Japanese Language

Learn the Japanese kanji character for, "beauty (bi)". You can listen to the accompanying audio file to help with your pronunciation. This page also shows how to write "beauty" with step-by-step kanji stroke order.

Learn a new Japanese word every day! Today's word is "ou (to drive away; to pursue; to run after)". You can also learn how to write "ou" in kanji.

Learn the Japanese kanji character for "light (hikari)", with step-by-step kanji stroke order.

There are two types of adjectives in Japanese.  Japanese adjectives differ from their English counterparts. Included is a list of useful adjectives with audio files.

Learn a new Japanese word every day! Today's word is "oishii (tasty; delicious)". You can also learn how to write "oishii" in hiragana.

To show appreciation to your mom on Mother's Day (Haha no hi), learn how to say "Thank you" in Japanese. You can also learn the Japanese kanji character for "gratitude (kansha)". It is a combination of the kanji characters for "kan" and "sha".

May 13^th is Mother's Day (Haha no hi). The Japanese word for mother is "haha". "Hi" means, "day". Learn the Japanese kanji character for "mother", with step-by-step kanji stroke order. There is no equivalent for "Happy Mother's Day" in Japanese. The phrase, "Okaasan Arigatou (Thank you, Mom)" is commonly used. Click here to learn more Japanese family vocabulary.

On Children's Day (May 5^th), families with boys fly "Koinobori (carp-shaped streamers)" to express hope that they will grow up healthy and strong. Learn the Japanese kanji character for "Carp (koi)". "Koi" also means "romance" in Japanese (when used as a homonym).

May 5th is Japan's national holiday, Kodomo no hi (Children's Day). It is a day for families to celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of children. The Japanese word for "children" is "kodomo". It is a combination of the kanji characters for "ko" and "domo (tomo)". Please check out my article, "Children's Day in Japan and Koinobori Song".

Golden Week is a sequential collection of national holidays in Japan, which starts on April 29^th. It is known as, Showa no hi. When combined with weekends, Golden Week becomes one of the longest and busiest holidays in Japan. The Japanese word for consecutive holidays is "renkyuu (連休)". It is a combination of the kanji character "ren" and "kyuu".