Category Archives: Japanese Language
Can You Really Play in Japanese?
The word for “play” in Japanese does not necessarily have the same context in Japanese as it does in English.
In English when we think play we think, in general, we think games or sports. From tennis and golf to video games or mind games.
The word 遊ぶ (あそぶ) can mean up to three main things.
to play
to [...]
Do You Know Your Place?
I was recently put in my place this last December with the JLPT 4 test. I wrote it about it in “Why my JLPT Fail was Still a Win“. It was a very eye opening experience and a great motivational experience.
The biggest problem with it is not being able to convey my how I felt [...]
Kanji Makes Japanese Easy
Kanji and Japanese aren’t the same. At least that is how I see it in my head, for better or worse. It is very odd to see it that way so it takes some explaining.
One day I plan to learn Chinese after I learn Japanese. Since kanji is from China originally and the Japanese incorporated [...]
Why my JLPT Fail was Still a Win
Yesterday was JLPT day and I did fail it. Whether it is graded that way or not I am not sure. However, I failed it in my opinion. That being said I would not trade the experience for anything in the world. I am going to include some picture of the trip too so not [...]
The JLPT CAN be Used to Measure Proficiency
It is JLPT season and emotions are running high as people cram at the last minute and trolls come out in droves to tell JLPT takers how pointless it is. I have seen no less than 15 tweets on how pointless the JLPT is to measure Japanese ability.
As noted in the comments of “What is [...]
Consistent Action Leads to Extraordinary Results
There are many sayings and most have some “truth” to them, but none, to me, are as powerful as this one.
Consistent action over a long period of time leads to amazing results.
I am not sure I am even saying it completely or where I heard it. However, that is the saying I remember. What it [...]
Guest Post over at Wide Island Review – Building Japanese Vocabulary
Learning words through context has the benefit of showing you when and how to use the word from the beginning, but it can take a lot of time to learn the words this way since you are learning more than one thing at a time.
Flash cards are a quick way to gain a lot of [...]
10 Tips for a Successful Japanese Language Panel
Doing a panel at a con can be a bit stressful if it is your first one, heck anywhere if it is your first. So here are a few tips to help with doing a panel on Japanese language if you have never done one before or just want to improve.
1) Plan – This is [...]
It is ALL about Passion
I tend to have a bout of introspection at the oddest times. Today it just so happened while I was on the elliptical reading an interesting history book. The word Passion was used to describe early followers of Buddhism in Japan. Their Passion led to people going to great lengths to accomplish their ideals. This [...]
Japanese Verb Conjugation tai We have Hopes and Dreams
Everyone constantly wants something. Whether they want a hamburger or a new car, maybe even a pencil. In English we have the word want. We want things from objects or dreams to come true, and you probably want to know how to say in Japanese. Well fortunately this is super easy. Just add たい to [...]
