Tag: Japanese language

  • Get off the beaten path with some basic Japanese to see the sakura

    Get off the beaten path with some basic Japanese to see the sakura

    This year the sakura (cherry blossoms) came early! So I made a language article about how to travel to see some hidden spots. Get out of your “toire wa doko desu ka?” comfort zone and learn how to branch out a bit! Article on the Japan Times here:https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2023/03/22/language/get-off-beaten-path-basic-japanese-see-sakura/

  • Beginner’s Guide to Onsen in Japan

    Beginner’s Guide to Onsen in Japan

    Winter is the time for a hot bath and relaxation! But onsen in Japan are a little different to your run-of-the-mill bath, so here I look at some of cultural and linguistic tips for an enjoyable hot spring trip: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/beginners-guide-to-onsen-in-japan/

  • Warming up to onsen: The quirks and customs of public baths

    Warming up to onsen: The quirks and customs of public baths

    Admittedly it took me a long time to get used to bath culture in Japan, but now in this cold weather it’s pretty much all I can think about. But there are a lot of confusing words and customs associated with the hot springs, so I put a few of them together in my latest…

  • I know Japanese. Why can’t I read signs in Hokkaido?

    I know Japanese. Why can’t I read signs in Hokkaido?

    Place names in Japanese are difficult to read, because they combine kanji characters you wouldn’t see together in other situations. Once I finally started getting used to the combinations on Japan’s main island, I was dumb-struck by the names up north in Hokkaido. The combinations were highly unusual, and often used characters I’ve never seen…

  • The Linguistic Joy of Cooking

    The Linguistic Joy of Cooking

    This is my first ever publication with the Japan Times. It was published in their print edition on Friday August 19, 2022, and covers different linguistic aspects of cooking in Japan. From “中華鍋” to “寝かせる”, here are some of the Japanese words and phrases you might find yourself needing when you open a cookbook. Read…

  • Japanese Superstitions: Good and Bad Omens

    Japanese Superstitions: Good and Bad Omens

    Where I come from, broken mirrors and black cats are the obvious superstitions, but what about in Japan? In my piece for Tokyo Weekender, find out why to hide your thumbs in Japan when you see a hearse, or why spider lilies shouldn’t be taken home. Read the full article here:https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/06/japanese-superstitions-good-bad-omens/

  • 5 Japanese Words We Use in English

    5 Japanese Words We Use in English

    The words “sudoku” and “sushi” have become so commonplace in the English language. But do you ever stop to think what they really mean? Sure, sudoku is a word game, and sushi is a fish and rice dish, but why are they called that, and why didn’t we come up with our own English words…

  • Japanese 102: How To Send Parcels at the Post Office

    Japanese 102: How To Send Parcels at the Post Office

    I put together a guide on how to navigate the complicated services available at a Japanese post office, as well as some useful Japanese phrases to get by. Read the article here:https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2022/04/japanese-post-office-cheat-sheet/