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)...
The Difference Between すごい (sugoi) vs すばらしい (subarashii)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
br> (Joy shouting “Sugoi!” casually vs. Joy saying “Subarashii” politely) “Wow! That’s amazing!” “That is a splendid idea.” In Japanese, すごい (Sugoi) is casual and energetic. すばらしい (Subarashii) is polite and refined....
The Difference Between 静か (shizuka) vs しずかな (shizuka na)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy in a quiet library [Shizuka] vs. Joy pointing to a quiet place [Shizuka na]) “This room is quiet.” (Koko wa shizuka desu.) “This is a quiet room.” (Kore wa shizuka na...
The Difference Between うるさい (urusai) vs にぎやか (nigiyaka)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy annoyed by noise [Urusai] vs. Joy enjoying a lively street [Nigiyaka]) “Shut up!” vs. “What a lively party!” In Japanese, describing sound and people is tricky. うるさい (Urusai) means “Noisy/Annoying” (Negative)....
The Difference Between 分かる (wakaru) vs 理解する (rikai suru)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy having an idea [Wakaru] vs. Joy analyzing data [Rikai suru]) “I get it!” vs. “I comprehend the theory.” In Japanese, 分かる (Wakaru) is intuitive and emotional. 理解する (Rikai suru) is logical...
The Difference Between 持つ (motsu) vs 持っている (motte iru)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy picking up a box [Motsu] vs. Joy owning a car [Motteiru]) “I have a pen.” (Motteiru) “I will hold your bag.” (Motsu) In Japanese, 持つ (Motsu) is an instant action (to...
The Difference Between 出る (deru) vs 出す (dasu)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Sun appearing [Deru] vs. Joy submitting homework [Dasu]) “The sun comes out.” (Hi ga deru) “I take out the trash.” (Gomi o dasu) They look similar, but 出る (Deru) is when something...
The Difference Between 入る (hairu) vs 入れる (ireru)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy entering a room [Hairu] vs. Joy putting a phone in a bag [Ireru]) “I enter the room.” (Heya ni hairu) “I put the pen in the box.” (Hako ni pen o...
The Difference Between 付ける (tsukeru) vs 付く (tsuku)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy turning on a light [Tsukeru] vs. Rice stuck on Ken’s face [Tsuku]) “I turn on the TV.” (Terebi o tsukeru) “The TV is on.” (Terebi ga tsuiteiru) One is an action...
The Difference Between 開く (aku) vs 開ける (akeru) ｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Automatic door opening [Aku] vs. Joy opening a door [Akeru]) “The door opens.” (Doa ga aku) “I open the door.” (Doa o akeru) In English, the word “Open” is the same. But...
The Difference Between 乗る (noru) vs 乗せる (noseru)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Alt Text: Joy getting on a train [Noru] vs. Joy loading luggage [Noseru]) “I ride the bus.” (Basu ni noru) “I load the luggage.” (Nimotsu o noseru) 乗る (Noru) is when YOU...
The Difference Between 見る (miru) vs 観る (miru) vs 見える (mieru) vs 見られる (mirareru)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)
(Joy seeing Mt. Fuji [Mieru] vs. Joy watching a movie [Miru/Kan]) “I see a bird.” (Mieru) “I watch a movie.” (Miru) “I can see (have a chance to see) the panda.” (Mirareru)...
Hear, Listen, or Ask? The Difference Between 聞く, 聴く, and 訊く (N3-N5)
(Joy hearing a sound [聞く], listening to music [聴く], and asking a question [訊く]) “Did you hear that?” “I listen to music.” “I ask a question.” In Japanese, all of these are...
What’s the Difference? 貸す (kasu) vs. 借りる (kariru) – A Simple Guide to “Lend” and “Borrow”
(Joy lending a pen [Kasu] vs. Joy borrowing a pen [Kariru]) “Please borrow me a pen.” (Mistake!) “Please lend me a pen.” (Correct!) In Japanese, 貸す (Kasu) is to lend, and 借りる...