What common Japanese words really mean, from kawaii and baka to names, animals and food.
10 articles in Words & meanings
September 30, 20264 min read
Sugoi (すごい) means amazing, great or incredible, and sometimes terrible. How sugoku and sugee work, and how to reply when someone says sugoi to you.
Read MoreSeptember 17, 20267 min read
Kawaii (かわいい) means cute, adorable or lovable. Its history, how it differs from cute, who you can call kawaii, and how to say so cute in Japanese.
Read MoreSeptember 11, 202615 min read
Famous Japanese proverbs (kotowaza) with meanings: 七転び八起き, 猿も木から落ちる, 一期一会 and many more, by theme, with English equivalents.
Read MoreSeptember 8, 202615 min read
Japanese food names with kanji, readings and meanings: rice, noodles, sushi, fried food, hot pots, street food, sweets and drinks, and how to read a menu.
Read MoreSeptember 7, 20268 min read
Japan has six native dog breeds: Akita, Kai, Kishu, Shikoku, Hokkaido and Shiba. Their Japanese names, history, Hachikō, popularity and prices.
Read MoreSeptember 6, 20267 min read
Animals in Japanese are 動物 (dōbutsu). About 50 animal names by group, why many are in katakana, how to count them, and the animals found only in Japan.
Read MoreAugust 28, 20264 min read
Gaijin means foreigner, literally outside person. Is it offensive? See how it differs from gaikokujin, why views differ, and what to say instead.
Read MoreAugust 26, 20267 min read
English in Japanese is 英語 (eigo). How to ask Do you speak English?, how to answer, and the English loanwords and wasei-eigo Japanese uses.
Read MoreAugust 21, 20264 min read
Baka (馬鹿) means fool or idiot, and it's one of Japan's most common insults. How rude it is, baka vs aho in Kansai, why it's written horse-deer.
Read MoreAugust 11, 202613 min read
The most common Japanese last names are Satō (佐藤), Suzuki and Takahashi. The top 50 with kanji, readings and meanings, and how surnames work.
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