The Difference Between 「申し訳ありません」と「すみません」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy lightly bowing on the street [Sumimasen] vs. Joy bowing deeply in a suit [Moushiwake arimasen]) “Excuse me / Sorry!” -> すみません (Sumimasen) “I sincerely apologize.” -> 申し訳ありません (Moushiwake arimasen) Apologizing correctly...
The Difference Between「よろしくお願いします」と「どうぞよろしく」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy bowing in an office [Yoroshiku onegaishimasu] vs. Joy waving at a party [Douzo yoroshiku]) “Nice to meet you.” -> よろしくお願いします (Yoroshiku onegaishimasu) “Nice to meet you!” -> どうぞよろしく (Douzo yoroshiku) In...
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 welcoming a guest to her home [Irashite] vs. Joy bowing to a client at an event [Okoshi]) “Please come to our office.” -> お越しください (Okoshi kudasai) “Please come to my house.”...
The Difference Between「入る」と「入れる」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Cat going into a box [Hairu] vs. Joy putting her bag in a locker [Ireru]) “The cat goes into the box.” (Neko ga hairu) “I put the bag into the locker.” (Kaban...
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「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 visiting a client [Ukagau] vs. Joy visiting a friend [Tazuneru]) “I will visit your office tomorrow.” If you say “Ashita, ofisu wo tazunemasu,” it sounds a bit like you are going...
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 giving advice [Ta hou ga ii] vs. Joy enforcing rules [Beki da]) “You should go home.” In English, “should” is used for everything. In Japanese, we have 〜たほうがいい (Ta hou ga...
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 with senses [Kanjiru]) “I think it’s expensive.” “I feel cold.” In Japanese, we separate thoughts from sensations. 〜と思う (To omou) is for the head....
The Difference between「〜らしい」と「〜そうだ」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy quoting news [Sou da] vs. Joy guessing from a scene [Rashii]) “I heard it will rain.” 雨が 降る そうだ。 (Ame ga furu sou da) 雨が 降る らしい。 (Ame ga furu rashii)...
The Difference Between 「〜てみる」と「〜ためす」｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy testing equipment [Tamesu] vs. Joy trying a cake [Te-miru]) “I will test the machine.” (Kikai o tamesu) “I will try eating this cake.” (Keeki o tabete miru) Both mean “to try,”...
The Difference Between「〜やすい」と「〜にくい」の違い｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy reading an easy book [Yasui] vs. Joy struggling with a hard book [Nikui]) “This pen is easy to write with.” “This meat is hard to eat.” In Japanese, you can turn...
The Difference Between〜はず (hazu) vs 〜べき (beki)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy calculating time [Hazu] vs. Joy enforcing rules [Beki]) “He should be at home now.” (Logic) “You should be kind to others.” (Morals) In English, “Should” covers both. In Japanese, 〜はず (Hazu)...
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 choice [Suru] vs. Joy accepting a rule [Naru]) “I decided to go.” (Iku koto ni shita) “It has been decided that I go.” (Iku koto ni natta) Both express...
The Difference Between〜ながら (nagara) vs 〜つつ (tsutsu)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy eating while watching TV [Nagara] vs. Joy working formally [Tsutsu]) “I study while listening to music.” “We are moving forward while considering the problem.” Both use “While,” but the Japanese vibe...
The Difference Between〜ように (yō ni) vs 〜ために (tame ni)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy saving for a car [Tameni] vs. Joy studying to be able to speak [Youni]) “I study to pass the exam.” “I study so that I can speak Japanese.” In Japanese, both...