JLPT N3

Want to compare two things without saying one is better than the other? The Japanese phrase ～に比べて is the perfect way to say “compared to” when you’re highlighting differences or similarities between two nouns. Whether you’re talking about cities, seasons, or apps, this grammar point helps you draw a simple, clear comparison. ～に比べて Compared to […]

Want to say you made someone clean their room, or let a friend borrow your car? In Japanese, these ideas use the causative form. This verb form shows that someone caused or allowed another person to do something. It can sound strict or generous depending on context. Causative Form To make/let someone do something Usage

Some changes in life happen so slowly or so quietly you don’t even notice until they’ve already occurred. That’s exactly what the Japanese phrase いつの間にか is used to express. It describes moments where something has changed, time has passed, or progress has been made, and you didn’t even realize it was happening until after the

Sometimes you want to express that something happened even though the conditions weren’t ideal. In English, we say “despite the rain” or “in spite of the difficulties.” In Japanese, the grammar point that captures this meaning is にもかかわらず. It’s used to describe outcomes that happen unexpectedly or in contrast to a known situation. にもかかわらず Despite

Japanese has unique ways to express gratitude for someone’s effort or regret when that effort doesn’t pay off. Two common expressions that do this are せっかく and わざわざ. While they seem similar at first glance, each has its own nuance and use case. せっかく / わざわざ Going to the trouble of doing something Usage Pattern

In Japanese, there are several ways to express that something “seems like” or “appears to be.” Three of the most common expressions そうだ, ようだ, and みたい are similar in meaning but differ in nuance, usage, and formality. Mastering these will help you express assumptions and impressions naturally, whether you’re talking casually with friends or writing more formally.

The Japanese phrase そうだ can be a little tricky. Because it has two very different meanings. One expresses how something seems based on observation. The other is used to report what you’ve heard from someone else. Although they look the same, these two uses follow different grammar patterns. Understanding both will help you sound more

Some actions in life are accidents. Others are done completely. Japanese has a simple expression that can capture both meanings depending on the context: ～てしまう. This grammar point is a great tool for expressing either regret or total completion of an action so you can tell someone you dropped your phone by mistake, or that

Sometimes you don’t just want to say something happened recently—you want to say “I just did it!” In that case, the better grammar point is た + ばかり. Let’s explore how to use ばかり when you want to express a recent action with emotion or emphasis. た + ばかり Just Did (With Feeling!) Usage Pattern [Verb

When one thing (or person) replaces another, or when someone does something on behalf of someone else, Japanese uses the phrase にかわって. This is different from かわりに—it’s not about a temporary switch or a tradeoff, but about full-on replacement or representation. Let’s learn how to use にかわって when one thing stands in for another. にかわって In