Articles for the theme Japanese Language

To Know

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Kanji Japanese Characters

Kanji, the logographic characters adopted from Chinese, form a fundamental part of the Japanese writing system.

Les kanji ont parfois des prononciations irrégulières lorsqu'ils composent un patronyme

Rare Japanese surnames: discover the least common surnames in Japan

Japanese surnames are generally constructed from kanji related to places, features or plants.

un un (aizuchi)

Aizuchi: the art of Japanese conversation

Aizuchi, a fundamental element of Japanese communication, reveal all the subtlety and richness of the Japanese language.

Meanings and uses of the Japanese phrase "so desu ne"

So Desu ne meaning: Understanding the versatile Japanese phrase

The Japanese phrase "desu ne" is commonly encountered by learners of the language, but its various meanings and uses can be confusing at first.

Le hiragana "a" dérive du kanji 安 (an) qui signifie "paix"

Hiragana and katakana: the basics of learning Japanese

Do you dream of learning Japanese but don't know where to start? Hiragana and katakana, two syllabic writing systems, are an essential prerequisite.

Some handwritten kanji characters

Japanese kanji: discover Japan's sinographic writing system

Kanjis are an integral part of the three Japanese writing systems, along with hiraganas and katakanas. Originally from China, they have been adapted to transcribe the Japanese language.

Famille japonaise

Japanese surnames

In Japan, there are more than 100 000 different family names! This is much more than in China and Korea, even though they are Japan's neighbors.

Interior of a Japanese train with the driver

Japanese words for taking the train in Japan

As an essential means of transport, the train will take you to the four corners of Japan safely, quickly, and punctually... as long as you choose your route carefully.

The Japanese language does not know Mr., Mrs. or Miss

15 Interesting Facts About the Japanese Language

Japanese is a fascinating language for a Westerner, made up of multiple ideograms, many homophones and a grammar far very different from other languages.

Le Hi no Maru ou drapeau du Japon faisant référence au Soleil Levant.

Japan, the land of the rising sun: meaning and origin

Who has not once asked this question: why do we speak of the land of the rising sun to designate Japan?

How to say thank you in Japanese

The famous Arigatô gozaimasu is not the only way to say thank you in Japanese. Let's take a look at some expressions that can express your gratitude in Japanese.

chiffres noirs dur fond blanc

Counting in Japanese

To count in Japan, you have to go beyond learning traditional numeracy, because it all depends on what you want to count. We explain you everything! 

Daimon-ji Gozan Okuribi

Japanese writing: kanas, kanjis and calligraphy

The mystery of the Japanese language, specifically writing, fascinates foreigners for its complexity of composition. Ambiguous yet subtle and delicate...

Calligraphy

The accuracy of the Japanese language

If you've ever traveled to Japan, you've probably noticed that there is often a word for everything. The Japanese language is rich and flirtatious in expression.

étudiants à l'université de Tokyo

Japanese: a not so difficult language

Japanese is a language that has the reputation of being complicated. Subtle levels of politeness, several writing systems, thousands of ideograms.

Attention à la politesse !

15 ways to say “you” and “you” in Japanese

As they say, the first impression goes a long way! Proper salutation, different degrees of politeness...

grammar

Japanese grammatical particles

The Japanese language has many grammatical particles. Most of them serve to indicate the function of the word that precedes them, but you also find interrogative particles and final particles.

Kanji dictionary

A few kanji to know for traveling in Japan

Learning a few kanjis or Chinese ideograms can be useful during a visit to Japan!

Ten French words used in Japanese

 

For the Japanese, France and the French language are often symbols of romance and culture. Here is a list of ten French words frequently used in Japanese.

 

The Japanese language does not know Mr., Mrs. or Miss

Personal suffixes in Japanese

The Japanese language does not know Mr., Mrs. or Miss. Instead, it has suffixes that come after people's first or last names.

La maison de thé "Shima" de Kanazawa

The lexicon of the Japanese house

The Japanese house is unique and different from Western houses. Here is a glossary describing a Japanese house.

Comment s'excuser en japonais

Apologize in Japanese

 

The Japanese are often regarded as the most polite people in the world. If this cliché is to be believed, then learning to apologize in Japanese won't be a luxury!

 

Les Japonais ont plusieurs formules pour signifier un refus

In Japan, you never say no

It is sometimes difficult for those who express their thoughts clearly... but the Japanese rarely say "no" directly.

How to ask for directions in Japan

When traveling, it can be difficult to ask for directions, especially if you don't know the places, customs or traditions of the host country, which are often different from ours.

How do you introduce yourself in Japanese?

Want to make a good impression in Japan and maybe even make some friends? Here are three quick and simple phrases to introduce yourself in Japanese!

Ordering in a Restaurant

Many visitors to Japan often find themselves in an awkward situation when ordering in a restaurant:  without words, we're left pointing at our choice with a desperate look, hoping that the se

Understanding Simple Kanji Signs For Visitors To Japan

Understanding Simple Kanji Signs For Visitors To Japan 漢字 Understanding a few Japanese characters (kanji) can make your visit to Japan a lot more fun and enlightening.

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Japanese Language Proficiency Test

Japanese Language Proficiency Test is the most important language test of the Japanese language.

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Romaji

Romaji: lit. Rome letters. Romaji is a method of transcribing the Japanese language into the Latin alphabet. Romaji was developed in the late 19th century.

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Japanese Basic Phrases

Japanese language basics: see key phrases for meeting people, emergencies, taxi language, greetings and polite usage.

Japanese Butterflies dying out

Japanese Language: Rice Words & Phrases

Japanese Language: Rice ライス A variegated vocabulary of words and phrases develops around food staples in any language, in Japanese this is rice.