Japanese Language

Japanese Language Still Very Popular, Says Duolingo

Duolingo is out with its most popular languages. Japan retained its fifth place position - but will one of its neighbors unseat it next year? Learn more, including what Japan thinks of its own English abilities.

Pien: Its Life As Emoji, Vocabulary, and Fashion

Learn how "pien" became the in-fashion word of 2020 - and how its use spread through popular media and Kabukicho street culture.

These Uncommon Kanji May Surprise You!

Japan maintains an "official" list of kanji. But some "unofficial" kanji are also in common use - and chances are you know a few.

Three Japanese Train Station Names That Even Native Speakers Find Hard

Having a hard time pronouncing these train station names in Japanese? Don't worry - most native speakers didn't get them right, either!

In Gen Z Japan’s Hot New Slang, Princes Become Frogs

When does a prince become a frog? For Gen Zers in Japan, it can happen over something as small as a declined train card.

JagaRico: The Japanese Snack’s Best Dad Jokes – Explained!

JagaRico is one of Japan's most loved snacks - and arguably the most hilarious. Here are some of its best dad jokes, explained in English.

Japanese Sentence Mining: How to Learn in Context

Have your Japanese studies gotten tired and boring? Maybe it's the way you're studying. How sentence mining can break you out of your rut.

Rōnin: Why Being a “Masterless Samurai” in Modern Japan Sucks

Saying "rōnin" in English conjures up images of cool, lone-wolf samurai. But in modern Japan, being a rōnin kinda sucks.

Group Promoting Latin Characters for Japanese Writing Gives Up

Earlier this year, a group that aimed to replace the Japanese writing system with the Latin alphabet admitted defeat.

Japanese Language

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