keigo

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…

2 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…

2 weeks ago

Is Japanese Hard? The 3 ‘Scary’ Parts Debunked

Is Japanese truly the impossible mountain it's made out to be? We tackle the three biggest fears for aspiring learners—Kanji,…

2 weeks ago

The Grammar of Respect: Navigating Honorifics

While English speakers use 'sir' or 'ma'am', many languages embed respect directly into their grammar. This post explores the fascinating…

4 months ago

Saving Face: The Intricate Linguistic Dance of Politeness in East Asian Cultures

The concept of "face" (面子, 체면, メンツ) is a cornerstone of social interaction in East Asia, deeply encoded in language.…

4 months ago

Speaking in Tones: The Art and Science of Politeness in Japanese (Keigo)

Beyond "konnichiwa" lies Keigo, a complex system of Japanese politeness that goes far beyond simple pleasantries. This linguistic art form…

4 months ago

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