posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

This table presents 40 foundational Japanese sentence patterns that serve as the building blocks for everyday conversational fluency. Each pattern is a “core phrase” or sentence frame that learners can use to create countless different sentences by substituting words—such as nouns (subjects or objects), adjectives, and verbs—according to the context.

These core phrases cover essential grammatical constructions, including making statements, asking questions, expressing desires, giving commands or requests, talking about locations, describing abilities, and more. By mastering these patterns, learners gain the ability to form complex, grammatically correct sentences in natural Japanese word order.

Each row includes:

• The Japanese phrase with pronunciation audio shortcode for listening practice,
• The romaji transcription to help with pronunciation,
• A literal word-for-word translation to understand how the sentence is structured, and
• A natural English translation to capture the intended meaning.

How to Learn Using This Table

1. Familiarize Yourself With the Patterns:
   Spend time reading and listening to each core phrase to understand its structure and meaning.
2. Practice Substitution:
   Replace placeholders (e.g., “A”, “B”, “動詞” [verb]) with your own vocabulary words—such as the nouns, adjectives, and verbs you are learning. For example, plug in “猫 (neko, cat)” as “A” or “食べます (tabemasu, eat)” as the verb.
3. Repeat and Drill:
   Use flashcards or spaced repetition systems (SRS) to practice the phrase structures regularly. Repetition helps internalize both the sentence order and particles that are critical in Japanese.
4. Combine with Verb Conjugation Practice:
   Since many patterns rely on verbs, practice conjugating your verbs in the relevant forms (present, past, negative, polite, etc.) as you use them in these core phrases.
5. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Start forming sentences using these patterns about your daily life, surroundings, or interests. This will reinforce both vocabulary and grammar naturally.
6. Listen and Speak Aloud:
   Take advantage of the audio shortcode to hear native pronunciation, then try mimicking the intonation and rhythm out loud to build speaking confidence.

By drilling these 40 core sentence patterns with your vocabulary, you will build a strong grammatical foundation that unlocks the power to communicate efficiently and correctly in Japanese. This approach leverages pattern recognition and substitution—key techniques that enable you to create new, meaningful sentences from a relatively small set of structures.

Core Phrases:

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

This core phrase can be studied using the following sets:

1. People
2. Places
3. Time
4. Food & Drink
5. Numbers
6. Animals
7. Objects & Things
8. Emotions

1. People (singular & plural treated naturally)

• Question: 彼は誰ですか？
  Kare wa dare des ka?
  Who is he?
  
  Answer: 彼は親切な先生です。
  Kare wa shinsetsu na sensei des.
  He is a kind teacher.
  
  
• Question: 彼らは誰ですか？
  Karera wa dare des ka?
  Who are they?
  
  Answer: 彼らは優秀な学生です。
  Karera wa yūshūna gakuseidesu.
  They are excellent students.
  
  
• Question: あの人たちは誰ですか？
  Ano shtotachi wa dare des ka?
  Who are those people?
  
  Answer: あの人たちは先生たちです。
  Ano shtotachi wa sensei-tachi desu.
  Those people are teachers.
  

• Question: この人たちは誰ですか？
  Kono shtotachi wa dare des ka?
  Who are these people?
  
  Answer: この人たちは医者たちです。
  Kono shtotachi wa isha-tachi desu.
  These people are doctors.
  
  
• Question: 彼女は誰ですか？
  Kanojo wa dare des ka?
  Who is she?
  
  Answer: 彼女は有名な作家です。
  Kanojo wa yūmei na sakka desu.
  She is a famous writer.
  
  
• Question: 彼らは誰ですか？
  Karera wa dare des ka?
  Who are they?
  
  Answer: 彼らは献身的な看護師です。
  Karera wa kenshin teki na kango shi des
  They are dedicated nurses.
  
  

These are words that can be used to construct “who is” questions:

1. この – these, this
   Kono
   Example: Kono ____ wa dare desu ka?
   
   
2. 医者 (いしゃ) – doctor
   Isha
   
   
3. 作家 (さっか) – writer, author
   Sakka
   Example: Sakka wa dare des ka?
   
   
4. 有名な (ゆうめいな) – famous
   Yūumei na
   Example: Kono yuumei na _______ wa dare desu ka?
   
   
5. 看護師 (かんごし) – nurse
   Kangoshi
   
   
6. 熱心な (ねっしんな) – dedicated, enthusiastic
   Nesshinna
   Example: Nesshinna _____ wa dare desu ka?
   
   
7. 彼女 (かのじょ) – she, her
   Kanojo
   
   
8. たち – (used with 彼女 in 彼女たち = “they” for women)
   Tachi
   
   
9. 人 (ひと) / 人たち – person / people
   sHto / sHto-tachi
   
   
   
10. 先生 (せんせい) – teacher
    Sense
    
    
11. 彼 (かれ) – he
    Kare
    
    
12. 誰 (だれ) – who
    Dare
    Example: Dare des ka? = Who is it?
    
    
13. 学生 (がくせい) – student
    Gakse
    
    
14. 優秀な (ゆうしゅうな) – excellent
    Yūshūna
    Example: Yushuna ________ wa dare desu ka?
    
    
15. 親切な (しんせつな) – kind
    Shinsetsuna
    Example: Shinsetsu na ________ wa dare desu ka?
    
    
16. あの – that (over there)
    Ano
    Example: Ano ______ wa dare desu ka? = Who is that ____ ?
    
    
17. たち – plural suffix (for people, e.g., 先生たち = teachers)
    Sense Tachi
    
    
18. ら – plural suffix (for people, e.g., 彼ら = they)
    Karera
    
    
19. です – is, am, are (copula, polite form)
    Desu
    Example: Dare des ka? = Who is it?
    
    
20. 誰なの – who is it (casual form)
    Dare nano
    Example: “Who is it?” or “Who are (they)?”
    
    

2. Places (singular & plural form with context)

Here are some question-and-answer examples for “What is/are this/that place(s)?”:

• Question: これは何の建物ですか？
  Kore wa nan no tatemono desu ka?
  What kind of building is this?
  
  Answer: これは新しい図書館です。
  Kore wa atarashii toshokan desu.
  This is a new library.
  
  
• Question: あれはどんな場所ですか？
  Are wa donna basho desu ka?
  What kind of place is that?
  
  Answer: あれは静かな神社です。
  Are wa shizuka na jinja desu.
  That is a quiet shrine.
  
  
• Question: ここは何ですか？
  Koko wa nan desu ka?
  What is this place?
  
  Answer: ここは有名な美術館です。
  Koko wa yūmei na bijutsukan desu.
  This is a famous art museum.
  
  
• Question: この町はどんな場所ですか？
  Kono machi wa donna basho desu ka?
  What kind of place is this town?
  
  Answer: この近くにはカフェとパン屋があります。
  Kono chikaku ni wa kafe to panya ga arimasu.
  There is a cafe and a bakery near here.
  
  
• Question: あの建物は何ですか？
  Ano tatemono wa nan desu ka?
  What is that building?
  
  Answer: あの建物は古い病院です。
  Ano tatemono wa furui byōin desu.
  That building is an old hospital.
  
  
• Question: この近くのお店はどんな店ですか？
  Kono chikaku no omise wa donna omise desu ka?
  What kind of shops are the shops nearby?
  
  Answer: この近くのお店はレストランとコンビニです。
  Kono chikaku no omise wa resutoran to konbini desu.
  The shops near here are a restaurant and a convenience store.
  

These are some vocabulary words that can be used to expand on “What is/are this/that place(s)?”

1. Tōkyō (とうきょう)
   Tokyo
   Example: Tōkyō wa ōkina toshi desu. (Tokyo is a big city.)
   
   
2. toshi (とし)
   City
   Example: Kono toshi wa yūmei desu. (This city is famous.)
   
   
3. kōen (こうえん)
   Park
   Example: Chikaku ni kōen ga arimasu. (There is a park nearby.)
   
   
4. toshokan (としょかん)
   Library
   Example: Koko wa atarashii toshokan desu. (This is a new library.)
   
   
5. tatemono (たてもの) – building
   Building
   Example: Are wa takai tatemono desu. (That is a tall building.)
   
   
6. jinja (じんじゃ)
   Shrine
   Example: Asoko wa jinja desu. (That place over there is a shrine.)
   
   
7. chikaku (ちかく)
   Nearby
   Example: Chikaku ni wa mise ga arimasu. (There is a shop nearby.)
   
   
8. omise (おみせ)
   Shop, store
   Example: Kono omise wa ninki desu. (This shop is popular.)
   
   
9. kafe – café
   Café
   Example: Tomodachi to kafe ni ikimasu. (I go to a cafe with friends.)
   
   
10. panya (ぱんや)
    Bakery
    Example: Panya no pan wa oishii desu. (The bakery’s bread is delicious.)
    
    
11. byōin (びょういん)
    Hospital
    Example: Byōin wa koko desu. (The hospital is here.)
    
    
12. bijutsukan (びじゅつかん)
    Art museum
    Example: Bijutsukan wa subarashii desu. (The art museum is wonderful.)
    
    
13. eigakan (えいがかん)
    Movie theater
    Example: Eigakan de eiga o mimasu. (I watch movies at the movie theater.)
    
    
14. resutoran
    Restaurant
    Example: Resutoran wa oishii desu. (The restaurant is delicious.)
    
    
15. machi (まち)
    Town
    Example: Kono machi wa shizuka desu. (This town is quiet.)
    
    
16. takusan
    Many, a lot
    Example: Machi ni wa takusan no hito ga imasu. (There are many people in the town.)
    
    
17. furui (ふるい)
    Old
    Example: Furui tatemono desu. (It is an old building.)
    
    
18. atarashii (あたらしい)
    New
    Example: Atarashii toshokan ga arimasu. (There is a new library.)
    
    
19. shizuka na (しずかな)
    Quiet
    Example: Shizuka na kōen desu. (It is a quiet park.)
    
    
20. hashi (はし)
    Bridge
    Example: Kawa ni hashi ga arimasu. (There is a bridge over the river.)
    
    
21. eki (えき)
    Train station
    Example: この駅は大きいですか？Kono eki wa ōkii desu ka? (Is this station big?)
    
    
    

3. Time (expressing singular/plural time units)

• 今は忙しい時間です。
  Ima wa isogashii jikan desu.
  Now is a busy time.
  
  
• 1ヶ月は約30日です。
  Ikkagetsu wa yaku sanjū-nichi desu.
  One month is about 30 days.
  
  
• Question: 何時がいい時間ですか？
  Nanji ga ii jikan desu ka?
  What time is a good time?
  
  Answer: 午後3時がいい時間です。
  Gogo sanji ga ii jikan desu.
  3 PM is a good time.
  
  

4. Food & Drink (singular & plural implied)

• そのリンゴは新鮮な果物です。
  Sono ringo wa shinsen na kudamono desu.
  That apple is fresh fruit.
  
  
• テーブルにいくつかの美味しいサンドイッチがあります。
  Tēburu ni ikutsuka no oishii sandoitchi ga arimasu.
  There are some delicious sandwiches on the table.
  
  
• Question: 今日のおすすめの食べ物は何ですか？
  Kyō no osusume no tabemono wa nan desu ka?
  What is today’s recommended food?
  
  Answer: 今日のおすすめは美味しい寿司です。
  Kyō no osusume wa oishii sushi desu.
  Today’s recommendation is delicious sushi.
  
  

5. Numbers pluralizing a noun

Note: Japanese typically doesn’t pluralize nouns like English; number + counter expresses plural meaning.

• 三人は忙しい学生です。
  Sannin wa isogashii gakusei desu.
  Three people are busy students.
  
  
• 五匹の犬は元気な動物です。
  Gohiki no inu wa genki na dōbutsu desu.
  Five dogs are lively animals.
  
  
• Question: あそこに何匹の猫がいますか？
  Asoko ni nanbiki no neko ga imasu ka?
  How many cats are over there?
  
  Answer: あそこに二匹の猫がいます。
  Asoko ni nihiki no neko ga imasu.
  There are two cats over there.
  
  

6. Animals (with adjectives and plural forms implied)

• あの馬は速い動物です。
  Ano uma wa hayai dōbutsu desu.
  That horse is a fast animal.
  
  
• 公園にはたくさんのカラフルな鳥がいます。
  Kōen ni wa takusan no karafuru na tori ga imasu.
  There are many colorful birds in the park.
  
  
• Question: あなたの好きな動物は何ですか？
  Anata no suki na dōbutsu wa nan desu ka?
  What is your favorite animal?
  
  Answer: 私の好きな動物はかわいい猫です。
  Watashi no suki na dōbutsu wa kawaii neko desu.
  My favorite animal is a cute cat.
  
  

7. Objects & Things (with adjectives and plural forms implied)

• これは新しい車です。
  Kore wa atarashii kuruma desu.
  This is a new car.
  
• 机の上にたくさんの古い本があります。
  Tukue no ue ni takusan no furui hon ga arimasu.
  There are many old books on the desk.
  
  
• Question: これらの物は誰のですか？
  Korera no mono wa dare no desu ka?
  Whose things are these?
  
  Answer: それらの物は私のです。
  Sorera no mono wa watashi no desu.
  Those things are mine.
  
  

8. Emotions (expressed as adjectives or noun phrases)

• 彼女は幸せな人です。
  Kanojo wa shiawase na hito desu.
  She is a happy person.
  
  
• 子供たちはとても疲れています。
  Kodomotachi wa totemo tsukarete imasu.
  The children are very tired.
  
  
• Question: 今、どう感じていますか？
  Ima, dō kanjite imasu ka?
  How are you feeling now?
  
  Answer: 私は元気です。
  Watashi wa genki desu.
  I am feeling well.
  
  

Notes on Plural Forms in Japanese

• Japanese often does not explicitly mark plurals on nouns (except for animate beings with suffixes like たち (-tachi) or ら (-ra)).
• Quantity or context usually indicates plurality (numbers, counters, and collective words).
• Adjectives modify nouns similarly regardless of singular/plural use.

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

A wa B ja arimasen
A is not B.

Explanation:
This phrase is the standard polite way to state that A is not B in Japanese. The structure is:

• A (topic) + は (wa) + B (predicate) + じゃありません (negative copula)
• Polite: じゃありません
• Less formal: じゃないです / ではありません
  

1. People and Plural Form

• 彼らは学生じゃありません。
  Karera wa gakusei ja arimasen.
  They are not students.
  
  
• 私たちは日本人じゃありません。
  Watashitachi wa nihonjin ja arimasen.
  We are not Japanese.
  
  
• 友達は医者じゃありませんでした。
  Tomodachi wa isha ja arimasen deshita.
  My friend was not a doctor.
  
  

2. Places and Plural Form

• これらは学校じゃありません。
  Korera wa gakkou ja arimasen.
  These are not schools.
  
  
• その建物は図書館じゃありません。
  Sono tatemono wa toshokan ja arimasen.
  That building is not a library.
  
  
• 彼らのオフィスは日本にありません。
  Karera no ofisu wa nihon ni arimasen.
  Their offices are not in Japan.
  
  

3. Time and Plural Form

• 今日と明日は休日じゃありません。
  Kyou to ashita wa kyuujitsu ja arimasen.
  Today and tomorrow are not holidays.
  
  
• 今週は連休じゃありません。
  Konshuu wa renkyuu ja arimasen.
  This week is not consecutive holidays.
  
  
• 今は夜じゃありません。
  Ima wa yoru ja arimasen.
  It is not nighttime now.
  
  

4. Food, Drink and Plural Form

• これらは飲み物じゃありません。
  Korera wa nomimono ja arimasen.
  These are not drinks.
  
  
• パンとご飯はデザートじゃありません。
  Pan to gohan wa dezaato ja arimasen.
  Bread and rice are not desserts.
  
  
• 野菜はフルーツじゃありません。
  Yasai wa furuutsu ja arimasen.
  Vegetables are not fruits.
  
  

5. Numbers Pluralizing a Noun

• 二冊の本は漫画じゃありません。
  Ni-satsu no hon wa manga ja arimasen.
  The two books are not comics.
  
  
• 三つの部屋は空いていません。
  Mittsu no heya wa aite imasen.
  The three rooms are not available.
  
  
• 五人の子供は兄弟じゃありません。
  Gonin no kodomo wa kyoudai ja arimasen.
  The five children are not siblings.
  
  

6. Animal and Plural Form

• これらは犬じゃありません。
  Korera wa inu ja arimasen.
  These are not dogs.
  
  
• 猫たちはペットじゃありませんでした。
  Nekotachi wa petto ja arimasen deshita.
  The cats were not pets.
  
  
• あの動物たちはウサギじゃありません。
  Ano doubutsutachi wa usagi ja arimasen.
  Those animals are not rabbits.
  
  

7. Objects, Things, and Their Plural Form

• それらはプレゼントじゃありません。
  Sorera wa purezento ja arimasen.
  Those are not gifts.
  
  
• あの箱は本じゃありません。
  Ano hako wa hon ja arimasen.
  That box is not a book.
  
  
• 机の上のものはパソコンじゃありません。
  Tsukue no ue no mono wa pasokon ja arimasen.
  The things on the desk are not computers.
  
  

10. Emotions

• これは悲しみじゃありません。
  Kore wa kanashimi ja arimasen.
  This is not sadness.
  
  
• 彼の気持ちは怒りじゃありませんでした。
  Kare no kimochi wa ikari ja arimasen deshita.
  His feeling was not anger.
  
  
• あの笑顔は喜びじゃありません。
  Ano egao wa yorokobi ja arimasen.
  That smile is not joy.
  

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

1. Ask “who is _______? in Japanese:

Any noun, title, role, or category referring to a person—or sometimes a being or character—can be placed before “wa dare desu ka?” to ask “Who is ___?” For example:

• Kyōjin wa dare desu ka? (巨人は誰ですか？) — Who is the giant?
• Sensei wa dare desu ka? (先生は誰ですか？) — Who is the teacher?
• Kodomo wa dare desu ka? (子供は誰ですか？) — Who is the child?
• Yuumei na hito wa dare desu ka? (有名な人は誰ですか？) — Who is the famous person?

The blank should be a noun or noun phrase identifying a person, character, or role. This sentence form is used to inquire about the identity of that specific person or figure.

Here is a table of 30 commonly used Japanese words for “who” or referring to people/roles often used before “wa dare desu ka?” to ask “Who is ___?” in everyday language. The list is ordered from most to least frequent usage in common contexts. Below that there is a list of 18 words to build more complex variations of “Who is” questions.

These are commonly used people-related words that fit naturally before “wa dare desu ka?” to ask “Who is ___?” or “Who are ___?” in daily conversation or contexts.

These are some more complex examples of “who is” questions:

• あなたの好きな歌手は誰ですか？
  Anata no sukina kashu wa dare desu ka?
  You (possessive) favorite singer (topic) who is?
  Who is your favorite singer?
  
  
• 一番上手な野球選手は誰ですか？
  Ichiban jōzu na yakyū senshu wa dare desu ka?
  Number one skillful (na) baseball player (topic) who is?
  Who is the best baseball player?
  
  
• 一番年上の学生は誰ですか？
  Ichiban toshiue no gakusei wa dare desu ka?
  Number one oldest (age-up) student (topic) who is?
  Who is the oldest student?
  
  
• 一番きれいな女の子は誰ですか？
  Ichiban kirei na onna no ko wa dare desu ka?
  Number one pretty (na) girl (topic) who is?
• Who is the prettiest girl?
  
  
• これは誰ですか？
  Kore wa dare desu ka?
  This (topic) who is?
  Who is this?
  
  
• あの人は誰ですか？
  Ano hito wa dare desu ka?
  That person (topic) who is?
  Who is that person?
  
  
• あそこにいる人は誰ですか？
  Asoko ni iru hito wa dare desu ka?
  Over there (location) at existing person (topic) who is?
  Who is the person over there?
  
  
• 先生は誰ですか？
  Sensei wa dare desu ka?
  Teacher (topic) who is?
  Who is the teacher?
  
  
• 写真の中の人は誰ですか？
  Shashin no naka no hito wa dare desu ka?
  Photo (possession) inside (possession) person (topic) who is?
  Who is the person in the photo?
  
  
• これは誰の帽子ですか？
  Kore wa dare no bōshi desu ka?
  This (topic) who (possessive) hat is?
  Whose hat is this?
  
  
• あの青いシャツを着ている人は誰ですか？
  Ano aoi shatsu o kite iru hito wa dare desu ka?
  That blue shirt (object marker) wearing person (topic) who is?
  Who is the person wearing the blue shirt?
  

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

• Verbs
• Conjunctions
• Particles
• Questions
• Adverbs
• Pronouns
• Nouns
• Phrases

This simple chart strips Japanese down to just 7 essential particles — は, が, を, に, の, も, と — paired with the word watashi (“I/me”).

Each pairing has a “dirty definition” (a quick, gut‑level meaning) and easy swap‑in examples so you can instantly feel the role of each particle without heavy grammar.

By keeping only the core particles, beginners can talk about themselves, describe actions, give and receive things, show possession, include others, and connect ideas — all without drowning in the full complexity of Japanese grammar.

Verbs:

Conjunctions:

Particles:

Questions:

Adverbs:

Pronouns:

Nouns:

Phrases:

Japanese numbering systems are structured similarly to English in that both languages use base numbers and combine them to construct larger numbers. However, Japanese numbers are built around a more regular pattern of grouping and combine two main systems: the native Japanese (wago) system for small numbers, and the Sino-Japanese (kango) system borrowed from Chinese, which is used for larger numbers, higher counts, and formal contexts. Unlike English, where numbers up to thousands are grouped by thousands (e.g., 2,000), Japanese groups numbers by ten-thousands, with specific words and readings for each. This structure facilitates building higher numbers in a systematic way, using simple rules for combining units and tens, hundreds, and thousands.​

The similarity lies in how both languages use alphanumeric building blocks—digits or words—that are combined in predictable patterns. Both systems feature special words for important milestones like 100, 1,000, and 10,000, and both have specific pronunciations or words that change depending on context or formal usage. This familiarity in constructing numbers makes it easier for learners to adapt their understanding from one language system to the other once the basic principles are grasped.

Japanese numbers beyond ten are formed by combining the base numbers 1 to 9 with the place values like ten, hundred, and thousand in a simple and consistent pattern. For example, 21 is constructed as 二十一 (ni-juu-ichi), literally “two-ten-one,” meaning 2 × 10 + 1. Unlike English, which often uses unique words for multiples (like twenty, thirty), Japanese relies on directly combining numbers with place values without special terms for the multiples. This makes it easy to build and understand larger numbers once you know the basic 1–10 digits and place value words. The system is very logical and regular, allowing seamless progression from single digits to multiple-digit numbers by straightforward concatenation.

Quick Usage Notes

10 → 十分 (juppun)

Age (歳)

Usually follows the number directly: 十五歳 (juu-go sai).

The word 歳 changes reading only for 20 → 二十歳 (hatachi).

Money (円)

The yen symbol (¥) corresponds to 円 (en).

Large numbers use the Japanese unit system:

一万円 (10,000 yen)

十万円 (100,000 yen)

百万円 (1,000,000 yen)

Time (時 and 分)

時 marks “o’clock” and 分 marks “minutes.”

Irregular minute readings:

1 → 一分 (ip-pun)

3 → 三分 (san-pun)

4 → 四分 (yon-pun)

6 → 六分 (rop-pun)

8 → 八分 (hap-pun)

Here’s an extended section covering dates, months, and years in Japanese — essential for mastering daily time expressions and understanding how Japanese numbers adapt in these contexts.

Notes on Date Usage

• The standard order for Japanese dates: Year + Month + Day
  Example: 二千二十五年十一月八日 (ni-sen ni-juu-go nen juu-ichi-gatsu youka) = “November 8, 2025.”
• For conversation:
  • 今日は何日ですか？ (Kyō wa nan-nichi desu ka?) → “What day is it today?”
  • 誕生日は三月三日です。 (Tanjōbi wa san-gatsu mikka desu.) → “My birthday is March 3rd.”
• Remember reading shifts:
  • 日 can read nichi, ka, or jitsu depending on context.
  • 月 reads gatsu in months, tsuki when meaning “moon.”

Here’s a practice exercise set using the number categories you’ve learned — age, money, time, and dates — to reinforce comprehension and speaking fluency. These are designed to help you recall both the native readings and structure.

Practice Set: Using Numbers in Context

Tips for Practice

• Repeat each sentence aloud after playing the audio.
• Swap numbers regularly (e.g., say “I’m 30,” “It’s 7:45,” “Today is July 14”) to strengthen flexibility.
• Notice how particles like は (wa), に (ni), and です (desu) anchor the sentence pattern — they remain consistent across number changes.

Japanese counters are an essential part of expressing quantity in the language, as they classify and count objects, people, animals, and even units of time based on specific categories such as shape, size, or usage. Unlike English, where we simply add a number before most nouns to indicate quantity, Japanese requires a counter to accurately convey what type of thing is being counted. Each counter follows its own logic, and many are considered regular, but several important ones are “irregular”—meaning the pronunciation or form changes depending on the number.​

Understanding both regular and irregular counters is crucial for beginners and advanced learners alike, as it not only helps avoid common mistakes but also deepens your grasp of how native speakers organize and express information about the world around them. The tables below will introduce the most common counters, offering examples of usage and highlighting those that have special forms, so that you can count naturally in everyday Japanese.

Irregular Counters

Irregular Japanese counters are unique because their sound patterns change according to the number, resulting in pronunciation anomalies or even entirely special words for certain amounts. These counters—such as つ, 本, 才, and 分—often require learners to memorize multiple forms rather than applying a single rule. Unlike regular counters like まい or だい, which follow predictable constructions, irregular counters hold exceptions especially around numbers like one, three, six, eight, and ten. Mastering these helps your Japanese sound more natural and prevents common mistakes, since native speakers expect the correct pronunciation for each situation.​

1. General (つ counter)

The つ counter stands out as the most flexible and generic among Japanese counters. It is used to count general things, objects without a specific category, and is often preferred for everyday, casual conversation. The つ counter is available for numbers one through ten, each with its own unique pronunciation instead of a simple combination of number plus counter. For example, “one thing” is ひとつ (hitotsu), and “ten things” is とお (too), not simply いちつ or じゅうつ. This table provides all ten forms and shows how つ is used in practical sentences, so learners can easily use the right form in natural conversation.

2. Cylindrical (本 counter)

The cylindrical counter 本 (hon) is used for long, thin objects like bottles, pens, and umbrellas. It’s famous for its irregular readings on numbers like one (一本, ippon), three (三本, sanbon), six (六本, roppon), eight (八本, happon), and ten (十本, juppon), in addition to the standard forms. These changes are due to sound blending in Japanese and follow set patterns you’ll see reflected across other counters.

3. Years Old (歳 counter)

The counter for years old, 歳 (sai), applies when describing age. While most ages follow predictable patterns, numbers like one (一歳, issai), eight (八歳, hassai), and ten (十歳, jussai) are pronounced irregularly because of sound changes at the start of the word, which you’ll see listed in the table.

4. Minutes (分 counter)

Counting minutes uses the counter 分 (fun/pun), which attaches to the Sino-Japanese number and alters its pronunciation due to sound blending, especially for one (一分, ippun), three (三分, sanpun), six (六分, roppun), eight (八分, happun), and ten (十分, juppun).

5. Small Animals (匹 counter)

For small animals, Japanese uses 匹 (hiki), with irregular forms such as 一匹 (ippiki), 三匹 (sanbiki), 六匹 (roppiki), 八匹 (happiki), and 十匹 (juppiki). These changes help distinguish the numbers more clearly and are an important detail for sounding fluent.

Final paragraph

Citations:
[1] How to use Japanese Counters https://nihonshock.com/2012/04/how-to-use-japanese-counters/
[2] A beginner’s guide to basic Japanese counters https://gogonihon.com/en/blog/basic-japanese-counters/
[3] How to Count and Read Numbers in Japanese https://cotoacademy.com/japanese_numbers/
[4] Japanese Counter 〜つ: Counting Everything and Anything https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-counter-tsu/
[5] Let’s learn Japanese counters, counting words https://youtonihongo.com/counters1/
[6] Japanese Numbers, A Quick & Easy Lesson https://ltl-japanese.com/grammar-bank/numbers/
[7] Ultimate Guide to Counting in Japanese https://japanswitch.com/ultimate-guide-to-counting-in-japanese/
[8] Numbers and Counters https://www.tofugu.com/japanese-grammar/numbers-and-counters/
[9] Numbers and Counting – Learn Japanese https://guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/numbers
[10] Japanese Numbers: A Top Guide on How to Count in … https://www.berlitz.com/blog/japanese-numbers.

Learning Japanese verbs is a foundational part of mastering everyday conversation and understanding the language’s structure. The following table features the 20 most common Japanese verbs presented in five key forms: the base verb, polite present, polite past, plain negative, and polite negative. Each column provides examples in Japanese (kanji/hiragana), romaji, and concise English, alongside literal translations and pronunciation cues for practice.Use this table for quick reference, listening practice, and to reinforce essential grammar patterns as you progress in Japanese.

The table above provides a strong foundation for your study of the most common Japanese verbs, their key conjugations, and practice pronunciation using AtlasVoice integration. Let me know if you want me to continue with the rest of the 20 or add more verbs.

Citations:
[1] Top 50 Most Frequent Japanese Verbs https://japanesecomplete.com/articles/?p=353
[2] Top 250 most common Japanese verbs – Japanese Sensei https://senseijapanese.com/beginning-with-japanese/top-250-most-common-japanese-verbs/
[3] Anyone have a list of essential verbs that is neatly categorized? https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnJapanese/comments/74bw2p/anyone_have_a_list_of_essential_verbs_that_is/
[4] The ultimate list: 100+ Common Japanese verbs for daily life https://mochidemy.com/support/verbs-in-japanese/
[5] Action Verbs: Mental https://www.japanesepod101.com/blog/2020/08/25/japanese-verbs/
[6] Learn the 50 most common verbs in Japanese – JapanesePod101 https://www.japanesepod101.com/japanese-vocabulary-lists/50-most-common-verbs
[7] 100 Basic Japanese Verbs For Beginners https://cotoacademy.com/basic-japanese-verbs-for-beginners/
[8] Top 50 Most Common Japanese Verbs You Should Learn … https://strommeninc.com/top-50-most-common-japanese-verbs-you-should-learn-today/
[9] Learn Japanese: Top 500 Japanese Verbs List – PDF Inside https://www.linguajunkie.com/japanese/japanese-verbs-list
[10] JLPT N5 Verbs Vocabulary List – JLPTsensei.com https://jlptsensei.com/jlpt-n5-verbs-vocabulary-list/

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

This simple chart strips Japanese down to just 7 essential particles — は, が, を, に, の, も, と — paired with the word watashi (“I/me”).

Each pairing has a “dirty definition” (a quick, gut‑level meaning) and easy swap‑in examples so you can instantly feel the role of each particle without heavy grammar.

By keeping only the core particles, beginners can talk about themselves, describe actions, give and receive things, show possession, include others, and connect ideas — all without drowning in the full complexity of Japanese grammar.

Here are some question-and-answer pairs that help illustrate how these particles work with “watashi.”

は (wa)

Question: As for you, what do you like?
あなたは何が好きですか？
Anata wa nani ga suki desu ka?

Answer: As for me, I like coffee.
私はコーヒーが好きです。
Watashi wa koohii ga suki desu.

が (ga)

Question: Who is going?
誰が行きますか？
Dare ga ikimasu ka?

Answer: I am the one going.
私が行きます。
Watashi ga ikimasu.

を (o)

Question: Who did the teacher call?
先生は誰を呼びましたか？
Sensei wa dare o yobimashita ka?

Answer: The teacher called me.
先生は私を呼びました。
Sensei wa watashi o yobimashita.

に (ni)

Question: Who did she give the chocolate to?
彼女は誰にチョコレートをあげましたか？
Kanojo wa dare ni chokoreeto o agemashita ka?

Answer: She gave chocolate to me.
彼女は私にチョコレートをくれました。
Kanojo wa watashi ni chokoreeto o kuremashita.

の (no)

Question: Whose pen is this?
これは誰のペンですか？
Kore wa dare no pen desu ka?

Answer: This is my pen.
これは私のペンです。
Kore wa watashi no pen desu.

も (mo)

Question: Do you also play soccer?
あなたもサッカーをしますか？
Anata mo sakkā o shimasu ka?

Answer: Yes, I also play soccer.
はい、私もサッカーをします。
Hai, watashi mo sakkā o shimasu.

と (to)

Question: Who did you go shopping with?
あなたは誰と買い物に行きましたか？
Anata wa dare to kaimono ni ikimashita ka?

Answer: I went shopping with my friend.
私は友達と買い物に行きました。
Watashi wa tomodachi to kaimono ni ikimashita.

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

Common Japanese Transitive Verbs with Direct Objects Marked by Particle を (wo)

This table lists some of the most frequently used Japanese transitive verbs that require the particle を (wo) to mark their direct objects. Each entry includes the verb in Japanese with audio playback, its romaji reading with meaning, and an example sentence you can practice aloud. You can easily replace the object in each sentence to create your own phrases and strengthen your understanding of how を connects actions to their targets.

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuwY498nCP8

Click on the image to watch the video, “Dad’s eyebrows are missing” on YouTube.

Shin-chan was just trying to help but messed up… lol
When you cut your eyebrows and bangs too short, the only way to hide it is to make it pop
If you think “I have no choice but to laugh at this”, and it is a fun way to study Japanese! (^ ^)

This is a study list of all of the phrases from the Shinchan episode Dad’s eyebrows are missing:

Vocabulary List:

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

Watch the video then study the phrases then learn the vocabulary. Then, watch the video again. How much did you understand the second time. Go through everything again until you can understand the entire episode. Enjoy!

🎥 Japanese Conversation #70

This video features a casual Japanese conversation between Ken and YUYU focusing on everyday topics such as food and making plans to meet in person. The conversation includes practical, natural Japanese phrases with subtitles in Kanji, Furigana, and English, supporting immersive language learning through real-life dialogue.

🧠 What You Can Learn (Japanese Language Focus)

By studying the tables (phrases, translations) and vocabulary list, you can learn and reinforce the following:

✅ 1. Essential Japanese Grammar Patterns

Use of ～て form for connecting actions and requesting (e.g., 食べてください).

Verb conjugations for casual and polite speech.

Use of particles like は, を, に to mark topics, objects, and destinations.

Expressing plans and intentions with ～たい and ～つもり.

Conditional expressions (e.g., ～たら).on.

✅ 2. Core Vocabulary

Food-related terms (e.g., 食べ物 [たべもの], ご飯 [ごはん])

Common verbs related to eating, meeting, and talking (e.g., 食べる, 会う, 話す)

Time expressions for scheduling (e.g., 今度 [こんど], 明日 [あした])

Casual conversational words and fillers (e.g., そう, なんか)

✅ 3. Core Terms & Verbs

The video covers beginner-to-intermediate cooking expressions:

• 材料 (ingredients), 衣 (batter), 混ぜる (to mix), 揚げる (to fry), 切る (to cut), 冷蔵庫 (refrigerator), オールスパイス (allspice)

Perfect for anyone learning Japanese through daily life themes like food and culture.

✅ 4. Core Vocabulary & Expressions

• 食べる (to eat)
• 行く (to go)
• 会う (to meet)
• 飲む (to drink)
• 話す (to talk)
• する (to do) as a versatile auxiliary verb

✅ 5. Polite & Natural Japanese Speech

You’ll gain exposure to polite expressBalancing formal and informal speech registers appropriate to the familiarity between speakers.

Use of softeners and politeness markers to keep conversation friendly and respectful.

Natural flow of dialogue with interruptions, confirmations, and casual sentence endings.

📚 Summary: What You’ll Gain as a Learner

By studying this conversation, you will acquire practical vocabulary and sentence patterns used in daily Japanese interactions, especially around food and social engagement. You’ll improve listening comprehension with authentic spoken Japanese, gain familiarity with various politeness levels, and enhance your ability to participate in natural conversations involving invitations and making plans. The inclusion of Kanji with Furigana and English subtitles supports learners at multiple proficiency levels to deepen vocabulary retention and grammar understanding in a contextually rich setting.

This is the first set of essential phrases from the video:

This is the core vocabulary table:

posted in Everyday Japanese on November 3, 2025 by username 0 Comments

The most common usage categories for the pattern nan___desu ka are questions that ask “What is ___?” or “What kind of ___?” about various topics. These typically include:

• Asking about objects or things (e.g., これは何ですか？ “What is this?”)
• Asking for explanations or definitions (e.g., “What does ___ mean?”)
• Asking about time and dates (e.g., 何時ですか？ “What time is it?”)
• Asking about quantities or amounts (e.g., “How many/much?”)
• Asking about categories or types (e.g., “What kind of ___?”)
• Asking for descriptions (e.g., “What color is ___?”)

This pattern is versatile and commonly used for basic information inquiries across many everyday contexts. Though there are many possible combinations, these categories summarize the most frequent and practical uses learners encounter.

Object Questions in Everyday Japanese

This table presents common Japanese questions and answers about objects, showing each item in Japanese with a word‑for‑word English gloss and romaji so learners can see how sentences are built and how meaning maps onto each word. It is designed for call‑and‑response practice, so learners can read the Japanese, check the literal meaning, and then use the これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?) pattern to swap in new nouns and create their own object questions and answers.

Asking for Explanations and Definitions in Japanese

This table offers key Japanese question and answer patterns used to ask for explanations or definitions. Each entry includes the original Japanese phrase with literal English translation and romaji, facilitating clear understanding of sentence structure and meaning. The format supports active learning by allowing learners to practice requesting and giving explanations about words, phrases, and concepts in everyday conversation contexts. The included audio shortcode encourages correct pronunciation practice for effective communication skill-building.

Time and Date Questions in Japanese with Answers

This table presents common questions using the pattern 何時ですか？ (nan ji desu ka?) and related time expressions in Japanese, along with simple answers. Each question and answer includes a word-for-word English translation and romaji transcription. This format helps learners understand the structure of time- and date-related questions and practice pronunciation, aided by embedded voice reading shortcodes. The table covers asking about current time, day, month, start/end times, and durations, demonstrating practical conversational use.

Common Japanese Questions About Quantities or Amounts

The following table lists 10 typical question-and-answer pairs in Japanese related to “how many” or “how much.” Each entry includes a literal English translation, romaji pronunciation, and an audio shortcode for reading practice.

Common Japanese Questions About Categories or Types

These examples use the common question words どんな (donna) and どのような (dono youna) to ask about types or categories, matching natural conversational usage in Japanese.

Common Japanese Questions About Descriptions

Here is a table of common Japanese questions and answers focused on asking for descriptions, such as “What color is ___?” or other descriptive inquiries. This includes a literal English translation, romaji pronunciation, and audio for listening practice. This table highlights common ways to ask for descriptions in Japanese with responses illustrating colors, tastes, feelings, and general qualities, using natural expressions to describe objects, places, and people.