Homophones, or words that have the same sound but different meanings, exist in many languages. In English, for instance, the words “where” and “wear” are homophones. Both sound identical when spoken aloud, but the two words have vastly different meanings. Japanese is no exception when it comes to this kind of word. The use of …
Marcel Iseli
One of the things that makes language learning so complicated is that there are multiple levels of formality. Technically called “registers,” these different ways to use a given language fascinate linguists but can frustrate learners. It should be no surprise that English is no exception to this complexity. In addition to the style of speech …
When to put a comma after “Oh” in a sentence Oh, hi! Didn’t see you there. Were you looking for an article about comma use after the word “oh”? If so, I have just the thing. Do you need a comma after “Oh”? When you’re using “Oh” like an interjection (a part of speech …
The internet is a fascinating place. Anyone with a specific interest, no matter how unusual or unique it may seem, is likely to discover like-minded individuals online and connect with them. This is why there has been a sudden surge in baby talk, which can be observed with words like “Roar xD” and “I wuv …
What does it mean to say “let that sink in”? English has some odd phrases that are used on a daily basis. Most people never think about these and use them all the time. This can be very confusing if you’re unfamiliar with the phrase in question. In this article, we’ll explain what “let that …
Part of what makes writing so interesting is that it’s possible to do things which are stylistic choices rather than grammatical ones. However, if you opt to add flavor to your writing this way, it’s important to know the grammatical rules involved as well. One case in point is the phrase “but rather,” which is …
English and Japanese don’t always match up, and it can be hard to find the best way to translate a common English phrase. One example is “take care.” [toc] How do you say “take care” in Japanese? The most common ways to say “take care” are お大事に (odaijini) and お元気で (ogenkide). Both these …
Intransitive verbs, does that ring a bell? If it doesn’t, no worries. In this article, we’ll demystify what it means for a verb to be ‘intransitive,’ and we’ll share tips on how to use them correctly in your sentences. What is an intransitive verb? An intransitive verb is a verb that cannot take a …
Japan has a reputation for extreme politeness, but people there still get angry. In this post, we’ll give you the right words to defuse the situation. How to say “calm down” in Japanese In Japanese, you can use the compound verb 落ち着く (おちつく) to tell someone to calm down. If someone is really panicking, …