If you are learning Japanese, you have probably wondered what’s the difference between 「は」and 「が」? 🤔 You may have learned that 「は」 is a topic marker and 「が」 is a subject marker. This is a useful starting point, but it does not explain every situation. In fact, both particles can sometimes appear in very similar sentences, while the meaning or the information the speaker wants to highlight changes. Instead of trying to find one English translation for each particle, let’s loo

Japanese learners are often taught that ～て ください is a polite way to make a request. For example: ちょっと 待って ください。🫷 Please wait a moment. ここに 名前を 書いて ください。✍️ Please write your name here. Since ください is polite language, it may seem reasonable to think that ～て ください is always polite. But is it really suitable in every situation? The answer is: it depends😂 ～て ください is certainly not rude by itself. In many situations, it is completely natural. Teachers may say 教科書を 開いて ください (“Please o

Have you ever eaten something in Japan and thought, “How can I describe this texture?” 🤔 You can always say, “It’s delicious!” 😋 But Japanese has many fun words that help you describe exactly how food looks, sounds, and feels when you eat it. These words are called onomatopoeia, and you can find them in many unexpected places — even on Japanese snack packages! 🍫 🍬 Onomatopoeia in Japanese Snack Names In fact, some Japanese snack names themselves are connected to onomatopo

Have you ever noticed Japanese shops with names ending in “-ya” (〜屋)? 🤔 If you are a student at Tomo Japanese, you may already know what “〜屋” means. But for people who are learning Japanese for the first time, “〜屋” might be a little mysterious! In Japanese, “屋（や）” originally means “shop” or “store.” It is often added to a word to describe the type of shop or what the shop sells. For example, you may already know some famous Japanese stores in Singapore, such as Takashimaya,

Have you ever heard of Shirakawa-go — one of my favourite places in all of Japan? Located in Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, recognised by their steep thatched roofs. The name gassho-zukuri (合掌造り) comes from the shape of the roofs, which resemble two hands pressed together in prayer. When most people think of Shirakawa-go, they picture a snowy winter landscape. And it truly is a magical sight. H

When people think of okonomiyaki, they often imagine just one dish. But in Japan, that's not quite true! Depending on where you travel, you'll find surprisingly different versions of this much-loved savoury pancake. As someone from the Kansai region, I have to admit I'm a little biased—I will always choose Osaka-style okonomiyaki! When I lived in Japan, I probably ate it at least once a month. 😂 It's one of those comforting meals that reminds me of home. Of course, that does

みなさんは日本(にほん)のハンバーグを食べたことがありますか？ (Have you ever tried Japanese Hamburg steak?) 日本(にほん)のハンバーグはとてもおいしいんです！ (Japanese Hamburg steak is so delicious!) Today, I’d love to introduce a new restaurant in Singapore that serves authentic Japanese Hamburg steak. 🇸🇬 This Hamburg steak specialty restaurant, which is hugely popular in Japan, has finally arrived in Singapore! 🎉 You can enjoy high-quality Japanese Hamburg steak here!👍 🌟挽肉と米(Hikiniku To Come) https://share.google/u4sMnxJU

Are you planning to visit Japan this summer? If you are in Osaka on the evening of 25 July, you may want to change your plans a little. Put on a yukata, buy some food or a beer from a festival stall, and watch fireworks light up the night sky. This is one of those very Japanese summer experiences. Yes, Osaka has a big summer festival called Tenjin Matsuri (天神祭). Tenjin Matsuri is the festival of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine (大阪天満宮). It is often called one of Japan’s three great fest

あじさい (Ajisai: Hydrangeas) are one of the flowers that best represent early summer in Japan.✨ They bloom in beautiful shades of blue, purple, pink, and white, and they look especially stunning when covered with raindrops.💧 In Japan, many people feel that the rainy season has arrived when hydrangeas begin to bloom. Although the rainy season can sometimes be inconvenient, hydrangeas are one of the things that make this time of year special.☔️🌿 There is something very calming a

If you've studied Japanese for a while, you've probably learned that ぐらい and ごろ both translate to "about" or "around." So they should be interchangeable, right? Let's test that. "10時(じ)ぐらいに会(あ)いましょう" and "10時(じ)ごろに会(あ)いましょう" both sound completely natural. But "5分(ふん)ぐらい待(ま)ってください" works fine, while "5分(ふん)ごろ待(ま)ってください" doesn't actually make sense. Same English translation, very different results. Amount(money, weight, duration) Point in time ぐらい ☑️ ¥10,000ぐらい／5分(ふん)ぐらい ☑️　10時