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...
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...