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How to Say “Already” and “Still” in Japanese with もう and まだ
Want to say you’ve already done something or that you haven’t yet? Need to talk about something that is still happening, or that won’t happen anymore? In Japanese, the adverbs もう and まだ are key tools for expressing time-based changes and states. These simple words can express “already,” “still,” “not yet,” and “not anymore” depending […]
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How to Say “Sorry for…” in Japanese with ～てすみません
Sometimes simply saying すみません isn’t enough—you want to explain exactly what you’re apologizing for. To say things like “Sorry for being late,” “Sorry for forgetting,” or “Sorry for causing trouble,” Japanese commonly uses ～てすみません. This pattern connects the action you are apologizing for directly to your apology. ～てすみません Sorry for (doing something) JLPT Level: N4 Want […]
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How to Explain or Ask “Why?” in Japanese with ～んです
Sometimes you want to say something that isn’t just a statement. It’s an explanation. Other times, you want to ask not just “What happened?” but “Why did it happen?” The grammar point ～んです helps you do both. It lets you offer new information, explain things clearly, or even ask for clarification with a more thoughtful […]
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How to Say “Probably” or “Right?” in Japanese with でしょう and だろう
Japanese often favors indirectness and soft statements over firm declarations. One way to express uncertainty or seek agreement is with the grammar points でしょう and だろう. These words let you say something is probably true or check whether someone agrees with you. This is perfect for when you want to sound polite or humble about […]
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How to Say “By [Time]” in Japanese with までに
How do you say something needs to happen by Friday, by 6 p.m., or by tomorrow in Japanese? When you want to express a deadline—the latest point by which something should happen—you can use までに. までに By (a certain time) JLPT Level: N5 Want to actually remember this? Practice it with spaced repetition and example […]
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How to Say “Let’s” or “I Will” in Japanese with the Volitional Form
In Japanese, the volitional form is used when you want to suggest something like “Let’s go!” or express your own intention, such as “I’ll study.” It’s one of the most useful verb forms for both casual plans and strong personal decisions. Whether you’re making a group invitation or sharing your determination, this grammar is essential. […]
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How to Say “Maybe” or “Might” in Japanese with かもしれない
In English, we often say things like “maybe it will rain” or “that might be true.” In Japanese, the word かもしれない is a powerful way to express uncertainty, possibility, or polite distance from a statement. It’s one of the most flexible and frequently used “hedging” expressions in the language. かもしれない Maybe / Might JLPT Level: […]
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How to Say “Have Someone Do Something for You” in Japanese with ～てもらう
The Japanese verb もらう means “to receive.” While it can describe receiving a physical object, it can also be used to describe receiving the benefit of someone else’s action. By attaching もらう to the て-form of another verb, ～てもらう expresses that you have someone do something for you or receive someone’s help or favor. ～てもらう […]
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How to Ask “May I?” in Japanese with ～てもいい
One of the most useful grammar patterns in any language is how to ask for permission. In Japanese, the phrase ～てもいい lets you do just that. It’s a polite and flexible way to ask, “Is it okay if I ___?” or to grant permission to someone else. ～てもいい May I? / It’s okay if… JLPT […]
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How to Say “This,” “That,” and “Which” in Japanese with こそあど Words
In English, we use “this” and “that” all the time but Japanese takes it a step further. Instead of just two levels of distance, Japanese offers three: things close to you, close to the person you’re talking to, and far from both. On top of that, Japanese adds a fourth layer with a question word. […]