The Difference Between「ご苦労さま」と「お疲れさま」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Boss saying Gokurosama [Authority] vs. Joy saying Otsukaresama [Polite]) “Good work today!” In Japanese, how you say “Good job” depends on your rank. ご苦労さま (Gokurosama) is for subordinates. お疲れさま (Otsukaresama) is for...
The Difference Between「お越しください」と「いらしてください」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy bowing formally [Okoshi kudasai] vs. Joy welcoming warmly [Irasshai kudasai]) “Please come to our office.” In polite Japanese, you can’t just say “Kite kudasai” to a boss. You have two beautiful...
The Difference Between「承知しました」と「分かりました」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy bowing to boss [Shouchi shimashita] vs. Joy nodding to coworker [Wakarimashita]) “I understand.” In daily life, 分かりました (Wakarimashita) is perfect. But in business, saying this to a client might make you...
The Difference Between「拝見します」と「見ます」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy checking a document politely [Haiken] vs. Joy watching TV [Mimasu]) “I saw your email.” In Japanese business, you cannot just say “Mimashita.” You must say 拝見しました (Haiken shimashita). This implies “I...
The Difference Between「存じます」と「知っています」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy using humble Keigo [Zonjimasu] vs. Joy using standard Japanese [Shitteimasu]) “I know about that.” In Japanese business, saying “Shitteimasu” to a client can sound childish or too direct. You need to...
The Difference Between「伺う」と「訪ねる」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy bowing to client [Ukagau] vs. Joy visiting a friend [Tazuneru]) “I will visit your office.” vs. “I will visit my friend’s house.” In Japanese, we change the verb based on who...
The Difference Between 「おっしゃる」と「言われる」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy listening to a VIP [Ossharu] vs. Joy listening to a senior [Iwareru]) “The President said…” In Japanese business, you cannot just say “Iimashita”. You must use Honorifics (Sonkeigo). There are two...
The Difference between「いただきます」と「もらいます」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy bowing to boss [Itadakimasu] vs. Joy getting gift from friend [Moraimasu]) “I received a gift from my friend.” vs. “I received a certificate from the President.” Both mean “Receive,” but the...
The Difference between「〜たほうがいい」と「〜べきだ」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy getting advice [Ta hou ga ii] vs. Joy following rules [Beki]) “You should go to the hospital.” vs. “We should follow the law.” In Japanese, “Should” has two levels. 〜たほうがいい (Ta...
The Difference between「〜と思う」と「〜と感じる」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy thinking with logic [Omou] vs. Joy feeling an emotion [Kanjiru]) “I think it will rain.” vs. “I feel the rain coming.” In Japanese, we distinguish between using your Head (Logic) and...
The Difference between「〜らしい」と「〜そうだ」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy sharing a fact [Souda] vs. Joy sharing a rumor [Rashii]) “I heard it will rain.” Did you see the weather forecast? Or did you just hear a rumor? In Japanese, we...
The Difference Between 「〜てみる」と「〜ためす」｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy testing a machine [Tamesu] vs. Joy trying a cake [Te-miru]) “I want to try this cake!” “I want to test this microphone.” In Japanese, both are translated as “try,” but we...
The Difference Between「〜やすい」と「〜にくい」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy reading easily [Yasui] vs. Joy struggling to read [Nikui] “This pen is easy to write with.” “This meat is hard to eat.” In Japanese, you can combine verbs with 〜やすい (Yasui)...
The Difference Between〜はず (hazu) vs 〜べき (beki)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy expecting a train [Hazu] vs. Joy teaching a rule [Beki] “The train should arrive now.” vs. “You should study more.” In English, both are “Should.” But in Japanese, we use 〜はず...
The Difference Between〜ことにする (koto ni suru) vs 〜ことになる (koto ni naru)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy making a decision [Suru] vs. Joy receiving a notice [Naru] “I decided to go to Japan.” vs “It was decided that I go to Japan.” In Japanese, we distinguish between decisions...
The Difference Between〜ながら (nagara) vs 〜つつ (tsutsu)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy relaxing [Nagara] vs. Joy working [Tsutsu] Do you multitask? “I eat while watching TV.” “I walk while thinking.” In Japanese, we have two words for “while”: 〜ながら (Nagara) and 〜つつ...
The Difference Between〜ように (yō ni) vs 〜ために (tame ni)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Alt Text: Joy making a decision [Suru] vs. Joy receiving a notice [Naru] “I decided to go to Japan.” vs “It was decided that I go to Japan.” In Japanese, we distinguish...
The Difference Between 〜てしまいました vs 〜ちゃいました｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Formal (Left) vs. Casual (Right) Have you ever eaten a whole cake by mistake? Or finished your homework completely? In Japanese, we use the grammar form 〜てしまいました (~te shimaimashita) for these situations....
The Difference Between について (ni tsuite) vs に対して (ni taishite)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy studying a topic [Ni tsuite] vs. Joy acting towards a person [Ni taishite] “I study about Japan.” vs “I am kind to customers.” In Japanese, “About” and “Towards” are different grammar...
The Difference Between として (toshite) vs にして (nishite) ｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy acting as a representative [To shite] vs. Joy having dual roles [Ni shite] “I work as a teacher.” vs “He is a teacher and also a writer.” In Japanese, 〜として (To...