Category: Culture

Although we usually use the word Kodomo (子供) when describing a child, we sometimes refer to an ill-mannered/annoying kid as a Gaki. Gaki (ガキ/餓鬼) is a vulgar Japanese term for brat in English, but...

When people hear Sakura (さくら), many will probably picture beautiful pink cherry blossoms in full bloom in the spring. Yes, Sakura (桜) is the Japanese word for the cherry tree and its blossoms, but...

Meccha (めっちゃ/滅茶), Totemo (とても), and Honto Ni (ほんとに/本当に) are Japanese synonyms used to emphasize an adjective or an adverb.  In other words, these phrases are interchangeable, but unlike Totemo and Honto Ni, Meccha is slang,...

Arigatou (ありがとう/有難う), also spelled as Arigato, is a Japanese word that many overseas people know, meaning Thank you. Meanwhile, Arigatai (ありがたい/有難い) is a similar word to it equivalent to grateful/thankful in English, which I...

Hontou (ほんとう/本当) or Honto is a Japanese adjective meaning true in English, and we often use the word to say I’m serious or for really/seriously as an intensifier or adverb. In the latter case,...