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Lesson LibraryMastering Upper Intermediate Grammar
Upper Intermediate
Mastering Upper Intermediate Grammar
Learn how to speak intelligent, nuanced Japanese with these lessons.
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Contents
124 Audio Lessons
1

Spare Me the Japanese Negativity!

Learn about the negative markers -zu and -nu

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
2

Fate Works In Mysterious Ways in Japan

Learn about the sentence expressions ni, sa, and wa

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
3

I Hope That's the Last Bear Attack in Japan

Learn about the usage of dake, nomi, and kiri

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
4

Japanese Bears Only Attack Because They're Hungry

Learn about the usage of the Japanese words koso and -ba koso

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
5

You Might be Transferred to China Even If You Speak Only Japanese

Learn how to use the Japanese words sae, sura, and made

Audio
 • 19 Minutes
6

It's Complicated in Japan

Learn how to use the the Japanese suffix -ppoi and the auxiliary adjective rashii, meaning "-ish" or "-like

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
7

Follow This Fundamental Japanese Rule

Learn how to use the Japanese suffixes -teki, -fū, -sei, -kei, and -ka

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
8

Murderous Tendencies are Revealed in Japan

Learn how to use the Japanese suffixes -gachi and -gimi, which both indicate tendency

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
9

A Japanese Lesson That's Filled With Useful Tips

Learn how to use the Japanese suffixes -darake, -mamire, and -zukume

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
10

A Sightseeing Trip to a Japanese...Factory

Learn how to use the Japanese words ten and men, meaning "in terms of"

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
11

Set Tongues Wagging with these Japanese Expressions

Learn some set expressions that use the word 舌 (shita), meaning "tongue"

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
12

Should you Take a Gift to the Japanese Research Lab?

Learn about the usage of the auxiliary verb beki, meaning "should"

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
13

It Might be Hard to Pass This Japanese Exam

Learn the difference in usage between the Japanese auxiliary verbs -nikui, -zurai, and -gatai, all meaning "difficult to"

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
14

Is There Any Possibility of You Passing This Japanese Exam?

Learn the usage of the Japanese auxiliary verb -eru or -uru

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
15

In Short, This Lesson Will Teach You Japanese Paraphrasing

Learn the Japanese expressions that we use for summarizing or rephrasing what someone else has said, such as ii kaeru to, tsumari, yōsuru ni, and so on

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
16

What Does Neck Positioning have to do with your Fortunes in Japan?

Learn some set expressions that use the Japanese word 首 (kubi), which means "neck"

Audio
 • 19 Minutes
17

People Probably Wouldn't Vote for the Bonbon in the Japanese Election

Learn the usage of the Japanese auxiliary verbs -mai and -yō, which express the speaker's conjecture

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
18

I'd Rather Be Safe than Sorry During an Earthquake in Japan

Learn the usage of the adverbs mushiro and kaette, which mean "rather"

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
19

In Your Opinion, are Ugly Japanese Vegetables Safe to Eat?

Learn useful expressions for stating your opinion, such as omowareru, iu made mo nai, and to iu yori wa

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
20

Ever Been in an Absolutely Unbearable Situation in Japan?

Learn three similar Japanese phrases: tamaranai, shikata nai, and naranai

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
21

The More You Know, the Harder the Decision in Japan

Learn the usage of ni shitagatte, ni tsurete, and -ba -hodo in Japanese

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
22

Getting Caught in a Japanese Lie

Learn the usage of -to dōji ni and totan in Japanese

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
23

Being Right and Wrong At the Same Time in Japanese

Learn the usage of to tomo ni and to narande in Japanese

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
24

Make Sure you do a Decent Job of Reading Those Japanese Instructions

Learn the difference in usage between roku ni -nai and roku na -nai in Japanese

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
25

This Big Japanese Secret is for Your Ears Only

Learn some set Japanese expressions that use the word 耳 (mimi), meaning "ear"

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
26

Japanese You Need Just in Case

Learn about talking about hypothetical situations

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
27

A Mouthful of Japanese Expressions

Learn about using idioms with the word "kuchi" meaning "mouth"

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
28

Is this Japanese Unlike You?

Learn about talking about actions that are contrary to that person's nature

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
29

Watch Your Japanese Get Better and Better!

Learn about understanding train announcements

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
30

Sniff Out the Best Japanese Phrases!

Learn about using idioms with the word "hana" meaning "nose"

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
31

It's Your Responsibility

Learn about using the word "sekinin" which means "responsibility"

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
32

You're Not Finished Until You Read This!

Learn about expressing that an action is completely finished

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
33

A Match Made in Heaven

Learn about expressing that one thing is the best match for the other

Audio
 • 12 Minutes
34

In Terms of Japanese Lessons, This One's Awesome!

Learn about expressing one's opinions

Audio
 • 12 Minutes
35

Nice Legs!

Learn about using idioms with the word ashi, meaning "legs" or "feet"

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
36

It's One Thing After Another!

Learn about expressing a situation where one thing happens right after another

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
37

You Better Have a Good Reason!

Learn about expressing a conclusion one has reached

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
38

You'll Never Guess What Happened!

Learn about explaining a situation using "wake"

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
39

A Lesson Made Just For You!

Learn about making reservation for a hotel

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
40

This May be Impossible, but...

Learn about calling for help in an emergency situation

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
41

Don't Rush It!

Learn about talking about some impossibility or difficulty

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
42

How's Your Stomach Feeling?

Learn about using idioms with the word "hara," which means "stomach"

Audio
 • 12 Minutes
43

We Can't Rule Out Any Possibilities for Japan!

Learn about expressing one's opinion

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
44

Can You Become a So-called Japanese Expert?

Learn about expressing one's opinion

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
45

Are You Ready to Buckle Down and Learn Japanese?

Learn about using idioms with the word "koshi" meaning "hip"

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
46

All Your Efforts in Japan Will Be Worth it!

Learn about using the word, "kai" which means "worth someone's efforts to do something"

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
47

Make an Impressive Japanese Wedding Speech!

Learn about making a speech at a wedding ceremony

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
48

Talk About Emotion in Japanese: I Feel Sorry for Him!

Learn about using the word, "jō"meaning "emotion"

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
49

After This Review, Japanese Will Be Easier!

Learn about reviewing past grammar points

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
50

This Japanese Review Has All the Right Ingredients!

Learn about reviewing past grammar points

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
51

Don’t Let This Japanese Lesson Go to Your Head!

Learn a variety of Japanese expressions that have to do with the head and mind and actions you do with both

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
52

Sink Your Teeth into This Japanese Lesson!

Learn common Japanese expressions that use the Japanese word that means "tooth"

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
53

Japan Truly Has The People's Court

Learn how to use a conjunction to place a restriction on what came before it

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
54

Tipping the Japanese Scales of Justice

Learn how to form a polite request in Japanese

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
55

Do You Understand What I'm Telling You In Japanese?

Learn how to use certain phrases that you'll find handy in business situations

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
56

There's No Chance You'll Find This Japanese Lesson Boring!

Learn how to say that something is impossible in Japanese

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
57

Give Me Your Best Japanese Advice

Learn how to give someone advice in Japanese

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
58

I'll Get Back to You in Japanese

Learn about using business Japanese

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
59

Thank You for Doing Business with Us in Japan

Learn about writing business e-mails

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
60

What Do You Think about My Japanese Proposal?

Learn the common Japanese phrases you'll use during proposal phases and we'll also teach you the Japanese words you can use to tell someone (hopefully not your spouse

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
61

When I Offered My Japanese Proposal, They Applauded

Learn how you can say something happened in Japanese when someone else did something

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
62

Subject to Your Agreement, We Have a Japanese Deal!

Learn Japanese expressions you can use to reach a conditional arrangement

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
63

You Don't Have to Shoulder the Burden of Teaching Me Japanese

Learn helpful Japanese expressions that relate to the Japanese word meaning "shoulder"

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
64

I Made a Mistake While Speaking Japanese, So I Need to Save Face!

Learn colloquial expressions using the Japanese word meaning "face"

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
65

How Much Do You Appreciate the Japanese Yen?

Learn how to offer a tentative assumption using a certain Japanese adverb

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
66

I Expected Something to Happen in Japan, But Not This!

Learn how to express that something is unexpected in Japanese when compared to something else

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
67

Tell Me How Good You Are in Japanese!

Learn a number of Japanese expressions that use the Japanese word meaning "arm"

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
68

Did You Get What You Asked for in Japanese?

Learn certain expressions using the Japanese word meaning "body"

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
69

I Cannot Agree with Your Japanese Opinion

Learn how to say that something might happen or that you might do something in Japanese

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
70

There's No Point in Complaining Now in Japanese!

Learn how to say that something is "useless" or that "there is no point" to doing something in Japanese

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
71

You're as Sneaky as a Japanese Cat

Learn many expressions that use the Japanese word for "cat"

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
72

Are the Japanese Bugs in Your Stomach Making You Angry?

Learn several expressions that use the Japanese word meaning "bug"

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
73

Even If You Plan Your Japanese Vacation Carefully, Something Will Come Up!

Learn the Japanese phrase that means "even if"

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
74

There's No Way I Can Do Any More Japanese Work!

Learn how to say that something is not possible due to a bad situation in Japanese

Audio
 • 12 Minutes
75

If You Come to Japan, Everything Will Be Fine

Learn how to solve a problem in Japanese

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
76

Moving In Japan - The First Big Step 1

Learn about saying "something is not so — as [noun]"

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
77

Moving In Japan - The First Big Step 2

Learn about explaining apartment equipment

Audio
 • 19 Minutes
78

Moving In Japan - The First Big Step 3

Learn about asking to confirm something

Audio
 • 1 Minute
79

Life Styles of the Japanese Rich and Famous

Learn about formal way of saying "please let us do something"

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
80

Moving in Japan - Preparing for the Big Day

Learn about calling a moving company to ask for an estimate

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
81

Moving In Japan - Settling In

Learn about explaining the meaning of information one has just received

Audio
 • 19 Minutes
82

Moving In Japan - Meeting the New Neighbors

Learn about saying "hello" for the first time to one's neighbors after moving to a new place

Audio
 • 1 Minute
83

Earthquake

Learn about describing where an earthquake occurred and how big it was

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
84

Finding a Job in Japan 1

Learn about understanding a job advertisement

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
85

Finding a Job in Japan 2 - I Need Some Advice

Learn about making an appointment for a job interview

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
86

Finding a Job in Japan 3- Read this to Land your Dream Job

Learn about talking about one's strengths at a job interview

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
87

Finding a Job in Japan 4 - Learn to Ask Politely

Learn about expressing one's opinion

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
88

Eye-popping Japanese Expressions

Learn about expressing that one does something for someone's sake

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
89

Battle of the Classes 1 - Bring on the Sophistication

Learn about providing information that is hearsay

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
90

Battle of the Classes 2 -This will Never Happen in Japanese!

Learn about saying that something can't or won't be done

Audio
 • 11 Minutes
91

Battle of the Classes 3 - A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Learn about talking about what used to be

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
92

Just Wait until You Get Your Hands on This!

Learn about using expressions with the word "hand"

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
93

Japanese Superstitions 1: Fact or Fiction?

Learn about saying that something undesirable will happen

Audio
 • 12 Minutes
94

Japanese Superstitions 2: One Japanese Expression You Must Use!

Learn about saying that one has no choice but to do something

Audio
 • 11 Minutes
95

Japanese Superstitions 3: Thanks to this Lesson, You'll Speak Japanese like a Pro!

Learn about expressing thanks when something that someone does has a favorable result

Audio
 • 1 Minute
96

There is No Better Way to Learn Japanese!

Learn about expressing that someone is the only one to do a certain action

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
97

Critical Japanese Phrases Part 1: Using "In Spite of"

Learn about expressing the idea of "in spite of" or "although"

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
98

Critical Japanese Phrases Part 2: Using "Can Do No Better Than"

Learn about saying that something is the best choice

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
99

Critical Japanese Phrases Part 3: Expressing Certainty

Learn about expressing confidence about something

Audio
 • 1 Minute
100

We Need a Translator 1

Learn about making a business phone call

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
101

We Need a Translator 2

Learn about holding a business meeting and making a formal request

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
102

We Need a Translator 3

Learn about asking for and giving more detailed information at a business meeting

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
103

We Need a Translator 4

Learn about discussing a business deal

Audio
 • 1 Minute
104

The Doctor is In 1

Learn about expressing the idea of "the –, the –"

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
105

The Doctor is In 2

Learn about expressing how one feels

Audio
 • 15 Minutes
106

The Doctor is In 3

Learn about expressing the idea that "if someone does something"

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
107

The Doctor is In 4

Learn about explaining which tooth hurts at a dentist

Audio
 • 21 Minutes
108

Cherry Blossom Showdown 1

Learn about stating your opinion without being assertive

Audio
 • 21 Minutes
109

Cherry Blossom Showdown 2

Learn about expressing one's certainty about what he/she is saying

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
110

Cherry Blossom Showdown 3

Learn about expressing probability

Audio
 • 1 Minute
111

Booking a Ryokan in Shimoda 1

Learn about making a reservation for a hotel room

Audio
 • 18 Minutes
112

Booking a Ryokan in Shimoda 2

Learn about making reservation for a hotel room

Audio
 • 14 Minutes
113

Booking a Ryokan in Shimoda 3

Learn about asking about various services

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
114

Booking a Ryokan in Shimoda 4

Learn about welcoming a guest

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
115

Spend Golden Week in Your Car!

Learn about understanding radio traffic information

Audio
 • 20 Minutes
116

Karoushi - Working to Death 1

Learn about giving the definition of something

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
117

Karoushi - Working to Death 2

Learn about explaining what one can see from a chart

Audio
 • 13 Minutes
118

Karoushi - Working to Death 3

Learn about giving the definition of something

Audio
 • 1 Minute
119

Karoushi - Working to Death 4

Learn about expressing one's opinion

Audio
 • 1 Minute
120

A Narrow Escape 1

Learn about expressing one's opinion

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
121

A Narrow Escape 2

Learn about expressing one's opinion

Audio
 • 17 Minutes
122

A Narrow Escape 3

Learn about explaining how something happened

Audio
 • 16 Minutes
123

A Narrow Escape 4

Learn about expressing one's opinion

Audio
 • 1 Minute
124

Familiar Forecast

Learn how to talk about the weather

Audio
 • 18 Minutes