Giving is one thing—but what about getting? When you want to say you received something in Japanese, the verb you need is もらう.In this post, we’ll learn how to use もらう to talk about receiving gifts, help, and more. もらう To Receive Usage Pattern [Receiver] は / が + [Giver] に / から + [Object] […]

When someone gives you something, or gives something to someone close to you, Japanese uses a different verb: くれる. This verb shows that something is being given toward the speaker or their inner circle. Let’s learn how to use くれる to say someone gave something to you. くれる To Give (Toward Me or My Inner Circle)

Giving is one of the most common human interactions—and in Japanese, it comes with nuance! One way to say “to give” is with the verb あげる. This verb shows that something is given away from the speaker or someone close to them, toward someone else. In this post, we’ll look at how to use あげる to

Sometimes, “only” doesn’t mean too little—it means so much of one thing that it’s overwhelming or surprising. That’s where ばかり comes in. This word is used when something happens all the time, when something is everywhere, or when it’s “nothing but” one thing. Let’s learn how to use ばかり in Japanese. ばかり Nothing But / All

Sometimes saying “only” feels a little disappointing—like when you only got one souvenir, or all you got from your dad was a handshake. In Japanese, you use しか when there’s a sense of insufficiency or letdown.Let’s look at how to use しか to express “only” in a negative or limiting way. しか Only / Just

When you want to say something like “only one,” “just this,” or “that’s all,” the word you’ll likely use is だけ. This word is simple, neutral, and flexible—perfect for describing a situation where there’s “nothing more, nothing less.”Let’s learn how to use だけ to express “only” or “just” in Japanese. だけ Only / Just (Neutral

Sometimes things go wrong—and it’s clearly someone or something’s fault. In Japanese, the expression せいで is used to assign blame when something bad (or at least inconvenient) happens. Whether you’re talking about missing the bus or breaking a window, せいで is the grammar point to reach for. Let’s take a look at how to say “Because

Sometimes things go right—and you want to give credit where it’s due. Maybe your Japanese has improved because of a good study app (hint hint), or maybe the weather was great, so you had a wonderful day. In Japanese, the go-to phrase for expressing this kind of appreciation is おかげで. In this article, we’ll show you

Want to talk about what your city, country, or even your favorite anime character is known for? In Japanese, there’s a simple and useful way to express what someone or something is famous for. You’ll hear it in travel shows, everyday conversations, and even interviews. The grammar is based on the word 有名（ゆうめい）, which means

Japanese verbs come in many forms—some express possibility, others give commands or show conditions. But not all verb forms change the meaning of the action itself. Some change how the verb feels depending on the situation. That’s where the short form (also called the plain form) comes in. In this article, we’ll explore what the short