Recent Posts
April Fools: How to Talk About Big or Little Lies in Japanese
Since April is the month of fibs and mistruths, Gaijinpot presents some vocabulary to discuss them.
By Matthew Coslett on April 12, 2018
Get it on Credit: Shopping Hard with your Charge Card
Here are some details about the information on your Japanese bank card to help you have a better online shopping experience.
By Matthew Coslett on March 29, 2018
The Roots: Obscure Origins of Unusual Katakana
Learners may know of “wasei eigo” (English words coined in Japan), but there is another weird subcategory of katakana terms: those whose meaning has been utterly altered from the original form.
By Matthew Coslett on March 21, 2018
The Ties That Bind: Fate and Love in Japanese
If a partner “has you wrapped around their little finger,” it may not be such a bad thing. When it comes to love in Japanese, this a sign of destiny!
By Matthew Coslett on March 1, 2018
What’s in a Name? Love By Any Other Word is Still as Sweet
While the feeling of love and romance is something that is impossible to describe, Japanese has a lot of words that try to capture its essence.
By Matthew Coslett on February 8, 2018
Landing in Japan: Moving Sleekly through Arrival, Immigration and Customs Procedures
You’ve just got off the plane, you’re jet-lagged and want to get to your bed as quickly as possible. For you weary travelers, Gaijinpot presents a guide to getting through passport control and customs as smoothly as possible.
By Matthew Coslett on January 31, 2018
Dharma Tongues: How Buddha Shaped the Japanese Language
Since Buddhism played an important role in creating Japanese culture, GaijinPot presents a primer on some of the ways that its influence has also changed the language itself.
By Matthew Coslett on January 10, 2018
Present Tense: Grammatically Correct Japanese Gift Giving
With the season of giving upon us, GaijinPot presents a guide to the different words for delivering presents.
By Matthew Coslett on December 22, 2017
Losing My Religion: Using the Words of Worship in Japanese
Gaijinpot discovers that talking about religion is even more complicated than expected.
By Matthew Coslett on December 12, 2017
Ain’t Misbehavin’: Japanese Terms for Rudeness (and Worse)
Navigating the world of Japanese etiquette can be tricky without knowing some of the words that are associated with good and bad manners in Japan.
By Matthew Coslett on November 28, 2017
Suicide Squad: Reasonable Rent and Apartment ‘Incidents’
One of the cheapest ways to rent new digs in Japan is to look for “incident” apartments. Gaijinpot presents a guide to these pads and the benefits — or horrors — that await.
By Matthew Coslett on November 15, 2017
Cape Fear: Japanese Phrases for Fright
Japanese has many words for fear. By learning them, learners can gain a greater understanding of what makes this nation tick.
By Matthew Coslett on October 16, 2017
‘Koto’: The Easiest and Trickiest Grammar Point in Japanese
Mastering the use of こと and の can be a challenge for beginners and advanced students alike.