Japanese materials in their native form…

As a Japanese learner one of your primary goals is undoubtedly being able to understand the spoken language. Whether you want to understand media such as anime, announcements at the train station, have a casual conversation, or conduct a business negotiation in Japanese, effective listening is a cornerstone skill. Developing the skill of listening in…

Reading in Japanese does more that just contribute to building your reading skill, it contributes to your overall competence in the language. Doing a lot of reading is an essential activity for any Japanese learner. And especially if you enjoy reading and were hoping that reading in Japanese could help you become proficient in the…

There are many verbs in Japanese which express the concept of cleaning. A few verbs that are commonly confused are 掃除する(soujisuru) vs 片づける(katadukeru) and 洗う(arau) vs 洗濯する(sentakusuru). A basic definition combined with an explanation of the nuances of each verb will put you well on your way to being able to use each one correctly….

You might think that you need to learn Japanese from a native speaking teacher, but there are surprising advantages to learning from a non-native speaking teacher that are not immediately obvious. Regardless of the teacher type, it’s unfortunate that there is a high discontinuance rate among learners at the beginner level, but the right teacher…