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

In Japanese, there are two main types of adjectives: い-adjectives and な-adjectives. You’ve probably already come across い-adjectives, but in this article, we’re going to focus on their lesser-known counterpart: な-adjectives.Though they behave similarly in sentences, な-adjectives have a few unique rules you’ll want to get comfortable with. な-Adjectives What Are They? Usage Pattern [な-adjective]+

Time is an essential part of communication. Whether you’re talking about how long you studied, how long a trip lasted, or how much time something takes, Japanese has specific expressions to convey duration. In this article, we’ll explore key grammar point: かかる for how long something takes. かかる Expressing Time Required Usage Pattern [Time Duration]+

Time is an essential part of communication. Whether you’re talking about how long you studied, how long a trip lasted, or how much time something takes, Japanese has specific expressions to convey duration. In this article, we’ll explore key grammar point: 間 (かん) for time spent. かん (間) Expressing Time Spent Usage Pattern [Time Duration]+

In English, saying “Learning is important” turns an action into a noun. In Japanese, the word こと plays a similar role. It’s a powerful tool for expressing habits, rules, experiences, and general ideas. こと Turning Verbs into Nouns Usage Pattern [Verb (Short Form)]+ こと Details JLPT Level: N4 How to Use It Use こと when

Have you ever traveled to Japan? Have you ever eaten sushi? In Japanese, there’s a specific way to ask and answer questions about past experiences. The phrase ことがある is used to express whether you have ever done something before. This grammar point is frequently used in everyday conversations, especially when discussing past experiences, trying new things,

Ever discovered something that suddenly made everything make sense—like realizing your device isn’t turning on because the batteries are dead? In English, we’d say, “No wonder it won’t work!” In Japanese, this same feeling is captured with the phrase わけだ. This grammar point is great for expressing realizations, conclusions, or things that are naturally expected based