Japanese Language

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Shikuhakku” — The Struggle Is Real

The first of Buddhism’s noble truths is that “life is suffering.” Whether you believe that…

10 of the Most Useful Japanese Onomatopoeia

There are 4,500 onomatopoeia in the Japanese language, which is more than the number of kanji required…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Souseki-chinryu” — Sore Loser

Losing sucks. We’ve all done it at one time or another, whether it was a…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Goetsudoushu” — Bitter Rivals Join Forces

Goetsudoushu: where bitter rivals are thrown together by fate and have to work together for…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Kikokushushu” — A Spine-Chilling Sensation

‘Tis the season for spooky specters, haunting happenings and ghastly ghouls, so what better kanji…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Dokushozanmai” — Being Completely Absorbed in Reading

As we learned a couple of weeks ago, autumn is a time of indulging in the…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Inga-ouhou” — You Get What You Deserve

There’s nothing like that feeling you get when watching someone who deserves it go down.…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Gyuinbashoku” — Eating like a Horse

In Japan, autumn is an excuse to fulfill desires: Dokusho no aki (読書の秋) reminds us that the…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Gekkahyoujin” — A Heaven-Sent Matchmaker

As we turn our gazes to the sky for the year’s Tsukimi celebration, we celebrate…

Raising an English-Japanese Bilingual Preschooler: A Personal Story

Although classes and seminars about the wonders of your child learning English are everywhere in…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Kachoufugetsu” — The Beauty of Nature

As autumn draws closer and typhoons bluster through, the nights grow colder and ever so subtly,…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Furouchouju” — Eternal Youth and Longevity

In honor of Respect for the Aged Day coming up on Monday, we explore the…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Taifu-ikka” — After the Rain Comes Sunshine

Last week, southern Japan suffered greatly as powerful typhoon Haishen struck the region, leaving unprecedented…

Weekly Japanese Idiom: “Yudantaiteki” — Proceed with Caution

As typhoon season is in full swing and disaster preparation drills are performed nationwide, it seems fitting…

“Chinpunkanpun?” Say What? A Guide To Japan’s “Yojijukugo”

Most Japanese learners will come across yojijukugo at some time or another. These four-character compounds…