Asian Languages

One Slice, One Loaf: The Logic of Measure Words

Ever wondered why you can't say "one rice" in English or "one bread" in Chinese? This post dives into the…

3 weeks ago

Logograms vs. Ideograms: There’s a Difference

Is Chinese a language of "idea-pictures"? Not quite. This common misconception confuses ideograms, which are language-independent symbols for concepts, with…

3 weeks ago

The Syntax of Silence in Japanese

In Japanese communication, silence is rarely an empty space. This post delves into the "grammar" of 沈黙 (chinmoku), exploring how…

3 weeks ago

Hmong’s Tonal Writing System

Discover the Romanized Popular Alphabet (RPA), the ingenious writing system for the Hmong language. In this linguistic deep-dive, you'll learn…

4 weeks ago

The Yi Script: China’s Living Logogram

While most of China uses Chinese characters, the Yi people of the southwest have their own unique writing system with…

4 weeks ago

Why Korean and Japanese Share Grammar

Are Korean and Japanese related languages? While they feel incredibly similar to learners, the answer from linguists is "no." This…

4 weeks ago

The Top 5 Mistakes All Japanese Learners Make

Learning Japanese is a thrilling journey, but it's riddled with common pitfalls. From mixing up crucial particles like は and…

4 weeks ago

The Honorifics Maze: -san, -chan, -kun, and -sama

Calling your boss 'Tanaka-chan' could get you fired. In Japan, the small suffix you add to a name isn't just…

4 weeks ago

The Surprising Story Behind Katakana

To the budding Japanese learner, the existence of three separate writing systems can feel like a cruel joke. While Hiragana…

4 weeks ago

How to Use ‘Desu’ and ‘Masu’ (And When to Drop Them)

The polite endings '-desu' and '-masu' are keystones of beginner Japanese, but true fluency comes from knowing when to drop…

4 weeks ago

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