JLPT N3
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How to Use せっかく in Japanese: Making the Most of an Opportunity or Effort
Sometimes you put time or effort into something and want to make sure it doesn’t go to waste. Other times, a valuable opportunity comes along and you want to make the most of it. In Japanese, せっかく is commonly used in both of these situations. せっかく Making the most of an opportunity or effort / after […]
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How to Say “Compared To” in Japanese with ～に比べて
Want to compare two things without saying one is better than the other? The Japanese phrase ～に比べて is the perfect way to say “compared to” when you’re highlighting differences or similarities between two nouns. Whether you’re talking about cities, seasons, or apps, this grammar point helps you draw a simple, clear comparison. ～に比(くら)べて Compared to […]
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How to Say “Make Someone Do Something” in Japanese with the Causative Form
Want to say you made someone clean their room, or let a friend borrow your car? In Japanese, these ideas use the causative form. This verb form shows that someone caused or allowed another person to do something. It can sound strict or generous depending on context. Causative Form To make/let someone do something JLPT […]
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How to Say “Before You Knew It” in Japanese with いつの間にか
Some changes in life happen so slowly or so quietly you don’t even notice until they’ve already occurred. That’s exactly what the Japanese phrase いつの間にか is used to express. It describes moments where something has changed, time has passed, or progress has been made, and you didn’t even realize it was happening until after the […]
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How to Say “Despite” or “In Spite Of” in Japanese with にもかかわらず
Sometimes you want to express that something happened even though the conditions weren’t ideal. In English, we say “despite the rain” or “in spite of the difficulties.” In Japanese, the grammar point that captures this meaning is にもかかわらず. It’s used to describe outcomes that happen unexpectedly or in contrast to a known situation. にもかかわらず Despite […]
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How to Use わざわざ in Japanese: Going Out of Your Way to Do Something
Sometimes someone does more than was necessary: they travel somewhere just to see you, make an extra stop to help you, or take additional time to do something on your behalf. In Japanese, わざわざ is used to emphasize that kind of special or extra effort. わざわざ Going out of one’s way / taking the trouble […]
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How to Say “It Seems Like” in Japanese: そうだ vs ようだ vs みたい
In Japanese, there are several ways to express that something “seems like” or “appears to be.” Three of the most common expressions そうだ, ようだ, and みたい are similar in meaning but differ in nuance, usage, and formality. Mastering these will help you express assumptions and impressions naturally, whether you’re talking casually with friends or writing more formally. […]
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How to Say “It Seems” or “I Heard” in Japanese with そうだ
The Japanese phrase そうだ can be a little tricky. Because it has two very different meanings. One expresses how something seems based on observation. The other is used to report what you’ve heard from someone else. Although they look the same, these two uses follow different grammar patterns. Understanding both will help you sound more […]
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How to Say “Accidentally” or “Completely” in Japanese with ～てしまう
Some actions in life are accidents. Others are done completely. Japanese has a simple expression that can capture both meanings depending on the context: ～てしまう. This grammar point is a great tool for expressing either regret or total completion of an action so you can tell someone you dropped your phone by mistake, or that […]
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How to Say “I Just Did” in Japanese with ばかり
Sometimes you don’t just want to say something happened recently—you want to say “I just did it!” In that case, the better grammar point is た + ばかり. Let’s explore how to use ばかり when you want to express a recent action with emotion or emphasis. た + ばかり Just Did (With Feeling!) JLPT Level: N3 […]