Japanese

Japanese is full of unique features and surprises. From its three writing systems to the nuances of politeness, there’s always something interesting to learn. In this article, we explore 21 fun facts about Japanese, highlighting its rich vocabulary, complex grammar, and cultural depth. Whether you’re a language lover or just curious, these tidbits will give …

The YouTube sensation PewDiePie has always intrigued and entertained his millions of fans worldwide. Lately, with his move to Japan, newfound fatherhood, and immersion into Japanese culture and language, interest has spiked even more. Given his new life in Japan, a particular query repeatedly arises among his fanbase.   Does PewDiePie Speak Japanese? PewDiePie does …

Anime fans know there are some seriously overpowered characters out there, especially in shounen shows like One Piece and Naruto Shippuden. Another great example is the mysterious Yoriichi from the show Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Let’s get into the in-universe history behind this awe-inspiring demon slayer.   Who is Yoriichi? Yoriichi Tsugikuni is a …

If you’re an anime or gaming fan and you’ve been on the internet for any period of time, you’ve probably heard the word “weeb”. Weeb is the result of many different variations of internet slang evolving into a brand-new term, and they aren’t all flattering! Let’s get to know the meaning, origin and the current …

Let’s take a look at one of the more distinctive physical acts many people recognize from Japanese culture: dogeza. While the term itself is probably unfamiliar, you’re probably at least passingly familiar with its meaning, that of prostrating yourself on the ground, in an extreme form of bowing. In this article, we’ll cover the full …

Let’s look at a word that it seems like everyone loves to use in Japan. Tread carefully, however, this word (like, it seems, all words in Japanese) carries more nuance than you might at first expect. Those pitfalls are pretty easy to overcome, though, and in this article I’ll be guiding you on how to …

Ramen. Sushi. Sake. Some Japanese words are immediately recognizable, even if you don’t speak the language at all. Others are still heavily used in non-Japanese media but aren’t quite as easy to understand. Let’s look at the Japanese phrase “kawaii desu.”   What does “kawaii desu” mean in Japanese? The phrase “kawaii desu” （可愛いです） means …

Japanese has a reputation as an insular language, and beginners are often convinced it’s earned. but regular readers of the Linguaholic blog won’t be surprised that its chock full of words borrowed from other languages. Some of these, like 天ぷら (tempura), have been around in Japanese for so long they masquerade as native Japanese words. …

Like countries the world over, Japan has a robust group of subcultures. The obvious example is anime and video game fans, known in Japan as otaku. These people have many traditions, jokes and cultural references that will make literally zero sense to your average Japanese person. It goes without saying that there are thriving communities …