In this podcast, we’re focusing on a crucial skill for mastering Japanese fluency and expanding your vocabulary which is confirming information. When visiting Japan, it is likely you might mishear what is being said or you simply don’t understand the vocabulary being used. So, whether you’re confirming a restaurant reservation or seeking clarity in a conversation, this skill is indispensable for effective communication and deepening your grasp of Japanese. And the good news is, you only...

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 55 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Podcast 54 Audio dialogue drills

The show notes for this episode have moved to our new Patreon page. Learn Japanese Pod Patreon

The topic for this lesson is the word 気 Ki. 気 has a lot of meanings depending on context. It up in has various meanings such as spirit, heart or mind. It can also mean mood or air. You probably already know the word 元気 Genki which means well. Another example would be 気分 Kibun which means feeling or mood. And there is also 気圧 Kiatsu which means atmospheric pressure. However, in this lesson, we’re going to focus more on how 気 is used in conversational phrases related to thinking, your mind...

In today’s episode, we’re diving into a crucial topic that anyone living in or visiting Japan should know at least a little about, and that is to stay safe during a natural disaster. Japan is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, and is prone to various natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rain, and tsunami. And as language learners, it’s good to not only master everyday conversational Japanese but also understand the language used in various emergency situations. So, today...

In this lesson we’ll discuss how to deal with a cold which is pretty common during the winter months in Japan. We’ll look at how to describe symptoms and remedies for recovery.

In Japan, the tradition of “大掃除” (Ōsōji), meaning “big cleaning,” takes place at the end of the year. This cultural practice involves a thorough cleaning of homes, workplaces, and public spaces to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one with a fresh start. Families engage in deep cleaning, decluttering, and organizing to symbolize leaving behind the past and preparing for a clean slate in the coming year. It is a shared activity that fosters a sense of renewal and harmony...

As the sun sets on 2023, I recently hung out with my good friend Andy on the Fun Friday edition of the podcast to review the highs and lows of the past year in Japan. Enjoy!      

It’s been a while but in this Fun Friday edition of the podcast I met up with my good friend and Japan enthusiast, Peter of Beards Brewery. He’s just completed an epic two-month journey across Japan and in this episode I caught up with him to get a debriefing on his trip. We chatted about his adventures, using Japanese on the road, and recommendations on places to visit. If you are planing a visit to Japan, definietly check out this podcast as Peter gives some great advice on planning and...

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to refuse things in Japanese. This is an important skill to have, as you’ll often find yourself in situations where you need to say no to someone. You’ll also learn how to refuse offers in Japanese appropriately in different situations using different levels of politeness. A word of warning. Not all the phrases in this lesson can be used in polite conversation so be careful! For our premium members you can download an extra premium podcast that goes into...

In this podcast I interview Matthew Dons, a dear friend and long term resident of Japan. We talk about his experiences of doing a home stay when he first came to Japan. Matthew also gives his advice on the dos and don’ts of Japanese etiquette and culture to make your stay in Japan go more smoothly. You can find out more about Matthew through the following link below: MathewDons.com For more podcasts and information on our Japanese language learning courses go to Learn Japanese Pod  

If you are interested in visiting Kyoto then this podcast is for you. In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast I interview my long suffering brother Ben about his work as a tourguide in Kyoto. We talk about what to visit, when to come, etiquette for tourists, food, history and more! For more Japan themed podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson we will teach you useful phrases for disagreeing with people and how to use them in different situations. Different phrases and inflections in your voice can be interpreted in many ways, from being vague to being very direct or even rude. Compared to some cultures, Japanese people tend to be less confrontational and don’t always express their opinions clearly or directly. So if you disagree with someone in Japanese, try to err on the side of being polite and less direct. With...

In this lesson Ami Sensei and I will teach you how to express different levels of certainty in Japanese. You’ll learn how to express the probability you think something will happen through various example sentences and dialogues. In English we do this all the time with words such as “definitely”, “probably” and “might”. And of course, you can do that in Japanese too. However, spoken Japanese tends to be less direct and uses more tentative language. And that means there are a lot of ways to...

In this podcast, Ami Sensei and I talk about how to make small talk in Japanese. We talk about appropriate topics and ones to avoid. And we also teach you some useful vocabulary, phrases and grammar to make you sound more natural and fluent. Please note we have opened a new Premium membership that provides even more Japanese fluency lessons and materials for serious students of Japanese. Learn Japanese Pod Premium Membership  

In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast, Alex, A-Chan and Andy talk about the major events that shaped Japan in 2022. For more Japan themed podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast you will learn what Darui means and how to use it naturally in conversation in Japanese. This lesson includes the main podcast lesson, PDF show notes and an extra audio drill. You can find all of these resources by going to Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson, you will learn what Darui means. Check out the example sentences and dialogues to learn how these phrases are naturally used by native Japanese speakers in conversation. Example 1: 怠い – Darui I’m tired Example 2: 天気が悪くて体がだるい – Tenki ga warukute karada ga darui I’m so tired because of the weather. Example 3: 今日めっちゃだるいよ – Kyō meccha darui I’m super tired today. Example 4: これから打ち合わせなんだよね。超だるい – Kore kara uchiawase nan da yo ne. Chō darui.  I’ve got a meeting now. I...

These are the PDF show notes for podcast #46 ” Darui”. For more Japanese language learning podcasts, visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson you will learn how to agree with people in Japanese. Check out the example sentences and dialogues to learn how these phrases are naturally used by native Japanese speakers in conversation. How to study This lesson includes the main podcast lesson, PDF show notes and an extra audio drill. You can find all of these resources by going to Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson you will learn how to agree with people in Japanese. Check out the example sentences and dialogues to learn how these phrases are naturally used by native Japanese speakers in conversation. Main Dialogue (Japanese) A: 今日めっちゃ暑いよね。 B: だよね。 A: なんか、夏は好きだけど湿気が嫌い。 B: わかる、わかる。 A: 今年の夏は猛暑が続いたよね。 B: 本当だよね。 Main Dialogue (Pronunciation) A: Kyō meccha atsui yo ne. B: Da you ne. A: Nanka, natsu wa suki dakedo, shikke ga kirai. B: Wakaru, wakaru. A: Kotoshi no natsu wa mōsho ga...

These are the PDF show notes for podcast #45 ” How to agree with people in Japanese”. For more Japanese language learning podcasts, visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast, Ami Alex tell you the meaning of 半端ない Hanpa nai  and how to use it naturally in a conversation in Japanese. For more Japanese language learning podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

This post includes only Japanese dialogues and sentence examples from podcast #44 “Hanpa nai”. This lesson focuses on the phrase 半端ないhampa nai which means something like amazing, epic or unbelievable. Here are example sentences from the podcast: Example 1: 半端ないよね – Hampa nai yo ne That’s really awesome Example 2: あの人半端ないよね – Ano hito hampa nai yo ne That person is really awesome Example 3: あの人の料理マジ半端ない – Ano hito no ryōri maji hampa nai That person’s cooking is incredible Example...