In this article, we will explain the Japanese word Shura. We will look at the etymology (origin of the word), and how it is used today in popular culture. This journey will take us through this word’s connection to Buddhist myths, manga/anime and… forestry terms? An Introduction to the word Shura Shura …
Japanese
Watching anime or other Japanese TV can be a great way to practice your listening skills. The only possible downside is that sometimes characters will speak in a very casual way or use slang you’re not familiar with. Although this seems like a bad thing, all you need is a little research before you can …
Watching TV shows and movies in a foreign language you’re learning is a great way to practice your listening comprehension skills. Unlike audio created specifically for learning, they feature people speaking at normal speeds and usually in a colloquial manner. On the other hand, you can sometimes run into odd expressions that aren’t used so …
This article looks at a simple interjection in Japanese, ara-ara. While simple, it definitely has some guidelines to be aware of and pitfalls to avoid, not to mention some easy confusions. Don’t worry, we’re going to tackle all of it. Let’s start simple… What’s the meaning of ‘ara ara’ in Japanese? ‘Ara ara’ is …
No buts about it: how to master the many “buts” of Japanese In English, there are many words native speakers reach for without thinking about the specific grammatical function they serve. Take the word “but.” Grammatically speaking it’s a conjunction used to show contrast between two different clauses. Native English speakers probably couldn’t tell you …
If you’re familiar at all with Japanese media, you’ve probably encountered the word kimochi quite a few times and in quite a few different contexts. In fact, you may have even heard it and not realized it, as it’s morphed into some slang forms as well. In this article we’ll cover the basic meaning, as …
Anyone who’s learned a foreign language can tell you that it’s sometimes hard to find what a specific English word means in other languages. Japanese is a pretty different language from English, grammatically speaking. Translations are complicated and there isn’t always a one-to-one relationship between concepts like “or.” So how do you say “or” in …
Building your vocabulary is an important part of learning any language, and Japanese is no exception. There are many vocabulary-building strategies, ranging from rote memorization to attempts at learning new words “naturally” by listening to whole sentences. All have their proponents, and a balanced learning plan incorporates elements of multiple strategies. It’s also a good …
Speaking proper Japanese in a business setting opens a whole can of worms on the language learning experience. It’s not enough to know the right words—you have to know when to use them, how to conjugate them, how to understand the ever-present sub-text, and, finally, how to use your body appropriately. That’s right, learning business …