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...
The Difference Between 〜てしまいました vs 〜ちゃいました｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy apologizing formally [Shimaimashita] vs. Joy saying ‘Oops’ playfully [Chaimashita]) “I forgot!” (Wasurete shimaimashita) “I forgot!” (Wasure chaimashita) Both mean “I accidentally did it (and I regret it).” However, one is suitable...
The Difference Between について (ni tsuite) vs に対して (ni taishite)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy explaining a topic [Ni tsuite] vs. Joy acting towards a person [Ni taishite]) “I want to talk about you.” (Anata ni tsuite) “I am kind to you.” (Anata ni taishite) Both...
The Difference Between として (toshite) vs にして (nishite) ｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy acting AS a representative [Toshite] vs. Ken being a doctor AND pianist [Ni shite]) “I speak as a friend.” (Tomodachi toshite) “He is a genius and a hard worker.” (Tensai ni...
The Difference Between 暑い vs 熱い vs 厚い (Atsui) ｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
br> (Joy sweating [暑い], touching hot tea [熱い], holding a thick book [厚い]) “It’s hot today.” “This tea is hot.” “This book is thick.” In Japanese, all of these are pronounced 「あつい...
The Difference Between だけ (dake) vs しか (shika) ｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy stating a fact [Dake] vs. Joy complaining about lack [Shika]) “I have only 10 minutes.” (Fact) “I have nothing but 10 minutes.” (Not enough!) In Japanese, だけ (Dake) is neutral, but...
The Difference betweenまで (made) vs までに (made ni)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy studying until 5:00 [Made] vs. Joy submitting by 5:00 [Made ni]) “I will wait until 5:00.” “I will finish by 5:00.” In Japanese, just adding “ni” changes the meaning completely. 「まで...
The Difference Between のに (noni) vs けれども (keredomo)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
] (Joy complaining about rain [Noni] vs. Joy describing a dress calmly [Keredomo]) “I studied hard, but I failed!” (Complaint) “I studied hard, but the test was difficult.” (Fact) In Japanese, のに...
The Difference Between ParticleParticle 「が」 (ga) vs 「を」 (o)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Door opening by itself [Ga] vs. Joy pushing the door [O]) “I ate the pizza.” (Piza o tabemashita) “The pizza is here.” (Piza ga arimasu) Particles are tricky! が (Ga) marks the...
The Difference Between Particle 「と」 (to) vs 「や」 (ya)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy checking a complete list [To] vs. Joy gesturing ‘etc.’ [Ya]) “I ate sushi and ramen.” (Did you eat anything else?) In Japanese, the particle you choose tells the listener if that...
The Difference Between「を」 (o) vs 「で」 (de)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy walking THROUGH the park [O] vs. Joy eating AT the park [De]) “I walk in the park.” (Kouen de? Kouen o?) Usually, を (O) marks the Object (Coffee o nomu). But...
The Difference Between「に」 (ni) vs 「へ」 (he)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy arriving at a spot [Ni] vs. Joy heading towards a place [He]) “I go to Japan.” (Nihon ni ikimasu) “I go to Japan.” (Nihon he ikimasu) For verbs like “Go”, both...
The Difference Betweenにぎやか (nigiyaka) vs さわがしい (sawagashii)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy enjoying a lively festival [Nigiyaka] vs. Joy annoyed by noise [Sawagashii]) “This street is lively.” (Nigiyaka) “This street is noisy.” (Sawagashii) Both words describe a place with lots of sound and...
The Difference Between やさしい (yasashii) vs かんたん (kantan)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Ken being kind [Yasashii] vs. Joy solving a simple puzzle [Kantan]) “This problem is easy.” (Yasashii / Kantan) “He is kind.” (Yasashii only!) かんたん (Kantan) means “Simple/Easy.” やさしい (Yasashii) can mean “Easy,”...
The Difference Between 暑い vs 熱い vs 厚い (Atsui)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy sweating [暑い], touching hot tea [熱い], holding a thick book [厚い]) “It’s hot today.” “This tea is hot.” “This book is thick.” In Japanese, all of these are pronounced 「あつい (Atsui)」!...
The Difference Betweenうれしい (ureshii) vs たのしい (tanoshii)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(プレゼントをもらうJoy [うれしい] vs. カラオケで歌うJoy [たのしい]) 「合格（ごうかく）して、うれしい！」 「このゲームは、たのしい！」 どちらもポジティブな感情ですが、「うれしい (Ureshii)」は結果に対する反応、「たのしい (Tanoshii)」は行動やプロセスを楽しむときに使います。JoyとKenと一緒に使い分けを学びましょう！ 🗣 会話シーン (Conversation Scene) Joyが日本旅行から帰ってきました。 Joy ケンさん、お土産（みやげ）です！はい、どうぞ。 日本旅行（りょこう）は、とても たのしかった です！ (Ken, a souvenir for you! Here. The trip to Japan was very...
The Difference Betweenうれしい (ureshii) vs たのしい (tanoshii)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy crying with joy [Ureshii] vs. Joy dancing having fun [Tanoshii]) “I passed the test! I am Happy!” “This party is Happy!” In English, both can be translated as “Happy.” But in...
The Difference Betweenよい (yoi) vs いい (ii)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
Joy giving a thumbs up [Ii] vs. Joy conjugating grammar [Yoi]) “It is good.” (Ii desu) “It was good.” (Yokatta desu) Wait, where did “Ii” go? Why did it become “Yo”? Both...
The Difference Between きれい (kirei) vs 美しい (utsukushii)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy watching wobbling books [Ochisou] vs. Joy being saved from falling [Ochiru tokoro]) “The cup looked like it would fall.” (Ochisou datta) “I almost fell (but you saved me).” (Ochiru tokoro datta)...