What does “おつかれさま(Otsukaresama)” mean?
In the previous article, I explained the phrase “よろしくお願いします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu)” . This time, I would like to talk about another frequently used term among Japanese people, one that you …
Knowledge
Wafugetsumei 和風月名 ～Japanese names of months～
I’ve previously highlighted the beauty of the Japanese language in a few “How To Japan” articles. Yet, you can feel its richness everywhere in Japan. Though I hear less and …
Color Names
Hi everyone! I’m Mikaze.What color do you like?I like orange and light green. Probably, I like contrasting these colors! I’d like to introduce you to a Japanese color name that has …
“Don’ts” You Should Know in Japan
It doesn’t need to be said, but each country has a unique culture that you should respect. When you travel abroad, you have to be aware of the cultural differences. …
Wonderful FudePen 筆ペン (Brush Pens)
When I was thinking about another cultural item to introduce to the world, one thing came to my mind! It is fudepen 筆ペン, a Japanese brush pen! Of course, Japanese …
What does “よろしくおねがいします(Yoroshiku onegaishimasu)” mean?
If you’ve lived in Japan for even a short period, you’ve probably encountered the phrase “よろしくおねがいします (yoroshiku onegaishimasu).” Japanese people love this phrase, whether in work or private life. Grammatically, …
Sakura: The Eternal Cycle of Beauty – Blossoms, Greens, and Renewal
Cherry Blossom Rolled Cake made by minosuke* After a long, cold winter, under the blue sky, people walk while looking up at cherry trees. In the stores, there are various …
Unraveling the Unique Osaka-ben (Part 2)
Hello, everyone! In the previous article, I wrote about “-nen (ねん)” and “-yanen (やねん),” which correspond to the Osaka dialect’s well-known sentence endings in standard Japanese for the present tense, …
Auspicious Plants ー Pine, Bamboo, and Japanese Plum
Are you familiar with these three Japanese plants 松 (matsu), 竹 (take), and 梅 (ume)? These are pine, bamboo, and Japanese plum respectively. Japanese people often refer to them altogether …
Unique Way to Count Things in Japanese
How do you count in English? In English, you can add “One, two, three, four…” in front of the object for most things, except for some peculiar circumstances when wanting …