JAPANESE LANGUAGE
You Say Tsuyu, I Say Baiu: How Japanese Jukujikun Make Kanji Even Harder
Why do the same two kanji for Japan's rainy season change pronunciation based on context? Blame the phenomenon known as jukujikun.
kanji
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Kanji Forever? Why Japan Still Uses Chinese Characters, But Korea Mostly Doesn’t
Japan spent a century trying to abolish kanji, from an 1866 petition to the shogun to a postwar novelist who wanted Japan…
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
These Are the Hardest Japanese Place Names to Read – Even for Native Speakers
Can you pronounce these difficult Japanese place names? If not, don't feel bad: most native speakers can't either!
INSIDER
[Insider] Why Supermodel Rola’s Kanji Has Some Fans Worried
Supermodel Rola recently came out with a big announcement - but it's her kanji that has some fans worried for her.
FEATURED
How to Ditch Duolingo and Actually Learn Japanese
Want an alternative to Duolingo now that they're firing workers and resorting to AI slop? Here's a much better way to study…
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
Is That Japanese Town a “Chou” or a “Machi”?
The character 町 - pronounced either "chou" or "machi" - is common in Japanese town and neighborhood names. But how do you…
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
“Pseudo-Chinese”: New Japanese Social Media App Only Allows Kanji
Wanna stress-test your Japanese knowledge? A new social media app for Japanese users dares you to ditch kana by allowing only kanji…
JAPANESE LANGUAGE
2024 Kanji of The Year Is, Once Again, All About Money
The people have spoken: The Kanji of the Year for 2024 is, once again, 金 (kin, kane), meaning money or gold -…