Japanese from Scratch with YUKO

Today, we’re continuing our series on transitive and intransitive verbs.This time, we’ll look at another group of really useful verbs— like tomeru / tomaru, mawasu / mawaru, and hajimeru / hajimaru.These verbs are great for describing things that stop, start, or move—either by themselves or because someone makes them happen.Please enjoy listening!

Today, we’re starting a new series about something many Japanese learners find confusing: transitive and intransitive verbs.In Japanese, there are many verb pairs like akeru and aku, and choosing the right one can be tricky at first.In this first episode, we’ll focus on simple and practical verbs you can use when talking about doors and lights!

Today, we’re continuing our series Japanese Adjectives You Always Mix Up.In Part 3, we focus on temperature and feelings.You’ll learn the difference between words like atsui, atatakai, samui, suzushii, and tsumetai.Perfect for helping you avoid common mistakes and sound more natural in Japanese!

Today, we’re continuing our series on confusing Japanese adjectives. We’ll start with three words that many learners mix up: “ookii,” “ooi,” and “hiroi.”We’ll also learn how to say “busy” naturally in Japanese, and what “takai” really means.I hope you enjoy this episode and learn a lot!

Do you know the difference between むずかしい and たいへん?They both mean “difficult,” but they’re actually quite different.Today’s topic is confusing Japanese adjectives.In Japanese, there are many adjectives that seem similar, but actually have slightly different meanings depending on the situation. Learning these differences will help you sound more natural and confident in Japanese.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about confusing words related to time.You’ll learn the difference between words like asa and gozen, hiru and gogo, and yoru and ban. And we’ll also look at an important difference between ichi-ji (one o’clock) and ichi-jikan (one hour).Let's get started!

Today, we’re going to focus similar nouns and pronouns used to talk about people.If you’ve ever been unsure about words like kare, kanojo,or when to say someone’s name instead of “he” or “she,”this episode is for you!

Today, we’re going to look at similar nouns.Our topic is words for students and teachers in Japanese.In English, we usually just say student or teacher, but in Japanese there are several different words depending on the situation. After listening to this episode, you will feel more confident using the right words in the right situations.

Last week, we talked about some Japanese verbs that have similar meanings but are used differently.In today’s episode, we’ll continue that topic and look at four more verb pairs like "anpo o shimasu" and " arukimasu" that learners often mix up.

Do you know the difference between "hanashimasu" and "iimasu"?Today, we’re going to look at verbs that have similar meanings but are used in different situations.I’ll introduce four pairs of verbs, so you can really see how they’re different.

Today, we’re going to introduce more pairs of Japanese verbs that are easily mixed up.Do you know what kimasu means? It means “to come” and also “to wear”! So complicated, right?I hope today’s episode will help you remember these confusing verbs correctly.

Have you ever mixed up Japanese verbs that sound very similar?Today, we’re going to explore commonly confused verbs that many learners struggle with such as karimasu, kashimasu, kaeshimasu, karimasu.Let’s take it step by step and untangle these tricky verbs together.

Today, we will learn expressions about food and drinks.Do you know How to say "I'm hungry." "I'm thirsty." "The soup is salty." in Japanese?Let’s learn these expressions and enjoy Japanese mealtimes!

Today’s topic is a very small word in Japanese — “sou.”A student recently asked me,“What does sou mean?” And honestly, that’s a hard question.Because Japanese people use sou all the time,but we rarely think about its meaning.　So today, let’s take a closer look at sou,and see why this simple word is actually very Japanese!

In our past episodes, we have spent a lot of time learning polite Japanese—the style that ends with Desu and Masu. But, have you ever felt a little bit of a "wall" when talking to Japanese friends?Today, we would like to talk 3 easy tips to master casual Japanese!

Watching Japanese movies, TV dramas, and anime is a really good way to learn Japanese and Japanese culture.So today, I’d like to introduce some of my favorite Japanese TV dramas. Please enjoy listening!

In the last episode, we talked about Japanese music.Listening to Japanese music is a great way to study Japanese.But music isn’t the only option.Watching Japanese movies, TV dramas, and anime is also a really good way to learn.So today, I’d like to introduce famous Japanese film directors and some of my favorite Japanese movies. Please enjoy listening!

Today, I’d like to talk about Japanese songs.Do you like listening to music?If you do, Japanese songs can be a great way to learn Japanese.I'll introduce various Japanese music and popular J-pos artists!

Some Japanese expressions that are used very often in daily life can be confusing.Today, we’ll talk about one of the most useful phrases in Japanese —“yoroshiku onegaishimasu.”Also I will answer to a very common question the difference between "Sumimasen" and "Sumimasen deshita".Please enjoy!

Do you know some of Japanese onomatopia?In Japanese, onomatopoeia are words that describe sounds, feelings, movements, or the way things look.Today, I will introduce 10 beginner-friendly onomatopoeia with example sentences. Please enjoy!

Do you have any trip plans coming up?Today, I’m going to introduce some phrases you can use to talk about what you have to do before a trip.I have a small announcement. We’ll be taking a short break for a few weeks—or maybe about a month, but please listen to the past episodes during the break, and feel free to leave comments with topic ideas or questions!

Today, we are going to talk about katakana words in Japanese.Words borrowed from foreign languages are usually written in katakana. For English speakers, katakana words might look easy at first. But in reality, their pronunciation and sometimes even the meaning can be quite different from English.So today, we will introduce katakana words in three categories to help you understand and use them more naturally!

Today, we’re going to talk about weather expressions in Japanese.You’ll learn how to say things like “It’s sunny,” “It’s raining,” and “The wind is blowing.”Please enjoy listening!

In the last episode, we learned how to talk about your own condition.This time, let’s learn what to say to someone who isn’t feeling well — how to give gentle advice and care for them.Please enjoy !

Today’s topic is “How to talk about your condition” in Japanese.You’ll learn some very common phrases that Japanese people use when they feel good, tired, or a bit sick.Please enjoy listening!

Today’s topic is daily verbs.Expanding your vocabulary is one of the most important parts of learning a language!Let’s look at some common verbs that appear in your morning routine, when you get dressed, and when you go out.Please enjoy listening!

Today, I’d like to share some of the good points of learning Japanese.Actually, Japanese has many features that make it easier than you might think. Let me introduce a few!

Following the te-form, which we featured last week, today we’ll focus on the dictionary form. I will introduce four common uses of the dictionary form at the beginner level:To say likes, dislikes, and skills.To say “before doing something.”To talk about plans, dreams, or goals.To use the casual plain form in conversation.Please enjoy listening!

Japanese verb conjugation might feel a little difficult at first, because there are many forms, like the masu-form, the te-form, the dictionary form, and the nai-form.Today, I will introduce five uses of te-form that are usually learned at the beginner level.Please enjoy listening!

Today, I want to talk about some Japanese customs that aren’t really about language, but about daily life. They’re not written anywhere, but most people follow them naturally.If you know these, your stay in Japan will be much smoother, and you’ll also get a better sense of how Japanese people think.You won’t hear a lot of Japanese today—so just sit back and enjoy learning about Japanese customs and rules!

Today, we’re going to talk about Japanese counters.In Japanese, when you count things, you often need a special word.It seems that many Japanese learners feel overwhelmed by having to memorize so many different counters. Honestly, even as a native speaker, I sometimes feel the same way.But through today’s episode, I hope you’ll feel a little more confident using Japanese counters! Please enjoy listening!

Today, we’ll introduce some useful Japanese words and expressions related to weddings in Japan. I’ll also talk about a few important customs to remember.With these tips, you can feel more confident when attending a wedding in Japan!

Last time, we talked about i-adjectives. If you haven’t listened yet, please give it a try!Today, let’s move on to the other type of adjectives in Japanese: na-adjectives. After listening to this episode and the previous one, I'am sure you're starting to feel more confident using them.Please enjoy listening!

Today, we’re going to talk about “i-adjectives” .I’ve seen many Japanese learners struggle to get comfortable using adjectives, as their conjugations can be quite complicated.There are two main types of adjectives in Japanese: i-adjectives and na-adjectives.Today, we’ll focus only on i-adjectives. Please enjoy listening!

Today, I’d like to talk about Japanese greetings—like ohayou gozaimasu (good morning), konnichiwa (hello), and konbanwa (good evening).These might seem simple at first, but the expressions you use can change depending on the time of day or the situation.Once you get used to choosing the right greeting for each moment, your Japanese will sound much more natural!

Today, I’d like to focus on another pair of phrases that many Japanese learners find confusing: doozo and doomo.You must be familiar with the phrases like "Doozo yoroshiku onegai shimasu." or "Doomo Arigatoo gozaimasu." Let's learn when we can use Doomo and Doozo in other situations!

Do you know the difference between "Onegai shimasu" and "Kudasai," which can both be translated as "please" in English?And do you know when and how to use "Sumimasen"?Today, I’ll be answering these questions — ones that many Japanese learners might be wondering about.I hope you enjoy the episode!

Today, we will introduce some useful Japanese expressions and sample conversations you can use during hands-on activities in Japan. Let's make your experience in Japan even more memorable with Japanese!Please enjoy!

Our particle series continues!Today, we’ll look at three more essential particles: kara, made and mo.Mastering them will help you talk about time, places, and even emphasize things more naturally.Please enjoy!

Did you listen to the past four episodes featuring the particles ni, de, o, wa, ga, yo, ne and Ka? Our particle series continues!In today’s episode, we’ll focus on three very common Japanese particles: no, to, and ya.Please enjoy listening!

In today’s episode, we’ll focus on three very common Japanese particles: ka, ne, and yo.These are called sentence-ending particles. They’re small words that come at the end of a sentence and add extra meaning or feeling.Please enjoy listening!

Today marks one year since we started this podcast! Thank you so much for listening and supporting us throughout this journey. ありがとうございます。Today, we’re going to take a look at one of the most confusing pairs for learners: the particles 「は」 (wa) and 「が」 (ga).Please enjoy listening!

Today, I’m going to explain two very common particles: "de" and "o".The particle "de" adds information to the sentence, like “where,” “what,” or “how” something is done.The particle "o" is known as the direct object marker.Enjoy listening!

te, ni, o, wa.... Are you confident how to use the particles in Japanese? I guess many Japanese language learners hate particles...Today, I would like to focus on the particle "ni" and explain the basic idea of this particle, including when and how we use it in a sentence. Please enjoy!

This time, we are talking about university life in Japan!We’ll go over some unique words and expressions you might hear on campus, and share some useful example conversations too. Please enjoy!

This week, we’re switching gears a bit and focusing on casual conversations with Japanese friends—especially for junior high school,and high school . You will also learn some unique terms used in Japanese school!Please enjoy!

This week, we will continue to introduce expressions and tips to make your homestay in Japan more comfortable and to facilitate communication.You will learn phrases you can use when eating with your host family and when you are not feeling well!　

Today and next week, I’ll be sharing useful phrases you can use when staying with or visiting a Japanese family in Japan. You'll also pick up some helpful tips and good manners to make the most of your homestay in Japan.Please enjoy!

Today, continuing from the previous lesson, we will introduce some expressions you can use in hotels!　You will learn how to order room service, how to call the front desk if you have any requests about your room, etc.Please enjoy!

Today and next week, we are going to learn some super useful Japanese phrases for when you're staying at a hotel in Japan. Knowing just a few of these can really make your trip go more smoothly and be a lot more fun. In this episode We'll talk about the phrases used at checking in, and checking out.　Enjoy!