Japanese with Hikari's Blog

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to "make" someone do something?
Or maybe you were the kind soul who "let" someone follow their heart?

In Japanese, we use one powerful grammar structure for both: させる (saseru).
In grammar books, this is ...

Have you ever looked at a crowded train map and felt like you were searching for one tiny station in a giant maze?
Or maybe, in the middle of a very busy week, you finally found five minutes to just sit and breathe?

When we talk about something happ...

Have you ever been in a situation where you’re just not sure? Maybe you’re wondering if your crush likes you, if that new ramen place is actually good, or if it’s going to rain during your long-awaited picnic.

In English, we use "whether or not" to ...

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you wanted to sound extra respectful to your boss, a teacher, or even a customer, but you weren't sure how to upgrade the simple verb “する” (to do)?

Maybe you want to ask, “What will you do?” or “Did ...

Have you ever felt a mini panic when a boss or a teacher mentions a deadline?
You might be thinking, “Do I need to finish at that time, or just make sure it’s done before then?”

That’s where までに (made ni) comes in to save your schedule.

までに is an e...

Have you ever wanted to talk about the weight of your luggage, the height of a mountain, or the importance of learning Japanese?

In English, we often add endings like “-ness” or “-ity” to adjectives to turn them into nouns.
In Japanese, we have a sup...

Have you ever been reading a manual or listening to an announcement in Japan and thought…“Wait… what should I do if something goes wrong?”

Maybe you are worried about losing your passport, or wondering whether your picnic will be canceled if it rain...

Have you ever found yourself staring at the sunset, quietly lost in thought, wondering if that special person is thinking about you too?

In English, we simply say “I wonder.”
In Japanese, there is a gentle and expressive way to show that kind of soft...

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 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 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.

Have you ever said something like this?

“I just finished eating.”
Maybe you just had a bowl of ramen for lunch, and you are still full.

“I just moved here.”
Maybe you recently moved to Japan, and everything around you still feels new.

But then you r...

Have you ever said something like this?

“I heard it will snow tomorrow.”
“I heard that a Japanese restaurant will open next to the school.”
“I heard there is a test next week.”

In daily life, we often talk about things we did not see ourselves.
We sha...

Have you ever wanted to say something negative in Japanese… but in a more mild and gentle way?

For example, you’re at a friend’s house.
They smile at you and say, “Are you hungry?”

Behind them… there’s a big pot of curry on the stove and smells amaz...

Have you ever wanted to do something meaningful, even when everyone around you gently tells you not to?

Imagine this.
You’re planning a solo trip to Japan.
No tour. No travel partner. Just you, exploring Japan on your own.

When you tell people, the ...

Have you ever wanted to talk about something that happened just a moment ago in Japanese?
Maybe you just finished lunch, just got home, or just saw something surprising, and you want to say, “It happened just now!”

That’s when さっき (sakki) becomes you...

Have you ever wanted to say “I’ll try it!” in Japanese?
Maybe you spot a seasonal sweet at your favorite cafe, find a cute outfit, discover an unfamiliar Japanese snack while traveling, or come across a beautiful hiking trail, and you’re thinking, “I’...

Have you ever wanted to say something like, “If you do this, then that will happen” in Japanese?

Maybe you’re giving advice, talking about habits, or imagining a possible future,
“If you study every day, you’ll improve.”
“If it rains, the event will b...

Have you ever noticed that some people always react strongly to certain things?

Like someone who immediately shivers the moment the AC turns on…
or a friend who refuses to watch horror movies because even the trailer is too scary…
or that person who f...

Have you ever been chatting with a friend who’s dealing with a small problem… and you want to give a gentle suggestion?

Maybe they say something like:
“I’ve been so tired from work lately…”
And in English, you might respond:
“Why don’t you take a break...

Have you ever wanted to say “if…” or “when/after…” in Japanese?

Maybe you’re talking with someone and want to say,
“When I get home, I’ll call you.”

Or after pushing through a big project, you’re thinking,
“When this project is finished, I’m taking p...