JLPT N4
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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 “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 Say “Try Doing Something” in Japanese with ～てみる
If you have ever wanted to try something in Japanese, like tasting a new food or testing out an activity, this is the grammar pattern you need. The expression てみる is used when you give something a try for the first time or simply to see how it goes. It works well for new experiences […]
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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 Qualify Nouns with Verbs in Japanese (Relative Clauses)
In Japanese, you can describe nouns not only with adjectives, but also with actions just like saying “the book I read” or “the person who helped me.” This is done using relative clauses. In Japanese, the structure is simpler than in English. Verb + Noun The thing that is doing the thing… JLPT Level: N4 […]
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How to Say “Just Finished” in Japanese with たところ
When you’ve just completed an action and want to tell someone, Japanese uses past short form + ところ. It’s like saying “I just did [something]” with a neutral tone. Let’s learn how to use たところ to express something you just finished. た + ところ Just Did (Neutral) JLPT Level: N4 Want to actually remember this? Practice […]