Japanese language

The “Uchi-Soto” Concept in Japanese Honorifics (Keigo) Understanding Japan’s Relative Honorific System In Japanese culture, the distinction between “uchi” (内) and “soto” (外) forms the foundation of honorific language (敬語/keigo). This isn’t just about politeness—it’s a linguistic reflection of social relationships. Key Definitions Uchi (内) = “In-group” Soto (外) = “Out-group” How It Affects Honorifics…

EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission) – Schedule, Subjects, and Study Methods 1. EJU Test Dates (開催日) The EJU is held twice a year: Registration deadlines are usually 2-3 months before the exam. Check the official JASSO website for exact dates. 2. EJU Subjects (科目) The EJU consists of four main subject areas, but students…

[English] EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) 1. Subjects and Format The EJU consists of the following subjects: Students choose subjects based on their university requirements. 2. Test Dates EJU is held twice a year: 3. When to Take the EJU for 2027 University Admission If you plan to enter a Japanese…

[English] How to Watch Japanese News from Abroad 1. Official News Websites (Free) ✅ NHK NEWS WEB (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/) ✅ Yahoo! Japan News (https://news.yahoo.co.jp/) ✅ Nikkei (Nihon Keizai Shimbun) (https://www.nikkei.com/) ✅ Asahi Shimbun Digital (https://www.asahi.com/) / Yomiuri Online (https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/) 2. Video News Sites (Free) ✅ NHK WORLD-JAPAN (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/) ✅ ABEMA NEWS (https://news.abema.tv/) ✅ TBS NEWS DIG…

The Complete Guide to “Kureru” vs. “Ageru” in Japanese Introduction The giving/receiving verbs “kureru” (くれる) and “ageru” (あげる) are essential yet challenging parts of Japanese grammar. This guide will clearly explain their differences with practical examples. Core Meanings ❶ “Kureru” (くれる) → Used when the speaker (or speaker’s in-group) receives a benefit Example:“Kare ga watashi…

“運転させてくれた” (untensasetekureta) Full Breakdown: Complete Structure:[Noun 運転] + [Causative させる] + [Particle て] + [Verb くれる] + [Past た] Literal Meaning:“(Someone) gave me the favor of letting me drive (in the past)” Grammatical Notes: Example:父が運転させてくれた(Chichi ga untensasetekureta)“My father let me drive (as a favor to me).” Conjugation Pattern:運転する → 運転させる (causative) → 運転させて (te-form) →…

The Difference Between 「～たり」 and 「～とか」 in Japanese Both 「～たり」 and 「～とか」 are used to list examples, but they have different grammatical rules and nuances. Let’s compare them in detail with examples like 「掃除したり」 and 「掃除とか」. 1. ～たり (tari) Function: Structure: Rules: Example Sentences: 2. ～とか (toka) Function: Structure: Rules: Example Sentences: Key Differences Feature…

Detailed Grammatical Breakdown of 「苦しめられている」 Thank you for the clarification. Let’s properly analyze 「苦しめられている」 as:苦しめる (kurushimeru) + られる (rareru) + て (te) + いる (iru) Here’s the complete linguistic breakdown in English: 1. 苦しめる (kurushimeru) Part of Speech: Transitive Verb (他動詞) Conjugation (基本形): Form Japanese Usage Negative 苦しめない “does not torment” Polite (-ます) 苦しめます “torments”…

The Difference Between “Tsutaeru” (Convey) and “Tsutawaru” (Be Understood) in Japanese When learning Japanese, you might come across two similar-looking words: 伝える (tsutaeru) and 伝わる (tsutawaru). At first glance, they both relate to “communicating” something, but they have different nuances. Let’s break them down in simple terms. 1. 伝える (Tsutaeru) – To Convey Tsutaeru means…

In Japanese, verbs can be categorized into two types based on their usage: intransitive verbs (自動詞, jidōshi) and transitive verbs (他動詞, tadōshi). Here’s an explanation in English, along with examples: Intransitive Verbs (自動詞, jidōshi) Intransitive verbs describe actions or events that occur without a direct object. The focus is on the subject itself, and there…