Onsen vs. Sento vs. Ofuro: What’s the Difference?
Onsen is one of the popular destinations when we go on a sightseeing trip, while I sometimes go to a nearby Sento and take an Ofuro every day. The three Japanese terms, Onsen (温泉), Sento (銭湯),...
Category: Culture
Why Gaki (ガキ/餓鬼) Means Child in Japanese
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...
Sakura: Another Meaning of the Japanese Word
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 vs. Totemo vs. Honto Ni: Meaning & Usage
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,...
Arigato vs. Arigatai: Meaning & Usage
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...
Saikyou (最強) or Saikou (最高): Which Should be Used?
As I wrote in this post, the literal meaning of Saikyou (最強) is the strongest, while that of Saikou (最高) is the highest, as 高 in its word is the Kanji character for “high”...
Honto (本当) vs. Maji (マジ): Meaning & Usage
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,...
Shinmai (新米): 2 Different Meanings of the Japanese Word
Niigata (新潟), the prefecture where I live, is Japan’s top producer of rice, and here, the harvest time spans from August to September. (Ex. Koshiibuki/こしいぶき: from early September, Koshihikari/コシヒカリ: from mid-September, Shinnosuke/新之助: from late September)...
