Beyond the Surface: Honne and Tatemae in Japanese Communication
It is said that there is honne(本音) and tatemae(建前) in Japan, and it can confuse foreigners in conversation. One day, I was wondering if it was only in Japanese culture? …
Language
Japanese Proverbs and Expressions
Imagine attending a class reunion and spotting someone you recognize, but you just can’t recall his name. Who is he? It’s on the tip of my tongue! This expression is …
From Kaomoji to Emoji: Japan’s Emotional Text Culture
These days, emojis are used all over the world as if they’ve always been around.But did you know that they actually originated in Japan?And before emojis were born, Japan had …
What’s Japanese Gen Z Slang? — Clear, Simple Guides to Their Meanings and How to Use Them!!
You’ve probably heard the term “Gen Z” at least once.The idea of “Gen Z” actually comes from “Generation X.” That name became popular thanks to Douglas Coupland’s book “Generation X” …
Personal Pronouns and Social Roles in Japanese
Learning a foreign language is always a challenge. However, in the process, we sometimes come to realize just how complex our native language can be. In this blog, I’d like …
KANJI’S COLORS: LIFE IN PALETTE
Have you ever tried checking out a Japanese book and been attracted by kanji? One day, I spotted a kanji calligraphy hanging on the wall in an American couple’s living …
Packed Like Sardines – In Japanese –
“I hate this train line! We’re packed like sardines!!” My British coworker grumbled in the jam-packed train. Unfortunately, it happens a lot for us to become like sardines when we …
道 – The Japanese spirit of “Dō”
Do you like karate (空手、空手道) or judō (柔道)? Are you familiar with sadō (茶道), the tea ceremony, or kadō (華道), the art of flower arrangement? Many people have seen matches …
Japanese Writing System
Learning a foreign language is a challenge for anyone. Japanese, in particular, has its own unique writing system, and the associated pronunciation and grammar rules can be a headache for …
♪Japanese phrase having a good ring♪ 〜Eh〜
Welcome to the 5th edition of “Japanese language fun time!” Today, I will introduce the very short word, “Eh(え).” 1. Picture When you pronounce it briefly without intonating, it has …