This is something a lot of us have to deal with–putting on weight too easily. Listen to this week’s contributor’s frustration with belly fat and learn the vocabulary associated with this kind of problem.

This is the native speed version of Episode 388:

In Japanese, Onomatopoeia can be divided into a few categories; they are called giseigo (擬声語), giongo (擬音語), gitaigo (擬態語), giyougo (擬容語) and gijougo (擬情語). As we learned in the previous episode, they are used to describe sounds made by animals, humans…

Onomatopoeia (オノマトペ) are words that represent sounds, and they are used in many languages to add more depth and texture to speech. However, Japanese onomatopoeia are unique in that they’re used more frequently and in a wider variety of contexts than in other languages. For example, after mopping READ MORE Test your knowledge with the […]

Japanese school clubs have a very rigid hierarchy. Seniors in the club can be very demanding to their juniors. Here is a report of one junior’s experience. This episode also practices the causative form in Japanese.

How strict were your parents? This person had very strict parents. She was made to do all kinds of things as a child. This time we are practicing combining the causative and passive forms (to be made or forced to do something) which we seem to use more than in English or other languages I […]

ima de wa, atte atarimae no insutanto rāmen. Jitsu wa Nihon hasshō da to iu koto wo…

This episode will help you get some really useful practice with the passive forms of Japanese, which we tend to use more than in English.

Do you know how the animals of the Chinese zodiac were chosen and put in that order? Listen to find out why it came to be so and why there is no cat.

This is the native speed version of Episode 385:

This is the native speed version of Episode 384:

Do you work too much? This contributor feels so. He thinks we Japanese work way too hard and need more time off. How is it in your country? Do you want more days off?

How many colors do you think a rainbow has? You would be surprised to know that the way you answer this question might depend on where you come from. This week’s contributor talks about how we see the world in colors.

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This is the native speed version of Episode 383:

If you have ever used crutches before you know what a drag they can be. This contributor talks about just that. 松葉杖 （まつばづえ）

This is the native speed version of Episode 382:

This week’s contributor discusses a few of the things that irritate her. What’s your pet peeve? Let me know in the comments section. あなたの苦手なものは何ですか？

This is the native speed version of Episode 381: