Free Japanese learning materials

Modality Part 1: でしょう vs かもしれません

「でしょう」と「かもしれません」の違い

Both soften what you say — but でしょう is usually used about others, not yourself, and かもしれません can't be used as a question. Taught in Minna no Nihongo Lesson 32.

After JLPT… What's next?

One phrase: "Back to Basics". Why your N4/N5 foundation decides how you do at N2 and N1 — and five pointers for moving up.

N5 Grammar: The difference between に and で

「に」と「で」の違い

に marks direction and existence; で marks where an action happens. Ten example sentences — including 仕事に疲れる vs 仕事で疲れる — show the nuance.

JLPT N2 Grammar List

JLPT N2 文法リスト

A downloadable N2 grammar list to support your exam preparation.

Top Grammar Points for the JLPT N4 Exam

A downloadable list of the most important grammar for JLPT N4, compiled by Can-sensei.

N1–N3: Let's answer ★ questions (Part 1)

★の問題に答えましょう（パート１）

A three-step method for JLPT sentence-ordering (★) questions: watch the particles, solve from both ends, then read the sentence for flow.

Difference between ように and ために

Original TLS comparison of ように and ために, including examples and volitional versus non-volitional verbs.

JLPT: Is it possible to get full marks without getting all the questions correct?

Hi all, This post is in response to one of the persons that I have met online. She was saying that she got full marks for N3 and needed help for one of the N…

About 六曜 (ろくよう)

The six-day cycle you'll spot on Japanese weather sites — used to decide whether a day is good for weddings, events or funerals.

N4言葉:「結構」と「かなり」の違い

Original TLS explanation of 結構 and かなり, comparing expectations and degree with book-price examples.

N1/N2 Grammar: The difference between 「〜て以来」 and 「〜てからというもの」

「〜て以来」と「〜てからというもの」の違い

Both mean "ever since" — but 「〜て以来」 states the change objectively, while 「〜てからというもの」 carries the speaker's feelings about an unexpected, dramatic change.

Differences between 「なければならない」と「なければいけない」: Repost

Original TLS notes comparing なければならない and なければいけない, with Japanese and English examples and references.

What is your motivation in learning Japanese?

A former student on why rushing JLPT certificates isn't the same as becoming fluent — and how going back to N5–N4 basics changed everything.

Japanese Particles Cheat Sheet

Can’s original Japanese particles cheat sheet; L refers to chapters in Minna no Nihongo.

Difference between 友達に会います and 友達と会います / 友達に会う and 友達と会う (違い)

The nuance between meeting a friend with に and と, with the original Japanese explanation quoted from NHK.

Japanese Grammatical Terms

A reference list of Japanese grammatical terms, their readings and meanings — from nouns and particles to auxiliary verbs.

馬鹿正直な先生 (The super honest teacher)

Hi all, Received a testimonial from my student. Do take a look and see for yourself. What is your motivation? /Can “What is your motivation in learning Japan…

Introduction to 未然形 1 (Imperfective form)

How to form 未然形 for Japanese verb groups, with the original chart and examples.

Introduction to Keigo Part 5: 丁重語

みなさん、おはようございます。 Today, we come to the “brother” of 謙譲語(けんじょうご)、the 丁重語(ていちょうご）。 We use this in a situation when there is no other party that we want to prais…

Introduction to Keigo Part 4: 丁寧語

みなさん、 こんばんは。Next up, we have our 丁寧語 (ていねいご), one of the easiest of 敬語。 I guess most of us are familiar with ～です or ～ます. How about ございます or でございます？ Source: h…

Introduction to Keigo Part 1: Types of Keigo

The five types of keigo, explained in the original TLS table and diagram.

Introduction to Keigo Part 3: 謙譲語

Original notes on 謙譲語: humble verbs, example sentences and two teaching charts.

Introduction to Keigo Part 2: 尊敬語

みなさん、 おはようございます。It’s 8:15am here in Singapore. Let’s do 尊敬語 (そんけいご) today. If you have read my article on Giving and Receiving, you would understand how to r…

Giving and Receiving with あげます/もらいます/くれます (N5)

Original N5 notes on giving and receiving with あげます, もらいます and くれます, with a teaching diagram.

Difference between やっと、かなり、必ず、絶対に

みなさん、 おはようございます。It`s the last day of 2016. Before i start, let me wish all of you a happy and blessed 2017 ahead. Like to share the difference between やっと、かな…

N4文法：意向形＋と思います vs ～つもりです

Original N4 notes comparing 意向形＋と思います, ～つもりです and ～ます, including 思います versus 思っています.

N2文法：「にかかわらず」 vs 「もかまわず」

Original N2 notes comparing にかかわらず and もかまわず, with meanings, key points and examples.

N5 Grammar: Park or Stop Your Car! Difference between 「あそこに車を止めてください」 vs 「あそこで車を止めてください」

みなさん、 おはようございます。 It`s been a while since i wrote a grammar article. Today, i would like to share the difference between 「あそこに車を止めてください」 vs 「あそこで車を止めてください」 To…

N4言葉：「結構」vs 「なかなか」の使い分け (Usage of 結構 and なかなか)

Original TLS notes on 結構 and なかなか, with examples and cautions about commenting on others.

N4 Grammar: 「このごろ」と 「この間」の違い

Original N4 notes on このごろ and この間: a continuing recent period versus a single event the other day.

N2文法: 「おそれがある」と「かねない」の違い

Original N2 explanation of おそれがある and かねない, with definitions and examples.

「ば」「たら」「と」「なら」の違い

皆さん、日本語能力試験お疲れ様でした。 今日、日本語における条件表現についてお話したいと思います。日本語の条件表現は、ネイティブでない人にとって最も難しい文法項目の一つとされています。英語などと違い、日本語は「ば」「たら」「と」「なら」という四つの条件語句があります。これらは全部英語の「if」に当たるだけに、日本…

日常会話の表現：　「とんでもない」と「どういたしまして」の違い (Common Conversation Phrase: Differences between とんでもない and どういしまして

皆さん、 こんばんは。今日、多くの方がけっこう気になっている疑問に答えようと思います。 (Good evening everyone. Today, i would like to answer a doubt that many of you will have) 「とんでもない」と「どういたしまして」はどう違…

「くださる」対「いただく」：どちらがもっと丁寧? (Kudasaru vs Itadaku: which is more polite?)

The difference between くださる and いただく: raising the listener versus humbling the speaker.

可能形：「肉が食べられる」と「肉を食べられる」 の違い (Potential form: The difference between 「肉が食べられる」と「肉を食べられる」)

Original TLS explanation of が and を with potential verbs, including three situations where を is easier to use.

家（いえ） と 家（うち） の違い: The difference between いえ　and うち

The difference between 家 as いえ (house) and うち (home and family), with original Japanese and English explanations.

“Do you know me?” says 名詞修飾形（めいししゅうしょくけい/Noun modifying form）/Small contest

Inspired by one of my students (A-san) taking N2 to write an article on this. A lot of students that i speak to, not just my new students that i took, but al…

「というわけではない」 と 「というものではない」の区別

Original N2 comparison of というわけではない and というものではない, explained in Japanese, English and Chinese.

皆さん、怖くならないで！二重敬語(Redundant Keigo)

Original Japanese and English notes on 二重敬語, common mistakes and cases where double honorific forms occur.