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Archive for the 'Japanese Culture' Category

Writing a Japanese Address on a Postcard

〒 - Postal symbol, preceding postal code 107-0052 - Postal code, composed of 7 numbers 東京都 - Prefecture (県, ken), with the exception of Tokyo (都, to), Hokkaido (道, do) and Osaka/Kyoto (府, fu) 港区 - Municipality, city (市, shi), village (村, mura) or ward (区, ku). Here it is Minato ward. 赤坂 - Area. Here it is Akasaka. 3丁目4-4 - City district (丁目, chome), city block (番地, banchi), bldg/house number (号, go) ジョン シナ - Recipient’s name. In Japan the last name precedes the first name and is often followed by a honorific suffix like San (さん) or Sama (様), corresponding to Mr. or Ms. Click here to learn how to send out a Japanese postcard with our fun FREE video! P.S. Win a personal postcard all the way from Japan! Just click the link... Show more

How to Cook Delicious Chicken Teriyaki While Learning Japanese

Do you like chicken teriyaki? If so, this blog post is perfect for you. In this lesson, you're going to learn an easy way to cook delicious chicken teriyaki while learning Japanese. Check out 鶏のテリヤキのレシピ (Tori no teriyaki no reshipi; chicken teriyaki recipe) below! Make sure to listen to the audio lesson and review the words and phrases too! Listen to our Japanese audio lesson - How to Make Japanese Teriyaki Chicken! 1. What's teriyaki? Teriyaki (テリヤキ) is one of the most well-known and popular cooking methods in Japanese cuisine. Fish or meat (or other types of ingredients) are marinated in sweet soy sauce and then grilled or broiled. We can write teriyaki in kanji (照り焼き), hiragana, or katakana. 2. Ingredients (材料; Zairyō) ... Show more

Japanese Honorifics Guide: San, Kun, Chan, Sama and More

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_SyvQyJvAI Have you ever felt confused about all those -kun, -chan and -senpai you hear when watching anime? I am sure you have wondered about the meaning of these Japanese suffixes. After reading this post your Japanese will sound more natural as you will learn how to use Japanese honorifics! Remember to take the quiz at the end to test your understanding and to sign up at JapanesePod101.com if you really want to learn Japanese with effective resources. Most languages use them: “Mr.”, “Mrs”, “Sir”, “Dr”… But in Japanese, there are more of them, and they are a lot more nuanced. They are often attached to a name as a suffix, but some can stand alone, such as sensei. In Japanese there are... Show more

Everything you need to know about Cat Cafes!

Are you traveling in Japan and missing your cat? Maybe you are just looking to cuddle some kawaii felines? Of course you are! The cat cafe, or neko cafe, will be your paradise. Adventure with Risa! You always dreamt of seeing Risa cuddling some cute cats? Today Risa takes you to a cat cafe and introduces you this trendy concept in Tokyo! Start learning Japanese with videos starring Risa! Cat cafe, an original concept You might be surprised to hear that this concept is not originally from Japan but from Taiwan, where the world’s first cat cafe opened in 1998. After seeing that it attracted many tourists from Japan, a Japanese person decided to bring the concept, which mixes the relaxing and cozy atmosphere of a coffee... Show more

Top 10 Superstitions in Japan

In Japan many things are considered to bring good or bad luck. Superstitions are strongly entrenched in Japanese society, and some of them are meant to teach lessons or serve as practical advice. Here is a list of the top 10 superstitions in Japan you must know! Click Here To Start Learning Japanese Right Now! 1) Numbers 4 and 9 are considered to be unlucky numbers because 4 in Japanese is sometimes pronounced し which means “death,” while 9 is also sometimes pronounced く and means “suffering.” In the US, some old buildings don’t have a 13th floor, while in Japan hospitals and some hotels don’t have a 4th floor. Often the room number 4 and rooms 40 through 49 are not there. When you give a gift of a set of plates or cups to somebody,... Show more

The Top 10 Japanese Slang Words You’ll Hear In Japan

Hey Listeners! Are you ready to learn the top 10 Japanese slang words? Slang words can be a fun way to hear how locals use the Japanese language and can also be a way to make your conversational skills sound more natural in casual settings! Oh, and don't forget to sign-up for a FREE lifetime account with us to get more interesting word lists from JapanesePod101! And without further ado, let's get into the top 10! 1. ぶっちゃけ bucchake - to be honest 2. おひさ。 Ohisa. - It’s been a while since I see you. 3. ちげーよ。 Chigē yo. - It’s not correct. 4. ダッシュで dasshu de - in a hurry 5. ソッコー sokkō - immediately Click Here To Learn More Japanese For Absolutely FREE! Get you free lifetime account now (Yes, it's... Show more

Must Know Golden Week Vocabulary

Click here to listen to the audio pronunciation! Golden week is almost here! In few days it will be the beginning of the Golden week, the longest public holiday in Japan. It’s an exciting moment for a lot of people as it’s the period for some time off and to fully enjoy Spring. Here is the list of Top Words you need to know for your holidays! 1. Traffic jam 渋滞 (じゅうたい) 2. Warm 暖かい (あたたかい) 3. Golden Week holidays ゴールデンウィーク 4. Chimaki ちまき 5. Constitution Day 憲法記念日 (Constitution Day) 6. Kashiwamochi 柏餅 (かしわもち) 7. Greenery Day みどりの日 (みどりのひ) 8. Children's Day 子供の日 (こどものひ) 9. Trip abroad 海外旅行 (かいがいりょこう) 10. Doll for the Boys' Festival in May 五月人形 (ごがつ にんぎょう) ... Show more

Top 5 Japanese Pop Culture Icons

Click here to start learning Japanese for FREE! Japan is a country rich in pop culture, which has spread all around the world and had a big influence. Popular culture changes quickly and drastically, but who are the biggest icons from Japanese Pop Culture in recent years? Here is our Top 5! 1. ハローキティ - Hello Kitty Hello Kitty, also known as Kitī-chan in Japanese, is one of the major characters in Japan, and a symbol of “Cute” culture. Hardcore fans of Kitty are called kitirā (キティラー). Hello Kitty is popular overseas as well. For example, celebrities like Paris Hilton, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga are known to be enthusiastic Kitty fans. 2. AKB48 AKB48 is currently the most popular idol group in Japan, and known for... Show more

10 Japanese Anime Words other languages want in their Dictionary

Click here to start learning Japanese for Free! Thanks to Japanese, we realize we miss a lot of words and expressions in our own languages. If you’re looking for Japanese words we should have in our dictionary, this list is for you! You can hear these commonly used words in anime or dramas. They are pretty easy to understand, but when it comes to translating them or to explaining the meaning, it’s a different story! However, we tried to find the best definition for you, so arigatou for your understanding! 1. 先生 (Sensei) "Professor” This word can be used for all the people that teach you something. A teacher, a doctor, a philosopher… everybody can be a sensei for somebody else. 2. お疲れ様 (Otsukaresama) “Good work today ... Show more

8 Extreme places to visit in Japan

Click here to discover 30 travel phrases you should know! If you are looking for exceptional and exciting places in Japan, here is a list of spots not to miss. Some places on the list are difficult to access, or even forbidden. 1. 青ヶ島。- Aogashima. The island is located 358 kilometers to the south of Tokyo. It is the smallest village in Japan. It is a volcanic island 3.5 km in length and 2.5 km in width that was formed from the remains of several calderas. The island is one of the most mysterious islands and has a beautiful natural environment. It is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime! 2. 軍艦島。- Gunkanjima. Once the most densely populated place in the world, the small island of Hashima, commonly known as... Show more