TCJ Blog

In what situations do people encounter the Japanese language? Many people learn Japanese through social media or video content, especially if they do not live in Japan or have few opportunities to speak the language. In fact, some of my students mention that they use YouTube as a resource for studying Japanese. Along these lines, the word “kusa” (grass) can often be seen popping up throughout the comment sections. However, it does not actually refer to grass. It typically appears when someone makes a joke or when something unexpected happens, which can be confusing for those encountering it for the first time. Expressions like this rarely appear in textbooks, even though they are widely used on social media every day. In this article, a Japanese teacher introduces three of the most commonly encountered pieces of Japanese internet slang, explaining their meanings and origins. Let’s take a closer look together, starting with expressions that may already feel familiar from online spaces.

People not from Japan often say that Japanese is hard to understand and to learn. Is it true? Thinking about it deeply, we will realize that Japanese proper, kind minds and consideration actually make the difficulty, and more people feel Japanese is hard. This time, we will think about the ambiguous Japanese phrase with some sentences.

When receiving a gift or when someone congratulates you, expressing your feelings—such as saying, “I’m so glad” in addition to “Thank you”—can make your response even more heartfelt. Many people may find themselves wondering, “How can I express this in Japanese?” when trying to convey their emotions.

In the process of learning Japanese, learners often encounter kanji that appear familiar but are read differently, or seem to carry an entirely different meaning. In Japanese, a single kanji—or a combination of kanji—can have multiple readings and meanings. A change in reading alone may shift the reference from a concrete object to an abstract evaluation, or from a general concept to a specific description of a state or condition. In this article, we focus on four commonly confusing words—銀杏, 上手, 人気, and 流石—which learners often struggle with despite encountering them frequently in daily life. We will examine their different readings and meanings, the contexts in which each is used, and how native Japanese speakers determine the appropriate reading.

There are some words that Japanese people often use but the nuance is subtle and it is hard to use. However, if you can use them well, your friends and Japanese people will be surprised. This time, we will show you seven phrases and explain them with example sentences.