Japanese with Hikari's Blog

Have you ever noticed how some things in life change together?
For example, as you practice Japanese more, your confidence grows.
Or as the sun goes down, the air slowly gets cooler.

That feeling of “as one thing changes, another thing changes too” i...

Have you ever run out of milk and had to use soy milk instead?
Or maybe your boss was sick, and you ended up attending a very important meeting in their place.

In Japanese, when you want to say “instead of,” “in place of,” or “in exchange for,” we us...

Have you ever looked back and realized you can do something now that felt impossible just a few months ago?

When you first started studying Japanese, kanji probably looked like mysterious symbols. But little by little, you started recognizing them, ...

Have you ever had one of those “This is the new me!” moments?

Maybe it’s the start of a brand new year, or maybe you just booked your flight for a dream study abroad trip to Japan next year.
Suddenly, you feel motivated to change your daily habits, a...

Have you ever shared some exciting news with a friend, only to feel like your sentence ended a bit too… flat?

Maybe you wanted to say, “The train is coming!” or “This cake is amazing!!!”
But instead, it sounded more like a robotic fact than a friendl...

Have you ever found yourself in a heated debate with a friend about the most important questions in life?
Like… are cats cuter than dogs? Or is ramen definitely better than pasta?

When you want to compare two things and say that one is “more” than th...

Have you ever been a staff member restocking freshly baked bread, only to see it disappear the moment you put it on the shelf?
No matter how many times you refill it, customers keep taking it right away.

Or maybe you’ve experienced this while studyi...

Have you ever felt like the weight of the world was on your shoulders?
Or maybe you’ve realized that the success of a big plan rests entirely on one single person or action?

That’s exactly the feeling of にかかっている (ni kakatteiru).

It’s a powerful N1 e...

Have you ever walked into a restaurant, paid a single price, and felt like a king because you could eat everything in sight?
Or maybe you’ve had a friend who just won't stop talking, saying whatever they want without thinking about others?

Whether i...

Have you ever looked at a dark, cloudy sky and thought, "Hmm, it might rain later"?
Or maybe, after a dream-like trip to Japan where you enjoyed too much delicious food and shopping at Donki, you’re looking at your bank account and thinking, "There’s ...

Have you ever had one of those days where everything goes perfectly?
You find a forgotten 1,000-yen bill in the pocket of a jacket you haven't worn in ages, and then, on top of that, that super popular donut shop you love is actually empty, so you can...

Have you ever been asked a question where a simple “Yes” or “No” just doesn’t feel right?

Believe me, if you meet a Japanese person and tell them you love Japan, they will immediately start talking about food. It’s almost a national reflex.

“Do you...

Have you ever been in a conversation where you wanted to talk all about your favorite anime, your upcoming travel plans, or maybe even your deep thoughts on the best ramen in Tokyo?

But then you stop and wonder…
“Wait, how do I actually say ‘about’ i...

Imagine this!
You’re curled up on your sofa, eyes glued to the screen, watching the season finale of a gripping Netflix thriller. The music is swelling, the hero is slowly opening the mysterious door, and your heart is pounding in your chest...
Just a...

Have you ever walked into a department store in Japan and felt like the staff were speaking a super-elegant version of Japanese?
You might hear things like 「ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu)」 every day, but do you know why we add that long, fancy word ...

Are you the type of person who is always rushing around at the very last minute?
Or are you a “prepared-in-advance” person who has everything ready days before?

I’ll be honest…sometimes I’m a bit of a panic-mode Hikari too!
But in Japanese culture, ...

Have you ever been scrolling through Instagram or TikTok and suddenly saw a video of your quiet friend absolutely shredding a guitar solo?

Or maybe you saw a post with gorgeous, professional-looking sweets and thought they were from a high-end baker...

Have you ever tried to sing your heart out at karaoke, only to realize you’re hitting all the wrong notes?
Or maybe you tried to cook a fancy dinner, but it ended up looking like a science experiment gone wrong?

We’ve all been there!
Sometimes, we’re...

Have you ever had a morning where you were still half-asleep and… splash!
You accidentally spilled your coffee?

It’s the worst, right?
“Nooo… I can’t believe I did that.”

But then you check and think,
“Oh… okay. At least it didn’t hit my shirt.”

That...

Have you ever felt like your plans were totally up in the air?

Maybe you're waiting for the weather to clear up before deciding on a picnic.
Or perhaps your success on an exam depends entirely on how much you study tonight.

In Japanese, when you wan...

Have you ever seen someone you wanted to avoid on the street and suddenly become very interested in a random pebble on the ground?
Or maybe you’ve scrolled through your phone without actually looking at anything, just to look busy?
We’ve all been ther...

Have you ever walked through a department store in Japan and seen signs like “Men’s Section” or “For Women”?
Or maybe you’ve noticed labels like “For Beginners” or “For Professionals” when shopping online.

In Japanese, when you want to say that somet...

Have you ever felt like something is technically possible…but somehow hard to do?

Maybe the letters are too small to read, the food is awkward to eat.
Or you want to say something but it just feels uncomfortable to say it out loud.

In Japanese, ther...

Have you ever been in a situation where you really, really needed something?

Maybe it’s a strong cup of coffee before your morning Japanese lesson.
Or perhaps you realized you’re missing one crucial ingredient for that delicious ramen you’re making.