Emilio Olivieri

Japanese words are much easier to remember when you slot them into clear sentence patterns. Instead of juggling isolated vocabulary and abstract grammar rules, you can learn structures that show up in almost every conversation. Mastering a handful of templates lets you quickly drop new words into place and speak

Struggling with Japanese verb conjugation? You’re not alone— many language learners find it tricgky to get verbs just right. But, knowing the rules and how it works will help you a lot to correctly speak in that language. Although grammar isn't the only thing to learn from

Can You Really Learn Japanese with ChatGPT? Here’s What You Need to Know With over 100 million users since its launch in 2022 by OpenAI, ChatGPT has transformed how people work, study, and communicate—including how we learn languages. As more learners turn to AI for support, a common

If you've been watching anime or studying Japanese, you’ve probably noticed people rarely call each other by their full names. Instead, they use all sorts of modified versions with special endings attached. For instance, Ai Scream’s latest song, called "愛♡スクリ～ム！”, consistently uses the

Did you know that Japan has 47 dialects? Pretty surprising for a country smaller than California! Each Japanese variety has its own special words, phrases, particles, and meanings. Even something as basic as how to say thanks in Japanese can sound completely different depending on where you are. And it&

Ever stared at a Japanese kanji character and wondered why it has multiple pronunciations? You're not alone! The struggle between onyomi vs kunyomi is real for every Japanese learner. One minute you're confidently reading 山 as "yama," and the next, you're seeing

Learning a language is an adventure—it’s not just about mastering words and phrases but also diving into a new culture and perspective on the world. But did you know this journey can be even more enjoyable with vlogs (video blogs)? Vlogs offer a fantastic way to immerse yourself

Japanese Kanji/Katakana/Hiragana Translation Inu犬Dog Neko猫Cat Nezumiねずみ/鼠Rat, Mouse HamusutāハムスターHamster Usagiウサギ/兎Rabbit Hitsuji羊Sheep Ushi牛Cow, Bull Uma馬Horse Risuリス/栗鼠Squirrel Buta豚Pig Yagi山羊Goat Tanuki狸Raccoon Dog Ōkamiオオカミ/狼Wolf Shika鹿Deer KapibaraカピバラCapibara Kumaクマ/熊Bear PandaパンダPanda Bear RaionライオンLion Zō象Elephant Hyōヒョウ/豹Leopard Kitsuneキツネ/狐Fox Rakudaラクダ/駱駝Camel RyamaリャマLlama Inoshishiイノシシ/猪Wild Boar Ashikaアシカ/海驢Seal, Sea Lion Saruさる/猿Monkey Kabaカバ/

When a dumpling shop owner in Shanghai asked me "你属什么?" (Nǐ shǔ shénme? - What's your zodiac sign?), I quickly realized just how HUGE zodiac signs are in Chinese culture. I mean, I thought it only matters during the New Year celebrations... but apparently, I was