# LingoDeer > Learn languages with LingoDeer. Explore expert guides on Japanese, Korean, Chinese and more, with practical tips on grammar, vocabulary, culture and effective language learning. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About LingoDeer URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/about/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:48:11.000Z LingoDeer is a language-learning platform available on iOS, Android and the web. It is designed for learners who want more than isolated vocabulary practice: its courses introduce writing systems, vocabulary, sentence patterns and grammar in a structured sequence, helping learners understand how a language works and use it with confidence. LingoDeer first became known for its courses in Japanese, Korean and Chinese and has since expanded to a broad range of languages. Course depth varies by language, but the overall approach remains consistent: clear instruction, practical examples and regular opportunities to review and apply what you have learned. ## What makes LingoDeer useful? ### Structured, grammar-based curricula Lessons are organized to build knowledge step by step. Detailed grammar notes explain the logic behind sentence structures, so learners are not left to guess why an answer is correct. ### Native-speaker audio and pronunciation practice Words, example sentences and dialogues are supported by recordings from native speakers. Depending on the course and platform, learners can also practice pronunciation through speaking exercises, stories and practical phrase collections. ### Practice across multiple skills LingoDeer combines reading, listening, vocabulary, grammar and speaking activities. Stories and dialogue-based lessons place new language in context, while quizzes, flashcards and targeted review help reinforce material over time. ### A practical foundation for continued learning No single app or resource can guarantee fluency. LingoDeer's role is to provide a clear foundation—from the basics toward intermediate material in supported courses—so learners are better prepared to understand authentic content, communicate, and continue learning through conversation, reading and real-world exposure. ## About the LingoDeer Blog The [LingoDeer Blog](https://blog.lingodeer.com/) extends that learning experience beyond individual lessons. Since 2019, it has grown into a library of in-depth language guides covering grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, writing systems, study methods, culture and travel, together with product news and learning resources. Blog articles are designed to work both as introductions and as reference material. Learners can use them to clarify a difficult grammar point, compare similar expressions, review an alphabet or conjugation pattern, discover cultural context, or find a practical route into a new language. Many guides include examples, tables, audio or downloadable resources that make complex topics easier to revisit. Together, LingoDeer and this blog aim to make language learning more understandable and more sustainable: the app provides a structured path for regular study, while the blog offers the depth, context and searchable explanations learners often need along the way. ## Start learning Explore the latest guides on the [LingoDeer Blog](https://blog.lingodeer.com/), or visit [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to browse available language courses. ### Write For Us URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/contribute/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:53.000Z Are you passionate about travel, languages, and cultures? Do you enjoy sharing your experience or insights? If you answer yes to these questions, consider publishing your article or video on the LingoDeer blog and share your ideas with a growing community of language lovers and globe trotters! We are currently looking for **freelance writers (Beijing/Hong Kong/remote)** to help us create blog posts that share insights, tips, and actionable takeaways related to language learning. ### What you can get: - A competitive hourly or project rate - Decide when and where you work - Get your ideas to reach a broader group of language learners ### Requirements: - Capable of writing at the level of a native English speaker - At least 1-year experience in learning, teaching, or translating the following languages: Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Arabic - Experience living abroad is a plus - Experience in Wordpress and SEO writing is a plus Let's get in touch! ### Contact LingoDeer Please include the following information in your email: - Name **(required)** - Email **(required)** - Website - Message [Email blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com?subject=Blog%20Pitch&body=Name%3A%20%0A%0AEmail%3A%20%0A%0AWebsite%3A%20%0A%0AMessage%3A%20) This opens your email app with the subject and field template prefilled. No information is submitted on this page. \*\*If you wish to guest post on LingoDeer blog, please check our [guest posting guidelines](https://blog.lingodeer.com/guidelines/) first and include your topic idea(s) in the message box. \*\* If you are applying for our freelance writing position, please make sure to include the following information in the message box: 1. Your current base 2. Your native language 3. Your foreign language level and experience 4. Any types of profile or resume introducing yourself 5. Previous writing samples (if any) ### LingoDeer for Business URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/for-business/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T07:38:42.000Z Hello there! Let's discuss how LingoDeer can play a role in facilitating intercultural communications within your organization! ### Contact LingoDeer Please include the following information in your email: - Name **(required)** - Email **(required)** - Website - Message [Email blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com?subject=%5BLingoDeer%5D%20LingoDeer%20for%20Business&body=Name%3A%20%0A%0AEmail%3A%20%0A%0AWebsite%3A%20%0A%0AMessage%3A%20) This opens your email app with the subject and field template prefilled. No information is submitted on this page. I look forward to speaking with you! ### LingoDeer for Educators URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/for-educators/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:51.000Z Hello there! As former language teachers ourselves, we always enjoy conversations on the use of technologies in language classrooms. Feel free to get in touch if you're looking for a language education solution for your class or institution. Thanks! ### Contact LingoDeer Please include the following information in your email: - Name **(required)** - Email **(required)** - Website - Message [Email blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com?subject=%5BLingoDeer%5D%20LingoDeer%20for%20Educators&body=Name%3A%20%0A%0AEmail%3A%20%0A%0AWebsite%3A%20%0A%0AMessage%3A%20) This opens your email app with the subject and field template prefilled. No information is submitted on this page. I look forward to speaking with you! ### LingoDeer Brand Ambassadors URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-brand-ambassadors/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:50.000Z Hello, deer influencer! If you love what the little deer offers to language learners and don't mind earning a bit of money from blogging or creating social media contents around language learning, join our brand ambassador program! Tell us about yourself and link your website or social media channels here. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible. Thank you for your support! ### Contact LingoDeer Please include the following information in your email: - Name **(required)** - Email **(required)** - Website - Message [Email blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com?subject=%5BLingoDeer%5D%20LingoDeer%20Brand%20Ambassadors&body=Name%3A%20%0A%0AEmail%3A%20%0A%0AWebsite%3A%20%0A%0AMessage%3A%20) This opens your email app with the subject and field template prefilled. No information is submitted on this page. ### What's new on LingoDeer URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/update-log/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:49.000Z ### ### Oct 2022 Update We received a lot of positive feedback regarding our last home page update. Now the Me page also has a new look! See all of your learning stats & next achievement challenges at a glance. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/10/Oct-Update.png) Highlights of this update: - **Statistics at a glance**: Get a quick summary of your learning statistics. Expand the "Words & Sentences" module to see how you've progressed in each of your languages. You've accomplished a lot! Good job! - **Achievement challenges**: The new achievement challenges are designed to help you maintain motivation. Simply follow the next challenge and reach your language learning goals faster! P.S. No features were removed in this update. Update to the latest version of LingoDeer and enjoy these new features! Waiting for your feedback at blog@lingodeer.com. Happy learning! --- ### Sep 2022 Update Deer learners, we have some exciting updates to announce! We are proud to introduce some major changes to our home page design (both app & web): - The home screen is now **a single path** to follow from one lesson to another. Choosing which lesson to learn next is much easier and clearer! - You can now see your **progress** in each lesson more clearly on the circular progress bar and know where you are in the whole course on the dotted route. - We applied theme **colors** to major learning blocks. With vibrant colors like these, it's also easy to stay motivated and enjoy your learning journey more! - All learning contents, features, and your previous progress are **unchanged**. Haven't noticed any changes yet? Try upgrading your app! So, what do you think? Let us know at blog@lingodeer.com 👍 As always, thank you for letting LingoDeer be your language learning buddy! You can help us get better by sending your feedback and suggestions to blog@lingodeer.com. For special offers and updates, follow us on all social media platforms (@lingodeer) Happy learning! ### Is LingoDeer Premium Worth It? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/is-lingodeer-premium-worth-it/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:02:30.000Z Great question! You probably want to hear it from those who've used LingoDeer for a while. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/chloe.jpg) Chloe from England ### "Before you know it you’re talking in sentences" ...and I always want to unlock the achievements and keep my study streak up. Each lesson is the perfect length, not too short or long so I can do a quick lesson wherever I am. I try and do all the lessons for each unit everyday, but it’s so addictive, sometimes I do more." --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/norby.png) Norbi from Canada ### "No better resource for quick refreshers" These days I still refer to the LingoDeer Lesson Tips, and Knowledge Cards, when I want to clarify something. They’re fantastically laid out, have built in human audio, and are in my pocket all the time. There’s really no better resource for quick refreshers. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/mari.jpg) Mari from Spain ### "Closest thing to a textbook" I feel like I have to keep talking about this app because it is really special and very, very complete. The method they have is the closet thing to a textbook you will get. I highly recommend this app for total beginners since it can really take you from A1 to B1. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ally.png) Ally from France → Singapore ### "Not that easy and always challenging!" I especially like the tab “Fluent Japanese” on LingoDeer and the contents for intermediate/advanced learners, and also the games “Word Express”, “Memory Castle”, “Sea of Verbs” and “Speed Reply” on LingoDeer+. Usually when I spend time on the applications I combine all those contents, and it’s always satisfying since it’s not that easy and always challenging! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/wxvnmhqe_400x400.jpg) Phillip from Australia ### "Don't wait for the right moment" Learning a language takes time, desire and persistence. The sooner you start, the better. With helpful language learning apps like LingoDeer, you can learn or practice any time of the day." **Are you ready to join the LingoDeer club?** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/yea.png) If the answer is yes, choose a plan that suits you the most today! ### 私がLingoDeerをオススメする理由 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/why-lingodeer-premium-osusume-jp/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:28:47.000Z ## 私がLingoDeer（リンゴディア）をオススメする理由 ### 実際に使ってみた方の声 “LingoDeerは語学学習アプリの中でもシンプルかつ高度な内容の使いやすいアプリです。 もっと英語力を高める目的で評価の高い使いやすい語学アプリを探すうちにこのアプリに出会い、見覚えのあり確実に実力が身につくレベルステップのシステムがこのLingoDeerにもありました。このアプリは単語のイラストもとても可愛くシンプルです。また単語、文法の両方をから初歩から同時に楽しく学ぶ事ができます。他のアプリと大きく違う点は発音練習、単語、同時にそのステップで重要な文法がその都度丁寧に説明されています。 単語の暗記だけでな く、綴りのポイントや文法まで学べる本当に数少ないアプリのひとつだと思います。全ての例文と回答がネイティブの発音なのでそれもとても勉強になります。 もうひとつこのアプリの素晴らしい特徴は語学力を高めたい者に共通する多言語を学びたい。そのモチベーションを応えてくれること。私はこのアプリのおかげで今英語、韓国語、中国語を同時に学習しています。 それぞれがどこのレベルまでスキルアップできるからわかりませんが、とても楽しく学習できています。初歩的な会話だけでも様々な言語をこれからも学習して世界を広めていきたいです。 どの言語を学習したい人にとっても、このアプリなら基礎力は十分に身につけることが出来るでしょう。LingoDeerは新しい言語を学ぶ事でこれまで知らなかった世界を知ることができ、あなたの世界を広げてくれるための素晴らしいアプリだと思います。” ーーInonnon0126 on App Store 2020/01/15 “正解だとすごく褒めてくれて、不正解だと大泣きしてくれるトナカイくんがとても可愛いです♡ 学習時間の通知内容も「〇〇さん、学習の時間です」みたいな形式ばった無機質な感じではなく、「おはよう〇〇！今日は〇〇と〇〇を学ぼう。君ならできる！」とヤル気を刺激して誘ってもらえるので、「やってみようかな？」と思えます。 私は主にラジオ講座を3年程前から聞いて韓国語を学習しています。ラジオ講座でも、自分でスピーキングをしたり、シャドーイングをしたりしていますが、LingoDeerは自分のスピーキングを録音出来、それをまた聞くことが出来て、自分の発音をチェック出来るのでとても勉強になります。単語や例文の発音がネイティブなのも非常にいいところです。隙間時間の学習ですが、このLingoDeerでも英語と韓国語の学習を続けようと思います。” ーーorangeroof on App Store 2020/01/18 “初心者にオススメ！日々の少しの空き時間に語学学習アプリをよく利用しています。 良いと思った点を羅列していきたいと思います。 一つ目は例文が多いこと。また例文の単語一つ一つに訳が出たり文法の解説があります。 二つ目はカタカナが振っていないこと。読み仮名があるものはどうしても日本語を追ってしまい内容が飛んでしまいました。個人差はあると思いますが全くハングルを理解していない方がこれから勉強するには私はカナが無い方をお勧めします。 三つ目は選択のみではなく記述で回答できる問題が出題されること。選択肢ばかりだとなんとなく雰囲気で単語を理解できるようになってもいざ書くときにパッチムどうだったっけ？？となります。このアプリには記述問題があるので単語の書き取りが出来る様になります。書けるようになると簡単な文でネイティブの方とチャットが出来たりします。 総合的に見て本当にお勧めできる1本です！” ーーnawoko705 on App Store 2020/01/17 “他にも様々なアプリをダウンロードして一通りやってみましたが、Lingodeerは手本の発音と自分の発音を聞き比べることができて、自分が納得するまで何回も聞きなおし、録りなおしもできるので凄く助かっています。 聞き取り→書き取り→文章の理解 という順番で1つの単語や文章を繰り返すので、何も分からなくても次第に理解出来るようになっています。 何より、アプリなので自分の好きな時に場所、時間問わず勉強出来ること、本などの重たいものを持ち歩かなくていいことだけでもダウンロードした価値はあるかなと思います。” ーーcucuchuchuu on App Store 2020/01/15 “発音も何度も聞くことが出来るので、自分で反復して練習出来てとても便利です！他のアプリを使った時は、広告が沢山ありすぎてうんざりして消したり、ごちゃごちゃいっぱいあって分かりずらかったりと、なかなかいいものは少ないなと思っていました！でも、このアプリはシンプルで分かりやすく使いやすいので、スキマ時間で利用しやすいと思いました！また、私は韓国語の勉強のみで使っていますが、他の言語の勉強も出来るのでとても便利です！まずは試しにダウンロードするだけでもいいと思います！おすすめです！” ーー┃電柱┃ω・\`)ヽ(´o｀┃電柱┃ω・\`) on App Store 2020/01/15 “ほんとうにいい！！とてもためになるアプリだと思います！！ このアプリは、色々な言語が学べるし、このアプリがあればとりあえず一通り話せるようになれると思います。しかも、このアプリはとても楽しいので、飽きません。途中でやめずに続けられると言うのが、言語を学ぶ上で大切なことなのでこのアプリは言語を学ぶのに最適だと感じます。ただ、もう少し無料コンテンツを解放して欲しいなと感じました。でも、お金を払ってまでこのアプリで勉強する価値はあります！私は現在英語、韓国語、中国語を勉強しているので、このアプリで一通り話せるようにがんばります！！” ーーおかあやね on App Store 2020/01/17 “毎日利用させて頂いてます。きちんと学習ノートでなにを勉強するか把握した上で（このノートが、参考書買うよりも分かりやすくてすごく便利😀）レッスンできて、自分の発音確認、新しい単語を学ぶ、実際に文章を自分で入力するの構成で、自分がどこまで理解できたかが明確です。 過去にテキストを使って勉強していた経験があるのですが、実際に発音を意識したり、いろいろなシチュエーションを想定して使ってみたりしないと、テキストだけの例文ではなかなか実際話すことは難しく…。 まだアプリを利用して短いですが、職場の外国人に、話しかけるときに抵抗が少しなくなった気がします✌️ また、復習テストもついてるので前日やったことをクイズ形式で出来るのも、毎日やらなきゃ…という気持ちが軽減できるところもおすすめです。 引き続き、利用させていただきます🎉” ーーアミーゴゴゴ on App Store 2020/01/14 “とても使いやすいです！今まで色々な語学学習アプリを使ってみましたが一番発音が綺麗でした。単語の書き順から学ぶことができ、発音表などもあって親切だなと感じました。個人的には学習ノートの機能が気に入っていて、理解するのが難しい文法も分かりやすくまとまっています。解説が丁寧で基礎から学べるので初心者の私にぴったりでした。アプリでのレッスンや学習ノートと使用しているテキストを併用してインプットをして、5分テストでアウトプットをすることで効率よく学習することができています。また、復習が必要なものは単語や文法に分けられていてテストをすると何が苦手なのかがひと目でわかるので便利です。 デザインもシンプルで見やすく、キャラクターも可愛いのでとても楽しいです☺️これからも空いた時間を使って少しずつ続けて他の言語にも挑戦してみたいなと思います。” ーー013127 on App Store 2020/01/17 “LingoDeerが他と何が違うのかわからないけど、使いやすくて勉強が億劫にならない。 勉強の定着のために復習機能はとてもありがたいし、少しずつ進められるのが性に合っているのかもしれない。 初心者がコツコツと続けるには最適のアプリだと思う。語学学習に一番大切なのは継続することだと思うので。” ーーmomo497882 on App Store 2020/01/16 “多言語の学習に最適！中国語も韓国語もどちらもゼロから勉強を始めたいと思って、色々探した結果、このアプリを使い始めました！ 飽きっぽい性格なのですが、文字を読むこと、発音することからスタートできて、楽しく無理ない範囲で飽きずに勉強を続けられています😊復習も気軽にでき、知っている単語や文法が増えていくのを実感できます。 まだ使い始めて1ヶ月弱ですが、中国語、韓国語とも簡単な文書は読めるようになりました！ 色々なコンテンツがあるのも楽しめるポイントですが、特に気に入ってるのは、ネイティブの人の話している動画です！お手本とは異なるスピード感や口の形なども見れるので、理解が深まります。もっとこのコンテンツが増えるとよいなと思っています。 これからも地道に勉強を続け、いつか中国語も韓国語もすらすら話せるようになりたいなと思っています＼(^^)／” ーーnoppo35s on App Store 2020/01/15 “学習初心者にも非常にわかりやすいアプリです。英語は大学で専攻していたのですが、英語以外の言語も学びたいと思いこのアプリに出会いました。言語学習において、学び始めが最も大変な時期なので一つ一つ丁寧に学習できととても満足しています。” ーーキンセイマル on App Store 2020/05/04 “このアプリ良くて凄いです。発音もきちんと聞き取れるし復習もできますし、有料であってもこれはお金を払ってもいいレベルのアプリです。 初心者の人はとりあえずこのアプリをダウンロードしてみて、ノートとかにまとめて書いたり発音も聞いて何回も繰り返し使うことをお勧めします。読める書ける話せるようになりますよ！合わせて教材も使いつつするのもアリだと思います！！” ーー眞雫 on App Store 2020/01/14 “発音まで練習できる所がすごい。自分一人で語学学習する時に不安なのが発音。いざ本番で伝わらなきゃ意味ないしカッコ悪い。それに自分が発音できない音は聞けないらしいからリスニング力をつけるためにも発音できるようになりたい。カリキュラムをこなす中でマイクに向かって喋る発音問題があってびっくり。そして何度も引っかかった。ちゃんとお手本もあるので安心。” ーーあれま(/´ρ｀)/ on App Store 2020/01/19 “すごく使いやすいです！ 初心者の私でも、発音から丁寧に教えてくれるから、安心して始められました。練習問題も多いし、何よりネイティブの人の発音が聞けるのが嬉しい。デザインがキレイで、可愛いシカが応援してくれるので、毎日楽しみながら勉強を続けています。オフラインでも学習できるから、ネットワークにつなぐ必要がないのも便利。会員になるとお得なオプションがあるので、会員になっておいて損はないと思います。毎日忙しい人でもスキマ時間にリラックスして学習できるので、オススメです！このアプリは、色々な言語が学べるので、中国語の次はドイツ語に挑戦しようと思います^\_^” ーーlikelearningchinese on App Store 2018/11/29 “繰り返し練習も色々な問題が出るので飽きないです。文法は未学習でしたが、初歩からスタートするのでとても分かりやすく覚えられています。このアプリ1つあれば、一通り喋れるようになるのではないかと思います(*^^*)” ーーGoogleユーザー on Google Play store 2019/02/08 “何個か英語学習のアプリはやってみたけど、これが1番苦にならない。いきなりこの単語は英語で何と言うか入力しなさいみたいな感じではなく、最初に単語と発音が流れ、その後で反復練習みたいな感じです。ちなみに初心者向けのモードでやりました。既に習ってる人向けのモードもあるようですね。こちらはやってないので何とも言えませんが。0からスタートとかうろ覚えレベルの人にも優しいアプリです！” ーーイロハホヘト on Google Play store 2018/12/18 “まだ、初めたばかりですが、本当の初心者にも理解できるように、工夫されていて、また、躓きやすい単語等、丁度よいタイミングで出題され、ゆっくりと聞きやすく、何度でも実際の発音で繰り返し聴けるシステムに、他の教材で分解されがちな、末尾と先頭の単語を一つの音として発音する部分など、そのまま再現されていて、改めて再認識する、事もあったりで楽しく学習できました。これから楽しみです。” ーーSAI sa on Google Play store 2019/01/31 “問題は簡単な単語から始まり、次に簡単な文作りと少しずつ進んでいきます。一つ一つの問題もちゃんと音声で聞くことができます。音声も普通の速さと少しゆっくりの速さに別れています。 あまり時間のない人でも毎日少しずつ出来るのでちょっとした移動時間にも最適です。 バグも全くありません。 これからも重宝させていただきます！” ーーGoogleユーザー on Google Play store 2019/01/31 どうですか？ LingoDeer (リンゴディア) を使いたくなっていませんか？ ![LingoDeer says yea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/yea.png) 京見のある方はぜひお試しください。 ### LingoDeer Partnership URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-partnership/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:56:52.000Z Are you a writer who has in mind a story about language learning? Do you have a social media account with followers interested in learning another language? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s talk about how we can collaborate! Since 2017, LingoDeer has been making language learning fun and effective. We’ve been hailed as the best app for learning Asian languages, thanks to our stellar Korean, Japanese, and Chinese courses. With an overall rating of 4.8 on App Store, LingoDeer has already helped more than 20 million users, and we are ready for more! First, let’s take a look at the 3 main apps in the ***LingoDeer family***. | ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2021/11/LingoDeer-icon-150x150.png) | ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2021/11/LingoDeer-Plus-icon-150x150.png) | ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2021/11/iDeerKids_app_logo-150x150.png) | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **LingoDeer** LingoDeer is a popular language learning app with comprehensive courses for 12+ languages. Bite-sized lessons, engaging course content, and succinct grammar tips make language learning with LingoDeer an amazing experience. | **LingoDeer Plus** LingoDeer Plus (or DeerPlus for short) is a gamified practice app for learners of Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, French, and German. With a variety of fun vocab- and grammar-based games, LingoDeer Plus is perfect for improving overall language skills. | **iDeerKids** iDeerKids is an animated app designed to help young learners (aged 3-8) grasp the English alphabet, phonics, key vocabulary, and simple sentences. iDeerKids’ intuitive user interface is perfect for independent learning. iDeerkids is [Teacher Approved](https://play.google.com/console/about/teacherapproved/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) by Google Play in 2021. | | [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=5137006670632982516&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-language-learning/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [Web](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer.plus&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-plus-language-games/id1476253711?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideerkids&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-for-kids-ideerkids/id1481032167?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | ### ***What our users say:*** > With LingoDeer, I finally discovered the Korean script and basics of Japanese, I can read the texts written by my Korean colleagues! Satisfying that I can learn many languages at a reasonable price less than a tenth of what language centers charge! This is hands down the best app I've used for learning a different language. It has all these fun lessons and games, and makes everything very interesting. I wish I had used this app sooner! ### ***What news outlets say about LingoDeer:*** > *Business Insider*, a financial and business news website, recommended LingoDeer for learning Korean (Oct 2021) [](https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-learn-korean-language-online-classes-apps-videos-books?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)*YourStory*, a big platform for startup stories, reviewed and recommended LingoDeer (Sep 2021) [](https://yourstory.com/2021/09/app-friday-language-learning-lingodeer-korean-french-german/amp?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)*PC Mag,* a leading authority on technology reviews, mentioned LingoDeer as one of the best apps for 2021 (Dec 2020) [](https://au.pcmag.com/gallery/84449/the-best-android-apps-for-2021?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)During Covid, LingoDeer went free to facilitate remote learning (Mar–Jun 2020) [](https://www.studyinternational.com/news/4-free-language-apps-covid19/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[](https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/news/learn-new-language-while-stuck-home-under-quarantine-0277205/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)*Beebom*, a tech media that covers latest technology reviews, recommended LingoDeer (Jan 2020) [](https://beebom.com/best-language-learning-apps/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)LingoDeer won User’s Choice Apps in 2018 by Google Play (Nov 2018) [](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-play-best-apps-games-2018-user-choice-921827/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)LingoDeer won Android Excellence Program (Jul 2018)[](https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2018/07/congrats-to-new-android-excellence-apps.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[](https://play.google.com/store/apps/topic?id=campaign%5Feditorial%5F3002b4f%5Fandroid%5Fexcellence%5Fapps&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### ***What bloggers say about LingoDeer:*** > *All Language Resources.* LingoDeer review [](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/lingodeer/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)*Language Throne.* LingoDeer review [](https://www.languagethrone.com/lingodeer/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)Actual Fluency. LingoDeer review[ ](https://actualfluency.com/lingodeer-review/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)TechJury. LingoDeer review *One Step 4ward.* LingoDeer review [](https://actualfluency.com/lingodeer-review/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)*Crashed Culture.* LingoDeer review. [](https://crashedculture.com/lingodeer-review/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Are you interested in bringing LingoDeer to your audience as well? Check out our [media kit](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1thPRt5w2Yz7vXj4PIZ66HaKJKgqXxriX?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for our logos and product images. You can also fill in the contact form below to let us know how we can help! ### LingoDeer Guest Blogging Guidelines URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/guidelines/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:07:26.000Z Hi! Thank you for being interested in contributing to blog.lingodeer.com! We are always excited to hear you wish to share your experience and expertise in ***language learning*** with our audiences. Before you submit your article, please take a few minutes to read the below guidelines. Basic quality guidelines: - **Original**: Guest articles should be original and not published before on LingoDeer blog or anywhere else. They should not be reused on other sites once published on LingoDeer blog. - **Value**: Make sure to **provide great value to language learners** in your article so it is more likely to be read and shared. - **Article length**: To fully address a topic, we suggest your article to fall between 1500 and 2500 words. - **Writing**: All guest articles should reflect the writing style of LingoDeer Blog, which is **helpful, in-depth, clear, and engaging**. Also, please double-check any grammar or spelling mistakes before submitting. - **Credit**: Give credit to any data, quotation, or media from outsource content. - **Link**: Link to at least 2 other LingoDeer blog posts in your article. - **Promotional content**: In general, use **no more than 1 promotional link** to businesses related to language learning (travel, translation, study abroad…) Please disclose with us any promotional content in the article and make sure they are relevant to the topic. The final determination is at the discretion of LingoDeer Blog. - **Author**: Please provide 2\~3 sentences briefly introducing the guest author. LingoDeer blogging team reserves the right to: 1. Reject contributions that don’t meet our quality standards 2. Edit and adapt your guest post as we see fit 3. Update your post in the future 4. Include CTA to LingoDeer products Please submit your pitch on [this page](https://blog.lingodeer.com/contribute/). ### Featured Posts URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/recommended-posts/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:14:45.000Z Start here with a selection of LingoDeer's most useful language-learning guides. These articles cover Japanese foundations, language comparisons and choosing the right language for your goals. ## Japanese learning essentials [Learn Hiragana with Hiragana Charts](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/) Printable hiragana charts covering pronunciation and stroke order for learners beginning to read Japanese. [Learn Japanese From Beginner to Advanced \[Essential Guide\]](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) A structured guide to progressing from the Japanese writing systems and foundations toward more advanced study. ## Language comparisons and choices [Chinese vs Japanese Language | All You Need to Know](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese%5Fvs%5Fjapanese/) A practical comparison of Chinese and Japanese for learners deciding what to study and what differences to expect. [Best Languages to Learn in 2023 (and Why)](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-language-to-learn/) A guide to choosing a language based on learning goals, usefulness and personal motivation. Explore the latest lessons and language-learning resources on the [LingoDeer Blog homepage](https://blog.lingodeer.com/). ### All Tags URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/tags/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T06:44:39.000Z Browse LingoDeer language-learning articles by topic. ## Posts ### LingoDeer Named a 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Award Winner for Best Language Learning App URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-newsweek-readers-choice-award-2026/ Last updated: 2026-09-29T09:24:02.000Z We have some exciting news to share: **LingoDeer has been recognized as a 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Award winner in the Best Language Learning App category.** LingoDeer was first selected by Newsweek editors and panelists as one of this year’s nominees. Newsweek readers then voted to determine the winners. To everyone who voted for LingoDeer—and to everyone who has learned a language with us over the years—**thank you.** 🦌❤️ ## A recognition chosen by readers What makes this recognition especially meaningful to us is that it reflects both editorial selection and the voices of language learners. > “Selected by our editors. Chosen by our readers.” After LingoDeer was selected as a nominee in the Best Language Learning App category, readers voted to determine the final winners. **Official source:**View the [2026 Best Language Learning App results on Newsweek ](https://www.newsweek.com/readerschoice/best-language-learning-app-2026?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). For us, this recognition is not just about an award. It is a reminder that the way we approach language learning continues to resonate with learners around the world. ## Why we built LingoDeer differently From the beginning, [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) was designed around a simple belief: Learning a language should help you understand how the language works—not just memorize isolated words and phrases. That is why our courses are built around structured progression. Instead of presenting vocabulary, grammar, listening, and speaking as disconnected activities, we try to help learners build them together, step by step. Depending on the language you are studying, that can mean: - learning a new writing system before being expected to read full sentences; - understanding the grammar behind a sentence instead of simply guessing the correct answer; - listening to native-speaker audio and paying attention to how the language actually sounds; - reviewing previously learned material so that it becomes usable knowledge rather than something seen once and forgotten; - gradually moving from individual words and sentence patterns toward more meaningful communication. LingoDeer first became known among learners of **Japanese, Korean, and Chinese**, and over time we have expanded to offer courses in many more languages. The product has changed a lot along the way, but our basic philosophy has stayed remarkably consistent: Give learners a clear path, explain what they are learning, and help them build a foundation they can continue using beyond the app. You can learn more about our approach on the [About LingoDeer](https://blog.lingodeer.com/about/) page. ## This award belongs to our learners, too Language learning is a long journey. It happens in small moments: finishing one more lesson, finally understanding a grammar point that used to feel impossible, recognizing a sentence in a movie, speaking to someone in another language for the first time, or simply returning to study after taking a break. An app can provide structure, explanations, practice, and encouragement. But learners are the ones who do the hard part. That is why being recognized through a Readers’ Choice award means so much to our team. Many of you have been learning with LingoDeer for years. You have sent us feedback, reported things that could be better, asked us difficult language questions, encouraged friends to try the app, and helped shape what LingoDeer has become. Some of the most useful improvements we have made started with a simple message from a learner saying: > “Could this work better?” We are grateful for all of it. ## What comes next for LingoDeer Receiving an award is a wonderful moment, but language learning does not stand still—and neither can we. We are continuing to improve the way learners practice, review, understand, and use their target languages. That includes improving our existing courses and learning tools, while continuing to explore new ways to make language practice more useful, more focused, and more connected to real communication. At the same time, one thing will remain important to us: Technology should support good language teaching, not replace it. Clear explanations, thoughtful course design, high-quality language content, and a well-structured learning path will continue to be at the heart of LingoDeer. ## Thank you, Deer learners 🦌 Being recognized as a **2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice Award winner for Best Language Learning App** is something we are proud of. But more than anything, we see it as encouragement to keep building. Thank you for learning with us. Thank you for telling us what we can do better. And thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for LingoDeer. Wherever you are on your language-learning journey, we hope we can keep helping you take the next step. > The journey is the reward. — The LingoDeer Team ### Best Duolingo Alternatives for Japanese and Korean (2026) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-alternatives-japanese-korean/ Last updated: 2026-10-12T06:12:40.000Z You finish a lesson, get most of the answers right, and feel pretty good. Then you try to say something of your own—and the words won't quite come together. Sound familiar? That gap can be frustrating, especially when you've been showing up every day. It doesn't mean your effort has gone to waste. You may just need a little more explanation, more time speaking, or a course that makes the next step clearer. **LingoDeer is our top pick among Duolingo alternatives for Japanese and Korean if you want a course that helps you understand how the language works.** Experienced language teaching experts design our lessons, with clear grammar notes and native-speaker recordings to guide you. The aim is to help you move from “I recognize that answer” to “I can make a sentence like that myself.” There are other good options, too. Renshuu is worth a look for free Japanese study, while Talk To Me In Korean suits learners who enjoy learning through detailed audio and video lessons. Sometimes, an extra tool for speaking or remembering words is all you need. We make LingoDeer, so you'll see us explain where we think it helps most. We'll also point out when another tool might suit you better. Jump to [Japanese](#japanese) or [Korean](#korean), or use the table below to find a starting point. ## Quick picks by learning goal | What you'd like help with | Japanese shortlist | Korean shortlist | A good way to start | | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | Knowing what to study next and understanding the grammar | LingoDeer — our first pick | LingoDeer — our first pick | Try a lesson and read the notes when a sentence puzzles you | | Getting feedback on your sentences | Busuu | Busuu | Use a correction to write or say something new | | Learning on a tight budget | Renshuu | Lingory | Try a few free lessons during your usual study time | | Remembering grammar you've already met | Bunpro | TTMIK grammar lessons | Revisit one pattern that keeps tripping you up | | Remembering words or characters | WaniKani for kanji; Anki for your own cards | Anki for your own cards | Begin with a few words from your current lessons | | Feeling more comfortable speaking | Teuida | Teuida | Practice answering aloud, even if you need a second try | | Studying with shows and videos | Migaku | Migaku | Choose a short clip you can partly understand | You don't need to download everything here. Pick one course to guide your learning, then add a tool if there's something you'd like more help with. For example, WaniKani can help with kanji—the characters used in Japanese—while Anki helps you review words you've chosen yourself. Both can work alongside a course. ## Should you leave Duolingo in 2026? Start with what you wish felt easier. Do you want to understand a grammar point, remember more words, or finally answer someone without freezing? Those are different needs, and they don't all call for a new app. See which of these sounds most like you: - **“I keep making the same mistake, and I don't know why.”** Look for explanations with examples you can follow. Knowing why an answer works gives you something to use next time. - **“I spend too much of my study time getting interrupted.”** Try the free lessons on your own device before committing. A free download, a short trial, and a course you can keep using for free are different things. - **“I know it in the lesson, but I can't say it.”** Try saying or writing a few sentences without answer choices. You may need more practice using what you know. - **“I'm going over things I already know.”** Look for a placement test or a way to skip familiar material. You don't have to spend another month learning to say hello. If you still enjoy Duolingo, you can keep it for a few minutes of review. Make room for the practice you've been missing, and let your routine change as you learn. ## Why LingoDeer is a strong Duolingo alternative Learning on your own involves a lot of small questions: What should I study next? Why does this word go here? Have I understood enough to move on? A well-planned course helps you spend less time figuring out your study plan and more time learning. **LingoDeer's course content is designed by experienced language teaching experts.** They plan how grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation fit together, so new lessons build on what you've already learned. You can read about the teaching team on the [LingoDeer website](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and explore [how we design our courses](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer/). Here's what that means when you sit down to study Japanese or Korean: - **You have a clear next step.** Lessons give you a sequence to follow. That's helpful when the writing system, new words, and word order all feel unfamiliar at once. - **You can find out why a sentence works.** Japanese particles are little words that help show how the parts of a sentence fit together. Korean sentence endings can change its meaning or level of politeness. Seeing the right answer once may leave you guessing; an explanation gives you something to come back to. - **You can hear what you're learning.** Native-speaker recordings let you connect the words on the screen with their sounds. Listen to a short sentence, repeat it, and play it again to hear the parts you'd like to work on. Suppose you've learned a sentence about something you like. Could you change the food, activity, or person and say something true about yourself? That small step is a useful way to see whether a lesson is helping you use the pattern, rather than just remember an answer. When you try LingoDeer, choose a lesson that addresses something you find confusing. Read the notes, work through the examples, and try one sentence of your own. If you get stuck, go back to the explanation. You don't have to understand everything on the first read. That's why we recommend LingoDeer as a main course: it brings the learning plan, explanations, and listening practice together. You'll still need chances to use the language, but you'll have a clearer place to start. ## Best Duolingo alternatives for Japanese ### LingoDeer for a structured course with clear grammar If you've ever thought, “I got that right, but I'm not sure why,” we'd start with LingoDeer. Our [Japanese course](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) brings grammar explanations, pronunciation guidance, and native-speaker recordings into lessons you can follow in order. Give yourself time with the notes. When a sentence clicks, try changing one detail: talk about your own plans, something you enjoy, or a place you'd like to visit. Making the sentence your own gives the grammar a purpose beyond finishing the exercise. You can try selected content for free; the full course requires membership. As you learn, look for small chances to speak with someone, too. A conversation gives you practice choosing what to say when the next question isn't already on the screen. **Access:** Web, iOS, and Android. Alphabet material and the first unit are among the [free learning content](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000194357-is-lingodeer-free-how-does-pricing-work-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). [Try the Japanese course free](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Renshuu for free Japanese study with room to customize Working with a small budget? Renshuu offers vocabulary, kanji, grammar, and sentence practice, including study paths connected to textbooks and the JLPT, the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. Its official app listing describes the free version as ad-free, without a timer that pushes you to subscribe. There's plenty you can adjust, which is handy if you know what you want to review. You can also start with a prepared path. If lots of choices feel overwhelming, choose one path and leave the other settings for later. You don't need to set up the perfect study system before your first lesson. **Access:** Web and mobile apps. Free study with optional Pro features. ### Bunpro for grammar you understand but keep forgetting You read an explanation, it makes sense, and a week later you've forgotten how to use it. Bunpro is worth considering for that situation. It combines grammar explanations and examples with spaced repetition: bringing material back for review over time to help you remember it. It also offers vocabulary and reading practice. Start with a few patterns from your current studies. When a review catches you out, return to the explanation and try another example. If you're new to Japanese, follow a learning sequence so each pattern has something familiar to build on. Keep the amount small at first. A review list should leave you time to enjoy reading and listening, too. **Access:** Web and mobile apps. At our October 10 price check, reference access was free, with a 30-day Premium trial without a credit card. See the price comparison below. ### WaniKani for help remembering kanji Do you keep stopping at the same characters when you read? WaniKani focuses on kanji and vocabulary, using memory aids and reviews spread over time. That focus can be helpful when characters are the part of Japanese you most want to work on. Try using it alongside your course or some short reading. Remembering a character is useful; meeting it in a sentence helps you connect that knowledge with meaning. You'll still want separate time for grammar, listening, and speaking. The first three levels are free, so you can see whether its memory aids and review routine suit you before paying. **Access:** Web. Paid access starts after Level 3\. WaniKani says it has no official iOS app, though community apps are available. ### Busuu for a course with community feedback If you'd like someone to respond to what you write or say, Busuu is another option. Its Japanese course includes general lessons and writing-system resources, with opportunities to get feedback from Japanese speakers. A correction is a good starting point for your next attempt. Try using it in a fresh sentence about your own life. That gives you a chance to work with the advice while it's still clear in your mind. Community feedback can add a welcome social element to studying alone. If you'd like a longer conversation or regular one-to-one help, you may also want lessons with a teacher. **Access:** Web and mobile apps, with free access and paid upgrades. Check which features are included in the plan offered in your region. ### Migaku for learning through videos and reading Maybe there's a Japanese show or channel you'd love to understand. Migaku's browser tools help you look up words and make flashcards from videos and websites, connecting your study with things you want to watch or read. Begin with a short clip where you can already follow some of what's happening. Watch it again, pick a few useful expressions, and review those. You don't need to save every new word. Choosing the material takes a little care. If a favorite show leaves you looking up almost every line, put it aside for now and try something easier. Enjoying a manageable clip is a better starting point than struggling through an entire episode. **Access:** Chrome extension and mobile apps; features vary by platform. A 10-day trial without a credit card was advertised at our October 10 check, followed by paid access. ### Anki for reviewing the material you choose Anki lets you make flashcards from the words and sentences you want to remember. You can add audio and other media, and the app schedules reviews based on how well you recall each card. A small set of cards from your current lessons is a good place to begin. Choose things you understand but tend to forget. If a card keeps confusing you, check the original explanation or rewrite the question so you know what you're being asked. Keep your course, reading, and listening alongside it. Anki helps you revisit what you've learned, and the same approach works for Korean. **Access:** Free desktop software and AnkiDroid for Android. The official AnkiMobile iOS app is a separate purchase; see the price snapshot below. ## Best Duolingo alternatives for Korean ### LingoDeer for a guided Korean foundation You may know a few Korean expressions but feel lost when you try to put your own sentence together. LingoDeer's [Korean course](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) gives you a way to work through that gap, with detailed grammar tips, a pronunciation guide, and native-speaker recordings. Spend a little time with both the explanation and the audio. Once a pattern makes sense, say it aloud with a familiar word changed. For instance, if you've learned to talk about where you're going, try talking about your own plans. It can be a short sentence; the useful part is choosing what you want to say. The full course requires membership, with selected content available to try for free. As your confidence grows, bring a few familiar expressions into a conversation with a teacher or language partner. **Access:** Web, iOS, and Android. The alphabet section, first unit, and main-course Test Outs are among the free features listed in the [help center](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000194357-is-lingodeer-free-how-does-pricing-work-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). [Try the Korean course free](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Talk To Me In Korean for lessons you can study in depth If you enjoy settling in with an audio or video explanation, Talk To Me In Korean, or TTMIK, is worth exploring. Its library covers grammar, pronunciation, listening, reading, conversation, and exam preparation. Start with a core course, then add lessons that interest you. A topic such as describing your daily routine gives you something you can use right away. With so much to choose from, it helps to keep one main course going rather than start several at once. While you're listening, pause occasionally and try an example of your own. Being able to follow an explanation feels good; trying the pattern yourself helps you see what you remember. **Access:** Web and the TTMIK Courses mobile app, with subscription access. At our October 10 check, the [official pricing and trial terms](https://courses.talktomeinkorean.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) offered a seven-day trial on Monthly and Standard annual plans, but not on the cheaper Smart Save annual plan. ### Teuida for practicing spoken responses “I know this when I see it, but I freeze when I speak.” If that sounds like you, take a look at Teuida. Its conversation scenarios ask you to answer aloud and offer automated pronunciation feedback. It covers Japanese as well as Korean. After a scenario, try the conversation again without the app. Change what you're ordering, where you're going, or the time you'd like to meet. It's a small way to move beyond repeating the same lines. Use the feedback alongside careful listening to the recordings. Practicing with another person is helpful, too: real conversations give you a chance to ask for clarification or respond to something unexpected. **Access:** iOS and Android. Check the sample lessons and subscription offer on your device. ### Lingory for a free Korean starting point If a paid course isn't in your budget right now, Lingory is an option to explore. Its official app listing describes lessons starting with the alphabet and covering speaking, reading, listening, and writing, along with daily goals and review. Try it during a few ordinary study sessions. Notice whether the explanations help and whether it's easy to return to a lesson you found difficult. Those everyday details matter more than how much you can finish on an unusually free afternoon. Lingory also offers subscriptions. If you're switching because interruptions have been getting in the way, check how the free version feels on your own device. **Access:** Mobile app. Free learning with paid options; the price table records the US iOS offer checked on October 10. ### Busuu for Korean lessons with community support Busuu's Korean offering includes general lessons, Hangeul study, and a K-drama course, with feedback from Korean speakers. It may suit you if a little contact with other learners and speakers helps you stay interested. Try submitting a short piece of writing or speech, then use a correction in your next attempt. Look through the Korean course itself before choosing a plan, since the content can differ between languages. **Access:** Web and mobile apps, with free access and paid upgrades. For regular individual attention, consider a teacher alongside the community features. ## Free access and prices to compare Here's a price snapshot to help you compare. These US-dollar website prices and US App Store listings were checked on **October 10, 2026**. Your offer may differ by region, store, tax, or promotion, so check the total and renewal terms before paying. A yearly plan advertised at a monthly equivalent is still billed by the year. | Tool | Free access | Paid option or purchase detail | | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Alphabet, first unit, and other selected content | Web: US$14.99/month; annual offer displayed at US$95.99/year. Both auto-renew | | Renshuu | Ongoing free study; developer describes it as ad-free | Optional Pro subscription; check your store's current offer | | Bunpro | Reference access; 30-day Premium trial without a card | Web: US$5/month or US$150 lifetime | | WaniKani | Levels 1–3 | Paid access from Level 4; check membership pricing | | Busuu | Free access with feature restrictions | Compare the Premium offer for your region and billing period | | Migaku | Advertised 10-day trial without a card | Subscription after the trial; check the current plan | | Anki | Desktop and AnkiDroid are free | Official AnkiMobile for iOS: US$24.99 in the US store | | TTMIK Courses | Seven-day trial on Monthly and Standard annual plans | US$16.99/month; Standard US$122/year; Smart Save US$85.40/year without trial. Tax excluded | | Teuida | Check available sample lessons in the app | See the subscription offer on your platform | | Lingory | Developer advertises free learning | US iOS listing includes US$6.99 for one month | If money is tight, start with the free option and see how far it takes you. Before buying a longer subscription, give yourself a few days with the course. A discount is most useful when it's for something you'll actually enjoy using. ## How to switch without starting over Changing apps doesn't erase what you've learned. Bring that knowledge with you, and use the first week to find a comfortable place to continue. ### Start with what you can already do Can you introduce yourself, read some familiar words, or understand a short exchange without looking at the answers? Make a quick note of those things, along with anything you'd like help with. Your old unit number may not match the new course, and that's okay. Courses introduce topics in different orders. Some familiar material can be a useful warm-up; you don't need to repeat everything from the beginning. ### Try one app with a question in mind Choose one thing you'd like the new app to help with. If a grammar point has been bothering you, try a lesson on it. If speaking feels difficult, notice how much time you spend answering aloud. You'll learn more from that than from browsing every feature. Use placement tests or skip options when they're available. LingoDeer's free main-course Test Outs can help you check familiar material and decide where to begin. ### Keep the first week manageable One course, a little review, and a short chance to use what you've learned is plenty to start with. If you have twenty minutes, you might spend ten on a lesson, five reviewing, and five saying or writing a few sentences. Shorter sessions are fine, too. At the end of the week, return to something you tried on day one. Perhaps you can answer with less hesitation or explain a sentence that used to puzzle you. You're looking for signs that the routine helps—and that you can make room for it in your day. ## Useful combinations without collecting too many apps You don't need a folder full of learning apps. Start with one course and add something when you know what you'd like to practice more. - **Japanese grammar still feels confusing:** Use LingoDeer as your main course and revisit its notes and reviews. Bunpro can add more practice with patterns you keep forgetting. - **You want to study Japanese for free:** Start with a Renshuu learning path, then add short, accessible reading or listening when you're ready. - **You want to speak more Korean:** Use LingoDeer or TTMIK for your lessons and Teuida for extra practice answering aloud. Try a few of those expressions with a teacher or partner when you can. - **Words keep slipping your mind:** Make a small Anki deck from vocabulary you're already using. Add fewer cards if reviews start taking over your study time. Learning both Japanese and Korean? LingoDeer's [membership page](https://www.lingodeer.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) says its plans cover all currently available language courses, so one membership can cover both. Give each language a small weekly goal that fits the time you have. ## How we chose these alternatives We looked at what each tool could help you do: follow a course, understand grammar, learn for free, remember more, or practice speaking. This guide draws on official websites, help centers, and developer listings; it isn't a ranking based on a head-to-head learning trial. The price table has its own check date so you can see when those offers were recorded. As LingoDeer's team, we put our course first for learners who want a clear learning path with explanations. We've also included tools for different budgets and interests, because the best addition to your routine depends on what you need next. ## Common questions about switching ### What is the best free Duolingo alternative for Japanese? We'd start by looking at Renshuu for free grammar, vocabulary, and kanji study. Anki is also free on desktop and Android if you'd like to make or choose your own flashcards. Keep a course or other learning material alongside Anki so you have explanations to turn to. ### Which Korean alternative should I try first? Try LingoDeer if you'd like a course with clear grammar explanations. TTMIK is worth a look if you enjoy audio and video lessons; Teuida can help you make more time for speaking. If your budget is the main concern, explore Lingory's free lessons first. ### Will switching make me fluent faster? A course that makes sense to you can help you get more out of your study time. Progress still comes from using it regularly and making time to listen, read, speak, and review. Look for something that helps with the part you've found difficult and makes you want to come back tomorrow. ### Should I keep using Duolingo? If you enjoy it and it helps you review, there's no need to give it up. If keeping your streak has become a chore that takes time away from other practice, it's okay to change your routine. The language you've learned comes with you. ### Can these tools replace JLPT or TOPIK preparation? They can help you build the language skills you'll use in the JLPT for Japanese or TOPIK for Korean. You'll also want practice for your chosen test and level, including timed questions and the kinds of tasks it asks you to complete. Finishing an app course won't tell you everything about how ready you are for exam day. ## Choose your next lesson Think of one thing you'd like to feel more confident doing in Japanese or Korean. Understanding a sentence? Remembering a word? Saying something without checking the answer? Let that guide your next lesson. If you'd like a clear course to follow, with explanations from experienced language teaching experts, try LingoDeer's free [Japanese](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or [Korean](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) content. Take your time with a lesson, then make one sentence about yourself. It doesn't have to be complicated. It just needs to be yours. ### Best Duolingo Alternative for Cantonese in 2026 (ChineseSkill) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-duolingo-alternative-for-cantonese-in-2026-chineseskill/ Last updated: 2026-10-12T08:37:04.000Z Maybe you'd like to join in when your family chats in Cantonese. Perhaps you're planning time in Hong Kong and want to order a meal or exchange a few words beyond hello. Before choosing an app, there's one easy mix-up to avoid: a course called “Chinese” may teach Mandarin, even if the characters look like the ones you've seen in Hong Kong. For a guided start with Hong Kong Cantonese, **ChineseSkill is our first recommendation**. Its short lessons bring pronunciation help, explanations, and review together, so you're not left collecting phrases and wondering what to do with them. ChineseSkill and LingoDeer are part of our app family. We'll explain why we recommend ChineseSkill for this goal, then look at three other options you might enjoy. The aim is to help you find a way of studying you'll feel comfortable coming back to. ## Quick answer **[ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is our top Duolingo alternative for Cantonese if you want a beginner course with clear explanations and help with pronunciation.** Its Hong Kong Cantonese course combines short lessons, knowledge cards, native-speaker audio, Jyutping practice, and review over time. Prefer longer stretches of speaking? Try Pimsleur. Ling offers short interactive sessions, while Mango teaches through conversations with grammar and cultural notes. ## The four recommendations at a glance | Recommendation | Best fit | What to compare before choosing | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **1\. [ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | A beginner who wants a guided Hong Kong Cantonese foundation | How the explanations, pronunciation tools, and review help you use a new phrase | | **2\. [Pimsleur](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-chinese-cantonese/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | A learner who wants to spend more study time responding aloud | Whether a roughly 30-minute audio session fits your routine | | **3\. [Ling](https://ling-app.com/pricing/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | A learner who enjoys short, interactive app sessions | Whether its exercises and dialogue practice keep you actively recalling language | | **4\. [Mango Languages](https://www.mangolanguages.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | A learner who values conversation, explanations, and cultural context | Whether you can access it through a participating library or school | ### Key takeaways - **Try ChineseSkill for a guided start.** Its Cantonese lessons bring explanations, pronunciation support, and review into one routine. - **Make sure you're learning the language you want.** Traditional characters can appear in Mandarin and Cantonese materials; check the course, not just the writing. - **Listen as you learn the pronunciation guide.** The letters and tone numbers make more sense when you can hear what they stand for. - **Keep your routine simple.** Begin with one main course, then add extra practice if there's something you'd like more help with. ## Does Duolingo teach the Cantonese you need? Duolingo's [guide to its Chinese courses](https://blog.duolingo.com/chinese-languages/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) describes Mandarin for English speakers and Cantonese for Mandarin speakers. So there are two things to check: which language you'll learn, and which language the explanations use. If you want to study through English, don't assume the “Chinese” option means Cantonese. Duolingo has offered Cantonese, but the teaching language may not suit you. Have a look at the course menu before getting started. A more helpful question is: **where can I learn spoken Cantonese with explanations I understand?** If you already know Mandarin well, you may have different choices from someone learning their first Chinese language. If Mandarin is what you're after, our guide to [Duolingo alternatives for Mandarin Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-duolingo-alternatives-for-mandarin-chinese/) is a better place to begin. For Hong Kong Cantonese, look for audio you can replay, help with pronunciation, and explanations that make a phrase easier to use. You want a chance to try speaking, too—even if your first answer comes out slowly. ## 1\. ChineseSkill for a complete beginner study routine **Our first pick for learners who want Hong Kong Cantonese taught as a course they can follow, understand, and revisit.** ChineseSkill has focused on Chinese learning since 2014\. Cantonese is a newer addition to that history. What makes it our first pick today is how the course brings help with sounds, meaning, and practice into the same place. When you begin Cantonese, you may be listening for sounds that English hasn't taught you to notice. At the same time, you're learning what the words mean and how to put them together. You can find plenty of separate videos and phrase lists, but deciding what to study next takes work. ChineseSkill gives you a course to follow while those pieces start to connect. ### A dedicated Hong Kong Cantonese course ChineseSkill has a dedicated Hong Kong Cantonese course, separate from Mainland Mandarin and Taiwan Mandarin. It's designed for beginners, with approximately 200 short lessons, interactive knowledge cards, native-speaker audio, free Jyutping drills, and review spaced over time. You can adjust review modes and choose traditional or simplified characters. Its iOS version notes also list Yale romanization support. For us, the useful part is simple: **you have a next lesson to follow and help nearby when a sound or sentence puzzles you.** You can explore the course through [ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Picture a small conversation you'd like to have. Maybe you'd like to introduce yourself to a relative or ask for a drink. After a lesson, pick an expression that gets you a little closer and try saying it later that day. The course gives you direction. Having someone or somewhere in mind gives the words a reason to stick. ### A helpful explanation when something puzzles you Experienced teachers of Chinese as a foreign language develop ChineseSkill's curriculum. Explanations sit alongside practice, giving you somewhere to turn when repeating a question hasn't made the answer any clearer. Suppose you keep putting a word in the wrong place. You could try the exercise again, but it may help more to pause and find out what that word does. Read the explanation, look at the example, then give the sentence another go without looking. That's a useful way to approach a knowledge card. Instead of treating it as another screen to finish, bring it a question: “What is this person trying to say?” or “Which part would change if I meant something else?” You don't need a grammatical label for every word. You need enough understanding to say something you mean. A short explanation can help you take that next step when tapping the correct answer has become familiar. ### Get to know Cantonese sounds with Jyutping Jyutping writes Cantonese pronunciation with Roman letters and tone numbers. The [Linguistic Society of Hong Kong's Jyutping guide](https://lshk.org/jyutping-scheme/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explains the system. It isn't Mandarin pinyin, and you won't always pronounce its letters as you would in English. ChineseSkill's pronunciation practice helps you connect the symbols with sounds. Start with a few syllables and listen closely. If two sound alike to you, compare them side by side. Having one difference to listen for is easier than trying to take in a long list at once. For a short practice session, try this: 1. Listen to a short word or phrase all the way through. 2. Look at its pronunciation guide and choose one sound or tone to notice. 3. Say it yourself, then listen to the model again. 4. Cover the guide and see whether you can remember the whole word or phrase. The tone number doesn't mark English-style stress. It helps show the tone you need for that word, so learn the sound and meaning together. If you hear a difference between your recording and the model but can't work out what it is, that's a good question to take to a teacher or proficient speaker. Already learning from Yale materials? The extra romanization option may be useful. Otherwise, choose one system at first. You have enough new things to get used to without switching spellings every lesson. ### Audio and characters can support different learning goals You might understand a phrase when you hear it but still hesitate when it's your turn to say it. Give those two skills a separate try. Listen with the meaning available, then listen without the text. Afterwards, say the phrase before replaying the model. If you're new to Cantonese, recognizing a familiar request without its translation is a worthwhile step. If you've heard Cantonese at home for years, your next step might be saying a phrase you've always understood but rarely used. You don't have to start from the same place as someone else. For reading in Hong Kong, traditional characters are especially useful. If you already know simplified characters, you might prefer to begin with that display. Either way, you're still studying Cantonese; changing the characters doesn't change the spoken language. Let your goal guide how much time you spend on writing. You can start using a helpful sentence with family before you can write every character from memory. If you'd also like to read messages, spend a little time connecting familiar expressions with their written forms. ### Practice remembering a phrase when you need it There's a difference between “I know that when I see it” and “I can say that when I need it.” In review, sometimes start with a situation or meaning and try answering before you see the phrase. Other times, just listen and see what you understand. Notice the specific bits that trip you up. “I missed the final sound” gives you something to listen for next time. “I'm bad at Cantonese” doesn't—and it isn't a fair description of one difficult moment. A short session can be enough: revisit a little familiar material, take one lesson, then finish with an expression you can say without the prompt. If that's all you have time for today, you've still given the language some useful attention. This is why ChineseSkill leads our list. You have a course to come back to and ways to work through what's still unclear, without needing to plan every lesson yourself. ### What to check when you try it? Open the Hong Kong Cantonese course on the device you'll use most. Try the explanations, character display, and review settings. Before paying, check exactly which Cantonese lessons your chosen plan unlocks. ChineseSkill is free to download with in-app purchases. Features differ between courses: the listing currently reserves videos, extra vocabulary, and Booster content for Mainland Mandarin. Look at the Cantonese course itself when deciding what you'd use. As you learn, try a few familiar expressions with someone willing to chat. A course helps you prepare, but another person may answer in a way you haven't practiced yet. That gives you something new to bring back to your study. ## 2\. Pimsleur for sustained practice answering aloud **A strong option when your main problem is speaking instead of silently recognizing answers.** Pimsleur gives you a regular stretch of listening and speaking, with Cantonese audio lessons of around 30 minutes. You listen to prompts and answer during the pauses. Its [Cantonese course page](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-chinese-cantonese/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) lists subscription and trial options. Use those pauses as your turn to speak. It's fine if the answer takes a moment or isn't quite right. Trying before the recording answers is what gives you practice finding the words yourself. If you enjoy learning through audio and have a comfortable half-hour slot, Pimsleur is worth trying. If you'd rather take a short lesson, read an explanation, and do an interactive exercise, we'd start with ChineseSkill. You can combine the two formats later if you have room for both. Before subscribing, check the lessons and extras included in the Cantonese plan you're looking at. ## 3\. Ling for short interactive sessions **An option for learners who enjoy game-based exercises and want a brief daily appointment with Cantonese.** Ling offers a beginner Cantonese path with native-speaker audio, interactive activities, dialogues, and flashcards. The [pricing page](https://ling-app.com/pricing/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explains its limited free access, Pro plans, and advertised trial. Try a short session, then close it and see whether one phrase comes back to you. Return to a dialogue and listen for that phrase. This helps you notice what you're learning as well as whether you enjoy the exercises. If Ling's activities make you want to keep showing up, it may fit your day well. We still put ChineseSkill first for its dedicated course and pronunciation support. When comparing them, pay attention to what helps you through a confusing moment, too. ## 4\. Mango Languages for conversation with context **A useful choice for learners who want explanations alongside everyday exchanges, especially when library access is available.** Mango teaches Cantonese through conversations, with grammar explanations and cultural notes along the way. Native-speaker audio, pronunciation support, and a voice comparison tool help you explore how an expression sounds and when you might use it. Try recording one short phrase and listening beside the model. Choose one difference to work on. If you can't hear why your version sounds different, a teacher can help you make sense of what the comparison shows. Before buying, check [Mango's plans and library access](https://www.mangolanguages.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Your library or school may already provide access at no extra cost if you're eligible. Mango is worth a try if you like learning an expression with its context. ChineseSkill remains our first pick for beginners who want its Hong Kong course, pronunciation practice, and adjustable review together. ## Compare access before comparing subscription lengths *Access details checked October 11, 2026\. Offers and course inclusions can vary by platform and region.* | Product | Where to start | What to confirm | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Download the app and select Hong Kong Cantonese | Cantonese lesson access, preferred romanization, and the plan shown on your device | | [Pimsleur](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-chinese-cantonese/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | The Cantonese course and its current trial offer | Included lessons, subscription type, and whether you want longer audio sessions | | [Ling](https://ling-app.com/pricing/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Limited free content or the advertised trial | Pro access, renewal terms, and which features you use during a typical session | | [Mango Languages](https://www.mangolanguages.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Check library or school access, then personal plans | Eligibility for institutional access or the cost after a personal trial | A free download may still have paid lessons inside. Before choosing a long subscription, try a small task you care about: understanding a short exchange or remembering a response later in the day. Notice whether the app helps you with it. ## A first week with ChineseSkill Give your first week a small goal. “Learn Cantonese” is a lot to ask of seven days. “Introduce myself and understand a familiar greeting” gives you something you can start practicing today. **Days one and two:** Choose Hong Kong Cantonese and explore the pronunciation help. Take time with a sound that feels new. Pick one romanization system and use it consistently in your notes. **Days three and four:** Try a few short lessons at a comfortable pace. When something puzzles you, stop for the explanation. Finish with one expression you'd like to use in your first conversation. **Days five and six:** Revisit earlier lessons before moving on. Try listening without the text, then remembering a phrase from its meaning. Give the tricky items a little extra time. **Day seven:** Put the app aside and try your original goal. If you can, practice with someone who speaks Cantonese. Notice what you could say on your own and what needed a hint. Ask for help with one thing you'd like to improve. Maybe you need another listen, a clearer sound, or more time answering a follow-up question. That's useful to know. Keep your main routine manageable and add another resource when you know how it could help. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the best Duolingo alternative for Cantonese? ChineseSkill is our first pick for a guided beginner course in Hong Kong Cantonese. If you prefer longer audio sessions, try Pimsleur. Ling offers short interactive activities, and Mango teaches through conversations with explanations and cultural notes. ### Can I study Cantonese without learning Mandarin first? Yes. You can start Cantonese without learning Mandarin first. Just choose a course whose explanations are in a language you understand—it's an easy detail to overlook when browsing Chinese courses. ### Is ChineseSkill only for Mandarin? No. It has separate Mainland Mandarin, Taiwan Mandarin, and Hong Kong Cantonese courses. Choose Cantonese when that's what you want to speak; switching a Mandarin lesson to traditional characters won't change its language. ### Should I learn Jyutping or Yale? Either can help you learn Cantonese pronunciation. Start with whichever your main course uses, and listen to audio as you get used to its symbols. ChineseSkill's iOS release history lists both. Sticking to one system at first keeps note-taking simpler. ### Can an app prepare me for Cantonese conversations? Yes, an app can help you learn and rehearse useful expressions. Real conversations also bring unfamiliar replies, different speeds, and new word choices. Try small exchanges as you feel ready, and ask for help if a sound keeps causing misunderstandings. **Ready to begin? Explore [ChineseSkill's Hong Kong Cantonese course](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com).** Choose one little conversation you'd like to have, take the lessons at your pace, and use the explanations when you need them. You don't need a perfect sentence to make a start. ### Best Duolingo Alternative for Taiwan Mandarin (ChineseSkill) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-duolingo-alternative-for-taiwan-mandarin-chineseskill/ Last updated: 2026-10-11T05:04:16.000Z You have been learning Chinese, but your goal is specific: talking with family in Taiwan, studying in Taipei, or reading the menus and messages you encounter there. A daily lesson habit helps. The next question is whether your course is preparing you for the Mandarin you actually want to use. **ChineseSkill is our first recommendation for beginners looking for a Duolingo alternative for Taiwan Mandarin.** Its dedicated Mandarin (Taiwan) course gives that goal a place in the curriculum from the start. You can build your foundation around traditional characters and Taiwanese Mandarin instead of assembling a separate learning plan around a general Chinese course. ChineseSkill and LingoDeer are part of our app family. This guide explains why we recommend ChineseSkill for this learning goal, alongside three other products with different strengths. ## Quick answer **[ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is our top pick for the best Duolingo alternative for Taiwan Mandarin if you want a structured beginner course.** Its Taiwan pathway brings together traditional characters, pronunciation support, explanations, and review. Start there for a coherent foundation; consider Glossika for sentence practice, LingQ for reading and listening, or Skritter for focused character writing. ## The four recommendations at a glance | Product | Our recommended use | Role in your study plan | Access to compare | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **[ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | A guided start in Taiwan Mandarin | Our first choice for a main beginner course | Free download with in-app purchases; check the Taiwan course on your device | | **[Glossika](https://ai.glossika.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | Repeated listening and spoken sentence practice | A focused practice routine, especially with an existing foundation | Subscription plans with a trial | | **[LingQ](https://www.lingq.com/en/signup/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | Reading and listening to Taiwan-focused material | More input alongside or after a beginner course | Limited free access and paid memberships | | **[Skritter](https://skritter.com/signup?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | Recalling and writing traditional characters | A writing supplement to your main course | Subscription plans with a trial | **Key takeaways** - **Choose ChineseSkill first when you need a course to follow.** A Taiwan-specific starting point saves you from treating local language needs as an afterthought. - **Separate the spoken variety from the writing system.** Traditional characters alone do not tell you which pronunciation or regional vocabulary a resource teaches. - **Add a second product for a specific problem.** More listening, more reading, and more handwriting are different needs. - **Keep what you already know.** Existing Mandarin knowledge gives you a useful starting point for Taiwan Mandarin. ## What should change when your goal is Taiwan Mandarin Taiwan Mandarin, also called Taiwanese Mandarin, is Mandarin as used in Taiwan. It is different from Taiwanese Hokkien, also called Taigi. If your goal involves family conversations, first check which language your relatives are speaking; a Mandarin course cannot cover every language used in Taiwan. For Mandarin learners, three decisions matter: the speech you listen to, the characters you read, and the words you practice using. They belong together, but they are not the same setting. Changing a page from simplified characters to traditional characters changes its written form. It does not, by itself, change the recording or make its vocabulary specific to Taiwan. [Duolingo’s official explanation of its Chinese courses](https://blog.duolingo.com/chinese-languages/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) describes Mandarin with simplified characters for English speakers. That foundation can still be useful. If your priorities are traditional-character literacy and Taiwan-oriented study, though, you have a reason to choose a course built for that combination. Check the current course choices in your app before switching, since products change. You do not need to reject every word or pattern you learned previously. Keep the sentences you understand, notice unfamiliar written forms, and gradually expand the language you can use with the people around you. The aim is to make your learning more relevant, not to restart your progress counter. ## 1 ChineseSkill for a complete beginner foundation in Taiwan Mandarin **[ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is the strongest fit on this list for learners who want one main beginner course with a clear Taiwan focus.** It addresses a common problem with switching apps: finding a product that teaches the right variety is only the first step. You also need a manageable sequence and a way to revisit what you have learned. ### A dedicated course gives your goal a clear starting point Select **Mandarin (Taiwan)** when you begin. ChineseSkill distinguishes that pathway from its Mainland Mandarin and Hong Kong Cantonese courses. This matters when choosing a course for traditional-character study: you can select the learning path that matches your destination, rather than assume that a generic “Chinese” label covers it. For someone starting from zero, that removes an early planning task. You can spend your first study sessions learning rather than comparing unrelated vocabulary lists, pronunciation videos, and character charts. For someone returning to Mandarin, it gives you a consistent reference while you reconnect knowledge you already have. The practical advantage is continuity. When you encounter a sentence you cannot understand, you have a course to return to and a next step to take. A collection of excellent resources can still leave a beginner uncertain about what to study tomorrow. ### The course combines several kinds of practice ChineseSkill’s [iOS release notes](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/chineseskill-learn-chinese/id777111034?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) describe approximately **300 short lessons**, interactive knowledge cards, native-speaker audio, free tone training and Zhuyin drills, handwriting exercises in every unit, spaced repetition, and adjustable review modes for the Taiwan course. These are useful details to check on your own platform and app version before choosing a plan. The number of lessons gives a sense of scale; the connection between activities is more important. A learner can recognize a written word yet miss it in speech. Another can repeat a recording but forget the character. Your study routine should reveal which part needs attention, rather than treating every correct tap as the same achievement. Try a small check after a lesson: explain what one sentence means, say it without reading, and identify a word when it appears in writing. If one of those tasks is difficult, give it the next few minutes of practice. You do not need to repeat everything equally. ### Teaching expertise makes explanations worth returning to ChineseSkill’s curriculum was developed with professional teachers whose experience teaching Chinese as a foreign language spans more than 20 years. Its focus on Chinese dates to 2014; that is the platform’s history, rather than the launch date of this particular course. For a beginner, the value of teaching expertise lies in what an explanation helps you do. You need to understand how a sentence is put together well enough to make another one. A useful note should help you identify the role of a word, notice a pattern, and decide whether that pattern fits your own meaning. When you make the same mistake twice, stop briefly. Read the relevant explanation, describe the point in your own words, then try a fresh sentence. If you only repeat the original answer, it can be hard to tell whether you understand the pattern or remember the screen. This is a central reason we put ChineseSkill first: a beginner needs guidance that can be revisited during practice. A streak can remind you to arrive; an understandable explanation helps you make use of the time once you are there. ### Learn pronunciation without making notation another obstacle Pinyin and Zhuyin, also called Bopomofo, are ways to represent Mandarin sounds. Traditional characters do not require you to abandon pinyin. For example, [National Taiwan Normal University’s pronunciation course outline](https://mtc.ntnu.edu.tw/upload%5Ffiles/course/culture-intro.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) teaches Hanyu Pinyin and Zhuyin side by side. If you already read pinyin, use that knowledge. If you want to work with materials using Zhuyin, introduce it gradually. ChineseSkill’s pronunciation practice gives you a place to work on sounds as part of the same study routine, instead of delaying all language learning until you have memorized a new notation system. A practical exercise is to listen before looking at the text. Repeat one short phrase, check the pronunciation guide, then listen again. Notice the parts that differ from your first attempt. For individual feedback on persistent difficulties, bring the phrase to a teacher or conversation partner. Avoid treating one accent as a checklist of sounds to remove. Follow clear recordings and aim to be understood. Listening to more speakers over time will prepare you for variation better than exaggerating a feature you associate with Taiwan. ### Connect traditional characters to words you can use Traditional-character study is more useful when a written form has a meaning and a spoken context attached to it. For example, 捷運jiéyùn means MRT or rapid transit. It is a practical word to recognize when navigating Taipei. Learning to identify it on a sign and use it in a question serves different purposes from copying it repeatedly. Here is an original practice sentence you can use outside a lesson: 請問，捷運站在哪裡？ Qǐngwèn, jiéyùn zhàn zài nǎlǐ? Excuse me, where is the MRT station? Read the sentence, cover it, and try asking the question. Then look at the characters again and find the word for MRT. This is a study suggestion, not a quoted ChineseSkill lesson. It illustrates how to connect a useful expression with the writing you want to recognize. Use handwriting selectively. If your immediate goal is travel, spend time identifying useful words and understanding replies as well as forming characters. If you are preparing for a class that requires written work, give writing a larger share of your routine. ### Make review answer a specific learning question Review becomes easier to manage when you know what you are checking. Can you understand the sound without text? Recall the word from its meaning? Read it in a sentence? Repeated exposure helps, but those tasks can reveal different gaps. After a difficult session, choose a few items that caused trouble and return to them the next day. Begin with recall, then check the answer. Keep the set small enough that you can pay attention to each error. If your reviews are taking over the session, pause new material until the older items become manageable. **Who should choose ChineseSkill first?** Beginners who want Taiwan Mandarin to guide their course choice, and returning learners who want a more organized foundation. If you can already follow everyday conversations comfortably, more extensive listening or reading may deserve a larger share of your study time. ChineseSkill is a free download with paid access options. The Taiwan course should be the basis of your purchase decision: the App Store listing reserves videos, additional vocabulary, and Booster content for Mandarin (Mainland). Try the relevant course on your device and check the current offer before subscribing. ## 2 Glossika for repeated Taiwan Mandarin sentence practice **[Glossika](https://ai.glossika.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** offers a named Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan) option, built around sentences and native-speaker audio. It is our pick here when you want a regular routine of listening and responding to short pieces of language. We would consider it especially after you have enough foundation to understand what you are repeating. Listen to a sentence, check its meaning, then try producing it before replaying the recording. If the word order is still confusing, resolve that question before adding more repetitions. The tradeoff is the learning task: sentence practice gives you a different experience from following a beginner course with explanations. Choose it because you want that practice, rather than expecting it to solve every reading, writing, and grammar need. Its pricing page distinguishes Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan) from the free Taiwanese Taigi offering. Select the intended language when trying the service; the names do not refer to the same course. ## 3 LingQ for reading and listening beyond short lessons **[LingQ](https://www.lingq.com/en/signup/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** is our pick for learners who want more material to read and listen to. Its Taiwanese Mandarin page describes audio with transcripts, vocabulary saving, and the option to import content you want to study. Use it to build a small collection of accessible Taiwan-focused material. Choose a short recording, listen once for the overall meaning, then work through the transcript. Save a few useful expressions and listen again. You will usually get more from a manageable text than from a long episode that requires a lookup in every line. Content selection matters. A traditional-character transcript alone does not establish where the speaker is from or which regional expressions appear. Preview the audio and description to check whether a lesson suits your Taiwan Mandarin goal. LingQ makes the most sense here as a source of additional input. If selecting suitable material already feels difficult, keep a guided beginner course at the center of your routine first. Paid memberships expand the limits of the free account. ## 4 Skritter for traditional character writing **[Skritter](https://skritter.com/signup?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** is our specialist choice when you recognize words but struggle to write their characters. It offers handwriting practice with stroke feedback and review, and supports traditional characters. Give it a focused job: practice the characters from your current lessons or a relevant class list. Reusing vocabulary you already understand keeps writing connected to meaning, rather than turning it into an unrelated memorization project. For learners following Taiwan handwriting standards closely, Skritter’s [traditional-character documentation](https://docs.skritter.com/article/94-simplified-and-traditional-characters-in-skritter?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explains its Taiwan MOE font option and the associated self-grading settings. Check those details when matching a teacher’s preferred forms. Skritter complements ChineseSkill when writing needs extra attention. It does not replace the need to understand speech, build sentences, or hold a conversation. Try it when handwriting is a clear priority; if your main difficulty is understanding people, devote the extra time to listening instead. ## A first week with ChineseSkill Start with ChineseSkill as your main course and give yourself a week to find a workable rhythm. The plan below is a suggested routine, not a prediction of how much any learner will complete. Slow down whenever a step needs another session. | When | Focus | A useful check | | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Days 1–2 | Select Mandarin (Taiwan), explore the pronunciation tools, and begin an appropriate lesson | Can you connect a few sounds with their written guides? | | Days 3–4 | Study a short lesson and revisit its explanation | Can you explain one pattern and use it with a different word? | | Day 5 | Return to earlier material before adding more | Can you recall a useful expression without seeing the answer? | | Day 6 | Connect a phrase to a situation that matters to you | Can you use it to introduce yourself, ask a question, or express a preference? | | Day 7 | Review the week’s difficult items | Is your next priority listening, reading, writing, or more work on the basics? | For a short daily session, you could spend a few minutes on recall, most of the time on one lesson, and the final minutes saying or writing something from memory. Adjust the balance to what was difficult yesterday. Choose an additional product only after identifying a specific need. Glossika can give sentence practice a regular place in your day; LingQ can broaden your input; Skritter can give writing more attention. You do not need four subscriptions to begin. ## Questions about switching to Taiwan Mandarin ### Can I use what I learned on Duolingo in Taiwan? Yes. Mandarin knowledge transfers, even when you encounter different written forms, vocabulary preferences, or pronunciation. Keep your existing foundation and add practice relevant to Taiwan. A course change is most useful when it gives you something your current routine is missing. ### Do I need Zhuyin before starting? No. You can begin with pinyin and add Zhuyin when it helps you use the materials or keyboard you want. Learn pronunciation through sound as well as symbols; neither notation system removes the need to listen carefully. ### Is traditional Chinese the same as Taiwan Mandarin? No. Traditional Chinese describes a writing system; Taiwan Mandarin describes a spoken variety of Mandarin. A resource can use traditional characters without focusing on speech or usage in Taiwan. Check both the text and the audio when choosing material. ### Why recommend ChineseSkill ahead of the other three? Our ranking prioritizes a beginner who needs a Taiwan-focused course to follow. ChineseSkill brings the foundation into one learning path. The other recommendations are useful when your next need is more sentence practice, reading and listening, or writing. Your strongest choice can change as those needs change. If Taiwan Mandarin is your goal, **[start with ChineseSkill’s Mandarin (Taiwan) course](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** and build a routine you can return to. For a broader comparison, see our [Mandarin Chinese alternatives guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-duolingo-alternatives-for-mandarin-chinese/). If Cantonese is the language you need, use our [Cantonese guide featuring ChineseSkill](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-duolingo-alternative-for-cantonese-in-2026-chineseskill/) to choose a different path. ### 5 Best Duolingo Alternatives for Japanese in 2026 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-duolingo-alternative-for-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-10-12T08:58:52.000Z You know that *mizu* means water. But when you want to ask for some, suddenly there are other things to think about. Which little word goes after it? Where does the verb go? And how do you make the sentence polite? If that sounds familiar, you may be looking for a **Duolingo alternative for Japanese** that explains a little more. You don't have to throw away what you've learned. You need help putting those familiar words to work. Our own course, LingoDeer, is one option for learners looking for more guidance. We've also included four other tools worth knowing about if you'd like more help with kanji, grammar, speaking, or remembering vocabulary. You won't need all five. Let's find the one that fits your next step. ## Quick answer **[LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is our top Duolingo alternative for Japanese if you want a clear course and help understanding the grammar.** Experienced language teachers design the lessons, with explanations, native-speaker audio, and review to guide you. You can gradually ease off on the romanization hints as Japanese becomes more familiar. If you often know which answer to tap but hesitate when making your own sentence, this is a good place to start. ## The five recommendations at a glance | Recommendation | Best reason to choose it | Role in your study plan | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | **1\. [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want clear explanations and a connected Japanese curriculum | Our first choice for a structured main course | | **2\. [WaniKani](https://knowledge.wanikani.com/account-and-membership/payment-and-billing/subscription-plans/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | Recognizing and remembering kanji is slowing your reading | A focused kanji and vocabulary resource | | **3\. [Bunpro](https://bunpro.jp/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You understand a grammar explanation but need practice recalling the pattern | Grammar study and scheduled review | | **4\. [Pimsleur](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-japanese/subscription-audio/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want to spend more of your study time listening and answering aloud | An audio-led course for spoken practice | | **5\. [Anki](https://docs.ankiweb.net/faqs/why-does-ankimobile-cost-more-than-a-typical-mobile-app?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want to remember vocabulary and sentences from your own materials | Custom flashcards alongside a course or reading routine | ### Key takeaways - **Start with LingoDeer if you'd like more guidance.** Lessons designed by language teaching experts, clear Learning Tips, native audio, and review help you understand and practice what you're learning. - **Add help where you need it.** WaniKani is for kanji, Bunpro for grammar practice, Pimsleur for answering aloud, and Anki for reviewing material you've chosen yourself. - **Try something you want to be able to do.** Read a familiar sentence without the Latin-letter hints, or change it to say something about your own day. Notice which part needs a little support. If you already enjoy your course but keep getting stuck on kanji, you may only need a kanji tool. If you're unsure what to learn next, start with a main course. Having one clear path is often easier to manage than juggling several new apps. ## What should a Japanese alternative help you do? Japanese can feel like several puzzles at once. Hiragana and katakana show sounds. Kanji carry meanings and can have different readings. Small words called particles show how the words in a sentence fit together, while verb endings help you say things like “I don't” or speak politely. You don't need to master all of that before choosing a course. Try these three small tasks with something you've already learned: - **Read without romanization.** Can you recognize familiar words when the Latin-letter hints disappear? - **Change a sentence.** Can you turn a statement into a question or a polite negative, and explain the change? - **Answer without choices.** Can you respond aloud before seeing the answer? Whichever task feels hardest gives you a starting point. If reading, changing sentences, and answering aloud all feel tricky, a guided course can help you bring them together. If you only stumble over the kanji, some extra reading support may be enough. It's also worth looking at the course you're using now. Duolingo's [official course update](https://blog.duolingo.com/courses-teach-advanced-content/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) lists Japanese among its courses with content through CEFR B2 for most learners. That's a description of the material, rather than a promise about what every learner can do. Older claims that the course simply ends at JLPT N5 don't tell the full story. Focus on the explanation or practice you feel is missing. ## 1\. LingoDeer for a structured Japanese course **Best for beginners and returning learners who want to understand sentence structure while developing reading, listening, and speaking habits.** What we like most about LingoDeer for this situation is that the help stays close to the lesson. There's a path to follow, an explanation when something puzzles you, audio to listen to, and a way to come back to what you've learned. You can keep your short study sessions and spend more of them understanding the language. ### A curriculum designed by language teaching experts **Experienced language teaching experts design LingoDeer's course content.** Our [teaching approach](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) brings grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence building together in a planned order. When you're learning on your own, deciding what comes next can be tiring. A thoughtfully planned course takes some of that work off your plate. In Japanese, that's especially helpful: learning a handful of words is one thing; knowing how to put them together is another. Think of a lesson as giving you a sentence you can make your own. Once you understand what each part does, you can swap in a familiar word and say something different. That little bit of independence is what we're looking for in a beginner course. ### Grammar explanations you can use before and after a mistake LingoDeer's Learning Tips walk you through a unit's main ideas, such as word order and changes to verb endings. Have a quick read before you start. If an answer later makes you wonder “Why is it that way?”, the explanation is there to revisit. Our [Learning Tips guide](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000307410-doing-your-pre-reading-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) shows how to use them. Here's a small example. Imagine you're talking about what you usually drink: | Sentence | Reading | Meaning | | --------- | ------------------- | ------------------- | | お茶を飲みます。 | Ocha o nomimasu. | I drink tea. | | お茶を飲みません。 | Ocha o nomimasen. | I do not drink tea. | | お茶を飲みますか。 | Ocha o nomimasu ka. | Do you drink tea? | The small word **を**, pronounced *o*, points to what you're drinking. **飲みます** (*nomimasu*) is a polite form that works for “drink” here; it can also refer to a future action in the right context. Change the ending to **飲みません** (*nomimasen*) and you get “don't drink.” Add **か** (*ka*) to the first sentence and you have a polite question. Japanese often leaves out the person when it's already clear, so these translations show one possible conversation. Now try replacing tea with **水** (*mizu*, water). You've got three useful sentences from the same small pattern. You know how to change the meaning, too. Try this after a lesson: one familiar pattern, one small change, one sentence of your own. If you've been thinking, “I can pick the answer, but I don't know why it's right,” this is where LingoDeer's explanations can make a difference. ### Reading support you can gradually remove You can start getting comfortable with Japanese writing from the beginning. LingoDeer has an Alphabet section, and you can adjust the romanization—the Latin-letter pronunciation hints—and character display. The [reading-aids guide](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000307411-romanization-and-other-reading-pronunciation-aids?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explains the options. On your first pass, listen and get to know the word. When you return to a familiar lesson, hide some of the hints and give the Japanese a try. If a few kana keep getting mixed up, make a note of those. You don't have to remove every bit of help at once. The same idea works with kanji. Seeing a character in a sentence you already understand gives you something familiar to connect it to: a sound, a meaning, and a reason it's there. ### Hear how Japanese sounds, then try it yourself The [Japanese course](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) uses native-speaker recordings for words and sentences, including those in the Travel Phrasebook. You can return to the same example whenever you need another listen. Pick one short sentence. Listen while reading, cover the text and listen again, then have a go at saying it. Replay the audio and notice just one thing: perhaps a vowel lasts longer than you expected, or you missed a sound. One carefully practiced sentence is a perfectly good use of a few minutes. Once the sentence feels comfortable, change a detail to make it yours. And when you can, try it with another person. A recording gives you a model; a conversation gives you someone to respond to. ### Come back to what you've learned LingoDeer's spaced repetition system brings words and patterns back for review over time, so you're not relying on remembering them after a single lesson. On mobile, review modes include flashcards, listening, speaking, spelling, and comprehensive practice; the web version may have fewer options. After an item has been reviewed in SRS at least once, Custom Review lets you choose it for extra practice. The [review guide](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000319118-how-does-the-spaced-repetition-system-srs-work-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explains how this works. Let the regular review help you keep up, then give a little extra attention to what's still confusing. If you know a word on the page but miss it when spoken, try listening practice. If a verb ending still feels like a guess, read the explanation again before another round of questions. You can get started with the material you've just learned, without having to build a flashcard deck first. That's a helpful bit of simplicity when you're settling into a new course. ### More resources within the same membership Premium includes the main courses, Fluent, the Travel Phrasebook, Learning Tips, Stories/Dialogues, review features, offline learning, and cross-device synchronization. See the [membership contents](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000194355-what-s-included-in-a-premium-membership-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for the current scope. You don't need to explore every feature on day one. Try Stories/Dialogues when you're ready to follow a longer exchange, or open the phrasebook before a trip. If your commute has patchy reception, download lessons beforehand. Pick what makes study easier to fit into your day. ### Who should choose LingoDeer We'd start with LingoDeer if you want someone to explain the “why” of Japanese while keeping your lessons manageable. It gives you a main course to follow and ways to revisit the parts that haven't quite clicked. The full course is paid. As you progress, make room for reading beyond the lessons and talking with people, too. If you already read comfortably and only want more kanji practice, WaniKani may be closer to what you need. For building or refreshing your foundations, LingoDeer is our first pick. ## 2\. WaniKani for kanji and vocabulary recall **Best for learners whose reading is repeatedly interrupted by unfamiliar kanji.** If a sentence makes sense once someone tells you the kanji, WaniKani is worth a look. It teaches radicals—the building pieces used in its system—along with kanji and vocabulary, using memory stories and reviews spaced over time. Its published curriculum covers more than 2,000 kanji and 6,000 vocabulary words. You work toward those gradually. A memory cue gives you something to hold onto when a character seems unfamiliar. Meeting it again in review helps you practice bringing that meaning or reading back to mind. There's a set order to follow, so you can't simply jump to a level that looks right. You'll also want a course or other material for grammar, reading whole passages, and speaking. WaniKani has a particular job in your routine. **Try this:** work through the first three free levels. When a word you've learned turns up in a sentence elsewhere, enjoy that moment of recognition—and read the rest of the sentence. Keep new items manageable so reviews leave you time for your other study. ## 3\. Bunpro for grammar practice and review **Best for learners who want to revisit Japanese grammar systematically, including by JLPT level.** Bunpro may suit you if a grammar explanation makes sense while you're reading it, but the form disappears when you need it. Its grammar library runs from N5 to N1, the levels of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), with explanations, exercises, and scheduled review. You'll also find vocabulary resources and reading passages. The [pricing page](https://bunpro.jp/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explains which reference material is free and which review features require Premium. If you like your current textbook or course, try Bunpro alongside it for the patterns you're learning. If you'd rather have your writing-system introduction, audio, explanations, and lessons together from the start, take a look at LingoDeer first. **Try this:** choose a few patterns you've recently studied. After an exercise, write a sentence about your own day using one of them. Familiar vocabulary lets you focus on getting comfortable with the grammar. ## 4\. Pimsleur for listening and spoken responses **Best for learners who want an audio-led routine with frequent opportunities to answer aloud.** If you want to look away from the screen and actually speak, Pimsleur offers a different rhythm. Its core lessons last about 30 minutes, with prompts that ask you to listen and answer aloud. Give yourself somewhere you can talk: a walk, a quiet room, or another part of your day when speaking aloud feels comfortable. The pauses are your turn to try, even if your answer takes a moment. There is reading support, too. The [Japanese Premium course description](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-japanese/lifetime-subscription/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) lists lessons introducing hiragana, katakana, and some familiar kanji, plus interactive review. If reading and written grammar explanations are your main concern, check how much help that part of the course gives you before relying on it alone. **Try this:** take one lesson when you can answer out loud. Afterwards, pick an expression you might use and change one detail. Also notice whether a half-hour lesson fits your day comfortably. ## 5\. Anki for vocabulary from your own materials **Best for independent learners who already know what they want to study and need a flexible way to remember it.** Perhaps you've found a word in a book or heard a phrase in class and thought, “I'd like to remember that.” Anki lets you make your own flashcards with text and media, then brings them back for review on a schedule. The free desktop application and free AnkiDroid app on Android make it an affordable review option. The official AnkiMobile app for iOS is a separate paid purchase. AnkiWeb provides synchronization across devices. You'll need to choose and manage the material yourself. Choose words and sentences you understand, make cards with clear answers, and avoid adding more than you can review. Shared decks can help you get started, but they're most useful when they fit what you're learning. You'll still need explanations and practice elsewhere. **Try this:** make a handful of cards from a lesson you've already understood. Ask for one thing on each card and keep enough context to make the answer clear. If making cards takes over your evening, add fewer. The cards are there to help you study. ## Free access and costs to compare These are USD web prices and access terms checked on October 11, 2026\. Regional prices, taxes, purchase channels, and offers can differ. Check the checkout terms before purchasing. | App | What you can try without paying | Paid access to consider | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **[LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | Alphabet, the first unit, main-course Test Outs, the Travel Phrasebook, and selected Fluent lessons | Web monthly plan: **$14.99**; full course access and Premium features | | **[WaniKani](https://knowledge.wanikani.com/account-and-membership/payment-and-billing/subscription-plans/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | First three levels | **$9/month** or **$89/year**, with a lifetime option | | **[Bunpro](https://bunpro.jp/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | Free reference resources and a 30-day Premium trial without a credit card | Premium: **$5/month**, with other plans available | | **[Pimsleur](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-japanese/subscription-audio/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | A 7-day trial for eligible new customers | Japanese Premium: **$19.95/month**; cancel before the trial ends to avoid the subscription charge | | **[Anki](https://docs.ankiweb.net/faqs/why-does-ankimobile-cost-more-than-a-typical-mobile-app?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | Free desktop application and AnkiDroid for Android | Official AnkiMobile for iOS is a separate paid app | LingoDeer's [free-access guide](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000194357-is-lingodeer-free-how-does-pricing-work-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explains what is included before you subscribe. Its [current membership plans](https://www.lingodeer.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) cover all currently available LingoDeer language courses; you do not need to buy a separate Japanese-only plan. Think about what you're paying for. A review tool can be great value if you already have a course you enjoy. If you feel lost about what to learn next, a main course may help more. Try a little of the teaching before choosing a long subscription. ## A practical first week with LingoDeer A new app doesn't have to mean starting from zero. Bring what you already know with you, and use the first week to find the places where a little more explanation would help. **Days 1 and 2: find a comfortable starting point.** Check your kana, browse the Learning Tips for a familiar unit, and try the main-course Test Outs. Look for a topic where you recognize the answers but aren't quite sure why they work. That's a useful place to slow down. **Days 3 and 4: get to know one pattern.** Read the explanation, complete a lesson, and make two sentences with words you already know. Say them aloud. If something puzzles you, jot it down so you can come back to it. **Days 5 and 6: give familiar material another go.** Do the review that's due, then listen to a sentence without reading it. Try a familiar lesson with fewer reading hints. Keep it short enough that you'll want to return tomorrow. **Day 7: notice what feels easier.** Return to a sentence that was tricky at the start of the week. Can you read it, explain it, or change it with a little less help? Use what you notice to plan the next week. If you have twenty minutes, you could spend five reviewing, ten on a lesson, and five saying or writing something yourself. Treat that as a starting point. Some days, an explanation will need more time, and that's fine. Give yourself time to settle in before adding another app. Kanji review can help when reading gets stuck; conversation practice helps when you'd like more turns speaking. This list gives you options—you haven't just acquired five new homework assignments. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is LingoDeer better than Duolingo for Japanese? We recommend LingoDeer if you'd like more help understanding Japanese grammar as you follow a course. Expert-designed lessons, reading support, native audio, and review give you a place to work through what confuses you. If Duolingo already works well for you, you can keep it and add practice where you need it. ### Can I learn Japanese for free with these alternatives? There are useful free options. Anki on desktop and AnkiDroid on Android are free, though you'll need to choose the study material. LingoDeer and WaniKani let you try introductory content; Bunpro has free reference material; Pimsleur offers a trial. Check how far the free access goes before planning your routine around it. ### Will finishing an app make me fluent or guarantee a JLPT pass? Finishing a course is something to feel good about, but it doesn't guarantee fluency or an exam pass. Make room for reading, listening, and conversations beyond the exercises. If you're preparing for the JLPT, add reading and listening at your target level and get comfortable with timed questions. ### Should I use more than one Japanese app? You can, but start with one main course. Add something else when you find yourself thinking, for example, “I could use more help remembering kanji.” If keeping up with your apps becomes harder than studying Japanese, it's time to simplify. **Ready for a little more guidance? Try [LingoDeer's Japanese course](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com).** Start with the available beginner lessons, read the explanation, and have a go at making one sentence your own. ### 5 Best Duolingo Alternatives for Korean in 2026 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-duolingo-alternatives-for-korean/ Last updated: 2026-10-12T08:36:57.000Z You hear a familiar word in a Korean drama and catch yourself smiling: you understood that! Then you try to use it in conversation, and the ending suddenly feels uncertain. Is this how you'd say it to a friend—or to someone you've just met? Those small choices are part of learning Korean. If you'd like a **Duolingo alternative for Korean**, look for something that helps you understand them, with time to listen, ask “why?”, and try the sentence yourself. We make LingoDeer, so we're writing from that perspective. It's our first pick for a guided Korean course. Below, we'll explain why and introduce four other options for learners who want longer explanations, more speaking, a game, or their own flashcards. You can choose what helps without taking on five study routines. ## Quick answer **[LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is our top Duolingo alternative for Korean if you want guidance with Hangul, grammar, and making your own sentences.** Experienced language teaching experts design the course, with clear explanations, native-speaker recordings, and review of what you have learned. If a particle or verb ending keeps leaving you guessing, you have somewhere to look for help before trying again. ## The five recommendations at a glance | Recommendation | Best reason to choose it | Role in your study plan | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | **1\. [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want Hangul, grammar explanations, native audio, and practice in a connected course | Our first pick for a structured Korean foundation | | **2\. [Talk To Me In Korean](https://courses.talktomeinkorean.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You enjoy learning through detailed audio and video explanations | A course library for guided study and deeper exploration | | **3\. [Pimsleur](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-korean/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want a routine that asks you to listen and answer aloud | An audio-led course for spoken responses | | **4\. [Noun Town](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2313720/Noun%5FTown%5FLanguage%5FLearning/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You would rather practice beginner vocabulary through a game | A vocabulary supplement on Windows or Mac | | **5\. [Anki](https://docs.ankiweb.net/faqs/why-does-ankimobile-cost-more-than-a-typical-mobile-app?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want to review Korean from your own lessons, reading, or conversations | Custom flashcards alongside your main learning material | ### Key takeaways - **Choose LingoDeer for a clearer path through Korean.** Lessons designed by language teaching experts bring explanations and practice together. - **Find the kind of extra help you enjoy.** TTMIK offers detailed explanations, Pimsleur gets you answering aloud, Noun Town makes vocabulary practice a game, and Anki puts you in charge of your review material. - **Try before you commit.** Samples, demos, and free trials give you different amounts of access; check what each includes. - **Notice the small wins.** Reading a familiar word without hints or using a sentence in your own way tells you something useful about your progress. ## What to look for in a Korean alternative At first, Korean gives you plenty to get used to. Hangul letters fit together into blocks. Small words called particles help show who is doing what. The main verb usually comes near the end of a clause, and its ending tells you something about both the message and how the speaker addresses the listener. You don't need all the terminology to choose a course. Start with the moment where you usually get stuck: | If this sounds familiar | Prioritize this | | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | “I keep reading the Latin letters instead of Hangul.” | Alphabet instruction and reading support you can gradually remove | | “I get the answer right but cannot explain the particle.” | An explanation with examples you can compare and change | | “I know the word when I see it, but miss it when I hear it.” | Repeatable audio and listening practice with familiar material | | “I can tap an answer but cannot say it.” | Recall without choices, followed by speaking practice | | “I forget last week's lesson.” | A manageable review routine tied to what you have learned | Duolingo has been updating its Korean course, too. Its [official course update](https://blog.duolingo.com/korean-course-updates/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) describes new Hangul practice, clearer grammar goals, optional transliterations, and content through B2\. Older reviews saying it offers no grammar teaching miss those changes. The level describes course content; it doesn't mean everyone who completes it will use every skill at that level. So bring the question back to your own study: **would a clearer explanation, more speaking time, or a little more review help most?** Keep the parts of your routine that you enjoy. If sentence structure is what keeps puzzling you, that's a good reason to try a course that explains it more fully. ## 1\. LingoDeer for a structured Korean foundation **Best for beginners and returning learners who want to understand how Korean works while building reading, listening, and speaking habits.** With LingoDeer, you don't have to piece a lesson together from several places. You can learn a pattern, read why it works, hear it spoken, and practice it. Later, review brings you back to the same material. That makes a short study session easier to get started. ### A curriculum designed by language teaching experts **Experienced language teaching experts design LingoDeer's course content.** Our [course-design approach](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer/) brings grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence building together. When you're studying alone, it helps to have someone plan the steps. You might learn the word for a drink, then learn how to use it in a sentence. The new idea has something familiar to connect to, rather than feeling like another fact to memorize. That's why we recommend LingoDeer for a Korean foundation. You have a path to follow and explanations to return to when something hasn't clicked. After a lesson, try one small change to an example. Being able to use it with a different word is an encouraging sign that you're starting to understand it. ### Hangul belongs at the beginning of the course You can begin Hangul right inside LingoDeer. Its [Alphabet section includes a full Korean unit](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000307409-getting-comfortable-with-the-script?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), so there's no need to finish another alphabet course first. Take **한글** (*Hangeul*), the Korean name for the writing system. In the first block, **ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ** fit together to make **한**. In the second, **ㄱ + ㅡ + ㄹ** make **글**. Once you start seeing the letters inside the blocks, those shapes become a little less mysterious. There's no prize for rushing through the alphabet. Come back to familiar words and see whether you can read their letters without the Latin-letter hints. Getting comfortable takes practice, even after you've learned the shapes. LingoDeer's [reading settings](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000307411-romanization-and-other-reading-pronunciation-aids?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) let you show or hide romanization, the pronunciation written in Latin letters. Leave it on when you need help. For a sentence you know well, turn it off and try the Hangul before listening again. ### Grammar explanations help you build a different sentence LingoDeer's [Learning Tips](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000307410-doing-your-pre-reading-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explain a unit's main ideas, including word order and how verb endings change. Read them before a lesson, and pop back when an answer surprises you. For example, imagine you're chatting about what you usually drink: | Korean | Reading aid | One natural meaning | | ---------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------- | | 커피를 마셔요. | Keopireul masyeoyo. | I drink coffee. | | 물을 마셔요. | Mureul masyeoyo. | I drink water. | | 커피를 안 마셔요. | Keopireul an masyeoyo. | I do not drink coffee. | **커피** (*keopi*) is coffee, and **물** (*mul*) is water. Notice the little piece after each drink: **를** (*reul*) follows a word ending in a vowel, and **을** (*eul*) follows one ending in a consonant. They both tell us what is being drunk. Put **안** (*an*) before **마셔요** (*masyeoyo*) and this sentence becomes “don't drink.” Where did “I” go? In this conversation, it's already clear who we're talking about, so Korean can leave it out. These English translations show one way the sentences could be used. Now have a go at “I don't drink water.” The drink changes, and so does the little word after it: **물을 안 마셔요.** (*Mureul an masyeoyo.*) It's a small change, but you're doing something useful: choosing the particle and putting “not” in the right place yourself. Try a change like this after a lesson, even if the exercise didn't ask for it. ### Choosing an ending that fits the conversation You may also notice more than one ending for a similar message. **커피를 마셔요** (*keopireul masyeoyo*) and **커피를 마십니다** (*keopireul masimnida*) can both mean “I drink coffee.” The first uses an everyday polite style; the second is polite and more formal. An English translation won't always show you that difference. When you learn a new ending, ask where you might hear it and who you could use it with. Korean also has ways to show respect for the person you're talking *about*. That's related to politeness, but it's a different choice from how you address the person listening. For now, keep the situation simple: imagine a polite chat with someone you've just met, and practice a few sentences in the same style. A teacher or proficient speaker can help when you're unsure whether a new expression fits. ### Native audio gives you a model to listen to and imitate The [LingoDeer Korean course](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) uses native-speaker recordings for words and sentences, including the Travel Phrasebook. You can see an expression and hear how it sounds in the same place. Try listening once while reading, then cover the words and listen again. Say what you heard before checking the text. Did you miss a syllable, a particle, or the end of the verb? Pick just one thing to listen for next time. Hearing “coffee” is a good start. Catching the rest of the sentence helps you understand what someone is saying about it. Familiar examples let you practice that without trying to keep up with a whole new conversation at once. When you're ready, try a short exchange with another person, too. Repeating a model helps you prepare; hearing an unexpected reply gives you a new reason to listen. ### Review stays connected to your lessons LingoDeer's [spaced repetition system](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000319118-how-does-the-spaced-repetition-system-srs-work-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) brings lesson material back for practice over time, using your study activity and mastery ratings to adjust the schedule. On mobile, review includes flashcards, listening, speaking, spelling, and comprehensive practice. Web options may be more limited, and access depends on membership. Let the mistake point you toward the help you need. Missed a word in the audio? Listen again. Still confused about a particle? Reread the explanation. Once you've reviewed an item through SRS at least once, you can select it in Custom Review for extra practice. You can review what your course has taught you without preparing a separate set of cards. Later, if you want to save words from a class or conversation, a tool like Anki can help with those. ### Try a few lessons before choosing a plan LingoDeer's [free-access guide](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000194357-is-lingodeer-free-how-does-pricing-work-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) lists the Alphabet unit, Unit One and its review, Test Outs, and the Travel Phrasebook among its free content. The remaining course content, offline learning, and cross-device synchronization require Premium. Give the introductory lessons a relaxed try. Does the explanation make sense? Can you use a pattern afterwards? If you've studied Korean before, Test Outs can help you check familiar material and find a useful place to begin. If you'd like to continue the course or download lessons for use without a connection, look at the [LingoDeer membership options](https://www.lingodeer.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for your region and platform. Choose a plan because the lessons help you learn. You'll still want real conversations and, if you're aiming for the Korean proficiency exam TOPIK, preparation for that exam. ## 2\. Talk To Me In Korean for detailed audio and video explanations **Best for learners who like to spend time with an explanation and explore Korean through a broad course library.** Talk To Me In Korean, usually shortened to TTMIK, is worth exploring if you enjoy a fuller explanation. Its course library covers Hangul, grammar, pronunciation, conversation, listening, reading, and more. You can spend a little longer with a question that interests you. While watching or listening, pause after an example and have a go yourself. Could you say something similar with words you know? If you're a beginner, choose a suitable course and follow it for a while rather than hopping between topics every day. A big library gives you plenty to explore, though it helps to set a simple routine. Choose TTMIK if you like settling into an explanation. If you prefer shorter exercises connected to a main course, LingoDeer may feel easier to fit into your day. The full course library requires a subscription. Before signing up, check the [pricing page](https://courses.talktomeinkorean.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): some plans have a trial, while the discounted annual option doesn't. Free samples are a useful starting point. ## 3\. Pimsleur for listening and spoken responses **Best for learners who want to spend more of each session answering aloud.** Pimsleur's core Korean lessons last about 30 minutes. You listen, then answer during the pause before the recording gives its response. If most of your current study happens silently on a screen, this can be a welcome change. Try a lesson somewhere you can speak comfortably. It's okay to hesitate or get a response wrong. Having a go tells you more about what you remember than leaving the audio playing in the background. This may suit you well if listening fits naturally into your day. If you often want a written explanation to refer back to, compare that side of the course carefully. It's one reason we put LingoDeer first for building your foundations. Pimsleur also offers more than audio. Its [Korean Premium details](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-korean/lifetime-subscription/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) list reading lessons and additional practice tools. Check the particular plan you're considering, since the included features differ. ## 4\. Noun Town for game-based Korean vocabulary practice **Best for beginners who want a game to make vocabulary practice more appealing.** Noun Town Language Learning includes Korean in an explorable world with native voices and speech recognition. Its Steam edition runs on Windows and Mac, offers a demo, and uses a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. If reviewing vocabulary feels like a chore, a game might make it easier to come back. Try the demo on your computer and see whether you enjoy practicing the words as well as exploring the world. We'd use Noun Town alongside foundation study. The game gives vocabulary a different setting; a course such as LingoDeer gives you a sequence of grammar explanations and lessons to follow. Choose it if that extra word practice is something you'd enjoy. Its [Steam store page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2313720/Noun%5FTown%5FLanguage%5FLearning/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) lists the price and system requirements. This recommendation concerns that desktop edition; check the exact product before purchasing a similarly named version. ## 5\. Anki for Korean you want to remember **Best for learners who want control over which words and sentences they review.** Anki is handy for Korean you meet outside your course: a word from a class, a phrase in a book, or something you've checked after a conversation. You can make cards with text, images, and audio, and it schedules reviews using your ratings of how well you remembered them. Keep a card simple. You might see “water” and try to remember **물** (*mul*), then say a familiar sentence with it. Or hide one part of a sentence you understand and fill it in. A few useful cards are easier to live with than hundreds you're not sure about. Anki takes care of scheduling the review, but you'll choose the material. Check shared decks for accuracy and make sure they're at a useful level. Keep your explanations and other practice alongside the cards. The desktop app and AnkiDroid for Android are free. AnkiMobile for iOS is paid; the [official cost explanation](https://docs.ankiweb.net/faqs/why-does-ankimobile-cost-more-than-a-typical-mobile-app?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) describes why. Check the app identity and your local store price. ## Free access and costs to compare *Access details checked October 11, 2026\. Prices, taxes, promotions, and trial eligibility can vary by region, platform, and plan. The linked official pages are the place to confirm your purchase terms.* | Product | What you can try | What to check before paying | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Alphabet, Unit One and its review, Test Outs, and the Travel Phrasebook | Premium course access and the current offer for your platform; offline study requires Premium | | [Talk To Me In Korean](https://courses.talktomeinkorean.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Free sample material; a 7-day trial on eligible plans | Trial availability differs by plan; full course-library access is paid | | [Pimsleur](https://www.pimsleur.com/learn-korean/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Advertised 7-day subscription trial for eligible new customers | Audio-only, Premium, and All Access have different inclusions; check renewal and cancellation terms | | [Noun Town](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2313720/Noun%5FTown%5FLanguage%5FLearning/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Free demo for the Steam desktop edition | One-time game purchase; check computer requirements and regional price | | [Anki](https://docs.ankiweb.net/faqs/why-does-ankimobile-cost-more-than-a-typical-mobile-app?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Free desktop app and AnkiDroid | AnkiMobile for iOS is a paid app; review content still needs to be chosen or created | Try the way an app teaches before comparing subscription lengths. The best value for you is something you'll use and understand, even if another option looks cheaper at first. ## A practical first week with LingoDeer Give yourself a gentle first week. The aim is to find a starting point and a rhythm you can keep. If Hangul needs more time, stay with it; the next lesson can wait. **Days 1 and 2: get comfortable with Hangul.** Explore the Alphabet unit, or return to letters you mix up if you've studied before. Pick a few familiar words and try reading them without the Latin-letter hints. **Days 3 and 4: work with one pattern.** Read the Learning Tips and try the lessons. Then change a familiar word in an example. Does its particle need to change, too? Go back to the explanation whenever you need it. **Day 5: listen for the whole sentence.** Choose a short recording you've studied. Listen without the text, repeat what you heard, then check. Give a word, particle, or ending you missed another listen. **Day 6: come back to what you've learned.** Do a little review before starting something new. If you keep guessing, revisit the lesson. Finish by saying one sentence without any answer choices. **Day 7: notice your progress.** Try one of the tasks from the start of the week. What feels a little easier? What still needs help? Let that guide your next few sessions. Twenty minutes might look like five minutes of review, ten on a lesson, and five reading or speaking from memory. Adjust it to your day. You don't need a second app until there's something specific you'd like more practice with. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is LingoDeer better than Duolingo for Korean? It's our first pick if you'd like a clearer explanation of how Korean sentences work. The expert-designed lessons bring Hangul, grammar, native audio, and review together. Try a beginner lesson and see whether you can use the pattern afterwards—that's more helpful than choosing by streak length. ### Do I need to learn Hangul before starting LingoDeer? No—you can start with LingoDeer's Korean Alphabet unit. As words become familiar, try reading them with romanization switched off. Take your time: learning the letters and getting comfortable with their sounds go hand in hand. ### Which of these Korean alternatives are free? Anki on desktop and AnkiDroid on Android are free, though you choose the material. You can also try selected LingoDeer content, TTMIK samples or eligible trials, Pimsleur's trial, and Noun Town's desktop demo. Check the limits of each offer before planning a long-term routine. ### Which option is best for understanding Korean dramas? A course helps you build the vocabulary and grammar to follow more of what you hear; LingoDeer is our foundation pick. Alongside it, try a short clip with Korean captions and listen for one expression you understand. Check who is speaking to whom before trying it yourself—drama characters don't always use the style you'd want in everyday conversation. ### Can these apps prepare me for TOPIK? They can help you build knowledge, but you'll also need practice with the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) itself. Once you know your target level, learn the exam format and try suitable practice questions. Use your course to work on the parts that still feel uncertain. **If you'd like help making Korean sentences your own, try [LingoDeer's Korean course](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com).** Start with Hangul or the introductory lessons, and give yourself time to explore the explanations. One sentence you understand and can use is a worthwhile start. ### 5 Best Duolingo Alternatives for Mandarin Chinese in 2026 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-duolingo-alternatives-for-mandarin-chinese/ Last updated: 2026-10-12T08:37:01.000Z You've learned the words for “today,” “home,” and “study.” Now you'd like to tell a friend you're studying Chinese at home today. You know the pieces—but which order do they go in? And can you remember the tones when you're thinking about the whole sentence? If that feels familiar, a **Duolingo alternative for Mandarin Chinese** with clearer explanations may help. Or perhaps your lessons are going well and you'd simply like something easier to read, a reliable dictionary, or help writing characters. Those are different needs, and they don't all call for a new course. LingoDeer and ChineseSkill are part of our app family. We recommend LingoDeer first for a guided Mandarin foundation, with ChineseSkill a close second for its focus on Chinese and its choice of courses. We'll also introduce three tools that work well alongside either one. Think of this as a small menu to choose from, rather than five subscriptions to keep up with. ## Quick answer **[LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is our top Duolingo alternative for Mandarin Chinese if you want a clear course with grammar you can understand and use.** Experienced language teaching experts design the lessons, connecting pinyin, native audio, characters, and review. ChineseSkill is our second pick for dedicated Chinese study, with separate Mainland Mandarin, Taiwan Mandarin, and Hong Kong Cantonese courses. Add Pleco for word questions, Du Chinese for stories, or Skritter for handwriting when you need that extra help. ## The five recommendations at a glance | Recommendation | Best reason to choose it | Role in your study plan | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **1\. [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want to understand Mandarin sentence patterns, connect sounds with characters, and follow a clear sequence | Our first pick for a structured main course | | **2\. [ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want a Chinese-focused platform with dedicated courses for different learning goals | A second main-course option, with Mainland Mandarin, Taiwan Mandarin, and Cantonese paths | | **3\. [Pleco](https://store.pleco.com/products.php?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You need to check a word, pronunciation, or example while studying | A dictionary companion to LingoDeer or ChineseSkill | | **4\. [Du Chinese](https://duchinese.net/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You want to read stories at a manageable level and listen along | A reading and listening companion to your course | | **5\. [Skritter](https://skritter.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** | You recognize characters but struggle to write them from memory | Focused character and vocabulary practice | ### Key takeaways - **Start with LingoDeer if you'd like more guidance.** Expert-designed lessons connect grammar, sounds, characters, and review, so you have a clear next step. - **Take a closer look at ChineseSkill for dedicated Chinese study.** Alongside its established Mainland Mandarin course, it offers separate Taiwan Mandarin and Hong Kong Cantonese courses. - **Add a tool for something you'd like to do.** Pleco helps you look up words; Du Chinese gives you stories to read and hear; Skritter helps you practice writing characters. - **Choose the language as well as the characters.** Mandarin can use simplified or traditional characters. Selecting traditional characters doesn't turn a Mandarin course into Cantonese. - **Try using what you've learned.** Say a sentence of your own, or read a familiar word before checking the pinyin. Small tasks can show you where you need more help. ## Choose a replacement around your Mandarin learning problem Before downloading something new, think about where your last study session got difficult. Was it hearing the word, remembering its written form, or understanding the sentence? That gives you a useful place to begin: | Your current difficulty | What to look for | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | “I know the translation but cannot hear or say the word reliably.” | Pinyin instruction, repeatable audio, and careful work on tones | | “I keep guessing the word order.” | Grammar explanations with examples you can change | | “I read the pinyin and ignore the characters.” | Display controls and short reading tasks using familiar vocabulary | | “Every paragraph sends me to a dictionary.” | Easier graded reading and selective lookup | | “I recognize the character but cannot write it.” | Writing from memory with stroke feedback | If Duolingo has helped you build a study habit, that effort still counts. Keep what works. A different course may help with an explanation you've been missing; an extra resource may give you more chances to use what you know. The first two apps below can guide your main study. The other three help with questions and practice along the way. You can start small and add more when it feels useful. ## 1\. LingoDeer for a structured Mandarin foundation **Best for beginners and returning learners who want to understand how Mandarin works and build sentences with more independence.** LingoDeer keeps the explanation and practice close together. You can read why a sentence works, hear it, try the exercises, and come back to it in review. If you've been getting answers right while still wondering “Why?”, that support can make lessons feel much clearer. ### Expert-designed lessons connect the pieces **Experienced language teaching experts design LingoDeer's course content.** Its [course-design approach](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer/) brings grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and sentence building together. In Mandarin, each part helps the others make sense. A word has a meaning and a tone; its characters help you recognize it in writing; a sentence shows you how to use it. A planned course gives you time to connect those pieces instead of learning them as separate facts. Think back to telling your friend where you'll study. Knowing the words is a good start. An explanation of where the time and place go gives you a way to turn those words into a message—and to change the message tomorrow. That's what we value about LingoDeer as a Mandarin course: you get help moving from “I've seen this before” to “I know how to say something with it.” ### Pinyin gives you a starting point for pronunciation LingoDeer's [Alphabet section introduces pinyin for Chinese](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000307409-getting-comfortable-with-the-script?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Pinyin writes Mandarin pronunciation with Roman letters and tone marks. The letters look familiar, but they don't always sound the way an English reader would expect. Listen as you learn them. The tone is part of the word, too. **买** (*mǎi*) means “to buy,” while **卖** (*mài*) means “to sell.” Without the marks, the spellings look the same. Hearing and practicing the word with its tone helps you keep the meanings apart. Try listening to a new word, repeating it, and then checking the pinyin. If a sound is uncertain, play it again. As the word becomes familiar, see whether you can recognize it from the audio alone. You don't need to get every sound right on the first attempt. ### Grammar explanations help you change a sentence LingoDeer's Learning Tips give you a place to turn when a sentence puzzles you. Read the explanation before a lesson, then come back with the question you're actually asking: “Why does this word go here?” or “What changes if I mean tomorrow?” Let's use that study plan as an example. You're telling a friend where you'll be studying: | Mandarin | Pinyin | Meaning | | ---------- | ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | 我今天在家学中文。 | Wǒ jīntiān zài jiā xué Zhōngwén. | I'm studying Chinese at home today. | | 我明天在家学中文。 | Wǒ míngtiān zài jiā xué Zhōngwén. | I'm studying Chinese at home tomorrow. | | 我明天在学校学中文。 | Wǒ míngtiān zài xuéxiào xué Zhōngwén. | I'm studying Chinese at school tomorrow. | These sentences follow **person + time + place + activity**. **在** (*zài*) introduces the place before the activity. To change today to tomorrow, we change the time word. **学** (*xué*, “to study”) stays as it is—you don't need to change it to a future-tense form the way you might in English. Other Mandarin sentences can work differently, but this pattern gives you somewhere to start. Cover the examples and try saying where you'll study tomorrow. If you get stuck, look back at just the part you need. You can learn useful small phrases this way, too. In **两杯茶** (*liǎng bēi chá*, “two cups of tea”), **杯** (*bēi*) tells us we're counting cups. In **两本书** (*liǎng běn shū*, “two books”), we use **本** (*běn*) to count books. These are measure words. Learning one with a familiar noun gives you a phrase you can use straight away. ### Get comfortable reading characters at your pace LingoDeer's [reading display options](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000307411-romanization-and-other-reading-pronunciation-aids?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) let you adjust how you see pinyin and characters. That can help when your pronunciation and character reading are moving at different speeds. When a word is new, use pinyin and audio to get comfortable with the sound. Then give its characters some attention. In a familiar lesson, try reading a word from the characters before looking at its pinyin. It's easy for your eyes to jump straight to the pinyin. Hiding it briefly gives the characters a turn. If that makes the whole lesson confusing, bring the help back and practice with a smaller bit of text. There's no fixed day when you must stop using pinyin. Let it help you while you gradually get more comfortable reading the characters themselves. ### Native audio supports listening beyond individual words The [LingoDeer Chinese course](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) uses native-speaker recordings for words and sentences. You can hear how familiar words sound when someone puts them together. Choose one short sentence. Listen while reading it, cover it and listen again, then say it yourself. Pick one thing to notice, such as a tone you missed. Recording yourself separately can help you compare, and a teacher or proficient speaker can give you feedback if the difference is hard to hear. This gives listening a small, manageable place in your lesson. When you can, try a real exchange as well. Another person may reply in a way you weren't expecting, which is useful practice of its own. ### Review follows what you have learned LingoDeer's [spaced repetition system](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000319118-how-does-the-spaced-repetition-system-srs-work-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) brings material from your lessons back over time. Mobile review includes flashcards, listening, speaking, spelling, and comprehensive practice; web options are more limited, and access depends on membership. For Chinese, you can review with pinyin, characters, or both. Choose a little practice that fits the difficulty. If you know a word on the page but miss it when spoken, listen to it again. If a sentence still doesn't make sense, revisit the explanation before another round of exercises. After you've reviewed an item through SRS at least once, Custom Review lets you choose it for extra practice. You can spend a few minutes on the material that's giving you trouble without starting a separate vocabulary deck. ### Try a few lessons before choosing a plan LingoDeer's [free-access guide](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000194357-is-lingodeer-free-how-does-pricing-work-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) includes Alphabet, Unit One and its review, Test Outs, and the Travel Phrasebook. Further course content, offline learning, and cross-device synchronization require Premium. Try the introductory lessons before choosing a subscription. Read an explanation, listen to the example, and see whether you can use it yourself. If you like that way of studying, check the [membership options](https://www.lingodeer.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for your platform and region. ## 2\. ChineseSkill for dedicated Chinese study and more course choices **Best for learners who want a Chinese-focused platform, particularly when Taiwan Mandarin or Cantonese is part of the goal.** ChineseSkill began in 2014, giving it more than a decade of experience focusing on Chinese learners. Its course choices have grown since those early Mandarin lessons. Today, that's especially interesting if your plans involve Taiwan or Hong Kong as well as Mainland China. ### An established product with a teaching focus ChineseSkill's curriculum was developed with professional teachers of Chinese as a foreign language. The lessons bring pronunciation, words, grammar, and characters together, with activities for listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The [ChineseSkill website](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) describes native-speaker audio, class notes, varied practice, and adjustable learning settings. Together, these give you several ways to work through something: hear it, read the explanation, try it, and return to it later. As you sample a lesson, notice what happens when you make a mistake. Can you find the help you need? Then close the exercise and try a phrase yourself. That's a useful way to see whether the teaching suits you. ### Mainland Mandarin, Taiwan Mandarin, and Cantonese serve different goals A particularly useful part of [ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is that you can choose a course for the people and places you want to connect with. Its App Store listing describes three paths: - **Mainland Mandarin with simplified characters**, for standard Putonghua. - **Taiwan Mandarin with traditional characters**, for learners whose plans or relationships point toward Taiwan. - **Hong Kong Cantonese**, for learners who want to study Cantonese itself. The Taiwan Mandarin course includes native audio, pronunciation help such as Zhuyin drills, and handwriting practice. The Hong Kong Cantonese course has its own native audio, Jyutping pronunciation drills, review, and simplified or traditional character options. Zhuyin and Jyutping are pronunciation guides for different learning contexts; you don't need to learn both to get started with one course. Picture where you'd like to use the language. For Mandarin conversations in Taiwan, try the Taiwan Mandarin course. For Cantonese with family or in Hong Kong, choose Cantonese. Traditional characters can appear in either, but Mandarin and Cantonese don't become the same spoken language because the writing looks familiar. ### Newer content gives you more ways to practice The app description also lists graded stories, listening activities, handwriting, speech recognition, and authentic videos. That gives learners more ways to meet language again: in a story, in speech, or on a page they're trying to write themselves. Do check your chosen course before subscribing. The listing currently reserves videos, extra vocabulary, and Booster content for Mainland Mandarin. Other features and access can differ by platform or app version, too. If you use speech recognition, take the feedback as a reason to listen and try again. Being understood by the app is encouraging, but it doesn't tell you that every sound and tone is natural. Ask a person for help with sounds that keep giving you trouble. ### Would ChineseSkill suit your plans? LingoDeer stays our first pick for a guided Mandarin foundation with clear explanations. ChineseSkill earns a closer look for its long focus on Chinese teaching and courses that may fit a more specific goal, such as life in Taiwan. You don't have to complete both beginner courses. Sample them, then follow the one you feel comfortable returning to. [ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is free to download with in-app purchases; check the plan inside the app for the courses and content it includes. ## 3\. Pleco for dictionary support during real study **Best for checking words and examples while using LingoDeer, ChineseSkill, or reading material.** Pleco is the kind of companion you can open when a word raises a question. Its core dictionaries are free, with lookups by characters, pinyin, or English, definitions, examples, and support for simplified and traditional characters. Paid add-ons include more dictionaries, flashcards, reading tools, and OCR, which recognizes text in images. If you're looking up something from a sentence, search the whole word first. Translating each character separately won't always give you the word's meaning. Check its pronunciation and the definition that fits, then return to the sentence and read it again. Your course helps you decide what to learn next; Pleco helps with questions that come up along the way. It's a useful companion to LingoDeer or ChineseSkill, especially once you start noticing Chinese outside your lessons. Start with the free dictionaries. If you later need something extra, the [official Pleco store](https://store.pleco.com/products.php?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) lists add-ons and bundles. One distinction to keep in mind: drawing a character to look it up isn't the same as practicing how to write it from memory. ## 4\. Du Chinese for graded stories and listening **Best for turning lesson knowledge into sustained reading with support.** When you'd like to read more than individual lesson sentences, Du Chinese offers stories and articles arranged by difficulty. You can look up a word, check a sentence translation, or listen to native-speaker audio. There are simplified and traditional character options, pronunciation support, grammar help, and vocabulary review. Reading gives familiar language a new setting. A pattern from your LingoDeer or ChineseSkill lesson might turn up in a character's conversation, and suddenly it has a job to do in a story. Pick something you can mostly follow. Read a short part, check the words that leave you lost, then listen and read again. You might try another listen without the text. If you're opening a translation for almost every sentence, choose an easier story—you'll have more room to enjoy it. Du Chinese works well here as extra reading and listening alongside your course. The [pricing page](https://duchinese.net/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) shows free selections and Premium access to the full library. Check your plan for offline downloads and audiobook features. ## 5\. Skritter for writing characters from memory **Best for learners whose recognition is ahead of their handwriting.** If you can recognize a character but draw a blank when trying to write it, Skritter is worth exploring. It gives stroke feedback and reviews over time, with simplified and traditional Chinese, textbook lists, and your own lists. You can also practice readings, tones, and meanings. Start with a few words from your current lesson. Study the shapes, then try writing without the model. Check what you missed and use one of the words in a sentence. That keeps the writing connected to something you understand. Handwriting deserves time if you need it for a class, exam, or personal goal. If you're mainly hoping to chat with people, leave plenty of room for listening and speaking as well. We'd use Skritter for that writing practice alongside a main course. Its [official site includes subscription plans and trial information](https://skritter.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Try writing on the device you'll use, and make sure you've chosen the script you want to learn. ## Free access and costs to compare *Access details checked October 11, 2026\. Prices, trial eligibility, and inclusions can change by region, platform, and plan. Confirm the terms on the linked official pages before purchasing.* | Product | Starting point | What to check before paying | | --------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Free Alphabet, Unit One and review, Test Outs, and Travel Phrasebook | Premium course access, offline study, and your platform's current offer | | [ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Free download with in-app purchases; explore the course you want | Which course and content the plan unlocks; do not assume every feature is shared across courses | | [Pleco](https://store.pleco.com/products.php?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Free core dictionaries | Which paid dictionary or feature you need, and whether a bundle is useful | | [Du Chinese](https://duchinese.net/pricing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Free reading selections | Premium library access, offline and audiobook functions, and renewal terms | | [Skritter](https://skritter.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Advertised seven-day trial on its website plans | Trial eligibility, renewal, and the writing workflow on your device | These offers aren't all the same: a free dictionary may remain useful for years, while a trial ends after a set time. Start by deciding what help you need, then compare the plans that provide it. ## Build a routine with one course and one useful extra Start with **LingoDeer as your main course**, or choose ChineseSkill if its course options fit your plans better. Give yourself time to settle into that routine. You can add something else when you find a question or skill you'd like more help with. If you have twenty minutes, try five reviewing, ten on a lesson, and five using what you've learned. You could say something about your day, read a short passage, or write a few familiar words. You don't need to open every app every day. Here are three ways to use the other recommendations: - **Course plus Pleco:** look up a word that's puzzled you, then return to the sentence it came from. One answered question is enough; you don't need to save every interesting word you see. - **Course plus Du Chinese:** read a short story near your level and listen along. See whether you can retell one detail in simple words. - **Course plus Skritter:** practice writing a few words from your lesson, then try without the model. Keep the set small enough to remember what the words mean, too. Already using Du Chinese and Skritter? Their [documented integration](https://docs.skritter.com/article/272-du-chinese-integration?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) lets newly saved reading vocabulary go to a Skritter deck once you've connected the accounts. Older saved words need a separate export. Start with a few words you'd like to keep, so the review stays manageable. At the end of the week, come back to something that felt difficult. Maybe you can hear a sentence more clearly, read with less help, or remember a character's strokes. Those small changes help you decide what to keep practicing. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is LingoDeer better than Duolingo for Mandarin Chinese? We recommend LingoDeer if you'd like clearer grammar explanations and a course that brings the parts of Mandarin together. Its expert-designed lessons include pinyin, native audio, and review. Try a lesson and see whether the explanation helps you make a sentence of your own. ### Should I choose LingoDeer or ChineseSkill? Start with LingoDeer for the guided Mandarin approach described here. Try ChineseSkill too if you'd like a Chinese-focused platform, especially for Taiwan Mandarin or Cantonese. Choose the course you enjoy following; you don't need two sets of beginner lessons at once. ### Can Pleco replace a beginner Mandarin course? Pleco is best used here alongside a course. It can answer a word question, while LingoDeer or ChineseSkill helps you decide what to study next. If you're happy with your lessons, adding a dictionary may be all the change you need. ### Is traditional Chinese the same as Cantonese? No. Traditional Chinese refers to the written characters; Cantonese refers to a spoken-language variety. Mandarin can use traditional characters, too. That's why ChineseSkill's Taiwan Mandarin and Hong Kong Cantonese courses are separate choices. ### Do I need Du Chinese and Skritter from the beginning? No. Try Du Chinese when you'd like more supported reading, and Skritter when writing characters matters to you. A main course is plenty to start with. You can add more once you know what you'd use it for. **For help bringing Mandarin sounds, characters, and sentences together, try [LingoDeer's Chinese course](https://www.lingodeer.com/language/chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com).** Begin with the introductory material and give one explanation a try. A sentence you can make your own is a good first step. ### LingoDeer Dev Log | February 1, 2026 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-dev-log-february-1-2026/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:05:31.000Z Hey everybody, How are you doing? Hope you are doing well and had a lovely weekend. This week we are sharing what we shipped to you this week in LingoDeer on both iOS and Android. We hope you like the changes. **Android** - Lesson settings are easier to get to now. Fewer taps, less menu digging. - You can switch display modes way faster in more places now. This applies to Korean, Japanese, and Chinese and works inside: - SRS flashcards - Quick Quiz - Stories - Word spelling practice now includes native speaker videos, which makes those exercises feel a lot less abstract. **iOS** - SRS now has a mixed display option if you don’t want the same format every time. - You can finally turn off native speaker videos in Settings if you prefer a lighter setup. - A bunch of bugs were fixed, including: - Video delay issues - Testout not showing up in daily streak stats - Blank tiles in Korean spelling exercises - Plus other smaller fixes that were just quietly broken before ### LingoDeer Update: Improved Offline Learning & New Features URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-january-17/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:23:52.000Z Hey everybody. We hope you are doing well. Here is this week's dev log for our LingoDeer app. ## Android - We improved offline learning downloads. You can now download future units ahead of time, either in batches or one at a time. Go to: **Me > Settings > General > Offline learning** - Added bookmarking to flashcards and exercises. If there’s something you want to save and come back to later, hit the star icon in the answer area. - The Pinyin Chart is back. Thanks to everyone who pointed out it disappeared after the upgrade. That one was on us. - Also fixed a handful of bugs and stability issues. ## iOS - Bug fixes and general cleanup. That’s it for this week. If you run into anything weird, or if there’s something you wish worked differently, tell us. Happy LingoDeering. :) ### Weekly Devlog | Jan 9 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-jan-9/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:23:54.000Z Hey everybody. How are we doing? So, we got a bunch of review upgrades out the door this week, mostly around SRS. ## SRS upgrades SRS reviews now have multiple modes: Standard Flashcards, Comprehensive Exercises, Listening, and Spelling. We teased this while it was still cooking here (UI may look a bit different, but the concept is the same): https://www.reddit.com/r/lingodeer/comments/1q6il6u/we\_are\_working\_on\_a\_new\_srs\_feature\_in\_lingodeer/ ## New Flashcards display setting: “Mixed” Randomizes cards between Target Language, Translation, Video, and Audio. Huge thanks to [u/InevitableTwist1412](https://www.reddit.com/user/InevitableTwist1412/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for the idea. More card count options: You can now pick 5 or 15 cards per session (in addition to 10, 20, 30, etc.). Flashcards UX tweak: The blank space on the lower half of flashcards is now clickable. General review upgrades New “Bookmarked” folder for any review items you want to practice separately. ## AI features Alternative answers + Mistake explanations are now available in: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish (EU + LatAm), French, and German courses. If you don’t want AI in your learning, you can turn it off: ME > Settings > AI features. ## Misc Option to turn off native speaker videos in Lessons, Practice, and Reviews. (*We genuinely don’t know why you’d want to do this, but free will is a thing.*) Go to ME > Settings > Learning preferences and toggle off Native speaker videos. Fixed some bugs. Let us know what you think. Feedback here actually helps us decide what to ship next. These updates are for Android. iOS users: your turn is coming. ### NEW FEATURE DROP + Weekly #Dev Log | December 26 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/new-feature-drop-weekly-dev-log-december-26/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:23:56.000Z Merry (very belated) Christmas and Happy Holidays, Android folks. We bring gifts. Actual useful ones. Santa approved. **1) Mistake explanations for Japanese and Chinese** Got something wrong? Hit the **Tell Me Why** button and we’ll explain what happened, why it happened, and show extra example sentences so it actually sticks. No more staring at a red screen wondering what crime you committed. **If you’re about to hit Tell Me Why… we get it. We won’t ask questions. Just tap the button.** **2) Alternative answers are now accepted (JP + CN)** If you forget the exact phrasing from the lesson or decide to flex some kanji you learned elsewhere, you won’t get punished for it. As long as your answer makes sense and doesn’t change the meaning, we’re cool with it. Both features are **still in beta**, which means this is the part where you tell us what’s broken, confusing, annoying, or surprisingly great. If these work well, we want to roll them out to more languages. If they don’t, we fix them. Simple. ## And .. One more thing: We didn’t want learners of other languages to feel left out, so we added **“View literal translation”** to *all* Android courses. Sometimes seeing the word-for-word version helps. Sometimes it’s just interesting. Either way, try it and tell us what you think. ## About AI Yes, these features use generative ai. We use only the thinking model, so it is the most accurate and thinks through things first. If that’s not your thing, totally fair. You can turn them off anytime at **Me → Settings → AI features** Just toggle off **Accept alternative answers** and **Mistake explanation**. Feedback welcome. Strong opinions encouraged. Polite roasting tolerated. Screenshot attached if you want to take a look. ### Weekly #DevLog LingoDeer | December 20 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-lingodeer-december-20/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:20.000Z Hi everyone, Just wanted to let you know this week's latest update. **LingoDeer App:** • Korean native speaker videos are coming to iOS. We’re currently waiting on App Store approval for the latest release. • We’ve replaced some overly fast native speaker videos in the Japanese and Korean courses to improve clarity and pacing for learners. • **Casting call (Japanese course):** We’re looking for **native Japanese speakers with male voices** who are comfortable speaking slowly and clearly on camera for short educational recordings. Paid, remote-friendly. If interested, please contact [**blog@lingodeer.com**](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com). • Fixed various bugs on iOS and Android. ### [A VS B] ましょう vs ませんか, Let’s Do It or Would You Like to Join? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/mashou-vs-masen-ka-in-japanese-by-lingodeer/ Last updated: 2026-10-11T06:18:42.000Z ON THIS PAGE 1. [The quick difference](#quick-rule) 2. [See it in context](#examples) 3. [Try it yourself](#practice) 4. [What to remember](#takeaway) JAPANESE · BEGINNER You want to take a break with a colleague. “Let’s take a break” proposes a shared next step. “Would you like to take a break?” gives the listener a more explicit opening to accept or decline. Both are ways to invite your colleague to join you. Japanese also has polite ways to invite someone to do something together. Two common forms, ましょう and ませんか, often make a similar distinction in viewpoint. Both can be natural in the same situation. In this guide 1. [The quick difference](#quick-rule) 2. [See it in context](#examples) 3. [Try it yourself](#practice) 4. [What to remember](#takeaway) ## The quick difference ### ましょう **Let’s…** ### ませんか **Would you like to…?** ましょう presents the speaker’s wish as a proposal for a shared action. ませんか invites the listener by asking whether they are willing to join the proposed activity. To form either expression, start with the ます form and replace ます with ましょう or ませんか. For example, 休(やす)みます becomes 休(やす)みましょう or 休(やす)みませんか. Both forms can sound friendly in a cooperative setting. A supervisor repeating an invitation may make it harder to decline, even with ませんか. ## See it in context 01**Suggest a break:** Two colleagues have been working for a while. Examples 1 and 2 both invite the colleague to take a break together; the viewpoint differs. Example 1 少(すこ)し休(やす)みましょう。 Let’s take a short break. You put forward your plan to take a break together. Your browser does not support audio playback. Example 2 少(すこ)し休(やす)みませんか。 Would you like to take a short break? You ask whether your colleague is willing to take a break with you. Your browser does not support audio playback. 02**An invitation and a reply:** One friend invites another to go to the botanical garden this weekend. The other accepts. Whether the invitation uses ませんか or ましょう, you can accept with はい (“Yes”) or いいですね (“Sounds good”). You can also reply with ましょう to confirm that you will do the activity together. Example 3 週末(しゅうまつ)、植物園(しょくぶつえん)に行(い)きませんか。 Would you like to go to the botanical garden this weekend? Friend A invites Friend B. Your browser does not support audio playback. Example 4 いいですね。いっしょに行(い)きましょう。 Sounds good. Let’s go together. Friend B accepts and confirms the shared plan. Your browser does not support audio playback. 03**Get a group started:** Everyone is gathered for an activity. The organizer suggests starting. Example 5 そろそろ始(はじ)めましょう。 Let’s get started. The organizer takes the lead and proposes starting now. Your browser does not support audio playback. Example 6 そろそろ始(はじ)めませんか。 Shall we get started? The organizer asks how the group feels about starting. In this setting, Example 6 sounds softer than Example 5. Your browser does not support audio playback. ## Try it yourself 1.You suggest having tea together: “Let’s have some tea.” Which sentence matches the way you want to make the invitation? お茶(ちゃ)を飲(の)みましょう。お茶(ちゃ)を飲(の)みませんか。 飲(の)みましょう presents a shared suggestion. 飲(の)みませんか asks whether the listener would like to have tea. 2.You want to ask a friend whether they would like to join you for a walk. Which sentence presents the invitation as a question about their interest? いっしょに散歩(さんぽ)しましょう。いっしょに散歩(さんぽ)しませんか。 しませんか asks whether your friend would like to join. しましょう suggests walking together more directly. 3.A friend says 週末(しゅうまつ)、いっしょに映画(えいが)を見(み)ませんか。 You want to accept. Which reply agrees to the shared plan? すみません。週末(しゅうまつ)は忙(いそが)しいです。いいですね。見(み)ましょう。 いいですね。見(み)ましょう。 accepts the invitation to watch a movie together. The other reply explains that you are busy that weekend. 4.Two colleagues have been working for a while. What changes when you say 少(すこ)し休(やす)みませんか。 instead of 少(すこ)し休(やす)みましょう。? You make a softer invitation, giving your colleague more room to accept or decline.You make the shared suggestion more direct. The shared activity stays the same. ましょう puts forward the speaker’s plan to take a break together; ませんか asks about the colleague’s willingness to join. This shift in viewpoint usually makes the invitation sound softer here. Check answersReset Answer key and explanations 1. **お茶(ちゃ)を飲(の)みましょう。** — 飲(の)みましょう presents a shared suggestion. 飲(の)みませんか asks whether the listener would like to have tea. 2. **いっしょに散歩(さんぽ)しませんか。** — しませんか asks whether your friend would like to join. しましょう suggests walking together more directly. 3. **いいですね。見(み)ましょう。** — いいですね。見(み)ましょう。 accepts the invitation to watch a movie together. The other reply explains that you are busy that weekend. 4. **You make a softer invitation, giving your colleague more room to accept or decline.** — The shared activity stays the same. ましょう puts forward the speaker’s plan to take a break together; ませんか asks about the colleague’s willingness to join. This shift in viewpoint usually makes the invitation sound softer here. ## What to remember - Both forms can invite someone to do something together. ましょう presents the speaker’s proposal; ませんか asks about the listener’s willingness to join. - Start with the ます form and replace ます with ましょう or ませんか. - Accept either invitation with はい or いいですね. A reply with ましょう can confirm the shared plan. - Both forms can be natural in the same situation. ませんか usually sounds softer, while tone and relationships also shape the invitation. ### Weekly #DevLog / November 28 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-november-28/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:05:33.000Z Hey everyone, Hope your week been going well. We just pushed a new update on Android, and the iOS version is rolling up right behind it. Here’s what’s new on Android: • A bunch of dark mode fixes, including the Learning Reminders page finally deciding to behave • In-lesson Word Tips got a glow up, now bigger, cleaner, and you can adjust the font size so you don’t have to squint like you’re decoding ancient runes iOS will get the same upgrades soon. Let us know what you think. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/5avrwb24934g1-1-jpeg.jpg) ### Weekly #Dev Log | November 21 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-dev-log-november-21/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:21.000Z Bonjour Deers, here’s what shipped this week. **Android Updates** - Unified section and unit colors in the Main Course so things look cleaner. - Fixed progress display issues in My Courses. - Squashed a handful of exercise bugs that were annoying literally everyone. We’re also cooking up a much better notification system for your SRS reviews. **Quick PSA: if you see a red dot on your Review tab**, that means you have fifty or more flashcards waiting. Please don’t let your reviews turn into a medieval punishment. Your future self will thank you. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/weekly-log-november-21-v0-fvs0zbtjeo2g1-jpg.webp) **Website** In case you missed yesterday’s ping, our **2025 Black Friday Sale** is live. Check it out here: [https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/index.html](https://blog.lingodeer.com/devlog/) If anything breaks while activating your membership, email [**blog@lingodeer.com**](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and they’ll get you sorted. **Huge Update to ChineseSkill** If you didn’t know, ChineseSkill is our oldest child, and this week it got a *massive* glow-up. Available now on Android. iOS coming soon. New features, expanded courses, polished UI, and a whole lot more behind the scenes. I’ll be breaking everything down in detail over on [r/ChineseSkill](http://reddit.com/r/chineseskill?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), so come hang out there too if you’re curious. And no, LingoDeer isn’t being left behind. ChineseSkill is where we test Chinese-specific features and experiment with new ideas that *might* eventually make their way into LingoDeer if the community wants them. Your feedback genuinely shapes what we build next, so let us know what you think. ### Weekly #DevLog / November 7 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-november-7/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:05:34.000Z Good news for KOREAN learners. You can now watch native speaker videos right inside your Lessons, Practice, and Reviews (yep, even Quick Quiz and SRS) on Android. Natural speed, crisp pronunciation, and multiple speakers, so you’ll hear how things sound to help you boost your listening skills. We’ve also been fixing bugs across the app. Some were tiny, some were absolute chaos gremlins. Either way, thanks for reporting them and helping us keep LingoDeer running smoother than a Seoul subway train. Keep studying, stay hydrated, and please don’t skip your reviews. ;) Your future self will thank you. 💚 ### #DevLog of the Undead: October 31 Edition 👻🎃 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/devlog-of-the-undead-october-31-edition/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:14:41.000Z **Happy Halloween! Language ghouls and grammar witches!** The LingoDeer devs have been busy stirring up their cauldrons again while drinking way too much caffeine. Between dodging flying flashcards and the occasional cursed typo, they managed to summon some terrifyingly cool updates. Proceed…*if you dare.* **🧟 Android Necromancy Department:** - The ***SRS Review Time Adjustment*** has risen from the dead! You can now **manually adjust** when your reviews haunt you. Just head to: `Review → SRS → ☰ Menu → Upcoming reviews`. You can even sort the list by time or unit because why let the app torture you randomly when you can plan it yourself? - Introducing the **My Courses** page! Perfect for those brave souls juggling multiple languages (and display languages). You can now hop between courses like a linguistic trick-or-treater raiding candy houses. **🦇 iOS Crypt:** - *New SRS Reviews* are out in **beta!** It’s time to face your language demons; they’ve been waiting for you... patiently… *for days.* **TL;DR (for mortals who fear walls of text):** - Android: Manually adjust your SRS review times under `Review → SRS → ☰ Menu → Upcoming Reviews`. You can sort by time or unit. - Android: Check out the new My Courses page to switch between languages easily. - iOS: SRS Reviews are now in beta, give them a try and share feedback. Now go forth and study... before your streak disappears into the night forever. 🌕💀 *(P.S. Don’t forget to feed your Deer before midnight.)* *PPS: I had too much fun with the emojis.* ### Weekly #DevLog / October 17th URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-october-17th/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:05:34.000Z Hey everyone! Hope you’re all doing great. We have an update this week that Mandarin learners will find super helpful! A brand-new handwriting practice is now available in beta for Chinese courses on Android. You can now practice writing every character from each lesson. Just open a finished lesson and tap “Practice - Handwriting” in the pop-up. There are three modes you can choose from: - With stroke order hints (great for beginners) - Without hints (a little tougher!) - Freestyle: a blank canvas for your writing skills. If you draw a stroke wrong, we’ll gently show you the right one. It’s currently in beta, so we’d really love your feedback. Try it out and let us know how it feels: smooth? tricky? oddly satisfying? Happy writing, everyone :) Team LingoDeer ### Weekly #DevLog / September 26 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-september-26/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:22.000Z Heyyy y'all. Hope everyone has had a wonderful week. The devs have been busy smashing bugs and sharpening features. Here’s what we have been cooking this week: **Chinese Tone Training** \- Fixed the option to turn off all animations in the settings. It works now. \- Audio now plays for every exercise, no matter which voice pack you picked **Dark Mode** \- The dark mode issue is fixed. Font is now readable in dark mode. **Japanese SRS** \- Added a speaker icon so you can compare native video vs. studio recordings on flashcards. YASSS. **Custom Review (SRS)** \- Filters now run smoother and snappier. Oh happy day. **Typing Exercises** \- Font-size bug when deleting text = gone. Type in peace. Ok fam, that’s the week’s dev roundup. Now we’re curious: **What kind of voices would you love to hear in our Chinese Tone Training section?** Maybe a favorite actor, YouTuber, or anyone whose voice you find pleasant or easy to mimic. Drop your wish list. The Deer will be listening. The Deer is always listening :) PS: Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), or through the Contact Us form in the app, on [Discord](https://discord.gg/QGpj87W?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or right on [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/lingodeer?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Weekly #DevLog / September 19 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-september-19/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:23.000Z Hi all & happy Friday! This week, we bring you a major update for Android: \- **Chinese Tone Training** is out in beta! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/tones-icon.png) If you've ever felt like your lack of "tone perception" is holding you back, give Tone Training a try! It has: \- **five units** of back-to-back **listening exercises** (some basic, some pretty tricky!); \- **pronunciation assessment** that breaks your recordings down to **tones**, **initials**, and **finals** to let you know exactly what area(s) you need to work on; \- clear explanations of **pronunciation rules**, including tone changes (**tone sandhi**); \- a **big** **test** at the end; \- and cute animated deer! 🦌 We recommend you start at the beginning (**Tone Basics**) and work your way down without skipping anything. Please let us know your thoughts: what you like, what exercises you find most useful, and what can be improved! Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord, or on our official subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog / September 12 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-september-12/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:24.000Z Hi all! This week, we bring you: \- Brand new **Japanese native speaker videos** in Lessons, Practice, and Reviews (including Quick Quiz & SRS Flashcards) on Android! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/jp-native-video-new.png) We're already working to bring native speaker videos to another course (no prizes for guessing which one), and we hope to do that for all our courses in the future, so if you'd like to tell us where to start, please do so in the comments! We also made adjustments to **audio autoplay** on Android. If you deselect "Enable audio autoplay" and "Sound effects" in Settings, the only sounds you'll be hearing from then on will be: \- new sentences; \- words and sentences in audio-based exercises; \- native speaker videos (where applicable). The tiles will remain silent, and translation-based exercises won't make a sound unless you click on the 🔈 play button or the answer pop-up. Enjoy! With all that and some bug fixes on top, we'd like to thank you for your patience and continuous support! Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord, or on our official subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog / September 5 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-september-5/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:25.000Z Hi all & happy Friday! Here's what we're currently working on: \- Audio autoplay optimization (mainly for people who hate autoplay); \- Handwriting expansion; \- iOS upgrades; \- Tricky bugs; \- More native speaker videos! Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord, or on our official subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog / (archived from August 29) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-archived-from-august-29/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:26.000Z Hi all! Hope you didn't miss us too terribly :) This was another week devoted to **bug fixes** & **new feature development**, so there isn't that much to report... except that we added the ability to **turn off romanization for any and all types of exercises** in Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese (and all the other languages that use romanization) in-lesson on Android: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/image.png) ***Currently working on:*** \- Handwriting exercise optimization; \- Bringing iOS up to speed with Android's updates; \- A host of other exciting features (hoping to tell you about one of them in the upcoming weeks). As usual, thank you so much for all the feedback that makes these improvements possible! Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord, or on our official subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog / August 22 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-august-22/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:27.000Z Happy Friday, everyone! The bugs work hard, but our devs (and other teammates, obviously) work harder. This week, we have: \- **fixed** a bunch of bugs on iOS and Android; \- finished the last round of tests for **Ranking on iOS** (it should go online in a couple of days); \- made our head designer go ham on some **emojis**: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/deer-emoji-resized.png) Remember that you ~~should always attach screenshots to your bug reports and/or specify what language you're learning on what device~~ can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord, or on our official subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog / August 15 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-august-15/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:28.000Z Hi all! Kind of a slow week this time in terms of feature upgrades, but we did fix some pretty annoying bugs, including but not limited to: \- Progress, mastery, day streak, and syncing issues (iOS & Android); \- Optimization of various exercise types in Lessons and Dialogues (where applicable) (Android). There are some other bug fixes and features pending, so wish us luck! Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord, or on our official subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog / August 8 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-august-8/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:29.000Z Happy Friday, everyone! Here's what we did last week: ***Android:*** \- For courses with multiple voice packs, we added the option to **switch between packs** in-lesson... or **mix** them up, so you (almost) never know which voice you'll hear next. To change your voice pack, enter a **lesson** \> go to **Settings** ☰ in the top right corner > **Voice pack** \> **Male**/**Female**/**Mixed** or, from the **main app menu**, go to **ME** \> **Settings** ⚙ > **Learning preferences** \> **Voice pack** \> **Male**/**Female**/**Mixed**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/m-f-mixed-full.png) \- For **vocabulary typing exercises**, you can now choose between "tiles-typing" and using **your own keyboard**. \- A minor one, but we made **tiles** more responsive to **font adjustments**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2025/08/ld-image-989ef19ca9aca192.png) ***iOS:*** \- Upgraded **Korean Alphabet & Pronunciation Guide**, complete with tips & exercises for **Korean sound change rules**: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/kr-alph-full.png) \- Adjusted romanization font size for multiple languages. We also **fixed some bugs** that had cropped up recently across different platforms. If your bug isn't fixed yet, please know that we are on it! As usual, thank you all for your feedback. It keeps us going! Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord, or on our official subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog /August 1 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-august-1/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:30.000Z Hi all & happy first day of August! This week, we mainly fixed a bunch of bugs on **Android**, including but not limited to: \- Got better at **randomizing cards** at every mastery level so you don't have to review the exact same cards in the exact same order (and yes, we thought we'd fixed that before, but some bugs die hard); \- Adjusted the **timeline of upcoming reviews** (now we'll wait for an actual calendar day to pass before offering you new flashcards); \- Your SRS reviews should count in your **streak** (and if that doesn't happen, please let us know). We also fixed some bugs on **iOS**, such as: \- The one where **Story exercises** would show the possible answers but not the questions; \- The one where sentences with dashes wouldn't show up normally in **"fill in the blanks" exercises**; \- The one where sentences wouldn't show up fully on small screens if you switched to a bigger font size; \- As well as some others. ***Working on:*** \- The browser version (someday... someday...); \- Some persistent bugs (including the one with sharing your Story recordings to the Community); \- Updating the Alphabet & Pronunciation Guide for Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese on iOS; \- Newer, better things! As usual, thank you all so much for your support, patience, and useful feedback. Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord, or on our subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### [A VS B] あまる vs のこる, More Than Needed or Still Remaining? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/amaru-vs-nokoru-in-japanese-by-lingodeer/ Last updated: 2026-10-11T06:18:46.000Z ON THIS PAGE 1. [The quick difference](#quick-rule) 2. [What counts as extra?](#explanation-1) 3. [See it in context](#examples) 4. [Try it yourself](#practice) 5. [What to remember](#takeaway) JAPANESE · BEGINNER “We have three sandwiches left” could mean that everyone has had enough, or that some people are still waiting for lunch. Both 余(あま)る and 残(のこ)る can describe something that is left. Choosing between them depends on how you view that remainder. In this guide 1. [The quick difference](#quick-rule) 2. [What counts as extra?](#explanation-1) 3. [See it in context](#examples) 4. [Try it yourself](#practice) 5. [What to remember](#takeaway) ## The quick difference ### 余(あま)る **Be left over / have some to spare** Focus on the amount beyond what is needed. ### 残(のこ)る **Remain / still be left** Focus on what is still there or still to do. ## What counts as extra? At the end of lunch, everyone has had enough and three sandwiches are still on the tray. You can use 余(あま)る to emphasize that you brought more food than the group needed, or 残(のこ)る to report the sandwiches still on the tray. Both fit this situation; the choice changes what you emphasize. If some people have yet to receive their lunch, the sandwiches still on the tray may be needed. 残(のこ)る lets you describe that remaining food without calling it extra. Knowing that something remains is not enough to decide that it is surplus. For time, the comparison is with the time a task requires. 時間(じかん)が余(あま)る presents time as spare, as when you finish early. 時間(じかん)が残(のこ)っている describes time still available before a deadline. You can say this while working or after finishing; the verb alone does not establish completion. 残(のこ)る also describes unfinished tasks. In 片付(かたづ)けがまだ残(のこ)っています, the cleanup still needs doing. This is work awaiting completion, so the idea of an extra, unused amount does not express the intended meaning. Both verbs are intransitive: the food, materials, time, or work is the subject, commonly marked with が. ## See it in context 01**The same sandwiches, two viewpoints:** At a picnic, everyone has received the sandwiches they wanted. You can describe the portions left on the tray as extra food or tell a friend how many are still there. Example 1 全員(ぜんいん)に配(くば)っても、サンドイッチが余(あま)りました。 Even after we gave some to everyone, there were sandwiches left over. The distribution is complete. The speaker emphasizes that there were more sandwiches than the group needed. Your browser does not support audio playback. Example 2 サンドイッチがまだ三(みっ)つ残(のこ)っています。 There are still three sandwiches left. This gives the remaining count. In this picnic scene, those three sandwiches are also surplus, but the speaker is focusing on how many are left. Your browser does not support audio playback. 02**Spare supplies and unfinished work:** You have finished making the decorations. Some material was unnecessary, but tools and scraps still need putting away. Example 3 材料(ざいりょう)が少(すこ)し余(あま)りました。 We had a little material left over. The finished decorations required less material than you had prepared. Your browser does not support audio playback. Example 4 片付(かたづ)けがまだ残(のこ)っています。 There is still some cleanup left to do. The craft project is finished, but the cleanup is still a task you need to complete. Your browser does not support audio playback. 03**Spare time and remaining time:** Maya and Ben have the same deadline. Maya has finished and wants to describe her spare time. Ben is still working and wants to reassure a classmate that there is time to continue. Example 5 早(はや)く終(お)わったので、時間(じかん)が余(あま)りました。 I finished early, so I had time to spare. Maya needed less time for the assignment than she had available. Your browser does not support audio playback. Example 6 締(し)め切(き)りまで、まだ時間(じかん)が残(のこ)っています。 There is still time left before the deadline. Ben can use the remaining time to keep working. Maya could also say this if she wanted to focus on the time until the deadline. Your browser does not support audio playback. ## Try it yourself 1.You have handed out one worksheet to each student and have extra copies. You want to emphasize that you made more copies than the class needed. Which sentence best conveys that point? プリントが余(あま)っています。プリントが残(のこ)っています。 余(あま)っています highlights the extra copies beyond the number the class needed. 残(のこ)っています is also natural here, but it reports that copies are still there without emphasizing the surplus. 2.Some friends have not received lunch yet. There are three sandwiches on the tray, and you want to report how many are available for them. Which sentence fits that purpose? サンドイッチが三(みっ)つ余(あま)っています。サンドイッチがまだ三(みっ)つ残(のこ)っています。 残(のこ)っています reports the sandwiches still available for lunch. 余(あま)っています would present the three as extra portions, which goes beyond the count you want to give. It would fit a different intention, such as saying you prepared more food than everyone needed. 3.You finished your assignment twenty minutes early and want to emphasize that you now have time to spare. Which sentence best expresses the spare time? 時間(じかん)が残(のこ)っています。時間(じかん)が余(あま)っています。 余(あま)っています presents the time as more than the completed assignment required. 残(のこ)っています can also describe time still available, but it does not by itself tell a listener that you have finished and have time to spare. 4.A classmate says: 締(し)め切(き)りまで、まだ時間(じかん)が残(のこ)っています。 What can you tell about the classmate's assignment from this sentence? There is time available before the deadline; the assignment may be finished or unfinished.The assignment is finished, and the time left is spare. 残(のこ)っています tells you that time remains until the deadline. Completion needs separate information, so the claim that the assignment is finished is not supported by this sentence. Check answersReset Answer key and explanations 1. **プリントが余(あま)っています。** — 余(あま)っています highlights the extra copies beyond the number the class needed. 残(のこ)っています is also natural here, but it reports that copies are still there without emphasizing the surplus. 2. **サンドイッチがまだ三(みっ)つ残(のこ)っています。** — 残(のこ)っています reports the sandwiches still available for lunch. 余(あま)っています would present the three as extra portions, which goes beyond the count you want to give. It would fit a different intention, such as saying you prepared more food than everyone needed. 3. **時間(じかん)が余(あま)っています。** — 余(あま)っています presents the time as more than the completed assignment required. 残(のこ)っています can also describe time still available, but it does not by itself tell a listener that you have finished and have time to spare. 4. **There is time available before the deadline; the assignment may be finished or unfinished.** — 残(のこ)っています tells you that time remains until the deadline. Completion needs separate information, so the claim that the assignment is finished is not supported by this sentence. ## What to remember - Both verbs can describe something left. Choose 余(あま)る when you want to emphasize an amount beyond what is needed, and 残(のこ)る when you want to report what is still there or still to do. - When the remainder is extra, either verb may fit with a different emphasis. - Remaining work still needs doing. - Remaining time alone does not tell you whether the task is finished. ### Weekly #DevLog /July 18 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-july-18/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:31.000Z Hi all & happy Friday! Some updates for you: ***Android:*** \- The **\~bug report button\~** is making a victorious comeback (on Android because it never went away on iOS); \- Users now have the option to **turn off learning reminders** on days when they've already completed their lesson (ME - Settings - Reminders); \- New SRS **sound effects can be turned off** in SRS settings. ![Three screenshots.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/devlog-july-18.png) ***iOS:*** \- Added **Japanese articulation videos** to Practice - Speaking. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/articulation-ios-1.png) We also fixed a bunch of bugs on both platforms. (Here's to hoping we didn't create more bugs in the process.) As always, thank you so much for your patience and feedback! If you have any thoughts/questions/suggestions, you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on Discord (see sidebar for the link), or on our official subreddit r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog /July 11 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-july-11/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:32.000Z Hi all! The times are a-changing... and we're changing as well. Most of the features currently in development are pretty hush-hush, but we can tell you that: \- We're taking our **flashcard reviews** to the limit! All you Anki fans will be in for a (hopefully) pleasant surprise\~ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2025/07/ld-image-c436a2b66ef646bf.png) We also **fixed a bunch of bugs, both on iOS and Android**, including the really embarrassing one with the Japanese numbers: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-match.png) As always, thank you all for your feedback! Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, on our official Reddit community, r/lingodeer :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog /July 4 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-july-4/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:33.000Z Hi all! Another week went by, and here's what we have to show for it: \- We added **native speaker articulation videos** to **Practice - Speaking** in the **Japanese course**: ![Say hello to teacher A.!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/articulation-crop.png) This is an experimental feature\*, so we encourage our Japanese learners to ~~take one for the team~~ try it out and tell us what you think! *\*currently available on Android* We're also working on **adding native speaker videos** in a slightly different style to the lessons proper, so stay tuned! **Other Android updates:** \- Added the option to **remove people from your follower list** (go to ME > Followers > click the vertical ellipsis ⋮ > Remove Follower); \- Adjusted **dark mode** (good news for people who hated the two slightly different background shades of dark gray); \- Fixed miscellaneous bugs in several courses. Thank you all for your feedback and continuous support! Remember that you can always reach us by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, or in our official LingoDeer Reddit community **r/lingodeer** :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog /June 27 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-june-27/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:34.000Z Hi all! Can't believe it's Friday already... This week, we mainly fixed some **Android bugs**: \- Adjusted **progress-saving** in offline mode; \- Adjusted German and Arabic phrasing for **Streak Shields**; \- **Optimized tiles** by word length for Japanese; \- Fixed the issue with the **profile pictures** (now you can change it on your first try, and the old one won't come back to haunt you... we hope); \- Fixed the bug in **Korean sentence spelling exercises** where it wouldn't underline the things you got wrong, right; \- Optimized a bunch of **vocab exercises** across all languages. ***Currently working on:*** \- Finishing stages of **iOS UI testing** (need more time to make sure everything runs smoothly on iPad); \- **SRS adjustments**; \- A little something for the **Japanese course** (if we're lucky it'll trickle down to other courses as well). Here's a sneak peek: ![Before anyone accuses us of using AI: this is our living, breathing, flesh-and-blood Japanese contributor A. showing off her impeccable articulation in front of her preferred background: a clear white wall...](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/speaking-vid.png) Thank you all for your support, patience, and bug reports! If you have any questions and/or suggestions, don't hesitate to reach out by email at blog@lingodeer.com and blog@lingodeer.com, via the Contact Us form in the app, or on our official [subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/lingodeer/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) :) Happy learning! ### Weekly #DevLog /June 20 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/weekly-devlog-june-20/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:35.000Z Happy Friday, everyone! Here's what we did this week: **On Android:** \- Adjusted **dark mode** for Fluent, sign-in page, several pop-ups, and, most notably, new-style **tips**; ![Feast your eyes! (Left to right: Malay, Indonesian, Polish)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/dark-mode-tips.png) \- Adjusted **speech recognition for Japanese**, increasing grading accuracy (also, speaking exercises for all languages in general should take less time to load now); \- Tweaked **Review - Practice - Words** and **Review - Practice - Sentences**: now you can tap the name of a unit and check the boxes of specific words/sentences you'd like to review; ![Suddenly feeling like "In the Public" sounds a bit off...](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/review-words-or-sentences.png) \- Changed **Alphabet** **icons** for Korean, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese, since some newcomers didn't realize that they could learn about the writing system/pronunciation of their TL before starting their first lesson; ![Before vs. After. Might prettify them later.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/before-after-icons-only.png) \- Made it so finishing TestOut also counts in your learning streak; \- Adjusted the order of courses, so that the more popular languages are shown first, and changed French (Normal) and French (Accelerated) to French (Version 1.0) and French (Version 2.0); \- Added explanations for Ranking, Day Streak, Streak Shields, Streak Restore; \- Fixed bugs in SRS, Lesson Summaries, Alphabet, and certain exercise types. Please **upgrade your app to V2.99.335** to see these changes\~ (If you don't see V2.99.335, you might need to wait a bit!) ***Still working on:*** \- App/desktop progress lag (we're currently using a workaround where we don't show your XP stats on desktop; at the same time, the lessons you already finished in the app should show up normally, i.e. as completed, on desktop; if this isn't happening, please let us know!) **In other news**, LingoDeer was pronounced **App of the Day** on App Store when we're this 🤏 close to changing our entire look for iOS. ![Still, it's nice to be recognized!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/app-of-the-day-june-19.png) As usual, thank you all for your support! If you have any questions/thoughts/suggestions, don't hesitate to reach out by email at [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) and [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com), via the Contact Us form in the app, or on our official [subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/lingodeer/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) :) Happy learning! ### LingoDeer DevLog (archived from June 13) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-devlog-archived-from-june-13/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:36.000Z Hi all! Hope you're doing well. In the spirit of community openness, we've decided to start publishing *\~LingoDeer developer logs\~* to keep you updated on all our improvements, big and small. So here's what we did in the first half of June: \- **Increased usability of the SRS Flashcards**: **a)** audio replay in any display mode; adjustable audio speed & font size; **b)** relevant unit look-up: click the information icon ⓘ in the top right corner of the flashcard to look up which unit a word/expression first appeared in; **c)** you can now review flashcards marked as "New", "Needs work", "Good", "Perfect", and any combination thereof by checking the relevant boxes before you start your review; ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/flashcard-type.png "flashcard type") \- **Added Practice mode to Words/Expressions Review** so you can do your favorite types of exercises; ![To get your favorite Practice mode started, go to the REVIEW tab, select Words or Expressions, choose the units you'd like to review, and click PRACTICE.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/practice-mode.png "practice mode") \- Adjusted the difficulty of spelling exercises in Mandarin Chinese (we went from super-difficult to super-easy... and now it seems like we've finally found the middle ground!); \- Corrected some of the Tips and word & sentence translations for French, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Japanese courses (e.g., replacing some AmE terms that might sound confusing to the rest of the world); \- Localized Mandarin Chinese tips for Vietnamese speakers up to Unit 40; \- Got rid of the much-contested flag icon 🚩 in the Day Streak calendar (we'll find a better way to mark your milestones later); \- Added the Share option 📤 to Day Streak (you can find it in the top right corner of the Day Streak calendar). ***Currently working on:*** \- Dark mode for Malay, Indonesian, and Polish tips; \- Fixing the desktop/Android learning progress lag; \- Upgrading iOS Ul (hopefully we can get the beta out by the end of next week - wish us luck!). ✍ Thank you for all the feedback that made these changes possible! We're looking forward to hearing your thoughts about these updates (and just your thoughts in general). Remember that you can always reach out to us by email at blog@lingodeer.com and blog@lingodeer.com, via the Contact Us form in the app, or on [r/lingodeer](https://www.reddit.com/r/lingodeer/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) :) Happy learning! ### How to Make Comparisons in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-make-comparisons-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:24:31.000Z Which K-drama is better? Which idol is more handsome? If you want to talk about your preferences in Korean, you'll need to use comparative sentences. Read this article to find out how! ## Quick Answer: How to Make Comparisons in Korean Korean comparisons commonly mark the standard with 보다 and express “more” with 더; superlative meaning often uses 가장 or 제일. Word order and omitted context should be learned from complete examples. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | The Basics of Comparing in Korean | | Section 2 | When to Use 보다 (boda) to Make Comparisons in Korean? | | Section 3 | When to Use 더 (deo) to Make Comparisons in Korean? | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## The Basics of Comparing in Korean Did you know that Korean adjectives don't have comparative forms? To make comparisons, you just need to know three words: - 보다 (boda) – than - 더 (deo) – more - 덜 (deol) – less Easy right? Let's break down each word and see how to use them correctly! ## When to Use 보다 (boda) to Make Comparisons in Korean? In Korean, 보다 (boda) is the go-to word for saying "than" when making comparisons. It's typically **placed after the things you're comparing**. A 은/는 B **보다** … eun / neun **boda** A is … than B. **보다 (boda) in Korean sentences:** 1\. 우리 누나는 나**보다** 키가 커요. (uri nuna-neun na-**boda** ki-ga keo) My older sister is taller **than** me. 2\. 오빠가 아이돌**보다** 멋있어요! (obba-ga aidol-**boda** meosisseoyo) My older brother is cooler **than** idols \*If you want to learn more about Korean subject topic particles, we have a handy little guide right here >>> [https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/korean-subject-topic-particles.html](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-subject-topic-particles/) ## When to Use 더 (deo) to Make Comparisons in Korean? When you want to say "more" in Korean without specifically comparing different objectives being compared, you can simply add 더 (deo) **before** a verb or adjective. **더** \+ verb/adj. **deo** more … **더 (deo) in Korean sentences::** 1\. 난 네가 **더** 좋아. *(nan ne-ga *deo* jo-a)*I like you **more**. 2\. 이게 **더** 비싸. (ige **deo** bissa) This is **more** expensive. ## When to Use 덜 (deol) to Make Comparisons in Korean? When making comparisons, **덜** (deol, "less") is less commonly used than **더** (deo, "more") but is helpful in specific expressions where something is "not fully" or "less" complete. Here are some examples: **덜** \+ verb/adj. **deol** less … **덜 (deol) in Korean sentences:** 1\. 고구마가 **덜** 익다. *(goguma-ga *deol* ik-da)*The sweet potatoes are **not fully** ripe. 2\. 잠이 **덜** 깨다.*(jam-i *deol* ggae-da)*I'm **not fully** awake. Tip: Be careful not to confuse 더 (deo, "more") with 덜 (deol, "less"). Their pronunciations are close, so practice distinguishing them to avoid misunderstandings! ## Can We Use 더 (deo)/덜 (deol) with 보다 (boda)? Yes, you can use 더 (deo) or 덜 (deol) after 보다 (boda) to make sure everyone knows you're making a comparison. It's completely optional, though. **보다 더 …** boda deo more … than **보다 덜 …** boda deol less … than **보다 더 (boda deo) and 보다 덜 (boda deol) in Korean sentences:** 1\. 한국어가 영어**보다 더** 쉬워요. *(Hangukeo-ga yeongeo-*boda deo* swiwooyo)*Korean iseasier **than** English. 2\. 커피맛은 바렐라맛**보다** **덜** 달아. (keopima-seun barellamad-**boda** **deol** dara) The coffee flavor is **less** sweet **than** the vanilla flavor. ![Korean comparison](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-17-2.jpg "Blog 17-2") ## Tips for Practicing How to Make Comparisons in Korean - **Listen to native speakers**: Pay attention to how people compare things in Korean dramas or podcasts. You'll notice how often 더 (deo),덜 (deol) and 보다 (boda) are used in everyday conversations. - **Practice speaking:** Try making your own sentences with those words out loud. Whether you're comparing your favorite foods, hobbies, or K-pop idols, the more you practice, the easier it will become. - **Use flashcards**: Create flashcards with different comparison structures and practice forming sentences. ## Want to improve your Korean learning even further? Try [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! LingoDeer offers engaging and authentic lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and essential phrases. With our step-by-step guides, you'll learn much more than making comparisons :) LingoDeer makes learning fun but doesn't shy away from advanced grammar—perfect for anyone looking to **learn Korean** effectively. Download LingoDeer from the[ App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or [Google Play ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)now! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Master Japanese Days of the Week the Fun Way 🎶 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-days-of-the-week/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:24:07.000Z Want to learn Japanese days of the week, but feel intimidated by all the different Kanji? Don't worry! With this article (and a catchy little song), you'll learn Japanese days of the week in no time at all. Let's begin! ## Quick Answer: How to Master Japanese Days of the Week the Fun Way 🎶 Japanese weekdays are 月曜日, 火曜日, 水曜日, 木曜日, 金曜日, 土曜日 and 日曜日. Their first kanji provide a useful memory system; learn readings in complete date and schedule phrases. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | Section 1 | A Quick Guide to Japanese Days of the Week | | Section 2 | Learn Japanese Days of the Week through Song 🎵 | | Section 3 | Here's the Full Japanese Music Video for You to Enjoy! | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## A Quick Guide to Japanese Days of the Week In Japanese,曜日 (ようび, youbi) means "day of the week". That's actually the hardest part, because the characters combined with 曜日 (ようび, youbi) are very, very simple: **1\. 日曜日 (にちようび, nichiyoubi, Sunday)** **日 = 🌞** 日 (nichi) literally means "sun" or "day". 日曜日 (nichiyoubi) is associated with the sun. **2\. 月曜日 (げつようび, getsuyoubi, Monday)** **月 = 🌝** 月 (getsu) means "moon" or "month". 月曜日 (getsuyoubi) is associated with the moon. **3\. 火曜日 (かようび, kayoubi, Tuesday)** **火 = 🔥** 火 (ka) means "fire". 火曜日 (kayoubi) is associated with Mars. **4\. 水曜日 (すいようび, suiyoubi, Wednesday)** **水= 💧** 水 (sui) means "water". 水曜日 (suiyoubi) is associated with the planet Mercury. **5\. 木曜日 (もくようび, mokuyoubi, Thursday)** **木= 🌲** 木 (moku) means "wood" or "tree". 土曜日 (mokuyoubi) is associated with the planet Jupiter. **6\. 金曜日 (きんようび, kinyoubi, Friday)** **金= 🏅** 金 (kin) means "gold" or "money". 金曜日 (kinyoubi) is associated with the planet Venus. **7\. 土曜日 (もくようび, doyoubi, Saturday)** 土= 🟫 土 (do) means "soil" or "earth". 土曜日 (doyoubi) is associated with the planet Saturn. ## Learn Japanese Days of the Week through Song 🎵 If you can't (or just don't want to) memorize days of the week by reading or writing them down over and over again, try learning them through fun songs! [Weeeek](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYAvL803fAE&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) by [NEWS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEWS%5F%28band%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is perfect for that. Here are the key lyrics from the song: **明日からまた日月火** (From tomorrow, it's back to Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) **ほら水木まわって金土日曜** (Look, after Wednesday and Thursday come around, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) The lyrics cycle through the days of the week in a fun and rhythmic way. Let's break it down: 1. **明日から (あしたから, ashitakara) - "starting from tomorrow"** - 明日 (あした, ashita) means "tomorrow." - から (kara) is a casual way to say "starting from" or "from." 1. **また (mata) - "again"** 2. **日月火 (にちげつか, nichigetsuka) - "Sunday, Monday, Tuesday"** - 日 (にち, nichi) is short for 日曜日 (にちようび, nichiyoubi). 日曜日 (にちようび, nichiyoubi) can also be shortened to 日曜 (にちよう, nichiyou). - 月 (げつ, getsu) is short for 月曜日 (げつようび, getsuyoubi). 月曜日 (げつようび,getsuyoubi) can also be shortened to 月曜 (げつよう, getsuyou). - 火 (か, ka) is short for 火曜日 (かようび, kayoubi). 火曜日 (かようび, kayoubi) can also be shortened to 火曜 (かよう, kayou). 1. **ほら (hora) - "look" or "see"** - An exclamation to draw attention, often playful. 1. **水木 (すいもく, suimoku) - "Wednesday, Thursday"** - 水 (すい, sui) is short for 水曜日 (すいようび, suiyoubi). 水曜日 (すいようび, suiyoubi) can also be shortened to 水曜 (すいよう, suiyou,). - 木 (もく, moku) is short for 木曜日 (もくようび, mokuyoubi). 木曜日 (もくようび, mokuyoubi) can also be shortened to 木曜 (もくよう, mokuyou). 1. **まわって (まわって, mawatte) - "goes around" or "circles back to"** 2. **金土日曜 (きんどにちよう, kindonichiyou) - "Friday, Saturday, Sunday"** - 金 (きん, kin) is short for 金曜日 (きんようび, kinyoubi). 金曜日 (きんようび, kinyoubi) can also be shortened to 金曜 (きんよう, kinyou). - 土 (ど, do) is short for 土曜日 (どようび, doyoubi). 土曜日 (どようび, doyoubi) can also be shortened to 土曜 (どよう, doyou). ### Here's the Full Japanese Music Video for You to Enjoy! ## Japanese Days of the Week: Comprehensive Table | **English** | **Kanji** | **Hiragana** | **Romaji** | | ----------- | --------- | ------------ | ---------- | | Sunday | 日曜日 | にちようび | nichiyoubi | | Monday | 月曜日 | げつようび | getsuyoubi | | Tuesday | 火曜日 | かようび | kayoubi | | Wednesday | 水曜日 | すいようび | suiyoubi | | Thursday | 木曜日 | もくようび | mokuyoubi | | Friday | 金曜日 | きんようび | kinyoubi | | Saturday | 土曜日 | どようび | doyoubi | ## Japanese Days of the Week: Abbreviated Forms Table | **English** | **Kanji** | **Hiragana** | **Romaji** | | ----------- | --------- | ------------ | -------------- | | Sun. | 日/日曜 | にち/にちよう | nichi/nichiyou | | Mon. | 月/月曜 | げつ/げつよう | getsu/getsuyou | | Tues. | 火/火曜 | か/かよう | ka/kayou | | Wed. | 水/水曜 | すい/すいよう | sui/suiyou | | Thurs. | 木/木曜 | もく/もくよう | moku/mokuyou | | Fri. | 金/金曜 | きん/きんよう | kin/kinyou | | Sat. | 土/土曜 | ど/どよう | do/doyou | ## More Fun Ways to Learn Japanese Days of The Week Looking for another creative way to learn Japanese? Check out the anime [*Sailor Moon*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103369/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), where each Sailor Scout represents a planet corresponding to a day of the week! ![Sailor moon to learn Japanese days of the week](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd-2yNArexjAhzWQu4dxnmncskykzDAZs3R2nTTr_ajkd4K4BQ5nHQJZjobm9NdjDuSWiKv4OmRXrrae0D5H9Rz-nHCgl9oeWa44H_nwBsM06OhjNcwexzBPntWGwz896z7ejkmXJiqUrEFnZ51QwYVB10?key=5QkSL94eFBX8PCpMw1IPzw) Ready for a more interactive way to learn Japanese? Try [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! **LingoDeer** offers engaging and authentic Japanese courses! With fun games, detailed explanations, and cultural insights, it's designed to make your Japanese learning journey more exciting. Download **LingoDeer from the** [**App Store**](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **or** [**Google Play**](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) now and start learning Japanese! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Tell the Difference Between bisou, bise, and baiser in French! 😘 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/bisou-bise-baiser-in-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T06:47:25.000Z ***Le bisou***, ***la bise***, and ***le baiser*** all seem to mean the same thing–"kiss", right? But there are some differences, and knowing them can help you speak French like a pro! In this post, we will analyze each word with detailed examples. Let's get started! ## **What is *le bisou*?** The word ***le bisou*** is the most common term for "kiss" in casual French. It's often used to describe cute and affectionate kisses with close friends, family members, or romantic partners. ***bisou* in French Example:** - ***Gros bisous!*** Love you, XOXO! (lit. "Big kisses!") - ***Un petit bisou?*** (How about) a little kiss? This word is perfect for showing warmth and friendliness. It's commonly used in everyday French, so if you're sending a text to your special someone or a close friend, don't hesitate to add ***un petit* *bisou***at the end! ## **What is *la bise*?** If you've ever watched French people greet each other, you've likely seen them do ***la bise***, which is the French word for the air kisses exchanged on each other's cheeks as a form of greeting. It's more of a social custom than a sign of affection. ***bise* in French sentences:** - ***On se fait la bise?*** Shall we do the cheek kiss? - ***Une bise pour dire au revoir !*** A kiss to say goodbye! Fun facts: - The number of ***la bise*** depends on the region—some places do two, while others do three or even four! - Men usually don't do ***la bise*** as much. - ***La bise*** is more for family, close friends, and teenagers. Adults and newer acquaintances often skip it, even if they use the informal ***tu***. If you're unsure, just watch what the locals do. When traveling in France, be ready to adjust! ## **What is *le baiser*?** Here's where things get a little tricky! ***Le baiser*** refers to a romantic, passionate kiss—like the kind you might see in a movie. It's more intense than ***le bisou*** and ***la bise***. ***baiser* in French sentences:** - ***Il lui a donné un baiser tendre.*** He gave her a tender kiss. - ***Le film se termine par un baiser passionné.*** The movie ends with a passionate kiss. **Note:** Be careful with ***baiser***! - In modern French, ***le baiser*** is not as commonly used in everyday speech. However, you may still encounter it in literature or more formal contexts. - While ***baiser*** as a noun means "a kiss", its verb form refers to having sex, which has a completely different (and very adult!) meaning. - Using ***baiser*** can lead to misunderstandings if not used carefully, given its two distinct meanings. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer-v2/2024/10/91-1.jpg) ## **When to Use Which Word?** 1\. Use ***le bisou*** when you want to show affection. It's the safest option for most situations! - ***Fais-moi un bisou avant de dormir.*** Give me a kiss before sleep. 2\. Use ***la bise*** when you're greeting someone with a cheek kiss. - ***Je t'envoie mes plus grosses bises !*** Sending you my biggest kisses! 3\. Use the noun ***le baiser*** if you're talking about a romantic, passionate kiss—but remember the word's other meaning! - ***L'amoureux désirait donner un baiser à sa bien-aimée.*** The lover wished to give his beloved a kiss. ## **Practice These Expressions in Context** These words are easiest to learn through real situations. Notice the relationship between the speakers, the region, and whether the kiss is a greeting or an expression of affection. When practicing, avoid treating ***le bisou***, ***la bise***, and ***le baiser*** as interchangeable. Create one example for each social situation so the distinction stays clear. ### Aquí vs Acá: A Guide to Spanish Location Words URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/aqui-vs-aca-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:35.000Z If you're learning Spanish, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the Spanish location words **"aquí"** and **"acá."** Both words translate to "**here**," but have you ever wondered what exactly sets them apart? Why does Spanish have two words for "here"? And to make matters even more intriguing, there are also **"ahí,"** **"allí,"** and **"allá,"** all meaning "**there**." Don’t worry! You’re in the right place to unravel these mysterious Spanish location words! In this blog, we'll guide you through the nuances of **"aquí"** vs **"acá"** andexplain when to use each one. At the end of this blog, we’ll also explore the differences among **"ahí,"** **"allí,"** and **"allá."** So please read with us until the end! Let’s break it down together in a friendly and easy-to-understand way! ## **What’s the Difference Between "Aquí" and "Acá"?** While both **"aquí"** and **"acá"** translate to "here," their usage reveals some subtle yet important differences, particularly in terms of precision and movement. Let’s take a closer look at each word. ### **"Aquí": A Precise Location** "**Aquí**" refers to a specific, exact location—imagine the very spot you’re standing on right now. It’s like saying, “I am right here.” - **Example:** "Estoy aquí en la cafetería." *(I am here in the café.)* ### **"Acá": A General Area** On the other hand, **"acá"** is more general and often conveys a sense of movement or direction toward the speaker. It invites someone to come closer without pinpointing an exact spot, similar to saying “around here” or “come over here.” - **Example:** "Ven acá." *(Come here.)* To truly understand how to use **"aquí"** and "**acá**," or even other Spanish vocabulary, immersing yourself in the Spanish language is key. Engaging with authentic Spanish content will significantly enhance your ability to discern when to use each term. To make the distinction easier, collect examples of *aquí* and *acá* from several Spanish-speaking regions. Notice the speaker’s location, whether movement is implied, and how precise the reference is. ## **How to Use "Aquí"** "Aquí" is the more precise and formal way to say "here" in Spanish. It points to a specific, pinpointed location close to the speaker, making it quite versatile for both formal and informal contexts. **Examples:** 1. **"Estoy aquí en la oficina."** (I am here in the office.) - This sentence conveys a precise location without any movement involved. It emphasizes that the speaker is currently situated at a specific place—the office—indicating both presence and exactness. The use of **"aquí"** highlights the immediacy of the location, making it clear that the speaker is physically at that location. 1. **"Deja tu mochila aquí."** (Leave your backpack here.) - In this example, **"aquí"** is used to direct someone to place their backpack at a specific spot. This sentence points to an exact location where the action should take place, showcasing how **"aquí"** is effective for giving precise instructions. It implies that the speaker is designating a particular area for the backpack to be left. 1. **"Aquí se prohíbe fumar."** (Smoking is prohibited here.) - This phrase is often found in formal contexts, such as signs or official statements. Using **"aquí"** reinforces the location where the prohibition applies, making it clear that smoking is not allowed in that specific area. The formality of the phrase reflects its common usage in written Spanish, particularly in regulations or guidelines, making it suitable for various public spaces. **Common Phrases with "Aquí":** - "Estoy aquí." (I’m here.) - "Quédate aquí." (Stay here.) - "Aquí tienes tu respuesta." (Here’s your answer.) ## **How to use "Acá"** **"Acá"** is also a way to say "here," but it’s more general and often used in contexts that involve movement or direction. It’s widely used in Latin America, especially in more informal situations. **"Acá"** can describe an area near the speaker but isn’t as precise as **"aquí."** **Examples:** 1. **"Ven acá."** (Come here.) - This phrase uses **"acá"** to indicate a movement toward the speaker. It invites someone to approach, suggesting a sense of urgency or immediacy. Unlike **"aquí,"** which emphasizes a specific point, **"acá"** is more about the general area and the action of moving closer. It's commonly used in informal contexts, particularly in Latin American countries, where it conveys a friendly invitation to come closer. 1. **"Por acá todo está tranquilo."** (Around here, everything is calm.) - In this example, **"por acá"** refers to a general location surrounding the speaker. The phrase suggests a broader area rather than pinpointing a specific spot. It conveys a relaxed atmosphere, indicating that the surroundings are peaceful. This expression is often used in everyday conversation to describe the environment in a casual and approachable manner. 1. **"¿Quién vive por acá?"** (Who lives around here?) - This question utilizes **"por acá"** to inquire about residents in the vicinity. It is commonly used in casual speech, especially in Latin American countries, reflecting a conversational tone. The phrase implies familiarity with the area and invites dialogue about the community. By using **"por acá,"** the speaker indicates a general interest in the neighborhood rather than a specific address. **Common Phrases with "Acá":** - "Ven acá." (Come here.) - "Mira acá." (Look here.) - "Por acá." (Around here.) You might have noticed that **"aquí"** and **"acá"** vary regionally. In Spain, **"aquí"** is more commonly used in everyday conversation, while **"acá"** is prevalent in Latin American countries like Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. ## **More Spanish Location Words: "Ahí," "Allí," and "Allá"** Besides **"aquí"** and **"acá",** there are also "ahí," "allí," and "allá," all of which mean “there.” How to use them correctly? Let’s also take a closer look at these Spanish location words. ### **1\. "Ahí" (There, but Nearby)** **"Ahí"** refers to something that is "there," close to the person you’re talking to, but not as close to you. It’s like saying "there" when pointing at something nearby. - **Example:** "El libro está ahí, en la mesa." *(The book is there, on the table.)* - In this example, "ahí" refers to a spot that’s not right in front of you but still within reach. ### **2\. "Allí" (Over There, Specific Location)** **"Allí"** is used to talk about a more distant location, but still within sight. It’s like saying "over there," where you can point to something specific but further away. - **Example:** "Te espero allí, en la esquina." *(I’ll wait for you over there, at the corner.)* - It’s a specific place but not close by. ### **3\. "Allá" (Far Away or General Area)** Finally, **"allá"** refers to a distant location, usually outside the immediate surroundings, or it can indicate a more abstract or broad area. Think of it as "way over there." - **Example:** "Allá en las montañas hace frío." *(Over there in the mountains, it’s cold.)* - "Allá" suggests that the mountains are far away, possibly out of sight or in a general area. ## **Summary of Aquí, Acá and more** Here’s a quick reference chart summarizing these Spanish location words: | **Term** | **Translation** | **Explanation** | | -------- | --------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | **Aquí** | Here | Precise, exact location, close to the speaker. | | **Acá** | Here | General area or motion toward the speaker. | | **Ahí** | There | Near the listener, but not as close to the speaker. | | **Allí** | There | Specific, farther location but within sight. | | **Allá** | Over there | Far away, broad or distant location. | ![The summary of Spanish location words, including aquí, acá, ahí, allí,and allá.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/10/84-1.jpg) ## **Practice Aquí and Acá in Context** Practice *aquí*, *acá*, and other location words with short scenes: describe where an object is, invite someone to move closer, and compare how speakers from different regions phrase the same idea. https://videopress.com/v/eOcKI798?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Next time you need to describe things that are here, there, over there, or even farther away, recall these Spanish location words and incorporate them into your everyday conversation! Related posts: - [Ask for Directions in Spanish: Essential Phrases and Vocabulary for Travelers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/directions-in-spanish/) - [23 Must-Know Spanish Phrases for Navigating the Airport](https://blog.lingodeer.com/23-must-know-spanish-phrases-for-navigating-the-airport/) ### A Beginner's Guide to the German Alphabet URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-german-alphabet/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:30.000Z Learning the alphabet is the first step in learning any new language. Luckily, the German alphabet (*das Alphabet*) shares many similarities with English. But it also has some unique features that are important to understand. So in this guide, we’ll explore the German alphabet, its pronunciation, and helpful tips for mastering it! ## **The Basic Alphabet in German** The German alphabet consists of **26 letters**, just like in English. Here’s a quick overview: | **German Letter** | **Phonetic Spelling** | **Example Word** | | ----------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- | | A | ah | Apfel (apple) | | B | beh | Bruder (brother) | | C | tseh | Computer (computer) | | D | deh | Deutschland (Germany) | | E | eh | Elefant (elephant) | | F | eff | Freund (friend) | | G | geh | Gitarre (guitar) | | H | hah | Haus (house) | | I | ee | Insel (island) | | J | yot | Jahr (year) | | K | kah | Katze (cat) | | L | ell | Lampe (lamp) | | M | em | Mutter (mother) | | N | en | Nacht (night) | | O | oh | Ohr (ear) | | P | peh | Park (park) | | Q | kuh | Quiz (quiz) | | R | err | Rose (rose) | | S | ess | Sonne (sun) | | T | teh | Tisch (table) | | U | oo | Uhr (clock) | | V | fau | Vogel (bird) | | W | veh | Wasser (water) | | X | iks | Xylophon (xylophone) | | Y | ypsilon | Yoga (yoga) | | Z | tset | Zahn (tooth) | ## **Pronunciation Differences Between German and English** While many letters in the German alphabet sound familiar, some have different pronunciations compared to English. Let's check the key ones with audio: - **C**: Pronounced like "ts," as in ***Celsius***. - **J**: Sounds like "y," as in ***Jahr*** (year). - **U**: Pronounced like "oo," as in ***Uhr*** (clock). - **V**: Pronounced like "f," as in ***Vater*** (father). - **W**: Sounds like "v," as in ***Wasser*** (water). - **Y**: Pronounced like “i”, as in ***Yoga*** (yoga). - \* **Y**: Also pronounced like “u”, as in **typisch** (typical). - **Z**: Pronounced like "ts," as in ***Zahn*** (tooth). ## **Special Characters in the German Alphabet: Umlauts and Eszett** One unique aspect of the German alphabet is its special characters, namely the **Umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü)** and the **Eszett (ß)**. ### **Umlauts in German** [Umlauts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umlaut%5F%28diacritic%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Umlaut%20%28%2F%CB%88%CA%8Aml,%2C%20and%20%5B%CA%8F%5D%29.) are modified vowels that change the sound of the letter: - **Ä**: Sounds like “e” in bed, as in ***spät*** (late). - **Ö**: This is a tricky one, probably the most difficult German umlaut, because it doesn’t really exist in English. So, let’s just check the audio for the example word: ***Löwe*** (lion). - **Ü**: A rounded version of “u,” as in ***üben***(practice) ### **Eszett (ß) in German** The[ Eszett](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9F?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=The%20letter%20%C3%9F%20%28also%20known,used%20in%20any%20other%20language.), known as the sharp S, is pronounced like a double “s.” It’s typically found in words like *Straße* (street) and is never used at the beginning of a word. Here are some examples of German words containing **ß**: *Straße* (street) *Fuß* (foot) *weiß* (white) *Spaß* (fun) *Maßnahmen* (measures) In informal contexts, especially on social media, you might see the letter **ß** replaced by "**ss**." This substitution simplifies typing and may be seen in usernames or hashtags. For example, *Straße* might appear as *Strasse*. However, this is not grammatically correct in formal writing and can change the meaning of words, so use each form appropriately. ![The 30 letters and special characters used in the German alphabet](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/10/87-alphabet-1.jpg) ## **Learning Tips for the German Alphabet** To effectively familiarize yourself with the German alphabet, here are some practical tips: 1. **Listen and Repeat**: Engage with audio resources, like recordings of native speakers pronouncing the alphabet, to help you grasp the distinct sounds of both vowels and consonants. [This helpful YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axQGCdGCjAk&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a great resource for learning the pronunciation of the German alphabet! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axQGCdGCjAk 1. **Practice with Words or Expressions**: Read simple German words aloud, focusing on the pronunciation of each letter. Watching [German movies and TV series](https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-5-essential-german-tv-series-of-2024/) can also improve your listening skills and pronunciation. Replay short passages, repeat key expressions, and compare your pronunciation with the speakers. 2. **Flashcards**: Create flashcards featuring each letter along with example words. This visual aid can accelerate your memorization of sounds. 3. **Language Apps**: Apps such as [**Duolingo**](https://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [**Babbel**](https://www.babbel.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and [**Anki**](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) offer interactive exercises that can support German alphabet practice. Use them alongside focused listening and speaking practice. ## **Conclusion** The German alphabet sets the foundation of your German language journey. Put some effort into the special characters and pronunciation differences from English, and you’ll soon find [learning German is actually fun](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-language-facts/)! Related posts: - [Counting in German: A Friendly Guide to German Numbers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/counting-in-german-a-friendly-guide-to-german-numbers/) - [Top 5 Essential German TV Series of 2024](https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-5-essential-german-tv-series-of-2024/) - [German Articles “Der,” “Die,” and “Das”: a Quick Guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-articles-der-die-and-das-a-quick-guide/) ### 6 Tips to Improve Your Academic English Writing URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/6-tips-to-improve-your-academic-english-writing/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:26.000Z Struggling with academic English writing? Whether you're at university, a research institute, or participating in a professional forum, mastering academic writing is essential for academic success. Don’t be overwhelmed—here are six practical tips to improve your academic writing skills and express your ideas with clarity and confidence. ## **1\. Understand the Structure of Academic Writing** Academic writing follows a clear, consistent structure to guide readers through your argument. Typically, academic works include these sections: - **Introduction**: Briefly introduce the topic, ending with your thesis statement. - **Body paragraphs**: Each paragraph should focus on one key idea, supported by evidence and analysis. - **Conclusion**: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis. Before you start writing, it’s always good to create an outline to organize your thoughts. This ensures clarity and flow in your writing. For inspiration, check out [TeacherVision's sample outlines](https://www.teachervision.com/writing/sample-essay-outlines?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). **Tip from Baby Bear**: To deepen your understanding of **academic writing**, consider online courses like: - [**Future Learn**](https://www.futurelearn.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Free courses on essay writing and research. - [**Coursera**](https://www.coursera.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Paid courses on academic writing. ### **2\. Use Formal and Precise Language in Academic Writing** Effective academic English writing should always be formal and precise. Here are key guidelines: - **Avoid slang and colloquial expressions**: Replace informal phrases like "gonna" or "cool" with formal equivalents. - Example: Instead of "This idea is cool," say "This concept is innovative." - **No contractions**: Use full forms instead of contractions. - Example: Write "do not" instead of "don’t." - **Be specific**: Avoid vague terms like "things" or "a lot of." Use specific terms such as "factors" or "numerous." - **Use academic phrases**: Incorporate formal phrases to present arguments, such as: - "It can be argued that..." - "The evidence suggests..." - **Avoid first-person language**: Instead of writing "I believe," write objectively. - Example: Replace "I believe this theory is important" with "This theory is significant because..." - **Prioritize clarity**: Avoid overly complex words. For instance, replace "utilize" with "use" when appropriate, and "ameliorate" with "improve." - **Use formal transition words**: Improve the flow of your writing with transitions like: - Adding ideas: "Furthermore," "Moreover" - Contrasting: "However," "In contrast" - Concluding: "Thus," "Therefore" ## **3\. Support Your Arguments with Evidence in Academic Writing** In academic writing, providing evidence is crucial. Support your claims with reliable sources, such as books, academic journals, or reputable websites. Ways to incorporate evidence include: - **Quoting**: Using exact words from a source. - **Paraphrasing**: Restating information in your own words. - **Summarizing**: Condensing the main points. For example: Original: "Students who read for pleasure develop stronger language skills." Paraphrase: According to Smith (2021), students who engage in recreational reading tend to have better language proficiency. **Tip from Baby Bear**: Always cite your sources properly to maintain academic integrity. ## **4\. Follow Style Guidelines for Grammar and Formatting in Academic Writing** Different fields follow specific grammar and formatting guidelines. Common style guides include: - [**APA (American Psychological Association)**](https://www.apa.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Popular in psychology, business, and social sciences. - [**MLA (Modern Language Association)**](https://www.mla.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Common in liberal arts, especially in literature and language studies. - [**Chicago Manual of Style**](https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Often used in history and business writing. Check with your institution or professor to confirm the preferred guide for your field. ## **5\. Edit and Proofread Your Academic Writing Thoroughly** Even the best writers need to edit and proofread. After completing your first draft, step away before revising. Upon returning, review for clarity, coherence, and structure. Watch for: - Run-on sentences or fragments - Misused punctuation - Grammatical errors (subject-verb agreement, verb tense) - Word choice issues Use tools like[ Grammarly ](https://www.grammarly.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)or ask a peer to review your paper. A fresh perspective can catch errors you may have overlooked. ## **6\. Read Regularly to Improve Your Academic Writing** To enhance your academic English writing, immerse yourself in reading academic works regularly. Here are some great resources: - [**JSTOR**](https://www.jstor.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): A vast database of academic journals. - [**Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)**](https://doaj.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Browse free articles by subject. When you need a break from academic texts, read a different genre such as a short story, feature article, or well-edited news report. Broader reading can help you notice tone, transitions, and sentence patterns without abandoning regular English practice. ![Six tips for improving academic English writing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/10/89-1.jpg) ## **Conclusion** Improving your academic English writingtakes time, but with practice and attention to detail, you can significantly boost your skills. By applying these six tips, you'll be well on your way to writing with confidence and precision. Related posts: - [15 Polite Ways to Send a Friendly Reminder Email in Business](https://blog.lingodeer.com/15-polite-ways-to-send-a-friendly-reminder-email-in-business/) ### 10 Scary Thai TV Series to Watch This Halloween (and Improve Your Thai!) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/scary-thai-tv-series/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:14.000Z Watching Thai TV series is a fun and immersive way to improve your Thai skills. With Halloween just around the corner, if you're in the mood for some scary vibes while practicing your Thai, we’ve got you covered! So, grab your favorite snacks and let’s explore some of the best Thai TV series to enjoy this Halloween and boost your Thai skills! ## Quick Answer: 10 Scary Thai TV Series to Watch This Halloween (and Improve Your Thai!) Thai series can motivate sustained listening practice. Use scenes as short study units, notice recurring expressions and speech levels, and verify colloquial language before reuse. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | Must-Watch Scary Thai TV Series | | Section 2 | 1\. In Family We Trust (2018) Rating: 8.2/10 | | Section 3 | 2\. The Gifted (2017) Rating: 8.1/10 | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## Must-Watch Scary Thai TV Series ### 1\. [In Family We Trust](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8929906/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2018) Rating: 8.2/10 ![Learn Thai with movie - In Family We Trust](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfPVASmUnJXSnQ8zjFT82LWB2pveIIU6pbyWVdHUMgXeAWcQFDCp9gWKjESgEfnEpJF4g_oUS4ocPXRCEwDbfR0RAY2F7MXWIe48M_X1MzFq6a_4Kh1kL07uuaM3aC9EvD3jEd-AfxLthXP-JEWDepkOYE?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** This murder mystery follows a wealthy family whose secrets threaten to tear them apart. While it leans more toward thriller than horror, it’s packed with drama and tension. The formal speech used by the family members makes it a fantastic way to practice the polite form of Thai. **Thai learning tip:** Pay attention to the contrast between formal language used by the older characters and the casual speech of the younger generation. It’s a helpful way to understand when and how formal and informal Thai are used in real-life situations. ### 2\. [The Gifted](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9136312/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2017) Rating: 8.1/10 ![Learn Thai with Thai movie - The Gifted](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdbI12UC7wZec-QRtqniH1ZInbspqFDjjv-F9TTzFhncy6eAoCtFQnew0Gk8bSfYf43O1XncM5JVcL3N0yzv_rWZrButAiiOaBDVZJphAl_V5rgCMxMj4_YKo4sG6Kce5jgEWlxVxBCQHRQUOkdeoupxjYB?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** A high school class discovers their supernatural powers, but with great power comes great responsibility—and mystery. This series blends supernatural themes with everyday school life, making it perfect for learners looking to pick up useful classroom Thai vocabulary. **Thai learning tip:** This is a great series to focus on imperative verbs and commands, as characters often give orders or instructions related to their powers. ### 3\. [Shadow](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21954524/plotsummary/?ref%5F=tt%5Fov%5Fpl&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2023) Rating: 7.8/10 ![Learn Thai with Thai movie -Shadow](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXehXfdWAfxaTRFTyzTvmhzxI6D0aghaOPf_i-jaJ8CMKZ7Eso6WTwErfRTFbZ7X42Addn_e8h-z9M13qpoRpyPzhprk4v1frjNNpAYyrsrFdbpMIfzTpKgh0Z4HVU9WOyXtWn8pe1Q0vOygHZHFpNNVziI?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** Set in 1999, this thriller follows Dan, a high school student plagued by sleep paralysis and mysterious dreams after transferring to an all-boys Catholic school. As Dan and his friends dig into the disappearance of a former student, supernatural events unfold… Ideal for **intermediate learners**, the mix of conversational and formal Thai dialogue will keep you on your toes. **Thai learning tip:** The series offers a rich blend of conversational Thai, formal speech, and psychological dialogue, making it ideal for intermediate learners who want to immerse themselves in suspenseful narratives while improving their language skills. ### 4\. [Girl from Nowhere](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8824648/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2018) Rating: 7.6/10 ![Learn Thai with Thai movie - Girl from Nowhere](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdphOcLlS1XJnbXLuyDu1GfRCVPwRXRcO-9kDmY3ftaYiQAoZF-4OjPOp6Dw5eMaDT78_qr4YXsu80hgHGumIexBLSfPXmyhLBv-Pe_clYrfnuw801OCrBty0IRLqrca_qwlUl699nqA7602Ys6q9RbkIs?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** A mysterious girl named Nanno transfers from school to school, exposing the hidden secrets of both students and teachers. This chilling TV series not only keeps you on edge but also immerses you in real-life Thai conversations. Nanno’s sharp wit and biting remarks make for an intriguing Thai learning experience, where you can pick up modern Thai slang and everyday expressions. **Thai learning tip:** Listen closely to the different Thai accents and tones used by the characters—it’s a great way to practice understanding regional Thai dialects! ### 5\. [Bangkok Ghost Stories](https://mydramalist.com/58463-bangkok-ghost-stories-the-series-rescuer?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2018) Rating: 7.6/10 ![Learn Thai with Thai movie - Bangkok Ghost Stories](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdazWNKaGHVS3-40hWu8sl5wwSOiygG3TmA2nthj2OfzcFIxMLl1rxtzrDSK9i2HToJuV5ZimlxwilSjzRCdaytDg2UzER5cXmaYQX9mcOwZhQs1ApFmQOALnRHm83YQ2slczh6tWYzbIs-SiSm-MNjncXs?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** This series brings various ghost stories to life in Bangkok. Each episode unveils a different supernatural tale, perfect for fans of short and creepy stories. With modern Thai conversation throughout, it’s a great resource for learners wanting to practice contemporary Thai conversation! **Thai learning tip:** Focus on how the characters react to scary situations and the tones and expressions used when surprised. This can be useful when learning how to express emotions in Thai. ### 6\. [ThirTEEN Terrors](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5040974/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2014) Rating: 6.8/10 ![Learn Thai with movies - ThirTEEN Terrors](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdciu0Aw36bhWRST6VAQxsBgRa7b-R9-s74fEENlg_Z4llCIRoFgbvKX4GyNUmsCRkxVYPhlqMGBwKVQT5NvprLKnlHQIpqDAXT3O01GGz6Q36AxaHX802tf3ZNDjWo-1J524Qlf02_0kitrRnX3mOGIyq6?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** If ghost stories intrigue you, this school-based horror series is a must-watch. Each episode features a new ghostly encounter, letting you practice listening to different characters deal with supernatural situations. Plus, the use of high school slang makes it a fun way to learn informal Thai. **Thai learning tip:** There is a Film and TV section on LingoDeer, where you can reinforce your knowledge. Download LingoDeer to start your Thai learning journey! ### 7.[ Let’s Fight Ghost ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14168868/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)(2021) Rating: 6.7/10 ![Learn Thai with a movie - Let's Fight Ghost ](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcsKQMcNlOu45EXBZyONMPXINPhiOREMBeGmKZtXeZgE9rRo8z3rjaExIGEYQwR7aLOVPneVPhKdQo2QHvT15dejq1Pd5YWC1etbNlglHRqrJG3_N3o8nuUwQ9bbSinOmqncOU5YsVfCrVarTyZ315T2a6J?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** Follow a ghost-hunting exorcist and his spirit companion as they guide lost souls to peace. This horror TV series isn’t only light and fun but also rich in colloquial Thai, making it great for learners. Expect lots of humorous dialogues and casual expressions, perfect for those practicing everyday Thai. **Thai learning tip:** You’ll pick up lots of ghost-related vocabulary (ผี, "phi" = ghost), which might come in handy during Halloween conversations in Thailand! ### 8\. [The Judgment](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8866904/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2018) Rating: 6.6/10 ![Learn Thai with a movie - The Judgment](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfsMNldhYRiIp0ke-zqO7vf9t3mX0f-JMVXc1EOxVpkQSaYjfVsgcPLuqXe-sqRamgYgE1wKnojd0SjWCfBpEb8UR2MhSKqLahbpjnWB6zQ6SfgQrSoqFPd6q2JSGGu-vq-1bMbqLba-tQKctIYoE6vpaUF?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** This drama follows a high school student’s quest for revenge after a life-changing event. Full of conversational Thai, especially the kind you’d hear among young people in school settings, it’s a useful series for anyone wanting to improve conversational Thai skills. **Thai learning tip:** Pay attention to how the characters deal with intense emotional moments. It's an excellent way to pick up Thai expressions for describing feelings like anger, sadness, and frustration. ### 9\. [The Stranded](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9310400/?ref%5F=nv%5Fsr%5Fsrsg%5F0%5Ftt%5F8%5Fnm%5F0%5Fin%5F0%5Fq%5FThe%2520Stranded%2520&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2019) Rating: 6.2/10 ![Learn Thai with a movie - The Stranded](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdGwDFG0iaYX5th4J3A758sP3MnUNxBbP2283y1gTJSeUfzFzG42p_wpX0qOTJikcQosMGu7ysHIhUzPOeDLPn8R_EzKlSWzOZtBpTKvAFQNiytLfMqMPMSYdas7tlDEn0fzVESFwwdrxXK1dUnYvglqyE?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** A group of students is stranded on a remote island after a tsunami hits. While the supernatural mysteries will keep you hooked, this series is packed with natural conversational Thai that can enhance your listening skills. From rebellious teens to authority figures, you'll hear a range of formal and informal speech, giving you well-rounded exposure to the language. **Thai learning tip:** Pay attention to the survival-related Thai vocabulary and phrases. They’re super useful if you're learning Thai words related to emergencies! ### 10\. [Sleepless Society](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10805822/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (2019) Rating: 6.0/10 ![A scene from the Thai series Sleepless Society](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdk_GpFHFRvy1-FhjIGH6pokzXsj_IZYso84CRKmP1RKKBemw5aubroyIG7LoXCatUXXfa6LAf_dDWUD38O-JKwAExsauOp5G1a6KHYlljgVa0JEgMCh2Zd8igkj7CYvbXPYpOlrjdZrjnAcPBP1R0YF8PB?key=zXqTxKTsqxX-m-n-t-iw9w) **What is this TV series about?** Each season of this thriller dives into themes of mental health, betrayal, and supernatural twists. The dramatic conversations offer learners a chance to grasp advanced Thai vocabulary and sentence structures, making it ideal for those seeking a challenge. **Thai learning tip:** This series includes formal and informal Thai, so it’s a great opportunity to practice switching between casual conversation and more serious, professional Thai. ## Level Up Your Thai with These Series! 🎃 These Thai TV series are perfect for Halloween, they’re also a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the Thai language. Each series offers a unique learning opportunity. You can practice formal speech and slang, or expand your vocabulary with supernatural words. **So why not make this Halloween a chilling and educational one?** Start binge-watching, and let the language-learning fun begin! **What Thai TV series are you excited to watch this Halloween?** Share your thoughts in the comments and let us know how you’re using LingoDeer to improve your Thai! ## Learn Thai with LingoDeer Do you know that [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)now offers more languages than Thai? It has Polish now! Download the app from the[ App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and explore now! With LingoDeer by your side, you can boost your vocabulary, improve your listening comprehension, strengthen your grammar knowledge, and even pick up some ghostly phrases! Download the app and explore more! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 9 German Language Facts: Why Learning German Is Fun URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-language-facts/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:56.000Z Are you frustrated with complicated German grammar—like [prefixes](https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-comprehensive-guide-of-german-prefixes/), [suffixes](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-suffixes-for-nouns-definition-examples/), or all those [conjugations](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-coordinating-conjunctions/)? Maybe you're struggling to memorize those long, daunting German words? If you’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed with learning German lately, don’t worry; you’re not alone! But here’s a little reminder: **learning German is fun!** To help reignite your enthusiasm, we’ve gathered **9 fun facts about the German language** that might just remind you of the joy you felt when you first started your journey to learn German. ## 9 Fun Facts About the German Language ### **1\. German Is the Most Common Native Language in the EU** Did you know that German is the most widely spoken native language in the[ European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages%5Fof%5Fthe%5FEuropean%5FUnion?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=All%2024%20official%20languages%20of,is%20the%20most%20commonly%20used.)? What’s more, [Merkel wanted more German spoken in the EU](https://www.euractiv.com/section/languages-culture/news/sprechen-sie-deutsch-merkel-wants-more-german-spoken-in-eu/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! It’s not surprising, with over 100 million native German speakers, it’s the official language of Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein, and one of the official languages of Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. So, if you’re traveling through central Europe, knowing German can go a long way! ### **2\. The Longest Words in German** German is famous for its incredibly long[ compound words](https://blog.lingodeer.com/the-fascinating-world-of-german-compound-words/)! These words are formed by stringing smaller words together to form a giant one, and the results can be both fun and intimidating! For example: - ***Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän*** Translation: "Danube steamboat shipping company captain"Let’s break it down: - **Donau** – The Danube, a major river in Europe. - **Dampf** – Steam. - **Schiff** – Ship or boat. - **Fahrt** – Journey or trip. - **Gesellschaft** – Company or society. - **Kapitän** – Captain. When you put it all together, it refers to the captain of a steamboat company that operates on the Danube River. Another examples is: - ***Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz*** Translation: "Law for the delegation of monitoring beef labeling" Don’t panic! Here’s how it breaks down: - **Rindfleisch** – Beef (literally "cattle meat"). - **Etikettierung** – Labeling or tagging. - **Überwachung** – Monitoring or supervision. - **Aufgaben** – Tasks or duties. - **Übertragung** – Delegation or transfer. - **Gesetz** – Law. This long word describes a specific legal regulation, showing how German combines related concepts into one big word. ### **3\. Unique Letters and Pronunciation in German** When you start learning German, you’ll immediately notice some unique letters that aren’t found in English, such as the **ß** (Eszett), which is used in place of a double “s” in certain words like *Straße* (street). [The umlauts (ä, ö, ü) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic%5Fumlaut?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)are also distinctly German and can completely change the sound and meaning of a word. For example, *schon* (already) becomes *schön* (beautiful) just by adding an umlaut! Want to challenge your German pronunciation? Try saying this tongue twister: **Fischers Fritz fischt frische Fische.** *Translation: "Fisher's Fritz fishes fresh fish."* It’s a fun way to test your skills! For better pronunciation, listen to authentic German from films, interviews, podcasts, or television. Replay short passages, imitate the speaker’s rhythm, and compare your recording with the original. ### **4\. The Connection Between German and English** German and English are like cousins—they’re both part of the Germanic language family, which means they share many similarities. In fact, Many English words actually come from German! Here are a few examples: - **Kindergarten** – Literally translating to "children's garden," this word is now used worldwide to refer to preschool or early childhood education. In German, it evokes the idea of a place where children grow and develop, much like plants in a garden. - **Rucksack** – This is the German word for backpack, combining "Rücken" (back) and "Sack" (bag). English has adopted this term for a type of bag that you carry on your back, especially for outdoor activities like hiking. - **Doppelgänger** – Literally meaning "double-walker" in German, this refers to a lookalike or someone who eerily resembles another person. In English, the word has been fully integrated to describe a person who seems to be a double of someone else. Because of this shared history, English speakers might find it easier to recognize and memorize German words. For instance, **"house"** in English is **"Haus"** in German, and **"hand"** is **"Hand"**—simple, right? ### **5\. Gendered Nouns in German** One quirky aspect of German is its gendered nouns. Every noun is assigned a gender—***der*** for masculine, ***die*** for feminine, and ***das*** for neuter. Sometimes the gender appears intuitive, as with **der Mann** (the man), but it can also be surprising, as with **das Mädchen** (the girl). Even inanimate objects have gender! For example, **der Tisch** (the table) is masculine, while **die Gabel** (the fork) is feminine. It might seem random, but that’s all part of the fun of learning German! ### **6\. Unique German Words Without English Equivalents** As you delve deeper into German, you’ll find words that have no direct English translations. Take **Schadenfreude**, which means pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune, or **Wanderlust**, which describes a strong desire to travel. These words reflect cultural concepts that can be difficult to express in other languages, but they add depth and richness to German.These words can also give you insight into how German speakers view the world. ### **7\. German is the Language of Science and Philosophy** Throughout history, German has been the language of choice for many scientists and philosophers. It’s no wonder, then, that it’s often considered the language of science and philosophy. Famous thinkers like Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, and Immanuel Kant all spoke German, and many of their works were originally written in the language. Even today, German is widely used in academia, especially in scientific research. If you’re interested in philosophy or science, learning German can give you access to a wealth of knowledge! ### **8\. Dialect Diversity of German** Germany isn’t just home to one version of German—it’s filled with diverse dialects! From Bavarian to Swabian to Low German, different regions of Germany have their own unique ways of speaking. These dialects can sound quite different from standard High German (Hochdeutsch) and even have their own vocabulary. Here are a few examples: - **Bavarian Dialect (Bairisch)**: In southern Germany, the Bavarian dialect can vary significantly. A common greeting is **Servus**, meaning "hello" or "goodbye." - **Swabian Dialect (Schwäbisch)**: Spoken in southwestern Germany, Swabian often drops certain sounds. For instance, **Schaffe schaffe, Häusle baue** means "work, work, build a little house." - **Low German (Plattdeutsch)**: Common in northern Germany, Low German differs significantly from High German. For example, **Ik bün** means "I am," compared to **Ich bin** in High German. - **Saxon Dialect (Sächsisch)**: This dialect is characterized by a distinct melodic tone. For instance, **Nu** is a casual way of saying "well," and **Kinner** refers to children. ### **9\. German Punctuation Rules** German has some interesting punctuation rules, especially regarding capitalization. In German, all nouns are capitalized, giving the language a distinct look. For example, in the sentence ***Der Hund ist groß*** (The dog is big), both ***Hund*** and ***groß*** are capitalized because ***Hund*** is a noun. Additionally, German uses more commas than English, often after conjunctions and in long sentences. These little quirks make German writing a bit different from English, but once you’re familiar with the rules, it’s not too difficult to master. ## **Learning German is FUN** The German language is full of surprises, isn’t it? Whenever you feel tired or overwhelmed, pull out this piece to remind yourself of the fun aspects of learning German. There’s always something new and interesting to discover! Do you have any fun facts about German to share? We’d love to hear them in the comments below! ### French Loanwords from English and Other Languages: Understanding Anglicisme URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-loanwords-from-english-and-other-languages/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:50.000Z When we talk about "[anglicisme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicism?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=The%20term%20anglicisme%20is%20often,English%20in%20the%20French%20language.)," we're talking about how English has influenced the French language. This term may carry negative connotations, suggesting an English takeover of French, especially in our globalized world. But is that truly the case? ## **The Truth Behind Anglicisme** While some may argue that French borrowed many words from other languages, particularly [English](https://blog.lingodeer.com/english-words-used-in-french/), is not a new phenomenon. In fact, French has been adopting English terms for centuries, and this process of linguistic exchange is much more nuanced than it may seem at first glance. To understand the history of these borrowings, let's take a closer look at some examples of English loanwords in French, organized by time periods: ### **Before 1700** - **ajourner** (adjourn) - **gentleman** - **groom** - **lord-maire** (lord mayor) - **paquebot** (packet boat) ### **1700-1800** - **anesthésie** (anesthesia) - **pickpocket** - **stick** ### **1800-1900** - **autobiographie** (autobiography) - **bifteck** (beefsteak) - **goal** - **lunch** - **speech** ### **1900-1960** - **autocar** - **bulldozer** - **chewing-gum** - **marketing** - **station service** ### **1960 Onwards** - **audit** - **jogging** - **pesticide** ## **Different Types of Loanwords** Beyond these specific examples, French has also borrowed English meanings for existing words, a process known as **semantic loans**. For instance: - **conventionnel** (originally meaning "traditional") now also means "conventional." - **négocier** (originally meaning "negotiation") has gained the meaning of "fulfillment." Some words even made a full round trip—borrowed by English from French, only to be borrowed back later. For example: - **challenge** - **coach** Then, there’s the phenomenon of literal translations, or [**parodies**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parody?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), where French translates English expressions word-for-word: - **guerre froide** (cold war) - **cols blancs et cols bleus** (white-collar and blue-collar workers) - **homme de la rue** (the man in the street) ## **Why Has Borrowing Increased?** In recent decades, the rate of borrowing from English has accelerated, largely due to English becoming the global language of communication in fields like science, technology, economics, and sports. Its simplicity and imagery make it well-suited for the fast pace of modern society, although this simplicity can sometimes reduce the precision of the language, especially in American English. The term [**franglais**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franglais?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (a mix of French and English) was coined in 1959 by [Étiemble](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9%5F%C3%89tiemble?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), who popularized it in his book *Do You Speak English French?*. Similar hybrids exist in other languages, such as [**Spanglish**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanglish?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (Spanish-English) and[ **Japlish**](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/japlish?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (Japanese-English). But how prevalent are English loanwords in French today? ## **The Numbers: How Much English is in French?** In 1990, a book titled *Dictionary of Anglicisms* recorded fewer than 3,000 English loanwords in French, and many of these were already outdated. By 1998, the number had slightly increased, with estimates suggesting that 4-5% of commonly used French words are of English origin. However, many of these loanwords are confined to specific professional fields and are not part of everyday French conversation. The latest edition of the [*Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française*](https://www.dictionnaire-academie.fr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) lists 38,897 words, of which only 686 (1.76%) come from English, with 51 from American English specifically. Interestingly, French has borrowed more from Italian than from English, with 753 words (1.93%) coming from Italian. Despite public concern about "anglicisme," English loanwords make up a relatively small portion of the French vocabulary. ![A shopping center in La Rochelle, in western France, shows many examples of the English language.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/10/800px-Enseignes_La_Rochelle.jpg) ## **The French Response: Protecting the Language** To maintain the purity of the French language, France passed [**Loi Toubon**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toubon%5FLaw?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in 1993, which restricts the use of foreign loanwords, including anglicisms, in official documents and commercial publications. When it’s necessary to use an English term, it’s often italicized or placed in quotation marks to signal its foreign origin. However, instead of completely resisting borrowed words, French authorities focus on careful selection. [The **Académie Française**](https://www.academie-francaise.fr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), which oversees the French language, plays an important role in this process. They regularly publish French equivalents for foreign terms in the **FranceTerme** database, helping to maintain the integrity of the language while allowing for natural linguistic evolution. ## **Conclusion: A Balanced Approach** While English has certainly influenced French, the actual impact may not be as overwhelming as it seems. Borrowing from other languages is a natural part of linguistic evolution, and as long as it's done thoughtfully, it enriches rather than diminishes a language. The Académie Française continues to guide this process, ensuring that French remains dynamic yet true to its roots. So, next time you see or hear an English word in a French conversation, remember: it’s not an invasion; it’s just a reflection of the ever-changing nature of language! ### German Conjunctions II: 10 Essential Subordinating Conjunctions You Need to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/10-german-subordinating-conjunctions/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:14.000Z In our [previous post ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-coordinating-conjunctions/)German conjunctions, we covered coordinating conjunctions—those simple words that connect clauses without altering the word order. Now, let’s focus on **10 essential subordinating conjunctions** in German that every language learner should know, which are equally important for expressing cause and effect, time, contrast, and more. These conjunctions, however, come with a twist: they affect the word order in German sentences. This post will also introduce you to 10 of the most useful subordinating conjunctions in German, with examples to help you see how they work in practice. ## **What Are Subordinating Conjunctions in German?** Subordinating conjunctions, or *Unterordnende Konjunktionen*, are used to introduce a dependent (subordinate) clause—one that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. This clause is connected to the main clause, creating a full sentence. Unlike coordinating conjunctions, subordinating ones push the verb to the end of the subordinate clause, which can feel tricky for learners at first. ### **Why Are They Tricky?** The main challenge with subordinating conjunctions is getting used to the word order change. In German, when you use a subordinating conjunction, the verb in the dependent clause moves to the end. This is different from English, but with practice, it will soon feel natural. ## **10 Must-Know Subordinating Conjunctions in German** Let’s break down some of the most frequently used subordinating conjunctions, with examples to guide you through their usage. **1\. weil / da (because)** *One of the most common *subordinating conjunctions* in German is 'weil,' meaning 'because.' You'll frequently use this when explaining reasons in *German sentences*.Weil* is more common in spoken language, while *da* is slightly more formal. - **Example 1**: *Ich bleibe zu Hause, *weil* ich müde bin.*(I’m staying home because I’m tired.) - **Example 2**: **Da* es regnet, gehen wir nicht spazieren.*(Since it’s raining, we’re not going for a walk.) **2\. dass (that)** *Dass* introduces a subordinate clause to express feelings, opinions, judgments, thoughts, knowledge, or indirect speech. - **Example**: *Ich hoffe, *dass* du bald kommst.*(I hope that you come soon.) **3\. obwohl (although)** *Obwohl* is used to express contrast or contradiction. - **Example**: **Obwohl* es kalt ist, gehen wir schwimmen.*(Although it’s cold, we’re going swimming.) **4\. wenn (if/when)** *Wenn* can mean "if" for conditions or "when" for repeated events or general situations. - **Emple 1**: **Wenn* es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause.*(If it rains, we stay home.) - **Exmple 2**: **Wenn**er kocht, hört er immer Musik.(When he cooks, he always listens to music.) **5\. als (when/as)** *Als* is used for one-time events in the past. - **Example**: **Als* ich ein Kind war, lebten wir in Berlin.*(When I was a child, we lived in Berlin.) **6\. bevor (before)** *Bevor* indicates that something happens before another action. - **Example**: *Ich esse, *bevor* ich zur Arbeit gehe.*(I eat before I go to work.) **7\. während (while)** ***Während*** can express that two actions happen simultaneously or contrast two ideas. - **Example 1**: *Während ich esse, lese ich ein Buch.*(While I eat, I read a book.) - **Example 2**: *Er ist reich, während sie arm ist.*(He is rich, while she is poor.) **8\. solange (as long as)** *Solange* expresses duration, meaning "as long as." - **Example**: **Solange* du hier bist, fühle ich mich sicher.*(As long as you’re here, I feel safe.) **9\. damit (so that)** *Damit* is used to express purpose or intention. - **Example**: *Ich lerne Deutsch, *damit* ich in Deutschland arbeiten kann.*(I’m learning German so that I can work in Germany.) **10\. bis (until)** *Bis* indicates that an action will continue up to a certain point. - **Example**: *Warte, *bis* ich zurückkomme.*(Wait until I come back.) ![10 Subordinating Conjunctions in German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/10/82-1-2.jpg) ## **Key Differences Between Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions** Now, let’s recall the coordinating conjunctions, and quickly review the key differences between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. - **Coordinating Conjunctions**: These do not change the word order; the verb stays in its usual position. - **Example**: *Ich gehe ins Kino und er geht ins Theater.*(I’m going to the cinema, and he’s going to the theater.) - **Subordinating Conjunctions**: These change the word order by moving the verb to the end of the subordinate clause. - **Example**: *Ich gehe ins Kino, weil ich Zeit habe.*(I’m going to the cinema because I have time.) ### **How to Identify Conjunction Types** A simple trick to distinguish between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions is to observe the word order. If the verb stays in its original position, you’re dealing with a coordinating conjunction. If the verb moves to the end, it’s subordinating. ## **Common Mistakes When Using Subordinating Conjunctions** Even advanced learners can get tripped up by subordinating conjunctions. So, don’t worry! Here are some common mistakes to watch out for: 1. **Confusing *wenn* and *als*** - Use *wenn* for repeated events in the past or present, and *als* for one-time events in the past. - **Example**: **Wenn* ich in Berlin bin, besuche ich das Museum.*(When I’m in Berlin, I visit the museum.) - **Example**: **Als* ich in Berlin war, besuchte ich das Museum.*(When I was in Berlin, I visited the museum.) 1. **Misplacing the Verb** - Be careful, with subordinating conjunctions, the verb always moves to the end of the clause. - **Wrong**: *Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich *bin müde*.* - **Correct**: *Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich *müde bin*.* ## **Conclusion** Subordinating conjunctions are an essential tool for expressing complex ideas in German, from cause and effect to time and contrast. While the word order shift may seem challenging at first, with practice, you’ll soon get used to it! Also, don’t forget to Check out our[ guide on coordinating conjunctions](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-coordinating-conjunctions/) for a complete understanding of how they differ from subordinating conjunctions in German. ### German Conjunctions I: 10 Basic Coordinating Conjunctions URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-coordinating-conjunctions/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:55.000Z When learning German, mastering conjunctions is crucial for improving fluency and logically conveying ideas. Understanding how to use conjunctions can add color and depth to your conversations and writing, making your German sound more natural. In this guide, we’ll explore basic **coordinating conjunctions**—the keywords that hold sentences together without altering word order. ## **What Are Conjunctions?** Simply put, [**conjunctions**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjunction%5F%28grammar%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) are words that link other words, phrases, or clauses together. Both in German and English, conjunctions are essential for combining thoughts and ensuring the smooth flow of ideas. In German, conjunctions are categorized into two main types: 1. [**Coordinating Conjunctions**](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/German/Grammar/Coordinating%5Fconjunctions?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **(Nebenordnende Konjunktionen)**: These connect words or clauses of equal grammatical value, meaning they do not affect the sentence's word order. 2. [**Subordinating Conjunctions**](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/subordinating%5Fconjunction?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **(Unterordnende Konjunktionen)**: These introduce dependent clauses and do influence word order. We will cover these in our next blog post, so stay tuned! ## **Coordinating Conjunctions (Nebenordnende Konjunktionen)** Coordinating conjunctions are essential for joining sentences or phrases without worrying about changing the word order. They connect two sentences of equal rank or link two parts of a sentence, such as nouns, verbs, or adjectives. Here are five common coordinating conjunctions in German: | **German Word** | **English Translation** | **Example in German** | **Example in English** | | --------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | | und | and | Ich gehe einkaufen **und** er kocht Abendessen. | I go shopping, and he cooks dinner. | | aber | but | Ich will ins Kino gehen, **aber** ich habe keine Zeit. | I want to go to the movies, but I don’t have time. | | oder | or | Willst du Tee **oder** Kaffee? | Do you want tea or coffee? | | denn | because | Ich kann nicht kommen, **denn** ich bin krank. | I can’t come because I am sick. | | sondern | but rather | Ich trinke keinen Kaffee, **sondern** Tee. | I don’t drink coffee, but rather tea. | ### **Key Points** Coordinating conjunctions do not change the word order of the sentences they connect. Each clause maintains the standard German sentence structure: subject, verb, and objects. ## **Multipart Conjunctions (Mehrteilige Konjunktionen)** In German, you will also encounter **multipart conjunctions**, which consist of at least two parts working together to connect clauses. Like coordinating conjunctions, they do not influence word order. These conjunctions are particularly useful for creating complex and nuanced connections between ideas. Here are five common **multipart conjunctions**: | **German Phrase** | **English Translation** | **Example in German** | **Example in English** | | -------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | nicht nur … sondern auch … | not only … but also … | Sie ist **nicht nur** intelligent, **sondern auch** freundlich. | She is not only intelligent but also friendly. | | zwar … aber … | although … | Es ist **zwar** kalt, **aber** sonnig. | Although it’s cold, it’s sunny. | | sowohl … als auch … | both … and … | Er spricht **sowohl** Deutsch **als auch** Englisch. | He speaks both German and English. | | entweder … oder … | either … or … | Du kannst **entweder** das Auto nehmen **oder** mit dem Bus fahren. | You can either take the car or go by bus. | | weder … noch … | neither … nor … | Ich habe **weder** Zeit **noch** Geld. | I have neither time nor money. | ![German conjunctions - coordunating conjunctions & multipart conjunctions](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/10/82-1.jpg) ## **Common Mistakes with German Conjunctions** While coordinating conjunctions are straightforward, if you just started learning German, you might encounter one of the following common mistakes: 1. **Mixing up "aber" and "sondern"**: Use "aber" to contrast any two ideas, while "sondern" is specifically for contrasts following a negation. 2. **Forgetting the word order**: Some learners confuse coordinating conjunctions with subordinating ones. Always ensure that your sentence structure remains unchanged after adding coordinating conjunctions. 3. **Overusing conjunctions**: While conjunctions are essential, avoid overloading your sentences with them. Sometimes, splitting a sentence into two separate ideas can enhance clarity. ## **Conclusion** Mastering coordinating conjunctions in German is a vital step toward achieving more fluid and natural communication. These common German conjunctions will elevate your language skills to the next level of fluency. To become more fluent in German, practice these conjunctions in complete sentences and notice how native speakers connect ideas in everyday speech. Regular listening and writing practice will help the patterns feel natural. ### Ask for Directions in Spanish: Essential Phrases and Vocabulary for Travelers URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/directions-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:44.000Z Traveling to Spanish-speaking countries is both exciting and slightly nerve-wracking, especially when navigating unfamiliar cities! If you don’t speak the language, getting lost can feel daunting. But don’t worry—you’re in the right place! This guide will help you learn Spanish by walking you through essential phrases, key vocabulary, and handy tips to make asking for directions in Spanish a breeze. Let’s dive in! ## **Basic Vocabulary for Directions** Before we jump into specific phrases, let’s go over some key directional words that will be super useful: | **Spanish** | **English** | | ----------- | ----------- | | Izquierda | Left | | Derecha | Right | | Recto | Straight | | Cerca | Near | | Lejos | Far | | Aquí | Here | | Allí | There | | Norte | North | | Sur | South | | Este | East | | Oeste | West | ### **Places and Landmarks** | **Spanish** | **English** | | ---------------- | -------------------- | | Calle | Street | | Esquina | Corner | | Parque | Park | | Hotel | Hotel | | Estación de tren | Train Station | | Centro | Downtown/City Center | ## **Common Phrases to Ask for Directions in Spanish** When you approach someone to **ask for directions in Spanish**, it’s polite to start with a greeting. Here are a few important phrases to note: ### **Starting with Greetings** - **Disculpe/Disculpa** – Excuse me - **Buenos días** – Good morning - **Buenas tardes** – Good afternoon - **Buenas noches** – Goodnight ### **Questions to Ask for Directions** - **¿Dónde está el/la \_\_\_?** – Where is the \_\_\_? - Example: **¿Dónde está el hotel?** – Where is the hotel? - **¿Cómo llego a \_\_\_?** – How can I get to \_\_\_? - Example: **¿Cómo llego al parque?** – How can I get to the park? - **¿Me podría decir dónde está \_\_\_?** – Could you tell me where \_\_\_ is? - Example: **¿Me podría decir dónde está la estación de tren?** – Could you tell me where the train station is? ### **Asking for Clarification** - **¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?** – Could you repeat that, please? - **¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?** – Can you speak more slowly, please? ## **Understanding the Response** Once you've asked your question, understanding the response is key. Here are some common phrases you might hear when someone gives you directions: ### **Basic Directions** - **Siga recto** – Go straight - **Gire a la derecha/izquierda** – Turn right/left - **Está cerca** – It’s nearby - **Está lejos** – It’s far - **Está a la derecha/izquierda** – It’s to the right/left - **Lo verá más adelante** – You’ll see it ahead - **Siga hasta llegar a...** – Keep going until you reach... ### **Landmarks and Reference Points** - **Está al lado de...** – It’s next to... - Example: **Está al lado del supermercado.** (It’s next to the supermarket.) - **Está enfrente de...** – It’s in front of... - Example: **Está enfrente del parque.** (It’s in front of the park.) - **Está detrás de...** – It’s behind... - Example: **Está detrás de la iglesia.** (It’s behind the church.) - **Está entre...** – It’s between... - Example: **Está entre la farmacia y el banco.** (It’s between the pharmacy and the bank.) ### **Distances** - **Está cerca** – It’s close - **Está a unos cinco minutos.** – It’s about five minutes away. - **Es a 10 minutos caminando.** – It’s a 10-minute walk. - **Está muy lejos.** – It’s very far. ### **Using Public Transportation** - **Tome el autobús número...** – Take the bus number... - **Bájese en la próxima parada.** – Get off at the next stop. - **Necesita tomar el metro.** – You need to take the metro. - **La estación de tren está por allá.** – The train station is over there. ### **Other Helpful Responses** - **No hace falta caminar, está demasiado lejos.** – There’s no need to walk; it’s too far. - **Debería preguntar a alguien más.** – You should ask someone else. - **Es mejor que tome un taxi.** – It’s better if you take a taxi. ## **Sample Conversations** Now, let’s see how this plays out in real-life situations with a couple of sample conversations. **Scenario 1: Asking for a Restaurant** **Traveler:** Perdón, ¿dónde está el restaurante más cercano? *(Excuse me, where is the nearest restaurant?)* **Local:** Siga recto y gire a la derecha en la próxima calle. *(Go straight and turn right at the next street.)* **Scenario 2: Asking for the Train Station** **Traveler:** Disculpe, ¿cómo llego a la estación de tren? *(Excuse me, how can I get to the train station?)* **Local:** Está lejos, debe tomar un taxi. *(It’s far; you should take a taxi.)* ## **In Summary…** Let’s keep these five essential phrases in mind for **asking for directions in Spanish** before you go! (Audio is also attached!) 1\. **¿Dónde está...?** (Where is...?) 2\. **¿Sabe dónde está...?** (Do you know where... is?) 3\. **¿Cómo llego a...?** (How do I get to...?) 4\. **¿Hay una... por aquí?** (Is there a... around here?) 5\. **¿Me puede decir cómo llegar a...?** (Can you tell me how to get to...?) ## **Conclusion** Do you feel more confident about asking for directions in Spanish now? When you ask for directions, remember to stay polite, and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if needed. Before your trip, practice these phrases aloud and role-play common situations such as asking for a station, hotel, or landmark. Listening to native-speaker examples can also help you recognize the phrases when locals respond. https://videopress.com/v/0xz5VkO3?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true ### Korean Negation: How to Say 'No' and 'Not' in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-negation/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:16:40.000Z When you start learning Korean, one of the most important skills is learning how to express negation—in other words, how to say “no” or “not.” Luckily, Korean negation is relatively simple once you understand the basic forms. ## Quick Answer: How is negation expressed in Korean? Korean uses several negative patterns. 아니다 negates identity, 안 before a predicate gives common short negation, -지 않다 creates a longer form, and 없다 expresses nonexistence or lack. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------- | | 아니다 | is not | | 안 / -지 않다 | does not | | 없다 | does not exist / have | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the main **negative forms in Korean**: 1. **아닙니다 (anibnida)** 2. **안 (an) + Verb** 3. **\-지 않습니다 (ji anseumnida)** 4. **없습니다 (eopseumnida)** Each one has its specific uses, but don’t worry – by the end of this blog, you’ll be ready to incorporate these negation forms into your Korean conversations! ## 5 Main Ways to Express Negation in Korean ### 1\. 아닙니다 (Anibnida): How to Say “Is Not” in Korean **아닙니다** is a formal way to say that something is **not something else**. This form is specifically used with nouns and is often heard in formal or polite settings. #### Structure: - **저는 학생이 아닙니다.** *(Jeoneun haksaeng-i anibnida.)* **Translation:** I am not a student. Here, “학생” means “student,” so you’re literally saying “I not student am.” - **이것은 책이 아닙니다.** *(Igeoseun chaeg-i anibnida.)* **Translation:** This is not a book. The word “책” means “book,” so here you’re saying, “This is not a book.” In both examples, **아닙니다** fits well when you need to express Korean negation in formal or polite settings, especially when negating nouns. It’s a straightforward way to say that one thing simply is not another thing! ### 2\. 안 (An) + Verb: Casual Korean Negation for Actions When negating actions, **안** is used before the verb to express "not" in casual settings. It’s a common way to negate verbs in daily conversation, especially among friends. #### Structure: The structure is simple: **안 + Verb Stem + Polite 요 Ending** 1. Start with the verb in its dictionary form. For example: - 하다 (to do) - 먹다 (to eat) - 보다 (to watch) 2. Remove **다** from the verb to get the stem: - 하다 → 하 - 먹다 → 먹 - 보다 → 보 3. Add the appropriate **요** ending for polite speech: - 하 + 요 → 해요 - 먹 + 어요 → 먹어요 - 보 + 아요 → 봐요 4. Place **안** before the verb to make it negative: - 안 해요 (don’t do) - 안 먹어요 (don’t eat) - 안 봐요 (don’t watch) This makes **안 + Verb** a super easy way to negate an action in casual settings. For a more detailed guide on verb conjugation, check out[ this article](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/)! #### Sentence Examples: - **저는 운동을 안 해요.** *(Jeoneun undong-eul an haeyo.)* **Translation:** I don’t exercise. Here, **안** comes right before **해요** (to do), turning it into “don’t do.” - **그 사람은 일을 안 해요.** *(Geu sarameun il-eul an haeyo.)* **Translation:** That person doesn’t work. - **저는 영화를 안 봐요.** *(Jeoneun yeonghwa-reul an bwayo.)* **Translation:** I don’t watch movies. ![안 (An) + Verb: Casual Korean Negation for Actions](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-15-2.jpg "Blog 15-2") ### 3\. -지 않습니다 (-Ji Anseumnida): Formal Negation for Actions and Descriptions If you’re looking for a more formal way to negate verbs, **\-지 않습니다** is your go-to! This type of negation is similar to saying “do not” or “does not” in English, but it carries a bit more politeness than **안**. You’ll often see it in more formal settings, such as news reports, business conversations, or polite discussions. #### Structure: **Verb Stem + 지 않습니다** 1. Start with the verb stem, as before: - 하다 → 하 - 먹다 → 먹 - 보다 → 보 2. Add **지 않습니다** to the stem: - 하지 않습니다 (do not do) - 먹지 않습니다 (do not eat) - 보지 않습니다 (do not watch) #### Sentence Examples: - **저는 커피를 마시지 않습니다.** *(Jeoneun keopi-reul masiji anseumnida.)* **Translation:** I do not drink coffee. - **그 영화는 재미있지 않습니다.** *(Geu yeonghwa-neun jaemiitji anseumnida.)* **Translation:** That movie is not interesting. ![-지 않습니다 (-Ji Anseumnida): Formal Korean Negation for Actions and Descriptions](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-15-1.jpg "Blog 15") This form is best for sounding respectful while using **negative forms in Korean**. For a deeper dive into verb conjugation and negation, visit[ this helpful guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/)! ### 4\. 없습니다 (Eopseumnida): Saying “There Isn’t” or “I Don’t Have” Lastly, let’s talk about **없습니다**! This negation form means “there isn’t” or “do not have” and is used specifically with nouns. It’s perfect for expressing the absence or lack of something in a polite and formal way. #### Sentence Examples: - **저는 돈이 없습니다.** *(Jeoneun don-i eopseumnida.)* **Translation:** I don’t have money. - **이 방에는 창문이 없습니다.** *(I bang-e changmun-i eopseumnida.)* **Translation:** There isn’t a window in this room. #### Why Use 이/가 instead of 을/를? In **없습니다** sentences, **이** or **가** are used with nouns to indicate the subject or topic of the sentence. You may wonder why **을** or **를** aren’t used here. This is because **이/가** particles highlight the presence or absence of the subject (such as "money" or "window") itself, rather than the action done to it. **을/를** would typically be used when the noun is the object of an action rather than the main subject. For more details on **이/가** , **을/를** and more particles, check out[ this comprehensive guide on Korean particles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-particles/). ## Why These Forms of Korean Negation Matter When learning **Korean**, understanding **negation** is crucial. Here’s why each form matters: - **아닙니다**: Essential for negating nouns, perfect for formal conversations. - **안 + Verb**: Casual and widely used, ideal for informal chats with friends. - **\-지 않습니다**: Adds a respectful tone, making it suitable for work or polite social situations. - **없습니다**: Perfect for expressing what you don’t have or what doesn’t exist in a respectful way. ## Tips for Practicing Korean Negation - **Watch Korean Dramas**: Try to hear how these negation forms are used naturally in conversations. This will help reinforce their usage. - **Practice with Language Partners**: Try out these structures with Korean-speaking friends or through language exchange platforms. - **Use a Language App**: Apps like [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) offer interactive exercises for **beginner Korean** learners, covering **Korean conjugation**, **negation**, and much more. Learning to say “no” or “not” in Korean is an important step in achieving fluency. With these forms of negation, you’ll be able to express yourself confidently in Korean conversation! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 16 Useful French Conversation Phrases for Everyday Situations URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/useful-french-conversation-phrases/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:15.000Z Learning French doesn’t have to be overwhelming—quite the opposite! Whether you’re planning a trip to France, chatting with French-speaking friends, or simply learning for fun, mastering a few essential French conversation phrases can make all the difference. With just a handful of these common expressions, you’ll be able to confidently navigate everyday conversations in French. In this post, we’ve gathered **16 useful French phrases** to help you communicate more easily. Ready to start speaking French with confidence? Let’s dive in! --- ## **Greetings and Polite Expressions** Politeness is a big deal in French culture, and it all starts with greetings. Here are some must-know French conversation phrases for greeting people and being polite: **1\. Bonjour (Good morning / Hello)** Probably the most popular and well-known French word, right? “Bonjour” is the go-to greeting in both formal and informal situations. > *Example: “*Bonjour*! Comment ça va ?” (Hello! How are you?)* **2\. Salut (Hi / Bye)** "Salut" is a casual greeting used between friends or people of the same age group. It can also be used to say a friendly “bye.” > *Example: “*Salut*, à bientôt !” (Hi, see you soon!)* \* More tips for these two phrases, check out the[**French lesson**](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-5ZXHOBQCS/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) **given by Emily**! **3\. Merci (Thank you)** “Merci” is one of those essential French phrases that you’ll need all the time. When you are buying something or receiving a favor, expressing gratitude is key. > *Example: “*Merci* beaucoup !” (Thank you very much!)* **4\. De rien (You’re welcome)** Whenever someone says "merci," it's polite to reply with "de rien," which means "you’re welcome." > *Example: “Merci pour ton aide. — *De rien* !” (Thanks for your help. — You’re welcome!)* --- ## **Asking for Help or Directions** When you're traveling in France or exploring a new city, knowing how to ask for help or directions is crucial. These French conversation phrases will help you get the assistance you need: **5\. Excusez-moi (Excuse me)** Use this polite phrase to get someone’s attention or to excuse yourself in a crowded place. > *Example: “*Excusez-moi*, où se trouve la gare ?” (Excuse me, where is the train station?)* **6\. Où est… ? (Where is…?)** This phrase is a lifesaver when you’re trying to find something, be it a restaurant, hotel, or any other place you need to reach. > *Example: “*Où est* le restaurant ?” (Where is the restaurant?)* **7\. Comment dit-on… en français ? (How do you say… in French?)** If you’re learning French and unsure how to say something, this phrase will be incredibly helpful. > *Example: “*Comment dit-on* ‘apple’ *en français* ?” (How do you say ‘apple’ in French?)* --- ## **Common Courtesy Questions** Being polite in any language is important, and French is no exception. These questions will help you make a great impression during your conversations: **8\. Comment ça va ? (How are you?)** This simple phrase is perfect for starting a conversation. It’s the French equivalent of “How are you?” > *Example: “Salut ! *Comment ça va* ?” (Hi! How are you?)* **9\. Ça coûte combien ? (How much does it cost?)** Whether you’re shopping or dining out, knowing the price is essential. This is a key French phrase for travelers. > *Example: “*Ça coûte combien* cette robe ?” (How much is this dress?)* **10\. Pouvez-vous m'aider ? (Can you help me?)** When you need assistance, this polite phrase will help you ask for help, whether it’s for directions, advice, or anything else. > *Example: “*Pouvez-vous m'aider* à trouver cette rue ?” (Can you help me find this street?)* --- ## **Expressing Likes, Dislikes, and Opinions** Expressing your preferences is a key part of any conversation. Use these useful French conversation phrases to share what you like, dislike, or think about something: **11\. J'aime… (I like…)** Whether you’re talking about food, places, or hobbies, this phrase is perfect for expressing what you enjoy. > *Example: “*J'aime* la cuisine française.” (I like French food.)* **12\. Je n'aime pas… (I don’t like…)** On the flip side, use this phrase when talking about things you don’t like. > *Example: “*Je n'aime pas* le froid.” (I don’t like the cold.)* **13\. C’est génial ! (That’s great!)** Use this phrase to show enthusiasm or excitement about something amazing. *Example: “Tu as réussi ton examen ? *C’est génial* !” (You passed your exam? That’s great!)* --- ## **Essential Responses** These short but essential responses will keep your conversations flowing smoothly. You’ll be using these phrases daily: **14\. Oui / Non (Yes / No)** Two of the most basic yet important words in any language. You’ll use “oui” and “non” constantly in French conversations. > *Example: “Tu viens avec nous ? — *Oui* !” (Are you coming with us? — Yes!)* **15\. Je ne sais pas (I don’t know)** Sometimes you don’t have all the answers, and that’s okay! Use this phrase when you’re unsure about something. > *Example: “Où est la pharmacie ? — *Je ne sais pas*.” (Where is the pharmacy? — I don’t know.)* **16\. D'accord (Okay / Alright)** “D'accord” is a super useful phrase for agreeing with someone or giving approval. You’ll find yourself using this often in conversations. > *Example: “Tu veux qu’on parte maintenant ? — *D'accord*.” (Do you want to leave now? — Okay.)* --- ## **Conclusion** Feeling more confident in your French-speaking abilities? These 16 useful French conversation phrases will help you start, maintain, and enjoy everyday conversations with ease. Remember, practice is key! The more you use these phrases, the more natural speaking French will feel. To improve your French conversation skills, practice these phrases in pairs: ask a question, give a natural response, and then change one detail. Repeating short exchanges helps the expressions become easier to retrieve in real conversations. ### 8 Free Resources to Help You Succeed in Learning Spanish URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/8-free-resources-to-help-you-succeed-in-learning-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:28.000Z Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, but learning Spanish can be challenging. Fortunately, there are many free resources available that make studying Spanish engaging, convenient, and accessible. Below are 8 excellent **free resources** to help you on your journey to learn Spanish for free, regardless of your proficiency level. ## **Websites & Apps for Learning Spanish** ### **1.**[ **Duolingo**](https://www.duolingo.com/learn?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Duolingo is a popular, gamified app perfect for beginners who want to learn Spanish. Its bite-sized lessons make studying fun and interactive, focusing on vocabulary, common phrases, and grammar. As you progress, you'll earn points, unlock new levels, and stay motivated with daily goals. While Duolingo is great for getting started, it may not lead you to fluency on its own. However, it’s an excellent tool for beginners looking to build a strong foundation in Spanish in a fun, approachable way. ### **2\.** [**SpanishDict**](https://www.spanishdict.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) SpanishDict is more than just a dictionary; it’s a comprehensive resource that offers grammar lessons, verb conjugation tools, and interactive quizzes. You can use it to look up translations, listen to native pronunciations, and deepen your understanding of complex grammar points. This resource is ideal for learners who want a detailed dive into Spanish grammar. Although it’s not structured like a traditional course, SpanishDict is a great companion for learners at all levels who need extra help with vocabulary and grammar. ### **3\.** [**BBC Languages**](https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) BBC Languages provides a collection of free Spanish learning materials, including audio, video, and text-based lessons. The platform covers a variety of levels and introduces cultural insights, making it a well-rounded resource for those who want to learn Spanish for free. Although BBC Languages isn’t regularly updated, the content remains useful, especially for beginners and intermediate learners. It’s an excellent option for those who want to improve their Spanish while learning about Spanish-speaking cultures. ## **Podcasts for Learning Spanish** ### **4\.** [**SpanishPod101**](https://www.spanishpod101.com/?src=blog%5Farticle%5Fpodcasts%5Fspanish&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) SpanishPod101 is a podcast-style learning platform that offers lessons for all proficiency levels. The lessons cover grammar, vocabulary, and real-life conversations, often enriched with cultural insights. The free version of SpanishPod101 provides access to many lessons, though some features are behind a paywall. It’s a fantastic option for learners who enjoy listening to native speakers and want to learn Spanish on the go. Listen on: [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learn-spanish-spanishpod101-com/id270572701?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/4m4Wa8PJOZrRkgc5HBrp8h?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### **5\.** [**News in Slow Spanish**](https://www.newsinslowspanish.com/latino?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) News in Slow Spanish is a podcast designed for Spanish learners at all levels. The show discusses current events in Spanish, spoken slowly and clearly to help listeners improve their comprehension. It is available in two versions: one focusing on European Spanish and the other on Latin American Spanish, allowing learners to choose their preferred dialect. The podcast also includes grammar and pronunciation tips, seamlessly integrated into the discussions. While some content is available for free, premium features are locked behind a paywall. This podcast is a great choice for learners who want to practice listening to real-life Spanish in a more manageable format. ## **YouTube Channels for Learning Spanish** ### **6\. Spanish Storytelling Videos** Short Spanish storytelling videos can be useful for A1–A2 learners. Choose videos with clear narration, replay them to identify key vocabulary, and summarize the story afterward to check comprehension. If you’re interested in audiobooks, choose material close to your current level and listen more than once. First follow the main idea, then replay short sections while checking the text and noting useful expressions. ### **7\.** [**Butterfly Spanish**](https://www.youtube.com/@ButterflySpanish?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Butterfly Spanish is a popular YouTube channel hosted by a native Spanish teacher. The channel covers a wide range of topics, from basic vocabulary to advanced grammar. The instructor breaks down complex concepts in a simple and engaging manner, making learning Spanish less intimidating. Although it’s not organized like a traditional course, Butterfly Spanish is perfect for visual learners who prefer in-depth explanations and interactive videos. ### **8\.** [**Dreaming Spanish**](https://www.youtube.com/@DreamingSpanish?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Dreaming Spanish is a YouTube channel that uses comprehensible input to teach Spanish naturally. The videos are entirely in Spanish, using visual cues and context to help you understand without needing to translate every word. The content is graded from beginner to advanced levels, making it accessible for learners at any stage. This channel is a fantastic resource for those who prefer full immersion. However, it may take some time to adjust if you’re used to traditional methods with a heavy grammar focus. ## **Conclusion** Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, these free resources offer something for every type of learner. Feel free to mix and match these tools to find the perfect combination for you! Consistent practice is key, so pick a couple of resources and start building your Spanish skills today. ### 20 Korean Conversation Phrases You Can Use Right Now! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/20-korean-conversation-phrases/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:17:26.000Z Download [다시-말해-주세요.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/dasi-malhae-juseyo-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: Which Korean phrases are most useful for beginners? Prioritize greetings, thanks, apologies, introductions, location and price questions, requests for help and short reactions. Learn the Hangul, pronunciation, politeness level and situation together. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------- | | Courtesy | 안녕하세요, 감사합니다 | | Questions | 어디예요?, 얼마예요? | | Help | 도와주세요 | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Learning Korean is exciting and rewarding, especially if you're planning to travel, meet Korean-speaking friends, or explore Korean culture. One of the fastest ways to start using a new language is by mastering key phrases for daily interactions. In this blog, we’re sharing **20 simple Korean conversation phrases** that you can put to use immediately and sound more confident when speaking. Of course, they are **with audio**! If you’re not familiar with Hangul (the Korean alphabet) yet, don’t worry! We’ve got a great resource for you. Check out[ this blog post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hangul/) to learn Hangul quickly, it’ll make these phrases much easier to remember and use. Now, let's jump into some useful phrases! --- ### 1\. 안녕하세요! (Annyeonghaseyo!) - **Meaning**: Hello! - This is a friendly and polite way to greet someone, no matter the time of day. - **Example**: "**안녕하세요**! 오늘 기분이 어때요?" (Hello! How are you feeling today?) ### 2\. 감사합니다. (Gamsahamnida.) - **Meaning**: Thank you. - An essential phrase for showing gratitude in Korean. - **Example**: "도와주셔서 **감사합니다**." (Thank you for your help.) ### 3\. 죄송합니다. (Joesonghamnida.) - **Meaning**: I’m sorry. - A polite way to apologize, even for small mistakes. - **Example**: "늦어서 **죄송합니다**." (I’m sorry for being late.) ### 4\. 제 이름은 \_\_\_ 입니다. (Je ireumeun \_\_\_ imnida.) - **Meaning**: My name is \_\_\_. - A basic yet important introduction phrase when meeting new people. - **Example**: "제 **이름은** 수미**입니다**." (My name is Sumi.) ### 5\. 어디예요? (Eodiyeyo?) - **Meaning**: Where is it? - Super helpful for asking directions. - **Example**: "화장실 **어디예요**?" (Where is the bathroom?) ### 6\. 얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?) - **Meaning**: How much is it? - Use this phrase to ask the price when shopping in Korea. - **Example**: "이거 **얼마예요**?" (How much is this?) ### 7\. 괜찮아요. (Gwaenchanayo.) - **Meaning**: It’s okay. / I’m okay. - A polite way to say "no thanks" or to reassure someone. - **Example**: "**괜찮아요**, 걱정하지 마세요." (It’s okay, don’t worry.) ### 8\. 좋아요. (Joayo.) - **Meaning:** It’s good. / I like it. - Use this to express that you find something good or enjoyable. - **Example:** "이 영화 정말 **좋아요**!" (This movie is really good!) ### 9\. 도와주세요! (Dowajuseyo!) - **Meaning**: Please help me! - Use this when you need urgent help. - **Example**: "길을 잃었어요, **도와주세요**!" (I’m lost, please help me!) ### 10\. 맛있어요! (Mashisseoyo!) - **Meaning**: It’s delicious! - Compliment the food you're eating with this phrase, commonly used after a great meal. - **Example**: "김치가 정말 **맛있어요**!" (The kimchi is really delicious!) ### 11\. 보고 싶어요. (Bogo sipoyo.) - **Meaning**: I miss you. - A heartfelt way to express that you miss someone. - **Example**: "친구들, 너무 **보고 싶어요**." (I miss my friends so much.) ### 12\. 천천히 말해 주세요. (Cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo.) - **Meaning**: Please speak slowly. - Perfect for when you’re still getting the hang of **conversational Korean**. - **Example**: "**천천히 말해 주세요**, 한국어가 아직 어려워요." (Please speak slowly, Korean is still hard for me.) ### 13\. 잘 모르겠어요. (Jal moreugesseoyo.) - **Meaning**: I don’t understand. - Use this when you didn’t quite catch something. - **Example**: "무슨 뜻인지 **잘 모르겠어요**." (I don’t understand what it means.) ### 14\. 영어 할 수 있어요? (Yeongeo hal su isseoyo?) - **Meaning**: Can you speak English? - A helpful question for beginners who might still need help communicating. - **Example**: "**영어 할 수 있어요**?" (Can you speak English?) ### 15\. 뭐 해요? (Mwo haeyo?) - **Meaning**: What are you doing? - A common question to start casual conversations with friends. - **Example**: "지금 **뭐 해요**?" (What are you doing right now?) ### 16\. 몇 시예요? (Myeot siyeyo?) - **Meaning**: What time is it? - Great for when you need to ask the time. - **Example**: "지금 **몇 시예요**?" (What time is it now?) ### 17\. 네 / 아니요 (Ne / Aniyo) - **Meaning**: Yes / No - Simple but essential phrases for everyday conversations. - **Example**: "이거 좋아요?" "**네**!" (Do you like this? Yes!) ### 18\. 실례합니다. (Sillyehamnida.) - **Meaning**: Excuse me. - Use this when you need someone’s attention or to politely move past them. - **Example**: "실례합니다, 지나갈게요." (Excuse me, I’ll pass by.) ### 19\. 잘 자요. (Jal jayo.) - **Meaning**: Good night. - A friendly way to say goodnight before going to bed. - **Example**: "**잘 자요**, 내일 봐요." (Good night, see you tomorrow.) ### 20\. 다시 말해 주세요. (Dasi malhae juseyo.) - **Meaning**: Please say it again. - If you didn’t hear something clearly, don’t be shy to ask for repetition! - **Example**: "**다시 말해 주세요**, 잘 못 들었어요." (Please say it again, I didn’t catch it.) --- ### Start Using These Korean Phrases Today! Now that you’ve learned these 20 essential Korean conversation phrases, it’s time to put them into practice.These expressions will make speaking Korean more comfortable and natural for you, regardless of whether you're traveling, meeting new people, or just starting out. If you're ready to take your Korean learning even further, check out [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! The app is designed to make language learning fun, interactive, and effective. Download LingoDeer today at [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and keep building your Korean skills with confidence! ![Practice korean with LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog14-1.png) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 15 Polite Ways to Send a Friendly Reminder Email in Business URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/15-polite-ways-to-send-a-friendly-reminder-email-in-business/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:18.000Z Waiting for a response to an important business email can sometimes be a little awkward, especially when you need to send a reminder. You don’t want to come across as impatient or rude, but at the same time, you don’t want your message to get lost in a crowded inbox… The key is to strike the right balance between being polite and professional while prompting a timely response. We'll explore **15 polite ways to send a friendly reminder email**. These phrases will help you gently nudge your boss, clients, or colleagues to reply, while maintaining a formal tone in your business emails. ## **1\. “Just Wanted to Follow Up on My Previous Email”** This is a simple, direct reminder email that works well in most business scenarios. It’s polite and to the point, making it a great choice when you just need a quick follow-up. **Example:**"*Just wanted to follow up on my previous email to check if you had a chance to review it.*" ### **2\. “I Would Like to Kindly Remind You About My Previous Email”** This phrasing is a bit more formal and is suitable for professional environments. It emphasizes politeness while gently reminding the recipient of your last business email. **Example:**"*I would like to kindly remind you about my previous email regarding \[topic\].*" ### **3\. “I Hope This Email Finds You Well. Could You Kindly Take a Moment to Check My Last Email?”** Starting with a warm greeting adds a personal touch to your reminder. This phrase is useful when you want to maintain a friendly tone in your formal email without sounding too urgent. **Example:**"*I hope this email finds you well. When you have a moment, could you kindly check my last email regarding \[topic\]?*" ### **4\. “Just Checking In to See If You Had a Chance to Look Over My Email From Last Week”** This slightly more casual approach works well when the matter isn’t time-sensitive. It still keeps the reminder email polite while feeling conversational. **Example:**"*Just checking in to see if you’ve had a chance to look over my email from last week about \[subject\].*" ### **5\. “I Understand You Are Busy, But I Wanted to See If There’s Any Update on My Previous Email”** Acknowledging the recipient’s busy schedule shows respect for their time while gently asking for a response. This is ideal when you want to send a formal reminder email without coming across as impatient. **Example:**"*I understand you’re busy, but I wanted to check if there’s any update on my previous email about \[project/task\].*" ### **6\. “Following Up on My Email, I Would Appreciate Any Updates You Could Share”** This is a polite way to follow up on a request in your business email. It signals that you’re open to any updates they may have without putting too much pressure on them. **Example:**"*Following up on my previous email, I’d appreciate any updates you could share regarding \[subject\].*" ### **7\. “Could You Kindly Confirm If You Received My Previous Email?”** Emails can sometimes get lost in busy inboxes. This is a polite way to confirm that your email was received while serving as a subtle reminder that you're awaiting a reply. **Example:**"*Could you kindly confirm whether you received my email sent on \[date\] about \[topic\]?*" ### **8\. “I Would Greatly Appreciate It If You Could Confirm Whether My Email Reached You”** This is another formal email phrasing that asks for confirmation while maintaining a respectful tone. It’s especially useful when you’ve waited a while without receiving a response. **Example:**"*I would greatly appreciate it if you could confirm whether my previous email reached you.*" ### **9\. “Could You Please Let Me Know If My Last Email Is Still Under Consideration?”** If you’re awaiting a decision or feedback, this thoughtful reminder gives the recipient a chance to let you know if more time is needed. It’s a respectful approach in formal business emails. **Example:**"*Could you please let me know if my last email is still under consideration? Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.*" ### **10\. “I Would Appreciate Any Update You Can Provide Regarding My Previous Email”** This formal yet professional way of asking for a status update is ideal for following up on a request or project in your business emails. **Example:**"*I would appreciate any update you can provide regarding my previous email about \[topic\].*" ### **11\. “Could You Please Provide an Update on the Status of My Request?”** This phrase is excellent for situations where you’re waiting for specific information or a decision. It’s direct while maintaining a polite and professional tone in your business email. **Example:**"*Could you please provide an update on the status of my request for \[subject\]?*" ### **12\. “I Hope Everything Is Going Well. Could You Kindly Review My Previous Email?”** This phrase adds a friendly touch while reminding the recipient to review your last email. It’s an effective way to send a gentle reminder email while keeping a warm and polite tone. **Example:**"I hope everything is going well. When you have a moment, could you kindly review my previous email about \[topic\]?" ### **13\. “Just Wanted to Ensure My Last Email Wasn’t Missed”** This subtle reminder works well when you suspect that your email may have been overlooked. It’s polite and helpful in situations where you think the recipient might not have seen your email. **Example:**"*Just wanted to ensure that my last email wasn’t missed. Please let me know if you need any further information.*" ### **14\. “I’d Like to Follow Up and See If You Need Any Further Information from Me”** Offering additional help or information in your reminder email can encourage a faster response. This phrase shows that you’re proactive and ready to assist. **Example:**"*I’d like to follow up on my previous email and see if you need any further information from me to move forward*." ### **15\. “Could You Kindly Provide an Estimated Time Frame for a Response?”** When timing is critical, this phrase allows you to request a response while giving the recipient flexibility. It’s perfect for time-sensitive matters in formal business emails. **Example:**"*Could you kindly provide an estimated time frame for a response regarding \[subject\]?*" You no longer feel awkward or uncomfortable when sending reminder emails, do you? With the right tone and carefully chosen words, you can send a polite follow-up email that gently nudges your recipient without sounding impatient or rude. Whether you're reminding clients or following up with your boss, these 15 phrases can help you craft a professional and friendly reminder email. Remember, the key to a successful reminder email is politeness, respect for their time, and clarity in your request. With these tips, your formal emails will leave a positive impression while ensuring you get the response you need! ### Self-Introduction in Spanish: Introduce Yourself Confidently URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/self-introduction-in-spanish-introduce-yourself-confidently/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:10.000Z Introducing yourself in Spanish is a fantastic way to break the ice and open the door to deeper conversations. Whether you’re meeting new friends, networking, or traveling, knowing how to introduce yourself clearly can significantly boost your confidence. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/72-1.jpg) Now, let’s dive into today’s topic! We’ll guide you through essential phrases and tips to confidently introduce yourself in Spanish. Are you ready for your Spanish journey? Let’s get started! ## **Key Vocabulary for Self-Introduction** Before we jump into the key phrases, here are some important vocabulary words you’ll need for your Spanish introduction: - **Nombre** (Name) - **País/Ciudad** (Country/City) - **Edad** (Age) - **Trabajo** (Job/Occupation) - **Intereses** (Interests) ## **Key Phrases for Self-Introduction in Spanish** Now, let’s put the vocabulary into sentences that you can use for your self-introduction in Spanish: - **Hola, me llamo \[Your Name\].**(Hello, my name is \[Your Name\].) - **Soy de \[Your Country/City\].**(I am from \[Your Country/City\].) - **Tengo \[Your Age\] años.**(I am \[Your Age\] years old.) - **Trabajo como \[Your Occupation\].**(I work as \[Your Occupation\].) - **Mis intereses son \[Your Interests\].**(My interests are \[Your Interests\].) By combining these sentences, you can now introduce yourself in Spanish! For example, if your name is Maria, you’re from New York, you’re 28 years old, you work as a teacher, and you enjoy painting and hiking, you would say: “Hola, me llamo Maria. Soy de Nueva York. Tengo 28 años. Trabajo como profesora. Mis intereses son la pintura y el senderismo.” ## **Formal vs. Informal Self-Introduction in Spanish** It’s important to note that self-introductions in Spanish can vary across different Spanish-speaking cultures. In many countries, using formal language is appreciated, especially in professional settings or when addressing elders. For example, when speaking to someone you don’t know well or in a formal context, you might say: **"Hola, me llamo \[Your Name\]. Es un placer conocerle."**(Hello, my name is \[Your Name\]. It’s a pleasure to meet you.) In more casual settings, feel free to use informal language with peers or friends! ## **More Sample Introductions in Spanish** Here are a few more examples to help you visualize how to combine these phrases for your Spanish introduction: ### **Formal Example:** “Hola, me llamo Ana. Soy de México. Tengo 30 años. Trabajo como ingeniera. Mis intereses son la tecnología y la música. Es un placer conocerle.” (Hello, my name is Ana. I am from Mexico. And I am 30 years old. I work as an engineer. My interests are technology and music. It's a pleasure to meet you.) ### **Informal Example:** “¡Hola! Soy Carlos, de Argentina. Tengo 25 años y soy estudiante. Me encanta jugar al fútbol y escuchar música.” (Hi! I'm Carlos, from Argentina. I'm 25 years old and I'm a student. I love playing soccer and listening to music.) Learning to introduce yourself in Spanish is a valuable skill that can help you kick-start your Spanish learning journey! Remember to keep practicing and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—it's all part of the learning process! Watching [Spanish movies and dramas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-5-must-watch-spanish-tv-series-in-2024/) can also enhance your understanding of self-introduction in Spanish and how it varies in different Spanish-speaking countries. With these phrases and tips, you’ll feel more confident introducing yourself in Spanish. Are you ready to give it a try? Start practicing today and take your first step toward mastering the Spanish introduction! ### Directions in French: A Comprehensive Guide for Travelers URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/directions-in-french-a-comprehensive-guide-for-travelers/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:43.000Z When you're exploring the charming streets of Paris or venturing through other French-speaking regions, knowing how to ask for and understand directions in French is essential. Not only will this skill help you navigate with confidence, but it will also deepen your connection to the culture and people around you. In this blog, we’ll guide you step-by-step through how to learn French directions with ease—from essential vocabulary to practical phrases and real-life examples. If you're ready to feel confident and never get lost in a French-speaking country again, let's dive in! ## **Basic Vocabulary for Directions in French** To get started, let’s cover the foundational words you need to know when talking about French directions. These terms will be key when asking for and understanding how to get around. Here are some essential French direction terms: **Left**: Gauche **Right**: Droite **Straight ahead**: Tout droit **Turn**: Tourner **Intersection**: Carrefour ![Basic Directions in French](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/70-1.jpg) Along with these direction terms, you’ll often use **these prepositions** when asking for directions: **In front of**: Devant **Behind**: Derrière **Next to**: À côté de **Near**: Près de ![Propositions used for showing directions in French](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/70-2.jpg) These words form the core of any directions in French you’ll be using as you explore new places. ## **Phrases for Asking Directions in French** Now that you’ve mastered some basic vocabulary, it’s time to learn how to ask for directions in French. Here are some of the most common phrases: - **Où est...?** \= Where is...? - **Comment puis-je aller à...?** \= How do I get to...? - **Est-ce loin?** \= Is it far? - **Pouvez-vous me montrer...?** \= Can you show me...? To make it easier for you, here are a few practical examples combining these phrases with your French directions vocabulary: - **Où est la gare, s'il vous plaît?** \= Where is the train station, please? - **Pouvez-vous m'indiquer le chemin pour aller à la bibliothèque?** \= Can you show me the way to the library? Tips from Bear: When you're asking for directions, remember that politeness goes a long way. Start with a friendly "Bonjour" before diving into your question! ## **Understanding Directions from Locals** After you’ve asked for **directions in French**, the next step is understanding the reply! Don’t worry—French locals are typically quite helpful and will give simple, easy-to-follow instructions. Here are some common responses you’ll encounter: - **C’est à gauche.** \= It’s on the left. - **Continuez tout droit.** \= Continue straight ahead. - **Tournez à droite après le carrefour.** \= Turn right after the intersection. - **C’est juste à côté de...** \= It’s right next to... Other variations you may hear include: - **Prenez la première à gauche.** \= Take the first left. - **Suivez cette rue jusqu’à...** \= Follow this street until... - **C’est loin / C’est tout près.** \= It’s far / It’s very close. ## **Cardinal Directions: North, South, East, West** While most people stick to street names and landmarks when giving directions, it’s useful to know the cardinal directions in French. Here’s how you say them: **North**: Nord **South**: Sud **East**: Est **West**: Ouest ![Cardinal Directions in French](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/70-3.jpg) Though less common in everyday conversation, you might hear these terms in a formal or geographical context, like: - **La station-service est au nord de la ville.** \= The gas station is north of the city. - **Prenez la route vers l'est.** \= Take the road towards the east. Tip from Bear: Within cities, locals tend to give more specific French directions using “left” (gauche) or “right” (droite) instead of north or south. ## **Keep Practicing Directions in French** By mastering basic vocabulary, learning key phrases, and understanding common responses, you’ll become more confident in giving and receiving directions in French. Before your next trip, practice the dialogues aloud and rehearse how you would respond when someone gives you several steps at once. ![French directions lesson screen with map vocabulary](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/09/IMG_1399.PNGtrim.jpg) ![French directions practice screen with example phrases](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/09/IMG_1401.trim_.jpg) Keep practicing regularly, and giving or following directions in French will gradually become more natural. Let’s get fluent in French together! ### X Ways to Leverage AI to Learn a New Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/ai-language-learning/ Last updated: 2026-09-29T01:20:45.000Z How AI Can Help You Learn a New Language Learning a new language is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Fortunately, advances in artificial intelligence are making language learning more accessible than ever. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the top ways AI can assist you in mastering a new language. Chat with AI Tutors AI-powered chatbots allow you to practice conversational skills in your target language. Apps like Duolingo Bots let you chat in Spanish, French, German, and more. The bots correct your mistakes, recommend vocabulary, and provide a judgment-free way to improve your speaking confidence. Conversing with a chatbot gives you the immersive practice needed to refine your language abilities. Get Feedback from AI Writing Assistants Writing in a new language can be intimidating. AI writing assistants like Grammarly provide instant feedback on your grammar, syntax, spelling, and style. By flagging errors and providing corrections, these AI tools help reinforce proper rules so you can write more fluently. The assistance builds your confidence and improves accuracy. Listen to Text-to-Speech Apps Hearing proper pronunciation goes a long way towards mastering a language. AI text-to-speech apps like NaturalReader allow you to input text and hear it spoken aloud. You can even select different accents and speeds. Listening to passages in the target language helps cement proper pronunciation and cadence in your mind. Use AI-Powered Translation Apps Translation apps like Google Translate utilize AI to offer lightning-fast and accurate translations. While not perfect, they provide a quick way to grasp the essence of a text written in your target language. You can even use the camera translation feature to instantly translate menus, signs, and other texts in the real world. The apps serve as an on-demand interpretation tool. Let AI Be Your Tutor Dedicated language learning apps employ AI in various ways. For example, Duolingo uses AI to analyze your progress and create an adaptive curriculum tailored to your needs. Other apps use AI tutors to provide detailed explanations and give feedback. The AI fills in gaps and keeps you on track in your studies. ## A Summary of AI Language Learning Platforms Text-to-Speech (TTS) One of the most powerful applications of AI in language teaching is Text-to-Speech (TTS). TTS technology converts written text into natural-sounding audio, which can be used to create original audio content for language learners of all levels. There are several TTS synthesis tools available, such as Google Text-to-Speech, Resemble AI, Murf AI and Synthesys, which offer a wide range of voices and languages to choose from. Language teachers can use these tools to create engaging listening materials, including dialogues, stories, and news articles, which can help students improve their listening skills and pronunciation. With the right applications, AI can make language learning more personalized, efficient, and interactive. So don't be afraid to utilize these amazing innovations as you pursue a new language. Your ideal AI tutor is out there! ### Chatbot ChatGPT, Duolingo, Fluenday, and Replika are examples of popular language practice chatbots that utilize AI. Language teachers can use these chatbots as supplementary tools for speaking and writing practice, allowing students to practice their language skills in a controlled and supportive environment. ### Speech Evaluation ELSA Speak, Pronunciation Power, and SpeechAce are examples of popular speech evaluation and feedback tools that utilize AI. ### Grammar checker Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and Ginger AI language learning platforms Lingostar.ai language.com Here are 4 useful ways to leverage ChatGPT to help learn a new language: Practice conversations. Ask ChatGPT to have a natural conversation with you in the language you are learning. It will respond in that language, allowing you to practice speaking and listening. You can correct any errors to further learn. Generate reading materials. Tell ChatGPT Use it as a dictionary. Synonym, allocation dictionary. Example sentences. Correct errors. Get grammar explanations. If you are struggling with a particular grammar concept, ask ChatGPT to explain it to you in simple terms in the language you are learning. This can help clarify confusion. Expanded vocabulary. Tell ChatGPT a concept and ask it to provide a list of 10-20 words and phrases related to that topic in your target language. Learning these vocabulary words helps build fluency. Translation practice. Give ChatGPT a paragraph in English and ask it to translate it into the language you are learning. Then try translating it back to English yourself as practice. Doing two-way translations strengthens language skills. The key with ChatGPT is being very specific in your requests and prompts. It helps if you frame the questions or practice activities around your learning goals and current skill level. With some thoughtful guidance, ChatGPT can be a useful addition to more traditional language learning methods and resources. ### Japanese Studies with LingoDeer User Ally (Français) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-studies-with-lingodeer-user-ally-6a6c8e79366c63000f2e25f3/ Last updated: 2026-09-29T01:20:48.000Z *Learn Japanese with LingoDeer and meet one of our users today!* LD: Parle nous un peu de toi ! **A:** Moi c'est Ally, je suis une française de 26 ans, et je vis et travaille actuellement à Singapour, en tant que juriste dans une grosse entreprise internationale. Mon passe-temps principal en ce moment c'est l'apprentissage de la langue japonaise et j'ai créé un compte Instagram au début du processus (en mai 2019) pour voir ma progression et me donner du courage ! Après une année très intense, j'ai fait pas mal de progrès, donc j'utilise aussi mon compte pour transmettre du positif et donner de l'inspiration aux autres pour commencer à apprendre une langue étrangère ou faire de leur mieux pour continuer à en apprendre une (ou plusieurs) ! Mon message ultime c'est : si vous bossez dur pour, tout est possible : j'en suis la preuve ! LD: Qu'est-ce qui a suscité ton intérêt dans la langue japonaise? **A:** Franchement je ne sais pas, c'est juste arrivé comme ça ! J'ai toujours été attirée par la culture et le pays, comme beaucoup de français, mais je n'avais jamais songé à apprendre la langue un jour. Au début de l'année 2017 je suis tombée sur une chaîne YouTube française qui offrait des cours débutants pour le japonais (*Cours de japonais !* par *Julien Fontanier*), et je me suis laissée happer immédiatement car j'ai réalisé qu'apprendre la langue était en fait possible ! Ça m'a pris presque 2 années entières pour commencer un vrai apprentissage, car je souhaitais d'abord finir mes études, et depuis j'ai toujours été super passionnée ! J'imagine que sur la langue elle-même je peux dire que c'est la combinaison des idéogrammes (kanji), que j'ai toujours voulu apprendre à déchiffrer, et du fait que la langue soit ni nouvelle et différente des deux autres langues que je connais, qui me passionne vraiment. Et en plus j'aime comment la langue sonne et j'adore découvrir les expressions et dictons japonais en chemin ! LD: Dis-nous trois choses que tu veux pouvoir fai re en japonais. Dis-nous pourquoi. **A:** En plus d'atteindre le stade de parler couramment la langue, j'aimerais (1) **être capable de travailler au Japon et utiliser la langue japonaise dans mon travail de tous les jours**, car mon but actuel est de pouvoir aller vivre là-bas, (2) **être capable de lire n'importe quoi et SANS buter sur les kanji**, puisque c'est l'une des choses les plus difficiles avec la langue japonaise et que je veux pouvoir être capable de lire la littérature japonaise, et (3) **être capable de communiquer aisément dans tous les niveaux de langage et de politesse**, puisque encore une fois, maîtriser cela vient avec l'apprentissage du japonais en particulier et est donc un but en soi. **LD: Quelle est ta routine d'étude ? Comment utilises-tu LingoDeer ?** **A:** J'ai des posts détaillés sur mon compte Instagram concernant ma routine générale, mais très simplement je peux dire que j'étudie le japonais à chaque moment de libre de ma journée, et je mets un point d'honneur à étudier la langue ou au moins être en contact avec tous les jours. Selon moi c'est très important. Quand je suis dans les transports et que je n'ai que mon téléphone sur moi, **LingoDeer et LingoDeer+ sont super pratiques pour me permettre de maintenir cette immersion constante**, et j'apprécie particulièrement l'onglet "Fluent Japanese" sur LingoDeer et le contenu pour étudiants intermédiaires/avancés, et les jeux "Word Express", "Memory Castle", "Sea of Verbs" et "Speed Reply" sur LingoDeer+. Généralement quand je passe du temps sur les deux applications je fais une combinaison de ces contenus-là, et c'est toujours satisfaisant car pas toujours facile et toujours challengeant ! Apprendre la langue sous forme de jeu ça a toujours été un de mes crédos car je suis persuadée que ça permet de mieux retenir le vocabulaire et "l'esprit" de la langue, et les applications LingoDeer et LingoDeer+ me permettent vraiment cette immersion naturelle que je recherche. ![Learn Japanese on LingoDeer!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechat-image_20200819011309.jpg) Japanese courses on LingoDeer **LD:** **Qu'est-ce que tu fais quand tu te sens bloquée ou frustrée par le japonais ?** **A:** Invariablement, j'arrête d'étudier quoi que ce soit et je prends juste un de mes bouquins en japonais que j'ai toujours voulu lire (je les ai dans ma bibliothèque justement pour ça) ou bien je regarde ou reregarde un film, drama ou anime japonais. Si je suis vraiment frustrée j'écoute juste mes musiques préférées japonaises. Ça me calme toujours de réaliser que **j'aime toujours la langue**, que je sais déjà beaucoup de choses, et que si je continue à me battre, **j'atteindrais sûrement mes objectifs**. Ça me donne l'inspiration nécessaire pour continuer. Et puis l'art, quels que soient sa forme et son langage, ça guérit tout non ? **\_\_\_\_\_** **Want to be featured in a community story like Ally's and inspire other LingoDeer users? Sign up here and a deer agent will be in touch! We look forward to hearing from you!** ### Japanese Pronunciation URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-pronunciation-import-duplicate/ Last updated: 2026-09-29T01:20:51.000Z | | a-row | i-row | u-row | e-row | o-row | | ------------------ | -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- | | Seion | | | | | | | vowels | あ - a | い - i | う - u | え - e | お - o | | ka-line | か - ka | き - ki | く - ku | け - ke | こ - ko | | sa-line | さ - sa | し - shi | す - su | せ - se | そ - so | | ta-line | た - ta | ち - chi | つ - tsu | て - te | と - to | | na-line | な - na | に - ni | ぬ - nu | ね - ne | の - no | | ha-line | は - ha | ひ - hi | ふ - hu | へ - he | ほ - ho | | ma-line | ま - ma | み - mi | む - mu | め - me | も - mo | | ya-line | や - ya | | ゆ - yu | | よ - yo | | ra-line | ら - ra | り - ri | る - ru | れ - re | ろ - ro | | wa-line | わ - wa | | \*ん - n | | を - wo | | Dakuon ＆ Handakuon | | | | | | | ga-line | が - ga | ぎ - gi | ぐ - gu | げ - ge | ご - go | | za-line | ざ - za | じ - ji | ず - zu | ぜ - ze | ぞ - zo | | da-line | だ - da | ぢ - di | づ - du | で - de | ど - do | | ba-line | ば - ba | び - bi | ぶ - bu | べ - be | ぼ - bo | | pa-line | ぱ - pa | ぴ - pi | ぷ - pu | ぺ - pe | ぽ - po | | Yoon | | | | | | | きゃ - kya | きゅ - kyu | きょ - kyo | しゃ - sha | しゅ - shu | しょ - sho | | ちゃ - cha | ちゅ - chu | ちょ - cho | にゃ - nya | にゅ - nyu | にょ - nyo | | ひゃ - hya | ひゅ - hyu | ひょ - hyo | みゃ - mya | みゅ - myu | みょ - myo | | りゃ - rya | りゅ - ryu | りょ - ryo | ぎゃ - gya | ぎゅ - gyu | ぎょ - gyo | | じゃ - jya | じゅ - jyu | じょ - jyo | ぢゃ - dya | ぢゅ - dyu | ぢょ - dyo | | びゃ - bya | びゅ - byu | びょ - byo | ぴゃ - pya | ぴゅ - pyu | ぴょ - pyo | | | | | | | | | あ - a | い - i | う - u | え - e | お - o | | ----------------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------ | -------------- | ------------ | | "a" in "car" (without stress) | "i" in "joy" | "o" in "food" (without stress) | "e" in "lemon" | "o" in "bot" | | | | | | | | か - ka | き - ki | く - ku | け - ke | こ - ko | | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | "ca" in "card" (without stress) | "ki" in "kiss" (without stress) | "ku" in "kudu" (American accent) | "ca" in "care" (British accent, without stress) | "co" in "coffe" (American accent, without stress) | | | | | | | | さ - sa | し - shi | す - su | せ - se | そ - so | | ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------ | ------------- | -------------------------------- | | "so" in "sorrow" (American accent) | "sh" in "sheet" (without stress) | / | "se" in "set" | "so" in "sorry" (British accent) | | | | | | | | た - ta | ち - chi | つ - tsu | て - te | と - to | | -------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------- | --------------- | --------------- | | "ta" in "Tajikistan" | "che" in "cheese" (without stress) | / | "Te" in "Terry" | "To" in "Toast" | | | | | | | | な - na | に - ni | ぬ - nu | ね - ne | の - no | | ------------- | ---------------- | ------ | -------------- | -------------------------------------- | | "no" in "nod" | "ni" in "bikini" | / | "ne" in "neck" | "know" in "knowledge" (British accent) | | | | | | | | は - ha | ひ - hi | ふ - hu | へ - he | ほ - ho | | ---------------- | ----------------------------- | ------ | -------------------- | ------------------------------ | | "hu" in "hustle" | "he" in "he" (without stress) | / | "he" in "helicopter" | "ho" in "hop" (without stress) | | | | | | | | ま - ma | み - mi | む - mu | め - me | も - mo | | -------------- | -------------- | ------ | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | "ma" in "mama" | "me" in "meet" | / | "me" in "mess" (without stress) | "mo" in "mole" (American accent, without stress) | | | | | | | | や - ya | | ゆ - yu | | よ - yo | | ------------------------------- | | --------------- | | ------------------------------------------------ | | "ya" in "yard" (without stress) | | "Yu" in "Yusuf" | | "yo" in "yolk" (American accent, without stress) | | | | | | | | ら - ra | り - ri | る - ru | れ - re | ろ - ro | | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | | / | / | / | / | / | | | | | | | | わ - wa | | \*ん - n | | を - wo | | ------------------------------------------------- | | ------- | | ------------ | | "wha" in "what" (American accent, without stress) | | / | | "o" in "old" | | | | | | | | が - ga | ぎ - gi | ぐ - gu | げ - ge | ご - go | | ------------------- | ------ | -------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | | "ga" in "Lady gaga" | / | "goo" in "goof" (without stress) | "gue" in "guess" (without stress) | "goa" in "goal" (without stress) | | | | | | | | ざ - za | じ - ji | ず - zu | ぜ - ze | ぞ - zo | | ----------------------------------- | --------------- | ------ | ------------------------------- | -------------- | | "zza" in "bizzare" (without stress) | "Je" in "Jesus" | / | "ze" in "zest" (without stress) | "zo" in "zone" | | | | | | | | だ - da | ぢ - di | づ - du | で - de | ど - do | | ----------------- | --------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | "da" in "darling" | "Je" in "Jesus" | / | "dea" in "endeavor" (British accent, without stress) | "do" in "donut" (American accent) | | | | | | | | ば - ba | び - bi | ぶ - bu | べ - be | ぼ - bo | | ---------------------------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | -------------- | | "bo" in "boxing" (American accent) | "Be" in "Beyoncé" | "boo" in "bamboo" (without stress) | "be" in "bed" (without stress) | "bo" in "bone" | | | | | | | | ぱ - pa | ぴ - pi | ぷ - pu | ぺ - pe | ぽ - po | | -------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | | "pa" in "papa" | "pe" in "peak" (without stress) | "po" in "pool" (British accent) | "pe" in "pet" (without stress) | "po" in "pope" (without stress) | | | | | | | | word 1 | word 2 | compound word | | -------------- | ---------------- | --------------------- | | \- わすれ - LHH | \- もの - LH | \- 忘れ物 - LHHHH | | \- えいご - LHH | \- しけん - LHL | \- 英語試験 - LHHHHL | | \- ヒマワリ - LHLL | \- ようちえん - LHHLL | \- ヒマワリ幼稚園 - LHHHHHHL | | | | | | syllables→ type↓ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | ------------------------------------------ | ----------- | --------- | -------------------- | ----------------------- | -------- | | start high without falling | L(H) | LH(H) | LHH(H) | LHHH(H) | LHHHH(H) | | き spirit | かぜ wind | わたし I | ともだち friend | だいどころ kitch | | | start low, goes high, fall in the particle | | LH(L) | LHH(L) | LHHH(L) | LHHHH(L) | | | やま mountain | おとこ male | おとうと younger brother | さんばんめ the third | | | start high, goes low | H(L) | HL(L) | HLL(L) | HLLL(L) | HLLLL(L) | | か fire | うみ ocean | ホテル hotel | ポップス pops | かとうさん Mr./Mrs. Katou | | | goes high in the middle | | | LHL(L) | LHLL(L) | LHLLL(L) | | | | からい spicy | どようび Saturday | しゃしんてん photo exhibition | | | | | | LHHL(L) | LHHLL(L) | | | | | | せんせい teacher | クリスマス Christmas | | | | | | | LHHHL(L) | | | | | | | おくります present to | | ### 学习法语动词变位的最佳方法 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/1159-2/ Last updated: 2026-09-29T01:20:56.000Z 法语是一门美丽的语言。有些人因为法语的**实用性**而选择学习它，更多的则是单纯被它的**魅力**所征服。可你知道吗？法语也被称为最**严谨**的语言。它因其复杂的语法规则闻名世界：名词皆区分阴阳性，也份单数和复数，因此在句中与形容词、动词组合时，要配合成一定对应的形式，没有任何空子可钻...... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/319649-p9ftfq-918.jpg) 如果你刚开始学习法语，也许可​​以先看这篇文章：[学习法语的最佳方法](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/)。 对所有学法语的人来说，**动词变位La Conjugaison**都是最为棘手的一个知识点。如果光靠死记硬背，很容易忘记。掌握规律才是学习动词变位的最佳方法。我们总结了一些有关动词变位的小妙招，助你轻松搞定这个知识点。 ## **什么是动词变位？** > 1、法语中动词根据**主语人称**的变化而变化，这种现象即为“动词变位”。 在法语中，我们用 主语 人称代词 来指代某个 **特定主语** 。它们这样写： ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/2158-2.jpg) 以动词“**parler**”（说）为例： ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/ld-image-5b394dc7dd22baa8.png) - Je parle (我说） - Tu parles (你说) - Il/elle parle(他/她说) - Nous parlons(我们说) - Vous parlez(您说/你们说) - Ils/elles parlent(他们/她们说) 注⚠️：还有一个中文里不存在的代词: “**on”**， 用于指代不同的主语. - “on”主要用于替代“nous”, 但属于非正式表达。 - 它可以用于指代人, 或者某个不确指的主语 (**某人**或**某物**)。 - 这个特殊的人称代词与动词使用时，遵循 il / elle 的变位规则。 > 2、动词按照**词尾**可分为**三个动词组**，一般动词变位都只变**词尾**。 第一组动词 (Les verbes du 1er groupe)：不定式以\-er结尾的动词。例如 danser , parler , manger … 第二组动词 (Les verbes du 2ème groupe)：不定式以 \-ir 结尾的动词。例如 finir,réussir, répartir… 第三组动词 (Les verbes du 3ème groupe)：不定式以-re, -oir等 不规则词根 结尾的动词。例如être, avoir,prendre, aller, venir… 一般现在时: | 第一组 : -er | 第二组: -ir | 第三组: | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ***Danser** Je dans****e**Tu dans****es**Il dans****e** / Elle dans****e**Nous dans****ons**Vous dans****ez**Ils dans****ent**/ Elles dans****ent** | ***Finir** Je fin****is**Tu fin****is**Il fin****it** / Elle fin****it**Nous fin****issons**Vous fin****issez**Ils fin****issent** / Elles fin****issent** | ***Prendre** Je prend****s**Tu prend****s**Il prend / Elle prendNous pren****ons**Vous pren****ez**Ils prenn****ent** / Elles prenn****ent** | **第三组动词**的变化规律较为复杂，一起通过这个视频学习吧！ ## **法语语式和时态** 你以为法语变位就这么简单吗？ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/ld-image-f28c3f668dc5926c.png) 在实际应用中，动词变位还取决于 语式 **、** 时态 的变化。英语里每个动词只有4种形态变化（一般时，过去时，单数，复数），而法语光是一般现在时态就已经有6种人称变位！再加上语式和时态，一个动词的变位方式就有几！十！种！ 谁叫法语是一门“高级”的语言呢～ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/ld-image-51825c1903ed591e.png) 法语中的常用 **语式** 有以下几种： | 语态 | **不定式** | **直陈式** | **条件式** | **虚拟式** | **命令式** | | ---- | ---------------- | ------- | ------- | ---------- | ------- | | 适用情况 | 动词原型，***始终* 不变** | 表示陈述，肯定 | 表示非现实情况 | 表质疑，否定，可能性 | 表示命令，建议 | 时态则 存在于不同语式中，并按下表分类： | **Indicatif直陈式** | ****Conditionnel条件式** | ****Subjonctif虚拟式** | ****Impératif命令式** | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | | Présent Passé composé Passé simple Imparfait Plus que-parfait Passé antérieur Passé immédiat Futur simple Futur proche Futur antérieur | (Conditionnel) Présent (Conditionnel) Passé | (Subjonctif) Présent (Subjonctif) Passé | (Impératif) Présent (Impératif) Passé | ## **发音** 恭喜你！你已学会了法语中动词的变位方法～可在实际生活中，如何**读**出它们呢？ 以一般现在时中动词“ danser”的变位为例： - Je danse (**dance*) - Tu danses (**dance*) - Il / elle danse (**dance*) - Nous dansons (**danson*) - Vous dansez ( *danseh*) - Ils / elles dansent **(dance*) **注⚠️**：动词变位后结尾字母大多不发音，例如s，t，x和e。 仔细观察动词“ danser”的发音。我们能发现只有“ nous dansons”和“ vous dansez”的读音有特殊变化。而其他形式尽管拼写不同，但发音方式相同。这个规律几乎适用于法语的所有时态，动词变位的发音比想象中容易许多吧！ 配合下面这个动词变位的小视频，再次巩固动词的发音吧，Bonne Chance! ## **法语人如何学习动词变位？** 在认识不同的法国人后，我才发现他们学动词变位，根本不是靠单词字母作为记忆点的！他们第一个反应是把变位念出来。这是因为法国人都是**用读音帮助记忆**，最后才是书写！？这个原理大概跟“字母歌”和“乘法口诀”一样，熟读到一定境界，你就可以脱口而出了！ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/images_course_small-jpg-1030x625_q85_crop-smart_upscale.jpg) ## **关于学习动词变位的小技巧** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/how-to-learn-french-conjugation-1.png) ##### **先易后难，循序渐进** 即使是对法国人来说，动词变位也不是件容易的事。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/58380_gb_news.jpg) 根据 法国机构Mediaprism发布的调查显示，有将近四分之三（73%）的法国人认为他们的语言很困难，尤其是**动词变位**（36％）。将近二分之一（47%）的人承认他们会在拼写时犯错。 对于初学者而言动词变位更是痛苦。我们不妨按照难易程度划分知识点，依次学习： 1. 先攻克最常用的**直陈式l’indicatif** 2. 再按照**一般现在时→一般过去时→一般将来时**学习 3. 总是从**前两组动词**开始，再学习一些常用的**第三组不规则动词**：être，avoir，aller，venir。 ps:我们为你准备了所有不规则动词的列表，戳 [这里](https://www.conjugaisonfrancaise.com/verbes/liste-verbes-irreguliers.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ！ ##### **不断练习** - 听力和阅读。反复听法语材料能使你认识越来越多的语法结构，并逐步提升你的发音。而阅读可以帮助你提高法语写作技能。 - 利用网页或在语言学习app(如[**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)）中做一些练习。 - [借助在线变位器](https://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)：输入动词，观察其中列举所有变位形式。 ##### **在语境中使用** 法语母语者从小沉浸在法语环境中，这使他们有机会在日常生活中不断练习动词变位。对我们来说也是同样的道理，一旦学习了新的动词或时态，要尝试在日常生活中不断**使用它：**与朋友进行对话，写法语邮件或用法语写日记...有意识将知识应用到生活中，这对背诵动词变位会有很大帮助哦！ ## **学习法语** 如今互联网上有许多可供选择的学习素材和工具，各类教材层出不穷，大量的**教育app**更是使人眼花缭乱。到底哪一个值得我们投入时间和金钱呢？ 让我向你介绍一个备受喜爱的app，它一定可以帮助你轻松地学习和掌握法语变位。 **LingoDeer** 是一个便于使用的语言学习应用，专为初学者设计。让你在真实的场景中培养语感的能力。你也可以从应用中的不同难度的课程中选择适合自己的，在舒适且个性化的环境中学习法语。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/deer-logo.png) 快点击这里查看它们的所有功能：[Learn French Conjugation the easy way with LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/fr/en/learn-french-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 你准备好了吗， 赶快与**LingoDeer**踏上动词变位之旅吧！ ### 30 Useful Texting Abbreviations in English URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/30-useful-texting-abbreviations-in-english/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:23.000Z In today’s digital age, texting has become one of the primary ways we communicate. From quick chats with friends to group discussion, using texting abbreviations can make your message exchanges smoother and more efficient. Today, we’ll look at 30 useful texting abbreviations in English that you can start recognizing and using right away. Because abbreviations vary by context and audience, pay attention to who is writing and how formal the conversation is. ## **Common Texting Abbreviations** 1. **LOL** \- Laugh Out Loud *e.g.: "That meme you sent was hilarious! *LOL*!"* 2. **BRB** \- Be Right Back *e.g.: "I need to grab some snacks, *BRB*!"* 3. **TTYL** \- Talk To You Later *e.g.: "I have to run, but *TTYL*!"* 4. **IDK** \- I Don’t Know *e.g.: "What time is the meeting? *IDK*."* 5. **FYI** \- For Your Information *e.g.: "*FYI*, the report is due tomorrow."* 6. **OMG** \- Oh My God *e.g.: "*OMG*, you won't believe what happened today!"* 7. **BFF** \- Best Friends Forever *e.g.: "Can you believe we’ve been *BFF*s for ten years?"* 8. **TMI** \- Too Much Information *e.g.: "That story was funny, but *TMI*!"* 9. **IMO/IMHO** \- In My Opinion/In My Humble Opinion *e.g.: "*IMHO*, that movie was overrated."* 10. **SMH** \- Shaking My Head *e.g.: "He forgot my birthday again. *SMH*."* ## **Informal and Casual Abbreviations** 1. **BTW** \- By The Way *e.g.: "*BTW*, did you finish that project?"* 2. **LMAO** \- Laughing My Ass Off *e.g.: "You made me *LMAO* with that joke!"* 3. **ROFL** \- Rolling On the Floor Laughing *e.g.: "That video is so funny, I’m *ROFL*!"* 4. **DM** \- Direct Message *e.g.: "If you want to chat more, just *DM* me."* 5. **TL;DR** \- Too Long; Didn’t Read *e.g.: "*TL;DR*, the meeting was canceled."* 6. **FOMO** \- Fear Of Missing Out *e.g.: "I have serious *FOMO* about the concert tonight."* 7. **YOLO** \- You Only Live Once *e.g.: "Let’s go skydiving this weekend, *YOLO*!"* 8. **ASAP** \- As Soon As Possible *e.g.: "Please send me that file *ASAP*."* 9. **TBT** \- Throwback Thursday *e.g.: "Here’s an old photo for *TBT*!"* 10. **HBU** \- How About You? *e.g.: "I’m going to the beach this weekend. *HBU*?"* ## **Additional Useful Abbreviations** 1. **GTG** \- Got To Go *e.g.: "I have to leave now, *GTG*!"* 2. **ICYMI** \- In Case You Missed It *e.g.: "*ICYMI,* the sale ends tonight!"* 3. **NSFW** \- Not Safe For Work *e.g.: "This meme is *NSFW*, be careful!"* 4. **PPL** \- People *e.g.: "There were so many *PPL* at the event!"* 5. **WYD** \- What You Doing? *e.g.: "*WYD* this weekend? Let’s hang out!"* 6. **Bae** \- Before Anyone Else *e.g.: "I’m spending the day with my *bae*."* 7. **K** \- Okay *e.g.: "Can you send me that info? *K*."* 8. **QOTD** \- Quote Of The Day *e.g.: "Here’s my *QOTD*: 'Believe you can and you’re halfway there.'"* 9. **RIP** \- Rest In Peace *e.g.: "That laptop finally died, *RIP*."* 10. **SIS** \- Sister *e.g.: "Hey *sis*, can you help me with this?"* Did you know that these abbreviations can also be used in conversational situations? Check out these Reels to see how you can “say” abbreviations in daily life! - [OMG, DM, FYI](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9578Z4v7uT/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) - [AKA, ASAP, TBD](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9578Z4v7uT/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) By understanding and using these texting abbreviations, you can truly enhance your communication skills and make your conversations more enjoyable. So next time you’re texting, why not sprinkle in a few of these abbreviations into your messages? ### 【入門者必見！】韓国語のハングル読み方完全ガイド② 濃音とパッチム編 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-hangul-tense-consonants-batchim-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:18:40.000Z 前回のブログ記事では、韓国語学習の基本であるハングルの母音と子音の読み方を紹介しました。まだ読んでいない方、もしくは復習が必要な方は、ぜひ[こちらの記事](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-hangul-j/)をご覧ください。 今回は、ハングルを完全にマスターするためのもう2つの重要な要素、「濃音」と「パッチム」を紹介します。どちらも韓国語において欠かせない発音のポイントで、習得すればさらに韓国語が上達します！では、早速見ていきましょう。 ## 韓国語の濃音（二重子音） 韓国語には「濃音」と呼ばれる発音があります。これは発音を強調する「二重子音で、韓国語を流暢に話すために重要な要素です。以下のように、通常の[子音](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-hangul-j/)「ㄱ・ㄷ・ㅂ・ㅅ・ㅈ」が二重になり、濃音が形成されます。 - **ㄲ (kk)**: 「ㄱ」の強調された発音です。喉をしっかり閉じて発音しましょう。 - **ㄸ (tt)**: 「ㄷ」を強調し、強く発音します。 - **ㅃ (pp)**: 「ㅂ」の発音を強化します。 - **ㅆ (ss)**: 「ㅅ」の音を力強く発音します。 - **ㅉ (jj)**: 「ㅈ」を強く発音する濃音です。 ### 濃音の発音のコツ ![韓国語の濃音](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeCKyds1AI7VbbbzPVeaU1_8WXpC30Hy9jzk5tnb6Eo7xd2x3ElhUzWHfJRx-Cz3EmGRginPIZUIusELkZYqtvVL0F-TR9e54sxSko816hIw_aPTzFXS8gUUjdI3pf3AseLzTdEbpuzA9xJxK6Xk_oJpFvd?key=2A5Lr3N6xtBpJc0uOV1m3Q) この「濃音」は、単なる強い音というわけではなく、喉や口の筋肉を一瞬緊張させてから解放することで発音が強調されるのが特徴です。発音の際に体感的に力を入れすぎると、ぎこちなく聞こえることがあるので、息をしっかりとコントロールしながら、自然な強調を意識するとよいでしょう。 ### 日本語との比較 日本語には濃音に似た発音はあまりないため、少し抽象的に感じるかもしれません。しかし、日本語の「学校（がっこう）」や「決定（けってい）」のような、音が詰まった感じの発音を思い出してみてください。特に「っ」の部分は、韓国語の濃音に少し似ており、息を止めて発音する感覚が共通しています。 ### 濃音が与える印象 濃音を適切に使うことで、話し手の言葉に明確さや力強さを加えることができます。例えば、**「빠르다（ッパルダ、速い）」**と**「바르다（パルダ、正しい）」**のように、濃音かどうかで意味が全く異なる場合もあります。これは韓国語の発音が非常に重要である理由の一つで、特に日常会話でのコミュニケーションにおいて、濃音の使い方が流暢さを左右します。 ## 韓国語のパッチム パッチムとは、韓国語の音節の最後にくる子音のことです。韓国語において、パッチムは言葉の意味や発音に大きな影響を与える重要な部分です。なぜパッチムは重要なのか？その役割は主に二つあります。 - **音節の終わりを決定**：**パッチム**がその音節の発音を決定します。 - **発音の変化**：パッチムが後に続く母音の影響を受けて発音が変わることがあります。 ### パッチムの例 - **ㅇ (ng)**: 無音で、母音の前では音を持ちません。 - **ㄱ (g/k)**: 破裂音で、文脈によって「k」として発音されます。 - **ㄴ (n)**: 鼻音で、音を引き継ぎます。 - **ㅁ (m)**: 同じく鼻音で、後続の母音に影響します。 - **ㅅ (s)**: 無声摩擦音で、母音によって「sh」と発音される場合もあります。 ### パッチムと名詞・文法の関係 パッチムは名詞の語尾に加わることで意味を形成し、動詞や形容詞の活用にも影響を与えます。例えば、집（チプ、家）はパッチム「ㅂ」で終わります。また、動詞「**먹다 (モッタ、食べる)**」では、パッチム「ㄱ」が活用の変化を引き起こします。 ## ハングルに慣れるまで練習しよう 母音と子音に加え、濃音やパッチムも韓国語学習の基礎を形成する重要な要素です。これらをしっかりマスターすることで、韓国語がより上達しますよ。 [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)では、皆さんの韓国語学習を基礎からサポートします。ぜひアプリ内のアルファベットセクションで音声付きの発音表を確認しながら、発音練習を進めてください。韓国語の基礎がしっかり身につくと、学習のスピードがどんどん上がり、さらに韓国語の魅力を実感できるはずです！ ![Lingodeerのハングル表](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc3qLqNwq7wesYZfchdVTXh0-ts4WH9pK3Z5BeAQJWXoUmAC8Exv5iaTkkyCK0jhvNI0w0SdGjeymiy71_YkYv81F5blEBZFMqR3mP8A59Fqo9gjALkZTGTuoLCJ2CQ2bisANY1F9FYw1uMPXc8j81w1Lut?key=2A5Lr3N6xtBpJc0uOV1m3Q) ### 【入門者必見！】韓国語のハングル読み方完全ガイド① 母音と子音編 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-hangul-j/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:18:41.000Z Download [kr-m-zy-h.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/kr-m-zy-h-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 韓国語を学ぶうえで、最初にマスターしなければならないのがハングルの読み書きです！ハングルは四角や丸で表記されていて、一見暗号のように見えるかもしれませんが、実はその仕組みやルールを理解すれば、すぐに読めるようになります。そこで、今回の記事では、韓国語初心者向けにハングルの基本的な読み方をわかりやすくご紹介します！ ## ハングルの由来 ハングルは、朝鮮の世宗大王によって1443年に作られました。当時の朝鮮では、主に漢字が使われていましたが、それを理解できるのは王族や両班（ヤンバン）と呼ばれる身分の高い人たちだけでした。そこで、世宗大王は、誰でも日常的に使える文字を作ろうとし、ハングルを制定したのです。 ハングルは日本の文字体系とは異なり、韓国語を表現するための独自の音を持っています。このことにより、韓国人は自分たちの言葉を表現するための文字を持つことができました。 ## ハングルの基本 - **10個の母音** (ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ) - **14個の子音** (ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ) ### ハングルの母音 まずは、韓国語の発音におけるハングルの母音から見ていきましょう。 ![ハングルの母音](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-11-2.jpg) プレイボタンをクリックして、10個の**基本母音**の読み方をそれぞれ確認してみてください。 ㅏ (a) は日本語の「ア」の発音に似ています。 ㅑ (ya) は日本語の「ヤ」の発音に似ています。 ㅓ (eo) は「オ」や「ウ」の中間の音、「ア」を発音する口形で「オ」と発音してください。 ㅕ (yeo) は日本語の「ヨ」の発音に似ています。 ㅗ (o) は唇を丸めて突き出しながら「オ」と発音します。 ㅛ (yo) は日本語の「ヨ」の発音に似ています。 ㅜ (oo) は唇を丸めて突き出しながら「ウ」と発音します。 ㅠ (yoo) は唇を丸めて突き出しながら「ユ」と発音します。 ㅡ (eu) は唇を横に引いて「ウ」と発音します。 ㅣ (i) は日本語の「ア」の発音に似ています。 上記10個の基本母音の発音を確認したら、次に11個の**複合母音**の発音を聞いてみましょう。 | **11 Complex Vowels** **(made up of two basic vowels)** | | | ------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | | ㅐ ae | ㅔ e | | ㅒ yae | ㅖ ye | | ㅘ wa | ㅚ oe | | ㅙ wae | ㅝ wo | | ㅟ wi | ㅞ we | | ㅢ ui | | ## 韓国語の子音 ![ハングルの子音](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-11-3.jpg) 同じく、以下のプレイボタンをクリックして、発音を確認してみてください。 ㄱ (g/k) は日本語の「カ行」の発音と似ています。 ㄴ (n) は日本語の「ナ行」の発音と似ています。 ㄷ (d/t) は日本語の「タ行」の発音と似ています。 ㄹ (l/r) は日本語の「ラ行」の発音と似ています。 ㅁ (m) は日本語の「マ行」の発音と似ています。 ㅂ (b/p) は日本語の「パ行」の発音と似ています。 ㅅ (s) は日本語の「サ行」の発音と似ています。 ㅇ (ng) は日本語の「オン」や「イン」の発音と似ています。（※使い方によって発音が変わります。） ㅈ (j/ch) は日本語の「チャ行」の発音と似ています。 ㅊ (ch’) は「ㅈ」の音を強く吐き出すように発音してください。 ㅋ (k’) は「ㄱ」の音を強く吐き出すように発音してください。 ㅌ (t’) は「ㄷ」の音を強く吐き出すように発音してください。 ㅍ (p’) は「ㅂ」の音を強く吐き出すように発音してください。 ㅎ (h) は日本語の「ハ行」の発音と似ています。 今回は韓国語の基礎であるハングルの母音と子音をご紹介しました。ただし、ここで示した発音は日本人向けに調整されたものであり、実際の韓国語の発音とはわずかに異なることがあります。ぜひ、[**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)アプリのアルファベットセクションで実際の発音や書き方を確認してみてください。 ![lingodeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-11-1.jpg) ハングルの基本となる母音と子音をマスターした上で、次の記事では韓国語におけるハングルの濃音やパッチムの発音をご紹介します。韓国語初心者の方にとっても役立つ内容ですので、お楽しみに！ ### 20 Essential Fall Words in Spanish [with Audio] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/20-essential-fall-words-in-spanish-with-audio/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:19.000Z As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, fall is on its way! Did you know that countries like [Spain](https://www.spain.info/en/discover-spain/spain-autumn/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Chile](https://www.southamerica.travel/chile/travel-info/best-time-to-visit?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Autumn%20in%20Chile%20%28March%20%E2%80%93%20May,and%20even%20some%20cultural%20festivities.) display stunning autumn colors and falling leaves during this season? ![An image of fall](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/09/ricardo-gomez-angel-4hhP-Ud4e84-unsplash-edited.jpg) Learning fall vocabulary in Spanish can be incredibly helpful when communicating with native speakers year-round. That’s why we’ve compiled **20 must-know fall words** for you! Let’s explore them now! ## **20 Fall Words in Spanish to Know** ### **Nature and Seasonal Elements:** **1\. Otoño (Fall)** *e.g.: El *otoño* es mi estación favorita.* *(Fall is my favorite season.)* **2\. Hoja (Leaf)** *e.g.: Las *hojas* cambian de color en otoño.* *(The leaves change color in fall.)* **3\. Cempasúchil (Marigold)** *e.g.: Las *cempasúchiles* son flores de otoño.* *(Marigolds are fall flowers.)* **4\. Arce (Maple)** *e.g.: Los árboles de *arce* son hermosos en otoño.* *(Maple trees are beautiful in fall.)* **5.** **Dorado (Golden)** *e.g.: Las hojas *doradas* caen de los árboles.* *(The golden leaves fall from the trees.)* **6\. Naturaleza (Nature)** *e.g.: La *naturaleza* es hermosa en otoño.* *(Nature is beautiful in fall.)* **7\. Sombra (Shade)** *e.g.: Buscamos *sombra* bajo los árboles.* *(We looked for shade under the trees.)* ### **Weather Words:** **8\. Viento (Wind)** *e.g.: El *viento* sopla fuerte en otoño.* *(The wind blows strongly in fall.)* **9.** **Noche (Night)** *e.g.: Las *noches* de otoño son frescas.* *(Fall nights are cool.)* ### **Food and Harvest:** **10\. Calabaza (Pumpkin)** *e.g.: Compré una *calabaza* para hacer un pastel.* *(I bought a pumpkin to make a pie.)* **11\. Cosecha (Harvest)** *e.g.: La *cosecha* de manzanas es abundante.* *(The apple harvest is plentiful.)* **12\. Frutos (Fruits)** *e.g.: Los *frutos* de otoño son deliciosos.* *(The fruits of fall are delicious.)* **13\. Castaña (Chestnut)** *e.g.: Asamos *castañas* en el fuego.* *(We roast chestnuts over the fire.)* **14\. Cosecha (Crop)** *e.g.: La *cosecha* de maíz es abundante en esta época.* *(The corn crop is plentiful at this time.)* ### **Clothing and Attire:** **15\. Chaqueta (Jacket)** *e.g.: Necesito una *chaqueta* para el clima frío.* *(I need a jacket for the cold weather.)* **16\. Suéter (Sweater)** *e.g.: Me pongo un *suéter* de lana cuando hace frío.* *(I wear a wool sweater when it's cold.)* ### **Fall Activities and Traditions:** **17\. Fogata (Bonfire)** *e.g.: Hicimos una *fogata* para asar malvaviscos.* *(We had a bonfire to roast marshmallows.)* **18\. Aventura (Adventure)** *e.g.: Las caminatas son una gran *aventura*.* *(Hiking is a great adventure.)* **19\. Adornos (Decorations)** *e.g.: Los *adornos* de otoño son muy bonitos.* *(Fall decorations are very pretty.)* **20\. Rincón (Corner)** *e.g.: Me gusta leer en el *rincón* de la habitación.* *(I like to read in the corner of the room.)* ## **Fun Facts About Fall Vocabulary** Many fall-related words in Spanish carry deep cultural and historical significance. For instance, "[**calabaza**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabaza?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)" (pumpkin) traces its roots back to the indigenous languages of Latin America, originally referring to squash, a staple crop for many pre-Columbian civilizations. This connection highlights the cultural importance of pumpkins and squash, which are central ingredients in many traditional Latin American fall dishes like soups and desserts. Similarly, the word "**cosecha**" (harvest) represents more than just the gathering of crops. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the harvest season is a time of celebration and community, where families and friends come together to share the fruits of their labor. This communal effort often brings food, music, and local festivals, marking a season of togetherness and gratitude. Even the word “**castaña**” (chestnut) can vary depending on the region. For example, in Spain, "castaña" is commonly used, but in other parts of Latin America, regional dialects may offer different terms, reflecting the diversity of the Spanish language. As you welcome the fall season, incorporate these Spanish words into your everyday vocabulary. Group them by weather, food, clothing, and seasonal activities, then use each group to describe a short autumn scene. Do you know any other fall-related words or expressions in Spanish? We’d love to hear them—share your favorites in the comments below! ### 20 French Slang Phrases to Sound Like a Native URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/20-french-slang-phrases-to-sound-like-a-native/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:20.000Z Have you ever noticed that the French you learn in textbooks doesn't always match how native speakers actually talk? That's because of French slang. Slang, or [*argot*](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/argot?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), is used everywhere—whether in music, TV shows, social media, or casual conversations. It's informal, playful, and constantly evolving, which makes it both fascinating and fun! To learn authentic French slang, listen for these expressions in real conversations and note who uses them, in what situation, and with what tone. Slang can be highly informal, so context matters as much as literal meaning. ## 20 Essential French Slang Phrases You Need to Know To get you started, we’ve listed **20 essential French slang phrases** that will take your conversation skills to the next level. Use them to sound more like a native speaker and less like a textbook! Let’s dive in: ### **1\. *C’est pas terrible*** **Literal Translation:** It's not terrible **Meaning:** It’s not that great This phrase uses French irony. When someone says "*c'est pas terrible*," they actually mean something is pretty bad. Great for describing an underwhelming party or meal. ### **2\. *Avoir la flemme*** **Literal Translation:** To have laziness **Meaning:** To be too lazy Feeling unmotivated? Use this phrase when you just can't be bothered. It’s the perfect French slang for lazy days. ### **3\. *Être crevé*** **Literal Translation:** To be punctured **Meaning:** To be exhausted After a long day, say "*je suis crevé*" to let your friends know you’re completely wiped out. ### **4\. *Ça craint*** **Literal Translation:** That fears **Meaning:** That sucks Use "*ça craint*" when things don’t go as planned. It’s perfect for venting frustration when you miss the last bus or get caught in bad weather. ### **5\. *Se prendre un râteau*** **Literal Translation:** To take a rake **Meaning:** To get rejected Usually used in romance, this phrase humorously describes getting turned down by someone. ### **6\. *Être vénère*** **Literal Translation:** To be angry **Meaning:** To be mad (*Verlan*) "Vénère" is slang created by reversing syllables. It’s used to express annoyance or anger. ### **7\. *Avoir le cafard*** **Literal Translation:** To have the cockroach **Meaning:** To feel down or depressed This colorful expression is used when you're feeling low or sad. ### **8\. *Être au taquet*** **Literal Translation:** To be at the stopper **Meaning:** To be hyper or full of energy When you’re super excited or full of energy, use this slang phrase to show it. ### **9. *Péter un câble*** **Literal Translation:** To blow a fuse **Meaning:** To lose it Perfect for when something drives you crazy, whether it’s stress or anger. ### **10\. *Ouf*** **Literal Translation:** Crazy **Meaning:** Amazing (*Verlan*) "*Ouf*" is verlan for "*fou*" (crazy), but it’s used positively to describe something amazing. ### **11\. *Chelou*** **Literal Translation:** Shady **Meaning:** Weird (*Verlan*) If something seems off or strange, "*chelou*" is the right word to use. ### **12\. *Grave*** **Literal Translation:** Serious **Meaning:** Totally, seriously Agreeing with someone? Just say "*grave*" to show your enthusiasm. ### **13\. *Kiffer*** **Literal Translation:** To love **Meaning:** To like or enjoy Borrowed from Arabic, "*kiffer*" is widely used to express enjoying something. ### **14\. *La daronne*** **Literal Translation:** The mother **Meaning:** Mom (informal) A casual term for mom, often used in urban slang. ### **15\. *Balèze*** **Literal Translation:** Strong **Meaning:** Tough or muscular Use this word to compliment someone who's impressively strong or capable. ### **16\. *Zarbi*** **Literal Translation:** Bizarre **Meaning:** Strange or weird (*Verlan*) Similar to "*chelou,*" "*zarbi*" describes something odd or unusual. ### **17. *Se la péter*** **Literal Translation:** To fart oneself **Meaning:** To show off Use this playful slang to describe someone who's bragging or showing off. ### **18\. *Fringues*** **Literal Translation:** Rags **Meaning:** Clothes (informal) Instead of saying "*vêtements*," use "*fringues*" in casual conversations about fashion. ### **19\. *Blé*** **Literal Translation:** Wheat **Meaning:** Money "*Blé*" is a casual word for money, often heard in songs or informal chats. ### **20\. *Mec*** **Literal Translation:** Guy **Meaning:** Dude or guy "*Mec*" is the go-to word for referring to a guy, while "*meuf*" (verlan for "*femme*") is used for girls. By mastering these French slang phrases, you’ll understand informal speech more easily and sound less textbook-like. Keep improving by listening to contemporary French media and [exploring additional French-learning tools](https://blog.lingodeer.com/7-free-online-tools-to-learn-french/). Then try the expressions in suitable contexts—*c’est grave cool*! ### The Tsu (つ) Counter: A Guide to Counting Objects in Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/the-tsu--e3-81-a4-counter-a-guide-to-counting-objects-in-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:24.000Z Welcome back, *deer* language learners! Today, we’re diving into an essential part of learning Japanese: **measure words** (or counters). This type of counting differs from the usual Japanese numbers like “*ichi*,” “*ni*,” and “*san*.” Instead, measure words are used to count specific objects in Japanese, and mastering them will help you sound more natural. ## Quick Answer: The Tsu (つ) Counter: A Guide to Counting Objects in Japanese The native Japanese つ counter counts general things from one to ten using forms such as ひとつ, ふたつ and みっつ. It is useful when a more specific counter is unknown, but it does not replace every counter. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | What Are Measure Words/Counters? | | Section 2 | Counting Objects with the Tsu (つ) Counter: ひとつ、ふたつ... | | Section 3 | How to Use Measure Words in Conversations | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. If you’ve already checked out our [previous blog on counting in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-simple-guide-to-counting-in-japanese-numbers/), you’re on the right track! In this post, we’ll explore how to count from 1 to 10 using one of the most common counters, the **Tsu (つ) counter**. This is a must-know for anyone learning Japanese！ ## What Are Measure Words/Counters? In Japanese, **measure words** (助数詞, じょすうし, *josūshi*) are used to count objects, people, animals, and even abstract things. Unlike English, where you can say “five apples,” in Japanese, you need specific counters depending on what you’re counting. While there are many different types of Japanese measure words, today we’ll focus on the most general counter , **Tsu (つ)**, which is used to count objects. By mastering this counter, you’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also become more fluent in Japanese conversations, especially in daily situations like shopping or dining. ## Counting Objects with the Tsu (つ) Counter: ひとつ、ふたつ... ![Tsu counter](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-10-2.jpg "Blog 10-2") | Number | Kanji | Hiragana | Pronunciation | | ------ | ----- | -------- | ------------- | | 1 | 一つ | ひとつ | hitotsu | | 2 | 二つ | ふたつ | futatsu | | 3 | 三つ | みっつ | mittsu | | 4 | 四つ | よっつ | yottsu | | 5 | 五つ | いつつ | itsutsu | | 6 | 六つ | むっつ | muttsu | | 7 | 七つ | ななつ | nanatsu | | 8 | 八つ | やっつ | yattsu | | 9 | 九つ | ここのつ | kokonotsu | | 19 | 十 | とお | tō | --- Let's check out the pronunciation with Deer! --- And some examples! - 1 apple: りんごが**ひとつ**あります。 (*Ringo ga hitotsu arimasu.*) — There is one apple. - 4 oranges: みかんが**よっつ**あります。 (*Mikan ga yottsu arimasu.*) — There are four oranges. - 7 bananas: バナナが**ななつ**あります。 (*Banana ga nanatsu arimasu.*) — There are seven bananas. - 2 tables: つくえが**ふたつ**あります。 *(Tsukue ga futatsu arimasu.)* — There are two tables. - 8 computers: コンピューターが**やっつ**あります。 *(Konpyūtā ga yattsu arimasu.)* — There are eight computers. ## How to Use Measure Words in Conversations Now that you know how to count from 1 to 10 using Japanese counters, it’s time to practice incorporating them into your daily conversations! Here are some example sentences to get you started: **Examples:** - 本はいくつありますか？ (Hon wa ikutsu arimasu ka?) — *How many books do you have?* - 本が**むっつ**あります。 (Hon ga muttsu arimasu.) — *I have six books.* - 椅子はいくつありますか？ (Isu wa ikutsu arimasu ka?) — *How many chairs are there?* - 椅子が**ふたつ**あります。 (Isu ga futatsu arimasu.) — *There are two chairs.* - チョコレートをいくつ買いましたか？ (Chokorēto wo ikutsu kaimashita ka?) — *How many chocolates did you buy?* - チョコレートを**みっつ**買いました。 (Chokorēto o mittsu kaimashita.) — *I bought three chocolates.* ## Tips for Learning Japanese Counters Understanding and using Japanese measure words is critical for becoming fluent in Japanese. Finding it hard to remember all the counters? Don’t worry! Check out this cute song to help you memorize the Japanese Tsu (つ) counter from 1 to 10 : [Japanese Couners Song 1-10【ひとつ・ふたつ・みっつの歌】Written in Roma-ji & Hiragana - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz5%5FkgTKwc4&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Also, here’s a great video tip to help you memorize Tsu counter quickly (starts from 2:15):[\[GENKI Lesson 9\] How to memorize General Counters (hitotsu, futatsu, mittsu...)](https://youtu.be/xiccIqAslRM?si=92-nG3jKuLZT3MmE&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) And of course, don’t forget to review our [previous blog post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-simple-guide-to-counting-in-japanese-numbers/) for a broader overview of counting in Japanese and download the [**LingoDeer app**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to continue your Japanese learning journey! [![Download LingoDeer on the App Store](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/apple-download-3x.png "Apple download@3x")](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [![Get LingoDeer on Google Play](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/getitongoogleplay_badge_web_color_english.png "GetItOnGooglePlay_Badge_Web_color_English")](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 15 Essential German Phrases for Traveling URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/15-essential-german-phrases-for-traveling/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:16.000Z Planning a trip to Germany or another German-speaking country? Learning a few key German phrases can make a big difference in how smoothly your travels go. Even though many locals speak English, using some basic German will be appreciated and might just make your experience more enjoyable. To get you started, here are **15 essential German phrases** that will help in most common travel situations! ### **1\. Hallo! (Hello!)** A simple “Hallo” goes a long way! It’s the go-to greeting in Germany and works in most situations — no matter if you're entering a shop, grabbing food, or greeting someone on the street. Germans appreciate politeness, and starting with a friendly “Hallo” sets a positive tone. ### **2\. Wie geht's? (How are you?)** Once you’ve said hello, you might want to ask, “How are you?” The casual version is “Wie geht’s?” In a more formal setting, like a restaurant or shop, you can say “Wie geht es Ihnen?” Both are great for starting a friendly conversation. ### **3\. Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?)** This phrase will likely come in handy. Many Germans, especially in cities, speak English, but it’s always polite to ask first. Showing that you’re making an effort to speak German will be appreciated. If they don’t speak English, you can follow up with “Ich verstehe nicht” (I don’t understand). ### **4\. Ich verstehe nicht. (I don’t understand.)** It’s perfectly okay to admit that you don’t understand something! Whether someone is speaking too quickly or using unfamiliar words, this phrase helps clarify that you need a little help. Don't hesitate to use it — it shows you're trying, and most people will be patient. ### **5\. Können Sie das bitte wiederholen? (Can you repeat that, please?)** When learning a new language, it’s easy to miss a word or two. If you need something repeated, just politely say, “Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?” This gives you another chance to catch important information, and it shows you're making an effort. ### **6\. Wo ist die Toilette? (Where is the restroom?)** This phrase will definitely come in handy when nature calls! Use it to ask for the restroom in a shop, café, or any public space. It’s a lifesaver! ### **7\. Entschuldigung (Excuse me)** You'll find yourself using this word often. If you need to get someone’s attention, such as asking for directions, or navigating through a crowded space, "Entschuldigung" is the perfect word to use. It can also double as a polite way to apologize. ### **8\. Wie viel kostet das? (How much does this cost?)** Shopping at a boutique, souvenir shop, or local market? You’ll need this phrase to ask for prices. Simply say, “Wie viel kostet das?” Also, don’t forget to carry some cash — smaller stores or markets may prefer it over cards! ### **9\. Ich hätte gerne… (I would like…)** When ordering food or drinks, this phrase will make you sound like a pro. Just say, “Ich hätte gerne…” followed by whatever you'd like to order. For example, “Ich hätte gerne ein Bier” (I would like a beer). It's a polite and efficient way to make your request. ### **10\. Danke / Vielen Dank (Thank you / Thank you very much)** Gratitude is important in any language. “Danke” is a casual way to say thanks, and for extra appreciation, you can say “Vielen Dank” (Thank you very much). Use it when someone helps you, serves you food, or offers directions. ### **11\. Bitte (Please / You're welcome)** “Bitte” is a versatile word that you'll hear often. It means both “please” and “you’re welcome,” depending on the context. If someone says “Danke” (Thank you), you can reply with “Bitte” as a polite response. ### **12\. Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen? (Can I pay with a card?)** Before reaching for your credit or debit card, it’s a good idea to ask, “Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?” While many places in Germany accept cards, smaller shops and cafés may prefer cash. Asking this saves confusion at checkout. ### **13\. Wo ist…? (Where is…?)** You'll likely use this phrase frequently when exploring the country. Just say, “Wo ist…?” followed by the location you're searching for, like “Wo ist das Hotel?” (Where is the hotel?) or “Wo ist der Bahnhof?” (Where is the train station?). It's essential for finding your way around! ### **14\. Haben Sie eine Empfehlung? (Do you have a recommendation?)** One of the best ways to experience Germany is by asking for recommendations. Locals love sharing tips, especially when it comes to food and activities. Just ask, “Haben Sie eine Empfehlung?” and you’ll often get insider advice that might not be in the guidebooks. ### **15\. Hilfe! (Help!)** Hopefully, you won’t need this one, but it’s always good to know how to ask for help in an emergency. Shouting “Hilfe!” will get immediate attention. If needed, you can also say “Rufen Sie die Polizei” (Call the police) Learning a few essential German phrases before your trip can make your travels smoother, and locals will often appreciate the effort. For extra practice, role-play situations such as checking in, ordering food, asking for directions, and requesting help. Listen for likely responses as well as rehearsing your own questions. Got a favorite German phrase for traveling? Share it in the comments below! ### 9 Common English Expressions with "Dog" URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/9-common-english-expressions-with-dog/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:29.000Z Dogs are known as our loyal companions, so it’s no surprise that they’ve made their way into everyday language. In English, the word dog appears in many idioms and expressions, often used to reflect human experiences, emotions, and advice. In this blog, we’ve gathered **9 useful dog idioms and expressions** that you can easily incorporate into your daily conversations! If you want to see these idioms in action, check out [this fun Reel ](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6U4EsxPsNr/?utm%5Fsource=ig%5Fweb%5Fcopy%5Flink)on Instagram! ### **1\.** [**Every Dog Has Its Day**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/every-dog-has-its-day?q=Every+Dog+Has+Its+Day&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This English dog idiom offers encouragement and hope. It means that everyone, no matter their circumstances, will have their moment of success or good fortune, even when things seem tough. It’s a great reminder that perseverance pays off and that luck or opportunities eventually come to those who wait. **Example:** "Even though he had been losing in his business for months, John knew that **every dog has its day**." **When to use:** Comforting someone facing challenges, reminding them that better days are ahead. ### **2\.** [**It’s Raining Cats and Dogs**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/it-s-raining-cats-and-dogs?q=It%E2%80%99s+Raining+Cats+and+Dogs&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) A funny and somewhat confusing English expression, "it's raining cats and dogs" means that it’s raining very heavily. No actual animals are involved, but the idiom paints a vivid picture of a downpour! Can you imagine? **Example:** "We had to cancel our picnic because **it was raining cats and dogs** all afternoon." **When to use:** Use this phrase with humor when caught in a heavy storm. ![It's raining cats and dogs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/9-common-english-expressions-with-dog-01-it-s-raining-cats-and-dogs.png) ### **3\.** [**Let Sleeping Dogs Lie**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/let-sleeping-dogs-lie?q=Let+Sleeping+Dogs+Lie&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This idiom advises against revisiting past problems or stirring up old conflicts. Sometimes, it's better to leave things as they are rather than bringing up issues that could cause trouble. **Example:** "I know you're upset about the argument, but it's best to **let sleeping dogs lie** and move on." **When to use:** When you’re advocating for peace or trying to avoid unnecessary drama. ### **4\.** [**Sick as a Dog**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/sick-as-a-dog?q=As+Sick+as+a+Dog&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) When someone feels very ill, especially with something like the flu or food poisoning, this dog idiom is a dramatic way to express it. "Sick as a dog" conjures the image of someone truly unwell. **Example:** "After eating some bad seafood, I was as **sick as a dog** for two days." **When to use:** Perfect for describing how awful you feel when you're really sick. ### **5\.** [**Dog-Tired**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dog-tired?q=Dog-Tired&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you’ve ever worked so hard that you just want to collapse into bed, you’ve probably been dog-tired. This phrase expresses extreme exhaustion after a busy or challenging day. **Example:** "After working 12 hours straight, I was **dog-tired** and went straight to bed." **When to use:** Emphasize how worn out you feel after a long day or hard work. ![Dog-tired](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/9-common-english-expressions-with-dog-02-dog-tired.png) ### **6\.** [**Dog-Eat-Dog**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dog-eat-dog?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **World** This dog idiom paints a picture of a competitive world where only the toughest survive. A "dog-eat-dog world" describes fierce competition, especially in business or sports. **Example:** "The corporate world is a **dog-eat-dog world**, where only the strongest survive." **When to use:** To describe situations that are cutthroat or highly competitive. ### **7\.** [**Dog in the Manger**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/dog-in-the-manger?q=Dog+in+the+Manger&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This rare idiom describes someone who won’t let others enjoy something they don’t want or need themselves. It originates from a fable where a dog guards hay that it can't eat, preventing cows from eating it. **Example:** "She doesn’t even like the car, but won’t let anyone else drive it. She’s being a real **dog in the manger**." **When to use:** Describing possessive or selfish behavior that doesn’t benefit anyone. ### **8\.** [**You Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/you-can-t-teach-an-old-dog-new-tricks?q=You+Can%E2%80%99t+Teach+an+Old+Dog+New+Tricks&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This common English idiom highlights how difficult it is to change someone’s habits, especially when they’ve been doing something a certain way for a long time. It suggests that people, particularly older individuals, are resistant to change. **Example:** "He’s been using that old phone for years, and no matter how much I try, **you can’t** **teach an old dog new tricks**." **When to use:** Referring to someone who’s set in their ways and reluctant to learn new things. ### **9\.** [**Work Like a Dog**](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/work-like-a-dog?q=Work+Like+a+Dog&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) When someone works extremely hard, they’re said to work like a dog. It’s used to describe people putting in maximum effort, often for long hours or without much rest. **Example:** "I’ve been **working like a dog** to finish this project before the deadline." **When to use:** To emphasize how hard you or someone else is working, whether it’s on a job, a project, or household tasks. ![Work like a dog](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/9-common-english-expressions-with-dog-03-work-like-a-dog.png) As we've seen, English is packed with dog idioms and expressions, each with its own unique meaning and usage. By learning these phrases, you can bring more color and depth to your everyday conversations, making your language more vivid and expressive. To learn more practical English idioms, pay attention to how speakers use them in movies, TV shows, and conversations. Our guide to [learning languages through movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/master-languages-through-movies/) explains how to turn short scenes into focused listening and expression practice. Keep practicing, and remember—**every dog has its day*!* Today might just be the day you master a new phrase! ### 20 English Words Used in French: Surprising Borrowed Terms URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/english-words-used-in-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:46.000Z Learning French can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially with all the new vocabulary to memorize. But here’s some good news for English speakers: you already know more French than you think! Over time, French has borrowed several English words, making it easier to pick up certain terms. In this article, we’ll explore **20 common English words used in French** that you’ll likely recognize. But first, let’s start with a quick look at the background behind this language influence. ## **Why are English Words Borrowed in French?** A big reason is practicality. Some English words are simply shorter, catchier, or have no direct equivalent in French. For example, “weekend” is much quicker to say than “fin de semaine,” right? Also, English is the dominant language in global business, technology, and entertainment, which has led to terms like “le marketing” and “un email” becoming everyday French vocabulary. ## **20 Common English Words in French** Now, let’s get into the right topic! Here’s a list of 20 English words that you’ll hear in French, along with how they’re used in everyday conversation. ### **Le weekend** This is the standard way to refer to Saturday and Sunday in French, much more common than “fin de semaine.” Example: Qu’est-ce que tu fais **ce weekend** ? *(What are you doing this weekend?)* ### **Un parking** Widely used to mean a parking lot, instead of the more formal “stationnement.” Example: Il y a **un parking** près du centre commercial. *(There’s a parking lot near the mall.)* ### **Un email** Used frequently in place of the official French term "courriel," especially in casual contexts.. Example: Je t’enverrai **un email** demain. *(I’ll send you an email tomorrow.)* ### **Un burger** Commonly used for hamburger or cheeseburger, popular in casual dining. Example: On va manger **un burger** ce soir. *(We’re going to have a burger tonight.)* ### **Un sandwich** The same as in English, and used just as often in French for a quick meal. Example: Je prends **un sandwich** pour le déjeuner. *(I’m having a sandwich for lunch.)* ### **Le marketing** A standard term in business and advertising, particularly digital marketing. Example: Elle travaille dans **le marketing** digital. *(She works in digital marketing.)* ### **Un job** Frequently refers to part-time or casual work. It's used more informally than the French word “emploi.” Example: J’ai trouvé **un job** pour l’été. *(I found a job for the summer.)* ### **Le stress** Widely used to describe anxiety or pressure, similar to the English meaning. Example: Je suis sous beaucoup **de stress** au travail. *(I’m under a lot of stress at work.)* ### **Le shopping** Refers mostly to clothes shopping or spending time at a mall. Example: On va faire **du shopping** cet après-midi. *(We’re going shopping this afternoon.)* ### **Un selfie** A direct borrowing from English, popular with the rise of smartphones. Example: On fait **un selfie** devant la tour Eiffel ? *(Shall we take a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower?)* ### **Le smartphone** The most common term for a mobile phone, used in place of the older “téléphone portable.” Example: Je dois charger **mon smartphone**. *(I need to charge my smartphone.)* ### **Une start-up** This is the go-to term for a new, innovative business, especially in tech sectors. Example: Il a créé **une start-up** l’année dernière. *(He started a startup last year.)* ### **Le design** Common in the art, fashion, and architecture world, with no direct French equivalent. Example: J’adore **le design** de cette maison. *(I love the design of this house.)* ### **Un leader** Often used in professional or political contexts, though “chef” is still used for hierarchical leaders. Example: C’est **un leader** respecté dans l’entreprise. *(He’s a respected leader in the company.)* ### **Le brainstorming** Used in workplaces or creative settings for idea generation. Example: On fait **un brainstorming** pour le nouveau projet. *(We’re brainstorming for the new project.)* ### **Un timing** Used for discussing good or bad timing, just like in English. Example: **Le timing** est parfait pour cette opportunité. *(The timing is perfect for this opportunity.)* ### **Le feedback** A common term for workplace reviews or suggestions, though “retour” can be used as well. Example: Peux-tu me donner **ton** **feedback** sur ce rapport ? *(Can you give me your feedback on this report?)* ### **Le footing** This one is tricky as it doesn’t match the English word "footing" but instead refers to jogging. Example: Je vais faire **du footing** demain matin. *(I’m going for a jog tomorrow morning.)* ### **Un business** Frequently used in entrepreneurial and start-up contexts, though “entreprise” is more formal. Example: Il a lancé son propre **business** en ligne. *(He started his own online business.)* ### **Un teaser** Used mostly in the context of movie trailers or promotional content. Example: **Le teaser** du nouveau film est déjà en ligne. *(The teaser for the new movie is already online.)* As you can see, learning French isn’t just about memorizing completely new words! There are many familiar terms that English speakers can easily recognize and use in everyday French conversations. However, be careful on the pronunciation, some of them sound differently in French! To become more comfortable with French pronunciation, listen for these borrowed words in authentic conversations and compare how their French pronunciation differs from the original English. Do you know any other English words used in French? Comment below to let us know! ### 15 Must-Know Gen Z German Slang URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/15-must-know-gen-z-german-slang/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:17.000Z Language is constantly evolving and changing, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the ever-changing world of slang. If you’ve been learning German or are just curious about how young people in Germany talk today, you’ve probably noticed that a whole new set of words and phrases has popped up. In this blog, we’ll introduce you to **15 essential Gen Z German slang** terms that will help you stay current and sound like a local. To make these expressions part of your active vocabulary, listen for them in current German conversations and media, note the context and tone, and practice using them with people you know. Now, welcome to the world of Gen Z German slang! In this blog, we’ll introduce you to 15 of the most popular Gen Z slang terms used in Germany right now. By the end, you’ll be able to understand and even use these words like a local. Ready? Let’s explore now! ### **1\. Cringe** - **Meaning:** Awkward or embarrassing. - **Example:** "Das war so **cringe**, als er das gesagt hat." (That was so cringe when he said that.) ### **2\. Diss** - **Meaning:** A slight or insult; comes from "disrespect." - **Example:** "Hast du das gehört? Er hat mich **gedisst**." (Did you hear that? He dissed me.) ### **3\. Ehrenmann/Ehrenfrau** - **Meaning:** Someone who is honorable or trustworthy. - **Example:** "Danke, dass du mir geholfen hast. Du bist ein **Ehrenmann**!" (Thanks for helping me. You’re an honorable man!) ### **4\. Flexen** - **Meaning:** To show off or brag. - **Example:** "Er **flexet** immer mit seinem neuen Handy." (He’s always showing off his new phone.) ### **5\. Lit** - **Meaning:** Exciting or excellent; borrowed from English. - **Example:** "Die Party gestern war richtig **lit**." (The party yesterday was really lit.) ### **6\. Goofy** - **Meaning:** To describe someone is being silly. - **Example:** "Du bist echt **goofy** heute!" (You're really goofy today!) ### **7\. No Cap** - **Meaning:** To say something honestly or without exaggeration. - **Example:** "**No cap**, das ist der beste Burger, den ich je gegessen habe." (No cap, that’s the best burger I’ve ever eaten.) ### **8\. Sau** - **Meaning:** used as an intensifier to emphasize an adjective, similar to how "super" or "really" is used in English. You can place it before an adjective to add intensity. - **Example:** "Das war **sau** cool!" (That was super cool!) ### **9\. Sick** - **Meaning:** Amazing or impressive. - **Example:** "Die Band war gestern echt **sick**!" (The band was really amazing yesterday!) ### **10\. Tinderella** - **Meaning:** A playful term for someone who uses Tinder often. - **Example:** "Schau dir diese Nachrichten an, er ist ein echter **Tinderella**." (Look at these messages, he’s a real Tinderella.) ### **11\. Vibe** - **Meaning:** The mood or atmosphere of a place or situation. - **Example:** "Die **Vibes** auf diesem Konzert waren einfach toll." (The vibes at this concert were just great.) ### **12\. Wack** - **Meaning:** Lame or disappointing. - **Example:** "Der neue Film war total **wack**." (The new movie was totally disappointing.) ### **13\. Yolo** - **Meaning:** Short for "You Only Live Once"; used to justify taking risks. - **Example:** "Ich hab’s gemacht, weil **YOLO**!" (I did it because YOLO!) ### **14\. Zocken** - **Meaning:** To play video games. - **Example:** "Wir haben gestern die ganze Nacht **gezockt**." (We played video games all night yesterday.) ### **15\. Zuschauer** - **Meaning:** Someone who just watches; used sarcastically for someone not participating. - **Example:** "Du bist nur ein **Zuschauer**, mach doch mal mit!" (You’re just a bystander, join in!) ## **Be careful… Use Gen Z Slang Appropriately** ### **Context is Key** German slang should be used in casual settings, with friends, or on social media. In formal or professional environments, stick to standard German. ### **Avoid Overusing Slang** Too much slang can come across as insincere or trying too hard. Balance is key! Learn these terms naturally by listening to native speakers and observing how they use slang in conversation. And there you have it—15 Gen Z slang that will instantly boost your understanding of modern German. Learning slang can be a fun and effective way to connect with native speakers, especially younger ones, and stay up-to-date with how the language is evolving. Give these expressions a try and see how they fit into your conversations! ### French 101: Mastering "Un" and "Une" to Avoid Common Gender Mistakes URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-101-mastering-un-and-une-to-avoid-common-gender-mistakes/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:48.000Z If you're learning French, mastering the use of "un" and "une" is one of the first hurdles you'll encounter. French is a beautiful language, but the gender of nouns can be a bit tricky! Even Emily from [*Emily in Paris*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8962124/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) made a few mistakes with these articles, which highlights just how common it is to confuse masculine and feminine nouns in French. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCvoQwO9-CI In this scene, Emily asks for “**une* pain au chocolat*” instead of “**un* pain au chocolat*.” Oops! Later, as she leaves the bakery, she says “**un* bon journée*” instead of the correct “**une* bonne journée*.” These little slip-ups highlight just how easy it is to confuse masculine and feminine articles in French! But no worries! In this post, we’ll break down the differences between "un" and "une" and help you avoid these common mistakes. With these tips, you'll soon sound like a natural. ## **The Basics: What Are "Un" and "Une"?** In French, every noun has a gender—it’s either masculine or feminine. This means you have to use different articles depending on whether the noun's gender. - **"Un"** is used for masculine nouns. - **"Une"** is used for feminine nouns. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, sometimes it can be tricky to know which nouns are masculine and which are feminine. **Case Study from *Emily in Paris*: Common Mistakes** Let's analyze Emily’s mistakes to learn how to use "un" and "une" correctly: 1. **“Une pain au chocolat”** vs. **“Un pain au chocolat”**: Emily mistakenly used “une” with the masculine noun "pain" (bread). The correct article is "un" because "pain" is masculine. 2. **“Un bon journée”** vs. **“Une bonne journée”**: Emily's error here involved both the article and the adjective. Since "journée" (day) is feminine, the correct phrase is “une bonne journée,” with both the article and the adjective in their feminine forms. These examples highlight how crucial it is to get the gender of French nouns right, as even small mistakes can lead to confusion. ![Distinguish un and une from Emily in Paris](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/62-1.jpg) ## **Understanding the Gender of French Nouns** Although there's no universal rule for determining the gender of every French noun, certain patterns can help: ### **Masculine Nouns Often End In:** - **\-ment** (e.g., *le gouvernement* – the government) - **\-age** (e.g., *un village* – a village) - **\-eau** (e.g., *un cadeau* – a gift) ### **Feminine Nouns Often End In:** - **\-tion** (e.g., *une nation* – a nation) - **\-té** (e.g., *la liberté* – freedom) - **\-ée** (e.g., *une idée* – an idea) Of course, there are exceptions—because it wouldn’t be French without exceptions! For example, *le problème* (problem) is masculine even though it ends in **\-ème**, which looks like it could be feminine. ## **How Adjectives Change with Gender: "Bon" vs. "Bonne"** When Emily said “**un bon journée**,” she used the masculine form "bon." Since "journée" is feminine, the adjective should be "**bonne**." The correct phrase is “une bonne journée.” Here are some more common adjective pairs: - **grand** / **grande** (big, tall) - **petit** / **petite** (small) - **heureux** / **heureuse** (happy) Being attentive to these gender-based changes is key to speaking and writing correctly in French. Mastering "un" and "une" is a crucial step toward sounding more fluent in French. With practice, using the correct articles will become second nature. To strengthen this skill, keep practicing French nouns together with their articles and check the gender whenever you learn a new word. So, next time you're ordering at a French bakery or making conversation, confidently use "**un**" and "**une**" and remember to say “**une bonne journée**” as you leave! ### Adverb Placement in German: A Comprehensive Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/adverb-placement-in-german-a-comprehensive-guide/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:34.000Z Understanding adverbs in German is essential for mastering the language. Regardless of whether you're a beginner or seeking to refine your skills, understanding the placement of German adverbs in sentences can significantly enhance the clarity and flow of your communication. In this blog, we'll delve into the rules and tips for placing adverbs correctly in German sentences. If you haven’t yet explored our previous blogs on German adverbs, including our [beginner's guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-adverbs-a-comprehensive-guide-with-audio/) and[ English comparison](https://blog.lingodeer.com/comparison-of-german-and-english-adverbs/), be sure to check them out for a solid foundation. ## **Adverb Placement in Simple Sentences** In **simple sentences**, the **placement of adverbs in German** generally follows the verb or the object. This placement maintains a natural rhythm and clarity in your statements. *Example:* - Er arbeitet heute **hart**. (*He works hard today.*) Here, "hart" (hard) follows the verb "arbeitet" (works), clearly indicating the manner in which the action is performed. Placing adverbs after the verb or object helps keep sentences straightforward and to the point. ## **Adverb Placement in Complex Sentences** For complex sentences, which include both main and subordinate clauses, adverbs typically appear after the main clause and before the subordinate clause. This positioning helps in maintaining sentence readability and ensures that the adverb effectively modifies the main action. *Example:* - Ich werde das Buch **morgen** kaufen, wenn ich Zeit habe. (*I will buy the book tomorrow if I have time.*) In this sentence, "morgen" (tomorrow) follows the main clause "Ich werde das Buch kaufen" (I will buy the book) but precedes the subordinate clause "wenn ich Zeit habe" (if I have time). This placement helps in maintaining the sentence’s readability and ensuring that the adverb modifies the main action effectively. ## **Common German Adverbs and Their Usage** Let’s explore some commonly used German adverbs and how to use them correctly: ### **1\. immer (always)** *Example:* - Er kommt **immer** pünktlich. (*He always arrives on time.*) Place "immer" at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis. It is used to express actions or habits that occur without exception. ### **2\. oft (often)** *Example:* - Wir essen **oft** im Restaurant. (*We often eat at the restaurant.*) placement “oft” before the main verb to describe frequent occurrences. It is great for discussing routines or regular activities. ### **3\. manchmal (sometimes)** *Example:* - **Manchmal** regnet es im Sommer. (*Sometimes it rains in the summer.*) “Manchmal” is quite versatile and can be placed at various points in a sentence. It often reflects occasional or irregular events. ### **4\. nie (never)** *Example:* Er trinkt **nie** Kaffee. (*He never drinks coffee.*) Use "nie" before the main verb to emphasize that an action does not happen at all. This placement highlights the total absence of the action. ### **5\. häufig (frequently)** *Example:* Sie reist **häufig** geschäftlich. (*She travels frequently for work.*) “Häufig” is similar to “oft” but implies a higher frequency. It’s used to describe actions that occur more regularly. ### **6\. selten (rarely)** *Example:* Ich sehe sie **selten**. (*I rarely see her.*) Place "selten" before the main verb to indicate infrequent occurrences. It conveys that something happens only on rare occasions. ### **7\. gewöhnlich (usually)** *Example:* **Gewöhnlich** mache ich meine Hausaufgaben nach dem Abendessen. (*I usually do my homework after dinner.*) Use "gewöhnlich" to describe typical or habitual actions. It often appears at the beginning or end of a sentence to set the context. ### **8\. gelegentlich (occasionally)** *Example:* Gelegentlich gehen wir in die Berge. (*Occasionally, we go to the mountains.*) "Gelegentlich" indicates actions that happen from time to time. It can be used in various positions to reflect sporadic events. ![German adverb learning tips](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/61-1.jpg) Mastering adverb position is essential for clear and effective communication in German. Review the patterns above, then create your own sentences and read them aloud until the placement begins to feel natural. ### 30 Mexican Slang Terms You Need to Know to Speak Like a Local URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/30-mexican-slang-terms-you-need-to-know-to-speak-like-a-local/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:22.000Z If you're learning Mexican Spanish, especially Mexican slang, understanding these terms is key to sounding more like a native speaker and less like a textbook. Mexican slang is full of color, personality, and is widely used in everyday conversations—so if you're planning to visit Mexico or just want to understand Mexican culture better, this is your guide. Let's dive into **30** of the most commonly used Spanish slang words and phrases in Mexico! ## **Why is Mexican Slang Important?** In Mexico, slang or “**jerga”** is more than trendy words—it's a cultural phenomenon that reflects the local lifestyle. Understanding Mexican slang is crucial for better connecting with locals, blending in more seamlessly, and appreciating the vibrancy of Mexican Spanish. Using these slang terms will not only help you sound more fluent but also enhance your grasp of Mexican culture. ## **30 Commonly Used Mexican Slang Words and Phrases** 1. **ÓraleMeaning:** Wow, okay, hurry up **Example:** ¡**Órale**! Ya vámonos. *(Hurry up! Let's go.)* **Tip:** You'll hear this all the time in Mexico. It's used to express surprise, to express agreement or to encourage someone to hurry up. 2. **GüeyMeaning:** Dude, guy **Example:** ¿Qué haces, **güey**? *(What are you doing, dude?)* **Tip:** Super common between friends, but don’t use it with strangers or in formal settings. But be careful, "Güey" also can be used in an offensive way to mean "stupid". 3. **ChidoMeaning:** Cool, awesome **Example:** Tu camisa está bien **chida**. *(Your shirt is really cool.)* **Tip:** Use this to compliment something in a casual way. 4. **¡No manches!Meaning:** No way, you’re kidding **Example:** ¿Sacaste 10 en el examen? ¡**No manches**! *(You got a 10 on the test? No way!)* **Tip:** It's used to express disbelief or surprise. 5. **NetaMeaning:** Truth, really? **Example:** ¿**Neta**, ya te vas? *(Seriously, you're leaving already?)* **Tip:** Use it when asking if something is for real or to emphasize honesty. 6. **¡Qué padre!Meaning:** How cool! **Example:** ¡**Qué padre** está esta película! *(This movie is so cool!)* **Tip:** Use this expression to show excitement or admiration. 7. **ChambaMeaning:** Job, work **Example:** Encontré una nueva **chamba**. *(I found a new job.)* **Tip:** This is a casual way to refer to a job. 8. **PedoMeaning:** Drunk, problem, situation (context-dependent) **Example:** No hay **pedo**, todo está bien. *(No problem, everything’s fine.)* **Tip:** The meaning changes based on the context, so use it wisely. 9. **AguasMeaning:** Watch out, be careful **Example:** ¡**Aguas** con el coche! *(Watch out for the car!)* **Tip:** A warning expression often used to alert someone to danger. 10. **FresaMeaning:** Snobby, preppy person **Example:** Esa chica es muy **fresa**. *(That girl is really snobby.)* **Tip:** Used to describe someone with a privileged or entitled attitude. 11. **CarnalMeaning:** Bro, close friend **Example:** ¿Qué pasa, **carnal**? *(What's up, bro?)* **Tip:** A casual term for a close male friend. 12. **Mero meroMeaning:** The boss, the main person **Example:** Él es el **mero mero** del equipo. *(He's the main guy on the team.)* **Tip:** A way to describe someone in charge or the best at something. 13. **BroncaMeaning:** Problem, trouble **Example:** Tengo una **bronca** en el trabajo. *(I have a problem at work.)* **Tip:** Commonly used to refer to an issue or challenge. 14. **ChelaMeaning:** Beer **Example:** Vamos por unas **chelas**. *(Let's go get some beers.)* **Tip:** This slang word for beer is widely used in casual settings. 15. **Chamaco/aMeaning:** Kid **Example:** El **chamaco** está jugando afuera. *(The kid is playing outside.)* **Tip:** Use it to refer to children in a playful or familiar way. 16. **DesmadreMeaning:** Chaos, mess **Example:** La fiesta fue un **desmadre**. *(The party was a total mess.)* **Tip:** This word is great for describing any wild or chaotic situation. 17. **PlaticarMeaning:** To chat, talk **Example:** Vamos a **platicar** un rato. *(Let’s chat for a while.)* **Tip:** A friendly, casual word for “talk” or “chat.” 18. **CuateMeaning:** Buddy, friend **Example:** Mi **cuate** viene a la fiesta. *(My buddy is coming to the party.)* **Tip:** Popular in Mexico City, use it to refer to a close friend. 19. **ChafaMeaning:** Cheap, low-quality **Example:** Ese teléfono es muy **chafa**. *(That phone is really low-quality.)* **Tip:** Use it to describe something disappointing or poorly made. 20. **ChaleMeaning:** Expression of disappointment, concern or frustration **Example:** **Chale**, no puedo ir. *(Darn, I can't go.)* **Tip:** Similar to saying "Darn!" when something doesn’t go as planned. 21. **MandeMeaning:** Pardon? Can you repeat that? **Example:** **Mande**, no te escuché. *(Pardon, I didn’t hear you.)* **Tip:** A polite way to ask someone to repeat themselves. 22. **VaMeaning:** Okay, sure **Example:** Vamos al cine. – ¡**Va**! *(Let’s go to the movies. – Okay!)* **Tip:** Use it to agree to something casually. 23. **PachangaMeaning:** Party **Example:** El sábado hay una **pachanga** en casa de Luis. *(There's a party at Luis’ house on Saturday.)* **Tip:** A fun word for any social gathering or fiesta. 24. **¡Qué hueva!Meaning:** How boring, what a drag **Example:** Tengo que trabajar este fin de semana. – ¡**Qué hueva**! *(I have to work this weekend. – What a drag!)* **Tip:** Use it to express boredom or reluctance. 25. **ChilangoMeaning:** Someone from Mexico City **Example:** Mi amigo es **chilango**, nació en la Ciudad de México. *(My friend is chilango, he was born in Mexico City.)* **Tip:** A specific term for people from Mexico City. 26. **Chavo/aMeaning:** Boy/girl, teenager **Example:** El **chavo** es muy amable. *(The boy is very kind.)* **Tip:** A casual way to refer to young people or teens. 27. **Bajarle de huevosMeaning:** Calm down, lower the intensity **Example:** ¡**Bájale de huevos**, no es para tanto! *(Calm down, it’s not that big of a deal!)* **Tip:** Use this when someone is overreacting or needs to relax. 28. **Morro/aMeaning:** Kid, young person **Example:** El **morro** está en la escuela. *(The kid is at school.)* **Tip:** A casual term to refer to children or younger people. 29. **Ser la netaMeaning:** To be the best, to be awesome **Example:** Ese restaurante **es la neta**. *(That restaurant is the best.)* **Tip:** Use this when you want to praise something highly. 30. **VatoMeaning:** Dude, guy **Example:** Ese **vato** es mi mejor amigo. *(That dude is my best friend.)* **Tip:** A casual way to refer to a guy, similar to "güey." By learning these commonly used Mexican slang expressions, you'll not only enhance your Spanish fluency but also immerse yourself deeper into Mexican culture! To learn more Mexican slang, pay attention to who is speaking, the relationship between the speakers, and the situation. Slang can sound friendly in one context but inappropriate in another. https://videopress.com/v/4upYX7U8?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true*FuenDay - Clips* Find more slang expressions in the app! ### 50 Common English Words of German Origin URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/50-common-english-words-of-german-origin/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:24.000Z Did you know that when you say *kindergarten*, *pretzel*, or *wanderlust*, you're actually speaking German? Over the years, English has borrowed words from many languages, and German has had a significant influence! Let’s explore **50 common English words** that are actually German. You may be surprised at how many are already a part of your daily vocabulary! Let’s get started right away! ## **Science and Philosophy Terms** English has borrowed many technical and intellectual terms from German, especially in the realms of science and philosophy: | **Kitsch** | Originally described tasteless art or objects, now refers to something overly sentimental or gaudy. | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Zeitgeist** | Means "spirit of the times," used to describe the cultural mood of an era. | | **Übermensch** | Nietzsche's term for an individual with superior qualities, beyond conventional human limitations. | | **Gestalt** | In psychology, it refers to perceiving something as a whole rather than as individual parts. | | **Schadenfreude** | Taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune. | | **Weltanschauung** | A comprehensive worldview or philosophy of life. | | **Dasein** | A term used in existential philosophy to describe the experience of being. | | **Erlebnis** | Denotes a profound personal experience. | | **Bildungsroman** | A coming-of-age story, typically following the moral and psychological growth of a character. | | **Fach** | In opera, this term refers to a singer's specific vocal range and type of roles they perform. | ## **Food and Culinary Words** Germany's culinary influence has resulted in several words making their way into English, many referring to beloved dishes: | **Bratwurst** | A type of German sausage, commonly grilled and served with mustard. | | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Schnitzel** | Breaded and fried meat, usually pork or veal. | | **Sauerkraut** | Fermented cabbage, a staple in many German dishes. | | **Pretzel** | A twisted, baked bread, often salted and served with beer. | | **Lager** | A type of beer brewed at low temperatures for a crisp flavor. | | **Pumpernickel** | A dense, dark rye bread. | | **Wiener** | A type of sausage, often called a “hot dog” in English. | | **Strudel** | A layered pastry, often filled with fruit or cheese. | | **Kirsch** | A clear cherry brandy from Germany. | | **Muesli** | A mixture of oats, nuts, and dried fruits eaten as a breakfast cereal. | ## **Everyday Words and Expressions** Some German words have seamlessly become part of everyday English vocabulary: | **Kindergarten** | Literally "children’s garden," referring to preschool education. | | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Angst** | A feeling of anxiety, dread, or existential worry. | | **Blitz** | Means "lightning," but used to describe fast, overwhelming events (e.g., "media blitz"). | | **Wanderlust** | The strong desire to travel and explore. | | **Poltergeist** | A mischievous, noisy ghost. | | **Noodle** | Derived from Nudel, used for pasta. | | **Doppelgänger** | A look-alike or double of a living person. | | **Über** | Meaning "over" or "super," it’s used in English to mean something extreme (e.g., “über-cool”). | | **Rucksack** | A backpack, particularly one used for outdoor activities like hiking. | | **Delicatessen** | A shop selling fine, prepared foods (often shortened to "deli"). | ## **Cultural and Artistic Terms** Germany’s rich artistic history has introduced some highly specific and useful terms into English: | **Leitmotif** | This word comes from the German word Leitmotiv. It means a recurring theme or musical phrase associated with a character or idea. | | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Gesamtkunstwerk** | A total work of art that combines multiple forms (e.g., music, drama, and visual arts). | | **Doppelgänger** | A double or look-alike of a person, often used in literature. | | **Wunderkind** | A child prodigy with exceptional talent. | | **Walzer (Waltz)** | A popular ballroom dance style from the 18th century. | | **Fest** | Refers to a festival or celebration (e.g., Oktoberfest). | | **Lied** | A German art song, particularly from the Romantic period. | | **Meister** | Meaning "master," often used to describe someone skilled in a craft or art. | | **Volkslied** | A traditional folk song. | | **Märchen** | A folk tale or fairy tale. | ## **Technology and Engineering Terms** Germany’s history of innovation in engineering and technology has also left its mark on the English language: | **Diesel** | Named after Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine. | | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Zeppelin** | A type of large airship, made famous by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. | | **Glockenspiel** | A percussion instrument with tuned metal bars struck with a mallet. | | **Quartz** | A mineral commonly used in watches and electronics. | | **Rucksack** | A bag or backpack, often used by travelers or hikers. | | **Autobahn** | A German highway system with no speed limit in certain areas. | | **Mechatronics** | A multidisciplinary field combining mechanics, electronics, and computing. | | **Panzer** | Refers to armored military vehicles, particularly tanks. | | **Sturm** | Meaning "storm," often used in military contexts (e.g., Sturmtruppen, meaning stormtroopers). | | **Schraube** | The German word for "screw," used in various technical contexts. | And there you have it—50 common English words that actually come from German! From scientific terms to food and cultural expressions, the influence of German on English runs deeper than you might think. To expand your German vocabulary further, compare related English and German words in complete sentences. Pay attention to differences in pronunciation and meaning, since shared origins do not always produce identical modern usage. ![50 common English words of German origin](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/58-cover.jpg) ### A Simple Guide to Counting in Japanese: Numbers 1 to 10 and Beyond URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-simple-guide-to-counting-in-japanese-numbers/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:19:15.000Z Learning how to count in Japanese is one of the first steps to mastering the language. You'll encounter numbers in everyday situations like when you’re shopping, checking the time, or discussing quantities. Luckily, the Japanese number system is straightforward once you understand the basic patterns. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to say the numbers in Japanese, starting from 1, and build up to larger numbers. Ready? Let’s start counting! ## Quick Answer: How does Japanese counting begin? Basic Sino-Japanese numbers are 一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六, 七, 八, 九 and 十. Larger numbers combine by place value, while pronunciation may change when numbers join counters. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------- | ------------------------- | | 1–10 | core number forms | | 11+ | combine place values | | Counters | expect sound changes | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## Count Japanese Numbers 1 to 10 Let’s begin with the basics: how to count in Japanese from 1 to 10! Japanese uses Kanji (Chinese characters) alongside two phonetic alphabets—[*Hiragana*](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/) and [*Katakana*](https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/). Here are the Japanese numbers with their kanji, hiragana, and pronunciation. | **Number** | **Kanji** | **Hiragana** | **Pronunciation** | | ---------- | --------- | ------------ | ----------------- | | 1 | 一 | いち | ichi | | 2 | 二 | に | ni | | 3 | 三 | さん | san | | 4 | 四 | し/よん | shi/yon | | 5 | 五 | ご | go | | 6 | 六 | ろく | roku | | 7 | 七 | しち/なな | shichi/nana | | 8 | 八 | はち | hachi | | 9 | 九 | きゅう/く | kyuu/ku | | 10 | 十 | じゅう | juu | ![Japanese numbers 1 to 10 with kanji, kana readings, and romanization](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeKRD9UjtDJO7sdWVw7bpFDtPWF2yGRtZ09AsG05GfAJ-ooTf5qM-JYNejAzkd8udv3NZMNBta8n27f9y0tush4nV_fIQV844-F-kfk7d3MgNBxWnS2NQ2nETdSPMYs11mAeSSh66oIz5KwaQC92NiQMNQ?key=8G8sphBPRAzlOwDz4oM8GQ) ### Pronunciation Tips from Deer: - **四 (4)**: This number can be pronounced as "shi" or "yon." "Shi" sounds similar to the word for death (死), so "yon" is more commonly used in daily life. - **七 (7)**: Both "shichi" and "nana" are valid, but "nana" is preferred in casual conversations because it's clearer and avoids confusion with similar-sounding words. - **九 (9)**: "Kyuu" and "ku" are both used, though "kyuu" is more frequent. ## Count Numbers Beyond 10: The Pattern is Simple! Once you know how to count in Japanese from 1 to 10, the pattern for numbers beyond 10 is easy to follow. You just combine the tens with the smaller numbers. Here’s how it works: - 11 = 十一 (じゅういち, juu-ichi) = 10 + 1 - 12 = 十二 (じゅうに, juu-ni) = 10 + 2 - 20 = 二十 (にじゅう, ni-juu) = 2 + 10 The pattern continues as shown below: | **Number** | **Kanji** | **Hiragana** | **Pronunciation** | | ---------- | --------- | ------------ | ------------------- | | 11 | 十一 | じゅういち | juu-ichi | | 12 | 十二 | じゅうに | juu-ni | | 13 | 十三 | じゅうさん | juu-san | | 14 | 十四 | じゅうし/じゅうよん | juu-shi/juu-yon | | 15 | 十五 | じゅうご | juu-go | | 16 | 十六 | じゅうろく | juu-roku | | 17 | 十七 | じゅうしち | juu-shichi/juu-nana | | 18 | 十八 | じゅうはち | juu-hachi | | 19 | 十九 | じゅうきゅう/じゅうく | juu-kyuu/juu-ku | | 20 | 二十 | にじゅう | ni-juu | | 21 | 二十一 | にじゅういち | ni-juu-ichi | | 30 | 三十 | さんじゅう | san-juu | You can create any number between 11 and 99 by combining the tens place with the numbers 1 to 9\. For example: - 25 = 二十五 (にじゅうご, ni-juu-go) = 2 + 10 + 5 - 37 = 三十七 (さんじゅうなな, san-juu-nana) = 3 + 10 + 7 ## Counting in the Hundreds Once you’ve mastered numbers up to 99, let’s move on to the hundreds. The pattern is similar, and this will help you master numbers in Japanese quickly. | **Number** | **Kanji** | Hiragana | **Pronunciation** | | ---------- | --------- | -------- | ----------------- | | 100 | 百 | ひゃく | hyaku | | 200 | 二百 | にひゃく | ni-hyaku | | 300 | 三百 | さんびゃく | sanbyaku | | 400 | 四百 | よんひゃく | yon-hyaku | | 500 | 五百 | ごひゃく | go-hyaku | | 600 | 六百 | ろっぴゃく | roppyaku | | 700 | 七百 | ななひゃく | nana-hyaku | | 800 | 八百 | はっぴゃく | happyaku | | 900 | 九百 | きゅうひゃく | kyuu-hyaku | ### Pronunciation Tips: - **300 (三百)**: Instead of "san-hyaku," it’s pronounced "sanbyaku." - **600 (六百)**: "Roku-hyaku" becomes "roppyaku." - **800 (八百)**: "Hachi-hyaku" is pronounced as "happyaku." *Eg,* 873: **800** (八百, happyaku): This is the hundreds place. "Hachi" (8) + "hyaku" (100) = "happyaku." Notice the slight pronunciation change from "hyaku" to "happyaku." **70** (七十, nana-juu): For the tens place, "nana" (7) + "juu" (10) = "nana-juu." **3** (三, san): Lastly, for the ones place, just say "san" (3). When you combine them, you get 八百七十三 (happyaku nana-juu san), which reads as "800 + 70 + 3." So, 873 is "happyaku nana-juu san" in Japanese. ## Counting in the Thousands Counting into the thousands follows the same pattern. Simply add the number before "thousand," which is "sen" (千). | **Number** | **Kanji** | **Hiragana** | **Pronunciation** | | ---------- | --------- | ------------ | ----------------- | | 1,000 | 千 | せん | sen | | 2,000 | 二千 | にせん | ni-sen | | 3,000 | 三千 | さんぜん | san-zen | | 4,000 | 四千 | よんせん | yon-sen | | 5,000 | 五千 | ごせん | go-sen | | 6,000 | 六千 | ろくせん | roku-sen | | 7,000 | 七千 | ななせん | nana-sen | | 8,000 | 八千 | はっせん | hassen | | 9,000 | 九千 | きゅうせん | kyuu-sen | ### Pronunciation Tips: - **3,000 (三千)**: "San-sen" changes to "san-zen." - **8,000 (八千)**: "Hachi-sen" becomes "hassen." ## Counting in the Ten Thousands: 万 (Man) In Japanese, after you reach 9,999, the next step is 万 (まん, man), which means ten thousand. Unlike in English, where we count thousands, in Japanese, the unit changes after ten thousand. | **Number** | **Kanji** | **Hiragana** | **Pronunciation** | | ---------- | --------- | ------------ | ----------------- | | 10,000 | 一万 | いちまん | ichi-man | | 20,000 | 二万 | にまん | ni-man | | 50,000 | 五万 | ごまん | go-man | | 100,000 | 十万 | じゅうまん | juu-man | ### Key Point: In English, we use commas after every three digits (e.g., 10,000). In Japanese, the comma comes after every four digits, so 10,000 is **一万 (ichi-man)**, and 100,000 is **十万 (juu-man)**. *Examples:* - 15,000 = 一万五千 (いちまんごせん, ichi-man go-sen) = 10,000 + 5,000 - 34,000 = 三万四千 (さんまんよんせん, san-man yon-sen) = 30,000 + 4,000 Let’s try a difficult one: - 123,456 = 十二万三千四百五十六 (じゅうにまんさんぜんよんひゃくごじゅうろく, jyuu-ni-man san-zen yon-hyaku go-jyuu roku) Now that you’ve learned the basics of counting in Japanese from 1 to 10 and beyond, you're ready to use numbers in everyday situations like shopping, telling time, and chatting. With practice, you’ll master numbers in Japanese and build confidence for more complex conversations. Keep practicing, and soon, counting in Japanese will feel second nature! For more content on Japanese numbers, check out the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app. [![Download LingoDeer on the App Store](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/apple-download-3x-1.png)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [![Get LingoDeer on Google Play](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/getitongoogleplay_badge_web_color_english-1.png)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Japanese Honorific Conjugations: Speak Japanese with Respect URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorific-conjugations-speak-japanese-with-respect-2/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:17:13.000Z In Japanese culture, language is more than just a way to talk—it's a key to expressing respect, because social hierarchy is so important in Japan. Honorifics aren't just about being polite; they're about understanding the deeply rooted traditions of consideration and respect for others. ## Quick Answer: What are the main Japanese honorific styles? Polite language includes teineigo for general politeness, sonkeigo to elevate another person’s actions, and kenjōgo to humble the speaker’s or in-group actions. Choice depends on relationship and situation. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----- | ------------------------- | | 丁寧語 | polite style | | 尊敬語 | respectful language | | 謙譲語 | humble language | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. The honorific system in Japanese may seem complex and layered, but think of it as learning the different ways to show respect through language. In Japanese, respect is built right into the grammar itself. This is done through specific verb and adjective conjugations that change depending on the relationship between the speaker and the listener or the subject of the conversation. At the heart of Japanese honorifics are three key forms. Let’s explore what makes each one special and how you can start using them in your conversations: 1. ***Teineigo* (丁寧語) - Polite Language**: This is the most commonly used form of honorifics, appropriate for everyday interactions where a degree of politeness is required. It’s the default mode of speech in most social situations and is considered neutral but polite. 2. ***Sonkeigo* (尊敬語) - Respectful Language**: *Sonkeigo* is used to show respect to the person you are talking to or about, typically someone of higher status, such as a boss, teacher, or elder. This form often involves altering verbs or using entirely different words to elevate the respectfulness of the sentence. 3. ***Kenjougo* (謙譲語) - Humble Language**: *Kenjougo* is used by the speaker to humble themselves or their in-group when speaking to someone of higher status. This form often involves making oneself or one’s actions appear less significant as a way of showing respect. In this guide, we'll walk you through the ins and outs of Japanese honorific conjugations. We’ll break down the rules for regular verbs and adjectives, dive into the tricky irregular forms, and give you plenty of examples to help you practice in your everyday conversations. ## Conjugating Regular Verbs into Honorific Forms ### *Teineigo* (丁寧語) *Teineigo* is your go-to level of polite language. It’s simple and easy to use—just add the suffix -ます (masu) to the verb stem, and you’re all set to speak politely! **Examples**: | **Word Type** | **Basic Form** | **Conjugation** | **Honorific Form** | **Sentence Example** | | ------------- | -------------- | --------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------- | | Verb | 食べる (taberu) | 食べ + ます | 食べます | 私は寿司を食べます。(I eat sushi.) | | Verb | 行く (iku) | 行き + ます | 行きます | 学校に行きます。(I go to school.) | ### *Sonkeigo* (尊敬語) *Sonkeigo* is the form you'll use to show extra respect, especially when talking about someone important. Sometimes, it means changing the verb completely, or you might just add -られる (-rareru) or -なさる (-nasaru) to the verb. Another common way to express respect in *Sonkeigo* is the "お/ご + Verb Stem + になる" form. - **お (o)** is used for native Japanese verbs, and **ご (go)** is for Sino-Japanese verbs. - Add になる (ni naru) to the verb stem to show respect for someone's actions. For example, "帰る" (kaeru, to return) becomes "お帰りになる" (okaeri ni naru), and "座る" (suwaru, to sit) becomes "お座りになる" (osuwari ni naru). This form is great for elevating the person you’re talking about in a polite and formal way. ![How to conjugate Japanese Sonkeigo](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdXHGOpjbHRwkIrdUmBGCIhY0WPNQtz9a3LxvnxFZPnH7p45fm4ldqcKoSS3GfYjXJANSLunVRcao03mspWPnU9reuxBGbDLoQkxeUD8K6eslOh6X2Zlcqh6NfFz6B9IPcHK_3N-8RRGWhBoiaL3uKSyjJl?key=r1vKyV4oooqAQ3g0ymasUg) ### *Kenjougo* (謙譲語) *Kenjougo* is used to humble the speaker when referring to their own actions or the actions of their in-group. This form often involves the prefix **お (o)** or **ご (go)** and changing the verb to a specific humble form. **Examples**: | **Word Type** | **Basic Form** | **Conjugation** | **Honorific Form** | **Sentence Example** | | ------------- | -------------- | --------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------- | | Verb | する (suru) | いたす | いたします | 私がいたします。(I will do it.) | | Verb | もらう (morau) | 頂く (itadaku) | 頂きます | 先生から本を頂きます。(I receive a book from the teacher.) | ## Conjugating Adjectives into Honorific Forms Did you know that even adjectives in Japanese can get a respectful upgrade? When using *Sonkeigo* and *Kenjougo*, you’ll often add お (o) or ご (go) to give your adjectives that extra touch of politeness. **Examples**: | **Word Type** | **Basic Form** | **Conjugation** | **Honorific Form** | **Sentence Example** | | ------------- | -------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | | Adjective | 早い (hayai) | お + 早い (o-hayai) | お早い | お早い時間にありがとうございます。(Thank you for coming so early.) | | Adjective | 元気 (genki) | ご + 健康 (go-kenkō) | ご健康 | ご健康をお祈りいたします。(I pray for your health.) | ## Irregular Honorific Verbs Just like in any language, Japanese has a few tricky verbs that don’t play by the usual rules. But don’t worry! With a bit of practice, you’ll get the hang of these irregular honorific verbs in no time. | **Word Type** | **Basic Form** | **Sonkeigo Form** | **Sentence Example** | | ------------- | ------------------- | ----------------- | -------------------------------- | | Verb | する (suru) | なさる | 部長がなさいます。(The boss will do it.) | | Verb | いる (iru) / ある (aru) | いらっしゃる | 部長がいらっしゃいます。(The boss is here.) | | Verb | 言う (iu) | おっしゃる | 先生がおっしゃいます。(The teacher says...) | In addition to the irregular honorific verbs shown above, some honorifics in Japanese take on entirely different forms and are not conjugated from the original verb. These forms are essential for formal interactions and must be memorized. ![Irregular honorific verbs in Japanese](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfmSFyWNNNQaA-kkLh5LcDQ1dk1tT-TO_asZgea_p0nTuSaAet6rOqG4YIBMQJ4pEI3dkSJMPe20sh0NwY65Rw1G_gSEgQlDk9S3BjI9Pcx8cfGL0c9HWyOHfLqCbaGOEwKk5fjUyHXImpHG8fcHRKGApE?key=r1vKyV4oooqAQ3g0ymasUg) Getting the hang of Japanese honorifics is key to smooth and respectful communication, especially in formal situations. It might feel like a challenge at first, but with a little practice, you'll find yourself using these forms naturally. Remember, every step you take in mastering honorifics brings you closer to fluency and understanding the heart of Japanese culture. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way—they’re part of the learning process. You’ve got this! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Kickstart Your Korean Journey: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/kickstart-your-korean-journey/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:19:39.000Z 안녕하세요! ## Quick Answer: Kickstart Your Korean Journey: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide Start Korean with Hangul and pronunciation, then build polite everyday expressions, core sentence patterns and frequent vocabulary. Short regular practice across listening, speaking, reading and writing creates a durable foundation. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | 1\. Master Hangul (한글) – The Korean Alphabet | | Section 2 | Why Learn Hangul? | | Section 3 | 2\. Basic Greetings and Phrases | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Learning Korean is an exciting journey! Whether you are encouraged by K-pop, K-dramas, or just a curiosity about the language itself, it guides you to a new culture and rich language history. Here‘s a comprehensive guide to help you start your Korean learning journey! ## 1\. Master Hangul (한글) – The Korean Alphabet The foundation begins with mastering Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Despite its initial complexity, Hangul is renowned for its logical structure and phonetic simplicity. ### Why Learn Hangul? \- Phonetic Alphabet: Each character corresponds to a distinct sound, facilitating both reading and writing. \- Ease of Learning: Within just a few hours, you can grasp the basics of Hangul. In [this post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hangul/), we’ve explained the details of the Hangul, feel free to check it out! ![Learn Hangul with Hangul Chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/08/ld-image-75ddbae9a7e8dfe2.jpg) ## 2\. Basic Greetings and Phrases Once you’ve familiarized yourself with Hangul, the next step is practicing basic greetings and essential phrases! These phrases not only aid in everyday interactions, but also show respect and politeness, which are highly valued in Korean society. | 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Hello | | ----- | -------------- | --------- | | 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | Thank you | | 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | I’m sorry | | 네 | ne | Yes | | 아니요 | aniyo | No | Tips from Deer: You can reinforce these useful daily expressions by practicing regularly through speaking aloud, writing, and using flashcards. ## 3\. Focus on Pronunciation Korean pronunciation can be challenging for English speakers, so it's crucial to focus on getting the pronunciation correct. We've also covered the pronunciation in [this blog](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hangul/). Looking for other ways to practice pronunciation effectively? Utilize resources like our LingoDeer app, dedicated to refining pronunciation through interactive exercises and instructional videos. Understanding the phonetic nuances will enhance your ability to speak naturally and be understood. ## 4\. Vocabulary Acquisition Building a strong vocabulary is essential for practical communication. Start with everyday words categorized by themes for better retention. A wide vocabulary will help you understand Korean culture better and make daily conversations smoother. For instance, learning food-related vocabulary introduces you to staple dishes like kimchi and bibimbap, providing insight into Korean culinary traditions. ![Vocabulary Acquisition for learning Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/08/ld-image-18be6a61b075b499.jpg) ## 5\. Grasp Grammar Basics Understanding fundamental grammar rules is vital to creating cohesive sentences. Korean follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order, represented by sentences like: 저는 밥을 먹어요 (jeoneun babeul meogeoyo) – I eat rice. In this example, "저는 (jeoneun)" is the subject marked by "는(neun)", "밥을 (babeul)" is the object marked by "을 (eul)", and "먹어요 (meogeoyo)" is the verb meaning "eat." Roles within sentences can be further defined using particles like 이/가 (i/ga) as subject markers and 을/를 (eul/reul) as object markers. For instance, 이 (i) or 가 (ga) are attached to subjects to highlight them, depending on whether the subject ends in a consonant or a vowel. Similarly, 을 (eul) or 를 (reul) are attached to objects to denote their role in the sentence. ## 6\. Embrace Listening and Speaking Practice Join language exchange communities to practice with native speakers, immerse yourself in active listening and speaking activities, and watch K-Dramas and listen to K-Pop. Subtitles can help you grasp conversations and cultural nuances. This method makes learning a language more enjoyable and engaging by boosting fluency and deepening cultural understanding. Want to start your Korean journey now? Check out [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! It is designed to provide a comprehensive and structured approach to learning Korean. You will find: \- **Structured Lessons**: Step-by-step modules covering grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation ensure a systematic learning experience. \- **Interactive Exercises**: Engage in exercises that reinforce learning through active participation, including speaking and listening drills. \- **Cultural Insights**: Gain a deeper understanding of Korean culture through dedicated lessons on customs, festivals, and societal norms. \- **Practice Mode**: Hone speaking and listening abilities through interactive practice sessions, receiving instant feedback to track progress effectively. Learning Korean is an enriching journey that extends beyond language acquisition. It opens doors to cultural understanding and meaningful connections. With dedication and the right tools, mastering Korean is within your reach. Start your adventure today with **LingoDeer** and unlock the world of 한글! [![Download LingoDeer on the App Store](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/apple-download-3x-2.png "Apple download@3x")](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [![Get LingoDeer on Google Play](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/getitongoogleplay_badge_web_color_english-2.png "GetItOnGooglePlay_Badge_Web_color_English")](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 5 Steps to Learn Chinese from Zero URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/5-steps-to-learn-chinese-from-zero-2/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:18.000Z Download [我们明天去北京.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/wo-men-ming-tian-qu-bei-jing-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: How should a beginner start learning Chinese? Begin with pinyin and tones, then add high-frequency characters, useful vocabulary and basic sentence patterns. Combine structured study with listening, speaking and regular review. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------- | ------------------------- | | Pronunciation | pinyin plus tones | | Literacy | frequent characters | | Practice | listening and speaking | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Chinese is spoken by over a billion people worldwide, making it one of the most valuable languages to learn globally nowadays. While learning Chinese can be challenging, it can also be manageable and rewarding with the right approach. Whether you're learning for business, cultural enrichment, or travel, if you're considering learning Chinese now, you've come to the right place! Check out the following steps to prepare for your Chinese learning journey. ## Step 1: Master Pinyin and Tones ### What is Pinyin? Pinyin is the Romanization system for Chinese characters, designed to teach pronunciation using the Latin alphabet. It contains 25 out of 26 letters of the Roman alphabet. Interestingly, even if you're encountering Pinyin for the first time, you can still guess around 50% of the sounds correctly, as many symbols are similar to English. Mastering Pinyin is the initial step in learning Chinese and is crucial for beginners. ### Importance of Tones Mandarin Chinese features four main tones and a neutral tone, each altering the meaning of words. Properly mastering tones is essential, as mispronunciations can lead to misunderstandings. Pinyin and tones are often learned together as a set, given their interconnected nature. ### Where to start? Actually,[ LingoDeer ](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)offers a very useful Pinyin Chart and exercises within the app! By switching the learning language to Chinese and tapping the icon of the Temple of Heaven in the top right corner, you can access these resources. This section is ideal for comprehensive practice of Pinyin and tones. Remember, when practicing, don't hesitate to pronounce the expressions out loud—there's no need to be afraid! ![LingoDeer Pinyin chart and interactive tone exercises](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-4-1.png "Blog 4-1") ## Step 2: Learn Chinese Characters Once you become accustomed to Pinyin and tones, the next step is to focus on Chinese characters. Chinese characters play important roles in the learning journey. These characters are crucial in your learning journey, as they offer insights into meanings and pronunciations through radicals and components. Feeling overwhelmed by the vast number of Chinese characters? Begin with the most frequently used ones. Mastering these will enable you to comprehend a substantial portion of written Chinese. LingoDeer features a highly useful section for learning how to write Chinese characters. Each lesson provides clear writing instructions for learners to follow, ensuring they learn the correct stroke order for each character. ![LingoDeer Chinese character writing instructions and practice screens](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-4-2.png "Blog 4-2") ## Step 3: Learning Basic Vocabulary and Grammar ### Basic Vocabulary With millions of Chinese characters to learn, it's natural to feel overwhelmed initially. However, you can start by taking baby steps! Why not begin building your Chinese foundation with simple yet essential words and phrases that you'll use daily, including greetings, numbers, and common nouns? Here are some examples: | Greetings | 你好 | nǐ hǎo | hello | | ------------ | -------- | --------------- | ----- | | 再见 | zài jiàn | goodbye | | | 谢谢 | xiè xiè | thank you | | | 不客气 | bú kè qì | you are welcome | | | Numbers | 一 | yī | one | | 二 | èr | two | | | 三 | sān | three | | | 四 | sì | four | | | Common nouns | 我 | wǒ | I/me | | 你 | nǐ | you | | | 他 | tā | he/him | | | 它 | tā | it | | ### Grammar Basics Chinese grammar is relatively straightforward compared to many other languages, featuring a subject-verb-object (SVO) sentence structure. For example, "I eat apples" translates to "我吃苹果 (wǒ chī píngguǒ)” in Chinese, following the same basic structure as the English sentence. Here are some slightly more advanced grammar tips: - **Questions** - For yes/no questions, add "**吗 (ma)**” at the end of the statement - 你喜欢中国**吗**? (Nǐ xǐhuān Zhōngguó ma?) – Do you like China? - **Negation** - To negate a verb, simply add "**不 (bù)**” before the verb. - 我**不**吃苹果 (wǒ bù chī píngguǒ) – I do not eat apples. - **Measure Words** - In Chinese, using measure words between numbers and nouns is crucial for forming sentences correctly. - 一**个**苹果 (yī gè píngguǒ) – one apple - **Time and Place** - Time words typically come before the verb - 我**明天**去北京 (wǒ míngtiān qù Běijīng) – I am going to Beijing tomorrow. ## Step 4: Practice Listening and Speaking Listening and speaking are both vital components of learning a new language. Immersing yourself in the language helps you understand the context and nuances better. The same applies to Chinese—watching Chinese movies, dramas, and TV shows can elevate your Chinese skills and deepen your understanding of Chinese culture and daily life. In addition, podcasts have become a valuable tool for language learning, allowing you to listen to content and get used to the rhythm and flow of the language. Here are some popular Chinese language podcasts to consider: - [Chinese Pod](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/chinesepod-beginner/id1489328856?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): This channel caters to beginners and covers a variety of topics. The hosts typically present dialogues in Mandarin, followed by English translations. They also explain the grammar rules relevant to each conversation. - [ChillChat](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chillchat-learn-chinese-and-chill/id1475774488?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): For intermediate learners, ChillChat is a must-visit channel. The hosts incorporate current trends and Chinese culture into their conversations, providing an engaging and informative experience. - [Learning Chinese through Stories](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-chinese-through-stories/id942258146?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): If you're interested in learning Chinese through stories, this channel is an excellent choice. It offers a wide range of topics and proficiency levels. Each story is divided into two parts: the story itself and a detailed explanation. The content also includes annotated vocabulary and transcripts to aid comprehension. ## Step 5: Immerse Yourself and Practice Regularly Regular practice is crucial for language learning. It's beneficial to set aside a specific amount of time each day to study Chinese, whether through reading, writing, listening, or speaking. Additionally, immersing yourself in the Chinese environment can greatly enhance your language skills. One effective way to immerse yourself is through Chinese social media. China's advanced technology has led to the development of numerous social media platforms with abundant content. **Red (小红书 - xiǎo Hóng Shū)** Red focuses on lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and travel. Users can share posts with photos and videos, write reviews, and provide recommendations.The platform also features a significant amount of user-generated content and influencer posts. By following these, you can better understand contemporary vocabulary and phrases used in daily life. Additionally, reading user reviews can help improve your practical language skills, particularly in shopping and product reviews. **Weibo (微博 - wēi bó)** Weibo, often referred to as the "Chinese Twitter," allows users to post updates, share news, and interact with others. Following trending topics and reading the latest news can help you stay updated on current events and learn how Chinese is used in the media. Additionally, you can practice your Chinese by creating your own posts on the platform. **Zhihu (知乎 - zhī hū)** Similar to Quora, Zhihu is a Q&A platform where users can ask questions and receive detailed answers. It's an excellent resource for gaining professional knowledge, as users provide in-depth explanations on a wide range of topics. Reading these answers can enhance your reading comprehension and help you master specialized vocabulary efficiently. Of course, you can post questions about Chinese language and culture to receive answers from native speakers. ![Illustration of practising Chinese through listening, video, and social platforms](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-4-2-2.png "Blog 4-2 (2)") Learning Chinese from zero may seem like a daunting task, but starting with small steps is key. These five steps are just the beginning, but by following them, you can build a strong foundation and steadily progress toward fluency. Remember, LingoDeer is always here to support you on your Chinese learning journey, so don't hesitate to reach out if you need any help! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Intransitive Verbs vs Transitive Verbs in Japanese: Which one to use? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/intransitive-verbs-vs-transitive-verbs-in-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:19:36.000Z Have you ever been confused by intransitive (自動詞) and transitive verbs (他動詞) while learning Japanese? It's often tricky to understand the differences and use them correctly, isn't it? In this blog, we'll take a careful look into these two types of verbs to make the concepts clearer and easier to understand. ## Quick Answer: Intransitive Verbs vs Transitive Verbs in Japanese: Which one to use? Japanese transitive verbs describe an agent acting on an object, while intransitive verbs describe a change or state without a direct object. Learn common pairs with particles and complete examples. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | What are intransitive and transitive verbs? | | Section 2 | Intransitive Verbs | | Section 3 | Transitive Verbs | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## What are intransitive and transitive verbs? To understand Japanese intransitive and transitive verbs, it's helpful to start by reviewing the concepts of English intransitive and transitive verbs. Let's clarify these two terms first. ### Intransitive Verbs Intransitive verbs describe actions that are completed by the subject itself (the doer of the action) without directly affecting an object. - Example: "The door opens." Here, "the door" performs the action by itself, and there is no direct object. ### Transitive Verbs Transitive verbs describe actions that are performed by the subject and directly affect an object. Example: "The deer opens the door." Here, "the deer" performs the action, and the action affects "the door" (the object). Now, let’s translate the above examples into Japanese: **Intransitive Verbs:** **「開く」- to open** - Example: ドアが開く。 (The door opens.) 「ドア (the door)」 is the subject performing the action (opening) without a direct object. **Transitive Verbs:** **「開ける」 - to open** - Example: その鹿がドアを開ける 。(The deer opens the door.) 「その鹿 (the deer)」 is the subject performing the action, and the action affects「ドア (the door)」, the direct object. In order to have a better understanding of these verbs, let’s take a look at another example. **Intransitive Verbs:** **「落ちる」- to fall** - Example: りんごが落ちる。 (The apple falls.) 「りんご (the apple)」 is the subject performing the action (falling) without a direct object. **Transitive Verbs:** **「落とす」 - to drop** - Example: その鹿がりんごを落とす。(The deer drops the apple. ) 「その鹿 (the deer)」 is the subject performing the action, and the action affects「りんご (the apple)」, the direct object. Did you notice? Intransitive verbs are typically marked by「が」or「は」and act as the subject, whereas transitive verbs have an object marked by「を」. Transitive verbs can also have a subject marked by「は」or「が」, but this can sometimes be omitted. Based on the above rules, we are going to provide two tips to help with your future learning! ![Japanese intransitive and transitive verb examples: a door opens versus someone opens it, and an apple falls versus someone drops it](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/06/ld-image-3538eac33d1273d4.png) **Tip 1: Remember the following sentence structures** - **(Subject) が (Intransitive verbs)。** - **(Subject) が/は (Object) を/が (Transitive verbs)。** | **Verb type** | **English** | **Verb** | **Sentence Example** | | ----------------- | ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | | Intransitive verb | to finish | 終わる | 宿題が終わる。*(The homework is done.)* | | Transitive verb | 終える | （私**が**）宿題を終える。*(I finish the homework.)* | | | Intransitive verb | to melt | 溶ける | アイスクリームが溶ける。*(The ice cream melts.)* | | Transitive verb | 溶かす | （子供**が**）アイスクリームを溶かす。*(The children melt the ice cream.)* | | | Intransitive verb | to start | 始まる | 授業が始まる。*(The class starts.)* | | Transitive verb | 始める | （先生**が**）先生が授業を始める。*(The teacher starts the class.)* | | ![Japanese sentence templates for intransitive and transitive verbs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/4-2.png) **Tip 2: Remember Intransitive and Transitive Verbs in PAIRS** One effective way to learn intransitive and transitive verbs is to learn them in pairs. This helps you more easily recall the correct verb form in different contexts. | **自動詞 (Intransitive Verbs)** | **他動詞 (Transitive Verbs)** | | ---------------------------- | -------------------------- | | **\-eru → -asu** | | | 出る | 出す | | 溶ける | 溶かす | | 逃げる | 逃す | | **\-eru → -yasu** | | | 増える | 増やす | | 冷える | 冷やす | | 生える | 生やす | | **\-iru → -osu** | | | 起きる | 起こす | | 降りる | 降ろす | | 落ちる | 落とす | | **\-u → -asu** | | | 減る | 減らす | | 沸く | 沸かす | | 喜ぶ | 喜ばす | | **\-u → -eru** | | | 開く | 開ける | | 届く | 届ける | | 育つ | 育てる | | **\-ru → -seru** | | | 寄る | 寄せる | | 乗る | 乗せる | | 載る | 載せる | | **\-ru → -su** | | | 回る | 回す | | 治る | 治す | | 通る | 通す | | **\-reru → -su** | | | 離れる | 離す | | 汚れる | 汚す | | 壊れる | 壊す | | **\-aru → -eru** | | | 決まる | 決める | | 閉まる | 閉める | | 始まる | 始める | | **\-waru → -eru** | | | 変わる | 変える | | 加わる | 加える | | 終わる | 終える | | **\-eru → -u** | | | 焼ける | 焼く | | 抜ける | 抜く | | 売れる | 売る | | **Others** | | | 消える | 消す | | 入る | 入れる | Intransitive and transitive verbs are fundamental components of mastering the Japanese language. While they may be confusing at first, with a growing vocabulary, you will become more accustomed to their usage and incorporate them naturally into daily life. Practice and exposure to various contexts are essential in solidifying understanding and fluency with these verbs. As you continue your Japanese language learning, remember to review and apply these concepts regularly to further strengthen your skills. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### French Phrases for Ordering Food Like a Local URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-phrases-for-ordering-food-like-a-local/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:51.000Z French cuisine is celebrated as one of the [Three Grand Cuisines](https://headaygzjr.medium.com/why-is-turkish-food-chinese-food-and-french-food-also-known-as-the-three-major-cuisines-in-the-91f800286bfd?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), known for its rich flavors and culinary excellence. To fully enjoy your French dining experience, it’s essential to master the art of ordering food in French. In this guide, we’ll explore key phrases and expressions that will help you navigate any menu with confidence and make your culinary adventure even more delightful! ### **Basic French Phrases for Dining Out** When dining out in France, these key phrases can enhance your experience. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate a French restaurant with ease: - **Bonjour / Bonsoir** *Hello / Good evening* - **Excusez-moi** *Excuse me* - **Je voudrais une table pour deux, s'il vous plaît.** *I would like a table for two, please.* - **Pourrais-je voir le menu, s'il vous plaît ?** *Could I see the menu, please?* - **Avez-vous une suggestion/une spécialité ?** *Do you have a suggestion/a specialty?* - **Quels sont les plats du jour ?** *What are the daily specials?* ### **Choosing Your Food** When it’s time to make your choice at a French restaurant, here are some handy phrases to use: - **Je voudrais le poulet rôti, s'il vous plaît.** *I would like the roast chicken, please.* - **Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez?** *What do you recommend?* - Y a-t-il des options végétariennes / véganes ? *Are there vegetarian / vegan options?* - **Je préfère mon steak bien cuit.** *I prefer my steak well done.* ### **Ordering Drinks** When it comes to ordering drinks at a French restaurant, use these phrases to make sure you get exactly what you want! - **Je voudrais un verre de vin blanc, s'il vous plaît.** *I would like a glass of white wine, please.* - **Pourrais-je voir la carte des vins, s'il vous plaît ?** *Could I see the wine list, please?* ### **Handling the Bill** When it's time to settle the bill, use these phrases to request it and check if service is included. - **L’addition, s'il vous plaît.** *The bill, please.* - **Le service est-il inclus?** *Is service included?* ### **Some Other Useful Vocabulary and Expressions** In addition to the phrases above, here are some other useful vocabulary and expressions that you might find handy. Keep these in mind for later! - **La carte des vins** *The Wine Menu* - **À la carte** *Individual dishes (usually more expensive than the Fixed Menu)* - **Prix fixe** *Fixed Price Menu* - **Un apéritif** *A pre-dinner drink or cocktail* - **Une coupe de Champagne** *A glass of Champagne* - **Des glaçons** *Ice cubes* - **L’entrée** *The Starter* - **Le plat principal** *The Main Course* - **Le dessert** *The Dessert* - **Le fromage** The Cheese Course - **Le digestif** *A digestive drink or after-dinner drink* - **Le plat du jour** *The Daily Special* - **Un morceau** A piece - **Une tranche** *A slice (of bread, meat, cake)* - **Une rondelle** *A slice (of fruit, vegetable)* - **Un verre de vin** *A glass of wine* - **Une carafe d'eau** *A jug of water or tap water* - **Saignant/à point/bien cuit** *Rare/medium-rare/well done* - **Le service** *The Service (often included in the bill)* - **Un couvert** *A place setting (fork, knife, spoon, etc.)* - **Un plat à partager** *A dish to share* - **Une assiette** *A plate* - **Un bol** *A bowl* - **Une tasse** *A cup (for hot drinks)* - **Un saucier** *A sauce dish or server of sauces* - **Un plat végétarien** *A vegetarian dish* - **Un plat végan** *A vegan dish* - **Des condiments** *Condiments or seasonings* - **Un nappage** Tablecloth - **Une serviette** *A napkin* - **Un menu enfant** *A children’s menu* - **Un serveur / Une serveuse** *A waiter / A waitress* - **Une addition séparée** *Separate bills* With these essential French phrases and tips, you’re now ready to navigate any French menu with confidence, right? To practice, role-play a complete restaurant exchange: greet the server, ask about a dish, place your order, respond to a follow-up question, and request the bill. https://videopress.com/v/GCAgylwg?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true*Ordering food in French dialogue clip* ### Honorific Conjugation in Korean: Speak Korean Politely URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/honorific-conjugation-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:19:32.000Z In the Korean language, the use of honorific forms finds its origins in Confucianism, a philosophy that has shaped Korean society for centuries, emphasizing respect for hierarchy and social harmony. Consequently, Korean culture places a strong emphasis on showing respect to those of higher status, whether they are older, more experienced, or in a position of authority. ## Quick Answer: How are Korean honorific forms built? Korean subject honorification commonly uses -(으)시- before the final ending. The exact form depends on the verb stem, and frequent irregular or special honorific verbs must be learned separately. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ---------- | ------------------------- | | Marker | \-(으)시- | | Context | honor the subject | | Exceptions | special verbs | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. If you're interested in learning more about speech levels in Korean, check out this [blog post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/)! Honorific forms are a crucial aspect of the Korean language, but learners from English-speaking backgrounds often find them confusing because of the lack of similar grammar in English. Here, let’s clarify Korean honorific forms in verbs/adjectives and see how they are conjugated in daily conversations together! ## What are Honorific Verbs/Adjectives? Honorific verbs are used to show respect towards the subject or the listener. They are normally formed by adding the hangeul -시- (si) to the verb stem, changing the verb to an honorific form that indicates politeness and respect. Korean adjectives are used to describe a state of being, so they can be translated as “to be…” and can take on the honorific verb conjugation as well. ## Conjugating Regular Verbs/Adjectives Conjugating regular verbs/adjectives into honorific forms follows a simple pattern: In the case without *batchim* (받침) : 1. Remove 다 (da) from the verb stem. E.g. 하다 (to do) becomes 하. 2. Add -시- (si): Attach -시- to the verb stem. E.g. 하시 3. Add 다 (da) at the end: Finish with 다 to complete the honorific form. E.g. 하시다 In the case with *batchim* (받침) : 1. Remove 다 (da) from the verb stem. E.g. 찾다 (to find) becomes 찾. 2. Add -으시- (si): Attach -으시- to the verb stem. E.g. 찾으시 3. Add 다 (da) at the end: Finish with 다 to complete the honorific form. E.g. 찾으시다 ![Korean honorific conjugation examples 하다 → 하시다 and 찾다 → 찾으시다](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-2-1.png) Examples: | Word type | Basic form | Conjugation | Honorific form | Sentence Example | | --------------- | ---------------- | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | Verb | 가다 *to go* | 가 + 시 + 다 | 가시다 | 할아버지, 오늘은 어디에 가세요?*Grandfather, where are you going today?* | | 읽다 *to read* | 읽 + 으시 + 다 | 읽으시다 | 할아버지, 이 신문을 읽으세요.*Grandfather, please read this newspaper.* | | | Adjective | 바쁘다 *to be busy* | 바쁘 + 시 + 다 | 바쁘시다 | 할아버지께서 오늘은 바쁘시다. *Grandfather is busy today.* | | 작다*to be small* | 작 + 으시 + 다 | 작으시다 | 할아버지께서는 작으시다.*Grandfather is small (short).* | | ## List of Irregular Verbs The conjugations as shown above aren't too difficult, right? But there are some verbs that do not follow the standard conjugation rules. Certain words with final consonants (받침) such as "ㄷ", "ㅂ", or "ㄹ" are conjugated irregularly. ### Words with “ㄷ” *batchim* (받침) - Regular conjugation | Basic form | Conjugation | Honorific form | Sentence Example | | --------------- | ----------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 받다 *to receive* | 받 + 으시 + 다 | 받으시다 | 새해 복 많이 **받으세요**.*Please receive much happiness in the new year.* *(Happy New Year!)* | | 믿다*to believe* | 믿 + 으시 + 다 | 믿으시다 | 항상 친구를 **믿으세요**.*Please always believe in your friends.* | - Irregular conjugation: **change “ㄷ” to “ㄹ”, then attach “-으시-” like the regular conjugation**. | Basic form | Conjugation | Honorific form | Sentence Example | | ------------- | ----------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | 듣다*to listen* | 들 + 으시 + 다 | 들으시다 | BTS의 노래 항상 **들으세요**？*Do you always listen to BTS' songs?* | ### Words with “ㅂ” *batchim* (받침) - Regular conjugation | Basic form | Conjugation | Honorific form | Sentence Example | | ------------ | ----------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | 입다*to wear* | 입 + 으시 + 다 | 입으시다 | 할머니는 항상 멋진 옷을 **입으신다**.*Grandmother always wears nice clothes.* | | 잡다*to catch* | 잡 + 으시 + 다 | 잡으시다 | 이 고양이를 **잡으세요**.*Please catch this cat.* | - Irregular conjugation: **Drop “ㅂ” and attach “-우시-”** . | Basic form | Conjugation | Honorific form | Sentence Example | | --------------- | ----------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | 눕다*to lie down* | 누 + 우시 + 다 | 누우시다 | 조금 **누우세요**.*Please lie down for a while.* | | 덥다*to be hot* | 더 + 우시 + 다 | 더우시다 | 여름에는 **더우시겠**죠.*You must feel hot in summer.* | ### Words with “ㄹ” *batchim* (받침) - Irregular conjugation: **Simply drop “ㄹ” and attach “-시-”** . | Basic form | Conjugation | Honorific form | Sentence Example | | ------------ | ----------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | 살다*to live* | 사 + 시다 | 사시다 | 어디 **사세요**?*Where do you live?* | | 만들다*to make* | 만드 + 시다 | 만드시다 | 이거는 어머니가 **만드신** 요리예요.*This is a dish made by my mother.* | **We're not finished yet!** Additionally, there are several honorifics where the word itself takes on a completely different form. These words have no rules to follow, so the only way to learn them is through memorization. | Basic form | Honorific form | Sentence Example | | ---------------------- | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 먹다*to eat* | 드시다 | 먼저 **드세요**.*Please go ahead and eat first.* | | 자다*to sleep* | 주무시다 | 어머님은 언제나 일찍 **주무시**는 편이에요.*My mother always goes to bed early.* | | 죽다*to die* | 돌아가시다 | 할아버지께서는 몇 년 전에 돌아가셨어요.*My grandfather passed away a few years ago.* | | 말하다*to say* | 말씀하시다 | 선생님, 이 문제에 대해 다시 말씀하세요.*Teacher, please talk about this problem again.* | | 아프다*to be hurt* | 편찮으시다 | 할아버지가 많이 편찮으셨어요.*My grandfather was very sick.* | | 있다*(someone) is there* | 계시다 | 언제 사무실에 계세요?*When are you in the office?* | ![Examples of regular and special Korean honorific verb forms, including 드시다 and 주무시다](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog-2-2.png) So far we’ve covered the conjugations of verbs and adjectives, but there are also other honorific forms. Want to explore more? Click [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/)! Understanding the honorific form is crucial for effective communication in Korean, especially given the Confucian cultural background. While it may be challenging initially, with more practice, you will become accustomed to these forms, ultimately enhancing your fluency and confidence in Korean. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Unlock Your Language Skills with LTL Flexi Classes URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/unlock-ltl-flexi-classes/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:32:31.000Z In today's world, where connectivity is limitless and cultural exchange is more crucial than ever, learning a new language is the gateway to more opportunities. [LTL Flexi Classes](https://flexiclasses.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), an innovative online language school founded in 2020, heralds a new era of language education. Committed to excellence and adaptability, LTL Flexi Classes caters to the needs of contemporary learners, providing a diverse range of language courses customized to suit individual preferences. Join us as we embark on a journey to explore the dynamic offerings of LTL Flexi Classes in this comprehensive blog overview! ## Quick Answer: What does this article say about LTL Flexi Classes? The article presents LTL Flexi Classes as an online language-learning option built around live classes and flexible scheduling. Its descriptions, pricing and service details reflect the time of publication; consult LTL's current official information for present-day formats, availability, terms and prices. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | Article focus | Live online classes and scheduling flexibility | | Time-sensitive | Languages, plans, teachers, features, terms and pricing | | Verify with | LTL's current official website and support team | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## The Global Classroom Flexi Classes boasts a global community, welcoming students from every corner of the world. With over 5,800 students hailing from more than 50 different countries, the school cultivates a richly diverse and inclusive learning environment. Flexi Classes offers an extensive array of language courses, covering a total of 11 languages including Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Italian, and so on. This enables students to expand their language repertoire and immerse themselves in diverse cultural experiences. ![Flexi Classes - Global Classroom](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeO-WTEe-zo_VN4RnAjxa3M1Di5d743CUA0FFSPflLZjQdk_3dF_HJtOGe0o7mi9IhqJqseAkheNQj0vyDeIALlcV8R1HtNLHFoEx5tFk0jt4zxOAEzrBXVmY3QmdsjzaxGahKRsHEnHSs0JZYj-Wh5lEw?key=q2wthKqluH4kKue8H86QOA) ### Unparalleled Expertise At the heart of Flexi Classes lies a team of dedicated native-speaking teachers, each possessing a wealth of knowledge and experience in their respective languages. With a focus on human interaction, Flexi Classes avoids using artificial intelligence and pre-recorded materials, ensuring that every student receives personalized attention and guidance. ### Innovative Learning Approach Flexi Classes revolutionizes the traditional language learning experience with its innovative approach. Each 60-minute class is dedicated to exploring a specific aspect of the language – whether it is grammar, vocabulary, or speaking – enabling students to concentrate on one skill at a time. By limiting class sizes to five students at most, Flexi Classes emphasizes abundant interaction opportunities, empowering students to effectively practice and refine their language abilities. ### Empowering Flexibility Flexi Classes embodies flexibility and allows students to organize their study time around their busy schedules. With group classes available 24/7, students can choose their preferred time and topic with ease. You can find the clear booking guide from [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-FbjLKCumI&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). The flexibility extends further as students can choose different classes each time based on their availability. This means they have the opportunity to engage with various classmates and instructors in each session, enriching their learning experience with diverse perspectives and dialects. ![Flexi Classes - Empowering Flexibility](https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcGuvCgML0LImWs2_mNbAy89sFPXBIEKsLcJvb-wt2qYgEZgAfmdUSHpuWuhzBv-TaZ45bwENWMGR_iv63swHGW-uI3cm8B9eDC3xsdnVV-3OElA6VPpnwZozmudkt7SB1NkWjkaqTlWLc-h9Fg5fsLAKpj?key=q2wthKqluH4kKue8H86QOA) ## Is Flexi Classes Right for You? If you are: - a busy professional - a globe-trotting adventurer - someone who craves flexibility in their language learning journey Flexi Classes could be the ideal solution for you. With its small class sizes, flexible scheduling options, and dynamic learning environment, Flexi Classes empowers students to unleash their full potential and embark on an enriching journey of language discovery. ## Price Chart Flexi Classes offers two types of price packages: monthly subscription and one-off package: **Monthly subscription package:** | Number of Classes | Price per class | Total changed every 4 weeks | | ----------------- | --------------- | --------------------------- | | 4 | $14.00 | $56.00 | | 12 | $11.50 | $138.00 | | 20 | $10.00 | $200.00 | | 40 | $9.50 | $380.00 | **One-off package:** | Number of Classes | Price per class | One-off Payment | | ------------------------ | --------------- | --------------- | | 50 classes in 3 months | $10.30 | $515.00 | | 100 classes in 6 months | $8.00 | $800.00 | | 200 classes in 12 months | $6.80 | $1,350.00 | | 300 classes in 24 months | $6.70 | $2,012.00 | Excited about this new language-learning approach? **We have a great news for you!** LTL Flexi Classes is offering a substantial discount exclusively for LingoDeer users! Use the coupon code ***LINGODEER50*** at checkout to enjoy **50% off 1st monthly subscription**. Don’t miss this opportunity! LTL Flexi Classes has garnered stellar reviews from language learners worldwide! With an impressive average teacher rating of 9.57 out of 10 and a rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Google, it is clear that students trust and value the quality of education provided by Flexi Classes. With its steadfast commitment to flexibility, expertise, and innovation, Flexi Classes equips students with the necessary tools to thrive in our interconnected world. So why not give Flexi Classes a try and start a transformative journey of language mastery and cultural enrichment? The world is brimming with opportunities – start your adventure with Flexi Classes today! P.S. If you wish to study with LTL in person, they have a school in Beijing where you can study Chinese in China. Learn more from [here](https://ltl-school.com/learn-chinese-in-china/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is the price chart necessarily current? No. Prices and plans can change, so use the current official LTL information before purchasing. ### Who might prefer flexible classes? Learners whose schedules vary may value a format that lets them choose class times, subject to the provider's current rules and availability. ### What should learners compare? Compare teaching format, class size, level placement, scheduling rules, cancellation terms, instructor fit and total cost. ### Is this article a guarantee of current service features? No. It describes the service at publication time; current details must be confirmed with the provider. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 5 Steps to Learn Japanese from Nothing URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/5-steps-to-learn-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:19:22.000Z Are you eager to learn Japanese but still not sure where to start? Search no more! In this blog, we'll outline **five** essential steps to kickstart your Japanese learning journey successfully. ## Quick Answer: 5 Steps to Learn Japanese from Nothing Begin Japanese with kana and pronunciation, then add high-frequency vocabulary, basic grammar and kanji gradually. Balance structured lessons with listening, reading and active use. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | Step 1: Master the Hiragana and Katakana Scripts | | Section 2 | Step 2: Build a Foundation in Basic Vocabulary and Grammar | | Section 3 | Step 3: Begin Learning Kanji | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## Step 1: Master the Hiragana and Katakana Scripts To start your journey in learning Japanese, you must first master the two fundamental scripts in Japanese: Hiragana and Katakana. The characters of these scripts form the backbone of the language, serving as the cornerstone for reading, writing, and even speaking! Therefore, it's essential to recognize and write them accurately right from the start. While it might seem challenging at first, especially for beginners, don't be discouraged! With consistent practice, you'll gradually become more familiar and confident with these characters. The most effective way to memorize these characters is by reading aloud and writing them down in the correct order. Keep in mind that Hiragana and Katakana are the building blocks of Japanese, so patience is key during the initial learning phase. You can access charts for Hiragana and Katakana in [this blog post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/) or find them in the “Alphabet” section of our LingoDeer app. ![Hiragana chart showing the 46 basic characters with romanization](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/06/ld-image-db6d6bbdfd8288bb.png) ## Step 2: Build a Foundation in Basic Vocabulary and Grammar Once you get comfortable with Hiragana and Katakana, it's time to expand your vocabulary and learn basic grammar rules. Start by immersing yourself in common phrases, greetings, and simple sentences! These foundational elements are essential for constructing meaningful sentences and engaging in basic conversations. Focus on everyday vocabulary and expressions like “みず” (water), ”くるま” (car), “おはようございます” (good morning), ”こんにちは” (hello), ”ありがとうございます” (thank you), and more. Watching anime or dramas can also be beneficial as they help you become familiar with Japanese pronunciation and common phrases in context. This approach makes learning more engaging and keeps you motivated, which is crucial for your continued progress in learning Japanese. ## Step 3: Begin Learning Kanji Kanji are Chinese characters used in Japanese writing. While mastering all Kanji can be daunting (there are thousands!), you can start by learning the most common ones. Plus, many look as simple as Hiragana and Katakana! Kanji play a pivotal role in distinguishing between Japanese words that sound identical but carry different meanings. Acquiring Kanji will not only sharpen your communication skills but also expand your vocabulary; such vocabulary will empower you to understand more sophisticated expressions found in newspapers, books, menus, and beyond. To tackle Kanji effectively, immerse yourself in recognizing them within different contexts, and practice writing them to enhance your memory. With plenty of apps like LingoDeer and websites at your fingertips, there is definitely a suitable method that perfectly aligns with your learning style and preferences. ![Commonly used Kanji in Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/06/ld-image-f270cc26c066d481.png) ## Step 4: Practice Listening and Speaking Skills Regularly immersing yourself in a Japanese listening-speaking environment is key to enhancing your comprehension and pronunciation. Tune in to Japanese podcasts, music, and watch Japanese shows with subtitles to create that environment by yourself. For beginners, we recommend checking out the “[Learn Japanese Pod](https://learnjapanesepod.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)” channel. This podcast provides a variety of topics about Japan, helping listeners speak natural, fluent Japanese while understanding Japanese trends and culture. Each episode includes explanations and practice sections, allowing you to enhance your listening and speaking skills. Consistent exposure to Japanese will gradually familiarize you with the language's cadence and pronunciation, enabling you to speak more naturally over time. Once you reach this stage, try engaging in self-talk or expressing random thoughts aloud in Japanese. This practice will further enhance your fluency and boost your confidence in speaking Japanese. ## Step 5: Do Reading and Writing Practices As you advance in your Japanese learning journey, consider reading simple texts like children's books. With time and practice, you can progress to more complex material such as online articles, blogs, and even news articles, many of which are available for free! This diverse range of content will not only expand your vocabulary but also enhance your reading comprehension, giving you insights into current events and daily life in Japan. In addition to reading, it is crucial to regularly practice writing Japanese characters and sentences. Handwriting Kanji and sentences aids memory retention and enhances overall proficiency. Consider starting with simple diary entries or writing to-do lists in Japanese. This practice will not only reinforce your learning but also help you apply Japanese in a practical way. ![Examples comparing kanji, hiragana, and katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/06/ld-image-34134d8f5ac746c0.png) Mastering Japanese is a rewarding journey that requires time and dedication. By following these five steps and staying consistent in your practice, you'll be well on your way to fluency. Remember, practice is key, so embrace mistakes as part of the learning process and keep pushing yourself to improve. LingoDeer is always here to support your Japanese learning journey, helping you immerse yourself in the rich culture and beauty of the language! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Essential Vocabulary and Simple Dialogue for the Mid-Autumn Festival URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/essential-vocabulary-and-simple-dialogue-for-the-mid-autumn-festival/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:19:29.000Z We've explored the meaning and traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival in our [earlier post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/enjoy-the-mid-autumn-a-festive-introduction/), so now it's time to check out some handy vocabulary and phrases (**with audio**)! These phrases and vocabulary will help you discuss the festival naturally, whether you're sharing stories, learning Chinese culture, or celebrating. Let’s dive into key words and expressions to talk about this beloved holiday like a pro! ## Quick Answer: Essential Vocabulary and Simple Dialogue for the Mid-Autumn Festival Festival vocabulary becomes more usable when learned in short dialogues about greetings, moon viewing, food and family gatherings. Customs and wording vary by region and relationship. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------- | | Section 1 | Key Vocabulary | | Section 2 | Simple Dialogue | | Section 3 | One last thing... | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## Key Vocabulary zhōnɡqiū jié **中秋 节** *Mid-Autumn Festival* chī **吃** *Eat* yuèbǐnɡ **月饼** *Mooncake* shǎnɡ yuè **赏 月** *Gaze at the moon* yuèliɑnɡ **月亮** *Moon* dēnɡlonɡ **灯笼** *Lantern* tuányuánfàn **团圆饭** *Reunion dinner* kuàilè **快乐** Happy ## Simple Dialogue Rénmen zài zhōnɡqiūjié zuò shénme ne? **人们 在 中秋节 做 什么 呢？** *What do people do during the Mid-Autumn Festival?* Zuò yuèbǐnɡ. **做 月饼。** *Make Mooncake.* Chī yuèbǐnɡ. **吃 月饼。** *Eat Mooncake.* Shǎnɡ yuè. **赏 月。** *Gaze at the moon.* Diǎn dēnɡlonɡ. **点 灯笼。** *Light up Lanterns.* Chī tuányuánfàn. **吃 团圆饭。** *Enjoy a family reunion dinner.* Jīnwǎn de yuèliɑnɡ zěnme yànɡ？ **今晚 的 月亮 怎么 样 ？** *How is the moon tonight?* Jīnwǎn de yuèliɑnɡ yòu dà yòu yuán. **今晚 的 月亮 又 大 又 圆。** *The moon is big and round tonight.* Zhù nǐ zhōnɡqiūjié kuàilè！ **祝 你 中秋节 快乐！** *Wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!* Xièxiè! Yě zhù nǐ zhōnɡqiūjié kuàilè！Thank you! **谢谢 ! 也 祝 你 中秋节 快乐！** *I also wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!* ## One last thing... Can you write the character “月”(the moon)? Let’s watch the following video and see the correct stroke order! You can practice along with the videos! If you’re interested in learning Chinese characters but aren’t sure where to start, why not visit our app, [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), for some help? We’ve covered everything you need to know! [![Download LingoDeer on the App Store](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/apple-download-3x-3.png)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [![Get LingoDeer on Google Play](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/getitongoogleplay_badge_web_color_english-3.png)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) As we wrap up, let’s remember that the Mid-Autumn Festival isn’t just about celebration—it’s a time to embrace unity, harmony, and prosperity. It’s also a moment to cherish family bonds, admire the beauty of nature, and honor traditions passed down through generations. Now, here’s a fun question for you: Can you describe what people usually do during the Mid-Autumn Festival—in Chinese? And beyond the phrases we shared in this post, do you have any other ideas or favorite expressions? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you! May the full moon bring you peace and happiness, and may this festival inspire you to embrace the beauty of both your own traditions and those of others. **Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋节快乐！** ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Comparison of German and English Adverbs URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/comparison-of-german-and-english-adverbs/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:42.000Z Adverbs are super important in both German and English, giving us the ability to add detail and color to our descriptions of actions and situations. If you’re not yet familiar with German adverbs, be sure to check out [this guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-adverbs-a-comprehensive-guide-with-audio/) on the basics! You might be surprised to learn that German adverbs often have subtle differences from their English counterparts. These little nuances can sometimes be tricky for learners. Therefore, we’ll take a closer look at how German adverbs compare to English ones, with some clear examples and handy tips to help you use them effectively. ## Adverbs of Manner ### **"Langsam" vs. "Slowly"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"langsam"** translates to **"slowly"** in English. In German, **"langsam"** is used to describe actions performed at a slow pace. For example, "Er spricht langsam" (He speaks slowly) emphasizes the deliberate speed of someone's speech. It’s used in straightforward contexts to denote a lack of speed. - **English Usage:** In English, **"slowly"** can also describe a variety of situations where actions are performed at a reduced pace. For instance, "The car moved slowly through the traffic," highlights the slow movement in a physical context and can also be used metaphorically, as in "The project is progressing slowly." - **Potential Mistakes:** A common mistake is using **"langsam"** in contexts where **"slowly"** might imply a gradual process or a metaphorical sense. For example, "langsam" may not always convey the same level of gradual progression in abstract contexts as "slowly" does in English. ### **"Leise" vs. "Quietly"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"leise"** translates to **"quietly"** in English. In German, **"leise"** is used to describe actions done with minimal noise. For example, "Sie spricht leise" (She speaks quietly) focuses on the volume of someone's speech or actions. - **English Usage:** In English, **"quietly"** can be used to describe not just the volume of spoken words but also actions performed in a discreet manner. For example, "He entered the room quietly," refers to both the reduced noise and the subtlety of the action. - **Potential Mistakes:** A common mistake is using **"höflich"** in contexts where **"politely"** might include additional layers of tact or subtlety in English. For example, "höflich" may not always capture the same level of nuanced politeness as "politely" in English. ### **"Höflich" vs. "Politely"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"höflich"** translates to **"politely"** in English. In German, **"höflich"** is used to describe actions performed with courtesy and respect. For example, "Er spricht höflich" (He speaks politely) emphasizes respectful communication. - **English Usage:** In English, **"politely"** can describe behavior that is courteous, respectful, or tactful. For instance, "She asked politely for more information" not only refers to courteous behavior but can also imply a thoughtful approach. - **Potential Mistakes:** A common mistake is using **"höflich"** in contexts where **"politely"** might include additional layers of tact or subtlety in English. For example, "höflich" may not always capture the same level of nuanced politeness as "politely" in English. ![Difference between German and English - Adverbs of Manner](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/55-1.jpg) ## Adverbs of Precision ### **"Präzise" vs. "Precisely"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"präzise"** translates to **"precisely"** in English. In German, **"präzise"** is used to emphasize exactness in measurements or descriptions. For example, "Die Messung muss präzise sein" (The measurement must be precise) indicates a need for exactitude in the measurement process. - **English Usage:** In English, **"precisely"** can describe exactness in both physical measurements and abstract concepts. For example, "She answered the question precisely" can refer to a detailed and exact response, whether in technical or conceptual terms. - **Potential Mistakes:** Misunderstanding **"präzise"** in contexts where **"precisely"** might be used more abstractly can lead to errors. **"Präzise"** might not fully capture the flexibility of **"precisely"** when used in broader or more abstract contexts in English. ### **"Exakt" vs. "Accurately"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"exakt"** translates to **"accurately"** in English. In German, **"exakt"** is used to describe actions or measurements that are done with a high degree of accuracy. For instance, "Die Berechnung muss exakt sein" (The calculation must be accurate) underscores the importance of precision in numerical contexts. - **English Usage:** In English, **"accurately"** is used to describe actions or measurements that are performed with precision and correctness. For example, "The data was recorded accurately" can refer to detailed and correct data entry. - **Potential Mistakes:** A common pitfall is applying **"exakt"** in contexts where **"accurately"** might be used more flexibly. **"Exakt"** might not always convey the same level of flexibility in describing accuracy in varied contexts as **"accurately"** does in English. ### **"Zuverlässig" vs. "Reliably"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"zuverlässig"** translates to **"reliably"** in English. In German, **"zuverlässig"** is used to describe actions or objects that perform consistently well. For example, "Das Gerät funktioniert zuverlässig" (The device works reliably) indicates dependable performance. - **English Usage:** In English, **"reliably"** can describe consistent performance or dependability in various contexts, not just physical objects. For instance, "He performed reliably under pressure" refers to consistent behavior or performance in challenging situations. - **Potential Mistakes:** Misinterpreting **"zuverlässig"** in contexts where **"reliably"** might apply to more abstract or varied scenarios can lead to misunderstandings. **"Zuverlässig"** might be less flexible than **"reliably"** in English, which can describe both tangible and intangible dependability. ![Difference between German and English - Adverbs of Precision](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/55-2.jpg) ## Adverbs of Frequency ### **"Manchmal" vs. "Sometimes"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"manchmal"** translates to **"sometimes"** in English. It denotes occasional events that happen intermittently. For example, "Manchmal esse ich Schokolade" (Sometimes I eat chocolate) suggests that eating chocolate happens occasionally, not regularly or predictably. - **English Usage:** In English, **"sometimes"** is used similarly to describe events that occur at irregular intervals. For example, "Sometimes I go for a run in the park" indicates that running in the park happens now and then. **"Sometimes"** can be used in a broad range of contexts to describe varying degrees of frequency. - **Potential Mistakes:** Using **"manchmal"** in contexts where **"sometimes"** might indicate a more irregular pattern or wider range of frequency can be confusing. It’s important to use **"manchmal"** with an understanding that it denotes occasional occurrences without implying a fixed pattern. ### **"Häufig" vs. "Frequently"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"häufig"** translates to **"frequently"** in English. It is used to describe events that occur often, with a regular frequency. For instance, "Ich habe häufig Meetings" (I have meetings frequently) implies that meetings happen often and are a common part of the speaker's schedule. - **English Usage:** In English, **"frequently"** is used to describe events that happen regularly or often. For example, "I frequently check my email" indicates that checking email is a common and repeated action. **"Frequently"** can describe varying levels of regularity. - **Potential Mistakes:** One potential mistake is assuming that **"häufig"** always aligns perfectly with **"frequently."** While they are similar, the context in which they are used can vary. For instance, **"häufig"** might be used in a more concrete sense, whereas **"frequently"** can be applied to both tangible and intangible activities. ### **"Selten" vs. "Rarely"** - **German Usage:** The German adverb **"selten"** translates to **"rarely"** and is used to describe infrequent occurrences. For example, "Ich sehe sie selten" (I rarely see her) indicates that seeing her is not a common event. - **English Usage:** In English, **"rarely"** can vary in its application, sometimes describing infrequent but not necessarily extreme rarity. For instance, "We rarely go out for dinner" suggests infrequency but doesn’t imply it’s an extremely rare event. - **Potential Mistakes:** Misinterpreting the frequency implied by **"selten"** compared to "rarely" in English can lead to inaccuracies. **"Selten"** might convey a stronger sense of infrequency, so it’s crucial to understand the contextual nuances. ![Difference between German and English - Adverbs of Frequency](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/09/55-3.jpg) Understanding the differences between German and English adverbs can enhance your fluency and prevent common translation errors. Also, by paying attention to the nuances and practicing regularly, you can use adverbs more effectively in both written and spoken German! Feel free to share your experiences or questions about German adverbs in the comments—let’s continue to learn and improve together! ### 20 Japanese-English False Friends You Need to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/20-japanese-english-false-friends-you-need-to-know/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:50:44.000Z Download [ビニール-0.8x.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/biniru-0-8x-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: What are Japanese–English false friends? Japanese–English false friends are familiar-looking loanwords whose meaning in Japanese differs from the related English word. This guide gives 20 examples and pairs each Japanese meaning with the misleading English interpretation and a sample sentence. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | マンション | apartment or condominium, not necessarily a luxury house | | バイキング | buffet in the context described here | | スマート | can describe a slim or stylish appearance | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. When learning Japanese, English speakers often encounter "false friends." These are words that look or sound familiar but carry different meanings. Many of these come from English and are written in **katakana**, the script used for foreign loanwords. To brush up on katakana, check out this helpful[ katakana chart](https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/). While these words might seem familiar, their meanings can shift in surprising ways and they can easily lead to funny or awkward situations if misunderstood! Let’s dive into some common Japanese-English false friends that you should watch out for! ## 1\. マンション (Mansion) **Japanese meaning**: An apartment or condominium **English meaning**: A large, luxurious house In Japan, if you live in a "mansion," you're actually living in an apartment, not a huge, luxurious estate. *e.g.* 私たちは新しい**マンション**に引っ越しました。 (*We moved into a new apartment.*) ## 2\. バイキング (Viking) **Japanese meaning**: A buffet **English meaning**: Scandinavian pirates In Japan, "Viking" refers to a buffet, because of the idea of variety and plenty. But if you invite someone to a Viking in English, they might expect pirates! *e.g.* 今日は友達とホテルの**バイキング**に行きました。 (*Today I went to the buffet at the hotel with friends.*) ## 3\. スマート (Smart) **Japanese meaning**: Slim, stylish **English meaning**: Intelligent In Japanese, calling someone "smart" means they’re well-dressed and slender, not necessarily brainy. *e.g.* あの俳優はとても**スマート**でかっこいい。 (*That actor is so slim and stylish.*) ## 4\. コンセント (Consent) **Japanese meaning**: Electrical outlet **English meaning**: Permission In Japan, when someone mentions a "consent," they’re referring to an electrical socket, not asking for permission. *e.g.* 充電するために**コンセント**を探しています。 (*I'm looking for an electrical outlet to charge my phone.*) ## 5\. カンニング (Cunning) **Japanese meaning**: Cheating on a test **English meaning**: Deceptively clever In Japanese, "cunning" specifically refers to cheating, especially on exams. In English, it’s more about being sneakily clever. *e.g.* テストで**カンニング**は絶対にダメだよ。 (*Cheating on tests is absolutely not allowed.*) ## 6\. サラリーマン (Salaryman) **Japanese meaning**: A male office worker **English meaning**: Not a commonly used word In Japan, "salaryman" refers to a male office worker, while in English we would just say "office worker" or "businessman." *e.g.* 父は**サラリーマン**として30年間働いています。 (*My father has worked as an office worker for 30 years.*) ## 7\. ベビーカー (Baby car) **Japanese meaning**: A stroller **English meaning**: A car for babies? "Baby car" in Japan is a stroller. Asking for one in English might leave people confused about whether you're talking about an actual vehicle for babies! *e.g.* 公園に行くときは**ベビーカー**を持っていきます。 (*I take the stroller when I go to the park.)* ## 8\. テンション (Tension) **Japanese meaning**: Excitement, energy **English meaning**: Stress, anxiety When Japanese people say their "tension" is high, they mean they're excited or pumped. In English, it would mean you're stressed out. *e.g.* みんなの**テンション**がすごく高いね！ (*Everyone’s energy is so high!*) ## 9\. ハンドル (Handle) **Japanese meaning**: Steering wheel **English meaning**: A part of something you hold In Japanese, "handle" refers specifically to a car’s steering wheel, while in English, a handle could be part of a door, a mug, or even a suitcase. *e.g.* 車の**ハンドル**を握って、しっかり運転してください。 (*Grab the steering wheel and drive carefully.*) ## 10\. サービス (Service) **Japanese meaning**: Free or extra service **English meaning**: Assistance or work provided In Japan, when you get something for free at a restaurant, it’s called "service." In English, it refers to the help or assistance someone provides. *e.g.* このレストランでは、デザートが**サービス**でついてきます。 (*At this restaurant, you get a free dessert as part of the service.*) ## 11\. ドクターストップ (Doctor stop) **Japanese meaning**: A doctor's order to stop a patient from doing something **English meaning**: Not used in English In Japan, "doctor stop" is used when a doctor advises a patient to refrain from certain activities, but this phrase doesn’t exist in English. *e.g.* 医者に**ドクターストップ**をかけられたので、運動を控えます。 (*The doctor ordered me to stop exercising, so I will refrain from it.*) ## 12\. クレーム (Claim) **Japanese meaning**: Complaint **English meaning**: A demand for something If you "claim" in Japan, it means you’re filing a complaint, but in English, it’s more about asserting or demanding something. *e.g.* この商品に**クレーム**を出したいです。 (*I want to file a complaint about this product.*) ## 13\. バイク (Bike) **Japanese meaning**: A motorcycle **English meaning**: A bicycle In Japan, "bike" refers to a motorcycle, whereas in English, it almost always means a bicycle. If you're talking about a motorcycle in English, be specific! *e.g.* **バイク**で旅行するのが好きです。 (*I like traveling by motorcycle.*) ## 14\. ホーム (Home) **Japanese meaning**: Train platform **English meaning**: A place where you live "Home" in Japan means the platform at a train station, while in English, it’s where you live. *e.g.* 電車のホームで待っています。 (*I'm waiting on the train platform.*) ## 15\. ピンチ (Pinch) **Japanese meaning**: A difficult situation **English meaning**: To squeeze with fingers In Japanese, "pinch" means you're in trouble or a difficult situation, but in English, it just means to squeeze something between your fingers. *e.g.* 今はちょっと**ピンチ**な状況です。 (*I’m in a bit of a tough situation right now.*) ## 16\. ペーパードライバー (Paper driver) **Japanese meaning**: Someone who has a driver’s license but doesn’t drive **English meaning**: Not a term used in English A "paper driver" in Japan is someone with a license who rarely drives. In English, there’s no direct equivalent. *e.g.* 免許はあるけど、私は**ペーパードライバー**です。 (*I have a license, but I rarely drive.*) ## 17\. アメリカンドッグ (American dog) **Japanese meaning**: A corn dog **English meaning**: A dog from America (?) In Japan, an "American dog" is what we call a corn dog. Asking for an "American dog" in English might confuse people! *e.g.* 屋台で**アメリカンドッグ**を買いました。 (*I bought a corn dog from a food stand.*) ## 18\. ガソリンスタンド (Gasoline stand) **Japanese meaning**: Gas station **English meaning**: Not a phrase in English "Gasoline stand" is the Japanese term for what English speakers call a gas station. *e.g.* **ガソリンスタンド**でガソリンを補充しました。 (*I refueled at the gas station.*) ## 19\. ハイタッチ (High touch) **Japanese meaning**: A high five **English meaning**: Human interactions In Japanese, "high touch" is what we call a "high five" in English! *e.g.* 試合に勝ったらみんなで**ハイタッチ**しよう！ (*Let’s give each other high fives when we win the game!*) ## 20\. ビニール (Vinyl) **Japanese meaning**: Plastic **English meaning**: A type of synthetic material used for records or clothing In Japan, "vinyl" refers to any plastic material, but in English, it's specifically used for vinyl records or certain fabrics. *e.g*. 買い物したら、**ビニール**袋をもらいました。 (*I got a plastic bag after shopping.*) These false friends can lead to some amusing (and sometimes confusing) situations, but learning them is all part of mastering Japanese. Have any of these surprised you? Share your thoughts in the comments! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why are many false friends written in katakana? Many began as foreign loanwords, and katakana is commonly used for that category of vocabulary. ### Can an English speaker guess their meaning? Sometimes, but familiar spelling or sound can be misleading; the Japanese sentence and context are essential. ### Are these words incorrect English? No. They are Japanese words with established Japanese meanings, even when their source is related to English. ### What is the safest way to learn them? Learn each word with its Japanese meaning, a natural example sentence and the situation in which it is used. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 7 Free Online Tools to Learn French URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/7-free-online-tools-to-learn-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:27.000Z Learning French is a long but incredibly rewarding journey. To learn effectively, you’ll need more than one tool for comprehensive language development. Luckily, with the vast number of free resources available today, you can start learning without spending a dime! In this blog, we’ll explore some of the best **free tools** to help you master French! This guide also refers to [**All Language Resources**](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a website that publishes reviews and comparisons of language-learning tools. Its [French-learning resources](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/learn-french/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) can provide additional perspectives when you compare apps, websites, textbooks, and courses. ### **Websites** for learning French [**Duolingo** ](https://www.duolingo.com/welcome?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)Duolingo is a well-known free choice for French beginners. Its game-like structure makes learning feel fun and interactive. You’ll build up your vocabulary, learn common phrases, and improve your grammar, all while earning points and unlocking new levels. While it may not take you to fluency alone, it’s a great way to get started with French, especially for beginners. [**BBC Languages – French** ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)BBC Languages offers free lessons that focus on basic French vocabulary, grammar, and phrases. It also includes cultural insights that give you a more holistic understanding of the language. The material is slightly dated, but it remains a valuable resource for learners who want structured lessons without needing to sign up. ### **Podcasts** for learning French Podcasts are a modern and fantastic way to improve your listening skills and expose yourself to authentic French conversations nowadays. Here are a couple of great ones to check out: [**Coffee Break French**](https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/tag/the-coffee-break-french-show/?order=asc&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)Coffee Break French offers bite-sized lessons designed for beginners and intermediate learners. Each episode walks you through vocabulary, grammar, and cultural insights. The podcast is easy to follow and includes transcripts, making it a fantastic tool for learners on the go. If you are a busy learner, definitely try this out! [**InnerFrench**](https://innerfrench.com/podcast/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)InnerFrench is a podcast designed for intermediate learners who want to improve their comprehension. The host speaks clearly, and the topics are engaging, covering various cultural and societal aspects of French-speaking countries. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in real French speech while still being understandable for learners. ### **YouTube Channels** for learning French YouTube is packed with free resources for French learners. Here are a few top channels to help you get started: [**Learn French with Alexa**](https://www.youtube.com/user/learnfrenchwithalexa/featured?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)Learn French with Alexa is a popular YouTube channel offering lessons on everything from beginner grammar to advanced conversational skills, much like a traditional classroom setting. Alexa’s engaging teaching style makes it easy to follow, and her well-structured lessons break down complex topics into manageable parts. She regularly produces new videos and frequently uses English, making her content stress-free and accessible for beginners and lower-intermediate learners. [**Français Authentique**](https://www.youtube.com/user/francaisauthentique?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)Français Authentique focuses on teaching French through natural, real-life conversations, making it particularly helpful for learners aiming to improve their listening and comprehension skills. It's ideal for intermediate-level learners who can fully benefit from and enjoy the content. [**PLANÈTE FRANÇAIS TV avec Elsa Kenza**](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs2tZsbcHeMo5ykYoP4TPTA?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Elsa is a well experienced French teacher. Typically, her videos are conducted entirely in French, but she often provides an additional version with English explanations for those needing extra guidance. Her channel offers structured lessons on grammar and vocabulary, as well as dictation exercises, dialogues, and pronunciation practice, catering to learners of all levels. Each week, she also hosts live French classes on YouTube for beginners through advanced students. ### With many free tools available recently, learning French has never been more accessible. From websites and podcasts to YouTube channels, you have everything you need to build a solid foundation in French. While learning the language, you can also explore these tools and see what works best for you! ### Explore the Delicious World of French Bread URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:47.000Z Speaking to France, what comes to mind? For many, it's the irresistible aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from a local boulangerie, right? French bread is more than just a staple; it's a vital part of the country’s culinary heritage. But can you distinguish between the various types of French bread and their names? Today, join us as we explore the delightful diversity of French bread! ## **The Iconic *Baguette*** Let’s start with the star of French bread—the baguette. This long, thin loaf is not just a symbol of France but a daily essential for many French people. With its crisp, golden crust and airy interior, the baguette is perfect for enjoying with cheese, pâté, or even just a pat of butter. Its origins are as fascinating as its flavor, evolving from earlier bread types to become the beloved classic we know today. ![French Bread - Baguette](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-01-french-bread-baguette.jpg) ## **The Charming *Bâtard*** If you love the baguette but crave a slightly thicker option, meet the bâtard. This shorter, plumper version of the baguette has a similar crispy crust but offers a denser crumb. The bâtard is fantastic for hearty sandwiches or as a table bread to accompany a comforting soup or stew. ![French Bread - Bâtard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-02-french-bread-b-tard.jpg) ## **The Rustic *Pain de Campagne*** Also known as French country bread, pain de campagne is the epitome of rustic charm. Typically round and crusty, this bread often combines white and whole wheat flours, giving it a rich, earthy flavor. It's incredibly versatile, making it a great choice for everything from cheese platters to savory spreads. ![French Bread - Pain de Campagne](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-03-french-bread-pain-de-campagne.jpg) ## **The Artisanal *Pain Poilâne*** Named after the legendary Poilâne bakery in Paris, pain Poilâne is a round, sourdough-like bread known for its dense, chewy texture and tangy flavor. This bread is a testament to traditional French baking methods and is perfect for enjoying with a slice of fine cheese or a robust charcuterie selection. ![French Bread - Pain Poilâne](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-04-french-bread-pain-poil-ne.jpg) ## **The Wholesome *Pain Complet*** For those who prefer whole grains, pain complet is a fantastic choice. Made entirely from whole wheat flour, this bread is packed with fiber and nutrients. Its slightly nutty flavor makes it a great option for a wholesome breakfast or a hearty lunch. ![French Bread - Pain Complet](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-05-french-bread-pain-complet.png) ## **The Soft *Pain de Mie*** If you’re looking for a softer, more uniform bread, pain de mie is your go-to. This square loaf boasts a tender crumb and soft crust, making it ideal for sandwiches and toast. Its gentle flavor pairs well with a variety of toppings, from classic peanut butter and jelly to gourmet avocado spreads. ![French bread - Pain de Mie](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-06-french-bread-pain-de-mie.png) ## **The Festive *Pain d'épi*** Pain d’épi is a special bread, often shaped to resemble a sheaf of wheat. This artisan bread is typically served during festive occasions and celebrations, adding a touch of elegance to any table. Its beautiful shape and rich flavor make it a standout choice for holiday gatherings or special meals. ![French Bread - Pain d'épi](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-07-french-bread-pain-d-pi.jpg) ## **The Sweet *Pain Viennois*** For a touch of sweetness, pain viennois is a delightful option. This lightly sweetened, enriched bread is often enjoyed at breakfast, whether with a smear of jam or a pat of butter. Its light, buttery texture makes it a favorite for a relaxed morning meal. ![French Bread - Pain Viennois](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-08-french-bread-pain-viennois.jpg) ## **The Tangy *Pain au Levain*** Sourdough enthusiasts will appreciate pain au levain, a bread made with natural leavening that gives it a distinctive tangy flavor and chewy texture. This bread is perfect for pairing with strong cheeses, soups, or as a base for hearty sandwiches. ![French Bread - Pain au Levain](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-09-french-bread-pain-au-levain.png) ## **The Nutty *Pain de Châtaigne*** Finally, let’s not forget pain de châtaigne, a unique bread made with chestnut flour. This bread has a subtly nutty flavor that pairs wonderfully with robust cheeses and savory dishes. It’s a fantastic way to add a bit of variety to your bread selection. ![French Bread - Pain de Châtaigne](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/explore-the-delicious-world-of-french-bread-10-french-bread-pain-de-ch-taigne.jpg) French bread is as diverse as it is delicious, with each type offering its own unique flavor and texture. Whether you’re enjoying a crispy baguette or a hearty pain de campagne, there’s a French bread to suit every taste and occasion. So next time you’re in France—or just visiting your local bakery—be sure to explore the wide range of breads available and savor the rich tradition they represent. ## ***One last thing…*** While exploring French bread, practice the names aloud and connect each word with its shape, ingredients, region, or typical use. Food vocabulary is easier to remember when it is tied to a real menu, bakery visit, or meal. ### Enjoy the Mid-Autumn: A Festive Introduction URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/enjoy-the-mid-autumn-a-festive-introduction/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:01.000Z Have you heard of the Mid-Autumn Festival (**中秋节, zhōnɡqiūjié**)? And do you know the festival is just around the corner? If your answer is no, don’t worry! we’ve got you covered! Let’s dive deep into this traditional Chinese holiday and see the unique customs that make it so special together! ## Quick Answer: Enjoy the Mid-Autumn: A Festive Introduction The Mid-Autumn Festival is associated with reunion, moon viewing and regional foods and stories. Names, dates and customs vary across cultures, so learn vocabulary together with its cultural context. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | What is the Mid-Autumn Festival? | | Section 2 | Why is it important? | | Section 3 | Traditions in the Mid-Autumn Festival | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## What is the Mid-Autumn Festival? The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is one of the most significant celebrations in Chinese culture. It takes place on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which typically falls in September or October when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival will be on September 17th. ## Why is it important? The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the abundance of the year. It’s a cherished occasion for family reunions, where relatives near and far come together to share the joy under the same sky, united by the light of the full moon. In Chinese culture, the full moon is more than just beautiful - it stands for unity and togetherness. People believe that the full moon during this time is the most beautiful and serves as a reminder of the wholeness of family, no matter the physical distance between members. ## Traditions in the Mid-Autumn Festival ### Eating Mooncakes 吃月饼 (chī yuèbǐnɡ) Eating mooncakes is perhaps the most iconic tradition of the Mid-Autumn Festival! These round pastries, often delicately designed, are a symbol of the moon and represent unity, completeness, and reunion. Mooncakes are typically shared among family and friends, and the act of sharing a mooncake is a symbol of sharing happiness, blessings, and prosperity. **\-Varieties of Mooncakes:** Mooncakes come in a wide variety of flavors and styles, reflecting regional tastes and culinary traditions. The traditional mooncake features a dense, sweet filling made from lotus seed paste or red bean paste. It often encases a salted duck egg yolk, which represents the full moon. In addition to these classic fillings, modern mooncakes now feature a wide range of options, from chocolate and fruit to ice cream. (Tip from Deer: This year's trend is chocolate!) The outer crust of a mooncake can vary as well, ranging from flaky and thin to soft and chewy. ![Varieties of Mooncakes](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog7-1.jpg "blog7-1") **\-Symbolism and Significance:** The round shape of the mooncake is a powerful emblem in Chinese culture, representing the completeness of the moon and the idea of reunion. When families cut the mooncake into pieces and share it, they symbolize coming together. This act signifies sharing life’s sweetness and blessings. In addition, you can also give mooncakes as gifts to friends, colleagues, and business associates as a gesture of goodwill and respect. **\-Mooncake Variations Across Regions:** Different regions in China have their own unique versions of mooncakes. For example, in Guangdong, the Cantonese-style mooncake is known for its thin, tender crust and diverse fillings, including nuts, seeds, and even savory ingredients like ham. In Suzhou, the mooncakes are typically flaky and savory, with fillings such as pork and shallots. Meanwhile, in Beijing, mooncakes often feature a dense, sweet filling with a thicker crust. ### Moon Viewing 赏月 (shǎng yuè) Moon viewing is another essential tradition of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This practice dates back thousands of years ago, with people gathering to admire the beauty of the full moon. **Family Gatherings:** During the Mid-Autumn Festival, families often gather outdoors in gardens, parks, or on rooftops to enjoy the moonlight together. They lay out a spread of seasonal fruits, tea, and mooncakes, creating a serene atmosphere to appreciate the beauty of the night. It’s a time for storytelling, where parents and grandparents pass down tales of the Moon Goddess Chang’e, the Jade Rabbit, and other legends associated with the moon. **Cultural and Poetic Significance:** In Chinese culture, the moon isn't just a celestial body; it’s a symbol of beauty, peace, and the cyclical nature of life. Moon viewing isn’t just an act of gazing at the sky. It is also a moment of reflection, where people contemplate the passage of time, the seasons, and the presence of loved ones. This tradition has inspired countless poems, songs, and paintings throughout Chinese history, with many poets using the moon’s imagery to express feelings of nostalgia, longing, and love. **Spiritual and Mystical Aspects:** For many, moon viewing also carries spiritual significance. The full moon is considered to be a time when the boundary between the earthly and celestial worlds is at its thinnest, making it a perfect moment for meditation, prayer, and making wishes. Some people believe that the full moon on this night has the power to bless those who admire it with good fortune, health, and happiness. ![LingoDeer illustration of Mid-Autumn Festival moon viewing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/blog7-2.jpg "blog7-2") Are you fully immersing yourself in the Mid-Autumn Festival spirit? To deepen your experience, why not try making or tasting mooncakes? This simple yet meaningful activity provides a delicious way to connect with the festival's rich culinary traditions. Also, be sure to check out the next blog! We'll introduce some useful expressions and words related to the Mid-Autumn Festival! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Back to School Season: Essential School Vocabulary and Idioms in Spanish, French, and German URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/back-to-school-season-essential-school-vocabulary-and-idioms-in-spanish-french-and-german/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:37.000Z As the back-to-school season approaches, students, teachers, and parents alike are gearing up for a fresh start. Whether it’s stocking up on supplies, setting new goals, or simply getting back into the rhythm of school life, this time of year is always filled with excitement and anticipation. For those of us learning new languages, it's also the perfect chance to expand our vocabulary and pick up some useful idioms to start the school year with even more confidence. In this blog, we’ll explore essential school-related words and phrases, along with some fun idioms in Spanish, French, and German. These expressions are sure to come in handy, so let’s jump right in! ## **General School Vocabulary** Let’s start with the words you’ll likely hear every day at school. These terms are the foundation of your school-related vocabulary. - **School** - Spanish: Escuela - French: École - German: Schule - **Classroom** - Spanish: Aula - French: Salle de classe - German: Klassenzimmer - **Teacher** - Spanish: Maestro/Maestra - French: Enseignant/Enseignante - German: Lehrer/Lehrerin - **Student** - Spanish: Estudiante - French: Étudiant/Étudiante - German: Schüler/Schülerin - **Lesson** - Spanish: Lección - French: Leçon - German: Unterricht - **To teach someone a lesson** - Spanish: Dar una lección - French: Donner une leçon - German: Jemandem eine Lektion erteilen ## **Subjects and Activities** Next up, let's explore some academic subjects and activities that are central to school life. These are words you'll definitely find yourself using every day at school. - **Math** - Spanish: Matemáticas - French: Mathématiques - German: Mathematik - **Science** - Spanish: Ciencias - French: Sciences - German: Naturwissenschaften - **History** - Spanish: Historia - French: Histoire - German: Geschichte - **Language Arts** - Spanish: Lengua y Literatura - French: Arts du langage - German: Sprachunterricht - **Physical Education** - Spanish: Educación Física - French: Éducation Physique - German: Sportunterricht - **Hit the books** - Spanish: Empollar - French: Se mettre à étudier - German: Sich auf die Bücher stürzen ## **School Supplies** No back-to-school list would be complete without the essential supplies that students need. From notebooks to backpacks, these are the items that keep us organized and ready for learning. - **Notebook** - Spanish: Cuaderno - French: Cahier - German: Heft - **Pencil** - Spanish: Lápiz - French: Crayon - German: Bleistift - **Backpack** - Spanish: Mochila - French: Sac à dos - German: Rucksack - **Ruler** - Spanish: Regla - French: Règle - German: Lineal - **Calculator** - Spanish: Calculadora - French: Calculatrice - German: Taschenrechner - **Idiomatic Expression:** - "Back to the drawing board" - Spanish: Volver al punto de partida - French: Retour à la case départ - German: Zurück auf Anfang ## **School Activities and Events** School is also about the activities and events that make the experience memorable. Can you recall any special memories related to the following events? - **Field Trip** - Spanish: Excursión - French: Sortie scolaire - German: Schulausflug - **Recess** - Spanish: Recreo - French: Récréation - German: Pause - **Homework** - Spanish: Tarea - French: Devoirs - German: Hausaufgaben - **Exam** - Spanish: Examen - French: Examen - German: Prüfung - **Graduation** - Spanish: Graduación - French: Remise des diplômes - German: Abschlussfeier - **Ace a test** - Spanish: Sacar un diez - French: Réussir un examen haut la main - German: Eine Prüfung mit Bravour bestehen ## **School Roles and Places** What’s the most memorable place at school that comes to your mind? Do you know how to say that place in Spanish, French, or German? Check out the words below: - **Principal** - Spanish: Director/Directora - French: Directeur/Directrice - German: Direktor/Direktorin - **Cafeteria** - Spanish: Cafetería - French: Cantine - German: Kantine - **Library** - Spanish: Biblioteca - French: Bibliothèque - German: Bibliothek - **Counselor** - Spanish: Consejero/Consejera - French: Conseiller/Conseillère - German: Berater/Beraterin - **Janitor** - Spanish: Conserje - French: Concierge - German: Hausmeister/Hausmeisterin - **To be a bookworm** - Spanish: Ser un ratón de biblioteca - French: Être un rat de bibliothèque - German: Ein Bücherwurm sein ## **Other School-Related Idioms and Expressions** To round things out, let’s look at some idioms and expressions that are often used in a school context. These phrases are not only fun but also enrich your understanding of the language. - **"Learn the hard way"** - Spanish: Aprender por las malas - French: Apprendre à ses dépens - German: Auf die harte Tour lernen - **"To pass with flying colors"** - Spanish: Pasar con sobresaliente - French: Réussir haut la main - German: Mit Bravour bestehen - **"To cram for an exam"** - Spanish: Empollar para un examen - French: Bachoter - German: Für eine Prüfung büffeln - **"To be a teacher’s pet"** - Spanish: Ser el/la favorito/a del profesor - French: Être le chouchou du professeur - German: Des Lehrers Liebling sein - **"School of hard knocks"** - Spanish: La escuela de la vida - French: L'école de la vie - German: Die Schule des Lebens Mastering these essential school-related words and idioms in Spanish, French, and German is a great way to prepare for the new school year or reminisce about your own school days. To remember these school-related words and idioms, group them by situation—classroom objects, subjects, routines, and common conversations—then write a few short examples in each language you are studying. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/07/GetItOnGooglePlay_Badge_Web_color_English-2.png)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.enpal&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### German Beer: A Sip into Tradition and Flavor URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-beer-a-sip-into-tradition-and-flavor/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:54.000Z If you’ve ever wondered about the magic behind German beer, you’re in for a treat. Germany is renowned for its rich beer culture, and today, we’re diving into what makes German beer so special. From its deep-rooted traditions to the diverse range of styles, let’s explore the world of German beer together! ## **Tradition and Culture of Beer in Germany** ### **Historical Roots** German beer has a history as rich as its flavor. Beer brewing in Germany dates back centuries, but one of the most significant milestones was the Reinheitsgebot, or beer purity law, established in 1516\. This law dictated that beer could only be brewed using barley, hops, and water—later including yeast. It’s not just a rule; it’s a point of pride that ensures the high quality of German beer. ### **Cultural Impact** Beer is more than a drink in Germany—it’s a cultural cornerstone. Beer gardens and beer halls are social hubs where people gather to enjoy good company and great beer. These venues are as much about the experience as they are about the beverage itself. Whether you’re enjoying a sunny afternoon in a beer garden or soaking up the lively atmosphere of a traditional beer hall, beer is an integral part of the German social fabric. ### **Famous Beer Festivals** No discussion of German beer is complete without mentioning Oktoberfest. Held annually in Fall, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival, attracting millions of visitors who come to celebrate with traditional beers, foods, and festivities. But Oktoberfest isn’t the only beer festival worth noting—each region has its own celebrations and unique beer traditions, adding to the rich tapestry of German beer culture. ## **The Range of Styles and How They Taste** German beer isn’t just one flavor; it’s a delightful array of styles, each with its own distinct taste. Let’s take a tour through some popular German beer styles: **Pilsner** Pilsner is the most famous German beer style outside of Germany. It’s a pale, crisp lager with a noticeable hop bitterness. If you’re looking for a refreshing and light beer with a touch of hoppy zing, Pilsner is your go-to. **Weizenbier (Wheat Beer)** Weizenbier, or wheat beer, is brewed with a high percentage of wheat, giving it a distinctive cloudy appearance. This style is known for its fruity and spicy notes, often featuring hints of banana and clove. It’s smooth, slightly sweet, and perfect for those who enjoy a bit of complexity in their beer. **Kölsch** Hailing from Cologne, Kölsch is a light, pale ale with a clean and smooth taste. It has a subtle fruitiness that makes it incredibly easy to drink. Kölsch is a fantastic choice if you prefer a delicate, well-balanced beer. **Märzen (Oktoberfest special)** Märzen is the traditional beer served at Oktoberfest. This amber lager is rich and malty, with a smooth finish. Its slightly sweet flavor profile makes it a great beer for cooler weather and festive occasions. **Dunkel** Dunkel, meaning "dark" in German, is a robust lager with a rich malt flavor. It often features notes of caramel, chocolate, and coffee. If you enjoy a deeper, more complex beer, Dunkel is worth a try. **Bock** Bock is a stronger lager known for its bold flavors and higher alcohol content. It’s rich and malty, with a complex taste that can include caramel and toasty notes. Perfect for those who like a bit more intensity in their beer. ## **When People Drink Beer** ### **Daily Life** In Germany, beer is a common feature of daily life. It’s not just for special occasions; many Germans enjoy a beer with their meals or as a casual drink with friends. Beer culture is integrated into everyday activities, making it a regular part of life. ### **Special Occasions** Beer plays a central role in celebrations and special occasions. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or holiday, beer is often the drink of choice for toasting and enjoying with loved ones. Festivals, including local beer fests, are a great way to experience the joy and community spirit surrounding German beer. ### **Regional Variations** Germany’s diverse regions each have their own unique beer customs. In Bavaria, for example, you’ll find traditional beer gardens and hearty beers like Märzen. In Cologne, Kölsch is the local favorite. Exploring these regional differences can be a fun way to experience the variety of German beer culture. ## **Beer Culture Etiquette** When enjoying beer in Germany, immersing yourself in the local customs can enhance your experience and show respect for the rich beer culture. Here are some key etiquette tips to keep in mind: ### **Making Eye Contact and Saying “Prost!”** - **Eye Contact**: One of the most cherished traditions in German beer culture is making eye contact when toasting. It’s considered a sign of sincerity and respect. Before you take a sip, make sure to look at your fellow drinkers. This small gesture is a meaningful part of the beer-drinking experience. - **Hearty “Prost!”**: When clinking glasses, shout “Prost!” which translates to “Cheers!” It’s more than just a word; it’s a way to celebrate good company and good times. Make sure to raise your glass high and join in the toast with enthusiasm. ### **Tipping Generously** - **Proper Gratuity**: In Germany, tipping is customary in beer halls and gardens. While the service may be more relaxed compared to other places, a generous tip is always appreciated. Typically, rounding up the bill or adding a few extra euros is a good practice. For example, if your bill is €18, you might leave €20 or €22, depending on the level of service. - **Cash Tips**: It’s best to leave tips in cash, even if you pay the bill with a card. This ensures that the tip goes directly to the server. If you’re in a large group, consider leaving a bit more to reflect the additional service. ### **Respecting the Seating Arrangements** - **Shared Tables**: In traditional beer gardens and halls, it’s common to share tables with strangers. Embrace this communal aspect of the experience. If you’re invited to join a table or if there’s space at a communal table, feel free to sit down and engage in conversation. It’s part of the fun and fosters a sense of community. - **Table Manners**: Once seated, wait for everyone at your table to be served before digging into your food or starting on your beer. This ensures that everyone can enjoy their meal and drink together, enhancing the communal atmosphere. ### **Enjoying the Beer** - **Savor the Moment**: German beer is known for its quality and variety. Take your time to savor each sip and appreciate the flavors. Whether you’re trying a refreshing Pilsner or a rich Dunkel, enjoy the nuances of each beer style. - **Food Pairings**: Many beer halls and gardens offer traditional German foods that pair perfectly with beer. Don’t hesitate to try local specialties like pretzels, sausages, or schnitzels. These dishes complement the beer and are part of the authentic German beer experience. ![Beer Culture Etiquette in Germany](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/49-1-2.jpg) German beer is more than just a drink—it is part of the country’s traditions, regional culture, and celebrations. Learning the German expressions connected with beer and brewing can add useful linguistic context as you explore that culture. Prost to discovering German culture and savoring the rich flavors of German beer! ### 23 Must-Know Spanish Phrases for Navigating the Airport URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/23-must-know-spanish-phrases-for-navigating-the-airport/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:21.000Z Traveling to a Spanish-speaking country is always an exciting adventure, but navigating the airport might feel a bit overwhelming if you're not confident in Spanish. Therefore, knowing key phrases in Spanish can make your airport experience smoother and more enjoyable. In this blog, we’ll guide you through **23 must-know Spanish phrases** that you'll need from the moment you arrive at the airport to the time you board your flight. With these phrases in your pocket, you'll feel more at ease and ready to explore your destination! ## **Arriving at the Airport** The first step of your journey begins as soon as you step into the airport. The following phrases will help you get started on the right foot. ### **Greeting and Introduction** A friendly greeting is always a good way to start a conversation. If you need help or directions, start with a polite greeting: 1. **"Hola, ¿cómo estás?"** (Hello, how are you?) 2. **"¿Dónde está la entrada principal?"** (Where is the main entrance?) These simple sentences can help you approach airport staff or fellow travelers confidently. ### **Asking for Directions** Finding your way around a large airport can be tricky, especially if the signs are in a language you’re still learning. Here’s how to ask for directions: 1. **"¿Dónde está el mostrador de facturación?"** (Where is the check-in counter?) 2. **"¿Cómo llego a la terminal de vuelos internacionales?"** (How do I get to the international flight terminal?) ## **Checking In** The check-in process is a crucial part of your airport experience. Here’s how to handle it in Spanish. ### **General Check-In Phrases** When you reach the check-in counter, you’ll need to provide your flight details and perhaps ask some questions. These sentences will come in handy: 1. **"Tengo una reserva para el vuelo a..."** (I have a reservation for the flight to...) 2. **"¿Cuál es mi número de puerta de embarque?"** (What is my gate number?) These questions will help ensure you’re on the right flight and headed to the correct gate. ### **Baggage** Dealing with luggage is not as stressful as you thought, if you master these two sentences: 1. **"¿Cuántas maletas puedo facturar?"** (How many bags can I check?) 2. **"¿Dónde recojo mi equipaje?"** (Where do I collect my luggage?) ## **Security Check** ### **Going Through Security** Security checks can be a bit nerve-wracking, but these phrases will help you get through smoothly: 1. **"¿Necesito quitarme los zapatos?"** (Do I need to take off my shoes?) 2. **"¿Hay algo en mi equipaje de mano que no se permita?"** (Is there anything in my carry-on that isn’t allowed?) These questions ensure you’re following the rules and can pass through security without issues. ### **Special Requests** If you have a tight connection or need special assistance, these phrases will be useful: 1. **"Tengo una conexión, ¿puedo pasar por seguridad más rápido?"** (I have a connection, can I go through security faster?) This phrase can help you move quickly if time is tight. ## **At the Gate** ### **Flight Information** These questions will keep you updated on your flight status. 1. **"¿Cuándo comienza el embarque?"** (When does boarding start?) 2. **"¿Hay algún retraso en mi vuelo?"** (Is there any delay on my flight?) ### **Changing Seats** If you need to change your seat for any reason, here’s how to ask: 1. **"¿Es posible cambiar mi asiento?"** (Is it possible to change my seat?) 2. **"¿Puedo tener un asiento junto a la ventana?"** (Can I have a window seat?) ## **On the Plane** ### **Communicating with Flight Attendants** Whether you need a drink or just some information, these sentences will help you communicate with the flight attendants: 1. **"¿Puedo tener agua, por favor?"** (Can I have some water, please?) 2. **"¿Cuánto tiempo falta para aterrizar?"** (How much time until we land?) ### **Addressing In-Flight Concerns** If you’re feeling unwell or uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to speak up: 1. **"Me siento mal, ¿puedo tener una bolsa para mareo?"** (I feel sick, can I have an airsickness bag?) 2. **"¿Puedo cambiar de asiento? No me siento cómodo."** (Can I change seats? I'm not comfortable.) ## **Arrival and Customs** ### **Navigating the Airport After Landing** After landing, you’ll want to collect your luggage and find transportation to your next stop: 1. **"¿Dónde está la recogida de equipajes?"** (Where is the baggage claim?) 2. **"¿Hay un servicio de transporte al hotel?"** (Is there a shuttle service to the hotel?) These questions will help you transition smoothly from the plane to your final destination. ### **Customs and Immigration** Getting through customs is the last step before you’re free to explore. Here’s how to handle it: 1. **"¿Necesito declarar algo?"** (Do I need to declare anything?) 2. **"Estoy aquí de vacaciones/trabajo."** (I’m here on vacation/work.) ![23 must-know Spanish phrases for the airport](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/51-1.jpg) ![23 must-know Spanish phrases for the airport](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/51-2.jpg) Traveling in a Spanish-speaking country becomes much easier when you know a few key phrases. By familiarizing yourself with these 23 essential Spanish sentences ahead of time, you’ll be able to navigate the airport with confidence! Before your trip, practice these phrases as complete mini-dialogues. Rehearse both the question and the answer so you can recognize likely responses in a busy airport. ### How to Use "Si" Compared to "Oui" and "Non" in French URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-use-si-compared-to-oui-and-non-in-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:03.000Z When you're learning French, you quickly become familiar with the words "oui" (yes) and "non" (no). Yes, they're essential building blocks of everyday conversation. But what about "si"? This little word can be a bit tricky for beginners, as it doesn’t have an exact equivalent in English. Therefore, we’ll find out how to use "si" correctly here and compare it with "oui" and "non" so that you can confidently navigate French conversations. ## **Basic Definitions** Let’s start with the basics: - **"Oui"**: "Oui" is the straightforward way to say "yes" in French. It’s used to affirm or agree with a positive statement. For example: - **Question**: *Tu veux du café?* (Do you want coffee?) - **Response**: *Oui, s’il te plaît.* (Yes, please.) - **"Non"**: "Non" is the direct translation of "no" and is used to disagree or negate a statement. For example: - **Question**: *Tu aimes le chocolat?* (Do you like chocolate?) - **Response**: *Non, je préfère la vanille.* (No, I prefer vanilla.) - **"Si"**: Now, here’s where things get interesting. "Si" is used when you want to contradict a negative statement or question. It means "yes" but in response to a negative. For example: - **Question**: *Tu n’aimes pas le chocolat?* (You don’t like chocolate?) - **Response**: *Si, j’adore ça!* (Yes, I love it!) ![See the differences between oui non and si in French](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/50-1.jpg) ## **When to Use "Si"** **Contradicting a Negative Statement** Now you can see, "si" is your go-to word when you want to disagree with someone’s negative assumption. Imagine someone says something you disagree with, but they phrase it negatively. This is your moment to shine with "si"! - **Example 1**: - **Statement**: *Tu n’as pas faim?* (You’re not hungry?) - **Response**: *Si, je meurs de faim!* (Yes, I’m starving!) - **Example 2**: - **Statement**: *Il ne fait pas beau aujourd’hui, hein?* (It’s not nice out today, is it?) - **Response**: *Si, je trouve qu’il fait très beau!* (Yes, I think it’s very nice!) **Special Cases** There are also a few special situations where "si" comes in handy: - **Double Negatives**: In some cases, when dealing with double negatives, "si" is used to clarify that something is indeed the case. - **Example**: *Tu ne penses pas qu’il a tort?* (You don’t think he’s wrong?) - **Response**: *Si, je pense qu’il a tort.* (Yes, I think he’s wrong.) - **Responding to Negative Assumptions**: When someone makes a negative assumption and you want to correct them, "si" is the perfect word to use. - **Example**: *On ne va pas sortir ce soir, n’est-ce pas?* (We’re not going out tonight, right?) - **Response**: *Si, on va sortir!* (Yes, we are going out!) ## **Comparing "Oui" and "Si"** Now that you know how to use "si," let’s compare it to "oui." **Positive vs. Negative Contexts** - **"Oui" for Positive Statements**: Use "oui" when you’re agreeing with something positive. It’s simple and straightforward. - **Example**: *Tu viens avec nous?* (Are you coming with us?) - **Response**: *Oui, je viens.* (Yes, I’m coming.) - **"Si" for Negative Contexts**: Remember, "si" is your word for when you want to affirm something in response to a negative statement or question. - **Example**: *Tu n’as pas de frère?* (You don’t have a brother?) - **Response**: *Si, j’ai un frère.* (Yes, I have a brother.) ## **Practical Exercises** Now that you’ve got the hang of it, let’s practice! **Quiz**: Choose the correct word ("oui," "non," or "si") for the following sentences: 1. *Tu n’as pas de chat?* - Response: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 2. *Tu veux un dessert?* - Response: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ 3. *On n’a pas cours demain?* - Response: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **Answers**: 1. Si 2. Oui 3. 3.Si **Dialogue Practice**: Here’s a short dialogue for you to practice. Fill in the blanks with "oui," "non," or "si": 1. **Person A**: *Tu n’as pas fini de manger?* **Person B**: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, j’ai fini. 2. **Person A**: *Et tu veux un café?* **Person B**: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, merci! **Answers**: 1. Si 2. Oui To wrap it up, "si" is an essential word that helps you navigate negative statements or questions in French. It’s the perfect tool to correct someone’s wrong assumption or affirm something contrary to a negative. Remember, use "oui" for positive statements and "si" when contradicting a negative one.Keep practicing, and soon enough, you’ll be using "si," "oui," and "non" like a native speaker! ### Japanese Honorific Conjugations: Speak Japanese with Respect URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorific-conjugations-speak-japanese-with-respect/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T13:04:58.000Z In Japanese culture, language is more than just a way to talk—it's a key to expressing respect, because social hierarchy is so important in Japan. Honorifics aren't just about being polite; they're about understanding the deeply rooted traditions of consideration and respect for others. The honorific system in Japanese may seem complex and layered, but think of it as learning the different ways to show respect through language. In Japanese, respect is built right into the grammar itself. This is done through specific verb and adjective conjugations that change depending on the relationship between the speaker and the listener or the subject of the conversation. At the heart of Japanese honorifics are three key forms. Let’s explore what makes each one special and how you can start using them in your conversations: 1. ***Teineigo* (丁寧語) - Polite Language**: This is the most commonly used form of honorifics, appropriate for everyday interactions where a degree of politeness is required. It’s the default mode of speech in most social situations and is considered neutral but polite. 2. ***Sonkeigo* (尊敬語) - Respectful Language**: *Sonkeigo* is used to show respect to the person you are talking to or about, typically someone of higher status, such as a boss, teacher, or elder. This form often involves altering verbs or using entirely different words to elevate the respectfulness of the sentence. 3. ***Kenjougo* (謙譲語) - Humble Language**: *Kenjougo* is used by the speaker to humble themselves or their in-group when speaking to someone of higher status. This form often involves making oneself or one’s actions appear less significant as a way of showing respect. In this guide, we'll walk you through the ins and outs of Japanese honorific conjugations. We’ll break down the rules for regular verbs and adjectives, dive into the tricky irregular forms, and give you plenty of examples to help you practice in your everyday conversations. ### Conjugating Regular Verbs into Honorific Forms #### *Teineigo* (丁寧語) *Teineigo* is your go-to level of polite language. It’s simple and easy to use—just add the suffix -ます (masu) to the verb stem, and you’re all set to speak politely! **Examples**: | **Word Type** | **Basic Form** | **Conjugation** | **Honorific Form** | **Sentence Example** | | ------------- | -------------- | --------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------- | | Verb | 食べる (taberu) | 食べ + ます | 食べます | 私は寿司を食べます。(I eat sushi.) | | Verb | 行く (iku) | 行き + ます | 行きます | 学校に行きます。(I go to school.) | #### *Sonkeigo* (尊敬語) *Sonkeigo* is the form you'll use to show extra respect, especially when talking about someone important. Sometimes, it means changing the verb completely, or you might just add -られる (-rareru) or -なさる (-nasaru) to the verb. Another common way to express respect in *Sonkeigo* is the "お/ご + Verb Stem + になる" form. - **お (o)** is used for native Japanese verbs, and **ご (go)** is for Sino-Japanese verbs. - Add になる (ni naru) to the verb stem to show respect for someone's actions. For example, "帰る" (kaeru, to return) becomes "お帰りになる" (okaeri ni naru), and "座る" (suwaru, to sit) becomes "お座りになる" (osuwari ni naru). This form is great for elevating the person you’re talking about in a polite and formal way. ![How to conjugate Japanese Sonkeigo](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdXHGOpjbHRwkIrdUmBGCIhY0WPNQtz9a3LxvnxFZPnH7p45fm4ldqcKoSS3GfYjXJANSLunVRcao03mspWPnU9reuxBGbDLoQkxeUD8K6eslOh6X2Zlcqh6NfFz6B9IPcHK_3N-8RRGWhBoiaL3uKSyjJl?key=r1vKyV4oooqAQ3g0ymasUg) #### *Kenjougo* (謙譲語) *Kenjougo* is used to humble the speaker when referring to their own actions or the actions of their in-group. This form often involves the prefix **お (o)** or **ご (go)** and changing the verb to a specific humble form. **Examples**: | **Word Type** | **Basic Form** | **Conjugation** | **Honorific Form** | **Sentence Example** | | ------------- | -------------- | --------------- | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------- | | Verb | する (suru) | いたす | いたします | 私がいたします。(I will do it.) | | Verb | もらう (morau) | 頂く (itadaku) | 頂きます | 先生から本を頂きます。(I receive a book from the teacher.) | ### Conjugating Adjectives into Honorific Forms Did you know that even adjectives in Japanese can get a respectful upgrade? When using *Sonkeigo* and *Kenjougo*, you’ll often add お (o) or ご (go) to give your adjectives that extra touch of politeness. **Examples**: | **Word Type** | **Basic Form** | **Conjugation** | **Honorific Form** | **Sentence Example** | | ------------- | -------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | | Adjective | 早い (hayai) | お + 早い (o-hayai) | お早い | お早い時間にありがとうございます。(Thank you for coming so early.) | | Adjective | 元気 (genki) | ご + 健康 (go-kenkō) | ご健康 | ご健康をお祈りいたします。(I pray for your health.) | ### Irregular Honorific Verbs Just like in any language, Japanese has a few tricky verbs that don’t play by the usual rules. But don’t worry! With a bit of practice, you’ll get the hang of these irregular honorific verbs in no time. | **Word Type** | **Basic Form** | **Sonkeigo Form** | **Sentence Example** | | ------------- | ------------------- | ----------------- | -------------------------------- | | Verb | する (suru) | なさる | 部長がなさいます。(The boss will do it.) | | Verb | いる (iru) / ある (aru) | いらっしゃる | 部長がいらっしゃいます。(The boss is here.) | | Verb | 言う (iu) | おっしゃる | 先生がおっしゃいます。(The teacher says...) | In addition to the irregular honorific verbs shown above, some honorifics in Japanese take on entirely different forms and are not conjugated from the original verb. These forms are essential for formal interactions and must be memorized. ![Irregular honorific verbs in Japanese](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfmSFyWNNNQaA-kkLh5LcDQ1dk1tT-TO_asZgea_p0nTuSaAet6rOqG4YIBMQJ4pEI3dkSJMPe20sh0NwY65Rw1G_gSEgQlDk9S3BjI9Pcx8cfGL0c9HWyOHfLqCbaGOEwKk5fjUyHXImpHG8fcHRKGApE?key=r1vKyV4oooqAQ3g0ymasUg) Getting the hang of Japanese honorifics is key to smooth and respectful communication, especially in formal situations. It might feel like a challenge at first, but with a little practice, you'll find yourself using these forms naturally. Remember, every step you take in mastering honorifics brings you closer to fluency and understanding the heart of Japanese culture. Keep practicing, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way—they’re part of the learning process. You’ve got this! ### German Prefixes in the Perfect Tense URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-prefixes-in-the-perfect-tense/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:57.000Z In our [earlier post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-comprehensive-guide-of-german-prefixes/), we introduced you to German prefixes and how they work. If you missed it, you can catch up by clicking here. Today, we’re diving into how these prefixes behave when we talk about the past. Understanding how prefixes function in the perfect tense is also crucial for mastering German and sounding natural in conversation. Let’s get started right away! ## **Conjugating Separable Prefix Verbs in the Perfect Tense** In German, the perfect tense is typically formed using the auxiliary verbs *haben* or *sein* combined with the past participle of the verb. For separable prefixes, the prefix attaches to the root word in the past participle form, but in sentences, it still moves to the end with the root word. ### **Separable Prefixes in Practice** Here’s how common separable prefixes work in the perfect tense: - **auf-** (up, open): *aufstehen* (to stand up) → *aufgestanden* (stood up) - **an-** (on, at): *ankommen* (to arrive) → *angekommen* (arrived) - **aus-** (out, off): *ausgehen* (to go out) → *ausgegangen* (gone out) ### **Examples in Sentences** To see these prefixes in action: - *Ich bin um 7 Uhr aufgestanden.* (I got up at 7 o'clock.) - *Wir sind pünktlich angekommen.* (We arrived on time.) Notice how the prefixes *auf-* and *an-* stay attached in the past participle form, but in sentences, the past participle appears at the end. ## **Conjugating Inseparable Prefix Verbs in the Perfect Tense** Inseparable prefixes always stay attached to their verbs in perfect tense. The formation is straightforward: use the auxiliary verb and the past participle, with the prefix firmly in place. ### **Inseparable Prefixes in Practice** Check out these common inseparable prefixes: - **be-** (makes a verb transitive): *besuchen* (to visit) → *besucht* (visited) - **ver-** (bad or wrong): *verlieren* (to lose) → *verloren* (lost) - **ent-** (away, escaping): *entkommen* (to escape) → *entkommen* (escaped) ### **Examples in Sentences** Here’s how these look in practice: - *Wir haben unsere Freunde besucht.* (We visited our friends.) - *Er hat seine Schlüssel verloren.* (He lost his keys.) Inseparable prefixes are simple because they never detach from their verbs, making them a bit easier to manage. ## **Conjugating ambivalent Prefix Verbs in the Perfect Tense** **Ambivalent** prefixes can act as either separable or inseparable depending on the verb. Knowing how to handle these can be a bit tricky, so let’s break it down. ### **Ambivalent Prefixes in Practice** Here are some examples: - **über-** (over, across): - Separable: *überfahren* (to run over) → *überfahren* (ran over) - Irreparable: *überkochen* (to boil over) → *übergekocht* (boiled over) - **um-** (around, changing): - Separable: *umziehen* (to move house) → *umgezogen* (moved house) - Irreparable: *umarmen* (to hug) → *umarmt* (hugged) ### **Examples in Sentences** To see **ambivalent** prefixes in action: - *Das Auto hat den Hund überfahren.* (The car ran over the dog.) - *Wir sind letzte Woche umgezogen.* (We moved house last week.) The context usually clarifies whether a **ambivalent** prefix behaves as separable or inseparable. ## **Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them** **Typical Mistakes** When using prefixes in the perfect tense, many people make these mistakes: - **Misplacing Separable Prefixes**: Forgetting to move the prefix to the end of the sentence. - **Confusing Ambivalent Prefixes**: Not knowing when a **ambivalent** prefix is separable or inseparable. Then how to avoid these pitfalls? 1. **Practice with Examples**: Regularly practice converting present tense sentences with separable prefixes into the perfect tense. This will help you get accustomed to placing the prefix at the end. For example: - Present: *Ich stehe früh auf.* (I get up early.) - Perfect: *Ich bin früh aufgestanden.* (I got up early.) 1. **Identify the Prefix Type:** Determine if the verb with the **ambivalent** prefix is separable or inseparable. Practice by categorizing verbs and noting how their meanings change. For example: - *umziehen* (to move house) is separable: *Wir sind umgezogen.* (We moved house.) - *umarmen* (to hug) is inseparable: *Er hat sie umarmt.* (He hugged her.) 1. **Learn Through Contextual Examples:** Read and listen to German content to see how native speakers use **ambivalent** prefixes. Pay attention to the structure and placement of the prefixes in perfect tense sentences. For example, watch German TV shows or read books where **ambivalent** prefixes are used, and mimic those patterns. ![Learning Tips for German Prefixes in the Perfect Tense](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/48-2.jpg) Feeling more confident with German prefixes now? Remember, practice is the key to success. Start with small steps, and you'll soon speak and write more fluently and accurately. Keep at it, and you'll handle prefixes like a pro soon! ### A Comprehensive Guide of German Prefixes URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-comprehensive-guide-of-german-prefixes/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:31.000Z When you learn German, have you noticed how one little prefix can transform a word into something completely different? German prefixes are like magic ingredients in a recipe—they can change the flavor of a word entirely! Therefore, understanding these prefixes will help you navigate the language with more confidence. So, let's get started to explore German prefixes and see how they work! ## **What Are German Prefixes?** In the German language, prefixes are small but powerful elements added to the beginning of a word, usually a verb, to modify its meaning. These prefixes can make a word mean the opposite of what it originally did, change the direction of an action, or even create a completely new word. ## **Types of Prefixes** German prefixes come in three main varieties: - Separable (Trennbar) - Inseparable (Untrennbar) - Ambivalent (Separable + Inseparable) Each type has its own set of rules and behaviors, so let’s break them down. ## **Separable Prefixes (Trennbare Präfixe)** Separable prefixes are like good friends—they stick together most of the time, but sometimes they need a bit of space. In sentences, these prefixes can detach from their root verbs and move to the end of the sentence. This typically happens in the present tense and imperative forms. ## **Common Separable Prefixes** Here are a few of the most common separable prefixes you’ll encounter: - **ab-** (off, away): *abfahren* (to depart) - **an-** (on, at): *ankommen* (to arrive) - **auf-** (up, open): *aufstehen* (to stand up) - **aus-** (out, off): *ausgehen* (to go out) - **ein-** (in, into): *einsteigen* (to get in) - **mit-** (with, along): *mitkommen* (to come along) - **vor-** (before, in front of): *vorstellen* (to introduce) ### **Examples in Use** Let’s see separable prefixes in action: - *Ich stehe jeden Morgen um 7 Uhr auf.* (I get up at 7 every morning.) - *Wir fahren morgen ab.* (We’re leaving tomorrow.) Notice how the prefix *auf-* in *aufstehen* and *ab-* in *abfahren* have separated from their verbs and moved to the end of the sentence. ### **Conjugation Rules** In the present tense, the prefix separates and the root verb conjugates as usual: - *aufstehen* → *Ich stehe auf* (I stand up) - *abfahren* → *Wir fahren ab* (We depart) In the perfect tense, the prefix usually stays attached, but that’s a story for another day! ## **Inseparable Prefixes (Untrennbare Präfixe)** Inseparable prefixes are a bit more loyal—they never detach from their root verbs. These prefixes stay put, regardless of the tense or mood of the verb. ### **Common Inseparable Prefixes** Here are some inseparable prefixes you’ll frequently encounter: - **be-** (makes a verb transitive): *besuchen* (to visit) - **ent-** (away, escaping): *entkommen* (to escape) - **er-** (completing, achieving): *erreichen* (to achieve) - **ge-** (often perfect tense marker in other contexts): *gehören* (to belong) - **ver-** (bad or wrong, often changes meaning): *verlieren* (to lose) - **zer-** (destroying or breaking): *zerstören* (to destroy) ### **Examples in Use** Check out how inseparable prefixes work: - *Er besucht seine Großeltern.* (He visits his grandparents.) - *Sie erreicht ihr Ziel.* (She achieves her goal.) These prefixes never leave their verbs, making them a bit easier to manage! ### **Conjugation Rules** Since inseparable prefixes never separate, you simply conjugate the verb as usual: - *besuchen* → *Ich besuche* (I visit) - *verlieren* → *Wir verlieren* (We lose) ## **Ambivalent Prefixes (Ambivalente Präfixe)** Some prefixes are a bit more complicated—they can be either separable or inseparable, depending on the verb they’re attached to. These ambivalent prefixes are like shape-shifters, changing their behavior based on context. ### **Common ambivalent Prefixes** Here are a few examples of ambivalent prefixes: - **durch-** (through): *durchlesen* (to read through) vs. *durchbrechen* (to break through) - **über-** (over, across): *überfahren* (to run over) vs. *überkochen* (to boil over) - **um-** (around, changing): *umziehen* (to move house) vs. *umarmen* (to hug) - **unter-** (under): *untergehen* (to sink) vs. *unterhalten* (to entertain) ### **Examples in Use** Here’s how ambivalent prefixes can change meaning: - *Er überfährt die Grenze.* (He crosses the border.) - Inseparable - *Das Wasser kocht über.* (The water boils over.) - Separable In these examples, *über-* acts differently depending on the verb, which is why context is so important! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/47-2.jpg) ### **Tips for Learning and Using German Prefixes** German prefixes might seem overwhelming at first, but don't worry—we've got some friendly tips to help you master them in no time. - **Start with the Basics:** Focus on the most common prefixes first, like *ab-*, *an-*, *auf-*, *be-*, and *ver-*. - **Practice with Sentences:** Learn prefixes in context by practicing sentences, not just isolated words. - **Use Flashcards:** Create flashcards with the prefix on one side and an example verb with its meaning on the other. - **Watch and Listen:** Watch German videos or listen to podcasts to hear prefixes in action. - **Regular Practice:** The key to mastering prefixes is consistent practice. Try to use new verbs with prefixes in your daily conversations or writing. To become familiar with German prefixes, collect examples from authentic sentences and group them by prefix type. Compare the base verb with its prefixed forms and practice placing separable prefixes correctly. German prefixes may seem tricky at first, but with practice and patience, they’ll become second nature. By understanding how separable, inseparable, and ambivalent prefixes work, you’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also gain confidence in constructing sentences. So, next time you come across a new verb, take a moment to break it down—prefix and all. You’ve got this! ### Impersonal “Se” and Passive “Se”: What’s the Difference? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/impersonal-se-and-passive-se-whats-the-difference/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:04.000Z Many people find the word 'se' confusing in Spanish. Have you? This tiny word does a lot of heavy lifting in Spanish, showing up in all sorts of contexts. Two of the trickiest are the impersonal "se" and the passive "se". Therefore, in this post, we’ll break down the mystery, so you can use them with confidence in your Spanish conversations. The word “se” is like a Swiss Army knife in Spanish—it has many functions! You’ll see it used in reflexive verbs, reciprocal actions, and, of course, impersonal and passive constructions. While it can seem overwhelming at first, once you get the hang of it, you’ll see that 'se' is actually a handy tool that makes your Spanish sound more natural and fluent. ## **Impersonal “Se”** Impersonal “se” is a way of making general statements without pointing fingers at anyone in particular. Think of it as a way to say “people,” “they,” or “one” without actually saying those words. It’s perfect for when you want to talk about something that generally happens, without needing to specify who’s doing it. ### **How It Works:** When you use impersonal “se”, the verb is always in **the third-person singular form**, no matter what. Here’re examples: - **Example 1:** *Se vive bien en esta ciudad.*(People live well in this city. / Life is good in this city.) - **Example 2:** *Se dice que la comida aquí es excelente.*(They say the food here is excellent.) As you can see, you’re making general statements. Who lives well in the city? Who says the food is excellent? It doesn’t matter—it’s just something that’s generally true. ### **Where You’ll See It:** Impersonal “se” is super common in **instructions**, **general statements**, and whenever you’re talking about **what people usually do**: - *Se necesita paciencia para aprender un idioma.*(You need patience to learn a language.) - *Aquí se habla español.*(Spanish is spoken here.) These sentences are perfect for when you want to speak generally, without worrying about who exactly is involved. ## **Passive “Se”** Now, let’s talk about passive “se”. This is all about shifting the spotlight from the doer of the action to **the action itself**. If you want to highlight what’s happening rather than who’s doing it, passive “se” is your go-to. It’s like the passive voice in English, but with that Spanish flair! ### **How It Works:** In passive “se” constructions, the verb changes depending on whether the thing being acted on is **singular or plural**. It’s all about matching the verb to the object: - **Example 1:** *Se vendió la casa.*(The house was sold.) - **Example 2:** *Se vendieron las casas.*(The houses were sold.) See how the verb changes from *vendió* to *vendieron* depending on whether we’re talking about one house or more than one? That’s passive “se” in action! ### **Where You’ll See It:** Passive “se” pops up a lot in **news reports**, **formal writing**, or any situation where **the action is more important than who did it**: - *Se construyeron muchos edificios nuevos en la ciudad.*(Many new buildings were constructed in the city.) - *Se aprobó la ley.*(The law was passed.) ![Impersonal se vs passice se in Spanish](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/17-1-2-5.jpg) ## **Key Differences Between Impersonal “Se” and Passive “Se”** Okay, now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s look at how to tell these two apart: - **Who’s the Focus?:**With impersonal “se”, the focus is on making a general statement without naming names. Passive “se”, on the other hand, is all about what’s happening, and the verb changes depending on whether you’re talking about one thing or more. - **Verb Agreement:**In impersonal “se” sentences, the verb always stays singular. With passive “se”, the verb needs to match the subject—so it could be singular or plural. Let’s looking at some comparison examples - **Impersonal “Se”:** *Se come bien en este restaurante.*(Translation: People eat well in this restaurant.) *Se trabaja mucho en esta oficina.* (People work hard in this office.) *Se aprende mucho viajando.* （One learns a lot by traveling.） *Se juega fútbol los domingos.* （Soccer is played on Sundays.） - **Passive “Se”:** *Se preparan muchos platos deliciosos en este restaurante.*(Many delicious dishes are prepared in this restaurant.) *Se vendieron todas las entradas para el concierto.* (All the tickets for the concert were sold.) *Se construyó un puente nuevo en la ciudad.* (A new bridge was built in the city.) *Se escribió el informe ayer.* The report was written yesterday. ## **Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them** Confusing impersonal "se" with passive "se" is quite common. Here are some tips to help you avoid these pitfalls: - Use impersonal “se” when you want to talk about what people do in general. - Use passive “se” when the action is more important than who’s doing it. - Practice by creating your own sentences and comparing them to native examples. Understanding the difference between impersonal “se” and passive “se” is crucial for becoming more fluent in Spanish. Each serves a unique purpose, and knowing when to use each one will help you sound more natural and confident. A useful way to practice “se” is to read varied Spanish texts. For each example, decide whether the sentence makes a general statement or describes something receiving an action, then check the verb agreement. ### A Guide to Indirect Pronouns in French: What You Need to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-guide-to-indirect-pronouns-in-french-what-you-need-to-know/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:32.000Z If you've already dipped your toes into the world of French pronouns, you've likely encountered direct pronouns. If you haven’t, be sure to check out[ this post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/mastering-direct-pronouns-in-french-a-comprehensive-guide/). But now it’s time to meet their close relatives—indirect pronouns! While direct pronouns replace the object that directly receives the action of the verb, indirect pronouns replace the object that benefits from or is affected by the action, usually introduced by the preposition "à" (to/for). It might sound complicated, but don’t worry! This guide will walk you through what indirect pronouns are, how to use them, and where to place them in sentences. By the end, you'll feel confident using them in your French conversations! ## **What Are Indirect Pronouns?** Indirect pronouns are used to replace indirect objects in a sentence—these are usually the people to whom or for whom something is done. In English, these often translate to "to him," "to her," "to them," etc. In French, the indirect pronouns are: - **me (m’)** – to/for me - **te (t’)** – to/for you (informal) - **lui** – to/for him/her - **nous** – to/for us - **vous** – to/for you (formal or plural) - **leur** – to/for them ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/17-1-chart.jpg) ## **When to Use Indirect Pronouns** You’ll use an indirect pronoun when the verb in the sentence is followed by **the preposition "à" (to)**. This typically happens with verbs like "parler à" (to talk to), "donner à" (to give to), "écrire à" (to write to), and so on. For example: - "Je parle à Marie." (I’m talking to Marie.) → "Je lui parle." (I’m talking to her.) - "Nous donnons un cadeau à nos amis." (We’re giving a gift to our friends.) → "Nous leur donnons un cadeau." (We’re giving them a gift.) Notice how the indirect pronoun replaces both the preposition "à" and the noun? This makes sentences smoother and avoids repetition. **Placement of Indirect Pronouns in a Sentence** Just like direct pronouns, indirect pronouns usually come right before the verb in a sentence. Here’s how they fit into different types of sentences: **In simple sentences:** - "Il parle à son professeur." (He’s talking to his teacher.) → "Il lui parle." (He’s talking to him/her.) **With infinitives:** When there’s an infinitive verb in the sentence, the indirect pronoun goes before the infinitive. - "Je vais écrire à Paul." (I’m going to write to Paul.) → "Je vais lui écrire." (I’m going to write to him.) **In compound tenses like the passé composé:** The indirect pronoun is placed before the auxiliary verb (avoir or être). - "Elle a parlé à ses parents." (She spoke to her parents.) → "Elle leur a parlé." (She spoke to them.) **With negative sentences:** The indirect pronoun is placed within the ne…pas structure, just like direct pronouns. - "Je ne parle pas à Jean." (I’m not talking to Jean.) → "Je ne lui parle pas." (I’m not talking to him.) These rules are similar to those for direct pronouns, which makes things a bit easier as you start using both types! ## **Indirect Pronouns vs. Direct Pronouns** One of the most common challenges learners face is distinguishing between when to use a direct pronoun and when to use an indirect one. Remember, it all comes down to whether the verb in the sentence requires a direct object (no preposition) or an indirect object (usually introduced by "à"). For example: - **Direct Object:** "Je vois Pierre." (I see Pierre.) → "Je le vois." (I see him.) - **Indirect Object:** "Je parle à Pierre." (I talk to Pierre.) → "Je lui parle." (I talk to him.) A good tip is to pay attention to the verb and see if it naturally pairs with "à." If it does, you’re likely dealing with an indirect object and should use an indirect pronoun. ## **Using French Indirect Pronouns in Questions and Imperatives** Indirect pronouns can also be used in questions and commands, adding flexibility to your French. **In questions:** - "Tu parles à ton frère?" (Are you talking to your brother?) → "Lui parles-tu?" (Are you talking to him?) Or in casual conversation: - "Tu lui parles?" (Are you talking to him?) **In affirmative imperatives:** Here, the pronoun is attached to the end of the verb with a hyphen. - "Parle à Paul!" (Talk to Paul!) → "Parle-lui!" (Talk to him!) **In negative imperatives:** The pronoun goes back before the verb, as with other forms. - "Ne parle pas à Paul!" (Don’t talk to Paul!) → "Ne lui parle pas!" (Don’t talk to him!) These variations help you express yourself naturally in different contexts. Understanding and using indirect pronouns in French is an important step toward fluency. By recognizing when and how to use them, you can make your sentences more natural and avoid repetitive phrasing. As with anything in language learning, practice is key. Continue practicing with short examples until choosing and placing the correct pronoun becomes automatic. ### Mastering Direct Pronouns in French: A Comprehensive Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/mastering-direct-pronouns-in-french-a-comprehensive-guide/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:06.000Z In French, pronouns are a key part of daily conversation and are essential for speaking fluently. If you’ve been learning French for a while, you’ve probably come across direct pronouns and wondered how to use them correctly. Well, you’re in the right place! In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about direct pronouns in French, from what they are to how to use them in sentences. By the end, you’ll be ready to incorporate them smoothly into your conversations. Let’s get started! ## **What Are Direct Pronouns?** Let’s start with the basics. A direct pronoun is a word that replaces a direct object in a sentence. What does that mean? Well, a direct object is the noun that receives the action of the verb directly. For example, in the sentence "I see the book," "the book" is the direct object because it’s what you see. In French, instead of repeating "the book" (le livre), you can replace it with a direct pronoun. Here’s a quick list of the French direct pronouns: - **me (m’)** – me - **te (t’)** – you (informal) - **le (l’)** – him, it (masculine singular) - **la (l’)** – her, it (feminine singular) - **nous** – us - **vous** – you (formal or plural) - **les** – them (masculine or feminine plural) ![French direct pronouns](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/17-1-2-4.jpg) These pronouns are super handy and can save you from repeating yourself! ## **When to Use Direct Pronouns** Now that you know what direct pronouns are, when should you use them? You’ll use a direct pronoun when you want to avoid repeating a noun that’s already been mentioned or is obvious from context. Let’s take this sentence as an example: "Il y a un chat, je vois le chat." (There is a cat, I see the cat.) Instead of saying, "le chat" again, you can say, "Je le vois." (I see it.) Here are a few more examples: - "Elle mange une pomme." (She is eating an apple.) → "Elle la mange." (She is eating it.) - "Nous aimons nos amis." (We love our friends.) → "Nous les aimons." (We love them.) **Notice how the direct pronoun goes before the verb? That’s key in French!** ## **Placement of Direct Pronouns in a Sentence** Placement can sometimes trip people up, but it’s simpler than it seems. Generally, direct pronouns are placed directly before the verb they relate to. **In simple sentences:** - "Il prend le livre." (He takes the book.) → "Il le prend." (He takes it.) **With infinitives:** If there’s an infinitive verb in the sentence, the direct pronoun goes before the infinitive. - "Je vais acheter la robe." (I’m going to buy the dress.) → "Je vais l’acheter." (I’m going to buy it.) **In compound tenses like the passé composé:** The direct pronoun is placed before the auxiliary verb (avoir or être). - "Elle a vu le film." (She saw the movie.) → "Elle l’a vu." (She saw it.) **With negative sentences:** In negative sentences, the direct pronoun is still placed before the verb, but it’s within the ne…pas structure. - "Je ne vois pas la maison." (I don’t see the house.) → "Je ne la vois pas." (I don’t see it.) These rules apply in most situations, so keep them in mind when structuring your sentences. ## **Agreement of Direct Pronouns** One of the trickier aspects of using direct pronouns in French i**s making sure they agree in gender and number with the noun they replace**, especially in compound tenses like the passé composé. Here’s the rule: *when the direct pronoun comes before the verb in a compound tense, the past participle has to agree with the pronoun in gender and number.* Let’s break that down: - "Elle a vu le film." (She saw the movie.) → "Elle l’a vu." (She saw it.) – No change because "film" is masculine and singular. - "Elle a vu la voiture." (She saw the car.) → "Elle l’a vue." (She saw it.) – Notice the extra "e" because "voiture" is feminine. - "Elle a vu les films." (She saw the movies.) → "Elle les a vus." (She saw them.) – Notice the "s" for the plural. Getting the agreement right can take a bit of practice, but with time, it will become second nature! ## **Using Direct Pronouns in Questions and Imperatives** Direct pronouns also have their place in questions and commands. **In questions:** - "Tu vois le pain ? " (Do you see the bread?) → "Le vois-tu ?" (Do you see it?) Or in more casual conversation: - "Tu le vois ?" (You see it?) **In affirmative imperatives:** The pronoun is attached to the end of the verb with a hyphen. - "Prends le livre ! " (Take the book!) → "Prends-le !" (Take it!) **In negative imperatives:** The pronoun goes back before the verb. - "Ne prends pas le livre!" (Don’t take the book!) → "Ne le prends pas!" (Don’t take it!) These small changes in structure are important to remember when forming questions or giving commands in French. Reading level-appropriate French will help you recognize direct pronouns in context. Mark the noun each pronoun replaces, then rewrite the sentence with a different noun to test the same pattern. ### 14 Unique French Words Without English Equivalents URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/14-unique-french-words-without-english-equivalents/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:15.000Z French is often called "the language of love," and it’s easy to see why. Its beauty lies in its rich history and vibrant culture, which give rise to a uniqueness of French words that capture ideas and emotions that are hard to translate directly into English. In this blog, we’ll explore the following unique French words with no direct English equivalents, uncovering the charm and depth of the French language. ### **1\. Dépaysement** **Definition**: *Dépaysement* refers to the feeling of being out of one’s usual environment, or the disorientation experienced when in a new place. **Usage**: "Le voyage à Tokyo m’a donné un vrai sentiment de ***dépaysement***." This word beautifully captures the experience of traveling and the emotional impact of stepping into an unfamiliar world. In French culture, dépaysement is often associated with travel and the excitement of discovering new environments. ### **2\. Flâner** **Definition**: *Flâner* means to stroll aimlessly or leisurely, often without any particular destination in mind. **Usage**: "Nous avons passé l’après-midi à **flâner** dans les rues de Montmartre." *Flâner* is more than just strolling; it's an art form in French cities, especially in Paris. It reflects a relaxed, contemplative approach to life and urban exploration, embodying the Parisian spirit of taking pleasure in simple pleasures. ### **3\. Joie de vivre** **Definition**: *Joie de vivre* translates to joy of living, embodying a zest for life and a vibrant enjoyment of existence. **Usage**: "Elle aborde chaque jour avec une véritable ***joie de vivre***." This phrase reflects the French attitude towards life, emphasizing a positive, exuberant outlook. It’s a cornerstone of the French way of living, where savoring each moment and celebrating life's pleasures are highly valued. ### **4\. Retrouvailles** **Definition**: *Retrouvailles* describes the joy and emotional reunion with someone after a long separation. **Usage**: "Les ***retrouvailles*** avec ma famille après des années d’absence étaient très émouvantes." This word captures the deep emotional connection and significance of reunions in French culture, highlighting the value placed on relationships and the heartfelt nature of reconnecting with loved ones. ### **5\. Savoir-faire** **Definition**: *Savoir-faire* refers to the ability to handle social situations with skill, tact, and sophistication. **Usage**: "Son ***savoir-faire*** en affaires lui a permis de naviguer avec succès dans des situations complexes." In France, *savoir-faire* is essential in both social and professional settings. It reflects the importance of etiquette and the ability to manage interactions with grace and competence, showcasing French refinement. ### **6\. Trompe-l'œil** **Definition**: *Trompe-l'œil* is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create optical illusions. **Usage**: "Les fresques en ***trompe-l'œil*** de cette église sont époustouflantes." This artistic term highlights the innovation and creativity in French art. ***Trompe-l'œil techniques*** are celebrated for their ability to deceive the eye and create stunning visual effects, reflecting the French appreciation for artistic skill. ### **7\. Coup de foudre** **Definition**: *Coup de foudre* refers to love at first sight, describing an intense and immediate romantic attraction. **Usage**: "Ils ont vécu un ***coup de foudre*** lors de leur première rencontre." This romantic concept is deeply ingrained in French culture, emphasizing the belief in instantaneous, profound connections between people and the magic of first encounters. ### **8\. L’esprit d’escalier** **Definition**: *L’esprit d’escalier*, or "staircase wit," describesthe phenomenon of thinking of the perfect retort or response too late. **Usage**: "J’ai eu un véritable ***esprit d’escalier*** après la réunion, en pensant à la réponse parfaite." This term illustrates the French appreciation for quick wit and the often frustrating experience of coming up with clever responses after the moment has passed, reflecting the nuances of intellectual and social interactions. ### **9\. Épater les bourgeois** **Definition**: *Épater les bourgeois* means to shock or impress the conventional middle class, often through unconventional behavior or ideas. **Usage**: "Les artistes contemporains aiment ***épater les bourgeois*** avec leurs œuvres provocantes." This phrase is associated with the French avant-garde and bohemian movements, reflecting the tradition of challenging societal norms and expectations through bold and provocative actions. ### **10\. Bricoleur** **Definition**: *Bricoleur* refers to aDIY enthusiast or someone who enjoys making or fixing things with their hands. **Usage**: "Il est un ***bricoleur*** passionné, toujours en train de réparer ou de créer quelque chose." This term celebrates the French appreciation for hands-on creativity and craftsmanship, emphasizing a practical and inventive approach to problem-solving and home projects. ### **11\. Rêvasser** **Definition**: *Rêvasser* means to daydream or idly contemplate, often lost in one’s thoughts. **Usage**: "Elle aime ***rêvasser*** en regardant les nuages pendant les après-midis ensoleillés." *Rêvasser* reflects the French love for introspection and the joy of letting one’s mind wander. It captures the value placed on quiet moments of reflection and imagination. ### **12\. Délire** **Definition**: *Délire* signifiesdelirium or an extreme state of excitement or enthusiasm. **Usage**: "Le concert a provoqué un ***délire*** parmi les fans." This word conveys the intensity of emotions and reactions, often used to describe moments of overwhelming excitement or fervor in French life and entertainment. ### **13\. Mélancolie** **Definition**: *Mélancolie* refers to a deep, often reflective sadness or melancholy. **Usage**: "Le film est empreint d’une ***mélancolie*** poignante." *Mélancolie* captures the nuanced and contemplative aspect of sadness in French culture, reflecting the place of melancholy in art, literature, and personal introspection. ### **14\. Pénible** **Definition**: *Pénible* means annoying, tiresome, or difficult, describing something that causes frustration or discomfort. **Usage**: "Les travaux de rénovation se sont avérés très ***pénibles***." This term highlights the French approach to describing challenges and annoyances, reflecting a practical and straightforward attitude towards difficulties. ## Recap These 14 unique French words provide a glimpse into the richness of the French language and culture. Each term captures a specific concept or emotion that is deeply ingrained in French experiences and values. Understanding these words enhances our appreciation of both the French language and its history. To remember these words, connect each one with a specific situation or feeling instead of relying on a one-word English translation. Then practice explaining its meaning in a complete sentence. ### German Separable Verbs: Rules, Examples, and Practice URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/separable-verbs-in-german/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:11.000Z Separable verbs are a unique and challenging part of learning German. These verbs not only come up in daily conversations but also add a distinct character to the language. Let’s explore what separable verbs are and how to use them in everyday conversation! ## **What Are Separable Verbs?** Separable verbs are a specific type of verb in German that consists of two parts: a prefix and a base verb. The prefix, usually a preposition or adverb, is attached to the beginning of the verb to modify its meaning. However, unlike in English, where such combinations often remain intact, the prefix in a separable verb detaches from the base verb and moves to the end of the sentence in certain cases. ### **Example:** - **Verb:** aufstehen (to get up) - **Sentence:** “Ich **stehe** um 7 Uhr **auf**.” (I get up at 7 o’clock.) In this sentence: - "stehe" is the conjugated base verb in the second position. - "auf" is the prefix that moves to the end, finalizing the action. ## **Why Does This Happen?** - **Emphasis and Sentence Structure:** German is a verb-second language, so the conjugated verb typically occupies the second position in a main clause. In separable verbs, the prefix is often an adverb or preposition that adds meaning to the verb. To maintain the verb-second rule, the conjugated base verb stays in the second position, while the prefix is moved to the end of the clause, creating a frame around the sentence content. - **Maintaining Sentence Clarity:**Splitting the verb allows German speakers to emphasize the action (expressed by the base verb) early in the sentence, which is crucial for sentence clarity and comprehension. The prefix, which provides additional context or direction, is placed at the end to wrap up the thought. This structure ensures that the main action is understood before any additional information provided by the prefix. ## **Use Separable Verbs in Sentences** In the present tense, the separable prefix moves to the end of the main clause, creating a distinct sentence structure. Let’s look at a basic sentence using the verb **mitbringen** (to bring along): - **Verb:** mitbringen - **Sentence:** “Ich **bringe** einen Freund **mit**.” (I’m bringing a friend along.) Here, you can see that "mit" (the prefix) separates from "bringen" (the base verb) and is placed at the end of the sentence. This rule applies to most separable verbs in the present tense. ## **Separable Verbs in Different Tenses** Separable verbs behave differently in various tenses: 1. **Present Tense:** The prefix separates and moves to the end. - *Example:* “Ich stehe auf.” (I get up.) 2. **Past Tense (Perfekt):** The prefix attaches to the base verb again, but the verb itself is used in the participle form. - *Example:* “Ich bin aufgestanden.” (I got up.) 3. **Future Tense:** The prefix and the infinitive verb are combined. - *Example:* “Ich werde aufstehen.” (I will get up.) Each tense follows specific rules for using separable verbs, and understanding these can greatly enhance your ability to construct sentences accurately. ## **Common Mistakes to Avoid** Here’re some common mistakes that beginners often make when learning separable verbs: - **Forget to Separate the Prefix:** It’s easy to forget to move the prefix to the end, especially in longer sentences. - *Incorrect:* “Ich **mitbringen** das Buch.” (I bring the book along.) - *Correct:* “Ich bringe das Buch **mit**.” - **Misplace the Prefix:** Sometimes, learners place the prefix in the wrong part of the sentence. - *Incorrect:* “Ich **mit** das Buch bringe.” - *Correct:* “Ich bringe das Buch **mit**.” - **Mix Up Tenses:** The placement of the prefix changes depending on the tense, so be mindful of this when forming sentences. ## **Common German Separable Verbs and Practice** Now that you know how separable verbs work, use the following examples and exercises to reinforce the pattern. ## **Common Separable Verbs** 1. **aufstehen** (to get up) - **Definition:** To rise from a seated or lying position. - **Examples:** - Ich **stehe** um 7 Uhr **auf**. (I get up at 7 o'clock.) - Er **steht** früh **auf**, um Sport zu machen. (He gets up early to exercise.) 2. **einladen** (to invite) - **Definition:** To ask someone to join an event or gathering. - **Examples:** - Wir **laden** unsere Freunde zur Party **ein**. (We invite our friends to the party.) - Sie **lädt** ihre Kollegen zum Abendessen **ein**. (She invites her colleagues to dinner.) 3. **abholen** (to pick up) - **Definition:** To collect or retrieve someone or something. - **Examples:** - Ich **hole** dich um 6 Uhr **ab**. (I’ll pick you up at 6 o'clock.) - Sie **holt** das Paket beim Postamt **ab**. (She picks up the package at the post office.) 4. **mitnehmen** (to take with) - **Definition:** To bring something along when going somewhere. - **Examples:** - **Nimm** bitte deinen Regenschirm **mit**. (Please take your umbrella with you.) - Er **nimmt** seinen Hund zur Arbeit **mit**. (He takes his dog to work.) 5. **vorbereiten** (to prepare) - **Definition:** To get ready for something in advance. - **Examples:** - Ich **bereite** das Abendessen **vor**. (I prepare the dinner.) - Sie **bereitet** sich auf die Prüfung **vor**. (She prepares for the exam.) 6. **anrufen** (to call) - **Definition:** To telephone someone. - **Examples:** - Ich **rufe** dich später **an**. (I’ll call you later.) - Er hat seinen Freund gestern Abend **angerufen**. (He called his friend last night.) 7. **abfahren** (to depart) - **Definition:** To leave or set off, especially in terms of transport. - **Examples:** - Der Zug **fährt** um 8 Uhr **ab**. (The train departs at 8 o'clock.) - Wir **fahren** morgen früh **ab**. (We leave tomorrow morning.) 8. **aussteigen** (to get out) - **Definition:** To get out of a vehicle or transport. - **Examples:** - Wir **steigen** an der nächsten Haltestelle **aus**. (We get out at the next stop.) - Sie ist am Hauptbahnhof **ausgestiegen**. (She got out at the main train station.) 9. **einsteigen** (to get in) - **Definition:** To board or get into a vehicle or transport. - **Examples:** - Wir **steigen** in den Bus **ein**. (We get on the bus.) - Er **ist** in den Zug **eingestiegen**. (He boarded the train.) 10. **umziehen** (to move) - **Definition:** To change residence or move to a new place. - **Examples:** - Wir **ziehen** nächste Woche **um**. (We are moving next week.) - Sie ist in eine neue Wohnung **umgezogen**. (She moved to a new apartment.) 11. **zuhören** (to listen) - **Definition:** To pay attention to someone speaking. - **Examples:** - **Hör** bitte gut **zu**! (Please listen carefully!) - Er **hört** immer seinem Lehrer **zu**. (He always listens to his teacher.) 12. **aufräumen** (to clean up) - **Definition:** To tidy or clean a space. - **Examples:** - Ich **räume** mein Zimmer **auf**. (I’m cleaning up my room.) - Sie hat die Küche **aufgeräumt**. (She cleaned up the kitchen.) 13. **ausfüllen** (to fill out) - **Definition:** To complete a form or document. - **Examples:** - **Füll** bitte dieses Formular **aus**. (Please fill out this form.) - Er hat das Bewerbungsformular **ausgefüllt**. (He filled out the application form.) 14. **zurückgeben** (to give back) - **Definition:** To return something to its owner. - **Examples:** - **Gib** mir bitte mein Buch **zurück**. (Please give me back my book.) - Sie hat die geliehene CD **zurückgegeben**. (She returned the borrowed CD.) 15. **mitarbeiten** (to collaborate) - **Definition:** To work together or collaborate on a project. - **Examples:** - Er **arbeitet** bei dem Projekt **mit**. (He collaborates on the project.) - Wir müssen alle bei diesem Projekt **mitarbeiten**. (We all need to work on this project.) ## **Practice Exercises** Now that you have a basic understanding of separable verbs, let’s try the following exercises to test your skills! 1. **Fill in the Blanks:** Complete the sentences with the correct form of the separable verbs provided in brackets. - Ich möchte dich heute Abend \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (einladen). - Wir müssen die Reise gut \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (vorbereiten). - Er \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ um 5 Uhr \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (aufstehen). - Sie \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ das Buch im Café \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (mitnehmen). - Kannst du mich morgen um 8 Uhr \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (abholen)? - Der Zug ist um 8 Uhr \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (abfahren). 1. **Sentence Formation:** Create sentences using the following separable verbs and words. - **aufstehen** / **früh** / **morgen** - **einladen** / **Freunde** / **zum Geburtstag** - **abholen** / **Paket** / **von der Post** - **mitnehmen** / **Bücher** / **in die Bibliothek** - **vorbereiten** / **Präsentation** / **für die Konferenz** - **ausfüllen** / **Formular** / **bei der Anmeldung** ## **Answers：** 1. **Fill in the Blanks:** - Ich möchte dich heute Abend **einladen** (einladen). - Wir müssen die Reise gut **vorbereiten** (vorbereiten). - Er **steht** um 5 Uhr **auf** (aufstehen). - Sie **nimmt** das Buch im Café **mit** (mitnehmen). - Kannst du mich morgen um 8 Uhr **abholen** (abholen)? - Der Zug ist um 8 Uhr **abgefahren** (abfahren). (Note: The correct answer here should be “abgefahren,” but in common usage, “abfahren” is often used in the present tense. For perfect tense, “abgefahren” is correct.) 1. **Sentence Formation:** - **Ich stehe morgen früh auf.** (aufstehen / früh / morgen) - **Wir laden unsere Freunde zum Geburtstag ein.** (einladen / Freunde / zum Geburtstag) - **Ich hole das Paket von der Post ab.** (abholen / Paket / von der Post) - **Er nimmt die Bücher in die Bibliothek mit.** (mitnehmen / Bücher / in die Bibliothek) - **Wir bereiten die Präsentation für die Konferenz vor.** (vorbereiten / Präsentation / für das Meeting) - **Bitte füllen Sie das Formular bei der Anmeldung aus.** (ausfüllen / Formular / bei der Anmeldung) Feeling more confident with separable verbs? They are a crucial part of German grammar and add depth to the language. By familiarizing yourself with common verbs and practicing them through exercises, you can enhance your understanding and use of these verbs in everyday conversations. With clips curated from over 3,000 German movies and shows, you can learn practical daily expressions in an immersive way. Download the app and start your journey to fluency today! ### Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Rules, Conjugation, and 100 Examples URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/reflexive-verbs-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:09.000Z In Spanish, reflexive verbs are key for describing actions that people do to themselves. Unlike in English, where we might use "to do" or "to make," Spanish uses reflexive pronouns to show that the subject and object of the action are the same. With reflexive verbs, you can easily talk about daily routines and personal actions. Without further ado, let’s look deep into them now! ## **What Are Reflexive Verbs?** Reflexive verbs are verbs where the subject performs an action on itself. They are accompanied by reflexive pronouns, which reflect the action back to the subject. The reflexive pronouns in Spanish are: | **Personal Pronoun** | **Reflexive Pronoun** | | --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | Yo (I) | Me(myself) | | Tú(you \[informal\]) | Te (yourself \[informal\]) | | Él/Ella/Usted(he/she/you \[formal\]) | Se (himself, herself, itself, yourself formal) | | Nosotros/Nosotras(we) | Nos (ourselves) | | Vosotros/Vosotras(you all \[informal\]) | Os (yourselves, informal plural) | | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes(they/you all) | Se (themselves, yourselves formal plural) | ## **How to Form Reflexive Verbs** To correctly use reflexive verbs, follow these steps: 1. Determine the infinitive form of the reflexive verb 2. Remove the reflexive ending “-se” and conjugate the verb based on the subject. 3. Position the correct reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb. **Here are some examples:** - **Infinitive Form**: "ducharse" (to shower oneself) - **Conjugated**: "Me ducho" (I shower myself) Here, the verb "duchar" has been conjugated to match the first-person singular subject "I," and the reflexive pronoun "me" is used to indicate that the action is performed by the subject on itself. - **Gerund Form**: "Estoy duchándome" (I am showering myself) The gerund form of "ducharse" is "duchándose." Combined with the auxiliary verb "estar," it becomes "estoy duchándome," meaning "I am showering myself." The reflexive pronoun "me" is attached to the gerund form to maintain the reflexive meaning. - **Infinitive Form**: "afeitarse" (to shave oneself) - **Conjugated**: "Te afeitas" (You shave yourself) This verb "te afeitas" translates to "you shave yourself." This shows that the action is being done by the subject on themselves. ## **Common Reflexive Verbs and Their Uses** Here are some commonly used reflexive verbs along with practical examples to show how they are used in everyday Spanish. - **Despertarse** (to wake up) - Spanish: Me despierto a las seis de la mañana. - English: I wake up at six in the morning. - **Levantarse** (to get up) - Spanish: Nos levantamos temprano. - English: We get up early. - **Vestirse** (to get dressed) - Spanish: Ella se viste rápidam. - English: She gets dressed quickly. - **Cepillarse** (to brush \[one's teeth, hair\]) - Spanish: Se cepilla los dientes. - English: He/she brushes his/her teeth. - **Acostarse** (to go to bed) - Spanish: Nosotros nos acostamos a las diez. - English: We go to bed at ten. ## **Reflexive Verbs in Different Tenses** Reflexive verbs follow the same conjugation patterns as regular verbs but with reflexive pronouns. Here’s how they work in various tenses: - **Present Tense**: - Spanish: Me lavo las manos. - English: I wash my hands. - **Preterite Tense**: - Spanish: Te duchaste ayer. - English: You showered yesterday. - **Imperfect Tense**: - Spanish: Nosotros nos levantábamos tarde. - English: We used to get up late. - **Future Tense**: - Spanish: Ellos se afeitarán mañana. - English: They will shave tomorrow. ## **Common Expressions with Reflexive Verbs** In addition to the usual uses mentioned above, here are some common expressions that feature reflexive verbs: - **"Conocer a fondo"**: To know deeply or thoroughly. - Spanish: Conozco a fondo la historia de la empresa. - English: I know the company’s history thoroughly. - **"Conocer de vista"**: To know someone by sight. - Spanish: Lo conozco de vista, pero nunca hemos hablado. - English:I know him by sight, but we’ve never spoken. - **"Conocer en persona"**: To meet someone in person. - Spanish: Finalmente conocí en persona a mi colega. - English: I finally met my colleague in person. - **"Conocer algo como la palma de la mano"**: To know something like the back of one’s hand. - Spanish: Conozco la ciudad como la palma de mi mano. - English: I know the city like the back of my hand. How do you feel about Spanish reflexive verbs now? With more practice, you'll gain confidence in using them, and your Spanish skills will improve significantly! ## **100 Common Spanish Reflexive Verbs** Use this categorized list to expand your vocabulary after reviewing how reflexive verbs and pronouns work. ## **1-20: Daily Routines** 1. **Despertarse** – to wake up Spanish: *Me despierto a las seis de la mañana.* English: I wake up at six in the morning. 2. **Levantarse** – to get up Spanish: *Nos levantamos temprano para ir al trabajo.* English:We get up early to go to work. 3. **Vestirse** – to get dressed Spanish: *Ella se viste rápidamente antes de salir.* English:She gets dressed quickly before leaving.) 4. **Cepillarse** – to brush (teeth/hair) Spanish: *Se cepilla los dientes después de cada comida.* English: He/she brushes his/her teeth after every meal. 5. **Ducharse** – to take a shower Spanish: *Me ducho cada mañana.* English: I take a shower every morning. 6. **Afeitarse** – to shave Spanish: *Te afeitas todas las mañanas.* English: You shave every morning. 7. **Maquillarse** – to put on makeup Spanish: *Ella se maquilla antes de salir.* English: She puts on makeup before going out. 8. **Peinarse** – to comb hair Spanish: *Él se peina antes de ir al trabajo.* English: He combs his hair before going to work. 9. **Acostarse** – to go to bed Spanish: *Nosotros nos acostamos a las diez de la noche.* English: We go to bed at ten in the evening. 10. **Desayunarse** – to have breakfast Spanish: *Nos desayunamos antes de salir.* English: We have breakfast before leaving. 11. **Alistarse** – to get ready Spanish: *Me alisto para la fiesta.* English: I get ready for the party. 12. **Relajarse** – to relax Spanish: *Después del trabajo, me relajo viendo televisión.* English: After work, I relax by watching television. 13. **Arreglarse** – to get ready (appearance) Spanish: *Ella se arregla para la reunión.* English: She gets ready for the meeting. 14. **Dormirse** – to fall asleep Spanish: *Me duermo rápidamente después de un día largo.* English: I fall asleep quickly after a long day. 15. **Cuidarse** – to take care of oneself Spanish: *Es importante cuidarse durante el invierno.* English: It's important to take care of oneself during the winter. 16. **Cambiarse** – to change clothes Spanish: *Me cambio antes de ir al gimnasio.* English: I change clothes before going to the gym. 17. **Desvestirse** – to undress Spanish: *Nos desvestimos antes de tomar una ducha.* English: We undress before taking a shower. 18. **Higienizarse** – to sanitize oneself Spanish: *Nos higienizamos las manos antes de comer.* English: We sanitize our hands before eating. 19. **Ponerse** – to put on (clothing) Spanish: *Me pongo un abrigo porque hace frío.* English: I put on a coat because it’s cold. 20. **Secarse** – to dry oneself Spanish: *Después de la ducha, me seco con una toalla.* English: After the shower, I dry myself with a towel. ## **21-40: Personal Care** 1. **Enfermarse** – to get sick Spanish: *Me enfermé después de estar en la lluvia.* English: I got sick after being in the rain. 2. **Curarse** – to heal Spanish: *Él se curó rápidamente de su resfriado.* English: He healed quickly from his cold. 3. **Desintoxicarse** – to detox Spanish: *Ella se desintoxica con un régimen de frutas y verduras.* English: She detoxes with a fruit and vegetable regimen. 4. **Higienizarse** – to sanitize oneself Spanish: *Debemos higienizarnos las manos frecuentemente.* English: We should sanitize our hands frequently. 5. **Acomplejarse** – to become self-conscious Spanish: *Se acompleja fácilmente sobre su apariencia.* English: He/she becomes self-conscious easily about their appearance. 6. **Relajarse** – to unwind Spanish: *Me relajo con una taza de té.* English: I unwind with a cup of tea. 7. **Mirarse** – to look at oneself Spanish: *Se miró en el espejo antes de salir.* English: He/she looked at himself/herself in the mirror before leaving. 8. **Cansarse** – to get tired Spanish: *Me canso después de correr cinco kilómetros.* English: I get tired after running five kilometers. 9. **Sufrir** – to suffer Spanish: *Se sufre mucho durante una enfermedad grave.*English: One suffers a lot during a serious illness. 10. **Preocuparse** – to worry Spanish: *Me preocupo por los exámenes finales.* English: I worry about the final exams. 11. **Enamorarse** – to fall in love Spanish: *Se enamoró de su compañero de clase.*English: He/she fell in love with his/her classmate. 12. **Ofenderse** – to take offense Spanish: *Se ofendió cuando le dijeron eso.*English: He/she took offense when that was said to him/her. 13. **Cortarse** – to cut oneself Spanish: *Me corté el dedo mientras cocinaba.*English: I cut my finger while cooking. 14. **Quemarse** – to burn oneself Spanish: *Se quemó con el café caliente.*English: He/she burned himself/herself with the hot coffee. 15. **Cuidarse** – to look after oneself Spanish: *Debes cuidarte durante el embarazo.*English: You should look after yourself during pregnancy. 16. **Dedicarse** – to dedicate oneself Spanish: *Se dedica a estudiar todos los días.*English: He/she dedicates himself/herself to studying every day. 17. **Enfermarse** – to become ill Spanish: *Me enfermé después de estar en el frío.* English: I became ill after being in the cold. 18. **Tranquilizarse** – to calm down Spanish: *Tranquilízate, todo va a estar bien.*English: Calm down, everything will be okay. 19. **Alegrarse** – to be glad Spanish: *Se alegra mucho cuando ve a sus amigos.* English: He/she is very glad when he/she sees his/her friends. 20. **Lastimarse** – to hurt oneself Spanish: *Se lastimó el tobillo al caer.*English: He/she hurt his/her ankle when he/she fell. ## **41-60: Emotional and Social Interactions** 1. **Divertirse** – to have fun Spanish: *Nos divertimos mucho en la fiesta.* English: We had a lot of fun at the party. 2. **Aburrirse** – to get bored Spanish: *Me aburro cuando no tengo nada que hacer.* English: I get bored when I have nothing to do. 3. **Sentirse** – to feel Spanish: *Me siento cansado después del trabajo.* English: I feel tired after work. 4. **Reírse** – to laugh Spanish: *Nos reímos mucho durante la comedia.* English: We laughed a lot during the comedy show. 5. **Llorar** – to cry Spanish: *Se pone a llorar cuando está triste.* English: He/she starts crying when he/she is sad. 6. **Asustarse** – to get scared Spanish: *Se asustó con la película de terror.* English: He/she got scared with the horror movie. 7. **Ponerse** – to become (emotional state) Spanish: *Se puso nervioso antes de hablar en público.* English: He/she became nervous before speaking in public. 8. **Hacerse** – to become (profession or role) Spanish: *Se hizo médico después de muchos años de estudio.* English: He/she became a doctor after many years of studying. 9. **Quejarse** – to complain Spanish: *Siempre se queja del trabajo.* English: He/she always complains about work. 10. **Despedirse** – to say goodbye Spanish: *Nos despedimos antes de irnos.* English: We say goodbye before leaving. 11. **Enfadarse** – to get angry Spanish: *Se enfada fácilmente cuando no obtiene lo que quiere.* English: He/she gets angry easily when he/she doesn’t get what he/she wants. 12. **Fijarse** – to notice Spanish: *Se fijó en el detalle del cuadro.* English: He/she noticed the detail in the painting. 13. **Reponerse** – to recover Spanish: *Se repuso de la enfermedad rápidamente.* English: He/she recovered from the illness quickly. 14. **Sentirse** – to feel (physical or emotional state) Spanish: *Se siente feliz con su nuevo trabajo.* English: He/she feels happy with his/her new job. 15. **Comportarse** – to behave Spanish: *Se comporta muy bien en la escuela.* English: He/she behaves very well at school. 16. **Envidiarse** – to envy Spanish: *Se envidia el éxito de sus colegas.* English: He/she envies the success of his/her colleagues. 17. **Olvidarse** – to forget Spanish: *Se olvidó de comprar el pan.* English: He/she forgot to buy the bread. 18. **Molestarse** – to get annoyed Spanish: *Se molesta cuando la gente habla alto.*English: He/she gets annoyed when people talk loudly. 19. **Sentarse** – to sit down Spanish: *Me siento en la silla cómoda.* English: I sit down in the comfortable chair. 20. **Mojarse** – to get wet Spanish: *Se mojó durante la lluvia.* English: He/she got wet during the rain. ## **61-80: Routine Actions and Self-Care** 1. **Arreglarse** – to get ready (appearance) Spanish: *Se arregla antes de salir para el trabajo.*English: He/she gets ready before going to work. 2. **Enfocarse** – to focus Spanish: *Se enfoca en sus estudios.*English: He/she focuses on his/her studies. 3. **Calmarse** – to calm down Spanish: *Se calma después de un largo día.* English: He/she calms down after a long day. 4. **Dividirse** – to divide (oneself) Spanish: *Se divide entre el trabajo y la familia.* English: He/she divides time between work and family. 5. **Odiarse** – to hate oneself Spanish: *A veces se odia por errores pasados.* English: He/she sometimes hates himself/herself for past mistakes. 6. **Encontrarse** – to find oneself Spanish: *Se encuentra en una situación difícil.*English: He/she finds himself/herself in a difficult situation. 7. **Despertarse** – to wake up Spanish: *Se despierta temprano todos los días.*English: He/she wakes up early every day. 8. **Aventurarse** – to venture Spanish: *Se aventura en nuevas experiencias.*English: He/she ventures into new experiences. 9. **Fijarse** – to pay attention Spanish: *Se fija en los pequeños detalles.*English: He/she pays attention to the small details. 10. **Engañarse** – to deceive oneself Spanish: *Se engaña pensando que todo está bien.*English: He/she deceives himself/herself by thinking that everything is fine. 11. **Hacerse daño** – to hurt oneself Spanish: *Se hace daño al caerse.*English: He/she hurts himself/herself by falling. 12. **Concentrarse** – to concentrate Spanish: *Se concentra en el examen final.*English: He/she concentrates on the final exam. 13. **Envejecer** – to age Spanish: *Se envejece con dignidad.* English: He/she ages with dignity. 14. **Perderse** – to get lost Spanish: *Se perdió en el centro de la ciudad.*English: He/she got lost in the city center. 15. **Relajarse** – to relax Spanish: *Se relaja con una buena lectura.* English: He/she relaxes with a good book. 16. **Disculparse** – to apologize Spanish: *Se disculpa por el error.*English: He/she apologizes for the mistake. 17. **Llamarse** – to be named Spanish: *Me llamo Juan.*English: My name is Juan. 18. **Reponerse** – to recover Spanish: *Se repone de la cirugía.*English: He/she recovers from the surgery. 19. **Sujetar** – to hold (oneself) Spanish: *Se sujeta al pasamanos para no caer.* English: He/she holds onto the handrail to avoid falling. 20. **Quejarse** – to complain Spanish: *Se queja del mal servicio.* English: He/she complains about the bad service. ## **81-100: Special Cases and Idiomatic Expressions** 1. **Chocarse** – to crash (into) Spanish: *Se chocó contra la pared.* English: He/she crashed into the wall. 2. **Pelearse** – to fight Spanish: *Se pelean cada vez que discuten.* English: They fight every time they argue. 3. **Pasearse** – to stroll Spanish: *Se pasea por el parque cada tarde.* English: He/she strolls through the park every afternoon. 4. **Aprovecharse** – to take advantage of Spanish: *Se aprovecha de las ofertas especiales.* English: He/she takes advantage of the special offers. 5. **Desahogarse** – to vent Spanish: *Se desahoga con sus amigos.* English: He/she vents to his/her friends. 6. **Olvidarse** – to forget Spanish: *Se olvida de los detalles importantes.* English: He/she forgets the important details. 7. **Quejarse** – to complain Spanish: *Se queja de los problemas en el trabajo.* English: He/she complains about the problems at work. 8. **Probarse** – to try on (clothing) Spanish: *Se prueba el vestido antes de comprarlo.* English: He/she tries on the dress before buying it. 9. **Desnudarse** – to undress Spanish: *Se desnuda antes de irse a dormir.* English: He/she undresses before going to sleep. 10. **Mojarse** – to get wet Spanish: *Se moja bajo la lluvia sin paraguas.* English: He/she gets wet in the rain without an umbrella. 11. **Hacerse** – to become (role) Spanish: *Se hace profesor después de años de estudio.* English: He/she becomes a teacher after years of study. 12. **Exponerse** – to expose oneself Spanish: *Se expone a nuevas ideas.* English: He/she exposes himself/herself to new ideas. 13. **Quejarse** – to complain Spanish: *Se queja de la comida en el restaurante.* English: He/she complains about the food at the restaurant. 14. **Confundirse** – to get confused Spanish: *Se confunde con las instrucciones.*English: He/she gets confused with the instructions. 15. **Asegurarse** – to ensure Spanish: *Se asegura de que todo esté listo.*English: He/she ensures that everything is ready. 16. **Volverse** – to become (state or condition) Spanish: *Se vuelve más tranquilo con el tiempo.*English: He/she becomes calmer over time. 17. **Darse cuenta** – to realize Spanish: *Se da cuenta de su error.*English: He/she realizes his/her mistake. 18. **Sufrir** – to suffer Spanish: *Se sufre cuando se pierde a un ser querido.* English: One suffers when losing a loved one. 19. **Concentrarse** – to concentrate Spanish: *Se concentra en mejorar sus habilidades.* English: He/she concentrates on improving his/her skills. 20. **Reflexionar** – to reflect Spanish: *Se reflexiona sobre sus decisiones.* English: He/she reflects on his/her decisions. Feeling more confident with reflexive verbs now? By familiarizing yourself with these 100 common reflexive verbs, you’ll significantly improve your understanding of various aspects of Spanish, including daily routines, personal care, and social interactions. ### French Verb Past Tenses: An Easy Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-verb-past-tenses-an-easy-guide/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:52.000Z Verb past tenses can be challenging, but they're everywhere—whether you're reading stories, describing past events, or talking about your weekend. In this blog, we’ll explore the main past tenses in French: Passé Composé, Imparfait, Plus-que-parfait, Passé Simple, and Passé Antérieur. Let’s dive in! ## **French Past Participle** The past participle (participe passé) is a verb form used primarily to form compound tenses, such as the Passé Composé, and can also function as an adjective. While in English, past participles often end in “-ed” (e.g., “opened,” “closed”), in French, the past participle is formed differently depending on the type of verb: ### **Regular Verbs:** - **\-er verbs:** Replace the -er ending with -é. - Example: parler (to speak) - parlé - **\-ir verbs:** Replace the -ir ending with -i. - Example: finir (to finish) - fini - **\-re verbs:** Replace the -re ending with -u. - Example: vendre (to sell) - vendu ![Regular past participles in French](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/17-1-2-1.jpg) ### **Irregular Verbs:** - Irregular verbs have unique past participles that must be memorized. - Example: avoir (to have) - eu - Example: être (to be) - été - Example: faire (to do/make) - fait With this foundational knowledge of the past participle established, let’s delve deeper into its various uses. ## **Passé Composé (Compound Past)** Passé Composé is the most commonly used past tense in French, equivalent to the English simple past (e.g., "I ate") or present perfect (e.g., "I have eaten"). **Formation:** - **Auxiliary verb** (either "avoir" or "être") in the present tense + **past participle** of the main verb. **Examples:** - Regular verbs: J'ai mangé (I ate/I have eaten) - Irregular verbs: Il a été (He was/He has been) **Usage:** - Passé Composé is used for completed actions or specific events in the past. - Examples in context: - Hier, j'ai visité le musée. (Yesterday, I visited the museum.) - Elle a fini ses devoirs. (She finished her homework.) ## **Imparfait (Imperfect)** Imparfait is used to describe **ongoing or repeated** actions in the past, or to set the scene in a narrative. **Formation:** - Drop the -ons from the "nous" form of the present tense and add the endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. **Examples:** - Regular verbs: Je mangeais (I was eating/I used to eat) - Irregular verbs: Il était (He was) **Usage:** - Imparfait is used for descriptions, habitual actions, and background details. - Examples in context: - Quand j'étais jeune, je jouais au foot tous les jours. (When I was young, I used to play soccer every day.) - Il faisait beau et les oiseaux chantaient. (It was sunny, and the birds were singing.) ## **Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect)** Plus-que-parfait expresses actions that had occurred **before another action** in the past. **Formation:** - **Auxiliary verb** (in the imperfect tense) + **past participle** of the main verb. **Examples:** - Regular verbs: J'avais mangé (I had eaten) - Irregular verbs: Il avait été (He had been) **Usage:** - Plus-que-parfait is used to narrate sequences of past events. - Examples in context: - J'avais déjà fini mon travail quand elle est arrivée. (I had already finished my work when she arrived.) - Il avait vu le film avant de lire le livre. (He had seen the movie before reading the book.) ## **Passé Simple (Simple Past)** Passé Simple is primarily used in **written French**, especially in literature, to narrate past actions. **Formation:** - Different endings for -er, -ir, and -re verbs. For example, for -er verbs: -ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent. **Examples:** - Regular verbs: Il mangea (He ate) - Irregular verbs: Ils furent (They were) **Usage:** - Passé Simple is used in formal writing and literature. - Examples in context: - Il arriva à l'heure. (He arrived on time.) - Les soldats combattirent bravement. (The soldiers fought bravely.) ## **Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior)** Passé Antérieur is rarely used, even in formal writing, but sometimes appears in literature. It is used similarly to the pluperfect but in more literary contexts. **Formation:** - **Auxiliary verb** (in the passé simple) + **past participle** of the main verb. **Examples:** - Regular verbs: J'eus mangé (I had eaten) - Irregular verbs: Il eut été (He had been) **Usage:** - Passé Antérieur is almost exclusively for formal literature. - Examples in context: - Dès qu'il eut terminé, il partit. (As soon as he had finished, he left.) - Elle eut dit la vérité, mais personne ne l'écouta. (She had told the truth, but no one listened.) ![Usage of past tenses in French](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/17-1-3.jpg) Mastering French past tenses is essential for effective communication. By understanding when and how to use these tenses, you'll be able to narrate past events with greater confidence. To consolidate these past tenses, combine structured exercises with short stories or conversations. Identify why each tense is used, then retell the same event in your own words. ### How are Saber and Conocer different? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-are-saber-and-conocer-different/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:02.000Z While learning Spanish, you might notice that both "saber" and "conocer" translate to "to know" in English. But do you know how these two words differ? Understanding the distinction between these verbs is essential for clear and accurate communication. So in this guide, we'll explore the differences between "saber" and "conocer" and delve into their unique uses. ## **Saber** ### **Definition and General Use** "Saber" is used to express knowing facts, information, or how to do something. Here's how you to conjugate "saber" in the present tense: | **Person** | **Saber** | | ------------------- | --------- | | Yo | sé | | Tú | sabes | | Él/Ella/Usted | sabe | | Nosotros/Nosotras | sabemos | | Vosotros/Vosotras | sabéis | | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | saben | ### **When to Use Saber** **Facts/Information** When you're talking about knowledge of facts or specific information, such as a historical date or a scientific fact, you can use "saber." - **Spanish:** Sé que Madrid es la capital de España. **English:** I know that Madrid is the capital of Spain. - **Spanish**: ¿Sabes dónde está la estación? **English:** Do you know where the station is? **Skills/How to Do Something** "Saber" is also used when referring to knowing how to do something, implying a learned skill or ability. This includes activities such as swimming, cooking, playing a musical instrument, or speaking a foreign language. - **Spanish**: Sé nadar. English: I know how to swim. - **Spanish**: "Ella sabe cocinar muy bien. English: She knows how to cook very well. Besides the above usage, there are a few common expressions using “saber” worth noting: - **"Saber de memoria"**: To know by heart. - Example: "Me sé el poema de memoria." (I know the poem by heart.) - **"Saber bien/mal"**: To taste good/bad. - Example: "Esta sopa sabe bien." (This soup tastes good.) - **"No saber ni jota"**: To not know a thing. - Example: "No sé ni jota de física." (I don't know a thing about physics.) - **"Saber a"**: To taste like. - Example: "Este postre sabe a chocolate." (This dessert tastes like chocolate.) ## **Conocer** ### **Definition and General Use** "Conocer" is used to express familiarity or acquaintance with people, places, or things. Here’s the present tense conjugation of "conocer": | **Person** | **Saber** | | ------------------- | --------- | | Yo | conozco | | Tú | conoces | | Él/Ella/Usted | conoce | | Nosotros/Nosotras | conocemos | | Vosotros/Vosotras | conocéis | | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | conocen | ### **When to Use Conocer** **People** The verb “conocer” is appropriate for situations where you have personal experience or acquaintance with a person. This includes having met them in person or having a personal relationship with them. - **Spanish**: Conozco a María. English: I know María. - **Spanish**: ¿Conoces a mi hermano? English: Do you know my brother? **Places** "Conocer" is the right verb for expressing familiarity with a place. For instance, if you have traveled to a city, explored its neighborhoods, or are familiar with its landmarks, you would use "conocer" to describe your knowledge of that place. - **Spanish:** Conozco París. English: I am familiar with Paris. - **Spanish:** Ellos conocen ese restaurante. They know that restaurant. **Things** It is also used for being familiar with things, such as books, songs, or movies. - **Spanish**: Conozco ese libro. English: I am familiar with that book.) - **Spanish**: ¿Conoces esta canción? English: Do you know this song? Here are also some expressions using "conocer": - **"Conocer a fondo"**: To know deeply or thoroughly. - Example: "Conozco a fondo la historia de la empresa." (I know the company’s history thoroughly.) - **"Conocer de vista"**: To know someone by sight. - Example: "Lo conozco de vista, pero nunca hemos hablado." (I know him by sight, but we’ve never spoken.) - **"Conocer en persona"**: To meet someone in person. - Example: "Finalmente conocí en persona a mi colega." (I finally met my colleague in person.) - **"Conocer algo como la palma de la mano"**: To know something like the back of one’s hand. - Example: "Conozco la ciudad como la palma de mi mano." (I know the city like the back of my hand.) ![Saber is used to describe faces, information, and skills; conocer is used to describe people, places, and things.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/Blog-34-2.jpg) ## **Tips for Memorizing** This chart will help you differentiate "saber" and "conocer" easily! | **Context** | **Saber** | **Conocer** | | ----------------- | --------------------- | --------------------- | | Facts/Information | Sé que 2 + 2 = 4. | X | | Skills | Sé tocar la guitarra. | X | | People | X | Conozco a Juan. | | Places | X | Conozco Nueva York. | | Things | X | Conozco esa película. | ## **Recap** Hopefully, you’re more confident with the usage of "saber" and "conocer" now. Understanding how to use them correctly is essential for learning Spanish. Don't be afraid to practice and make mistakes. With time and usage, choosing the right verb will become second nature. To remember the difference, write two short groups of examples: facts and skills with *saber*, then people, places, and familiar things with *conocer*. Contrast the pairs aloud until the choice becomes automatic. ### German Suffixes for adjectives: Definition & Examples URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-suffixes-for-adjectives-definition-examples/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:59.000Z Just like the nouns we mentioned in the [earlier post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-suffixes-for-nouns-definition-examples/), German adjectives also come with various suffixes. Imagine you're at a party, trying to avoid alcohol and desperately searching for a non-alcoholic drink. Suddenly, you spot the word "alkoholfrei" and feel a wave of relief. The suffix "-frei" means "free from" or "without." See? German adjective suffixes are also important for creating compound meanings, so let's explore them in this blog! ## **What is the Suffix in German?** Adding suffixes to the end of a word root forms new words or modifies grammatical function. In German, they create nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more, providing various grammatical functions and meanings. ## **What are the Features of Adjective Suffixes in German?** 1. **Transforming into Adjectives:** - Suffixes like “-lich” and “-lisch” form adjectives from nouns or other roots, often indicating a characteristic or quality. - Examples: - Der Freund (friend) → **freundlich** (friendly) - Der Monat (month) → **monatlich** (monthly) 1. **Transforming into Adjectives:** - German uses suffixes like “-haft,” “-arm,” and “-fest” to create adjectives that convey a more complex or nuanced meaning. These suffixes combine the root word's meaning with their inherent meaning. - Examples: - Das Kind (child) → **kindhaft** (childlike) - Der Fehler (mistake) → **fehlerarm** (low in mistakes) - Das Wasser (water) → **wasserfest** (waterproof) ## **Common German Adjective Suffixes** ### **\-isch** The suffix “-isch” is used to form adjectives that often indicate a relationship or similarity to the root word. It’s similar to the English suffix “-ish.” Examples: - Die Kunst (art) → **künstlerisch** (artistic) - Das Poem (poet) → **poetisch** (poetic) ### **\-ig** The suffix “-ig” is used to form adjectives indicating a particular quality or characteristic related to the root word. It’s like the English suffix “-y.” Examples: - Die Sonne (sun) → **sonnig** (sunny) - Der Freund (friend) → **freundlich** (friendly) - Die Erde (earth) → **erdig** (earthy) ### **\-lich** The suffix “-lich” can create adjectives that describe a characteristic or feature of the root word. It is comparable to the English suffix “-ly.” Examples: - Der Monat (month) → **monatlich** (monthly) - Das Jahr (year) → **jährlich** (yearly) - Die Gefahr (danger) → **gefährlich** (dangerous) ### **\-arm** The suffix “-arm” denotes a lack or scarcity of the root word. It is akin to the English suffix “-poor” or the phrase “low in.” Examples: - Die Energie (energy) → **energiearm** (low in energy) - Der Fehler (mistake) → **fehlerarm** (low in mistakes) - Die kalorie (calorie) → **kalorienarm** (low in calories) ### **\-fest** The suffix “-fest” indicates resistance or immunity to the root word, similar to the English suffix “-proof.” Examples: - Das Wasser (water) → **wasserfest** (waterproof) - Das Licht (light) → **lichtfest** (lightproof) - Das Feuer (fire) → **feuerfest** (fireproof) ### **\-haft** The suffix “-haft” is used to form adjectives that denote a characteristic or quality resembling the root word. It is similar to the English suffix “-like.” Examples: - Das Kind (child) → **kindhaft** (childlike) - Der Held (hero) → **heldhaft** (heroic) - Die Verantwortung (responsibility) → **verantwortungshaft** (responsible) ### **\-frei** The suffix “-frei” means “free from” or “without,” similar to the English “-free.” Examples: - Der Zucker (sugar) → **zuckerfrei** (sugar-free) - Der Rauch (smoke) → **rauchfrei** (smoke-free) - Der Stress (stress) → **stressfrei** (stress-free) ![alkoholhaft - alcoholic alkoholfrei - nonalcholic](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/38-2.png) ### **\-artig** The suffix “-artig” indicates resemblance or similarity, akin to the English suffix “-like.” Example: - Der Traum (dream) → **traumartig** (dreamlike) ### **\-bar** The suffix “-bar” signifies the potential or capability of the root word, similar to the English suffix “-able” or “-ible.” Examples: - essen (to eat) → **essbar** (edible) - trinken (to drink) → **trinkbar** (drinkable) - sehen (to see) → **sichtbar** (visible) ### **\-leer** The suffix “-leer” denotes emptiness or the absence of the root word, similar to the English suffix “-less.” Examples: - Die Menschen (people) → **menschenleer** (deserted) - Der Inhalt (content) → **inhaltsleer** (meaningless) ### **\-voll** The suffix “-voll” indicates fullness or abundance of the root word, similar to the English suffix “-ful.” Examples: - Die Hoffnung (hope) → **hoffnungsvoll** (hopeful) - Die Angst (fear) → **angstvoll** (fearful) - Die Liebe (love) → **liebevoll** (loving) ## One Last Thing... To become more confident with these suffixes, group the adjectives by ending and write a short example sentence for each pattern. Compare related nouns and adjectives where possible. ### German Suffixes for nouns: Definition & Examples URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-suffixes-for-nouns-definition-examples/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:00.000Z You may notice that German **noun** endings follow certain patterns. For example, many feminine nouns end in "-tion," and many nominalized words end in "-ung." These regular endings are known as German suffixes. Suffixes are crucial components of German vocabulary. They help indicate word meaning, grammatical category, and noun gender. So let's explore German noun affixes together today! ## **What is the Suffix in German?** Adding suffixes to the end of a word root forms new words or modifies grammatical function. In German, they create nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more, providing various grammatical functions and meanings. ## **What are the Features of Noun Suffixes in German?** 1. **Changing Part of Speech:** - **Transforming Adjectives into Abstract Nouns:** Suffixes like “-keit” and “-heit” form abstract nouns from adjectives, often denoting a state or quality. - Examples: - schön (beautiful) → Schönheit (beauty) - freundlich (friendly) → Freundlichkeit (friendliness) - **Transforming Verbs into Nouns:** The suffix “-ung” is used to form nouns from verbs, usually indicating the result or process of an action. - Examples: - entwickeln (to develop) → Entwicklung (development) - erklären (to explain) → Erklärung (explanation) 1. **Adding Diminutive or Affectionate Connotations:** - Using “-chen” and “-lein”: These suffixes are used to create diminutive forms of nouns, often implying smallness or affection. - Examples: - Der Hund (dog) → Das Hündchen (puppy, little dog) - Das Haus (house) → Das Häuschen (small house, cottage) 1. **Indicating Specific Word Classes:** - Using Suffixes like “ -tion”, “-ismus”, “-heit”, and “-graphie”: These suffixes classify words into categories related to concepts, ideologies, or fields of study. - Examples: - \-tion: Die Information (information), Die Organisation (organization) - \-ismus: Der Kapitalismus (capitalism), Der Feminismus (feminism) - \-heit: Die Freiheit (freedom), Die Gesundheit (health) - \-graphie: Die Geographie (geography), Die Fotografie (photography) ## **Common German Noun Suffixes** **\-ismus** The suffix “-ismus” denotes ideologies, movements, or systems. It’s commonly used to classify concepts or belief systems. - Examples: - Der Kapitalismus (capitalism) - Der Feminismus (feminism) **\-logie** This suffix is used to indicate fields of study or academic disciplines. It’s similar to the English suffix “-logy.” - Examples: - Die Biologie (biology) - Die Psychologie (psychology) **\-ist** The suffix “-ist” is used to indicate someone who practices or is an expert in a particular field, often related to professions or ideologies. - Examples: - Der Künstler (artist) - Der Journalist (journalist) **\-chen** The suffix “-chen” forms diminutives, indicating a smaller or more affectionate version of the original noun.Adding -chen makes the noun neuter, regardless of its original genDer. It also does not change between singular and plural forms. - Examples: - Das Pferd (horse) → Das Pferdchen (little horse) - Der Teller (plate) → Das Tellerchen (little plate) ![Das Pferd - Horse Das Pferdchen - Little horse](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/37-2.png) When the first syllable contains “a,” “o,” or “u,” it is often modified with an umlaut: - Examples: - Das Haus (house) → Das Häuschen (little house) - Die Torte (cake) → Das Törtchen (little cake) - Der Hund (dog) → Das Hündchen (little dog) **\-i** The suffix “-i” creates diminutives, particularly with names or informal terms, without changing the gender of the original noun. It often affects the form of the root word slightly. - Examples: - Der Vater (father) → Vati (daddy) - Schatz (sweetheart) → Schatzi (little treasure) **\-lein** This suffix is used to form diminutives and is typically added to words ending in “-ch”. It changes the noun to neuter and often implies smallness or affection. - Examples: - Der Bach (brook) → Das Bächlein (little brook) - Der Tisch (table) → Das Tischlein (small table) **\-er** The suffix “-er” is commonly used to indicate a person associated with a profession or a role, typically Derived from verbs. It denotes someone who performs a specific action or job. - Examples: - arbeiten (to work) → Der Arbeiter (worker) - lehren (to teach) → Der Lehrer (teacher) - singen (to sing) → Der Sänger (singer) **\-in** The suffix “-in“ is used to denote female professionals or individuals with specific roles. It is often added to the “-er” suffix to indicate genDer. - Examples: - Der Lehrer (male teacher) → Die Lehrerin (female teacher) - Der Arzt (male doctor) → Die Ärztin (female doctor) **\-e** The suffix “-e” forms feminine nouns from adjectives and verbs, sometimes requiring changes to the root word, such as adding an umlaut or altering vowels. - Examples: - stark (strong) → Die Stärke (strength) - sprechen (to speak) → Die Sprache (language) - breit (wide) → Die Breite (width) **\-heit / -keit** These suffixes turn adjectives into abstract nouns, similar to the English “-ness.” They are used to denote states or qualities and are always feminine. - Examples: - frei (free) → Die Freiheit (freedom) - gesund (healthy) → Die Gesundheit (health) - freundlich (friendly) → Die Freundlichkeit (friendliness) - einsam (lonely) → Die Einsamkeit (loneliness) **\-tion** “-tion” is used to form nouns that denote actions or processes. It often turns verbs into nouns, and is generally feminine. - Examples: - informieren (to inform) → Die Information (information) - organisieren (to organize) → Die Organisation (organization) ### French Future Tenses: A Guide to Speaking About Tomorrow URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-future-tenses-a-guide-to-speaking-about-tomorrow/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:49.000Z Whether you're making plans, expressing hopes, or discussing upcoming events, using the future tense is essential for clear communication. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the two main ways to express the French future tenses: the simple future (*futur simple*) and the near future (*futur proche*), with practical examples to help you master them easily. ## **Understanding the French Future Tense** ### **Simple Future (*Futur Simple*)** The *futur simple* is equivalent to the English "will" or "shall." It’s used to describe actions that will happen **at a later time**. **Formation:** - For regular verbs, the *futur simple* is formed by adding the future endings (-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont) to the infinitive form of the verb. - Example: *parler* (to speak) - Je parlerai (I will speak) - Tu parleras (You will speak) - Il/Elle parlera (He/She will speak) - For irregular verbs, the stem changes, but the endings remain the same. - Example: *avoir* (to have) - J’aurai (I will have) - Tu auras (You will have) - Il/Elle aura (He/She will have) **Usage:** The *futur simple* is typically used for actions that will occur in the **more distant future, predictions, or promises**. ### **Near Future (*Futur Proche*)** The *futur proche* is used to describe something that is going to **happen soon**, similar to the English "going to." **Formation:** - The *futur proche* is formed with the present tense of the verb *aller* (to go) followed by the infinitive of the main verb. - Example: *aller* (to go) + *parler* (to speak) - Je vais parler (I am going to speak) - Tu vas parler (You are going to speak) - Il/Elle va parler (He/She is going to speak) **Usage:** The *futur proche* is used for near-future actions, plans, and intentions that are likely to happen soon. ## **Simple Future vs. Near Future: When to Use Which?** Understanding when to use the *futur simple* versus the *futur proche* can be tricky, but there are some general guidelines. - **Use the *simple future* when:** - Discussing events that are further in the future. - Making formal promises or commitments. - Expressing predictions or hypotheticals. - Example: *Demain, je partirai en voyage.* (Tomorrow, I will leave on a trip.) - **Use the *near future* when:** - Talking about plans that are happening soon. - Expressing immediate intentions or decisions. - Describing something that is about to happen. - Example: *Ce soir, je vais regarder un film.* (Tonight, I’m going to watch a movie.) **Comparison Example:** - *Il pleuvra demain.* (It will rain tomorrow.) – Simple Future: Prediction - *Il va pleuvoir bientôt.* (It’s going to rain soon.) – Near Future: Immediate future ![French Future Tenses - When to use futur simple and when to use futur proche](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/Blog-34-2-1.jpg) ## **Using the French Future Tense in Everyday Conversations** Now that you know how to form the French future tenses, let’s look at some common expressions and phrases you’ll use in daily life. - **Examples of *futur simple*:** - *Je ferai mes devoirs ce soir.* (I will do my homework tonight.) - *Nous voyagerons en France l’année prochaine.* (We will travel to France next year.) - *Tu réussiras à l’examen.* (You will pass the exam.) - **Examples of *futur proche*:** - *Je vais téléphoner à ma mère.* (I am going to call my mother.) - *Il va commencer un nouveau travail demain.* (He is going to start a new job tomorrow.) - *Nous allons manger au restaurant ce soir.* (We are going to eat at the restaurant tonight.) ## **Irregular Verbs in the French Future Tense**s Like many aspects of French grammar, there are exceptions. Some verbs have irregular stems in the *futur simple*. Here are some of the most common ones: - *Être* (to be) → Je serai (I will be) - *Avoir* (to have) → J’aurai (I will have) - *Faire* (to do/make) → Je ferai (I will do/make) - *Aller* (to go) → J’irai (I will go) - *Venir* (to come) → Je viendrai (I will come) ## **Tips for Mastering the Future Tense** 1. **Practice Regularly:**The more you use the future tense, the more natural it will become in your conversations. Start by incorporating future tense sentences into your daily practice, whether you're talking about your plans for the day, your goals for the week, or your aspirations for the future. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes—practice is the key to improvement! 2. **Listen and Repeat:**Pay attention to how native speakers use the future tense in conversations, movies, or podcasts. Especially, listen carefully to the way they structure their sentences. By repeating these sentences aloud, you can develop a sense of the natural rhythm and flow of the language, which will help you internalize the correct usage of the future tense. 3. **Start with Simple Sentences:** Start by crafting simple sentences that describe your plans for the day or week, such as “Je vais faire les courses demain” (I’m going to do the shopping tomorrow) or “Nous dînerons ensemble ce soir” (We will have dinner together tonight). As you become more comfortable, challenge yourself by creating more complex sentences that involve predictions, conditional statements, or future intentions. 4. **Use varied practice:** Reinforce the tense patterns through short exercises, listening examples, and sentences about your own future plans. Mastering the French future tense is a significant step towards fluency. By understanding when and how to use the *futur simple* and *futur proche*, you’ll be able to confidently discuss your plans, predictions, and intentions in French. Keep practicing, and soon, using the future tense will feel as natural as talking about the present! ### Verb Conjugation in Spanish: A Beginner’s Guide to the Present Tense URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/verb-conjugationin-spanish-a-beginners-guide-to-the-present-tense/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:16.000Z Learning to conjugate verbs in Spanish opens the door to expressing yourself fluently in everyday conversations. In this guide, we’ll explore the three types of regular verb conjugations and some essential irregular verbs you’ll encounter frequently. By understanding these basics, you’ll be able to talk about what you do, what others do, and what’s happening around you. ## **Regular Verbs: The Three Types** 1. **\-AR Verbs:** Verbs ending in -ar follow a predictable pattern. Let’s take a look at the verb *hablar* (to speak). | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | habl**o** | | tú | habl**as** | | él/ella/usted | habl**a** | | nosotros/as | habl**amos** | | vosotros/as | habl**áis** | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | habl**an** | E.g. *Yo hablo español todos los días.* (I speak Spanish every day.) 1. **\-ER Verbs:** Verbs ending in -er conjugate similarly, with slight differences. Let’s use *comer* (to eat). | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | com**o** | | tú | com**es** | | él/ella/usted | com**e** | | nosotros/as | com**emos** | | vosotros/as | com**éis** | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | com**en** | E.g. *Nosotros comemos pizza los viernes.* (We eat pizza on Fridays.) 1. **\-IR Verbs:** Verbs ending in -ir follow their own pattern. Check out *vivir* (to live). | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | viv**o** | | tú | viv**es** | | él/ella/usted | viv**e** | | nosotros/as | viv**imos** | | vosotros/as | viv**ís** | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | viv**en** | E.g. *Ellos viven en Madrid.* (They live in Madrid.) ## **Irregular Verbs: Common Daily Use** While most verbs follow predictable patterns, some commonly used verbs have irregular conjugations in the present tense. These verbs don’t fit neatly into the -ar, -er, or -ir categories, so you’ll need to memorize them. - **Ser (to be)** | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | soy | | tú | eres | | él/ella/usted | es | | nosotros/as | somos | | vosotros/as | sois | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | son | E.g. *Yo soy estudiante.* (I am a student.) - **Estar (to be)** | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | estoy | | tú | estás | | él/ella/usted | está | | nosotros/as | estamos | | vosotros/as | estáis | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | están | E.g. *Tú estás en casa.* (You are at home.) *Note: If you don’t know the difference between ser vs estar, check out this blog!* - **Tener (to have)** | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | tengo | | tú | tienes | | él/ella/usted | tiene | | nosotros/as | tenemos | | vosotros/as | tenéis | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | tienen | e.g. *Él tiene un perro.* (He has a dog.) Understanding these conjugations will let you communicate effectively in Spanish. Practice regularly, and soon you’ll master the art of conjugating verbs in the present tense! ## **Exercise** Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense: ***cantar***, ***leer***, ***escribir***. All of them are regular verbs! - Cantar (to sing) | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | canto | | tú | cantas | | él/ella/usted | canta | | nosotros/as | cantamos | | vosotros/as | cantáis | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | cantan | - Leer (to read) | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | leo | | tú | lees | | él/ella/usted | lee | | nosotros/as | leemos | | vosotros/as | leéis | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | leen | - Escribir (to write) | **Person** | **Conjugation** | | ------------------- | --------------- | | yo | escribo | | tú | escribes | | él/ella/usted | escribe | | nosotros/as | escribimos | | vosotros/as | escribís | | ellos/ellas/ustedes | escriben | To reinforce the present tense, choose a few common verbs and write short sentences about your daily routine, then compare the endings across subject pronouns. ### French Negation: Rules, Expressions, and Everyday Examples URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/negative-expressions-in-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:08.000Z Negative expressions are essential in French, just like in any other language. Whether you're a beginner or brushing up on your skills, these expressions allow for smoother communications. This guide will walk you through using French negation and help you learn how to say "no" like a native. ## **Basic Structure of French Negation** The basic structure of negation in French is simple: **ne ... pas**. It wraps around the verb to negate it. - **Example**: "Je ne sais pas" (I don’t know). In everyday sentences, you’ll often use this structure to turn a positive statement into a negative one. For instance, "Je sais" (I know) becomes "Je ne sais pas" (I don’t know). ## **Negative Expressions** French offers a variety of negations to express different kinds of "no." | **French Negative Expressions** | **English** | **Example sentence** | | ------------------------------- | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | **Ne ... jamais** | never | Il ne mange jamais de viande.*He never eats meat.* | | **Ne ... plus** | no longer | Elle ne travaille plus ici.*She no longer works here*. | | **Ne ... rien** | nothing | Je ne vois rien.*I see nothing*. | | **Ne ... personne** | no one | Il ne connaît personne ici.*He knows no one here.* | | **Ne ... que** | only | Je n'ai que cinq euros.*I only have five euros.* | These expressions help you convey various negative meanings, greatly enhancing the versatility and depth of your French. By incorporating these expressions into your daily conversations, you'll be able to communicate more precisely. ## **Negative Expressions with Indefinite Pronouns** French negation also interacts with indefinite pronouns such as **aucun(e)** and **nul(le)**. These pronouns can add a layer of nuance to your expressions. They can also make your French sound more natural and sophisticated. - **Aucun(e)** (none, not a single one): This pronoun is used to emphasize the total absence of something or someone. It is often employed to underscore the idea that there isn’t even one instance of what is being referred to. - **Example**: "Je n'ai aucun ami." (I have no friends.) - **Explanation:** Here, "aucun" stresses the complete lack of friends, leaving no room for exceptions. - **Nul(le)** (no one, none, nowhere): This pronoun is used to indicate an absolute absence of people or places. It often appears in phrases to express that something does not exist at all in a given context. - **Example**: "Nulle part" (nowhere) - **Explanation:** This phrase conveys that a particular place or object does not exist in any location or context. ## **Negation in Questions** Forming negative questions in French is an excellent way to add variety and subtlety to your conversations. These questions not only allow you to seek confirmation or clarification but can also convey a sense of expectation or surprise depending on the context. - **Example**: "Tu ne viens pas ?" (Aren’t you coming?) - Explanation: This question implies that the speaker expected the listener to come. There may be a hint of surprise or disappointment if the listener is not attending. ## **Double Negatives in French** Unlike in English, where double negatives often cancel each other out. Double negatives in French reinforce the negation. Therefore, using two negative elements in a sentence strengthens the negative meaning. This emphasizes the complete absence of something or someone. - **Example**: "Il n’y a personne nulle part." (There is no one anywhere.) - **Explanation:** In this sentence, both "personne" (no one) and "nulle part" (nowhere) work together to stress that absolutely no one is present in any location. ## **Colloquial and Informal Negation** In spoken French, it’s common to drop the "ne," especially in informal settings. This omission is a natural part of everyday conversation and helps the speech flow more smoothly. - **Example**: "Je ne sais pas"→ "J'sais pas." (I don’t know.) This informal usage is widely accepted in casual conversations and can make your French sound more relaxed and authentic. But keep in mind that while this is perfectly fine in spoken French, it's important to use the full "ne ... pas" structure in formal writing or speech. Mastering negative expressions in French takes regular practice. Start with **ne ... pas**, then add forms such as **ne ... jamais**, **ne ... plus**, and **ne ... rien** as you become more comfortable. ## **French Negation in Everyday Situations** The following situations show how the structures above appear in daily conversations, from ordering coffee to discussing work, study, shopping, and plans at home. ## **At a Coffee Shop** Imagine you’re at a café in Paris, and you need to use negative expressions to navigate your interactions. - **Ordering without something**:If you prefer your coffee without certain ingredients, you might say: - **"Je ne veux pas de lait dans mon café."** (I don’t want milk in my coffee.) - **"Je ne veux que du lait dans mon café."** (I only want milk in my coffee.) Such expressions clearly communicate your preference and ensure that your order is prepared just the way you like it. - **Expressing absence**: If the item you wanted is no longer available, you can express this with: - **"Il n’y a plus de croissants."** (There are no more croissants.) - **"Il n’y a pas de lait d’amande."** (There is no almond milk.) These expressions help you convey disappointment when something you were hoping to have is not available to the staff. This situation allows for a smoother adjustment to your order. It also opens up the possibility of finding another option. ## **In a Meeting Room** In professional settings, expressing disagreement or managing your availability is essential. Negative expressions allow you to convey your thoughts clearly and diplomatically. - **Declining a suggestion**: When you disagree with a proposal or idea presented, you might say: - **"Je ne suis pas d'accord avec cette proposition."** (I don’t agree with this proposal.) - **" Je ne pense pas que ce soit une bonne idée."** (I don’t think it’s a good idea.) These expressions clearly communicate your disagreement and provide a basis for further discussion or alternative suggestions. - **Expressing inability to attend**: If you can’t make it to a scheduled meeting or presentation, you can inform others with: - **"Personne ne pourra assister à la réunion demain."** (No one can attend the meeting tomorrow.) - **"Je ne serai pas disponible pour cette présentation."** (I won’t be available for this presentation.) These expressions help you notify the team about your unavailability, helping them to make necessary adjustments or reschedule as needed. ## **At College** Now you’re at college, and you need to use negative expressions to navigate various situations. - **Expressing lack of understanding**: When you’re struggling to grasp a concept from a lecture or reading material, you might say: - **"Je ne comprends pas cette théorie."** (I don’t understand this theory.) - **"Je n'ai pas saisi l'explication du professeur."** (I didn’t catch the professor’s explanation.) These expressions clearly communicate that you need further clarification or assistance. They help you seek the support you need. This support will enable you to better understand the material. - **Declining an invitation to study**: If you’re unable to join a study session or group work, you can express this with: - **"Je n’étudie jamais à la bibliothèque."** (I never study in the library.) - **"Je ne suis pas disponible pour le projet de groupe d'étude."** (I’m not available for the study group.) These expressions allow you to inform others about your unavailability, facilitating clear communication and helping your peers adjust their plans accordingly. ## **Shopping** Imagine you’re shopping, and you need to use negative expressions to address issues with product availability or quality. - **Requesting an item not available**: If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you might say: - **"Je ne vois pas la taille que je cherche."** (I don’t see the size I’m looking for.) - **"Il n'y a plus de produits en solde."** (There are no more sale products.) These expressions help you communicate the absence of specific items, enabling the staff to assist you more effectively or suggest alternatives. - **Expressing dissatisfaction**: If you’re not happy with a product, you can express your concerns with: - **"Je ne suis pas satisfait de cette qualité."** (I’m not satisfied with this quality.) - **"Je ne trouve pas ce modèle."** (I can’t find this model.) These expressions clearly convey your dissatisfaction, providing an opportunity for the staff to address your concerns or offer suitable replacements. ## **At Home** You may also need to use negative expressions to handle household activities and personal preferences at home. - **Refusing an offer**: If you need to decline something, you might say: - **"Je ne veux rien maintenant."** (I don't want anything now.) - **"Je ne peux pas vous aider avec le ménage ce soir."** (I can’t help with the housework tonight.) These expressions clearly communicate your refusal, helping to manage expectations and adjust plans accordingly. - **Expressing absence**: To indicate that something is missing or unavailable, you can use: - **"Il n'y a que de l'eau dans le réfrigérateur."** (There's only water in the fridge.) - **"Il n'y a personne à la maison ce soir."** (There is no one at home tonight.) These expressions help you convey that something is missing, allowing for better planning or finding alternatives. Incorporating these negative expressions into your daily conversations will definitely help you communicate more effectively and naturally. ### Discover the Charm of French Expressions Starting with "Ça me" URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/discover-the-charm-of-french-expressions-starting-with-ca-me/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:45.000Z If you're learning French or simply interested in the language, you'll quickly notice how frequently the phrase "ça me" pops up in conversations. This little French phrase, which translates to "it" or "that" followed by "me," is a staple for expressing personal feelings, opinions, and reactions in French. Let’s dive into various expressions starting with "ça me" to help you understand and use them with ease. ## **What does "Ça me" mean?** "Ça me" is a versatile phrase that literally means "it me." However, in context, it becomes a powerful way to convey your feelings and reactions to different situations. Whether you're talking about what you like, what bothers you, or what surprises you, "ça me" is your go-to phrase. ## **Common Expressions with "Ça me"** Let's start with some of the most commonly used "ça me" expressions that you'll hear and use in everyday French conversations. **Ça me plaît** Meaning: "*I like it*" or "*It pleases me*" - **Usage in sentences:** - Cette chanson, ça me plaît beaucoup. (I really like this song.) - Ton idée, ça me plaît. (I like your idea.) **Ça me dérange** Meaning: "*It bothers me*" - **Usage in sentences:** - Le bruit constant, ça me dérange. (The constant noise bothers me.) - Ça me dérange quand tu parles trop fort. (It bothers me when you speak too loudly.) **Ça me fait rire** Meaning: "*It makes me laugh*" - **Usage in sentences:** - Ton histoire, ça me fait rire. (Your story makes me laugh.) - Ce film, ça me fait toujours rire. (This movie always makes me laugh.) **Ça me fatigue** Meaning: "*It tires me*" - **Usage in sentences:** - Travailler tard, ça me fatigue. (Working late tires me.) - Ce long trajet, ça me fatigue. (This long journey tires me.) **Ça me touche** Meaning: "*It touches me*" (emotionally) - **Usage in sentences:** - Ton cadeau, ça me touche beaucoup. (Your gift touches me deeply.) - Cette histoire triste, ça me touche. (This sad story touches me.) ## **Less Common but Interesting Expressions** Now, let's see some less common but equally interesting "ça me" expressions that can add depth to your conversations. **Ça me va** Meaning: "*It suits me*" or "*It's fine with me*" - **Usage in sentences:** - Cette couleur, ça me va bien. (This color suits me well.) - Si on part maintenant, ça me va. (If we leave now, it’s fine with me.) **Ça me surprend** Meaning: "*It surprises me*" - **Usage in sentences:** - Ta réaction, ça me surprend. (Your reaction surprises me.) - Ça me surprend que tu sois là. (It surprises me that you are here.) **Ça me gêne** Meaning: "*It embarrasses me*" or "*It bothers me*" - **Usage in sentences:** - Parler en public, ça me gêne. (Speaking in public embarrasses me.) - Ton commentaire, ça me gêne un peu. (Your comment bothers me a little.) **Ça me révolte** Meaning: "*It outrages me*" - **Usage in sentences:** - Cette injustice, ça me révolte. (This injustice outrages me.) - Le comportement de certaines personnes, ça me révolte. (The behavior of some people outrages me.) ![Expressions with ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/07/FD-Blog-imges-3-2.jpg) You can practice these expressions by incorporating them into your daily conversations, and start with simple sentences. Think of situations where you can use these expressions and try to form sentences. Use these expressions when speaking with friends, in language classes, or even by yourself to build confidence. Watch French movies, listen to French music, or follow French podcasts to hear these expressions in context and repeat them. To make these expressions easier to recall, practice each one with a situation from your own life and listen for how native speakers use it in context. Understanding and using "ça me" expressions can greatly enhance your French conversational skills. These phrases are not only common but also incredibly useful for expressing a wide range of emotions and reactions. So, experiment with them in your French learning journey and see how they can make your conversations more dynamic and expressive. Do you have a favorite "ça me" expression or know a new one we didn't cover? Share it with us in the comments! ### 50 Commonly Used French Slang for Everyday URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/50-commonly-used-french-slang-for-everyday/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:25.000Z Incorporating slang into your daily conversation is key to sounding like a native. Whether you're traveling, chatting with friends, or enhancing your language skills, knowing French slang will make your interactions more authentic. Here are 50 common French slang terms you'll encounter in everyday conversations. Let's explore them together! ## **When to Use Slang** Using slang helps French speakers express themselves more naturally and connect with others in a culturally authentic way. Here are some situations that they use slang in their daily lives: **Casual Conversations with Friends and Family**: Slang is prevalent in informal settings, making conversations more relaxed and relatable. **Abbreviations and Shortened Words for Social Media and Texting**: Similar to English, French slang on social media and in texts often includes abbreviations and short forms. **Media and Pop Culture**: Slang is commonly used in TV shows, movies, and music to depict realistic dialogue and contemporary culture. **Everyday Activities such as Shopping and Dining**: Shopkeepers, waiters, and customers might casually use slang. **Local Dialects**: Different regions of France have unique slang terms that reflect local culture and dialects. **Humor and Storytelling**: Slang can add humor and color to stories and jokes, making them more engaging and authentic. ## 50 commonly used French slang ***Boulot*** \- Job/work ***Fringues*** \- Clothes ***Meuf*** \- Woman/girl (verlan for "femme") ***Mec*** \- Guy/dude ***Ouf*** \- Crazy/awesome (verlan for "fou") ***Kiffer*** \- To like/love (from Arabic) ***Taf*** \- Work/job (short for "travail à faire") ***Ça marche*** \- OK/That works ***J’ai la flemme*** \- I’m feeling lazy **C’est nul** \- That’s bad/It sucks ***Truc*** \- Thing ***Bidule*** \- Thingamajig/gadget ***Merde*** \- Crap/shit (a mild swear word) ***Bac*** \- High school diploma ***Pote*** \- Buddy/pal ***Blé*** \- Money (literally means wheat) ***Flouze*** \- Money ***Thune*** \- Money ***Zouave*** \- Clown/idiot ***Bagnole*** \- Car **Pif** \- Nose ***Gueule*** \- Mouth/face (informal) ***Bobo*** \- Boo-boo/injury ***Fréro*** \- Brother/buddy ***Laisser tomber*** \- Forget it/drop it **Déconner** \- To mess around/joke ***Casser les pieds*** \- To annoy/bother ***Piquer*** \- To steal ***Flic*** \- Cop ***Mytho*** \- Liar (short for mythomane) ***Gosse*** \- Kid ***Tocard*** \- Loser ***Relou*** \- Annoying (verlan for "lourd") **Chiant** \- Annoying/boring ***Se barrer*** \- To leave **Se casser** \- To leave ***Se tirer*** \- To leave **Trimer** \- To work hard ***Se planter*** \- To mess up/fail ***Avoir la dalle*** \- To be hungry ***Fauché*** \- Broke (no money) **Vachement** \- Really/very ***Zarbi*** \- Weird (verlan for "bizarre") ***Chanmé*** \- Awesome (verlan for "méchant") ***Galère*** \- Struggle/hassle ***Fêter*** \- To party/celebrate ***Bobo*** \- Bourgeois-bohemian (hipsters) ***Avoir du bol*** \- To be lucky ***Bouffer*** \- To eat (informal) ***Picoler*** \- To drink alcohol Understanding and using slang is an essential part of mastering any language, and French is no exception. By incorporating these slang terms into your daily conversations, you'll not only enhance your language skills but also gain a deeper insight into French culture and everyday life. To make these expressions part of your active vocabulary, practice them in short dialogues and note which ones are informal, regional, or appropriate only among friends. You can go directly to the "Clips" section to enjoy various French expressions from movies and TV shows. Click links to get the app for free now! ### Unique German Words and Expressions You Should Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/unique-expressive-german-words/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:14.000Z German is rich in compact, expressive words that describe emotions and situations that may require an entire phrase in English. Here is a consolidated selection from the original three-part series. Have you ever taken pleasure in someone else’s pain? For example, secretly revealing a classmate’s failure on an exam…? Or have you ever even gained weight when you just experienced a rough patch, like after a breakup, due to irregular sleep and diet…? Both of these feelings can be expressed by the German words “Schadenfreude” and “Kummerspeck”! Because of the diversity of compound words and the abstract thinking of German people, there are lots of expressive words with metaphorical meanings which you shouldn’t miss when learning German! So, let’s delve into these fascinating and expressive German words together! **Fernweh (Distance pain)** Imagine that you have been stuck in a fixed, boring 9-5 routine for almost 30 years. You’ve had enough and an inner voice whispers: “You need to go further afield. You need to get away from the daily grind right now.” This inner voice is called “**Fernweh,**” the longing to be elsewhere that isn’t where you are right now. When your inner angel whispers to you, it could be that your longing for new places is taking over. **Kopfkino (Head Cinema)** The literal meaning of this word is “cinema in your head”. Sounds strange, doesn't it? Anyway, you don’t have to surgically build a real cinema in your own head. It actually refers to those vivid, imaginative scenarios that play out in your mind like a movie! For example, when you meet someone, instantly fall in love and you start to imagine all the possible stories that could unfold between the two of you. **Sitzfleisch (Seat Meat)** At first glance, this term might make you think of a delicious German delicacy. Do we need to place the meat under our buttocks to cook delicious dishes? Of course not. This term refers to the ability to sit through something boring or tedious without getting up. It’s often used to describe someone’s perseverance or endurance in staying put until a task is completed. Next time you have to finish a task with extraordinary patience, you can speak in German and say, “Ich brauche damit Sitzfleisch!!!” **Zugzwang (Explanation Emergency)** The term “Zugzwang” originates from the world of chess. The first part - “Zug” - means “move,”, referring to a chess player’s turn. The second part - “zwang” - means “compulsion,” indicating being compelled to do something or facing pressure. Therefore, the word describes an embarrassing situation where we have to make bad decisions and take action due to pressure and difficulty. But remember: “Zugzwang” doesn’t always lead to bad results! It just means making decisions under pressure. **Eselsbrücke (Donkey Bridge)** “Eselbrücke” originates from the traditional belief that donkeys are afraid of water and stubbornly refuse to cross even shallow areas. To help the donkeys, people must build a bridge over the stream. Based on this background, the meaning of “Eselbrücke” is a tool to help us remember something. For instance, we can use specific mnemonics to strengthen our memory while learning a language, such as “Immer essen, nie vergessen” (always eating, never forgetting). **Innerer Schweinehund (Inner Pig Dog)** Imagine that little voice inside you, always whispering in your ear when you need to push yourself. It’s that sneaky side of you that prefers the comfort of the couch over hitting the gym or procrastinating on an important task instead of getting it done. The “Innerer Schweinehund” is that inner pig dog, always tempting you to take the easy way out. But overcoming this inner resistance often leads to personal growth and achievement! **Ohrwurm (Ear Worm)** Have you ever found yourself humming a tune you can’t get out of your head? That’s an “Ohrwurm”, an ear worm that burrows into your mind and plays on repeat. Whether it’s a catchy pop song or a nostalgic melody, an Ohrwurm can be both delightful and maddening, refusing to leave your thoughts until another catchy tune takes its place. **Fingerspitzengefühl (Fingertip Feeling)** Imagine having an intuitive knack for making just the right decision in a delicate situation. That’s Fingerspitzengefühl, a fingertip feeling that guides you with sensitivity and finesse. It’s like having a sixth sense for navigating social interactions or making critical choices with grace and precision. Cultivating Fingerspitzengefühl can lead to success in negotiations, leadership, and personal relationships. **Verschlimmbesserung (Worsened Improvement)** Ever tried to fix something only to make it worse? That’s “Verschlimmbesserung”, where an attempt to improve a situation actually results in deterioration. It’s like painting a room to freshen it up but ending up with a color that clashes horribly. In life and work, recognizing when you’re falling into Verschlimmbesserung can save you from unintended consequences and help you pursue more effective solutions. **Torschlusspanik (Closing-gate Panic)** Have you ever felt a sudden rush of anxiety when you realize time is running out? “Torschlusspanik”, or closing-gate panic, describes the fear of opportunities slipping away. It’s the urgency to achieve life goals before it’s too late, whether it’s career milestones, personal ambitions, or relationships. Torschlusspanik reminds us to seize the moment and take action before doors close and opportunities vanish. ## **More Expressive German Words** In this post, you'll get another glimpse into the fascinating world of the German language and discover more unique and expressive words that capture complex emotions and situations. Are you feeling a bit of ‘Fernweh’ (a longing for traveling to new places)? From ‘Erklärungsnot’ to ‘feuchtfröhlich,’ let’s continue this fascinating language journey together! **Hexenschuss (Shot by a Witch)** The word ‘Hexenschuss’ consists of two parts: ‘Hexen,’ meaning witch, and ‘schuss,’ meaning shot. This term originates from the historical belief that sudden, severe back pain is caused by witches or evil spirits. Additionally, ‘Hexenschuss’ can also refer to lower back pain. It vividly describes a sudden and intense pain, as if being struck by a powerful force. This term reminds us of how folklore and superstitions have shaped our language. Example: - Gestern hatte sie plötzlich einen Hexenschuss. - *She suddenly had a backache yesterday.* **Erklärungsnot (Explanation Poverty)** Imagine you’re a professional sales manager for a manufacturer. During a product presentation, you suddenly forget all the details. It’s as if your mind has short-circuited, and you can’t recall any specifics about the product, despite your genuine desire to promote it. This awkward situation is described by the term ‘Erklärungsnot.’ Therefore, always be prepared before making a presentation to avoid such moments! Example: - Er geriet in Erklärungsnot, als er nach den Details gefragt wurde. - *He couldn't answer when asked about the details.* **Dreikäsehoch (Three Cheeses High)** Proud parents would record these moments on video, exclaiming, “Look at my little one, standing ‘Dreikäsehoch!’” This charming term, which means ‘three cheeses high,’ playfully describes a small child. It paints a picture of a child being as tall as three stacked rounds of cheese, capturing the affection and humor associated with the cuteness of young children. Example: - Schau mal, wie süß das Dreikäsehoch ist! - *Look how cute that kid is!* **Zungenbrecher (Tongue Breaker)** At first glance, this term might sound a bit alarming, as if it involves some kind of sinister twist. But don’t worry—there’s no gruesome surprise! Actually, ‘Zungenbrecher’ refers to what we call tongue twisters in English. These are phrases or sentences that are challenging to say quickly and accurately because of their tricky pronunciation. - German Zungenbrecher: Der schnelle Schlitten schabt auf schneebedeckten Straßen. - English translation: The fast sleigh scrapes on snow-covered roads. **Schattenparker (Shadow Parker)** The literal translation of this term is ‘shadow parker’. Anyway, it doesn’t mean a superhero from the Marvel or DC Universe who can manipulate shadows to attack at will. This term refers to people who insist on parking in the shadows. To take it a step further, ‘Schattenparker’ is used to describe someone who is overly cautious or lacks courage. It implies a lack of boldness, hinting at the person’s reluctance to take risks, even in trivial matters. Example: - Er ist ein echter Schattenparker, immer nur im Schatten. - *He's always been fussy, always in the shadows.* **Wildpinkler (Wild Pisser)** Imagine you're on a road trip with friends, but unfortunately, you're miles away from any rest stops. Suddenly, someone decides to relieve himself behind a bush on the side of the road. This bold and somewhat uncivilized act is humorously described by the term ‘Waldpinkler.’ ‘Wald’ means forest, and ‘Pinkler’ means urinator. This term playfully refers to someone who urinates in public or nature, highlighting the uncivilized aspect of the behavior. Example: - Der Wildpinkler wurde von der Polizei erwischt. - *The wild pisser was caught by the police.* **Donnerbalken (Thunder Beam)** The term ‘Donnerbalken’ originally referred to long wooden beams used as makeshift latrines in military camps, where soldiers sat exposed to nature. Here, ‘Balken’ means beam, while ‘Donner’ (thunder) refers to the crackling sounds. Although this term may sound amusing, it’s not commonly used today. Instead, modern German terms like ‘Badezimmer’ or ‘Toilette’ are preferred for restrooms. Example: - In früheren Zeiten waren Donnerbalken die improvisierten Toiletten in Militärlagern. - *In earlier times, thunderbolts were improvised toilets in military camps.* ## **German Words for People and Everyday Objects** In this post, you'll get another glimpse into the fascinating world of the German language. You will discover more unique and expressive words. These words capture complex emotions and situations. Let’s continue this fascinating language journey together! **Weichei- Soft Egg** The word “Weichei,” literally translates to “soft egg,” is a slang term used to describe someone who is seen as weak, cowardly, or not tough. It paints a vivid picture of a person who, like a soft egg, is easily broken or lacking in strength. This playful yet somewhat critical term is often used in a teasing manner. Example: - Er ist so ein Weichei, er traut sich nichts. - *He’s such a wimp; he doesn’t dare do anything.* **Quatschkopf — Nonsense Head** The term **“Quatschkopf”** is a playful and somewhat affectionate way to describe someone who talks a lot of nonsense or silly things. It is often used to gently tease a person who is saying something frivolous or not entirely sensible. The term “Quatschkopf” adds a light-hearted touch to conversations. When used directly, it’s typically meant in a friendly, teasing manner. However, if someone uses it behind another person's back, it can carry more negative connotations. This situation suggests a less flattering view of the person’s chatter. Example: - Hör auf, so ein Quatschkopf zu sein! - *Stop being such a nonsense head!* **Backpfeifengesicht - Slap Face** Have you ever heard the English proverb “A face only a mother could love,” which suggests that someone appears unappealing or obnoxious? In German, the equivalent expression is "**Backpfeifengesicht**," referring to someone whose face inspire an urge to slap them. This term humorously describes a person who, through arrogance or irritating behavior, seems to invite such a reaction. While it's not meant to be taken literally, it vividly conveys a sense of annoyance. Example: - Sein arrogantes Grinsen macht ihn zu einem Backpfeifengesicht. - *His smug grin makes him a face that needs a slap.* **Drahtesel – Wire Donkey** **“Drahtesel,”** literally meaning “wire donkey,” is a quirky, colloquial term for a bicycle. The term cleverly combines **"Draht,"** referring to the bike’s steel frame, and **"Esel,"** symbolizing its functionality and durability. This charming nickname emphasizes the practicality and endurance of the bicycle, much like a donkey that carries loads. It’s a playful way to refer to this common mode of transport, highlighting its humble yet reliable nature. In everyday conversation, **"Drahtesel"** offers a fun alternative to the more formal **"Fahrrad."** Example: - Ich nehme meinen Drahtesel zur Arbeit. - I take my bike to work. **Schnapsidee - Schnapps Idea** Imagine this: one evening, after a few drinks, you slam your hand on the table and declare, “I’m not going to work tomorrow! We’re going to Iceland!” This kind of spontaneous, unrealistic idea is perfectly captured by the German term **“Schnapsidee.”** It describes a notion that seems brilliant when you're tipsy but often turns out to be foolish or impractical. **“Schnapsidee”** is a humorous way to refer to those half-baked plans or wild suggestions that come from a moment of inebriated inspiration. Example: - Das war wohl eine Schnapsidee, um Mitternacht schwimmen zu gehen. - *That was probably a bad idea to go swimming at midnight.* **Wasserhahn - Water Rooster** It’s pretty clear that chickens don’t exactly like to go swimming, right? Yet, the German term "Wasserhahn" literally translates to “water rooster.” Surprisingly, it actually means faucet or tap. This quirky term cleverly mirrors the role of a faucet, which controls the flow of water, much like a rooster heralds the start of the day. So next time you turn on the tap, just imagine it crowing to announce a refreshing stream of water! Example: - Dreh den Wasserhahn zu, bevor du gehst. - *Turn off the tap before you go.* **Fremdschämen - Foreign Shame** The term **“fremdschämen”** perfectly captures that cringe-worthy feeling of being embarrassed for someone else, especially when they don’t seem to realize they should be. This compound word blends **“fremd”** (foreign) with **“schämen”** (to be ashamed). It highlights the awkwardness of witnessing someone’s embarrassing behavior from the sidelines. It’s that uncomfortable second-hand embarrassment you experience when someone else is making a scene and you’re left squirming on their behalf. Example: - Ich habe mich fremdgeschämt, als er das peinliche Lied gesungen hat. - I felt embarrassed for him when he sang that embarrassing song. **And One More Thing….** ### Spanish Verbs Like Gustar and Indirect Object Pronouns URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-verbs-like-gustar-and-indirect-object-pronouns/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:12.000Z Verbs like *gustar* are crucial in Spanish. These verbs follow a unique structure that might be challenging for native English speakers at first, but they are essential for everyday conversation. Here, we'll explore the intricacies of these verbs to help you understand how to use them better. ## **Indirect Object Pronouns** It’s important to familiarize yourself with the indirect object pronouns since they are indispensable when you use verbs like *gustar*. Here’s a quick rundown: - **Me** (to me) - **Te** (to you) - **Le** (to him/her/it/formal you) - **Nos** (to us) - **Os** (to you all: this indirect object pronoun is used only in Castilian Spanish) - **Les** (to them) ## **What Makes *gustar* Unique?** The verb *gustar* means “to like” or literally “to be pleasing to”. What’s unique about this verb is that the grammatical subject is the thing or action that pleases someone, not the person doing the liking. With this in mind, you need to remember that *gustar* is usually not used to describe liking a person, and you should conjugate *gustar* in the third person – either singular or plural. So, the verb can appear in these two forms in present tense: For singular noun/action the person likes: GUSTA For plural nouns the person likes: GUSTAN The simplest sentence structure with *gustar* works like this: Indirect object pronoun + form of *gustar* \+ object that is pleasing **For example:** *Te gusta el libro.* You like the book. / The book is pleasing to you. In this example, the indirect object pronoun *te* refers to the person being pleased, which is “you”. The object that is pleasing is *el libro* (third person singular), making it the grammatical subject of *gustar*. Therefore, *gustar* is conjugated as *gusta*. If the grammatical subject were plural (e.g. *los libros*), *gustar* would be conjugated as *gustan*. ![Expalanation of Gusta ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/07/17-2.jpg) When the indirect object pronoun itself causes confusion (e.g. *le* not specifying the exact person being talked about) or to emphasize the person being pleased, the following phrase can be added to the beginning of the sentence: | **Phrase** | **Indirect Object Pronoun** | **Example** | | ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | A mí | me | A mí me gusta la película. | | A ti | te | A ti te gustan las manzanas. | | A él/ella/ustedA AlexA mi hermana | le | A Alex le gustan los gatos. | | A nosotros/asA Joey y a mí | nos | A nosotros nos gusta el verde. | | A vosotros/asA Diego y a ti | os | A Diego y a ti os gustan las papas fritas. | | A ellos/ellas/ustedesA Isabela y a MaríaA sus padres | les | A sus padres les gusta el dibujo. | You can also use *gustar* to describe what you like to do. In this case, add the infinitive verb of the action you like after the third person singular form of *gustar*. For instance: *Nos gusta *cantar*.* We like singing. / Singing is pleasing to us. ## **Common Verbs Like "Gustar"** Many other verbs in Spanish function similarly to *gustar*. For example: - **Encantar** (to love): "Me encanta la música" (I love music). - **Interesar** (to interest): "Te interesa la historia" (History interests you). - **Faltar** (to lack): "Nos falta tiempo" (We lack time). - **Molestar** (to bother): "Le molesta el ruido" (Noise bothers him/her). - **Quedar** (to remain/be left): "Les quedan dos días" (They have two days left). To learn more expressions like these, notice how native speakers use indirect object pronouns in everyday conversations, then practice adapting each pattern with different people and things. ## **Exercises** Complete the following sentences with the correct pronoun and form of the verb: 1. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (fascinar) las estrellas. (We are fascinated by the stars.) 2. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (molestar) el ruido. (You are bothered by the noise.) 3. A Lucero \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (quedar) dos semanas de vacaciones. (Lucero has two weeks of vacation left.) 4. A mí \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (encantar) bailar. (I love dancing.) 5. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (interesar) la historia. (They are interested in history.) 6. ¿A ti \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (gustar) la comida mexicana? (Do you like Mexican food?) Answers: 1. **Nos fascinan** las estrellas. 2. **Te molesta** el ruido. 3. A Lucero **le quedan** dos semanas de vacaciones. 4. A mí **me encanta** bailar. 5. **Les interesa** la historia. 6. ¿A ti **te gusta** la comida mexicana? ### A Journey Through German Days: Language, Culture, and Guideline URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/a-journey-through-german-days-language-culture-and-guideline/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:33.000Z Language provides us with a deep insight into the fabric of culture and society. German, as one of the most spoken languages in the world, is deeply influenced by the Mythology, the Christian religion and the mindset of German people. Learning German days of week not only aids communication but also lets us experience German culture. You’ll find deep insights into their origins, culture clashes, and how to use common German phrases related to days of the week in this article. Let’s start with this Children’s song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7JPo9baLnQ ### **Origin of German days of week** ![Origins and meanings of the German days of the week](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/german-days-reference-01.png) Obviously, there is a strong similarity between the days of week in German and their English counterparts regarding form and structure. Each day of week except for one shares the same structure “root + ‘tag’(day)” and the initial letter must be capitalized, such as Montag, Dienstag and Samstag. Now, let’s break down the days of week from a historical perspective to understand their etymology! “**Montag**” is the equivalent of “Monday” in German, which originates from the Old High German term “mānandag”, which means “Moon’s day”. According to ancient Germanic mythology, the influence of the moon determines the days of week. “**Dienstag**” is equivalent to the English word “Tuesday”. The origin of the German word “Dienstag” can be traced to the Old High German term “dīnistac”, which can be translated to “Tiw’s day“. In Germanic mythology, “Tiw” is a patron of warriors and the god of war. “**Mittwoch**” corresponds to “Wednesday” in English. The Old High German term “mittiwīh” serves as the origin of “Mittwoch”, which means “middle of the week”. The root of “Mittwoch” simply illustrates its position in the middle of the week. “**Donnerstag**” is “Thursday” in English, relating to the Old High German term “Donarestac”. This day was understood to be “Thor’s day”, the god of thunder in Germanic mythology, famous for wielding his powerful hammer. “**Freitag**” is the equivalent of “Friday”. The name is derived from Old German term “Frîatac” which means “Frija's day”. Frija is the central Germanic goddess of marriage, family and social order. “**Samstag**” is the German name for “Saturday”, which comes from the Old High German term “sambaztag”. It is believed that “sambaztag” means “the day of rest”. This day was associated with relations after labor. “**Sonntag**” is German for “Sunday”, which literally means “Sun’s day”. The sun was a significant celestial body in Germanic cosmology. ### **Culture Clash-the First day of the week** ![Map showing which day different countries use as the start of the week](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/german-days-reference-02.png) Although the days of the week in German and English are similar in structure and origin, their respective starting days vary - as they do around the world! In North and South America, most countries start the week on Sunday, while in Europe and Oceania, Monday is typical. Africa and Asia are split: half start on Sunday, the other half on Monday. Some countries, like Afghanistan, Iran, and Somalia, start their week on Saturday. ![Historical development of the seven-day week and Sunday](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/german-days-reference-03.png) For over 5,800 years, the first day of the week has been named after the Sun, the mightiest celestial body in our night sky. The seventh day became known as the Sabbath. Historical records trace back to the Babylonians, who established a 7-day week starting with the day of the Sun. The Greeks adopted this system, naming their days after their gods, starting with Helios, the Sun god. The Romans, inheriting much from the Greeks, began their week with 'dies solis,' the day of the Sun. Germanic tribes like the Saxons adopted and adapted the Roman week. 'Dies solis' became 'Sunnandæg,' which evolved into Sunday when the Angles and Saxons settled in Britain. ![Timeline of the workweek and the adoption of Monday as the first weekday](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/german-days-reference-04.jpg) Until about 100 years ago, most people worked six days a week, reserving Sundays for church, except for Jewish communities who observed Saturdays. Henry Ford introduced a two-day weekend in 1926, boosting productivity. By 1932, the five-day work week became standard in the USA, marking a shift from religious to economic timekeeping. In 1988, ISO 8601 established Monday as the global start of the week, widely adopted across Europe and beyond. ### **Common phrases and expressions** ![Common German expressions that use days of the week](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/08/german-days-reference-05.png) We’ve already gotten a deep insight into cultural traditions and the culture clash regarding which day starts the week. Then, understanding important expressions for days of week in German will be crucial for fluent communication. Here are four key concepts to grasp: ① **Accusative Expressions**: "Diesen/ Jeden/ Nächsten/ Letzten + (....tag)" These expressions are used to specify times relative to the present or past. For example: "Diesen Montag" (this Monday): Ich gehe diesen Montag zum Arzt. (I am going to the doctor this Monday.) "Nächsten Dienstag" (next Tuesday): Nächsten Dienstag habe ich einen wichtigen Termin. (Next Tuesday, I have an important appointment.) "Letzten Mittwoch" (last Wednesday): Letzten Mittwoch war ich im Kino. (Last Wednesday, I was at the movies.) ② **"Am" + Day of the Week**: The preposition "am" is used with specific days of the week to indicate a regular occurrence or scheduled event: "Am Sonntag" (on Sunday): Am Sonntag gehe ich immer spazieren. (On Sundays, I always go for a walk.) "Am Samstagabend" (on Saturday evening): Am Samstagabend treffen wir uns zum Essen. (On Saturday evening, we meet for dinner.) ③ **"+s" for Habitual Actions**: Adding "+s" to the day of the week indicates a habitual or recurring action: "Montags" (on Mondays): Montags gehe ich ins Fitnessstudio. (On Mondays, I go to the gym.) "Freitags" (on Fridays): Freitags esse ich gerne Pizza. (On Fridays, I like to eat pizza.) ④ **"Von … bis …" (From … to …) and "Vor … / Nach …" (Before … / After …)**: These phrases are used to express time ranges or relationships: "Von Montag bis Freitag" (from Monday to Friday): Ich arbeite von Montag bis Freitag. (I work from Monday to Friday.) "Vor dem Wochenende" (before the weekend): Vor dem Wochenende muss ich noch einkaufen gehen. (Before the weekend, I still need to go shopping.) "Nach dem Mittagessen" (after lunch): Nach dem Mittagessen mache ich gerne einen kurzen Spaziergang. (After lunch, I like to take a short walk.) ### **Exercises** **① Quiz Challenge:** Test yourself on Sporcle to learn and recall German days of the week. [**Sporcle (German Days)**](https://www.sporcle.com/games/g/germansdays?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**:** - "Sporcle offers quizzes to test your knowledge of German days of the week." [**Quizlet (Flashcards)**](https://quizlet.com/454266628/german-days-of-the-week-quiz-flash-cards/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**:** - "Use Quizlet's flashcards to memorize German days of the week with interactive quizzes." **② Games for Language:** Explore quick language games on Games for Language to practice German days of the week. [**German Language game**](https://www.gamesforlanguage.com/quick-language-games/tag/German%20days%20of%20the%20week?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**:** - "Games for Language provides interactive exercises for learning German days of the week." [**German Games Hub**](https://germangameshub.weebly.com/days-of-the-week.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**:** - "German Games Hub features interactive games for learning and mastering German days of the week." **③ Pronunciation Practice:** improve your pronunciation with the tutorial! [ **Lingohut**](https://www.lingohut.com/en/v773493/german-lessons-days-of-the-week?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**:** - "Improve your German pronunciation of days of the week with Lingohut's audio lessons." ### Avoir: the French Super Verb URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/avoir-the-french-super-verb/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:36.000Z There is a super verb in French - can you guess it? Yup, it’s *avoir*! Meaning "to have," this irregular verb is one of the most essential and frequently used words in French, appearing in a variety of contexts. Mastering *avoir* can lay a strong foundation for your French proficiency. Here, we’ll walk through its conjugation, various uses, common expressions, and idiomatic phrases to deepen your understanding of this verb. ### **1\. Conjugation of *avoir*** Below is the present tense conjugation of *avoir*. | **Pronoun** | **Conjugation** | | ----------- | --------------- | | J’(Je) | ai | | Tu | as | | Il/Elle/On | a | | Nous | avons | | Vous | avez | | Ils/Elles | ont | **Examples in sentences:** - **J**'ai un chat. (I have a cat.) - **Tu** as un frère. (You have a brother.) - **Il** a un chien. (He has a dog.) - **Nous** avons une maison. (We have a house.) - **Vous** avez un jardin. (You have a garden.) - **Ils** ont des amis. (They have friends.) ### **2\. Usage of *avoir*** **Possession** \- When you want to say someone has something, you can use *avoir* followed by the noun that represents what is being possessed. This is similar to how "to have" is used in English. Examples: - J'ai un livre. (I have a book.) - Elle a une voiture. (She has a car.) **Age** \- In French, age is expressed using the verb *avoir* (to have) rather than the verb "être" (to be) as in English. Therefore, instead of saying "I am 20 years old," you would say "I have 20 years" in French. Examples: - J'ai vingt ans. (I am twenty years old.) - Mon frère a quinze ans. (My brother is fifteen years old.) **Obligation** \- The phrase *avoir à* is used to indicate an obligation or necessity to do something. It is similar to the English expression "to have to" or "to need to." This construction involves using the phrase plus an infinitive verb. Examples: - J'ai à finir ce travail. (I have to finish this work.) - Tu as à parler avec le professeur. (You have to talk with the teacher. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/07/16-2.jpg) **Common Expressions with *avoir*** \- The verb *avoir* is used in many common expressions to convey various states, conditions, or feelings. - **Avoir faim** (to be hungry): J'ai faim. (I am hungry.) - **Avoir soif** (to be thirsty): Nous avons soif. (We are thirsty.) - **Avoir chaud/froid** (to be hot/cold): Elles ont chaud/froid. (They are hot/cold.) - **Avoir peur** (to be afraid): Tu as peur. (You are afraid.) - **Avoir besoin de** (to need): J'ai besoin de toi. (I need you.) - **Avoir envie de** (to want): Elle a envie de partir. (She wants to leave.) - **Avoir l'air** (to seem/appear): Tu as l'air fatigué. (You seem tired.) - **Avoir lieu** (to take place): La réunion a lieu demain. (The meeting takes place tomorrow.) - **Avoir raison/tort** (to be right/wrong): Tu as raison/tort. (You are right/wrong.) - **Avoir de la chance** (to be lucky): Elle a de la chance d'avoir gagné. (She is lucky to have won.) ### **3\. *Avoir* in Compound Tenses** In French grammar, *avoir* serves as an auxiliary (helping) verb when forming compound tenses, such as the passé composé. Compound tenses combine a form of *avoir* with the past participle of the main verb. This construction is used to indicate completed actions or events that happened in the past. **Basic Structure:** Subject + conjugated form of *avoir* \+ past participle of the main verb **Examples:** - J'ai mangé. (I ate / I have eaten.) - Ils ont vu le film. (They saw the movie / They have seen the movie.) Now, are you feeling more confident with this super verb? Try these practice exercises and check your answers below. **Exercise:** 1\. Conjugate the verb *avoir* in the present tense according to the subject provided. 1. J’ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ un chien. 2. Tu \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ faim. 3. Elle \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ froid. 4. Nous \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ de la chance. 5. Vous \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ raison. 6. Ils \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ peur des araignées. **Answers:** 1. ai 2. as 3. a 4. avons 5. avez 6. ont 2\. Form the passé composé using *avoir* as the auxiliary verb and the correct past participle for each sentence. 1. Elle \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (manger) une pomme. 2. Nous \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (regarder) un film hier soir. 3. Tu \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (acheter) un cadeau pour ton frère. 4. Ils \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (étudier) toute la nuit. 5. J' \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (lire) ce livre plusieurs fois. 6. Vous \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (visiter) Paris l'année dernière. **Answers:** 1. a mangé 2. avons regardé 3. as acheté 4. ont étudié 5. ai lu 6. avez visité Did you answer the questions correctly? Keep practicing and using it in different sentences to further strengthen your French power! ### German Verbs Advanced: Tenses and Moods Uncovered URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-verbs-advanced-tenses-and-moods-uncovered/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:01.000Z In the [previous blog post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-verbs/), we explored how different verb types are conjugated in the present tense under the influence of various personal pronouns. Now, we will delve deeper into the effects of different tenses and moods on verb conjugation. If you find this topic confusing, join us in learning more about it! ## **Verb Conjugation in Different Tenses** Similar to English, German also includes a wide range of tenses to construct temporal relationships, making the temporal information conveyed by the language more precise. The diversity of tenses leads to different characteristics in verb conjugation, which in turn reflects the temporal status of language expression. ### **Present Tense** The present tense is used to describe actions that are currently happening or habitual actions. In German, the present tense conjugation of verbs depends on the subject pronouns and the verb classification (weak, strong, or mixed). When conjugating weak verbs or mixed verbs in the present tense, we need to use inflectional suffixes (-e, -st, -t, -en) to replace the original verb endings (en/eln/ern). However, for strong verbs in the present tense, under the influence of the second person singular pronoun “du” and the third person singular pronoun, the vowel in the original verb stem undergoes a change and the corresponding inflectional suffix (-st, -t) is added. Under the influence of other personal pronouns, the conjugation of strong verbs is the same as that of weak verbs and mixed verbs. Take the weak verb “machen” (to do), the mixed verb “denken” (to think), and the strong verb “fahren” (to travel) as examples below: | **Subject Pronoun** | **“machen”** **(to do)** | **“denken”** **(to think)** | **“fahren”** **(to travel)** | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------ | --------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | **ich** (I) | mach**e** | denk**e** | fahr**e** | | **du** (you- informal) | mach**st** | denk**st** | f**ä**hr**st** | | **er**/**sie**/**es** (he/she/it) | mach**t** | denk**t** | f**ä**hr**t** | | **wir** (we) | mach**en** | denk**en** | fahr**en** | | **ihr** (you- plural) | mach**t** | denk**t** | fahr**t** | | **sie** (they) | mach**en** | denk**en** | fahr**en** | | **Sie (**you- formal**)** | mach**en** | denk**en** | fahr**en** | ### **Simple Past Tense** The simple past tense in German is used to describe actions or events that occurred in the past and are completed. For weak verbs, the simple past tense forms by swapping out their original endings with suffixes: -te, -test, -te, -ten, -tet, -ten. As for mixed verbs, the conjugation in the simple past tense is reflected in both the vowel changes in the verb stem and the replacement of the original endings with inflectional suffixes. For strong verbs, the verb stem undergoes significant changes in the simple past tense, but the inflectional suffixes used for replacement correspond to those found in some present tense conjugations (-st, -t, -en). The table below illustrates the conjugation of the weak verb “machen” (to do), the mixed verb “denken” (to think), and the strong verb “fahren” (to travel) in the simple past tense. | **Subject Pronoun** | **“machen”** **(to do)** | **“denken”** **(to think)** | **“fahren”** **(to travel)** | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------ | --------------------------- | ---------------------------- | | **ich** (I) | mach**te** | d**a**ch**te** | f**u**hr | | **du** (you- informal) | mach**test** | d**a**ch**test** | f**u**hr**st** | | **er**/**sie**/**es** (he/she/it) | mach**te** | d**a**ch**te** | f**u**hr | | **wir** (we) | mach**ten** | d**a**ch**ten** | f**u**hr**en** | | **ihr** (you- plural) | mach**tet** | d**a**ch**tet** | f**u**hr**t** | | **sie** (they) | mach**ten** | d**a**ch**ten** | f**u**hr**en** | | **Sie (**you- formal**)** | mach**ten** | dach**ten** | fuh**ren** | ### **Perfect Tense** The perfect tense in German is formed using a combination of the auxiliary verb “haben” (to have) or “sein” (to be) and the past participle of the main verb. The perfect tense is used to indicate actions or events that have occurred in the past. Unlike English, spoken German generally prefers to use the present perfect tense to express past actions instead of the simple past tense. Let's first take a look at the conjugation of “haben” and “sein”. | **Subject Pronoun** | **“haben” (to have)** | **“sein” (to be)** | | --------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------ | | **ich** (I) | habe | bin | | **du** (you- informal) | hast | bist | | **er**/**sie**/**es** (he/she/it) | hat | ist | | **wir** (we) | haben | sind | | **ihr** (you- plural) | habt | seid | | **sie** (they) | haben | sind | | **Sie (**you- formal**)** | haben | sind | ![German Verbs Tenses](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/06/Blog-12-2-1.jpg) For the main verbs, we need to differentiate between different types of verbs to complete the conjugation. Weak verbs generally add \[ge\] as a prefix and replace the ending with \[t\]. Mixed verbs undergo stem changes first (vowel replacement), then add the \[ge\] prefix and remove the ending, replacing it with \[t\]. The past participle of strong verbs has uncertain stem changes: sometimes the stem changes, sometimes it does not, butthe \[ge\] prefix and \[en\] suffix are always added. The table below shows the conjugation of “machen” (to do), “denken” (to think) and “fahren” (to travel), and stong verb “schließen” (to close) in the perfect tense. | | **“machen”** | **“denken”** | **“fahren”** | **“schließen”** | | ------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------------- | | **past participle** | **ge** **mach** **t** | **ge**d**a**ch**t** | **ge**fahr**en** | **ge**schl**o**ss**en** | ### **Future Tense** The future tense in German is formed using the auxiliary verb “werden” (to become) followed by the infinitive form of the main verb. It is used to express actions or events that will occur in the future. The table below shows the conjugation of “werden” (to become) in the present tense. | **Subject Pronoun** | **Conjugation of** **“werden” (to become)** | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | **ich** (I) | werde | | **du** (you- informal) | wirst | | **er**/**sie**/**es** (he/she/it) | wird | | **wir** (we) | werden | | **ihr** (you- plural) | werdet | | **sie** (they) | werden | | **Sie (**you- formal**)** | werden | ## **Verb Conjugation in Different Moods** In German, the mood of a verb indicates the attitude of the speaker towards the action. There are three primary moods in German: indicative, imperative and subjunctive. Each mood has its specific uses and conjugation rules. Understanding these moods helps us convey different nuances in our communication. ### **Indicative Mood** The indicative mood in German is used to express statements, facts, or questions. In this blog post, we delved into the intricacies of indicative mood conjugation, which serves as a foundation for understanding the more nuanced moods. Now, let's shift our focus to these other moods. ### **Imperative Mood** The imperative mood is used for giving commands or making requests. It directly addresses the listener and tells them what to do. The imperative mood in German mainly involves the second person singular (informal and formal), the second person plural, and the first person plural. In the imperative mood of the second person singular (du), verbs retain only their stems. Some verbs require the addition of '-e' while removing the endings, such as those ending in '-ig', '-t', or '-d', or stems ending in an obstruent consonant plus a nasal consonant ( more information about [obstruent consonant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstruent?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [nasal consonant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal%5Fconsonant?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)). Examples include stems ending in -fn or -gn. Let’s see an example: > e.g. **Mach(e) deine Hausaufgabe! -- Do your homework!** This is the conjugation of 'machen' (to do) in the imperative mood for the second person singular. However, for the second person singular formal, second person plural and first person plural, the imperative mood conjugation of verbs remains the same as the present tense. > e.g. **Kinder, öffnet (“ihr” is omitted) das Fenster. - Children, open the window.** > e.g. **Bitte setzen Sie (retained) sich. - Please have a seat.** > e.g. **Spielen wir (retained) jetzt Basketball! - Let’s play basketball right now!** ### **Subjunctive Mood** The subjunctive mood is used to express hypotheticals, wishes, indirect speech, and polite requests. There are two forms of the subjunctive mood in German: Subjunctive I and Subjunctive II. Subjunctive I is used primarily for indirect speech to report what someone said, asked, or commanded. The conjugation rules of Subjunctive I is adding specific endings to the verb stem. According to the different pronouns, there are 4 endings: -e (ich , er/sie/es), -est (du), -en (Wir/ Sie/ sie), et (ihr). We'll take “lesen“ (to read) as an example to observe the conjugation of verbs in Subjunctive I. | **Subject Pronoun** | **Conjugation of “lesen” (to read)** | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | | **ich** (I) | lese | | **du** (you- informal) | lesest | | **er**/**sie**/**es** (he/she/it) | **lese** | | **wir** (we) | lesen | | **ihr** (you- plural) | leset | | **sie** (they) | lesen | | **Sie (**you- formal**)** | lesen | Subjunctive II is used for hypothetical situations, wishes, or polite requests. Strong verbs build upon their past tense conjugation by adding subjunctive mood endings (as explained in the previous section). The following table illustrates the past tense conjugation and second subjunctive mood conjugation of the verb “fahren” (to travel). | **Subject Pronoun** | **Simple Past Tense** | **Subjunctive II** | | --------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------ | | **ich** (I) | fuhr | f**ü**hr**e** | | **du** (you- informal) | fuhrst | f**ü**hr**est** | | **er**/**sie**/**es** (he/she/it) | fuhr | f**ü**hr**e** | | **wir** (we) | fuhren | f**ü**hr**en** | | **ihr** (you- plural) | fuhrt | f**ü**hr**et** | | **sie** (they) | fuhren | f**ü**hr**en** | | **Sie (**you- formal**)** | fuhren | f**ü**hr**en** | Mixed verbs, building upon their past tense conjugation, require replacing the stem vowels “a, o, u“ with variable vowels “ä, ö, ü”. The table below illustrates the past tense conjugation and second subjunctive mood conjugation of the mixed verb “bringen” (to bring). | **Subject Pronoun** | **Simple Past Tense** | **Subjunctive II** | | --------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------ | | **ich** (I) | brachte | br**ä**chte | | **du** (you- informal) | brachtest | br**ä**chtest | | **er**/**sie**/**es** (he/she/it) | brachte | br**ä**chte | | **wir** (we) | brachten | br**ä**chten | | **ihr** (you- plural) | brachtet | br**ä**chtet | | **sie** (they) | brachten | br**ä**chten | | **Sie (**you- formal**)** | brachten | br**ä**chten | The conjugation of weak verbs in the second subjunctive mood is identical to their past tense conjugation. The table below illustrates the conjugation of the past tense and the second subjunctive mood of the verb “machen“ (to do). | **Subject Pronoun** | **Simple Past Tense** | **Subjunctive II** | | --------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------ | | **ich** (I) | machte | machte | | **du** (you- informal) | machtest | machtest | | **er**/**sie**/**es** (he/she/it) | machte | machte | | **wir** (we) | machten | machten | | **ihr** (you- plural) | machtet | machtet | | **sie** (they) | machten | machten | | **Sie (**you- formal**)** | machten | machten | ![German Verbs Moods](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/06/Blog-12-3.png) ## **Practice Resources and Reference Tools** We’ve covered German verb conjugation so far. It's time to practice and explore further resources. Here are some valuable tools that may help you to enhance your skills: ### **Verb Conjugation Exploration:** - [Conjugation of the verb fahren in all German tenses](https://verben.org/en/conjugation/fahren?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): A comprehensive database about verb conjugation ### **Verb Practice:** - [German verbs & conjugation - online exercises](https://german.net/exercises/verbs/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Interactive exercises for verb practice tailored to different skill levels - [Verb conjugation drills](https://www.vocabulix.com/online/Learn/Verbs?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Customizable exercises to improve your vocabulary and conjugation skills with customizable exercises. - [Advanced German Verbs Flashcards | Quizlet](https://quizlet.com/11677410/advanced-german-verbs-flash-cards/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) : The Advanced German verbs knowledge tests with flashcards and quizzes - [German Verbs](https://conjuguemos.com/activities/german/verb/1?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): The additional resources on platforms like Conjuguemos for varied practice activities. ### **Common German Verbs:** - [Top 100 German verbs](https://www.thegermanprofessor.com/top-100-german-verbs/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): The list of the most frequently used German verbs for you to build a strong German foundation Regular practice with short German exercises will help you recognize these tense and mood patterns more naturally. Besides your own efforts, these resources will help you to greatly enhance your verb conjugation skills and progress in your German learning journey! ### "Ça" in French: The Versatile French Pronoun URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/ca-in-french-the-versatile-french-pronoun/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:39.000Z Learning French can be a delightful journey, especially when you come across small but mighty words like "ça." This little pronoun is a staple in everyday French conversation, and getting used to its usage can help you sound more natural and fluent. ## **Understanding "Ça"** "Ça" is an informal pronoun that roughly translates to "it" or "that" in English. It's a go-to word in French, used in countless expressions and phrases. Whether you're greeting a friend, making plans, or simply pointing something out, "ça" is likely to pop up. ## **Common Phrases with "Ça"** Here are some common phrases that feature "ça," along with their meanings and examples of how to use them: ### **Ça va ?** **Meaning:** How are you? / How's it going? This is probably one of the first phrases you learn in French. It's a versatile greeting that can be used in both formal and informal settings. - **Example:** - *A: Salut! Ça va ? (Hi! How are you?)* - *B: *Ça va*, et toi ? (Fine, and you?)* ### **Ça marche.** **Meaning:** That works. / It's working. This phrase is used to confirm that something is going according to plan or that a solution is acceptable. - **Example:** - *On se retrouve à 18h ? (See you at 6pm?)* - *Oui, *ça marche* ! (Yes, it works!)* ### **Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ?** **Meaning:** What is that? This is a great phrase for expressing curiosity or surprise about something unfamiliar or unexpected. - **Example:** - **Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça* sur la table ? (What's that on the table?)* - *C'est un cadeau pour toi ! (It's a gift for you!)* ### **Ça dépend.** **Meaning:** It depends. This phrase is handy when you need to express that something isn't black and white, and the outcome or answer relies on various factors. - **Example:** - *Tu viens ce week-end ? (Are you coming this weekend?)* - **Ça dépend* du temps. (*It depends* on the weather.)* ### **Comme ça.** **Meaning:** Like this. / Like that. You can use "comme ça" to demonstrate how something should be done or to describe a manner or style. - **Example:** - *Fais-le *comme ça*. (Do it *like this*.)* - *D'accord, je vais essayer. (Okay, I'll give it a try.)* ### **C'est ça.** **Meaning:** That's it. / That's right. This expression is perfect for confirming information or agreeing with someone. - **Example:** - *Tu veux dire que c'est fini ? (You mean it's over? )* - *Oui, *c'est ça*. (Yes, *that's it*.)* ### **Ça suffit !** **Meaning:** That's enough! Express frustration or set a limit with this assertive phrase. - **Example:** - *Les enfants, arrêtez de crier ! *Ça suffit* ! (Kids, stop screaming! *Stop it*! )* ### **Ça ne fait rien.** **Meaning:** It doesn't matter. You can use this phrase to reassure someone or downplay the significance of something. - **Example:** - *Je suis désolé pour le retard. (I'm sorry for the delay.)* - **Ça ne fait rien*, ça arrive. (*Never mind*, it happens.)* ### **Ça me plaît.** **Meaning:** I like it. This is a simple yet effective way to express your enjoyment or approval of something. - **Example:** - *Tu aimes ce film ? (Do you like this movie?)* - *Oui, *ça me* plaît beaucoup. (Yes, *I like that* very much.)* ### **Ça y est !** **Meaning:** That's it! / It's done! Try to use this phrase to announce the completion or achievement of something. - **Example:** - *J'ai enfin fini mes devoirs. (I finally finished my homework.)* - **Ça y est* ! Super ! (That's it! All right!)* ![Common Phrases with "Ça"](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/06/Blog-12-2.jpg) ## **Idiomatic Expressions with "Ça"** "Ça" is also part of many idiomatic expressions. ### **Ça me fait plaisir** - **Meaning:** I'm pleased. / It pleases me. - **Example:** - A: *Merci pour ton aide. (Thanks for your help.)* - B: **Ça me fait plaisir* de pouvoir t'aider.* (**It makes me happy* to be able to help you.*) ### **Ça va sans dire** - **Meaning:** It goes without saying. - **Example:** **Ça va sans dire*, tu es toujours le bienvenu chez nous. (*It goes without saying* that you're always welcome here.)* ### **Ça alors** - **Meaning:** Well, I never! / Goodness! - **Example:** *Il a gagné à la loterie ? *Ça alors* ! (Did he win the lottery? *Goodness*!)* ### **Ça ne tient pas debout** - **Meaning:** It doesn't hold up. / It doesn't make sense. - **Example:** *Ton excuse, *ça ne tient pas debout*. （Your excuse *doesn't make sense*.）* ### **Ça n'a rien à voir** - **Meaning:** It has nothing to do with it. - **Example:** *Ce qu'il dit, *ça n'a rien à voir* avec le sujet. (What he says *has nothing to do with* the subject.)* ### **Ça fait du bien** - **Meaning:** It feels good. / It's good for you. - **Example:** *Une promenade à la campagne, *ça fait du bien*. (A walk in the country *is good for you*.)* ### **Ça ne se fait pas** - **Meaning:** It's not done. / It’s something that isn’t done. - **Example:** *Mettre les coudes sur la table, *ça ne se fait pas*. (*You can't* put your head on the table!)* ### **Ça promet** - **Meaning:** It looks promising / That bodes well. - **Example:** *Avec une équipe aussi motivée, *ça promet* pour l'avenir. (With such a motivated team, *it's promising* for the future.)* ### **Ça vaut le coup** - **Meaning:** It's worth it. - **Example:** **Ça vaut le coup* de visiter cette ville. （*It's worth* a visit.）* ### **Ça se comprend** - **Meaning:** It's understandable. - **Example:** *Tu es fatigué après une journée pareille, *ça se comprend*. （You'*re understandably* tired after a day like that.）* ## **Usage in Different Contexts** "Ça" can be used in various contexts, from casual conversations to more formal settings. However, it's generally considered informal, so in very formal situations, you might opt for more precise terms. ![Idiomatic Expressions with "Ça"](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/06/Blog-12-3.jpg) ### **Informal vs. Formal** In everyday speech, "ça" is perfect. However, in formal writing or very formal speech, you might see "cela" used instead. **Situational Examples** | English | Informal | Formal | | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | | That works. | ***Ça*** *marche.* | ***Cela*** *fonctionne.* | | I know that it won’t be easy. | *Je sais que* ***ça*** *ne va pas être facile.* | *Je sais que* ***cela*** *ne sera pas facile.* | | What does that mean? | *Qu'est-ce que* ***ça*** *veut dire ?* | *Que signifie* ***cela*** *?* | | It happens often. | ***Ça*** *arrive souvent.* | ***Cela*** *se produit souvent.* | | It depends on the circumstances. | ***Ça*** *dépend des circonstances.* | ***Cela*** *dépend des circonstances.* | Though "ça" is just a small word, it wields significant power in French conversation. Mastering its usage will elevate your fluency and make you sound more like a native speaker. So, why not start using "ça" in your daily chats? You’ll be amazed at how often it pops up and how versatile it can be! If you have any questions or need further clarification as you continue your French learning journey, don't hesitate to reach out to us! ### German Prepositions and Cases: All You Need to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-prepositions-and-cases-all-you-need-to-know/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:58.000Z Understanding German prepositions can sometimes feel like tackling a tricky puzzle, especially when you throw cases into the mix. For English speakers venturing into German, knowing how to use prepositions correctly is crucial for fluent communication. Here, we will get into the specifics, unravel common challenges, and offer practical tips and exercises to boost your confidence in using German prepositions effectively. ## **Understanding German Cases** Prepositions are words that establish relationships between elements within a sentence. In German, these connectors are essential for conveying spatial, temporal, and directional information. Each noun and pronoun in German must be in one of four cases: nominative, accusative, dative, or genitive. These cases are crucial in German grammar as they determine the endings of adjectives and indefinite articles. The choice of case depends on the word's role within the context. Understanding these cases is key to mastering German prepositions and using them correctly in your sentences. | Case | Explanation | Example | | | ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | German | English | | | | Nominative | Shows the subject of a sentence, the person or thing performing the action. | Der Hund bellt. | The dog barks.*“Der Hund (the dog)” is the subject, and “bellt (bark)” is the verb.* | | Accusative | Indicates the direct object of a verb, the person or thing receiving the action. | Ich sehe den Mann. | I see the man.*“Den Mann (the man)” is receiving the action “sehen (see)”.* | | Dative | Indicates the indirect object of a verb, often the person or thing affected by the action, “to whom.” | Ich gebe dem Kind ein Buch. | I give the child a book.*“Dem Kind (the child)” is in the dative case as it is the indirect recipient of the action “geben (to give)”.* | | Genitive | Indicates possession. | Das Auto des Mannes. | The car of the man. *“Des Mannes" (of the man) indicates possession, showing that the car belongs to the man.* | ![german definite article chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/06/Blog-7-2.png) ## **Understanding German Prepositions** Once you've got a solid handle on German cases, tackling prepositions becomes a breeze. In German, there are four types of prepositions: | Preposition type | Content | Prepositions | Examples | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Accusative(followed by a noun or pronoun in the accusative case) | Indicate DirectionDestinationSpecific point in time | *bis - until* *durch - through* *für - for* *gegen - against* *ohne - without* *um - around, at* | Der Laden ist **bis** 18 Uhr geöffnet. (The store is open until 6 p.m.)Die Veranstaltung beginnt **um** neun Uhr. (The event starts at nine o'clock.) | | Dative(followed by a noun or pronoun in the dative case) | IndicateLocationPositionRelationship between objects | *aus - out of, from* *außer - except for* *bei - at, near, with* *mit - with* *nach - after, to* *seit - since* *von - from, of* *zu - to* | Er kommt **aus** Deutschland. (He comes from Germany.)Ich gehe **mit** meinen Freunden. (I'm going with my friends.) | | Two-way (Accusative or Dative)(can take either the accusative or the dative case, depending on the context.) | IndicateLocationChange in position (accusative)Static position (dative) | *an* \- on, at, to*auf* \- on, onto, upon*hinter* \- behind*in* \- in, into*neben* \- next to, beside*über* \- over, above*unter* \- under, below*vor* \- in front of, before*zwischen* \- between | Das Buch liegt **auf** **dem Tisch**. (The book is on the table.)Der Stift liegt **neben** **dem Buch**. (The pen is next to the book.)Kannst du das Buch **auf den Tisch** legen? (Can you lay the book on the table?) Die Mutter stellt das Fahrrad **neben die Tür**. (The mother is placing the bike next to the door.) | | Genitive(followed by a noun or pronoun in the genitive case) | Indicate:PossessionRelationshipOrigin/Source | *anstatt* \- instead of*außerhalb* \- outside of*innerhalb* \- inside of*trotz* \- despite*während* \- during*wegen* \- because of | Er isst einen Salat **anstatt** einer Pizza. (He eats a salad instead of a pizza.)Das Konzert wurde **wegen** des Wetters abgesagt. (The concert was canceled because of the weather.) | ### **Advanced Tip: Fusion of prepositions and definite articles** Accusative and dative prepositions can blend with definite articles to create fused words. For example, "zu" (*to, at*) with "dem" (*the*, masculine dative article) is "zum" (*to the*). *E.g. Ich gehe *zum* Bahnhof. (I'm going to the train station.)* ![Fusion of accusative and dative prepositions and definite articles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/06/Blog-7-3.png) However, genitive prepositions do not follow this rule. Instead, to show the relationship, the prepositions taking the genitive case typically retain the definite article and add "-s" to the masculine and neuter noun. *E.g. *Wegen des* Regen*s* ist er nicht hier. (Because of the rain, he is not here.)* ## **Time to Practice!** Now that you have wrapped your head around German cases and prepositions, check out these practice questions to reinforce your understanding! Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition and case: 1. Sie wartet \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ den Bus. (for) 2. Seine Wohnung liegt \_\_\_\_\_\_ des Stadtkerns. (outside) 3. Ich komme \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Montag. (on) 4. Sie kommt \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Party. (to the) 5. Sie steht \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ dem Haus. (in front of) 6. Wir treffen uns \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Park. (in the) 7. Er sitzt \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Bank. (on the) 8. Ich komme \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Zug. (by) 9. Sie geht \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Park. (into the) 10. Ich gehe \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Schule. (to the) **Answers:** 1. Sie wartet **auf** den Bus. (She’s waiting for the bus.) 2. Seine Wohnung liegt **außerhalb** des Stadtkerns. (His apartment is located outside of the city center.) 3. Ich komme **am** Montag. (I’m coming on Monday.) 4. Sie kommt **zur** Party. (She’s going to the party.) 5. Sie steht **vor** dem Haus. (She’s standing in front of the house.) 6. Wir treffen uns **im** Park. (We’re meeting up in the park.) 7. Er sitzt **auf der** Bank. (He’s sitting on the bench.) 8. Ich komme **mit dem** Zug. (I’m coming by train.) 9. Sie geht **in den** Park. (She’s going into the park.) 10. Ich gehe **zur** Schule. (I’m going to school.) ## **Tips to Master German Prepositions** (and German in General!) ![Five tips to master German prepositions](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/06/Blog-7-4.png) Navigating the intricacies of German prepositions requires a combination of diligent practice and strategic learning techniques. Here are some tips to accompany you on this journey: **1\. Learn in Context**: Immerse yourself in authentic German experiences, from literature to films and conversations to news articles. By observing prepositions in their natural habitat, you will gradually grasp their meanings and usages within diverse contexts. **2\. Interactive Engagement**: Use language apps, websites, or games that transform the study of prepositions into an engaging adventure. With instant feedback, you will identify areas for improvement while enjoying the process. **3\. Flashcards**: Create your own system of flashcards and pair prepositions with their meanings or cases. Through regular review, these handy tools will reinforce your familiarity with German prepositions. **4\. Community Connection**: Language learning thrives on connection. Engage with fellow learners and native speakers in online forums, language exchange platforms, and social media groups. Participate in discussions and absorb the language's nuances through interaction. **5\. Consistent Practice**: Cultivate a daily language routine. Whether it is journaling or casual conversation, incorporating German into your daily life will strengthen your grasp of prepositions and deepen your understanding of grammar and vocabulary. The journey of exploring German prepositions may seem daunting, but with dedication and the right resources, you are well-equipped to succeed. Remember, it is not just about reaching fluency, but savoring the joys of language acquisition along the way. Consistent practice and clear examples will help you make steady progress throughout this learning journey. ### German Articles "Der," "Die," and "Das": a Quick Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-articles-der-die-and-das-a-quick-guide/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:53.000Z If you're a German learner, you've probably encountered the puzzling trio of definite articles: "der," "die," and "das." But fear not - these can be conquered! This quick guide will unravel the mysteries of these articles, empowering you to use them with confidence. Before we jump into "der," "die," and "das," it's crucial to understand that every noun in German has a gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. Here are some examples to illustrate each gender: | Noun Gender | German | English | | ----------- | ---------- | --------- | | Masculine | der Mann | the man | | der Tisch | the table | | | der Stuhl | the chair | | | Feminine | die Frau | the woman | | die Blume | the flower | | | die Katze | the cat | | | Neuter | das Haus | the house | | das Kind | the child | | | das Buch | the book | | As you can see, each gender has its corresponding article: - Masculine Nouns: "der" - Feminine Nouns: "die" - Neuter Nouns: "das" ![Different noun genders correspond to different German articles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/05/Blog-6-2.png) You may have also noticed that all German nouns are capitalized. Tip: The three articles above only apply to singular nouns. For plural nouns, regardless of their gender, use "die." For example, - die Tische (the tables) - die Blumen (the flowers) - die Häuser (the houses) ## **Tips for Mastering Noun Gender** 1. **Pay Attention to Word Endings** - Masculine Nouns often end in -er, -en, -el, or -ling. - Feminine Nouns often end in -ung, -heit, -keit, -schaft, -ei, and -ie - Neuter Nouns often end in -chen, -lein, -ment, -tum, -um, and -o The comprehensive chart is here: | Noun Gender | Noun Ending | Examples | English | | ----------- | --------------- | --------------- | ------------- | | Masculine | \-er | der Lehrer | the teacher | | \-en | der Boden | the floor | | | \-el | der Vogel | the bird | | | \-ling | der Frühling | the spring | | | Feminine | \-ung | die Zeitung | the newspaper | | \-heit | die Freiheit | the freedom | | | \-keit | die Möglichkeit | the possibility | | | \-schaft | die Mannschaft | the team | | | \-ei | die Bäckerei | the bakery | | | \-ie | die Theorie | the theory | | | Neuter | \-chen | das Mädchen | the girl | | \-lein | das Fräulein | the young lady | | | \-ment | das Argument | the argument | | | \-tum | das Datum | the date | | | \-um | das Museum | the museum | | | \-o | das Auto | the car | | ![Regular German noun endings for the three genders](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/05/Blog-6-3.png) 1. **Learn Nouns with Their Articles** Studying German nouns together with their articles can help reinforce the gender association. Remember, when you encounter a new noun, always learn it with its definite article (der, die, das). For example, instead of simply memorizing "Haus" (house), learn it as "das Haus" to remember that it's a neuter noun. Associating the gender with the noun from the beginning can reduce confusion later on. As you practice, try to recall the noun with its article to reinforce the gender association in your mind. 1. **Create Useful Flashcards** Using visual aids to help build vocabulary is a highly effective way for language learning, and this holds true for German as well. Creating informative flashcards with relevant images can greatly assist you in remembering the gender of nouns. Take the word "Haus" (house) as an example. You can include a picture of a house on one side of the flashcard and write "das Haus" on the other side. This approach allows you to test your vocabulary and understanding of noun gender with visual support. Alternatively, you could write "Haus" on one side and "das" on the other to specifically practice matching articles with nouns. 1. **Practice, Practice, Practice** Once you have created your flashcards, it's important to regularly practice with them. Remember, practice makes perfect. By consistently reviewing these flashcards, you can strengthen your memory and improve your ability to recall the gender of nouns when using them in sentences. Engaging with nouns in context will help you internalize their genders more naturally over time. ## Exercises **Let's practice:** Fill in the blank with the appropriate article: - \_\_\_ Lehrer (the teacher) - \_\_\_ Schule (the school) - \_\_\_ Auto (the car) - \_\_\_ Freundin (the friend, female) - \_\_\_ Stuhl (the chair) - \_\_\_ Mannschaft (the team) - \_\_\_ Name (the name) - \_\_\_ Mädchen (the girl) - \_\_\_ Park (the park) - \_\_\_ Woche (the week) **Answers:** - **der** Lehrer (the teacher) - **die** Schule (the school) - **das** Auto (the car) - **die** Freundin (the friend, female) - **der** Stuhl (the chair) - **die** Mannschaft (the team) - **der** Name (the name) - **das** Mädchen (the girl) - **der** Park (the park) - **die** Woche (the week) Congratulations on taking the first step toward mastering German articles! Understanding and correctly using "der," "die," and "das" is an important milestone in your German language journey. With continued practice, these articles will become second nature, and you'll find yourself using them effortlessly in your conversations. As you continue on with your language learning journey, it's important to remember that challenges are a natural part of the process. Each hurdle you overcome brings you closer to fluency. Stay motivated, keep practicing, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. Every error is an opportunity to learn and improve. Keep up the great work, and before you know it, you'll be speaking German with confidence and fluency! **Viel Erfolg** on your German learning journey! ### The Fascinating World of German Compound Words URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/the-fascinating-world-of-german-compound-words/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:13.000Z German is known for its long words, but have you noticed that these words are actually composed of smaller, interconnected words? This language is renowned for its linguistic creativity and efficiency, especially when it comes to forming compound words. These words, known as "*Komposita*" in German, are created by combining two or more smaller words to form a new, often longer word. This unique feature of the German language not only demonstrates its structural complexity but also reflects the culture and mindset of its speakers. This characteristic of German allows for the expression of complex ideas in a single word, a feat that may require multiple words in other languages. This efficiency is deeply ingrained in the German language and is a reflection of the German approach to daily communication and problem-solving. ## **The Structure of Compound Words** Compound words are a distinctive feature of the German language. Its structure usually follows a consistent pattern, which contributes to the language's efficiency and precision. Here we have listed some rules and basics of the structure: 1. **Composition**: Compound words are formed by combining two or more smaller words, known as "*Stammwörter*" (stem words) or "*Glieder*" (components). These components can be nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other parts of speech. 2. **Word Order**: The main word, which often determines the meaning of the compound, is placed at the end. This main word is typically a noun, but it can also be an adjective or verb. The other components are placed before the main word and provide additional information or modify its meaning. 3. **No Spaces or Hyphens:** Unlike English, where compound words are often written as separate words or with hyphens (e.g., "ice cream" or "mother-in-law"), compound words in German are typically written as a single word. This contributes to the visual length of German words and can sometimes make them appear daunting to language learners. 4. **Capitalization:** In compound words, only the first component is capitalized, regardless of the number of components in the word. For example, in the compound word "Fußballspieler" (football player), only "Fuß" (foot) is capitalized. ## **Types of Compound Words** There are several types of compound words in German, each based on the relationship between the words being combined. **Noun-noun compounds**, where two nouns are combined, are among the most common. - *"Schlüsselbund" (keychain) = "Schlüssel" (key) + "Bund" (bunch)* - *"Apfelbaum" (apple tree) = "Apfel" (apple) +"Baum" (tree)* **Verb-noun compounds** are formed by combining a verb with a noun to create a new noun. - *"Eislaufen" (ice skating) = "Eis" (ice) + "laufen" (to walk/run)* - *"Fahrradfahren" (bicycle riding)= "fahren" (to drive/ride) +"Fahrrad" (bicycle)* **Adjective-noun compounds** are created by combining an adjective with a noun to form a new noun. - *“Schnellzug” (express train) = "Schnell" (fast) + "Zug" (train)* - *"Blauauge" (blue eye) ="blau" (blue) + "Auge" (eye)* ![Types of German compound words](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/05/Blog-4-3.png) ## **Some Long Compound Words** One of the most notable features of compound words in German is their length. Some compound words can be exceptionally long, containing multiple components. Why not challenge yourself with the following examples? - **Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz** This famously long word refers to the "law for the delegation of monitoring beef labeling." It was created in 1999 in Germany as a humorous response to bureaucratic language. - **Kraftfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung** This compound word combines "*Kraftfahrzeug*" (motor vehicle), "*Haftpflicht*" (liability), and "*Versicherung*" (insurance) to describe motor vehicle liability insurance. - **Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft** This is another humorous creation, meaning "Association for Subordinate Officials of the Head Office Management of the Danube Steamboat Electrical Services." - **Verkehrsinfrastrukturfinanzierungsgesellschaft** This word combines "*Verkehrsinfrastruktur*" (transport infrastructure), "*Finanzierung*" (financing), and "*Gesellschaft*" (society) to describe a financing company for transport infrastructure. ## **The Meaning of Compound Words** The meaning of compound words in German is often the sum of its parts. Take for example the word "*Fahrrad*" (bicycle), which is made up of "*Fahr*" (drive) and "*Rad*" (wheel), literally meaning "drive wheel." This compound word perfectly describes the function of a bicycle, where the wheels are used for driving. Similarly, "*Fußball*" (football/soccer) combines "*Fuß*" (foot) and "*Ball*" (ball) to describe a game played primarily with the feet and a ball; “*Handschuh*” combined "*Hand*" (hand) and "*Schuh*" (shoe), meaning glove (the literal meaning is "hand shoe"). In these cases, the compound words have a straightforward, literal meaning that is easy to understand based on the individual parts. However, compound words in German can also have idiomatic or metaphorical meanings that are not immediately obvious from their individual parts. For example, "*Abendbrot*" (dinner) combines *"Abend*" (evening) and "*Brot*" (bread), but it refers to the evening meal rather than just bread eaten in the evening. Similarly, "*Fingerspitzengefühl*" (intuitive flair) combines "*Fingerspitze*" (fingertip) and "*Gefühl*" (feeling), but it describes a keen intuitive sense or skill, not just the feeling in one's fingertips. ![Master the meanings of German compound words](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/05/Blog-4-2.png) ## **Fun and Unusual Compound Words** German also has creative and sometimes humorous compound words. Here are some classic examples: - "*Fingerspitzengefühl*" (fingertip feeling) describes a delicate and intuitive approach to a situation. - “*Torschlusspanik*” (gate-closing panic) describes fear of running out of time or missing out on opportunities. “*Weltschmerz*” (world pain) means a feeling of melancholy or world-weariness. - “*Fernweh*” (distant pain) is longing for far-off places. ## **Tips to Master Compound Words** So how can German learners master these compound words? Here are some practical tips to help you learn and remember them effectively. 1. **Break them down:** Try to understand the individual components of compound words. Learn the meanings of prefixes, suffixes, and root words to understand how they combine to form new words. 2. **Practice with examples:** Use examples of compound words in context to understand how they are used. This will help you remember their meanings and how they are formed. 3. **Use mnemonic devices**: Create mnemonics or associations to help you remember the meaning of compound words. For example, you could associate "*Fahrrad*" (bicycle) with the idea of "driving a wheel." 4. **Practice regularly**: Incorporate compound words into your daily language practice. Try to use them in sentences or conversations to reinforce your understanding and memory. 5. **Read extensively**: Read books, articles, and other materials in German to encounter compound words in context. This will help you become more familiar with them and how they are used. Compound words show the complexity and flexibility of German. They allow speakers to express concepts with precision and nuance by combining words to create new terms. Mastering compound words is a crucial step for German learners, as it not only enhances your vocabulary but also deepens your understanding of the language's structure and creativity. It can be a challenging aspect of learning German, but with practice and perseverance, you can greatly improve your language skills and fluency! ### Mastering False Friends: Navigating the Pitfalls of English and French URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/mastering-false-friends-navigating-the-pitfalls-of-english-and-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:07.000Z In a scene from the Netflix series "Emily in Paris," Emily intended to order a croissant with fruit “preserves,” but she mistakenly asked for “la preservatif,” which means "condom" in French. This mistake created an embarrassing situation for Emily, but Mindy mentioned it is a common cause of confusion among French learners. > “*Un crayon is not a crayon, it's a pencil. Un medicine is not a medicine, it's a doctor.*” — Mindy ![Mindy is explaining false friends to Emily.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/04/emily-in-paris.jpg) The abundance of false friends between English and French can be confusing, but it is worth exploring these pitfalls and uncovering the nuances that make language learning more fascinating! ## **What Are "False Friends"?** False friends, also known as *faux amis*, are words or phrases in two languages that look or sound identical or similar, but have different meanings. These misleading words often result in confusion and misunderstandings, as illustrated in the scene from “Emily in Paris” mentioned above. ## **Why Did False Friends Arise?** **Cultural Influences** Some false friends emerged from cultural differences between languages. One such example is the French word "*sympathique*," which is often translated to "*friendly*" in English. However, in French, "*sympathique*" goes beyond mere friendliness, meaning someone or something that is pleasant, nice, or likable. **Historical Influences** Language evolution often leads to the divergence of meanings between related words. This process can give rise to false friends, where a word in one language retains an older meaning that has evolved differently in another language. For instance, the French word "*prénom*," meaning "*first name,*" has evolved from its Latin origins. In contrast, the English word "*prenominal*" has maintained a more literal meaning, referring to something that comes before a noun. **Morphological Variations** False friends can result from differences in word formation. For example, "*library*" in English and "*librairie*" in French both come from the Latin "*liber*," meaning "*book*." However, their meanings have diverged. "*Library*" refers to a collection of books for borrowing, while "*librairie*" refers to a place where books are sold. Understanding etymology is crucial to avoid confusion in language learning. **Semantic Shifts** Languages often experience semantic shifts, causing words with similar roots to diverge in meaning over time. For example, the French word "*location*," derived from the Latin "*locatio*," originally meant "*a place*." However, its meaning shifted to refer to a rental or lease. **Borrowed from Other Languages** Many English and French words have been borrowed from Latin, resulting in words that look similar but have distinct meanings. One such example is "*actuellement*." It closely resembles the English word “*actually*”, but it originates from Latin "*actualis*," meaning "*current*." ![The reason why false friends arise.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/04/blog-2-1.png) In addition to the above examples, here are other common false friends between English and French you ought to watch out for in daily life. | **French** | **English translation** | **English** | **French translation** | | ---------- | ----------------------- | ----------- | ---------------------- | | assister | to attend | assist | aider | | agenda | diary | agenda | l'ordre du jour | | blesser | injure | bless | bénir | | un car | a coach | car | voiture | | chair | flesh | chair | chaise | | coin | corner | coin | monnaie | | déception | disappointment | deception | duperie | | habit | clothing | habit | habitude | | lecture | reading | lecture | conférence | | raisin | grape | raisin | raisin sec | ## **How to Master False Friends?** False friends pose a big challenge for language learners, but once you understand their relationships and historical origins, you will find it easier to manage. Here are some tips to help you master false friends: **Contextual Learning:** Learning words in context can help you understand the true meanings and usage. This approach is more effective than just memorizing definitions, as it allows you to grasp the nuances of words and how they can change meaning depending on the context. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/04/3.png) Suggested tools: Watch French movies or TV series **Online Resources:** There are a lot of resources and apps available online to help you learn and understand false friends. These tools often highlight false friends, providing explanations and examples of correct word usage. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/04/3.png) Suggested tools: Language apps and website, YouTube videos, and short videos **Speaking and Writing Practice:** Regular practice speaking and writing in French can reinforce your understanding of correct word meanings and usage. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with the language! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2024/04/3.png) Suggested tools: Engage in conversations with French native speakers and keep a diary in French ![Some tools to overcome false friends.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/04/blog-3.png) Navigating false friends is an essential part of learning French. By understanding the origins and adopting effective learning strategies, you can enhance your language skills and steer clear of common pitfalls. Ultimately, you can turn these false friends into your "true friends" in mastering the language! ### Castilian Spanish vs Mexican Spanish, what are the differences? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/castilian-spanish-vs-mexican-spanish-what-are-the-differences/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:40.000Z ¡Hola amigos! Have you ever wondered the differences between "Castilian Spanish" and "Mexican Spanish"? As you may know, Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world, with millions of speakers across different regions and each region having its own unique word choices and expressions. Since Spain and Mexico are two of the most prominent Spanish-speaking countries, let's explore how the Spanish spoken in these two countries differs! **Pronunciation:** Spanish is a phonetic language, meaning it is pronounced as it is written. However, certain letters are pronounced differently in Castilian Spanish versus Mexican Spanish. In most parts of Spain, the letter c in front of the vowels e and i, and the letter z in front of a, o, and u, are pronounced as the English *th* sound as in “think.” However, in southern Andalusia in Spain, the letters c, z, and s are all pronounced as a sound similar to the *th* sound in English, a phenomenon known as *ceceo*. On the other hand, in Mexico, central Andalusia, and the Canary Islands, all three letters are pronounced as an "s" sound, a phenomenon known as *seseo*. These distinctions are particularly noticeable in words like *procesar -* "to process." Most Spaniards pronounce the word as “pro-the-sar,” southern Andalusians pronounce it as something similar to “pro-the-thar,” and Mexicans pronounce it as “pro-se-sar.” **Vocabulary:** While most of the vocabulary of Castilian Spanish and Mexican Spanish is the same, there are still some expressions that differ. For example, in Spain, the word for "phone" is *móvil*, while in Mexico, it's *celular.* Likewise, Mexicans use *computadora* for "computer," whereas Spaniards prefer *ordenador*. If you're new to Spanish, you may be confused by the variations in different learning resources. But don't panic - both are correct! **Expressions and Idioms:** Both Spain and Mexico have their own set of colorful phrases that can be puzzling for Spanish learners. For example, in Spain, you might hear someone calling a guy *tronco* – what they really mean is “dude”. However, if you called someone *tronco* in Mexico, they would most likely get mad at you because they would understand it as “dumb”. Similar nuances in the expressions can lead to funny or confusing situations if not understood properly. **Grammar:** There are notable differences in grammar between Castilian Spanish and Mexican Spanish. The most obvious one is the way of referring to “you all”: Spaniards prefer the plural second person pronoun *vosotros*, whereas Mexicans use the plural third person pronoun *ustedes*. Another difference is shown in talking about past events. In Spain, the present perfect tense is preferred; in Mexico, the preterite (simple past) tense is preferred. For example, to express that they ate lunch, Spaniards are more likely to say *He comido*, whereas Mexicans would probably say *Comí*. The above differences highlight the diversity and richness of the Spanish language across different regions. ![Castilian Spanish and Mexican Spanish differ in produnciation, vocabulary, idioms, frammar and expression.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/04/image-2.png) Now you have a taste of the differences between Castilian Spanish and Mexican Spanish! Whether you're planning a trip to Spain or Mexico, or simply have a love for languages, knowing these differences is valuable and helpful. Here is one final note: Castilian Spanish and Mexican Spanish are mutually intelligible, which means that speakers of one variety can generally understand and communicate with speakers of the other variety. So, whether you are learning Castilian Spanish or Mexican Spanish, be confident in your learning journey! \* *Castilian Spanish: the standard form of the Spanish language as spoken in Spain.* ### RM Learned English from "Friends" - Master Languages Through Movies URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/master-languages-through-movies/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T04:23:05.000Z Have you watched RM's impressive English speech at the United Nations a few years back? If not, you should check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTe4f-bBEKg RM, a member of the Korean boy group BTS, revealed that he learned English from the sitcom "Friends." > "*I taught myself English. My English teacher was the sitcom Friends.*" — RM He also shared his steps on how to learn English from "Friends": Step 1: Watching it with Korean subtitles Step 2: Watching it with English subtitles Step 3: Watching it without any subtitles RM's language learning method can actually be applied to learning other foreign languages. Let's explore more about this learning approach! ## Benefits for Leaning languages from Movies and TV Series Movies and TV series offer numerous benefits for language learners, as well as provide an immersive language environment. ![3 benefits of learning languages frim Voies and TV](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/04/blog-1-2-2.png) **Immersive Experiences:** Watching movies and TV series in a foreign language provides an immersive learning experience, allowing you to dive into real-life situations. Such exposure can enhance your language skills, especially vocabulary, listening, and speaking. **Vocabulary Expansion:** Movies and TV shows often use a wide range of vocabulary, including slang and idioms, which can make your conversations more authentic. Exposing yourself to various contexts and situations can help you get used to new expressions in a more memorable way. **Cultural Insights:** Watching foreign movies and TV series can provide valuable insights into the culture and customs behind the language being learned. This cultural context can deepen the understanding of the language and make the learning experience more enriching. ## Master Languages in RM Way To make the most of movies and TV series for language learning, you can definitely follow RM's tips: ![3 steps to master languages with Movies and TV](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/04/blog-1-2-1.png) **Step 1: Watching the show with subtitles in your language** Starting with subtitles in your native language can help you understand the scene and dialogue, making sure you grasp the context and meaning of the words being said. This initial understanding provides a solid foundation for further language learning, helping you build confidence in your comprehension skills. **Step 2: Watching the show with subtitles in the target language** Switching to subtitles in your target language can help you associate written words with spoken language, which can help you recognize and understand the language in both written and spoken forms. This not only enhances your reading and listening skills simultaneously but also reinforces the connection between written and spoken language, and ultimately improves your overall language comprehension. **Step 3: Watching the show without any subtitles** Once you feel more comfortable, watching the show without subtitles can further reinforce your learning and greatly improve your overall target language skills. This challenges you to rely solely on your listening skills, forcing you to understand native speakers and helping you become more fluent in the language. Now you understand how to effectively use movies and TV series to learn new languages! This learning method allows you to immerse yourself in an environment that boosts your vocabulary, listening skills, and cultural understanding. However, you should always choose language learning styles based on your own interests, situations, and goals. Therefore, watching movies and TV shows may not be applicable to all learners. Some language learners want to follow structured courses, and some may just want to learn in a more practical way. ## Combine Entertainment with Structured Study Movies and TV shows work best as one part of a broader learning routine. Structured lessons can explain grammar and vocabulary systematically, while authentic scenes provide listening practice and show how expressions are used in context. Choose material that matches your current level, revisit short scenes, and record useful expressions. Consistent practice matters more than watching a large amount of content at once. ### Korean Grammar 101: An Easy Guide for Beginners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-grammar/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:08.000Z Learning a new language can be a thrilling adventure, and one language that has gained significant popularity in recent years is [Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-language/). With its unique grammar structure and rich cultural heritage, Korean presents an exciting challenge for language enthusiasts. ## Quick Answer: What are the foundations of Korean grammar? Korean commonly uses predicate-final sentence patterns. Particles mark roles such as topic, subject and object; verb and adjective endings express tense, mood, politeness and connection; subjects and objects may be omitted when context makes them clear. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ---------- | ---------------------------------- | | Word order | typically predicate-final | | Particles | mark roles and discourse functions | | Endings | express grammar and speech level | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In this blog article, we will delve into some frequently asked questions about **Korean grammar** and provide tips to help you better understand the structure of this fascinating language. Let's go! ## What is the basic sentence structure of Korean? One of the fundamental aspects of Korean grammar is its subject-object-verb (SOV) [sentence structure](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/). Unlike English, where the object comes after the verb, Korean always puts the verb at the very end of a sentence. For example, “I ate an apple” in English would be expressed as “I apple ate” in Korean, written as “나는 사과를 먹었어요” (Naneun sagwareul meogeosseoyo). ![Diagram comparing English subject–verb–object order with Korean subject–object–verb order](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-vs-english-sentence.png) ## How are verb endings used to express tenses and politeness levels? In Korean, verb endings play a crucial role in expressing **tenses, politeness levels, and other grammatical nuances.** The verb endings can change depending on the [speech level](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/) (formal, informal, casual), the relationship between speaker and listener, and the context of the conversation. For instance, the verb ending “-요” (yo) is commonly used to express politeness, while “-다” (da) is a plain casual ending. Also, the verb ending “-ㅂ니다” (bnida) is used in formal situations. For example, 먹습니다 (meokseumnida) sounds more formal and polite than 먹다 (meokda). ## What are honorifics and how are they used? Korean culture values **respect and hierarchy**, which is reflected in its honorific system. **Honorifics are linguistic expressions used to honor and show respect towards someone who is older, higher in status, or more senior.** They are employed through **verb endings, titles, and speech patterns.** For example, the verb ending “-시-” (si) is used to indicate politeness and honorific form when addressing someone of higher social standing. We have another article that explains [Korean honorifics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/) in detail, if interested. ![korean honorifics](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/4-4.png) ## Korean particles Particles are small words that attach to nouns, pronouns, and verbs, modifying their meanings or indicating their relationships within a sentence. They play a crucial role in **clarifying subjects, objects, locations, possession, and more.** Some common particles used in Korean include: - [\-은/는 (-eun/neun)](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-subject-topic-particles/) for indicating the topic or subject - [\-이/가 (-i/ga)](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-subject-topic-particles/) for marking the subject - \-을/를 (-eul/reul) for marking the object - \-에 (-e) for indicating location or direction To learn more about how to use Korean particles, read [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-particles/). ## Plurals and counters in Korean Unlike English, Korean does not have strict rules for forming plurals. The context usually clarifies whether a noun is meant to be singular or plural. However, counters (also known as measure words) are frequently used after numbers to count objects. Different counters are used for different types of objects, such as animals, people, flat objects, cylindrical objects, and more. For example, “three books” is expressed as “책 세 권” (chaek se gwon), where 권 (gwon) is the counter for books. ## Korean adjectives In Korean, adjectives play a significant role in describing nouns and expressing qualities. Unlike English, where adjectives remain unchanged regardless of the noun they modify, [Korean adjectives](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-adjectives/) can change their forms to match the grammatical context. Adjectives typically end in “-다” (da) when used in their basic form. When modifying a noun directly, they end in “-인” (in). For example, the adjective “beautiful” is 아름다워요 (areumdawoyo) in its basic form, but it becomes 아름다운 (areumdawoon) when modifying a noun, such as “beautiful person” (아름다운 사람, areumdawoon saram). ## Korean nouns Korean nouns can be broadly categorized into three groups: native Korean words, Sino-Korean words, and loanwords. Native Korean words are the original words that belong to the Korean language. They are typically shorter and simpler in structure compared to Sino-Korean words and loanwords. Examples of native Korean words include "사람" (person), "물" (water), and "산" (mountain). Sino-Korean words are words borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean vocabulary. Sino-Korean words often have a more formal or technical connotation. They usually consist of two or more Chinese characters called [Hanja](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/). Examples of Sino-Korean words include "학교" (school), "의사" (doctor), and "과학" (science). Loanwords are borrowed from other languages, primarily English (called [Konglish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/konglish/)), and adapted into the Korean language. Loanwords often reflect cultural, technological, or modern concepts that did not previously exist in Korean. Examples include "컴퓨터" (computer), "피자" (pizza), and "카페" (cafe). ## Korean pronouns [Pronouns in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-pronouns/) are used to replace or refer to nouns. However, compared to English, Korean has a more limited range of pronouns. The most common first-person pronoun is **저 (jeo)**, which can be used in formal situations. The informal and casual first-person pronoun is **나 (na)**. For the second-person pronoun, **당신 (dangsin)** is used in formal settings (yet this pronoun may sound aggressive in certain situations) and **너 (neo)** in informal settings. However, in most cases, Korean people tend to address others directly by their name or work title rather than using pronouns. It’s essential to note that the use of pronouns in Korean is less frequent compared to English, as context and speech levels often determine the subject of the sentence. ## Korean adverbs Adverbs in Korean are used to **modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs themselves.** They describe how an action is performed or provide information about the degree, time, frequency, location, or manner of an action. Many [adverbs in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-adverbs/) are formed by adding the suffix **“-게” (ge)** to the stem of an adjective. For example, the adjective “quick” is 빠르다 (ppareuda), and by attaching “-게” (ge), it becomes 빠르게 (ppareuge), meaning “quickly”. ## Korean verbs Verbs in Korean are the core elements of a sentence as they indicate actions. Korean verbs conjugate based on tense, politeness level, and weather the verb stem ends in a vowel or consonant. Here are the basic rules for conjugating Korean verbs: - Verb Stems: Korean verb stem is formed by removing the 다 (da) ending from the dictionary form of the verb. For example, the verb "가다" (gada) meaning "to go" has the stem "가" (ga). - Tenses: Korean verbs have different tenses to indicate the time of an action. The present tense is the base form of the verb, while past tense require additional endings. For past tense, add "었/았" (eot/at) after the verb stem. For the future tense, add "ㄹ/을" (l/eul) after the verb stem. - Politeness Levels: Korean verbs also change based on the level of politeness required in a conversation. For example, "-아요/어요" (ayo/eoyo) is added to the verb stem is added for Informal Politeness, while "-습니다" (seumnida) is added to the verb stem for Formal Politeness. To learn more about the details of Korean verbs and conjugation, check out [this article](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/). --- Mastering Korean grammar requires time and practice, but with dedication, you can unlock the beauty of this fascinating language. In this article, we explored some frequently asked questions and provided tips to help you navigate essential aspects of Korean grammar, including sentence structure, verb endings, honorifics, particles, and plurality. Embrace the journey of [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), and soon you will find yourself captivated by its linguistic intricacies and cultural richness. Happy learning! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Korean always SOV? SOV is a useful basic pattern, but natural sentences allow omission and variation because particles and context carry information. ### Do Korean verbs change by person? No. They change for tense, aspect, mood and speech level rather than grammatical person. ### Why are particles important? They identify roles and information structure, including topic, subject and object. ### What should beginners learn first? Practise a few sentence patterns with common particles and polite endings before expanding the system. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 6 Common Korean Dialects and How to Distinguish them URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dialects/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:34.000Z South Korea may be a small country geographically, but its linguistic diversity is rich and fascinating. While standard Korean, based on the Seoul dialect, is taught in schools and used in media, each region in Korea boasts its own unique dialect, known as **사투리 (satoori)**. These dialects add an extra layer of depth to the [Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-language/), and offer a window into the diverse cultures and histories of different regions. ## Quick Answer: Does a Korean learner need to study dialects? Most beginners should first build a foundation in standard Korean. Recognizing major regional varieties can later improve listening and cultural understanding, but learners do not need to speak every dialect. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----------- | ----------------------------- | | Foundation | standard Korean | | Recognition | regional sound and vocabulary | | Goal | understand before imitating | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ![Korean dialects map](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-dialects2.jpg) ## Is it necessary to learn different Korean dialects? Learning different Korean dialects isn’t strictly necessary for most Korean learners, especially beginners. Knowing the standard Korean language, which is based on the Seoul dialect, would allow you to communicate effectively throughout the country. However, learning about different Korean dialects could be beneficial depending on your goals and interests. If you plan on living in a particular region in Korea, or if you have a deep interest in Korean culture, understanding regional dialects would help you connect more intimately with the local community and culture. In addition, if you enjoy [Korean dramas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/) or [films](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-movies/), you’ll notice that characters often speak in different dialects depending on their backgrounds. Understanding these dialects can enrich your viewing experience. ## 6 Main Korean Dialects There are 6 main dialects in Korean, each representing a district in South Korea: Gyeonggi, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, Gangwon, Jeolla, Jeju. - The Gyeonggido dialect – 경기도 표준어 - The Gyeongsangdo dialect – 경상도 방언 - The Gangwondo dialect – 강원도 방언 - The Chungcheongdo dialect – 충청도 방언 - The Jeollado dialect – 전라도 방언 - The Jejudo dialect – 제주도 방언 ### Gyeonggido dialect **Gyeonggido dialect is also known as the standard Korean(표준어 pyojuneo) or Seoul dialect.** This is most people learn in textbooks or school and hear on television, movies, and radio in South Korea. While it’s spoken mostly in the Gyeonggi Province and Seoul, almost everyone in South Korea can understand this dialect. ### Gyeongsangdo dialect **Gyeongsangdo dialect is mainly spoken in Busan, Ulsan, and Daegu cities.** The dialects in these 3 cities also have some minor differences, with the Busan dialect being the most well-known. Gyeongsang is traditionally a conservative district, its dialect features **a strong intonation so can sound harsh and impolite** even if people are just talking normally. As a result, Gyeongsnagdo people also come off as straightforward, using short, direct sentences of the Gyeongsangdo dialect. Gyeongsangdo dialect is the only dialect in Korean that preserves tones, which means changing tones also changes the meaning of the word. ![tones in Gyeongsangdo dialect](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_8153.jpg) The Gyeongsangdo dialect has several distinguishing features: - Gyeongsang dialect often interchanges spoken and written language. For example, instead of using ‘집에 가’ (jib-e ga) and ‘몰라’ (molla), the written phrases '집 간다’ (jib ganda) and '모른다’ (moleunda) are often used in spoken language in Gyeongsang dialect. - Common use of endings like ‘노’ and ‘나’: For example, ‘뭐 뭇나’ and ‘뭐 뭇노’ mean ‘What did you eat?’. - Endings such as -예 (ye), -소 (so), -데이 (dei), -나 (na)?, -노 (no)? -는교 (neungyo)? are also characteristic of this dialect. In fact, **the Gyeongsangdo dialect can sound quite adorable once you get used to it**. In movies or TV shows, women speaking the Gyeongsangdo dialect are often perceived as extra cute. If interested in learning more about this dialect, we recommend watching the Korean drama [Reply 1997](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2782216/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Some BTS members also speak the Gyeongsangdo dialect. Jimin and Jungkook both speak the Busan dialect, while Suga and V speak the Daegu dialect. ### Gangwondo dialect: Gangwon-do dialect is close to the standard Korean, because it’s geographically close to Seoul. Gangwon-do is located in the northeast of South Korea with large farms and countryside. It’s not far away from Seoul so people there sound pretty close to standard Korea. Some people think the Gangwondo dialect sounds quite similar to North Korean dialect as well. ![A rural landscape in mountainous Gangwon Province, South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/gangwon-do.jpg) Some features of Gangwondo dialect include: - Pronouncing ㅆ (ss) as ㅅ (s). For example: 쌀 -살 (rice) - Changing the standard 아 (ah) sound to 어 (eo) at the end of sentences. - Ending questions in 나 (na), -노 (no), -고 (go), -가 (ga). - Ending sentences with (i)reyo instead of the most common iyeyo and yeyo K-pop star Kim Hee-chul is from Gangwon-do and can speak with the Gangwon-do dialect. ### Chungcheongdo dialect: Chungcheong is predominantly spoken in the Chungcheong province in the west-central region. **It is noted for a slower speech rate and wide pitch range, which is often seen as gentle and modest.** The largest city in Chungcheongdo is Daejeon. People in this area often spoke slowlier and come off as friendlier than people in other places. A unique feature of the Chungcheongdo dialect is the powerful word 뭐여 (mwoyeo), which can be used in almost any situation. ![powerful word mwoyeo in the Chungcheongdo dialect](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-dialects.jpg) Common features of Chungcheongdo dialect: - Replacing the standard 요yo ending with 유yu - Unique expressions like ‘워라빠빠’ (why are you rushing?) which is not used in standard Korean. - Often uses ‘거라’ instead of ‘겠어요’ as in the Jeollado dialect. We recommend watching Cheongdam-dong Alice (청담동앨리스) if you’re interested in learning more about the Chungcheongdo dialect. ### Jeollado dialect: Jeollado is also called Honam (meaning “south of the lake”). Jeollado is a liberal district famous for democratic movements in the Korean history, as well as a symbol of rebellion and aggressiveness. As a result, **the jeollado dialect sounds very fast and somewhat funny(빠르고 구수하다)**. Jeollado dialect has several unique features: - Using a unique verb ending ‘burida’ which adds emphasis to a sentence. - Using the sentence ending ‘sho’ instead of the more common ‘seyo’. For example, annyeonghaseyo would be “annyeonghasho” in Jeollado dialect. - Using the word ‘거시기 geoshigi’ when you forgot how to say something, kind of like “that thing” in English. To learn more about the Jeollado dialect, we recommend watching the film [Sunset in My Hometown](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7095852/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Jejudo dialect: Among all Korean dialects, **Jejudo dialect is the most distinct one, to the point it’s often considered a different language**. This is probably because Jeju Island is geographically separated from mainland Korea. Historically, this dialect is **influenced by Japanese and Mongolian**. 75% of the Jejudo dialect doesn’t even exist in standard Korean. But nowadays, most young people in Jejudo speak standard Korean as well, so communication wouldn’t be a big problem (unless you speak with the elderly who only know the Jejudo dialect). Because the Jejudo dialect is so different from standard Korean, it’s hard to describe any features of this dialect. If you know the Korean language, you’ll be able to distinguish this dialect immediately from others. To learn more about the Jejudo dialect, check out the Korean movie [계춘할망 (Canola)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6135036/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Dialects reflect a region’s history, environment, and temperament of its people. Whether it’s the soft, melodic Jeju dialect, reminiscent of the island’s tranquil scenery, or the expressive, lively dialect of Gyeongsang, each satoori tells its own story. By understanding these dialects, we delve deeper into Korean society and culture. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Russian Verbs of Motion | A Simple Guide to 'To Go' and More URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-verbs-of-motion/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:16:10.000Z Russian verbs of motion often have a variety of meanings, especially when combined with prefixes. This can be a headache for Russian beginners. Have you ever wondered why the verb “to arrive” and “to enter” look so similar in Russian? ## Quick Answer: How do Russian verbs of motion work? Russian motion verbs distinguish type of movement, direction and aspect. Learners commonly contrast determinate movement in one direction with indeterminate or repeated movement, then add prefixes for destination and path. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | --------------------------- | | Direction | one-way vs multidirectional | | Aspect | imperfective vs perfective | | Prefixes | path and result | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In this article, we’ll learn some of the most frequent verbs of motion in Russian. We’ll start with the most basic “to go” verbs and then show you how to form more motion verbs in Russian by adding prefixes before them. ## The 6 root verbs of “to go” in Russian First, simply the verb “to go” has 6 correspondents in Russian. They can be - идти / ходить - пойти: to go on foot - ехать / ездить - поехать: to travel by transport ### Imperfective vs Perfective verbs If you have read our previous article on [Russian verbs](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-verbs/) you’ll know Russian verbs go in pairs: imperfective and perfective verbs. **Imperfective verbs** are used to describe progress or habit. It's often used after time or frequency adverbs like часто, всегда, редко, когда. **Perfective verbs** are used to describe an action that is completed. It's quite like the perfect tense (have done) in English. For the "to go" verb, пойти and поехать are perfective verbs. Идти, ходить, ехать, ездить are imperfective verbs. For example: Я **ходила** в магазин каждый день. - I used to go to the store every day. Ты уже **поехала** на работу? - Have you already gone to work? **Пойдем** пешком! - Let's go on foot! ### Determinate vs indeterminate verbs Both “идти” and “ходить” (as well as “ехать” and “ездить”) are imperfective verbs in Russian, but they are used in slightly different contexts considering directionality and repetition of the action. The verb “идти” (or “ехать” for vehicles) is used to describe motion **in one specific direction, or for a single, ongoing event**. It’s a **determinate verb** that describes **going towards a specific destination**. It can be translated as “going” in English. For example, “Я иду в школу” means “I am going to school.” On the other hand, “ходить” (or “ездить” for vehicles) is used to express **the idea of going to different places, going back and forth, or a recurring event.** It’s an **indeterminate verb** that indicates **a regular or repeated action**. It is often translated as “to go”. For example, “Я хожу в школу каждый день” means “I go to school every day.” ### Russian verbs of motion conjugation Now let’s see how to conjugate these 6 motion verbs of “to go” in Russian. | **🚶‍♀️to go on foot** | **идти** | **ходить** | **пойти** | | ---------------------- | --------------- | ------------ | --------------------- | | я | иду | хожу | пойду | | ты | идёшь | ходишь | пойдёшь | | он / она | идёт | ходит | пойдёт | | мы | идём | ходим | пойдём | | вы | идёте | ходите | пойдёте | | они | идут | ходят | пойдут | | past | шёл / шла / шли | ходил(а/о/и) | пошёл / пошла / пошли | | future | Будет идти | Будет ходить | пойти | | imperative | иди(те) | ходи(те) | пойди(те) | | 🚗 **to travel by transport** | **ездить** | **ехать** | **поехать** | | ----------------------------- | ------------ | ----------- | ------------- | | я | езжу | еду | поеду | | ты | ездишь | едешь | поедешь | | он / она | ездит | едет | поедет | | мы | ездим | едем | поедем | | вы | ездите | едете | поедете | | они | ездят | едут | поедут | | past | ездил(а/о/и) | ехал(а/о/и) | поехал(а/о/и) | | future | Будет ездить | Будет ехать | поехать | | imperative | езди(те) | езжай(те) | поезжай(те) | ### Prepositions that come after ‘to go’ verbs in Russian In Russian, prepositions are used after motion verbs to indicate a direction, like “to” and “from” in English. When moving towards a place, use ‘в’, ‘на’, or ‘к’. To express movement away from a place, use ‘из’, ‘с’, or ‘от’. But why use 6 prepositions when there are only two in English? The answer lies in the place that comes after the prepositions. - **в - из + enclosed space** ‘в’ (into) is used when heading towards an enclosed space and is paired with ‘из’ (from) to express movement away from such places. For example:Я иду в магазин - I am going to the shop Я иду из магазина - I am coming from the shop’. - **на - с + open air, flat space or event** ‘на’ (onto) is used when going towards an open or flat surface. Conversely, ‘с’ (off) indicates movement away from such places. For example:Я иду на площадь - I am going to the square Я иду с площади - I am coming from the square. - **к - от + someone** Lastly, ‘к’ (to/towards) indicates movement towards someone or something, while ‘от’ (from/away) shows moving away. For example:Я иду к другу - I am going to a friend Я иду от друга - I am coming from a friend ## Common prefixes to form more verbs of motion Now we’ve leared the basics of Russian verbs of motion and how to use prepositions after them. In this part, we’ll see some prefixes that often comes before the root verbs to form new verbs of motion. - при - to arrive, to come - у - to leave, to go away - в - to go in, to enter - вы - to go out - за - to stop by - от - to move away - до - reach, as far as - про - up to, go through, go across - об - around Combine these prefixes with the verb roots below to form different verbs of motion in Russian. on foot: -**ходить** (imperfective) -**йти** (perfective) by transport: -**езжать** (imperfective) -**ехать** (perfective) For example: **Приходить** \- to arrive on foot (imperfective) **Прийти** \- to arrive on foot (perfective) **Въезжать** \- to enter by transport (imperfective) **Въехать** \- to enter by transport (perfective) Here are some example sentences:Сегодня вечером я туда **приду**. - I will come there tonight. Теперь **уходи**. - Now go away. Каждый день я **захожу** в магазин по дороге домой. - Every day I stop by the store on my way home. Он **выходит** из кафе и **идет** в парк. - He goes out the cafe and goes to the park. Она **приехала** в Москву вчера. - She arrived in Moscow yesterday. Мы **уехали** из Петербурга рано утром. - We left Saint Petersburg early in the morning. Я **прохожу** 6000 шагов каждый день. - I go 6000 steps every day. ## Russian verbs of motion table - бежать — бегать - to run - лететь — летать - to fly - плыть — плавать - to swim - нести — носить- to carry/bring - нестись — носиться- to fly/run (to travel fast) - вести — водить - to drive - везти — возить - to carry/take (someone) - лезть — лазить/лазать - to climb/push in/get involved - брести — бродить - to wander/walk - гнать — гонять - to chase/drive ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Improve Listening Skills in a Foreign Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/improve-listening/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:06:00.000Z Being able to understand spoken language is probably the most important and challenging part of learning a new language. Trivial variations in word choice, and accents can bring difficulty for comprehension. ## Quick Answer: How can you improve listening comprehension? Use frequent comprehensible input and combine extensive listening for overall meaning with intensive listening for detail. Preview context, listen more than once, check a transcript when available, and revisit difficult passages after studying the language they contain. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------------------------ | | Extensive | listen broadly for meaning | | Intensive | analyse a short passage | | Support | context, transcript and repeated listening | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. How to improve listening skills in a foreign language? While constant practice is the key, there are some tricks and tips to help you improve faster and more effectively. In this post, we will include: - overall strategies - specific methods - frequently asked questions By the end, you will be well on your way to better listening skills! ## **Overall Strategies to Improve Your Listening Skills** Before we go into the nitty gritties of how to improve your listening skills, here are some general strategies to bear in mind when it comes to improve listening in a foreign language. ### **Listen more is the key** To be honest, listening more is the key to improving your overall listening skills in a foreign language. Just find whatever way that keeps you interested and want to keep listening. Sometimes interest is the best teacher as you just need to put in the time. Don’t worry too much, get started with whatever material available at hand! ### **Leverage comprehensible listening** You do not need to understand everything you listen to, but you need to make sure the content is comprehensible. Comprehensible input refers to understandable language content, preferably something slightly above your current level. When choosing your listening materials, opt for ones where you understand about 70% to 80% of the content. Do not just use them as background noise that doesn’t mean anything to you. Finding the sweet spot in comprehension varies from learner to learner, but a good rule of thumb is to understand around 70-80% of what’s being said. That way, you can follow the context while also picking up new vocabulary and phrases. [Studies](https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1219424.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) have shown that among higher-level learners (B1), using authentic listening materials is more helpful than among lower-level learners (A1) Listen actively rather than passively. Make a conscious effort to understand the context, decipher new words, and even note them down for review later. ### **Diversify your listening resources** Variety, variety, variety. A common mistake language beginners often make is using a single type listening resource and ignoring the fact that **spoken language is very much diversified**. Getting used to one type of listening input (such as news) does not mean understanding another source of input (such as casual talk). Diversify your listening materials - watch movies, listen to podcasts, tune into radio broadcasts, or even watch foreign language shows on YouTube. This not only keeps your learning journey exciting but also exposes you to different accents, speaking speeds, and contexts, thereby rounding up your listening skills. ## **3 Methods and Activities to Improve Listening Comprehension** Now that we have the general strategies covered, let’s dive into the specifics of how to tackle common listening challenges in a foreign language. Let’s get our feet wet! ### **Prepare 3 things** To start a planned listening acceleration, you need 3 things: a table for progress tracking, a variety of resources, and a notebook for jotting down good expressions you hear. The table for progress tracking is to make sure you listen consistently. Set a goal for each day (like 60 minutes) and record what you’ve listened for the day and how you felt about it. Then prepare a variety of listening resources. Don’t just listen to whatever YouTube feeds you. Actively plan out different types of material to hone your ears. Here are some choices: - podcast - tv shows - news - audiobooks - movies - music Have a notebook at hand when you listen actively. Jot down whatever good expressions you hear and review them regularly. You can also keep your listening notes according to themes. For example, if you’ve been watching culinary shows, you can easily note down many words related to food and cooking. ### **Combine intensive listening with extensive listening** As we mentioned in the previous article about [how to improve reading skills](https://blog.lingodeer.com/improve-reading-skills-foreign-language/), listening practice can also be divided into intensive listening and extensive listening. But what does this mean? **Intensive listening** is listening with great concentration and trying to understand as much as possible. You’ll want to dissect each sentence, look up new vocabulary, and often slow down or replay sections to grasp the meaning fully. Common resources for intensive listening include **dialogues from your language textbook, a podcast episode aimed at learners, or a short news report in your target language**. **Extensive listening**, on the other hand, is about longer sessions and consuming content that’s more naturally paced. This might mean **watching an entire movie in the target language or listening to a podcast of your interest**. The key here is not to understand every single word, but to get the gist of the conversation or story. Both types of listening practice have their place. Intensive listening is excellent for drilling down on the nuances of the language, while extensive listening provides a real-world context, helping you to understand how the language is used naturally. ### **Common listening activities you can practice** Instead of simply listening, you can also try these activities below to add some fun or challenge yourself: Shadowing: Listen to a piece of content and repeat it out loud. This helps you get comfortable with the pace and intonation of the language. Transcribing: Listen to a piece of audio and write down what you hear. This is a great way to check your understanding and comprehension. Summarizing: After listening to a podcast episode or watching a video, try to summarize the main points. This practice ensures you’re not only understanding the words but also the ideas behind them. ## **Dealing with Common Problems in Foreign Language Listening** In this part, we’ll answer some commonly asked questions by language learners when it comes to improving listening skills. ### **Accents and dialects** Accents and dialects in foreign languages are like the nuances of music notes. To an untuned ear, it can be difficult to identify the basic note (language) being used. This is why language in textbooks and formal television shows sounds very different from that in the real world. Dialects, accents, and idiomatic expressions are all challenging for language learners. But don’t be too hard on yourself! It takes time to become comfortable with accents and dialects. Actually, being able to distinguish different dialects and accents is a sign of a high level of language mastery. Even native speakers sometimes can’t do it. So just be patient and don’t fret to ask others to repeat or slow down. If it's important for you to distinguish different dialects, expose yourself to different variations of the language, not just the standard version. This is also a way to enrich your listening materials. ![talking and listening in a foreign language](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/talking.jpg) ### **Native speakers talk too fast** It’s perfectly normal if you feel native speakers talk too fast. When you first come to the country of your target language, it can be discouraging when you find it hard to understand what native speakers say. But it’s also okay if you can’t comprehend every single word. In real-life situations, the goal is not to understand everything the other says, but to get the gist and respond to keep the conversation flowing. The more you are exposed to native speakers, the more you’ll understand what they say. ### **The subtitle debate: to use or not to use?** In language learning communities you can often see the debate about whether to use subtitles when watching videos in your target language. While subtitles can provide a safety net, they can also be a distraction if your goal is to improve listening. The trick is to use subtitles until you are comfortable listening without them. Comprehension comes first. Don’t be eager to listen without subtitles if you don’t understand the majority of the content. Once you are comfortable listening without subtitles, gradually phase them out (or not). In fact, listening with or without subtitles won’t affect much on your listening ability. The key is in the above strategies and methods we mentioned in this post. Improving listening skills in a foreign language takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and reward yourself for the small achievements along the journey. Every bit of effort counts! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Should learners listen to native-speed audio? Yes when it remains useful, but easier material is often better for building comprehension. ### Are subtitles helpful? They can support comprehension; target-language subtitles usually connect sound and text better than translation alone. ### How can fast speech be handled? Work with short segments, identify reductions and replay after reading the transcript. ### Should learners use many accents? Build confidence with clear familiar speech, then gradually diversify speakers and varieties. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Russian Grammar: Tables for Beginners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-grammar/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:17:17.000Z Russian may seem difficult at first sight with [the Cyrillic alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/) that looks very unfamiliar, but as you dig deeper, you will find it is indeed pretty difficult with 6 cases, 3 types of nouns, 2 types of verbs, etc. ## Quick Answer: What should beginners know about Russian grammar? Russian grammar marks case, gender, number and agreement on nouns, pronouns and adjectives. Verbs express person, tense and aspect. Beginners should learn endings through small sentence patterns rather than isolated tables alone. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ---------- | ------------------------- | | Nouns | case and number | | Adjectives | agreement | | Verbs | conjugation and aspect | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Jokes aside, we all know that Russian grammar is notorious for its complexity. But this shouldn't be a reason to give up on Russian grammar. [Learning grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/) can help you find patterns and progress faster in a new language. As you learn Russian grammar, you will also notice how a powerful grammar system makes this language logical and beautiful. So today, we will first dip into the very basics of Russian grammar. Then we'll include some useful grammar nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, and prepositions in Russian. Let's go! Basics of Russian Grammar - There are **no articles** (a, an, the) in Russian - There is **no "to be"** in the present tense - **Sentence structure** in Russian is the same as English (Subject - Verb - Object), but more flexible - There are **6 cases**: nominative, accusative, dative, genitive, instrumental, and prepositional. Most **nouns and adjectives** in a sentence change according to their cases. - There are three noun genders dictated by word ending: masculine, feminine, and neutral. - There are 2 types of verbs: perfective and imperfective. ## Personal Pronouns in Russian | | кто (Nom) | кого (Gen) | кому (Dat) | кого (Acc) | кем (Ins) | (о) ком (Prep) | | ----------------- | --------- | ------------ | ---------- | ------------ | --------- | -------------- | | Personal Pronouns | | | | | | | | я | меня | мне | меня | мной | обо мне | | | ты | тебя | тебе | тебя | тобой | о тебе | | | он | его | ему (к нему) | его | им (с ним) | о нём | | | она | её | ей (к ней) | её | ей (с ней) | о ней | | | оно | его | ему (к нему) | его | им (с ним) | о нём | | | мы | нас | нам | нас | нами | о нас | | | вы | вас | вам | вас | вами | о вас | | | они | их | им (к ним) | их | ими (с ними) | о них | | Example sentences： Я люблю тебя. *I (Nom) love you (Acc).* Ты меня любишь? *Do you (Nom) love me (Acc)?* ## Russian Possessive Pronouns | | Nom | Gen | Dat | Acc | Ins | Prep | | --------- | ---------- | -------------- | -------------- | ---------- | ----- | ---- | | Masculine | мой / наш | моего / нашего | моему / нашему | мой / наш | моим | моём | | Feminine | моя / наша | моей / нашей | моей / нашей | мою / нашу | моей | моей | | Neutral | моё / наше | моего / нашего | моему / нашему | моё / наше | моим | моём | | Plural | мои / наши | моих / наших | моим / нашим | мои наши | моими | моих | Example sentences: Я люблю твою сестру. *I love your sister (fem. Acc).* Моя сестра любит твоего друга. *My sister (fem. Nom) loves your friend (masc. Acc).* ## Russian Noun Endings | Nouns | что (Nom) | чего (Gen) | чему (Dat) | что (Acc) | чем (Inst) | чём (Prep) | | --------- | ------------------- | ------------ | ---------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------------ | -------------- | | Masculine | \- / -ь / -й | а / я | у / ю | same as Nom (inanimate) same as Gen (animate) | ом / ем / ём | \-е / -ии | | Neutral | \-о / -е /-ие | same as Nom | | | | | | Feminine | \-а / -я / -ия / -ь | ы / и | е / и | у / ю | ой / ей / ёй | \-е / -и / -ии | | Plural | \-и / -ы / -ии | ов / ев / ей | ам / ям | same as Nom (inanimate) same as Gen (animate) | ами / ями | \-ах / -ях | ## Russian Adjective endings | | какой (Nom) | какого (Gen) | какому (Dat) | какого (Acc) | каким (Ins) | каком (Prep) | | --------- | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ | --------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ------------ | | Masculine | ый / ой / ий | ого / его | ому / ему | same as Nom (inanimate) same as Gen (animate) | ым / им | \-ом / -ем | | Neutral | ое / ее | same as Nom | | | | | | Feminine | ая / яя | ой / ей | ой / ей | ую / юю | ой / ей | \-ой / -ей | | Plural | ие / ые | ых / их | ым / им | same as Nom (inanimate) same as Gen (animate) | ыми / ими | \-ых / -их | Example sentences: Тебе нравятся красивые или умные? *Do you like (people who are) attractive or (people who are) smart (pl. Nom)?* Я люблю красивых и умных. *I love (people who are both) attractive and smart (pl. Acc).* ## Russian Verb Conjugation Like many languages, Russian verbs conjugate according to the 6 subject pronouns (I, you, he/she, we, YOU, they). The chart below shows how the 2 main groups of regular verbs in Russian conjugate in the present tense. | | \-ать, -ять | \-еть, -ить | | ------------------- | ----------- | ----------- | | я (I) | \-ю / -у | \-ю / у | | ты (You informal) | \-ешь | \-ишь | | он / она (He / She) | \-ет | \-ит | | мы (We) | \-ем | \-им | | вы (You formal) | \-ете | \-ите | | они (They) | \-ют / ут | \-ят / ат | Learn more about Russian verbs [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-verbs/). ## Russian Prepositions | case | preposition | meaning | Example sentence | | ----- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Gen | без | without | Мне не нравится кофе без сахара. *I don't like coffee without sugar (Gen).* | | у | \~of | У тебя есть сахар? *Do you (Gen) have sugar?* | | | Dat | к | to | Я иду в гости к бабушке. *I'm going to visit my grandma (Dat).* | | Acc | в | to (a closed space) | Бабушка идёт в магазин. *Grandma is going to the store (Acc).* | | на | to (an event) | Бабушка, ты идёшь на выставку? *Grandma, are you going to the exhibition (Acc)?* | | | Ins | с(о) | with | Я люблю чай с сахаром. *I love tea with sugar (Ins).*Мы с бабушкой идём в магазин. *Me and my grandma (Ins) are going to the store.* | | Prep | в | in (a closed space) | Бабушка купила сахар в магазине. *Grandma bought sugar at a store.* | | на | at (an event) | Мы с бабушкой были на выставке вчера. *Me and my grandma were at an exhibition (Prep) yesterday.* | | | о/обо | about | Я часто думаю о своей бабушке. *I often think about my grandma (Prep).* | | ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 7 Effective Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills in a Foreign Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/improve-your-writing-skills/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:17:21.000Z Improving your writing skills is the gateway to better communication in any language, including the foreign language you are learning. The ability to put down your thoughts into concrete, clear words not only help you better communicate with others, but also improve your overall language skills. ## Quick Answer: How can you improve writing in another language? Write frequently for a real purpose, read models, check spelling and grammar, and obtain feedback. Revising a short text after feedback usually teaches more than producing many texts without review. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------- | ------------------------- | | Input | read useful models | | Output | write regularly | | Revision | apply feedback | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. So whether you are a language learner or a student navigating the intricacies of writing in another language, it’s worthwhile to learn how to better craft your writing to convey your messages in a coherent, clear way. In this article, we will delve into 7 useful ways to help you improve your writing skills in a foreign language. Let’s go! ## **Practice with LingoDeer app** You don’t need to reach a certain level before you starting to write in your target language! Even if you are a complete beginner and you are not comfortable with creating full sentences from scratch, you can practic writing with [LingoDeer app](https://lingodeer.page.link/blog?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). LingoDeer helps you form sentences with chunks of phrases provided. This helps you gradually get used to the grammar and sentence structures of your target language. These practices are also arranged in a way that paces with your learning. Try the app today to start. ## **Pay attention to spelling, grammar and puncuation** Whether you like it or not, correct spelling, [grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/) and punctuation are the foundations of good writing regardless of your proficiency level. By checking and correcting these 3 things from the start, you establish positive writing habits that will benefit you in the long run. Remember, you don’t have to be an expert before you begin writing. It’s natural to make grammar mistakes or spell a word wrong. Take notes and learn from your mistakes. With regular practice and review, you will gradually improve your spelling and grammar when writing in a foreign language. ## **Read whatever you can** Let reading inspire and guide your writing. Reading extensively can greatly enhance your writing skills. A wealth of knowledge makes writing about a topic easier. Choose an interesting subject, read about it in both your native and foreign languages, and then express your own thoughts through writing with the absorbed information. To further improve skills, extend your forms of input to listening and watching videos. Immersing yourself in various forms of input not only enhances output abilities, but also improves your overall language skills. ## **Write about whatever you want** Write freely about whatever topic that interests you. Let your mood, weather, your feelings guide your writing. Many language learners struggle to find topics, especially when their vocabulary and expressions are limited. If this is your case, try topic-guided journaling Jot down whatever you like, it can be events, weather, people or mood. You can also choose one topic for a whole week. Prepare important grammar and vocabulary around this topic beforehand by taking notes and let them structure your writing. If you need writing prompts, here are some topics to consider: - Your feeling - Weather - A movie, book, video - A past event - A future plan - A person you know well - A place you’ve recently been to ## **Keep a consistent routine to make it a habit** Establish a consistent writing routine like keeping a journal. By dedicating regular time to practice writing every day (or 3 times a week), you can gradually improve your writing and track your progress over time. Set aside a specific time each day or week for writing and stick to it. For example, you can write your thoughts at a specific time every day. Create a comfortable writing environment, free from distractions. Start with short writing exercises and gradually increase the length and complexity. How often should I practice writing in my target language? While it can range depending on your goals and learning habits, it’s best to practice as much as possible. ![improve your writing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/writing.jpg) ## **Get feedback from native speakers or teachers** Seek feedback from native speakers, language teachers, or even fellow learners. Regular feedback from others allows you to learn from mistakes, track progress, and focus on the areas that can be improved. Getting others' opinions on your writing can help you write more fluently over time. By considering others’ advice and noting down their feedback, you can discover mistakes that you may have missed. This way you can improve your overall writing skills faster and more effectively. ## **Reward yourself for your progress** Finally, improving writing skills is a gradual process that requires patience and perseverance. So remember to reward yourself for your progress along the way. How to measure your progress in writing skills? Apart from asking for feedback from others, you can also measure your progress through self-assessment. Take the time to review your own writing and compare it to earlier pieces. Notice any changes in your improvements in vocabulary, grammar or sentence structures. Celebrate any small achievements to cultivate a sense of accomplishment along the journey. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 5 Steps to Make a Perfect Language Learning Routine URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-routine/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:17:30.000Z Have you ever felt struggling to to squeeze language learning in to your busy schedule? Do you wish to find a suitable routine to make your language learning easier? If so, you’ve come to the right place. ## Quick Answer: How do you build a language-learning routine? Set a specific goal, audit available time, distribute activities across skills, start with a small repeatable habit and make the routine enjoyable enough to sustain. Review the plan when circumstances change. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------- | ------------------------- | | Goal | specific and measurable | | Schedule | fit real available time | | Habit | start small and review | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. A good language learning routine does not need to be complex. On the contrary, a complicated learning plan can make you feel overwhelmed or even worse, lose [motivation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/) in the long run. But here’s the good news - in this post, we’ll teach you how to build your own language learning routine step by step. We’ll show you how to integrate language learning into your daily life so you can get the single most important factor to success in language learning – **consistency**. Read on to see how to create that language learning routine that actually works for you. ## How to make a language learning routine A language learning routine is **a structured plan** over a period of a day, a week, a month, or even a year. Having a reliable language learning routine brings structure to your language learning, helping you stick to the schedule and improve gradually. In days of low motivation, your habits are what keep you get up and review that vocabulary list with little effort. The best language learning routine is always **one that works for you**. The trick is to find a way to incorporate language learning into your daily schedule. What should go into your plan? Typically, consider putting these into your schedule. - What to learn: [which language to learn](https://blog.lingodeer.com/what-language-should-i-learn/) and what aspect ([speaking](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/3e9c8e8b-3025-4bbc-9c82-4c15c1e290c6/), [vocab](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-vocabulary/), [grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/)…) - When to learn: when and for how long do you have free time - How to learn: which learning method or resources are you using ## A 5-step guide to craft your own language learning routine ### Step 1: Set SMART goals What do you want to achieve with your language learning? Whether it’s conversational fluency, reading proficiency, or getting ready for a language exam. Having clear goals is the first step to create your routine. Ask yourself, what do you want to achieve in a month, 6 months, a year? Smart goals are **specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound**. Writing down specific goals can help you stay motivated and stick to your schedule. Don’t know how to make smart goals in language learning? Read our previous post on [how to learn a language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/) to know more about making smart language learning goals. ### Step 2: Assess your TIME The second step is assessing your time. What time during a day, or a week can you spare for language learning? Find the best time that suits your current lifestyle. It can be early morning, during commute, lunch breaks, or in the evening. If you are [busy](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-a-new-language-work-9-to-5/) or don't have large time blocks for language learning, try finding your **dead time**. Dead time is the time you can use to learn languages passively while doing something else, like listening to podcasts while cooking, doing laundry, or working out. ### Step 3: Allocate various learning activities During this step, put different language learning activities into the time slots you found in the previous step. Here are some inspirations for different aspects of language learning. | **Reading** | **Writing** | **Speaking** | **Listening** | **Vocabulary** | **grammar** | | ----------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------- | | Intensive reading Extensive reading | Journaling Writing practices Review | partner monologue | Intensive listening Extensive listening (films, podcast…) | Flashcards Language app notes | notes courses | ### Step 4: Analyse your habits (Start small with atomic habits) It's not easy to just add such a big task as language learning into your existing daily routine. If you are used to grabbing your phone whenever you have free time, it's hard to change these old habits immediately. (But not impossible! Try [LingoDeer app](https://lingodeer.page.link/blog?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to change your phone time into language learning time.) So the best way to go is to start small. If you’re new to language learning, **start with a small, manageable amount of study time**. For example, review vocabulary for 10 minutes every morning after brushing your teeth, listen to the news in your target language when eating breakfast, quickly finish a lesson during your commute on the LingoDeer app, etc. When you feel comfortable with the current workload, try to add more gradually. ### Step 5: Make it Enjoyable At the end of the day, why not try to add a bit of fun into your language-learning routine. Play language [games](https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-games/), watch [movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/foreign-movies/) in the target language, read books, or cook a meal using a recipe in the target language. By combining language learning with your hobbies, you'll enjoy the process more and be more likely to stick to the routine. ![weekly language learning routine](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/weekly-language-learning.png) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Improve Reading Skills in a Foreign Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/improve-reading-skills-foreign-language/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:31.000Z Reading is a powerful tool when it comes to learning a new language. It not only exposes you to authentic language use that you may not find in textbooks, but also offers a plethora of real-life expressions. ## Quick Answer: How can you improve foreign-language reading? Balance intensive reading of short passages with extensive reading for overall meaning. Choose understandable material, tolerate some unknown words, look up selectively and review useful language. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------- | | Intensive | analyse short text | | Extensive | read for meaning | | Review | save useful language | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. However, the key lies in **knowing how to read effectively in a foreign language**, and **selecting the right materials** to suit your learning needs. In this article, we’ll introduce several tricks to improve reading skills in a foreign language and make your reading time more productive. Let's go! ## How to improve reading skills in a foreign language effectively ### Balance Intensive and Extensive Reading As the name suggests, intensive reading is **reading intensively and dissecting every sentence and phrase**. It usually involves checking your dictionary a lot and keeping notes. Intensive reading really helps you with improving grammar, and overall reading skills. Extensive reading, on the other hand, is about **the volume of your input**. By consuming a large amount of texts on a broad spectrum, you get to familiarize yourself with reading all kinds of texts and scanning for information quickly. **Both intensive and extensive reading plays an important role in improving your reading skills.** Combine them to get a maximum outcome in your reading time. ### Keep a Dictionary Close Always keep a dictionary within reach during your reading. It can be either an online or paper dictionary. Dictionaries will be your go-to tool for **quickly looking up new words**. A good dictionary should also provide you with plenty of example sentences so you can learn vocabulary in context. ### Don’t Worry About Not Understanding Everything It’s perfectly normal to come across words or phrases you don’t understand while reading. Don’t let this discourage you. It’s how you learn and improve, right? As you continue to read more and come across a word repeatedly, it will leave a deeper impression. When you come across an unfamiliar word, the first thing is not to directly check the dictionary. Only look for the keywords that appear very often or hinder understanding and take notes of those you find useful. ### Take Notes and Review One of the most important assets you can get from reading is **a notebook of authentic expressions.** Don’t let new words and concepts slip away when reading, make sure to jot them down after reading. When [taking reading notes](https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-notes-while-reading/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), try to write things down **from memory rather than simply copy and paste**. This way they can better stick in your memory. Also, review your notes regularly to reinforce understanding. ### Read Regularly: **There’s no substitute for consistent reading.** Aim to read in your target language every day, if possible. The more you read, the faster you’ll [build your vocabulary](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-vocabulary/) and improve comprehension. ![A learner reading a French dictionary outdoors](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/reading.jpg) ## Reading materials (From hard to easy) ### Literature This doesn’t mean you need to start with Shakespeare or Tolstoy. There are plenty of **leveled reading materials** specifically designed for language learners. For an enjoyable, smooth reading experience, the ideal percentage of known words in the text is around [85 %](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12552-4?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). When reading literature, there is no need to rely too much on translation. It’s more important to immerse yourself in the story, get comfortable with the unfamiliar phrases, and sometimes allow the context to guide your understanding. Start as early as possible and you’ll be surprised at how much you can gain in all 4 language skills from reading! ### News News articles can be tough to crack for beginners due to their formal, and often complex language. But don’t be discouraged, news is an invaluable resource if you wish to reside in a country where the target language is spoken. Reading news articles can familiarize you with local affairs, societal issues, and cultural norms - bringing you one step closer to your target language and culture. ### Wiki page Here is a lesser-known, yet unexpectedly useful reading material for language learners – [Wikipedia](https://www.wikipedia.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). You may be pretty familiar with the standard English version of Wikipedia. But actually, Wikipedia is available in 334 languages, including a “simple English” version that is easier to read than the standard English version! ![wikipedia - multiple language choices](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2023-07-06-at-16-51-00.png) Wikipedia articles are often written in **formal and informative language**. They not only offer a rich resource of subject-related vocabulary, but also help you improve overall reading skills on complex texts. So if you wish to have an advanced reading experience, just pick a topic and dive in. ### Blogs and articles Blogs and articles are **less formal and more personal** than news and wiki articles, making them perfect for leisure reading. They cover **a wide range of topics**: sport, cooking, travel, fashion… You’re bound to find something that interests you. This makes blog articles **excellent materials for extensive reading**, helping you get used to the natural flow of the language while reading something you enjoy. ### Subtitles This may be a bit surprising, but watching TV shows with subtitles in your target language can actually improve your reading skills. You’ll hear how the language is spoken in real life while also seeing the written form, helping you **enhance listening and reading skills simultaneously**. In this process, you can quickly **pick up natural and conversational language**. ### Social media posts Whether it’s twitter, quora or reddit, diving into the world of social media in your target language can bring you many **up-to-date slangs and casual languages**. It’s also **a window into the daily life, values, and humor of native speakers**. ### Comics If you are a visual learner or wish to find leisure reading, comics are the way to go. Unlike novels, comics are short, easy to read, and less overwhelming, making them excellent choices for **beginners**. Texts in comics are mostly presented in dialogues or contexts, so you can learn many **conversational phrases**. Plus, comics are usually fun and engaging, [keeping your motivation up](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/) in your language journey. ### Memes Yes, even memes can be an entertaining part of your language journey! Memes usually feature brief phrases paired with amusing images, making them enjoyable even for beginners. While understanding the **humor and cultural references** behind memes can be challenging at first, making efforts to understand them can make your language learning journey more fun and rewarding. ![language learning meme](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/meme-jpeg.jpg) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 8 Effective Methods to Learn Vocabulary Fast in Another Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-vocabulary/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:11.000Z Expanding vocabulary is probably one of the most important tasks of language learning. Words are the single slightest component of any language. To carry on a conversation, an average language learner needs to know more than 3000 words. For a deeper understanding, a vocabulary of around 8000 to 10000 is necessary. ## Quick Answer: What is an effective way to learn vocabulary? Prioritize relevant words, learn them in phrases, and revisit them with spaced retrieval. Reading, listening, writing and speaking create varied encounters that make vocabulary easier to recall. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------- | | Relevance | learn useful words first | | Context | phrases and examples | | Memory | spaced retrieval | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. But if you are just like most language learners, learning vocabulary can be a true headache, right? You encounter new words every day and make notes of them, but they just seem to keep falling out of your head. Knowing a lot of vocabulary can surely help you [speak](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/3e9c8e8b-3025-4bbc-9c82-4c15c1e290c6/) and write with ease in your target language. It not only helps you express yourself more accurately, but also brings you insights into other cultures that comes with practical benefits. In this article, we’ll introduce several tried and tested methods to help you expand vocabulary fast and effectively. No matter you are good at memorizing or not, I’m sure you’ll find a useful strategy after reading. ## Relevancy matters Relevancy here refers to both the relevancy between the words you learn and the relevancy between the words and situation. Increasing the relevancy of words you learn together can help you gain a deeper impression. This can be done by **grouping related words together**. For example, make use of synonyms and antonyms. Cluster related words together so you can create a connection between them in your mind, which facilitates recalling. The second relevancy means **making the words meaningful to you**. Language by nature are symbols that possess meaning. When you learn words and phrases in natural surroundings (like lyrics!), you understand them on a deeper, semantic level. Don’t know where to start? Check out our list of [600 + most used words in any language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/high-frequency-vocab-list/). This is why **learning in context** is important. Old methods like pasting stickers on furnitures actually works because it **puts language learning in real-life contexts**. You can also find a context you find interesting or passionate about, like a hobby, and combine it with language learning. ## Memorize phrases, not just words Linked to the previous learning in context method is a more practical, and tested method of **learning words in chunks**. Numerous [studies](https://repository.usfca.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1563&context=diss&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) have shown that human brains retain words better in small ‘chunks’(short phrases that combine several words) and ‘scripts’ (like dialogues). For example, ‘to come up with an idea’ is way easier to remember, and more useful, than simply ‘to come up with’. It’s like a ready-made piece of a conversation puzzle, helping you speak more naturally and fluently. ## Use language apps Learning vocabulary involves a lot of repetition. Nothing is better than [language apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/) when it comes to reinforcing vocabulary in a fun, game-like setting? ![Language-learning app categories: courses, vocabulary, social practice, and reading](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/8-must-have-app-1.png) LingoDeer is an app that helps you learn vocabulary, grammar, sentences, and more in a fun and interactive way. With structurally designed lessons, new vocabulary is introduced gradually and reviewed regularly. What’s more helpful are features like native speaker audio throughout the lessons and flashcards tailored for reviewing key vocabulary. Simply by downloading [LingoDeer app](https://lingodeer.page.link/blog?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), you can learn languages wherever and whenever you are. ## Spice things up with fun games Speaking of gamified learning experiences like language apps, it’s unfair if I don’t mention traditional language games. Crosswords, bingo, hangman, etc. are all tailored for reviewing vocabulary. Vocabulary learning doesn’t have to be reading the dictionary page by page or repeating boring word lists one after another. Check out our other post on [language learning games](https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-games/) for more fun ideas. ## Use flashcards and spaced repetition Some of the methods we mentioned above are actually based on old-school flashcards and spaced repetition. They are classical, useful, and effective vocab learning methods for a reason. Simply jot down new words on one side and their meanings (and example sentences) on another. Then revise them on day 1, day 3, day 7, 21, 30, 60\. This way every new word gets its fair share of attention without overwhelming you, while at the same time, the repetition helps you maximize memorizing efforts. Note: you can use [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to do this as well. Anki is a powerful software that has a built-in spaced repetition system and allows you to customize your own flashcards. ## Dig into etymology When you look up a new word in the dictionary, pay attention to its root, suffixes, and prefixes. For example, the prefix ‘re-’ in English means ‘again’ as in many words like ‘react’, ‘regain’ and ‘redo’. It’s the same with other languages. Etymology also helps you understand the history and root of the words. For example, knowing that ‘astronaut’ comes from the Greek words for ‘star’ and ‘sailor’ not only makes it easier to remember but also more fascinating. Recommended reading: [Japanese words in English](https://blog.lingodeer.com/english-words-from-japanese/) ## Read out loud and write it down This is another old-school method that just works, especially for those who enjoy auditory and hands-on learning. When you read out loud a word, multiple senses are engaged, etching the words further into your memory. When you write down a new word, especially writing it in a sentence, the meaning and spelling of the word are reinforced in your memory. Reading and writing is a simple and effective combo. And it can be done almost anywhere. Give it a try! ## Boost Your Memory with Mnemonics What about visual learners? Try to boost your vocabulary with mnemonics. Mnemonics are simple memory tricks, like creating a mental image or linking the new word to a familiar one. This can strengthen the connection between the word and the meaning. For example, remember ‘melancholy’ as “Melon + collie” and ‘plethora’ as “pleather + aura”. Mnemonics is especially suitable for remembering spelling.You can simply find some mnemonics charts online or challenge yourself to make some of your own. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 8 Fun Language Games that Can Actually Help You Learn a New Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-games/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:16:24.000Z Mastering a whole new language can sound challenging. But it doesn’t have to be dull. One of the best ways to learn a new language is to make it fun. ## Quick Answer: Can games help language learning? Games can create repeated retrieval, interaction and low-pressure practice. Their value depends on the language task: learners should adapt rules so the game requires meaningful listening, speaking, reading or writing. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----------- | --------------------------- | | Recall | Hangman or crossword | | Interaction | Taboo or role-play | | Constraint | require target-language use | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. By adopting a more creative approach, such as using language apps, listening to podcasts, or exploring language learning games, you’ll feel more engaged and motivated to keep learning. In this post, we’ll introduce to you several best language learning games that are suitable for learners of all levels. We’ll also explain why learning with games is an effective method and how to best incorporate games in to your learning. Let’s go! ## Can I Learn Languages with Games If you are still wondering if games can help you learn languages, the answer is definitely yes. Playing games can be a highly effective way to hone your language skills. Games make learning fun and engaging, which can **motivate you to spend more time** practicing the language. They can also reduce the stress often associated with language learning, helping to create a **positive learning experience**. Games are fantastic tools to enhance your **vocabulary and grammar**. You can also play with a group of people to learn together, creating a dynamic and fun learning experience that keeps you engaged and learn effectively. In the next part, we’ll introduce to you X classical and novel language learning games to help you speed up your learning. No matter you are looking for online or offline games, solo or team games, we’ve got something for you! ## X best language learning games that are fun and effective ### Hangman ![language game hangman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hangman.jpg) Hangman is a popular word-guessing game among beginner to intermediate language learners. It takes at least 2 people to play this game. First person think up of a word in their target language and then the other try to guess letter by letter. If the word contains the letter, then it’s written in the correct space. If it doesn’t, then the first person will start to draw a hangman. Once the hangman is complete, the game ends. Hangman is great for revising vocabulary and also practicing pronunciation. It’s perfect for beginners to reinforce their memory pronunciation rules and improve spelling and vocabulary. ### Taboo Taboo is another word-guessing game that is fun to play. To play taboo, one player try to describe a given word without using certain related terms, and the other try to guess what the word is. For example, if the word is “food”, then the player can’t use taboo terms like “food”, “hamburguer”, “potato”. This game encourages players to describe their thoughts in creative ways. This skill can be especially useful in speaking situations as it challenges learners to paraphrase what they want to say and quickly adapt to different contexts. ### Crossword Crossword is one of the most popular word puzzles. Players solve crosswords by thinking up of words based on given clues and fill them in both across and down grids. Playing crosswords in your target language can improve your vocabulary and spelling. It also needs certain understanding of the target culture if you’re playing more advanced games. ### Scrabble ![language game scrabble](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/scrabble.jpg) Scrabble is one of the most popular word games in the world. To play scrabble, 2 to 4 players sit together to form words using letter tiles on a game board. Each letter worths some points and players can multiply their points according to the rules. Although scrabble is mostly played in English, it’s available in 30+ languages (only alphabetic languages though!) Scrabble is most suitable for practicing vocabulary and spelling, as it encourages players to think of new words and meanings. It can be a bit hard for language starters without much vocab though. It’s best for intermediate to advanced learners to enhance the vocabulary they already know. ### Bingo ![language game bingo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/bingo.jpg) Bingo is a popular game involving matching numbers on a grid with numbers called out by a host. To play bingo, first you need to prepare a bingo card with a 5\*5 grid of vocabulary, numbers, or any language learning questions. Then a host will reveal the question of a specific grid picked by the player. The player will get a point for the team if they answer it right. The goal of the player is to get 5 in a row (whether horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) and win. Most often in language classes bingo is used to reinforce vocabulary. But it can be adapted to other types of practice like grammar and spelling. It’s a flexible game that can fit into many learning purposes. ### Snowball Snowball is a speaking game where players take turn to sharing information about themselves or on a given topic, and others build upon it. It gets harder and harder as the amount of information grows larger and larger like a snowball. This game is usually play by a number of people in a classroom setting. It promotes speaking and participation, as well as helps students to get to know about each other. It’s great for practice speaking, listening, and memory skills. ### Describe and Draw As the name suggests, this game involves one person describing and another drawing. Player 1 describes something in the target language (it could be a simple object or a complex scene), and the other player(s) have to draw it. This game encourages careful listening and clear, precise, and descriptive speaking. ### Role-Playing Not exactly a game but role playing and dubbing are also quite popular activities for language learning. By taking on roles and acting out scenes, you can improve speaking, pronunciation, confidence, and overall fluency. ## Language learning app LingoDeer Most of the games mentioned above are for team playing. But if you are learning a new language by yourself and wish to have the same experience of fun and effectiveness, we highly recommend trying LingoDeer. LingoDeer is a language-learning app that uses a variety of gamified teaching methods. From flashcards to leaderboards, pop quizzes to dubbing, it provides opportunities to practice all four language skills in an engaging and fun way. Try LingoDeer for FREE today! ![reach fluency with LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/great-e1684231877123.png) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 8 Misconceptions and Myths about Language Learning You May Not Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-misconceptions-myths/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:16:32.000Z There’s an abundance of information (and misinformation) out there about how we learn languages. But some of the claims you often hear about can be based more on assumption than fact. ## Quick Answer: What language-learning myths should learners avoid? Age, location and memory influence learning but do not determine success alone. Classes, immersion and grammar study are tools rather than universal solutions; effective learning combines suitable input, practice, feedback and realistic goals. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------- | ----------------------------- | | Age | adults can learn | | Location | practice is possible anywhere | | Method | combine complementary tools | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Have you heard that language learning is only for children? Or that polyglots must have a gift for languages? Can we achieve native-like pronunciation without moving abroad? Today, we’re diving deep into these questions, unveiling common misconceptions and myths about language learning. I hope by the end of the article, you'll have a more ## Misconception 1: Only children can easily learn languages While children have a greater likelihood of achieving a native-like accent,[ research](https://medium.com/@chacon/mit-scientists-prove-adults-learn-language-to-fluency-nearly-as-well-as-children-1de888d1d45f?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has shown that adults can learn a language to [fluency](https://blog.lingodeer.com/fluency/) nearly as well as children. Adults often outpace children in the initial stages of learning a new language, largely due to their superior cognitive skills. So whether you are 30, 50, or 70, age is not a barrier; dedication, consistent practice, and good resources are what count. ## Misconception 2: You have to live in a country where the language is spoken to become fluent Immersion can help, but it’s not the only way to learn a language. Going abroad has certain advantages like **easy access to native speakers** and the opportunity to **perfect your listening skills**, it may not be suitable for everyone considering your priorities. Living in the country also does **not guarantee** learning a new language. Most of the times it does not teach you more than survival languages. With the right resources, practices, and [motivation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/), you don't have to live in the country in order to [become fluent](https://blog.lingodeer.com/get-fluent-in-a-new-language-fast/). After learning the language, you can consider going abroad to polish your skills. ## Misconception 3: Some languages are just too hard to learn The difficulty of learning a language can depend on a lot of factors like your native language and learning methods. While there are some [hard languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/) that generally take more time to learn, the gap is simply not that big. Learning any language takes time and effort. In this way, labeling a language as “too hard” can often be a discouragement more than a reality. With appropriate commitment and resources, any language can be learned. So if you wish to [learn Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/), [Russian](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/), or Arabic, go for it! ## Misconception 4: You must have a great memory to learn a language Having a great memory can certainly be helpful when learning a new language, but it is not an absolute requirement. Memory plays an important role in expanding vocabulary and phrases. However, language learning involves various skills and strategies. While memory can facilitate many aspects of language learning, regular practice, exposure, and comprehension are equally important. For instance, consistent practice through speaking, writing, and listening exercises can reinforce your language skills and improve fluency. ## Misconception 5: The best way to learn languages is through formal classes While formal classes can provide a structured environment for learning, they’re not the only or necessarily the best way for everyone. Besides traditional classes, there are multiple ways to learn a new language comprehensively. To list a few: - online platforms - language [apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/) - language exchange - tutoring - self-study Language learning is a highly personal process. You don't need to rely on one sole resource. Try a few and find one that fits your learning type. Language is not taught, it's caught. ## Misconception 6: Bilinguals are equally proficient in both languages Many people believe that bilinguals are equally competent in all four skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). This is actually a misconception rather than a fact. Bilingualism isn’t always a 50/50 split. Most of the time only individuals who have grown up in a bilingual environment achieve equal proficiency in 2 languages. For most bilinguals, there is often a [domain language](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01199/full?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), one that is stronger and used more often. Bilingual proficiency can also be situation-dependent. Some may excel in one language in certain contexts, such as professional settings, while they may feel more comfortable using the other language in informal or personal situations. Bilingualism is also dynamic rather than static. Bilingual proficiency may also fluctuate over time based on language use and exposure. ## Misconception 7: Immersion is better than learning grammar Immersion is a quite popular language-learning method in recent years. Language immersion refers to being exposed to the language in authentic contexts, such as through watching movies without subtitles or living abroad. Many believe that immersion is better than many traditional language learning methods, such as [learning grammar rules](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/), for it's closer to how humans naturally acquire languages. However, while input plays an important role in language learning, mere immersion does not guarantee success in language learning. If you struggle to understand the majority of the input, a large amount of immersion can be quite inefficient. It's the percentage of the input you understand (comprehensible input) that counts. On the other hand, structured instructions from a reliable learning source, including learning grammar, can help you speed up the language learning process by understanding the underlying logic. Actually, research suggests that full immersion is not always necessary for optimal language learning outcomes. ## Misconception 8: Learning one language hinders another You might have heard people saying or personally experienced that learning a new language made the old language rusty. Does this mean learning one language hinders the ability of another? Is it possible to forget a language? Shortly speaking, no. At least there is no need to worry about this. Learning another language is quite unlikely to really hurt your ability in another. On the contrary, [studies](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/applied-psycholinguistics/article/abs/bilingual-education-enhances-third-language-acquisition-evidence-from-catalonia/654D31C1279C689151CDE62E09EFB257?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) have shown that prior language learning experience can **enhance your ability** to know more languages. And that languages you have acquired can't be fully forgotten. With **constant exposure and usage**, your brain can build linguistic connections between different languages, creating an integrated system. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Getting the Most Out of LingoDeer | Some useful lesser-known features URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-user-guide/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:21.000Z *Do you have questions about LingoDeer app functions? Here is a quick guide from our customer support team on some of the *useful features of LingoDeer app you may not know about*. For a complete guide, check out our [FAQ](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com).* ## Quick Answer: How can you get more from a structured LingoDeer course? Follow the course sequence, read the lesson explanations, listen closely to model audio, complete active exercises and revisit weak material regularly. This article describes LingoDeer features available when it was written; the current interface and feature set may differ, so check the current app and official help information. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Learn | Use the course sequence and explanations to build concepts step by step | | Practise | Listen, answer actively and repeat difficult material | | Keep current | Confirm feature locations and availability in the current app or help center | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Hi there! I’m one of the new customer service staff at LingoDeer. Getting to know the app well enough to do my role wasn’t as easily intuitive as I’d assumed. And I figured I couldn’t be the only one, so I put together this [Study Guide](https://lingodeer.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/61000134750?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to step you through using LingoDeer. Here’s a bit of my back story. Naturally, one of the first things I did to get up to speed was to start using the app… I choose to start with **Arabic**, and was stumped at the first question: ![LingoDeer Arabic lesson screen with a letter-choice exercise](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/06/ld-image-6271c5d72eb4efe6.jpg) This was pretty much what was going on in my head: **“I don’t even know** **my letters yet,** **and you’re** **testing me already?!”** **“Are you expecting me** **to learn through trial and error?"** Then I realized that if I’d done things in the right order (or at least not been so worried about not making mistakes), I wouldn’t have had to go through all that stress. And found some cool functions that made the lessons easier. Check out [Things to Know Before You Start](https://lingodeer.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/folders/61000201807?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to avoid my pitfalls and to discover some helpful hints. Of course, I eventually read the FAQs, which helped, but I still managed to miss things which, theoretically, should have been blindingly obvious… ![LingoDeer mascots surrounded by lesson and review icons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/06/ld-image-b1b8d7b517d79122.png) Like, where in the world are the Flashcards??? So, if you’re like me and have trouble finding where things are (or, let’s be honest, aren’t even sure of all the features LingoDeer has), check out [Where and What Things Are.](https://lingodeer.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/folders/61000201809?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Later, after I’d accumulated a reasonable number of lessons, I found out I hadn’t been using the ‘Review’ tab properly. Did you know it’s not actually your first point of call for revision? I also discovered that I could change the **audio speed** in lessons. And that I didn’t have to manually skip speaking questions when I wasn’t in a position to do them. ![LingoDeer mascot wearing headphones for listening practice](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/06/ld-image-53cda8ce6b81a988.png) Plus, there were also a choice of options for **speaking practice**, **offline learning** and so on that made studying with LingoDeer easy to tailor to my needs. Here are some of the [Learning and Practice Options.](https://lingodeer.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/folders/61000201808?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Hope you’ve found this helpful! For the full Study Guide, click [here](https://lingodeer.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/61000134750?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Should learners follow the course order? The structured order can help concepts build on one another, though review and targeted practice can be added as needed. ### What is a useful review habit? Return regularly to items you missed or hesitated on, and combine recognition with listening, speaking and recall. ### Are all features in this article still available? Not necessarily. The interface and feature set can change, so verify current availability in the app and official help information. ### Can app study be the only form of practice? A structured app can provide a strong foundation, while real reading, listening, writing and conversation add broader experience. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Learn Japanese with Anime | Is it Possible? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/anime-to-learn-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:55.000Z ## Can you learn Japanese with Anime ## Quick Answer: Can anime help you learn Japanese? Anime can provide motivating listening input, vocabulary and cultural context, but it is best used with structured study and varied real-world speech. Dialogue may be stylized by genre and character, so learners should verify expressions before using them in ordinary conversation. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ---------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | Useful for | listening, motivation and vocabulary | | Limitation | stylized speech and incomplete coverage | | Best use | combine with lessons, reading and real conversation | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. By asking this question, you probably have doubts about the possibility of learning Japanese solely or mainly from anime, right? You might hear using anime as a complementary source, a tool for immersion, an input learning media, etc. But what if anime is the real passion and learning Japanese is just the byproduct of it? Can you use anime as the main Japanese learning source? The good news is, it’s possible! Massive input can definitely help with your Japanese learning, especially listening and oral skills. However, using anime as your only Japanese learning source may not be as effective as combining it with other learning methods like [a comprehensive Japanese course](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/jp/en/learn-japanese-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). There are indeed anime lovers who started watching anime from a young age and can understand a large percentage of Japanese or even communicate with native speakers. But this often takes a long time, huge amounts of immersion, and probably a strategy. So if your goal is to learn Japanese, why not use a smart method that leverages your passion for anime? Read on to see how to do it together with an anime recommendation list. ## How to learn Japanese with Anime Here is what you can do if you decide to learn Japanese with Anime. ### Choose a genre While most anime can help you learn Japanese, there are certain genres that are especially suitable for Japanese learners. For example, everyday comedy contains more useful, everyday dialogue, making them more suitable for language learners. However, you don’t have to restrict your selection to a certain genre. Sometimes choosing a wide range of input material is also helpful. And above all, the most important thing is to **choose those that truly interest you so you can keep watching**. ### With or without subtitles Subtitle seems to be a forever debate among language learners. Should I watch anime with English subtitles or Japanese subtitles? Or even both, or simply none? For Japanese learners, it’s best to watch **with both English and Japanese subtitles**. Japanese subtitles help you associate spoken words with their written forms, while English ones assure you can understand everything. In this way, you don't need to worry about missing out a plot and can still take notes of specific words or expressions that interests you. While you can watch the most part with both English and Japanese subtitles on (using anime as extensive listening material), you can also pause and replay certain scenes with only Japanese subtitle on or no subtitle for a true immersion experience and detailed study (using anime as intensive learning material). ### Boost your Vocabulary Consider taking notes of new vocabulary while watching. Keep a vocabulary notebook dedicated to anime. Whenever you encounter new words or phrases, write them down along with their meanings and context. Review and practice using these words in sentences to reinforce your understanding. ### Attune your Ears to Native Speakers Use shadowing exercises to improve your pronunciation. Pick up some of your favorite scenes and repeat lines along with the characters to improve your speaking. Imitate their pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. ### Understand the Cultural Background Use anime as a gateway to explore Japanese culture. Whenever you encounter something interesting, be it a line, a plot, or the environment. Research cultural references, customs, and traditions depicted in the anime you watch. You can also do this before watching to understand the background. ### Know Anime Style Phrases Some words and expressions may be specific for anime but not commonly used in daily conversations. It’s important to spot them and avoid sounding too much like an anime character. [LingoDeer’s Japanese course](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) contains a dedicated phrasebook section where you can learn Japanese expressions in specific situations, including anime. Check it out! ## 8 Great Anime For Japanese Learners If you want to learn Japanese with anime, here are some of the best anime for Japanese learners. ### [Shirokuma Cafe (Polar Bear Cafe)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2199747/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese anime: Shirokuma Cafe](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/shirokuma-cafe.png) - IMDb Rating: 7.8/10 - Genre: Comedy, Family This slice-of-life, heartwarming anime follows a group of adorable animals in a café run by a polar bear. Based on the manga series by Aloha Higa, the anime gained worldwide popularity since its air in 2012\. It features **everyday language and simple dialogue**, making it ideal for Japanese beginners to grasp natural conversations and vocabulary related to daily life. It also brings you on **a delightful adventure with the lovable animal characters** in a cozy and entertaining environment. ### [K-On!](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1625346/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb Rating: 7.6/10 - Genre: Comedy, Drama If you are a music fan, don't miss this anime. This music-centric anime showcases the daily lives of high school students in a music club. It offers a fun and light-hearted narrative while exposing Japanese learners to various aspects of Japanese school life, vocabulary related to music, and casual conversations among friends. ### [Barakamon](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3675098/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![anime to learn Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/barakamon.jpg) - IMDb Rating: 8.0/10 - Genre: Comedy, Drama “Barakamon” tells the story of a calligrapher who moves to a remote island. The series explores themes of personal growth and friendship. For language learning purposes, it's more suitable for intermediate to advanced Japanese learners as it involves different speech patterns and colloquial expressions. It also incorporates rural dialect so it can be extra challenging if you want to practice listening. ### [Natsume’s Book of Friends (Natsume Yuujinchou)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210290/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese anime](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/natsumes-book-of-friends.jpg) - IMDb Rating: 8.3/10 - Genre: Drama, Fantasy This supernatural anime follows a boy who can see spirits. It presents a mix of natural and slightly formal language, offering learners an opportunity to expand their vocabulary and cultural knowledge through the exploration of Japanese folklore. Goes between real life and interactions with *youkai*, spirits and supernatural beings from Japanese folklore. Good for learning the difference and learning a bit about Japanese mythology! ### [Haikyuu!!](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3398540/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb Rating: 8.6/10 - Genre: Comedy, Drama Haikyuu!! is an exhilarating sports anime that follows the journey of a high school student who dreams of becoming a volleyball champion. As a sports anime centered around a high school volleyball team, “Haikyuu!!” provides learners with **sports-related vocabulary and lively dialogue** among high school students. It’s a great choice for those interested in sports and seeking an engaging way to improve their Japanese. ### [Chihayafuru](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2095649/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb Rating: 8.4/10 - Genre: Animation, Drama, Romance This anime revolves around the competitive world of a traditional Japanese card game called Karuta. It exposes learners to a mix of formal and informal language, as well as Japanese poetry, and offers insights into Japanese culture and traditions. ### [Silver Spoon (Gin no Saji)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2625944/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese anime for learning Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/gin-no-saji.jpg) - IMDb Rating: 8.1/10 - Genre: Animation, Comedy, Drama “Silver Spoon” follows a city boy attending an agricultural school in the countryside. The series combines **comedy and drama** while providing learners with nature-related vocabulary, everyday conversations, and a glimpse into the realities of farm life in Japan. ### [Detective Conan](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147753/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb Rating: 8.4/10 - Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy Detective Conan is an ideal anime for Japanese learners. With over 1000 episodes, it's one of the most popular and classic Japanese anime. It incorporates a wide range of speech styles, dialects, and conversational patterns with captivating murder mystery plots. Its intriguing storylines and realistic language use makes it an excellent choice no matter you are learning Japanese or not. If you are a fan of movies, we have also written about the best [Japanese movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-japanese-movies-on-netflix/) for language learners. Here is a short preview. - Spirited Away - Howl’s Moving Castle - My Neighbor Totoro - Your Name - Kiki’s Delivery Service ## Common Anime Phrases Here are some common Japanese phrases you can hear in Anime and everyday Japanese conversations! To learn more, check out our free Japanese phrasebook in the [LingoDeer app](https://lingodeer.page.link/blog?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). - はい, *Hai*, Yes - いいえ, *Īe*, No - そうですね！ (Sōdesune!) right / I agree - お元気ですか, *Ogenki desu ka*, How are you doing? - 凄い, *sugoi*, Amazing! - 大丈夫, *daijoubu*, Are you okay? - よかった, *yokatta*, What a relief - ちょっと待って, *chotto matte*, Wait a moment - 可愛い, *kawaii*, Cute - 大好き, *daisuki,* really like - 馬鹿, [*baka*](https://blog.lingodeer.com/baka/)*, fool* - すみません, *Sumimasen*, Excuse me - ごめんなさい, *Gomen nasai*, I’m sorry - いただきます, [Itadakimasu](https://blog.lingodeer.com/itadakimasu/), I humbly receive (used before eating) In conclusion, learning Japanese through anime can be an exciting and effective way to immerse yourself in the language and culture. Remember to combine anime-watching with other language learning resources, such as [textbooks](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-textbooks/), [apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/a3ff7211-955e-4b93-acef-7da55825d7d7/), and language exchange partners, to reinforce your skills. Ganbatte! (Good luck!) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can anime be the only learning method? It may produce substantial exposure, but most learners benefit from explicit grammar, literacy and feedback. ### Should subtitles be used? Use them strategically: first for comprehension, then reduce support for focused listening. ### Are anime phrases natural in daily life? Some are; others are exaggerated, old-fashioned or character-specific. ### How can vocabulary be retained? Save short lines, check meaning and register, then review them in new sentences. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Korean Pronouns Made Easy | "I", "You", and More in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-pronouns/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:06:30.000Z Have you ever found yourself confused with the usage of pronouns in Korean? Do you still use 당신 (dangsin) in conversations? Do you want to know why Koreans don't use "he", "she" or "they"? ## Quick Answer: How are pronouns used in Korean? Korean often omits pronouns when the person is clear from context. Names, titles and relationship terms frequently replace English-style “you,” “he” or “she.” Pronoun choice also changes with politeness and social relationship. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------ | | I | 저 in polite speech; 나 in casual speech | | You | often a name, title or omission | | Third person | often omitted or replaced by a noun phrase | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. If you also encountered these questions about Korean pronouns, this article is just for you. Pronouns are words used to **refer to people or things previously mentioned in a conversation**. For instance, in the sentence “I saw Emily yesterday, and she was on her way to the store.”, “she” is the pronoun that refers back to Emily. In this article, we'll introduce to you the following 4 types of Korean pronouns: - Personal pronouns (like he, she, they) in Korean - Demonstrative pronouns (like this and that) in Korean - Possessive pronouns (like my, your) in Korean - Interrogative pronouns (like what, how, why) in Korean ## Korean Personal Pronouns Let’s first explore some common Korean personal pronouns. ![Korean pronouns](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/05/ld-image-addf4248f2b7c700.png) ### “I” in Korean Formal: 저 (jeo)저는 학생입니다. (Jeoneun haksaengimnida.) I am a student.Informal: 나 (na) Use 나 (na) when speaking with **friends or people younger than you**. 나는 학생이야. (Naneun haksaengiya.) I'm a student. ### “You” in Korean Formal: 당신 (dangsin)당신의 이름은 무엇입니까? (Dangsin-ui ireumeun mueosimnikka?) What is your name? 당신 (dangsin) is an extremely formal pronoun and is **almost never used in daily conversations**. It is comparable to “sir” in English. Instead, it’s more common to directly use the person’s name or terms that reflect their relations. 선생님, 이것은 선생님을 위한 선물입니다. (Seonsaengnim, igeoseun seonsaengnim-eul wihan seonmulimnida.) Teacher, this is a gift for you. Similar to the structure of using “Mr.” or “Ms.” followed by the last name in English, in Korean, it is more common to address someone politely by using **first name + 씨 (ssi)** . However, unlike English, the Korean expression does not differentiate between male and female. 혜진 씨는 어떻게 생각하세요? (Hyejin ssineun eotteoke saenggakaseyo?) How do you think, Hyejin? Informal: 너 (neo) 너 (neo) is often used when addressing younger individuals or friends. 너랑 같이 영화를 보고 싶어. (Neorang gachi yeonghwareul bogo sip-eo.) I want to watch a movie with you. 자네 (jane) and 그대 (geudae) are also pronouns for “you” in Korean, but they are less commonly used than 너 (neo). ### “You” (Plural) in Korean The plural form of "you" or "you guys" in Korean is 너희 (neohui). Notice this is not an honorific, so never use 너희 (neohui) when speaking to strangers, the elderly, or the boss.너희들이 여기서 놀고 있었구나. (Neohuideuri yeogiseo nolgo isseossuguna.) So you all were playing here. ### “We” in Korean The most general term for "we" in Korean is 우리 (uri).우리는 함께 공부해요. (Urineun hamkke gongbuhaeyo.) We study together. Sometimes 우리 (uri) can also mean "my". For example, "my family" in Korean is 우리 가족 (uri gajok) A more informal term for "we" in korean is 저희 (jeohui). It also reflects a humble tone. 저희 가족은 매주 일요일에 함께 점심을 먹어요. (Jeohui gajogeun maeju ilyoile hamkke jeomsim-eul meogeoyo.) My family has lunch together every Sunday. ### "He", "She", "They" in Korean It’s worth noting that the pronouns for "he", "she", and "they" in Korean are **almost never used in Spoken Korean**. 그 (geu), 그녀 (geunyeo), and 그들 (geudeul) are primarily encountered **in written Korean**, such as literature or formal documents. “He”: 그 (geu) 그는 음악을 좋아해요. (Geuneun eumak-eul johahaeyo.) He likes music. “She”: 그녀 (geunyeo) 그녀는 배우로 활동하고 있어요. (Geunyeoneun baeuro hwaldonghago isseoyo.) She is working as an actress. “They”: 그들 (geudeul) 그들은 친구들과 함께 여행을 갔어요. (Geudeureun chingudeulgwa hamkke yeohaeng-eul gasseo.) They went on a trip with their friends. In spoken Korean, the specific pronouns for “he,” “she,” and “they” (그, 그녀, 그들) are rarely used. Instead, Korean speakers often rely on **context, verb forms, and other linguistic cues** to indicate the subject. This may be related to their cultural value of **collectivism**, where individuals are viewed within their social and relational contexts, rather than through isolated identities. Then how do people address each other without using these third-person pronouns? Check out our previous article about [Korean honorifics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/). ## Korean Demonstrative Pronouns Demonstrative pronouns refer to objects in physical relation to the speaker and the listener. For example: "this" and "that" in English are demonstrative pronouns. In Korean, demonstrative pronouns include: - This: 이것 (igeot) = this thing - That: 저것 (jeogeot) = that thing (far away from both the speaker and listener) - It: 그것 (geugeot) = the thing (close to the speaker and far away from the listener) In Korean, the word “것” (geot) literally means “thing”. So 이것 (igeot) literally translates to "this thing", rather than "this". You can replace “것” (geot) with specific nouns. For instance, “this pen” would be 이 펜 (i pen) and “that apple” would be 저사과 (jeosagwa). ## Korean Possessive Pronouns Possessive pronouns indicate ownership or possession of an object. "My" and "Your" are common English possessive pronouns. 의 (ui) is equivalent to " 's" in English, and it is usually pronounced as 에 (e) in this situation. | English | Korean (Polite) | Korean (Impolite) | Example Words | | ------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | | My | 저의(jeoui) | 내 (nae) | 나의 가방 (naui gabang) - My bag | | Your | 당신의 (dangsin-ui) | 너의 (neoui) | 당신의 집 (dangsin-ui jip) - Your house | | Your (Plural) | 여러분의 (yeoreobun-ui) | 너희의 (neohui) | 여러분의 자동차 (yeoreobun-ui jadongcha) - Your (plural) car | | His | 그의 (geu-ui) | 그의 책 (geu-ui chaek) - His book | | | Her | 그녀의 (geunyeo-ui) | 그녀의 가방 (geunyeo-ui gabang) - Her bag | | | Our | 저희의 (jeohui-ui) | 우리의 (uri-ui) (general) | 우리의 집 (uri-ui jip) - Our house | | Their | 그들의 (geudeul-ui) | 그들의 학교 (geudeul-ui hakgyo) - Their school | | ## Korean Interrogative Pronouns | English | Korean | Example Sentences | | ------- | -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | What | 무엇 (mueot) | \- 뭐를 먹고 싶으세요? (Mworeul meokgo sip-euseyo) - What would you like to eat? | | Who | 누구 (nugu) | \- 누구를 기다리고 있나요? (Nugureul gidarigo innayo) - Who are you waiting for? | | Where | 어디 (eodi) | \- 어디에 가고 싶으세요? (Eodie gago sip-euseyo) - Where do you want to go? | | When | 언제 (eonje) | \- 언제 출발해야 할까요? (Eonje chulbalhaeya halkkayo) - When should we depart? | | How | 어떻게 (eotteoke) | \- 어떻게 이것을 사용하나요? (Eotteoke igeoseul sayong-hanayo) - How do you use this? | | Which | 어느 (eoneu) | \- 어느 방향으로 가야 하나요? (Eoneu banghyang-euro gaya hanaeyo) - Which direction should we go? | | Why | 왜 (wae) | \- 왜 그렇게 생각하시나요? (Wae geureohge saenggakhayasinyo) - Why do you think so? | Congratulations on finishing the article! Before you go, In Korean, personal pronouns are often left out as well. This omission of pronouns is a distinctive feature of speaking Korean. Therefore, overusing pronouns can actually feel unnatural in Korean conversations. However, as we are still [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), it’s important to first familiarize ourselves with these pronouns for a better understanding of the language. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why is 당신 risky as everyday “you”? It is not a neutral replacement in many conversations and can sound distant, confrontational or context-specific. ### How do you say “I”? Use 저 in polite contexts and 나 in casual contexts. ### Why are Korean pronouns omitted? Context and verb endings often make the participants clear without repeating them. ### How should learners address someone? Use the person’s name with an appropriate suffix, a title or a relationship term when natural. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 10 YouTube Channels to Learn Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean-youtube-channels/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:32:22.000Z When it comes to [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), there are a variety of resources to choose from. From traditional textbooks, tutoring to online lessons and [apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-korean-learning-apps/), each method has its own advantages. If you're looking for a a flexible, interactive, and fun experience, there's no better option than tapping into the world of Korean language YouTube channels. ## Quick Answer: How should you choose a YouTube channel for learning Korean? Choose Korean-learning YouTube channel by matching it to your level, learning goal and preferred study method. Prioritize level labels, accurate explanations, comprehensible audio, transcripts or examples and active practice. The named resources in this article reflect the publication date; verify current editions, availability, pricing and features through the channel's current videos and About page before deciding. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Stable value | The selection criteria and study methods explained in the article | | Time-sensitive | Editions, availability, pricing, features and rankings | | Verify with | the channel's current videos and About page | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Numerous channels on YouTube provides free and high quality Korean learning materials. From vocabulary and grammar to culture and slangs, you can choose what to learn and learn Korean at your own pace. You never have to worry about missing a class, and best of all, YouTube lessons are often more engaging, interactive, and enjoyable compared to traditional lectures. They are especially suitable for visual and audio learners. In this article, we will introduce to you 10 great YouTube channels for Korean learners. So, without further ado, let's embark on the journey! ## 8 YouTube Channels for Korean Learners ### [GO! Billy Korean](http://youtube.com/user/GoBillyKorean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Korean YouTube channels: Go Billy Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/go-billy-korean-jpeg.jpg) Led by an American teacher, GO! Billy Korean is great for learners who enjoy interactive learning. Billy the Korean teacher himself is not native Korean but an American who has been living in Korean for years. In over 1000 videos, Billy has shown his great passion and talent for teaching Korean. His videos are through at explaining grammar concepts in depth and offering many useful real-life content in Korean. The channel is a great place for most levels of learners to expand their knowledge in Korean. ### [Learn Korean in Korean](https://www.youtube.com/@learnkoreaninkorean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The YouTube channel "Learn Korean in Korean" offers a variety of videos that covers different topics totally in Korean. If you wish to have an immersive learning experience, go check out *Learn Korean in Korean*. With engaging content and a variety and teaching methods, this channel makes learning Korean fun. It has attracted 206k videos and is still updating. Whether you're a beginner starting from scratch or an intermediate learner looking to improve your skills, you'll find something useful there. ### [Korean Unnie 한국언니](http://youtube.com/c/KoreanUnnie?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Korean Unnie 한국언니 is a native Korean teacher who shares many common expressions in Korean. With a focus on vocabulary, this channel is especially suitable for beginners. From the alphabet and numbers, to pronouns and greetings, you can learn authentic Korean expressions from a native. Unnie also shares lifestyle videos using both English and Korean, so you can learn how words are used in real life situations. ### [Prof. Yoon's Korean Language Class](https://www.youtube.com/@ProfYoonsKoreanLanguageClass?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![YouTube channels to learn Korean: Prof. Yoon's Korean Class](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/prof--yoons-korean-jpeg.jpg) Prof. Yoon's Korean Language Class is a YouTube channel led by a native Korean professor who teaches at a university in the US. Prof. Yoon explains complex grammar concepts in a clear and understandable manner. Although he adopts a more academic approach, his beginner playlists align with the "Integrated Korean" textbook series. Each lesson covers essential aspects such as grammar, vocabulary, and listening/reading practice. Interestingly, you don't necessarily need those [textbooks](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-textbooks/) to benefit from the lessons. The sole YouTube videos can be a great complement to any main learning resource. ### [영국남자 Korean Englishman](https://www.youtube.com/@koreanenglishman?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![YouTube channels to learn Korean: Korean Englishman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-englishman-jpeg.jpg) While not exactly a Korean teaching channel, 영국남자 Korean Englishman has almost everything about South Korea, especially food. The British YouTuber living in Korea shows his great passion for Korean food, culture, and language through a series of entertaining videos. While this channel may not be suitable for serious Korean learners, it offers a blend of language learning and entertainment for those who are interested in Korean culture. ### [Talk to Me in Korean](https://www.youtube.com/@talktomeinkorean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Korean learning youtube channels: Talk To Me In Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/talk-to-me-in-korean-youtube-jpeg.jpg) Talk to Me In Korean (TTMIK) is a popular Korean learning brand known for their books, lessons, and videos. Their YouTube channel with 1.6 M subscribers is also a great place to not only improve your Korean language, but also get to know the culture. They provide a fun and practical approach to learning Korean, with a wide range of content including Korean culture videos like discussions of food and virtual traveling, immersive lessons to learn Korean in Korean, as well as sharing useful Korean learning tips. It's both entertaining and educational for Korean learners who are looking for additional listening and speaking practices. ### [빅키샘 한국어 Korean with Miss Vicky](https://www.youtube.com/@KoreanwithMissVicky/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![YouTube channels to learn Korean: 빅키샘Miss Vicky](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-vicky-jpeg.jpg) The YouTube channel "Korean with Miss Vicky 빅키샘 한국어" is a great resource for learning Korean in a simple and enjoyable way. With two new videos released every month, this channel provides regular content to help you improve your Korean language skills. Miss Vicky focuses on teaching useful Korean expressions, including[ apologies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/sorry-in-korean/) and [slangs](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korea-slang/) that are commonly used in everyday conversations. In addition to the instructional videos, the channel also features podcast-style chats about Korean learning, offering valuable insights and discussions about language learning methods. Whether you're a beginner or looking to expand your knowledge of Korean expressions, "Korean with Miss Vicky 빅키샘 한국어" has you covered with its informative and engaging content. ### [Conversational Korean](https://www.youtube.com/@ConversationalKorean/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Korean learning YouTube channel Conversational Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/conversational-korean-jpeg.jpg) Conversational Korean is a popular YouTube channel dedicated to helping you learn the Korean language in a conversational context. The channel focuses on practical and everyday Korean language skills to help you communicate effectively in real-life situations. With a strong emphasis on **spoken language**, Conversational Korean provides lessons that prioritize conversation practice, listening comprehension, and speaking skills. Whether you are a beginner or looking to improve your speaking skills, Conversational Korean provides valuable resources to learn with ease. ### [Your Korean Saem](https://www.youtube.com/@YourKoreanSaem/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Your Korean Saem, formerly known as All Things Korean - Saemmul, is a captivating Korean learning channel. Saemmul is known for her enjoyable and engaging content, and she actively interacts with her followers. Her lessons cover a wide range of topics in both English and Korean, allowing learners to explore diverse areas of interest. Saemmul's teaching style is incredibly natural and relatable, making viewers feel as though they are having a conversation with a knowledgeable adult. Watching her lessons is not only educational but also enjoyable and immersive. ### [Sweet and Tasty TV](https://www.youtube.com/@sweetandtastyTV?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Combining Korean language learning with food, culture and travel videos, Sweet and Tasty TV offers a unique learning experience. It takes you on a tour to explore Korean cuisine and learn the language simultaneously. --- Isn't it wonderful and lucky to have so many Korean native speakers on YouTube teaching Korean? Thanks to them learning Korean has become more accessible and enjoyable. Whatever type of language learner you are, you can always find something useful from the list above. [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is another place to learn Korean easy and fun. Structured lessons written by professional teachers are turned into gamified, bite-sized lessons that you can learn on the go. Give it a try for free today! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this list of Korean-learning YouTube channel still current? It is a dated editorial selection, not a live ranking. Use its criteria, then confirm current details through the channel's current videos and About page. ### How should I choose a Korean-learning YouTube channel? Match your level and goal, then compare level labels, accurate explanations, comprehensible audio, transcripts or examples and active practice. ### Is one resource enough? Usually not. A core resource works best with regular review and additional listening, reading, speaking or writing practice. ### Which details should I verify? Check the latest edition or listing, regional availability, price, included materials and current platform support before purchasing or subscribing. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### What is Language Fluency and How to Achieve it URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/fluency/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:09.000Z When it comes to learning a new language, many people aspire to achieve "fluency." But what does fluency actually mean? ## Quick Answer: What does language fluency mean? Fluency is the ability to use a language smoothly enough for a chosen purpose. It is not identical to native-like speech, perfect accuracy or advanced proficiency; useful goals depend on whether a learner wants conversation, work, study, reading or media comprehension. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----------- | -------------------------------------- | | Fluency | smooth, effective language use | | Accuracy | correct forms and word choice | | Proficiency | broader measured ability across skills | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. For some, it means being able to communicate easily with native speakers, while for others, it involves enjoying books and movies in the target language. But does that mean the concept of fluency is subjective? Are there any methods to measure language fluency? How to achieve fluency? In this article, we'll explore what is fluency in language learning and how to achieve it. Join us to uncover the mystery of language fluency and learn valuable tips on how to speak fluently in your target language! ## What is fluency ### Definition of Fluency 'Fluency’ comes from the Latin word 'fluentia' meaning “flow”. So being fluent in a language means flowing your speech and ideas like a river, without obstacles. According to wikipedia: [Fluency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluency?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) refers to continuity, smoothness, rate, and effort in speech production. Merriam-Webster defines fluency as "the quality or state of being fluent" and fluent as "capable of using a language easily and accurately" Although fluency is more often used to describe speaking and writing abilities. [Research](https://contact.teslontario.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Brown-Fluency-1.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has shown a more detailed definition of fluency in all 4 aspects of language learning. | Speaking | Writing | Reading | Listening | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | thinking and speaking at the same time in a relatively natural speed with not so many errors, so that meaning is understood by the listener. | thinking and writing at the same time in a relatively natural speed, with a focus on expressing meaning with a relatively average number of revisions. | Reading and understanding English at a speed closer to L1 readers - about 250 words | Listening to and understanding spoken English, to the degree necessary, in different situations. This implies that listening to friends, a university lecturer, the police, or a YouTube video all have unique needs. | The [IELTS speaking test defines](https://www.ielts.org/how-to-use-ielts-results/four-skills/speaking/scoring?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Fluency%20and%20coherence%20refers%20to,speech%20rate%20and%20speech%20continuity.) fluency and coherence as “the ability to talk with normal levels of continuity, rate and effort and to link ideas and language together to form coherent, connected speech.” It also mentioned “The key indicators of fluency are speech rate and speech continuity.” On social media, language learners have their own [discussions about fluency](https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/search/?q=fluency&restrict%5Fsr=1&sr%5Fnsfw=&ref=blog.lingodeer.com): - Fluency is when you can live your life completely in the target language - Fluency is being able to understand jokes and idioms - Fluency is thinking and speaking at the same time - Fluent is knowing how to paraphrase - Fluency is speaking quickly… To understand what fluency is, we can also explore what it is not: - Fluency is not having native pronunciation - Fluency is not cluttering and stuttering - Fluency is not 100% grammar accuracy - Fluency is not speaking too slow - Fluency is not knowing 9999 words… So what’s the conclusion? If we select some common keywords from the above definitions, we can roughly say fluency is the smoothness, ease, flow, continuity, effortlessness, and coherence in speech or language production. ![reach fluency with LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/great-e1684231877123-1.png) ### Is it necessary to speak like a native speaker to be considered fluent? Some may ask isn’t this definition too strict? It seems only native speakers can speak a language effortlessly and thus fluently. Then what’s the difference between **a fluent speaker and a native speaker**? [According to University of North Carolina](https://csb.uncw.edu/cen/docs/determining%20language%20proficiency.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a native speaker is “more than fluent. He can also correctly and easily use colloquialisms, idioms and slang.” A native speaker can not only use the language fluently, but also well understands **the cultural aspects** behind the language as they grew up with it. Therefore, it’s not necessary to be 100% like a native speaker to be considered fluent. But a fluent speaker does sound like a native speaker. ### How long does it take to become fluent in a language? Long story short, the time required to become fluent in a language varies depending on a variety of factors such as the **language's complexity, previous language learning experience, study time and intensity, motivation, and personal aptitude.** It can take **several months to several years** of dedicated study and practice to achieve a high level of fluency. ### What are the main factors that influence language fluency? There are many factors that can influence when and how you will reach language fluency. They can also be used to make specific language learning plans. Here are some common factors: - **Exposure to the language**: The amount and quality of exposure to the language can greatly affect language fluency. Exposure can come from various sources such as listening to native speakers, watching TV shows or movies in the language, reading books, or speaking with native speakers. - **Motivation and attitude**: Language fluency also depends on one's motivation and attitude towards learning the language. A positive attitude and motivation to learn the language can help in improving language fluency. - **Aptitude and learning style**: Some individuals have a natural aptitude for learning languages, while others may need to put in more effort to achieve fluency. Learning style also plays a role in language fluency, with some individuals benefiting from visual aids, while others may prefer auditory or kinesthetic learning. - **Language difficulty**: It’s easy to understand that languages that are easier to learn, with simple grammar and pronunciation, may be quicker to become fluent in. On the other hand, languages with complex grammar, vocabulary, or unfamiliar writing systems may take more time and effort to reach fluency. ## How to measure language fluency (ability) ### Language Fluency Certification One of the most common way to measure language level is CEFR, which stands for [Common European Framework Reference](https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). It assess and describe your language skills in 6 levels from A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient). Here is what each level means: - A1 (Beginner): Capabilities range include basic introductions and answering questions about personal details provided the listener speaks slowly and is willing to cooperate. - A2 (Elementary): Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her past, environment and matters related to his/her immediate needs and perform routine tasks requiring basic exchanges of information. - B1 (Intermediate): Can deal with most daily life situations in the country where the language is spoken. Can describe experiences, dreams and ambitions and give brief reasons for opinions and goals. - B2 (Upper intermediate): Can understand the themes of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics and will have achieved a degree of fluency and spontaneity, which makes interaction with native speakers possible without significant strain for either party. - C1 (Advanced): Can understand a wide range of longer texts and recognise subtleties and implicit meaning; producing clear, well-structured and detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. - C2 (Proficient): Can understand virtually everything heard or read, expressing themselves spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, while differentiating finer shades of meaning even in highly complex situations. Still unsure about your own level? Here is a quick placement test from [Language Learning hub](https://twitter.com/LangLearnHub?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![CEFR level quick test](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/cefr.png) So where does fluency stand on the CEFR scale? While fluency is not exactly a strict linguistic term, most people tend to agree that reaching **B2 level and up** can be considered fluent. However, note that most language learners, especially self-learners, may have an unbalanced skillset, meaning they may be especially good at language input (listening and reading) while not so good at output (speaking and writing). For Asian language learners, the CEFR scale may not be quite useful. After referencing and comparing different measurements, we have come to a rough conclusion for what is fluency in the 3 popular Asian languages on the [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): - Japanese: JLPT N2 - Korean: TOPIK 4 - Chinese: HSK 6 Apart from this commonly accepted framework, the quickest way to test your fluency is through **real-life situations** with native speakers. Can you smoothly hold conversations without struggling to find the right words? How well can you understand a film in your target language without subtitles? If you ask a native speaker to proofread something you write, how many errors will they find? So being fluent in a language means more than reaching certain levels in proficiency tests, the real test is in everyday situations. ### What’s the difference between fluency, proficiency, accuracy, advanced You may also hear words similar to fluency like proficiency, accuracy and advanced. While they are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences among the terms as they have different focuses. **Fluency** relates to the ability to communicate effortlessly, smoothly, and naturally in a language. It encompasses speaking, listening, and the flow of conversation. It’s mostly related to speaking. **Proficiency** encompasses a broader range of language skills, including reading, writing, and comprehension in addition to speaking and listening. It’s a broader term that encompasses overall language competence. It includes not only fluency but also a deeper understanding of vocabulary, grammar, cultural nuances, and the ability to navigate different contexts and registers. **Accuracy** focuses on grammar, vocabulary, and proper sentence structure. An accurate speaker pays attention to details and strives for grammatically correct and contextually appropriate language production. Accuracy ensures clear communication and avoids misunderstandings. **Advanced** is a more genearl term that signifies a high level of language proficiency. It goes beyond intermediate levels and indicates a mastery of the language. Advanced learners possess the ability to express themselves fluently, accurately, and confidently in various contexts. ## How to Achieve Fluency How to achieve in a foreign language? This is probably one of the most commonly asked questions by language learners. Whether you're an aspiring polyglot or just starting your language learning journey, achieving fluency is an exciting goal worth pursuing. In this part, we'll show you 8 practical tips on how to achieve fluency. ### Set Language Goals with Fluency in Mind When setting language goals, keep fluency in mind as the ultimate objective. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable milestones. For example, aim to have a certain number of conversations per week, read a specific number of pages in the target language, or write a journal entry every day. Setting language goals focused on ultimate fluency will keep you motivated and help you track your progress effectively. ### Focus on output-based learning This means actively using the language by speaking and writing as much as possible. Practice expressing your thoughts and ideas in the target language, even if you make mistakes. The more you engage in speaking and writing, the more comfortable and fluent you will become. ### Immerse Yourself in the Language Once you’ve passed the beginner phase, consider adding a lot of immersion as it can help you develop a natural feel for the language. Surround yourself with authentic materials like movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, books, etc. ### Practice, Practice, Practice Consistent practice is key to achieving fluency. Engage in regular language practice sessions, be it through conversation exchanges, language meetups, or online language communities. Make use of [language learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/), flashcards, and language exercises to reinforce vocabulary and grammar. Remember, the more you practice, the better you'll become, and the closer you'll get to fluency. ### Embrace Mistakes and Learn from Them Don't be afraid to make mistakes! Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Embrace them as valuable learning opportunities and stepping stones to improvement. Don’t let go of any opportunity to speak, listen, read, and write in your language. Record yourself speaking or ask a native speaker to check your writing. Always learn from your errors as this is the quickest way to improve. ### Engage in Conversations Don’t be afraid to speak. Attentively seek opportunities to converse with native speakers. You can find language partners, join language exchange programs, or chat in language groups. Real-life interactions will help you encounter varied vocabulary, idioms, and slangs that can’t be learned from textbooks. You can also gain confidence and feel more natural when speaking. ### Stay Motivated and Enjoy the Journey Maintaining motivation is crucial in your language learning journey. Find ways to keep the learning process enjoyable and exciting. Explore topics that genuinely interest you and incorporate them into your language study. Celebrate your progress and reward yourself for achieving small goals. ### Can reading and listening help improve fluency in a foreign language? Fluency mostly refers to speaking skills but language input can also help improve your fluency. Reading and listening are great ways to increase exposure to your target language, you learn new words and expressions and get used to grammar structures. By immersing yourself in foreign language media like movies and novels, you get to know how the language is used by native speakers and have a greater chance of using it correctly with ease when speaking. ### Is it necessary to live in a country where the language is spoken to become fluent? Living in a country of your target language is one of the quickest ways to fluency. But plenty of people have reached language fluency without ever going to the country. So it’s not necessary to go to a country in order to learn the language (it’s the other way around). Without living in the country, you can also use the above methods we mentioned to learn languages and speak fluently. --- Thank you for reading our article about language fluency! This article is brought to you by LingoDeer, one of the best language-learning apps with 13 languages including [Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-language/), [Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/), [French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/), Spanish, etc. [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a great helper on your journey to language fluency. Structured lessons, plenty of practice opportunities, native speaker audio, real-life conversations… It’s a one-stop journey to achieve your language learning goals. Give it a try for free today! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Must fluent speakers sound native? No. A person can communicate fluently with an accent and occasional errors. ### How long does fluency take? There is no universal schedule; prior knowledge, target language, goals, practice quality and time all matter. ### Can reading and listening improve fluency? Yes, especially when input is understandable and paired with retrieval, speaking or writing. ### How can progress be measured? Use task-based goals such as sustaining a conversation, understanding a program or completing a work task. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Best Apps to Learn Russian 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-apps-to-learn-russian/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:31:59.000Z Are you tired of traditional language learning methods that don't seem to work? Do you want to [learn Russian](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/) in a fun and interactive way? Well, look no further than [language learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/)! In this blog post, we will be sharing the 6 best apps to learn Russian. ## Quick Answer: How should you choose an app for learning Russian? Choose Russian-learning app by matching it to your level, learning goal and preferred study method. Prioritize structured lessons, Cyrillic support, useful review, listening and speaking practice. The named resources in this article reflect the publication date; verify current editions, availability, pricing and features through the app's official website or current app-store listing before deciding. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Stable value | The selection criteria and study methods explained in the article | | Time-sensitive | Editions, availability, pricing, features and rankings | | Verify with | the app's official website or current app-store listing | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## How to choose a good language app Before diving into our list of top picks, it's important to note [what makes a good language app](https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-app-qualities/). This is also what we are looking for when comparing different Russian learning apps. First, as learning any language takes a lot of time and effort, a good language app should **have high-quality, engaging content** that keeps its users motivated. Secondly, a good Russian learning app should **offer various exercises** such as quizzes and flashcards. Thirdly, for self-learners, it's important to choose an app that provides **feedback** on your progress, especially personalized feedback. Now with these criteria in mind, let's dive into our top picks of best apps to learn Russian in 2023\. We have also listed down the pros and cons of each app so you can choose one that fits you. Let's go! ## Best Apps to Learn Russian 2023 ### [Best App to Learn Russian Casually – Duolingo](http://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![best app to learn Russian](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/duolingo-logo-1.png) Duolingo is the most popular language learning app that teaches more than 30 languages including Russian. It's free with gamified lessons that are fun and interactive. From multiple choices to fill-in-the-blank exercises, [Duolingo's Russian course](https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-russian-review/) is full of different kinds of challenges that keeps you engaged. It helps you build your Russian skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking with fun games. It also has a large community where you can interact with other learners and compete for points and rewards. Pros: - It’s completely free (with ads) and accessible to anyone with a smartphone or computer. - It’s encouraging and motivating. It gives you feedback, rewards, and reminders to keep you on track and make learning enjoyable. - It’s fun and gamified. It uses various types of exercises, such as matching, translating, typing, and speaking, to keep you interested and challenged. Cons: - It’s poor at teaching the alphabet and typing. It doesn’t explain the Cyrillic script well and expects you to type in Russian without proper guidance or keyboard support. - Lacks logic and explanations. It doesn’t teach grammar rules or cultural nuances explicitly and often introduces new words and structures without context. - Unnatural sentences. Duolingo Russian uses robotic audio and sometimes weird sentences that don’t reflect how native speakers talk. ### [Best App to Learn Russian with Interaction – Babbel](http://www.babbel.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![best app to learn Russian](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/babbel-logo.png) With over 10 million users worldwide, Babbel has proven to be a popular choice for language learners. It offers lessons that are tailored to your level and interests, as well as interactive exercises and speech recognition technology. Babbel's Russian course offers an interactive and structured way to learn Russian. It helps you master [the Cyrillic alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/), grammar rules, vocabulary, and pronunciation through various types of exercises and explanations. It also has a speech recognition feature that allows you to practice speaking and get feedback on your accent. Pros: - Interactive. - **Affordable and flexible.** Even though Babbel is not free, you can choose from different subscription plans and durations that suit your budget and goals. - **Thorough and clear.** Babbel Russian is great for begginers as it teaches you the essential concepts and skills of Russian with detailed explanations, examples, and tips. It also provides cultural insights and real-life scenarios that make learning more relevant and engaging. - **Adaptive and personalized.** It adjusts to your level and pace of learning, and tracks your progress as you learn. It also lets you customize your review sessions and focus on the topics you need to improve. Cons: - **Limited and repetitive.** Babbel Russian only covers beginner to intermediate levels of Russian, and doesn’t offer advanced or specialized courses. It also uses mostly the same format and types of exercises throughout the lessons, which can get boring for some. - **Incomplete lessons.** Some find the Babbel Russian course quite incomplete, with the only first few lesson being thoroughly taught with explanations. ## [Best App to Learn Russian Comprehensively – LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![LingoDeer logo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer-logo-800x800-1-jpeg.jpg) LingoDeer is a rather lesser-known language app that also offers a Russian course. The learning experience is similar to Duolingo with fun, gamified lessons that keep you motivated. What makes it better is it offers **a comprehensive, structured course** that teaches you from scratch. It helps you master the Cyrillic alphabet, [verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-verbs/), vocabulary, and pronunciation through various types of exercises and explanations. It also has a speech recognition feature that allows you to practice speaking and get feedback on your accent. Pros: - **Thorough and clear.** LingoDeer teaches you the basics of Russian with detailed explanations, examples, and tips. - **Cultural tips:** LingoDeer provides cultural insights and real-life scenarios that make learning more relevant and engaging. - **Clear grammar explanations:** LingoDeer has a clear grammar tips section in each Russian lesson that navigates you through the difficult parts. - **Fun and gamified**. There are various types of exercises to keep you interested as well as rewards and progress track to help you [maintain motivation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/). Cons: - **Limited content.** It only covers beginner to intermediate levels of Russian, and doesn’t offer advanced or specialized courses. - **No video material.** It does not offer any video material that is better for language immersion ### Best App to Learn Russian Immersively – Rosetta Stone ![best app to learn Russian](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/rosetta-stone-logo.png) Rosetta Stone is another great app to learn Russian because it offers an immersive, intuitive, and comprehensive way to learn the language. It helps you develop all your language skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—through various types of exercises and images. It also has a speech recognition feature that offers personalized feedback on your pronunciation. This app is known for its immersive approach to language learning, using pictures and audio to help you learn Russian in context. Pros: - **Immersive and intuitive**. You can learn Russian naturally and intuitively by associating words and phrases with images and sounds. The Russian course is taught in Russian instead of English. With no translations or explanations, the learning experience with Rosetta stone is more immersive and intuitive. - **Comprehensive and thorough**. Rosetta Stone teaches Russian from beginner to advanced levels, covering a wide range of topics, vocabulary, and grammar. There are also additional features, such as stories, audio companion, and tutoring. Cons: - **Lack of grammar explanations**: Rosetta Stone's immersive approach relies on the learner to figure out grammar and vocabulary through context, which may be frustrating for some learners. - **Limited speaking practice**: While Rosetta Stone does offer speech recognition technology, it may not provide enough opportunity for learners to practice their speaking skills in a real-life context. - **Expensive**: Rosetta Stone's price point is higher compared to some other language learning apps and resources. - **Limited cultural context**: While Rosetta Stone provides exposure to the Russian language, it may not offer as much insight into the country's culture and customs as some other language learning resources. ### Best App to Practice Russian Speaking – Mondly ![best app to learn Russian](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/mondly-logo.png) Mondly is one of the best apps to learn Russian online because it simulates total language immersion and uses various techniques to teach you the Russian language quickly, effectively and in a fun way. Mondly also has some other features like chat box, speech recognition, and even augmented reality technology to provide an immersive language experience. Mondly's Russian course is structured around different topics such as greetings, food, travel, and more. Here are some of the pros and cons of Mondly Russian. Pros: - **Plenty of speaking practice**: with its chat bot and speech recognition technology, Mondly is great for those who wish to practice there Russian speaking skills. - **Fun and interactive teaching approach**: Lessons are fun and engaging with a variety of topics. - **Comprehensive content**: Mondly covers a range of topics and grammar concepts, which can provide a well-rounded learning experience for learners of all levels. Cons: - **Less cultural context**: Similar to other language learning apps, Mondly may provide less cultural context compared to more in-depth language courses. - **Over-reliance on translation**: Mondly often translates words and phrases directly, which may not be the most effective way to learn and retain new vocabulary. - **Lack of feedback:** You may not get personalized feedback or correction on your pronunciation or writing skills. ### Best App to Learn Russian with Structure – Busuu ![best app to learn Russian](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/busuu-logo.png) Busuu is one of the best apps to learn Russian because it offers a comprehensive, interactive, and social way to learn the language. It helps you develop all your language skills—speaking, listening, reading and writing—through various types of exercises and explanations. It also has a speech recognition feature that allows you to practice speaking and get feedback from native speakers. Pros: - **Personalized and flexible**. You can create a study plan that suits your goals, level, and schedule. You can also access the lessons anytime and anywhere on your device. - **Fun and social**. You can interact with other learners and native speakers through voice messages, corrections, and chats. You can also learn cultural tips and real-life scenarios that make learning more engaging and relevant. Cons: - **Not free**. You have to pay a subscription fee to access the full content of the app, which can be costly compared to other apps or resources. - **Less engaging**. It uses mostly the same format and types of exercises throughout the lessons, which can get boring. It also doesn’t offer much entertainment in the content. With these apps at your fingertips, there's no excuse not to start learning Russian today! Each app offers a unique approach to language learning, so it's worth trying out a few to see which one suits your style best. Happy studying! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this list of Russian-learning app still current? It is a dated editorial selection, not a live ranking. Use its criteria, then confirm current details through the app's official website or current app-store listing. ### How should I choose a Russian-learning app? Match your level and goal, then compare structured lessons, Cyrillic support, useful review, listening and speaking practice. ### Is one resource enough? Usually not. A core resource works best with regular review and additional listening, reading, speaking or writing practice. ### Which details should I verify? Check the latest edition or listing, regional availability, price, included materials and current platform support before purchasing or subscribing. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 6 Best French Learning Apps 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-french-learning-apps/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:27.000Z French is one of the [most widely spoken languages ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/)that attracts many for its elegance, beauty, and cultural importance. If you're interested in [learning French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/), you're in luck, as there are numerous apps available that can help you achieve your language goals. In this post, we'll introduce you to some of the best French learning apps on the market. ## Quick Answer: How should you choose an app for learning French? Choose French-learning app by matching it to your level, learning goal and preferred study method. Prioritize structured progression, vocabulary review, listening, pronunciation and opportunities to produce the language. The named resources in this article reflect the publication date; verify current editions, availability, pricing and features through the app's official website or current app-store listing before deciding. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Stable value | The selection criteria and study methods explained in the article | | Time-sensitive | Editions, availability, pricing, features and rankings | | Verify with | the app's official website or current app-store listing | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## [Best French Learning App for Gamification: Duolingo](https://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![duolingo logo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/duolingo-logo-2.png) Duolingo is one of [the most popular language learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/) out there, and for good reason. It's free, easy to use, and gamifies the learning process to make it more fun and engaging. [Duolingo's French course](https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-french-review/) covers everything from basic vocabulary to sentences, with strong focus on speaking and listening skills. Pros: - **Gamified learning**: Duolingo uses **a gamified approach** to learning, making it engaging and fun to learn French. - **Bite-sized lessons**: Duolingo's lessons are **short and digestible**, allowing users to learn French in small increments that fit into their daily routines. - **Free to use**: Duolingo's basic version is free with ads. You can also upgrade to premium to remove the ads. - **Adaptive learning**: Duolingo's algorithm adapts to the user's progress and adjusts the difficulty of the lessons accordingly, ensuring that the user is always challenged but not overwhelmed. - **Interactive**: Duolingo's French lessons are interactive, allowing users to practice their reading, writing, and listening skills. Cons: - Weird sentences: Duolingo's courses include many weirdly funny sentences that doesn't normally appear in textbooks. For example, "The monster is drinking whiskey." is probably not quite useful for beginners. While some users find this amusing and helps them better remember sentences and phrases, others may want to learn more useful, normal expressions that can be used in daily communications. - Lack of cultural context: Duolingo's French course doesn't provide much cultural context, which may not adequately prepare users for communicating with native French speakers. - Limited vocabulary: Duolingo's French course teaches a limited vocabulary of 1700, which may not be enough for fluency in French. - No personalized feedback: Duolingo doesn't offer personalized feedback on users' writing or speaking, which may not be sufficient if you want more personalized guidance. - Repetitive lessons: Some users may find Duolingo's French lessons repetitive, which may make it less engaging over time. ## [Best French Learning App for Comprehensive Learning: LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![LingoDeer app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer-icon.png) Lingodeer is a lesser-known language learning app that offers courses in French. Lingodeer's French course is comprehensive and covers everything from basic vocabulary to complex grammar concepts. The app also has a strong focus on speaking and listening skills, and it uses gamification to make the learning process more fun and engaging. Pros: - **Personalized learning:** LingoDeer offers a customizable and interactive learning experience that adapts to different levels and goals of learning. - **Native speaker audio:** rather than using AI generated audio like other apps, all LingoDeer's courses use 100% native speaker audio for language learners. - **Interactive features:** The app offers various interactive exercises, such as quizzes, flashcards, and listening exercises, to help you learn and practice French in a fun and engaging way. - **Gamification:** Like Duolingo, LingoDeer also incorporates gamification elements into its courses, such as xp and badges, which can make learning more enjoyable and motivating. Cons: - **Limited content:** It's probably not suitable for advanced learners who wish to master complex grammar or further improve their French. - **Automated feedback:** LingoDeer provides automated feedback on your progress, which may not be as accurate or comprehensive as feedback from a language teacher. ## [Best French Learning App for Structured Lessons: Babbel](https://www.babbel.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![babbel](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/babbel-1.png) Babbel is another popular language learning app that offers courses in French. Babbel's French course is designed to help learners **achieve conversational fluency** in as little as three months. The app uses a variety of interactive exercises and simulations to help learners practice their speaking, reading, and writing skills. Pros: - **Structured learning:** Babbel is well structured for beginners and intermediate French learners. Its courses include well-organized lessons build on each other. It's great for those who wish to follow a systematic approach to learn French. - **Focus on conversational skills:** Babbel's French course focuses on conversational skills, allowing users to practice their speaking and listening skills. - **Clear explanations:** Babbel's French course is easy to use for French beginners with clear explanations and interactive exercises for grammar and vocabulary. - **Varied lesson formats:** Babbel's French lessons come in various formats, including dialogues, grammar explanations, and cultural notes, providing a diverse learning experience. Cons: - **Limited gamification:** Babbel's French course is less gamified than other language learning apps like LingoDeer and Duolingo, which may make it less engaging for some users. - **Limited vocabulary:** Babbel's French course teaches a limited vocabulary, which may not be enough for users who want to become fluent in French. - **Limited speaking practice:** Babbel's French course offers less speaking practice than some other language learning apps, which may not be sufficient for those who want to improve their speaking specifically. ## [Best French Learning App for Conversational Practice: Rosetta Stone](https://www.rosettastone.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Rosetta Stone Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/13-1.png) Rosetta Stone is a well-known language learning program that has been around for decades. The app uses an immersive approach to language learning, where learners are immersed in the language from the start. Rosetta Stone's French course is comprehensive and covers everything from basic vocabulary to advanced grammar. Pros: - **Immersion:** Rosetta Stone uses an intuitive and immersive teaching style, using images and audios clips to help you pick up the French language in a natural way. It also has many interactive exercises to help you improve speaking, listening, reading and writing in French. - **Pronunciation Feedback:** Rosetta Stone has a voice recognition feature called TruAccent that gives you feedback on your pronunciation. It helps you to identify your weak spots and improve faster. - **Convenience:** As one of the oldest language learning brand, Rosetta Stone is available on multiple platforms, including desktop, mobile, and tablet devices, so you can learn French anywhere and anytime that suits you. Cons: - **Lack of grammar explanations:** Rosetta Stone emphasizes immersion, so there's no translations or clear explanations of grammar rules.. This can be a disadvantage for people who prefer to learn French grammar explicitly. - **Expensive:** Compared to other French learning apps, Rosetta Stone is relatively expensive, which may not be affordable for everyone. - **Repetitive and slow paced:** Learners who already have some knowledge of the French language, may find the vocabulary and phrases too basic. It's better to supplement your learning with other resources. ## [Best French Learning App for Vocabulary Memorization: Memrise](https://www.memrise.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![memrise app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/memrise-new-logo.png) Memrise is a unique language learning app that uses spaced repetition to help learners remember new words and phrases. Memrise's French course is engaging and interactive, and it covers everything from basic vocabulary to advanced grammar concepts. The app also has a strong focus on speaking and listening skills. Pros: - **Extensive vocabulary:** Memrise offers a wide range of French vocabulary divided into different categories. - **Gamification:** Memrise incorporates gamification elements into its courses, such as points and leaderboards, which can make learning more enjoyable and motivating. - **Spaced repetition:** The app uses spaced repetition to help learners remember new vocabulary and grammar concepts more effectively. - **Customization:** Like Anki, Memrise allows users to create unique French lessons with their own learning materials. Cons: - **Limited speaking practice:** Memrise focuses more on reading and writing skills than speaking skills. While there are some speaking exercises, they are not as comprehensive as other language learning apps or programs. - **Lack of context:** The app mostly teaches words and phrases in isolation, not in context, which may limit learners' ability to use them in real situations. - **Limited grammar explanations:** The app does not provide detailed grammar explanations, which may make it difficult for some to understand the rules of French grammar. - **Lack of structure:** Sometimes it can be inconsistent in quality and accuracy, especially for user-created courses that are not vetted. In conclusion, there are many great French learning apps available, each with their own unique features and approaches. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, there's an app out there that can help you achieve your French learning goals. We hope this list has been helpful in guiding you towards the right app for you. Happy learning! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this list of French-learning app still current? It is a dated editorial selection, not a live ranking. Use its criteria, then confirm current details through the app's official website or current app-store listing. ### How should I choose a French-learning app? Match your level and goal, then compare structured progression, vocabulary review, listening, pronunciation and opportunities to produce the language. ### Is one resource enough? Usually not. A core resource works best with regular review and additional listening, reading, speaking or writing practice. ### Which details should I verify? Check the latest edition or listing, regional availability, price, included materials and current platform support before purchasing or subscribing. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Filler Words | How to Sound Instantly Native in 7 Languages URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/filler-words/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:33.000Z When speaking in a foreign language, have you ever found yourself struggling to fill a moment of silence in a conversation? Well, here is where filler words like the “well” I just used come in handy. ## Quick Answer: What are filler words and how should learners use them? Filler words are sounds or short expressions used to hold the floor, hesitate, organize speech or signal attitude. They vary by language and register. Learners should first recognize them in listening, then use a small number naturally rather than inserting them into every pause. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------- | --------------------------------------- | | Function | manage pauses and discourse | | Benefit | more time to plan speech | | Risk | overuse can distract or sound unnatural | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Filler words are little words or sounds that we use when we speak that don't really have any meaning on their own. They are often used used to fill pauses, give us time to think, or to emphasize something we're about to say. In English, filler words include "um", "uh", "like", "you know", "well", etc. Although these words have no real meaning of their own, they're a normal part of everyday conversation in any language. For language learners like you, knowing how to use filler words will not only help you sound more like a native speaker but also avoid awkward silence. So in this article, we’ll show you some most commonly used filler words in 7 languages together with their variations and example sentences. If interested, keep reading! ## Korean filler words **음 (eum)** \- This is perhaps the most common filler word in Korean. It is used to fill in gaps in conversation, similar to the English filler word "um". For example: "음, 그래서 어떻게 해야 할까요?" (Um, so what should we do about this?) **응 (eung)** \- This filler word is used to express agreement, acknowledgement, or confirmation. It's similar to the English "uh-huh" or "yeah". For example: "그렇게 생각해요?" "응, 맞아요" (Do you think so? Yeah, that's right) **어 (eo)** \- This filler word is similar to the Japanese "ええと (eeto)" or the English "uh" and is used to fill in gaps in conversation or to pause while thinking. It can be used in both [formal and informal situations](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). For example: "어, 그게 뭐였지?" (Um, what was that again?) **그 (geu)** \- This word can be used as a filler word to express hesitation, uncertainty, or to fill a gap in conversation. It can also be used as a demonstrative pronoun, meaning "that" or "those". For example: "그, 그게 뭐였는지 잘 기억 안 나요" (Uh, I can't remember what that was) ## Japanese filler words **あのう (anou)** \- This is perhaps the most common filler word in [Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/). It is used to fill in gaps in conversation, similar to the English filler word "um". For example: "あのう、ちょっと待ってください" (Um, please wait a moment). **ええと (eeto)** \- This filler word is also used to fill in gaps in conversation or to pause while thinking. For example: "ええと、どこで食べたらいいですか？" (Hmm, where should we eat?). **まあ (maa)** \- This filler word is used to express a variety of emotions, such as surprise, hesitation, or resignation. For example: "まあ、どうしようかな" (Well, what should we do?). **そう (sō)** \- This word is often used to indicate agreement or understanding, similar to the English "hmmm" or "I see". It can also be used to express doubt or skepticism. For example: そう、今度の週末に映画を見に行こうよ。(Um, let's go watch a movie this weekend.) **ええ (ē)** \- This word is used to indicate agreement or surprise, depending on the context. The tone and duration of the word can also convey positive or negative reactions. A short, flat "e" sound can indicate agreement or acknowledgement, similar to the English "uh-huh" or "yeah". For example: "ええ、そうですね" (Yes, that's right). A longer, rising "ēēē" sound can indicate surprise or disbelief, similar to the English "wow" or "oh". For example: "ええ、すごい！" (Wow, amazing!). ## Chinese filler words **那个 (nà ge)** \- This is perhaps the most common filler word in Chinese. It is used to fill in gaps in conversation, similar to the English filler word "um". It's often used to start a sentence or draw attention. In some regional dialects, it’s often pronounced as nèi ge For example: "那个，我昨天去了一个新的餐厅" (Um, I went to a new restaurant yesterday). **就是 (jiù shì)** \- This filler word is used to confirm what you mean or elaborate on something. It’s similar to “It's like...” or “That is” in English. For example: “我也不确定，就是，我很久没和他联系了” (I’m not sure. I mean, I haven’t talked to him for a long time.) **那 (nà)** \- This word is used to introduce a solution. It can be translated to “then” or “well” in English. When using this word, you can prolong the sound (like “naaah…”) and think for the solution. For example: -你想去哪儿旅游？-不知道，你去哪儿我就去哪。-那，我们可以去海南岛" (- Where do you want to travel? - I don’t know. I’ll go wherever you go. - Well, we can go to Hainan Island). **呃 (e)** \- Use this filler word when you feel hesitant, unsure, or awkward about something. For example: -能借我些钱吗？ - 呃，我手头也有点紧。（-Can you lend me some money? Um, I'm kind of on a budget...） ## French filler words **euh** is the most commonly used filler word in French. It is an equivalent of the English "um" or "er" and is used to signal a pause or hesitation in speech. For example: Euh, je ne suis pas sûr de ce que je vais dire. (Um, I'm not sure what I'm going to say.) **Ben** \- This is a versatile filler word that can be used to express hesitation, surprise, or agreement. For example: "Ben, je ne sais pas quoi dire" (Well, I don't know what to say), "Ben oui, bien sûr" (Well, yes, of course). **Bah** \- This is similar to "ben" and can also be used to express hesitation or agreement. For example: "Bah, je ne suis pas sûr" (Well, I'm not sure), "Bah oui, c'est ça" (Well, yes, that's it). **Quoi** \- This word is used to express surprise, disbelief, or to ask for clarification. For example: "Quoi? Tu vas te marier?" (What? You're getting married?) **Tu sais, t'sais** \- "Tu sais" and "t'sais" are French filler words similar to "you know" in English. They are often used in informal speech to create a more casual and conversational tone in French. For example: "Tu sais, j'ai vu ce film hier soir, c'était vraiment incroyable." ("You know, I saw this movie last night, it was really amazing.") ## Spanish filler words **e / em** \- This word is used to fill a pause or hesitation, similar to the English "um" or "er". For example: "E... no sé qué decir" (Um... I don't know what to say). **Este** \- This word is often used to signal that the speaker is about to make a point, or to indicate a correction or clarification. It's similar to the English "this" or "well". For example: "Este... lo que quiero decir es que no estoy de acuerdo" (Well... what I mean is that I don't agree). **Bueno** \- This word is used to signal the beginning of a conversation, or to indicate agreement, confirmation or a response. It's similar to the English "well" or "ok". For example: "Bueno, ¿cómo estás?" (Well, how are you?). **Pues** \- This word is used to fill a pause, indicate hesitation, or to introduce a new thought. It can be translated as "well" or "then". For example: "Pues, no sé qué decirte" (Well, I don't know what to tell you). **O sea** \- This phrase is used to clarify or rephrase something that has been said. It can be translated as "in other words" or "I mean". For example: "No me gusta la comida picante, o sea, prefiero algo más suave" (I don't like spicy food, I mean, I prefer something milder). **Entonces** \- This word is used to introduce a new topic or to indicate a consequence. It can be translated as "so" or "then". For example: "Entonces, ¿vamos al cine o no?" (So, are we going to the cinema or not?). **Vale** \- This word is used to signal understanding or agreement. It can be translated as "ok" or "fine". For example: "Vale, nos vemos a las seis" (Ok, we'll see each other at six). ## German filler words **Ähm** \- This word is used to indicate hesitation or to fill a pause while thinking. It's similar to the English "um" or "uh". For example: "Ähm, ich denke, dass wir morgen um 10 Uhr anfangen sollten" (Um, I think we should start at 10 o'clock tomorrow). **Also** \- Also is used to introduce a new idea or to summarize a point, like “well” in English. It’s often used to express agreement or understanding. For example: "Also, ich denke, dass das eine gute Idee ist" (Well, I think that's a good idea). **So** \- This word is used to summarize a point or to indicate a transition. It can also be used as an adverb to mean "like this" or "in this way". For example: "So, wie ich es verstehe, müssen wir das Formular ausfüllen" (So, as I understand it, we need to fill out the form). **Genau** \- This word is used to express agreement. It can also be used to emphasize a point. For example: "Genau, das habe ich auch gedacht" (Exactly, that's what I thought too). **Na** \- This filler word is used to express surprise, agreement, or to initiate conversation. It's similar to the English "well" or "so". For example: "Na, wie geht es dir?" (Well, how are you doing?). **Tja** \- This word is used to express resignation or uncertainty, and can be translated as "well" or "oh well". It's often used when there is no clear solution to a problem or when something unexpected happens. For example: "Tja, wir müssen wohl abwarten, was passiert" (Well, we'll have to wait and see what happens). ## Russian filler words **Вот (vot)** \- Вот is perhaps the most common filler word in Russian. It is used to fill in gaps in conversation, similar to the English filler word "um". For example: "Вот, я хочу пойти в кино" (Um, I want to go to the cinema). **Ну (nu)** – Hy is another very commonly used Russian filler word. It’s similar to “well” in English. It can be used to express hesitation, doubt, agreement etc. For example: "Ну, давай начнем убираться в комнате" (Well, let's start cleaning up the room) **Так (tak)** \- This filler word is used to introduce a new idea or to explain something. For example: "Так, это значит, что ты не придёшь?" (So, does that mean you won't come?). **Короче (korochye)** \- This filler word is used to summarize a point or to make a conclusion. For example: "Я не понимаю этого, короче" (I don't understand it, in short). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do filler words have no meaning? Many have little lexical content, but they can still signal hesitation, agreement, reformulation or emphasis. ### Do all languages use the same fillers? No. Forms and appropriate contexts differ across languages and communities. ### Will fillers make someone sound native? They may make interaction smoother, but pronunciation, grammar, timing and context still matter. ### How should learners practise? Notice fillers in authentic speech and copy only those whose function and register you understand. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Best Japanese Dictionaries for Learners of All Levels URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-dictionaries/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:24:01.000Z Are you a Japanese learner in search of the perfect dictionary? Look no further! A reliable Japanese-to-English dictionary is an essential tool for anyone learning Japanese. Not only does it help us to [learn Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/) faster, but it also enables us to remember Japanese words more accurately. ## Quick Answer: Best Japanese Dictionaries for Learners of All Levels Choose a Japanese dictionary by task: beginner definitions, pronunciation, kanji lookup, example sentences or monolingual nuance. Verify current availability and avoid treating machine translations as full usage guidance. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ---------------------------- | | Section 1 | Online Japanese dictionaries | | Section 2 | Jisho | | Section 3 | Takoboto | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In this article, we will be exploring the top Japanese dictionaries available in 2023, covering everything from traditional paper dictionaries to innovative smartphone apps. Let's go! ## Online Japanese dictionaries ### [Jisho](https://jisho.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese dictionary Jisho](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2023-05-06-at-16-20-30.png) First up is [Jisho designed by Kim Ahlstrom](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/best-japanese-dictionary/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Jisho is a powerful online Japanese dictionary that offers a wide range of functions, including **detailed definitions, example sentences, kanji stroke order diagrams**, and more. This website also allows you to search for words by radical, by drawing the kanji character, or by specific word types (such as verbs or adjectives). Jisho.org is an excellent resource for **both beginner and advanced learners** who want to expand their vocabulary, or enhance [Japanese grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/). ### [Takoboto](https://takoboto.jp/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese dictionary Takoboto](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2023-05-06-at-16-21-01.png) Next on our list is Takoboto. Like Jisho, this user-friendly dictionary is perfect for beginners and intermediate learners alike. It offers **both Japanese-to-English and English-to-Japanese** translations, as well as definitions, sentence examples, and even audio pronunciations. The app's neat interface makes it easy to navigate and find the information you need quickly. ### [Weblio](https://ejje.weblio.jp/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese dictionary Weblio](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2023-05-06-at-16-22-20.png) Weblio takes things one step further by offering not only a dictionary but also an **encyclopedia-style knowledge portal** with articles on Japanese culture, history, and language. The dictionary provides detailed definitions and includes **synonyms and antonyms** for each word. You can also find related words based on the specific kanji characters used in the search term. ### [Aedict](http://www.aedict.eu/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Aedict is another very popular Japanese-English dictionary app that can be downloaded for free on both Android and iOS devices. This dictionary not only provides definitions for words and phrases, but it also includes **example sentences and audio recordings** of native speakers pronouncing the word or phrase. Aedict is **perfect for beginners as well as intermediate learners** who are looking to improve their vocabulary. ### [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Dictionary](https://www.monokakido.jp/en/dictionaries/nhkaccent2/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Last on the list is the NHK Japanese Pronunciation Dictionary - an online resource provided by Japan's national broadcasting organization. This dictionary **focuses specifically on** [**pronunciation**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-pronunciation/), which can be one of the most challenging aspects of learning any new language. You can listen to audio clips of native speakers saying specific words or phrases and practice your own pronunciation skills. The NHK Japanese Pronunciation Dictionary is **ideal for intermediate-level students** who want to refine their pronunciation and accent. ## Paper dictionaries ### [Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary](https://www.amazon.com/Kodanshas-Furigana-Japanese-Dictionary-Dictionaries/dp/1568364571?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Are you a beginner in learning the Japanese language and struggling with [kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/)? Then Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary is an excellent choice for you! This dictionary includes furigana, which are small hiragana characters written next to kanji to indicate their pronunciation. With over 50,000 entries, this comprehensive dictionary also provides example sentences and idioms, making it easier for learners to understand how words are used in context. What sets this dictionary apart from others is its **focus on contemporary usage**. It includes slang and colloquial expressions that aren't typically found in traditional dictionaries. Additionally, there are appendices at the end of the book that cover grammar rules and [verb conjugations](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/). Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary is perfect for beginners to navigate difficult kanji readings and learn up-to-date Japanese everyday expressions. ### [The Kanji Dictionary](https://www.amazon.com/Kanji-Dictionary-English-Japanese/dp/0804820589?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The Kanji Dictionary is a great choice **for intermediate and advanced-level learners** who are looking to expand their kanji vocabulary. This dictionary includes over 6,000 kanji characters along with stroke order, on-yomi and kun-yomi readings, meanings, and examples of how the character is used in context. The Kanji Dictionary also provides useful tips on how to memorize these complex characters effectively. ### [Oxford Beginner’s Japanese Dictionary](https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Beginners-Japanese-Dictionary-Multilingual/dp/0199298521?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) For beginners who are just starting out learning Japanese, Oxford Beginner’s Japanese Dictionary is an excellent option. This dictionary includes basic vocabulary that will help you **build your language foundation**. It has clear definitions in English alongside hiragana or katakana spellings of each word. It's relatively easy for beginners to simply understand the most common meanings without getting lost in too many details. However, while having access to useful dictionaries is important, it's equally important to have a comprehensive language learning source. That's where [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) comes in - a language app that helps you learn Japanese from scratch. It has interactive lessons, games, and more to help you learn Japanese consistently. [Download LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) today for free! Happy learning! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 10 Best Spanish Movies to Watch and Learn Spanish in 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-movies/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:40.000Z Are you struggling to find resources for Spanish immersion? Look no further! We've picked 10 great Spanish movies that combine your [Spanish learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-spanish/) and entertainment. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate learner looking for more practice, you'll find a movie to enjoy and improve your Spanish from our list. ## Quick Answer: How can you learn Spanish with movies? Choose a Spanish-language film whose variety and difficulty suit your goals. Watch for overall meaning, replay short scenes, collect useful phrases in context and shadow selected dialogue. The titles and availability in this dated selection may change, so verify the current catalog of your chosen service. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | | Stable value | Contextual listening, replay, phrase collection and shadowing | | Time-sensitive | Streaming availability and regional catalogs | | Verify with | The current official catalog of your streaming service | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. So grab some popcorn and get ready to immerse yourself in Spanish. Let's dive in our list of 10 Great Spanish movies for language learners! ## 10 Spanish Movies for Spanish Immersion ### [Roma](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6155172/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Black-and-white scene of a family on the beach in the film Roma](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/roma-jpeg.jpg) - release year: 2018 - genre: Drama - IMDb rating:7.7/10 - where to watch: Netflix This award-winning movie follows the life of a domestic worker in Mexico City in the 1970s. The film is shot in black and white, and the dialogue is clear and easy to understand, making it a great choice for [Spanish beginners](https://blog.lingodeer.com/tips-to-learn-spanish/). ### [El secreto de sus ojos](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305806/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - release year: 2009 - genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller - IMDb rating: 8.2/10 - where to watch: Amazon Prime Video This Argentinean thriller tells the story of a retired legal counselor who writes a novel in an attempt to find closure for a case he worked on in the past. The movie features a lot of dialogue between characters, making it perfect for those looking to improve their listening skills. ### [El laberinto del fauno](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457430/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Spanish movies: Pan's Labryinth](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/pans-labryinth.jpg) - Release year: 2006 - Genre: Fantasy/Drama - IMDb rating: 8.2/10 - Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, and Vudu. This dark fantasy movie is set in post-Civil War Spain and tells the story of a young girl who enters a mythical world full of strange creatures. The dialogue is clear and easy to understand, making it a great choice for both beginners and intermediate learners. ### [Todo sobre mi madre](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185125/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Release year: 1999 - Genre: Drama - IMDb rating: 7.9/10 - Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, and Vudu Another movie by Pedro Almodóvar. Todo sobre mi madre tells the story of a mother who travels to Barcelona to find the father of her deceased son. ### [Biutiful](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1164999/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Release year: 2010 - Genre: Drama - IMDb rating - 7.5/10 - Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV and iTunes This movie stars Javier Bardem as a man struggling to provide for his family in the slums of Barcelona. The dialogue is full of colloquial [phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/common-spanish-words/). It's a great choice if you look to learn informal Spanish words and slangs. ### [Amores perros](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245712/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Release year: 2000 - Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller - IMDb rating: 8.1/10 - Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video and YouTube Amores perros is a Mexican movie that explores the interconnected lives of three different people brought together by a tragic car accident. The movie delves into themes of love, loss, and desperation as the characters navigate their way through life-changing events. ### [Abre los ojos](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125659/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Spanish movies: open your eyes](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/open-your-eyes-jpeg.jpg) - Release year: 1997 - Genre: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller - IMDb rating: 7.8/10 - Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video and Google Play Store This Spanish thriller tells the story of a man who wakes up from a car crash to find his life has been turned upside down. The movie features a lot of dialogues that can be used as great listening practice materials. ### [Y Tu Mamá También](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245574/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - release year: 2001 - genre: Drama, Romance - IMDb rating: 7.6/10 - where to watch: Netflix This coming-of-age Spanish movie follows two teenage boys who take a road trip with an older woman. The movie is set in Mexico and features a lot of colloquial Spanish, making it a great choice for those looking to learn informal speech. ### [Volver](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0441909/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Spanish movies: Volver](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/volver-jpeg.jpg) - Release year: 2006 - genre: Comedy, Drama - IMDb rating: 7.5/10 - where to watch: Amazon Prime Video Volver, directed by Pedro Almodóvar, tells the story of a woman returning to her hometown in La Mancha to solve a family mystery. It features a strong cast of all native Spanish speakers. ### [La Casa de Papel (Money Heist)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6468322/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - release year: 2017-2021 (TV series) - genre: Action, Crime, Mystery - IMDb rating: 8.3/10 - where to watch (US): Netflix Now the last one is actually TV series rather than movie. This hit Netflix series follows a group of criminals as they plan and execute a daring heist on the Royal Mint of Spain. The show is full of action, suspense, and a lot of Spanish slang. Watching Spanish movies is an excellent way to enhance your language skills. With the 10 movies we've recommended in this post, you can start immersing yourself in Spanish language and culture at home right now. But why stop there? If you're serious about learning Spanish, download [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). It's a fun and effective language learning app that teaches you Spanish from scratch with plenty of practice. Give it a try for free! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are these films available everywhere? No. Availability varies by service, region and time; verify the current catalog before planning a viewing session. ### Which subtitles should learners use? Use subtitles that preserve comprehension, then revisit short scenes with Spanish subtitles when your level allows. ### Do different films use different Spanish varieties? Yes. Accent, vocabulary and usage vary by country, setting and character, which makes context especially important. ### Can films replace a Spanish course? They are strong listening and cultural supplements, but systematic instruction and active practice remain important. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 10 Most Spoken Languages in the World 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:24:52.000Z Language acts as a bridge for communication and development among the peoples of the world. In the globalized world today, there are more than 5000 languages spoken in 233 different countries and regions. Can you imagine that as some languages are slowly disappearing, some are becoming more and more commonly spoken? ## Quick Answer: 10 Most Spoken Languages in the World 2023 Language rankings depend on whether they count native speakers, total speakers or official status, and figures change over time. Use current primary datasets and state the measurement before comparing languages. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------- | | Section 1 | English (1,456 million speakers) | | Section 2 | Mandarin（1,118 million speakers） | | Section 3 | Hindi (602 million speakers) | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. So what are the most commonly used languages in the world? In this article, we will take you through the **top10 most spoken languages**. ## ![Most spoken languages in the world 2023](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/most-spoken-languages.png) ## English (1,456 million speakers) - Native speakers: 360–400 million - Non-native speakers: 1080 million - Language family: Indo-European - Official language in: [59 countries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fcountries%5Fand%5Fterritories%5Fwhere%5FEnglish%5Fis%5Fan%5Fofficial%5Flanguage?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#Sovereign%5Fstates); 27 non-sovereign entities; Various organizations English is the official language of the largest number of countries and the lingua franca in the world. In terms of native speakers, English is the third most spoken language after Chinese and Spanish. But it's the most popular language to learn. So adding the number of non-native speakers, English is the most spoken language in the world. According to some statistics, if you know English, then you can understand [25% of internet users](https://www.internetworldstats.com/stats7.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [60% of the websites](https://w3techs.com/technologies/overview/content%5Flanguage?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in the world. Related reading: [Top English Learning Resources](https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-platforms-for-learning-english/) ## Mandarin（1,118 million speakers） - Native speakers: 929 million - Non-native speakers: 198.7 million - Language family: Sino-Tibetan - Official language in: People's Republic of China (as Putonghua); Singapore (as Huayu); United Nations; Cooperation Organization ASEAN Mandarin is the world's most spoken language by native speaker, with one fifth of the world's population currently speaking it as their mother tongue. And it's also one of the [oldest languages in the world](https://blog.lingodeer.com/oldest-languages/), tracing back to 3,000 years ago. Mandarin was adopted as the official language of China in 1932\. It is also the [most difficult language in the world](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/), with a complex relationship between pronunciation, spoken and written language. So what's the difference between Mandarin and Chinese? In short, Chinese language is an umbrella term that encompasses many dialects like Mandarin, Cantonese, Wu, and Shanghainese, with Mandarin being the most widely spoken one. Mandarin is called 普通话 (Pǔ tōng huà), meaning "common tongue" in Chinese. In many cities in China, people first acquire their local dialects when they were young. They only learn Mandarin in school and continue using it in most public situations as they grow up. While spoken Chinese may vary a lot in different regions, written texts mostly look the same or mutually intelligible. ![10 Most Spoken Languages in the World](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/18-1.png) ## Hindi (602 million speakers) - Native speakers: 344 million - Non-native speakers: 258 million - Language family: Indo-European - Official language in: India Hindi is one of the official languages of India, the soon-to-be most populous country in the world. But due to India's ethnic culture, not all Indians speak Hindi. India has [22 official languages and over 100 recognized languages](https://www.berlitz.com/blog/indian-languages-spoken-list?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Hindi is the most used language in India. It is also an important minority language in Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Arab Emirates. ## Spanish (549 million speakers) - Native speakers：475 million - Non-native speakers: 74 million - Language family：Indo-European Spanish is the official language of[ 23 countries and territories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fcountries%5Fwhere%5FSpanish%5Fis%5Fan%5Fofficial%5Flanguage?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union and many other international organizations. And it is now the second most learned language in the world, with more than 20 million Spanish learners. According to FSI (the US Foreign Service Institute), it takes about 480 hours of study for a native English speaker to achieve 'limited working proficiency' in Spanish. In this sense, Spanish is also one of the [easiest languages for English speakers to learn](https://blog.lingodeer.com/easiest-language-to-learn/). ## French (million speakers) - Native speakers: 80 million - Non-native speakers: 194 million - Language family: Indo-European French is the official language of [29 countries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fcountries%5Fand%5Fterritories%5Fwhere%5FFrench%5Fis%5Fan%5Fofficial%5Flanguage?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and many international organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union. Due to the historical influence of French and Belgian colonization, French has become a second most used language in most African countries. It is also a [popular language to learn](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-language-to-learn/) as one of the languages that has the largest number of non-native speakers. Related reading: [Best Way to Learn French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/) ## Bengali (273 million speakers) - Native speakers: 234 million - Non-native speakers: 39 million - Language family: Indo-European; Indo-Aryan Bengali is the official language of Bangladesh and some areas in India and Burma. With a population of about 220 million speakers, Bengali is the second most spoken language in the Indo-Iranian language family after Hindi. ## Modern Standard Arabic (274 million speakers) - Native speakers: 0 - Non-native speakers: 274 million - Language family: Afro-Asiatic; Semitic Arabic is the official language of [27 states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fcountries%5Fwhere%5FArabic%5Fis%5Fan%5Fofficial%5Flanguage?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), second only to English and French. It is the lingua franca of the Arabic world and one of the languages used by many countries that no longer exist today. To this day, Modern Standard Arabic remains the common religious language of Muslims worldwide. It is interesting to note that because of the many dialects of Arabic, Arabic in some places is not interchangeable in either written or spoken form. Most speakers learn Modern Standard Arabic as their second language in school. ![10 Most Spoken Languages in the World](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/16-1.png) ## Russian (258 million speakers) - Native speakers: 154 million - Non-native speakers: 104 million - Language family: Indo-European Russian is one of the six working languages of the United Nations, the only official language of Russia, as well as one of the official languages of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It is spoken mainly in Russia and other member states of the former Soviet Union, and was widely taught as a first foreign language in schools in the Warsaw Pact countries. Related reading: [Best Way to Learn Russian](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/) ## Portuguese (258 million speakers) - Native speakers: 232 million - Non-native speakers: 25 million - Language family: Indo-European Portuguese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world after English and Spanish. As a result of Portuguese colonial expansion, Portuguese is nowadays spoken in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea-Bissau, Timor-Leste and Macau, for a total of nine countries or territories. ## Urdu (230 million speakers) Urdu is mostly spoken in Pakistan, India and places of related culture. It is the official language of Pakistan as well as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. Urdu is a beautiful yet complex language. It is known for its poetic and melodic nature. Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language that uses the Persian-Arabic script. It has significant influences from Persian, Arabic, and Turkic languages, a testament to the region’s rich historical and cultural exchanges. ## Indonesian (199 million speakers) - Native speakers: 43 million - Non-native speakers: 156 million - Language family: Austronesian Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is a standardized Malay language. Prior to its standardization, Malay had circulated as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries. After Indonesia's independence in 1945, Indonesian, whose mother tongue population is only 5% of the total population, was made an official language by the Indonesian government in order to unite the people of Indonesia's thousands of islands. However, most Indonesians admit that [they rarely use standard Indonesian](https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20180703-why-no-one-speaks-indonesias-language?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in their daily lives. Which language interests you the most? Leave a comment below! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 8 Best Japanese Textbooks to Learn Japanese in 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-textbooks/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:31:50.000Z Hey there! If you wish to learn Japanese from scratch by yourself or improve your Japanese skills, choosing the right Japanese textbook from the beginning is one of the most important decisions you can make. ## Quick Answer: How should you choose a Japanese textbook? Choose Japanese textbook by matching it to your level, learning goal and preferred study method. Prioritize clear level progression, grammar explanations, exercises, answer support and usable audio. The named resources in this article reflect the publication date; verify current editions, availability, pricing and features through the publisher or an authorized bookseller before deciding. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Stable value | The selection criteria and study methods explained in the article | | Time-sensitive | Editions, availability, pricing, features and rankings | | Verify with | the publisher or an authorized bookseller | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. But with so many choices at hand, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one. In this blog post, we will introduce to you 6 best Japanese textbooks from beginner to advanced level. We'll also show you the pros and cons of each one so you can decide which one is the best for yourself! ## Criteria for Choosing the Best Japanese Textbooks Here are some criteria to keep in mind when selecting a good Japanese textbook: First and foremost, look for **clear explanations and examples**. A textbook that uses overly complex language or doesn't explain things clearly is going to be frustrating and difficult to learn from. Look for a book that breaks down grammar concepts and vocabulary in an easy-to-understand way, with plenty of examples to help you grasp the material. Another important factor to consider is whether the textbook emphasizes **practical language use**. While it's great to learn academic or formal Japanese, you'll want a textbook that includes plenty of **everyday phrases and conversations you can use in real-life situations**. This way you can truly put what you've learned into practice and feel more confident when communicating with native speakers. It's also helpful to have **audio and visual aids** available. Being able to hear how native speakers pronounce words and phrases is essential to practicing speaking and listening skills right from the beginning. Finally, don't underestimate the importance of the **layout**. A textbook with a cluttered or confusing design can quickly become overwhelming, making it difficult to focus on the material. Choose a textbook with a layout you are comfortable with, so you are more likely to stick to it. ## Top Recommended Beginner-level Japanese Textbooks ### [Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese](https://www.amazon.com/GENKI-Integrated-Elementary-Japanese-English/dp/4789014401?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese textbooks: Genki](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/genki.jpg) Genki: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese is a comprehensive textbook series designed to teach beginner-level Japanese. The series was originally developed by experienced Japanese language instructors at [the Japan Times](https://genki3.japantimes.co.jp/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and has been widely adopted by universities and language schools around the world. The Genki textbooks are divided into two main volumes - Genki 1 and Genki 2 - each of which consists of several chapters that cover Japanese grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening skills, and cultural knowledge. Pros: - Comprehensive Content: The Genki textbooks cover all fundamental aspects of learning Japanese from basic grammar rules to everyday conversational phrases. - Engaging Presentation: With colorful illustrations and photos throughout its pages; it is easy to read and makes learning fun. - Clear Explanations: Grammar points are explained clearly with examples easy to understand. - Varied Exercises: There are a variety of exercises provided for each chapter, including reading comprehension, writing, listening practice, and speaking activities. - Supplementary Materials: Audio CDs and online [supplementary](https://genki3.japantimes.co.jp/en/student/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) resources are available for reinforcement. Cons: - Genki books are more suitable for classroom learning with teacher's instructions. There are many teamwork exercises in the book designed for group learning. - Answers to exercises are written in Japanese with no English translation. ### [Minna no Nihongo](https://www.amazon.com/Minna-No-Nihongo-Beginner-2nd/dp/4883196038?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese textbooks: Minna No Nihongo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/minna-no-nihongo.jpg) "Minna no Nihongo" is a popular Japanese textbook published by 3A Corporation. It's designed for beginners and covers all four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) with difficult grammar aspects explained in English to make them easier to understand. Pros: - Comes with CDs for listening practice - Provides detailed explanations of grammar points - Includes plenty of exercises and activities for practice - Has a separate workbook available for extra practice - Has a strong emphasis on using Japanese from the very beginning Cons: - The vocabulary taught may not be as practical for daily conversation as some other textbooks - Some users find the layout and design to be a bit dated - The book is entirely in Japanese, so it may be challenging for self-learners without prior knowledge of the language. ### [Japanese from Zero!](https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Zero-Techniques-Students-Professionals/dp/0976998122?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Japanese textbooks: Japanese from Zero](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-from-zero.jpg) Japanese from Zero is a popular Japanese language textbook series that aims to teach beginners Japanese. It was created by George Trombley and Yukari Takenaka and has been widely used both in the classroom and for self-study. Overall, Japanese from Zero is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to learn Japanese from scratch. The series is thorough and engaging, making it a great option for beginners who wish to build a solid foundation in Japanese. Pros: - Focuses on the basics of Japanese language - Covers [hiragana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/), [katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/), basic [grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/) and vocabulary - Includes plenty of exercises and activities to reinforce learning - Each chapter ends with a review section - Visually appealing with helpful illustrations and clear explanations Cons: - May not be as useful for more advanced learners - Only goes up to intermediate-level Japanese (Book 5) ### [Nakama 1: Introductory Japanese Communication, Culture, Context](https://www.amazon.com/Nakama-Japanese-Communication-Culture-Languages/dp/1285429591?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This Japanese textbook is also designed for complete beginners who want to learn Japanese. It is written by Seiichi Makino and Yukiko Abe Hatasa and published by Cengage Learning. It also has a following textbook Nakama 2 for more advanced learners. Nakama 1 focuses on teaching the basics of Japanese communication along with **cultural context** that help you understand Japanese language in a more comprehensive way. The book comes with various resources like audio CDs, workbook, [online learning center](https://college.cengage.com/languages/japanese/hatasa/nakama1/2e/student%5Fhome.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and more. Pros: - Emphasizes practical communication and interaction - Fosters the development of all four language skills and cultural awareness Cons: - Lack of Visuals - A relatively higher price ## Top Recommended Japanese Textbooks Intermediate to Advanced Level Learners: ### [Tobira: Gateway to Advanced Japanese Learning](https://www.amazon.com/Jpn-Tobira-Japanese-English-Mayumi-Oka/dp/4874244475?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Tobira is a popular textbook series used in many universities and language schools across the world. It's aimed at students who have already completed an introductory course in Japanese and want to continue their studies towards more complex grammar structures and vocabulary. The book covers various topics such as culture, society, history, daily life situations etc., which makes it not only great for learning the language but also gaining insights into Japan's way of life. Pros: - Structured Content - Tobira has 15 chapters with each chapter focusing on specific themes related to Japanese culture or social issues. This helps keep your learning organized without getting overwhelmed by too much information at once. - Comprehensive Grammar Explanations - The book provides clear explanations of grammar points with plenty of examples and exercises that help you understand how to use them properly in real-life situations. - Authentic Materials - Tobira uses a variety of authentic materials such as newspaper articles, advertisements, and dialogues between native speakers. This exposes students to realistic examples of Japanese language usage and helps them improve their listening and reading skills. - Multifaceted Approach - The book not only teaches the language but also covers various aspects of Japanese culture, history, and society. This approach makes learning more engaging and meaningful for students who are interested in Japan beyond just its language. - Supplementary Resources - Tobira comes with a comprehensive set of supplementary resources including audio recordings, workbooks, teacher's manuals etc., which make the learning process more interactive and practical. Cons: - Price - Tobira is relatively expensive compared to other textbooks in the market. However, it's worth investing if you're serious about advancing your Japanese proficiency level. - Lack of [Romaji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/) \- Unlike some other textbooks that provide romaji (romanized Japanese) alongside hiragana and katakana, Tobira uses only the Japanese scripts from the beginning. This can be challenging for beginners who are not yet familiar with reading Japanese characters. - Limited Vocabulary - Although Tobira covers a wide range of topics and language structures, the vocabulary is limited compared to other textbooks. This may make it difficult for students to express themselves fully in certain situations. - Heavy Emphasis on Grammar - Some learners may find that Tobira places too much emphasis on grammar rules, which can be overwhelming and discouraging if they struggle with this aspect of language learning. ### [An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese](https://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Approach-Intermediate-Japanese-Revised/dp/4789013073?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese is a popular textbook written by Akira Miura and Naomi Hanaoka McGloin. The book was designed for students who have already completed introductory courses in the Japanese language, and it aims to help them improve their skills to an intermediate level. Pros: - Clear explanations: The authors provide clear explanations of complex grammatical structures and other concepts that can be difficult for learners. - Useful exercises: The book contains numerous exercises that are designed to reinforce what you've learned. - Cultural insights: An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese also provides cultural insights into Japan's customs and traditions which helps readers understand more about the country itself. Cons: - Limited speaking practices: While the textbook covers all aspects of the language, it may not have enough emphasis on developing spoken communication skills. - Lack of interactive activities: The book is primarily focused on **individual study** and may lack interactive activities that are essential for improving communication skills. ### [The Handbook of Japanese Verbs](https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Japanese-Verbs-John-Redding/dp/B0B2N4ZXHQ?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The Handbook of Japanese Verbs by Taeko Kamiya is a comprehensive guide to [Japanese verbs](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/). The book covers over 300 commonly used verbs and provides detailed explanations on their various forms, meanings, and usages. It also includes practice exercises. Pros: - Useful examples: The textbook includes practical examples that illustrate each verb's usage in context, making it easier to understand when and how to use them correctly. - Plenty of Practice exercises: Intermediate and advanced Japanese learners can also use this book as a source for practicing verb conjugation and usage. Cons: - Limited vocabulary coverage: While this textbook covers over **300 commonly used verbs**, it may not be enough for learners who want to expand their vocabulary beyond the basics. - Dense content: Some learners may find the book's dense content overwhelming or difficult to digest, making it **less accessible for beginners**. ### [Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication: A Self-Study Course and Reference](https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Sentence-Patterns-Effective-Communication/dp/1568364202?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Japanese Sentence Patterns for Effective Communication by Taeko Kamiya is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to **further improve their Japanese language skills by themselves**. The well-structured lessons, ample examples, practical exercises and useful reference materials make it both a great textbook and reference guide. While some sections may be challenging for beginners or intermediate learners due to complex vocabulary, the book's overall content is accessible and beneficial for all levels of proficiency. Pros: - Well-structured lessons: The book is divided into different chapters covering various sentence patterns that are essential in everyday conversations. - Ample examples: Each lesson comes with several examples that help you understand sentence patterns in context. - Practical exercises: The book has plenty of exercises for practice at the end of each chapter. - Useful reference material: The back of the book contains an index and glossary, making it easy for learners to find specific information quickly. Cons: - Challenging vocabulary: Some sections may contain complex vocabulary that could be difficult for beginners or intermediate learners. - Limited audio resources: There are no accompanying audio materials included with this textbook. - High price: This textbook costs over 100 dollars. ## Japanese Textbooks for JLPT If you are preparing for the[ JLPT](https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt/), here are some textbooks designed specially for the test. ### Nihongo So- Matome (日本語総まとめ) ![JLPT textbooks: Nihongo So- Matome](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/03/ld-image-e1aac38a4195a791.png) The Nihongo So-Matome textbooks are created for passing the JLPT. Each book concentrates on a different level, from N5 to N1\. The textbooks offer plenty of exercises to improve your grammar and vocabulary, as well as reading and listening skills. While it can be helpful for JLPT test takers, the textbooks are not intended to teach the Japanese language comprehensively and may lack interactive learning material. ### Shin Kanzen Master (新完全マスター) ![JLPT books: Shin Kanzen Master](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/03/ld-image-0c5b26a4f7a43986.jpeg) The Shin Kanzen Master series is another set of books designed for the JLPT. The series tackles all the language skills necessary for passing the test, together with clear explanations and plenty of exercises. Whether you're focusing on vocabulary, grammar, kanji, reading, or listening comprehension, this series has got you covered! ### TRY! The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (TRY！ 日本語能力試験) ![JLPT Textbook: TRY! The Japanese Language Proficiency Test](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2023-03-02-at-17-58-15.png) The TRY! series takes a different approach to teaching Japanese grammar, emphasizing its use in everyday communication. This set of textbooks helps you practice the fundamentals and apply grammar concepts to daily use. In addition, the TRY! series covers all the JLPT levels, making it a top choice among Japanese learners for improving their language skills in a practical way. ## Japanese Textbooks vs Other Resources Thanks for reading till the end our best Japanese textbooks recommendation. Hopefully, by now you have find1 or 2 textbooks that fit your learning goals. Before you go, we wish to remind you that while Japanese textbooks are a great place to start learning the language, they may not be the only resource you need. There are things that you can and can't get from textbooks. | **What can you get from Japanese textbooks** | **What you (probably) can’t get from Japanese textbooks** | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | A comprehensive learning structure Basic vocabulary and phrases Well-explained grammar Clear and concise information | Plenty of interaction Real-life application Most up-to-date content Fun experience | Depending on your learning style and goals, you may find other resources such as **online courses,** [**apps**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/a3ff7211-955e-4b93-acef-7da55825d7d7/)**, or language exchange programs** more effective for interaction and feedback. [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a great Japanese learning app that offers textbook-like structured content together with interactive features like speaking practices with feedback. It can be used as a standalone learning source or a supplement to your main learning source. Give it a [try](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for free today! It's also worth considering supplementing your textbook learning with authentic materials like[ **movies**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-japanese-movies-on-netflix/)**, shows, or podcasts** to expose yourself to real-life usage of the language. Ultimately it all comes down to finding what works best for you and creating a learning routine that best suits you. Happy learning! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this list of Japanese textbook still current? It is a dated editorial selection, not a live ranking. Use its criteria, then confirm current details through the publisher or an authorized bookseller. ### How should I choose a Japanese textbook? Match your level and goal, then compare clear level progression, grammar explanations, exercises, answer support and usable audio. ### Is one resource enough? Usually not. A core resource works best with regular review and additional listening, reading, speaking or writing practice. ### Which details should I verify? Check the latest edition or listing, regional availability, price, included materials and current platform support before purchasing or subscribing. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 8 Excellent German Movies to Watch and Learn German URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-movies/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:23:24.000Z Learning German can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be boring. One way to make the process fun and engaging is to watch German movies. ## Quick Answer: 8 Excellent German Movies to Watch and Learn German German films provide varied accents, vocabulary and cultural context. Select material near your level and turn viewing into study through short clips, transcripts, repeated listening and phrase review. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | Section 1 | Can I learn a language by watching movies? | | Section 2 | What can you learn from watching movies | | Section 3 | What you (probably) can not learn from watching movies | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In this post, we'll take a look at some of the best German movies that you can watch to help you [learn German](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-german/). ## Can I learn a language by watching movies? It definitely can! But it also depends on what you wish to learn. You might have heard of people learn a new language solely by watching movies. But the reality is there are things that movies are good at teaching you and things that they are not. ### What can you learn from watching movies **Vocabulary:** Watching movies is a great way to learn new words in context. By hearing words spoken naturally by native speakers, you can understand and remember vocabulary more naturally. **Pronunciation and speaking skills:** By listening to native speakers at natural speeds with authentic expressions, you can pick up on the nuances of the language, such as tone, accent, and intonation. This exposure helps you build oral comprehension skills. **Dialects and Slang:** Movies are also an excellent way to learn about different dialects and slangs used in different German speaking areas. **Culture:** Besides learning the language itself, watching movies can also offer insights into the culture of the speakers. You can gain a better understanding of social norms, values, and beliefs that contribute to the language's use. ### What you (probably) can not learn from watching movies **Grammar and sentence structure:** While movies can help with vocabulary and oral comprehension, you may have difficulty understanding sentence structures or complex grammatical rules. **Written language:** Due to the form of “teaching”, movies cannot teach you how to write correctly or read fluently. You may sound like a native but find it hard to put your ideas into written form. So it is essential to balance films with other types of learning such as reading and writing. If you are serious about learning German, there are better ways than watching movies that can help you learn German more comprehensively. For example, LingoDeer is a language app to learn 13 languages from scratch. ## 8 Best German Movies to Watch and Learn German Now let’s dive in to the 6 best German movies to complement your German learning. ### [Goodbye, Lenin!](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301357/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![German movies: Goodbye Lenin](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/goodbye-lenin-jpeg.jpg) - year of release: 2003 - genre: Comedy/Drama - IMDb rating: 7.7 Released in 2003, Goodbye Lenin! is a comedy-drama that takes place in East Germany in 1989, just as the Berlin Wall is about to fall. The story follows a young man named Alex as he tries to protect his mother, who has just woken up from a coma, from the shock of the political changes happening around her. The movie is not only entertaining but also provides a glimpse into life in East Germany before and after reunification, making it an excellent choice for German learners who are interested in history and politics. ### [Lola Rennt](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130827?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![German movies: Lola Rennt](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lolarennt-jpeg.jpg) - year of release: 1998 - genre: Action/Thriller - IMDb rating: 7.6 Run Lola Run is a 1998 thriller that has become a classic in Germany. The movie follows Lola, a young woman who has 20 minutes to gather 100,000 Deutschmarks to save her boyfriend's life. The film is known for its non-linear narrative structure and its use of vibrant colors and music. Watching this movie can help German learners improve their listening skills, as the characters speak quickly and use a lot of slang. ### [Das Leben Der Anderen (The Lives of Others)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405094/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - year of release: 2006 - genre: Drama/Thriller - IMDb rating: 8.4 Das Leben Der Anderen is a 2006 drama set in East Berlin in the early 1980s. The story follows a Stasi agent who is tasked with spying on a playwright and his girlfriend. As he becomes more involved in their lives, he begins to question the morality of his job and the regime he serves. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2007 and is widely regarded as one of the best German movies ever made. Watching this movie can help you improve your German vocabulary and comprehension of complex themes. ### [Der Untergang (Downfall)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363163?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - year of release: 2004 - genre: Drama/War - IMDb rating: 8.2 Der Untergang is a 2004 historical drama that depicts the final days of Adolf Hitler's reign. The movie is set in the Führerbunker, where Hitler and his closest advisors are holed up as the Allies close in on Berlin. The movie is tense and dramatic, with plenty of complex vocabulary and historical references to challenge German learners. ### [Das Boot (The Boat)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082096/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - year of release: 1981 - genre: Drama/War - IMDb rating: 8.3 Das Boot is a 1981 war drama that tells the story of a German submarine crew during World War II. The movie is a thrilling ride, with plenty of action and suspense to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The movie is also excellent for learners looking to improve their vocabulary related to military and naval terms. ### [Kästner und der kleine Dienstag](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5126602?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![German movies: Kästner und der kleine Dienstag](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/german-movie.jpg) "Kästner und der kleine Dienstag" is a German film based on the life of the famous children's book author Erich Kästner, who wrote "Emil and the Detectives." The movie tells the story of Kästner's friendship with a young boy named Hans, who becomes his inspiration for one of his most famous books. This film is good for learning German language as it features authentic German dialogue and can help learners improve their comprehension skills while also providing insight into German culture and history. Additionally, the film's storyline is engaging and inspiring, making it an enjoyable way to practice German language listening and speaking skills. ### [Die Welle](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1063669/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![German movies: Die Welle](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/die-welle.jpg) Die Welle (The Wave) is a German film based on a true story that explores the dangers of group thinking and conformity. The film follows a high school teacher who creates an experiment to teach his students about totalitarianism, but finds himself losing control as the students become increasingly devoted to their new movement. It's a thought-provoking and intense film that raises important questions about the power of authority, peer pressure, and the role of the individual in society. Die Welle offers an immersive experience in the German language, with authentic dialogue and cultural references that can help you better understand the language and context. The movie also features a clear storyline, engaging characters, and themes that can spark discussions and improve language proficiency. ### [Deutschstunde](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7785866/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Deutschstunde is a German drama film based on the novel by Siegfried Lenz. The story revolves around the life of a young painter, caught between his father's expectations and his own artistic ambitions during the Nazi regime. For German language learners, Deutschstunde provides an opportunity to immerse oneself in authentic German dialogue and practice listening comprehension. Additionally, the historical context of the film offers insight into German culture and history, making it a valuable resource if you are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the language and its cultural background. ## Tips for Learning German with Movies Ready to level up your German skills with these 6 classical and engaging movies? Just one moment. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your movie-watching experience. ### Start with beginner-friendly movies If you're just starting to learn German, it's important to choose movies that are appropriate for your skill level. Look for movies that have simple dialogue and clear pronunciation, so you can follow along without getting too lost. Some good options include children's movies or films with subtitles in both German and your native language. ### Use subtitles It's a good idea to use subtitles when watching German movies, especially if you're still learning the language. You can choose to have the subtitles in German, which will help you improve your reading comprehension, or in your native language for better understanding. You can also download the subtitle file and use a tool like [this one](https://srtvocab.github.io/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to extract all the unique words in the subtitle and make a vocabulary list out of it. ### Pay attention to pronunciation One of the benefits of watching German movies is that you can hear native speakers pronouncing words and phrases correctly. Pay close attention to how the actors pronounce certain words and try to mimic their intonation and accent. After watching the movie, try dubbing some parts of the movie or repeating phrases or sentences from the movie. ### Take notes While you're watching a German movie, take notes on new vocabulary or phrases. Write down the word or phrase in German, as well as its translation into your native language. Include example sentences as well so that you know the context. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 10 Great French Movies to Watch and Learn French URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-movies/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:23:19.000Z Learning a new language can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be dull. Luckily, there's a fun and effective way to complement your language learning: **watching movies**! If you're looking to improve your French skills, immersing yourself in French movies is a fantastic choice. Not only will you expand your vocabulary and grammar knowledge, but you'll also get a glimpse into the rich tapestry of French culture and history. ## Quick Answer: 10 Great French Movies to Watch and Learn French French films can build listening, vocabulary and cultural knowledge when used actively: preview context, watch short sections, use French subtitles, save useful lines and rewatch without support. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | Why Learn French? | | Section 2 | Best French Movies to Watch and Learn French | | Section 3 | Amélie (2001) | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. But with so many French films out there, where do you even begin? Don't worry, in this post, we'll explore some of the best French movies to watch and share some tips on how to [learn French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/) while enjoying them. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and get ready to take your French to the next level! ## Why Learn French? Before delving into the best French movies to watch, let's take a moment to discuss why learning French is a great choice. French is the official language of 29 countries, making it one of the [most widely spoken languages in the world](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/). It is also the second-most studied language in the world, after English. So, if you're looking for a language that will give you plenty of opportunities to practice and improve your skills, French is definitely worth considering. French is also the official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, and many other international organizations. So if you're looking to boost your career prospects, especially in business and international relations, knowing French can make you a more competitive candidate. If interested in learning more about what can French learning bring you, check out our previous post on the [benefits of language learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/benefits-of-learning-languages/). ## Best French Movies to Watch and Learn French Now without further adue, let's dive into some of the best French movies to watch and learn French: ### [Amélie (2001)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![French movies: Amélie](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/amelie-jpeg.jpg) - IMDb rating: 8.3 - Genre: Romance/Comedy - Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu *Amélie* is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of audiences around the world. Set in Paris, the film tells the story of a quirky young woman named Amélie who decides to help those around her find happiness. The movie is full of whimsical characters, stunning visuals, and a beautiful soundtrack, making it a joy to watch. *Amélie* is perfect for French beginners as the dialogue is relatively easy to follow. You'll also pick up some useful French expressions and idioms. ### [Les Intouchables (2011)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675434/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb rating: 8.5/10 - genre: Comedy/Drama - where to watch: Netflix *Les Intouchables* is a heartwarming movie based on the true story of a wealthy quadriplegic who hires a young ex-convict as his caretaker. The film deals with themes of friendship, class, and disability, and is guaranteed to make you laugh and cry. From a language-learning perspective, *Les Intouchables* is perfect for intermediate French learners as the dialogue is relatively easy to follow, and the film features a mix of formal and informal language. ### [Portrait d'une jeune femme en feu (2019)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8613070/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![French movies: Portrait d'une jeune femme en feu](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/french-movies-jpeg.jpg) - IMDb rating: 8.1 - Genre: Drama/Romance - Where to watch: Hulu *Portrait de la jeune fille en feu* (Portrait of a Lady on Fire) is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful film set in 18th-century France. Every scene in the film looks like a beautiful oil painting. The movie follows the story of a female artist who is hired to paint a portrait of a young woman, only to fall deeply in love with her subject. The film explores themes of love, desire, and the role of women in society. From a language-learning perspective, *Portrait d'une jeune femme en feu* is great for intermediate to advanced learners as the dialogue is relatively complex and poetic. The film also features some archaic French vocabulary that you may not encounter in everyday conversation. ### [La Haine (1995)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113247/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb rating: 8.1 - Genre: Drama/Crime - Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Kanopy *La Haine* is a gritty and powerful film that explores the lives of three young men living in a poverty-stricken suburb of Paris. The movie deals with themes of racism, police brutality, and social inequality, making it a thought-provoking watch. From a language-learning perspective, "La Haine" is great for intermediate learners as the dialogue is fast-paced and full of slang. You'll also get a sense of how French youth culture differs from other parts of the world. ### [Les Choristes (2004)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372824/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![French movies: Les Choristes](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/les-choristes-jpeg.jpg) - IMDb rating: 7.9/10 - genre: Drama/Music - where to watch: Amazon Prime Video *Les Choristes* is a heartwarming drama that tells the story of a music teacher who changes the lives of his students through his passion for music. Set in post-World War II France, the movie explores themes of education, mentorship, and personal growth. *Les Choristes* is great to improve your vocabulary. Even though the background is in the 50s, the dialogues are relatively easy to follow with words and phrases we still use today. The music also provides a great opportunity to sing along and practice your listening and speaking skills. ### [La Grande Vadrouille (1966)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061695/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb rating: 8.0/10 - genre: Comedy/War - where to watch: Amazon Prime Video *La Grande Vadrouille* is a classic French comedy that tells the story of two unlikely allies - a French pilot and a group of British soldiers - as they try to escape from Nazi-occupied Paris during World War II. The movie is full of slapstick humor and witty one-liners, making it a fun and entertaining watch. The film features a mix of French and English and the dialogue is relatively slow. ### [Caché (2005)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387898/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb rating: 7.3/10 - genre: Drama/Mystery - where to watch: Hulu *Caché* is a psychological thriller that explores themes of guilt, memory, and identity. The film tells the story of a Parisian couple who begin to receive mysterious videotapes that show them being secretly filmed. As they try to uncover the identity of their stalker, they are forced to confront their past and the secrets they have been keeping from each other. From a language-learning perspective, Caché is great for advanced learners as the dialogue is complex and full of nuance. ### [La Grande Illusion (1937)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028950/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb rating: 8.0/10 - genre: Drama, War - where to watch: Amazon Prime Video *La Grande Illusion* is a classic French film that tells the story of French prisoners of war during World War I. The movie explores themes of social class, nationalism, and the futility of war. It is a great choice for advanced learners because the dialogue is more complex and the movie deals with more nuanced themes. The movie also provides a great opportunity to learn about French history and culture. ### [Un homme et une femme (1966)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056214/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - IMDb rating: 7.5 - Genre: Romance/Drama - Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Kanopy Un homme et une femme is a classic French film that tells the story of a widowed race car driver and a divorced script girl who meet at their children's boarding school and gradually fall in love. The movie is known for its beautiful cinematography and iconic soundtrack. From a language-learning perspective, "Un homme et une femme" is great for beginners as the dialogue is relatively straightforward and easy to follow. You'll also get a sense of French culture and social norms from the film's depiction of relationships and family life. ### [La Vie d’Adèle (2013)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278871/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![French movies: La Vie d’Adèle](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/la-vie-dadele-jpeg.jpg) - IMDb rating: 7.8 - Genre: Drama/Romance - Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video *La Vie d’Adèle* is a critically acclaimed, coming-of-age French film that tells the story of a teenage girl named Adèle who falls in love with an older, blue-haired art student named Emma. The movie explores themes of identity, sexuality, and the complexities of relationships. From a language-learning perspective, *La Vie d’Adèle* can be challenging for beginners due to its complex dialogue and mature themes. However, it's a great resource for intermediate to advanced learners looking to improve their listening skills and learn more about contemporary French culture. ## How to Learn French by Watching French Movies Learning French by watching movies can be a fun and effective way to improve your language skills. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your movie-watching experience. First and foremost, **choose movies and shows that interest you.** The important thing is that you keep motivated and spend more time immersed in the language. If you enjoy comedies, watch French comedies. If you're interested in history, watch French historical dramas. This will keep you motivated and engaged in the learning process. **Watching movies with French subtitles** is another great way to improve your reading skills and expand your vocabulary. You'll be able to see the words as they're spoken, which will help you understand the meaning of what is being said. Additionally, taking notes while watching can help you remember new words and phrases. Write down words you don't know and look up their meanings later, or jot down frequently used phrases to incorporate into your conversations. **Repeating after the actors** is a fantastic way to improve your pronunciation and speaking skills. Try pausing the movie and repeating what the actors say, or even **dubbing your favorite parts** of the movie after watching. Pay attention to how the actors pronounce the words and try to imitate them. Lastly, **don't get discouraged if you don't see results right away**. Learning a new language takes time and effort. Celebrate your small victories along the way and keep pushing yourself to improve. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to fluency in no time! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 8 Best Korean Textbooks for Beginners 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-textbooks/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:32:04.000Z Hello and welcome to our blog post about the best Korean textbooks for beginners! If you're interested in [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), but have trouble finding the best Korean learning textbook for yourself, you've come to the right place. After researching and testing various Korean textbooks, we're excited to share our top picks with you. ## Quick Answer: How should you choose a Korean textbook? Choose Korean textbook by matching it to your level, learning goal and preferred study method. Prioritize clear level progression, grammar explanations, practical dialogues, exercises and audio. The named resources in this article reflect the publication date; verify current editions, availability, pricing and features through the publisher or an authorized bookseller before deciding. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Stable value | The selection criteria and study methods explained in the article | | Time-sensitive | Editions, availability, pricing, features and rankings | | Verify with | the publisher or an authorized bookseller | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Whether you're an absolute beginner or have some basic knowledge of Korean, these textbooks will provide you with a solid foundation to build upon. So, let's dive in and discover which Korean textbooks are best suited for your needs! ## Importance of Textbooks in Korean Learning Textbooks is usually a trusted language learning resource. They are used my many language learners as the primary learning resource. Why is this? Textbooks provide **structure and organization** to your learning process. They offer a comprehensive curriculum that covers all aspects of the language, such as [grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-french-grammar/), vocabulary, pronunciation, and reading and writing skills. Additionally, most textbooks come with exercises and activities that allow you to practice and reinforce what you have learned. So you can feel assured by following a good textbook, especially at early stages of Korean learning. Textbooks are mostly designed by professionals with extensive knowledge and experience in teaching Korean as a foreign language. Therefore, they use effective teaching methods and strategies that cater to different learning styles and levels. A good textbook also include culturally relevant content that exposes you to the Korean lifestyle, customs, and traditions, which enhances your overall understanding of the language and its context. However there are also things that textbooks cannot teach you. For example, real life conversations, listening skills, immersion, etc. It's better to combine textbook with other forms of learning like watching [movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-movies/) or [dramas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/) in Korean. So using a textbook to learn Korean is absolutely a good choice! But how to choose a good Korean learning textbook? ## How to Choose Korean Learning Textbooks Firstly, let's debunk a common misconception - **higher prices do not necessarily guarantee better quality**. Don't be fooled by flashy book covers and exorbitant prices. Do your research and read reviews from other language learners before making a purchase. Next, it's important to [know your own learning type](https://www.uow.edu.au/student/learning-co-op/effective-studying/identify-your-learning-style/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Are you a visual learner or an auditory learner? Do you prefer hands-on activities or reading texts? Knowing your learning style will help you choose a textbook that caters to your individual needs. Try reading a chapter or two of the textbook before purchasing to see if it aligns with your learning style. Before making a final decision, **take a look at the curriculum** provided in the textbook. Does it cover all the necessary topics for your desired language proficiency level? Make sure the textbook covers grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking to ensure a well-rounded learning experience. Lastly, use up-to-date learning materials if possible. Korean language textbooks that have been recently published will likely include the most current vocabulary and grammar rules, making your learning experience more relevant and applicable. ## 8 Korean Learning Textbooks for Beginners ### [Integrated Korean: Beginning 1](https://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Korean-Beginning-Textbooks-Language/dp/0824834402?tag=fluentu-20&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The first textbook we recommend is the top-notch Integrated Korean: Beginning 1 by Klear. The revised version of this classic textbook incorporates plenty of authentic materials and real-life examples to help you learn in context. You'll also find a good balance between building your skills and using them right away. Grammar explanations are also clear and easy to follow, which is great for beginners. Plus, there are tons of exercises to practice what you've learned. ### [Yonsei Korean](http://www.amazon.com/Yonsei-Korean-1-1-English-Version/dp/8997578650?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Korean textbooks: Yonsei Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/yonsei-korean.jpg) Yonsei Korean is a textbook designed by Yonsei University for beginners to learn the Korean language. They provide an [online course on Coursera](https://www.coursera.org/learn/learn-korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). There are 6 levels in total corresponding to the 6 [TOPIK](https://blog.lingodeer.com/topik/) levels. For beginners, this Yonsei Korean is a great place to start as it focuses on teaching you how to read and write Hangul proficiently. Along with this, the book covers the basics of [sentence structure](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/) and syntax, allowing you to apply the grammar rules in use. The textbook also provides plenty of practical phrases and expressions for different situations. However, like most textbooks, it is better to complement your learning with immersive methods like [watching movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-movies/). By completing the Yonsei Korean textbook, you can hold conversations in Korean with confidence and have a strong foundation for further Korean learning. ### [Ewha Korean](http://www.amazon.com/Ewha-Korean-1-1-English-Korean/dp/8973008765?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Korean textbooks: Ewha Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ewha-korean-textbook.jpg) Ewha Korean published by Ewha Women’s University in South Korea is a popular textbook for learning Korean, used both in Korea and abroad. It consists of six levels of fluency with a focus on all four language skills. The textbooks are well-structured, step-by-step guides that make learning Korean fun and approachable. Rather than dividing up sections based on linguistic aspects like grammar and tenses, this book is written according to real-world scenarios like dining out and journaling. It also incorporates recurring characters and illustrations together with a narrative flow to teach you Korean in an immersive way. ### [Korean Grammar in Use](https://www.amazon.com/KOREAN-GRAMMAR-USE-Ahn-Jean-Myung/dp/8959951986?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Korean textbook: Korean Grammar in Use](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-grammar-in-use.jpg) Authored by three experienced Korean language teachers who specialize in teaching foreign students, this textbook is perfect for those who want to study Korean grammar systematically and intensively. It covers the grammar taught in the first and second grade of textbooks used at Korean universities and institutes. One of the best things about "Korean Grammar in Use" is designed in an approachable format. The authors have designed this book to make learning Korean grammar engaging and rewarding. Each lesson is presented in a clear and concise manner, with ample examples and exercises to ensure that you understand the material thoroughly. The book also includes helpful tips and notes, making it easy to navigate even complex grammar points. Another great feature of this textbook is its emphasis on practical usage. Rather than simply memorizing rules and structures, you'll learn how to use each grammar point in real-life situations, helping you to communicate more effectively in Korean. ### [Talk to Me in Korean](https://www.amazon.com/Korean-Level-Downloadable-Included-English/dp/1186701072/ref=d%5Fpd%5Fsbs%5Fsccl%5F2%5F1/134-8972697-1781622?pd%5Frd%5Fw=Jv0JJ&content-id=amzn1.sym.1e7a0ba4-f11f-4432-b7d8-1aaa3945be18&pf%5Frd%5Fp=1e7a0ba4-f11f-4432-b7d8-1aaa3945be18&pf%5Frd%5Fr=B2TGT2F5BWX9414FZR0F&pd%5Frd%5Fwg=LYRWE&pd%5Frd%5Fr=2e7a55f1-074b-42af-8cfa-c2516c467a54&pd%5Frd%5Fi=1186701072&psc=1&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Korean textbook: Talk to Me in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/talk-to-me-in-korean.jpg) *Talk to Me in Korean* is a popular Korean textbook among Korean learning communities. You might have heard of their podcasts or other learning materials before. It's a decent choice if you're an absolute beginner without a teacher or other learning resources. The sample dialogues and exercises are easy to do on your own, so you can learn at your own pace and on your own schedule. The book also includes audio files, grammar lessons, and exercises for practice. Note that the focus of this textbook is on spoken and conversational Korean, which is the best for those who wish to communicate orally with native speakers. You can also download free MP3 files from their website or buy a copy of the workbook for more practice. ### [Living Language Korean, Complete Edition](https://www.amazon.com/Living-Language-Korean-Complete-coursebooks/dp/0307972232?tag=fluentu-20&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you're looking for a comprehensive Korean learning package, *Living Language Korean* is a great choice. With glowing reviews, *Living Language Korean* offers more than just the basics. It takes you from beginner to advanced level in one convenient package: 4 books, 9 audio CDs, 46 interactive lessons, and a "Language Lab" with extra quizzes, games, and flashcards to help you practice Korean skills. What sets this course apart is its ability to break down complicated grammar and vocabulary into bite-sized and easy-to-understand pieces. Plus, the techniques used in this textbook have been tested over time, so you can trust it to be effective. ### [Let’s Speak Korean](https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Speak-Korean-Expressions-Pronunciation/dp/B07GW7QZ9W?tag=fluentu-20&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Whether you are a K-Pop/K-Drama fanatic or just someone trying to pick up some [useful expressions](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-phrases/) before going on a trip to Korea, this book surely will be a great resource! *Let's Speak Korean* covers over 1,400 daily expressions from 21 different topics and situations. It's designed in a way that anyone with no knowledge in Korean can learn and use right away, through simply listening and repeating the expressions. This textbook takes a more natural approach of teaching, with no formal grammar sections. It's especially useful if you wish to travel to Korea. It has a dedicated Traveling to Korea section to get you familiarized with Korean culture, etiquettes, travel guide, etc. The textbook also include audio to hone your listening and pronunciation skills. ### [Organic Korean](https://www.amazon.com/Organic-Korean-Simple-Upper-Beginners/dp/B0BGKQTTGJ?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you already know Hangul and have some basic knowledge of Korean, then this textbook is for you. As the name suggests, *Organic Korean* focuses more on conversational Korean, with useful phrases and expressions you can use right from the beginning. This Korean textbook has 8 units and 50 lessons in total. Each unit has a specific topic with 40 relevant vocabulary. It's easy to follow along and understand new words in context. Apart from that, *Organic Korean* also covers 1 grammar point in each lesson. This helps you to understand grammar rules gradually as you progress, and better retain information. It takes about 50 to 100 hours of learning to finish this book. ## Textbooks vs Other Resources Congratulations on reaching the end of our Korean textbooks recommendation! Did you find one you wish to use? Let us know in the comments. Textbooks offer a structured approach with detailed explanations and exercises, they are a great resource on your Korean learning journey. Apart from textbooks, you can also use podcasts or [apps ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-korean-learning-apps/)to learn Korean on the go conveniently and with more interactive features. Learning Korean is a fun and rewarding experience with the right tools. A good textbook or a good app like LingoDeer can help you a lot on your journey. With dedication and practice, you'll be speaking Korean fluently in no time! Happy learning! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this list of Korean textbook still current? It is a dated editorial selection, not a live ranking. Use its criteria, then confirm current details through the publisher or an authorized bookseller. ### How should I choose a Korean textbook? Match your level and goal, then compare clear level progression, grammar explanations, practical dialogues, exercises and audio. ### Is one resource enough? Usually not. A core resource works best with regular review and additional listening, reading, speaking or writing practice. ### Which details should I verify? Check the latest edition or listing, regional availability, price, included materials and current platform support before purchasing or subscribing. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 10 Best Korean Movies to Watch and Learn Korean in 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-movies/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:23:29.000Z If you're looking for a fun and immersive way to [learn Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), watching Korean movies (or [dramas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/)!) might just be the answer you've been searching for! ## Quick Answer: 10 Best Korean Movies to Watch and Learn Korean in 2023 Korean films can support listening and cultural understanding, but subtitles and genre-specific speech require care. Rewatch short scenes and verify expressions before using them. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | How Watching Korean Movies Help you Learn Korean | | Section 2 | It improves your Korean pronunciation and intonation | | Section 3 | It helps you expand your vocabulary and pick up expressions | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## How Watching Korean Movies Help you Learn Korean ### It improves your Korean pronunciation and intonation One of the biggest benefits of watching Korean movies is the opportunity to improve your pronunciation, intonation, and understanding of natural speech. As you input speech from native speakers, you'll naturally start to pick up on the nuances of pronunciation and intonation. You'll also become more familiar with the rhythm and flow of natural Korean speech, which can help you understand and communicate more effectively. ### It helps you expand your vocabulary and pick up expressions As you watch Korean movies, you're going to pick up on some new words and phrases that you might not have learned in a typical language class. This exposure can be a great way to expand your vocabulary and deepen your understanding of different aspects of Korean culture. Watching movies also gives you a chance to hear how people talk in real life - even the not-so-polite stuff like [slang](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korea-slang/) and [swear words](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-swear-words/). Of course, you don't want to go using these words in formal situations, but it's good to be aware of them so you can understand what people are saying in everyday conversation. ### Gain insights into Korean culture, customs, and traditions Korean movies offer a unique window into Korean culture, customs, and traditions that can be difficult to find elsewhere. As you watch, you'll learn a lot of cultural nuances, including values and beliefs, family dynamics, social norms, and much more that can help you gain a deeper understanding of Korean society. This knowledge will come in handy when interacting with native speakers in Korea. So, if you want to communicate effectively in Korean like a local, watching Korean movies is definitely worth it. ## 10 best Korean movies to learn Korean in 2023 ### Parasite (2019) - IMDb rating: 8.6/10 - Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller *Parasite* is a satirical thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho. It is also the first South Korean film to win the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film follows the members of a poor family as they infiltrate a wealthy household to secure their financial future. The thought provoking movie also reflects the different levels of Korean society's hierarchy. ### Train to Busan (2016) ![Best Korean movies: Train to Busan](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/train-to-busan-jpeg.jpg) - IMDb rating: 7.5/10 - Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, *Train to Busan* is a thrilling zombie apocalypse movie that takes place on a train ride from Seoul to Busan. The film follows the passengers' struggle for survival as the undead taking over the train. It is considered one of the best Korean movies in recent years. ### Oldboy (2003) ![Best Korean movies: Oldboy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/oldboy-jpeg.jpg) - IMDb rating: 8.4/10 - Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery Directed by Park Chan-wook, *Oldboy* is a psychological thriller about a man who is imprisoned for fifteen years without knowing the reason. Upon his release, he sets out to find his captor and seek revenge. The easy grammar and clear tone in the movie makes it suitable for Korean learners. However, it's R-rated. ### Memories of Murder (2003) - IMDb rating: 8.1/10 - Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery Directed by Bong Joon-ho, this crime drama is based on the true story of a serial killer who terrorized a rural town in the 1980s. The film follows the police detectives' investigation as they try to catch the elusive killer. This R-rated movie has an engaging plot despite many violent and bloody scenes ### Burning (2018) - IMDb rating: 7.5/10 - Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller Directed by Lee Chang-dong, *Burning* is a slow-burning mystery drama about a young man who reconnects with a childhood friend and becomes embroiled in a strange love triangle with her and a mysterious man she meets in Africa. ### A Taxi Driver (2017) - IMDb rating: 8.0/10 - Genre: Drama, History, Action Directed by Jang Hoon, *A Taxi Driver* is a historical drama based on the true story of a taxi driver who takes a German journalist to cover the Gwangju Uprising in 1980\. The film depicts the brutal suppression of the uprising by the military regime. ### My Sassy Girl (2001) - IMDb rating: 8.0/10 - Genre: Romantic Comedy Directed by Kwak Jae-yong, *My Sassy Girl* is a romantic comedy about a college student who falls in love with a quirky girl who turns his life upside down. It's a true classic with charming characters and hilarious scenes. ### The Handmaiden (2016) - IMDb rating: 8.1/10 - Genre: Psychological Thriller, Drama Directed by Park Chan-wook, *The Handmaiden* is a psychological thriller set in Japanese-occupied Korea. The movie follows a young woman who is hired as a handmaiden to a wealthy heiress but soon becomes embroiled in a plot to steal her fortune. ### The Host (2006) - IMDb rating: 7.1 - Genre: action, horror, drama Directed by Bong Joon-ho, *The Host* is a monster movie about a family's quest to rescue their daughter from a mutated creature that emerges from Seoul's Han River. The film blends horror, comedy, and social commentary to great effect. ### Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013) ![Best Korean movies: Miracle in Cell No. 7](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/miracle-in-cell-no-7-jpeg.jpg) - IMDb rating: 8.2/10 - Genre: Drama, Comedy Directed by Lee Hwan-kyung, *Miracle in Cell No. 7* is a heartwarming drama about a mentally challenged man who is wrongfully convicted of murder and forms an unlikely bond with his fellow inmates. The film portrays the power of human connection and the importance of empathy and kindness. ## How to Learn Korean by watching Korean movies Then, how to maximize your Korean learning when watching movies? To get started, do a bit of background research on the movie you want to watch. Look up keywords related to the plot, setting, and characters. This will help you familiarize yourself with the vocabulary and phrases that may come up in the film. So when watching the movie, you have a better chance of understanding without subtitles. Remember to enjoy the movie without any language learning goals at first. Simply immerse yourself in the story and forget about subtitles or learning new vocab. It's important to first understand and enjoy the movie as a whole. If you like the movie, you can watch it a second time and watch with language learning goals. Pay attention to both English and Korean subtitles. Pause for a bit if needed. This will give you a chance to read along and compare the differences between the two languages. Try to read Korean subtitles if you can. As you watch the movie, try reading aloud along or even dubbing over the dialogue to practice your pronunciation. Mimic the intonation and rhythm of the lines spoken by the actors. This will not only improve your speaking skills but also help you sound more natural when conversing with native speakers. ## Where to watch Korean movies Finally, if you don't know where to start, there are several popular websites and platforms online with a good selection of Korean movies. [Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/5685?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): This streaming giant has an extensive collection of Korean dramas and movies, making it one of the best places to start. It also produce lots of exclusive and original content, for example, Squid Game. [Viki Rakuten](https://www.viki.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): A popular streaming platform with a focus on Asian content. You can find a lot of Korean dramas and movies here with subtitles in many languages. You can also use its learn mode designed specially for language learners. [Hulu](https://www.hulu.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): A streaming service that offers a variety of TV shows and movies, including some Korean dramas and movies. [Kocowa](https://www.kocowa.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): If you're looking for a more authentic Korean experience, then Kocowa is a great choice. It's a subscription-based streaming service that offers access to high-quality Korean dramas and variety shows. [OnDemandKorea](https://classic.ondemandkorea.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): This website offers a mix of free and paid content, with a focus on Korean dramas and variety shows. There are also many free videos on YouTube, Vimeo, etc. If you are determined to improve your Korean, movies can help you a lot whatever method you use. Good luck improving your Korean language skills while enjoying these great films! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 5 Best Japanese Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now and Learn Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-japanese-movies-on-netflix/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:32:18.000Z Are you interested in [learning Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/), but find traditional study methods tedious or boring? Why not take a break and watch some engaging **Japanese movies on Netflix**? While watching movies should not be counted as your actual Japanese learning time, it can be an enjoyable way to improve your Japanese skills, introduce you to the culture, and keep you [motivated in learning the language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/)! ## Quick Answer: How can you learn Japanese with movies? Use a Japanese movie as active listening practice: choose material near your level, watch once for meaning, replay short scenes, note useful expressions and imitate selected lines. The films and Netflix availability named here reflect the article's publication context and may vary by region and time; check the current catalog before viewing. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | Stable value | The repeat, notice, record and imitate study method | | Time-sensitive | Netflix titles, regional catalogs and availability | | Verify with | The current Netflix catalog in your region | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In this article, we'll be recommending the best Japanese movies on Netflix for language learners and providing tips on how to effectively use movies as a tool for language acquisition. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, there's something on this list for everyone. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and let's explore the world of Japanese cinema and improve our Japanese skills! ## 5 Great Japanese Movies on Netflix to Watch ### [Battle Royale](https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Battle-Royale/70004548?dsrc=DVDWEB&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (バトル・ロワイアル) - IMDb rating: 7.6 - Released: 2000 - Director: Kinji Fukasaku - Genre: action, thriller ![Japanese movies on Netflix: Battle Royale](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/battle-royale.jpg) If you have enjoyed watching the Netflix series Squid Game, then you can't miss *Battle Royale*. *Battle Royale* is a true classic and one of the most popular modern Japanese movies. It's a dystopian thriller about a group of high school students who are forced to fight to the death on a remote island. The movie is violent, but at the same time intriguing and thought-provoking. *Battle Royale* was so popular that it has inspired a battle royale genre, which includes many other well-known movies like *The Hunger Games*, *Ready or Not*, and *Squid Game*. So if you haven't watched it yet, give it a try! ### [Kagemusha](https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Kagemusha/70005243?dsrc=DVDWEB&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (影武者) - IMDb rating: 8.0 - Released: 1980 - Director: Akira Kurosawa - Genre: Drama, History, War ![Japanese movies on netflix: Kagemusha](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/kagemusha.jpg) Kagemusha is a classic movie directed by Akira Kurosawa, an influential filmmaker in the history of cinema. His works have had a significant impact on both the Japanese and Western film industries. Kagemusha is highly regarded in the film industry. It is featured in film classes over the world. For Japanese learners, you might notice the movie contains formal language, but the evenly-paced speech helps balance this out. The movie is also famous for having amazing cinematography and action scenes that keep you engaged throughout the entire story. ### [Departures](https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Departures/70114013?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (おくりびと) - IMDb rating: 8.1/10 - Released: 2008 - Director: Yōjirō Takita - Genre: Drama, Music ![Japanese movies on Netflix: Departures](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/departures.jpg) *Departures* (おくりびと) is a Japanese drama film that literally translates to "The one who sends off". The film is a heartwarming drama about a young cellist who went back to his hometown after a failed career as a cellist. By accidentally taking on the job of encoffiner, he finds purpose and meaning in his work and life. The film won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2009\. It's a great way to practice your Japanese language skills while gaining insight into traditional Japanese funeral customs. ### [13 Assassins](https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/13-Assassins/70127232?dsrc=DVDWEB&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (十三人の刺客) - IMDb rating: 7.6 - Released: 2010 - Director: Takashi Miike - Genre: Action, Adventure ![Japanese movies on Netflix: assassins](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/assassins.jpg) This is a movie directed by the famous Japanese director Takashi Miike. If you wish to have a traditional Japanese feel with a modern twist, look no further. The movie explores the dark side of power struggles between warring territories in Japanese history. The storyline follows a chain of assassinations and suicides in pursuit of justice. It's got *samurai*, *bushido* code and *shogunates*, if you are interested. For language learners, note that this movie also features **formal spoken Japanese**."Our Little Sister" ### [Our Little Sister ](https://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Our-Little-Sister/80057568?dsrc=DVDWEB&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)(Umimachi Diary) - IMDb rating: 7.4/10 - Released: 2015 - Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda - Genre: Drama ![Japanese movies on Netflix: Our Little Sister](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/our-little-sister.jpg) Our Little Sister (Umimachi Diary, literally: Seaside town diary) is a family drama about three sisters who live together in Kamakura, a coastal town near Tokyo. When their estranged half-sister Suzu comes to live with them after their father's death, the four sisters gradually form a bond and navigate the complexities of their relationships with each other and with their deceased parents. Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, the film features a talented cast of actresses and showcases beautiful scenery and food from the Kamakura area. This movie is ideal for those who want to learn more about Japanese family dynamics and improve their vocabulary related to everyday life. Wish to find more Japanese movies on Netflix? Simply head over to their [official Japanese movies page](https://www.netflix.com/browse/genre/100385?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) where you'll find a variety of movies and TV shows in different genres. For even more options outside of Netflix, check out Wikipedia's [comprehensive list of Japanese films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Japanese%5Ffilms%5Fby%5Fgenre?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in 50 different **categories**, or this [list](https://jpdb.io/anime-difficulty-list?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) of Japanese movies ranked by **language difficulty**. Let's immerse ourselves in these captivating films and enhance our Japanese skills! If you're new to the world of Japanese learning, be sure to read our tips below on how to effectively learn Japanese through watching movies on Netflix. ## How to Watch Japanese Movies on Netflix and Learn Japanese If you're an avid user of LingoDeer, the fantastic language app to learn 12 + languages, then you're probably aware that learning a new language is more than just immersing in native contents. It requires constant effort and time invested in vocabulary, grammar, speaking, etc. While movies might not make you fluent in Japanese overnight, they can be a fun and addictive way to immerse yourself in the language and pick up natural expressions. That's why we've put together some top tips on how to learn Japanese while enjoying Japanese movies! 1. *Increase vocabulary.* **Look up some words and expressions related to the movie theme before you hit play.** It's a great way to get a head start on understanding the language used in the film. While watching, pay close attention to how certain words are used **in context** \- this will help you remember them **with feeling**. And if there's something you don't quite understand, try to guess based on visual cues like facial expressions. 2. *Practice listening skills.*If you have learned Japanese for some time or wish to level up your listening skills, try **turning off English subtitle** to enter the "hard mode". Of course, there's **no need to feel pressure to do this right away** \- subtitles can still be super helpful in learning new vocabulary and grammar. The most important thing is to keep yourself engaged and interested in what you're watching, so you'll want to continue to improve. 3. *Improve pronunciation and Speaking.* Have you tried **dubbing**? If you have a favorite character or scene from a movie, give it a go and try dubbing it yourself! By **repeating the lines and imitating the accent**, you'll quickly find yourself picking up the nuances of the Japanese pronunciation without even realizing it. Just be sure to **select a character who speaks in your target accent** so that you can get the most out of your practice. 4. *Understand Japanese culture.* If you are new to Japanese language and culture, you might come across some confusing scenes in the movie or don't quite understand why a character act in a certain way. But don't worry! Instead of feeling lost, **see it as an opportunity to learn more about the fascinating and unique Japanese culture.** You can always ask a Japanese friend or do some research online. This way, you'll gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture while enjoying the movies Japanese cinema is truly a treasure trove! And believe me when I say, there's so much more to see beyond what we've covered here. We've also written about [Japanese movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-movies/) (not just on Netflix), and [Japanese YouTube Channels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese-youtubers/) for learning Japanese. So why not expand your horizons and explore these Japanese movies now? I'm sure they'll be taking your Japanese language skills to the next level in no time! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are all of these films still on Netflix? Not necessarily. Streaming catalogs change by country and time, so confirm each title in your regional catalog. ### Should beginners watch without subtitles? Beginners can start with subtitles for comprehension, then replay manageable scenes with Japanese subtitles or without translation. ### How much of a film should I study? A short, repeatable scene is often more useful for focused language practice than trying to analyse the entire film at once. ### Can movies replace structured lessons? Movies provide valuable listening and cultural context, but they work best alongside structured grammar, vocabulary and speaking practice. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Roll Your Rs | Easy Methods and Tips URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/roll-your-rs/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:06:04.000Z If you're studying a language that requires you to roll your Rs, but struggling with the technique, don't worry - you're not alone. Rolling your Rs is a simple process of creating a vibrating trill with your tongue, but it can be difficult if it's not a sound used in your native language. In this article, we'll provide you with a step-by-step guide to rolling your Rs. We'll also share practice exercises to help you perfect this skill. ## Quick Answer: How is a rolled R produced? A rolled R, or alveolar trill, is produced when airflow makes the relaxed tongue tip vibrate near the ridge behind the upper teeth. The tongue should not be repeatedly tapped by muscular effort; placement, relaxation and steady airflow are the main variables. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ---------------------------------- | | Placement | tongue tip near the alveolar ridge | | Motion | airflow triggers vibration | | Practice | short relaxed attempts with rest | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## Quick Facts about the Rolled R ### What is a rolled R In linguistics, a rolled R is called an **alveolar trill**. It's a consonant sound pronounced with a vibrating tongue. It's made by forcing air to pass through your tongue and the roof of the mouth. **Rolling your R's does *NOT* involve tapping your tongue really fast.** This is actually the opposite of what you want to do. When you try to move your tongue quickly rather than letting it vibrate with the air, your tongue becomes tense and it becomes more difficult to produce the sound. So make sure to take a deep breath, and relax your tongue. ### What languages roll the r Trilling the 'r' sound is a common feature in many languages, including [**Spanish**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-spanish/)**, Italian,** [**Russian**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/)**, Portuguese, Polish, Arabic, and many more**. It is a unique sound that sets these languages apart from others. **German and French** also have another type of rolled 'r' which vibrates the root of the tongue instead of the tip. As it's pretty different from the avaeolar trill, we'll delve into that next time in another post. Is it necessary to roll my 'r's in order to speak Spanish or Italian? Of course not! Rolling your 'r's is not a premise to learning any of these languages. With a proper tool like [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), you can start learning Spanish (plus 12 other languages) right now and gradually improve your pronunciation. So, don't let the trilled 'r' hold you back from learning a new language. Get started today! ### Don't worry if you can't roll your r While most native speakers can roll their 'r's with some practice, there are [scientific reasons](https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-cant-everyone-roll-their-rs/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) that **not everyone can do this**, even among natives. Even Hispanics may have difficulty trilling their 'r's due to a short frenulum (the piece of tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth) or other physical differences in the oral cavity. Among natives, this is sometimes seen as an impediment, though most of the times it does not impede understanding. So as language learners, you don't have to master the ‘r’ sound to communicate effectively in languages like Spanish. You can replace the alveolar trill with a long and hard-pronounced 'r', which sometimes native speakers do as well. Additionally, certain regional variations and dialects make the rolled 'r' less prominent, so practice and context are key. As long as you **speak clearly and with confidence**, you'll be able to convey your message just fine. Nonetheless, rolling the ‘r’s is still an important feature of these language. If you wish to speak more authentically in your target language, it’s worthwhile to put some effort into perfecting your trill ‘r’. But how to do that? Let’s move on to see the 3 main steps of how to roll your 'r's. ## How to Roll Your Rs There are many different techniques to roll your rs and everyone may have their own way. ### How to Roll Your Rs Step 1 – Relax and Feel your Tongue Tension in your throat and lips can make it more difficult to roll your Rs. Make sure to that your tongue should be like a leaf blowing in the wind and totally relaxed when trying to vibrate and pronounce the rolled R. A ridge town trying to tap quickly will never succeed. So you may need some practice to relax your tongue before you successfully roll your Rs. Here are some tips to help you relax and regain awareness of your tongue. Find your tongue positioning: The key to rolling your Rs is getting your tongue in the right position. To do this, slowly move your tongue as you pronounce **'t', 'd', and 'r'** in English. Feel how the tip of your tongue move slowly from your front teeth backwards. You can also freely move your tongue in side your mouth to make it relaxed. Do this a few times until your tongue is loose. ### How to Roll Your Rs Step 2 – Put your tongue in the correct position After your tongue is fully relaxed, the next step is to put it in the right position. Try to pronounce "duh" and remember where the tip of your tongue is. Your tongue should be behind your front teeth. Then put and raise the middle part of your tongue towards the roof of your mouth. ![how to roll your rs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/alveolar-thrill.png) correct tongue position when pronouncing the alveolar trill In this position your tongue should block the airflow in your mouth. ### How to Roll Your Rs Step 3 – Use Airflow The final step is to use air flow to vibrate your tongue. To practice this, make a sound similar to blowing out a candle. Once you’re comfortable with this, try to produce the same sound while keeping your tongue in the correct position as described in step 2. Don't worry if you can't trill r right away. Try different methods and keep practicing. I'm sure you'll be able to do it! Here we find a video by Linguisticator that explains another method in detail. ### How to Roll Your Rs Exercises If you’re still struggling with rolling your Rs, here are 3 simple exercises you can try. This [wikihow page](https://www.wikihow.com/Roll-Your-%22R%22s?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) also surmmarizes more popular and proven techniques that you can try. 1. **The "Butter - ladder" exercise**: You may not know that you can already pronounce the trilled r in English words like butter and ladder. Read the word "butter" and "ladder" in an American accent. Pay attention how you pronounce the "dder" sound in these two words. It sounds very much like the rolled r in Spanish. Then speed up like "butter, butter, butter, ladder, ladder, ladder". 2. **Add a vowel or consonant before r.** If you're having trouble producing 'rrrrr', try 'arrrr', 'errrr' or 'drrrr' instead. You can also use some example words like "carro" or "vorrei" in Spanish. This will help your tongue get more comfortable and increase the likelihood of producing the sound. 3. **Use a piece of paper.** Another popular exercise is to place a small piece of paper between your upper lip and teeth and try to keep it there with a steady stream of air. This can help you find the air control needed to produce a rolled R. ## Practice Words to Roll Your Rs Spanish - Perro - Dog - Carro - Car - Correr - Run - Arroz - Rice - Ferrocarril - Railroad - El perro corre hacia el carro rojo. Translation: The dog runs towards the red car. - Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal. Translation: Three sad tigers were eating wheat in a wheat field. Italian - Carrozza - Carriage - Ferramenta - Hardware - Arrivederci - Goodbye - Terremoto - Earthquake - Barra - Bar - La torre di Pisa è inclinata. Translation: The Leaning Tower of Pisa is tilted. - Trentatré trentini entrarono a Trento tutti e trentatré trotterellando. Translation: Thirty-three people from Trentino entered Trento, all thirty-three trotting. Russian - Рыба - Fish - Ресторан - Restaurant - Картина - Painting - Мороженое - Ice Cream - Корабль - Ship Красная роза расцветает в саду. Translation: The red rose blossoms in the garden. Карл у Клары украл кораллы, а Клара у Карла украла кларнет. Translation: Karl stole corals from Clara, and Clara stole a clarinet from Karl. --- Congratulations! You've made it to the end of this article on how to roll your Rs. I know that learning a new skill can be daunting. But don't give up just yet! Mastering rolling your Rs is all about dedication and practice. It may seem difficult at first, but with effort and patience, you'll be able to do it in the end. So, keep at it, and good luck! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can everyone learn to roll an R immediately? No. Coordination develops at different rates and excessive tension makes the sound harder. ### Is a tapped R the same as a trill? No. A tap uses one brief contact; a trill contains repeated vibration. ### Should the tongue be moved rapidly? No. The goal is to let airflow move a relaxed tongue tip. ### What if practice causes discomfort? Stop, rest and return to gentle attempts; pronunciation practice should not cause pain. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 8 Reasons Chinese Is NOT as Hard to Learn as You Think URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/is-chinese-hard-to-learn/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:28.000Z Learning a new language is never a walk in the park. It's especially so if your target language is Mandarin Chinese. ## Quick Answer: Is Mandarin Chinese difficult to learn? Mandarin presents real challenges—tones, characters and unfamiliar vocabulary—but some features are comparatively regular: verbs do not conjugate for person, nouns have no grammatical gender, and basic word order often resembles English. Difficulty depends on the learner and the skill being measured. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | Pronunciation | tones require listening practice | | Writing | characters require sustained exposure | | Grammar | little inflection compared with many European languages | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Chinese is often seen as one of the [most difficult languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/) to master. This is true in some ways since Chinese is very different from English with a unique logographic writing system, tones, etc. However, **learning Mandarin Chinese may not be as difficult or bad as you think.** We understand why most people think it's a hard language to learn. But in fact, some parts in Mandarin Chinese may be easier to pick up, especially if you speak English. In this post, we look at 8 solid reasons why **Mandarin Chinese isn't as hard as you may think**. Hopefully, it will help ease your fears and encourage you to [learn Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/). Let's get started! ## There's a Romanized Version of Mandarin Chinese One of the biggest fears many people have with Mandarin Chinese is the writing system. First of all, it looks alien. Everything looks squarish. The characters are full of odd strokes here and there, and everything looks super hard to write. This may be true since Mandarin Chinese is one of the few examples of a [logographic writing system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logogram?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Some other examples include [Japanese Kanji and Korean Hanja](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/). In this writing system, you create a logo or symbol to represent meaning. This differs greatly from other writing systems, such as alphabetic or Abugida. These writing systems are easier since they use letters or characters. Then, you string them together to form a word. These writing systems allow you to spell the words out, but not Mandarin Chinese. You need to remember the character pictorially in your head. If you don't, you cannot write it. But what if there's an easier alternative? In comes the *Hanyu Pinyin*. [Hanyu Pinyin](https://blog.lingodeer.com/is-chinese-hard-to-learn/) is the official romanization system of Mandarin Chinese, aka the "alphabet". It uses the Latin alphabet indicate the pronunciation of Chinese characters. There are 5 special marks to indicate the tone of the word as well. While Pinyin cannot replace Chinese characters, it is widely used in teaching Chinese, typing in Chinese, and looking up Chinese words in dictionaries. It's the first step of your Chinese learning journey. ## You Always Pronounce The Words The Way They Are Spelt In some languages, the pronunciation and the spelling can be illogical. For example, in English, there are odd rules where you do not pronounce the 'Silent H,' such as *Honest* or *Hour*. Many imported words in English makes its pronunciation inconsistent. For example, restaurant and voyage takes the French pronunciation, and kindergarten is pronounced with a 'd' sound rather than a 't.' These odd pronunciation rules can be very confusing to learners. Many also make mistakes when speaking. However, things are **much more consistent with Mandarin Chinese** in the spelling department. You always pronounce the words the way they are spelled (in Pinyin). *Hanyu Pinyin* gives **a clear romanized pronunciation guide for every Chinese character**. There are also markings to indicate which tones to use. That's pretty much it. There are no other odd rules. This makes learning how to pronounce Mandarin Chinese easier and gives you confidence. If you can read Hanyu Pinyin well, you will not be caught off-guard by some weird pronunciation rules. ## There's Simplified Mandarin Chinese Script The Mandarin Chinese writing system comes in two major types, **traditional and simplified**. The traditional script is much more complicated and may be harder to learn and write. It is used mostly today in places such as Hong Kong or Taiwan. However, in 1956, the Mainland Chinese government introduced a simplified Chinese script. The simplified script greatly reduced strokes in traditional Chinese, which helps to simplify writing. For example, here is a sentence written in both Mandarin and Traditional Chinese. As you can see, the word 几*how much* and 岁 *age* are much more complex in Traditional Chinese, despite with no change in pronunciation. - 你几岁了？（*How old are you* in Mandarin Chinese） - 你幾歲了？（*How old are you* in Traditional Chinese） The invention of simplified Chinese has made Chinese language much easier to write than before, It has also greatly improved China's literacy rate. It also facilitates foreigners to learn Chinese. In fact, simplified Chinese script is the most popular writing script in Chinese. Unless you only learn Chinese to go to Taiwan, you can ignore the traditional script and focus on simplified Chinese instead. ## Similar Word Order To English When learning languages, [grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/) is a key aspect. Generally, **the more similar the target language's grammar is to yours, the easier it will be for you to learn it.** If you dig deeper into Chinese grammar, you can actually notice some similarities between Chinese and English. For example: word order or sentence structure. Word order is how a language strings together words to form a sentence. Linguists mainly look at three elements - subject, verb, and object. Many world languages, including English, use the subject-verb-object (SVO) pattern. Take, for example, the sentence: Johnny (Subject) Cooks (Verb) Chicken (Object) What about Mandarin Chinese? It uses the SVO word order as well. 他(Subject) 炒(Verb) 鸡(Object) 。 The similarity in word order should help you learn Mandarin Chinese a lot easier. Since the sentence structure is rather similar to English, you can form sentences without thinking much. In many cases, you can simply trust your instinct and do not need to scratch your head to rethink your grammar. ## No Grammatical Gender If you have learned European languages like French, German, or Russian, you must know that gender can be a real headache in language learning, especially in the early stages. English nouns do not have gender. And so does Chinese! You don't need to spend time classifying nouns and worrying about their gender. That can save you a lot of time and effort. Apart from grammatical gender, Mandarin also has few gender forms for words. For example, waiter and waitress, actor and actress are the same in Chinese. Pretty easy, right? Even the third-person pronouns 他 *he* and 她 *she* have the same pronunciation in Chinese (tā). So at least in spoken Chinese, you don't need to worry about whether you are talking about a male or female. In recent years, TA is also used as a gender neutral pronoun in written Chinese. ## No Conjugations Verb conjugations could be a nightmare for many language learners, as the rules can be complex and hard to get. In fact, many learners consider conjugations and tenses a [struggle to learn](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347077065%5FThe%5FProblem%5Fof%5FTenses%5Famong%5FSecond%5FLanguage%5FSpeakers%5Fof%5FEnglish?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in English. In many languages, verbs inflect, or conjugate according to person, gender, number, tense, case, mood, etc. For example, in English, the verb *hear* can take on different forms like *hear, hears, hearing,* and *heard*. For many languages like Italian, Spanish, and Russian, verb conjugations can be a lot more complex, with 6 or more forms of conjugation. But in Chinese, there is none. That is, **no matter who did something, when they did it, and in what way, the verb always stays the same**. In Chinese, time is indicated by certain phrases or words instead. For example, rather than adding an 'ed' the verb, you add a modifier ‘了’ (le) to indicate past tense. - 他打扫了房间。 - He cleaned the room. This makes learning Chinese grammar a much easier experience for many learners. There is no large conjugation tables to scare you off. Once you learned a verb, it's yours and you know how to use it. ## Easy To Find Resources Mandarin Chinese is one of the [most spoken languages in the world](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/), with more than 1 billion native speakers. It's not only spoken in China, but also in many Southeast Asian countries likeSingapore and Malaysia. Mandarin is also a very popular language to learn around the world. It's widely taught in schools and universities around the world. As a result, there are a lot of high quality resources you can find online. For example, language app [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) offers great beginner Mandarin courses that you can learn on the go. If you want to test your Mandarin ability, you can also sit for proper Chinese proficiency tests, such as the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi). You may see HSK as the IELTS or TOEFL, but for Mandarin Chinese. Thanks to the large Chinese learning community online, you can also easily find learning partners, tutors, or language exchange pals. When you have questions, it's also easier to find answers with a simple google online. While many people may overlook this reason, if you have tried to learn a less popular languages, you'll see how learning a "big" language like Mandarin Chinese comes with benefits itself. ## You Do Not Need A Lot Of Chinese To Start Using It Finally, here's one more great reason why learning Mandarin Chinese is not as hard as you think. That is: you do not need a lot of Chinese to start using it. In total, there are more than [100,000 Chinese characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese%5Fcharacters?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#Number%5Fof%5Fcharacters) in dictionary. Native Mandarin speakers know about 8000 of them but use only 2000 to 3000 actively. So if 3000 is our ultimate goal, how many characters do you need to know to hold conversations with native speakers? The answer is only 100 to 200\. With only 100 [high frequency vocabulary ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/high-frequency-vocab-list/)in Chinese, you should be able to read and understand up to 50% of the language. You may not get everything, but you should be able to identify words here and there to understand the text. ![vocab frequency and language comprehension](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/common-words.png) Sounds appealing, isn't it? If you wish to start learning these high frequency Chinese characters or expand your vocabulary, here are some HSK vocab lists you start with. - [150 words for HSK1](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-1-vocabulary-list/) - [300 words for HSK2](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-2-vocabulary-full-list/) - [600 words for HSK3](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-3-vocabulary-full-list/) ## How To Get Started Hopefully this article has eased your concerns about learning Mandarin Chinese. It is not as hard as most say, and you can be fluent in the language with some effort. Check out [LingoDeer's Mandarin Chinese course](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/cn/en/learn-chinese-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to start your learning journey. See you there! --- *Dr. Nigel Ong has a Ph.D in linguistics, and is a language teacher. He speaks five languages, and is currently learning German. He blogs about language learning regularly at* [*LanguageLearningDIY.com.*](http://languagelearningdiy.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does pinyin replace Chinese characters? No. Pinyin represents pronunciation and is a useful bridge, while characters remain central to reading. ### Are Chinese verbs conjugated? They do not change by person in the way many European-language verbs do; time and aspect are expressed differently. ### Is word order always like English? No. Some basic patterns are similar, but Chinese has its own topic, aspect and modifier structures. ### What is a practical first step? Learn pinyin and tones alongside useful spoken phrases, then introduce high-frequency characters. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 600+ Essential Vocab to Know for Learning Any Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/high-frequency-vocab-list/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:16:20.000Z According to [FSI](https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), it takes 480 hours to reach basic fluency in an “easy” foreign language. That is 1h a day for almost a year and a half. ## Quick Answer: How should a high-frequency vocabulary list be used? Treat a frequency list as a priority guide, not a complete course. Learn common words in phrases and sentences, attach pronunciation and meaning, and practise retrieving them in relevant situations. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------- | ------------------------------ | | Select | prioritize common useful words | | Context | learn phrases | | Retrieve | review and use | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. But nowadays, we hear more and more often of questions like how can I learn a language fast? How to [expand my vocabulary](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/23/learning/14-ways-to-learn-vocabulary-and-explore-language-with-the-new-york-times.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) fast? While learning any language takes a lot of time and effort, there are some helpful techniques you can use to accelerate your learning. For example: prioritizing high-frequency words. Actually, studies have [shown](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-44569277?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) that **knowing the most frequently used 100 words** in any language can help you understand a considerable part of any text in that language. Of course, with a basic understanding of grammar, sentence structure, etc. ![vocab frequency and language comprehension](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/common-words-1.png) So here we found **600+ high-frequency words** that are commonly used in most languages across the world. No matter which language you are learning, you can use this list as a reference for expanding your vocabulary or creating your vocab learning plans. How to use this list? Simply memorize these basic words and combine them with [grammar learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/) and reading. You’ll understand a lot more in your target language right from the start and speed up your learning process! You can also create a frequency-based vocab list of your own by choosing a piece of text in your target language and put it in a tool like [this](https://jl.riv21.com/wflg/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## 600+ High-Frequency Vocabulary List ### Basics | Pronouns (conjugation) | I, you (formal & informal), he, she, it, we, you (plural), they everything, nothing, something everyone, someone… | | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Articles | a, an, the | | Question words | what, how, where from, where to, why, who, which, when… | | Social | hello, hi, how are you, please, sorry, goodbye, good morning, good afternoon, good evening… | | Linking words | and, but, so, because, for example, that, which, also, further, then, similarly, although… | | Prepositions | on, in, out, below, under, above, through, from, of… | | Frequency | always, sometimes, often, rarely, never… | | Numbers | 0 to 100, hundred, thousand, million, billion, 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th… | | Misc | yes, no, not, can, can’t, am, is, are, other, again, same, every, … | ### Verbs be, want, like, hate, have, use, help, work, play, take, feel, allow, forbid, walk, enjoy, run, drive, fly, swim, go, stop, follow, think, read, speak/say, eat, drink, die, smile, laugh, cry, buy, pay, sell, learn, jump. smell, hear, listen, taste, touch, see, watch, kiss, burn, melt, dig, explode, sit, stand, love, pass by, cut, fight, lie down, dance, sleep, wake up, sing, count, marry, pray, win, lose, wash, cook, open, close, write, call, turn, build, teach, grow, draw, feed, catch, throw, clean, find, fall, push, pull, carry, break, wear, hang, shake, sign, beat, lift, smoke ### Adjectives long, short (long), tall, short (vs tall), wide, narrow, big/large, small/little, slow, fast, hot, cold, warm, cool, new, old (new), young, old (young), beautiful, ugly, interesting, boring, healthy, unhealthy, dangerous, safe, delicious, comfortable, weak, dead, alive, heavy, light (heavy), dark, light (dark), famous, happy, sad, calm, nervous, angry, excited, bored… ### Nouns | Animal | dog, cat, fish, bird, cow, pig, mouse, horse, animal | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Transportation | train, plane, car, truck, bicycle, bus, boat, ship, tire, gasoline, engine, (train) ticket, transportation | | Location | here, there, left, right, center, north, south, east, west, city, house, apartment, street/road, airport, train station, bridge, hotel, restaurant, farm, court, school, office, room, town, university, club, bar, park, camp, store/shop, theater, library, hospital, church, market, country names (USA, France, etc.), building, ground, space (outer space), bank, location | | Clothing | hat, dress, suit, skirt, shirt, T-shirt, pants, shoes, pocket, coat, stain, clothing | | Color | red, green, blue (light/dark), yellow, brown, pink, orange, black, white, gray, color | | People | son, daughter, mother, father, parent, baby, man, woman, brother, sister, family, grandfather, grandmother, husband, wife, king, queen, president, neighbor, boy, girl, child, adult, human, friend (Add a friend's name), victim, player, fan, crowd. person | | Jobs | teacher, student, lawyer, doctor, patient, waiter, secretary, priest, police, army, soldier, artist, author, manager, reporter, actor, job | | Society | medicine, money, marriage, wedding, team, race, technology, energy, war, peace, election, magazine, newspaper, poison, gun, sport, race, exercise, ball, game, price, contract, drug, sign, science, God | | Art | band, song, instrument, music, movie, art | | Food | breakfast, lunch, dinner, knife, spoon, fork, plate, cup, sugar, salt, bottle, food, egg, cheese, bread, soup, cake, chicken, pork, beef, apple, banana, orange, lemon, corn, rice, oil, seed, | | Beverages | coffee, tea, wine, beer, juice, water, milk | | Home | table, chair, bed, dream, window, door, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, pencil, pen, photograph, soap, book, page, key, paint, letter, note, wall, paper, floor, ceiling, roof, pool, lock, telephone, garden, yard, needle, bag, box, gift, card, ring, tool | | Electronics | clock, lamp, fan, cell phone, network, computer, program (computer), laptop, screen, camera, television, radio | | Body | head, neck, face, beard, hair, eye, mouth, lip, nose, tooth, ear, tear, tongue, back, toe, finger, foot, hand, leg, arm, shoulder, heart, blood, brain, knee, sweat, disease, bone, voice, skin, body | | Nature | sea, ocean, river, mountain, rain, snow, tree, sun, moon, world, Earth, forest, sky, plant, wind, soil/earth, flower, valley, root, lake, star, grass, leaf, air, sand, beach, wave, fire, ice, island, hill, heat, nature | | Weather | temperature, sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy, storm, wind, fog… | | Materials | glass, metal, plastic, wood, stone, diamond, clay, dust, gold, copper, silver, material | | Math/Measurements | meter, centimeter, kilogram, inch, foot, pound, half, circle, square, temperature, date, weight, edge, corner | | Misc Nouns | map, dot, consonant, vowel, light, sound, yes, no, piece, pain, injury, hole, image, pattern, noun, verb, adjective | | Directions | top, bottom, side, front, back, outside, inside, up, down, left, right, straight, north, south, east, west, direction | | Time | January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, year, month, week, day, hour, minute, second, morning, afternoon, evening, night, time, Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall, season | I hope you find this list helpful! Remember that memorizing vocabulary **does not** equal learning a language, nor should it be your ultimate goal. [Try](https://splasho.com/upgoer5/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) only using high-frequency words in your native language and you’ll see how uncomfortable it is when explaining any complicated concepts. To truly learn a foreign language, consider using learning tools like [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to aid you throughout the journey with comprehensive courses, not just vocabulary. Give it a try for FREE today! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Rejection in Korean: A Surprisingly Powerful Way URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/rejection-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:24:47.000Z ## Rejecting invitations and requests ## Quick Answer: Rejection in Korean: A Surprisingly Powerful Way Korean rejection is often softened through explanation, hesitation, alternatives or indirect wording. The appropriate form depends on relationship, setting and speech level; a direct “no” is not always the most natural choice. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ---------------------------------- | | Section 1 | Rejecting invitations and requests | | Section 2 | A dichotomy | | Section 3 | Why it works | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. One thing I’ve come to love about Korean culture is being able to decline invitations and requests with a straightforward sentence, **“Sorry. I have an appointment” (미안해요. 약속이 있어요)**. Roughly, this is the English equivalent of, “I have plans”. But it’s much more powerful. This is the get-out-of-anything card you can play in almost any situation (except for work-related requests). The reason this is effective is that, unlike in the west, you are not implicitly pressured to elaborate on said: “appointment”. You don’t have to explain the nature of your appointment, the reason, the time, who’s involved, or the location. It’s beautiful in its simplicity and effectiveness. There doesn’t even have to be a real appointment. The appointment could be with your couch and a Netflix show. Koreans will not ask for details. ![watch netflix](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/freestocks-11sgh7u6tmi-unsplash.jpg) Photo from Unsplash ## A dichotomy The fact that Koreans will wholeheartedly respect this comment without further inquiry is actually quite baffling. Because, like many aspects of Korean culture, there is a dichotomy at play. Commonly, and especially during introductions, Koreans will bluntly ask about your age, relationship status, details about your career, what kind of car you drive, which university you attended, which area you live in, your favorites and least favorites, family information, and anything else they deem important in assessing who you are. They don’t hesitate to tell you that you seemed to have gained or lost weight, you look tired or sick, or comment on your fashion choices. Although Koreans consider themselves to be very indirect, in their own way they can be very blunt. So it’s rather surprising that they don’t investigate further when you decline a request with, **“I can’t. I have an appointment.” (못해요. 약속 있어요.)** ## Why it works I have to be honest, I used to think this was just nonsense: a vague excuse to decline an invitation or get out of an obligation. Maybe it is. But the fact that it is so commonly used and accepted makes the possibility of it being nonsense irrelevant. Nobody really seems to care. It makes potentially awkward interactions simple and clear. Instead of trying to come up with some elaborate half-truth to let the other person down easy, you just present them with a simple statement that gets the point across and nobody has to feel bad about it. Maybe there is an appointment, and maybe there isn’t. Regardless, the other person either doesn’t want to commit to whatever you’ve invited them to do, or they really don’t have the time. Nobody gets their feelings hurt, the communication was clear, details are not divulged, and nobody has to create or listen to a fabrication. So the next time someone asks or invites you to do something you’d rather not do, just reply with “**Sorry. I have an appointment.**” **(미안해요. 약속이 있어요)** See if it works! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Should You Learn Multiple Languages at Once URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-multiple-languages-at-once/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:51.000Z Have you ever thought about learning more than one language? There are so many languages in the world, around 7,000 in fact! But is it a good idea to learn multiple languages at the same time? Will it be too confusing and make it harder to learn them well? ## Quick Answer: Can you learn multiple languages at once? Yes, but progress depends on available time, clear priorities and sustainable goals. Studying more languages divides practice time and can increase interference, so learners should separate routines and give one language priority when necessary. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------------- | | Possible | the brain can learn multiple languages | | Trade-off | time per language decreases | | Strategy | separate contexts and set priorities | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. The good news is, your brain is capable of learning two or more languages at once! This article will share some tips on learning different languages at the same time. So get ready to let’s go! Should we learn multiple languages at once? The short answer is: It depends on what stage of language learning you are in. If you're just starting out and focusing on the basics like learning the alphabet and basic grammar, it might not be the best idea to mix up different languages. However, if you're looking to take your language skills to the next level, it's definitely possible to learn a new language while maintaining or improving another language. How come we can learn different languages at once? Keep reading to find out. ## How the brain process multiple languages First, let’s look at what happens in our brain when we learn or use more than 1 language. When it comes to multilingualism, the brain is actually good at switching between languages. It does this by activating different neural networks for each language. For example, when you speak in one language, the brain inhibits the other language systems to prevent interference. However, when we translate concepts from one language to another, the brain does not simply switch off one language and switch on the other. Rather, it activates both languages simultaneously and compares the concepts between the two. This process is known as [code-switching](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code-switching?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and is common in multilingual individuals. When it comes to acquiring a new language, our brain has a remarkable ability to adapt and reorganize itself. In fact, [studies](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121008082953.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) have shown that learning a new language can increase the size of certain brain regions. This is because the brain needs to create new neural connections to accommodate the new language. So, can we learn multiple languages? Absolutely! In the next part, we’ll talk about what affects the possibility of learning multiple languages at once. ## Is it possible to learn many languages simultaneously? Multilingualism and becoming a polyglot is definitely not a myth. Actually, in many parts of the wold, especially at the crossroads of cultures, people grew up speaking different languages. There are also many [polyglots](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/09/03/the-mystery-of-people-who-speak-dozens-of-languages?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) online actively sharing their experience of learning different languages in their adulthood. So it’s definitely possible to learn different languages together. However, the exact number of languages that one can learn would depend on a variety of factors such as: - **Motivation**: Your motivation and interest can play a big role in determining how many languages they can learn. So try to identify a clear goal for each language before you start. - **Time and resources**: Learning any language requires a significant investment of time and resources. Try to devote as much time and effor as you can. Find high quality tools and resources to help you along the way. - **Prior language experience**: If you’ve learned a foreign language before, it can be easier for you to learn another, especially if they are similar. Overall, while there is no set limit on how many languages you can learn at once, it is important to keep in mind that learning a language requires a significant amount of time, effort, and dedication. ## Benefits of learning multiple languages together Learning multiple languages together can **make full use of the similarities between different languages**. For example, if you're learning Spanish and Italian at the same time, you'll notice that there are many similarities between the two languages. This can make it easier to learn both languages, as you'll be able to apply what you've learned in one language to the other. Learning multiple languages together can also reduce your total learning time. It's a great choice if you wish to learn multiple languages faster. Rather than learning one language at a time and starting from scratch each time, you can build on your existing knowledge and skills as you learn multiple languages. Researches also show that learning multiple languages simultaneously is [great for your brain,](https://n.neurology.org/content/75/19/1726?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) including improved memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. If you find yourself losing motivation in one language, you may also want to try learning another one. For most people, learning multiple languages together is less boring than focusing on just one language. It can be a fun challenge to switch between different languages and keep your brain engaged in different ways. ## What to be aware of when learning multiple languages While there are certainly benefits to learning multiple languages together, there are also some potential pitfalls to be aware of. One common issue that can arise is **mixing up languages**. Mixing up languages can be a bad habit, as it can lead to confusion and errors in your language use. For example, if you're speaking in Spanish but accidentally use a French word, it could cause a breakdown in communication. So how can you avoid mixing up languages when learning multiple languages at once? One helpful tip is to **focus on the differences between the languages, rather than just the similarities**. By being mindful of the unique features of each language, you can train your brain to switch between them more effectively. Another helpful strategy is to create clear mental boundaries between the different languages. You might try using different environments or settings for each language, or [setting specific times of day](https://www.fluentin3months.com/one-year/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for each language practice. It's also important to be patient with yourself and to give yourself time to truly master each language before moving on to the next. It's generally recommended to **reach an intermediate level (B1) in one language before beginning to learn another**. By being mindful of these potential issues and taking steps to address them, you can learn multiple languages together without falling into the trap of mixing them up. So go ahead and explore the world of multilingualism - just be sure to approach it with a careful and strategic mindset! So there you have it. Keep in mind these potential issues,so you can successfully learn multiple languages without mixing them up. In the next part, we'll show you some actionable tips on how to effectively set a learning plan for multiple languages. Get ready to take your language learning journey to the next level! ## Tips to learn multiple languages at once ### Set realistic goals Language learning takes a lot of time and effort. If you decide to learn 2 or more together, the journey can be even more challenging. It's important to set realistic goals for yourself from the start. **You can't become proficient in a week or a month.** Setting your hopes too high can only discourage you along the way. So be honest about how much time and effort you can realistically put into each language, and don't be too hard on yourself if progress is slow. Celebrate small victories to find ways to [keep yourself motivated](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/). ### Choose similar languages If you haven't decided which languages to learn together, it's always a good idea to focus on similar languages. For example, if you're already [learning Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-spanish/), it might be easier to pick up Portuguese, rather than Japanese. When learning two similar languages together, don't worry about issues like mixing up vocabularies or false friends, the benefits of similar sentence patterns and grammar rules far outway the problems. ### Use one foreign language to learn another If you've already reached intermediate level (A2 / B1) in one language, don't be afraid to use one foreign language to learn another. For example, using your existing knowledge in Spanish to learn French. In the language learning community, this is often referred to as “laddering”, a very commonly used method for those whose native language is not English. By using English to learn another language, they have access to more materials. Similarly, if you wish to learn Japanese and already know Chinese, try to learn Japanese in Chinese rather than English so you can maintain your Chinese while learning Japanese. ### Double your learning time Finally, the most straightforward and effective way to learn multiple languages together is to simply double your learning time. Study one language in the morning and another in the afternoon, or switch back and forth between the two throughout the week. By immersing yourself in both languages as much as possible, you'll accelerate your learning and build your skills more quickly. With these tips in mind, you can set priorities, stay motivated, and make progress in learning multiple languages simultaneously. Good luck, and have fun! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Will the languages always become confused? Some interference is normal, especially between similar languages, but cues and separate routines can reduce it. ### Should beginners start two languages together? They can, but a foundation in one language often makes planning easier. ### Are similar languages better to pair? Shared features can help, while similar vocabulary and grammar can also increase interference. ### How should time be divided? Allocate time according to priority and track each language with separate goals. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Ace the TOPIK Test: Essential Guide for Self-Learners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/topik/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:23:34.000Z Are you curious about your Korean language level? As a Korean learner, you may have asked yourself: "how good am I at Korean now?" Luckily, taking the TOPIK test can provide you with an objective result that is also valuable for applying to schools and jobs in South Korea. If you have been [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) for a while, you may even want to consider signing up for the test to stay motivated. ## Quick Answer: Ace the TOPIK Test: Essential Guide for Self-Learners TOPIK preparation should match the target level and current official format. Build Korean vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening, then add timed practice and error review. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ----------------------------------- | | Section 1 | What is TOPIK? | | Section 2 | What does TOPIK consist of? | | Section 3 | How Long does it Take to Pass TOPIK | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. But what exactly is the TOPIK test, and what do you need to know before taking it? In this article, we'll provide you with all the essential information you need to prepare for the TOPIK test. So, buckle up and let's get started! ## What is TOPIK? TOPIK stands for Test of Proficiency in Korean, which is a standardized test for assessing the proficiency of non-native speakers in [the Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-language/). It is the official language proficiency test for Korean language in South Korea, and it is also recognized by many universities and employers worldwide. TOPIK is administered by the [National Institute for International Education](http://www.niied.go.kr/eng/main.do?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (NIIED), which is part of the Ministry of Education of South Korea. The test is usually conducted **twice a year** in April and October. in various test centers around the world. ## What does TOPIK consist of? The test consists of two sections: the first section evaluates input skills (listening and reading), while the second section assesses output skills (writing and speaking). TOPIK includes TOPIK-I (beginner level 1 and 2) and TOPIK-II (intermediate level 3 to 6). The passing marks for each level of TOPIK are as follows: Beginner Level TOPIK-I - TOPIK Level 1: a score of 80 out of 200 points or higher is required to pass. Able to use basic survival commands in Korean. Able to understand and express simple everyday sentences. Master approximately 800 [basic vocabulary](https://blog.lingodeer.com/topik-1-vocabulary/). - TOPIK Level 2: a score of 140 out of 200 points or higher is required to pass. Able to discuss familiar topics and distinguish between different [speech levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). Master approximately 1,500∼2,000 words. Intermediate Level TOPIK-II - TOPIK Level 3: a score of 120 out of 300 points or higher is required to pass. Able to maintain social relations in Korean and understand correct word usage. - TOPIK Level 4: a score of 150 out of 300 points or higher is required to pass. Understand news, social issues, and other abstract topics with accuracy in Korean. Familiar with Korean culture and [idioms](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-idioms/). - TOPIK Level 5: a score of 190 out of 300 points or higher is required to pass. High fluency in professional research or work. Able to understand and discuss difficult and unfamiliar topics. - TOPIK Level 6: a score of 230 out of 300 points or higher is required to pass. Absolute fluency in professional research and work. ## How Long does it Take to Pass TOPIK How long do you need to learn Korean in order to pass TOPIK? It depends. For beginners, it can take several months to a year to reach the level required to pass TOPIK-I, while intermediate and advanced learners may need 2-3 years of study or even more to pass TOPIK-II. However, this timeline is not set in stone, and the actual time it takes to pass the TOPIK can vary greatly based on your personal study habits, language learning experience, dedication, etc. Consistent and focused practice, immersion in the language, and using effective study materials can all help you speed up the learning process and improve your chances of passing the TOPIK in a shorter amount of time. ## Who Should Take the TOPIK Test? The TOPIK test is designed for non-native speakers of the Korean language who want to evaluate and demonstrate their proficiency in Korean. There is **no age limit or educational requirement** to take the test, and you can **take it as many times as you want**. If you fall into one of the groups below, you might want to consider taking the TOPIK test : 1. Students who want to study in South Korea: Many universities in South Korea require international students to submit their TOPIK scores as part of the admissions process. Typically if you wish to apply to a Korean university, passing TOPIK 3 or 4 is a requirement. 2. Professionals who [work in South Korea](https://blog.lingodeer.com/work-in-south-korea/): Many employers in South Korea require foreign workers to have a certain level of Korean language proficiency, usually TOPIK 4, 5 or higher. 3. People who want to immigrate to South Korea: The TOPIK test results can be used as proof of Korean language proficiency when applying for a visa or permanent residency in South Korea. 4. Korean language learners who want to assess their proficiency: TOPIK can provide you with a clear indication of your language proficiency level and help you identify weak spots. ## Steps for Taking the TOPIK Test Now I know I need to take the TOPIK test. What should I do? If you are interested in taking or preparing for the TOPIK test, here are some steps you can follow: 1. Check the test dates and registration deadlines: The TOPIK test is conducted twice a year, usually in April and October. You can check [the official website of the National Institute for International Education](http://www.niied.go.kr/eng/main.do?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (NIIED) for the exact dates and registration deadlines. 2. Register for the test: Register for the TOPIK test online through the official website of NIIED or through a designated overseas registration agency. 3. Pay the test fee: Pay a registration fee to take the TOPIK test. The fee may vary depending on the country and the test level you choose. In the US, the fee ranges from 20 to 30 USD. 4. Prepare for the test: You can prepare for the TOPIK test by using textbooks, study guides, and online resources. You can also take practice tests to familiarize yourself with the test format and content. 5. Take the test and check your results. Overall, taking the TOPIK test requires careful planning and preparation. In the next part, we'll show you some useful resources for preparing for the TOPIK test. ## Resources for Preparing for the TOPIK Test [Official TOPIK Website](http://www.topik.go.kr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): This is the official website of the test and has information on test dates, test locations, how to apply, and more. It also provides sample test papers and previous year’s test papers for practice. ![Official TOPIK website logo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/topik-jpeg.jpg) TOPIK Guide: This [website](https://www.topikguide.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) provides a more detailed introduction to the TOPIK as well as more useful tips and info on taking the test. LingoDeer: Among the many language-learning apps, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is the go-to choice for Korean. The app offers structured lessons covering all aspects of the Korean language, including grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. This makes it an excellent resource for Korean beginners, taking you through a gradual learning process that solid up your skills over time. Online Practice Tests: There are several [online practice tests](https://www.topikguide.com/complete-topik-practice-test-online/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) available that help you get an idea of the types of questions asked in the test. Doing mock tests can help you better understand the test structure and get a feel of the actual test. Tutors: If you prefer one-on-one attention, private tutors are a great option. They can help you tailor your learning experience to your specific needs and help you prepare for the test in a personalized way. Remember, learning a language is a continuous process, and it takes time and practice to improve. So, if you're preparing for the TOPIK test, keep up the good work and stay motivated. And if you're looking for a comprehensive language learning app to help you along the way, be sure to check out [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). With its specialized courses, structured lessons, and extensive practice exercises, LingoDeer can be an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn Korean or prepare for the TOPIK test. Good luck with your language learning journey! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### What Does "Vosotros" Mean in Spanish and Should You Use it URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/vosotros/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:17:45.000Z Vosotros means "y'all" or "you guys" in English. It's the informal form of saying *you (plural)* in Spain Spanish. ## Quick Answer: What does vosotros mean? Vosotros is the informal plural “you” used mainly in Spain. In most of Latin America, ustedes serves as the normal plural form in both formal and informal contexts. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | vosotros | informal plural in Spain | | ustedes | formal in Spain; general plural in much of Latin America | | Agreement | verb form must match | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In English, there is only one way of saying *you*. In Spanish, there are several options for saying *you* depending on **the number of people you are talking to** and **the situation**. - If you are talking to one person you know well, use ***tú***. If you don't know them well, use ***usted***. - If you are talking to more than one person you know well, use ***ustedes***. If you don't know them well, use ***vosotros*** or ***vosotras***. - In Latin America, replace *vosotros* and *vosotras* with ***ustedes***. ![vosotros](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/vosotros.png) That's the TL;DR version for *vosotros*. If you are interested in digging a little deeper, keep reading for more about **what is *vosotros***, **when to use it,** and **how to conjugate verbs** when using *vosotros*. In Latin America, people hardly ever use *vosotros*. But if you plan to visit Spain and want to sound like a local, it's essential to get the hang of it. **Using *vosotros* instead of *ustedes* is one of the little things that sets European Spanish apart from Latin American Spanish**. ## Pronouns Before we delve into the meaning of *vosotros* in English, let's take a moment to review what are pronouns and how they function in English and Spanish. This will help us lay a strong foundation for understanding *vosotros* in Spanish. Pronouns are words that are used to replace or refer to nouns in a sentence. They function as substitutes for nouns to avoid repetition, make sentences more concise, and to maintain clarity in communication. Pronouns can be divided into different categories such as personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, reflexive pronouns, and more. ### Personal Pronouns in English | | Singular | Plural | | ------------- | ------------- | ------ | | First person | I | we | | Second person | you | you | | Third person | he / she / it | they | ### Personal pronouns in Spanish | | Singular | Plural | | ------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------- | | First person | yo | nosotros & nosotras | | Second person | tú /usted | vosotros & vosotras / ustedes (formal) | | Third person | él & ella | ellos & ellas | As you can see from the tables above, unlike several European languages including Spanish, English does not differentiate between the second-person singular and plural pronouns. This is because of some gradual changes in the history of English. However, we can still see some informal distinctions of in English dialects around the world like *y'all* in American English and *you guys* in British English. Spanish uses a special pronoun ustedes to show politeness and formality, like when talking to someone older than you or to someone in power. So in Spanish, use *tú* (informal "you") to talk to your close friends, but to talk to your boss, use *usted* (formal "you"). ## What is Vosotros Now you probably understand what does *vosotros* mean in Spanish. *Vosotros* is simply the informal second-person plural pronoun used to address a group of people you are familiar with or have a close relationship with. It is the equivalent of "you all" or "y'all" in English. If you’re referring to only female plural subjects, use *vosotras* instead. If we dig a little deeper, you'll see *vosotros* actually combines *vos (y'all)* and *otros (others)*. Can you see the link between different European languages – *vocês* in Portuguese, *vous* in French, *voi* in Italian, *вы* in Russian? This way, it's easier to remember the meaning of *vosotros*, right? ## When to Use Vosotros – Vosotros vs Ustedes Now you may ask, *vosotros* sounds like such an important pronoun, but how come I didn't learn it in my Spanish textbook? Well, the answer is pretty simple. **In Latin American Spanish, people don't use *vosotros*. *Vosotros* is only used in** [**Castilian Spanish**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castilian%5FSpanish?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **in Spain.** In Latin America, if you want to refer to a group of people, you always use the *ustedes* form. This is true whether you are talking to your best friends or your boss. So if you are learning Latin American Spanish, go ahead with *ustedes* and don't confuse it with *vosotros*. However, if you plan to visit Spain or communicate with Spaniards, knowing how to use *vosotros* can help you sound more like a local and blend in. Simply speaking, in Spain, **people use *vosotros* instead of *ustedes* in informal settings**. Ustedes, on the other hand, is only reserved for formal situations like when addressing leaders, superiors, professors, etc. Just remember, *vosotros* is like **y'all**, and you should only use it under these three conditions: 1\. You're in Spain, 2\. in informal situations, and 3\. addressing more than 1 person. ## Vosotros Conjugation *Vosotros* requires different verb conjugations based on the verb's ending (–ar, -er, -ir)*.* The basic verb endings for *vosotros* are **\-áis/éis/ís*.* The table below shows how verbs conjugate according to different tenses. We have another article about [Spanish verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/39d061f6-5eda-4c87-a85d-e03e39f2d9c6/) in general if interested. | **Infinitive** | **Present Simple** | **Preterite** | **Imperfect** | **Future** | **Conditional** | | -------------- | ------------------ | ------------- | ------------- | ---------- | --------------- | | **–*ar*** | *\-áis* | *\-asteis* | *\-abais* | *\-aréis* | *\-aríais* | | –***er*** | –*éis* | *\-isteis* | *\-íais* | *\-eréis* | *\-eríais* | | –***ir*** | *\-ís* | *\-isteis* | *\-íais* | *\-iréis* | *\-iríais* | Some example sentences using *vosotros* conjugation*:* - Podéis elegir cualquier cosa del menú. (You all can choose anything from the menu.) - Sois mis amigos. (You all are my friends.) - ¿Qué queréis hacer? (What do you all want to do?) What about irregular verbs? Here is how to conjugate irregular verbs in vosotros form. | Verb | *Vosotros Form (Present Simple)* | | ------ | -------------------------------- | | ser | sois | | estar | estái | | hacer | hacéis | | tener | tenéis | | querer | queréis | | poner | ponéis | Ready to practice vosotros and more Spanish words? Try [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app for bite-sized Spanish lessons to learn on the go! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Korean Keyboard | A Step-by-Step Guide to Type in Hangul URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-keyboard/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:16:58.000Z If you are learning Korean, we highly recommend starting to type in Korean as soon as possible! Not only is typing more practical than handwriting (sometimes), but it also grants you access to the vast world of [the Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-language/) online. Once you've mastered typing in Korean with a Korean keyboard, you can chat in Korean on your phone, look up words in online dictionaries, or even use native Korean apps as you like. ## Quick Answer: How do you type Korean on a keyboard? Add a Korean input method, learn the two-set layout, and type consonants and vowels in spoken order. The input system automatically combines compatible letters into Hangul syllable blocks. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----------- | ------------------------------ | | Setup | enable Korean input | | Layout | learn consonant/vowel keys | | Composition | type letters in syllable order | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. So why wait? If you are really committed to [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), let's take some time to get acquainted with the Korean keyboard. You don't need to buy a Korean keyboard or even stickers. Simply follow our step-by-step guide below to start typing in Korean today! ## Step 1: Add a Korean Keyboard Before you can start typing in Korean, you need to add a new Korean keyboard by changing your keyboard settings. Don't worry, this will only add a new Korean typing method to your existing keyboard, and won't change anything with your original typing method. To add a Korean keyboard, follow the steps below. Windows: 1. Go to the Control Panel 2. Select "Clock, Language, and Region" 3. Click on "Change keyboards or other input methods" 4. Select "Add a language" 5. Choose Korean and click "OK" Mac: 1. Go to "System Preferences," 2. Select "Keyboard," 3. Click on "Input Sources." 4. Click on the plus (+) icon and choose Korean 5. Change to the Korean keyboard when needed Android: 1. Go to Settings > System > Languages & input 2. Under "Keyboards" tap “Virtual keyboard” 3. Tap Gboard > Languages 4. Choose Korean 5. Turn on the layout you want to use 6. Tap Done iPhone: 1. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard 2. Tap "Add New Keyboard" 3. Choose Korean from the list 4. Tap and hold on the globe key when you need to switch to the Korean keyboard ## Step 2: Korean Keyboard Layout Once you have changed your keyboard settings, you will need to familiarize yourself with the Korean keyboard layout. The Korean keyboard is based on the QWERTY layout, but with additional keys for Korean characters. The layout may look confusing at first, but with practice, you will become familiar with it. ![Korean keyboard layout](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/kb_south_korea.png) If you find the layout difficult to remember, you can always use keyboard stickers or enable the keyboard viewer. ![how to enable the Korean keyboard viewer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2023-03-17-at-16-42-51.png) ## Step 3: Korean Alphabet Before we dive into typing in Korean, it's important to note that Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is essential to know before you start typing in Korean. Hangul is a phonetic writing system that uses a combination of consonants and vowels to create syllables. There are 14 consonants and 10 vowels in the Korean language, and each one has its own key on the keyboard. If you haven't learned Hangul yet, don't worry - it's designed to be easy to learn, so it shouldn't take you long to get the hang of it. However, we do recommend that you learn Hangul before you start typing in Korean. To get started, you can check out our previous article on the [Korean alphabet Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hangul/) or use our language app, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), to master Hangul for free today. ## Step 4: Start Typing Now that we’ve got the basics covered, it’s time to start typing! To type in Korean, you need to **use a combination of consonants and vowels** just like the way you write Korean characters. For example, to type the syllable "가," you would first type the consonant "ㄱ" and then the vowel "ㅏ". ![typing in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/03/ld-image-743364c9b34e5dce.gif) Example of how to type in Korean When typing Korean, you can switch between English and Korean by pressing the "ALT" key. To switch back to English, press the "ALT" key again. Here are several websites to practice typing with a Korean keyboard: - [https://www.branah.com/korean](https://www.branah.com/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - [http://www.sciweavers.org/i2type/korean-keyboard](http://www.sciweavers.org/i2type/korean-keyboard?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - [https://gate2home.com/Korean-Keyboard](https://gate2home.com/Korean-Keyboard?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Now that you know the basics of the Korean keyboard layout, let's talk about some tips for learning how to type in Korean. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 1. Start with the basics. Before you start trying to type full sentences in Korean, it's a good idea to start with the individual characters. Take some time to practice typing each character and getting comfortable with the keyboard layout. 2. Practice, practice, practice. The more you type in Korean, the more comfortable you'll become with the keyboard. Try typing out simple phrases and sentences, and gradually work your way up to more complex sentences. 3. Use a typing program. There are a number of typing programs available that are specifically designed for Korean learners. These programs can be a great way to practice your typing skills and improve your accuracy and speed. 4. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Learning to type in Korean is a process, and it's natural to make mistakes along the way. Don't get discouraged if you make mistakes – just keep practicing and you'll get better over time. Typing with a Korean keyboard may seem intimidating at first, but with a little practice, you will find it easy and efficient. By following the steps in this article, you can start typing in Korean in no time! With practice, you will become more proficient at typing in Korean and be able to communicate more effectively in this beautiful language. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### German Numbers Made Simple: Count from 0 to 100 in German with Ease URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-numbers/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:06:21.000Z Download [DE-NUMBER100.wav](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/de-number100-1.wav?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: How are German numbers formed? German numbers 0–12 have forms to learn individually. From 13–19, many combine a unit with zehn. From 21–99, the unit normally comes before und and the tens, as in einundzwanzig. Numbers are written as compounds in standard German. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------- | ------------------------- | | 13–19 | unit + zehn | | 21–99 | unit + und + tens | | Example | 24 = vierundzwanzig | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Are you looking to [learn German](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-german/) or improve your German skills? Mastering German numbers is a great place to begin, or brush up! Numbers are a fundamental component of any language, but they can be a bit of a hurdle until you conquer them. The good news is that **German numbers are very predictable and quite similar to English**, making them relatively easy to grasp. So why not master them today? In this blog post, we'll guide you through **how to count in German from 0 to 100 and beyond**, so you'll be counting in German like a pro in no time. Let's dive in! ![German numbers](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/german-numbers.png) ## German Numbers 1 to 10 - One - eins - Two - zwei - Three - drei - Four - vier - Five - fünf - Six - sechs - Seven - sieben - Eight - acht - Nine - neun - Ten - zehn - Eleven - elf - Twelve - zwölf 👉Listen to how to pronounce German numbers 0 to 12 Your browser does not support the audio element. As you can see, the first two numbers in German have different spellings and pronunciations than their English equivalents. It's important to note that in German, the number "one" has three different forms, depending on the gender of the noun it modifies: "eins" for masculine nouns, "eine" for feminine nouns, and "ein" for neuter nouns. ## German Numbers 11 to 20 - Thirteen - dreizehn - Fourteen - vierzehn - Fifteen - fünfzehn - Sixteen - sechszehn - Seventeen - siebzehn - Eighteen - achtzehn - Nineteen - neunzehn - Twenty - zwanzig 👉Listen to how to pronounce German numbers 13 to 20 Your browser does not support the audio element. ## German Numbers 21 to 99 Let's start with the number 20 in German, which is "zwanzig." From 21 to 99, German numbers are very predictable by combining the tens digit with the ones digit, separated by "und" (and). But notice the order is different from English. In German numbers, the ones digit goes before the tens digit. Here are the German numbers from 21 to 29: - twenty-one - einundzwanzig (21) - twenty-two - zweiundzwanzig (22) - twenty-three - dreiundzwanzig (23) - twenty-four - vierundzwanzig (24) - twenty-five - fünfundzwanzig (25) - twenty-six - sechsundzwanzig (26) - twenty-seven - siebenundzwanzig (27) - twenty-eight - achtundzwanzig (28) - twenty-nine - neunundzwanzig (29) Notice that the numbers 21 to 29 follow the same pattern of combining "ein" (one) with "und" (and) and the corresponding tens digit. For example, "einundzwanzig" is formed by combining "ein" (one) with "zwanzig" (20). Now, let's move on to the tens. In German, the word for "ten" is "zehn." Here are the German numbers for the tens place from 30 to 90: - dreißig (30) - vierzig (40) - fünfzig (50) - sechzig (60) - siebzig (70) - achtzig (80) - neunzig (90) 👉Listen to how to pronounce German numbers 20 to 90 Your browser does not support the audio element. For larger numbers in German, here is how to say one hundred to one trillion in German. - 100 - einhundert - 1,000 - eintausend - 1,000,000 - eine Million - 1,000,000,000 (billion) - eine Milliarde - 1,000,000,000,000 (trillion) - eine Billion 👉Listen to how to pronounce large German numbers Your browser does not support the audio element. Note that large German numbers are usually pretty long in written form as they are joined together without spaces. For example, 4723 is viertausend siebenhundert dreiundzwanzig . ## German Ordinal Numbers Now we have learned German [cardinal numbers (Kardinalzahl)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal%5Fnumber?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) that show quantity (one, two, three), let's move on to learn ordinal numbers that show order (first, second, third). Ordinal numbers (Ordinalzahl) are used to describe the position of something in a sequence. In German, ordinal numbers are formed by adding -te to the end of cardinal numbers. The following table lists the German ordinal numbers from one to ten: German Ordinal Numbers - 1st (1.) erst - 2nd (2.) zweite - 3rd (3.) dritte - 4th (4.) vierte - 5th (5.) fünfte - 6th (6.) sechste - 7th (7.) siebte - 8th (8.) achte - 9th (9.) neunte - 10th (10.) zehnte Pretty easy, isn't it? Simply follow the pattern of adding the suffix -te to the end of cardinal numbers, then you get the ordinal numbers in Germanю Keep in mind that cardinal numbers in German should be treated as **adjectives**, which means they should be **conjugated** based on the **gender and number** of the noun. For example: das erste Auto ("the first car") die ersten Menschen ("the first humans") To write ordinal numbers in German, you can simply abbreviate the ordinal numbers with a full stop. For example, 7\. means seventh. ## Fractions and Decimals in German Fractions in German are quite like English. To form fractions (Brüche) in German, you use the numerator (Zähler) and the denominator (Nenner), separated by a horizontal line. The numerator simply use the cardinal numbers, while the denominator changes accordingly. - 1/2 is "ein Halb" or "Halb" - 1/3 is "ein Drittel" To form denominators for **4 and above**, add **"-el",** **"-tel", or "stel"**. - 1/4 is "ein viertel" or "viertel" - 3/8 is "drei achtel" - 1/20 is "zwanzigstel" Decimal numbers in German are similar to those in English. The decimal point is represented by a **comma (",")** instead of a period. The number to the left of the comma is the **whole number**, and the number to the right of the comma is **decimal**. For example: - 0.5 is written as "0,5", pronounced as "null Komma fünf" - 3.75 is written as "3,75", pronounced as "drei Komma sieben fünf" - 2.436 is written as "2,436", pronounced as "zwei Komma vier drei sechs" Decimals are often used in pricing, for example: - Wie viel kostet es? (How much does it cost?) - 29,50€ (29.50 euros) ## Using German Numbers in Context Great! Now you've learned almost everything about German numbers. Let's see how to put them into use. ### How to tell time in German German uses a 24-hour clock, which means that instead of saying "2 pm," you should say "14 Uhr" (14:00) in German. Here are some examples of how to express time in German: - Wie viel Uhr ist es? (What time is it?) - Es ist zwanzig Uhr. (It's 20:00) In German, we use **"vor"** and **"nach"** to express "before" and "after". For example: - Wie spät ist es? (What time is it?) - Viertel vor zwölf (Quarter to 12) ### How to express dates in German When expressing dates in German, use the format **"day.month.year."** For example: - January 3rd, 2023 - "03.01.2023" - "der dritte Januar 2023" - June 15th, 2023 - "15.06.2023" - "der fünfzehnte Juni 2023" - Heute ist der achte Juni – Today is June 8th. - Ich bin am neunzehnten Dezember geboren – I was born on December 19. Congratulations, you've done it! From *eins* to *einhundert*, now you know how to count in German and use German numbers in real life! Need a bit more practice? Try our language app [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to bring your German skills to the next level today! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why does German say the unit first? That is the standard formation for most two-digit numbers from 21 to 99. ### Is eins always used inside compounds? Before und in numbers such as 21, ein is used: einundzwanzig. ### How are ordinal numbers formed? Common forms use -te for lower numbers and -ste for many numbers from 20 upward, with irregular forms to learn. ### How should numbers be practised? Say prices, times, dates and random two-digit numbers aloud while checking word order. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 5 Essential Tips to Learn Spanish for Beginners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/tips-to-learn-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:06:13.000Z Learning a new language can be a challenging yet rewarding experience, and if you're looking to improve your language abilities, then Spanish is an excellent choice. Spanish is the second [most spoken language in the world](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/) and is the official language in over 20 countries. Whether you want to travel to Spanish-speaking countries, communicate with Spanish-speaking friends or family members, or increase your job opportunities, Spanish is a valuable skill to have. ## Quick Answer: How should a beginner start learning Spanish? Set a concrete goal, build a repeatable schedule and combine high-frequency vocabulary with basic grammar, listening and speaking. Regular contact with understandable Spanish and active recall is more useful than collecting many disconnected resources. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ---------- | --------------------------------------- | | Plan | define a practical outcome | | Core study | vocabulary plus grammar in sentences | | Use | listen, speak, read and write regularly | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. If you wish to learn Spanish but don't know where to start, read on as we have found **five essential tips** to help you start learning Spanish right away. After reading this, I'm sure you can start your Spanish learning journey with confidence. ![learn Spanish: 5 tips for beginners](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/espanol.png) ## Tip 1: Create a Study Plan If you want to learn Spanish, creating a study plan is essential. A study plan will keep you organized, and motivated, helping you make consistent progress towards your language learning goals. First, before creating a study plan, we need to know **what a good language learning plan looks like**. A good study plan **provides structure** to your learning process, and it allows you to **track your progress** and identify areas that need improvement. Without it, you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what steps to take next. To create an effective study plan, consider your Spanish learning **goals, learning style, and available resources**. If the goal is too big, break it down into manageable tasks and schedule regular study sessions. You can also use [language learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/tips-to-learn-spanish/) like LingoDeer to help you. In your study plan it's better to include a main learning resource. There are many resources available for learning Spanish. Choose one or two that suit your learning style and level of proficiency. Do not use too many materials if you just get started. **Stick to one comprehensive learning resource** that includes vocabulary, grammar, audio, exercises etc., and is also engaging and fun. This can be a textbook or a fun app like LingoDeer. ## Tip 2: Practice Regularly For beginners and intermediate-level Spanish learners, one of the most important things you can do to improve your Spanish is to practice regularly. Like any skill, language learning requires **consistent effort and dedication**. It's not enough to study once a week or even once a day – you need to make Spanish **a regular part of your routine**. There are many ways you can practice your Spanish skills on a regular basis. One great option is to use tools that have built-in reward systems to help you keep motivated in language learning. For example, many **language apps like Duolingo and** [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) use their technology to help you easily keep a regular learning routine. If you wish to push yourself a bit further, **find a language exchange partner or tutor**. This will give you an opportunity to practice speaking and listening Spanish with a native speaker. You can also get immediate feedback on your pronunciation and grammar. This is essential for beginners to pick up new vocabulary and grammar rules, and improve their skills. In addition to these more structured forms of practice, there are other small ways you can [incorporate Spanish into your daily life](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xUljzNq81I&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). For example, you could try setting your phone or computer language settings to Spanish, or labeling items around your home in Spanish. These small changes can help you stay engaged with the language and reinforce what you're learning.. Ultimately, the key to practicing Spanish regularly is to **find a routine that works for you**. Make a commitment to learn Spanish every day, even if it's just for a few minutes at a time. Over time, you'll start to see significant improvements. ## Tip 3: Focus on Vocabulary To truly master Spanish, it's crucial to focus on building your vocabulary from the very first step. Vocabulary is the foundation of any language, and Spanish is no exception. If you don't know where to start, check out the [Spanish vocabulary you already know](https://blog.lingodeer.com/10-commonly-used-english-words-from-spanish/) or start from [the most common ones](https://blog.lingodeer.com/common-spanish-words/)! One effective way to expand your Spanish vocabulary is to **read extensively**. Reading Spanish texts, such as books, newspapers, and online articles, can expose you to new words and phrases in context. Try to read at a level that is slightly challenging but not overwhelming, and use a dictionary or online translator to look up unfamiliar words. Another way to improve your Spanish vocabulary is to **use flashcards**. Write the Spanish word on one side of the card and the English translation on the other side. Shuffle the deck and test yourself regularly to reinforce your learning. Use online flashcards like Anki for more flashcard functions and learn on the go. Finally, consider using apps and online resources to supplement your vocabulary learning. [Duolingo](http://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), LingoDeer, and Quizlet are all popular options that offer interactive and engaging ways to learn new words and phrases. ## Tip 4: Study Grammar Rules While building your Spanish vocabulary is important, it's equally important to study grammar rules. Grammar may be a bit difficult and boring at first, but learning the structure and framework of a language can significantly speed up your learning. One effective way to study grammar rules is to **take formal classes or work with a tutor**. This can be especially helpful if you're a beginner and need to learn the basics. A teacher can guide you through the nuances of Spanish grammar, explain complex concepts, and answer any questions you have. If you are learning Spanish by yourself, make use of online resources and textbooks. Many websites and apps offer comprehensive grammar guides and exercises that can help you improve your grammar skills. For example, LingoDeer is a language learning app designed for self-study, as it provides a structured approach to learning grammar and includes practice exercises. In addition to formal study, it's important to practice **using Spanish grammar in context**. This can involve talking with native speakers or keeping a journal in Spanish. Look for opportunities to use the grammar rules you've learned, and **don't be afraid to make mistakes**. Making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process, and by practicing regularly, you'll become more comfortable with using Spanish grammar. ## Tip 5: Immerse Yourself in the Language and Culture Immersing yourself in the Spanish language and culture is one of the most effective ways to learn the language. This means surrounding yourself with Spanish speakers, listening to Spanish music and podcasts, watching Spanish [movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/foreign-movies/) and TV shows, and even traveling to Spanish-speaking countries. While it may seem intimidating at first, immersing yourself in the language and culture can **accelerate your learning** and help you become fluent faster. You'll not only be exposed to authentic Spanish but also gain a better understanding of the **cultural nuances** that shape the language. Remember, learning a new language takes time and effort, but with dedication and the right methods, you can achieve your language learning goals. Incorporate these Spanish learning tips into your daily study routine, and don't be afraid to make changes. Practice consistently, and before you know it, you'll be soon be speaking Spanish with confidence and ease! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What vocabulary should come first? Prioritize words and phrases needed for common personal situations. ### How much grammar is necessary? Learn enough to build and understand useful sentences, then expand through use. ### Is immersion possible outside a Spanish-speaking country? Yes, through media, conversations, reading and device or routine changes. ### How can consistency be maintained? Use small scheduled tasks and track completed practice rather than relying on motivation alone. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Ace JLPT (the Japanese Language Proficiency Test) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:23:10.000Z The JLPT season is coming! If you plan to enter a Japanese university or work for a Japanese company, you might consider taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Even though there are other alternatives, the JLPT continues to be the most widely accepted method of assessing Japanese language proficiency—to a certain extent. ## Quick Answer: How to Ace JLPT (the Japanese Language Proficiency Test) The JLPT measures Japanese ability across five levels. Effective preparation combines vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening practice with timed familiarity with the test format; current dates and rules should always be checked on the official JLPT site. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | What Is the JLPT Test? | | Section 2 | What Is the Purpose of Taking the JLPT Test? | | Section 3 | Where and When to Take the Test? | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. As a result, plenty of resources are explicitly dedicated to preparing Japanese learners for this evaluation. From courses and books to websites and apps, when it comes to JLPT, the options are endless. So, whether you are interested in working or studying in Japan or measuring your Japanese language skills if you’re looking for in-depth information about this test, you’ve come to the right place. We'll cover the JLPT, its structure, and how to prepare for the exam. Additionally, we will share valuable resources that may be helpful for your preparation. それでは始めましょう！ ## What Is the JLPT Test? The **日本語能力試験** (nihongo nōryoku shiken), or as we know it in English, JLPT, is a standardized test designed to evaluate and certify Japanese language proficiency. This evaluation was created in 1984 by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES). According to the official website of the JLPT, in 2018, more than a million students worldwide took this test. Making it the most thorough Japanese language test in the world. ### What Is the Purpose of Taking the JLPT Test? - Demonstrate proficiency in the Japanese language - To have access to study programs taught only in Japanese - Meet one of the requirements of some Japanese companies - Garner points towards the immigration process of highly skilled professionals - Among others… As mentioned above, this test is intended to assess the Japanese language proficiency of non-native speakers. In recent years, this test has become increasingly important because some companies and universities make it one of the requirements for hiring or admitting international students or candidates. Many students take the JLPT even if they do not intend to work or study in Japan. Because it allows them to evaluate their Japanese language progress and test their knowledge. However, most agree that this is not the optimal tool for measuring language proficiency since it does not assess all communication skills. ### Where and When to Take the Test? The JLPT takes place **twice a year (July and December)** around the world, except for some countries where it is held only once a year. To enroll, you must register at your country's Japanese language institution that organizes and conducts the JLPT. If you do not know the institution where you can take the test, you can look at this list from [the official JLPT website](https://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/overseas%5Flist.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). The institution coordinating the exam in your country will be able to provide you with information about registration deadlines and dates. Usually, registrations for the July call begin in March, and those for the December call start in September. But it’s always good to confirm, just in case. In order to register for the exam, you must pay a fee. So how much does it cost to take the JLPT test? It varies depending on the country where you take it. In the United States, the price is around 6,500 JPY (Japanese yen), approximately 60 US dollars. In Europe, the cost is usually a little higher. ## How Is JLPT Structured? The JLPT has five levels. N5 is the beginning level, and N1 is the most advanced. You can take the level you prefer, and it is not a requirement to take an exam at a lower level first before attempting a higher one. Now let's take a quick look at these levels and their complexity. ### Different Levels of the JLPT **N5 (Beginning level)**: This level covers basic vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension exercises, and simple conversations. **N4 (Basic level)**: The N4 is a bit more challenging than the N5\. It covers more vocabulary, grammar, and more advanced readings but still within elementary Japanese parameters. In addition, it includes listening comprehension exercises in slow Japanese, but with a greater level of difficulty. **N3 (Intermediate)**: This level focuses mainly on formal conversations but also emphasizes everyday formal and informal situations. The conversations in the listening section are more natural and continuous. **N2 (Intermediate-advanced)**: This level is much more advanced. Readings are way more complex, and listening comprehension includes conversations in both formal and informal registers at a natural pace. **N1 (Advanced)**: The highest level of the JLPT and the most challenging. It assesses advanced knowledge of Japanese in various circumstances and settings. Now the question is, which JLPT level is fluent? According to [Japan Times](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/11/24/issues/is-the-jlpt-really-worth-it/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), N1 is the fluent level. N2 is the business level, which is also the minimum requirement for working in Japan. N3 is the conversation level that will be quite enough for living in Japan. If you'd like to get an idea of some of the content you might encounter at each level, check out this comprehensive guide on [how to learn Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/). It walks you through the beginner stages to more advanced topics. You can also take a look at the JLPT official site or [the breakdown of each JLPT level](https://www.jlpt.jp/e/guideline/testsections.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## How to Prepare for the JLPT? Now that you know all the details about the JLPT, it's time to look at some of the things you need to prepare for the test. As we saw above, the exam is made up of different sections, so you must spend enough time **preparing for each of them individually**. Creating a study plan will help you stay consistent and organized when approaching every topic. You should note that since some sections are related, preparing for one will benefit you in another. For example, building vocabulary will help you better understand the reading exercises. In the same way, vocabulary will come hand in hand with learning kanji, understanding the listening exercises, and so on. Before you begin your study plan, it is essential that you define your strengths and weaknesses. By doing so, you can spend more time strengthening the areas that you find most difficult. Now, let's see how to prepare for each JLPT section. ### Build vocabulary Knowing the vocabulary required for the level of the JLPT you are taking is critical to tackling different sections of the exam. If you don't know the meaning of the word in front of you, it may be difficult to understand the rest of the text. So don't take this part of the exam for granted; devote enough time to it. Luckily nowadays, we have a wide range of resources to help us through this process. Many study guides are dedicated to helping you learn vocabulary for the JLPT. You can also find a large number of free resources online. For example, here, you can find the [essential vocabulary for the JLPT N5](https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt-n5-vocabulary/) and also [relevant vocabulary for JLPT N4](https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt-n4-vocabulary/). Another helpful tool is a flashcard app, like Anki or Quizlet, where you can record the words you learn and review them at any time. ### Learn and practice kanji This is one of the most challenging aspects for Japanese language learners. For most of us, kanji represents a huge headache. However, if you want to pass the test and solidify your Japanese language understanding, you have to put fear aside and go for it. If you don't know where to start, check out our [50 most-used kanji in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/). Numerous guidebooks are designed to help you learn all the kanji relevant to the different levels of the JLPT. You can also find websites and apps that use mnemonics to help you memorize kanji by associating the symbols with another word or idea. Although you won't have to write the kanji on the test, it is highly recommended that you practice writing them. Writing has been shown to help us retain information better. ### Tackle grammar efficiently When it comes to [Japanese grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/), the approach should be different from learning vocabulary or kanji. In grammar, you need to understand how the language works rather than memorizing its rules. You should use resources with explanations and enough exercises that allow you to practice repeatedly to master those grammar points. It is important to emphasize that grammar is cumulative; each level of the JLPT covers the grammar points from previous levels and the newly introduced patterns from that level. Therefore, if you are planning to take an exam from N4 upwards, do not make the mistake of not studying/reviewing the grammar points of the previous levels. Otherwise, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise. ### Read with a purpose This section encompasses everything you have learned in the previous sections. During the reading comprehension segment, you'll be tested on your knowledge of kanji, vocabulary, and grammar. But that's not all. You will have to show your ability to understand the nuances of what is written in the passage. Here, the answers are more complex, so you'll have to think more before selecting your answer. For these reasons, you must spend a significant amount of time doing reading comprehension exercises. There are many online resources available to you, including models of past JLPT exams. Ensure you are familiar with the types of activities you will encounter on the exam. As a result, you will know exactly what to expect so that you can approach this session efficiently and avoid unnecessary mistakes. ### Listen carefully This session is more straightforward but not as simple as some might imagine. Some students make the mistake of neglecting this section of the exam, trusting that watching anime and doramas is enough, but that’s not the case. Depending on the JLPT level you sit for, the listening skills that will be measured will be different. For example, the N4 level measures your ability to understand basic Japanese, while the N2 level tests your ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations and various contexts. Most JLPT textbook series are accompanied by audio to supplement the listening comprehension section. Try to do as many exercises as possible, focusing on learning how to find specific information within the announcement or conversation. Before listening to the audio, we recommend you check the questions and possible answers to know what to look for. Here is an example of a [JLPT N4 LISTENING Sample Exam with Answers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shMezSrVfig&ref=blog.lingodeer.com); you can use it as a reference and look for even more exercises for other levels as well. ## JLPT Textbooks and Resources Now comes the most useful part: JLPT resources! If you are preparing or planning to sit for the JLPT test, don't miss our recommendations for the best textbooks and resources! ### Websites and Apps [**JLPT Study Page** ](https://www.jlptstudy.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This website was created by Peter van der Woude with the purpose of sharing **all topics related to the JLPT**. He compiled lists of all the content of JLPT tests from 1992 to 2004\. Here you will find vocabulary, grammar, kanji, and expressions relevant to all levels of the JLPT. Although the exam structure has been revised and modified since 2010, this website is still an excellent reference for studying for the exam. [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) LingoDeer is an app designed for users to **learn Japanese and other languages through gamification**. The language lessons are organized and structured logically, allowing you to progress gradually. With LingoDeer's lessons, you get to work on each language skill necessary for the JLPT (N5 to N3), making it an ideal tool for those who need comprehensive guidelines. [**JLPT 先生**](https://jlptsensei.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) JLPT Sensei is **a language learning blog** and online resource designed for people interested in learning Japanese and taking the JLPT. The site is organized into sections classified according to the different levels of the JLPT. Here you can find all kinds of resources focused on the content of the JLPT test. So whether you need vocabulary, grammar lists, or ebooks, this blog has everything a Japanese learner might need. [**JLPT Encyclopedia**](https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/jlpt-encyclopedia/id1358544125?l=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The JLPT Encyclopedia is an app structured to study all the levels from N5 to N1\. The app offers grammar, reading, vocabulary, and kanji lessons for various levels, along with exercises to learn vocabulary and the writing and pronunciation of kanji. This app is a good choice if you already have some basic knowledge of Japanese. ### Textbooks **日本語総まとめ | Nihongo So- Matome** ![JLPT textbooks: Nihongo So- Matome](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/03/ld-image-e1aac38a4195a791.png) The Nihongo So-Matome books are a series of manuals specifically designed to help students pass the JLPT. Each book in the series focuses on a different level and area of the exam, from N5 to N1, covering vocabulary, grammar, kanji, reading, and listening comprehension. Throughout the textbook, learners will find many exercises to help them master key grammar points and vocabulary. **新完全マスター | Shin Kanzen Master** ![JLPT books: Shin Kanzen Master](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2023/03/ld-image-0c5b26a4f7a43986.jpeg) The Shin Kanzen Master series is another set of books designed to prepare Japaene learners for the JLPT. The series tackles all the language skills necessary for passing the test. Also, it provides clear explanations and plenty of exercises. This is another worthwhile option for Japanese learners looking for a tool to improve their language skills. **TRY！ 日本語能力試験 | TRY! The Japanese Language Proficiency Test** ![JLPT Textbook: TRY! The Japanese Language Proficiency Test](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2023-03-02-at-17-58-15-1.png) The TRY! series gives Japanese learners a more communicative approach to grammar. These textbooks focus on learning how Japanese grammar is used in real-life communication, practicing the basics, and applying grammar points to daily activities. These manuals also cover the different levels of the JLPT, so many students prefer them over other Japanese grammar books. It is recommended to **start preparing for the JLPT test at least six months in advance**. This will give you enough time to review the material and practice with test mockups. It is also crucial to work in all areas, without neglecting any of them, in order to ensure a positive result. ## Final thoughts Taking the JLPT represents a big challenge for many Japanese language learners. It requires effort, dedication, and consistency to prepare for this test. There is nothing wrong with feeling frustrated, tired, or discouraged from time to time. However, trying to enjoy every stage of our progress is also important. Whether it is taking the JLPT, participating in a Japanese speech contest, or starting to structure our first sentences, we must never forget that every step counts. At the end of the day, the goal is the same: achieving fluency. 読んでくれてありがとうございます! 頑張ってください! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Hangul 101: A Super Easy Guide to the Korean Alphabet URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/hangul/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:42.000Z Download [kr-m-zy-h.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/kr-m-zy-h-4.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: What is Hangul? Hangul is the Korean alphabet. Its consonant and vowel letters are arranged into syllable blocks rather than written as a simple horizontal sequence. Learning the basic letters, sound combinations and stroke order gives beginners direct access to Korean words and pronunciation. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------- | ------------------------------------ | | Letters | consonants and vowels | | Layout | letters grouped into syllable blocks | | Practice | read, write, listen and combine | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Have you ever heard of Hangul? It's the Korean writing system, also known as the Korean alphabet. If you're interested in learning Korean, understanding Hangul is absolutely essential. Hangul was specifically designed to be **easy to learn**. So even if you're a complete beginner, you can start learning Hangul right away. In fact, learning Hangul is often the first step in [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), and it can make a huge difference in your Korean learning journey. By the end of this article, you'll understand **what Hangul is, why it's important for learning Korean, and how you can start mastering it today**. So let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of Hangul together! ## History of Hangul Hangul was created by King Sejong the Great of Joseon in 1443\. It was designed to be simple and easy to learn so that anyone who knows Hangul could look at a Korean word and pronounce it correctly. After years of studying [Hanja, or Chinese characters](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/), King Sejong believed that they were too difficult for ordinary people to learn. So he wanted to create an alphabet that would be easier and more useful. Unlike the [Japanese writing system](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/), the Korean alphabet Hangul was also created with its own unique sounds, separate from Chinese characters. This made it possible for Koreans to write down their own language without having to borrow words from another culture or language. Today, Hangulis used in all aspects of modern Korean culture, from literature, music, and art to daily communication. Many of Korea's most celebrated works of literature and poetry are written in Hangul. Korean popular music, or K-pop, also uses Hangul in song titles, lyrics, and artist names. Hangul is also a key part of Korean cuisine, as menus and food packaging are labeled with Hangul. Let's continue exploring the world of Hangul. In the next part, we will introduce you to the basic concepts of Hangul, and you'll be on your way to learning this beautiful writing system! ## Basic Concepts of Hangul Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of the Korean alphabet Hangul. Hangul is made up of 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels. Each Korean character is made up of a consonant and a corresponding vowel. Sometimes, the vowels can also be written alone to form syllable blocks, the familiar cute square shapes. - 10 vowel letters (ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ) - 14 consonant letters (ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ) In the following part, I’ll show you how to write and pronounce Hangul. It’s quite easy because Hangul is a phonetic writing system, which means **the way a word is spelled reflects how it's pronounced.** If you know the Hangul alphabet, you can read any Korean word, even if you don't know what it means! ### Korean vowels So first, let's take a look at the Hangul [vowels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-vowels/). ![Hangul – Korean Vowels Chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/vowels.png) How to pronounce 10 basic Korean vowels: ㅏ (a) sounds like "ah" ㅑ (ya) sounds like "yah" ㅓ (eo) sounds like "uh" ㅕ (yeo) sounds like "yuh" ㅗ (o) sounds like the "o" in "boat" ㅛ (yo) sounds like "yo" ㅜ (oo) sounds like the "u" in "sushi" ㅠ (yoo) sounds like "you" ㅡ (eu) sounds like the "oo" in "boot" ㅣ (i) sounds like the "ee" in "cheese" | **11 Complex Vowels** **(made up of two basic vowels)** | | | ------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | | ㅐ ae | ㅔ e | | ㅒ yae | ㅖ ye | | ㅘ wa | ㅚ oe | | ㅙ wae | ㅝ wo | | ㅟ wi | ㅞ we | | ㅢ ui | | ### Korean consonants ![Hangul – Korean Consonants Chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/09/ld-image-d52268a19960d569.png) How to pronounce Korean consonants: ㄱ (g/k) sounds like the "g" in "go" or the "k" in "kite" ㄴ (n) sounds like the "n" in "nice" ㄷ (d/t) sounds like the "d" in "dad" or the "t" in "top" ㄹ (l/r) sounds like a mix between the "l" and "r" sounds in English ㅁ (m) sounds like the "m" in "mom" ㅂ (b/p) sounds like the "b" in "baby" or the "p" in "pie" ㅅ (s) sounds like the "s" in "sun" ㅇ (ng) sounds like the "ng" in "song" or the "g" in "sing" (depending on where it's used) ㅈ (j/ch) sounds like the "j" in "jazz" or the "ch" in "cherry" ㅈ j/ch ㅊ (ch) sounds like the "ch" in "cheese" ㅋ (k) sounds like the "k" in "kangaroo" ㅌ (t) sounds like the "t" in "time" ㅍ (p) sounds like the "p" in "panda" ㅎ (h) sounds like the "h" in "happy" Please keep in mind that this pronunciation guide **does not** show exactly how Koreans speak their language. There could be some subtle variations that can only be discerned by listening to native speakers or using a language learning tool that includes audio recordings by native speakers, such as [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Hangul Stroke Order It's best to learn the right stroke order of Hangul from the beginning. So when learning how to write Hangul, stroke order is a very important part. This chart shows the correct stroke order of Hangul. Just remember a simple rule, start from the top left corner. ![hangul stroke order](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2023-03-01-at-16-48-24.png) That's it for the basics of Hangul! Trust me, with a little bit of practice, you'll be reading and writing Korean in no time! ## How to Read and Write Korean Now you’ve known the basics of Korean alphabet Hangul, how to move forward to read and write in Korean? Don’t worry, here is a step-by-step guide you can follow to advance from 1. Start by learning to read and write the basic consonants and vowels. Pay attention to the strokes. Learn how to pronounce each syllable and what their strokes are like. You can check out the 14 consonants and 10 vowels in the previous section. 2. Practice writing these syllable blocks repeatedly until you have memorized the shapes and can write them with ease. 3. Gradually move on to more complex combinations of syllables, and practice writing simple words and sentences. Combine consonants and vowels to form syllable blocks. NowEach syllable block consists of a consonant, followed by a vowel or a combination of a consonant and a vowel. ![Hangul: how to form Korean characters with hangul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hangul-type.png) Six types of consonants and vowels in Hangul. Remember, to achieve fluency in Korean, you also need to practice besides learning. The more you practice your Korean skills, the easier it will be for you to speak with ease. Let’s start your first Hangul practice with [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a well-rounded language learning program that teaches you how to speak, write, and read in Korean in no time. With short, bite-sized lessons, you can practice your Korean skills on the go. Start learning Korean the easier way today! ## Common Uses of Hangul If you are still curious about the common uses of Hangul in modern Korean, the answer should be straightforward by now: Hangul is used in pretty much the same way as the 26 English letters. As mentioned before, Hangul is the Korean alphabet and forms the fundamental building blocks of any Korean character. In modern-day Korea, Hangul is used on a daily basis. From official documents to street signs, from advertising to pop culture, you can see Hangul everywhere. It is also used in media such as newspapers, magazines, and books. Sometimes [Hangul is also used in artistic creation](https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=164010&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Unlike the Japanese writing system, Hangul reduced the use of Hanja and thus played a significant role in promoting literacy in Korea. Overall, Hangul is an essential part of [the Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-language/) and culture, and its simplicity and accessibility have made it a crucial factor in promoting literacy and facilitating communication in Korea. Whether you are interested in Korean literature, media, or pop culture, learning Hangul is an excellent way to start your Korean learning journey or deepen your understanding and appreciation of Korean culture. ## Tips for Learning Hangul - Start with the Basics Before delving into the intricacies of Hangul, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the basic characters and their sounds. Begin by learning the vowels and consonants, and their corresponding sounds. - Practice Writing and Reading Practice writing Hangul characters to familiarize yourself with the stroke order and structure. Start by writing simple words and phrases, then progress to more complex sentences. Reading Hangul text aloud can help you to master pronunciation and develop your listening skills. - Utilize Online Resources There are many online resources available to help you learn Hangul. Websites such as Talk To Me In Korean and How to Study Korean offer comprehensive lessons on Hangul, along with grammar and vocabulary lessons. Apps like [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), Duolingo, and Memrise offer interactive Hangul lessons and exercises that can help you improve your proficiency. - Practice, Practice, Practice The key to mastering Hangul is to practice consistently. Set aside a regular time each day to practice writing, reading, and speaking Hangul. Joining a language exchange program or finding a language partner can provide you with opportunities to practice speaking and listening skills with native speakers. --- So, that's it for our introduction to Hangul! Learning the Korean alphabet may seem daunting at first, but it's a crucial step to mastering the Korean language. With some basic knowledge, practice, and the right resources, you'll get there in no time! If you're looking for a fun and effective way to learn Hangul and Korean, download [the LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) today and start your language learning journey! With structured lessons and game-like activities, you'll be on your way to Korean fluency in no time. Happy learning! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Hangul the Korean language? No. Hangul is the writing system used to represent Korean. ### How are Hangul letters written? Letters combine into square-looking syllable blocks, each representing a spoken syllable. ### Should learners rely on romanization? It can assist briefly, but direct Hangul reading provides a more reliable foundation. ### What comes after the basic alphabet? Practise final consonants, sound changes, common words and short sentences with audio. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Dive Deep into the Korean Language: From Origins to Learning Strategies URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-language/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:18.000Z There are always reasons that drive us to learn a new language. The Korean language is a fascinating aspect of Korean culture, with a rich history and unique linguistic features. This article will delve into the history of the Korean language, as well as its writing system, phonology, vocabulary, grammar, and more. ## Quick Answer: What are the main features of the Korean language? Korean is written primarily in Hangul and typically places the predicate near the end of a neutral sentence. Particles mark grammatical roles, verb endings express tense and speech level, and honorific choices reflect the relationship and situation. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | -------------------------------------- | | Writing | Hangul syllable blocks | | Grammar | particles and predicate-final patterns | | Social meaning | speech levels and honorifics | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## History of the Korean Language The Korean language has a long and rich history, with linguistic evidence suggesting that the Korean language has been spoken in the Korean Peninsula for thousands of years. The earliest written records of the Korean language date back to the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE to 668 CE), and the language has undergone significant changes and evolution over the centuries. One of the most important events in the history of the Korean language was the creation of the Korean alphabet, Hangul, in the 15th century. Prior to the creation of Hangul, the Korean language was written using a mixture of Chinese characters and indigenous writing systems. However, these writing systems were difficult for the common people to learn and use, so King Sejong the Great commissioned the creation of a new, simpler writing system. The result of this effort was Hangul, which was specifically designed to be easy to learn and use. Hangul quickly became the standard writing system for the Korean language, and it remains the official writing system of North and South Korea to this day. ## Quick Facts About the Korean Language ### How many people speak Korean? Korean is the official language of North Korea and South Korea and is also spoken by a significant Korean diaspora population around the world. However, it is not a widely spoken language globally and is primarily used in Korea and among Korean communities. According to estimates, there are approximately **77 million people** who speak Korean as their first language. The majority of these speakers are located in South Korea, with a smaller number of speakers in North Korea and among the Korean diaspora population in other countries such as China, the United States, and Japan. However, there is growing interest in the Korean language and culture, particularly in the wake of the global popularity of Korean popular culture, such as K-pop music and [Korean dramas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/), which is leading to an increase in the number of people studying the language. ### Korean dialects The Korean language has a number of dialects, called 사투리 (saturi) in Korean. Although the standard dialect of the language is based on the Seoul dialect, which is used in the capital city of South Korea. The standard dialect is used in formal speech and writing, as well as in mass media and education. In addition to the standard dialect, there are a number of regional dialects that are spoken in different parts of Korea. Some of the most significant regional dialects include: 1. 경상(Gyeongsang) dialect: This dialect is spoken in the southeast region of South Korea, including the cities of Busan and Daegu. 2. 전라(Jeolla) dialect: This dialect is spoken in the southwest region of South Korea, including the cities of Gwangju and Jeonju. 3. 춘청(Chungcheong) dialect: This dialect is spoken in the central region of South Korea, including the cities of Daejeon and Sejong. 4. 호남(Honam) dialect: This dialect is spoken in the Jeolla region of South Korea, including the city of Mokpo. Each of these regional dialects has its own unique characteristics, including differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. However, the regional dialects are generally mutually intelligible, and speakers of one dialect can understand speakers of another dialect with relative ease. ### Differences between North and South Korean Language While North and South Korean share a common linguistic heritage, the two countries have developed distinct dialects of the Korean language since their division in 1945\. The main differences between North and South Korean can be found in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. 1. **Pronunciation:** North Korean pronunciation has been influenced by Russian, while South Korean pronunciation has been influenced by English. As a result, there are some differences in pronunciation between the two dialects, although these are generally minor and do not significantly impact mutual understanding. 2. **Vocabulary:** There have been some differences in the development of vocabulary between North and South Korea, particularly in areas such as politics, technology, and the military. For example, some political terms and military equipment have different names in North and South Korea. 3. **Grammar:** There are also some differences in grammar between North and South Korean, although these are generally minor and do not significantly impact mutual understanding. For example, the use of certain particles and verb conjugations may differ between the two dialects. ### Is Korean similar to Chinese or Japanese? Korean is similar to Chinese and Japanese in some ways, but it is also distinct in many important aspects. In terms of vocabulary, Korean has been heavily influenced by Chinese, with many Chinese loanwords being adopted into the Korean language over the centuries. In addition, Korean grammar has been influenced by Japanese, particularly in terms of the use of particles and the subject-object-verb sentence structure. However, despite these similarities, Korean is a unique and distinct language, with its own pronunciation, writing system ([Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hangul/)), and grammar. It is not directly related to Chinese or Japanese, and is considered to be a separate branch of the larger Altaic language family, which includes Turkish and Mongolian. So while there may be some similarities between [Korean, Chinese, and Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-japanese-korean/), it is important to recognize that they are also distinct and separate languages, each with its own rich history and cultural heritage. ### The Korean Writing System: Hangul [Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) is a unique and efficient writing system used to write the Korean language. It was created in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great as a way to make reading and writing accessible to the common people. Hangul is made up of a unique set of characters or syllabic blocks, which can be combined to form syllables and words. The syllabic blocks are composed of simple and geometric shapes, making Hangul easy to learn and write. Each syllabic block consists of one or more vowels and one or more consonants. The Korean language has a total of 14 vowels and 21 consonants, which can be combined in a variety of ways to form different syllables. Hangul has been praised for its scientific design and ease of use, and has been adopted by several other languages, including Jeju, the language spoken on Jeju Island in South Korea. ## Phonology of Korean The phonology of Korean is relatively simple, with only 19 consonants and 8 vowels. Korean is a syllable-timed language, meaning that each syllable is pronounced with roughly equal duration, regardless of its complexity. In terms of stress, Korean is an unstressed language, with no distinction between stressed and unstressed syllables. This can make pronunciation and intonation difficult for speakers of English, who are used to a stressed language with distinct word stress patterns. ### Korean Vowels The Korean language has 14 [vowels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-vowels/), which are divided into two categories: simple vowels and complex vowels. Simple vowels are composed of a single vowel sound, while complex vowels are composed of two or more vowel sounds. The simple vowels in Korean are: ㅏ (a), ㅓ (eo), ㅗ (o), ㅜ (u), and ㅡ (eu), and they can be combined in different ways to form diphthongs such as ㅐ (ae) and ㅔ (e). In Korean writing, vowels are represented by different symbols depending on their position in a syllable. For example, the vowel "ㅏ (a)" is represented by a horizontal line when it appears at the beginning of a syllable, and by a vertical line when it appears at the end of a syllable. ### Korean Consonants The Korean language has a total of 19 consonants, that are classified into three groups: plain, aspirated, and tense. **Plain consonants** are pronounced without any significant force of breath, while **aspirated consonants** are pronounced with a strong puff of air. **Tense consonants** are pronounced with a more forceful articulation of the vocal cords, giving them a somewhat "tensed" or "stressed" sound. [Korean consonants](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-consonants/) are used in combination with vowels to form syllables, which are the basic units of sound in the Korean language. ![Korean Consonants](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/09/ld-image-d52268a19960d569.png) ## Learn Korean ### What are Korean honorifics? The Korean language has a rich system of honorifics, which are used to express respect and deference in communication.[ Korean honorifics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/) can be applied to both nouns and verbs, and are used in a variety of social situations, such as speaking to elders, superiors, or strangers. The most common Honorific suffixes in Korean include: - 씨 (ssi) - used for acquaintances and colleagues - 님 (nim) - used for superiors and elders | **Family Title** | **Honorifics for Family Title** | **Meaning** | | ----------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------- | | 할아버지 halabeoji | 할아버님 halabeonim | Paternal grandfather | | 할머니 halmeoni | 할머님 halmeonim | Paternal grandmother | | 외할아버지 wehalabeoji | 외할아버님 wehalabeonim | Maternal grandfather | | 외할머니 wehalmeoni | 외할머님 wehalmeonim | Maternal grandmother | | 아버지 abeoji | 아버님 abeonim | Father | | 어머니 eomeoni | 어머님 eomeonim | Mother | | 형 hyeong | 형님 hyeongnim | Older brother (of a male) | ### What does Korean sound like? Korean has a distinctive, melodic quality that sets it apart from other languages. For English speakers, it may take some time to get used to the syllable-timed rhythm of Korean and the distinctive sounds of its consonants and vowels, but with practice and exposure, it is possible to become proficient in speaking the language. ### Common Korean Vocabulary Here are some common Korean vocabulary words that you might find useful in everyday conversation. | **English** | **Korean** | **Romanization** | | ----------- | ---------------- | --------------------------------------- | | Hello | 안녕하세요 | annyeong-haseyo | | Goodbye | 안녕히 계세요/ 안녕히 가세요 | annyeong-hi gyeseyo/ annyeong-hi gaseyo | | Yes | 예 | ye | | No | 아니요 | aniyo | | Thank you | 감사합니다 | gamsahamnida | | Excuse me | 실례합니다 | sil-lehamnida | | Sorry | 죄송합니다 | joesonghamnida | | Good | 좋아요 | joh-ayo | | Coffee | 커피 | keopi | These words should give you a good starting point for basic conversation in Korean. Remember to practice speaking and listening as much as possible, and try to immerse yourself in the language as much as you can to improve your skills. Want to learn more? Check out [Most Useful Korean Phrases You Should Know](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-phrases/). ### What is Korean Grammar like Korean grammar is relatively simple and straightforward. The basic sentence structure in Korean is **subject-object-verb**, with adjectives and adverbs being used to describe or modify nouns and verbs. One of the key features of Korean grammar is the use of particles, which are small words added to the end of nouns and verbs to indicate various grammatical relationships, such as tense, mood, and case. Another important aspect of Korean grammar is the use of honorifics, which are used to show respect in communication. Honorifics can be applied to both nouns and verbs, and their use can indicate the speaker's relationship to the person being addressed, as well as the level of formality of the situation. Overall, the grammar of the Korean language is relatively simple, making it an accessible and enjoyable language for beginners to learn. ### Best Resources to learn Korean 1. [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- LingoDeer is a language learning app that offers a comprehensive Korean course for beginners. The app uses a game-like format to teach vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structures, etc., and includes interactive exercises and quizzes. LingoDeer is a great option if you wish to learn Korean from scratch with a little time every day. 2. [Talk To Me In Korean](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- Talk To Me In Korean is a popular online resource for learning Korean. It offers free audio and video lessons, textbooks, workbooks, and more. The lessons are well-structured and cover a wide range of topics, from basic grammar to advanced conversation skills. It's great if you prefer visual lessons online. 3. [Duolingo](https://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- Duolingo is a popular language learning app that offers many languages for free. The app uses a game-like format to help learners practice speaking, listening, and writing skills. Duolingo is a great option for beginners who want to learn Korean in a fun and engaging way. 4. [Papago](https://papago.naver.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- Papago is an online translation tool developed by Naver, a South Korean search engine. The website offers a free translation service for Korean and other languages, and includes features like voice recognition, handwriting recognition, and image translation. Papago is a great add-on to your Korean learning! --- In conclusion, the Korean language is a rich and fascinating language, with a unique history, writing system, vocabulary, and grammar. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, there is always something new and exciting to discover about the Korean language. So why not [start learning Korean](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) today? ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Korean related to Chinese? Korean contains substantial Sino-Korean vocabulary, but it is a distinct language with different grammar. ### Is Korean similar to Japanese? They share some typological features, including predicate-final patterns and particles, but are separate languages. ### What should beginners learn first? Start with Hangul, basic pronunciation, common expressions and a small set of sentence endings. ### Why are honorifics important? They help speakers express politeness and social relationships through vocabulary and endings. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Ser vs Estar: Learn the 2 Spanish "To Be" Words Easily URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/ser-vs-estar/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:46.000Z Ser vs Estar can be a headache for Spanish beginners. If I only had one sentence to teach you everything you need to know about *ser* vs *estar*, I’d say this: ***ser* is used to talk about *what* something is, and *estar* is used to talk about *how* something is.** ## Quick Answer: What is the difference between ser and estar? Both verbs can translate as “to be,” but they frame information differently. Ser commonly identifies or classifies and describes origin, time and defining characteristics; estar commonly expresses location and states or conditions. The intended meaning, not a simple permanent-versus-temporary rule, determines the choice. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | ser | identity, classification, origin, time | | estar | location, state or condition | | Key principle | meaning and construction determine the verb | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In reality, it’s a little more nuanced than this. While they both signify “to be” in Spanish, *ser* and *estar* are each used in different contexts to communicate different feelings and states of being. This can be confusing at first, especially if your native language only uses one verb to signify “being”, like English does. Even seasoned [Spanish learners](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-spanish/) get tripped up by these two little verbs. But don’t worry–the more you learn and practice, the easier it will be for you to choose the correct “to be” verb. Read on for lots of tips and examples that will help you feel more comfortable distinguishing between ser vs estar! ![ser vs estar](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ser-vs--estar-1.png) ## How to conjugate ser vs estar Before you use these verbs, you’ll need to know how to conjugate them. Both verbs are [irregular](https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-irregular-verbs-in-spanish/), so make sure to memorize their conjugations: ### Ser conjugation | Yo **soy** | Nosotros **somos** | | -------------------- | --------------------------- | | Tú **eres** | Vosotros **sois** | | Él/ella/usted **es** | Ellos/ellas/ustedes **son** | ### Estar conjugation | Yo **estoy** | Nosotros **estamos** | | ---------------------- | ----------------------------- | | Tú **estás** | Vosotros **estáis** | | Él/ella/usted **está** | Ellos/ellas/ustedes **están** | ## How to use ser (with examples) Now let’s dive into our first verb: *ser*. As a general rule, we use *ser* to talk about permanent states. There are a handful of situations that always, or almost always, call for the use of *ser*. To remind yourself of these situations, remember the acronym DOCTOR: Description, Occupation, Characteristics, Time, Origin, Relation! - Description - “The churros were crispy and sugary”…when you *describe* something, you’re naming its permanent, unchanging qualities–or, at the very least, qualities that won’t change any time soon. In addition to physical characteristics, things like name, nationality, and religion are considered *descriptions*, which call for the use of *ser*. - “*Ramona es alemán.*” (Ramona is German.). - “*Soy baja y vieja*.” (I am short and old.) - Occupation - To describe the way someone spends their time–either because of a job or a hobby–always use *ser.* Of course, people can change jobs and find new hobbies, but in general, it’s a pretty permanent characteristic. - “*Magdalena es camarera.*” (Magdalena is a waitress.) - “*Sam es videojugador*.” (Sam is a gamer.) - Characteristics - Like I mentioned above, when you’re describing a person’s physical characteristics, you should use *ser*. This also applies when you’re describing characteristics of their personality. - “*No va a cantar frente a una audiencia–es tímida*.” (She’s not going to sing in front of an audience–she’s shy.) - “*Somos súper amables*.” (They are very kind.) - Time - The date, the year, the time on the clock–these pieces of info are simple facts (it’s not *Back to the Future* here!). To talk about them, always use *ser*. - “*Son las tres y media de la tarde*.” (It’s 3:30 in the afternoon.) - “¡*Mañana es mi cumpleaños*!” (Tomorrow is my birthday!) - Origin - When you talk about where someone is from or what something is made of, you’re talking about their *origin*. In these cases, always use *ser.* - “*Estas ostras son de las aguas frías de Rhode Island.”* (These oysters are from the cold waters of Rhode Island.) - “*La mesa es de madera.*” (The table is made of wood.) - Relation - When you want to talk about how people or things are related to each other, use ser. - “*Aunque no se parecen, Luis es primo de Catalina.”* (Although they don’t look alike, Luis is Catalina’s cousin.) - “*Ellos son mejores amigos*.” (They are best friends). There are also lots of impersonal expressions in Spanish that use *ser*. Here are some of the common ones (but this isn’t a full list): - *Es bueno*… (It’s good…) - *Es malo*… (It’s bad…) - *Es necesario*… (It’s necessary…) - *Es importante*… (It’s important…) - *Es probable*… (It’s probable…) - *Es dudoso*… (It’s doubtful…) - *Es recomendable*… (It’s recommended…) - *Es una lástima*… (It’s a pity…) - *No es cierto*… (It's not certain…) Although these expressions are used in written Spanish, you’ll probably encounter them most in spoken Spanish, so keep your ears perked! ## How to use estar (with examples) Now that we’ve mastered some of the most common uses of *ser*, let’s talk about *estar*. While *ser* signifies a permanent condition, *estar* usually indicates a temporary quality. Here’s another useful acronym to help you remember the most common situations where *estar* is used! Think of PLACE: Position, Location, Action, Condition, Emotion. - Position - When you want to talk about the physical position a person or thing is in, use estar. - “*El boli está encima de la mesa.*” (The pen is on top of the table.) - “*Estamos sentados en el teatro*.” (We are seated in the theater). - Location - *Estar* is used to describe the location of people and things. - “*Mi habitación está en el tercer piso.*” (My room is on the third floor.) - “*Están en la playa.*” (They are at the beach.) - Here’s an important exception: when you want to talk about where something takes place, like the location of a party or event, use *ser*, not *estar*. This concept might be a little confusing at first. Try to think about it this way: an event occurs at a determined time and place, so that makes it a fact that must be conveyed using *ser*. - “*La junta es en el café cerca de mi casa*.” (The meeting is in the cafe close to my house). - Action - You always use estar when you’re talking about ongoing action. This one is pretty easy to remember because in Spanish, the progressive tenses are always built using conjugations of estar, NEVER ser. - “*Estoy caminando por la ciudad*.” (I am walking around the city.) - “*Siempre están chismeando.”* (They are always gossiping.) - Condition - Both physical and mental *conditions* are described using estar. You may be wondering how this is different from describing *characteristics*, which, as we saw earlier, calls for the use of *ser*. The answer is that characteristics are things about someone or something that are permanent–or at least will not change for a long time. On the other hand, *conditions* change within hours, days, or weeks. Let’s look at some examples: - “*No puedo ir a la fiesta porque estoy enferma.*” (I can’t go to the party because I’m sick.) More often than not, an illness is something that goes away within days or weeks, so it’s a temporary *condition* that calls for the use of *estar*. - “*Estamos tan cansados porque estábamos viendo una película hasta las 3am anoche.”* (We are so tired because we were watching a movie until 3am last night.) - Emotion - Maybe on a bad day, you wished that you could just feel happy all the time (hey, I’ve been there!). In reality, emotions change often. That’s why you use *estar* to describe them. - “*Clara está feliz porque ha encontrado un trabajo*.” (Clara is happy because she found a job.) Although Clara is happy now, she might be sad or tired tomorrow–so emotions are temporary conditions that you describe using *estar*. *Estar* is also used in many idiomatic phrases. These phrases often don’t make any sense if you translate them word for word, so their meaning must be learned as a unit. Try using a few of these idiomatic *estar* phrases the next time you’re chatting with a friend or tutor in Spanish–they’ll make you sound more native! - *Estar claro* (to be clear) - *Estar en que* (to believe or be sure of) - *Estar listo* (to be ready) - *Estar en condiciones* (to be in good shape) - *Estar en viaje* (to be traveling) - *Estar como el pez en la agua* (to be right at home) ## Ser vs Estar: what's their difference *Ser* and *estar* can also be sneaky shapeshifters–some phrases will change meaning based on which one of them you use! Here are some examples: | *Ser aburrido* (to be boring) | *Estar aburrido* (to be bored) | | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | *Ser verde* (to be green) | *Estar verde* (to be unripe) | | *Ser listo* (to be clever) | *Estar listo* (to be ready) | | *Ser seguro* (to be safe) | *Estar seguro* (to be certain) | | *Ser vivo* (to be sharp) | *Estar vivo* (to be alive) | | *Ser orgulloso* (to be conceited or vain) | *Estar orgulloso* (to be proud) | As you can see, changing the verb in these phrases can change their meaning quite a bit. Keep this in mind so you don’t accidentally call yourself conceited when you mean to say that you’re proud! For two small verbs, *ser* and *estar* are truly mighty. With some studying and practice, you’ll be able to pick the right one without even thinking about it! Wish to practice using ser and estar with a short test? Try [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for free now! --- **Rae Cross** is a writer, bookseller, and paint-by-number aficionado living in Charleston, SC, USA. When she’s not watching Youtube videos in Spanish or creating itineraries for her dream vacations, she’s working on her next piece. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is ser permanent and estar temporary? That shortcut sometimes helps but fails in many common sentences. ### Which verb describes location? Estar normally describes the location of people and things; events use ser. ### Can an adjective work with both? Yes. The verb can change how the adjective is interpreted. ### How should learners practise? Group examples by communicative function and compare minimal pairs in context. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Days of the week in Spanish URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/days-of-the-week-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:06:16.000Z Knowing the days of the week in Spanish is fundamental to talking about the everyday basics. It is also essential if you wish to survive in any Spanish-speaking country, or even more importantly, to survive any Spanish meeting, exam, or speaking class you might have. ## Quick Answer: What are the days of the week in Spanish? The days are lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado and domingo. They are normally lowercase. Use el with a singular day for a specific occurrence and los with a plural day for a repeated weekly event. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | Monday–Friday | lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes | | Weekend | sábado, domingo | | Writing | normally lowercase; miércoles and sábado carry accents | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. If not, how would you ever be able to know when the next “El clásico” (Barcelona vs Madrid) is going to be? The good news is, this article will help you remember days of the week in Spanish in 10 minutes! Without further ado, let’s dive into los días de la semana! ## Days of the Week in Spanish | **Spanish** | **English** | **Pronunciation** | | ----------- | ----------- | ----------------- | | lunes | Monday | loon-es | | martes | Tuesday | mar-tes | | miércoles | Wednesday | mee-air-co-les | | jueves | Thursday | hweh-ves | | viernes | Friday | vee-air-nes | | sábado | Saturday | sah-bah-doh | | domingo | Sunday | do-meen-go | But please note that even though they seem easy to remember on the table, there are some grammatical rules you must be very aware of. Yes, I know, in Spanish it seems that almost everything is governed by complex and unpredictable grammatical laws. But don’t worry, I promise the ones outlined here will be easier than subjuntivo. I am going to explain them to you so easily and clearly that after you finish this article you will be a pro at using the days of the week in Spanish. ## Rules of using days of the week in Spanish 1- Unlike in English, in Spanish, the days of the week ARE NOT capitalized. Eg: Mónica empezó a aprender español el lunes (Monica started to learn Spanish on Monday) 2- If the name of a day of the week ends in –s, its plural and singular form will be the same: Eg: Mónica va a clases de español los lunes / Mónica tuvo un examen de español el lunes (Monica goes to Spanish classes on Mondays / Monica had an exam of Spanish on Monday) However: A todo el mundo le gustan los sábados. No tengo planes para este sábado. (Everybody loves Saturdays. I do not have any plans for this Saturday). 3- In Spanish, unlike in English, the names of the week are generally preceded by their corresponding article (el/los, un/unos). Eg: Me gustan los lunes. Voy a viajar a Barcelona el martes. (I like Mondays. I am going to travel to Barcelona on Tuesday) 4- In Spanish, all the days of the week are MASCULINE nouns, and therefore they should be grammatically treated as such. Eg: Todo empezó un lunes de agosto. Tengo clases el lunes. Ese día es conocido como “el lunes rojo”. (Everything started on a Monday in August. I have classes on Monday. That day is known as “the red Monday”) See? They are really easy to master. As a rule of thumb, just treat them grammatically like you would treat any other nouns in Spanish, since their rules are pretty similar. ## How to remember the days of the week in Spanish? Using the language on a regular basis will definitely be the best way to learn and memorize a lot of vocabulary, including the days of the week. The more you are exposed to these words, the faster you will effortlessly learn them. However, there are some shortcuts you can try to ensure all of this happens faster. ### Learn Spanish days of the week with songs (music mnemonics) Songs are an easy and popular way to remember things. We can remember rhythms very easily, and that’s what in turn will indirectly make us remember the target words. Here you have two songs about the weeks of the day in Spanish, choose the one that sounds better to you. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poegJukynHg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poegJukynHg&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4fREj60Crk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4fREj60Crk&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) You can even put them in replay and play them in the background while you do other things. ### Use Acronyms (name mnemonics): We take the first letter of each day of the week and form a new word, which we try to memorize. In this case, the resulting word would be LMMJVSD. However, it does not sound to pronounceable, right? We can grab the beginning of each word instead. LuMaMiJuViSaDo. (Lunes, Martes, Miércoles, Jueves, Viernes, Sábado, Domingo) Now we can focus on memorizing “LUMAMIJUVISADO” instead. ### Image and visualization mnemonics We can take the words and use images and visualizations to remember them. For instance, we could visualize a special image for each day of the week (which should be related to it somehow). For instance, for SAturday, (Sábado) we could imagine a satellite, since both words (satellite and Saturday) start by SA. I am leaving a list of suggested visualizations for you below: \-Lunes (Monday): Imagine a “looser” (since lunes starts by LU). \-Martes (Tuesday): Imagine a “martian” (since martes starts by MAR) \-Miércoles (Wednesday): Imagine a “miracle” (since miércoles starts by MI) \-Jueves (Thursday): Imagine the “Juventus” football team (since both start by JU, plus they also sound very similar) \-Viernes (Friday): Imagine a “Visa” (since viernes starts by VI) \-Sábado (Saturday): Imagine a satellite (since sábado starts by SA) \-Domingo (Sunday): Imagine a “Domestic animal” (since domestic and domingo both start by DOM). You can also be creative and invent your own ways to remember these words. The end goal is to memorize them! ### Real-life sentences using Spanish days of the week We have already seen a lot of theory. Now let’s see some real-life examples of using days of the week in Spanish! Me gustaría visitarte el lunes -à I would like to visit you on Monday Los días de la semana en español son fáciles de aprender -> The days of the week in Spanish are easy to learn Lo hago cada día, de lunes a domingo -> I do it every day, from Monday to Sunday El lunes iré al médico -> I will go to the doctor on Monday Voy a la escuela cada jueves -> I go to school each Tuesday Me gustan los sábados, pero odio los domingos -> I like Saturdays, but I hate Monday He tenido un día horrible, es el lunes más negro de mi vida -> I had a terrible day, it is the darkest Monday of my life ¿Cuándo estará listo?, estará listo el domingo à When will it be ready? It will be ready on Sunday ## A last trick to learn the days of the week There you go! Seven simple Spanish words you can use every day. Be it scheduling, journaling, or choosing a day to go out, you can not mark your days in Spanish. Remember, the best trick to truly learn these words is by using and practicing. Ready to practice using Spanish days of the week? Start here with [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are Spanish days capitalized? Normally no, unless they begin a sentence or another style rule applies. ### How do you say “on Monday”? Use el lunes for a specific Monday in many contexts. ### How do you say “on Mondays”? Use los lunes; weekdays ending in -s often keep the same written form in the plural. ### Where do the names come from? Several weekday names reflect traditional associations with celestial bodies; the article uses these links as memory aids. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 5 Great Reasons to Start Learning a New Language in 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-reasons/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:23:47.000Z ## Quick Answer: 5 Great Reasons to Start Learning a New Language in 2023 Language learning can support communication, cultural access, travel, study, work and cognitive challenge. The most useful motivation is personal and specific enough to guide regular practice. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | --------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | Language learning is a rewarding journey | | Section 2 | Language learning gets easier as you progress | | Section 3 | Language learning is good for the brain | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. This is a quote from [Kató Lomb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kat%C3%B3%5FLomb?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a Hungarian polyglot, interpreter, and translator who learned altogether 16 languages mostly by self-effort and interest. I totally agree with her idea that knowing a new language, even poorly, means a lot. After all, it's a good attitude toward language learning, right? So don't be shy if you can't speak fluently yet. Because you don't need to be an expert to use a language. Feeling a bit [motivated to learn a new language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/)? Besides Lomb's reason, there are still tons of reasons to learn a new language that will further inspire you. Here in this article, we'll present you with 10 great reasons to start learning a new language this year. ## Language learning is a rewarding journey Why should you learn a new language? First, language learning is a rewarding experience. Because learning a new language doesn't betray you. Whatever you've learned is always yours. Looking back and seeing how you've struggled with the alphabet, spelling, and pronunciation at the beginning of your language learning journey, you are often surprised by what you can do now. There are plenty of rewarding moments in language learning that are worth remembering: the first time you held a conversation with a native speaker, understood a whole sentence without looking up dictionaries, completed another day streak on LingoDeer, wrote a short paragraph in your target language all by yourself, watched a video in your target language without subtitles... All these small yet important cornerstones mark your language learning journey as meaningful. What's even better, when all of the steps build up, you can finally enter a new world, a new culture, a new way of thinking, a new mindset, and a new life. This kind of feeling is super rewarding and it's probably good for mental health as well. On the one hand, you gained knowledge and feel accomplished and proud. On the other hand, you can progress even faster. ## Language learning gets easier as you progress Unlike learning math and physics, learning a new language gets easier as you progress (most of the time). And once you've reached a certain level, you can see the endpoint getting closer and closer. It's promising, Though you may never end up speaking like a native, with knowledge gradually building up, you get to understand more complex expressions, sentences, and culture. In some ways, language learning is like a meta-skill. Learning one language will facilitate your learning even more languages in the future. For example, if you've already known Spanish, you'll find learning Portuguese much easier. This is how many polyglots learned multiple languages – putting their previous learning experiences into new learning. ## Language learning is good for the brain Is Language learning good for the brain? Multiple studies show a positive answer. Language is probably one of the most complex things human brains can process. In fact, our brains are pretty good at this, and have the potential to process multiple languages. In this light, to learn a new language is to actually see that proficiency take shape. Though we may never reach the level of a native speaker, we do acquire a lot of words, expressions, or even mentality. We can even read original novels and watch original films without translation, which are tremendously fulfilling. In terms of our physical brain, there are actual changes from learning a new language. According to [Cambridge](https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2022/04/29/learning-language-changes-your-brain/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), bilingual adults have increased white matter integrity compared to those who only speak one language. Using a second language can boost their brains' reserves. But what about people who learned their second language as an adult? There are still measurable improvements in their concentration, memory, and communication skills compared to monolinguals. ## Learning a new language brings practical benefits After all, language is a skill that is still used by many professional translators and interpreters on a daily basis. Even if you don't want to reach such high levels of language learning, knowing a foreign language is a valuable skill. It brings many practical [benefits](https://blog.lingodeer.com/benefits-of-learning-languages/) like more job and education opportunities. In this increasingly multilingual and globalized world, language skills can surely give you an edge especially when it comes to doing international business. The demand for bilingual or multilingual professionals is rising significantly. Employers who wish to expand their overseas markets mostly think highly of those who have cross-culture backgrounds, leading to better salaries or bonuses. So if you know a foreign language, you are already ahead of millions! ## Learning a new language provides new perspectives Last but not least, learning a new language is like opening a new window, greatly expanding your knowledge and perspectives. It provides you with new points of view about the world and gives you access to a plethora of new things. It can be simply understanding a meme or joke in your target language, or it can be appreciating literature, [movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/foreign-movies/), or art from in your target language and culture. Compared to monolinguals, people who know different languages are also more understanding, tolerant, and less prejudiced toward different cultures and opinions. Knowing any [widely spoken languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/) also opens you up to a whole new context of communication. For example, you no longer have to listen to whatever media in your native language feeds you about life in other countries. You can always look it up by yourself – by actually seeing what people of that country are saying on the internet. You can even communicate or interview them yourself. In this way, you get different voices and it's up to you to compare and decide what is true. If you know people around you who speak that language, you may even expand your friend circle solely by speaking their native language. Dear readers, do you feel motivated to learn a new language? Let LingoDeer help you start learning a new language today! Is there anything we haven't covered in the article? Don't be shy to share your thoughts with us in the comments. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Learn a New Language Effectively for 9-5 Professionals URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-a-new-language-work-9-to-5/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:37.000Z You’re probably learning a new language, and you know that there are so many [benefits](https://blog.lingodeer.com/benefits-of-learning-languages/) you can get from it. However, you may be wondering how you can start this journey with a job that requires you to work 40 hours a week while spending the rest of your time with family, friends, and hobbies. ## Quick Answer: How can a full-time professional learn a language consistently? Choose a specific outcome, schedule small repeatable sessions and attach them to existing routines. Use commute or break time for listening and review, reserve focused time for harder tasks, and keep a fallback activity for busy days. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------- | --------------------------------------- | | Plan | define a realistic weekly goal | | Habit | attach practice to an existing routine | | Fallback | keep a five- or ten-minute minimum task | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Does this sound like you? Well, then congratulations, because this is the answer to your questions and the solution to your language learning problems. This article is not only going to teach you how to get started with learning a new language by yourself, but also give you tips and tricks to navigate through your language-learning journey effectively while having a full-time job. Also, we are going to talk about a few resources that you will definitely find useful and most likely would start using right away. Before we move on, have you decided which language you’d like to learn? If you have, continue reading. However, if you haven’t, save yourself the headache and use [this](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-language-to-learn/) guide you to decide which language is best for you to learn. Let’s get started! ## Set End Goals If you don’t already have one, you need to set your end goals. What do you want to achieve out of your language learning journey? Do you just want to learn how to communicate in a basic manner, or you would like to know how to [communicate fluently](https://blog.lingodeer.com/fluency/) in your target language (TL)? Are you preparing for any certification exams? Whatever it is, you need to set your goal(s), and then break them into smaller, achievable, and time-bound chunks so that you have more clarity and it’s easier to measure and achieve. Read more about [how to learn a new language with smart goals](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/). ## Learn languages on the go Many times, we let so much time go by while we are ‘waiting’. It could be waiting for a bus, in a queue, for a hospital appointment, for a lecture, or for a meeting. The point is that you can use your waiting time more wisely by learning on [LingoDeer app](https://lingodeer.page.link/blog?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or reviewing what you've already learned. It doesn't even have to be that serious. Just using your new vocabulary in sentences, watching a short video in your target language, listening to a song, or even a quick recap of the last grammar topic you learned will go a very long way in reaching your language learning goals. ## Habit stacking What are the daily habits you’ve already cultivated? The ones you never miss, like eating breakfast or brushing your teeth before going to bed at night. Yes, those ones. You can stack language learning to one or two of those habits to make the most out of your time. Not too many, so it doesn’t become too overwhelming. An example is ‘*I revise grammar every day for 10 minutes after my yoga session’,* or ‘*I watch a video in my target language every time I eat dinner'.* Of course, yours doesn’t have to be this exactly, but stacking your language learning with a new habit is definitely going to save you lots of time, and help you reach your language learning goals faster. ## Just 10 Minutes The ‘just 10 minutes’ idea is that you either sleep 10 minutes later than usual or wake up 10 minutes earlier than normal. The 10 minutes should be directed towards your language learning, and although you can do anything you like, I advise that you [learn new vocabulary](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-vocabulary/) during this time. ## Make a language learning schedule [Motivation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/) is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you moving. Language learning is just as important as many of the things on your to-do list, and it’s important that you also make it a priority or create a reliable [language-learning routine](https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-routine/). I understand that you’re busy, but just 20 minutes a day can do the magic if you do it consistently. It could be scheduled anytime and for as long as you want, but it is important to schedule it and stay consistent. ## Create a Plan Now that you have the time to learn your target language, how exactly do you go about it? So, yes, you NEED a plan. We all know that a language is comprised of 4 different parts – writing, speaking, listening, and [reading](https://blog.lingodeer.com/improve-reading-skills-foreign-language/) – and you want to learn these four components, even if your goal is to speak just the basics of the language. In learning and practicing these 4 practical parts, there are two other components that you need: [grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/) and [vocabulary](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-vocabulary/). So, in total, let’s say we have 6 different aspects! You can focus on one aspect a day, and study for 6 days a week, but you can also learn your language in any way you want it. If you have more time, you can study two components every day of the week. This depends on you. Now that you know the 6 components you need to work on, you need to create a list of things you have to learn under each category. A quick tip I’d give you is to use the CEFR level to create your learning structure. Do you know what the CEFR levels are? No? No worries, you can check [here](https://www.europassitalian.com/blog/cefr-levels/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## Choose Your Resources We are all different individuals with different learning methods, hence, the number one tip for choosing your resources is to choose what works best for you. For example, if you love learning through working with textbooks, then you should make textbooks a part of the resources you want to explore for your language learning. There are so many resources online, that it is a waste to just stick to one. Short stories, videos, apps, audio notes, online courses, and so many others. It’s important to explore, and not limit yourself by sticking to a particular one. A mix of this and that would be perfect for you. In fact, you can use resources based on the 6 components we had earlier mentioned. Do you remember them? Listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary and grammar – try to memorize them now. ### Language Learning Resources A digital resource that is highly recommended is the [Lingodeer ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)app, and this is for so many reasons. Some of them are – *\- it teaches languages and not their separate parts,* *\- unlike many other apps, it uses a grammar-based structure,* *\- it makes language learning easy through gamification,* *\- it has strategic pacing from basic to advanced level,* *\- it provides tips for language learners like you as they progress in their language-learning journey,* *\- it allows you to customize your language learning environment and* *\- it is *FUN*!* There are so many other language-learning resources that will help you navigate through your language-learning journey, check a few of them out [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/). ## Make it Fun A lot of people limit language learning to textbooks and courses, but the truth is, the best and most effective way to learn a language by yourself is to make sure you are enjoying it. If you find language learning boring, then it would be quite difficult to stick to it and stay consistent. However, if it is something so fun that you look forward to it every day, then there is a much higher probability that you will show up and stay consistent. How do you make language learning fun for yourself? The only person that can answer that question is **you**. This is because like I said, people are very different and we have different interests. Fun is quite relative, and while I might find something fun, you might not. Hence, you need to find out ways to make language learning fun for yourself and implement it. An example is if you love cooking, then watching cooking shows and trying out new recipes in your target language is definitely going to make you happy. If you love reading novels, reading your favorite novel in your target language is definitely a way to make language learning fun for you. So, find out what you love doing and incorporate your language learning into it. ## Have a Fall-Back Method All of the above said, it’s important to remember that you’re only human, and even if you’re disciplined and try your best to stay consistent, there are days when you will feel tired, days when unforeseen circumstances will come up, and days when you just want to give up. I have the best antidote for this, and it is the FALL-BACK method. The fallback method means that it’s okay to fall back, but you need to fall on a bouncer – something that would push you back up. Let me give you an example. If you just feel tired, which will happen several times, then you need to do something very passive that will rekindle your energy and passion for language learning. One very good example is watching videos of successful polyglots giving tips and tricks to language learning, and then going to sleep right after. Trust me, you’d wake up differently. Asides from feeling motivated by the speaker, you also learn a thing or two from the tips that usually you can put into practice. A total win-win situation. Now, enough talk, it is time for ACTION! Set your end goals, make your plan, choose your resources wisely, make it fun, and have the intention and discipline to stay consistent. But first, let’s start by commenting on what you think about these tips, and then, get your pen and paper (could be digital) to start your language learning journey! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is ten minutes a day enough? It can maintain momentum, but larger goals normally require additional focused practice over time. ### What should commute time be used for? Audio review, comprehensible listening and spaced repetition work well when safety and attention allow. ### How can missed sessions be handled? Resume with the next scheduled session instead of abandoning the plan. ### Which resources are best? Use a small complementary set: structured lessons, review, understandable input and opportunities for output. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Days of the Week in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/days-of-the-week-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:16:50.000Z Days of the week in Korean is a major focus for Korean beginners as part of the [basic Korean phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-phrases/). The expressions of time, days of the week, and months of the year are used repeatedly in our everyday lives. ## Quick Answer: What are the days of the week in Korean? Korean weekday names combine a one-syllable element with 요일: 월요일, 화요일, 수요일, 목요일, 금요일, 토요일 and 일요일. Add particles and time expressions according to the sentence. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------- | ------------------------- | | Weekdays | 월–금요일 | | Weekend | 토요일, 일요일 | | Shared ending | 요일 | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. In our previous articles, we talked about Korean alphabet [hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/), [numbers in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-numbers/), now it's time to use them! In this article, we've compiled a list of expressions for not only days of the week in Korean, but also months, seasons, and more that will help you talk about time in Korean like a pro. Let's get started! ## Days of the Week in Korean | **English** | **Korean** | **Romanization** | | ----------- | ---------- | ---------------- | | Monday | 월요일 | wol-lyo-il | | Tuesday | 화요일 | hwa-yo-il | | Wednesday | 수요일 | su-yo-il | | Thursday | 목요일 | mo-gyo-il | | Friday | 금요일 | geu-myo-il | | Saturday | 토요일 | to-yo-il | | Sunday | 일요일 | ill-yo-il | ## Meaning of Days of the Week in Korean From the above chart and video, you can see that days of the week in Korean are very easy. Just add a different word in front of **요일(yo-il)**, which means “day” in English. Similar to English, the word 요일 is actually derived from Latin, and this method has been used in Japan and Korea to this day. Therefore the meaning of days of the week in Korean is derived from the Chinese five elements of nature (fire, water, wood, gold, earth) plus the sun and the moon. ![days of the week in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/12/ld-image-5cc37b9e0f6bc317.png) Attention: When the consonant radicals ㄱ, ㅁ, and ㄹ in 월, 목, and 일 encounter a second word with a syllable beginning with the vowel ㅇ, the pronunciation of that consonant needs to be moved to the position of the first sound of the latter syllable and connected to the vowel that follows, forming an allophone. It may sound a bit confusing. So let's take a look at the example. In the case of 월요일, it is not pronounced as woll-yo-il, but wol-lyo-il. ![Korean liaison - pronunce days of the week in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/12/ld-image-b0d374442df9451b.png) ## How to use days of the week in Korean Now let's see a few examples of how to use days of the week in Korean. You can use them for journaling, planning, scheduling, etc. e.g. I'm going to school on Monday. 월요일에 학교에 갈 거예요. (wol-lyo-i-le hak-kkyo-e gal kkoe yo.) e.g. This Tuesday is a holiday. 이번 주 화요일은 휴일입니다. (ibon ju hwa-yo-i-leun hyu-i-li-mi-da.) e.g. I have P.E class every Wednesday. 저는 매주 수요일에 체육 수업이 있습니다. (jo-neun mae-ju su-yo-i-le che-yuk su-o-bi it-sseu-mi-da) e.g. The new program will air this Thursday. 새 프로그램은 이번 주 목요일에 방송될 것이다. (sae peu-ro-geu-rae-meun i-bon ju mog-yoi-le bang-song-dwel kko-si-da) e.g. See you at 5 pm on Friday. 금요일 오후 5시에 만나요. (geu-myo-il o-hu da-sot-ssi-e man-na-yo) e.g. We are going swimming on Saturday. 우리는 토요일에 수영하러 갈 것이다. (wu-li-neun to-yo-i-le su-yong-ha-ro gal kko-si-da) e.g. I’ll rest at home on Sunday. 나는 일요일에 집에서 쉴 거예요. (na-neun il-lyo-i-le ji-be-so sheel kko-e-yo) e.g. What day of the week is today? 오늘은 무슨 요일일까요? (o-neu-leun mu-seun yo-i-lil-kka-yo) e.g. Today is Sunday. 오늘은 일요일이다. (o-neu-leun i-lyo-i-li-da) ## Other time-related expressions in Korean ![Korean calendar](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/9-2.png) Calendar in Korean ### ### Days in Korean 일 (il) means “day” in Korean. You can simply use the [Sino-Korean numbers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-numbers/) \+ 일 (il) to express days in Korean : 1st - 1일 (일일, il-il) 2nd - 2일 (이일, i-il) 3rd - 3일 (삼일, sam-il) 4th - 4일 (사일, sa-il) 5th - 5일 (오일, o-il) 10th - 10일 (십일, sib-il) 15th - 15일 (십오일, si-bo-il) 20th - 20일 (이십일, i-sib-il) 31st - 31일 (삼십일일, sam-si-bil-il) ### ### Weeks in Korean **Week(s) - 주(일) (ju-il)** Weekday - 평일 (pyeong-il) e.g. I have to go to school on weekdays. 나는 평일에 학교에 가야 한다.(na-neun pyong-i-le hakk-kyo-e ga-ya han-da) **Weekend - 주말 (ju mal)** e.g. What are you going to do this weekend? 이번 주말에 뭐 할 거야? (i-bon ju-ma-le mwo hal kko-ya) **One week - 일 주일 (il ju-il)** e.g. We dine out once a week. 일주일에 한번 외식을 한다. (il-jju-i-le han-bon we-si-geul han-da) **Every week - 매주 (mae ju)** e.g. We are closed on Mondays. 매주 월요일은 휴업입니다. (mae-ju wol-lyo-i-leun hyu-o-bim-ni-da) ### ### Months in Korean | **English** | **Korean** | **Romanization** | | ----------- | ---------- | ---------------- | | January | 일월 | il-wol | | February | 이월 | i-wol | | March | 삼월 | sam-wol | | April | 사월 | sa-wol | | May | 오월 | o-wol | | June | 유월 | yu-wol | | July | 칠월 | chil-wol | | August | 팔월 | pal-wol | | September | 구월 | gu-wol | | October | 십월 | sib-wol | | November | 십일월 | si-bil-wol | | December | 십이월 | si-bi-wol | ### ### Year in Korean **“Year” in Korean is 년 (nyeon)** One year - 일년 (il-nyeon) Every year - 매년 (mae-nyeon) **Note that the order of dates in Korean is the opposite of English: Year + Month + date** e.g. December 24, 2022 2022년 12월 24일 (i-chon-i-si-bi-nyon si-bi-wol i-sip-ssa-il) e.g. My birthday is November 11, 2001. 제 생일은 2001년 11월 11일 입니다. (je saeng-i-leun i-chon-il-lyon si-bir-wol si-bil-i-lim-ni-da) ### ### Seasons in Korean Season - 계절 (gye-jol) Spring- 봄 (bom) Summer - 여릅 (yo-leum) Autumn - 가을 (ga-eul) Winter- 겨울 (gye-oul) ### ### Different times of the day in Korean AM - 아침(a-chim) PM - 오후(o-hu) Night - 밤 (bam) Midday/noon - 정오 (jong-o) Midnight - 자정 (ja-jong) Sunrise - 일출 (il-chul) Sunset 일몰 (il-mol) Now you’ve learned all the basics for talking about days in Korean. Let’s start writing out your schedule, planning on your calendar, or making appointments in Korean! If you wish to further enhance your Korean skills in an easy and effective way, don’t hesitate to use[ LingoDeer app](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 15 Best Websites to Learn Japanese in 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-website/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:32:13.000Z Looking for the best websites to learn Japanese? We've gathered a list of the 15 best Japanese learning websites to level up your Japanese skills. **Some are more comprehensive**, such as LingoDeer, Duolingo, Tofugu, etc., **while others are more specific**, such as Weblio, OJAD, etc. With these 15 websites, learning Japanese online by yourself is totally possible. If you prefer using a cell phone, we have also selected [many excellent Japanese apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/a3ff7211-955e-4b93-acef-7da55825d7d7/) to help you reach your goal faster. ## Quick Answer: How should you choose a website for learning Japanese? Choose Japanese-learning website by matching it to your level, learning goal and preferred study method. Prioritize level-appropriate instruction, reliable explanations, reading or listening material and a clear practice path. The named resources in this article reflect the publication date; verify current editions, availability, pricing and features through the website itself and its current official information before deciding. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | Stable value | The selection criteria and study methods explained in the article | | Time-sensitive | Editions, availability, pricing, features and rankings | | Verify with | the website itself and its current official information | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. With all the great resources out there, I'm sure you can pick up Japanese without [going to Japan](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese-in-japan/) or paying for pricy language schools. Now without further ado, let's get started! ## LingoDeer **Target group:** all learners [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **is a comprehensive website where you can learn Japanese (and several other languages) while having fun.** It helps you improve Japanese grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening skills with bite-sized lessons curated by professional teachers. Actually, you are now reading this article on LingoDeer's blog, which is dedicated to bringing you all the great stuff on language learning and different cultures. If you prefer using mobile, the [LingoDeer app](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is also well-received for learning the Japanese language. Take a look! **Link:** https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/www-lingodeer-com-14.html ![LingoDeer website](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2022-12-21-at-11-53-13.png) ## Duolingo **Target group:** newbie to intermediate **Duolingo is one of the most famous language-learning websites.** The best part is that you can learn the Japanese language on its **website and app,** and the data is interoperable. Similar to LingoDeer, Duolingo can help you learn Japanese with game-like lessons. The mascot, Duo, a little owl, will accompany you during your learning journey! And also, all the content Duolingo offer is free, which is super suitable for beginners with limited budgets. **Link:** https://www.duolingo.com/ ![duolingo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/duolingo-1.png) ## Nihongo eな **Target group:** all learners Nihongo eな (いいな) is a **portal site** for learning Japanese. It doesn't offer any content itself but systematic and organized study resources. In other words, **this website can be your guiding sign when you enter the door of the Japanese language world.** The catalog comprises basic skills—reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, and grammar. For each category, a bunch of free recourses is available. **Link:** https://nihongo-e-na.com/jpn/ ![nihongoena](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/nihongoena.png) ## Tofugu **Target group:** all learners **Tofugu is a really systematic and comprehensive Japanese learning website.** You can learn Japanese from zero to advanced there. The best part of Tofugu is its grammar teaching, which is composed of many detailed articles written in English. Please try it if you still need help with problematic Japanese grammar, such as verb conjugation or honorific prefix. Its spin-off, [WaniKani](https://www.wanikani.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), is dedicated to teaching kanji, but not for free. **Link:** https://www.tofugu.com ![tofugu](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/tofugu.png) ## Verbs Nihongo **Target group:** intermediate to advanced As the name implies, it's a tool website for [**Japanese verbs**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verbs-type/). Many Japanese learners find verb conjugation in Japanese is mind-twisting. If it bothers you as well, this website can help you out. It's more like a dictionary of [verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/), by which you can look up the **17 conjugations of every verb.** **Link:** https://verbs.nihongonosensei.net/ ![verbs nihongo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/verbs-nihongo.png) ## Online Japanese Accent Dictionary (OJAD) **Target group:** all learners Although Japanese is thought to have almost the simplest pronunciation in the world, it's still hard to speak Japanese like native speakers. To reach such a goal, you need to pay more attention to the Japanese accent and pitch. According to its Introduction, OJAD is an online **Japanese accent database** for learners and teachers of Japanese. A guideline of [Japanese pronunciation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-pronunciation/) that I composed before also draws on much of OJAD's resources. **Link:** https://www.gavo.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ojad/eng/pages/home ![OJAD](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ojad.png) ## NIHONGO SENSEI **Target group:** newbie to intermediate **This is a website for learning Japanese from zero to intermediate level.** Unlike Tofugu, which mainly explains Japanese knowledge through articles, this website is more practice-oriented, and many exercises are available there. A spaced repetition system is integrated into this site and ensures all of the items you learn are moved from fragile short-term memory into more secure long-term memory. **Link:** https://www.nihongosensei.net/ ![nihongo sensei](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/nihongo-sensei.png) ## Online Japanese Tests **Target group:** newbie to intermediate This website is simple in design and rich in content. **You can do lots of exercises according to different types there, such as grammar, vocabulary, kanji, listening, and reading.** It doesn't require you to register or any preliminary process, which means you may practice immediately as long as you open it. This website can be an excellent tool to reinforce what you have learned from textbooks or elsewhere. **Link:** https://test.u-biq.org/ ![online japanese tests](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/online-japanese-tests.png) ## Weblio dictionary **Target group:** all learners **Dictionaries are necessary when we are trying to learn new languages.** Weblio dictionary is highly recommended for looking up Japanese terms, by which you can search not only for ordinary words but also idioms and slang. If you are an advanced learner, it is best to understand Japanese in Japanese, just like native speakers. Otherwise, you may need to switch it to a Japanese-English dictionary—click the button "英和・和英辞典" on the top of the page. **Link:** https://www.weblio.jp/ ![weblio](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/weblio.png) ## wajikan **Target group:** advanced learners Wajikan is a free website for introducing **Japanese traditional culture and customs.** You can also expect to learn many Japanese language facts there, especially etymology-related knowledge. I enjoy reading ancient Japanese mythology and urban legends there. However, unfortunately, this website requires a relatively high level of Japanese, as there is no English translation, and neither is furigana. It could be said that most of the readers are native speakers. **Link:** https://wajikan.com/ ![wajikan](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wajikan.png) ## Matcha **Target group:** all learners Sometimes we need some [**motivation** ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/)to keep learning a new language! It's not a big deal, especially when we get frustrated sometimes in our learning journey. Well, the website Matcha is a great website for fun! It provides interesting information on travel in Japan, such as the introduction of scenic spots, cultural events, and hotel details. Trust me, browsing beautiful sceneries in Japan can dramatically boost your enthusiasm for learning Japanese. Although I have yet to use it, it's highly recommended by my friends. **Link:** https://matcha-jp.com/en ![matcha](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/matcha.png) ## edewakaru **Target group:** newbie to intermediate edewakaru is a simple website that combines Japanese knowledge with **interesting manga**! You can memorize a lot of vocabulary and grammar through vivid pictures and plots there. Everything is hard in the beginning, and so is the language. Please give it a try if you are struggling with basic Japanese vocabulary or grammar! **Link:** https://www.edewakaru.com/ ![edewakaru](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/edewakaru.png) ## NHK **Target group:** intermediate to advanced **NHK means Japan Broadcasting Corporation.** It's Japanese national television, just like BBC in the UK and NBC in the US. But of course, you can learn the Japanese language through it. However, it may be hard for beginners to watch or listen to programs made for native speakers. As the study progresses, you will be able to understand the programs better, by which your Japanese language skills will improve quickly. **Link:** https://www.nhk.or.jp/ ![nhk](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/nhk.png) ## letter110 **Target group:** intermediate to advanced The Japanese language can be many learners' work language—at least, it is for me. When it comes to work, **writing Japanese emails or letters** is essential. It may be very troublesome due to the extremely complicated honorific system in the Japanese language. Letter110 is a free website for writing Japanese emails (letters). It offers text examples for different uses, such as New Year's Greetings, Graduation Greetings, and Housewarming Messages. **Link:** https://www.letter110.net/ ![letter110](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/letter110.png) ## Marugoto **Target group:** newbie **Marugoto is a Japanese-learning website supported by the famous Japan Foundation, which also hosts the JLPT exam.** The contents offered are divided into different levels, from zero to A2\. At each level, you can learn conversation, kanji, and grammar. The main idea of this website is to teach daily life Japanese rather than exams. **Link:** https://marugotoweb.jp/ja/index.php ![marugoto](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/marugoto.png) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this list of Japanese-learning website still current? It is a dated editorial selection, not a live ranking. Use its criteria, then confirm current details through the website itself and its current official information. ### How should I choose a Japanese-learning website? Match your level and goal, then compare level-appropriate instruction, reliable explanations, reading or listening material and a clear practice path. ### Is one resource enough? Usually not. A core resource works best with regular review and additional listening, reading, speaking or writing practice. ### Which details should I verify? Check the latest edition or listing, regional availability, price, included materials and current platform support before purchasing or subscribing. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### French Grammar: How to Learn it Fast and Easy URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-french-grammar/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:23.000Z According to the [Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs](https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/francophony-and-the-french-language/the-french-language-in-figures/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (Ministère de l'Europe et des affaires étrangères), French is the 5th [most widely spoken language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/) in the world with 321 million speakers. It is also the 4th most used language on the internet, and it has approximately 132 million learners. ## Quick Answer: How can learners improve French grammar? Improve French grammar by identifying weak areas, learning high-frequency verb patterns, and applying rules through reading, writing, listening and conversation. Short, consistent practice with feedback is more useful than memorizing rules without context. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | ----------------------------- | | Diagnose | find recurring errors | | Apply | use grammar in sentences | | Reinforce | read, listen and get feedback | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. If you decided to learn French, you are not alone. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, you might want to pick up some tips to get your skills to the next level. If so, you are in the right place. In this post, I will share with you 8 tips to improve your French grammar skills in a fast and easy way. ## 1\. Find out what you like about French First, why learn French? Is it for work, for school, or for fun? Establishing your motivation for learning French is the key. If you need a little help on finding or maintaining motivation, we strongly suggest you to read our previous article on [establishing language learning motivation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/). Because a lack of motivation is the single most important reason why people struggle to reach their goals. If French culture is what caught your interest in the first place, then allow yourself to read about it: read up on its authors, geography, way of life, and so on. If work is your focus, why not read about the business culture in the French-speaking world? Clearly defining your goal is what will help you stay motivated. This first step will prepare you for the mightier grammar rules. ## 2\. Pinpoint your weak points in French grammar [Learning grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/) is a very personal adventure. If you’re just starting out, take the time to discover what aspects of French are the hardest for you. Determine what you’re good at, along with what requires more concentration. As you focus on your weak points, you allow yourself to move forward at your own pace. For example, some learners have no problem at all with grammatical gender, whereas some people can’t get their head around it. In this example, the first group of learners should concentrate their efforts elsewhere. If it’s not somewhat challenging, you’re not learning. Your weak points could also be related to your native language. On the one hand, a Mandarin speaker might find verb conjugation unnatural while a Spanish speaker might shudder at the variety of French vowels. Here’s how you can tackle your weaknesses in French grammar right now: (1) Spend at least 10 minutes each day to reflect on your grammar skills. Use tools like [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to help you keep a French learning schedule. (2) Write down what notions are difficult for you. Be **specific**. For example: *I don’t know when to use the subjunctive.* *I can’t tell the difference between the* imparfait *and the* passé composé*.* (3) Once that’s done, find and write down 5 sentences for each grammar notion on a post-it. Every sentence must display the correct use of the rule or notion you’re having trouble with. (4) Place the post-it where you can see it while going about your daily activities and look at it as often as you can. By doing this, you are actively engaging your weaknesses. Making them as detailed as possible is a useful strategy. Looking at the post-it many times a day will allow you to absorb the notions subconsciously. ## 3\. Get the verbs right Like other Latin languages, French possesses a rich verb morphology but, as with any language, the patterns are not infinite. If you’re a beginner, learning the most common irregular verbs like être (to be), avoir (to have), and aller (to go) is a good start. Then as you move further into the verb tenses and moods, you’ll see that they behave in predictable ways. Don’t get discouraged. This is hard even for native speakers. There are tons of resources out there that focus on [verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-verb-conjugation/). Whenever in doubt, you can use websites like [this one](https://www.toutelaconjugaison.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Here’s another quick tip to get your started right away: Following the same post-it principle, print the conjugation tables for the verbs that puzzle you. Put the tables where you can see them, and don’t hesitate to reference them when studying or completing exercises. ## 4\. Practice reading and writing Here are 3 reasons why reading and writing can take your French skills to another level. - *People read and write all the time* Natural language is not just heard and spoken. For most native speakers, it’s also written and read. When you learn to read and write, you allow yourself to develop skills used in many cultural contexts. As people go through their daily lives, they read ads, road signs, write to their friends using their phones, etc. **All these contexts are opportunities to increase your exposure to the language.** - *Learn to express your ideas without the pressure* Speaking in public is hard enough, let alone in a foreign language. You might feel like being shy is slowing, if not blocking, your progress. If that’s the case, **setting a writing practice** could allow you to use your vocabulary and grammar in a safe environment. Try to write down as many sentences as possible without using a dictionary. This will force you to gauge your resources, know your limits, and what you should learn next. You can also explore more complex ideas and grammar patterns that would have taken too much time to put together in a conversation. **Writing is a great “bridge” activity to get you to speak confidently.** - *Read out loud help you adapt to new sounds* Practice speaking by reading out loud in your room. Don’t just read in your head. Speech is the most complex activity humans engage in. It requires that you use dozens of facial muscles while you pay close attention both to what you say and how you say it. As you adapt to French sounds, the movements produced by your speech articulators will become more natural, and your accent will improve. Reading sentences you have written yourself is also a very good exercise, as you will literally learn to express your own thoughts. Also, don’t hesitate to get your hands on books. French is well known for its literary and philosophical tradition. Reach out to every piece of material in French you can get and immerse yourself in the language. In the end, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, etc will all come to you naturally. Here’s a fun activity that can not only expose you to French culture but also improve your speaking. You might have heard of the [Fables de la Fontaine](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fables%5Fde%5FLa%5FFontaine?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). These famous short stories are classics, and every French speaker remembers them from their childhood. Here’s the beginning of *Le corbeau et le renard* (The Raven and the Fox): *Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché,* *Tenait en son bec un fromage.* *Maître Renard, par l'odeur alléché,* *Lui tint à peu près ce langage:* *Et bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau.* *Que vous êtes joli! que vous me semblez beau!* As you may have noticed—or not—the author uses rhymes, which makes the text easier and prettier to memorize. Find a version of your favorite de la Fontaine fable on Youtube. Then, learn the story by repeating after the person reading the text, and gradually move to recite the whole thing without listening to the audio. You can help yourself with the text, of course. Don’t worry if you don’t understand all the words or grammar. The point is to have fun and to learn to reproduce the music of the language. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q\_V7yZaEDE ## 5\. Watch and listen to French content online In this digital era, there is no shortage of content. So you’ve probably heard this one repeatedly in all kinds of [French learning guides](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/). Because it really works. Do what native speakers do every day: watch French movies and listen to French music and podcasts. By immersing yourself in the language environment, you can not only have fun, but also learn French language in context. If you love podcasts, why not start with LingoDeer's French coffee break sessions that combine native speakers' podcasts with professional French lessons? ## 6\. Find French speakers Talking to French people is a must if you want to get a taste of what real French sounds like. Like other languages, what you learn in language classes does not necessarily reflect daily casual speech. By going out there and actually meeting with people, you will integrate colloquial phrases that most classes won’t cover. You'll also find the trickiest grammar points are also best learned by actually using them with native speakers. Also, French can be different depending on where it is spoken. For example, Montreal French contains some words and phrases that Parisian French does not and vice versa. Most francophones understand the standard variety of their language, but you’ll get a more intimate experience if you discover what French really sounds like in casual settings. Be an explorer and take your learning out of the classroom! ## 7\. Be consistent If you keep learning every day with motivation and purpose, you'll see progress eventually. Don’t forget that language is a very natural human ability. Some studies have even demonstrated that infants are sensitive to their mother’s voice while still in the womb! Yes, learning a foreign language takes time and effort but as you learn, the once difficult grammar rules will become second nature. ## 8\. Have fun As I said, motivation is everything. If you feel like your learning journey is too tough, then just take it easy. Watch a movie, listen to some music, and relax. This counts as practice, too. Don’t forget to take breaks. Drink some tea, go outside, and take a walk. Breaks help clear your mind, then you’ll probably find your exercises are much easier. If you’re not having fun anymore, you’re probably putting too much pressure on yourself. Grammar is often portrayed as boring. But remember that *grammar* is just another word for *pattern*. As you become accustomed to the patterns of French (its sounds, its declensions, its grammatical gender, etc.), you are integrating its grammar. When you watch a movie, you actually learn some grammar. As we saw through this post, this is not the only fun way to [assimilate French fast and easily](https://blog.lingodeer.com/tips-to-learn-french/). So just sit back, believe in yourself, and enjoy the ride. *Bonne chance*! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Where should a beginner start? Begin with articles, gender, agreement, present-tense verbs and basic sentence patterns. ### Do learners need to memorize conjugations? Core forms need retrieval practice, but examples and repeated use make them more durable. ### Can media teach grammar? It supplies real examples, but difficult structures may still require explicit explanation. ### How often should grammar be practised? Frequent short sessions are easier to sustain than occasional long sessions. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Work in South Korea as a Foreigner URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/work-in-south-korea/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:31:55.000Z Have you always dreamed of living and working in another country? Are you interested in Korean language and culture? South Korea is a small country with a thriving economy, especially in the automotive and technology spheres. While the job market in Korea is very competitive, jobs often come with good pay, benefits, and stability. Let’s learn more about getting a job in Korea as a foreigner. ## Quick Answer: What should a foreign applicant consider before working in South Korea? Start by matching your qualifications and Korean ability to a realistic role, then confirm that the job and employer fit an appropriate work status or visa. Job markets, visa rules and employment requirements change; treat this article as general orientation and verify current requirements with official Korean authorities and the prospective employer. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Role fit | Qualifications, experience, language level and working conditions | | Legal fit | Current visa or work-authorization rules for the role | | Verify with | Official Korean immigration or government sources and the employer | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## Is speaking Korean necessary to work in South Korea? The short answer is no; however, it really depends on the type of job you want. The most common type of job for foreigners in South Korea is English teacher. Some English teaching positions in Korea require zero Korean language skills. There are also a lot of part-time jobs requiring But knowing some Korean can will definitely make living in South Korea a lot easier. On the other hand, many jobs will require a TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) score of at least 4 to be considered, which is also the typical requirement to enter a university in South Korea as a student. That being said, **having some knowledge of Korean will be helpful in any job and in your everyday life in South Korea.** Having the ability to read [한글](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) (Hangeul, the Korean writing system) and exchange basic greetings will help your day-to-day life go more smoothly and will win you some points with your Korean co-workers. So if you wish to work in South Korea someday, it's better to start learning Korean right now. You can use [Korean learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-korean-learning-apps/) like LingoDeer to master Korean with 15 minutes a day. ## Types of jobs for foreigners in South Korea ### Teaching English Teaching English is a very in-demand job in South Korea and there are many different types of teaching jobs available to foreigners. The most common teaching job is teaching English at a public school, private school, or academy (학원, hakwon). You may also be able to find a job teaching a different subject (such as: math, science, or social studies) at an international school where the primary language of instruction is English. The requirements to teach English in Korea are pretty strict due to the visa laws. Here are the requirements: - A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university - An English teaching certificate (TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, etc.) - Citizen of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, or South Africa - Physically and mentally healthy Apart from the requirements above, you also need to have a good command of the English language and enjoy working with children. Because most English teaching jobs in Korea involve teaching elementary-aged students. It is also possible to find jobs teaching English at the university-level. These jobs have many of the same requirements as above with the addition of needing a master’s degree or Ph.D, typically in a related field such as: English, TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages), or linguistics. If you are not a native English speaker, it may also be possible to find jobs teaching other languages in Korea, however, these jobs will often be at the university-level and will also require a master’s degree related to language or language teaching. ### Office Jobs If teaching is not for you, there are many office jobs available in Korea as well. South Korea’s largest industries are electronics, automotive, telecommunications, shipbuilding, chemicals, and steel. We also cannot forget the thriving entertainment industry. Typically, to work in these industries, you should already be an expert in your preferred field. The job market in South Korea is highly competitive and you must be able to compete with Korean applicants who have the advantage of cultural awareness and Korean language knowledge. Many foreigners are able to find jobs with international companies in Korea, especially if the job requires working with international clients who also do not speak Korean. If you do speak Korean (and especially if you are able to obtain a TOPIK level 4 or higher) and you have expertise in a particular field, you can really increase your chances of finding employment. If you are more advanced in Korean, you can also find work as a translator or interpreter. These jobs can be in any field so having some field-specific knowledge will be helpful. Translation and interpretation jobs will often require you to have a TOPIK level 5 or 6\. Translating and interpreting between English and Korean is most common but there is a need for other languages that companies might do business with such as Chinese or Japanese. The requirements for these jobs vary a lot but you must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in your field and experience is always a plus. ### Part-time Work Part-time positions are also available to foreigners who already have a visa. If you have an F-series visa (marriage or residency) you are allowed to take up any type of employment you want. If you are studying in Korea on a student visa (D-2 visa), or a language trainee visa (D-4-1, D-4-7) you also may be eligible for part-time employment. Popular part-time work you can do in South Korea includes tutoring, translation, marketing, etc. These jobs are often a popular choice for students studying in South Korea at universities or Korean language schools. ## How to find jobs as a foreigner in South Korea Now that you know the types of jobs available to foreigners in Korea, you may be asking, how can I find a job in South Korea? As is the case in most places these days, the best place to start your job-seeking is online. You can search postings in online job boards or go to a company’s website directly and look through their job listings. There are even phone apps available for finding full and part-time work in Korea. If you want to teach English, you can search through job boards, find a recruiter, or apply directly to the government English teaching program, [EPIK](http://www.epik.go.kr/index.do?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (English Program in Korea). ## Job-related expressions in Korean Work culture in Korea can be quite different than in other parts of the world. Let’s look at some polite ways to address your co-workers and other work-related words you can use to help you integrate more easily into your workplace. ### Job Titles in Korean Workplace culture and hierarchy is very important in Korea. You must address people by their correct title and never use terms like 오빠 (oppa), 형 (hyung) , 누나( noona), or 언니 (unnie) in the workplace. In fact, it can even be rude to call someone by their name! This is because Korean has strict [speech levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). Here are some job titles you should know. When using them to address the person directly, especially if they are older than you, you can add -님 (-nim) to the end of the title (for example, to say “hello” to the company’s president, you could say: 사장님, 안녕하세요? sajangnim, annyeonghaseyo?) - 회장 (hoejang): chairman or CEO. The person holding the highest position in a company. - 대표 (daepyo): This position is very similar to 회장 but it feels younger. Younger companies tend to use this title more than 회장. You may hear this a lot in modern K-dramas. - 사장 (sajang): president/COO. This person is also typically pretty high up in a company. Someone who is an independent business owner can also go by this title. - 전무 (jeonmu): This is the CFO or finance director. - 상무 (sangmu): This person is a senior director and the head of a department. - 이사 (isa): This person is also head of a department, but usually younger and/or has less experience than the 상무. - 부장 (bujang): This person is the head manager or team lead. Typically, 10 years of experience is required to hold this position. - 차장 (chajang): This is also a team leader or senior manager but with less experience. - 과장 (gwajang): This is a manager who typically has at least 7 years of experience. They are typically the project leaders. - 대리 (daeri): This is the assistant manager. They assist with projects and perform administrative duties. - 사원 (sawon): This is a regular staff member but may be considered slightly higher up than a entry-level employee. If you are in a higher position, you can refer to people who are lower than you with their **first name plus their title**. If your name is 박서준 (Bak Seo-Jun) and you are an assistant manager (대리) your team lead (부장) can call you 서준대리 (Seo-Jun daeri). You would call the team lead 부장님. In some bigger companies or more modern-leaning companies, people have begun to call each other by their first names plus -님. However, in other companies, this could be considered very rude so it is important to pay close attention to how people address each other and, when in doubt, default to using job titles and -님. ### Work-related vocabulary in Korean Here are some basic words related to work and jobs - 직업 (jigeop) : job/occupation - 직업이 뭐예요? (jigeobi mwoyeyo?): What do you do?/What is your job? - 직장 (jikjang): workplace - 제 직장은 서울에 있어요. (je jikjangeun seoure isseoyo.): My workplace is in Seoul. - 일하다 (ilhada): to work - 저는 현대에서 일해요. (jeoneun hyeondaeeseo ilhaeyo.): I work for Hyundai. - 쉬는 날 (swineun nal): day off - 오늘은 쉬는 날이에요. (oneureun swineun narieyo.): Today is a day off. - 그만두다 (geumanduda): to quit - 회사에서 스트레스를 많이 받아서 제 직업을 그만뒀어요. (hoesaeseo seuteureseureul manhi badaseo je jigeobeul geumandwosseoyo.): I received a lot of stress from my job, so I quit. - 회사원 (hoesawon): office employee - 우리 동생의 직업이 회사원이에요. (uri dongsaengui jigeobi hoesawonieyo.): My younger sibling is an officer worker. - 경력 (gyeongryeok): work experience/career - 저는 학생이라 직업 경력이 없어요. (jeoneun haksaengira jigeop gyeongryeogi eopseoyo.): I do not have any work experience because I am a student. - 승진하다 (seungjinhada): to get a promotion - 드디어 승진했어요! (deudieo seungjinhaesseoyo!): I finally got a promotion! - 은퇴하다 (euntoehada): to retire - 지난달에 우리 아버지는 은퇴했어요. (jinandare uri abeojineun euntoehaesseoyo.): Last month, our father retired. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Korean required for every job in South Korea? Requirements differ by occupation and employer. Korean ability can broaden options and support workplace communication even where it is not formally required. ### Does this article provide current visa advice? No. It provides general orientation; immigration and employment rules must be checked with current official sources. ### Where should applicants confirm requirements? Use official Korean immigration or government information and obtain role-specific confirmation from the prospective employer. ### What should be checked before accepting a job? Confirm duties, compensation, hours, location, contract terms, employer legitimacy and the correct legal authorization to work. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 10 Useful Ways to Say Sorry in Korean (and How to Respond) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/sorry-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:06:26.000Z In English, the word "sorry" is not only used to apologize, but also to show sympathy, politeness, or disappointment. Sorry in Korean is only for apologies without much other meanings. Just like [hello](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-korean/) and [goodbye](https://blog.lingodeer.com/goodbye-in-korean/) in Korean, the way Korean people say "sorry" also shows that etiquette is very important in the Korean language and culture. ## Quick Answer: How do you say sorry in Korean? Common apologies include 죄송합니다 for formal or respectful situations, 미안해요 for polite everyday situations and 미안해 among close friends. The appropriate choice depends on relationship, setting and seriousness; a fuller apology may also state the mistake and how it will be repaired. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----- | ------------------------------- | | 죄송합니다 | formal and respectful | | 미안해요 | polite everyday apology | | 미안해 | casual, for close relationships | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Based on different [speech levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/), there are both formal and informal to use sorry in Korean. Today we'll show you 10 most common and useful ways to say sorry in Korean. By the end of this article, you'll not only know how to use them in real-life situations, but also how to answers to other people's apologies properly. Let’s get started! ## Most common way to say sorry in Korean Before we learn to say sorry, first we need to know that unlike sorry in English, in Korean, apologize (사과하다) is a verb: **사과 (sa-gwa, “apology”) +‎ 하다 (ha-da, “to do”)** In Korean, **apologize and apple are pronounced and written the same way**, so when some people in Korea are embarrassed to apologize, they give the person they are sorry to an apple and say, "Please accept my apple (사과 apology)." ![apologize in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/apologize-in-korean-jpeg.jpg) When we apologize in English in a formal setting, the subject "I" cannot be omitted. However, in Korean, the subject part is omitted when apologizing. Therefore, we only need to say "죄송합니다". **There are 10 common ways to say “sorry” in Korean:** | | **Korean** | **Romanization** | **English** | | ---------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------- | | **Formal** | 죄송합니다 | joe-song-ham-ni-da | I’m sorry. | | 미안합니다 | mi-an-ham-ni-da | I’m sorry. | | | 잘못했습니다 | jal-mo-thay-seum-ni-da | It’s my fault./I made a mistake. | | | 사과드립니다 | sa-gwa-deu-rim-ni-da | I apologize. | | | 실례합니다 | sil-lye-ham-ni-da | Pardon me./Excuse me. | | | **Polite** | 죄송해요 | jwe-song-hae-yo | I’m sorry. | | 미안해요 | mi-an-hae-yo | I’m sorry. | | | 사과드려요 | sa-gwa-deu-ryeo-yo | I apologize. | | | 잘못했어요 | jal-mo-thay-seo-yo | It’s my fault./I made a mistake. | | | **Casual** | 미안해 | mi-an-hae | I’m sorry. | ## Formal ways to say sorry in Korean - **죄송합니다 (joe-song-ham-ni-da)** If you use 죄송합니다 to apologize with this word, it means that things are serious. It is generally rare to see Korean people use this word in private. The word 죄송합니다 appears more frequently when a celebrity or the government apologizes to the public to show the sincerity of the apology. It also indicates that one has indeed made a very serious mistake and asks for forgiveness. ![Most formal way to say sorry in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/sorry-in-korean.png) - **미안합니다 (mi-an-ham-ni-da)** 미안합니다 is usually used when there is a small scuffle in life, such as accidentally bumping into someone while walking, or accidentally stepping on someone. The degree of apology is not particularly deep, it is just to say that you are sorry or embarrassed. In Korean, 미안합니다/죄송합니다 both mean sorry, but he degree of expression is different. Students who are new to Korean always use these two words indiscriminately. - **실례합니다 (sil-lye-ham-ni-da)** It means the same as pardon me and excuse me in English. It is most appropriate when we want to interrupt someone's conversation or ask for directions when traveling. - **잘못했습니다 (jal-mo-thay-seum-ni-da)** It can be used when we need to ask for forgiveness for something we have done wrong. The original form of its verb is 잘못하다 – to make a mistake. Here it is in its past tense, which means I made a mistake. We can often hear it when a student apologizes to a teacher, or an employee apologizes to his or her boss. - **사과드립니다 (sa-gwa-deu-rim-ni-da)** As we have learned at the beginning, apologize means 사과, and 드립니다 means give/offer sb something, so the meaning here is “I (offer/give) someone an apology”. It is often used in writing form, such as letters. ### Polite and standard ways to say sorry in Korean Here it is very simple, just change all the 합니다 in the formal way to 해요, and it will be the polite way. They are often used to apologize between colleagues or friends who do not know each other very well and they are only used in everyday spoken communication.. We occasionally hear them used by elders to juniors or by superiors to employees as well. **1\. 죄송합니다 (joe-song-ham-ni-da)** **➡️** **죄송해요 (jwe-song-hae-yo)** **2\. 미안합니다 (mi-an-ham-ni-da)** **➡️** **미안해요 (mi-an-hae-yo)** **3\. 사과드립니다 (sa-gwa-deu-rim-ni-da.)** ➡️ **사과드려요. (sa-gwa-deu-ryeo-yo)** **4\. 잘못했습니다 (jal-mo-thay-seum-ni-da)** **➡️** **잘못했어요 (jal-mo-thay-seo-yo)** ## Casual ways to say sorry in Korean - **미안해 (mi-an-hae)** It is the most common way to apologize to children or close friends or family members, simply by removing the ending 요 from the polite form when speaking. Note, however, that it is only used in spoken language and that there is no casual form of "죄송합니다". Let's take a look at the video below. https://youtube.com/shorts/ko\_cBr1lE6k?feature=share ## How to apologize in Korean in Different situations There are many words in Korean that have different usages in different situations, so be sure to find out before you use them. ### 1\. To family or close friends **A simple apology, to a lesser degree:** 미안해(mi-an-hae) **If you want to deepen the apology, you can precede it with an adverb of degree:** **정말** 미안해(jeong-mal mi-an-hae) - I’m really sorry. **진짜** 미안해(jin-jia mi-an-hae) - I’m really sorry. **너무** 미안해(neu-mu mi-an-hae) - I’m very sorry. ### 2\. To normal friends, classmate, colleague: **The degree of error committed is not serious:** 미안해요 (mi-an-hae-yo) 미안합니다 (mi-an-ham-ni-da) ### 3\. To people you don't know well, supervisors and elders: **To apologize seriously for a relatively deep mistake:** 죄송해요 (joe-song-hae-yo) 죄송합니다 (joe-song-ham-ni-da) ### 4\. Workplace and other more formal occasions **When making mistakes at work, often use:** 사과 드려요 (sa-gwa deu-ryeo-yo) 사과 드립니다 (sa-gwa deu-rim-ni-da) 잘못했습니다 (jal-mo-thay-seum-ni-da) 잘못했어요 (jal-mo-thay-seo-yo) ## How to respond to sorry in Korean ![Mianhae: most common way to say sorry in Korean and how to respond to it](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/how-to-respond-sorry-in-korean.png) In English, we also say sorry to people to express our regret or sympathy when we hear that something bad has happened to them, but **in Korean, sorry is only used to apologize.** So don't say sorry to your friend when she/he fails an exam, they will think it's weird. Now that you have mastered how to say sorry in Korean, what can you say in response when someone makes a mistake and says sorry to you? Of course, there are formal and informal ways of answering. **We just need to choose the same form of response as the conversation.** **1\. It’s ok./ it’s fine.** Formal: 괜찮습니다. (gwaen-chan-sseum-ni-da) Polite: 괜찮아요. (gwaen-cha-na-yo) Casual: 괜찮아. (gwaen-cha-na) **2\. It’s nothing.** Formal: 아닙니다. (a-nim-ni-da) Polite: 아니에요. (a-ni-e-yo) **3\. It’s not a big deal.** Formal: 별일 아닙니다. (byol-ril-a-nim-ni-da) Polite: 별일 아니에요. (byol-ril-a-ni-e-yo) **4\. Don't worry about it.** Polite: 걱정 마세요. (gok-jjong ma-se-yo) Casual: 걱정 마. (gok-jjong ma) **5\. Think nothing of it./Forget it.** Polite: 신경쓰지 마세요. (sin-gyong-sseu-ji ma-se-yo) Casual: 신경쓰지 마. (sin-gyong-sseu-ji ma) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the safest general apology? 죄송합니다 is a respectful choice for strangers, elders, supervisors and formal situations. ### Can 미안해 be used with anyone? No. It is casual and is best limited to close relationships where informal speech is appropriate. ### Does Korean “sorry” express sympathy like English? The direct apology expressions in this guide primarily acknowledge fault; other expressions are used for sympathy. ### How can an apology be answered? Responses depend on severity and relationship; common replies can reassure the speaker or acknowledge the apology. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 27 Easy Russian Phrases for Beginners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-phrases/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:16:55.000Z Russian is probably one of the [hardest languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/) for English speakers. It has a varied vocabulary and complicated grammar structures. Nevertheless, no need to be scared or stressed about this, as you can still speak Russian much earlier than you expect. ## Quick Answer: Which Russian phrases should beginners learn first? Start with greetings, thanks, apologies, introductions, simple questions and help phrases. Learn each expression with audio, stress and the social situation in which it is appropriate. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------- | ------------------------- | | Social basics | hello, thanks, sorry | | Navigation | where and how much | | Safety | help and clarification | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. One of the hacks to do this is to learn some of the **most common and useful Russian phrases**. Even if you don’t understand the structure of the phrase well or your vocabulary is limited, it’s fine! Simply knowing which phrase to use in a particular situation is a huge advantage to your experience! The rest will come later as you progress in learning. You can use these basic Russian phrases in many situations: - To simply greet people - For small talk - While travelling (airports, train or bus stations, hotels) - Asking for directions - To support random daily conversation - In shops, cafes We strongly suggest you to learn Russian pronunciation and Cyrillic alphabet first before moving on. If you haven't done that yet, we recommend using [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to learn it with professional instructions or read our previous article on the [Russian alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/). Now, without further ado, let's get started! ## Most Basic Russian Phrases I'd like to call this first group of phrases "life-saving" phrases. Because they are the most basic, must-know phrases if you wish to communicate with someone in Russian. In some special cases, they can also come to the rescue and avoid embarrassing situations. | I’d like … | Я бы хотел(а) … / Можно мне … | | ----------------------- | ----------------------------- | | Sorry | Извините / Прошу прощения | | I don’t speak Russian | Я не говорю по-русски. | | Where is …? | Где…? | | I don’t understand … | Я не понимаю… | | Can you say that again? | Можете сказать ещё раз? | | Do you speak English? | Вы говорите по-английски? | | Can you help me? | Вы можете мне помочь? | These simple phrases are essential and will help you to solve most problems. They sound very polite and make people understand that you may need help and are not very good in Russian. If you need to listen to their pronunciation, we recommend using [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) with more than 200 daily Russian phrases. ## Greetings and Small Talk Let’s move on to see how can you greet people and what to say in small talk. These Russian phrases are among the easiest ones. You can use them immediately to start a conversation. ### Start a small talk in Russian | How are you? | Как дела? | | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | How are you? (formal) | Как у тебя дела? | | How do you do? | Как ты? | | How do you feel…(at the new place)? | Как тебе… (на новом месте)? | | How's life? | Как жизнь? | | How are you? | Как поживаешь? | | How's the weather? | Как погода? | ### Reply to a small talk in Russian | Everything is good. Thank you. | **Всё хорошо.Спасибо.** | | ------------------------------- | ----------------------- | | What about you? (casual/formal) | **А ты (вы)?** | | I'm okay. / I'm fine. | **Нормально.** | | Just so-so. | **Так себе.** | | Bad. | **Плохо.** | ### Russian phrases for meeting someone for the first time | Hello!(formal) | **Здравствуйте!** | | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | | My name is ... | **Меня зовут …** | | What's your name? | **Как вас зовут**? | | I'm from America. Where are you from? | **Я из Америки, а oткуда вы?** | ### Russian phrases for reunion | Long time no see. (Literal: many summers, many winters.) | Сколько лет, сколько зим. | | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------- | | Great to hear from you. (On the phone) | Рада тебя слышать. | | What's new? | Что нового? | | I'm so happy for you! | Я так рад(а) за тебя! | ### Put forward, reject, or agree to a plan in Russian | Don't you want to…? | Не хочешь…? | | -------------------- | -------------------------- | | Do you want to…? | Хочешь…? | | I have plans. Sorry. | У меня есть планы. Извини. | | Great idea! I'm in. | Отличная идея! Я за. | | I agree. | Согласен. / Согласна. | | With pleasure. | С удовольствием. | ### Express positivity in Russian | Great! | Здорово! | | -------------------- | ------------------------ | | Just super! | Просто супер! | | It's just wonderful! | Это просто замечательно! | ### Goodbye in Russian | See you! | До встречи! | | ------------------------ | ---------------- | | See you! | **Увидимся!** | | See you later! | До скорого! | | Be happy! (when parting) | Счастливо! | | Bye! (formal) | **До свиданья!** | | Bye! (casual) | **Пока!** | ## Useful Russian Phrases for Travelers In this section, we have highlighted some of the useful travel expressions in Russian. They can become handy whether you are in a hotel, café, taxi or trains. | Do you have available rooms? | У вас есть свободные номера? | | ---------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | How much is it? | Сколько это стоит? | | Do you have … in English? | У вас есть … на английском? | | Check, please. | Счет, пожалуйста. | | 1/2/… tickets please. | 1 билет (2/3/4 билета, 5/6/... билетов), пожалуйста | | Can you take a photo? | Не могли бы вы сделать фото? | | This is delicious. | Это очень вкусно. | | Enjoy your meal! | Приятного аппетита! | | Cheers! | За здоровье! | | Do you have...? | У вас есть...? | | Help me, please! | Помогите мне, пожалуйста! | | Can I please have…? | Дайте мне, пожалуйста… | ### Cheers (toast) in Russian: | To health! | За здоровье! | | -------------- | -------------------- | | To luck! | **За удачу!** | | To success! | **За усрех!** | | To friendship! | За дружбу! | | To you! To us! | **За теня! За нас!** | | To love! | **За любовь!** | Can you imagine how many useful phrase you already learnt from such a short article? This proves the idea that you do not need to learn tons of expressions to be able to communicate. Of course, these are far from enough to support a longer conversation. If you wish to learn more Russian phrases, sentences, grammar, and vocabulary in a simple and easy way, join LingoDeer's 20 million happy learners today and start your first Russian lesson for free! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is this a complete learning method? No. Use this summary as a starting point and keep the article’s examples, explanations and practice context. ### How should a beginner practise? Choose one small target, practise it with understandable examples, and revisit it through active recall. ### Should accuracy or fluency come first? Both matter. Early practice can prioritize communication while feedback gradually improves accuracy. ### How can progress be checked? Repeat a practical task after several sessions and compare speed, accuracy and independence. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### A Simple Introduction to Italian Verb Conjugation URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/italian-verb-conjugation/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:14.000Z Verbs are necessary to describe any action in the Italian language. Like many languages, Italian verbs change to include information about the action itself, who is doing the action, and when. This is called verb conjugation. In this article, you will learn everything about Italian verb conjugation in an easy way. With a little help from [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), you can master the basics of Italian verb conjugation in no time! ## Quick Answer: How does Italian verb conjugation work? Italian verbs change form to express person, number, tense and mood. Infinitives are commonly grouped into -are, -ere and -ire families; regular patterns provide a foundation, while frequent irregular verbs must be learned in context. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----- | ------------------------- | | \-are | parlare-type verbs | | \-ere | credere-type verbs | | \-ire | dormire-type verbs | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Let's start! ## The three types of conjugation in Italian Conjugation refers to all the verb forms that we can use to describe the different combinations of these factors. There are three "verb families" in Italian, which have different conjugations and get their names from the three different endings in the infinitive. The first conjugation is called the "-are” conjugation, since the infinitive form of the verbs in this family ends in -are. This is the most common of the three conjugations, as well as the one used for loan words (e.g., to format → *formattare*). Some of the most common verbs in this family are *amare* \- to love, *cantare -* to sing, and *mangiare -* to eat. The second-largest conjugation is the "-ere” conjugation. Like the first conjugation, we know the ending of its infinitive form by its name, -ere. Some of the most common verbs in this conjugation are *vedere-* to see, *scrivere -* to write, *ridere -* to laugh. The third conjugation contains all of the verbs whose infinitive ends in -ire. Some of the most common verbs in this conjugation are *finire –* to finish, *dormire –* to sleep, *sentire –* to hear. ## Why do Italian verbs conjugate Unlike English, where the verbs don't contain all the information necessary to identify the subject, the verbs in Italian contain the information about the person and the number of the subject. For example, the form "talk" is used in "I talk", "you talk", "we talk" and "they talk". On the other hand, in the Italian language, every person in the singular and plural has a different verb ending: | singular | plural | | | | -------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------ | ---------- | | *parl* ***o*** | I speak | parl**iamo** | we speak | | *parl* ***i*** | you speak | parl**ate** | you speak | | *parl* ***a*** | he/she speaks / (polite) You speak | parl**ano** | they speak | Notice how the verbs convey the full information without need for personal pronouns (I, you, he/she...), since that information is already present in the verb forms themselves. We use, personal pronouns with verbs mostly for emphasis (e.g., *io parlo* instead of *parlo*). Since the information about the subject (person and number), the tense and the mood is conveyed by the verb, the conjugation has clear rules for changing the verb ending according to this information, which we will see in the following section. ## Conjugate Italian verbs according to person and number As we have seen, there is a verb ending for every person and number in the Italian language. Even though personal pronouns in Italian aren't part of the verb forms, it is very useful to learn them for reference: | singular | *io* | I | | ----------------- | ------------------------ | -- | | *tu* | you | | | *lui* *lei* *Lei* | he she You (polite form) | | | plural | *noi* | we | | *voi* | you | | | *loro* | they | | If we want to address someone politely, we will use *Lei* (for both men and women), which is the same form as "she" in Italian, but with a capital L. To conjugate a verb in Italian, we need to know its stem, to which we add the appropriate ending. We get the stem of the verb by removing *\-are, -ere,* or *\-ire* from the infinitive (for example, parlare → parl-; scrivere → scriv-; dormire → dorm-). Let's see how the endings of verbs in the three conjugations change according to the person and number in the present tense. | | **1st conjugation:** **parlare (to speak)** | **2nd conjugation:** **scrivere (to write)** | **3rd conjugation:** **dormire (to sleep)** | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | *io* | *parl* ***\-*** ***o*** (I speak) | *scriv* ***\-*** ***o*** (I write) | *dorm* ***\-*** ***o*** (I sleep) | | *tu* | *parl* ***\-*** ***i*** (you speak) | *scriv* ***\-*** ***i*** (you write) | *dorm* ***\-*** ***i*** (you sleep) | | *lui/lei (Lei)* | *parl* ***\-*** ***a*** (he/she speaks / you speak (formal)) | *scriv* ***\-*** ***e*** (he/she writes / you write (formal) | *dorm* ***\-*** ***e*** he/she sleeps/ you sleep (formal)) | | *noi* | *parl* ***\-*** ***iamo*** (we speak) | *scriv* ***\-*** ***iamo*** (we write) | *dorm* ***\-*** ***iamo*** (we sleep) | | *voi* | *parl* ***\-*** ***ate*** (you speak) | *scriv* ***\-*** ***ete*** (you write) | *dorm* ***\-*** ***ite*** (you sleep) | | *loro* | *parl* ***\-*** ***ano*** (they speak) | *scriv* ***\-*** ***ono*** (they write) | *dorm* ***\-*** ***ono*** (they sleep) | As we can see, all three conjugations have the same verb endings in the first two persons in the singular, and in the first person in the plural. ### Irregular verbs All regular verbs in Italian follow these rules, so if we know the three conjugations, we can use new verbs without having to memorize their conjugation. However, there are several important verbs whose conjugation we do need to memorize – the following is a table of the most common ones: | ***essere*** **(to be)** ***avere*** **(to have)** ***fare*** **(to do)** ***andare*** **(to go)** ***venire*** **(to come)** ***volere*** **(to want)** ***potere*** **(to be able)** ***dovere*** **(to have to)** **io** sono ho faccio vado vengo voglio posso devo **tu** sei hai fai vai vieni vuoi puoi devi **lui/lei/Lei** è ha fa va viene vuole può deve **noi** siamo abbiamo facciamo andiamo veniamo vogliamo possiamo dobbiamo **voi** siete avete fate andate venite volete potete dovete **loro** sono hanno fanno vanno vengono vogliono possono devono | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | The most important irregular verbs are *essere* (to be) and *avere* (to have), since they are the main auxiliary verbs in Italian and are used in building complex tenses (in the next section, we will learn one of them, *passato prossimo*). ## Conjugate Italian verbs according to tenses The fact that Italian has 21 tenses (compared to 12 tenses in English) can be intimidating. However, to communicate in Italian, we only need the present (presente), the near past (passato prossimo) and the imperfect (imperfetto). The good news is that we have already seen how the present tense is built in the first part of the article, and we can even use the present tense to talk about future plans, which allows us to learn the future tense and other advanced tenses when we are at a higher level. It is important to note that apart from the infinitive, the tenses we talk about are all in the indicative mood (*indicativo*), which is by far the most common mood, used when we make statements or ask questions. The other moods, like the subjunctive, are less common in daily use, which is why they are usually taught after the indicative mood. ### The near past (*passato prossimo*) The near past tense has two parts: *essere* or *avere* in the present tense as an auxiliary verb, and the past participle of the main verb. The past participle is built by removing *\-are, -ere* or *\-ire* from the infinitive and adding *\-ato* (1st conjugation), *\-uto* (2nd conjugation), and *\-ito* (3rd conjugation): *parl*are** → *parl*ato*, av*ere** → *av*uto*, dorm*ire** → *dorm*ito*.* An important trait of this tense is the fact that some verbs use *essere* (“to be”) as an auxiliary verb, and some use *avere* (“to have”). A useful rule regarding the choice between *essere* or *avere* is that intransitive verbs (the verbs that don’t have an object) use *essere.* The transitive verbs (those that have an object) mostly use *avere,* but here the rule isn’t so universal, and we need to remember the auxiliary verb for each new verb. After some time, this decision becomes much more intuitive, and you don’t need to check the rule for each new verb. Below you can find two tables with examples for all three conjugations in *passato prossimo.* We can see that in the first table, where *avere* is used as an auxiliary verb, the past participle never changes (the ending remains *\-ato, -uto,* and *\-ito*). | | **studiare** (to study, to learn) | **sapere** (to know) | **dormire** (to sleep) | | --------------- | --------------------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------- | | **io** | **ho** studi**ato** | **ho** sap**uto** | **ho** dorm**ito** | | **tu** | **hai** studi**ato** | **hai** sap**uto** | **hai** dorm**ito** | | **lui/lei/Lei** | **ha** studi**ato** | **ha** sap**uto** | **ha** dorm**ito** | | **noi** | **abbiamo** studi**ato** | **abbiamo** sap**uto** | **abbiamo** dorm**ito** | | **voi** | **avete** studi**ato** | **avete** sap**uto** | **avete** dorm**ito** | | **loro** | **hanno** studi**ato** | **hanno** sap**uto** | **hanno** dorm**ito** | With verbs that use *essere* as an auxiliary verb, however, the past participle changes depending on the gender and the number. Compare the following examples: *Marco è and*ato* a casa. –* Marco went home. *Paola è and*ata* a casa.* – Paola went home. *Marco e Luca sono and*ati* al bar.* \- Marco e Luca went to the bar. *Paola e Maria sono and*ate* al bar*. – Paola and Maria went to the bar. In the first example, the past participle *(andato)* is in the singular masculine form to agree with the subject, Marco. In the second example, however, we need the feminine form *(andata),* in order to agree with the subject, Paola. The same process happens in the plural. When we have multiple masculine subjects (e.g., Marco and Luca), the past participle is in the plural masculine form. When the subjects are feminine (Paola e Maria), the past participle changes accordingly. The second table contains examples of verbs using *essere* as the auxiliary: | | ***andare*** (to go) | ***cadere*** (to fall) | ***partire*** (to leave) | | ----------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | ***io*** | ***sono*** *and* ***ato/-ata*** | ***sono*** *cad* ***uto/-uta*** | ***sono*** *part* ***ito/-a*** | | ***tu*** | ***sei*** *and* ***ato/-ata*** | ***sei*** *cad* ***uto/-uta*** | ***sei*** *part* ***ito*** */* ***\-a*** | | ***lui/lei/Lei*** | ***è*** *and* ***ato/-ata*** | ***è*** *cad* ***uto/-uta*** | ***è*** *part* ***ito/-a*** | | ***noi*** | ***siamo*** *and* ***ati/-ate*** | ***siamo*** *cad* ***uti/-ute*** | ***siamo*** *part* ***iti/-e*** | | ***voi*** | ***siete*** *and* ***ati/-ate*** | ***siete*** *cad* ***uti/-ute*** | ***siete*** *part* ***iti/-e*** | | ***loro*** | ***sono*** *and* ***ati/-ate*** | ***sono*** *cad* ***uti/-ute*** | ***sono*** *part* ***iti/-e*** | ### The imperfect (*imperfetto*) The imperfect is another past tense that is very present in everyday use. It is mostly used to describe a continued action in the past, or a habit in the past. Unlike *passato prossimo,* the *imperfetto* can’t be used to describe actions which happened in one precise moment. The following table contains verb forms in all three conjugations in the imperfect tense: | | ***parlare*** (to talk) | ***scrivere*** (to write) | ***dormire*** (to sleep) | | ----------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------ | | ***io*** | *parl* ***avo*** | *scriv* ***evo*** | *dorm* ***ivo*** | | ***tu*** | *parl* ***avi*** | *scriv* ***evi*** | *dorm* ***ivi*** | | ***lui/lei/Lei*** | *parl* ***ava*** | *scriv* ***eva*** | *dorm* ***iva*** | | ***noi*** | *parl* ***avamo*** | *scriv* ***evamo*** | *dorm* ***ivamo*** | | ***voi*** | *parl* ***avate*** | *scriv* ***evate*** | *dorm* ***ivate*** | | ***loro*** | *parl* ***avano*** | *scriv* ***evano*** | *dorm* ***ivano*** | ## 4 tips to master Italian verb conjugations fast ### 1\. Apply your knowledge in real-life situations Knowing the verb conjugations is one part of the learning process. To master this area of Italian (and many others), it is necessary to balance theory with practice. One way is to find a conversation partner with whom you can talk in Italian and solidify your knowledge by putting it into practice and getting your mind used to connecting the theoretical rules to the real-life context. If you don’t have a friend who is learning Italian, you can use a language exchange platform like[ Italki](https://www.italki.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to find a conversation partner. ### 2\. Listen to native speakers of Italian Another easy way of helping your brain create connections between the theory and the context in which it is used is listening to native speakers of Italian. A few accessible and motivating options are listening to Italian music and watching Italian movies with subtitles. With time, this will make your knowledge of Italian conjugations much more intuitive and allow you to talk and write without mentally going through tables of verb forms. ### 3\. Learn the regular verbs first Learning the conjugations of Italian verbs is like building a foundation; learning the regular verbs first will provide a logical framework that you gradually fill with irregular verbs and exceptions to different rules. This is also the best return on investment when it comes to learning time in the beginning and is a great motivation, since it allows you to use the majority of Italian verbs right off the bat, adding irregular verbs as you go along. ### 4\. Don’t be afraid of errors When you are learning the Italian conjugations for the first time, all the different verb forms can be challenging and you will inevitably make errors and mix up verb endings. But this is a necessary step in the whole process because by making errors, we become aware of the areas we need to focus our attention and improve faster. Keep at it and you will master the conjugation of Italian verbs in no time! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why do Italian verbs change? Their endings encode who performs an action and when or how it occurs. ### Should beginners learn every tense at once? No. Begin with high-frequency present forms, then add past and future forms as needed. ### What is passato prossimo? It is a common past construction formed with an auxiliary and a past participle. ### How should irregular verbs be learned? Study frequent forms in complete sentences and revisit them through listening and use. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### A Basic Guide for Learning Japanese in Japan URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese-in-japan/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T00:23:15.000Z If you are planning a trip to Japan, congratulations! You are about to embark on an amazing adventure. Not only is Japan a fascinating country with a rich culture and history, but it is also home to some of the best food in the world. ## Quick Answer: A Basic Guide for Learning Japanese in Japan Studying in Japan can add immersion and daily practice, but progress still depends on structured lessons, active interaction, review and realistic goals. Learners should compare programs, costs and support using current official information. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | 5 easy ways to improve Japanese while traveling in Japan | | Section 2 | Go on a guided tour | | Section 3 | Attend a Japanese language school | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. One thing that can make your trip even more enjoyable is being able to **speak Japanese**. While [not required](#necessary), being able to communicate with the locals will definitely enhance your experience in Japan. If interested in learning Japanese while traveling in Japan, read on about 5 easy things you can do to [improve your Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) while traveling in Japan. We'll also address some related questions you may have about learning Japanese in Japan. Now read on if interested! ## 5 easy ways to improve Japanese while traveling in Japan Being in Japan already exposes you to the Japanese language and culture a lot. While you can easily access translation services to understand everything quickly, it would be a shame if not use the chance to pick up some [Japanese phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-phrases/) and level up your Japanese skills. So here are 5 easy things you can do while traveling in Japan to increase your Japanese skill. Let's take a look! ### Go on a guided tour There are many guided tours available in Japan that are conducted in English. While these tours are great for learning about the country and its attractions, they can also be a great opportunity to practice your Japanese. ### Attend a Japanese language school If you are serious about learning Japanese or plan to stay in Japan for a long time, it's a great idea to attend a Japanese language school to learn Japanese systematically. Besides you can also use online resources like [Japanese learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/a3ff7211-955e-4b93-acef-7da55825d7d7/) for the same purpose. ### Attend a Japanese Cooking Class Japan has [a unique food culture](https://www.fao.org/nutrition/education/food-dietary-guidelines/regions/countries/japan/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) that is very different from the west. What's a better way to learn about a culture than through its cuisine? In Japan, there are many cooking classes available that cater to foreigners. If you love sushi, ramen, or tempura, don't miss these opportunities! Not only will you learn how to make some delicious dishes, but you will also pick up some valuable Japanese language skills. ### Watch Japanese TV Shows and Movies While you can do this anywhere in the world with the internet, watching TV channels in Japan is a different experience. Channels like NHK are live 24/7 with entertaining and informative content. You can also pick up useful everyday phrases and vocabulary. Some of the best Japanese TV shows and movies to watch include “Doraemon”, “Spirited Away”, “Your Name”, and “Your Lie in April”. We also have collected a few [great Japanese YouTube channels to learn Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese-youtubers/) if interested. ### Join a Language Exchange Program A great way to practice your Japanese while also meeting new people is by joining a language exchange program. There are many of these programs available online and in major cities across Japan. By participating in a language exchange program, you will be paired up with a Japanese person who is also interested in learning English. You will then take turns practicing each other’s language. ## How much does it cost to learn Japanese in Japan? The cost of learning Japanese in Japan can vary depending on many factors, such as the type of institution you attend, the length of your program, and your location. In general, however, you can expect to spend anywhere from **a few hundred to several thousand dollars** on tuition and other fees. If you are on a tight budget, you can also use language apps like LingoDeer that only cost less than a hundred dollars to get fluent in Japanese by yourself. Additionally, living expenses in Japan are relatively high, so you will need to factor in the cost of food, housing, and other basic necessities when budgeting for your Japanese language program. With all of these costs in mind, it is important to do some research and compare different programs before making a decision. ## Do you need to know Japanese to travel in Japan? While knowing Japanese is not a must if you just plan to be in Japan for a short time, learning even a little bit of Japanese before your trip is always a good idea. It will help you better understand the culture and make new friends while you're here. For example, knowing how to [order food in Japanese](https://okinawahai.com/japanese-corner-ordering-food/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) can save you a lot of time and better enjoy Japanese cuisine. Plus, it's just plain fun! If you can't speak any Japanese, don't worry. There are plenty of resources available to help you get by. For example, many museums and tourist attractions have English-language signage and pamphlets. And in larger cities, there are often English-speaking staff members working in hotels, restaurants, and shops. You can also use [LingoDeer](https://lingodeer.page.link/Y9xm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)'s free travel phrasebook to learn the most travel phrases on the go. ## Top places to visit in Japan When learning a new language, it's a good idea to get acquainted with the culture and tradition of the country where it is spoken. In Japan, there are many places you can visit to do just that. Here are some of the best: 1. Tokyo – As the capital of Japan, [Tokyo](https://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a great place to start your cultural journey. There are many museums and temples to visit, as well as countless restaurants and shops. 2. Kyoto – Kyoto is considered to be the cultural heart of Japan. It is home to numerous historical sites, such as the Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the Fushimi Inari Shrine. 3. Nara – Nara was once the capital of Japan and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its large number of deer which roam freely around the city. 4. Hakone – Hakone is a popular hot spring resort town located in the mountains west of Tokyo. It is a great place to relax and enjoy some of the beautiful scenery Japan has to offer. 5. Sapporo – Sapporo is the capital of the northernmost prefecture of Japan, Hokkaido. It is famous for its snow festival, which takes place every February. 6. Okinawa – Okinawa is a group of islands located southwest of mainland Japan. It has a unique culture and history, as well as beautiful beaches and clear blue waters. No matter where you go in Japan, you are sure to find something interesting and unique. So why not start exploring today? ## Japanese customs and traditions you should know before visiting Japan is a country with a long history and rich culture. There are many customs and traditions that have been passed down through the generations. Here are some of the most important ones to be aware of: 1. Bowing – Bowing is a way of showing respect in Japanese culture. When you meet someone new, it is customary to bow to them. The deeper the bow, the more respect you are showing. 2. Slippers – In Japan, it is not considered polite to walk around inside someone’s home with your shoes on. Instead, you should take them off and wear slippers. You will often find slippers near the entrance of homes and businesses. 3. Taking Off Your Shoes – In addition to wearing slippers inside, you should also take your shoes off when entering places such as temples and shrines. This is done out of respect for the deities that are worshipped there. 4. Gift Giving – Gift giving is an important part of Japanese culture. When you are invited to someone’s home or given a gift, it is customary to give one in return. Gifts are usually wrapped in beautiful paper and often include items such as food, clothes, or books. 5. Tattoos – Tattoos are generally seen as taboo in Japan. This is because they were once associated with criminals and the yakuza (Japanese mafia). As a result, many public places such as pools, hot springs, and beaches do not allow people with tattoos to enter. These are just a few of the many customs and traditions you will encounter in Japan. By being aware of them, you can avoid making any cultural faux pas during your visit. ## How to learn the Japanese lettering system One of the first things you will need to learn when studying Japanese is the lettering system. There are three different scripts used in Japanese: [Kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/), [Hiragana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/), and [Katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/). Kanji are the most complex of the three scripts and represent whole words. They are typically used for nouns, [adjectives](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese%5Fadjectives/), and verbs. [Hiragana and Katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) are both phonetic alphabets that represent individual sounds. Hiragana is used for native Japanese words, while Katakana is primarily used for foreign words. It is important to learn all three scripts in order to be able to read and write in Japanese. However, if you are just starting out, you may want to focus on Hiragana and Katakana first. Once you have a basic understanding of these, you can then start learning Kanji. There are many resources available to help you learn the Japanese lettering system. You can find books, websites, apps, and even podcasts that will teach you everything you need to know. So what are you waiting for? Start learning today! ## How to pronounce Japanese words One of the hardest things about learning Japanese is understanding [its pronunciation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-pronunciation/). This is because there are many sounds in Japanese that do not exist in English. In addition, the way words are written in Japanese does not always match the way they are pronounced. For example, the word for “tree” is written as 木 (ki), but it is pronounced as “ko”. The best way to learn proper pronunciation is to listen to native speakers and imitate their speech. There are also many helpful resources available online, such as pronunciation guides and audio files. With a little practice, you will be able to pronounce Japanese words like a native speaker in no time! ## Is Learning Japanese Worth It? Learning Japanese can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It will open up a whole new world of opportunity and allow you to appreciate the rich culture and history of Japan. If you are dedicated and willing to put in the effort, learning Japanese is definitely worth it! So what are you waiting for? Start learning today. Stay safe and have a good one, folks! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Japanese Pronunciation | the Most Detailed Guide (with audio) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-pronunciation/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T13:05:02.000Z Download [amerika.wav](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/amerika-1.wav?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: What are the foundations of Japanese pronunciation? Japanese uses a relatively small sound inventory organized around five vowels and kana morae. Clear vowel length, doubled consonants, the moraic ん and pitch accent can distinguish words, so learners should combine charts with audio, careful listening and repetition. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ | | Core vowels | a, i, u, e and o | | Timing | mora length matters | | Beyond individual sounds | pitch accent and rhythm also affect speech | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Hi, dear Japanese learners. Welcome to the guide on Japanese pronunciation provided by [LingoDeer!](https://lingodeer.page.link/Y9xm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This guide is meant to provide an introduction to **how to pronounce the Japanese language as native speakers do.** Japanese pronunciation is notoriously easy to learn. But still, it takes a lot of effort to speak Japanese without being identified as a foreigner. To reach that goal, we need to be on the right path from the very beginning. In this article, I will introduce the pronunciation of each kana in turn. The order is the same as that of the [Hiragana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/) or [Katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/) Chart. In other words, **we will learn Japanese pronunciation in the order that Japanese people categorize kana -- Seion, Dakuon, Handakuon, Yoon, Hatsuon, Chouon, and Sokuon.** What am I talking about? Aren't we supposed to learn vowels and consonants and things like that? Please read on. You will figure out all these terminologies soon enough and have a better grasp on Japanese pronunciation. **Prerequisite:** You probably already know that [**Hiragana and Katakana**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) **correspond to each other phonetically.** Thus, for convenience, all pronunciations in this article will just be presented in Hiragana. It would be best for you to learn the [Hiragana chart](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/) before reading this article. ## Japanese pronunciation Chart Please note that the highlighted syllables are hard for native English speakers to pronounce correctly. You can learn them in the corresponding section of this article. | | a-row | i-row | u-row | e-row | o-row | | ------------------ | -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- | | Seion | | | | | | | vowels | あ - a | い - i | う - u | え - e | お - o | | ka-line | か - ka | き - ki | く - ku | け - ke | こ - ko | | sa-line | さ - sa | し - shi | す - su | せ - se | そ - so | | ta-line | た - ta | ち - chi | つ - tsu | て - te | と - to | | na-line | な - na | に - ni | ぬ - nu | ね - ne | の - no | | ha-line | は - ha | ひ - hi | ふ - hu | へ - he | ほ - ho | | ma-line | ま - ma | み - mi | む - mu | め - me | も - mo | | ya-line | や - ya | | ゆ - yu | | よ - yo | | ra-line | ら - ra | り - ri | る - ru | れ - re | ろ - ro | | wa-line | わ - wa | | \*ん - n | | を - wo | | Dakuon ＆ Handakuon | | | | | | | ga-line | が - ga | ぎ - gi | ぐ - gu | げ - ge | ご - go | | za-line | ざ - za | じ - ji | ず - zu | ぜ - ze | ぞ - zo | | da-line | だ - da | ぢ - di | づ - du | で - de | ど - do | | ba-line | ば - ba | び - bi | ぶ - bu | べ - be | ぼ - bo | | pa-line | ぱ - pa | ぴ - pi | ぷ - pu | ぺ - pe | ぽ - po | | Yoon | | | | | | | きゃ - kya | きゅ - kyu | きょ - kyo | しゃ - sha | しゅ - shu | しょ - sho | | ちゃ - cha | ちゅ - chu | ちょ - cho | にゃ - nya | にゅ - nyu | にょ - nyo | | ひゃ - hya | ひゅ - hyu | ひょ - hyo | みゃ - mya | みゅ - myu | みょ - myo | | りゃ - rya | りゅ - ryu | りょ - ryo | ぎゃ - gya | ぎゅ - gyu | ぎょ - gyo | | じゃ - jya | じゅ - jyu | じょ - jyo | ぢゃ - dya | ぢゅ - dyu | ぢょ - dyo | | びゃ - bya | びゅ - byu | びょ - byo | ぴゃ - pya | ぴゅ - pyu | ぴょ - pyo | | | | | | | | ## The basic knowledge of Japanese phonology **Japanese is considered one of the world's best-sounding languages.** **The nearly 1:1 consonant-vowel (CV) ratio makes it sound melodic**, similar to Italian. In contrast, English's CV ratio is very irregular. For example, the CV ratio of the word "script" is 6:1. Although many people find Japanese pronunciation fascinating just because they are attracted by anime or Japanese culture, we can find specific reasons in terms of phonology theory. Without further ado, let's learn three significant facts about Japanese pronunciation, so you can better acquire them and sound like a native! ### Japanese is a phonetic language We first need to know that **Japanese is completely phonetic while English is just partially phonetic.** What?! English, a language written in the Latin alphabet, is not a 100% phonetic language. However, **Japanese, a language written with ridiculously complex** [**Kanji**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/) **and exotic symbols, is a phonetic language!** Don't panic. I was astonished when I first learned this incredible fact, too. Generally speaking, you can write (spell) what you hear and pronounceif it's an entirely phonetic language. [English is not completely phonetic](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41384636?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) because its pronunciation and spelling do not exclusively correspond to one another. In English, some words are written the same but have different pronunciations, for example, "**live**" in "**live** **in Tokyo**" and "**live**" in "**live show**." Some are pronounced the same but have different spellings, like "**ate**" and "**eight**." As a result, it's difficult for anyone other than native speakers and proficient learners to read and dictate English. In the case of the Japanese language, things are way easier because it's phonetic. **It could be said that each syllable refers to only one pair of kana (Hiragana and Katakana) and vice versa.** For instance, the syllable "**ga**" is only represented by **が** (or its katakana twin **ガ**) and **が (ガ)** has only one sound, "**ga**." ### English and Japanese share many pronunciations The second fact that needs to be mentioned is that **English and Japanese share many pronunciations, and Japanese is less phonetically rich than English.** However, there are still some that you can only find in Japanese, which is the part we need to pay extra attention to. Meanwhile, examples (English words) for those pronunciations also contained in English will be given to help your comprehension. ### Japanese is a pitch-accent language **Japanese is a pitch-accent language, which differs from Chinese (tonal) and English (stress).** As we all know, the pronunciation of a word in any given language is composed of one or more syllables. **In Japanese words or sentences, the pitch of syllables is different -- some are relatively high while some are lower.** It could be said that mastering pitch is the final hurdle of Japanese pronunciation, and it's also a criterion to distinguish native speakers from learners. ### What's the difference between vowels and consonants Strictly speaking, this issue is not limited to Japanese but can be applied to any language's phonology. Given that some readers may not be familiar with these two terms, let’s review them here. **When pronouncing vowels, the air exhaled is not hindered by lips, tongue, nose, or anything else.** We pronounce different vowels by changing the mouth shapes and tongue positions. Conversely, **the air coming out of the lungs must be blocked (in different ways) to pronounce consonants.** This is the most significant difference between vowels and consonants. Consonants are categorized by two criteria in Japanese (or any language), (1) **where the sound is blocked** (lips, nose, soft palate, etc.), and (2) **voiced or voiceless** (vibrating vocal cords or not). My dear friend, maybe you aren't quite familiar with these concepts. I will explain them in more detail in the following sections. No worries. We will **not** go into too much detail because this is just a Japanese pronunciation guide, not a linguistics paper. Please note: all pronunciations in this post are in the standard Tokyo accent if not specified otherwise. In addition, we will be using [the Hepburn romanization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepburn%5Fromanization?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for marking Japanese pronunciation here. ## Seion ### What does Seion mean As mentioned earlier, this article will introduce Japanese pronunciation in Hiragana chart order. So let's start with Seion, also known as Gojuon. **Seion (清音) literally means "voiceless sounds."** "Voiceless sounds" refers to making sounds without vibrating the [vocal cords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal%5Fcords?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (these are in the throat). For example, [consonants like "sh," "ch," and "k" in English ](https://www.thoughtco.com/voiced-and-voiceless-consonants-1212092?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Voiceless%20consonants%20do%20not%20use,as%20in%20%22thing%22%29.)are voiceless, and when you whistle, your vocal cords are also not vibrating. To verify this point, you can touch your throat while trying to make these sounds to feel it vibrate or not. **The weird thing is that although "Seion" means voiceless sounds, not all syllables in the Seion category are voiceless.** For instance, vowels are categorized as "Seion," but they are actually voiced, needing to vibrate your vocal cords. As a result, we can only say that most Seion syllables are voiceless, but some are voiced. ### Vowels: あいうえお (a, i, u, e, o) Japanese has five vowels: a, i, u, e, o. They can only be represented by one pair of kana (Hiragana and Katakana). Unlike English, **the pronunciation of Japanese vowels is constant, meaning they sound the same no matter where they are put** – **In English**, the vowel "**o**" in "**boy**," "**flow**," and "**mood**" can sound totally different. In contrast, **the Japanese** "**o**" is pronounced almost the same wherever it's in "**tokyo**," "**sokka**," or "**mori**." As I mentioned, although vowels are voiced (vibrating vocal cords), they are categorized as "Seion'' in Japanese phonology. In fact, vowels are voiced in any language, which requires the vocal cords to vibrate when pronounced. | あ - a | い - i | う - u | え - e | お - o | | ----------------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------ | -------------- | ------------ | | "a" in "car" (without stress) | "i" in "joy" | "o" in "food" (without stress) | "e" in "lemon" | "o" in "bot" | | | | | | | **"Without stress" means that when pronouncing each kana, there are no changes in pitch or stress as the example syllables in English words do, but always flat.** ### Ka-line: かきくけこ(ka, ki, ku, ke, ko) The pronunciation of ka-line kana is our first set of syllables involving consonants. As we mentioned before, consonants can be categorized as voiced or voiceless. "Seion" means voiceless sounds, but **not** all consonants in the Seion group are voiceless. Fortunately, **the consonant "k" is voiceless.** It is faithful to the "Seion" category ; ) Why do I say the consonant "k" is voiceless? To pronounce voiceless sounds (consonants), you don't need to vibrate your vocal cords, remember? Now, let's do some pronunciation exercises. Please try to pronounce "k" (drop any vowels because all of them are voiced) and touch your throat simultaneously. You will find that your throat is **not** vibrating. But when you try to pronounce vowels or ka-line syllables such as "**ka**" or "**ko**," you can feel the slight vibration in the throat. | か - ka | き - ki | く - ku | け - ke | こ - ko | | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | "ca" in "card" (without stress) | "ki" in "kiss" (without stress) | "ku" in "kudu" (American accent) | "ca" in "care" (British accent, without stress) | "co" in "coffe" (American accent, without stress) | | | | | | | ### Sa-line: さしすせそ (sa, shi, su, se, so) **"S" is a voiceless consonant.** Some kanas' pronunciations in the sa-line can be quite tricky, especially "**shi**" and "**su**." When pronouncing "**shi**," please notice that it is not [cacuminal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroflex%5Fconsonant?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), which means a sound pronounced using a [retroflexed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroflex%5Fconsonant?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) tongue. By the way, there is not a single syllable in Japanese that is cacuminal. "Shi" sounds like "she" without stress. "Su" is one of the most headache-inducing syllables in Japanese. Take a deep breath and relax. Let's do it in two steps -- **first**, **please forget about the vowel "u,"** just pronounce the consonant "**s**"; **second**, change your **mouth shape** to the shape for pronouncing the vowel "**u**" when you pronounce the consonant "**s**." Please note that there should be no other change, like tongue position, except for the shape of your mouth. Got it? You'll better grasp the nuts and bolts of it with more practice. \*Two typical incorrect pronunciations of "su": (1) pronouncing it as "su" in "suit." (2) pronouncing it as "s" in "Stephen." (excessive sibilance). | さ - sa | し - shi | す - su | せ - se | そ - so | | ---------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------ | ------------- | -------------------------------- | | "so" in "sorrow" (American accent) | "sh" in "sheet" (without stress) | / | "se" in "set" | "so" in "sorry" (British accent) | | | | | | | ### Ta-line: たちつてと (ta, chi, tsu, te, to) **"T" is a voiceless consonant.** In this line, ["tsu" can be hard to pronounce.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slMcb54xqmw&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Indeed, all syllables with the vowel "u" are kind of troublesome. However, it will be much easier to pronounce "tsu" if you have grasped how to pronounce the syllable "**su**" well. Likewise, there are two steps to pronounce "tsu," -- (1) pronounce the consonant "**ts**" and (2) change your **mouth shape** to the shape for pronouncing the vowel "**u**" when you pronounce the consonant "ts." | た - ta | ち - chi | つ - tsu | て - te | と - to | | -------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------- | --------------- | --------------- | | "ta" in "Tajikistan" | "che" in "cheese" (without stress) | / | "Te" in "Terry" | "To" in "Toast" | | | | | | | ### Na-line: なにぬねの (na, ni, nu, ne, no) **"N" is a voiced consonant**, which means the vocal cords will be vibrating when pronouncing this consonant. As we mentioned, some syllables have voiced consonants in the "Seion" group, yet "Seion" means voiceless sounds. Similarly, attention needs to be given to "**nu**" -- **please do not let your mouth move too much when pronouncing it.** Our mouth shapes can change a lot when we are speaking in English. However, the Japanese language uses fewer movements than English does. **It could be said that the Japanese pronunciation is just as conservative as the national character of the Japanese people.** | な - na | に - ni | ぬ - nu | ね - ne | の - no | | ------------- | ---------------- | ------ | -------------- | -------------------------------------- | | "no" in "nod" | "ni" in "bikini" | / | "ne" in "neck" | "know" in "knowledge" (British accent) | | | | | | | ### Ha-line: はひふへほ (ha, hi, hu, he, ho) **"H" is a voiceless consonant.** In this line, the two syllables, "**hi**" and "**hu**," with the vowels "**i**" and "**u**," are not easy to pronounce. You may have learned somewhere else that the pronunciation of "**hi**" in Japanese is equivalent to "**hi**" in "**history**." It's **not** correct. **The IPA symbol for the Japanese "hi" is /hi/, which is the same as English "he"'s (without stress).** However, the IPA symbol of "**hi**" in "**history**" is /**hɪ**/. This point can also be applied to other Japanese syllables with the vowel "**i**" -- **the IPA symbols for Japanese "i" is always /i/, never /ɪ/.** When it comes to the syllable "**ふ**" (typed both hu or fu), unfortunately, **it can't be pronounced as "hu (purely exhaled)" or "fu (like food),"** which are two typical mispronunciations of "**ふ**." Furthermore, we can't find the same syllable in English. **The correct pronunciation of "ふ" sounds more like the middle ground between "hu" and "fu."** You will feel airflow rub against your lower lip when you pronounce "**ふ**" correctly. Linguists call it a [voiceless bilabial fricative](https://panglossa.fandom.com/wiki/Voiceless%5Fbilabial%5Ffricative?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). | は - ha | ひ - hi | ふ - hu | へ - he | ほ - ho | | ---------------- | ----------------------------- | ------ | -------------------- | ------------------------------ | | "hu" in "hustle" | "he" in "he" (without stress) | / | "he" in "helicopter" | "ho" in "hop" (without stress) | | | | | | | ### Ma-line: まみむめも(ma, mi, mu, me, mo) **"M" is a voiced consonant.** The ma-line may be the most straightforward in terms of pronunciation. Still, you don't want to make your mouth move too much when you pronounce "**mu**" or "**mo**." | ま - ma | み - mi | む - mu | め - me | も - mo | | -------------- | -------------- | ------ | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | "ma" in "mama" | "me" in "meet" | / | "me" in "mess" (without stress) | "mo" in "mole" (American accent, without stress) | | | | | | | ### Ya-line: やゆよ (ya, yu, yo) **"Y" is a voiced consonant.** Writing the same sound in different ways to distinguish the consonant and vowel. Therefore, there is no "**yi**" for ya-line because it's already represented by the vowel "**い(i)**." As for "ye," there used to be one – "ye([𛀁](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%F0%9B%80%81?ref=blog.lingodeer.com))," which has been abolished. | や - ya | | ゆ - yu | | よ - yo | | ------------------------------- | | --------------- | | ------------------------------------------------ | | "ya" in "yard" (without stress) | | "Yu" in "Yusuf" | | "yo" in "yolk" (American accent, without stress) | | | | | | | ### Ra-line: らりるれろ (ra, ri, ru, re, ro) **"R" is a voiced consonant.** The ra-line may be the hardest for many English speakers, and many learners mispronounce the ra-line kana without even realizing it. [The consonant "r" in Japanese](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-ERE23YP88&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is different from both "**r**" and "**l**" in English. When pronouncing "**r**" in English, we need to roll our tongues, like in "**nerd**" and "**rude**." When pronouncing "**l**" in English, the space between the tongue and the hard plate (the hard roof of your mouth) is quite large, like in "**Los Angeles**" and "**laugh**." So, how do we pronounce the consonant "**r**" or ra-line kana in Japanese? Simply speaking, **it needs a smaller space than "l" does.** When pronouncing the Japanese "**r**" or other ra-line kana, **you can feel the sides of your tongue touching the upper alveolar teeth.** If you speak Spanish, you can try to pronounce Spanish "**r**" without vibrating the tongue, which has the same sound as Japanese "**r**." | ら - ra | り - ri | る - ru | れ - re | ろ - ro | | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | | / | / | / | / | / | | | | | | | ### H3 Wa-line: わを (wa, wo) "**w**" is a voiced consonant. There used to have "we(ゑ)" and "wi(ゐ)," but they faced similar fates to the "ye(𛀁)" we mentioned earlier. What's more, the spelling of the syllable "**wo**" may make you think it's pronounced as "**wo**" in "**word**." Well, this is also an annoying trap. Actually, **"を(wo)" has the same pronunciation as the vowel "お(o)."** | わ - wa | | \*ん - n | | を - wo | | ------------------------------------------------- | | ------- | | ------------ | | "wha" in "what" (American accent, without stress) | | / | | "o" in "old" | | | | | | | ## Dakuon and Handakuon ### What do Dakuon and Handakuon mean After reviewing the above contents, I believe you have sufficiently grasped the Seion group, which is the introductory Japanese phonology. Next, let's talk about the Dakuon and Handakuon group. **Dakuon means voiced sounds.** This is in contrast to Seion, which means voiceless sounds. All of the syllables categorized as "Dakuon" are indeed voiced, while **not** every syllable in "Seion" is voiceless. **Handakuon means half-voiced sounds.** **The pa-line is the only member of the Handakuon group**. Even though the consonant "p" is voiceless, **Japanese people prefer to call it "Handakuon" to differentiate it from the Dakuon "b" and Seion "h."** I know this is very puzzling, but it's okay - just remember that pa-line is the only Handakuon. ### Two voice marks: Dakuten and Handakuten We had better look at [two voicing marks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakuten%5Fand%5Fhandakuten?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) before learning specific Dakuon and Handakuon syllables. As its name implies, **Dakuten is the voicing mark used to indicate Dakuon. It refers to** **two very short strokes゛** appearing on the top right of each Dakuon kana. **Some Seion kana can be converted to Dakuon kana if the Dakuten are added.** For example: > さ(sa) - ざ(za) > > た(ta) - だ(da) > > は(ha) - ば(ba) Likewise, **Handakuten is a little circle゜ for indicating Handakuon, a.k.a the pa-line.** For example > は(ha) - ぱ(pa) > > ひ(hi) - ぴ(pi) ### H3 Ga-line がぎぐげご (ga, gi, gu, ge, go) **"G" is a voiced consonant.** You may have noticed that the only difference between the writing of each ka-line and ga-line kana is the **Dakuten** \-- adding Dakuten to ka-line kana can make it turn into ga-line kana. | が - ga | ぎ - gi | ぐ - gu | げ - ge | ご - go | | ------------------- | ------ | -------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | | "ga" in "Lady gaga" | / | "goo" in "goof" (without stress) | "gue" in "guess" (without stress) | "goa" in "goal" (without stress) | | | | | | | **Sometimes you may hear some older people or speakers with non-standard dialects nasalizing ga-line kana.** This is also very common, so you don't have to be surprised if you hear it. You can compare them in the audio below. | nasal | | | ------------------- | -------------- | | nga ngi ngu nge ngo | ga gi gu ge go | | dai-nga-ku | dai-ga-ku | | ni-hon-ngo | ni-hon-go | ### H3 Za-line ざじずぜぞ (za, ji, zu, ze, zo) **"Z" is a voiced consonant.** I'm guessing you are wondering why there is a "**ji**" instead of "**zi**." I won't expand on the history of phonological change as it's easier to just remember it as irregular for now. **Please note that "ji(じ)" and another syllable, "di(ぢ)" that we will learn later, have the same pronunciation.** They are represented by different consonants, which distinguish them from each other in terms of kana. When pronouncing the syllable "**zu(ず)**," You can also refer to the same way of "**su(す)**" mentioned earlier -- first, pronounce the consonant "z" and then change the shape of your mouth to "u" (don't stop making the "z"). **It's worth mention that "zu(ず)" has the same pronunciation as "du(づ)," just like the pairs "ji(じ)" and "di(ぢ)."** | ざ - za | じ - ji | ず - zu | ぜ - ze | ぞ - zo | | ----------------------------------- | --------------- | ------ | ------------------------------- | -------------- | | "zza" in "bizzare" (without stress) | "Je" in "Jesus" | / | "ze" in "zest" (without stress) | "zo" in "zone" | | | | | | | ### H3 Da-line だぢづでど (da, di, du, de, do) **"D" is a voiced consonant.** The only difference between the **ta-line** and **da-line** in terms of writings is the Dakuten, which converts the voiceless consonant, "**t**," to the voiced "**d**." Additionally, **"(ji)じ," "(di)ぢ" and "(zu)ず," "(du)づ" have the same in pronunciations as I mentioned above.** | だ - da | ぢ - di | づ - du | で - de | ど - do | | ----------------- | --------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | "da" in "darling" | "Je" in "Jesus" | / | "dea" in "endeavor" (British accent, without stress) | "do" in "donut" (American accent) | | | | | | | ### H3 Ba-line: ばびぶべぼ (ba, bi, bu, be, bo) **"B" is a voiced consonant.** The ba-line's pronunciation is relatively easy, but be careful to **distinguish these triplets -- "ha(は)," "ba(ば)," and "pa(ぱ)."** | ば - ba | び - bi | ぶ - bu | べ - be | ぼ - bo | | ---------------------------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | -------------- | | "bo" in "boxing" (American accent) | "Be" in "Beyoncé" | "boo" in "bamboo" (without stress) | "be" in "bed" (without stress) | "bo" in "bone" | | | | | | | ### H3 Pa-line: ぱぴぷぺぽ (pa, pi, pu, pe, po) **"P" is a voiceless consonant.** However, Japanese people call the pa-line "Handakuon (half-voiced sounds)" to distinguish it from the Dakuon ba-line and Seion Ha-line. | ぱ - pa | ぴ - pi | ぷ - pu | ぺ - pe | ぽ - po | | -------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ------------------------------- | | "pa" in "papa" | "pe" in "peak" (without stress) | "po" in "pool" (British accent) | "pe" in "pet" (without stress) | "po" in "pope" (without stress) | | | | | | | ## Yoon In this section, we will not learn any new kana. **Yoon refers to a syllable that is formed of "i-ending kana" plus any of the three vowels, "(ya)や, (yu)ゆ, (yo)よ."** For example, **"ki(き)" + "ya(や)" = "kya(きゃ)." As you can see, the second ya (や) is written in a sort of lowercase for combining with ki(き) to form a Yoon syllable.** What if it's not in lowercase? Well, "kiya(きや)" is not a Yoon syllable but two independent syllables we learned before. Please note that although one Yoon syllable consists of two kana, **it is still just one syllable.** You can compare the difference with the audio below. | Yoon | | | ---- | ----- | | kya | kiya | | myu | miyu | | cho | chiyo | ## Three easily overlooked sounds ### ん(n) Last but not least, let's learn three easy-to-forget but essential syllables. **(n)ん is the only syllable in Japanese that does not end with a vowel and doesn't begin any words in standard modern Japanese.** (n)ん always follow other syllables. When **n(ん)** appears in front of a vowel in a word, it’s often mistakenly treated as a na-line syllable. For example, the word "**funiki (雰囲気)**" is pronounced "**fun-i-ki,**" not "**fu-ni-ki.**" | ongaku | funiki | shinkata | | ------ | ------ | -------- | ### っ(sokuon) The sokuon, **っ**, looks like "**tsu(つ)**," but they are not the same syllables. Its Katakana is **ッ**. We don't have to know what "sokuon" specifically means. **The only thing we need to know is that the sokuon is the only one that doesn't make a sound, which means we can't really hear it.** Nevertheless, it's still an independent syllable, so we need to pause to indicate it. Note: **Japanese is not a syllable-based language. It's based on** [**mora**](https://www.japanpitt.pitt.edu/glossary/mora?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**. Syllables can be heard, but っ can't be heard, so it's a mora.** In this article, I have chosen to call them syllables instead of mora in order to make things simpler for beginners. Sokuon is like a mute between two syllables, which you have to indicate through a pause. This can sound hard to understand, but the audio below will help you understand it better. | shusseki | nikki | Sapporo | | -------- | ----- | ------- | When typing some words containing the sokuon "**っ**," you need to **double type** the consonant of the syllable following the sokuon. It shows that the sokuon is used to mark a [geminate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemination?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) consonant. ### Long sounds **Long sounds in Japanese are a general term for lengthened vowels and we don’t need to learn any new kana to read and write them.** In Hiragana, long sounds are represented by vowels. For example, the second **お** in the word "**(Ōsaka) おおさか**" is an elongation of the previous **お**. **In Katakana, the long vowel symbols are represented by "ー," such as "(raamen) ラーメン."** > Ōsaka > > raamen > Please note that the long sound is a lengthening of the vowel in the previous syllable, and **there is no pause between them.** You don't want to pronounce "okaa-san (お母さん)" as "oka-a-san." > okaa-san > > oka-a-san > ## Japanese pitch and accent **Japanese is a pitch-accent language, which means a word's syllables have a different pitch (tone)** – some are relatively higher and some are lower. You may be wondering,” Isn't English the same way?” **English is not a phonetically flat language, but it depends more on volume and length to strengthen certain syllables as opposed to pitch.** Japanese also contrasts with Chinese, which is seen as a tonal language -- pitch (tone) changes within even a single syllable. Japanese pronunciation is a piece of cake for English speakers because most Japanese syllables also exist in English. However, **Japanese pitch and accent are not that easy to grasp, which plays a decisive role in identifying authentic speakers.** Thus, my dear friend, please don't omit the below guidance if you want to sound less like a foreigner. ### Basic rules Pitch not only adds vibrancy to the Japanese language, but also functions in phonetically indicating words and sentences. Let's learn four essential rules of the Japanese pitch. **(1) Almost all words' pitch is fixed, meaning you need to** [**look it up**](https://www.gavo.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ojad/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **and remember it.** **(2) Within a word, the pitch of the first syllable must be different from the second one's. If the first syllable starts high, the second one will be lower, and vice versa.** > バス(HL) > > 悪い - わるい - (LHL) > > 不便 - ふべん - (HLL) **(3) The pitch can only go low up to one time in a word.** > 卵 - たまご - (LHL) > > 動物園 - どうぶつえん - (LHHHLL) > > お金 - おかね - (LHH) **(4) The pitch goes low near a word or a sentence's ending.** ### Pitch in words The below table shows several pitch accent patterns of the most common words. It's hard to list all the possible cases here, but you can handle most situations if you understand these patterns. Please note: **"H" refers to the high pitch, while "L" refers to the low pitch.** The "H "or" L "in parentheses refers to the pitch of particles (e.g., は, が, を) that follow the word. | syllables→ type↓ | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | ------------------------------------------ | ----------- | --------- | -------------------- | ----------------------- | -------- | | start high without falling | L(H) | LH(H) | LHH(H) | LHHH(H) | LHHHH(H) | | き spirit | かぜ wind | わたし I | ともだち friend | だいどころ kitch | | | start low, goes high, fall in the particle | | LH(L) | LHH(L) | LHHH(L) | LHHHH(L) | | | やま mountain | おとこ male | おとうと younger brother | さんばんめ the third | | | start high, goes low | H(L) | HL(L) | HLL(L) | HLLL(L) | HLLLL(L) | | か fire | うみ ocean | ホテル hotel | ポップス pops | かとうさん Mr./Mrs. Katou | | | goes high in the middle | | | LHL(L) | LHLL(L) | LHLLL(L) | | | | からい spicy | どようび Saturday | しゃしんてん photo exhibition | | | | | | LHHL(L) | LHHLL(L) | | | | | | せんせい teacher | クリスマス Christmas | | | | | | | LHHHL(L) | | | | | | | おくります present to | | As mentioned above, **the pitch goes low only once or none in a word. This rule can also be applied to compound words.** The pitch goes low only once within a compound word, even though it consists of two independent words. | word 1 | word 2 | compound word | | -------------- | ---------------- | --------------------- | | \- わすれ - LHH | \- もの - LH | \- 忘れ物 - LHHHH | | \- えいご - LHH | \- しけん - LHL | \- 英語試験 - LHHHHL | | \- ヒマワリ - LHLL | \- ようちえん - LHHLL | \- ヒマワリ幼稚園 - LHHHHHHL | | | | | I know the above content can be challenging, especially for beginners. **Please take it easy, as Japanese people are highly tolerant of foreigners' language skills.** In most cases, no matter whether your pitch is correct or not, they will be able to understand what you are trying to say : ) ### Pitch in sentences In Japanese, the pitch of a word goes low at its ending. This rule is also valid for sentences -- **the pitch always starts high and becomes lower near the end.** Therefore, **Japanese people would think a word or a sentence is finished when they hear the falling pitch.** You probably already know how vital particles are for Japanese grammar. They also play an essential role in Japanese phonetics. Generally speaking, **a slight pause (very short) occurs when encountering a particle, and the pitch also changes.** Please listen to the following phonetics to get a feel for how particles work in Japanese phonology. These recordings were made with a [Japanese voice generator](https://www.gavo.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ojad/phrasing?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) developed by a research laboratory at the University of Tokyo. > 私わたしはハワイから来きました - I am from Hawaii. > > ラーメンと餃子ぎょうざが大だい好すきです - I love ramen and dumplings. > > アメリカ合衆国がっしゅうこくは、北きたアメリカに位置いちし、連邦共和国れんぽうきょうわこくです > > The United States is a federal republic located in North America. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Japanese pronunciation phonetic? Kana provide a fairly consistent guide to sound, but spelling alone does not show every detail of pitch, devoicing or natural connected speech. ### Do long vowels matter? Yes. Vowel length can distinguish words and should be practised as timing, not just loudness. ### Is Japanese a tonal language? Japanese is commonly described as a pitch-accent language rather than a lexical tone language like Mandarin. ### How should beginners practise? Listen to short native recordings, repeat by mora, record yourself and compare timing as well as individual sounds. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### 25 Useful Korean Idioms for Everyday Life URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-idioms/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:29:53.000Z Do you use idioms in your everyday conversations? Idioms are expressions that have a different meaning than their literal translations. An example of an English idiom is the saying, “break a leg!” When you say this to your friend before they give a speech or a performance, do you want them to actually break their leg? Of course not! “Break a leg,” as an idiom, takes on a new meaning of “good luck!” ## Quick Answer: What Are Some Useful Korean Idioms? Korean idioms and proverbs often express an idea indirectly rather than through their literal wording. This guide introduces 25 expressions for work, relationships, mistakes and everyday situations. Learn each expression together with its context and example instead of translating it word for word. | Expression | Meaning in this guide | | -------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | 시작이 반이다 | Getting started is half the battle. | | 식은 죽 먹기 | Something is very easy. | | 손발이 맞다 | People coordinate well when working together. | | 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 | Even experts can make mistakes. | Korean speakers also use idioms in their conversations. **Idioms can make your language sound more interesting, creative, and natural.** Idioms are also a great way to **add humor to your conversations.** Let’s look at some idioms we can use to talk about school or work, relationships and social interactions, and making mistakes. There are numerous Korean idioms that use words related to body parts so, as a bonus, we will look at a few of those as well. 시작해요! Many of our everyday conversations revolve around school or work, as these are usually very big parts of our lives. So let's first take a look at some idiomatic expressions you can use when discussing your job or school work. ![Korean Idioms](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-idioms-1.png) ## Korean idioms about school and work ### 갈 길이 멀다 (gal giri meolda) Literally: “to go on a long road” Usage: If you have a ton of work to do and there is no end in sight, you can use this expression which means you have a long road ahead of you. You can also use this when something will not be finished or completed for a long time. For example, someone who just graduated from school and joined the work-force has a long road ahead of them before retirement. Example A: 요즘 매일 운동하고 있죠? (yojeum maeil undonghago issjyo?) B: 네, 하지만 아직도 갈 길이 멀어요. (ne, geureohgineun hajiman ajikdo gal giri meoreoyo.) Translation A: These days you exercise everyday, right? B: Yeah, but I still have a long way to go. ### 어깨가 무겁다 (eokkaega mugeopda) Literally: “one’s shoulders feel heavy” Usage: You can use this idiom when you feel like you have too many responsibilities or a heavy burden. Example A: 무슨 일 있어요? 스트레스 받아보여요. (museun il isseoyo? seuteureseu badaboyeoyo.) B: 큰 시험을 위해 공부하는 것 때문에 어깨가 무거워요. (keun siheomeul wihae gongbuhaneun geosttaemune eokkaega mugeowoyo.) Translation A: What’s wrong? You look stressed. B: I feel burdened because I am studying for a big test. ### 시작이 반이다 (sijagi banida) Literally: “a start is half” Usage: This means “a good start is half the battle” in English. Do you have a big final paper to write for class or a report to make for your boss? Just getting started is half the battle! You can use this expression to give someone encouragement when they have a big project to do. Example A: 저는 공부해야 하지만 공부는 너무 지루해요. (jeoneun gongbuhaeya hajiman gongbuneun neomu jiruhaeyo.)B: 힘내세요. 시작이 반이잖아요. (himnaeseyo. sijagi banijanhayo.) Translation A: I need to study but it is too boring. B: Cheer up. You know starting is half the battle. ### 식은 죽 먹기 (sigeun juk meokgi) Literally: “eating cool rice porridge” Usage: When something is really easy, just like eating rice porridge after it has cooled down, you can say “식은 죽 먹기예요.” This is similar to saying “it was a breeze” or “it was a snap” in English.Example A: 그 시험은 식은 죽 먹기예요. (geu siheomeun sigeun juk meokgiyeyo.) Translation A: That exam was a breeze. ### 손 놓고 있다 (son nohgo issda) Literally: “to not have one’s hands on something” Usage: This expression means that someone has stopped or set aside the work they were doing. Depending on the situation, it can describe pausing, abandoning or no longer attending to a task; it is not a general synonym for every kind of procrastination. Example *Dictionary note:* The [Korean Basic Dictionary entry for 손](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=17608&nation=eng&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) illustrates 손을 놓다 with stopping work or leaving a project unattended. A: 저는 요즘 게을러져서 일을 손 놓고 있어요. (jeoneun yojeum geeulleojyeoseo ireul son nohgo isseoyo.) Translation A: I’ve been lazy these days so I’m not working. ### 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘다 (nunko tteul sae eopsi bappeuda) Literally: “to be so busy that you do not even have time to open your eyes or nose” Usage: As you can probably guess, this idiom is used when you or someone else is very busy. This is a great one to use during exam season or when you have an important deadline coming up.Example A: 요즘 시험 기간이어서 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바빠요. (yojeum siheom gigan-ieoseo nunko tteul sae eopsi bappayo.) Translation A: These days I’m so busy because it’s exam time. Along with school and work, our social relationships are also a huge part of our lives and a typical topic of conversation. We often talk about our friends or colleagues so let’s look at a few idioms used to talk about people. ## Korean idioms about relationships and social interactions ### 발이 넓다 (bari neolpda) Literally: “to have big feet” Usage: Do you know any social butterflies? In Korean, you can say that they have big feet. Maybe they do not actually have big feet but this expression is used to talk about someone who has a big circle of acquaintances or a large social network. Example A: 민수 씨 어때요? (minsu ssi eottaeyo?) B: 진짜 외향적이에요. 발도 정말 넓어요. (jinjja oehyangjeogieyo. baldo jeongmal neolpeoyo.) Translation A: What is Minsu like? B: He is very outgoing. He’s a social butterfly. ### 호랑이도 제 말 하면 온다 (horangido je malhamyeon onda) Literally: “talk about the tiger and it will come” Usage: This is another Korean idiom that has a similar English counterpart: “speak of the devil.” This one is used when you are talking about someone and that person just so happens to walk into the room or call/message you at that same moment.Example A: 요즘 지민 씨 만났어요? (yojeum jimin ssineun mannasseoyo?) *지민이 방으로 걸어 들어온다* (jimini bangeuro georeo deureoonda) B: 와\~ 호랑이도 제 말 하면 와요. (wa\~ horangido je malhamyeon wayo.) Translation A: Have you met Jimin recently? *Jimin walks into the room* B: Wow! Speak of the Devil. ### 손발이 맞다 (sonbari majda) Literally: “(our) hands and feet match” Usage: Use this expression when people coordinate well while working or acting together—their ideas, actions or approach are in harmony. It describes teamwork or being in sync, rather than simply being close friends. *Dictionary note:* The [Korean Basic Dictionary](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=63970&nation=eng&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) defines 손발(이) 맞다 as people’s minds, opinions or actions harmonizing when they work together. Example A: 민서하고 서연이 친하지요? (minseohago seoyeoni chinhajiyo?) B: 네, 정말 친해요. 손발이 맞아요. (ne, jeongmal chinhaeyo. sonbari majayo.) Translation A: Are Minseo and Seoyeon close? B: Yes, they are very close. They are like 2 peas in a pod. ### 사랑이 식다 (sarangi sikda) Literally: “love gets cold” Usage: This is a bit of a sad one but it means that love for someone or something is fading. Example A: 저는 여자친구랑 헤어졌어요. 사랑이 식은 것 같았어요. (jeoneun yeojachingurang heeojyeosseoyo. salangi sigeun geos gatasseoyo.) Translation A: I broke up with my girlfriend. I think our love is fading. ### 친구 따라 강남 간다 (chingu ttara gangnam ganda) Literally: “to follow one’s friend to Gangnam” Usage: You started listening to K-pop and now your friend also listens to K-Pop. You started watching Korean dramas, and now your friend also watches Korean dramas. You started studying Korean and now your friend also studies Korean. Do you know someone who always follows what other people do? This idiom is used to talk about someone who always wants to do anything their friend does. Example A: 엄마, 나도 친구처럼 축구 배우고 싶어요. (eomma, nado chingucheoreom chukgu baeugo sipeoyo.) B: 친구 따라 강남 간다더니 너도 축구를 배우고 싶구나. (chingu ttara gangnam gandadeoni neodo chukgureul baeugo sipguna.) Translation A: Mom, I want to learn soccer like my friend does.B: Just because your friend is learning soccer you want to. ### 발 없는 말이 천 리를 간다 (bal eopsneun mari cheonrireul ganda) Literally: “Words without feet travel a thousand ri” Usage: This idiom means that stories and rumors can travel very quickly. This one is used as a kind of warning to tell someone that they should be careful when they talk. Example *Dictionary note:* Here 말 means “words” or “something said,” not “horse.” The [Korean Basic Dictionary proverb entry](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/kor/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=67886&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) explains that something said once can spread far very quickly. A: 발 없는 말이 천 리를 간다고 말을 조심히 해야 한다. (bal eopsneun mari cheonrireul gandago mareul josimhi haeya handa.)Translation A: You should be careful what you say, rumors travel quickly. ### 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다 (najmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deutneunda) Literally: “A bird hears words spoken during the day, a mouse hears words spoken at night” Usage: This is similar to the last one. It means to be careful what you say because someone is always listening. Example A: 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다고 입 조심해. (najmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deutneundago ip josimhae.)Translation A: Watch your mouth, rumors travel fast. When we are working, going to school, or interacting with people, we all make mistakes. Whether we want to admit it or not, everyone will make a mistake at some point. Here are some idioms used to talk about making mistakes or to reassure someone after they have made a mistake. ## Korean idioms about mistakes ### 아는 길도 물어(서) 가라 (aneun gildo mureo(seo) gara) Literally: “Even on a known road, ask first how to go (ask for directions first)” Usage: This is similar in meaning to the English idiom “measure twice, cut once.” Don’t be overconfident! Even when you think you know the answer or how to do something, it is always better to ask rather than to risk making a mistake.Example A: 아는 길도 물어 가라고 준비를 철저히 해야 해요. (aneun gildo mureo garago junbireul cheoljeohi haeya haeyo.)Translation A: To prepare well, you need to ask how. ### 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 (wonsungido namueseo tteoreojinda) Literally: “Even monkeys fall out of trees” Usage: You can use this idiom to reassure someone who has made a mistake. It means that, even if you are good at something, you can still make a mistake. Example A: 앗! 제 실수에요. 죄송합니다. (as! je silsueyo. joesonghapnida.) B: 괜찮아요. 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어질 수 있어요. (gwaenchanhayo. wonsungido namueseo tteoleojil su isseoyo.) Translation A: Oops! It’s my mistake. I’m sorry. B: It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes. ### 낯(이) 두껍다 (nacc(i) dukkeopda) Literally: “Thick face” Usage: This expression describes someone who is shameless or brazen—someone who is not easily embarrassed when making an unreasonable request or behaving without regard for social shame. It does not by itself mean that the person never learns from mistakes. *Dictionary note:* See 낯(이) 두껍다 under the [Korean Basic Dictionary entry for 낯](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=41289&nation=eng&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Example A: 너는 정말 낯이 두껍고 뻔뻔하구나! (neoneun jeongmal nacci dukkeopgo ppeonppeonhaguna!) Translation A: You are so shameless and brazen! ### 눈감아 주다 (nungama juda) Literally: “To close one’s eyes” Usage: In English we use a similar expression, “let it slide.” This is used when you see something bad happen or know that someone has made a mistake but you choose to ignore it. For example, if someone has made a mistake at work, but this is the first time, you might let it slide this time.Example A: 이번에는 제가 눈감아 줄테니까 다음부터는 실수하지 마세요. (ibeoneneun jega nungama jultenikka daeumbuteoneun silsuhaji maseyo.) Translation A: I will let it slide this time, but please don’t make this mistake next time. ### 하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다 (haneuri muneojyeodo sosanal gumeongi issda) Literally: “Even though the sky collapsed, there is a hole to jump out” Usage: Obviously, having a need to use this in a non-idiomatic way would be terrifying! But, as an idiom, this means that every problem has a way out. This is another one that can be used to reassure someone who has made a mistake that there is always a way out. Example A: 하늘이 무너져도 솟아날 구멍이 있다고, 다른 방법을 생각해야 해요. (haneuri muneojyeodo sosanal gumeongi issdago, dareun bangbeobeul saenggakhaeya haeyo.) Translation A: There is always another way, you should think of a different method. ### 생각이 짧다 (saenggagi jjalpda) Literally: “One’s thought is short” Usage: This means that someone did an action or said something without thinking it through. Typically this results in the person being unintentionally rude or doing something that they regret. Example A: 제 친구는 생각이 (정말) 짧아서 답답합니다. (geu sarameun saenggagi (jeongmal) jjalpaseo dapdaphapnida.) Translation A: My friend really never thinks before he speaks so I’m frustrated. You have already seen a few examples of idioms using words for body parts in the previous examples such as: 눈감아 주다, 발이 넓다, 제 눈에 안경이다, 손발이 맞다, 어깨가 무겁다, 눈코 뜰 새 없이 바쁘다. Korean has a ton of idioms that use body parts so let’s look at a few more. ## Korean idioms that include body parts ### 믿는 도끼에 발등 찍힌다 (mitneun dokkie baldeung jjikhinda) Literally: “to get stabbed in the foot by an axe you trust” Usage: This is similar to “to stab someone in the back” in English. You can use this when you trusted someone but they betrayed you. Example A: 저는 그 사람을 믿고 있었는데, 믿는 도끼에 발등을 찍혔어요. (jeoneun geu sarameul mitgo isseossneunde, mitneun dokkie baldeungeul jjikhyeosseoyo.) Translation A: I trusted that person, but she stabbed me in the back. ### 귀가 얇다 (gwiga yalpda) Literally: “to have thin ears” Usage: In Korean, if you have thin ears it means that you are gullible. You will believe anything someone tells you, even when it is completely unbelievable. Example A: 제 친구는 귀가 얇아서, 아무나 잘 믿어요. (je chinguneun gwiga yalpaseo, amuna jal mideoyo.) Translation A: My friend is gullible so he trusts anyone. ### 귀(를) 기울이다 (gwi(reul) giurida) Literally: “to tip or turn one’s ears” Usage: This is a way to say “listen carefully.” Example A: 제가 하는 말에 귀를 기울이고 들으세요. (jega haneun male gwileul giuligo deuleuseyo.)Translation A: Please listen carefully to what I say. ### 눈이 뒤집히다 (nuni dwijiphida) Literally: “eyes turn upside down” Usage: In English you will sometimes hear people say, “I was so mad that I saw red.” In Korea, you don’t see red. Instead, your eyes turn upside down! You can use this when you are very angry or full of rage. It can also mean that someone is crazy about something (but usually in a bad way, like the example below). Example A: 저 남자는 눈이 뒤집혀서 도박을 하고 있어요. (jeo namjaneun nuni dwijiphyeoseo dobageul hago isseoyo.) Translation A: He is crazy about gambling. ### 입에 맞다 (ibe majda) Literally: “it matches my mouth” Usage: What kind of food suits your palate or “matches your mouth?” 입에 맞다 is used to say that you like a food. Do you like spicy food? If not, you can use the opposite expression which is: 입에 안 맞다 Example A: 이 음식은 제 입에 맞지 않아서 먹기 힘드네요. (i eumsigeun je ibe majji anhaseo meokgi himdeuneyo.) Translation A: This food is hard to eat because it doesn’t suit my palate. ### 배가 아프다 (baega apeuda) Literally: “have a stomachache” Usage: You probably already know this sentence if you have been studying Korean for even a short time. This is how you say, “I have a stomachache.” However, this expression also has an idiomatic meaning. When used as an idiom it means that you are envious of someone, especially you feel that they don’t deserve their success, happiness, or luck. So be careful when using it! Example A: 제 친구가 이번에 집을 사서 정말 배가 아파요. (je chinguga ibeone jibeul saseo jeongmal baega apayo.) Translation A: My friend bought a house so I am jealous. Learning idioms and using them in your conversations will make your Korean more interesting and native-sounding. Choose the idioms that you think will be the most useful in your life and practice them often so that you can easily use them whenever you want. A useful tip for practice is to pick an idiom you would like to learn, imagine some scenarios in which you could use it, and write down a conversation. You can easily re-read what you have written in order to review and, because it is in the form of a conversation, it will be a lot easier for you to remember. This will help you memorize the idiom and also recognize when you can use it in an actual conversation. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does 시작이 반이다 mean? It literally says that starting is half, and it encourages someone to begin: once a task has been started, an important part of the difficulty has already been overcome. ### What does 식은 죽 먹기 mean? It describes something that is very easy to do, similar to “a piece of cake” or “a breeze” in English. ### Does 손발이 맞다 mean two people are close friends? Not necessarily. It means their ideas or actions coordinate well when they work or act together. Close friends may have good coordination, but closeness is not the core definition. ### What does 발 없는 말이 천 리를 간다 warn about? It warns that words, stories and rumors can spread very quickly, so speakers should be careful about what they say. ### What does 원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다 mean? Even someone highly skilled can make a mistake—literally, even a monkey can fall from a tree. *References:* Meanings were checked against Korean Basic Dictionary entries for [시작이 반이다](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=36687&nation=eng&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [식은 죽 먹기](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=30204&nation=eng&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [손발(이) 맞다](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=63970&nation=eng&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [발 없는 말이 천 리 간다](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/kor/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=67886&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [원숭이도 나무에서 떨어진다](https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?ParaWordNo=69959&nation=eng&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Get Spooky in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/scary-words-in-japanese-chinese-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:22:59.000Z 'Tis the season for scary costumes, carved pumpkins, and frightening amounts of candy! But Halloween wouldn't be complete without some spooky words. So in today's article, let's learn some scary expressions in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese! ## Quick Answer: Get Spooky in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese Seasonal “scary” vocabulary is easiest to retain through themed groups and example sentences. Check register and cultural associations rather than assuming direct translations carry the same tone. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | Section 1 | How to say "Boo!" in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean | | Section 2 | Scary words in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean | | Section 3 | Taboo numbers in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. ## How to say "Boo!" in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean While in western cultures, "Boo" sounds more or less similar (like "Bouh" in French and "Buh" in German), Asian societies seem to prefer starting the scary sound with the sound of "w" or "h". | Japanese | ワッ! (watu) | | -------- | --------------- | | Korean | 와! (wa) | | Chinese | 吓！（hè）/ 嘿！(hèi) | Unlike "boo", these words don't express disapproval or contempt. However, they can be used in other situations like when feeling surprised, startled, or trying to get someone's attention. ## Scary words in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean The phrase 剪头 (jiǎn tóu) may sound pretty scary at first (to cut head), but actually it means cut hair in Chinese. Similarly, in the Korean phrase 머리 자르다 (meo ri ja reu da), 머리 (meo ri) actually means hair 머리카락 (meo ri ka rak) rather than head. This expression is quite commonly used especially in oral language. So don't be surprised when you hear someone say "나 오늘 머리 잘랐어.” (I got my hair cut today.) or “你需要剪头吗？” (Do you need a haircut?) However, there are indeed some taboos related to cutting hair. In Ancient China, people kept long hair because they believed hair and skin are gifts from parents and should be treated with respect. Even today, Chinese people believe it's bad fortune (especially for your maternal uncle) if you cut hair during the first month in Chinese new year. Some dish names in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese also sound quite scary, but only at first sight. Take a look! | | name | image | Literal meaning | Actual meaning | | ------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | | JP | 親子丼 (Oyakodonburi) | ![A bowl of oyakodon with chicken, egg, and rice](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/parent-child-jpeg.jpg) | Parent and child in a bowl | Scrambled eggs and chicken over rice | | きつねうどん (Kitsune Udon) | ![A bowl of kitsune udon topped with fried tofu](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/udon-jpeg.jpg) | Fox udon noodle | Udon noodle with deep-fried tofu | | | KR | 할머니 뼈 해장국 (hal meo ni ppyeo hae jang guk) | ![A bowl of Korean pork-bone soup](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/grandmas-bone-soup-jpeg.jpg) | Grandma’s Bone soup | Pig’s bone soup made by an old lady | | 눈깔 사탕 (nun kkal sa tang) | ![Colorful round hard candies](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ball-shaped-candy-jpeg.jpg) | Eyeball candy | Ball-shaped candy | | | 엄마손 파이 (eom ma son pa i) | ![Rectangular pieces of Korean pastry](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/eommason-pai-jpeg.jpg) | Mom’s hand pie | Mom’s (handmade) pie | | | CN | 老婆饼 | ![Chinese wife cakes with a glazed pastry crust](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/laopobing-jpeg.jpg) | Wife pie | Sweet pie with pastry and filling | | 夫妻肺片 | ![A plate of fuqi feipian in spicy red oil](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/fuqifeipian-jpeg.jpg) | Husband and wife lung slices | Sliced beef in chili sauce | | ## Taboo numbers in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Like the number 13, the number 4 is considered very unlucky in many Asian societies including China, Japan, and Korea. This is because the sound of the number 4 (sì) sounds a lot like the word for death – 死 (sǐ). Because of the [influence of the Chinese language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/), Japanese and Korean also consider 4 as unlucky. The number 4 has two pronunciations in Japanese (*shi* and *yon*). People avoid using shi because of its similarity to 死 (*shi*). In Korean, the number 4 also sounds like the hanja for "death" (사). As a result, elevators and hotels sometimes use other signs to represent the number four or entirely skip it. In Korea, the fourth floor is sometimes labelled "F". If an apartment contains multiple 4 (like 404), its value is also likely to be affected. In Japanese, the number nine (九 *ku*) is also considered unlucky. Because it sounds like 苦 (suffering, agony or torture). Therefore, there are also two readings for nine – *ku* and *kyu*. ## How to say trick or treat in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Generally, trick or treat is not a popular thing in all 3 Asian cultures. With people living in high-rise buildings, it's also quite inpossible. However, just like Christmas, Halloween is getting more and more popular in Ancien societies. Young people love putting on festive costumes or carving their own pumpkins. In Chinese, "trick or treat" is translated into 不给糖，就捣蛋 (*Bù gěi táng, jiù dǎodàn*), which literally means "will be naughty if no candy". Japanese language directly borrowed the English words using [katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/): トリック オア トリート (torikko oa torrito). The same is for Korean using 트릭 오어 트릿 (teulig o-eo teulis). There you go! Happy Halloween everyone! Don't forget to keep your day streaks ^ з^ --- **Recommended reading:** - [Chinese vs Japanese vs Korean, which is the hardest?](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-japanese-korean/) - [Kanji, Hanja, and Hanzi, what's the difference?](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/) - [Happy 5th Birthday, LingoDeer!](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-5-birthday/) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What should readers focus on first? Start with the article’s core explanation and one practical example before expanding. ### Is every detail universal? No. Usage, register, regional variation and current policies may require additional context. ### How should this be practised? Use short examples, active recall and repeated exposure rather than reading once. ### Where should changing information be checked? Use current official or primary sources for dates, rankings, availability and formal requirements. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Japanese Swear Word Baka | Meaning and Origin Explained URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/baka/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:50:57.000Z Download [pronunciation\_ja\_ばか.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/pronunciation%5Fja%5Fbaka-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: What does baka mean in Japanese? Baka (ばか / バカ, also written 馬鹿) commonly means “fool,” “idiot,” “stupid” or “foolish.” Its force depends heavily on tone, relationship, situation and region. It can be insulting, teasing or occasionally affectionate, so learners should avoid it in formal settings and use it with caution. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | Basic meaning | fool, idiot, stupid or foolish | | Register | informal and potentially offensive | | Interpretation | depends on tone, relationship, context and region | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. "Baka" is a Japanese swear word and one of the most famous Japanese words – no wonder there is a saying that curse words are the first step to learning a Foreign Language ; ) You might have already heard of “baka” many times through animes, movies, or trending TikTok videos using the catch phrase “[sussy baka](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sussy-baka?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)”. **But what does "baka" actually mean? Is it a bad word? How do Japanese people use it?** If these questions are lingering in the back of your mind, please don't skip this article. After our introduction to the term, we will give you a lot of fun facts about it! If you just want a short version, baka is a Japanese curse word that means idiot, moron, stupid, dumb, etc. It's an offensive term that should be used very carefully and avoided in formal situations. Sometimes baka can also be a sign of intimacy. Here are 4 common uses baka: - Make fun of very close friends - Regret or blame something that someone did - Look down on or insult someone - In romantic relationships Want to dig deeper? Here is a complete explanation. If you wish to learn more Japanese words, [LingoDeer](https://lingodeer.page.link/Y9xm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is the best place to start! ## What does baka mean According to the [weblio dictionary](https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/%E9%A6%AC%E9%B9%BF?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), baka means "**idiot**," "**fool**," "**moron**" (noun), or "**stupid**," "**dumb**," "**obtuse**," "**dull**" (adjective). Its [Kanji form](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/) is "**馬鹿**" and [kana forms](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) are "**ばか**" and "**バカ**." Generally, **the word baka is used to describe someone who lacks common sense or has done something foolish.** So please use it carefully and avoid using this word in formal situations. How to pronounce baka in Japanese? Listen to the audio below ⬇️ ![baka](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/baka.jpg) baka's calligraphy It's easy to learn the definition of a foreign word with the high accessibility of dictionaries and translation services in the internet era. However, **learning a foreign word's specific contextual meanings will still take time, especially for slang such as "baka" that has many subtle nuances.** **Baka can be a curse word, ridicule, criticism, insult, offensive term, or even a sign of intimacy.** The below compilation presents different scenarios to showcase its various usages. Without further ado, let's get started! ## How to use baka As mentioned above, **"baka" can sound totally different depending on the conversation and context.** It also depends on who you are talking to and in which tone. In general, please avoid using it in the following situations: > To strangers, acquaintances, or people you just met. > > On a formal occasion or in public, even though it's to your close friend. > > When you are unsure what it means. > > To people who are from the [Kansai region](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansai%5Fregion?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) You may be wondering why the last one is included. Well, baka can sound more or less insulting depending on the region you’re in. As for Kansai, "**baka**" tends to be a much stronger insult. Instead, Kansai people use another word, "**ahō**" (阿呆), far more often. **You can think of it as the Kansai version of "baka."** ![baka vs aho](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/thats-a-horse-4.png) **Just like English, Japanese has many dialects. The meanings of many words and expressions in Japanese can change according to region.** That's why you should be careful using curse words like "baka" to joke around if you don’t have a comprehensive understanding of the term. In the following sections, some scenes will be given which contain several typical uses of "**baka**.” Please try to compare their nuances depending on different contexts. ### Use baka when making fun of close friends In the following conversation, Shun and Nosuke are good friends. Shun told Nosuke he was reading a UFO-related book. However, **Nosuke doesn’t believe in UFOs, so he thought reading a book like this was stupid.** "Baka" doesn't hurt because they are used to talking to each other in such a playfully rude way. > Shun: I'm reading a book called Introduction to Ufology. > > 乃介: こんな本を読むとか**馬鹿**なの？ > > Nosuke: Isn't it stupid to read this kind of book? > > 俊：**馬鹿じゃない**よ。面白いよ！ > > Shun: It's not stupid. It's interesting! ### Use baka to look down on or insult someone Shizuka and Tarō are classmates. Tarō has a crush on Shizuka. One day, a basketball tournament was held at the school. Students gathered in the gymnasium to watch the game. Shizuka, the girl, is cheering for a player named Yamamoto. Unfortunately, **Tarō heard it, got jealous**, and muttered that Yamamoto was a "bakayaro." > Shizuka: Yamamoto-senpai is so cool! > > 太郎: あいつは**馬鹿野郎**だ。 > > Tarō: That guy is a stupid jerk. "**Bakayarō**" is a commonly used compound word that combines "**baka**" and "**yarō**" (野郎). **"Yarō" is also a highly context-dependent word.** It means "**man**" or "**dude**" when being used among male friends to mock each other. However, it turns to "**jerk**" or "**dumbass**" if you are meaning to offend someone. Additionally, Japanese people sometimes put "**大(おお)**" before "**馬鹿**" to emphasize the degree of foolishness at hand -- e.g. **大馬鹿**, **大馬鹿野郎**, and **大バカ者**. Let's see another dialogue with the most common use of baka. > 本田: 30点しか取れなかった？お前**バカ**すぎじゃねえ？ > > Honda: (You) only got 30 points? You’re so stupid! ### Use baka to regret or blame something that someone did The boss criticized his employee for doing a bad thing. > Boss: Are you stupid? (How come you) did that?! > > 部下: **馬鹿**なことをして本当に申し訳ございません。 > > Subordinate: I sincerely apologize for doing a foolish thing. ![how to use baka](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/thats-a-horse-3.png) ### Use baka in romantic relationships Baka can also be used by couples and lovers. You may have noticed this in Japanese romantic dramas or anime. In the below dialogue, **Kanna and Osu are lovers** and they have broken up for a month after an argument. On a rainy night, Osu, the boy, shows up at Kanna's doorstep with a homemade cake. > Osu: Please try this. > > 環奈: **馬鹿**… > > Kanna: You dummy… ### Baka's other usages Now that we’ve seen the essential usages of “**baka**,” let’s take it a step further. “**Baka**” can also be used as a prefix for adjectives and nouns to indicate excessiveness, which is similar to "**very**" or "**super**." > 馬鹿正直 - be honest to a fault > > 馬鹿に寒い - ridiculously cold ![how to use baka](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/thats-a-horse-2-e1664784832607.png) Another frequently seen meaning of it is "**useless**" or "**broken**." > 蛇口が馬鹿になった - The faucet has broken > > 味覚が馬鹿になる - to experience loss of taste Sometimes, "**baka**" refers to someone who is indulgent in something but doesn't see its faults or disadvantages. > 親馬鹿 - doting parent It can also be used to describe someone who is very good at and fascinated with a subject but doesn't care about or lacks basic knowledge of others. > 音楽馬鹿 - someone who is crazy about music ## Baka's history and origin At this point, I believe you have become a master in "**baka**" now ; ) In this section, I would like to introduce the two most significant theories about the origins of “**baka**.” ### A Chinese idiom 指鹿為馬 The most widely accepted theory about “**baka's**” origin is that this word was derived from a Classical Chinese idiom, [指鹿為馬](https://www.linguee.com/chinese-english/translation/%E6%8C%87%E9%B9%BF%E7%82%BA%E9%A6%AC.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Before reading the history behind the idiom, please note that it contains the two Kanji that make up the word “**baka**”, "**鹿**" and "**馬**" -- respectively meaning "deer" and "horse" in both Chinese and Japanese. Furthermore, **the literal meaning of the idiom, 指鹿為馬, is "pointing at a deer and saying it's a horse."** Am I kidding? No. ![zhi lu wei ma](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/10/ld-image-4f7439e4c5c2acfb.png) 指鹿為馬 - pointing at a deer and saying it's a horse. Once there was an emperor of China called [Hu Hai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin%5FEr%5FShi?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), who was the son of [Qin Shi Huang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin%5FShi%5FHuang?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (259-210 BC). Hu Hai was too young to be a sovereign in power, which meant that the country was actually controlled by the prime minister, [Zhao Gao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao%5FGao?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). This evil vassal eventually had the idea of replacing Hu Hai on the throne. To carry out such a vast conspiracy, **Zhao first needed to know he or the emperor had more respect from the officials in the court.** One day, Zhao presented a deer to the emperor and said it was a rare breed of horse. Hu Hai, the emperor, asked doubtfully, "**Isn't that a deer?**" Zhao insisted it was a horse as he observed the officials' reactions. Some officials were more outspoken and said it was a deer, while some, out of fear of Zhao, chimed in and said it was a horse. After that day, Zhao assassinated those who referred to it as a deer. Now you can probably understand why this Chinese idiom, 指鹿為馬, refers to deliberate misrepresentation. As I mentioned above, **this is the most widely accepted theory about the origin of the Japanese word "baka" (馬鹿), even if it doesn't mean exactly the same thing as the idiom.** ### Baka is a loanword from Sanskrit Another well-known theory argues that the word "baka" is a loanword from [Sanskrit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Sanskrit is the sacred language of Hinduism and is also used to transcribe Buddhist classics. A Sanskrit word, Moha ([मोह](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B9?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)), is considered by many linguists to be the origin of the word “baka.” It means bewilderment, loss of consciousness, delusion, or folly. **This claim seems to make more sense in terms of meaning than the previous one.** ## Other Japanese swear words At this point, we have nailed down "baka," but now I’d like to introduce you to several otherJapanese curse words and pejoratives. I have to say that Japanese is not a rich language in terms of profanity, especially compared with English and Chinese. Still, there are some quality insults out there for us to dig into. | | Kana | Pronunciation | Kanji | Translation | | -- | -------- | ---------------- | ------- | ----------------------------- | | 1 | くそ | kuso | 糞 | shit | | 2 | くそやろう | kusoyarō | 糞野郎 | jerk | | 3 | ちくしょう | chikushō | 畜生 | beast; damn it | | 4 | ブス | busu | / | ugly woman | | 5 | へんたい | hentai | 変態 | pervert | | 6 | エロガッパ | erogappa | / | pervert | | 7 | デブ | debu | / | fatass | | 8 | くず | kuzu | 屑 | trash | | 9 | カス | kasu | / | trash | | 10 | ごみ | gomi | 塵 | trash | | 11 | さいてい | saitei | 最低 | the worst; b\*tch | | 12 | やくたたず | yakutatazu | 役立たず | useless person | | 13 | ざこ | zako | 雑魚 | useless person | | 14 | キチガイ | kichigai | / | psycho | | 15 | しね | shine | 死ね | go to hell; drop dead | | 16 | いなかもの | inakamono | 田舎者 | bumpkin | | 17 | ダサい | dasai | / | yokel | | 18 | くうきがよめない | kuuki ga yomenai | 空気が読めない | (someone) can’t read the room | | 19 | くたばれ | kutabare | / | go to hell | | 20 | まぬけ | manuke | 間抜け | idiot | | 21 | ぼけ | boke | 呆け | idiot | | 22 | はげ | hage | 禿げ | baldy | | 23 | まけいぬ | makeinu | 負け犬 | loser | | 24 | よわむし | yowamushi | 弱虫 | p\*ssy; weakling | | 25 | キモイ | kimoi | / | disgusting | | 26 | ケチ | kechi | / | stingy | | 27 | あんぽんたん | anpontan | / | dork | | 28 | ちび | chibi | / | small fry; pipsqueak; dwarf | | 29 | ビッチ | bicchi | / | bitch (loanword) | | 30 | こしぬけ | koshinuke | 腰抜け | coward | | 31 | きえろ | kiero | 消えろ | f\*\*k off; get lost | | 32 | ひきょうもの | hikyōmono | 卑怯者 | scumbag | ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is baka always a swear word? No. It can be a serious insult, playful ridicule or a sign of intimacy, but it remains risky without a close relationship and clear context. ### Can you use baka with teachers or supervisors? It is best avoided in formal situations and with people who hold greater social authority. ### Why can baka sound different by region? The article notes regional variation, including a contrast with ahō in Kansai usage. ### How is baka written? Common forms are ばか in hiragana, バカ in katakana and 馬鹿 in kanji. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Por vs Para in Spanish: Key Differences and How to Use Them URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/por-vs-para/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:04:38.000Z If you are [learning Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-spanish/), you may find that that por and para are both quite similar to “for” in English. But they are not exactly the same. They can not be used exchangeably, nor are they used in the same ways as “for” in English. Por and Para are just one of the many words and grammatical cases that do not have an exact equivalent in English. Think of it as the case with “ser” and “estar”. If that wasn’t enough, these two words can also mean "by", "on", "through", "because of", "to", "in order to", among other prepositions. In some cases, they can even mean “Why?” ! For today’s article, we have prepared a very schematic and straightforward guide encompassing all the different grammatical cases these two words have, accompanied by tons of examples. I am completely sure you will find it very useful, and you will learn almost all their uses and semantic nuances! You will be able to understand when to use por vs para, as well as to comprehend the slightest differences in meaning between the two prepositions. Let’s go! ## Por and para: main differences and use cases In general, por has a “causal” meaning, that is, it is, broadly speaking, used to express **cause or consequence together with a sort of “through”**. On the other hand, the semantics of para is centered around **finality**. Of course, even though there are cases in which they are exactly and strictly used to express consequence or finality, there are many others in which their functions are entirely different, but they preserve this abstract essence and semantics; para is finality, a movement towards, and por is the space and trajectory of the movement, so to speak. Por and para can have many different meanings based on the context. ***Por* can be used as:** - because of - during - for - through / across /around - in exchanged for - by ***Para* can be used as:** - for the benefit of - in order to - for (expressing a sense of “deadline”) - towards - to Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don't worry! Prepositions in Spanish are not exactly the same as in English. So there is no need to try to find an exact equivalent. Instead, the best way is to learn them in context and through constant practice. [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) can help you pick up grammar points like por vs para easily as you progress in Spanish. Check it out! Anyway, there is no need to solve any abstract reasoning puzzles here, so let’s get straight to the point! ![por vs para](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/por-vs--para.png) ### Por vs para: consequence vs finality **Por - because of, for** *Por* expresses consequence. If an object, a person or a verb is followed by “por”, it means that object or person is the consequence of something (or that something is happening because of that person or object). Todo lo que hice, fue por ti. All what I did, it was for you. “You” is the consequence that the subject of the sentence did all of what he or she did. It could also be expressed as “All I did was because of you”. Todo esto ha sucedido por su egoismo. All of this has happened because of his selfishness. Here por is acting as “because of”. His selfishness was the cause. Queremos hacerlo por el bien de nuestro planeta. We want to do it for the good of our planet. “The good of our planet” is the reason why they want to do whatever they want to do. It could also somewhat be expressed in English as “because of the good of our own planet”. ¿Ves? Por esto no quiero ser tu amigo. See? That’s why I don’t want to be your friend. (because of this I don’t want to be your friend). Again, “por” is expressing the consequence. Ha tenido problemas de salud por comer mucho esa fruta. He has had health problems for (because of) eating too much that fruit. In this case, por is expressing that the verb/action “comer” is the consequence; for/as a consequence of eating too much of that fruit, he has had health problems **Para - “For the benefit of”, “in order to”** Contrary to *por*, para expresses the finality, the endpoint, of an action/verb or object. Todo lo que hice, fue para ti. All what I did, was for you. “You” is the finality, the receiver of all I did. For instance, if I say “es para ti”, it means “it is for your benefit”, “aimed toward you”. If I say “por ti” it means “You are the consequence I did something”. Este es mi regalo de cumpleaños para ti. This is my birthday present for you. Again, you is the finality, the receiver, therefore we use “para”. Tenemos leche para desayunar. We have milk for breakfast. “Para” because it is the finality the milk will be used for. Lo hago para gustarte. I do it in so that you like me. The **finality** of doing it is that you like me. **A last example to understand the difference between Por and Para:** Hago esto por gusto. I do this for pleasure (because I like it). The reason why you do it is because you like doing it. Hago esto para que me guste. I do this so that/in order to like it. You are doing it with a finality, the finality is that you will end up liking it, by doing it. ### 2\. Por and para: time **Por - During, for** He estado haciéndolo durante/por 4 años . I have been doing it for 4 years. In reality, “durante” would look more natural here, but por is also correct. He estado haciéndolo por la tarde. I have been doing it during the afternoon. Remember, when it comes to time, por= during/for. **Para - For (expressing a sense of “deadline” or an endpoint in time)** Lo quiero para la tarde. I want it for this afternoon. Por would mean during, if you say “lo quiero por la tarde”, it would mean you want it at some point during the afternoon, “para la tarde”, the afternoon itself is the endpoint/the deadline. ### 3\. Por and para: location **Por - through, across or around.** Había sangre por todo el suelo. There was blood all around the groun. Estamos yendo por el campo. We are going across the field. Está por aquí. It’s around here/the place. Remember when I said that *por* is used to express a sort of “through” or “space in between”? In general, when it comes to space/location, “por” is used exactly for that. **Para - towards, to** Estoy yendo para/a la escuela. I am going to (towards) the school. Está yendo hacia la pared. It is going towards the wall. Whilst por is used to refer to the “space in between” (remember I am talking in abstract terms), para is used to refer to the destination, the endpoint, the place something is going to/towards. ### 4\. Other uses of para **Use para to express opinion** Para mí, hacer eso está mal moralmente. To me/in my opinion, doing it is morally wrong. When you say “para mí”, “para ti”, “para él”, or in general “para + an indirect pronoun”, and then express an opinion, you mean that the person the indirect pronoun is referring to holds that opinion. ### 5\. Other uses of por **Use *por* in passive voices like *by*** Todo el esfuerzo fue realizado por mí. All this effort was carried out by me. Warning: However, when it comes to expressing who the author of something (eg, a book) is, in Spanish, it is used “de”, and not “por” Este libro es de Miguel de Cervantes. This book is by Miguel de Cervantes. ***Por* is used as “by means of”/by” when it comes to telecommunications** Nos pondremos en contacto por teléfono. We will get in touch by phone. Lo han dicho por la televisión. They said it on TV. ***Por* is used as “in exchanged for”** Te puedo ofrecer 1000 euros por el coche. I can offer 1000 euros for/in exchange for the car. Puedo darte mi coche por tu avión. I can give you my car in exchange for your plane. ## Conclusion Yes, sometimes understanding linguistic concepts like the difference between *por* and *para* can be hard and confusing, especially when they do not exist in your own native language. But it is also very illuminating and, once finally grasped, very rewarding! By combining learning these rules with exposing yourself to Spanish-speaking environment, you'll soon realize that using grammar rules is not as hard as you think. They'll eventually become natural to you. ### Korean Profanity | 11 Common Korean Swear Words and Phrases URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-swear-words/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:04:40.000Z When you watch a Korean drama or actually live in Korea, you often hear not only [greetings such as 안녕하세요](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-korean/)(an-nyeong-ha-se-yo), but also Korean curse words, especially from Korean 아저씨(a-jeo-ssi)! Out of curiosity and fun, the first foreign words most people learn are curse words, so today we're going to teach you some **common Korean curse words and phrases** so you can better understand what the locals are saying! Of course, be aware that these are not words you can just use on others, today it is just for educational purposes only! ## Korean Swear Words ### 1.씨발(Ssi-Bal) - F\*ck/ Shit I'm sure many of you have heard this phrase many times! You can use this word when you are very angry or when something frustrating happens to you. It is the most common and very rude word used by Koreans, and you are strongly advised not to use it in public, as it may lead to unnecessary arguments. 씨발(Ssi-Bal) also sounds very like the pronunciation of '18' (십팔 Ship-Pal) in Korean. So the number '18' is often used as a replacement for the swear word in situations like chatting online or playing video games. ### 2.아씨(Aish) - ah..f\*ck / ah…shit … This is a simplified version of 씨발 (Ssi-Bal), which is slightly less serious, but is also considered to be a very rude word. Using 아씨(Aish) can also make people look at you with offended eyes! ! Remember not to use it with strangers. ### 3.개새끼 (Gae-Sae-Ggi) - bastard, jerk… In this word, "개" means "dog"; "새끼" literally means "young or baby animals". So the word 개새끼 means "son of a bitch", it can also mean “jerk” or “bast\*rd”. In Korean dramas, you often see older people using it to scold younger people. Interestingly, it was not originally a dirty word, but used to express loveliness and joy to friends or grandchildren, and to convey the meaning of love. ### 4.꺼져(Gguh-juh) - get lost, leave me alone, go away It is a rather rude word to say to someone when you are angry and want them to disappear from your sight right away.But it is also sometimes used to say in jest with family or friends. If you're not sure of the occasion, it's best not to use it! ### 5.젠장 (jen-jang) - Damn! Damn it! This is a swear word used in an unpleasant situation. Like most other Korean swear words, it is quite serious lexically, but as time goes by, it becomes a light word as it is used less and less with human subjects. Rather than expletives, they are simple exclamations with a strong sense of language. It now appears frequently even in cartoon movies watched by children. When people cannot use the word "씨발((Ssi-Bal)", they use "젠장 (jen-jang)" instead. ### 6.지랄 (Jiral) - go nuts, flip (out), have a fit, bullshit This is a derogatory remark that has been used in Korea since ancient times. The original meaning is called ziral disease in pure Korean, which refers to epilepsy. It is one of the common slang words used by Koreans. It is used when you think someone is talking nonsense, again the term is extremely uncivilized and should be used with caution. ### 7.미친놈 (Michin-nom) / 미친년 (Michin-nyeon) - crazy man/ crazy woman You should have heard this word from many [Korean dramas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/) and Korean movies, because this Korean cursing word is very widespread and common in Korea. It comes from the verb pronunciation "미치다", which literally means "go crazy\[mad, insane\],"."놈" means "man/bastard" and "년" means "woman/bitch”. ### 8.병신 (Byeonshin) - asshole, idiot, retard The meaning of the phrase itself started from the disparagement of people with disabilities, and now it only refers to “a person who is crazy”, or “acting like crazy”, but of course, people with actual disabilities are especially offended by this phrase, so it should be used with restraint. It sometimes abbreviated as “ㅂㅅ" , to avoid profanity filtering. ### 9.변태 (Byeontae) - pervert "Metamorphosis" is a term originally used to describe the physical characteristics of an individual, indicating that some organisms do not develop in accordance with the original path of evolution, and there are some developmental deviations. This is actually quite common in the biological world, such as the absence or addition of certain organs, different appearances at different ages, etc. This concept has since been extended to describe individuals who are psychologically abnormal, or even very different from the norm. In our society, both those who live in the shadows and want to harm others at any time, and those who have a unique way of being, are basically a psychological perversion. ### 10.김치녀 (kim-chi-nyeo) The derogatory term "김치녀 (kim-chi nyeo)" describes women who are selfish, who only like brand names, and who only value the money of the person they are dating. 녀 means “women, girl” ### 11.한남총 (han-nam-choong) "The term "한남충" is actually an abbreviation of 한국 남자 벌레 (Korean men worm), which describes Korean men who make discriminatory remarks against women or commit violence and abuse. However, this term, like 김치녀 (kim-chi-nyeo), is a more radical term that maps a minority group to the entire Korean male and female population. ## Korean Swear Phrases After learning some common Korean curse words, let me tell you some common curse sentences below. They are also often found in Korean dramas! ### 1.좆됐어 (Jodwaess-eo) - I’m f\*cked This is a phrase you can use when you encounter something that makes you desperate, because the subject is yourself not someone else, so feel free to use it. ### 2.죽을래? (Jugeullae?) - Do you want to die? This phrase means "Do you want to die?" Or perhaps more accurately, "Do you want me to kill you?" So you need to be very sure about the situation and the person you're using it on. Because you're either trying to start a fight (which is obviously not only informal, but also not a nice thing to say), or you're very close friends with that person and are teasing them. Example. You find out your best friend is stealing food from your bowl. “죽을래?” ### 3.미쳤어? (mi-cheo-seo?) - Have you lost your mind? This phrase is very commonly used when someone does or says something that doesn't make sense. You can also use it when you joke with your friend, when she eats three burgers in one meal alone and you ask her: “미쳤어?” ### 4.가서 죽어라 (ga-seo-ju-geo-la) - go to hell/ Drop dead This is a pretty serious sentence, and generally do not use it on others, unless you are really angry! There you go! That's all for today, did you remember? We hear them a lot in TV shows, so if you like watching K-dramas, it's actually good to know about them. Once again, don't use them indiscriminately on others! Learning Korean is easy and fun with our lessons curated by professional teachers! Try [LingoDeer](https://lingodeer.page.link/3gLY?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) today to start learning! ### Learn Katakana with Katakana Charts URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:51:13.000Z Dear reader, I believe you have already finished learning hiragana before looking for this katakana chart. If not, feel free to check out our previous [hiragana charts](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/) :) ## Quick Answer: What is katakana used for? Katakana is one of the Japanese kana scripts. It is commonly used for many loanwords, onomatopoeia, scientific or technical terms, and visual emphasis. A chart helps with recognition, but learners also need stroke order, pronunciation, reading practice and vocabulary in context. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----------- | --------------------------------------------- | | Loanwords | many words borrowed from other languages | | Sound words | onomatopoeia and mimetic expressions | | Other uses | technical terms, names and stylistic emphasis | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Below LingoDeer team has prepared several handy katakana charts with Latin script. You can also download the pdf and print them out. They should be a great guide and reference for your upcoming Japanese learning journey! For audio, stroke practices, or a systematic Japanese lessons, use our app [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ## Katakana Chart for PC ![katakana chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart.png "LingoDeer katakana chart") Learn more Japanese with LingoDeer App Download katakana chart for PC [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart-1.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![katakana chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart-2.png "LingoDeer katakana chart") Learn more Japanese with LingoDeer App Download katakana chart for PC [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart-2-1.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## Katakana Chart for phone ![katakana chart for mobile users](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-f6d57648c45340c2.png "LingoDeer katakana chart") Learn more Japanese with LingoDeer app! Download katakana chart for phone [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart-shou-ji-.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## Fill-in-the-blanks Katakana Chart Once you've learned katakana. Use these blank kana practice sheets and see if you can go across the sheet by yourself. ![katakana chart (fill in the blank)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart-fill-in-the-blank.png) Download fill-in-the-blanks katakana chart [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart-fill-in-the-blank-1.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![katakana chart (fill in the blank)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart-2-fill-in-the-blank.png) Download fill-in-the-blanks katakana chart [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-chart-2-fill-in-the-blank-1.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Is it enough with these charts? Not really. If you wish to learn more about their strokes, pronunciation, uses, and a bit of history, please read on! ## What is Katakana used for The [Japanese writing system](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/) consists of [46 Hiragana, 46 katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/), and thousands of [kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/). Katakana is mainly used to write **Gairaigo** (literally meaning loanwords), **onomatopoeia**, **scientific** **terms**, and for **highlighting** **specific** **contents** (e.g. eye-catching visual effects). It may have other uses, but I will only introduce several significant ones. As mentioned above, Gairaigo (loanwords) are mainly written in Katakana, and **English is the primary source of Gairaigo in Japanese.** Thus, American and British learners will feel a sense of familiarity when learning Katakana words. The number of Katakana words has been increasing over the years. A few Japanese friends of mine complained that they were distracted by the overwhelming number of Katakana words. Regardless, **Katakana is an essential part of the Japanese language.** We are supposed to take it seriously. Without further ado, let's start learning its uses! ### To write Gairaigo (loanwords) We will find that the **Chinese language has had a profound influence on the Japanese language when learning about its history.** That's why **Kanji** (Chinese characters) and **Kango** (Chinese words) are still significant parts of the Japanese language today. Importing words and characters from China mainly[ occurred during the Tang dynasty (618 to 907 AD)](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2046.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Kanji%20%28%E6%BC%A2%E5%AD%97%29%2C%20one%20of,more%20words%20can%20be%20created.). The Japanese language has been absorbing words from European languages [since the 19th century](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji%5FRestoration?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) as Western society's influence on Japan has dramatically increased. The words derived from European languages are called **Gairaigo** in Japanese, meaning loanwords. You may be wondering, “**Aren't Chinese words also loanwords**?” Technically, **yes**. However, **Japanese people prefer to call them Kango (meaning the Chinese language) rather than Gairaigo (loanwords).** According to Keio University's [survey](http://user.keio.ac.jp/~rhotta/hellog/2017-12-31-1.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), the proportion of Gairaigo (loanwords) in Japanese is about **8%\~9%**. Plus, based on my observation, most Gairaigo (loanwords) seem to come from English. It could be said that **English speakers have a huge advantage in learning Japanese.** ![television](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/television.png) **Loanwords in Japanese tend to refer to things or concepts that did not exist in Japan before the 19th century.** Japanese people phonetically adjust these new things' names according to **Japanese pronunciation rules.** For example, the Gairaigo, **テレビジョン** (**terebijon**), sounds similar to the English “television” but not identical. You will gradually grasp the pronunciation pattern of loanwords in Japanese as you continue to learn. **Abbreviating loanwords is common in Japanese.** The above example is often spoken and written as **テレビ (terebi)**. In addition, **Japanese people also adapt loanwords by rearranging and combining them.** The vocabulary created in this way is called [Waseieigo ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasei-eigo?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)(meaning Japanese-made English). ### To write scientific terms **Technical and scientific terms in Japanese tend to be written in Katakana.** The most typical example is that ingredient lists of consumer packaged goods, such as shampoo, are often a dense string of Katakana words. ![a shampoo bottle with loan words written in katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/shampoo-1.jpg) Another example is that the **names of plants and animals in Japanese are primarily written in Katakana** (although they have corresponding Kanji), even though they are not Gairaigo (loanwords.) To sum it up, if you are a scientist or a science student who wants to study in Japan, it would be helpful to learn more scientific terms written in Katakana for your academic development. ### To highlight certain content Katakana is more angular than Hiragana, which is curly and round. **Visually, Katakana gives an impression of tension, while Hiragana looks cute.** In Japan, **slogans or advertisements are almost always written in Katakana to create an eye-catching effect.** Furthermore, some companies or stores deliberately choose Katakana words for the names of their products to make consumers feel a sense of novelty, such as replacing **お菓子** with **スイーツ**. ![sweets](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/sweets.png) ### Onomatopoeia If you are fascinated by anime or manga, you may have noticed that onomatopoeia in anime dialogue is presented in Katakana. This can be explained as a rule of thumb or an attempt to better catch the viewer’s eye. ## How to memorize Katakana Now let’s learn how to pronounce and write Katakana. Inside each Katakana, **black arrows** are included to guide you on how to write Katakana in its correct stroke order. **Please follow the black lines if you hope to practice writing Katakana on sketch paper.** One of the most prominent characteristics of Katakana is that they are angular. The below audios were recorded by a native Japanese speaker. It’s also worth mentioning that **all recordings in the** [**LingoDeer app**](https://lingodeer.page.link/Y9xm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **are 100% recorded by native speakers**, which can help you to learn Japanese excellently! Well, without further ado, let’s get started! ![a-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/a-line-katakana.png) ![ka-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ka-line-katakana.png) ![sa-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/sa-line-katakana.png) ![ta-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ta-line-katakana.png) ![na-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/na-line-katakana.png) ![ha-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ha-line-katakana.png) ![ma-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ma-line-katakana.png) ![ya-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ya-line-katakana.png) | | | | | | ![ra-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ra-line-katakana.png) ![wa-line katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wa-line-katakana.png) | | | | | | Download the [Katakana Stroke PDF](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/katakana-stroke-pdf.pdf) *(Please note: all images and files in this article are for personal use only, and commercial use is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved by LingoDeer)* If you want to download a **copybook** to practice writing Katakana, [here](https://happylilac.net/katakana-h.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) are many copybooks of Katakana available to download for free. While practicing Hiragana, you can also learn a lot of basic Japanese words. How awesome! ![katakana calligraphy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katakana-calligraphy.png) ### Practice writing I believe now you have begun to understand the primary uses of Katakana, right? So, how should you be memorizing them? Shortly speaking, **writing is perhaps the most straightforward and best way to remember the Japanese alphabet**, which is universally proven by many pieces of language acquisition research. My dear friend, **if you a busy and it's hard for you to find time to sit at a desk and write, why don't you give the** [**LingoDeer app**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **a try?** It offers free and professional kana learning tutorials. [](https://lingodeer.page.link/Y9xm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Graphical mnemonics You might have heard of graphical mnemonics and how it helps memorize foreign words. The essence of graphical mnemonics is [imagery mnemonics](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/studies-in-second-language-acquisition/article/abs/use-of-verbal-and-imagery-mnemonics-in-secondlanguage-vocabulary-learning/803EA5384B401093489002FFE660E149?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), which fully mobilizes the memory function of the brain's visual and image processing areas. The effectiveness of this mnemonic has also been confirmed by numerous studies. However, **is this mnemonic strategy the best option for you? The answer depends.** My dear reader, **graphic mnemonics may be the tool for you if you consider yourself to be a creative person or are often thought to have original ideas.** You can create visual mnemonics for yourself by trying to connect each Katakana with specific images. It will be your brain's first intuition to interpret something newly learned, which can help you quickly grasp a range of content. If you feel that it's hard to create original graphical mnemonics by yourself and are seeking existing ideas, then I would recommend the one created by [tofugu.](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/learn-katakana/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Musical mnemonics **Musical mnemonics is a widely recognized** [**language learning method**](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2018.00031/full?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**.** As a person who loves music, I feel excited when trying to remember something by integrating it into melody. If you think the same way, why don't you try to apply Katakana to songs you are familiar with or search for a good one on YouTube? Today there are more and more YouTubers working hard to bring us excellent content. I want to express my gratitude to them here. Here is one katakana song by Cyber Bunny, a Tokyo based creator with great contents about Japanese language and culture. You can also create your own! ## Fun facts about Katakana ### History Although most Japanese learners learn Hiragana first today, **Katakana was actually created before Hiragana.** Katakana is thought to have been developed during the early 9th century, which is half a century [earlier](https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/japanese-rare-books-culture/0/steps/17238?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) than Hiragana. Buddhist monks and doctors created Katakana to annotate the pronunciation of Buddhist scriptures written in Kanji (Chinese characters). In contrast to Hiragana, which was initially used by women, Katakana has a completely different history. **At first, Katakana was only used by the male upper class, but later became widespread in general society as it began to be implemented in poetry and story collections.** ### Why is Katakana called Katakana? One of my students asked me this funny question in 2020\. Why is Katakana called Katakana? He complained that Katakana is quite tongue-twisting and funny. Do you think so? Actually, the word Katakana literally means fragmentary kana. Its Kanji form is **片仮名**. **The most commonly accepted theory is that Katakana is derived from the** [**radicals of Kanji**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/)**.** As radicals are only part of their Kanji, Katakana is called fragmentary kana. You can learn the original Kanji for each Katakana through the chart below. ![how katakana originated from kanji radicals](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/katatakana.png) As a bilingual of Chinese and Japanese, this chart makes a lot of sense to me -- each Katakana has a similar pronunciation to its corresponding Kanji. **One thing that should be noted is that each Kanji has a meaning, but Katakana and Hiragana are just letters used to represent sounds.** So, I hope you've had a great journey learning katakana! Let us know how you feel or what else you want to know in the comments! Also, if you are a serious Japanese learner, feel free to try our app **LingoDeer** for easy and fun Japanese lessons today! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://lingodeer.page.link/RDKy?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How many basic katakana are there? The standard chart contains 46 basic symbols, alongside modified and combined sounds. ### Is katakana only for English loanwords? No. Loanwords come from several languages, and katakana also has non-loanword uses. ### Should hiragana be learned first? Many courses introduce hiragana first, but both scripts are essential for reading modern Japanese. ### Is a katakana chart enough to learn the script? No. Use the chart as a reference, then add handwriting, pronunciation, timed recall and reading in real words. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Korean Consonants and How to Pronounce them Correctly URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-consonants/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:29.000Z Download [kr-m-zy-jj.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/kr-m-zy-jj-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Vowels and consonants are the 2 key factors to correctly pronouncing in a foreign language. It's especially so for languages very different from English, such as Korean. In the previous article, we talked about [Korean vowels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-vowels/). Today, let's see how to pronounce Korean consonants like a native. After reading this article, you will learn to memorize Korean consonants and master their pronunciation skills! If you wish to learn more Korean systematically, use [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Let’s get started! ![Korean Consonants](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/09/ld-image-d52268a19960d569.png) ## What are Korean Consonants? The Korean alphabet "[한글](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) ([hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hangul/))" was created in the 15th century by King Sejong Daewang (세종 대왕) of the Joseon Dynasty.Korean is a syllabic script that can be divided into **vowels (모음 mo-eum)** and **consonants (자음 ja-eum)**, with 모 meaning mother and 자 meaning son. In Korean, consonants cannot be pronounced alone and must be used in combination with vowels, therefore, vowels and consonants have an inseparable relationship like mother and son. There are **21 vowels** and **19 consonants**, among which vowels can be divided into 10 basic vowels and 11 compound vowels; consonants can be divided into plain, aspirated, and tense. ## Basic Korean Consonants First are the 14 basic consonants: | ㄱ g/k | ㅈ j/ch | | ------- | ------- | | ㄴ n | ㅊch(/t) | | ㄷ d/t | ㅋ k | | ㄹ r/l | ㅌ t | | ㅁ m | ㅍ p | | ㅂ b/p | ㅎ h | | ㅅ s(/t) | ㅇ (ng) | There is a correct stroke order for writing Korean consonants. It is important to follow this to not only improve your Korean letter writing skills, but also to produce beautiful and correct calligraphy. You can use the [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to practice strokes easily. ![Korean word gi stroke order](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/rpreplay_final1664295540-2.gif) Practice Korean stroke order with LingoDeer app ## Korean Consonant Pronunciation One of the characteristics of consonants is that the airflow through the mouth is obstructed when pronouncing them, and they are pronounced in short bursts, while vowels can go on forever. Because the actual pronunciation of a consonant is just a short moment, we may confuse several consonants with similar pronunciations, so a vowel is usually added after the consonant to distinguish the different pronunciations. Of these 14 basic consonants, "ㄱ ㄴ ㅁ ㅅ ㅇ" is an important factor in forming the other consonants. These five basic consonants are inspired by the shape of the oral cavity. **"ㄱ" is the shape of the tongue blocking the back of the throat.** **"ㄴ" is the tongue touching the roof of the mouth.** **"ㅁ" is the shape of the lips.** **"ㅅ" is the shape of the teeth** **"ㅇ" is the shape of the throat.** ![Korean Consonants and How to Pronounce them Correctly](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/09/ld-image-edd1269e7ea61f53.png) Next, based on these five consonants, the remaining basic consonants are formed, except for "ㄹ": | **Korean Consonant** | **Romanization** | **Name of the letter** | | -------------------- | ---------------- | ---------------------- | | ㄱ | g/k | 기역(Khiyeok) | | ㄴ | n | 니은(Nieun) | | ㄷ | d/t | 디귿(Thigeut) | | ㄹ | r/l | 리을(Rieul) | | ㅁ | m | 미음(Mieun) | | ㅂ | b/p | 비읍(Phieup) | | ㅅ | s/t | 시옷(Shiot) | | ㅇ | ng | 이응(Ieung) | | ㅈ | j/ch | 지읒(Chhieut) | | ㅊ | ch/(t) | 치읓(Chh'ieut) | | ㅋ | k | 키읔(Kh'ieuk) | | ㅌ | t | 티읕(Thieut) | | ㅍ | p | 피읖(Phileup) | | ㅎ | h | 히읗(Hieut) | ## Korean Double Consonants | **Korean Consonant** | **Romanization** | **Name of the letter** | | -------------------- | ---------------- | ---------------------- | | ㄲ | kk | 쌍기역(ssanggiyeok) | | ㄸ | tt | 쌍디귿(ssangdigeut) | | ㅃ | pp | 쌍비읍(ssangbieub) | | ㅆ | ss | 쌍시옷(ssangsiot) | | ㅉ | jj | 쌍지읒(ssangjieut) | **Here are some simple tips for you to pronounce these consonants like a Korean native:** **ㄱ vs ㅋ vs ㄲ** ㄱ is pronounced like “g” in “game” ㅋ is pronounced like “kə” in “korea” ㄲ is pronounced like “gg” in “sky” **ㄷ vs ㅌ vs ㄸ** ㄷ is pronounced like “d” in “dinner” ㅌ is pronounced like “t” in “table” ㄸ is pronounced like “dd” in “store” **ㅂ vs ㅍ vs ㅃ** ㅂ is pronounced like “b” in “basket” ㅍ is pronounced like “p” in “power” ㅃ is pronounced like “bb” in “spa” **You can also click on the video below to hear how they are pronounced by a native speaker!** https://youtu.be/TouEGI\_8PnQ?t=198 ## How to Memorize Korean Consonants Easily To better memorize these Korean consonants, you can learn them in the following order. **(1) Plain consonants:ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅈ** **(2) Tense consonants:ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ** **(3) Aspirated consonants: ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅊ** The above three rows are written down one by one. The pattern is that the first line has two pronunciations - a slight blast at the beginning of the word and a loss of the blast in the middle of the word; the second line loses the blast whenever it is pronounced; and the third line has a strong blast whenever it is pronounced. **(4)ㅎ(h)** **(5)ㅁ(m), ㄴ(n), ㅇ (not pronounced at the beginning of the word, pronounced ng at the end of the word)** **(6)ㄹ(r/l) is a rather special consonant that changes its pronunciation with the vowel:** #### 1\. When ㄹ is pronounced as the alveolar flash /r/: - When located at the beginning of a word. Ex: 라디오 (ra-di-o) - When located between vowels. Ex: 사랑 (sa-rang) #### 2\. When ㄹ is pronounced as a curly-tongued approximant /l/: - When located at the end of a word. Ex: 아들 (a-deul), 월 (weol) - When ㄹ is followed by another consonant or another ㄹ. Ex: 딸기 (ddal-gi), 힘들다 (him-deul-da), - When ㄹ appears before or after ㄴ, both ㄹ and ㄴ are pronounced as /l/. Ex: 한류 (hal-lyu), 신랑 (sil-lang) #### 3\. When ㄹ is pronounced with a nasal /n/: - When ㄹ appears after any consonant other than ㄴ. Ex: 생리 (saeng-ni), 국립 (gung-nip) - When ㄹ appears before or after ㄴ, both ㄹ and ㄴ are pronounced as /l/. Ex: 한류 (hal-lyu), 신랑 (sil-lang) ## How do Korean Consonants Work? Korean letters are written in syllabic blocks. Each syllabic block has to include at least one consonant and one vowel. A syllable can have as many as three parts: the onset and coda are made up of consonants, and the core is usually made up of vowels. ![Korean Consonants](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/09/ld-image-ce84ae1eda8eb38c.png) First, a Korean syllable starts with a consonant, written to the left or above the syllable block; then a vowel (the core of the syllable), written to the right or at the bottom of the syllable. Up to this point a syllable can already be formed, but for syllables with three parts, an additional vowel or consonant can be added and written on the right side or bottom of the syllable block (representing the final sound of the syllable). I will explain this to you in the following diagram： ![Korean consonant syllabic blocks](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/8888.png) There are 9 syllabic blocks in total, want to get the full diagram? Download [LingoDeer app](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or go to our [website](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to learn Korean with comprehensive courses! ### 5 Methods to Stay Motivated When Learning a Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-motivation__trashed/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T13:02:10.000Z Do you want to get fluent in your target language really bad but have trouble keeping motivated from time to time? Do you sometimes feel like hitting a wall and don't know what to do next? [Motivation is the key to success in learning a new language](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jun/26/motivation-key-language-learning?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). But it can also be a common barrier faced by many language learners. Noticing you are lacking motivation and trying to find help already make you steps ahead. Remember, momentary loss of motivation does not have to be the end of your language learning journey. Knowing how to bounce back when you feel unmotivated is already halfway to success. In this article, we have concluded several of the best practices to help you stay motivated when learning a new language. Let's take a look! ## Remember why you get started First and foremost: remember why you get started. Find a solid, definable **reason** why you want to study the language right from the start. This reason should be your go-to place when you feel unmotivated. It should be clearly thought and written down in the first place. It can be some encouraging words written on the first page of your language book, in your target language. Maybe you want to travel, or you are looking for new career opportunities, or perhaps you are dating someone abroad… A specific goal will help you maintain a stable, [interactive motivation in language learning](https://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/mar/19/language-learning-motivation-brain-teaching?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). For example, if you learn a language simply because you've always wanted to speak it, your cause will likely be lost along the way. In this case, you should imagine a concrete success situation and how good you will feel when you achieve it. Imagine being to that country you've always wanted to go to and being able to interact with people there without any problem. ## Make language learning an enjoyable experience Do you sometimes find learning grammar and memorizing vocabulary quite boring? While these are unavoidable steps to reach fluency in your target language, language learning does not have to be tedious all the time. Make use of the plenty of resources on the internet to make your language learning an enjoyable experience. Here are some common ways to learn a new language while enjoying it: ### Watch foreign TV shows and movies How can you submerge yourself in the culture and make learning a language more enjoyable? You can start by watching foreign TV shows or movies. If you want to challenge yourself a bit more, say goodbye to dubbed movies and series and watch them in the original version or with subtitles in your target language. There are also YouTubers and a vast number of options and platforms through which you can learn the language in a fun way without realizing it. Similarly, if you like anime or cartoons, you can also try adding subtitles in your target language. This way, you will stay entertained watching shows and movies you would watch anyways. Mix this learning variant with other classic ones such as the books and exercises on paper. Everything together will enhance your learning to a great extent. ### Listen to music in your target language There are scientific studies showing that [singing in a foreign language can significantly improve learning how to speak it](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130718101047.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). So if you like singing or music, try to sing in the language you are learning. You will not only enjoy the music, but also improve your listening and pronunciation skills. You may also pick up some slang words and idioms as you emerge in the music. Frankly, this method might not help you instantly in reading and grammar but will keep you engaged in your target language. This might lead you to immerse yourself further into the culture, which will, in turn, help improve your overall language skills. ### Combine language learning with your hobby Incorporating your target language into your hobbies also helps you keep motivated in language learning. The key is that **it does not feel like part of a lesson plan**. So let's say you like soccer and are learning French; try watching a match with french commentators. If you feel like making YouTube videos, try recording in your target language. You may find that you actually speak better than you think, which will in turn motivate you to learn more! ## Choose the right language learning tools Using a right language learning tool is also essential to staying motivated in language learning. If you feel unmotivated for a long time, maybe consider changing your main learning tool. ### Get a fresh start Your main language learning tools, more often than not, is your textbook, video lessons, or apps you are using for most of the language learning time. Some of them might be quite old and not very engaging. So to stay on track, you can try to get a new textbook and language aid. Getting a new text book, buying a new course, or simply changing a new notebook seems to tell you: “hey, let’s get a new start!” What’s more motivating than trying something new? ### Use an engaging app like LingoDeer While getting started all over again can encourage you from time to time, the best way is still find a tool that is engaging and encouraging. If you start looking, you’ll see there are tons of resources out there, and it can be pretty overwhelming to pick the right one, especially since you will need one that is dynamic and keeps you motivated and on track. So it’s worth noting that you should put some effort into finding the right tool in the beginning. [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a fantastic language learning app that focuses on giving you an engaging learning experience. Unlike most apps, LingoDeer does not focus on getting you through a list and list of vocabulary and grammar explanations; instead, it walks you through fun and engaging ways to memorize them. It keeps you motivated throughout the learning journey while teaching in a systematic and comprehensive way. Give it a try today! ### Record your progress One thing that drags you down when learning a new language is **not being able to see what you've achieved**. Learning a new language is a long journey. It can take months from knowing nothing to creating 1 single sentence. And it can take even more time to write a nice paragraph. So if you can visualize your progress, like by writing down every activity you've done related to language learning, and look back at these small victories on a regular basis, I'm sure you'll feel more confident and rewarded, and thus have the motivation to move forward. A good language learning tool should also help you visualize your learning progress. You can take that into consideration when choosing a learning resource. Is it clearly separated into modules, chunks, or units? Are there any reward system to keep you learning? For example, if you are using LingoDeer app, the day streak and xp system is designed to let you log in and learn a bit every day. So even if you feel unmotivated that day, doing a single exercise to keep your streak going will keep you move forward. You might find your motivation back after doing a lesson. ## Put your target language into use To visualize your progress will be your motivation itself, but to see this, you need to put what you've learned into use. Because the ultimate reason you learn a language is being able to use it. In practicing and utilizing your target language in real life can help you better sense what you already know and don't know and thus maintain your language learning motivation. Here are several ways to do that: ### Incorporate language learning into your daily life Try recreate a language immersion experience in your everyday routine. For example, you can do this by starting to write in your target language. This can be making a shopping list in the language you are learning, adding[ language extensions for your browser](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chrome-extensions-for-language-learners/), journaling in your target language, or switching your phone's settings to French. At first, you might not see the value of this technique, but eventually, you will subconsciously learn a large amount of vocabulary without any effort. ### Find a PenPal Downloading a language chat app like HelloTalk or getting a PenPal to practice your writing is a great way to motivate yourself. Through a friendly cultural exchange, you can not only improve your vocabulary, but also see how they are used in real life. There are hundreds of apps and websites where you can do this and don't be afraid to correct each other, it might seem rude, but that is what language learning is all about. ### Travel Travel is another great way to regain language learning motivation. While traveling may not be the best choice for everyone, it's always a good option to consider. Even if you don't get to practice your target language a lot, having a first contact with its speakers will undoubtedly make you want to improve for the next time you travel. ## Join a language learning community Nothing is more rewarding than having a conversation in the foreign language you are learning. When you feel stuck, try talking to someone in your target language, you will be surprised about your progress and how much you can communicate. You can only do this if you actively look for ways to speak your target language. ### Meet People Who Are Learning Your Target Language You can also try finding someone willing to learn a new language with you or someone already learning it but at your same level. The ideal place to see this is through language exchange groups. Language exchange groups can be found on places like discourd, Meetup, HelloTalk, Reddit, university boards, or even in one of those bars and cafes designed for language exchanges. These are especially fun since you only need to order a drink and start chatting. ### Read language learning blogs Believe it or not, there are probably more language learning blogs than you think. LingoDeer blog provides you with interesting, latest language and culture related contents. And there are much much more blogs with all kinds of language learning contents out there waiting for you. From travel, studying abroad, to polyglot and romance, you can definitely find someone who are logging their language learning experience that interests you. Try finding them out on platforms like Wordpress or Medium and I’m sure you can regain motivation by relating to someone else’s learning experiences. ### Follow language learning influencers Similarly, you can follow influencers on YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok who constantly post on language learning. Hear how they learn a new language and take away some useful tricks and methods to your own learning. Some of them also have live learning-together sessions where you can join their language community to study together! You may find language learning a lot more fun when you do it together with a community. --- Despite what is often thought that learning a foreign language is within everyone's reach, yet not everyone learns the same way and therefore. While language learning sure requires discipline, motivation also plays an important rule when you find things get hard and want to quit. Hope you have find something useful in this article that inspires you to keep progressing in learning languages. If you have other methods we missed, share with us in the comments! ### Top 100 Korean Adjectives and How to Use them in Sentences URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-adjectives/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:04:46.000Z Adjectives are words that **show the quality or state of a person or thing**. In Korean, adjectives are also known as **“descriptive verbs”**. Unlike English adjectives, Korean adjectives can be conjugated just like [Korean verbs](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/). And its dictionary form ends with **\-다 \[da\]**, just like the verbs. Due to this characteristic, sometimes Korean adjectives are considered as **part of the** [**‘verb’ category**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean%5Fverbs?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). According to their different usages – one is to describe the **‘quality or state’**, and the other to describe the **‘action’** – the bigger 'verb' category can be divided into: **action verb (verb)** and **descriptive verb (adjective)**. So don't feel strange when you see the other set of grammar terms. Just remember they are exchangeable! In this article, we will use the below terms: ***Action verb = Verb*** ***Descriptive verb = Adjective*** To give you some examples, here are some Korean adjectives and verbs ending with 다 \[da\]: | **Korean Verbs** 가다\[gada\] (go) 달리다\[dallida\] (run) 자다\[jada\] (sleep) 앉다\[anda\] (sit) 먹다\[meokda\] (eat) 읽다\[ikda\] (read) | **Korean Adjectives** 크다\[keuda\] (big) 작다\[jakda\] (small) 많다\[manta\] (many) 아름답다\[areumdapda\] (beautiful) 행복하다\[haengbokada\] (happy) 빠르다\[ppareuda\] (fast) | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Like verbs, Korean adjectives also need to be conjugated in order to be used in sentences. We'll show you how to conjugate Korean adjectives in this article. First, remember all adjectives end with the syllable **‘다’\[da\]** in their dictionary form. We'll also use this form as the standard form throughout this article. Generally, when you use adjectives in sentences, you are going to conjugate them by **adding a suffix to the stem**. Every adjective has a ‘stem’. It’s the part before 다\[da\] from the adjective. For example: 크다\[keuda\] = **크\[keu\] (stem)** \+ 다\[da\] 작다\[jakda\] = **작\[jak\] (stem)** \+ 다\[da\] 많다\[manta\] = **많\[man\] (stem)** \+ 다\[da\] So how do we use Korean adjectives in a sentence? There are two places to use adjectives in Korean: **before a noun, or after a noun.** We also have an article that addresses [Korean sentence structures](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/) in detail if you wish to know more! Next, we'll talk about how to use and conjugate Korean adjectives in these two situations respectively. ## Korean adjectives that come before a noun When Korean adjectives come before a noun in order to describe more about the noun, **‘-ㄴ/은’** should be attached to the stem of the adjective. Let’s look at the conjugation rules. ### Adjective stem that ends with vowel: Add -ㄴ **크다\[keuda\] (big) → 큰\[keun\]** e.g.) 큰 강아지 \[keun gangaji\]: a big dog **행복하다\[haengbokada\] (happy) → 행복한\[haengbokan\]** e.g.) 행복한 아이 \[haengbokan ai\]: a happy child **빠르다\[ppareuda\] (fast) → 빠른\[ppareun\]** e.g.) 빠른 물고기 \[ppareun mulgogi\]: a fast fish **느리다\[neurida\] (slow) → 느린\[neurin\]** e.g.) 느린 거북이 \[neurin geobugi\]: a slow turtle ### Adjective stem that ends with a consonant: Add -은 **작다\[jakda\] (small) → 작은\[jageun\]** e.g.) 작은 고양이 \[jageun goyangi\]: a little cat **많다\[manta\] (many) → 많은\[maneun\]** e.g.) 많은 옷 \[maneun ot\]: a lot of clothes **짧다\[jjalda\] (short)** → **짧은\[jjalbeun\]** e.g.) 짧은 치마 \[jjalbeun chima\]: a short skirt Above are the 2 basic rules of using Korean adjectives before a noun. But there are also some exceptions： ### Adjective stem that ends with ㅂ: Remove ㅂ and add -운 **아름답다\[areumdapda\] (beautiful) → 아름다운\[areumdaun\]** e.g.) 아름다운 꽃 \[areumdaun kkot\]: a beautiful flower **귀엽다\[gwiyeopda\] (cute) → 귀여운\[gwiyeoun\]** e.g.) 귀여운 고양이 \[gwiyeoun goyangi\]: a cute cat ### Adjective stem that ends with ㄹ: Remove ㄹ and add -ㄴ **길다\[gilda\] (long)** → **긴\[gin\]** e.g.) 긴 다리 \[gin dari\]: long legs **멀다\[meolda\] (far)** → **먼\[meon\]** e.g.) 먼 나라 \[meon nara\]: a faraway country ## Korean adjectives that come after a noun In our previous article [Korean verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/), we talked about how Korean verbs are conjugated based on tense and politeness. Korean adjectives also work this way. In the below examples, I will only use -아/어요 [speech level](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). Let’s see some examples of how to conjugate Korean adjectives in **the past and future tense** (Please note that Korean adjectives cannot be used in present tense). Of course, you can use adjectives with other types of sentence endings as well. ### Past Tense - **Adjective stems that ends with vowel ㅗ or ㅏ: Add -았어요** **작다\[jakda\] (small) → 작았어요** e.g.) 그 옷은 나에게 작았어요. That shirt was small for me. - **Adjective stems that ends with vowels other than ㅗ or ㅏ: Add -었어요** **크다\[keuda\] (big) → 컸어요** e.g.) 그녀는 눈이 컸어요. She had big eyes. ### Future Tense - **Adjective stems that end with a vowel: add -ㄹ 거예요** **행복하다\[haengbokada\] (happy) → 행복할 거예요** e.g.) 크리스마스에 선물을 받는다면 정말 행복할 거예요. I would be so happy to get a present on Christmas. - **Adjective stems that end with a consonant: add -을 거예요** **많다\[manta\] (many) → 많을 거예요** e.g.) 내일은 사람이 많을 거예요. There will be a lot of people tomorrow. **Note:** Unlike verbs that can be used in most sentences, adjectives have limitations. It cannot be used in the present tense, request, and imperative sentences. Compare the two types of words below. | | **Verb** **앉다（anda） (sit)** | **Adjective** **작다（jakda） (small)** | | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | Present tense | 유진이가 앉는다 (✓) \- Yujin is sitting. | 그 고양이가 작는다. (X) | | Request sentence | 유진아, 앉아라. (✓) \- Yujin, please sit down. | 그 고양이가 작아라. (X) | | Imperative sentence | 유진아, 앉자. (✓) \- Yujin, let’s sit down. | 그 고양이가 작자. (X) | ## 100 Most Common Korean Adjectives ### Korean adjectives to describe people and qualities | **English** | **Korean** | | ----------- | -------------------- | | good | 좋은(joeun) | | bad | 나쁜(nahpoon) | | polite | 공손한 (gongsonhan) | | rude | 무례한(mulyehan) | | quiet | 조용한 (joyonghan) | | loud | 시끄러운(sikkeuleoun) | | outgoing | 사교적인(sagyojeog-in) | | shy | 수줍은(sujub-eun) | | funny | 우스운 (useuun) | | serious | 심각한(simgaghan) | | beautiful | 아름다운(aleumdaun) | | happy | 행복한(haengboghan) | | sad | 슬픈 (seulpeun) | | healthy | 거강한(geonganghan) | | sick | 병든(byeongdeun) | | stupid | 멍청한(meongcheonghan) | | intelligent | 지적인(jijeog-in) | | fat | 뚱뚱한(ttungttunghan) | | slim | 날씬한 (nalssinhan) | | poor | 가난한(gananhan) | | rich | 돈이 많은(don-i manheun) | | powerful | 강한(ganghan) | | weak | 약한(yaghan) | | old(people) | 늙은(neulg-eun) | | young | 젊은(jeolm-eun) | ### Korean adjectives to describe colors | **English** | **Korean** | | ----------- | -------------- | | black | 까맣다 (kkamata) | | blue | 파랗다 (parata) | | red | 빨갛다 (ppalgata) | | white | 하얗다 (hayata) | | yellow | 노랗다 (norata) | ### Korean adjectives to describe tastes | **English** | **Korean** | | --------------- | -------------------------- | | sweet | 달다 (dalda) | | salty | 짜다 (jjada) | | bland/tasteless | 싱겁다 (singgeopda) | | spicy | 맵다 (maepda) | | fishy | 비리다 (birida) | | greasy | 느끼하다 (neukkihada) | | crispy | 바삭바삭하다 (basakbasakada) | | disgusting | 역겹다 (yeokgyeopda) | | chewy | 쫄깃쫄깃하다 (jjolgitjjolgitada) | | flat | 납작하다 (napjakada) | | delicious | 맛있다 (masitda) | | unsavory | 맛없다 (maseopda) | ### Korean adjectives to describe weather | **English** | **Korean** | | ----------- | ------------------- | | hot | 덥다 (deopda) | | cold | 춥다 (chupda) | | dry | 건조하다 (geonjohada) | | warm | 따뜻하다 (ttatteutada) | | humid | 습하다 (seupada) | | clear | 맑다 (makda) | | chilly | 쌀쌀하다 (ssalssalhada) | | cool | 서늘하다 (seoneulhada) | ### Korean adjectives to describe shapes and sizes | **English** | **Adjective form** | | -------------- | ------------------ | | big | 크다 (keuda) | | small | 작다 (jakda) | | wide | 넓다 (neolda) | | narrow | 좁다 (jopda) | | heave | 무겁다 (mugeopda) | | light | 가볍다 (gabyeopda) | | high | 높다 (nopda) | | low | 낮다 (natda) | | close | 가깝다 (gakkapda) | | far | 멀다 (meolda) | | thick | 굵다 (gukda) | | thin | 얇다 (yalda) | | long | 길다 (gilda) | | round | 동그랗다 (donggeurata) | | pointed, sharp | 뾰족하다 (ppyojokada) | | square | 네모나다 (nemonada) | ### Korean adjectives to describe quantities | **English** | **Korean** | | ----------- | ----------- | | few/little | 적다 (jeokda) | | many/much | 많다 (manta) | ### Korean adjectives to describe places and things | clean | 깨끗한(kkaekkeuthan) | | --------------- | ----------------- | | dirty | 더러운(deoleoun) | | easy | 숴운(swiun) | | hard | 어려운(eolyeoun) | | expensive | 비싼(bissan) | | cheap | 싼(ssan) | | fast | 빠른(ppaleun) | | slow | 느린(neulin) | | new | 새로운(saeloun) | | old(things) | 오래된(olaedoen) | | wrong/incorrect | 들린(deullin) | | right/correct | 맞는(majneun) | | empty | 빈(bin) | | full | 찬(chan) | ### Learn Japanese Adjectives: A Comprehensive Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese_adjectives/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:31.000Z If you are learning Japanese and would like to find **a detailed and easy-to-understand guide to learning Japanese adjectives**, then congratulations! You've come to the right place. Adjective is an essential component of the Japanese language. They can describe, define, and distinguish nouns, plus many other functions. It's hard for me to imagine a world without adjectives - all poetry, romance, and emotion would disappear. Please do not skip this article if you are struggling with **い-adjectives** and **な-adjectives** and are not proficient in their **conjugations**. I’ll be happy to introduce you to Japanese adjectives from a comprehensive perspective. Additionally, this article will help you expand your vocabulary by providing [a list 120 of the most common Japanese adjectives.](#adjectives-list) Note that romanization will not be provided in this article as I assume you should already know the Japanese writing system at this point. If not, please learn them first with the [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app for free or from our [hiragana charts.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/) Well, without further ado… please have your notebooks at hand and let's start learning Japanese adjectives! ![japanese adjectives](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-adjectives.png) In Japanese, there are mainly two types of adjectives: い-adjectives and な-adjectives. The above image shows their basic usage. Now read on for more details! ## い-adjectives Let's start with **い-adjectives**. These are called "**形容詞（けいようし）**" in Japanese, which literally means "**adjectives**." From here on out, we will refer to these kinds of adjectives as "**い-adjectives**" for convenience. The most prominent characteristic of い-adjectives is that **all of them have the "い" ending.** Similar to English adjectives, い-adjectives are mainly used to modify nouns or as a [predicative](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/internet-grammar/adjectiv/attribut.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Adjectives%20in%20the%20first%20position,Instead%2C%20they) in a sentence. Next, let's learn about い-adjectives conjugation. ![い adjectives](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/09/ld-image-9b699a9379e5e6b5.png) ### Basic Conjugation Like English, Japanese is a language with tenses. **Japanese has only two tenses, present/future tense and past tense**, while there are 16 tenses in English. Another difference is that only verbs are conjugated in English, but both [verbs ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/)and adjectives are conjugated in Japanese. Furthermore, in English, the way to make an adjective negative is by adding **no** or **not** before it. For example, "Today is **not** hot." However, **in Japanese, negative statements are made by conjugating adjectives.** Take the い-adjective "**暑（あつ）**い”as an example. **The following table shows its four basic conjugations.** If you are unfamiliar with them, please master them as soon as possible because they are essential for newbies. | | **Present / Future** | **Past** | | ------------ | -------------------- | ---------- | | **Positive** | 暑（あつ）い | 暑（あつ）かった | | **Negative** | 暑（あつ）くない | 暑（あつ）くなかった | You may have noticed that the **present and future tenses are not separate in Japanese**. So how do we determine whether a sentence is in the present or future tense? We can use **the rest of the sentence as a clue** to figure out its tense. > 今日きょうは暑あつい。明日あしたも暑あつい。 > > It's hot today. Tomorrow will be hot, too. In the above example, two nouns, "今日きょう **(today)**" and "明日あした**(tomorrow),**" inform us of what the two sentences' tenses are. Besides, there are other ways to identify a tense in a sentence, which you will figure out in your future studies. Now, let's learn more sentences to grasp the basic conjugation of い-adjectives. > ニューヨーク は暑あつ**くない** \- New York is not hot > > 去年きょねんの東京とうきょうは暑あつ**かった** \- Last year, Tokyo was hot > > 昨日きのうは暑あつ**くなかった** \- Yesterday was not hot ![japanese adjectives illustration 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-adjectives-illustration-1.png) ### How to place い-adjectives in Japanese If you're already familiar with the four basic conjugations of い-adjectives mentioned above, let's see how い-adjectives are applied in sentences. **I will introduce this part in terms of the positions of い-adjectives in sentences.** - ***at the end of a sentence*** When an い-adjective occurs at the end of a sentence, it is called an [PREDICATIVE adjective](https://www.thoughtco.com/predicative-adjective-1691656?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). If you don't know much about the concept of sentence clause structure, you can just skip it. Please remember that **such a case is common in English as well.** The example sentences in the Basic Conjugation part are all cases of い-adjective occurring **at the end of a sentence.** > ニューヨーク は暑あつくない - New York is not hot > > 去年きょねんの東京とうきょうは暑あつかった - Last year, Tokyo was hot > > 昨日きのうは暑あつくなかった - Yesterday was not hot Do you know that Japanese is a language with an [honorific system](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/)? As a beginner, you are supposed to know the primary difference between **polite and casual speech.** The four example sentences above are all in **casual speech**. So, how can we convert them into **polite speech**? It's easy - add "[**です(desu)**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/desu/)" at the end of the sentences. > ニューヨーク は暑あつくない**です** \- New York is not hot > > 去年きょねんの東京とうきょうは暑あつかった**です** \- Last year, Tokyo was hot > > 昨日きのうは暑あつくなかったです - Yesterday was not hot ![japanese adjectives illustration 2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-adjectives-illustration-2.png) - ***before a noun*** Like most adjectives in English, **い-adjectives can also be placed before a noun.** This is called **ATTRIBUTIVE** adjectives. Again, simply ignore it if you are confused about the sentence composition for now. Let's take a look at these specific sets of examples below: > 暑あつい夏なつ - hot summer > > 昨日きのう、面白おもしろくない映画えいがを見みました - I watched an uninteresting movie yesterday You may notice that in the above examples, the い-adjectives, **暑（あつい** and **面白おもしろくない**, are both in the **present/future tense**, despite the change of negative and positive in the statement. So, **can past tense い-adjectives occur before a noun? The answer depends.** Generally speaking, when past tense い-adjectives come before a noun, it contains a meaning of "**change**." Therefore, it **can't** be used for something constant. > 面白おもしろくなかった映画えいが 〇 > > 美うつくしかった女優じょゆう 〇 The first sentence has no grammatical errors, but it doesn't sound very natural for Japanese speakers. The second sentence is correct. A movie that was once boring has since **become attractive** (to me) for some reason. Similarly, in the third sentence, the actress who used to be beautiful is now probably **no longer** beautiful due to advanced age (indeed, I think each age has its charms.) ![japanese adjectives illustration 6](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-adjectives-illustration-6-1.png) - **in the middle of a sentence** い-adjectives can also occur in the middle of sentences. In this case, they connect two [simple sentences](https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/simple%5Fsentence.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to a [compound sentence](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/compound-sentence/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). If you don't know what a compound sentence is, the following example may help you. > That restaurant was delicious **and** the servers were friendly. In the above sentence, "**and**" connects two simple sentences, forming a compound sentence. Did you get it? Good! Then, **how can we combine two simple sentences with い-adjectives in Japanese?** > That restaurant was delicious - あの レストラン は美味おいしかった > > The servers were friendly - 店員てんいんが優やさしかった To answer this question, I'd like to introduce another conjugation of い-adjectives to you - the te-form (て形). **By turning the い ending of an い-adjective into くて (美味おいしい → 美味おいしくて),** we can turn it into its te-form. The te-form is used to connect two simple sentences. > あの レストラン は**美味おいしくて**、店員てんいんも優やさしかった。 > > That restaurant was delicious and the servers were friendly. I'm guessing you are wondering what the tense of a te-form い-adjective is. Well, it doesn't have a tense. We can only judge a sentence's tense by its **end part**. In the above example, "**優やさしかった**" indicates that it's a past tense sentence. This example shows that the restaurant is delicious (美味おいしい), but what if the restaurant’s food **isn’t** so delicious (美味おいしくない)? Fortunately, **all you need to do is turn the ending い into くて, 美味おいしくない→美味おいしくなくて.** > あの レストラン は**美味おいしくなくて**、店員てんいんも優やさしくなかった。 > > That restaurant was not delicious and the servers were not friendly. ### Some tricky, irregular い-adjectives After studying the above, I believe you have a basic understanding of い-adjectives. It could be said that the grammar rules I mentioned earlier apply to **99.9%** of い-adjectives. Next, let's learn some tricky ones. They are like a few lilies in a field of roses. **いい** When I was a Japanese language teacher in a high school in 2020, there were always students complaining that one い-adjective in particular, **いい**, was difficult. However, **it's not difficult at all!** The literal meaning of いい is good or nice, and its kanji form is **良いい**. What most learners find difficult is its conjugation. | | **Present / Future** | **Past** | | ------------ | -------------------- | -------- | | **Positive** | いい/よい | よかった | | **Negative** | よくない | よくなかった | いい equals よい. **When it comes to conjugation, you don't want to conjugate いい but よい.** Let's think of よい as the stunt double of いい, the big star, to do many difficult jobs for it! ;) **かわいい** かわいい means **cute or lovely**, and the kanji form is **可愛い**. It was just an ordinary い-adjective, but when grading students' assignments, I noticed that many students made mistakes in its conjugation. If you have the same problem, **you may be confused by its double い.** ![kawaii](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/kawaii.png) **The first い in かわいい is a part of the kanji, 愛 (わい).** Like other adjectives, かわいい has only one ending, the second い. | | **Present / Future** | **Past** | | ------------ | -------------------- | -------- | | **Positive** | かわいい | かわいかった | | **Negative** | かわいくない | かわいくなかった | **多い、少ない、近い、遠い** **多おおい** and **少すくない** respectively mean "**many**" and "**few**." **近ちかい** and **遠とおい** respectively mean "**near**" and "**far**." They seem like just four common adjectives by their meanings. However, it would be best for you to **be careful about their applications.** Most い-adjectives can **freely** occur in the ATTRIBUTIVE position (before the noun) and the PREDICATIVE position (at the end of the sentence). However, **the above four ones are restricted to the predicative position only.** | **many people** | **few people** | **nearby hotel** | **distant city** | | --------------- | -------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | | 多おおい人ひと × | 少すくない人ひと × | 近ちかいホテル × | 遠とおい町まち × | | 人ひとが多おおい 〇 | 人ひとが少すくない 〇 | ホテル が近ちかい 〇 | 町まちが遠とおい 〇 | | 多おおくの人ひと 〇 | 少すくなくの人ひと 〇 | 近ちかくの ホテル 〇 | 遠とおくの町まち 〇 | As you see in the table, these four adjectives cannot occur in the ATTRIBUTIVE position (before the noun), but **if you change their endings from い to く and add the particle の, they can be placed before the noun.** My beginner friend, don’t worry about why this is just yet - just remember this particular rule for these four adjectives. ### い-Adjectives with しい ending First of all, please don't be nervous. We are not talking about a new kind of adjective here. **Adjectives ending in しい still belong to the group of い-adjectives.** Additionally, their conjugations and other grammatical rules are no different. **い-adjectives ending in しい are often used to describe emotions, feelings, and personal qualities**, as in the following examples: > 悲かなしい - sad > > 寂さびしい - lonely > > 大人おとなしい - gentle > > 恥はずかしい - shameful In Japanese, い-adjectives that end in しい and contain an emotional meaning **can only be used to describe one’s own feelings, but not others.** Why? Because we can't read people's minds and know how they are feeling. **I know this sounds strange because, in English, we would say things like "you are sad."** However, い-adjectives cannot be used to describe others' feelings or emotions. > 私わたしは悲かなしいです - I'm sad 〇 > > あなたは悲かなしいです - You are sad × Nevertheless, if it is an interrogative sentence, you can use emotional い-adjectives that end with しい to ask someone how they feel. > (あなたは) 悲かなしいですか - Are you sad? 〇 It should also be noted that **not** all い-adjectives ending in しい describe people’s emotions. ## な-Adjectives After reading the above, I'm sure you've already grasped the gist of い-Adjectives. Next, let's take a look at the application of な-adjectives. な-adjectives are called "**形容動詞けいようどうし**" in Japanese, which means **adjectival noun**. The first thing we need to figure out is that **い-adjective and な-adjective are the two main groups that comprise Japanese adjectives.** In other words, the functions of these two categories are the **same**. **The only difference is in their conjugations.** ![な adjectives](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/09/ld-image-29a55e419820b995.png) You may be confused as to why there are two types of adjectives in Japanese when English has only one. Well, we may need to learn a bit about the history of the Japanese language. い-adjectives are mainly native Japanese words ([wago](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B9%B3%E5%AE%89%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)), but **they are very limited in number and cannot meet the needs of many expressions.** Therefore, since the [Heian period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian%5Fperiod?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=The%20Heian%20period%20%28%E5%B9%B3%E5%AE%89%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3,%2Dky%C5%8D%20%28modern%20Kyoto%29.), Japanese people have **converted** nouns with adjectival meanings into adjectives, called な-adjectives (adjective nouns) today. **The origins of these nouns tend to be borrowed words from Chinese.** ### Basic Conjugation As I introduced in the い-Adjective section, conjugations in Japanese are mainly changes in tense and statement. **All な-adjectives have the だ ending, but when you look up them in the dictionary, だ is missing.** For example, the な-adjective "**安全あんぜんだ**" (safe) can only be found as "**安全あんぜん**" when you look it up in the dictionary. **Similar to い-adjectives, which rely on changing their い ending in order to conjugate, な-adjectives also depend on their だ ending.** | | **Present / Future** | **Past** | | ------------ | -------------------- | ------------ | | **Positive** | 安全あんぜんだ | 安全あんぜんだった | | **Negative** | 安全あんぜんではない | 安全あんぜんではなかった | One more thing to note: the spoken form of **ではない** is **じゃない**. Similarly, **ではなかった** equals **じゃなかった**. Besides, unlike with い-Adjectives, **when a な-adjective is placed before a noun,** **you must change its ending だ into な**—for example, 安全あんぜんな所ところ. This is why it's called な-adjective. ### Where can な-adjectives be placed in a sentence In the above session, we looked at a breakdown of な-adjectives. Next, let's look at their specific application in sentences. - **at the end of a sentence** Like い-adjectives, when a な-adjective occurs at the end of a sentence, it is called an PREDICATIVE adjective. As I mentioned earlier, **い-adjective and な-adjective are the same in their application - the only difference is their conjugations.** Here are a few examples of な-adjectives placed at the end of sentences. > あの町まちは**綺麗きれいだった** \- That town was beautiful. > > 日本語にほんごが**上手じょうずでは ( じゃ ) ない** \- Not good at Japanese. > > 店員てんいんは**親切しんせつでは ( じゃ ) なかった** \- The servers were not friendly. I mentioned that Japanese is a language with an honorific system. **Respect in Japanese is mainly expressed at the end of sentences.** How can we convert the above casual sentences into polite speech? You may remember that **い-adjectives are converted to honorific speech by adding です directly at the end of the sentence.** However, な-adjectives work a little bit differently. **To convert a な-adjective from the casual form to the polite form, we need to change its だ ending.** | | **Present / Future** | **Past** | | ------------ | -------------------- | ------------------- | | **Positive** | だ = です | だった = でした | | **Negative** | ではない = ではありません | ではなかった = ではありませんでした | Therefore, the above four casual sentences are converted into the following: > あの町まちは綺麗きれいでした - That town was beautiful. > > 日本語にほんごが上手じょうずではありません - Not good at Japanese. > > 店員てんいんは親切しんせつではありませんでした - The servers were not friendly. ![japanese adjectives illustration 4](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-adjectives-illustration-4.png) - **before a noun** When a **な-adjective** is placed before a noun, it is called an ATTRIBUTIVE adjective. You need to **change the ending from "だ" to "な" or put it after the present negative of casual speech (-ではない、-じゃない）** > 綺麗きれいな町まち - beautiful city > > 上手じょうずじゃない日本語にほんご - not good at Japanese > > 親切しんせつではない店員てんいん - unfriendly servers Likewise, when past tense な-adjectives are placed before a noun, **it states a fact of the past that is no longer true now.** > 綺麗きれいだった町まち - The town used to be beautiful > > 親切しんせつではなかった店員てんいん - The staff was unfriendly In the first example, the town used to be beautiful or clean. Now perhaps many tourists have made it dirty. In the second example, the staff used to be unfriendly, but now it is possible that new staff is hired or the same one has been trained to be friendly. - **in the middle of a sentence** We have already discussed the concept of compound and simple sentences before. A な-adjective may also appear in the middle of a sentence and be used to connect two simple sentences. In order to do these, we need the te- form, remember? **The te-form of a な-adjective is to change its ending from "だ" to "で."** > 親切しんせつだ → 親切しんせつで > > > > あのサロンは綺麗きれいで、スタッフも親切しんせつだ。 > > That salon is beautiful and the staff is friendly. **Neither** an い-adjective’s **nor** a な-adjective's te-form indicates the tense. Instead, **the tense is reflected by the last part of the sentence.** ### Some tricky な-adjectives Here are several な-adjectives that confuse many beginners, so please be careful! **嫌い** The meaning of "**きらい**" is "**dislike.**" It looks like an い-adjective, but it is not. It would be best if you remembered it as an exception. **Its conjugation is not different from other な-adjectives.** > 嫌きらいな人ひと - disliked person > > 数学すうがくが嫌きらいだ - I dislike math **同じ** We have already mentioned that when an adjective is placed before a noun, its ending needs to be changed from **だ** to **な**. When it comes to this rule, 同おなじ is the black sheep of the な-adjective family **because it should be placed before nouns without な**. > 同おなじ人ひと - the same person > > 同おなじ花はな - the same flower **綺麗** Many of my students will take the な-adjective 綺麗きれい (beautiful) as an い-adjective. **The い is part of the kanji 麗(れい), *not* the word ending.** Thus, 綺麗きれい is no different from any other な-adjective. > 綺麗きれいなスカート - beautiful skirt > > 日本は綺麗きれいだ - Japan is beautiful **小さな、大きな** Don't these two words look familiar? Remember we mentioned "**小ちいさい**" and "**大おおきい**" in the "**some tricky い-adjectives**" part? First, let’s make it clear that "**小ちいさい**" and "**大おおきい**" are い-adjectives, while "**小ちいさな**" and "**大おおきな** are adnominal adjectives (not な-adjectives.) Although they are not な-adjectives, I prefer to mention them here as they are very important. The primary difference between them and な-adjective is that **they do not have the ending だ and cannot be placed at the end of a sentence (PREDICATIVE).** They can only be put before a noun. > 問題もんだいは大おおきな × > > > > 小ちいさな会社かいしゃ - small company > > 会社かいしゃは小ちいさな × Well, "**大おおきな**," "**小ちいさな**" is mainly used to modify nouns with **abstract concepts**, in the above example, "**問題もんだい (issue)**" and "**会社かいしゃ (company)**" are both abstract concepts in human society. In contrast, "**大おおきい**," "**小ちいさい**" tend to modify visible, concrete things. > リンゴは大おおきい - The apple is big > > > > 小ちいさい丸まる - small circle > > 丸まるは小ちいさい - The circle is small ![japanese adjectives illustration 5](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-adjectives-illustration-5.png) ## How to connect い-adjectives and な-adjectives together Remember when we discussed い-adjectives and な-adjectives joining two simple sentences? We need to convert them to the **te-form**. So how do we put two **い-adjectives** or two **な-adjectives** or an **い-adjective** and a **な-adjective** together as if we were constructing Gundam models? Again, you need to convert them into their respective te-forms. The following four sets of examples can give you a clear explanation. - 明あかるくて優やさしい人ひと - a sunny and gentle person (two い-adjectives, 明あかるい, and 優やさしい) - 綺麗きれいで静しずかな町まち - beautiful and quiet town (two な-adjectives, 綺麗きれい, and 静しずか) - 明あかるくて元気げんきな子供こども - a cheerful and energetic child (an い-adjective and a な-adjective) - 元気げんきで明あかるい子供こども - an energetic and cheerful child (Yes, the order can be reversed) ## Nouns can also be adjectives As I mentioned, **な-adjectives** were created to make up for the deficiency of **い-adjectives**. They are converted from adjectival nouns. For example, **綺麗きれい means beauty, but when converted into a な-adjective 綺麗きれいな, its meaning becomes beautiful.** In modern Japanese, many nouns are still used as adjectives without being converted into adjectives. When a noun modifies another noun, we need to join them with の. > 緑みどりの植物しょくぶつ - green plants > > ネコ の食たべ物もの - cat food ## 120 most common Japanese adjectives list Dear readers, thank you for reading this far. If you wish to expand your vocabulary of Japanese adjectives a bit more, below is a list of 120 essential Japanese adjectives. You can also [download the pdf](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/japanese-adjectives-1.pdf). | | Adjective | Hiragana | Meaning | | --------------- | --------- | -------- | ----------------------- | | Colors | | | | | 1 | 赤い | あかい | red | | 2 | 青い | あおい | blue | | 3 | 緑 | みどり | green | | 4 | 黄色い | きいろい | yellow | | 5 | 黒い | くろい | black | | 6 | 白い | しろい | white | | 7 | 紫 | むらさき | purple | | 8 | ピンク | ぴんく | pink | | 9 | 茶色い | ちゃいろい | brown | | Personalities | | | | | 10 | 優しい | やさしい | kind | | 11 | 親切な | しんせつな | hospitable, friendly | | 12 | 友好的な | ゆうこうてきな | friendly | | 13 | 礼儀正しい | れいぎただしい | polite | | 14 | 社交的な | しゃこうてきな | outgoing | | 15 | 正直な | しょうじきな | honest | | 16 | 無邪気な | むじゃきな | innocent | | 17 | 意地悪な | いじわるな | mean, nasty | | 18 | 退屈な | たいくつな | boring | | 19 | ずるい | | sly | | 20 | 真面目な | まじめな | serious | | 21 | 勇敢な | ゆうかんな | brave | | 22 | 楽観的な | らっかんてきな | optimistic | | 23 | 悲観的な | ひかんてきな | pessimistic | | 24 | わんぱくな | | naughty | | 25 | 怠け者 | なまけもの | lazy | | 26 | 頑固な | がんこうな | stubborn | | 27 | 繊細な | せんさいな | sensitive | | 28 | 賢い | かしこい | smart | | 29 | 勤勉な | きんべんな | deligent | | 30 | 謙虚な | けんきょな | humble | | 31 | 神経質な | しんけいしつな | picky | | 32 | 複雑な | ふくざつな | complicated | | 33 | 不器用な | ぶきような | clumsy | | Characteristics | | | | | 34 | 大きい | おおきい | big, huge | | 35 | 小さい | ちいさい | small, little | | 36 | 浅い | あさい | shallow | | 37 | 深い | ふかい | deep | | 38 | 高い | たかい | tall, expansive | | 39 | 低い | ひくい | short (person's length) | | 40 | 安い | やすい | cheap | | 41 | 古い | ふるい | old | | 42 | 新しい | あたらしい | new | | 43 | 安全な | あんぜんな | safe | | 44 | 危ない | あぶない | dangerous | | 45 | 清潔な | せいけつな | clean | | 46 | 汚い | きたない | dirty | | 47 | 強い | つよい | strong | | 48 | 弱い | よわい | weak | | 49 | 忙しい | いそがしい | busy | | 50 | 暇な | ひまな | leisurely | | 51 | 狭い | せまい | narrow | | 52 | 広い | ひろい | wide | | 53 | 可愛い | かわいい | cute | | 54 | 嫌いな | きらいな | disliked | | 55 | 美しい | うつくしい | beautiful | | 56 | 綺麗な | きれいな | pretty | | 57 | 醜い | みにくい | ugly | | 58 | 渇いた | かわいた | dry | | 59 | 濡れた | ぬれた | wet | | 60 | 遠い | とおい | far | | 61 | 近い | ちかい | near | | 62 | 速い、早い | あやい | fast | | 63 | 遅い | おそい | slow | | 64 | 多い | おおい | many | | 65 | 少ない | すくない | less, few | | 66 | 暑い | あつい | hot (weather) | | 67 | 寒い | さむい | cold (weather) | | 68 | 涼しい | すずしい | cool | | 69 | 熱い | あつい | hot (thing) | | 70 | 冷たい | つめたい | cold (thing) | | 71 | 硬い, 堅い | かたい | hard | | 72 | 柔らかい | やわらかい | soft | | 73 | 明るい | あかるい | bright | | 74 | 暗い | くらい | dark | | 75 | 賑やかな | にぎやかな | bustling | | 76 | 静かな | しずかな | quiet | | 77 | 十分な | じゅうぶんな | enough | | 78 | 足りない | たりない | lacking | | 79 | 匂い | におい | flavour | | 80 | 臭い | におい | smelly, stinky | | 81 | 臭い | くさい | smelly, stinky | | 82 | 太い | ふとい | fat (body type) | | 83 | 細い | ほそい | thin (body type) | | 84 | 長い | ながい | long (thing) | | 85 | 短い | みじかい | short (thing) | | 86 | 厚い | あつい | thick | | 87 | 薄い | うつい | thin (thing) | | 88 | 鋭い | するどい | sharp | | 89 | 鈍い | にぶい | dull | | 90 | 痒い | かゆい | itchy | | 91 | 重い | おもい | heavy | | 92 | 軽い | かるい | light | | 93 | 上手い | うまい | appetizing | | 94 | 旨い | うまい | delicious | | 95 | 不味い | まずい | unappetizing | | 96 | 上手な | じょうずな | skillful | | 97 | 下手な | へたな | inferior | | 98 | 甘い | あまい | sweet | | 99 | 辛い | からい | spicy | | 100 | 酸っぱい | すっぱい | sour | | 101 | 塩辛い | しおからい | salty | | 102 | 詰まらない | つまらない | boring | | 103 | 面白い | おもしろい | interesting | | 104 | 偉い | えらい | great (person) | | 105 | 凄い | すごい | wonderful | | しい ending | | | | | 106 | 恋しい | こいしい | beloved | | 107 | 寂しい | さびしい | lonely | | 108 | 難しい | むずかしい | difficult | | 109 | 易しい | やさしい | easy | | 110 | 懐かしい | なつかしい | missed | | 111 | 恥ずかしい | はずかしい | shy | | 112 | 大人しい | おとなしい | obedient | | 113 | 頼もしい | たのもしい | reliable | | 114 | 図々しい | ずうずうしい | shameless | | 115 | 楽しい | たのしい | happy | | 116 | 嬉しい | うれしい | happy, excited | | 117 | 親しい | したしい | intimate | | 118 | 悲しい | かなしい | sad | | 119 | 素晴らしい | すばらしい | wonderful | | 120 | 貧しい | まずしい | poor | ### What does Desu Mean and How to Use it URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/desu/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:04:50.000Z "です" (desu) is probably one of the very first words any Japanese beginner encounters. This famous and mischievous sentence ender is rarely missed in any Japanese conversations and textbooks. Many may think です is simply the equivalent of "to be'' and that was it. But in fact, です can be applied in different contexts where the meaning of the verb "to be" didn't make any sense. So in this article, I will try to cover all the uses of です a Japanese learner should know. From its meaning to various usages in different sentence types, you'll understand this word in a more comprehensive way. Let's begin! ## What does "desu" mean? In Japanese, the word **です** takes on several meanings. It could be translated as "**to be**," "**is**," and the different conjugations and forms of this verb. **です** plays the role of a [copula verb](https://www.imabi.net/copularsentencesi.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), that role is to connect the subject with its complement/predicate. But **です** has other uses as well. Maybe, you might have seen this word attached to the end of many sentences, playing the role of "**formality or politeness indicator**". **In some cases, です can transform a "casual" sentence or expression into a polite one. However, you have to be very careful, if used in the wrong way it could lose its meaning.** ## How to Use Desu? ### Positive Form #### Noun + です This is one of the first grammatical structures that we can find in the initial lessons of the Japanese language. The noun connected to the word **です** creates a simple, affirmative sentence in the present tense. The phrase ["N + desu" also has an explanatory or confirmatory function](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-n-desu-2027871?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). In this case, we could say that **です** works as “**is**”, “**am**”, “**are**”, etc. > I'm Nana. > > > > パスタです。 > > It's pasta. > > > > 私たちは同僚です。 > > Watashitachi wa dōyō desu. > > We are coworkers. #### Adjectives + です As my grammar teacher used to say, "***adjectives add flavor to the language***". An adjective modifies the noun, describing its qualities and characteristics. When we create a sentence using Japanese adjectives, the structure is similar to the first pattern we saw earlier. We just need to add the word **です** after the adjective and we're ready and good to go. In Japanese, there are 2 types of adjectives: **い (i)** adjectives and **な (na)** adjectives. Let's see some examples of how です interacts with each one of them. #### い Adjective + です > Kono sōsu wa karai desu. > > This sauce is hot/spicy. Usually, in a context where the noun is known, it is **omitted** in the conversation. Let's say that it is implied that we are talking about the "**sauce**", we could perfectly say “**辛いです**”, and it is grammatically correct. **Even if we just say “辛い”, the meaning of what we said is pretty clear.** Here, the word です works as a polite attribute, giving a certain level of formality to the expression. Speaking or writing with some level of politeness is something valued in Japanese culture. #### な Adjective + です > Kare wa shinsetsu desu. > > He is kind. **We can see that な adjectives and nouns have similar interactions with the copula です.** If we are in a casual conversation, between friends or close relatives, the word **です** could be replaced by the word **だ**. In this type of context **です** and **だ** would be equivalent. **Note**: Although it is true that in some cases **です** and **だ** work as variants of the same word, this is not always the case. For example, in a sentence that includes an い adjective, the word **だ** is not a substitute for the word **です**. **In fact, if we add だ after an い adjective, it would be grammatically incorrect.** Like the previous example, if we want to transform an い adjective + です structure into casual/informal, we just have to remove the word です from the equation. ### Negative Form Previously, we talked about **です** and its role as a politeness marker. In the Japanese language, [there are different levels of formality](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/). According to the hierarchical position of the person you're speaking with, you need to adjust the type of expressions you use. So far, we have seen affirmative sentences and their formal and casual counterparts. Now, we will see different ways of constructing the same negative sentence with different levels of formality. Let's observe how in some of the following sentences **です** changes its form completely — while in others it stays the same. But its role is different. These sentences all mean the same, "she is not Japanese". The level of politeness goes in descending order, one — being the most polite. > Kanojo wa nihonjin dewa arimasen. > > > > 彼女は日本人ではないです。 > > Kanojo wa nihonjin dewa nai desu. > > > > 彼女は日本人じ ゃありません。 > > Kanojo wa nihonjin jārimasen. > > > > 彼女は日本人じゃないです。 > > Kanojo wa nihonjin janai desu. > > > > 彼女は日本人じゃない。 > > Kanojo wa nihonjin janai. While it is true that so many variants of the same sentence can be overwhelming, **it is good to emphasize that it is not necessary to learn them all at once.** Learning the fundamentals is more than enough to communicate in different types of scenarios without the risk of being rude or impolite. In this article, we will focus on the most common ones. The basic structure for a negative [Japanese sentence](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/) is constructed with the following "**formula**" **→ N1 は N2 じゃ ありません.** **じゃ ありません** is the negative form of **です** and we use it to build negative sentences in the present tense. We can use this syntax to turn both nouns and な adjectives into their negative form. #### Noun + じゃ ありません > Kore wa pasuta ja arimasen. > > This is not pasta. #### な Adjectives + じゃ ありません > Kare wa yūmei ja arimasen. > > He is not famous. \*For nouns and な adjectives, we can increase or decrease the level of politeness, by applying the same rules used in the previous examples. #### い Adjectives → \~くない + です い adjectives can be “conjugated” into different forms and tenses. To turn a positive い adjective structure into a negative one, we replace the い with the conjugation〜くない. We add ですat the end for politeness. > Kono kēki wa amakunai desu. > > This cake is not sweet. #### Negative Form | Verbs + です In the plain form of Japanese verbs, we use the ーない conjugation to turn it into a negative. Here, the word です serves to add a polite tone to the sentence as well. > Watashi wa niku wo tabenai desu. > > I don't eat meat. Now that we have seen the different uses of です in the present tense, let's see how it works in the past tense. ### Past Tense - Affirmative でした | 〜かったです Just like in the present tense structures, to build a sentence in the past tense, we have to take into consideration the rules and differences of each grammatical construction. If it’s a noun or a な adjective compound, です becomes でした. #### Noun + でした > Watashi no mae no pasokon wa benri deshita. > > My previous laptop was convenient. #### な Adjectives + でした > Ano basho wa kirei deshita. > > That place was beautiful. In the case of い adjectives, the い is removed and the suffix かった is added to turn it into the past tense, then we add です as a politeness marker. #### い Adjectives + かった > Sono eiga wa kanashikattadesu. > > That movie was sad. ### Past Tense – Negative For nouns and な adjectives, we use the same rules as the negative present tense, we just need to add **でした** after じゃ ありません. #### Noun + じゃ ありませんでした > Watashi no mae no pasokon wa benri jaarimasen deshita. > > My previous laptop was not convenient. #### な Adjectives + じゃ ありませんでした > Ano basho wa kirei ja arimasen deshita. > > That place was not beautiful. #### い Adjectives → くない + かった In the negative form of い adjectives, \~くない, we apply the same rule as its positive counterpart. For the past tense, we remove the い and add the suffix かった. > Kono kēki wa amakunakatta desu. > > This cake was not sweet. In the case of the past negative of verbs ( plain form), the pattern is the same as the past negative of い adjectives. > Watashi wa sake wo nomanakatta desu. > > I didn't drink sake. ### ～んです (n desu) The purpose of this syntax is to emphasize a specific aspect of the conversation, and also to give a sense of fluency and naturality to the dialogue. It has the same meaning as the word です and is placed at the end of a sentence too— preceded by the plain form of a verb, adjective, or noun. #### い Adjectives + んです > Kyō wa samui**ndesu**. > > It's cold today. #### な Adjectives + んです > Sono keitai wa benrina ndesu. > > That mobile phone is convenient. #### Nouns + んです > Ayaka wa totemo yūmeina ndesu. > > Ayaka is very famous. #### Verbs + んです > Konshū noKin'yōbi wa Amusuterudamu he ryokō surundesu. > > I'm traveling to Amsterdam on Friday. This structure is extremely versatile. I recommend the article “[The Meaning of '-N Desu' in Japanese](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-n-desu-2027871?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)”, written by Namiko Abe, to understand more deeply its many uses and underlying meanings. ### Desu vs Da Both **です** and **だ** share the same meaning. When it comes to nouns or Na adjectives, **both function as a variant of the other, だ being the casual version of です.** However, as we have seen so far, **there are situations where desu becomes an auxiliary verb that works as a symbol of formality. In those cases, ですcan not be replaced by だ.** Let’s see some examples: > It’s raining. > > 美味しいです **→** 美味しいだ**→**Incorrect > > It’s delicious. When using verbs + です, it’s important to remember the [different types of conjugations](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/), because some conjugations do work withです and others do not. Examples: > \*よむ**→** Read > > 食べるです**→**Incorrect > > 食べない です**→** Correct > > 読んだです**→**Incorrect > > 読まなかったです**→** Correct Even though the different uses of **です** could be a little bit confusing, don't be discouraged. Actually, it’s not as hard as you might think. If you pay attention to the differences and practice — before you know it, you'll be using **です** without even thinking. Always remember, practice, make mistakes, and enjoy the journey! Until next time! --- **About the author:** Génesis A. Villar is a language enthusiast, passionate about new cultures, psychology, art, and everything that involves the process of learning. She speaks Spanish, English, and Japanese. Currently, she is learning German, while trying to navigate life in a city on the west side of Germany. ### Happy Birthday in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/happy-birthday-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:04:52.000Z In Korean culture, age is very important, and it’s no different for birthday celebrations. Korean people love to get together with friends and family to celebrate their birthdays. As Korean learners, birthday is also a great opportunity for us to partake in Korean culture and improve our language skills while having fun. But first, let's learn how to say "happy birthday" in Korean. In this article, we'll talk about different ways to say "happy birthday" in Korean. We'll also touch upon the cultural elements by introducing to you how Koreans normally talk about and celebrate their birthdays. ## Happy Birthday in Korean First, let’s start with how to say happy birthday in Korean. As is common in the Korean language, there are various ways to say something depending on [formality and familiarity](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/). **생일 축하합니다** is the **most common and formal way** to say happy birthday in Korean, which is also how it is sung in the [*Happy Birthday Song*](#korean-birthday-song). You can use this in almost any birthday situation: for your boss, coworkers, strangers, and friends. - **생일 축하합니다! (saeng-il chu-kah-ham-ni-da) = Happy Birthday!** \- 생일 (saeng-il) = Birthday \- 축하합니다(chu-kah-ham-ni-da) = celebrate or congratulations which equates to “Happy” \- 축하합니다 comes from the base form of the verb **축하하다** (chu-kah-hada) A **less formal and more friendly way** to say happy birthday in Korean is by changing the verb ending to **\~해요 (hey-yo)**. This is very common, but still polite. You may often see it on birthday balloons and cards. You could use this with coworkers, acquaintances, and friends of friends. - **생일 축하해요 (saeng-il chu-kah-hae-yo)** In a **very familiar and friendly** birthday situation, you can use the less formal [verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/), which is the shortest. This is often used with close friends of the same age. - **생일 축하해 (saeng-il chu-kah-hay)** If the situation is **very formal** or when speaking to someone with whom you want to convey respect and that person is much older than you, you should use…. - **생신을 축하드립니다 (saeng-shin) chu-kah-deu-rim-ni-da)** This is a combination of… \- 생신 (saeng-shin), which also means “Birthday” but is respectful and used toward older generations; like a grandfather or grandmother. \- 축하 (chuk-ha), which is contraction of 축하하다 (chuk-ha-hada), meaning “celebrate” or “congratulate” \- Combined with, 드리다 (deu-rida) – which the base conjugation of the formal version of the verb “to give” ## Birthday-related expressions in Korean If you want to know when someone’s birthday is, you can ask: \- Informal: “생일 언제 에요?” (saeng-il un-jae – aeyo) \- More formal: “생일 언제 입니까?” (seang-il -un-jae- imnika) If you were asked by someone the above questions, you can reply: \- “제 생일은 (month number)**월** (date)**일** 입니다.” (Jae saeng-il-eun) month (weol) + date (il - imnida) - **월** \= months, as in 1,2,3,4,5,6, etc. For example, June = 6월 - 일 - date or day of the month. For example, the 21st = 21**일** - e.b. 6월 21**일** \= June 21st It’s very common for Koreans to ask about someone's age, as it dictates a lot of communication formalities in the Korean language. The Korean age system, however, is quite different from the English one. You can learn more about it from our previous post [Korean Age](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-age-system/). \- “몇 살이에요?” (myeot-sal-ieyo) = How old are you? \- 나는 (#) 살이에요. (na-nuen) *insert number* (sal-eeiyo) = I am (#) years old. Something else you might say on someone’s birthday: \- “뭐 갖고싶어요?” (meou gat-go ship-uhyo?) = What do you want to get/ receive? \- *insert gift* \+ 주세요 (ju-seayo) = Please give me *insert gift* Pretty easy, right? Just say what you want to receive and add 주세요 (please give). \- For example: 돈 주세요 (don ju-saeyo) *\= Please give me money* ## Birthday culture in South Korea A common tradition in Korea is to eat **Rice Cake Soup (떡국 – deok-gook)** on your birthday. Although this is commonly eaten on the Korean Lunar New Year birthday, and not someone’s actual day of birth. Korean’s have two birthdays: 1) Lunar New Year, when [everyone gets a year older together](https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/happy-new-year-you-are-now-a-year-older-in-korea?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=South%20Korea&text=Koreans%20essentially%20have%20two%20separate,everyone%20turns%20a%20year%20older.) and 2) Your own actual birthday. ![Korean rice cake soup for birthdays](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/rice-cake-soup-jpeg.jpg) Korean rice cake soup for birthdays It is also often recommended to eat **Seaweed Soup (미역국 – me-yeok-gook)** on your actual birthday. This is a tradition that can be linked to another tradition: pregnant mothers eating this nutrient rich soup during and after pregnancy. The soup considered very healthy for your digestive system, and it’s a delicious way to link your birthday to your actual day of birth. ![Korean seaweed soup for birthdays](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/seaweed-soup-jpeg.jpg) Korean seaweed soup for birthdays Probably the most common and tasty way that Koreans celebrate birthdays is with **cake (케이크/ kay-eekue)**. It’s so common that it seems as if an entire micro-industry has developed around the sale of birthday cakes. Even in adulthood, it’s not a birthday party without a cake. Shops like Baskin Robbins and other bakeries offer ready-made, beautifully crafted, tasty cakes that can be purchased on the go. It’s quite common to see Koreans carrying a cake box on their way somewhere, which proves how popular this custom is. These cakes come in all types of flavors and decorative options and can ever be personalized with quick add-ons. ### Gifts and cards Koreans are great gift givers: from expensive items like shoes and jewelry, to smaller, more **heartfelt gifts (선물/ seon-mul)**, such as **cards (카드 / ka-deu)** and **letters (편지/ peon-gi)**. Gifts are always included, and often young friends pool their money together to give their friends an expensive gift. With KakaoTalk (Korea’s messaging app), it’s very easy to send a gift card or digital gift via a message, which is often used by people who can’t attend the party. Of course, cash is king, and everybody will be delighted to receive some **cash (현금/ hyun-guem)** on their birthday. In fact, adult children often give cash to parents on their birthdays as a sign of appreciation for all the hard-earned money they have spent on them while they were growing up. ### Food and alcohol Birthday celebrations in South Korea take place almost anywhere: work, cafes, parks, homes, etc. But the most common way for Koreans to celebrate is at a restaurant, bar, or club with good friends. **Soju (소주)**, **beer** **(맥주/maek-joo)**, **so-maek (소맥/so-maek: a combination of beer and soju)**, and delicious food are usually the preferred method of celebrations. After the second round, known as **이차(ee-cha)**, Koreans often make their way to a nearby singing room, called a **norae-bang (노래방)** to keep the party going.f Dancing, singing, and drinking with close friends until the early morning hours. ![korean birthday party](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-birthday-party.png) However, unlike birthday parties in Western culture, the birthday boy or girl is expected to pick up the dinner tab. So, you may want to limit the size of your birthday gathering if you are worried about paying for dinner. But don’t worry too much, your friends will take care of you for the rest of the night. ### 1st Birthday One of the more interesting birthday customs in Korea is that of the 1st Birthday Party. Obviously, this kind of birthday party is more for the parents, relatives, and friends to come and visit the newborn (maybe for the first time). The party is often held at a nice buffet, and the child is adorned in traditional Korean attire called **Hanbok (한복)** befitting of a young king or queen. This birthday is playful, but considered very important to the child’s future. The most important part of the 1st birthday is the ritual called **doljabi (돌잡이)** in which the baby must choose their future. In front of the baby will be placed several items containing different meanings. For example: \- a banknote / cash: signifying future wealth and success \- a microphone: signifying future fame or talent \- a book or pen: signifying intelligence and diligence \- a thread: indicating a long life \- a ball: indicating potential athletic skill ![korean 1st birthday doljanchi](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/doljanchi-jpeg.jpg) Whatever item the child grabs with his or her tiny hands is considered a sign of their future. For example, if the baby chooses the microphone, it is believed that he or she will be a good singer or actor. ## Happy birthday song in Korean And naturally, it wouldn’t be a birthday without a **birthday song (생일 노래)**. Fortunately, the birthday song follows the same tenor and rhythm that we use in the English language version, so it’s very easy to learn. You can see the lyrics below, which more-or-less are a direct translation to the common American-English birthday song. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/happy-birthday-song-lyrics-in-korean.png) ♩ ♪ ♫ 생일 축하합니다 - *Happy birthday to you* 생일 축하합니다 - *Happy birthday to you* 사랑하는 (insert name) 씨 - *Dear (insert name)* 생일 축하합니다 - *Happy birthday to you.* ♪ ♫ saengil chukahamnida saengil chukahamnida saranghaneun (insert name) ssi saengil chukahamnida As we end our article with a piece of happy birthday song by Korean star Song Joon Ki, let's not forget to[ learn Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/). Make use of situations like birthdays to have fun with your Korean friends and improve your Korean skills. Or use tools like LingoDeer to learn Korean on your own! --- Do you find this article useful? Share with us your thoughts in the comment section below! ### Happy Birthday, Dear Deer! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-5-birthday/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:12:11.000Z LingoDeer turned 5 today! Can you believe how fast time flies? On this special day, we can't wait to share our joy with you! But first, we want to say a huge **thank you to all of our learners and the LingoDeer team** for this wonderful 5-year journey 🧡 We also prepared **a surprise giveaway** as a thank you so read till the end 😊 It seems like only yesterday when we decided to start a new app to **make language learning smart and fun**. Starting from 3 East Asian languages, LingoDeer is now proud to provide **13 language courses in 14 interface languages** for 20 million + happy learners. We have also been continuously updating our course contents, refining UI design, improving algorithms, and enhancing product functions to make your learning experience truly enjoyable. In the past year, we are proud to bring: 🌟 New contents - **Fluent Spanish** is available. Bring your skills to the next level with upgraded speaking and writing practices! - A new **Coffee Break** ☕ session is available to the French learners. Train your ears by listening to **podcasts** 🎧 specially designed for language learners! 🌟 Updated courses - Major improvements are made in **various question types** to make your language learning smoother and more effective. - A brand new look is here with **a clearer and more logical learning route**. 🌟 Better functions - We added a **Newsfeed** 🔔 feature where you can read informative articles about your target language and catch up with our latest product updates. - We continued adding **more interface languages** including Arabic, French, German, and traditional Chinese. Now, let's go through the past 5 years of LingoDeer together. ![LingoDeer 5 years](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/timeline-2.png) Thank you for reading so far. We really appreciate every one of you being part of the big LingoDeer family ❤️ Your constant love means a million to us 😘 As a thank you, this year we prepared a surprise merch giveaway **🥳** Follow our social media to stay tuned! 👉[instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lingodeerapp/?hl=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 👉[twitter](https://twitter.com/Lingodeer?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 👉 [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LingoDeer/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/giveaway-presents.png) --- *May we continue our journey of learning languages and cultures together for many more years!* ### Should You Learn Grammar to Learn a New Language? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:04:54.000Z Should I learn grammar in order to learn a new language? I believe many language learners have asked themselves this question at some point of their language learning journey. Well, simply put: > *You don't have to study grammar religiously to be fluent. But a general understanding of basic grammar can help you* [*learn a language faster*](https://blog.lingodeer.com/get-fluent-in-a-new-language-fast/)*.* Surely babies don’t learn grammar to speak, and there are plenty of examples (especially before modern education) of people learning languages without grammar study. Think about the explorers of the old world who traveled and learned to communicate with locals through loads of exposure and time. So, it’s definitely possible to learn a language without studying grammar, but the question is, **why would you?** It sounds attractive and cool: just blindly dive headfirst into a language and figure it out naturally by interacting with native speakers and watching entertaining dramas. **For a very small minority of people, this could work.** But for most of us, this is more like a pipe dream or a get-rich quick scheme: it’s your ego wanting to get the rewards without putting in the effort. You want to do it because it sounds easy, and you saw someone on TikTok who claimed to achieve it. **But chances are, there’s more to the story than just speaking to native speakers and producing the language on your own.** If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Think about it: if it were easy to learn a new language without studying grammar, then anyone could just watch several K-drama series’ and [become fluent in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/). Does that sound realistic? So should you study grammar? The answer is **yes, you should learn grammar to learn a new language effectively and efficiently.** So instead of thinking about grammar as some dull study practice that is hard and boring, think about it as **a shortcut to better understanding:** Grammar gives you a better overall perspective of your target language. It shows you patterns and structures that you might not catch without it. Besides, you can’t learn a language without studying grammar in some way or another. **It’s just NOT possible.** Sure, you can avoid grammar textbooks and online grammar sites, but you’ll still be analyzing syntax, memorizing vocabulary, and asking questions….you just won’t have the added benefit of a well-designed learning experience. To better elaborate on my point, I'll analyze learning grammar from the below 5 aspects. Read on to get a better understanding of what is grammar, why people don't like learning it, how to learn grammar effectively, etc. ## What is grammar As defined by the [Britannica Dictionary](https://www.britannica.com/topic/grammar?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **Grammar** is: > *“The *rules* of a language governing the sounds, words, sentences, and other elements, as well as their combination and interpretation.* In my opinion, grammar consists of **the basic building blocks of a language**. It's the [**statements of regularities**](https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED565036.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) of a new language. It’s an attempt to **organize and systemize** a language into digestible parts. In your native tongue, grammar is an afterthought. You have been so immersed in your native language for so long that you didn’t put much thought into the organization of your communication. You probably already forgot the grammatical errors and improvements you made as a child. Think about the cute toddlers who say almost everything in the *present tense* until they better grasp the concepts of *past* and *future*. They’re developing their understanding of **correct grammar**. ## Why some language learners avoid grammar ### Learning grammar is hard No doubt grammar is **hard**. But nothing good comes easy. Many people avoid grammar study because it feels unnatural to us. Think about it: you didn’t have to study a grammar book as a baby or toddler to develop your native language skill. You just did it over years and years of being fully immersed in the culture of the language. You didn't have any expectations of how quickly you should learn or how accurately you should speak. You were just a kid trying to communicate. When learning a foreign language, especially as an adult, you’re confronted with a slow and arduous process that is so contrary to your first experience of language learning. Your ability to [pick up a language like a native speaker gradually disappear](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/at-what-age-does-our-ability-to-learn-a-new-language-like-a-native-speaker-disappear/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). It probably makes you feel dumb, and it hurts your ego. On top of that, you have to miss out on the fun of speaking a foreign language while you are developing your skills. Can't we just learn a language the way a kid does through immersion without grammar? ### Learn grammar vs passive immersion Grammar study and passive immersion cannot suffice on their own; they are both necessary for efficient and effective learning. Immersion without grammar study is confusing and progress is slow. Grammar study without any form of immersion is relatively useless. If you are passively immersed in the language, you would probably have a lot of questions about the language – “*What is this?” “What does that mean?” “How do I say \_\_\_\_\_\_\_?” “Could you explain that?”* … Essentially you’d be depending on the grammatical knowledge of others, who may or may not be able to explain and teach as well as a curated body of knowledge like [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 😊 ### Learn grammar vs learn vocabulary Much like grammar and passive immersion, vocabulary is another important factor in your language development. But which is more important, grammar or vocabulary? It’s hard to say. Having a deep vocabulary is useful, but **if you can’t incorporate that vocabulary into syntax, you’re not going to be able to communicate appropriately.** You’d just be communicating with disconnected words. Likewise, if you’re grammatically sound but you can’t incorporate the necessary vocabulary into your communication, you’re going to struggle to improve your fluency level. If you had to choose, I would recommend **putting more time and energy into grammar.** It’s more complex than vocabulary and takes more time to practice. Vocabulary can be saved and updated as you’re exposed to it. You can make notecards which can be studied later. After all, it’s much easier to look up a single vocabulary word than it is to look up a desired grammatical structure. ## Why is grammar essential in language learning If you want to understand or communicate in a foreign language correctly, you need to be able to identify and use **certain grammatical concepts** to achieve accuracy and comprehension. There is a reason [why grammar is studied and taught in most language classes](https://www.thoughtco.com/why-does-grammar-matter-1691029?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Let’s look at some basic Korean to see how confusing it could be without a grammatical understanding of the differences. \- 갔어요 (ga-seo-yo) - went Compared to \- 가세요 (ga-sae-yo) - please go Both use the verb *“to go”* \- they have entirely different contextual meanings but very similar pronunciations. Now, for an intermediate Korean language speaker, they are not that similar. But for a beginner, they might sound almost identical. Without some sort of grammar study, it could take a learner a very long time to distinguish the difference in an authentic language scenario. And there are many more examples like this that cause confusion for Korean language learners. So, understanding grammar is essential in helping you [speed up your language learning process](https://blog.lingodeer.com/get-fluent-in-a-new-language-fast/). Don’t think of it as a boring and tedious process. Think of it as a hack or shortcut, and you’ll be much more inclined to utilize it. ### What role should grammar play in language learning There is a common belief that you must laser-focus on grammar while learning a new language. Personally, I disagree with this to an extent. Grammar study should be **utilized and prioritized intermittently** during your language study, but it shouldn’t be your number one priority the entire time. I say this from experience: you can get so lost in trying to dissect and understand grammar that you become frustrated and lose all joy in the language learning process, which is a pity. **Language is ultimately how we connect with each other.** It’s an interpersonal experience and a way to expand your social circle, cultural understanding, and opportunities. Those benefits can’t be enjoyed through grammar study alone. However, grammar study can **accelerate your learning** though even if it should not be the main focus. Remember we said early that grammar is the statement of regularities of a language? Knowing these regularities can surely help you find patterns and speed up. In your language learning journey, grammar study can be used to help you understand language structure and syntax, which is also one of the teaching methods implemented in[ the LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![LingoDeer app grammar tips](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/learning-tips.jpg) Then what role should grammar play in different stages of language learning? Below is what I've concluded from years of language learning and teaching. **Beginners**: Study grammar to help you get a grasp of key language concepts and fundamentals. **Intermediate learners:** Use grammar study to compound your knowledge, or help you understand some **confusing parts of the language**. Use your **grammar books** to assist you in the process. When necessary, implement real-world conversation practice. Besides, you can’t learn all the grammar points of a language by reading a grammar book from cover to cover. You need to first **develop an understanding of a concept, then practice, use it in real-world contexts, and finally sharpen your ability** before you move on to another grammar point. As stated earlier, grammar is **a set of tools** to help you build your foreign language ability. It is not a book of rules that must be memorized. So, I recommend grammar study when you want to **better understand a sentence structure, tense, or pattern** so you can use it in conversation with native speakers. Build your understanding step by step, but don’t burden yourself with hours and hours of grammar study while ignoring the joys of communicating with others. ## How to learn grammar ### Learn basic aspects of grammar If you've read so far, you are probably thinking, okay, I know the importance of grammar learning, but how and where should I start? First, you should know there are **fundamental concepts** that exist across languages. Depending on the language, some concepts and rules are more important than others. For example, English is a language in which “*tense*” is very important. To speak English well, you must be able to seamlessly navigate between the *past, present, future, past perfect, conditionals*, and so on. In Korean, [*honorifics*](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/) are more important than tense: *formality, respect, tone, and familiarity* are the key aspects. In Spanish, [*pronouns*](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-direct-object-pronouns/), and their gender (masculine or feminine) are very important. But in Korean, *pronouns* are often omitted from speech entirely. So, **knowing which grammar points are most important is going to expedite your language learning.** Here are two grammar aspects that is relevant to every language: #### Sentence structure Sentence structure is fundamental in every language. For example, English uses a *subject + verb + object* structure. While Korean is very different: *subject + object + verb.* **English**: *I (Subject)* *met (verb)* *a friend* (object) **Korean** *: (나) (subject) 친구를 (object) 만나요 (verb)* In the Korean equivalent, the *subject* can be omitted, and the verb tense does not need to be conjugated. Another reason grammatical knowledge can be useful. #### Parts of speech Having a grasp on the various parts of speech (word types) used in language will also help you learn more quickly and see patterns that can be used to simplify learning. The most common types of words are: ***verbs, nouns, pronouns, adverbs, adjectives, conjugations, prepositions, and interjections.*** Being able to recognize and categorize these words in your target language will help you organize your thoughts and communicate more smoothly. #### Use the right tools Grammar books are a great source to gain an overall understanding as well as learn the details. But it will be even better if you can incorporate grammar learning into your main language learning resource. For example, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a language learning app that teaches you 13 languages comprehensively. Grammar tips are incorporated into each lesson so you can learn at ease. Give it a try today for free! #### Adapt grammar patterns to your real life One of the best methods for learning grammar in an easy and meaningful way is to **adapt it to your life**, and **practice using it in personal contexts**. Language is much more memorable if it is connected to emotion or has relevance in your life. Grammar textbooks are great at modeling sentence structure,s but they are not great at presenting it in meaningful and interesting ways. So, try to adapt it to your life. For example, if the grammar lesson is about using the *past tense*, you may see some example sentences that are quite boring, like… “Yesterday, Minsoo ate breakfast and went to school” “어제 민수는 아침을 먹고 학교에 갔습니다.” Try to adjust the pattern to make it more fun and relevant to your life, like… “Yesterday, Minsoo drank too much alcohol and fell asleep at the bar.” “어제 민수가 술을 너무 많이 마셔서 바에서 잠들었어요.” Then, think of more situations in which you can adapt the grammar to make it more realistic to your own life. Ask native speakers to help you make it more natural and provide some [slang](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korea-slang/). I guarantee you’ll start to look at grammar study differently. Grammar doesn’t have to be boring. You can use it in various ways to expedite your learning journey, have fun, and improve your language recall. So don’t shy away from grammar. It is just a tool to help you build a second (or third) language! Have fun with it! *Don't forget to share this article if you find it helpful!* ### 10 Steps to Get Fluent in a New Language Fast URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/get-fluent-in-a-new-language-fast/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:33.000Z Have you heard of Daniel Tammet? He is an acclaimed savant who learned Icelandic in a week. Not only that, but he went on Icelandic television after his week of study and spoke the [language fluently in a real interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FGXjPEkDfek&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Pretty amazing, isn't it? Well, Daniel isn't alone; success stories of polyglots learning new languages in record time are plentiful online. Whatever your timeline, there are some tried and true steps to learning a new language in record time. In this post, we'll look at how long it actually takes to learn a language from scratch and how you can get fluent in a new language fast. ## How Long Does It Take to Learn a Language? Even though Daniel Tammet could learn Icelandic in a week, that isn't exactly realistic for the everyday language learner. So, how long does it actually take to get fluent in a new language fast? First we have to decide what the word "fluent" means. At its most basic, fluency in a language means you can **use the language easily and understand most of what you read and hear**. On a personal level, though, **"fluent" can be whatever you want it to be**: maybe you want to read books easily in a new language or chat with native speakers online. Fluency is more related to ease of usage rather than how many words or grammar rules you know. And just like the definition of the word, there are various estimates for how long it takes to actually become “fluent” in a language. According to the [US Foreign Language Institute](https://www.fsi-language-courses.org/blog/fsi-language-difficulty/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), English speakers can learn some languages faster than others. For example, languages like [Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-spanish/), [French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/) and Dutch can be learned in as little as 750 hours of study whereas languages like [Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/), [Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) and Arabic can be learned in 2200 hours. If you study for 25 hours a week, that means you could learn Spanish or French in six or seven months or Japanese in about a year and a half. The Council of Europe also has the [Common European Framework of Reference for Languages](https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and estimates say that learners can reach the [C1 (fluent) level of some European languages](https://howtogetfluent.com/how-long-to-learn-a-language/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in around 900 hours of study. ### Anecdotal Evidence: How Long It Took to Learn Five Languages Official estimates aside, language learners who have engaged with the process multiple times can offer unique views into how long it takes to learn a language. For this, I will use my own language learning journey as an example: in my 31 years on Earth, I have studied more than a dozen languages, five of which I would consider myself to be fluent in (including English). Aside from English, it took me the longest to learn French. I started studying this language in elementary school, but it wasn't until my third or fourth year of post-secondary education that I would say I felt fluent in the language. I attribute this to ineffective study techniques throughout elementary school and high school as well as a disinterest in learning. Contrarily, I was able to learn Afrikaans in a little under a year as an adult. This is because I had a strong motivation to learn (my partner and in-laws are native speakers), loads of opportunities to practice, and a steady weekly commitment to learning. Further, Afrikaans itself is very similar to English, and it lacks complicated grammar rules. Whether the estimates in this section intimidate or excite you, remember: these are just estimates. **True timelines will depend on how much time you commit and how effective your learning method is to get fluent in a new language fast.** Speaking of effective learning methods, let's discuss them now! ## How to Get Fluent in a New Language Fast in 10 Steps Follow these 10 steps for learning a new language in no time! ### Step 1: Identify the Motivation & Set a Goal Believe or not, **your mindset and your goals** will determine if you get fluent in a new language fast more than the material you are learning from. From my experience, even the best materials in the world won't help if you don't have the drive to use them. Because of that, you need to **identify a motivation** for learning your target language. This should be your "why". It could be something as simple as being able to [communicate with locals on your next trip](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learning-a-language-for-travel/) or as complex as learning enough to study or work in that country. After you have identified your motivation, you can **set a goal**. This goal should be tangible and achievable. Instead of saying, "I want to talk to native speakers when I travel," you should say, "I want to be able to order food in a restaurant in French when I visit Paris in 6 months." The latter outlines specifically what you want to achieve and in which timeline you want to do it. For more general language learning, it is helpful to break goals into smaller, more manageable chunks. These can be related to learning materials, language assessments or performance targets. For example, instead of saying, "I want to become fluent in French," you could say, "I want to finish my introductory French textbook and pass the CEFR A1 French exam before the end of the year." ### Step 2: Make a Plan Second to motivation, [making a language learning plan](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/) is the most effective way to get fluent in a new language fast. This plan will keep you on track and accomplishing your goals in your specified timeline. Because of this, your plan should include how exactly you plan to get fluent in a new language fast. For example, rather than saying, "I will study vocabulary and grammar," the following is a more tangible plan: "I will learn 10 new words a day and complete 2 chapters a week in my textbook." I have found that keeping plans clear and concise is the best. I also keep my goals small so that they are easily reached. This aids in long-term motivation. One thing to keep in mind is that you should **balance the four language learning skills** of reading, writing, listening and speaking. While they may seem unrelated, they are in fact interconnected, so they should be improved equally. So when choosing language materials, it's better to use comprehensive ones that include all language skills like [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Depending on your preference, you could use a single learning method or multiple methods simultaneously. My advice would be to have a single method with supplementary resources such as a main textbook with additional practice apps, video tutorials and tutoring sessions. The selection of learning materials is also important here. You should decide whether you will use a textbook, an online course, apps or a combination of all these things. You may also want to know [how to spot bad language materials](https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-app-qualities/). ### Step 3: Focus on High-Frequency Words The best trick I discovered to get fluent in a new language fast was the concept of "**high-frequency words**." Simply stated, each word in a language has a frequency level, and the ones with the highest frequency are those that speakers of a language use most often. Think of English, for example, some of the highest frequency words include "the," "a," "there" and "I," and it's not hard to see why. By learning these [high-frequency words](https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/comments/rrhqr5/i%5Fsaw%5Fthis%5Fpost%5Fa%5Fwhile%5Fback%5Fabout%5Fthe%5Ffirst%5F625/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), you can bypass words that you won't use very often. This means you can ignore words such as "pterodactyl," "inundation" and "typecast" and instead learn the words that you will encounter most often in your target language. In fact, learning high-frequency words will actually make you fluent faster. According to the [Universe of Memory](https://universeofmemory.com/how-many-words-you-should-know/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), by learning the most common 5000 words in a language, you can understand 98% of the language. That means if you learn 10 new high frequency words a day, you can understand the vast majority of the language within 18 months. In the age of the internet, you can access frequency lists easily online. Some language learning apps like [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) even have flashcard decks dedicated to high-frequency words. ### Step 4: Train Your Ear to the Language I mentioned balancing the four major language learning skills earlier in this post, but **listening** deserves a special shout-out. That is because listening is an underrated but invaluable skill, and language learners tend to overlook how important it is. Take it from me: I didn't do much listening when I started learning French, instead relying on my strengths in reading and writing. I was then frustrated that I couldn't understand French speakers. It wasn't until I took the plunge to intentionally improve my listening skills that I saw a change. For starters, regular listening to the language—whether you understand every single word or not—trains your ear to **the sound of the language, the flow of sentences, and filler or slang words** that traditional learning methods may omit. In this way, **even passive listening is extremely helpful**. **Don't underestimate the power of active listening activities**, though. Doing things such as listening along to music or audio clips with a transcript, doing listening comprehension activities, and summarizing TV shows or movies are great ways to improve your parsing of the language. ### Step 5: Fill Your Dead Time Do you ever feel like you're just waiting around for something more interesting or fruitful to happen? "Dead time" is defined as periods of time in a day when you are doing a menial task that doesn't necessarily require your full attention. Examples of this include doing dishes or household chores, commuting to and from work or school, and waiting in a doctor's office. While you're stuck in a sort of unproductive purgatory, this is a great time to get fluent in a new language fast, and it's never been easier with a smartphone! I recommend downloading [language learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/) for bite-sized learning. Some of the most popular and effective include [Duolingo](https://www.duolingo.com/learn?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Babbel](https://uk.babbel.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). You could also carry around a novel in your target language or an ebook on your phone. I also suggest downloading podcasts or audiobooks in your target language to listen to while your hands are busy. ### Step 6: Don’t Ignore Grammar… But Don’t Obsess Either As a fellow language learner, I can relate: grammar can be a drag. But never fear! Although grammar is important, don’t obsess over it. To get fluent in a new language fast, my recommendation is simple. You should learn basic grammar rules and patterns, but don't memorize everything. Instead, you should focus on **learning grammar rules and patterns in context**, mostly by accessing real written and audio content in your target language. **The goal should be communication and comprehension, not perfection.** If you make a mistake with a grammar rule, it's not the end of the world. A native speaker will probably be able to understand you either way. For studying grammar, I suggest having a quick grammar reference, whether it is a textbook, grammar guide, app, or online tutorial. If you encounter a rule or exception that is too complicated, move on: focus on **observing grammar in real language** rather than memorizing. ### Step 7: Get a Speaking Partner Like listening, speaking is an important skill. To get fluent in a new language fast, you should aim to speak the language as soon as possible. Don't wait to feel comfortable. In my experience, you'll learn way more in conversations with native speakers than you will in solo study sessions. A speaking partner can be an exchange partner or even a tutor or teacher, and these can be found through apps or websites like [italki](https://www.italki.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or through [MeetUp](https://www.meetup.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). You could find someone learning your target language or a native speaker. Be prepared to practice English with a native speaker in return. In addition to speaking, having an exchange partner correct written work is also a great way to improve. If you have stress about speaking, I have found that pre-planning things to say on common conversation topics alleviates that pressure. You can even decide on topics with your partner before your conversations to ease some of the anxiety. ### Step 8: Consume Media in Your Target Language Textbooks and courses have a way of simplifying and sanitizing target languages, so **consuming real media in the target language allows you to see how the language is actually used by its speakers**. In the long run, this will make it easier to understand the language and use natural language yourself. To get fluent in a new language fast, consume authentic media in your target language like online news, books, blogs and even social media. Further, authentic media for watching and listening can include music, TV shows, movies and audiobooks. A simple Google search will turn up hundreds if not thousands of options. I have found that **using search terms in my target language** gives me more variety and has allowed me to keep up with current trends in a particular group of speakers. ### Step 9: Immerse Yourself At Home Remember how we said that the more time you spend with your target language, the faster you'll become fluent? Well, short of going to a place where your target language is spoken, immersing yourself in the language in your home is one of the [best ways to learn a language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/). Immersion at home can include academic and leisure materials in the target language that are easily accessible. You can increasingly **amend everyday activities** to those that you complete in your target language online. For example, if you like to watch TV or play video games, change that routine so that you only do them in the language you are learning. Do you like exercising, cooking, or yoga? Find tutorials in your target language. Even scrolling social media can be done in a different language to get fluent in a new language fast! Combine language learning with your hobbies and it won't feel like a chore. For an added challenge, you can also change the interface of your smartphone or computer into your target language. Keep in mind, though: don’t forget how to change the language back to English in an emergency! ### Step 10: Use the Language Actively Our last step to getting fluent in a language fast has to do with your daily habits. It can be easy to shy away from active usage of the language (such as speaking or writing). This is because we may be nervous to get something wrong or we don't feel "ready." However, the reality is that you will make mistakes and you may never feel ready, so **don’t discount how effective speaking and writing can be.** In addition to getting a speaking partner, **speaking to yourself** in the language is great practice. Take it from me: I may look odd mumbling in a foreign language to myself, but practice is practice! I like to summarize things in my target language or give short lectures as if I'm teaching a class. You can also find your own ways of practicing! I have also found **recording myself** effective. This allows me to evaluate my accent, the "naturalness" of my speaking and what next steps I should follow for improvements. For everyday writing activities, I suggest **writing a journal or posting on social media in your target language.** You could even begin to **write shopping lists or recipes** in your target language for more immersive activities. Incorporate your target language into your daily life as much as possible! --- Who knew you could achieve greatness in such a short time? With these 10 steps, you'll get fluent in a new language fast! Are you using some of them? Share your thoughts in the comments! ### Learn Hiragana with Hiragana Charts URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:35.000Z Hello, there. Let me guess — as a beginner in Japanese, my friend, you are looking for a Hiragana chart. **Ideally, you want one that’s clear, marked with Latin script, and available in a printable PDF, right? Congratulations! You've come to the right place.** LingoDeer is glad to present you with our newest Hiragana charts for FREE. You can download them and practice writing them on your own. ### Hiragana Chart for PC ![Japanese hiragana chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-hiragana-chart.png) Download hiragana chart for PC [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-chart-1-1.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![hiragana chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-chart-2-2.png) Download hiragana chart for PC [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-chart-2-2-1.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Hiragana Chart for phone ![hiragana chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-c890b8e9ad351223.png) Download hiragana chart for phone [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-chart-shou-ji---2.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). [](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer-kana-wallpaper-aug2020-2.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) You can also download this [hiragana lock screen image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer-kana-wallpaper-aug2020-3.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) so you learn them every time you open up your phone! ### Fill-in-the-blanks Hiragana Chart You can also use blank kana practice sheets and go across the sheet. [](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-chart-fill-in-the-blanks-1-1.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Download fill-in-the-blanks hiragana chart [here.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-chart-fill-in-the-blanks-1-2.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![hiragana quiz sheet](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-chart-2-fill_in_the_blank-1.png) Download fill-in-the-blanks hiragana chart [here](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-chart-2-fill%5Fin%5Fthe%5Fblank-1-1.png?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## What is Hiragana used for ### Introduction If you plan to learn the Japanese language, **it would be best for you to start with Hiragana first,** **which is generally seen as the foundation of Japanese.** To understand where to start with Hiragana, we first need to take a look at the Japanese writing system. Having a basic knowledge of it can help you better grasp Hiragana itself. **The** [**Japanese writing system**](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/03/japanese-a-beautifully-complex-writing-system/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **consists of three parts:** [**46 Hiragana, 46 Katakana,**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) **and thousands of Kanji.** It could be said that the Japanese language has one of the most complex writing systems, but please don't worry. It's not as hard as you think. Please read on, as this will become clear to you soon enough. **Kanji is one of the few surviving ideographic writing systems in the world.** Although the number of Kanji exceeds **100 thousand**, you only need to learn about **3,000 commonly used characters**, which comprise over **95%** of text. ![learning Japanese be like](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/learning-japanese-be-like.png) Unlike the Latin, Arabic, and Cyrillic scripts, which are phonetic alphabets, **Kanji is neither phonetic nor an alphabet**. It could be said that it's **impossible** to know how to pronounce Kanji just by looking at them **without** memorizing their pronunciations individually. As a result, even native Chinese speakers need to use [Pinyin](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pinyin-romanization?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a phonetic system based on the Latin script, to standardize and assist in memorizing the pronunciation of Chinese characters. Likewise, **Hiragana takes on the function of pronouncing Kanji in Japanese, and each one represents a particular** [**syllable**](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/syllable?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**.** However, is Hiragana only used to pronounce Kanji? Of course not. There are other uses for Hiragana. The following sections will offer some straightforward explanations. ### Pronunciation or substitution of Kanji First of all, Hiragana can help pronounce [Kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/). Without the help of Hiragana, it's hard for us to know how to pronounce the two words below. Furthermore, **each Kanji tends to have more than one possible pronunciation**, and the same Kanji can be pronounced differently in different words. However, **the pronunciation of Kana (Hiragana and Katakana) is constant because they are phonetic**, as we mentioned before. ![Hiragana as kanji's pronunciation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/1-2.png) Additionally, in modern Japanese, **Hiragana is always used as a substitute for some** [**extremely hard-to-write**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Nb-CjIZYQ&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **or rare Kanji.** For example, for the word "**parrot**," most Japanese people prefer to write its Hiragana **おうむ (ōmu)** instead of its Kanji **鸚鵡 (ōmu)**. Generally, the more formal the written material, **the greater the portion of Kanji and the lower the portion of Hiragana.** Therefore, you will find a lot of Hiragana in elementary school students' compositions but a relatively low percentage of Hiragana in formal papers such as government reports. ### Okurigana: form words with Kanji together ![japanese okurigana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/3-3.png) In the example above, **Hiragana is not used as a pronunciation tool but is a part of the word itself. In such a case, Hiragana is also called** [**okurigana**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okurigana?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**.** Dear reader, if you are a beginner in Japanese, you may get overwhelmed when trying to understand and internalize every new concept you come across. If I were you, I would just remember that **Hiragana can be part of a word.** ### Pure hiragana words ![hiragana-only words](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/2-2.png) Many Japanese words are only written in Hiragana, meaning no Kanji is involved. Hiragana-only words are often [onomatopoeia ](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/onomatopoeia?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)words made by imitation of a sound made by its referent. ### Grammatical functions Last but not least, **almost all words with grammatical significance in Japanese are written in Hiragana**, such as [particles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-particles/), [verb conjugations](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/), etc. Again, you can skip this part if you are still trying to memorize the hiragana chart. You will figure out this rule naturally as you learn more. With my above explanations, I believe you now have a good idea of Hiragana’s functions and purpose. So what is Katakana used for? **Once you’ve mastered Hiragana, you can move onto Katakana and its purposes.** But for now, just start with Hiragana. If you are unfamiliar with the differences between Hiragana and Katakana, [an article we wrote earlier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) can help you distinguish them easily. ## How to write and read Hiragana? Now let's learn how to pronounce and write Hiragana. The font we use for each Hiragana is called **教科書字体 (UD Digi kyokasho)**, which is used for Japanese textbooks. Inside each Hiragana, **black arrows** are included to guide you on how to write Hiragana in its correct stroke order. **Please follow the black lines if you hope to practice writing Hiragana on sketch paper.** One of the most prominent characteristics of Hiragana is that they are curly, so it would be best to practice writing them out as smoothly as possible. The below audios were recorded by a native Japanese speaker. It's also worth mentioning that **all recordings in the LingoDeer app are 100% recorded by native speakers**, which can help you to learn Japanese excellently! Well, without further ado, let's get started! ![a-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-29c18ec99177a6dc.png) ![ka-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-cad847867a56af05.png) ![sa-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-00921191fa88e36b.png) ![ta-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-14586769ca42f5e0.png) ![na-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-566242fcb840d8ac.png) ![ha-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-dce3352ac316f704.png) ![ma-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-bd5da4f1a497853a.png) ![ya-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-101c41858303d85f.png) | | | | | | ![ra-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-d26269deb8e97d5f.png) ![wa-line hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/08/ld-image-00a4478050f44899.png) | | | | | | Download the [Hiragana Stroke PDF](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/hiragana-chart.pdf) *(Please note: all images and files in this article are for personal use only, and commercial use is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved by LingoDeer)* If you want to download a **copybook** to practice writing Hiragana, [here](https://happylilac.net/hiragana-h.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has many copybooks of Hiragana available to download for free. While practicing Hiragana, you can learn a lot of basic Japanese words. How awesome! ![hiragana copybook](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana-copybooks.png) ## How to memorize Hiragana ### Practice to writing **Writing is one of the best ways to memorize Hiragana!** Remember when you were a kid learning the Latin script and were asked to transcribe it on paper **repeatedly**? It's a universally accepted truth that[ writing helps you to remember](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/03/210319080820.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Researchers%20say%20that%20the%20unique,what%20leads%20to%20improved%20memory.). The hiragana strokes are presented above for you. Nevertheless, it's okay if you're still confused. If you’re feeling this way, then **you may want to try the** [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **app, which has a free and professional kana writing tutorial.** ### Graphical mnemonics You may have seen some graphical mnemonics for Hiragana like the ones below. However, learning with them is **not** necessarily a great strategy because **the connection between the picture and Hiragana presented to you was created in someone else's mind.** This means you need to memorize both pictures and Hiragana, which **adds** to the burden of memory. ![graphical mnemonics hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/picture-mnemonics-hiragana.png) So, are image mnemonics completely undesirable? No. **This method works if you try associating a Hiragana with a specific image *based on your own intuition*,** which fundamentally reflects your understanding of a particular Hiragana. If you find it difficult to associate them creatively, then graphical mnemonics may not be for you. ### Musical mnemonics The physical and visual mnemonics mentioned above have been proven to be effective by [numerous theories](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/studies-in-second-language-acquisition/article/abs/use-of-verbal-and-imagery-mnemonics-in-secondlanguage-vocabulary-learning/803EA5384B401093489002FFE660E149?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) of second language acquisition. In addition, music mnemonics are also great. **Try applying kana to songs you are familiar with, or search for some kana songs on Youtube.** Music will not only help you memorize Hiragana but also **motivates** you to learn Japanese. ## Fun facts about Hiragana ### History **Long ago, Japanese was an unwritten language, meaning it was only expressed orally but couldn't be recorded in writings.** Around the time of the [Three Kingdoms Period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three%5FKingdoms?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (3rd century A.D.) in China, [Kanji (Chinese characters)](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/) began to be introduced to Japan through the Korean peninsula from mainland China. **The Japanese language developed into a written language through absorbing Kanji and a lot of Chinese loanwords.** However, Kanji was created by Chinese people to record the Chinese language, and Chinese and Japanese are two completely different languages. Therefore, it is **impossible** to record **all** the nuances of Japanese just by using kanji. This is how **Kana** came into being in the 6th century A.D. **Hiragana was derived from the** [**cursive script**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursive%5Fscript%5F%28East%5FAsia%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **of Chinese characters (a type of Kanji calligraphy).** At first, they were just used by palace lady officials to transcribe poetry. The men and the upper class took pride in writing Kanji and learning Chinese culture, which meant Hiragana was **not** considered highbrow at that time. Nevertheless, gradually, **Hiragana was used more and more widely to meet the needs of written Japanese and became an essential part of the Japanese language.** From my perspective, the popularity of Hiragana is women's outstanding contribution to Japanese culture, shining with the light of [feminism](https://www.vox.com/2018/3/20/16955588/feminism-waves-explained-first-second-third-fourth?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### The two missing Hiragana ゐ and ゑ You can't find the two kana [ゐ (wi)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi%5F%28kana%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [ゑ (we)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We%5F%28kana%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in today's Hiragana chart because the **Japanese orthography system** promulgated by the Japanese cabinet abolished them in 1946. But why? Similar to English, Japanese has various dialects, and in some of them, these two Kana have been confused with **い (i)** and **へ (e)** for a long time. However, **in standard modern Japanese, each Hiragana is supposed to represent only one syllable.** ### 10 Great Tips for Learning French Easy and Fun URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/tips-to-learn-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:04:59.000Z French is probably one of the [easiest languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/easiest-language-to-learn/) for English speakers to learn. But it still takes a lot of work and effort to reach fluency. If you wish to [learn French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/) fast with minimal effort, keep on reading and see how these child-play-like tips can help you master French while having fun. ## Why Do People Fail to Learn French? Before we go through the specific tips to learn French easily, let's first understand the underlying logic of what prevents us from learning a new language like French. Besides the lack of motivation, having no concrete plan on how to go about accomplishing your goal is one of the many reasons why French learners fail. Like with any skill, you need to **create a system and identify where you are in your progress**. Luckily, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a language app that does that for you! LingoDeer provides a systematic French learning route curated by teachers and logs your progress as you learn. You can clearly see what you've learned and where you are. Give it a try for Free if you also wish to learn French systematically! Another factor why you might fail to learn a new language is your **emotional response** in the learning process. If you feel bored or stressed over learning a new language, it will affect your progress and motivation to learn more. So the trick is to try to link positive emotion with learning French, which we'll talk about later. The question of why people fail often comes down to whether they’re willing to make an effort and have the grit and determination to learn a new language. Creating a support system, sticking to plans, and monitoring your progress are just some of the ways you can stick to your goals. Apart from the traditional ways of French learning, you can also follow the below 10 unconventionally fun ways to learn French. Let's take a look! ## 10 Unconventionally Easy Tips to Learn French on Your Own Oftentimes, the struggle to master any new language, including French, comes from negative emotions tied to learning it. So why not try some fun and easy ways to learn French so you can reach your goal? ### 1\. Listening to French Podcasts If you're having difficulty with pronunciation and understanding the accent of the French language, you can practice your listening skills daily by [listening to French-language podcasts](https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/french-podcasts-for-every-language-level?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Whether you are on the bus or doing chores, you can always immerse yourself in the French. By listening to French podcasts, you can pick up the nuances in the accent and mimic pronunciation. It can help you get a better glimpse of the everyday conversations of French native speakers and strengthen your grammar skills. ### 2\. Learn French in Small Chunks Learning hundreds of new vocabulary in a day can sound scary, but it will be much easier if you learn a small amount every day, right? Actually, unlike acquiring a physical skill, language learning can't be accomplished in a short time. Passion won't last long. It's best to have a schedule and stick to it throughout the entire journey. But how can you prepare one? Luckily, you don't need to always do it yourself. There are well-written books, language programs, and apps out there for you. For example, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a comprehensive language learning app that teaches 13 languages including French. Its French lessons are curated by real language teachers and organized in small chunks with game-like fun exercises. This makes French learning much more fun. All you need to do is follow the learning route and you'll be able to converse in French in 3 to 6 months. ### 3\. Singing French Songs to Learn French Singing has been shown to **uplift mood**. This is why we included singing in our unconventional fun ways of learning a new language. You'll be surprised how much faster it will be to learn french through singing because of the rhythm and rhyme. According to several studies, [singing can facilitate language learning](https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13421-013-0342-5?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#Ack1) by enhancing memory for new foreign words. So why not add some color to your French learning by singing French songs? You can start by singing easy [French songs for beginners](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWC3jTo5VQfCXN81Xr-J38E%5FwiupPzwCt&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or folk songs and make your way to French pop and indie songs. Through the songs, you can not only learn new French words, but also get a better glimpse of France's socio-cultural characteristics that make it unique from others. ### 4\. Incorporate French Learning into Everyday Life If you want to get more into your French language learning, you can incorporate French learning into your everyday life. If you're an avid gamer, you can learn more quickly by setting your games in French. Games are fun and challenging to learn another language, especially if you're playing with other French native gamers. This way you can learn French by doing what you like. Doesn't that sound great? Another easy way to integrate French learning into your daily routine is to simply change your phone language to French. By doing that you'll find yourself unconsciously learning a variety of daily vocabulary like call, calendar, notebook, etc. in French in almost no time! But if you are an absolute beginner, you may not want to try this method in case you can't find where to change back to English. ### 5\. Reach Out to French Native Speakers Making friends with native French speakers is another great way to learn French quickly. Most often, people learn a new language but then forget about it or get rusty because they have no one to talk with. French is one of the world's top ten [most spoken languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/), with around 300 million French speakers if you combined native and non-native speakers. So it shouldn't be hard to find a native French speaker. French native speakers are usually friendly and accommodating to those wanting to learn to speak fluent French. You can make friends through various sites and social media platforms. Just be honest about your situation as a French language learner, and you're still mastering the language. Social media platforms are a great way of connecting with native French speakers and other language learners worldwide. You can join online groups and forums where you discuss with other language learners and linguaphiles. You may even get to know exclusive conferences or events about language learning and other opportunities. ### 6\. Learn French by Reading in French If you've learned some French and wish to improve your reading skills or expand your vocabulary, try reading in French! From literature, fashion magazines, to children's graphics, blog posts, read anything that interests you. You can search for websites where you can download and get [online source materials for books](https://blog.lingodeer.com/free-ebooks/) and graphic novels. Some offer free downloads, while others you have to pay for the source materials as it's protected by copyright. Remember, learning a language is not just about grammar and vocabulary. When you've reached a certain level, try to use your target language the way native speakers do, like reading. By consuming French books and literature, you not only improve your French language skills, but also see the world through the lens of the French language. ### 7\. Watch French Films and TV Shows You've probably already tried this or thought of this. [Watching films and TV shows can definitely help with language learning](https://theconversation.com/watching-foreign-language-tv-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-can-help-you-learn-a-new-language-141170?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). They are a great gateway to learning not only the language but also the culture and society behind that language. You can immerse yourself in to the French-speaking world without traveling to France. You can watch without French translations so you can be familiar with the language without relying on it. With online streaming readily available, you can browse and look for foreign films much quicker than before. There are many [listicles on the best French films](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls059693712/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) you should watch if you're just starting to learn French. You can use those listicles as a reference point when you get started in watching French films and TV shows. ### 8\. Use a French Learning App Language apps is an effective way to learn languages, especially if you are busy. They are convenient, easy to use, and can be used anytime, anywhere. If you wish to learn French with a language app, we suggest you try [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). LingoDeer is one of the best language learning apps that help you learn French smoothly and speak fluently. 100% native audio, professionally curated curricula, and a variety of exercise types guarantee an excellent French learning experience. We have also listed the [8 best language learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/) you can use to get started. The important thing is to find one that you really like and actually use. Some apps operate under a gamified system wherein your progress is closely monitored and tallied depending on your rank or level of mastery. One of the best qualities of language learning apps is that they can give you scheduled reminders to get you on track with your goals. ### 9\. Watch French Cooking Instructional Videos They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Unsurprisingly, we included this in our list of unconventional ways to master the French language. Reading French translations of French cuisines and recipes is a fun way of testing your reading comprehension. You can also watch instructional cooking videos in French if you're not fond of reading recipes and are a visual learner. Live streams about French cuisine cooking and video clips are on various platforms that you can watch anytime and anywhere. If you're looking to host a party and present a new recipe, why not kill two birds with one stone on this one? ### 10\. Set Yourself a Motivational Schedule Just like any other language, learning French is bound to become hard at some point. So it's important to give yourself a dose of motivation from time to time. You can do this by writing down why you get started. Whether you are looking for career opportunities, becoming a [French translator](https://www.tomedes.com/languages/french?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), or you are attracted by French culture and society or wish to challenge yourself, these goals can help you remember why you started learning French and keep you going when things get hard. You can also write down motivational quotes in French to encourage yourself from time to time. It's also possible to find a helper, like a friend, to constantly remind you of why you get started and push you forward. ## Conclusion Whether you plan to go to France or add more skills to enhance your career, finding ways to have fun as you master French is a great way to ensure you are motivated to keep learning. Most of the suggestions mentioned in this article are centered around everyday things we do at home. Because when it comes to language learning, even simple, fun activities can help you go a long way it you stick to them. --- *This article is contributed by Ofer Tirosh, the CEO and founder of Tomedes, translation services company that provides multilingual and technological solutions to thousands of businesses and private clients worldwide. He has written several articles regarding the translation industry and language learning community on Tomedes’ translator blog and various websites.* ### The 12 Best Apps to Learn German According to Real Learners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-apps-to-learn-german/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:37.000Z Want to learn German? Well, there are many apps for that. Don't just choose any old app for your German journey, though. Even if you find one that incorporates reading, writing, listening, speaking, and straightforward grammar, you need an app that's going to **deliver**. You need an app that you *know* has actually taught other learners the German language! In this post, you'll find apps that have gotten the green light from real German learners. Here are the 12 best apps to learn German based on **real user reviews** from the Google Play Store. ## Duolingo ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/duolingo-logo-300x300-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Vocabulary building, grammar tutorials, reading practice. **Try Duolingo:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/duolingo-language-lessons/id570060128?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](https://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The first app on our list is probably one that you've heard of before, probably because of its owl mascot that sends push notifications to smartphones around the world. In fact, Duolingo is perhaps one of the most popular language learning apps and has been named one of the best apps to learn German. It holds a 4.6-star average rating on the Google Play Store. Contrary to popular belief, Duolingo isn't a single program. To deliver high quality learning content, Duolingo uses multiple features to teach the German language. The first is the core Duolingo app. This one leads learners through a German-learning “tree” that focuses on various vocabulary and grammar topics (called "skills") such as [numbers in German](https://blog.lingodeer.com/count-in-german/), school, food & drink and government. As of August 2022, there are 160 skills to learn across nine units. Each skill helps learners master vocabulary and grrammar constructions through various audio, speaking, reading and writing exercises. The second offered program is called Duolingo Stories, and it is exactly as it sounds. Duolingo Stories uses short, interactive stories to teach new vocabulary and see the language in context. Each story has a full written transcript and authentic German audio recordings. Additonally, there are features for keeping track of practiced words and online classes for practicing with a real German speaker. ![Duolingo German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0061.jpg) ## LingoDeer ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer-logo-800x800-1-300x300-jpeg-crop-1.jpg) **Key Features:** High frequency vocabulary, visual learning, German audio. **Try LingoDeer:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Like Duolingo, LingoDeer has a loveable mascot as well, and it is in the form of, well… a deer! Holding a 4.5-star average rating on the Google Play Store, LingoDeer is well-rounded and definitely one of the best apps to learn German. LingoDeer’s German course focuses on native German audio and vocabulary building tools. During the lessons, the learner is introduced to various high frequency words, and then there are several activities to help them master the words. Each word and sentence comes with real German audio so that you can learn through reading as well as listening. On LingoDeer’s learning platform, there are topics such as plurals, family, professions and negation. Each lesson builds on previous ones, but the vocabulary remains topical so you know that the words you are learning are ones that you will use in real German conversations. Each lesson introduces words slowly and allows the learner to master them through different activities such as matching, cloze sentences and multiple-choice questions. LingoDeer also has a handy progress section in the app that lets you track your learning streak and set daily learning goals for yourself. ![LingoDeer German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0051.jpg) ## Babbel ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/logo-for-knowledge-graph-square-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Online immersion, video learning, speech recognition. **Try Babbel:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/babbel-language-learning/id829587759?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.babbel.mobile.android.en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](http://www.babbel.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Based on the Biblical Tower of Babbel, this app aims to decipher the world of language learning and help you master German. Its true test of time is that since its inception in 2008, it holds a 4.6-star average rating on the Google Play Store, making it one of the best apps to learn German. Babbel focuses on helping learners acquire vocabulary and grammar through online [immersion methods](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-german/). This is primarily done through real German video, authentic German audio and engaging dialogues. The program then uses various activities such as fill-in-the-blank exercises and speech recognition to have learners use the language actively. Babbel focuses on high frequency vocabulary for beginner learners, but it also has advanced courses for those who already know some German. There is even a Business German course that learners can complete for specialized vocabulary and grammar construction for German workplaces. Outside of the main program, there are numerous vocabulary building tools such as a dialogue trainer and flashcards to give learners more opportunities to master new words. ![Babbel German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0052.jpg) ## Deutsche Welle’s Learn German ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Long-term learning, real German video, extensive comprehension and grammar exercises. **Try it here:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dw-learn-german/id1224076534?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dw.learngerman&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](https://www.dw.com/en/learn-german/s-2469?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) *Deutsche Welle* (German Wave) is a major German-language media company that offers comprehensive German learning materials on their website and in app form. The app itself holds a 4.2-star average rating on the Google Play Store. Well-rounded courses focusing on native, German-only video and audio to guide learners through vocabulary and grammar. The first three courses for the A1, A2 and B1 levels (beginner to low intermediate levels) revolves around a video series called *Nicos Weg* (Nico's Way). The story follows Nico, a young Spanish immigrant to Germany, and his friends as they navigate daily life in Germany. Each lesson comes with a video with real German actors as well as readings, comprehension exercises and grammar tutorials. What is perhaps the most useful about this app is the amount of support material on the *Deutsche Welle* website. After completing the core courses, there are other courses for learners to complete as well as material for learners who have reached the B2 level (upper intermediate) or above. In my opinion, this makes it one of the best apps to learn German to a high level. ![Deutsche Welle’s Learn German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0053.jpg) ## LingQ ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/rxj2nh-v_400x400-150x150-jpeg-crop-1.jpg) **Key Features:** Ever-growing German library, built-in dictionary, flashcards. **Try LingQ:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingq-learn-42-languages/id379385811?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.linguist&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](http://www.lingq.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) LingQ uses a language learning method called "comprehensive input." This method has been shown effective [in numerous studies](https://ellevationeducation.com/blog/teaching-comprehensible-input-definition-examples?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for many language learners around the world, making LingQ itself one of the best apps to learn German with a 4.4-star average rating on the Google Play Store. This method used on LingQ means that learners use readings and audio clips that they can understand most of, but are just a step above their level so as to challenge themselves. Each lesson on LingQ has a percentage beside it, showing how many known words are used in the lesson. This allows learners to choose lessons in the sweet spot for learning new vocabulary. The best part is that LingQ uses written and audio-based German readings and podcasts to teach the language. Further, even if you start as a complete beginner, there are lessons for all levels of German are available as well as user-generated content being added every day. Each lesson has an audio clip and corresponding German transcript. Each word can be looked up in built-in dictionary and then turned into a flashcard (called a "lingq") for later review. ![LingQ German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0065.jpg) ## Busuu ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/busuu-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Bite-sized learning, authentic German dialogues, vocabulary exercises. **Try Busuu:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/busuu-language-learning/id379968583?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.busuu.android.enc&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](http://www.busuu.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Like some of the other best apps to learn German, Busuu also offers courses for all levels of German learners starting with beginners and allowing for learning at the intermediate and advanced level. As such, learners have given Busuu a 4.4-star average rating on Google Play Store. The main idea behind Busuu is bite-sized lessons. These allow for small bursts of learning during otherwise busy schedules. The lessons focus on listening to authentic German sentences and dialogues and then completing various exercises to practice newly-acquired vocabulary and structures. Outside of the main pathway of the course, Busuu also offers vocabulary learning tools that allow learners to repeat words and phrases through quizzes, matching, cloze sentences and voice-input. The app also includes short grammar tutorials and the ability to practice with real native speakers of German. This is invaluable for trialing real German conversations and getting pronunciation feedback. ![Busuu German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0054.jpg) ## Drops ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/drops-language-app-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Gameified learning, high frequency vocabulary, bite-sized learning. **Try Drops:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drops-learn-spanish-korean/id939540371?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.languagedrops.drops.international&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](https://languagedrops.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Drops is a relatively new app to the German-learning game, but its 4.3-star average rating assures that it is one of the best apps to learn German. The method for Drops is simple. Learning is based around being introduced to and practicing words and phrases in manageable chunks. Fittingly, these are called "drops” in the app. Each "drop" adds to a growing pool of previously-learned German words that can be used to easily have German conversations and understand German media. The lessons are progressive, meaning they build on one another from the beginning stage, and they advance through multiple levels of German. Each lesson revolves around a certain topic, and learners practice new words through various interactive, gamified activities. The app also sorts learned words into what it perceives as "weak" and "strong" topics, allowing you to easily figure out what topics need more work to master. ![Drops German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0073.jpg) ## Seedlang ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/seedlang_logo_with_background3-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Authentic German videos, video transcripts and translations, grammar tutorials. **Try Seedlang:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/learn-german-with-seedlang/id1521550965?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seedlang.mobile.android.all&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](https://seedlang.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you've been around the German block before this post, chances are you've encountered the makers of Seedlang before. In fact, Seedlang is the companion app to the wildly popular [YouTube channel Easy German](https://www.youtube.com/easygerman?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Based on the reaction to Easy German's YouTube videos, it's not hard to understand why Seedlang is one of the best apps to learn German with a 4.5-star average rating on the Google Play Store. Each lesson revolves around a video where a host speaks with people they meet on the street about a given topic in real German. The German used in the video is completely spontaneous, so it can be challenging at times, but this type of immersive learning is ideal short of moving to Germany yourself! The lesson then has various vocabulary building tools, transcripts, vocabulary lists and even short grammar tutorials to help you master the words and constructions used in the video. Better yet, new videos—and thus, new lessons—are being added every week. ![Seedlang German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0081.jpg) ## Memrise ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/memrise-new-logo-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Spaced Repetition System technology, large selection of flashcard decks, suitable for all German levels. **Try Memrise:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/memrise-easy-language-learning/id635966718?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.memrise.android.memrisecompanion&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](http://www.memrise.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) While the idea behind Memrise is simple, the results are monumental—so much so that a deceivingly simple flashcard app has garnered a 4.6-star average rating on the Google Play Store. That's because Memrise takes flashcard learning to an extreme and has thus become one of the best apps to learn German. For starters, each course revolves around decks of hundreds if not thousands of German words, and there isn't just a couple German courses: there are literally hundreds. These are created by Memrise itself and users alike. That means that there are flashcard decks for every level of German as well as specific topics such as [German verbs](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-verbs/), Business German and Academic German. Each word in the deck is presented to the learners as a flashcard, and then the app's Spaced Repetition System (SRS) algorithm takes over. In short, SRS allows you to review flashcards at critical intervals for the German word and its meaning to transfer into your long-term memory. This idea is so wildly effective that [SRS is actually backed by real brain science](https://e-student.org/spaced-repetition/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![Memrise German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0082.jpg) ## Mondly ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/mondly-logo-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Conversational German, authentic German audio, visual learning. **Try Mondly:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/learn-33-languages-with-mondly/id987873536?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atistudios.italk.de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](https://www.mondly.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Once named Facebook's App of the Year, it's not hard to see why Mondly has a 4.7-star average rating on the Google Play Store and has been hailed one of the best apps to learn German. Mondly is primarily a conversation-based app, allowing learners to master the language through common conversational vocabulary topics. This is perfect for learners looking to speak German with real native speakers or travel to a German-speaking place. After an interactive dialogue, the lesson allows the learner practice words and phrases through flashcard-based activities. These include both audio and visual activities. The app also has several separate vocabulary building and grammar tools to enhance learning. ![Mondly German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0095-1.jpg) ## Readle ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2022-08-09-at-1-53-06-pm-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** Reading practice, built-in dictionary, quizzes and flashcards. **Try Readle:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/learn-german-with-readle/id1483552317?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hello.german&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](https://readle-app.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) In-app German immersion is simple with Readle, an app that strengthens reading and comprehension in German with 4.8-star average rating on the Google Play Store. In short, Readle is an app that uses real German stories to teach the language. These stories range from the A1 to the C1 level (beginner to advanced learners), and they are based on both traditional and contemporary German tales. This is great for learners who perhaps want to learn German for academic or professional purposes. Each word in the story can be looked up in a built-in dictionary. This is perfect for finding the meaning to an unknown word without having to exit the app altogether. Further, interactive quizzes and flashcards can be used to reinforce understanding and vocabulary after the story is finished. ![Readle German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0099.jpg) ## MosaLingua German ![best-app-to-learn-german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/mosalingua-german-150x150-crop-1.png) **Key Features:** authentic German dialogues, comprehension activities, vocabulary building tools. **Try MosaLingua:** [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mosalingua-learn-languages/id858567694?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mosalingua.defree&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Web](https://www.mosalingua.com/en/our-apps/mosalingua-german/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The last app on our list has the highest rating. With a 4.9-star average rating on the Google Play Store, this app could be a great addition to your German-learning inventory. The basis of Mosalingua's German app is conversation. That is why Mosalingua takes over 80 authentic German dialogues and turns them into learning tools. After the dialogue is presented, each comes with comprehension activities to make sure you've understood what was said in the dialogue. Next, you can use a variety of vocabulary building tools such as flashcards, pronunciation tools and Spaced Repetition System technology to help you get new words and phrases into your long-term memory. But Mosalingua doesn't just stop at videos and comprehension exercises to be one of the best apps to learn German. Learners can enhance their German experience by opting for German teachers. This can be great for perfecting the pronunciation of German words and learning how German is actually spoken by everyday speakers. ![MosaLingua German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_0096.jpg) --- With such as great selection, finding the best apps to learn German is just a click away. Simply log onto your favorite app store, download your app—or apps!—of choice and swipe your way to German fluency! What's your favorite German app? Let us know in the comments. ### 10 Best Apps to Learn Korean (2023) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-korean-learning-apps/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T04:28:38.000Z If you are interested in Korean culture and wish to [learn the Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) but don’t want to take traditional Korean classes, you’ve come to the right place! Thanks to the advancement of technology, now you can access Korean language lessons at your fingertips with plenty of functional Korean learning apps! To save you the time and effort you’d need to investigate truly [helpful language apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/), the LingoDeer team has sifted through the 10 best Korean learning apps on the market in 2023\. No matter which level of Korean learner you are, you can find an app suitable for you here! Let’s take a look! ## Overall Best App to Learn Korean: LingoDeer ![LingoDeer app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lqlpdhsspx_ydyhnaftnafswc0tdbtsp89gcgdjrk8bhaa_500_500.png) **Rating:** 4.8 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - 100% native audio - Well-designed curricula - Detailed grammar explanations **Most suitable for:** beginner and intermediate Korean learners **Price:** Free with limited functions, premium starts from $6.66 per month [LingoDeer](https://lingodeer.page.link/oVZg?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is the most comprehensive Korean learning app you can find. From writing and listening to speaking and reading, LingoDeer has got you covered on every aspect of Korean learning. LingoDeer follows a building block approach that helps you sense your achievements as you progress through each lesson. It also has a built-in reward system that keeps encouraging you to learn Korean consistently. You can join the leaderboard, win badges, and interact with the cute mascot deer, all of which make Korean learning with LingoDeer an enjoyable experience. Unlike many other apps that use random translation-based materials, LingoDeer’s Korean lessons are designed by language teachers with a scientific curriculum. Each lesson is tailored to address a key language point, integrating grammar, vocabulary, sentences, and culture organically. With a strong focus on East Asian languages, LingoDeer also does a great job in teaching you the [Korean writing system](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) and nuances in pronunciation. Having tried many Korean learning apps, LingoDeer is overall the best one that is worth investing your time and money in. With intricate lessons and well-designed practices, it actually teaches you Korean in a cost-effective manner. ![Best Korean learning app LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_8993.jpg) Try LingoDeer: [Android](https://lingodeer.page.link/oVZg?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://lingodeer.page.link/oVZg?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [web ](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best App to Learn Korean with Immersion: Rosetta Stone ![Rosetta Stone app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-jpeg.jpg) Rating: 4.8 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - Classical Korean lessons with a focus on speaking - Real-life expressions learned in contexts - Additional functions like tutoring and community **Most suitable for:** beginner to intermediate Korean learners **Price:** premium starts at $9.17 per month Rosetta Stone is a classic langauge learning program that started as early as the 20th century. It began with [books and audio lessons](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-learning-resources/) and now includes video lessons and a mobile app. Rosetta Stone’s backbone teaching method is immersion – that is, learning languages through context. Rosetta Stone provides speaking-focused short lessons with native audio and rich images. As you progress, you encounter previously learned language points repetitively and solidify your memory. Rosetta Stone also has a tutoring function where you can practice Korean with native speakers. It’s an awesome place for beginners to start speaking Korean and gain confidence. Rosetta Stone’s Korean learning content is also pretty flexible. It allows you to customize learning by choosing your focuses (listening, writing, speaking, reading), current Korean level (beginner intermediate, advanced), and audio type (male, female, child) ![Best Korean learning app Rosetta Stone](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_9066.jpg) Try Rosetta Stone: [web](https://www.rosettastone.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.rosettastone.mobile.CoursePlayer&hl=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learn-languages-rosetta-stone/id435588892?mt=8&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best App to Learn Korean for Fun: Duolingo ![Duolingo app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-1.png) **Rating:** 4.7 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - Gamified lessons - Cute mascot and characters - Budget-friendly **Price:** Free with ads or premium at $6.99 per month **Most suitable for:** all levels of Korean learners Speaking of language learning apps, you must have heard of Duolingo, the largest language learning app and the only one that [has gone public](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/28/language-learning-app-duolingo-pops-35percent-in-public-debut-on-the-nasdaq.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Duolingo is known for its fun, gamified language lessons. It provides courses in 38 languages with a focus on western languages like French and Spanish. Duolingo Korean features gamified short lessons with a cute animated owl mascot that makes learning fun and encouraging. Many features like leveling-up, gaining presents, and keeping daily streaks make Korean learning with Duolingo more like playing a game. Beginner-level Korean lessons on Duolingo contain 2200+ words and 5600 + sentences. By immersing yourself in these words and sentences repetitively, Duolingo Korean helps you understand Korean in just 5 to 20 minutes a day. The best part of Duolingo is that it’s totally free, although that also means you need to frequently watch ads that disrupt your attention. To eliminate the ads, you just need to pay $6.99 a month, which is more affordable compared to its competitors. ![Best Korean learning app Duolingo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_9023.jpg) Try Duolingo: [web](http://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [A](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo&hl=fr&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ndroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo&hl=fr&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/duolingo/id570060128?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best App to Learn Korean with Tutors: iTalki ![italki app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-2.png) Rating: 4.7 out of5 on App Store Key features: - Find certified tutors with experience in teaching Korean - 1-on-1 Korean lessons tailored just for you - Learn wherever and whenever you want Suitable for: all levels of learners Price: Tutors’ prices vary from $5 per hour to $40 per hour with trial lessons provided If you prefer the old-school way of language learning, try iTalki. iTalki allows you to connect with Korean tutors from around the world and learn Korean with 1-on-1 lessons tailored just for you. Its price is relatively higher than language apps but still more affordable than language schools. Korean learning with iTalki is pretty flexible in terms of time, place, and content. You can choose wherever and whenever you want to learn with a dedicated period of time (30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, or 90 minutes). Learning content is also up to you. If you have questions regarding some grammar points, simply schedule a lesson to find out the answer. If you wish to practice speaking and listening, book an hour with a native tutor! Besides tutoring, iTalki also provides other features like community chat, podcast, vocabulary drills, etc. It’s an established language learning community with many good resources to discover. ![Best Korean learning app iTalki](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_9022.jpg)Try iTalki: [web](https://www.italki.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [A](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.italki.app&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ndroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.italki.app&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/italki-learn-any-language/id1140000003?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best App to Learn Korean with Natives: HelloTalk ![HelloTalk app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-3.png) **Rating:** 4.7 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - Chat with native speakers - Built-in translation and auto-correction - Learn by using the language **Price:** Free with basic features or premium at $4.99 per month **Most suitable for:** intermediate to advanced Korean learners who want to practice or make friends If you are a social type of person and enjoy chatting with others, then you should try language exchange apps like HelloTalk. HelloTalk is a great app for you to learn Korean by chatting with native korean speakers. You can make friends with Korean speakers on the platform and talk to them wherever you want to. In return, you can teach others your native language. It’s particularly useful if you wish to go to Korea someday as you can make friends and get to know what life in South Korea is like in advance. The app is specifically designed for social interactions, so it has many functions that facilitate chatting. For example, it has a built-in dictionary if you don’t understand a word, and it can auto-correct when you spell a word incorrectly. You can also use some general SNS app functions like video calls. ![Best Korean learning app HelloTalk](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_9021.jpg) Try HelloTalk: [A](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hellotalk&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ndroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hellotalk&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best App to Learn Korean Vocabulary: Drops ![Drops language-learning app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-7.png) **Rating:** 4.8 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - A large amount of useful words and phrases - Sleek UI design that helps you focus - Built-in spaced repetition system **Price:** free with limited features, premium starts from 6.66 per month **Most suitable for:** lower to intermediate Korean learners who wish to expand vocabulary Drops is a gamified app specifically designed for learning vocabulary. If you feel overwhelmed by the Anki decks with thousands of words, try Drops instead. Drops helps you practice essential Korean words in just 5 minutes a day. Its UI design is unique and engaging, creating an immersive learning experience to help you concentrate and learn Korean vocabulary stress-free. Drops is particularly helpful for visual learners as each word comes with an animation to facilitate memorization. There is also a built-in spaced repetition system designed to help you remember vocabulary more efficiently. By just practicing a short time every day, you’ll be surprised at how fast your vocabulary grows. ![Drops](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/9.jpg) Try Drops: [A](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.languagedrops.drops.international&hl=fr&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ndroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.languagedrops.drops.international&hl=fr&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drops-language-learning-app/id939540371?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best Korean Learning Dictionary App: Naver Dictionary ![Naver Dictionary app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/b7f12a1e851295c9bfd6551a5139079a_icon.png) **Rating:** 4.7 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - classical definitions and good examples - Accurate translation between Korean and English **Price:** Free **Most suitable for:** all Korean learners except absolute starters Naver Dictionary is the go-to dictionary app for many Korean learners. It’s the most accurate and powerful Korean-English dictionary app that facilitates Korean learning. Naver Dictionary uses detailed definitions with good examples. It also serves as a sort of streamlined search engine and provides word usages from around the web. It has a large database including [slang terms](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korea-slang/) and simple grammar points, which are particularly useful for language learners. So as long as you know the fundamentals of the Korean language, Naver Dictionary can be a great partner on your Korean learning journey. Plus, it’s absolutely free! ![Naver Dictionary](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/77.jpg) Try Naver Dictionary: [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhn.android.naverdic&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/naver-dictionary/id673085116?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [web](https://en.dict.naver.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#/main?sLn=kr) ## Best Korean Translation App: Papago ![Papago translation app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-4.png) Rating: 4.7 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - Accurate translation between Korean and English/Japanese - Translate text, image, voice, etc. **Price:** free **Most suitable for:** all levels of Korean learners If you are still using Google Translate to learn Korean, I suggest you stop immediately as there is a much better alternative out there – Papago. Papago is developed by Naver, the largest and most popular search engine in South Korea. Papago means “parrot” in Esperanto, alluding to language abilities. Papago is by far the most accurate and comprehensive translator for translating between Korean and English/Japanese. It has word explanations in both English and Korean. The app is available in 13 languages. Papago is also a relatively developed translator with functions to not only translate text and sentences, but also images, voice, handwriting, etc. Whether you are learning Korean or need a translator, Papago should be your first choice. ![Papago](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/share.jpg) Try Papago: [A](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.naver.labs.translator&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ndroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.naver.labs.translator&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/naver-papago-ai-translator/id1147874819?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best App to Practice Korean Speaking: Teuida ![Teuida Korean speaking app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-5.png) **Rating:** 4.8 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - Interactive conversations - Real-life expressions taught by locals - Community discussion **Price:** free with ads or premium starts from $14.99 per month **Most suitable for:** beginner Korean learners focusing on speaking If you want to speak in Korean from Day 1, then Teuida is the best app for you. Even without teaching the alphabet, Teuida can help you say some [simple Korean phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-phrases/) like “[hello](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-korean/)” and “[thank you](https://blog.lingodeer.com/thank-you-in-korean/)” through pre-recorded interactive videos. It also has a nice UI design that makes the whole learning process more enjoyable. The in-app community section allows learners to discuss questions related to learning Korean. Teuida is a great option for those who wish to practice their Korean speaking skills in real-life situations. With Teuida, you can’t just skip the speaking part. So give it a try if you wish to speak Korean with confidence from Day 1! ![Teuida](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_9073.jpg)Try Teuida: [A](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.teuida.teuida&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ndroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.teuida.teuida&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teuida-learn-korean-speak/id1457532562?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best App to Learn Korean with K-dramas: Viki Rakuten ![Viki Rakuten app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/31t4emt29il.png) **Rating:** 4.8 out of 5 on App Store **Key features:** - Large collection of native Korean movies, shows, etc. - ‘Learn Mode’ tailored for language learners - Free **Price:** free with ads, subscription starts from $4.99 per month **Most suitable for:** K-drama fans learning Korean Viki Rakuten is the largest platform to watch Asian dramas, movies, tv shows, etc. With more than 1000 shows and movies, you can definitely find something that interests you. If you are a fan of [Korean dramas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/), or [Korean movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-movies/), don’t miss out on this great app to combine Korean learning with K-dramas! Viki Rakuten is also friendly to language learners. The app has a ‘[Learn Mode](https://support.viki.com/hc/en-us/articles/231829048-How-do-I-use-Learn-Mode-?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)’ designed to improve your language skills (so far only available on web and iOS app). It allows you to toggle subtitles to display 2 languages at the same time or replay part of a sentence if you didn’t hear it clearly. Viki Rakuten also has a built-in dictionary function. Simply tap a word you don’t know and you’ll get its definition and pronunciation. ![Viki Rakuten](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_9074.jpg) Try Viki Rakuten: [A](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.viki.android&hl=fr&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ndroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.viki.android&hl=fr&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.viki.android&hl=fr&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Best App to Learn Korean with Podcast: TTMIK Audio ![Talk To Me In Korean audio app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-6.png) **Rating:** 3.9 out of 5 on the App Store **Key features:** - Listen to audio tracks for TTMIK books - Adjust play speed for better understanding - Easily connect to your books through bar codes **Price:** free audio, full course cost from $7.75 per month **Most suitable for:** beginner to intermediate Korean learners [Talk to Me in Korean (TTMIK)](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is most well known for their Korean learning books. Now you can also download their audio app to facilitate your Korean learning with TTMIK. The app is called TTMIK: Audio. Talk To Me In Korean is another great app to learn Korean with rich learning materials including text, audio, and video. It is developed by a young team in Seoul with constant content updates. Most of their content is on their website with a variety of free and paid material. If you’ve been learning with TTMIK’s books, then TTMIK Audio is great for you as you can listen to the audio whenever and wherever you want to review what you’ve learned. If you learn with other main Korean resources, you can still use it for listening practice, especially if you just started out learning Korean. One bug is that according to some reviews, the app sometimes crashes. ![Best Korean learning app TTMIK](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_9078.jpg) Try TTMIK Audio: [A](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talktomeinkorean.media%5Fapp&hl=zh&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ndroid](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talktomeinkorean.media%5Fapp&hl=zh&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ttmik-audio/id1573217831?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- Thanks for reading so far. I hope you have found a suitable app to learn Korean. After all, the best app is the one that you use, and the best time to start is now. Before you go, I wish to bring up our best pick again: [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). LingoDeer is the most comprehensive Korean learning app that helps you build a solid foundation. It’s the best choice for those who wish to learn Korean efficiently and effectively on their own. Give it a try for free! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### What Does Moshi Moshi Mean in Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/moshi-moshi/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:05.000Z Much like English, the Japanese language has loads of [different ways to say hello and goodbye](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-japanese/), ranging from casual and boyish to polite and business-like. However, did you know there’s a special greeting reserved just for picking up the phone? Read on to learn more about “moshi moshi” and how you can start using this essential expression! ## History, Meaning, and Use of Moshi Moshi The greeting “moshi moshi” (もしもし) does **not** actually mean “hello.” This expression is thought to be derived from the verb **申す (もうす)** which means “**to speak**.'' So the term "moshi moshi" can be translated as "**I'm going to speak now.**" Although 申す is a humble verb and would normally only be used in situations where the speaker is trying to lower their social status, もしもし is actually **a casual expression** used when a friend or family member calls you up on the phone. ![moshi moshi](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/moshi-moshi.png) There is also a theory that “moshi moshi” gained traction as a way to ensure that the person speaking to you isn’t a ghost, as spooky creatures like foxes and youkai cannot say “moshi” twice. Regardless of where the term comes from, it’s a key part of daily Japanese and you ought to practice when and how to say it! Each syllable of “Moshi moshi” is usually pronounced in full, but don’t be surprised if someone drops the last “i” and says something more like “[moshi mosh.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMpKDu%5Fa3-0&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)” **You can raise the intonation of the final syllable as though asking a question (“Hello?”) or leave it flat like a statement or interjection (“Hello!”).** Watch the video below to hear how a Japanese native pronounces moshi moshi and the origin of the word! **It’s okay to begin your phone call with “moshi moshi” whether you are the caller or the answerer.** However, it is more commonly used when you answer an incoming call. Let’s take a look at some examples in Japanese: A: もしもし？ B: もしもし。今、大丈夫？ A: うん、暇だよ。どうしたの？ A: Hello? B: Hello! Is now a good time (to talk)? A: Sure, I’m free. What’s wrong? A: もしもし、あかねちゃん？ B：はい！あ、たけし君、今どこ？ A: Hello, Akane-chan? B: Yes! Oh, Takeshi-kun. Where are you now? “Moshi moshi” is also a good expression for **when you can’t quite hear the person on the other line** because the phone is breaking up. A: … 前 … で待ってるよ。 B: え？**もしもし**？電話が遠くて聞こえないわ。もう一回言ってくれない？ A: I’m waiting…in front of… B: **Huh? Hello?** The line’s bad and I can’t hear you. Could you say that again? ## When NOT to Use Moshi Moshi Moshi moshi is **not** appropriate for business contexts or phone calls with anyone you’d want to use honorifics with. If you’re getting an incoming call from a number you **don’t** recognize, it’d be best to stick to **はい (“yes”)** and introduce yourself. For example: A: **はい**、山崎さん。どちら様ですか？ B: ABC美容院でございます。 A: Hello, this is Yamazaki. May I ask who is calling, please? B: This is ABC Beauty Salon. In a business context, you ought to use the **でございます** form and mention your name in conjunction with your title or office. Then you can use the set expression **\[いつも\]お世話になっております** (“Thank you for your \[continuous\] support”) to get the conversation going: A: はい、ABC会社の山田でございます。 B: **いつもお世話になっております。**XYZ会社の田中と申します。 A: あ、こちらこそいつもお世話になっております。 B: お忙しいところ恐れ入りますが... A: Hello, this is Yamada at ABC Company. B: Thank you for your continuous support. This is Tanaka from XYZ Company. A: Oh, we should be the ones thanking you for your continuous support. B: I hate to disturb you at such a busy time, but… ![what does moshi moshi mean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/what-does-moshi-moshi-mean.png) ## Hanging Up & Other helpful phone expressions Just like answering the phone, the way you should end your call depends on your relationship to the person you’re speaking with. **For friends and family**, a simple はい、じゃあね (Okay, see you later) or はい、日曜日にね (Okay, see you Sunday, then) will suffice. **For a more formal or business situation**, thank the other person for their time and use 失礼いたします (literally: I’m being rude) to hang up: A: 本日はお忙しい中ありがとうございました。それでは失礼いたします。 B: 失礼いたします。 A: Thank you so much for today despite your business. Alright, goodbye. B: Goodbye. Another very important thing to note regarding phone etiquette is that **having a phone conversation while on public transit in Japan is considered extremely rude and disruptive.** Although buses and subway trains in the U.S. often have signs warning you to stay off your phone and keep your voice down, locals take this as more of a suggestion than a rule. This is **not** the case in Japan. **Unless it’s a real emergency, you’re better off letting the call go to voicemail or quickly telling the caller you’ll have to ring them back:** A: すみませんが、いま電車の中なので、後でかけ直します。 A: Sorry, but I’m on the train right now, so I’ll call you back later. ![speaking on a phone](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/moshi-moshi-meaning.png) Finally, what to do if you think your caller has the wrong number? It’s **not** particularly polite to directly correct a stranger in Japanese, so rather than just pointing out “You have the wrong number,” **you can apologize and turn it into a tentative suggestion:** A: もしもし、山田さんですか？ B: いいえ、山田ではございません。失礼ですが、電話番号をお間違いではないでしょうか。 A: Hello, is this Mr. Yamada? B: No, this isn’t Mr. Yamada. I’m sorry, but I think you might have the wrong number. Feeling ready to start making and answering some phone calls in Japanese? **You can practice more Japanese grammar and expressions for real-life situations using the** [**LingoDeer**](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **and Deer Plus apps!** Download them and keep in touch with your target language every day! 頑張ってください！ ### 17 Great Apps for Traveling in South Korea URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/apps-for-south-korea-travel/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:41.000Z South Korea is famous for its K-pop, K-drama, and cosmetics. It is also a popular tourist destination with 24/7 convenience stores, outstanding landmarks, bustling shopping streets, and countless fun activities. Thanks to the advancement of technology, now traveling to Korea is much easier if you have the right applications on your phone. So if you are planning a trip to the land of the morning calm, make sure to check out these 14 great apps that will help you make the most out of your trip! ## Apps Communication in South Korea ### Kakao Talk (카카오톡) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unknown-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakao.talk&hl=zh&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/it/app/kakaotalk-messenger/id362057947?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Kakao Talk is the number one communication app in Korea. It has a diverse range of features and a cute chat interface. You can also buy a variety of chat emoticons on it. The app is no just for text messages or video calls, you can also send or receive files, share locations, and even pay with it! ### Papago (파파고) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/123123213-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.naver.labs.translator&hl=it&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/naver-papago-ai-translator/id1147874819?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Papago is a Korean translation software that I recommend to every Korean learner. It provides translation between Korean and 10 languages including English. Papago belongs to Naver, the largest search engine in South Korea. Papago translates Korean much more accurately than google translate. It can definitely help you communicate with native Koreans more effectively. ### LingoDeer ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer-icon-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-language-learning/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you are thinking about [learning the Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), LingoDeer is your best choice. Whether you wish to just learn some travel phrases or dig deeper into the language, LingoDeer has something for you. It allows you to learn a variety of useful phrases in a relatively short period of time. If you want to learn how to order at a restaurant, simple hello and goodbye, thank you, and other Korean that you may use during your trip, you must try it! ![LingoDeer Korean travel phrasebook and alphabet ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_8702.jpg) ## Apps that Help you Find out Where to go in South Korea ### Naver Map (네이버 지도) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/123-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhn.android.nmap&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) – [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/naver-map-navigation/id311867728?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Google Maps or Apple Maps are not very useful when traveling in Korea. **Naver Maps**, like **papago**(Korean translator), was developed by **Naver**, the largest search engine company in Korea. It is available in multiple languages and has very comprehensive traffic navigation. Even for hiking, it has planned hiking routes! All the bus and subway information is in there, and with it, you don't have to worry about getting lost in Korea at all! ### Kakao Map (카카오 지도) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/333-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.daum.android.map&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) – [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kakaomap-korea-no-1-map/id304608425?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Kakao Map is also the choice of many people, and it belongs to the same company as Kakao Talk, the most used chat app in Korea! It's similar to Naver Map, so you can choose between them! **Tips**: In Korea, each subway gate will have a corresponding number, and both maps will show you on your subway navigation which subway gate you should wait at to be able to transfer or exit the station most easily and quickly! ![route planner on Kakao map and Naver map](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/46782_92208_4657.png) ### I Tour Seoul (아이 투어 서울) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unknown-150x150-jpeg-crop-1.jpg) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sto.android.client.itourseoul&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) – [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/i-tour-seoul/id360156429?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) I Tour Seoul app is Seoul Metropolitan Government’s official travel app. If you plan to spend much time in Seoul, this app can save you a lot of time by providing popular tourist attractions, restaurants, and hotels in Seoul. ### Visit Korea (한국 관광) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-150x150-crop-1-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.visitkorea.eng&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) – [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/visit-korea-official-guide/id417340885?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Visit Korea app is quite an official tourist app developed by the Korea Tourism Organisation. You can find plenty travel information in the app, including events, tourist attractions, restaurants, accommodations, etc. ## Apps for Transportation in South Korea ### Kakao T(카카오 택시) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/kakao_t_logo-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakao.taxi&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kakaotalk/id362057947?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Uber is not quite popular in South Korea. So if you want to take a taxi, you should try its Korean counterpart – Kakao T. Kakao T is a must-have Korean taxi app that can be set up in multiple languages including English. You can choose from different rates and directly pay via the app when you've reached your destination. Speaking of taking taxi, be sure to note that in South Korea, there are black cabs with much high prices than regular cabs! If you want to save money, don't wave when you see a black cab. ### Korail talk (코레일톡) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/5-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.korail.talk&hl=zh&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \-[ iOS](https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/%EC%BD%94%EB%A0%88%EC%9D%BC%ED%86%A14/id1000558562?l=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you wish to travel by train, try Korail app. Korail is a software to buy tickets for high-speed trains in Korea and supports many kinds of online payments. Transportation in Korea is very well developed and you can reach almost all inland cities by high-speed trains, and they are usually very punctual. Be sure to first get a Korail Pass before booking tickets on it. ### Bustago (버스타고) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-150x150-crop-1-2.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ebcard.bustago&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://itunes.apple.com/kr/app/jeongug-sioebeoseu-seungchagwon/id966782397?mt=8&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Besides the high-speed train, another way to travel is by bus. Bus is a very comfortable option in Korea and it has a fixed price that does not change with the time or date. It has spacious seats, so you don't have to worry even if you are traveling long distances. They have their own passing lanes on the road, so you don't have to worry about traffic jams or being late at all! ## Apps for Food Delivery in South Korea ### Baemin (배달의민족) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/12-2.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sampleapp&hl=ko&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \-[ iOS](https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/%EB%B0%B0%EB%8B%AC%EC%9D%98%EB%AF%BC%EC%A1%B1/id378084485?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Baemin is one of the most used delivery app in Korea for everything from gourmet food to all kinds of vegetables, fruits, and necessities. You can even order clothes, shoes, flowers, and more. It also newly added a live shopping function, from which you can order discounted food or other goods! The only downside is that it **only supports the Korean language**, which is not suitable for foreigners who don't know Korean. ### Yogiyo (배달요기요) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/3169be9cc2c92ffd369df307894f3b2a_icon-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fineapp.yogiyo&hl=ko&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \-[ iOS](https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/%EB%B0%B0%EB%8B%AC%EC%9A%94%EA%B8%B0%EC%9A%94-%EA%B8%B0%EB%8B%A4%EB%A6%BC-%EC%97%86%EB%8A%94-%EB%A7%9B%EC%A7%91-%EB%B0%B0%EB%8B%AC%EC%95%B1/id543831532?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Yogiyo has basically the same features as Baemin. From my personal experience of using this app, I found it's often cheaper than Baemin, giving away more discount coupons. You can order take-out from a wide variety of restaurants, from Korean, Chinese, Western, KFC, Mcdonalds, pizza, even dessert or coffee, you name it! And **it supports both Korean and English**! So if you don't know Korean, got with this app! ### Coupang Eats (쿠팡 이즈) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unnamed-150x150-webp-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.coupang.mobile.eats&hl=ko&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/%EC%BF%A0%ED%8C%A1%EC%9D%B4%EC%B8%A0/id1445504255?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Coupang Eats is another foreigner-friendly food delivery app. If you don't speak Korean, I recommend you download it! By the way, new users are usually given discount coupons when they sign up, so don't forget to use them when you pay! With so many 24-hour restaurants in Korea, you can even have your fried chicken with beer delivered at 3 am! ![Korean food](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/beige-illustrated-top-high-paid-jobs-blog-banner.png) ## Apps for Accommodation in South Korea ### Airbnb ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/06/ld-image-87753293eaad4fb8.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.airbnb.android&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/airbnb/id401626263?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Airbnb has made overseas accommodation booking so convenient. If you don't have a Korean bank card, don't speak Korean, and don't have a Korean cell phone number, you can still easily book a room at a fair price with Airbnb. The app is also becoming more and more popular in South Korea, so you have plenty of choices when booking a room. Most residences in Korea use code door locks and the check-in time is very flexible. ### Dabang (다방) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.co.station3.dabang&hl=ko&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) – [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/%EB%8B%A4%EB%B0%A9-%EB%8C%80%ED%95%9C%EB%AF%BC%EA%B5%AD-%EB%8C%80%ED%91%9C-%EB%B6%80%EB%8F%99%EC%82%B0-%EC%95%B1/id814840066?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you wish to live for a longer period in South Korea, consider renting a room or apartment. Dabang is one of the apps that can help you rent in South Korea. You can filter rooms according to your own preferences and location. There is also third-party personnel that can help you complete the whole process. However, using Dabang can be quite hard if you speak zero Korean, because of all the false listings and potential scams. ### Yanolja (야놀자) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/yanolja_sns_800x400-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cultsotry.yanolja.nativeapp&hl=ko&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/%EC%95%BC%EB%86%80%EC%9E%90/id436731843?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Yanolja (야놀자) is one of the most commonly used accommodation booking app in South Korea. You can even book flight tickets on it. Sometimes they give various limited-time discounts. The disadvantage is that **it does not support foreign bank card payments and English interface**. ### Yeogie-eottae (여기어때) ![14 Must-have Apps for Visiting South Korea](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/000-150x150-crop-1.png) [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kr.goodchoice.abouthere&hl=ko&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/kr/app/%EC%97%AC%EA%B8%B0%EC%96%B4%EB%95%8C-%ED%98%B8%ED%85%94-%EB%AA%A8%ED%85%94-%ED%8E%9C%EC%85%98-%ED%95%AD%EA%B3%B5%EA%B6%8C-%EC%B5%9C%EC%A0%80%EA%B0%80-%EC%98%88%EC%95%BD/id884043462?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Yeogie-eottae (여기어때) is similar to Yanolja, but it also doesn't support foreign bank card payment and English interface, and you can't use foreign cell phone number to register, so if you live in Korea and speak fluent Korean, it's a good app for hotel booking! ### Konglish | How to Use 5 Types of Korean Loanwords Like a Native URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/konglish/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:43.000Z "뭐 마실래?" (What would you like to drink?) “나는 아아" (I'll have an "aa".) Have you ever seen Korean people order like this in K-dramas or in real life? When I first heard it, I thought it was some kind of new drink. But to my surprise, it's actually Koreans’ favorite drink – iced Americano! ![example of Konglish](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/minimalist-monthly-bill-checker-sheet-planner-1-jpeg.jpg) 아아 means iced Americano? Don't be surprised, there are much more words like this in the everyday Korean language. They are called **Konglish**. So today we are going to talk about this special type of Korean words – **Konglish (콩글리시)**, **English-style Korean language** greatly influenced by English and American culture. It may come from English but its meaning can be slightly (or hugely) different! Let's learn more! ## What is Konglish As the name suggests, Konglish is a mixture of Korean and English. [It can be made up of](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konglish?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) either **English loanwords, mistranslations from English to Korean, or pseudo-English words created in Japan and brought into use in Korea.** Nowadays, Konglish can also be seen frequently in shopping streets and restaurants in many major cities in Korea. It's especially popular among the younger generation in South Korea. ![Korea's capital city slogan](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/allkpop_1654916892_20220610-seoul-jpeg.jpg) After the Korean War, the presence of American troops in Korea had a significant impact on the Korean language. English began to become **the most popular foreign language** in Korea and the two languages naturally blended to **develop new vocabulary**. The year 1975 saw the first appearance of the concept of "Korean English (konglish)", meaning **a mixture of Korean and English**. After the success of the Korean democracy movement, more and more young people chose to study in English-speaking countries like United States, Canada, and Australia. Nowadays, English is still the most important source language for music, movies, games, and other fields. The main consumers of these services are young people, which makes Konglish more and more popular in Korea. ## List of Essential Konglish Words ### Some Konglish words (English loanwords) are quite like English | **Konglish** | **Romanization** | **English Meaning** | | ------------ | ---------------- | ------------------- | | 피자 | pija | pizza | | 주스 | juseu | juice | | 드라마 | deurama | Television drama | | 콘서트 | konsseoteu | concert | | 포크 | pokeu | fork | | 케이크 | keik | cake | | 아이스크림 | aiseukeurim | ice cream | | 콜라 | kolla | cola | | 디저트 | dijeoteu | dessert | | 샌드위치 | saendeuwichi | sandwich | | 메뉴 | menyu | menu | | 소울 푸드 | soul pudeu | soul food | | 화이팅 | hwaiting | fighting | ### Some Konglish words are very creative | **Konglish** | **Romanization** | **English Meaning** | | ------------ | ---------------- | ------------------------------------- | | 아이 쇼핑 | ai syoping | window shopping (eye shopping) | | 핸드폰 | haendeupon | mobile phone (hand phone) | | 스킨십 | seukinship | physical contact (skinship) | | 노트복 | noteubuk | laptop (notebook) | | 원룸 | wonlum | bachelor apartment (one room) | | 서비스 | seobiseu | free of charge/on the house (service) | | 원피스 | wonpiseu | dress (one piece) | | 이밴트 | ibenteu | sale/promotion (event) | | 오피스텔 | opiseutel | studio apartment (office hotel) | | 셀카 | selka | Selfie (self camera) | ### Some Konglish words shorten English words | **Konglish** | **Romanization** | **English Meaning** | | ------------ | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 오버 | *obeo* | overdo, exaggerate | | 니트 | *niteu* | knitted [sweater](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweater?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | 아아 | ah-ah | iced americano | | 싸인 | ssain | signature | | 오토바이 | otobai | motorbike | | 아파트 | apateu | apartment | | 셀프 | selpeu | self-service | | 밴드 | bandeu | bandage/Band-Aid | | 랩 | raep | plastic wrap | | 시에프 | siepeu | commercial film | | 홈피 | hompi | homepage | | 리모컨 | leemokeon | remote control | | 에어컨 | eeokeon | air conditioner | ### Some Konglish words combine English and Korean words | **Konglish** | **Romanization** | **Combination** | **Meaning** | | ------------ | ---------------- | ---------------- | --------------------------- | | 헬스장 | helseujang | health+장 | Gym | | 골프장 | golpeujang | golf+장 | Golf course | | 노답 | nodab | no+답 | no reply | | 따아 | tta-a | 따뜻한+ americano | hot americano | | 꿀잼 | kkuljaem | honey + 재미있다 | being extremely interesting | | 노잼 | nojaem | no+재미있다 | boring | | 헬기 | helgi | helicopter + 비행기 | helicopter | | 싱크대 | singkeudae | sink+대 | sink | | 팀장 | timjang | team+장 | Team leader | ### Some Konglish words are from other languages | **Konglish** | **Romanization** | **Meaning** | **Source** | | ------------ | ---------------- | ---------------- | --------------- | | 호프 | hopeu | beer hall | German: hof | | 알바 | alba | part-time job | German: arbeit | | 메스 | meseu | surgical scalpel | Dutch: mes | | 피에로 | peiro | clown | French: Pierrot | | 데뷔 | debwi | debut | French: début | ## Konglish vs English loanwords As you can see, instead of copying English word-for-word, Konglish words are actually **very creative**, which distinguishes them from English loanwords. Try guessing the meaning of these 4 easily confused Konglish words and you'll see why! ![easily confused Konglish words](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechatimg688-jpeg.jpg) So what's the difference between Konglish and English loanwords? **Konglish** includes words borrowed from English or other languages that have been appropriated into Korean and have **changed their original meanings**. These words and phrases are often shortened or combined with other words to form a new word with a unique Korean meaning, including many uses that are not easily understood by native English speakers. For example, "AD" means "apology". Think of it as the abbreviation of "apple do". In Korea, 사과 "sagwa" has two meanings, "apple" and "apologize". Here “apple do” refers to 사과해 (sagwa hae), which means "apology". **English loanwords**, on the other hand, are **English words with a Korean pronunciation**. They have the same meaning as the original word and are generally understood by native English speakers. For example, 케이크 (keikeu) means cake in English and 게임 (geim) sounds just like game. Both pronunciation and meaning of these words are similar to English. ![konglish vs English loanword](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/07/ld-image-d60bcefe279a16e2.png) ## Konglish and Korean Learning In recent years, Konglish has become more and more integrated into the daily communication of Korean people, and can even be heard frequently in government settings and public places. This is actually **good news for English natives learning Korean** because many Konglish words can be memorized relatively easily once their meaning is understood! In addition, knowing some Konglish is a ticket to modern Korean culture and communication with the younger generation. Of course, learning Konglish does not mean that you will be able to communicate fluently with Korean people - the most important thing is still to **master basic Korean**! [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has a wealth of Korean learning resources, so you can learn how to pronounce the language and communicate simply in no time. Best of all, it also has tips on travel and living in Korea to make your trip even easier! I highly recommend you give it a try for FREE. ![LingoDeer Korean travel phrasebook](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/img_8629-2.png) ## Konglish jokes As Konglish absorbs many English words into the Korean language, some of them inevitably resemble Korean words. As a result, a lot of Konglish jokes have developed over the years. Take a look and test if you can understand them! **Joke #1** Q: What is the biggest bean in the world? A: 킹콩! (kingkong) Explanation: The word 킹 (king) is "king" and 콩 (kong) means "bean" in Korean. Putting them together, it is the king of beans. **Joke #2** Q: What do you call a coffee that can’t move? A: 모카! (moka) Explanation: 못카 (moka) is the konglish word for mocha coffee, but in this case it is actually used as a homophone alternative to 못가 (motga), which means can’t go. Here is a related grammar tip: In Korean, if you can't do something, add 못 before the verb. For example, 가 meaning to go and 못가 meaning can't go. **Joke #3** Why don’t you care about a small cow? It’s 소소 (so-so). Explanation: 소소 (so so) means small in Korean and 소 (so) means cow **Joke #4** Q: What do you call a pig that plays guitar? A: 포크무시크! (pokeumusikeu) Explanation: In Korean, 포크 (pokeu) is the Konglish word for pork and 뮤시크 (musikeu) is music. Combined together it becomes 포크뮤시크 (pokeumusikeu), meaning pork music. ## Criticisms of Konglish As Konglish has gained popularity, voices in opposition to it have also arisen. As you may know, Korean people are very proud of their national language and many regard it as a symbol of Korean culture and national identity. Every year on October 9th, people celebrate Hangul Day to commemorate the invention of Hangul, the scientific writing system of the modern Korean language. On last year’s Hangul Day, the Korean government [said](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/konglish-is-not-your-bepu-korea-fights-corruption-of-its-language-n0pjxfhgq?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), "We will reduce the use of unnecessary foreign language, restrict technical terms to Korean, etc., and observe our language and script." But, ironically, the Korean government's frequent use of "wid corona" is also Konglish. "Wid corona" is derived from "with corona," an expression for the "phased daily recovery policy" implemented by the Korean government, while "wid" is used because "th" is not pronounced in Korean. During the Covid-19 epidemic, new Konglish vocabulary continued to grow and many English words were borrowed incorrectly. For example, "언택트 (untact)", meaning "non-contact", and "코로나 블루 (corona blue)" referring to the depression caused by the epidemic. The term "코로너미 (coronomy)" was created to refer to the economic slowdown caused by the epidemic. For some Koreans, the widespread use of Konglish is disrespectful to the language. The Korean Language Association, which works to promote and maintain the purity of the Korean language, also believes that the misuse of foreign languages undermines the ability of Koreans to use their own language correctly. The frequent use of Konglish has led people to question why they cannot create new terms in Korean and always borrow from English. This makes it more difficult for older generations and foreigners to integrate into Korean society and creates more inequality. But as far as the language itself is concerned, this innovation is a natural development considering the progress of the times." Konglish" reflects cultural identity and is a reflection of linguistic diversity. Most importantly, it is used not only for communication within Korea, but also for connecting people from different countries interested in Korean culture, which is the ultimate purpose of the language. ### Hanzi, Kanji, and Hanja: Why are they both Similar and Different? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:44.000Z Hanzi, Kanji, and Hanja: what are their differences? Are they mutually intelligible in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean? If you are interested in East Asian culture or learning CJK languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean), you might have encountered questions like these before. In this article, we will focus on differentiating between these similar words in CJK languages and learn a little bit of their history as well! Let's get started! ## History Overview A long time ago, neither Japan nor the Korean Peninsula had their own writing system. Chinese, on the other hand, is one of the [oldest languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/oldest-languages/) in the world with an ancient writing system. Thanks to their proximity to China, Japan and Korea have long been influenced by the Chinese language and culture. Gradually, Japanese people adopted Chinese characters and formed Kanji, while Korean people used Hanzi to form Hanja. In the 20th century, the Chinese language further evolved into simplified Chinese, which is now used in mainland China, while Taiwan and Hong Kong kept on using traditional Chinese characters. ![evolution of Chinese, Japanese, Korean language](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hanzi-kanji-hanja-history-1.jpg) Now, let’s take a look at them one by one. ### Hanzi Hanzi (Chinese characters) is the current writing system of Chinese. This is the oldest writing system that is still used in the modern world. It is also one of the most widely adopted writing systems. Hanzi are logograms, which means each symbol-like character represents an idea. The sounds used to pronounce Hanzi are also not based on the written form itself. Take a look at some of these examples here and you’ll get the idea: 人 person 囚 prisoner 凸 convex 凹 concave 雨 rain 傘 umbrella 川 river 火 fire 木 tree 林 woods 森 forest 山 mountain 口 mouth 田 rice field 串 skewer As one of the oldest languages in the world, Chinese has also spread to and influenced many other neighboring countries. For many centuries, the Chinese character script was the only script used in Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese. In fact, Chinese is quite the equivalent of Latin or Greek in th e Sino-Tibetan language family. As the Chinese language evolved, it grew simpler and simpler. In the early 1900s, the debate over whether to use traditional or simplified Chinese resulted in what it looks like today: Mainland China uses simplified Chinese while Taiwan and Hong Kong continue to use traditional Chinese. While some characters look the same in simplified and traditional Chinese (like 人), others may look very different (like 汉/漢). The introduction of simplified Chinese has greatly increased the literacy rate in mainland China, especially in rural areas. However, there are still [arguments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate%5Fon%5Ftraditional%5Fand%5Fsimplified%5FChinese%5Fcharacters?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) saying that traditional Chinese is not that difficult and there are many values lost in simplified Chinese. What do you think? ### Kanji Moving on to the land of the rising sun! By the 4th century, Japan had started to adopt Hanzi into Japanese, which became [Kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/), a key component of modern Japanese language that is dreaded many Japanese learners. Later, Japanese people also developed their own two syllabic writing systems: [hiragana and katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/), those cute rounded and pointed symbols you see in Japanese writing. So, in today’s Japanese language, kanji, hiragana, and katakana comprise its main [writing system](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/). ### Hanja Chinese characters entered the Korean peninsula a bit later than the Japanese island, sometime between the 6th and 9th centuries AD. These words were called Hanja, or Chinese characters incorporated into Korean with Korean pronunciation. Unlike Kanji, Hanja eventually faded away from the Korean language in the late 19th century with the popularization of [Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/), the Korean alphabet and writing system. So, in modern everyday Korean, you don’t see Hanja very often, except on some very rare occasions. The good news is, if you have just started learning Korean, Hanja does not need to be a concern, which will certainly save you a lot of time! ## List of Similar Hanzi, Kanji and Hanja Just like student, étudiant(e), and estudante, Hanzi, Kanji, and Hanja can be very similar in terms of meaning and pronunciation. Take a look at this list of similar Hanzi, Kanji, and Hanja and you’ll see why! | **English** | **Chinese(Hanzi,汉字)** | **Japanese(Kanji,漢字)** | **Korean(Hanja,한자)** | | | | ----------- | --------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------- | -------------- | ------------- | | cuisine | 料理 | liào lǐ | 料理 | りょうり ryouri | 요리 yoli | | family | 家族 | jiā zú | 家族 | かぞくkazoku | 가족 gajog | | school | 学校 | xué xiào | 学校 | がっこう gakkou | 학교 haggyo | | time | 时间 | shí jiān | 時間 | じかん jikan | 시간 sigan | | sun | 太阳 | tài yáng | 太陽 | たいよう taiyou | 태양 taeyang | | reason | 原因 | yuán yīn | 原因 | げんいん gen'in | 원인 won-in | | attention | 注意 | zhù yì | 注意 | ちゅうい chuui | 주의 juu-i | | park | 公园 | gōng yuán | 公園 | こうえん kōen | 공원 gongwon | | library | 图书馆 | tú shū guǎn | 図書館 | としょかん toshokan | 도서관 doseogwan | | cafeteria | 食堂 | shí táng | 食堂 | しょくどう shokudō | 식당 sigdang | | police | 警察 | jǐng chá | 警察 | けいさつ keisatsu | 경찰 gyengchal | | recent | 最近 | zuì jìn | 最近 | さいきん saikin | 최근 cheogeun | | world | 世界 | shì jiè | 世界 | せかい sekai | 세계 segye | | famous | 有名 | yǒu míng | 有名 | ゆうめい yūmei | 유명 yumyeong | | habite | 习惯 | xí guàn | 習慣, | しゅうかん shūkan | 습관 seubgwan | | secret | 秘密 | mì mì | 秘密 | ひみつ himitsu | 비밀 bimil | Want to search more common words between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean? You can use this[ tool](https://tcvd-asia.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) here to search more yourself! ## List of “False Friends” in Chinese and Japanese Just like pain and pain (meaning bread in French), gift and Gift (meaning poison in German), embarrassed and embarazada (meaning pregnant in Spanish), there are also false friends in CJK languages, especially between Chinese and Japanese. | **Chinese** | **Meaning** | **Japanese** | **Japanese Meaning** | | | | ----------- | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------- | -------------------- | ------------ | --------------------- | | 私 | sī | private, selfish or personal | 私 | し Watashi | I, me, myself | | 娘 | niáng | mother; woman | 娘 | むすめ musume | daughter; girl | | 汤 | tāng | soup (in Classical Chinese: hot water) | 湯 | ゆ yu | hot water; hot spring | | 腕 | wàn | wrist | 腕 | うで ude | arm | | 手纸 | shǒu zhǐ | toilet paper | 手紙 | てがみ tegami | a letter | | 勉強 | miǎn qiǎng | the action of forcing somebody to do something | 勉強 | べんきょう benkyō | study | | 先生 | xiān sheng | sir, mister or teacher | 先生 | せんせい sensei | teacher | | 马鹿 | mǎ lù | Cervus canadensis | 马鹿 | ばか baka | Fool, idiot | | 爱人 | ài ren | a spouse, wife/husband | 愛人 | あいじん aijin | a lover or mistress | ## Questions about Hanzi, Kanji, and Hanja ### Are Hanzi, Kanji, and Hanja the same thing? Yes and no. They are of the same origin, but used differently, much like “alphabet”, “alfabeto”, and “alfabet”. After reading about the common histories between these writing systems, I hope you feel a bit more comfortable differentiating between them. Kanji and Hanja originated from Chinese characters but they differ in pronunciation and usage. They don’t always use the same set of Chinese characters and those used in Korean (hanja) and Japan (kanji) are distinct from those used in China in many respects. First, they look much more similar (but might not be the same) to traditional Chinese characters than simplified Chinese characters. Second, they typically (but not necessarily) have similar meanings, but often quite different pronunciations. Above is a chart that shows these three types of Chinese characters. They are of the same origin but look slightly different. ### Does Korea Still Use Hanja? Not really. The invention of Hangul has freed Korean people from relying on complicated Chinese characters in day-to-day conversations like in Japanese. But in Korea, Hanja is still used to some extent. For example, the government uses Hanja for its official documents, and the military and police forces use Hanja for some of their communications. You can also still see hanja used in certain situations like: ads, names, abbreviations, traditional proverbs, etc. Korean people also use Hanja when they want to show respect for someone's name or to make a word sound more formal. So… should Korean learners know Hanja? In short, it’s not necessary but can be helpful. Many agree that learning Hanja is not a necessity for Korean learners, especially beginners. As a matter of fact, many Korean native speakers don’t even remember much of the Hanja they learned back in school. On the other hand, learning Hanja can absolutely help you gain a deeper understanding of the Korean language and culture. It is especially helpful in recognizing [root words](https://centers.ibs.re.kr/html/living%5Fen/overview/korean6.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and making vocabulary acquisition easier! Watch the video to hear more about what Koreans say! ### Do Hanzi, Kanji, and Hanja have the same pronunciation? Most of Hanzi, Kanji, and Hanja sound quite similar. As Kanji and Hanja were borrowed from Chinese to serve entirely new languages, their pronunciation changed to suit Japanese and Korean respectively. So, as a result, they may look similar on paper, but cannot be mutually understood in spoken language. By the way, Chinese is the only tonal language among the three, so oftentimes it sounds pretty different from Japanese and Korean. Click the video below to hear how pronunciation of Chinese, Japanese and Korean language evolved! ### Are the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages mutually intelligible? In spoken languages, no. As a matter of fact, even Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Wu, Shanghainese, etc.) are mutually unintelligible in spoken language, let alone Japanese and Korean. But in written texts… maybe. Take a look at these news headlines written in Japanese. The majority of the characters used are kanji (as is the case in most formal writings), which is mutually understandable for Chinese speakers. You can learn more from a discussion [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/askasia/comments/kjkjg4/japan%5Fand%5Fkorea%5Fare%5Fable%5Fto%5Fwrite%5Ftheir%5Flanguages/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## Which Asian language should I learn Seeing as though you’ve made it this far in our article, you might just be interested in learning Chinese, Japanese, or Korean yourself, right? But which one to learn? As learning a new language will take a lot of effort and practice no matter which one it is, we suggest you take some time to evaluate which language is the best for you to learn before actually moving forward with it. The answer may vary depending on what type of learner you are, your personal interests, or your learning goals. We have also written about the [best languages to learn](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-language-to-learn/) in case you are interested in our humble opinion! Now, if you still can’t decide which Asian language to learn first, maybe consider their levels of difficulty. Wecompared the [difficulty levels of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese%5Fvs%5Fjapanese/) in another article. Take a look if you are interested. Here are the main findings: | | Japanese | Korean | Chinese | | -------------- | -------- | ------ | ------- | | Writing system | \*\* | \* | \*\*\* | | Pronunciation | \* | \*\* | \*\*\* | | Grammar | \*\*\* | \*\* | \* | Consider what you are good at and then decide which language to learn. For example, if you are good at grammar but have trouble with pronunciation, Japanese is your best choice. As Japanese and Korean are quite similar in terms of grammar (both using an SOV sentence structure), you can even learn them together by using Korean textbooks to learn Japanese. However, we would advise you to get good at one first and then use this language laddering process to learn the other. If you are still struggling with which one to learn first, I would suggest starting with Chinese. Although it’s relatively difficult to start because of its writing and pronunciation systems, it can facilitate ease of learning other Asian languages that adopted Chinese characters, especially in vocabulary. ## Where to Learn Asian Languages The best place to start learning Asian languages is the [LingoDeer App](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! LingoDeer is the best app specially designed for learning Asian languages and more. It teaches you right from square one and makes sure you learn your characters, vocabulary, sentence structures, grammar as you progress naturally. Rated 4.8 out of 5 on App Store, it’s your go-to place to start learning Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and more![](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Must-Know Korean Adverbs to Boost Your Vocabulary URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-adverbs/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:46.000Z An adverb is used **to describe a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.** Korean adverbs (부사) work in much the same way as adverbs in English. They are a very important component in forming a [sentence in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/). To understand the basics of Korean adverbs, you probably want to first take a look at [Korean verbs](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/) and [adjectives](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Korean/Adjectives?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) as well as their basic uses. Before we introduce you the details of Korean adverbs, please note that just as in any other language, there are certain rules for forming regular Korean adverbs and there are also some irregular adverbs you just have to remember! By the end of the article, you’ll be able to: - Identify 3 types of regular adverbs in sentences easily - Know the rules to form regular Korean adverbs - Learn 50+ most commonly used Korean adverbs Let’s get started! ## Forms of Korean Adverbs The first type of adverb is formed by **combining a word root with 이 (ee) or 히 (hee)**. This almost covers all the words ending in 하다 (hada). ![adverbs ending with -이](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/123-1.png) Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Let's take a look at them one by one. ### 이(ee) Adverb The 이(ee) suffix is often added to the below 6 types of words to form an adverb: **(1) Word stem ending in 'ㅅ' + '하다'** ex: 깨끗 하다 (kkaekkeuthada) clean → 깨끗 이 (kkaekkeus-si) cleanly 따뜻 하다 (ttatteuthada) warm → 따뜻 이 (ttatteus-si) warmly **(2) Word stem ending in 'ㄱ' + '하다'** #### ex: #### 촉촉 하다 #### (cokcok-kada) wet; moist → 촉촉 이 #### (cokcok-ki) wetly; moistly #### 두둑 하다 #### (dudukada) quiet thick → 두둑 이 #### (duduk-ki) quiet thickly **(3) Irregular verbs with stem ending in 'ㅂ' + '다'** #### ex: 가갑 다 (kagapda) → 가까 이 (kaga-i) 즐겁 다 (jeulgeopda) → 즐거 이 (jeulgeo-i) **(4) Most of the adjectives en** ding in 다 #### ex: 같 다 (gatda) same; equal → 같 이 (ga-chi) together; with 높 다 (nopda) high;tall → 높 이 (no-pi) high; height; level 많 다 (manhda) plentiful; many; a lot of→ 많 이 (ma-ni) much; in large numbers; **(5) Superlative nouns** #### ex: 간간 (gangan) from time to time → 간간 이 (gan-gani) occasionally, sometimes 겹겹 (gyeopkkyeop) being layered → 겹겹 이 (gyeopkkyeobi) in layers; one over another 길길 (gilgil) long, lengthy→ 길길 이 (gilgil-li) madly;to a great height **(6) Adverbs** #### ex: 곰곰 (gom-gom) pensively, musingly→ 곰곰 이 (gom-gomi) 생긋 (saenggeut) with a smile → 생긋 이 (saenggeusi) with a smile Now you've know a rather complicated type of Korean adverbs. The following will get easier! ### 히(hee) Adverb Now let's see 히(hee) adverbs. Except for the special cases mentioned above (하다 words with a "ㅅ" or "ㄱ" stem), most words ending in 하다 (hada) replace 하다 with히 to form adverbs. For example: 특별 하다 (teukppyeolhada) special → 특별 히 (specially, particularly) 솔직 하다 (soljjikada) frank; honest → 솔직 히 (soljjiki) frankly; honestly 가만 하다 (gamanada) be quiet→ 가만 히 (gamani) quietly, motionlessly ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/07/ld-image-bf81c1f72b2d3cfa.jpeg) ### 게 (Ge) Adverb 게 (Ge) adverbs are more oftenly seen in **converting adjectives into adverbs.** In a sense, it's quite like the "ly" suffix in English. We can change an adjective to an adverb by **replacing the word ending 다(da) with -게(ge).** Check out when we should use 게(ge)! ![Usage of 게(ge) adverbs in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/7777.jpg) **1) To express purpose (translated as "in order to")** Ex: 질서를 어지럽히지 않 게 줄을 서세요. → (In order) to not cause disorder, please line up. **2) To express a state or degree** Ex: 집을 예쁘 게 꾸미었어요. → The house is beautifully decorated. ### (으)로 (Eu lo) Adverb Another type of Korean adverbs is (으)로 (Eu lo) Adverbs. The rules of (으)로 adverbs are quite simple: - If the noun ends in a consonant, then add -으로 - If the noun ends in a vowel or ㄹ, then add -로 - 으로 can only be added after a noun There are roughly four ways to use (으)로 (Eu lo) adverbs: **1) To indicate the direction of the action (like "to" and "towards" in English)** Ex: 후문 으로 가세요. → Please go to the back door. **2) To indicate the means or method of behavior** Ex: 영어 로 쓰세요. → Please write in English. **3) To follow a noun to express a person’s status or qualification** Ex: 저는 교장 으로 이번 개교 기념식에 참석하였다. → I attended this school anniversary as the president. **4) To express a reason or cause, equivalent to “because; due to”** Ex: 그는 독감 으로 죽었다. →He died from the flu. Check out this video to learn more examples of (으)로 (Eu lo) adverbs! ## List of most used Korean adverbs In this part, we'll present to you 5 groups of commonly used Korean adverbs. Some of them are irregular adverbs that do not follow the rules we mentioned before, just like "well" or "little" in English. So save this article and take notes to remember them! ### Korean Adverbs of Time - 시간부사 | **Korean Adverbs** | **Romanized Hangul** | **English Meaning** | | ------------------ | -------------------- | ------------------- | | 어제 | eo je | yesterday | | 오늘 | o neul | today | | 내일 | nae il | tomorrow | | 지금 | ji geum | now | | 그때 | geu ttae | then | | 나중에/후에 | na jung ei/ hu e | later | | 오늘밤 | o neul bam | tonight | | 바로 지금 | ba ro ji geum | right now | | 지난 밤 | ji nan bam | last night | | 오늘 아침 | o neur a chim | this morning | | 다음 주 | da eum ju | next week | ### Korean Adverbs of Place - 장소부사 | **Korean Adverbs** | **Romanized Hangul** | **English Adverbs** | | ------------------ | ------------------------ | ------------------- | | 여기 | yeo gi | here | | 저기/거기 | jeo gi geo gi | there | | 저기/저쪽에 | jeo gi / jeo jjog e | over there | | 모든곳/어디나 | mo deun go(s) / eo di na | everywhere | | 어디든/아무데나 | eo di deun / a mu de na | anywhere | | 안에 | ane | inside | | 밑에 | mitte | below | | 뒤에 | dwiye | at the back | | 위에 | wiy e | above | | 앞에 | a pe | in front | | 밖에 | bakk e | outside | ### Korean Adverbs of Frequency - 빈도부사 | **Korean Adverbs** | **Romanized Hangul** | **English Adverbs** | | ------------------ | -------------------- | ------------------- | | 항상 | hang sang | always | | 가끔 | ka keum | sometimes | | 자주 | ja joo | often | | 한번씩 | han beon shik | once in a while | | 절대 | jeol te | never | | 때때로 | tte ttero | occasionally | | 규칙적으로 | kyoo chik jeog eu ro | regularly | | 보통으로 | bo tong eu ro | normally | | 습관적으로 | seup gwan jeog eu ro | habitually | | 드물게 | deumulge | rarely | | 항상 | hangsang | always | ### Korean Adverbs of Degree - 정도부사 | **Korean Adverbs** | **Romanized Hangul** | **English Adverbs** | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | | 아주, 매우 | a ju / mae u | very | | 완전히 | wan jeon hi | perfectly | | 단순히 | dan sun hi | simply | | 엄청 | eom cheong | enormously | | 불과 | bool gwa | only | | 절대로 | jeol dae lo | Absolutely, completely | | 정말(로) / 진짜(로) / 참(으로) | jeong mal (lo) / jin jja (lo) / cham eu (lo) | really | | 특히 | teu ghi | in particular | | 상당히 | sSang dang hi | fairly | ### Korean Adverbs of Manner - 양태부사 | **Korean Adverbs** | **Romanized Hangul** | **English Adverbs** | | ------------------ | -------------------- | ------------------- | | 좋게 | joh ke | well | | 나쁘게 | na pue ge | badly | | 귀엽게 | kwe yeop ke | cutely | | 아름답게 | a ruem dap ke | beautifully | | 비싸게 | bi ssa ge | expensively | | 맛있게 | ma shi ke | deliciously | | 크게 | keu ge | largely | | 길게 | kil ge | lengthily | | 짧게 | dzab ge | shortly | | 넓게 | neolb ge | widely | | 작게 | jak ge | little | ### Simple Guide to Choose a Cute Korean Name URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-name/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:48.000Z One of the little joys of beginning to learn a new language or live in a foreign country is the chance to (slightly) reinvent yourself. What better way to embark on a new journey than giving yourself a new name to signify your commitment to the culture and language. Obviously, for most of us, this will not be permanent or legal, so we can have some fun with it. In this article, I'll show you some simple tips to choose a Korean name for yourself! Hope it can add color to your [Korean learning journey](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/)! Let's begin! ## The Basics of Korean Names Most Koreans have 3 syllable names that **start with their surname (i.e. Kim, Park, Lee, etc) and end with two given names**, typically. Although some only have 1 given name and others have longer names with 4 syllables total. Overall, Koreans have pretty short names compared to people in most other countries. So, they can seem a little overwhelmed or confused when a foreigner gives a first, middle, and last name each with multiple syllables. Even if you just use your first and last name, this can be kind of difficult to say for most Koreans. Plus, the way [Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) is organized phonetically may require the name to be pronounced with more syllables that are required in the native language. ![k-pop stars' Korean names in English](https://cf.creatrip.com/original/blog/8220/prwkecrtdoy8p4vx1q2kryz6xd61n28t.png?d=1200&q=80&f=webp) Korean names are short and often easy to pronounce in English. Image from creatrip.com ### English to Korean Take a look at the name, *Robert Downey Junior*. For native English speakers, this is only 6 syllables and relatively easy to pronounce. The Korean equivalent, by directly translating the name and its phonetics, is a mouthful of a name for Koreans. Compare: *Robert Downey Junior* with the Korean equivalent - 로버트 다우니 주니어. There are 9 total syllables and more vowels in the Korean version. So, you can see how Koreans may find this difficult. On top of that, many Koreans are not familiar with the family name being presented *last* in the order of names. In Korea, given names are placed after the family name. So, keeping those things in mind, **it is best to try to create a name that is consistent in length and order compared to Korean names**. Try to make it 2 or three syllables at most. By keeping within those guidelines, you can start to explore what kind of Korean name you want to adopt. ## What consists of a Korean name ### Korean Name Structure As mentioned before, Korean names are structured in a common and simple pattern, starting with the *family name* and typically *2 given names*. | **Family Name** | **Given name 1** | **Given name 2** | | --------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | | 이 | 민 | 경 | | Lee | Min | Kyuong | Contrary to Western style naming, the two given names are almost always used together to form 1 name. From the example above, 민경 (Min Kyoung) is actually just one name comprised of two character blocks. So, this person would just introduce themself as 민경. In a more formal situation Koreans will introduce themselves using all 3 name blocks, i.e. 이민경. (*Tip: When using your actual name (the one in your native language) while in Korea for official situations like immigration, legal documents, etc. Be sure to write your name with your family name first. For example, if in America your name is Michael Ben Jordan. In Korea, your name is Jordan Michael Ben. This is how it will be listed on your ID card, and it will save you a lot of trouble if you just use it that way on official documents.*) ### Use of Hanja Hanja is a form of Chinese writing that was implemented during the Chinese occupation of Korea and has been passed down over time. It’s a traditional writing system that has been incorporated into Korean language and pronunciation. Although it is not used commonly in daily life, it is still used in certain situations, such as official documents. Some Koreans have their names officially recorded in Hanja and Hangul. They provide both versions of their name (Hangul and Hanja) on official records to verify identity. The character of Hanja contains meaning that has been incorporated or translated into Hangul, which Koreans will reference when making or changing a name. For your purposes, **it is not necessary to incorporate Hanja into the making of your Korean name**, but it could help provide some meaning. ## How to choose a Korean name ### Should you pick up a Korean name when living in South Korea? Having a Korean name is a great way to break the ice and show your interest in Korean culture. Introducing yourself with a Korean name will certainly intrigue and delight any Korean you meet. So, it’s a great conversation starter and a good way to make new friends. However, you can also get by using your English name in South Korea. So there is no pressure giving yourself a Korean name if you don't want to. As most Koreans are familiar with Western movie stars, artists, and entertainers, they are used to English names written and pronounced in Korean. So, if your name is quite simple, you may just want to keep it but pronounce it in Korean. For example, the name *John* is quite easy for Koreans to understand and pronounce. John → 존 Both are one syllable and both are phonetically similar in English and Korean. However, if your name is long, complex, or tough to pronounce, you may want to make a Korean name. From personal experience, it is just easier. Koreans can't pronounce my name (Keith) because there is no “*\-th*” pronunciation in Hangul. So, it usually ends up sounding like “Kiss” when Koreans say my name, which, although very amusing at first, gets old very fast when you have to explain the pronunciation to each person you meet. ### Ask a Korean In my opinion, the best way to do that is to **ask Korean people for help**. There are other ways to create a Korean name, which we’ll talk about later, but if you have the luxury of having Korean friends or coworkers in your life, you should definitely incorporate their help. You could create a name on your own, or use a [Korean name generator](https://www.namegeneratorfun.com/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), but the experience of creating a name with Koreans is very fun and engaging. It shows your interest in the culture, and most importantly, Koreans love to help foreigners interested in their culture. Names in Korea still have **meaning behind them**. It’s not uncommon for Koreans to change their name at some point in their life simply because they wanted to do so. Therefore, they are familiar with the process and can add some value. Plus, compared to Western culture, Korean culture places more importance on things like reading faces, birth year, blood type, etc. They strongly believe that these are indicators of your personality, and that names should match your personality. So the whole process is a fun learning experience. Just ask a Korean to help you make a Korean name. They’ll ask about your sign, your blood type, and things about your personality before offering some options. They can explain the meaning of certain names and the combination of those names. It’s always fun. Sometimes I ask Koreans to give me a new name, just to see if I like it more than my current one. It really opens up dialogue and makes for good connections. ### How do Korean natives pick names You may wonder, what about Korean natives? How do they pick up names? In fact, Korean parents give their children names much in the same way that Westerners give names to children. The family name (surname) of the father carries over to the baby, and the two given name character blocks make the given name. There are various ways and reasons for parents to pick given names; ancestor’s name, the name of great leader or famous person, or **a name with some meaning**. Because there is a lot of meaning in Hanja and Hangul characters, it is becoming common to incorporate those into given names. For example, in Korean “*Haneul”* \- means "sky". So a Korean name may be 이한을 (Lee Haneul). So, if there is some meaning in your original name, maybe you can try to incorporate that into your Korean name as well. These days, some Koreans are opting for names that are more **phonetically understood cross-culturally**. For example, the name 재인, sound much like *Jane* in English. These types of names are more versatile and useful for families of mixed nationalities. ### How to pick Korean name for yourself We’ve discussed various ways to make your own Korean name, so let’s review and look at a few more. 1. Ask Koreans to help you make a name (My top choice!) 2. Write your name, or part of your name in Korean and pronounce it accordingly 3. Find a Korean name or word that has a similar meaning to your original name. 4. Use a name that is easier to understand across cultures 5. Use some variation or abbreviation of your name in Hangul 6. Use a Korean name generator 7. Choose from the popular names chart below Whatever way you choose, I’m sure you’ll know the best name when you hear it. It will feel right, Koreans will agree, and everyone will be happy. Don’t take this too seriously. As I said before, it is not uncommon for Koreans to change their name, so feel free to change yours whenever you like. Have fun with it! ## Lists of Popular Korean Names Now, it's always ok to just get one of the most popular names. So here we present to you some most popular Korean names for you to choose from. ### Popular male Korean names 1. 이준 Yi-joon 2. 서준 Seo-joon 3. 도윤 Do-yoon 4. 하준 Ha-joon 5. 은우 Eun-woo 6. 시우 Shi-woo 7. 지호 Ji-ho 8. 예준Yae-joon 9. 유준 Yoo-joon 10. 수호 Soo-ho ### Popular female Korean names 1. 서아 Seo-ah 2. 하윤 Ha-yoon 3. 이서 Yi-seo 4. 지아 i-ah 5. 소윤 Seo-yoon 6. 지안 Ji-an 7. 인윤 Ah-yoon 8. 아린 Ah-rin 9. 하은 Ha-eun 10. 하린Ha-lin (source: [https://www.hapskorea.com/what-are-the-most-popular-baby-names-in-korea-in-2021](https://www.hapskorea.com/what-are-the-most-popular-baby-names-in-korea-in-2021?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) ### Gender neutral names 1. 민서 Min-seo 2. 세현 Se-hyeon 3. 수민 Su-min 4. 수현 Su-Hyeon 5. 정현 Jeong-Hyeon 6. 주영 Ju-young 7. 준희 Jun-hee 8. 지민 Ji-min 9. 지수 Ji-soo 10. 지우 Ji-woo 11. 지원 Ji-won 12. 지현 Ji-hyeon 13. 지후 Ji-hoo 14. 진영 JinYoung 15. 찬희 Chan-Hee (source: [https://transnameswap.tumblr.com/post/168385071710/korean-gender-neutral-names-by-an-anon](https://transnameswap.tumblr.com/post/168385071710/korean-gender-neutral-names-by-an-anon?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) ### Exotic Korean names Modern Korean names are becoming more playful, light, and international. In the past, Korean names often sounded powerful, harsh, and short with strong accents and difficult pronunciations. This was especially true for men, as strong and striking names were considered more manly. But these days, Korean names are becoming more creative and soft while breaking away from traditional norms. Popular names are often easier to pronounce for non-Korean speakers and therefore more transferable to other cultures. For example, *Hana (하나)*, which means “one”, is simple and easily understood by non-native speakers. So, if you want a unique or exotic name, consider incorporating some of these into your name.. 1. Dal (달), which means “moon” 2. Duri (두리), which is simple and fun, meaning “two” in some dialects. 3. Ha-da (하다), which is the same as the verb “to do” 4. Haneul (하늘), which means “sky” 5. Hye (혜), which is easy and fun, sounding like “Hey” in English 6. Hyun (현), which is simple and strong 7. Jae (제이), which is phonetically similar to “Jay”, and means talent or skill. 8. Jeong (정), which is kind often used to mean gentle or high-character 9. Ji (지), which is very simple and a good options for a name that starts with “G” 10. Ji-Min (지민), which is popular and easy, plus it means “ambition” 11. Nabi (나비), which means “butterfly” 12. Na-Ra (나라), which means kingdom or country. These kinds of names are unique and would be well-suited for someone who wants to stand out, while also making their names memorable and fun. ### Final words on choosing a Korean name Whatever you choose, have fun with it. And if you don’t like it, change it. Ask Koreans to give you advice. Check out the names of actors and musicians: you will find a variety of traditional names and more modern, international Korean names. As you learn more about Korean, you will find what you think suits you. And remember, if you just want to use your name pronounced and written in Korean, that’s fine too. The majority of foreigners don’t have Korean names. In fact, most Koreans adopt a secondary English name at some point, which they use abroad and in situations with foreigners. So, don’t feel pressure. Have some fun with the process, and GOOD LUCK! ### Best Way to Learn Spanish: Tips for All Levels of Learners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:13:44.000Z There are many reasons that motivate people to start on their language learning journey such as travelling, work or a romantic partner for example. The idea of [learning a new language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/) is fun and exciting however the reality can be very different. That’s not to demotivate you but it is important to have in mind some useful tips to help you along the way. Sometimes people think that signing themselves up for a Spanish intensive course for a couple of weeks will help them on their way to being fluent in 30 days. **It doesn’t work exactly like that**. An intensive course or intensive practice especially with native speakers can surely help you establish a great foundation of the language on which you can continue to build your language skills. But it’s important to be realistic with our language learning goals and understand that **it requires dedication and commitment** to reach your desired level. Everybody wants to be able to hold a conversation almost instantly or to be understood with what they are trying to say. So what is the best way to learn Spanish? ## **For Spanish beginners** As a beginner, it is smart to learn [useful phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/common-spanish-words/) that will help you get by and allow you to be comfortable in your conversations. This includes some of the following phrases: Learning [Spanish numbers from 1 to 100](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-numbers-1-100/) is another useful early step. Asking people to repeat what they just said - *¿puedes repetir por favor? (*can you repeat please?) Saying that you don’t understand - *Lo siento, no entiendo* (I’m sorry, I don’t’ understand) Asking someone to speak slowly – *¿Puedes hablar más despacio, por favor*? (Can you speak slowly please?) These phrases are essential in the early days of starting to speak Spanish, once memorised they are easy to remember when you find yourself in a situation when your mind goes blank or the only word you can think of saying is *erm…* . When starting to learn a language, learning **grammar and vocabulary** is the most logical first step. Although it’s important not to overwhelm yourself with information because there are *so* many tenses and grammar points to learn. Fear not, **you don’t need to study every tense to be able to start to have a conversation in Spanish**. It is often easier to break down your learning into stages. Starting with the past, present and future tenses and intentionally using them in conversations until you feel like you have consolidated that knowledge. Once you feel confident and comfortable with those tenses you can challenge yourself to move on to learning the next grammar points. These manageable bitesize chunks of learning may see you progressing faster than you thought. ## **For Intermediate Spanish learners** As you begin to improve it is important to look for alternative ways to keep you motivated with your learning. Learning a language is not meant to be boring and dull, instead, it should be a fun experience. **Learning through doing** is a big factor in this part of continuing to better your language skills. Suggestions for this type of learning could be taking a dance class in Spanish or going to the cinema to watch a movie in Spanish. These experiences will **challenge your language skills and vocabulary** as you will have to manage a few different skills at the same time in these situations. Another big factor to continue improving with your Spanish is **keeping it present in your everyday life**. This could be purposely meeting up with friends a few times a week, reading books, or listening to music. When we don’t hear or practice the language for a little while we can become rusty. Some say **learning a language is like riding a bike, once you know how to do it, you never forget**. By the time you reached this stage, you are normally more confident with your spanish skills and not second-guessing yourself every time you go to speak. As you gain confidence with a language you gain momentum and your brain starts to absorb more. A helpful tip for this stage of learning Spanish is to **correct your own mistakes** as it helps internalize the learning. For example, by writing a journal or recording yourself speaking in Spanish, you can come back to review your own language, correct mistakes, and remember the correct way of saying it. ## **For advanced Spanish learners** As you start to reach a level of Spanish that feels like it comes as second nature or simply that you don’t have to think about everything like you once did as a beginner, it is important to **think about ways that you can continue to challenge yourself to learn**. In the workplace, this might look like **public speaking or presenting in Spanish** if you never have before or perhaps starting to **intentionally include more difficult expressions**, **vocabulary and grammar in your conversations**. You may want to start to **read more complex reading materials** or listen to a podcast or interview that you wouldn’t have been able to before. The Spanish language is spoken worldwide and there are 10 different dialects between Europe, The Americas and Africa. All of these dialects sound different and have their own nuances which is why as an advanced learner having an already strong foundation, it can be fun to **start to diversify the dialects you are interacting with**. You will find that there are different words for different things in these dialects and this can be a fun way to keep yourself motivated with learning as well as expand your vocabulary. As you become comfortable with your speaking ability it can become easy to neglect the other language learning skills. For example, if at work you have to speak a lot of Spanish but you don’t necessarily need to write, it can mean that naturally some of your skills are stronger than others. Or if you have to write emails but never have to actually interact with anyone in person, your listening and speaking skills are not going to be as strong. The point is, **don’t neglect any one skill and be conscious that you are developing all of the necessary skills**. ## **For all Spanish learners** ### **Be confident** Don’t be shy! Learning a foreign language is understanding and learning the grammar, vocabulary, etc. but what are you going to do with that information once you feel like you know enough? Are you confident enough to strike up a conversation at your local language exchange? Part of the language learning journey is about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and not being shy! Spanish people are very expressive and most of the time very kind when it comes to foreigners trying to speak their language. Throw yourself in at the deep end and start a conversation and see how far you can go. You will surprise yourself and see that you can talk and remember a little more each time. ### **Get comfortable with making mistakes** Everyone likes to do things properly and the truth be told, making mistakes can be an uncomfortable experience – if you let it be. However, the more you make the mistakes the less you will make the same mistakes again! Errors are an essential part of the language learning process and they *really* don’t matter as much as you think they do. What is your definition of fluent? Some people are happy with speaking the language to a level that they can be understood and exchange with native speakers, whereas other people want and maybe need to dominate the language for different reasons. Whatever level you want to get to, you are bound to make mistakes along the way. Laugh about them, write them down, and study them so the next time you remember not to make the same mistake. Remember your sentences do not need to be absolutely perfect to be understood. ### **Practice with native speakers** Learning from a book or online course can be a great start to learning a language but there is nothing better than being fully immersed in a conversation with a native speaker. Those conversations are the ones that are going to test you to think on the spot and push you to improve. This will look different for everyone, for it may be going to a meetup in your city or a language exchange whereas for other people it might be whilst traveling or at an important work event. Wherever it is, **take full advantage of talking with native speakers** because it is a sure-fire way to rocket your success with speaking Spanish. ## **Spanish Learning Technology** In the world of today where technology develops faster than it ever has, there are so many options available to help facilitate learning a new language. From [language learning apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/), translating tools and an unlimited amount of resources there is no shortage of help on the internet to help you progress with your Spanish. An app that you may find particularly useful is Wordreference, this is like having a dictionary and textbook at your fingertips. Not only can you look up vocabulary and find words of products you need whilst at the supermarket but you can also find the full conjugations of verbs in all tenses. The unlimited amount of resources includes music, podcasts, Youtube channels, the list is endless and there is a large majority of them that are free. **Find something that interests you and you are passionate about in your own language then find the equivalent in Spanish**. With all of these tips, it is fair to say that there are so many different ways to learn a language and there are various tips and tricks that will help you no matter what level you are at. So excuses, start today! ### Best Korean Learning Resources for Beginners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-learning-resources/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:49.000Z Just started [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) and looking for a useful tool? Still worried about how to improve your Korean? This article is just for you. As a university student who had lived in South Korea for several years, I wish I had this list of Korean learning resources when I just [started learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/). From [online courses, ](#online courses) [books ](#books)to [dictionaries](#dictionaries), [podcasts](#podcasts). I have integrated all the best resources I have tried and always recommended to people around. So I hope you can just get the information you need from this article. Now let's get started ## Korean Online Courses ![first step korean ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/first-step-korean.png) - [**First Step Korean**](https://www.coursera.org/learn/learn-korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a beginner-level Korean course with 20 units covering all 4 language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. It mainly focuses on grammar and everyday expressions like greetings. The course is available on coursera. ![Songang Korean Program](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ogj1GwdKXViSW-GkISsiV5DfpxwT8OA5wDEkPOQjJb6rUy2ixigh7NlUzD8FPyHK6o2ydjysvBqPA_IdKZHcTKycI6lL4ilMU_oJmLfEN2X6dF_X6w7Nbch_pgzkT6lO95cCAycUeyt3YkwpVQ) [**Sogang University Online Program**](http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Sogan Korean Program is a classic Korean course offered by Sogan University in South Korean. It is a free online Korean language course with short lessons that teach you dialogue, grammar, and reading skills. There are plenty of exercises for you to practice in its beginner Korean course, and you can ask questions by email. The interface of this program looks quite outdated and you probably need to add plugins to successfully run it. ![LingoDeer App](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/R2jNPFHQB7EwYwr9bnkK9rEXFJbycOjo9RXq9jM8wRcO6hUJL5sW6pKpvz4TKW1wBiG-Nt2n60KOLCITL8Co0YpnF91nb92hxa7UQCHL_074Kirmfrl0DypmRVJd40rLZ0itp6kCIvIYeLABMQ) [**LingoDeer App**](https://lingodeer.page.link/mPQL?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): LingoDeer is the go-to app for learning East Asian languages including Korean. It has a wide range of lessons, exercises, conversation practices, as well as in-depth grammar explanations that help you learn Korean in a structured and comprehensive way. Each lesson on LingoDeer is bite-sized and gamified so it keeps you motivated while learning on the go. It's available both on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-language-learning/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and [web](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![LP's Korean Language Learning](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/I1OK24K0Kpia3CDz6SMJFipBPsle9tDfWy8jG1pWguzGWB4Mam7Ka5Zg67iW6ofjqcSzS7KUgMJ3oholegBIL5k-3VkKtC34iAkXs66AlFIfRxjDxlWsJTac5XCrjT_hTbGZ6ID42AZKU7iz_w) - [**LP’s Korean Language Learning**](http://www.learnkoreanlp.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): This site very carefully explains the grammar for beginner and intermediate levels. You can easily find specific grammars here that you don't understand and the explanations are easy to understand. ![Learn Korean with Talk To Me In Korean](https://cdn.talktomeinkorean.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/15144451/logo402x-1.png) - [T](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[alk T](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[o Me In Korean ](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)is a very popular website for learning Korean. It mainly teaches with short videos and explanations, which is especially friendly for those who can't use hangul. It also provides a series of textbooks to assist learning. ## Korean Dictionary ![Best Korean learning dictionaries](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/6645.jpg) As a Korean language learner, I highly recommend[**Papago**](https://papago.naver.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [**Naver online dictionary**](https://en.dict.naver.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#/main). Papago is a web Korean translator that can translate korean into over 10 languages. They are both owned by Naver, the largest search engine in Korea, so if you want to get the latest information on Korea, I suggest you try using them! ## Korean Books [**“Living Language Korean, Complete Edition”**](https://www.amazon.com/Living-Language-Korean-Complete-coursebooks/dp/0307972232?tag=fluentu-20&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This is a unique multimedia course that takes you from beginner to advanced level in one convenient package. Their approach is to teach you the entire language so you can express yourself, not just memorize words or scripts. It includes 4 books, 46 lessons, extra review exercises, cultural notes and grammar summaries - plus a complete guide to reading and writing Korean. There are also 9 audio CDs\*. Vocabulary, dialogues, audio exercises, and more - listen while using the books, or use them for review on the go. [**“Read and Speak Korean for Beginners”**](https://www.amazon.fr/dp/1260031039?linkCode=gs2&tag=flu02-21&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This edition provides an accessible, entertaining program to reinforce vocabulary and help you create basic structures. Each of the book's eight topics was designed to help you develop your communication skills in key areas of daily life, such as introducing yourself, asking for directions, talking about your family and your country, and describing people, places, and objects. It has games, puzzles, pull-out cards and audio lessons to help you build language skills. [**“Let’s Speak Korean”**](https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Speak-Korean-Expressions-Pronunciation/dp/B07GW7QZ9W?tag=fluentu-20&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Whether you are a K-Pop/K-Drama fanatic or just someone trying to pick up some useful expressions before going on a trip to Korea, this book surely will be a great resource! This book contains over 1,400 daily expressions from 21 different topics and situations, and is designed in a way that anyone with no knowledge in Korean can learn and use right away, through simply listening and repeating the expressions. For your next trip to Korea, it also prepared a section to get you familiarize yourself with Korean culture, as well as where to visit! In the Traveling to Korea section, you will learn important Quick Facts About Korea, Etiquettes - the Do's and Don'ts, Culture Guide, Places You To Visit, and Seoul Metro Facts, which is a super convenient way for you to visit places. [**“Integrated Korean: Beginning 1”**](https://www.amazon.com/Integrated-Korean-Beginning-Textbooks-Language/dp/0824834402?tag=fluentu-20&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This is a thoroughly revised edition of Integrated Korean: Beginning 1, All series' volumes have been developed in accordance with performance-based principles and methodology-contextualization, learner-centeredness, use of authentic materials, usage-orientedness, the balance between skill getting and skill using, and integration of speaking, listening, reading, writing, and culture. Grammar points are systematically introduced in simple but adequate explanations and abundant examples and exercises. ## Korean Podcasts ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/pod.jpg) [**Real-Life Korean Conversations for Beginners**](https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/real-life-korean-conversations-for-beginners/id1456327498?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you are a Korean beginner interested in Real-Life Conversations and also enjoy listening to books, then I highly recommend it. This podcast is one of the top Korean podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, features short, practical conversations between native Korean speakers that are broken down and explained in English in the second half of the show. Conversations cover realistic and common everyday topics and situations, so you'll learn the Korean you need to talk to Koreans. [**Learn Korean With David**](https://open.spotify.com/show/5PrXI00Z7y7V755LL2Eah8?si=IH60c0mcT3iRgqEn6y-WtA&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you like short Korean lessons, then I recommend it because each episode is usually only 5 minutes long. This is one of Spotify's best Korean podcasts for beginners and it contains a variety of everyday topics as well as learning common Korean phrases such as shopping and holidays. It allows you to quickly improve your Korean expressions. [**Learn Korean: Korean Survival Phrases**](https://open.spotify.com/show/26EH1FIlsccxqy9fZr4gt8?si=q5t4C2FaSl2DAyDvqKbzVw&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you are a beginner and plan to live or travel to Korea, this podcast is still very handy. You can use it with its webpage at KoreanClass101.com. It is a short show that discusses simple basic phrases such as the basic greeting "hello", "goodbye", and how to order food, etc. Among other very useful phrases and sentences. [**SpongeMind**](https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/spongemind-podcast/id1054603657?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) SpongeMind is one of the most popular Korean bilingual podcasts with a wide variety of topics that are not limited to language and basic expressions. Each episode is recorded in both English and Korean, so listen in English for the first time to familiarize yourself with the topics and background, then practice your listening and comprehension skills in Korean. I highly recommend this blog if you enjoy listening to the host's banter. [**The Legit Korean**](https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-legit-korean/id1339354899?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) It's one of the best Korean podcasts if you want to learn Korean while delving into the country's culture and enjoy interactive learning. At the end of each episode, the host gives her listeners a speaking assignment and encourages them to send her voice recordings via Instagram. She then introduces her listeners and corrects their mistakes in the next episode of the podcast. ## Korean Language Exchanges & Meetups ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/09898.jpg) In Korea, the fastest way to improve your Korean is to communicate with others! There are many apps like [HelloTalk](http://hellotalk.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Tandem ](https://www.tandem.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)that allows you to **chat with native speakers** from South Korea. You can find all sorts of language exchange groups on **Facebook** and **Meet up** apps, and they organize a lot of offline events every week, so don't miss out on a great opportunity to connect with Koreans! If you are a student going on an exchange to Korea, you can also apply for a **one-on-one language buddy** at the university you are going to exchange to. ### 15 Excellent Korean Dramas to Binge Watch and Learn Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:21.000Z If you’re looking for a fun way to learn Korean, then this article may just be for you. Like most Korean language learners, you have probably already heard of, or watched Korean dramas before. Watching K-drama is surely a great way to dip your toes into the Korean language and culture while enjoying something fun. In this article, we will recommend 15 great K-Dramas to binge watch this summer! In the end, we'll also share some tips to show you how to[ learn Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) with this fun form of entertainment. Now get ready and let's start! ## 15 Korean Dramas to Binge-Watch in Summer 2023 Last but not least, here is a list of must-watch K-dramas in summer 2023\. Some of them are just released this summer and some are the best of all time. You can also comment below and let us know your favorite k-dramas! ### 1\. The Glory Season 2 (2023) ![Korean drama 2023: The Glory 2](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/the-glory-jpeg.jpg) The Glory Part 2 is the highly anticipated second season of the revenge thriller series on Netflix. It continues the story of Moon Dong-eun, played by Song Hye-kyo, as she enacts an intricate plan to get retribution on her childhood bullies. ### 2\. Our Blues (2022) ![our blues poster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/our-blues-poster-jpeg.jpg) This drama takes place on Jeju Island and depicts the ups and downs that the villagers face in their daily lives. Well-known talents like Lee Byun Hun, Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin star in this drama, so it’s definitely worth checking out. If you want to know what life outside Seoul is like and are curious about learning different accents and dialects, this drama is for you. Where to watch it: Netflix trailer: https://youtu.be/HOkMU1ULnUY ### 3\. Bloodhounds (2023) ![Bloodhounds series](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/bloodhounds_south_korean_tv_series-jpeg.jpg) Bloodhounds, Netflix's new action-crime Korean original, sees two young boxers take on a corrupt loan shark in a plot reminiscent of the platform's recent hits like *D.P.* and *Squid Game*. Propelled by the thunderous direction of Jason Kim, the series delivers an adrenaline-fueled midseason run. Where to watch it: Netflix ### 4\. One Day Off (2023) ![One Day Off](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/one-day-off.jpg) One Day Off gives a behind-the-scenes look at the personal lives of idol stars during their rare days off from hectic schedules. Viewers will get a fictionalized peek at the poignant struggles these young entertainers face, coming soon on iQIYI. ### 5\. Dr. Romantic 3 (2023) ![Dr. Romantic 3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/dr_romantic_3-mp01-jpeg.jpg) Dr. Romantic 3 sees the return of Han Suk-kyu as the maverick Dr. Kim and his ragtag team at the new Doldam Trauma Center. Though the characters bring their own stories, the life-saving medical crises Dr. Kim and his loyal team work together to resolve remain the gripping heart of this SBS medical drama filled with high-stakes emergency room action. ### 6\. Crash Course in Romance (2023) ![Crash Course in Romance](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/crash_course_in_romance-jpeg.jpg) Crash Course in Romance is a heartwarming romantic comedy focused on education starring veteran actress Jeon Do-yeon as a former athlete supporting her niece who crosses paths with a star instructor played by Jung Kyung-ho. While hitting the familiar beats of initially bickering leads falling for each other, what elevates this Netflix K-drama is its talented cast and thoughtful exploration of relevant social themes around Korea's highly competitive education system. With its mix of humor, romance, and social commentary, Crash Course in Romance promises to be an impactful drama. where to watch: Netflix ### 7\. Queen Maker (2023) Queen Maker follows a political strategist's ambitious rise in Korea's cutthroat political arena. With a star-studded cast, this new tvN series offers an intriguing look at political power plays. Where to watch: Netflix ### 8\. Strange Lawyer Woo Young Woo (2022) This tells the story of a lawyer with Asperger’s syndrome. Thanks to her high IQ and spectacular memory, she graduated at the top of her class from law school. The only thing that gets in the way of her success are social interactions. Release date: June 29 Where to watch it: Netflix ### 9\. Big Mouth (2022) Park Chang Ho is a lawyer with a win percentage of only 10 percent. He can’t afford the rent for his office or pay a salary to his father-in-law, who works with him. Strange things suddenly start to happen when he decides to take on a murder case. Release date: July 29, 2022 Where to watch it: MBC (more information on other networks will be released later) trailer: https://youtu.be/Nn43g7pae2g ### 10\. Shooting Stars (2022) ![Shooting Stars poster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/shooting_stars_main.png) This tells the story of a woman who leads the PR team for an entertainment agency. One of the biggest clients is the top star Gong Tae Sung, whom the PR lead knows from high school and college, where he became her enemy. Despite their bickering, they soon fall for each other. Where to watch it: WeTV, Viki Rakuten ### 11\. Descendants of The Sun (2016) “Descendants of the Sun” is a blockbuster romance that shows the meaning of life through the story of a young soldier and a doctor who yearn for love and success in a strange and extremely harsh environment. Their tale unfolds against the backdrop of the beautiful southern landscape. First released in 2016, Descendants of The Sun had the highest rating of 38.8% nationwide in Korea and was a hit throughout Asia. The drama is also notable for leading to a romance between actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye Kyo. Where to watch it: Netflix, Viki Rakuten ### 12\. The Heirs (2013) ![The Heirs poster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/heirs-jpeg.jpg) The Heirs is a South Korean youth comedy-drama that was broadcast on SBS starting on October 9, 2013\. It co-stars famous Korean actors such as Lee Min Ho and Park Shin Hye. The drama is about a sweet and heartwarming but conflict-filled romance between a Korean high society heir and an extremely ordinary and realistic lower-class girl. In May 2014, the drama won the second DramaFever Awards for Best Drama Series in the United States. In addition to Asia, the show has also been a hit in the United States. Where to watch it: Netflix, Viki Rakuten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S\_VmkFn19bg ### 13\. IRIS (2009) IRIS is a story about the special agents of the Korean National Security Agency in a rapidly changing world, specifically about breathtaking fights, betrayals, and romances between spies. The premiere of the show recorded a high rating of 39.9% in Korea. Where to watch it: Netflix ### 14\. Coffee Prince (2007) Coffee Prince is a Korean TV series that premiered on July 2, 2007, starring Yoon Eun Hye, Kong Yoo and other popular actors in Korea. It became the top-rated drama at the time. The plot is set in a coffee shop and tells the story of four very different men and women who meet, get to know each other and fall in love. Where to watch it: Netflix , Viki Rakuten trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liJEk4gkKQ4 ### 15\. Secret Garden (2010) ![Secret Garden poster](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/3875_secretgarden_nowplay_small-jpeg.jpg) Secret Garden is a weekend special drama produced by SBS in 2010\. It stars Hyun Bin, Ha Ji Won, Yoon Sang Hyun, and Kim Sa Rang. The drama is about a couple who first met on set due to a misunderstanding and then accidentally swapped souls and started a beautiful love story. The highest rating since its original broadcast was 31.4%. Where to watch it: Netflix trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic05V2NvIoQ&list=PLShqORWiDquPUuwMk\_c1m\_IZSvCuKKaFs ## Can You Learn Korean from K-Drama? You may be thinking, how can Korean dramas help me to actually learn something? Well, there’s a lot to learn from them, culture, for example. Some of the things people have said that they had the most difficulty with when learning another language and visiting another country was the cultural differences. These dramas can give you better insight into the **culture, traditions, and habits** of this country, so the culture shock won’t be as intense for you. Another thing you will learn from K-drama is **pronunciation.** It’s a really easy way to learn pronunciation from native speakers. Of course, conversations are a two-way street thing, so not only do you need to be able to convey your thoughts, but you also need to understand what the other person is talking about. Watching dramas is a great way to **practice your listening skills**. Just like in every other country, not everyone in South Korea has the same accent and there are different dialects depending on the region you’re in. You can get familiar with this by watching dramas. The language that’s used in textbooks often differs from the Korean language used in real life. K-dramas can help you to **understand what language should be used in different situations**. ![k-drama posters](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/k-dramas-from-2021-featured-image-905x613-1-jpeg.jpg) ## How to Learn Korean when Watching K-drama ### Enable Websites' Learning Mode There are various platforms you can use to watch Kdrama. You may already be familiar with some of them, such as Viki Rakuten, YouTube, Netflix, Dailymotion, iQIYI, Hulu, and AsianCrush… But did you know that you can actually enable a learning function on some of these websites? Viki Rakuten is one such website. You can enable the **Learn mode** (only available on web browser and IOS app) by clicking on the icon for subtitles and switching on Learn mode. The subtitles of the original language and your language will appear on the screen side-by-side. You can move to the previous and next segments by using arrows, and you can also replay them. If you want to know a bit more about a certain word, you just click on it to get the definition and pronunciation in your language. ### Choose the Right K-Dramas There are various kinds of drama, which can make it difficult to choose. Remember, **always choose those that interest you**. That way you’ll like watching them, and that’s what will keep you hooked on your language learning in the long run. There are some websites that can make the choice easier. For example, you can search **reviews on YouTube**, or you can go to MyDramaList and pick a drama by selecting a certain genre or choosing by actors. Watch dramas with **both English and Korean subtitles** if you can. It helps you to better understand what the characters are saying in Korean. However, this is not a must as long as you enjoy the dramas! :) ### Tips to Learn Korean Korean dramas can be very interesting to watch, but remember that you are also watching them to learn Korean. Sometimes you can be so into the story that you forget to listen to what's being said. In order to avoid this, you can: - Use Korean subtitles and try to read what's written, then play the audio to check if it’s correct (if you already have some knowledge of the Korean alphabet). - Repeat what's being said to practice your pronunciation. - Replay certain parts to get a good grasp of what's being said. Are there any other Korean dramas you'd like to recommend? Share with us in the comments! ### Chinese vs Japanese Language | All You Need to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese_vs_japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:51.000Z Download [日语录音.m4a](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/ri-yu-lu-yin-1.m4a?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) As a Chinese citizen living in Japan, my American friends often ask me what the difference between the Chinese and Japanese languages is. Are the two languages mutually intelligible? For me, it is difficult to give a straight "yes" or "no" answer. A quick search on Wikipedia shows that the **Chinese language (Mandarin) belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family and the Japanese language belongs to the Japonic language family.** However, for most of us who are not experts in linguistics, such knowledge is not very helpful. Therefore, this article aims to offer a more straightforward answer to achieve **a practical understanding** of the two languages’ differences and similarities. ## Writing system ### Quick review First, the Japanese writing system is more complex than the Chinese one. The Chinese writing system consists of 100% Chinese characters. Meanwhile, the Japanese writing system consists of three parts: Kanji (Chinese characters), Hiragana, and Katakana. ![japanese sentence structure](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/sentence-structure-jvsc.png) **The Japanese language has two alphabets - 46 Hiragana and 46 Katakana.** As you may have guessed, Hiragana and Katakana correspond to each other individually. For example, the vowel "a" in Japanese can be written as either "あ" in Hiragana or "ア." in Katakana. [As learning deeper](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/), you will gradually comprehend the differences in their specific application. When it comes to the Chinese language, this language doesn’t have any alphabet at all - **just thousands of Chinese characters.** ### Hanzi vs. Kanji (Both Chinese characters) **Chinese Characters are the most significant part of the Chinese and Japanese written languages. They are called Hanzi in Chinese and Kanji in Japanese.** Although both Hanzi and Kanji are Chinese characters, they don't correspond to each other all the time in each language. The Hanzi used in mainland China today are simplified for ease of learning and writing. Japanese, however, retains more traditional Chinese characters. Simplified Chinese characters (China): 忧郁 Traditional Chinese characters (Japan): 憂鬱 English translation: depressed I deliberately chose the above example to highlight the major difference between simplified and traditional characters. **In most cases, there is little or even no difference between Hanzi and Kanji. Nevertheless, Hanzi and Kanji have entirely different pronunciations and are not orally intelligible to each other.** As a result, the meaning between Hanzi and Kanji is the same in most cases, but they are pronounced differently in each language. However, again, there are no absolute rules when comparing these two languages. Sometimes the meaning between them can be different, too. For example, the character "娘" means "mother" in Chinese, while in Japanese, it means "daughter." Kinda funny, right? ![japanese kanji](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hanzi-vs-kanji-ginseng.png) The number of Chinese characters is enormous, totaling hundreds of thousands. Don't panic, though. Not even Chinese and Japanese speakers know all of them. According to a document from China's State Language Committee, [the number of commonly used Hanzi in Chinese is 2,500,](https://www.zdic.net/zd/zb/cc1/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) covering 99% of the daily texts. Furthermore, according to a report issued by the Japanese Cabinet Council in 2010, [the number of commonly used Kanji in Japanese is **2,136**.](https://www.bunka.go.jp/kokugo%5Fnihongo/sisaku/joho/joho/kijun/naikaku/pdf/joyokanjihyo%5F20101130.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![how many kanji are there](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/f-1.png) **For Japanese, the more formal the text, the greater the proportion of Kanji; meanwhile, the more informal the text, the greater the use of Hiragana and Katakana.** Interestingly, Chinese citizens who have never learned Japanese can read official documents and reports issued by the Japanese government because they are almost entirely written in Kanji. ## Pronunciation ### Chinese: one of the few tonal languages Chinese is one of the few tonal languages in the world. **Each syllable in Mandarin has four corresponding tones, and the meaning varies accordingly.** Let’s take the syllable “ma” as an example. In Mandarin, it may correspond to the following characters. mā 妈 (mother) má 麻 (flax) mǎ 马 (horse) mà 骂 (scold) **For some dialects of Chinese, the tones may be more complex - for example, Cantonese has nine tones.** As mentioned earlier, the Chinese language is written in Chinese characters, which are not phonetic. Therefore, you cannot tell what the pronunciation of a character is from its writing. You can only figure out how to say it after looking up its pronunciation in the dictionary. Mainland China uses a phonetic system called [Hanyu Pinyin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to pronounce Chinese characters. *"It's a beautiful day, let's go for a walk." in Chinese* From my perspective, **pronunciation is the most challenging part of learning Chinese,** and many of my foreign friends who study Chinese agree with me. ### Japanese: one of the easiest pronunciations The pronunciation of Japanese is much easier than that of Chinese. Similar to English, **Japanese has no tones** (including the Chinese characters in Japanese, which also have no tones) **only accents.** Furthermore, compared to Chinese, which has some problematic phonemes, almost everyone can learn Japanese pronunciation quickly. It’s worth mentioning that the ratio of vowels to consonants in Japanese is almost **1:1**, making it the most musical language. The downside is that even though Hiragana and Katakana are phonetic, **Chinese characters (Kanji) in Japanese also need annotations to show pronunciation due to their ideographic nature.** In Japanese, the pronunciation of Kanji is generally indicated by Hiragana. *"It's a beautiful day, let's go for a walk." in Japanese* ## Vocabulary ### Chinese: interesting word-formation logic Many beginners find memorizing Chinese vocabulary to be very thought-provoking. **Actually, the word-formation logic of Chinese vocabulary is clever and inspired.** After learning the primary Chinese characters, you will quickly master a series of Chinese words. For example, the term "电视 (Television)" is made up of "电 (Electricity)" + "视 (Vision)." Just think about it: TV requires electricity to operate and vision to watch it. Another example is the word "香水 (perfume)," made up of "香 (fragrant)" + "水 (water)." **Learning Chinese vocabulary is like solving a jigsaw puzzle game, which requires you to use known Chinese characters to form different words.** ### Japanese: many English loanwords **Japanese uses far more English loanwords than Chinese. The loanwords are often used for modern ideas and inventions** (especially after the industrial revolution). For example, the term "television" in Japanese is "テレビ (te re bi)" which is short for "television", in contrast to "电视 (diàn shì)" in Chinese. For items and concepts that have been around since ancient times, the Japanese language still uses Chinese characters or native words. While learning Japanese, you are learning a lot of Chinese vocabulary without even realizing it, and vice versa. According to the National Research Institute of Japan, the Japanese language consists of **native words (36.7%,) Chinese words (47.5%,) and loanwords (almost 10%).** ## Grammar ### Sentence structure In contrast to the word order of English (Subjective-Verb-Objective), **the** [**Japanese sentence structure**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/) **is (Subjective-Objective-Verb)**, which means that Japanese predicate verbs tend to come at the end. ![japanese sentence structure](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/1-3.png) The sentence structure in Chinese is in the **same** SVO order as in English. You could argue that the Chinese sentence structure is more intuitive for English speakers. ![chinese sentence structure](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/chinese_sentence.png) ### Honorific system Japan is a somewhat hierarchical society, and the concept of honorifics is integrated into its grammar tree. [The Japanese honorific system](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorific-humble/) is so tricky that even many Japanese people get it wrong sometimes. Generally speaking, **the Japanese honorific is divided into three main categories: humble, respectful, and polite languages.** As a beginner, you only need to learn basic application scenarios. Don't worry about getting it wrong because Japanese people have a high tolerance for foreigners' language skills. In general, they are just impressed that you’re doing your best to use their language. **Like English, modern Chinese doesn't have an honorific system and only uses a few words to express respect.** In this respect, the Chinese language is much simpler than the Japanese language, which has a mind-bogglingly complex honorific system. ### Verb conjugation Just as English verbs are conjugated depending on tense and other situations, Japanese verbs are conjugated, too. Take the word "完成する (complete)" as an example: 完成する To be completed 完成しない Not completed 完成した Completed 完成しなかった Not completed yet 完成するな Don't complete 完成すれば If completed 完成される Will be completed 完成できる Can be completed … The Chinese verb does not conjugate. Not one bit. Rather than relying on changes in form or prefixes/suffixes, Chinese uses additional words as needed for different situations like time. The verb above in Japanese, "完成する," has only one form, "完成," in Chinese. For more knowledge about Japanese verb conjugation, you may refer to [an article we wrote before](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/)! ### Particles Japanese is an [agglutinative language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agglutinative%5Flanguage?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and r**elies heavily on particles to reflect the grammatical relationship between different parts of a sentence.** If you want to learn more details about Japanese particles, please [click here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-particles/). ![japanese particles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/9-most-common-japanese-particles.png) Modern Chinese has almost no particles (auxiliaries). **I can't tell whether it's better or worse to have auxiliaries.** Some people may find it too tricky to learn and use Japanese particles. In contrast, others may think it is hard to recognize the components in Chinese sentences due to the lack of auxiliary cues. ## Q&A session ### Which is easier, Japanese or Chinese? After reading the my above breakdown, I believe you may have come to realize that the answer to this question is ambiguous. In my opinion, they each have easy and complex parts, and **here is the difficulty assessment based on my personal opinion**: Grammar Difficulty: Japanese > Chinese Vocabulary Difficulty: Chinese ≈ Japanese Pronunciation Difficulty: Chinese > Japanese ### What is the range and number of Japanese and Chinese speakers? According to [WorldData](https://www.worlddata.info/languages/chinese.php?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=A%20total%20of%20about%201.3,Chinese%20as%20their%20mother%20tongue.), Chinese is spoken by 1.31 billion people, making it the second most spoken language in the world, after English. Chinese is predominantly spoken in Chinese communities in mainland China, Taiwan Province, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Singapore, Malaysia, and Chinese communities in other countries. [With 128 million speakers](https://www.worlddata.info/languages/japanese.php?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Japanese%20speaking%20countries&text=A%20total%20of%20about%20125.8,Japanese%20as%20their%20mother%20tongue.), Japanese is the eighth most spoken language in the world, mainly in Japan and overseas Japanese communities. ### Why does the Japanese language use Chinese characters? In the beginning, the Japanese language could not be written and was only oral. **Chinese characters began to be introduced to Japan during the Han dynasty in China (around** [**57 AD**](http://museum.city.fukuoka.jp/en/exhibition.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**).** After that, Japanese people started to use Chinese characters to write the Japanese language. However, Chinese and Japanese are two different languages, so Chinese characters can't 100% meet the Japanese language's writing needs. Hence, after introducing Chinese characters, [**Japanese people themselves created**](https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=v1FcAgiAC9IC&pg=PA14&redir%5Fesc=y&ref=blog.lingodeer.com#v=onepage&q&f=false) **Hiragana and Katakana themselves to make written Japanese better and easier.** ### Are there dialects of Chinese and Japanese? **There are many dialects of Chinese, many of which are not even mutually intelligible.** For example, the most famous Chinese dialect, Cantonese, is incomprehensible to many Chinese people who aren’t Cantonese speakers. Therefore, **the Chinese government has designated Mandarin as the standard language of Chinese.** Almost all Chinese people can speak Mandarin (although not all have standard accents). By learning Mandarin, you will be able to handle nearly 95% of situations. **Japanese also has dialects, but they are not distinctive as the Chinese ones and are almost always mutually intelligible.** The Tokyo accent is considered the standard accent, and you can learn it by listening to Japanese TV channels such as NHK. ### List of 50 Most Used Kanji and How to Learn them URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:25.000Z In order to be able to navigate the world of written Japanese, learning kanji is an unavoidable challenge you will have to face sooner or later. When you see [written Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/) today, you will often see a jumble of **kanji, hiragana, katakana, and romaji** (words written in Latin alphabet) used to express a sentence. For example: ![Japanese writing system](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese_sentence1.png) Most of the times, the most complex looking characters are Kanji. Now as you progress in learning Japanese, you may wonder, what is kanji? Why is it so difficult? How many kanji do I need to learn? Where should I start learning kanji? Don't worry, we'll address all your questions about kanji in this article. In this article, we'll present to you: 1) [What is Kanji](#what is kanji) 2) [How to Learn Kanji Effectively](#how to learn kanji effectively) 3) [50 Most Common Kanji](#Most Common Kanji). You may want to check out our article on [hiragana and katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) before diving into the world of kanji if you are a true beginner. However, if you’re ready to get a better understanding of kanji characters and what they will mean for your language studies, please read on! ## What is “kanji” and how is it different from kana? Kanji are Chinese characters that first started being used for written Japanese around the 5th century AD. T Chinese characters (“hànzì” in Mandarin) are logograms, or **symbols that represent words**. Today, Kanji is still widely used in Japanese. Most Japanese people get by using about 2,000 kanji. Instead of using alphabets or phonetic symbols to represent sounds that are combined to form a word, kanji stands for **an idea or concept and can be used to represent a word based on that meaning**. For example, the letters “e” “a” and “t” do not mean anything individually in English other than the sounds they represent. You can put them together to spell words, such as “eat,” which then forms a meaning. However, in Japanese, there is a kanji for the meaning “eat” or “food” - 食. There are different possible pronunciations associated with this kanji depending on how it is used (e.g. “ta” or “ku” in verbs and “shoku” in compound words) but the kanji is not made of individual parts that represent sounds – **it represents a word or idea in and of itself**. So how are you supposed to know how to sound out written language if it isn’t made up of letters indicating sounds? This is where **kana** comes into play and makes written Japanese so distinctive from written Chinese. Instead of the Latin alphabet which represents individual vowels and consonants, hiragana and katakana represent individual syllables and are used to - represent the pronunciation of kanji characters or replace kanji characters when they are not known or necessary - add on to kanji characters to represent additional syllables needed to complete a word. This may sound a bit abstract, so let’s take a look at each role kana plays with some examples. 1. The pronunciation of the kanji 猫 (cat) is ねこ (“neko”). If you wanted to show the pronunciation of this kanji, you might see the hiragana written above it in a small font called furigana. Otherwise, if it’s not the right situation to use kanji (e.g. in a picture book for preschoolers) you could just write out the word for “cat” out in kana: ねこ. 2. In order to write the plain verb “eat” in Japanese, we must use hiragana to add a verb ending to the kanji 食, which becomes 食べる (たべる - “taberu”). To conjugate this to the plain past tense “ate,” we change the hiragana ending (and thus pronunciation) but not the root kanji - 食べた (たべた - “tabeta”). By now, you might be thinking that you’ve come up with a solution to a major problem and saved yourself a great deal of study time. “Why not just write everything out in kana to represent sounds like in English?! That would be so much easier!” Unfortunately, then your Japanese will look like this: ぼくはあさはちじにおきておちゃをのみます。 Instead of this: 僕は朝八時に起きてお茶を飲みます。 Boku wa asa hachiji ni okite ocha wo nomimasu. “I get up at eight in the morning and drink green tea.” Even if you don’t know the kanji in the second sentence, it’s easier to quickly parse out parts of speech at a glance compared to the fully hiragana version. **With kanji, you can easily tell which words are verbs and which are particles**. Without kanji, it’s not immediately clear whether the second は in the sentence is part of a noun or the topic marker particle は (consequently affecting your decision to pronounce it “ha” or “wa” and further slowing down your reading). Plus, with all the [homophony](https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/12/homonyms.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in Japanese, **kanji actually makes reading comprehension a lot easier in the long run.** Hopefully, you’re beginning to understand just how essential kanji is to the Japanese language learning process! However, this is by no means a fact you should feel discouraged by. I firmly believe that kanji is one of the most fun and interesting parts of learning Japanese, and with the right strategies, it’s not nearly as hard as you think! ![How many kanji do native Japanese speakers know](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/kanji-1.png) Most Japanese people know about 2000 to 3000 kanji, which is a lot less than the total number (more than 5000). However using these 2000 to 3000 would be enough for daily uses as they appear much more often than the rest. For Japanese learners, you should know 1000 kanji to be able to read Japanese relatively fluently. But how to start learning kanji? The best way is to use tools like LingoDeer to memorize kanji gradually as you progress. Next, we'll introduce to you 5 effective ways you can practice when learning Kanji. ## How to Learn Kanji Efficiently and Effectively Is Kanji learning all about memorization? Are there any faster ways to learn them by yourself? Of course, Kanji learning requires a lot of memorization work, but it's not without tricks. Follow these 5 steps to learn kanji a lot faster: ### 1\. Learn Kanji at Your Own Pace Many Japanese learners feel inclined to learn kanji the way native Japanese speakers do. However, this may not be the best way. Japanese schoolchildren are taught a set number of kanji each year between 1st and 6th grade known as the “[kyо̄iku kanji](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%8Diku%5Fkanji?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)” (education kanji). It’s not a bad idea to start out studying the 1st grade set, but you shouldn’t feel pressured to mimic the order that Japanese native speakers follow. The most important thing is that **you’re learning kanji that are readily found in the learning material that matches your language level.** While 鳴 (bird or animal cry) is technically a 2nd grade kanji, it’s not as likely to be found in the language content you’re interacting with compared to the 6th grade 卵 (egg) or 冊 (counter for number of books). As soon as you’ve learned 鳴, you’re bound to forget it as long as you aren’t seeing it again outside of your flashcard. Language acquisition requires repetition and consistency! ### 2\. Learn Kanji in Sets As with learning vocabulary for any given language, the most efficient way to begin learning kanji is to **learn the most commonly used words and practice with thematic sets**, such as foods, colors, numbers, common verbs, etc. As you work through new grammar and vocabulary sets (perhaps through your textbook or the [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) you should do your best to practice related kanji concurrently. ### 3\. Combine the Old-School Way with New Technology The most old-school way of learning kanji is to write each character over and over again until you memorize it. You can do this on scrap paper or print out free [kanji writing templates](https://henckq.nl/kanji/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to fill out. This method has its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it’s a great way to ritualize your study (“Alright, time for my daily fifteen minutes of kanji writing practice!”) and produce something tangible that evidences your hard work. Furthermore, this is a good way to internalize stroke order, making it easier for you to be able to [count the number of strokes](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/look-up-kanji/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in more complex unfamiliar kanji and look them up using online dictionaries in the future. However, this can also be extremely time-consuming and is ultimately not all that productive for memorizing reading comprehension and visual recall of kanji. Let’s be honest - how often do we actually fill out paper forms or pen handwritten letters in the 21st century? Reading and typing are far more practical skills. I would suggest that you practice writing your first few hundred kanji by hand to get the feel for stroke order and basic radicals in addition to visual recognition drills through apps and games such as [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Kanji Study](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mindtwisted.kanjistudy&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### 4\. Pay Attention to Radicals [Radicals](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/) are the common components of kanji that appear in multiple characters. They can give you clues about the meaning or the pronunciation of certain kanji. For example, the kanji 水 means “water” and is also a radical. You’ll notice its appearance in 氷 (ice), 泉 (fountain) and 泳 (swim). Although I mentioned before that kanji are not made of individual parts that constitute sounds like letters, there are some radicals that tend to match up with certain pronunciations. For example, the radical 門 is seen in the kanji for “gate” (門) and “question” or “problem” (問), both of which are frequently pronounced “mon” in various compound words. ### 5\. Learn Kanji in Context Finally, it bears repeating that your kanji acquisition should relate to your other Japanese studies. Learning characters in context will help you remember their meanings and their pronunciations. Kanji often have several different possible pronunciations, largely divided into two categories: kun-yomi and on-yomi. Kun-yomi are “native” Japanese pronunciations, often found in words like verbs that include hiragana (e.g. the “ta” pronunciation in 食べる that we saw before). However, on-yomi are Sino-Japanese readings, meaning the pronunciation of the kanji is based on the original Chinese pronunciation. This is commonly seen in compound kanji, e.g. the “shoku” in 食事 (shokuji) meaning “meal.” I recommend that you try to learn each kanji in context as vocabulary, including at least one with a kun-yomi reading and one with an on-yomi reading if possible. For example, learning that 小 is the kanji for “small” is a great start, but learning it in context as the i-adjective 小さい (small) pronounced “chiisai” and as the noun 小学生 (elementary school student) pronounced “shо̄gakusei” will give you further opportunities to apply it and practice common pronunciations. ## 50 Most Common Kanji Now that you’re feeling pumped about learning kanji, let me get you started with your first fifty! With these under your belt, you can feel confident in having already taken the first several steps into the world of kanji. Practice these kanji with flashcards or on the LingoDeer app and don’t forget to review them regularly! ### Numbers | Kanji | Common Pronunciations\* | Meaning | | ----- | ----------------------- | -------- | | 一 | いち ichi | one | | ニ | に ni | two | | 三 | さん san | three | | 四 | よん / し yon / shi | four | | 五 | ご go | five | | 六 | ろく roku | six | | 七 | なな / しち nana / shichi | seven | | 八 | はち hachi | eight | | 九 | きゅう kyū | nine | | 十 | じゅう jū | ten | | 百 | ひゃく hyaku | hundred | | 千 | せん sen | thousand | ### Elements / Time | Kanji | Common Pronunciations | Meaning | | ----- | --------------------- | ------- | | 月 | つき / げつ tsuki / getsu | moon | | 火 | ひ / か hi / ka | fire | | 水 | みず / すい mizu / sui | water | | 木 | き / もく ki / moku | tree | | 金 | かね / きん kane / kin | gold | | 土 | つち / ど tsuchi / do | earth | | 日 | ひ / にち hi / nichi | day | | 年 | とし / ねん toshi / nen | year | | 時 | とき / じ toki / ji | time | ### People | Kanji | Common Pronunciations | Meaning | | ----- | ----------------------------- | ------- | | 男 | おとこ / だん otoko / dan | man | | 女 | おんな / じょ onna / jo | woman | | 子 | こ / し ko / shi | child | | 人 | ひと / にん / じん hito / nin / jin | person | Body Parts | Kanji | Common Pronunciations | Meaning | | ----- | ---------------------- | -------- | | 手 | て / しゅ te / shu | hand | | 耳 | みみ / じ mimi / ji | ear | | 口 | くち / こう kuchi / ko | mouth | | 目 | め / もく me / moku | eye | | 足 | あし / そく ashi / soku | foot/leg | | 心 | こころ / しん kokoro / shin | heart | ### Animals / Nature | Kanji | Common Pronunciations | Meaning | | ----- | --------------------- | -------- | | 空 | そら / くう sora / kū | sky/air | | 天 | てん ten | heaven | | 山 | やま / さん yama / san | mountain | | 雨 | あめ ame | rain | | 犬 | いぬ / けん inu / ken | dog | | 虫 | むし / ちゅう mushi / chū | bug | ### Misc. | Kanji | Common Pronunciations | Meaning | | ----- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------- | | 私 | わたし / し watashi / shi | me | | 行 | い(く) / こう / ぎょう i(ku) / kо̄ / gyо̄ | go | | 来 | く(る) / き(ます) / らい ku(ru) / ki(masu) / rai | come | | 本 | ほん / もと hon / moto | rain | | 気 | き ki | feeling/mood | | 国 | くに / こく kuni / koku | country | | 小 | ちい(さい) / しょう / こ chii(sai) / shо̄ / ko | small | | 中 | なか / ちゅう naka / chū | middle/medium | | 大 | おお(きい) / たい / だい oo(kii) / tai / dai | big | | 何 | なに / なん nani / nan | what | | 力 | ちから / りょく chikara / ryoku | power | | 見 | み(る) / けん mi(ru) / ken | see | | 思 | おも(う) / し omo(u) / shi | think | \* pronunciations in parentheses indicate hiragana endings for i-adjectives or verbs ### Korean Vowels URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-vowels/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:53.000Z Download [kr-m-zy-i.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/kr-m-zy-i-3.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The first thing to learn in Korean is [Hangul (Korean alphabet)](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/), a scientific writing system that made Korean language very easy to pronounce and write. As the official writing system of the Korean language, [Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hangul/) consists of 24 basic letters, divided into 10 vowels and 14 consonants. While you may easily find counterparts in English for Korean consonants, some Korean vowels can be quite tricky to pronounce for absolute beginners. So in this article, we'll teach you the 10 vowels in Hangul so you can get off to a good start in [Korean learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/). If you wish to learn more Korean systematically, use [LingoDeer app](https://lingodeer.page.link/oVZg?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Let's begin! ## What are vowels in Korean? Korean vowels are called 모음(moeum). Korean vowels were created based on the following three elements: sky, human, and earth(ground). "•" : this stroke represents sun \*This stroke above cannot be used alone and it always comes with other vowels. When this stroke is added to horizontal vowels, it changes its shape into “-“. And when it's added to vertical vowels, it looks like “ı”. (It has changed its shape in Modern Hangul. It used to maintained “•” shape when it’s merged with other vowels centuries ago, but not anymore.) "ㅣ" : this stroke represents human standing "ㅡ" : this stroke represents earth(ground) \*This stroke cannot be used alone and it always comes with other vowels. When this stroke is added to horizontal vowels, it changes its shape into “-“. And when it's added to vertical vowels, it looks like “ı”. (It has changed its shape in Modern Hangul. It used to maintained “•” shape when it’s merged with other vowels centuries ago, but not anymore.) ![Basic information about Korean alphabet, Hangul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/1111.png) Each Korean vowel is basically the combination of the above three elements! Let’s take a look at some examples. ㅣ -> ㅏ (l+•) -> ㅑ (l+••) ㅣ -> ㅓ (l+•) -> ㅕ (l+••) ㅡ -> ㅗ (ㅡ+•) -> ㅛ (ㅡ+••) ㅡ -> ㅜ (ㅡ+•) -> ㅠ (ㅡ+••) There are 10 basic vowels and 11 complex vowels. Below is the complete list of Korean vowels and its pronunciation guide. However, it’s important to understand that the pronunciation guide is just a close approximation of the English alphabet letters. It doesn’t mean that the pronunciation is exactly the same with the English alphabet sound. ## Korean Vowels Charts | **10 Basic Vowels** | | | ------------------- | ----- | | ㅏa | ㅑya | | ㅓ eo | ㅕ yeo | | ㅗ o | ㅛ yo | | ㅜ u | ㅠ yu | | ㅣ i | ㅡ eu | | **11 Complex Vowels** **(made up of two basic vowels)** | | | ------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | | ㅐ ae | ㅔ e | | ㅒ yae | ㅖ ye | | ㅘ wa | ㅚ oe | | ㅙ wae | ㅝ wo | | ㅟ wi | ㅞ we | | ㅢ ui | | You may have noticed some complex vowels sounds very similar. For example, the difference betweenㅐ and ㅔis barely noticeable. Well, you are definitely not alone. Nowadays, even most Korean natives can no longer distinguish the minor differences in their pronunciation. So you can safely assume they have the same pronunciation. Here are two groups of vowels that have the same pronunciation. ㅒ and ㅖ ㅙ, ㅚ, and ㅞ ## How to write Korean vowels? There is a correct stroke order for writing Korean vowels. It is important to follow this not only to improve your Hangul letter writing skill, but also to craft beautiful and correct calligraphy. You can use the [LingoDeer App](https://lingodeer.page.link/pGbJ?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to practice the strokes easily. ![Practice writing Korean vowels on the LingoDeer app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/rpreplay_final1654018766.gif) Practice writing Hangul on LingoDeer app ## How to pronounce vowels in Korean? It’s simple and scientific how Korean vowel sounds are made. There are 4 basic sounds from 10 basic vowels, which are ㅏ(a), ㅓ(eo), ㅗ(o), ㅜ(u). Add to them the glide sound \[y\], and they will become ㅑ(ya), ㅕ(yeo), ㅛ(yo), ㅠ(yu). Of course we should not forget 2 other vowels left which are ㅡ(eu) and ㅣ(i). | ㅏa | ㅑya | | ---- | ----- | | ㅓ eo | ㅕ yeo | | ㅗ o | ㅛ yo | | ㅜ u | ㅠ yu | | ㅣ i | ㅡ eu | Here are some simple tips for you to pronounce these vowels like a native: ㅓ vs ㅏ ㅏ(a) is pronounced like “ah” in English. ㅓ(eo) is pronounced like “u” in “cup”, or "o" in "love" ㅗ vs ㅜ ㅗ(o) is pronounced like “o” in “story”, ㅜ(u) is pronounced like “oo” in “boots”. You can also click on the video below to hear how they are pronounced by a native speaker! ## How do Korean vowels work? (how to construct syllables) Korean letters are written in syllabic blocks. Each syllabic block has to include at least one consonant and one vowel. But, what if the word only has a vowel sound? For example, there is a Korean word that sounds like (ai) which means ‘child’, there are only two vowel sounds: ㅏ(a) and ㅣ(i). How should we write this? ㅏㅣ?! It should be written as 아이. It’s because as I mentioned early, each syllabic block always comes with at least one consonant and one vowel. The first letter in each syllable block has to be a consonant. So whenever the syllable begins with a vowel sound, then the consonant ㅇ will come as a placeholder and it’s not pronounced. And where should this placeholder ㅇ be placed? Each vowel either have a long vertical or horizontal line. For the vowels that has long horizontal line, such as ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, placeholder ㅇgoes above the vowel. And for those that has long vertical line, such as ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅣ, placeholder ㅇgoes to the left side of the vowel. Therefore, syllables that only have vowel sounds must look like this in vocabulary. | 아 a | 야 ya | | ---- | ----- | | 어 eo | 여 yeo | | 오 o | 요 yo | | 유 yu | 으 eu | | 이 i | | For example: 아이(ai) child 오이(oi) cucumber Here is the list of some Korean words that only have vowel sounds. Learn Korean vowels by practicing reading and writing these words! | Korean | English | | --------- | ---------------------- | | 아이(ai) | children | | 우유(uyu) | milk | | 오이(oi) | cucumber | | 오(o) | 5 | | 이(i) | 2 | | 아야!(aya) | ouch! | | 이유(iyu) | reason | | 여야(yeoya) | the opposing parties | | 여우(yeou) | fox | | 우와!(uwa) | wow! | | 유아(yua) | toddler, preschooler | | 예의(yeui) | manners | | 왜(wae) | why? | | 우애(uae) | friendship, fellowship | ### Happy AAPI Heritage Month URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/aapi-heritage-month/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:28.000Z Every year, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month falls in May. It is chosen to honor the heritage of Asian Pacific Islanders since 1992\. Now let's take this chance to not only celebrate, but also learn something about Asian and Pacific Americans as well as their languages! ## Why May? 2 Essential Dates You may ask, why May? In short, it's because of two key dates: May 7 and May 10\. May 7, 1843 marked the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. May 10, 1869, or Golden Spike Day, recognized the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S., in which Chinese workers made significant contributions. This year's AAPI heritage month theme is "Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration," which builds on a leadership advancement theme series that began last year. You can further learn about the theme from [AAPI official website](https://asianpacificheritage.gov/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Now let's take a look at some key facts about Asian and Pacific Americans and the languages they speak! ## Facts about Asian and Pacific Americans Asian Americans are U.S. citizens of Asian ancestry. According to the [U.S. Census Bureau](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2022/asian-american-pacific-islander.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), there are currently about 22 million Asian Americans in the United States, representing about 7 percent of the population. Chinese are the most populous group of Asian immigrants, with a population of nearly 5 million, followed by Indians and Filipinos with approximately 4.3 million and 4 million people respectively. The term "Asian American" first appeared in 1968 and was first used by graduate students at the University of California, Berkeley as the name of an organization that united Chinese Americans, Koreans, Japanese and Filipinos to fight for their rights in political and social movements. ## Most Popular Asian and Pacific Languages to Learn ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hello-in-asian-languages.jpg) ### Chinese Chinese is the 3rd most common foreign language spoken in the United States, with nearly 5 million speakers. Chinese is spoken here not only in Mandarin, but also in a variety of dialects. Interestingly, many dialects of Chinese are not interchangeable. In China, the most widely spoken Chinese language is Mandarin. However, in the United States, Cantonese and Minnan are just as widely spoken as Mandarin. Chinese speaking communities are concentrated in California and New York. ### Hindi Hindi is one of the official languages of India, the world’s second most populous country, but due to India’s ethnic culture, not all Indians speak Hindi. Hindi is also an important minority language in Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the United Arab Emirates. According to the latest census data, Hindi has become the largest Indian language in the United States, with nearly 6.5 million people speaking it. ### Japanese According to [Duolingo's statistics](https://blog.duolingo.com/2021-duolingo-language-report/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), Japanese is the most popular Asian language and 3rd most popular foreign language to learn for young people in the United States. In recent years, the popularity of Japanese culture products has attracted many young people, especially Gen Z, to learn this language. Learning Japanese is also a gateway to many other Asian languages like Chinese since they share many vocabulary and grammar rules. ### Vietnamese According to [Statista](https://www.statista.com/statistics/183483/ranking-of-languages-spoken-at-home-in-the-us-in-2008/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), the number of Vietnamese speakers in the United States is 1.5 million, or about 3 percent of all immigrants in the United States. The Vietnamese immigrant population is the fourth largest Asian immigrant group in the U.S., behind India, China (including Hong Kong) and the Philippines. ### Korean Korean is the official language of North and South Korea, and is spoken as a first language by approximately 80 million people worldwide. In the United States, approximately 1.1 million people speak Korean. There are thriving Korean communities in many major cities in the United States. Korean is one of the 15 most spoken non-English languages in every state. ### Tagalog Tagalog is spoken by more than 50 million Filipinos in the Philippines and by 24 million speakers worldwide. It is well known that there are many Filipinos in the United States, which has to do with the historical ties between the two countries. Tagalog is the third most popular language in California and the states of Nevada and Washington. ## Major differences between Asian languages and Roman Languages In this part, we'll introduce some major differences between Asian and Roman languages, aka the key points you need to note when first learning Asian languages. ### Writing Systems In Roman languages, words are written and pronounced in the same way, while Asian languages such as Chinese, Korean and Japanese are pronounced with the Latin alphabet as the modern standard pronunciation, but the writing often uses a different system. For example: I love you. (In French) Je t’aime. (In Chinese) 我爱你。（wǒ ài nǐ) (In Korean) 사랑해요. (sa rang hae yo) (In Japanese) 愛 し て いる。 (Ai shiteru) ### Verb Changes In Roman languages, verbs change with the subject and tense. For example: (In French) Je **suis** Américain.( I am American.) Tu **es** Américain. ( You are American.) However, in Asian languages, the verb is not changed. (In Chinese) 我**是**中国人。( I am Chinese.) 你**是**中国人。( You are Chinese.) ### Grammar In most Roman languages, the order of sentences is **subject + verb + object**. For example: (In French) Je vais à l’école. (I will go to school.) However, in Asian languages, the order of sentences may be different. For example: (In Korean) 네가 학교에 간다. (If you break up the sentences, it's I + school + go, but when put together, it means I'm going to school.) ## How to Learn (Asian) languages by yourself ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/2.jpg) ### Use various web resources We live in an age of advanced information on the Internet, and learning a language is not as difficult as it once was! Learn to take advantage of the wealth of online language learning resources. For example, Youtube, Podcasts, etc. are your best choices for free learning! ### Watch foreign language movies or TV series This is also a great way to learn a foreign language! When you are watching a movie or TV show in a foreign language, try to imitate the main character's speech. It's good for you to practice your pronunciation and conversation skills! ### Try [language learning applications](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/) Many language learning programs now offer a wealth of learning resources, such as [**LingoDeer**](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**,** which offers over 10 languages to learn! It focuses on working on your vocabulary and grammar in the form of conversations and game quizzes. It also offers a lot of practical language learning for life and travel. With your phone or computer, you can simply start learning a new language anytime and anywhere! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Top 10 Oldest Languages Still in Use Today URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/oldest-languages/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:14:40.000Z Have you ever thought about what are the oldest languages in the world? Before the formation of writing, people expressed themselves in a variety of ways. In this way, gestural languages and spoken languages were among the earliest forms of communication. They slowly developed into simple carved patterns, symbols, signs, and other methods of communication and transmission of information! When exactly did humans "learn" to use language, this is one of the most "headaches" for all anthropologists and ancient historians. But it is certain that language made man truly human - a complete farewell to the hominids - and evolved gradually. Among the long history, some languages gradually die out and some were reserved. Today we will introduce you to the ten oldest languages that are still used by people today. **Egyptian**: 2000 BC – present | widely spoken in Egypt and the Middle East **Sanskrit**: 1500 BC – Present | currently spoken in India, South Africa, Nepal **Greek**: 1450 BC – Present | widely spoken in Greece and Cyprus **Chinese**: 1250 BC – Present | widely spoken in Mainland China, Taiwan, Hongkong, Macao and Singapore **Aramaic**: 1100 BC – Present | mostly spoken in Iraq and Syria **Hebrew**: 1000 BC – Present | widely spoken in Israel and Jewish communities **Farsi**: 522 BC – Present | mostly spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan **Tamil**: 300 BC – Present | mostly spoken in India and Sri Lanka **Latin**: 75 BC – Present | mostly spoken inVatican City **Arabic**: 100 CE – Present | the lingua franca of the Arab world ## 10 Oldest Languages Still in Use Today ### Latin: 75 BC – Present Latin dates back to the Roman Empire in 75 B.C. and was originally the language of the city of Rome and the Latin region. It belongs to the Indo-European family of languages (found in Europe and South Asia) and is one of the classical languages that has stood the test of history and is the source of many contemporary languages. It is still used as an official language in the Vatican today. ## Sanskrit: 1500 BC – Present Sanskrit belongs to the Indo-European family of languages and is one of the oldest languages in this family. Like Latin, Sanskrit has become a specialized language belonging to academia and religion. For nearly two millennia, Sanskrit has deeply influenced South, Central, and Southeast Asia, and its influence has even penetrated into East Asia. Although there are very few native speakers of modern Sanskrit, it can still be found everywhere in the modern Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain classics. Interestingly, efforts to revive the oral use of Sanskrit in India have intensified since the 1990s. Some secondary schools have started offering Sanskrit classes. ## Greek: 1450 BC – Present Greek is arguably the oldest language, dating back to 1500 B.C. It is still spoken by 13 million people living in Greece and Cyprus. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the famous ancient Greek philosophers in the history of human civilization, all thought, talked and wrote in this language. The Greek language in use today is not the same as the ancient Greek spoken in the 9th century B.C. Most of the words and sentences in modern Greek have been simplified. However, Classical Greek is indeed a linguistic treasure trove, and the naming of many things in modern times is still borrowed from Classical Greek. ## Chinese: 1250 BC – Present The oracle bone Chinese character is one of the three oldest writing systems in the world. Among them, the sacred script of ancient Egypt and the cuneiform script of the Sumerians have been lost, and only the Chinese characters are in use today. Chinese is the language that has been in common use for the longest time and is one of the most populous languages in the world today, with a history so long that it would take all day to tell! ## Aramaic: 1100 BC – Present Aramaic is a language of the Semitic language group, along with Hebrew and Arabic. It is 3,000 years old, one of the few ancient languages in the world that has survived for thousands of years, and is considered to be the everyday language of the Jews at the time of Jesus Christ. In the 12th century B.C., the Aramaic-speaking Aramaic people began to migrate in large numbers into what is now the Middle East. Along with Jewish immigration, Aramaic was brought into North Africa and Europe, and Christian missionaries brought it into Persia, India, and even the Great Tang Dynasty. But from the middle of the 7th century onwards, Arabic replaced Aramaic as the lingua franca of the Middle East. ## Hebrew: 1000 BC – Present The history of the Hebrew language goes back more than 3,000 years. In the 3rd century B.C., the Aramaic language of the West took the place of Hebrew, after which Hebrew circulated only as a literary language in the 4th century A.D. In the last 200 years, with the growth of the Zionist movement, Hebrew has once again spread. It is now spoken by over 9 million people worldwide and is also the religious language of Christianity and Judaism. ## Farsi: 522 BC – Present Persian is an Iranian language in the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family. Its main speakers are found in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and in countries with historical Persian influences. Many people mistakenly believe that Persian is close to Arabic because of the look-alike. But in fact they are not even one language family. Persian is an Indo-European language like German and French, and Arabic is an Afro-Asian language like Hebrew (also known as Semitic). ## Tamil: 300 BC – Present Tamil emerged before Sanskrit and is still widely spoken, especially in the southern part of the Indian peninsula (Tamil Nadu), where it is the official language of many Asian countries, such as India, Singapore and Sri Lanka. It has a literary tradition of over 2,000 years, and unlike the Latin and Romance languages of Europe, this tradition has remained unbroken. As with the Chinese language, ancient Tamil continues to be used in everyday life today. ## Arabic: roughly 100 CE – Present Arabic, derived from the ancient language Semitic, is one of the most spoken languages and one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It originated in the Syrian desert in the 5th century, and ancient Arabic has been written since the 6th century A.D. The expansion of the Arab Empire from the 7th century A.D. saw Arabic completely replace the languages previously spoken in Iraq, Syria, Egypt and North Africa. During the medieval period, a large proportion of important religious and intellectual works were written in Arabic, and as Islam spread from country to country, Arabic rose significantly in stature and became the political, scientific and literary language for centuries during the Islamic empire. ## Egyptian : 2000 B.C – present Egyptian, a language spoken in ancient Egypt, belongs to the Afro-Asian family of languages and is closely related to Semitic languages (e.g., Hebrew and Arabic). The language is still spoken by a few Copts today. Do you think Egyptian is still spoken in Egypt today? Then you are wrong. The national language of Egypt today is Egyptian Arabic, which gradually replaced Coptic Egyptian as the language of everyday life after the Muslim conquest of Egypt. ### A Complete Guide to Korean Particles (With Examples) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-particles/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:54.000Z ## What are Korean Particles Particles function as indicators and markers in a sentence. It indicates the role of the words in the sentence, whether it’s topic, subject, object, etc… Particles are necessary to give a clearer meaning to the sentence. It’s essential in [Korean sentence structure](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/). In this article, we will talk about common Korean particles used in everyday Korean. First, let's take a brief look at what we'll talk about. ![Korean Particles Examples](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/99999-jpeg.jpg "A Complete Guide to Korean Particles (With Examples)") ## Korean topic marking particles 은/는 Let’s take a look at topic marking particle 은/는. You might have heard this in [basic Korean phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-phrases/), such as “저는 한국 사람입니다. (I’m Korean.)” 은/는 are used to denote the topic of a sentence. 은 is used after a noun that ends in a consonant. (E.g. 학생은 / 신발은 / 옷은) 는 is used after a noun that ends in a vowel. (E.g. 오리는 / 고양이는 / 의자는) Let’s see some examples. 가방은 빨간색이에요. The bag is red. In this sentence, 가방(bag) is topic of the sentence. Therefore, it comes with the topic marking particle. Because the word 가방 ends in a consonant, which is “ㅇ”, 은 is used after the word. 저는 한국 사람입니다. I’m Korean. In this sentence, 저(I) is topic of the sentence. Therefore, it comes with the topic marking particle. Because the word 저 ends in a vowel, which is “ㅣ”, 는 is used after the word. ## Korean subject particles 이/가 이/가 is used to denote the subject of a sentence. The subject is often related to the verb or adjective of the sentence. 이 is used after a noun that ends in a consonant. (E.g. 선생님이 / 책이 / 이름이) 가 is used after a noun that ends in a vowel. (E.g. 학교가 / 엄마가 / 의자가) Let’s look at some example sentences: 시험이 쉬워요. The exam is easy. What is ‘easy’? Yes, 시험(exam) is easy. The subject of this sentence is 시험(exam), so it comes with the subject marking particle. Because the word 시험 ends in a consonant, which is “ㅁ”, 이 is used after the word. 날씨가 추워요. The weather is cold. What is ‘cold’? Exactly, 날씨(weather) is cold. The subject of this sentence is 날씨(weather), so it comes with the subject marking particle. Because the word 날씨 ends in a vowel, which is “ㅣ”, 가 is used after the word. 컴퓨터가 고장났어요. The computer is broken. What is ‘broken’? That’s right, 컴퓨터(computer) is broken. The subject of this sentence is 컴퓨터(computer), so it comes with the subject marking particle. Because the word 컴퓨터 ends in a vowel, which is “ㅓ”, 가 is used after the word. Korean learners often get confused deciding between a topic marking particle and a subject marking particle. I highly recommend you to read[ this article about the topic and subject articles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-subject-topic-particles/) I have written before. ## Korean object particles 을/를 Object marking particle 을/를 is used to mark the object of a sentence. 을 is used after a noun that ends in a consonant. (E.g. 책을 / 그림을 / 가방을 ) 를 is used after a noun that ends in a vowel. (E.g. 기차를 / 침대를 / 강아지를 ) ![object articles in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/1.jpg) Let me show you some example sentences. 고양이가 물을 마셔요. The cat is drinking water. What is the object that “The cat drinks” in the sentence? Yes, 물(water). The object here is 물(water), so it comes with the object marking particle. Since 물(water) ends in a consonant, which is “ㄹ”, 을 should be used after the word. 저는 강아지를 좋아해요. I like dogs. What is the object that “I like” in the sentence? Yes, 강아지(dog). The object here is 강아지(dog), so it comes with the object marking particle. Since 강아지(dog) ends in a vowel, which is “ㅣ”, 를 should be used after the word. ## Korean conjunctive particles 와/과, 하고, 이랑/랑 와/과, 하고, and 랑 can be translated as “and/with”. They can be used to link more than two nouns. While 와/과 are often used in the written Korean, 하고 and (이)랑 are commonly used in spoken language. ![Korean Particles for "and"](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/05/ld-image-162da4058ae3f3b6.jpg "A Complete Guide to Korean Particles (With Examples)") For example, 식탁 위에 사과와 오렌지가 있습니다. There are apples and oranges on the table. 신발하고 양말은 저쪽에 있어요. Shoes and socks are over there. 나는 민수랑 영화를 보러 가요. I go to the movies with Minsu. You can link nouns as many as you want in one sentence, using these particles. For example, 가방에 연필과 책과 가위와 지갑과 열쇠가 있어요. There are pencil, book, scissor, wallet, and key in the bag. You can replace 와/과 into 하고 or 이랑/랑. 가방에 연필하고 책하고 가위하고 지갑하고 열쇠가 있어요. There are pencil, book, scissor, wallet, and key in the bag. 가방에 연필이랑 책이랑 가위랑 지갑이랑 열쇠가 있어요. There are pencil, book, scissor, wallet, and key in the bag. ## Korean possessive particle 의 의 is a possessive particle, which can be used to indicate ownership or possession. It’s the same as apostrophe + s in English. The noun that comes first is the owner, and the noun that comes after 의, will be the thing being owned. 선생님의 책 a teacher’s book 요리사의 부엌 a chef's kitchen 이것은 저의 가방입니다. This is my bag. 그의 여자친구는 미국 사람입니다. His girlfriend is American. ## Korean location particles 에, 에서 에 and 에서 are location marking particles that you need to talk about locations. 에 indicates location, meaning "at", "to", "on", "in". For example, 저는 학교에 갑니다. I’m going to the school. 옷은 서랍 안에 있어요. The clothes are in the drawer. 에 can also indicate time when it’s used with a time noun. For example, 저는 아침을 7시에 먹습니다. I eat breakfast at seven o'clock in the morning. 저는 이번 주 일요일에 부산에 가요. I go to Busan on this Sunday. 에서 also indicates location, but it’s quite different from 에. Location marking particle 에서 expresses a location where an action is taking place, or ‘from’ in terms of a place. Let’s see some examples. 집에서 요리해요. I cook at home. 어느 나라에서 왔습니까? Where are you from? ## Korean direction particles 으로/로 으로/로 is a multi-functional particle. It can be used to indicate the direction, methods, tools, etc. 으로 is used after a noun that ends in a consonant. (E.g. 볼펜으로 / 지갑으로 / 젓가락으로) 로 is used after a noun that ends in a vowel. (E.g. 버스로 / 주스로 / 택시로) Important Note! If the word ends in a consonant ㄹ, it should be attached with 로, instead of 으로. For example, 연필로 / 신발로 / 발로 / 거울로 / 지하철로 …etc. First usage is to indicate the direction, which is similar to 에. ![Korean direction particles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/0000.jpg "A Complete Guide to Korean Particles (With Examples)") Another usage of this particle is that it can be used to express the tools, methods, and instruments. Let’s see some examples. 연필로 그림을 그렸어요. I drew a picture with a pencil. 자전거로 30분 정도 걸립니다. It takes about 30 minutes by bicycle. 숟가락으로 국을 먹어요. I eat soup with a spoon. Now you understand what Korean particles are and how to use each of them. Particles are the most essential part of Korean sentences. Learning Korean particles will significantly improve your Korean level! --- Ready to improve your Korean Skills? Try LingoDeer for free today! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://lingodeer.page.link/blog?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Chinese Numbers: The Complete Guide for Counting in Chinese from 0 to 100+ URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-numbers/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:35.000Z Numbers are the foundation of language and we use them constantly in our daily lives. In China, the numbers used are divided into **Chinese and Arabic numbers**, and Chinese numbers are further divided into upper and lower cases. In order to standardize the use of numbers, China has clarified [the respective usage of Arabic numbers and Chinese numbers](https://www.quora.com/Do-people-in-China-write-numbers-in-Arabic-numerals-or-Chinese-characters?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). This article will give you a complete guide on Chinese numbers from 0 to 100+ and will also teach you how to use numbers in daily life, such as introducing your age, giving phone numbers, saying dates, etc. I promise you'll know how to talk about numbers like a Chinese native by the end of this article! Now it might be a bit long, so bookmark it first if you wish to read it later. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/8-2.png) Are you ready? Then let's start with 0-10! ## Chinese Numbers 0 to 10 The trick to learning most Chinese numbers is to master 0-10! First of all, there are actually three ways to write 0 in Chinese - namely **the Arabic numeral “0”, the Chinese character lowercase “O” and the Chinese character uppercase “零(líng)”**. Each 0 has its own specific use and should not be used interchangeably. The zero in Chinese can be used to link two number units, similar to the way we use “and” in English. For example, instead of saying “one thousand and two hundred”, the Chinese people say 一千**零**二百 (yì qiān líng èr bǎi), which literally means "one thousand and two hundred". When it comes to the numbers 1, 2, and 3, remembering them is quite simple. One horizontal stroke 一 (yī) means 1 Two horizontal strokes 二 (èr) means 2 Three horizontal strokes 三 (sān) means 3! Easy, right? Counting is probably one of the easiest parts of [learning Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/)! It's very predictable and logical just like English ones. But remember, as the Chinese language doesn't have articles like a, an, and the, the number 一 (yī) is often used as an article and it's pronounced differently such as 一万 (yíwàn, 10 thousand)、一千(yìqiān, one thousand). So don't trust any source that tells you the pronunciation of "一" never changes! However, 4-10 are not as simple as just horizontal lines! You’ll have to memorize the table below and try to use them as much as possible. You can also use [LingoDeer App](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to practice the strokes of these Chinese letters! ![Chinese numbers 0 to 10](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/34-jpeg.jpg) ### Chinese Numbers 11 to 100 11-20 is easy. Once you know 1-10, you'll know how to write 11-100! They all work by adding numbers together. | Number | Hanzi | Pinyin | | ------ | ----- | ----------- | | 21 | 二十一 | Èr shí yī | | 22 | 二十二 | Èr shí èr | | 23 | 二十三 | Èr shí sān | | 24 | 二十四 | Èr shí sì | | 25 | 二十五 | Èr shí wǔ | | 26 | 二十六 | Èr shí liù | | 27 | 二十七 | Èr shí qī | | 28 | 二十八 | Èr shí bā | | 29 | 二十九 | Èr shí jiǔ | | 30 | 三十 | sān shí | | 31 | 三十一 | sān shí yī | | 32 | 三十二 | sān shí èr | | 33 | 三十三 | sān shí sān | | 34 | 三十四 | sān shí sì | | 35 | 三十五 | sān shí wǔ | | 36 | 三十六 | sān shí liù | | 37 | 三十七 | sān shí qī | | 38 | 三十八 | sān shí bā | | 39 | 三十九 | sān shí jiǔ | | 40 | 四十 | sì shí | | 41 | 四十一 | sì shí yī | | 42 | 四十二 | sì shí èr | | 43 | 四十三 | sì shí sān | | 44 | 四十四 | sì shí sì | | 45 | 四十五 | sì shí wǔ | | 46 | 四十六 | sì shí liù | | 47 | 四十七 | sì shí qī | | 48 | 四十八 | sì shí bā | | 49 | 四十九 | sì shí jiǔ | | 50 | 五十 | wǔ shí | | 51 | 五十一 | wǔ shí yī | | 52 | 五十二 | wǔ shí èr | | 53 | 五十三 | wǔ shí sān | | 54 | 五十四 | wǔ shí sì | | 55 | 五十五 | wǔ shí wǔ | | 56 | 五十六 | wǔ shí liù | | 57 | 五十七 | wǔ shí qī | | 58 | 五十八 | wǔ shí bā | | 59 | 五十九 | wǔ shí jiǔ | | 60 | 六十 | liù shí | | 61 | 六十一 | liù shí yī | | 62 | 六十二 | liù shí èr | | 63 | 六十三 | liù shí sān | | 64 | 六十四 | liù shí sì | | 65 | 六十五 | liù shí wǔ | | 66 | 六十六 | liù shí liù | | 67 | 六十七 | liù shí qī | | 68 | 六十八 | liù shí bā | | 69 | 六十九 | liù shí jiǔ | | 70 | 七十 | Qī shí | | 71 | 七十一 | qī shí yī | | 72 | 七十二 | qī shí èr | | 73 | 七十三 | qī shí sān | | 74 | 七十四 | qī shí sì | | 75 | 七十五 | qī shí wǔ | | 76 | 七十六 | qī shí liù | | 77 | 七十七 | qī shí qī | | 78 | 七十八 | qī shí bā | | 79 | 七十九 | qī shí jiǔ | | 80 | 八十 | bā shí | | 81 | 八十一 | bā shí yī | | 82 | 八十二 | bā shí èr | | 83 | 八十三 | bā shí sān | | 84 | 八十四 | bā shí sì | | 85 | 八十五 | bā shí wǔ | | 86 | 八十六 | bā shí liù | | 87 | 八十七 | bā shí qī | | 88 | 八十八 | bā shí bā | | 89 | 八十九 | bā shí jiǔ | | 90 | 九十 | jiǔ shí | | 91 | 九十一 | jiǔ shí yī | | 92 | 九十二 | jiǔ shí èr | | 93 | 九十三 | jiǔ shí sān | | 94 | 九十四 | jiǔ shí sì | | 95 | 九十五 | jiǔ shí wǔ | | 96 | 九十六 | jiǔ shí liù | | 97 | 九十七 | jiǔ shí qī | | 98 | 九十八 | jiǔ shí bā | | 99 | 九十九 | jiǔ shí jiǔ | | 100 | 一百 | yì bǎi | ## Large Chinese Numbers If you already know 1-100, the numbers that follow shouldn't be too hard. You already know how it works! The only difference is that you need to use the number 0 sometimes! When you say 101-109, you have to add a 0 after a hundred. If you don't, it becomes another number entirely. Same for 200, 300, and so on. Let me give you some examples. 一百零一 (yì bǎi líng yī) – “one hundred and one ” 一百一 (yì bǎi yī) – “one hundred and ten” 一百零二 (yì bǎi líng èr) – “one hundred and two ” 一百二 (yì bǎi èr) – “one hundred and twenty ” Now you must have noticed the tone of 一 (yī) is changed to yì. Don't worry, it only happens occasionally with the number 一 (yī). We'll explain that later. From 110, there are two different ways you can say a number. But the first one is often used in spoken Chinese. 一百一(十) (yì bǎi yī (shí)) – “one hundred and ten” 三百二(十) (sān bǎi èr (shí)) – “three hundred and twenty” The concept of hundreds and tens is the same as that of adding different numbers together: ![Chinese numbers 100 to 900](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/888-jpeg.jpg) ### Chinese Numbers 1,000 & Above ![Chinese large numbers 1000 above](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/minimalist-monthly-bill-checker-sheet-planner-jpeg.jpg) ## How to Use Numbers in Chinese ### Phone numbers After you learn 1 to 10, it's much easier to tell someone your phone number! In China, phone numbers always start with 1\. Note that the number one in phone numbers must be pronounced 幺( yāo ) in order to avoid confusion with 7 (qi), which sounds similar to 1 (yī). Another difference is that in English, we sometimes combine two or even three numbers together, such as thirty-five or triple zero.In Chinese phone numbers, the numbers are always spoken individually. Let's try it out! If your cell phone number is 13699802345, we can simply pronounce the corresponding numbers: yāo , sān, liù, jiǔ, jiǔ, bā, líng, èr, sān, sì, wǔ. ### Date Now it's time to teach you how to tell dates using numbers. Let's start with some Chinese that we’ll need to use. 年(nián) – year 月(yuè) – month 日(rì) available in both writing and speaking)/号(hào) only in spoken Chinese – date ![date in Chinese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/evjhokhxeamnawk-1-jpeg.jpg) What you need to remember is that in Chinese, people usually say dates in year/month/date order. Here are the examples: Today is October 4, 2020. 今天是 2020年10月4日/号。 (jīn tiān shì èr líng èr líng nián shí yuè sì rì/hào) My birthday is April 3, 1998. 我的生日是1998年4月3日/号。 (wǒ de shēng rì shì yī jiǔ jiǔ bā nián sì yuè sān rì/hào) ### Chinese Internet Slangs using Numbers 666 (liùliùliù) - 666 is used to praise someone or something for doing a good job. 233 (èrsānsān) - Similar to "LOL" in English, 233 is used to express laughter. An extended version can be "2333" or even "23333333...". 555 (wǔwǔwǔ) - A mimic of the sound of crying in Chinese (呜呜呜). 520 (wǔ'èr líng) - A homophone for "I love you" in Mandarin Chinese, used to express love or affection. 1314 (yī sān yī sì)– A homophone for "forever" or "lifetime" in Chinese, used to express love or affection. 88 (bābā) - Sounds like “拜拜”, meaning "goodbye". ### Ordinal Numbers The use of Ordinal Numbers is very simple! You just need to add the Chinese character 第(dì) before the number. You can see it as the prefix of numbers to indicate order. For example, She is the first one to arrive at the station. 她是第一个到车站的。 (tā shì dì yī gè dào chēzhàn de) | **第一 (dìyī)** | **第六 (dìliù)** | | -------------- | -------------- | | **第二 (dìèr)** | **第七 (dìqī)** | | **第三 (dìsān)** | **第八 (dìbā)** | | **第四 (dìsì)** | **第九 (dìjiǔ)** | | **第五 (dìwǔ)** | **第十 (dìshí)** | ## What to Notice when Using Chinese Numbers ### Change in tones In Mandarin, the four most common tones (四声sìshēng) are: The first tone – 阴平 (yīn píng), often called 第一声 (dì yī shēng), is stable and flat, meaning it does not rise or fall. It is also often described as a high tone. The word 轻 (qīng; ) is pronounced in the first tone. The second Tone – 阳平 (yáng píng), often called the second tone (dì èr shēng), is a rising tone. The word 图 (tú; picture, map) is pronounced in the second tone. The third tone – 上声 (shàng shēng), usually called the third tone (dì sān shēng) - is most commonly taught as a descending tone followed by a rising tone, as in 煮 (zhǔ; boil, cook). The fourth Tone – 去声 (qù shēng), often referred to as the fourth tone (dì sì shēng), is a falling tone. The word 去 (qù; go) is pronounced in the fourth tone. ### Finger counting Apart from writing and speaking, Chinese people also use finger counting - hand gestures that signify numbers 1 to 10. ![Chinese numbers in hand gestures](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/main-qimg-80bfd9a7180cd13780d6bc3a00d73455.webp) ### Taboo numbers 4 (sì) – is considered unlucky because of the similarity in pronunciation between 4 and the word 死( sǐ; death) in Chinese. It is a taboo number, just like 13 in Western countries. Usually, you will see the number 4 replaced by the English capital F or just skipped in many elevators in China. 38(sān bā) – It used to have a derogatory meaning in Chinese, referring to a person (usually women) who often meddles in other people's affairs. In recent years, however, this term is used less often as feminist movements gain popularity and more people realize the term actually comes from Women's Day (March 8th). Some people even proudly say they are 38 on social media, surprisingly changing the meaning of the term to something neutral or even positive. 250 (Èrbǎiwǔ) – it refers to a person who is stupid, ignorant, and stubborn. It is a number with a long history; people have been using it to curse others since the late Qing Dynasty. You don't want to use it, and you certainly don't want to hear people saying it to you. --- **Ready to learn more Chinese? Use LingoDeer to learn a bit every day!** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Your Simple Guide to Choose a Cute Japanese Name URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-name/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:38.000Z Want to give yourself a cool Japanese name? Looking to write a story with a Japanese protagonist? Let me help you out! Indeed, a Japanese name is a great choice when you want a screen name or nickname! The ratio of vowels to consonants in Japanese syllables is 1:1, making Japanese sound excellent phonologically — the closest language to music. **Before taking one on, let's have a brief look at what a Japanese name consists of.** Just like any other culture, Japanese names consists of surnames and given names. The order of Japanese names, however, is exactly the opposite of English names: **surname + given name**. For instance, the name of the main character of [Crayon Shin-chan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayon%5FShin-chan?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is **野原新之助** (Nohara Shinnosuke): Nohara is his surname, and Shinnosuke is his given name. Unlike Western culture, which emphasizes individualism at its core, Japanese culture is deeply influenced by [Confucianism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), **where family and collectivism come first, and individualism second. Therefore, the family name is placed before the given name.** Even though we don't have Japanese surnames, that in no way prevents us from taking on a Japanese given name as our nickname, screen name, classroom name, or for use in a creative project. Read on if you wish to pick a Japanese name for your own purposes! ## What to pay attention to when choosing a Japanese name The first thing that needs to be considered when giving yourself a Japanese name is **pronunciation**. It's important people can pronounce it and you like the sound of it. There is little to worry about as the fundamental pronunciation of the Japanese language is super easy. The only tricky part is writing your name in Kanji, the most difficult part of the [3 Japanese writing systems](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/), which we'll talk about later. Also, just like in English, it's advised to choose a normal name. **Don't take a name with bizarre meanings or names for objects.** I have a friend who gave himself the English name "chocolate." That sounds weird, right? Thus, the best way to avoid such a situation is to ask your Japanese friends or teachers to confirm that your name is normal and has no negative associations. **Or you can also choose from the most popular** [**Japanese name list**](#japanese name list) **we prepared for you in the latter part of this article.** ### Japanese names are mostly written in Kanji Today, Japanese names are still mostly based on [Kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/), As you probably know, Kanji (also known as the Chinese character) is an essential part of the Japanese writing system, and has also profoundly impacted Japanese culture. Although some female names are written only in hiragana, the [feminine writing system](https://www.languagemagazine.com/2017/12/08/rise-women-birth-languages/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) of the Japanese language. ![Japanese names in Kanji](http://www.travel-around-japan.com/pht-j09-0-top-japanese-name.jpg) Most Japanese names are written in Kanji. Image from travel-around-japan.com ### Can I write my original name in Kanji? The answer to this depends on which language your original name comes from. If you are from the **United States, the United Kingdom, and other non-**[**Sinosphere**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East%5FAsian%5Fcultural%5Fsphere?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **countries,** your name can probably only be written in Katakana by pronunciation. On the other hand, if you are from China, Korea, or Vietnam (countries that are part of the Chinese character sphere), then you will be able to write your name in Kanji. Of course, there are not that many unchangeable rules in this world. Kanji is [ideographic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideogram?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and not phonetic, so **you could choose your favorite Kanji and pronounce it with your name.** For example, a couple of Japanese parents have pronounced their child’s name 光宙 as **Pikachu**. ### Consider both Kanji and pronunciation Since Kanji are ideographic but not phonetic, one Kanji may have multiple pronunciations. For this reason, Japanese people mark their names with Hiragana on their business cards to prevent others from not being able to read them (this is called [furigana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furigana?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Furigana%20%28%20%E6%8C%AF%20%E3%81%B5%20%E3%82%8A%20%E4%BB%AE%E5%90%8D,characters%20to%20indicate%20their%20pronunciation.)). Likewise, a syllable may correspond to multiple Kanji, and the meaning changes according to the different Kanji. **Therefore, Japanese parents need to consider both Kanji and pronunciation when naming their children.** For example, Yuki is a widespread Japanese girl's name, and it corresponds to the following Kanji: 雪 (yuki), meaning snow 幸 (yuki), meaning happiness and luck 有希 (yuki), meaning hopeful ## The most popular Japanese names in 2021 Welcome to the name store! According to [Meijiyasuda's statistics](https://www.meijiyasuda.co.jp/sp/enjoy/ranking/index.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#/year/2021n), the names listed below are the ten most popular names for boys and girls in 2021\. Perhaps you can pick one of your favorites. ### Japanese boy names 1. **蓮（Ren or Hasu)**, meaning lotus. The lotus grows in the mud but blooms pure white flowers. Hence, this name symbolizes "integrity" and "sacredness" 2. **陽翔 (Haruto)**. "陽" means the sun, and "翔" means flying. This name gives an impression of spreading wings and flying around the sun. Parents give boys this name in the hope that their children will be energetic and positive. 3. **蒼 (Sou or Aoi)**, meaning blue and green. Why does the same word represent two different colors? You can refer to an article about [Japanese colors](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-colors/) that I previously wrote. This Kanji evokes the blue sky and the green grasslands,giving the impression of being broad-minded and optimistic. 4. **湊 (Sou or Minato)**, meaning aggregation and ports. This one and the previous one are tied for third. This name gives the impression of gathering people and goods and being sociable. 5. **樹 (Itsuki, Tatsuki)**, meaning tree. Tree means upward force and vitality. Furthermore, the tree is not afraid of the wind or sun and is strong enough to face all challenges. 6. **朝陽 (Asahi)**, meaning sunrise. Parents want their boys to be like a rising sun, full of energy and hope. 7. **大和 (Yamato)**. The Japanese call themselves the Yamato people. This word has no direct meaning and signifies masculinity and open-mindedness. 8. **悠真 (Yuuma, Haruma, Hisama, Yushin)**. "悠" has an image of being grandeur and generous, and "真" means real. As you noticed, this name has multiple pronunciations. When pronounced as "Haruma," it sounds more lively, while "Yuuma" sounds more subdued. As a result, Japanese parents consider not only the meaning of the Kanji but also the feeling that the pronunciation brings. 9. **颯真 (Souma)**. "颯" means the sound of the wind. It gives a sharp, sporty impression."真," as mentioned above, means real. 10. **陽向 (Hinata)**. "陽" means the sun and "向" means toward. This name gives an impression of facing the sun and embracing its warmth like a sunflower. ### Japanese girl names 1. **紬 (Tsumugi)**. This is a very precious and delicate silk in ancient Japan. Wouldn't it be strange to name a person after fabric? Japanese people have also raised such a question themselves. This Kanji being popular is probably related to the name of a female character ([繭宮紬](https://search.yahoo.co.jp/search?ei=UTF-8&rkf=1&slfr=1&qrw=0&p=%E7%B9%AD%E5%AE%AE%E3%81%A4%E3%82%80%E3%81%8E&fr=link%5Fkw%5Fnws%5Fdirect&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) in an anime. 2. **陽葵 (Hinata or Himari)**, meaning sunflowers. You may have noticed that this name is pronounced the same as "陽向" in the list of boys' names. As I mentioned before, the same Kanji may have different pronunciations and the same pronunciation may correspond to different Kanji. 3. **凛 (Rin or Samu)**, meaning cold and severe. It doesn't sound like one with a good meaning, but it has become a prevalent name in Japan since the 2010s. This Kanji gives an impression of composure and calmness. 4. **澪 (Rei or Mio)**, meaning a channel in a river or sea that is deep enough for boats to pass through. Mio was recognized as a suitable Kanji for names in 1990 and is often used in girls' names due to its melodic sound. 5. **芽依 (Mei)**. "芽" means buds, and the pronunciation of "依 (i)" sounds cute (kawaii). This name brings to mind spring, budding, and vibrancy. 6. **結愛 (Yua)**. "結" means knotting, and "愛" means love. Both Kanji are popular for naming girls, and when they are combined, the feminine image is much more profound. 7. **陽菜 (Haruna or Hina)**. "陽" means the sun, and "菜" means rapeseed. Many Japanese people name their children "菜" due to the prettiness of the [rape blossom](https://www.shutterstock.com/search/rape+blossom?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). 8. **杏 (An, Anzu, Kyou)**, meaning apricot. This Kanji is the name of a fruit. Both the meaning and pronunciation create a cute feeling. 9. **紬希 (Tsumugi)**, "紬" as mentioned earlier, is a type of silk in ancient Japan and gives the impression of elegance. "希" has the image of hope and freedom. 10. **莉子 (Riko)**. "莉" means jasmine. It has become a popular Kanji used for girls’ names since the 2010s. In contrast, "子" was popularly used for naming girls during the 1920s\~1950s. An unexpected lovely feeling is created by combining a new trendy Kanji with a traditional one. Did you pick out your favorite name from the ones listed above? One more important thing to note is that there is an [**honorific** ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/)**system** in Japanese. When it comes to names, it can be somewhat complex to use different titles when talking to different people. Hope the above table can help you learn how to use them properly! | English (and explanation) | 日本語 | Romaji | | ------------------------- | -------- | ------- | | Mr. /Mrs. /Ms. | Name さん | San | | For boys | Name くん | Kun | | For girls | Name ちゃん | Chan | | For Business scenes | Name さま | Sama | | For teacher | Name 先生 | Sensei | | Senior at School/work | Name 先輩 | Senpai | | Company CEO | Name 社長 | Shachou | | Department head | Name 部長 | Buchou | | Old Japanese suffix | Name 殿 | Dono | ### Telling Time in Japanese: A Fundamental Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/telling-time-in-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:56.000Z After working on basic Japanese language skills such as [particles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-particles/), numbers, and counters, there comes a time when you will want to start describing your daily routine or making plans with friends. For this, you will need to learn how to tell time in Japanese! Luckily, telling time in Japanese is not difficult, but particularly useful. Japanese time-telling typically uses the 12-hour clock (though the 24-hour clock is often used for timetables) and has helpful words that correspond to AM and PM in English. In this article, I will provide you with a fundamental guide for everyday time-telling in Japanese. The clock is ticking, so let’s get right to it! ## Hours in Japanese: 時(じ) Let’s proceed from big to small. The hours in Japanese are a cinch if you already know your [numbers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/1-to-10-in-japanese/)! O'clock in Japanese is **時(じ)**. Much like how we say “one o’clock” in English, you can simply say 一時! | English | Kanji | Kana | Romaji | | ----------------- | ------ | ------- | ------------- | | \~o’clock | ～時 | ～じ | \~ji | | one o’clock | 一時 | いちじ | ichi-ji | | two o’clock | 二時 | にじ | ni-ji | | three o’clock | 三時 | さんじ | san-ji | | **four o’clock** | **四時** | **よじ** | **yo-ji** | | five o’clock | 五時 | ごじ | go-ji | | six o’clock | 六時 | ろくじ | roku-ji | | **seven o’clock** | **七時** | **しちじ** | **shichi-ji** | | eight o’clock | 八時 | はちじ | hachi-ji | | **nine o’clock** | **九時** | **くじ** | **ku-ji** | | ten o’clock | 十時 | じゅうじ | juu-ji | | eleven o’clock | 十一時 | じゅういちじ | juuichi-ji | | twelve o’clock | 十ニ時 | じゅうにじ | juuni-ji | As you can see, some of the hours in the table above are written in bold. These numbers are irregular from your usual 1 through 10 counting style and I would suggest you pay special attention to them as you study. Another thing to be aware of is that you will often see these times written with Arabic numerals (e.g. 1時) rather than kanji. Pretty easy, huh? Now let’s put this into practice with some real sentences! A: 今何時ですか？(Ima nanji desu ka?) What time is it now? B: 五時です。(Go-ji desu.) It’s five o’clock. Asking for the time politely is quite simple. You can also include the word 今 (now) in the beginning of your response (今五時です) but this is not necessary. To make your question more informal, just drop the ですか and say 今何時 (“ima nanji?”). A: 授業はいつ始まりますか？(Jugyou wa itsu hajimarimasu ka?) When does class start? B: 授業は九時に始まります。(Jugyou wa kuji ni hajimarimasu.) Class starts at nine o’clock. いつ is an essential question word for our topic. This means “when” and, unlike the hour given in response to this question, it is not followed by the time-indicating particle に. However, it is not uncommon to see から (from) following いつ or the hour. See below: A: 授業はいつから始まりますか？(Jugyou wa itsu kara hajimarimasu ka?) From when does class start? B: 授業は九時から始まります。(Jugyou wa kuji kara hajimarimasu.) Class starts from nine o’clock. Not too bad, right? Now, let’s move into more specific times and practice minutes! ## Minutes in Japanese: 分(ふん / ぶん / ぷん) While the pronunciation of ～時 did not change for any of our numbers, the pronunciation of the minute counter 分 does. **分(fun / pun)** means minutes. Please check out the table below and notice the words in bold. | English | Kanji | Kana | Romaji | | ------------------ | ------- | ------------- | ----------------- | | \~minutes | ～分 | ～ふん / ぶん / ぷん | \~fun / bun / pun | | **one minute** | **一分** | **いっぷん** | **ippun** | | two minutes | 二分 | にふん | nifun | | **three minutes** | **三分** | **さんぷん** | **sanpun** | | **four minutes** | **四分** | **よんぷん** | **yonpun** | | five minutes | 五分 | ごふん | gofun | | **six minutes** | **六分** | **ろっぷん** | **roppun** | | seven minutes | 七分 | ななふん | nanafun | | **eight minutes** | **八分** | **はっぷん** | **happun** | | nine minutes | 九分 | きゅうふん | kyuufun | | **ten minutes** | **十分** | **じゅっぷん** | **juppun** | | **eleven minutes** | **十一分** | **じゅういっぷん** | **juuippun** | | **twenty minutes** | **ニ十分** | **にじゅっぷん** | **nijuppun** | | **thirty minutes** | **三十分** | **さんじゅっぷん** | **sanjuppun** | | fifty-five minutes | 五十五分 | ごじゅうごふん | gojuugofun | When it comes to counters in Japanese, you can generally rely on two and five staying regular. However, most of the other numbers 1-10 are fair game for slight changes in pronunciation! Getting used to this just comes down to practice. Luckily, the [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and its accompanying drill app DeerPlus are great ways to have fun while mastering these linguistic quirks! Let’s incorporate minutes into the hours that we learned just a moment ago with some practice dialogue. A: いつ会いましょうか？(Itsu aimashou ka?) When should we meet up? B: 五時四十五分はどうですか？(Go-ji yonjuugofun wa dou desu ka?) How about 5:45? Just like in English, the minutes in Japanese follow the hour. Here’s another easy trick: if you’re talking about anything happening on the half-hour, you can just say **半(han)** instead of 三十分! A: 毎日七時半に起きます。(Mainichi shichi-ji han ni okimasu.) I get up at 7:30 every day. Finally, 分 should be pronounced “pun” when following 何 to ask how many minutes. Here’s an example: A: あと何分で着きますか？(Ato nanpun de tsukimasu ka?) How many more minutes until you arrive? B: あと十分で着きます。(Ato juppun de tsukimasu.) I’ll arrive in ten minutes. ## Seconds in Japanese: 秒(びょう) It’s time to get really specific and learn about counting seconds! Seconds in Japanese is 秒(byou). The pronunciation of 秒 is nice and easy - it always stays “byou” no matter what the number. Let’s look at the table. | English | Kanji | Kana | Romaji | | ------------- | ----- | ------ | ----------- | | \~seconds | ～秒 | ～びょう | \~byou | | one second | ～一秒 | ～いちびょう | \~ichibyou | | two seconds | ～ニ秒 | ～にびょう | \~nibyou | | three seconds | ～三秒 | ～さんびょう | \~sanbyou | | four seconds | ～四秒 | ～よんびょう | \~yonbyou | | five seconds | ～五秒 | ～ごびょう | \~gobyou | | six seconds | ～六秒 | ～ろくびょう | \~rokubyou | | seven seconds | ～七秒 | ～ななびょう | \~nanabyou | | eight seconds | ～八秒 | はちびょう | \~hachibyou | | nine seconds | ～九秒 | きゅうびょう | \~kyuubyou | | ten seconds | ～十秒 | じゅうびょう | \~juubyou | Piece of cake! Too bad we rarely specify down to the second when we tell time. However, it’s great to know how to specify numbers of seconds when it comes to something like cooking instructions. If you want to describe the duration of time, you can follow the number of hours, minutes, or seconds with **間(kan)**. Check it out: A: 1分30秒間炒めてください。(Ippun sanjuubyou kan itamete kudasai.) Please saute for one minute and thirty seconds. ## AM, PM, and Other Times of Day Specifying AM and PM in Japanese is quite logical. Simply add **午前 (before noon)** or **午後 (after noon)** in front of your time. For example: バスは午後六時十五分に出発します。 (Basu wa gogo roku-ji juugofun ni shuppatsu shimasu.) The bus will depart at 6:15 PM. or 毎日午前八時から午後四時まで働きます。 (Mainichi gozen hachi-ji kara gogo yo-ji made hatarakimasu.) I work from 8AM to 4PM every day. You can also use words like 朝 (morning) 夜 (night) and 早朝 (early morning) in front of your time to describe the general time of day. 早朝五時に起きてしまいました。 (Souchou go-ji ni okite shimaimashita.) I woke up early in the morning at five. One excellent way to practice telling time in your target language is by using a diary! Try to take notes everyday about when you ate breakfast, how long you jogged for, what you did after work and for how long, etc. Alternatively, you could plan a travel itinerary for a dream vacation to Japan. Write out when you would arrive at the airport, how long your flight would be, and then what activities you would do after landing at Narita Airport! There are many creative exercises you can try to practice this new vocabulary, so don’t waste a second and get studying! ### 20+ Most Useful Korean Slangs to Sound Like a Local URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korea-slang/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:14:55.000Z Korean slang is the everyday expression used by Korean but most of the time not taught by textbooks. If you are a k-drama fan, you might have already heard of 헐(heol) or 파이팅!(paiting) and can guess in what kind of situations to use them. Just like 헐(heol) and 파이팅!(paiting), there are plenty of Korean slang words used by native speakers every day. If you wish to speak like a local, read on and note down these 20+ most useful slang and use them in your next conversation! ![List of useful Korean slang](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/225090ad-6f83-459b-bb14-e332b811c8b9_1_201_a-jpeg.jpg) ## Korean Exclamation Slangs ### 대박(daebak): Awesome! / That is crazy! ![A Korean girl expresses surprise with slang](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/oip-jpeg.jpg) This expression is very commonly used by the young generation. It can be used when you’re amazed by something. When you hear unexpected news, when you eat something delicious, when you encounter something amazing, etc. Ex) 야, 현빈이랑 손예진 결혼한대! 대박! (Hey, did you hear that Hyunbin and Son Yejin are getting married? Amazing!) ### 헐 (heol): OMG / Wow! / What the (heck)! This also can be used when you are surprised or amazed. It’s similar to ‘OMG’ in English. It can be used in both positive and negative situations. It’s usually used after something shocking or surprising encounter. Ex) 헐, 나 여권 잃어버렸어! (OMG, I lost my passport!) ### 파이팅 (paiting): Go! / Cheer up! 파이팅 is a word of support or encouragement. It’s commonly used in sports to cheer an athlete or a team, when someone is going to take an exam, or whenever a challenging situation is met. Ex) 대한민국 파이팅! (Go, Korea!) Ex) 시험 잘 쳐! 파이팅! (Good luck with your exam! Go for it!) ## Korean Slang for Emotion and Reaction ### 노답(no dap): No answer / No hope / Messed up 노(no) is the English word “no”, which the younger generation in Korea uses a lot in slangs. 답(dap) means “answer”, and since it’s attached to a word 노(no), it becomes a negative expression. This phrase is used a lot to describe a problematic situation that has no answer or is very difficult to solve. Ex) 시험도 떨어지고, 취업도 안 되고. 내 인생은 진짜 노답이야. (I failed on my exam and I can’t get a job either. My life is so messed up. ### 극혐(geukyeom): Extreme disgust This phrase is a shortened form of 극한의 혐오(Extreme disgust), by taking the first syllables of each word. 극한의 means “extreme” and 혐오 means “hatred, disgust”. You can use this expression when you are pointing out something very disgusting or revolting. Ex) 난 오이를 극혐해. (I hate cucumbers.) ### 꿀잼(kkul-jaem): Something that is very fun / interesting 꿀means “honey” and 잼 is short for 재미있다, which means “funny/interesting”. By putting them together, it becomes a word 꿀잼(kkuljaem). You can use this word to describe something that is very fun or interesting Ex) 드라마 '사랑의 불시착' 꿀잼인데, 봤어? (The drama "Crash Landing on You" is so much fun. Did you watch it?) ### 노잼(no-jaem): Something that is boring / not interesting ![A TV show using Korean slang](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/r-jpeg.jpg) Ex) 나는 개인적으로 그 영화 별로야. 노잼이야. (I personally don't like that movie. It's boring.) ## Korean Slang for Food and drinks ### 혼밥 (honbap): Eating alone / 혼술(honsul): Drinking alcohol alone ### ![Korean slang for a man who eats alone](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/3498188_150-jpeg.jpg) ### e.g. 오늘 점심에 같이 밥을 먹을 사람이 없어서 혼밥했어. (I ate alone because there was no one to eat with for lunch today.) ### 오늘 퇴근하고 집에서 영화 보면서 혼술하려고. (I'm going to drink alone after work, while watching a movie at home.) ### 맛집(matjip): Good restaurant It’s a merged word of 맛있다(delicious) and 집(store, shop), referring to a restaurant that has good tasting food. e.g. 거기가 진짜 불고기 맛집이래! 내일 같이 가 보자! (I heard that place is really famous for Bulgogi! Let's go together tomorrow!) ### 치맥(chimaek): Fried chicken and beer Koreans love the combination of fried chicken with beer! 치킨 means “fried chicken” and 맥주 is “beer”. Merge the first syllables of each word and it becomes a word 치맥(chimaek)! It’s the best combination that is perfect for a summer outdoor picnic, such as hanging out with your friends at 한강(han-gang) river in Seoul. You’ll feel so refreshed and forget about the summer heat, with a good fried chicken and cold beer! Ex) 여름에 야외에서 먹는 치맥이 최고야! (Eating chicken and beer outdoors in the summer is the best!) ### 아점(ajeom): Brunch 아(a) is the shortened from of 아침, which means “breakfast”. 점(jeom) is the shortened from of 점심, which means “lunch”. Put them together and it becomes a word 아점(ajeom), meaning “brunch”. Same process as to how the English word “brunch” was made! e.g. 오늘은 일요일이니까 늦게 일어나서 집에서 아점 먹고 TV볼거야. (It’s Sunday, so I will wake up late and eat brunch at home and watch TV.) ## Korean Slang for Love and Relationships ### 남친(namchin): Boyfriend / 여친(yeochin): Girlfriend These are shortened forms of 남자 친구 and 여자 친구, in terms of significant other. 남(nam) is the shortened form of 남자, which means “boy”. 친(chin) is the shortened form of 친구, which means “friend”. Put them together and it becomes a word 남친(namchin), meaning “boyfriend”. 여(nam) is the shortened form of 여자, which means “girl”. 친(chin) is the shortened form of 친구, which means “friend”. Put them together and it becomes a word 여친(yeochin), meaning “girlfriend”. Ex) 나 남친이랑 다음 달에 결혼해! (I'm getting married to my boyfriend next month!) ### 남사친 (namsachin): Male friend / 여사친(yeosachin): Female friend It’s a term that was made in order to distinguish “just friend”, by adding 사람, meaning “person” in the middle of the word 남친 and 여친. Ex) A: 너 민호랑 사귀니? Are you dating Minho? B: 무슨 소리야? 걔는 그냥 남사친이라고! What are you talking about? He's just a male friend! ### 썸(sseom): something 썸(sseom) is a borrowed word from the English word “something”. It describes a romantic relationship between two people who have feelings for each other and start getting along, but haven’t made any steps as an official couple yet. It’s used as 썸 타다(sseom tada) form. e.g. 우리는 사귀기 전에 1달 정도 썸 탔어. We had “sseom” period for about a month before we start dating. ### 모쏠(mossol): No girlfriend/boyfriend since birth It’s a word to describe someone who has never had a boyfriend or girlfriend. The original form of this word is 모태 솔로. The first word 모태 means “mother’s womb”, and the second word 솔로 means “a person who is not in a relationship”. e.g. 나는 민혁이가 모쏠인줄 알았는데, 알고 보니 여자친구가 10명이나 있었다고 하더라! I thought Minhyuk was NGSB (no girlfriend since birth), but it turned out that he had 10 girlfriends! ### 밀당(mildang): the struggle in romantic relationships This is a shot for the phrase 밀고 당기다, which means “pushing and pulling”. It refers to the actions and power struggle between two people who are in a romantic relationship, by giving attention and then withholding it. e.g. 연애를 잘하려면 밀당을 잘해야 한다는데, 나는 그런 거 잘 못해. They say that you have to play hard to be good at a romantic relationship, but I'm not good at that. ## ​​Common Internet Slangs ### 프사 (peusa): Profile picture 프사 is a short for프로필 사진, which literally means “profile picture”. It refers to people’s profile photos of SNS accounts. e.g. 수현이 어제 프사 바꿨던데, 봤어? (Suhyun changed her profile picture yesterday. Did you see that?) 읽씹(ikssip) : Read the message but ignore (not answer) The original form is 읽고 씹다, which literally means “read and ignore”. 씹다 means “chew” but it’s used as slang for “ignore”. It refers to the negative meaning of not replying to a message that was received. Some messenger applications have a feature that let you know if the other person had read your message or not. You can use this word if you send a message to someone and it turns into a ‘read state’, but there is no reply. Ex) 걔한테 읽씹 당하니까 기분 너무 나빠. (I’m so upset that he read my message and did not answer me.) ### 칼답(kaldap): Extremely prompt reply This word comes from the phrase 칼같이 답하다, which its literal meaning is “answer as a knife.” It’s an expression that refers to an extremely fast response. It can be used as an opposite word of 읽씹(ikssip). You can use this word if someone answers your message right after you send it. Ex) 칼답까지는 아니더라도, 읽씹은 하지 말아줘. (I’m not asking you to answer right away but at least don't read and ignore it.) ### Best Languages to Learn in 2023 (and Why) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-language-to-learn/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:44.000Z In the past couple of years, learning a foreign language is becoming more and more popular around the world. We all know the [benefits of learning languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/benefits-of-learning-languages/) include more job opportunities, better cognitive skills, a broader worldview, chances to make international friends, etc. But with so many choices at hand, which language is [the best language for you](https://blog.lingodeer.com/what-language-should-i-learn/) to learn? You might ask, how do you define **the best language to learn**? Can we compare different languages and say some are better than others? While we agree that each language is unique and has its own cultural and linguistic value, it's also worth noting that learning a new language includes a lot of work and effort, requiring us to spend some time doing research to find the most suitable one to learn. So to save you the effort, we have concluded the 7 best languages that might interest you. Read on to see why we think they are the best! ## 1\. Mandarin China is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.4 billion people. Mandarin Chinese is the only official language in China, making it one of the most widely spoken first languages in the world. In addition to China and Taiwan, Mandarin is also widely spoken in South Asian countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. In addition, China is the second-largest economy in the world and a trading partner for many countries. Mandarin is also said to be the 2nd [most powerful language in the world](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/12/these-are-the-most-powerful-languages-in-the-world?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). So if you can speak Mandarin, the opportunities are immense. ![Chinese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/chinese.jpg) Recommended reading: [Best Way to Learn Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/) ## 2\. Japanese Many Japanese learners first started learning Japanese because of their love for manga or anime. Indeed, learning Japanese can help you better understand Japanese animes, movies, games with little effort. And these cultural products provide language learners with perfect learning materials to help you learn with fun. Meanwhile, learning Japanese opens you up to a whole new world of ideas and content very different from the western culture. The Japanese language can also be a perfect gateway to other Asian languages. Developed from the same root, the Japanese language shares [a lot of common words](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/) with Chinese. When [compared to Chinese and Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-japanese-korean/), Japanese pronunciation is also relatively easier. So it can be a great place to start for beginners. ![Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese.jpg) Recommended reading: [Best Way to Learn Japanese on Your Own](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/) ## 3\. French French is spoken in 68 countries worldwide and, along with English, is one of the few languages **spoken on all five continents**. Being fluent in French is an ace in the hole to increase job opportunities in the international job market. French is also **the official language of many international organizations**, such as the European Union, UNESCO, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Red Cross, as well as the official language of many international courts. In addition, the study of French **facilitates the learning of other foreign languages**, especially romance languages - including Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian. As many words in English are borrowed from French, knowing the French language can also help you better understand the root of the English language. ![French](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/franch.jpg) Recommended reading: [Best Way to Learn French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/) ## 4\. Spanish [Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-spanish-review/) is one of the top five languages in the world in terms of usage, with nearly 600 million first and second language speakers. It is also one of the six working languages of the United Nations and is an official language in 21 countries around the world. [In the US, 13% people speak Spanish at home](https://www.forbes.com/sites/soniathompson/2021/05/27/the-us-has-the-second-largest-population-of-spanish-speakers-how-to-equip-your-brand-to-serve-them/?sh=528dece1793a&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), making it the most common foreign language spoken. Spain is one of the major tourist countries in Europe, and by mastering Spanish you will have more opportunities to travel, socialize, work and get in touch with different cultures. ![spanish](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/spanish.jpg) ## 5\. Arabic Arabic is the official language of more than 20 countries with nearly 350 million native speakers, it is one of the [most spoken languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/) in the world, and it has become the sixth [official working language of the United Nations](https://www.un.org/en/our-work/official-languages?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=There%20are%20six%20official%20languages,%2C%20French%2C%20Russian%20and%20Spanish.) General Assembly and its main committees. Arab countries are also experiencing rapid economic development, and if you are interested in Islam, by learning Arabic you can also become familiar with Islamic beliefs and traditions. ![arabic](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/arabic.jpg) ## 6\. Portuguese Portuguese is the fifth most spoken language in the world, with more than 100 million speakers. It is also the official language of ten countries and regions and several international organizations like African Union and the European Union. So learning Portuguese can open up many opportunities in fields like business, diplomacy, publishing, etc. Also, as a close relative to Spanish, Portuguese are pretty similar to Spanish in terms of vocabulary, grammar, etc. You can even try learning them together and kill two birds with one stone. ![portuguese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/portuguese.jpg) ## 7\. German As a major industrial country, Germany is one of the most developed countries in the world in terms of mechanical engineering technology and has many institutions with well-developed related professions. In addition, higher education in Germany is free for foreigners, which gives many students the opportunity to study and work in Germany. Also, German and English are both Germanic languages, so there are similarities in the letter combinations of words with the same meaning, which makes learning German easier. ![german](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/german.jpg) Recommended reading: [Best Way to Learn German](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-german/) ## 8\. Korean K-pop is currently at its worldwide peak thanks to BTS, Blackpink, and many other world-renowned K-pop artists. The Korean Wave is definitely a big trend. This makes Korean a cool language to learn right now. And the popularity of [Korean dramas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/) is also evident all over the world. By [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), you will be able to experience watching Korean dramas without subtitles and learn more about Korean culture! ![korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean.jpg) Recommended reading: [Is Korean Hard for English Speakers?](https://blog.lingodeer.com/is-korean-hard-to-learn/) Ready to start learning a new language now? Let LingoDeer help! Comprehensive curricula, well-structured language courses, and bite-sized lessons help you learn your target language the smart way! Give it a try for free today! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Essential Vocabulary for JLPT N4 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt-n4-vocabulary/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:49.000Z Hey Japanese learners! To help you [learn Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) and [pass the JLPT test](https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt/), we present you the complete list of 681 words required to know to get the proficiency certificate of JLPT N4\. We also have a list for [JLPT N5 vocabulary](https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt-n5-vocabulary/). JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) is an official Japanese test administered by the [Japanese Foundation](https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). And N4 is the fifth level among N5 to N1, with N1 being the highest level. The list below is summarized based on the BOOK: JLPT Guide. Click [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/jlpt-n4.pdf) to download the pdf of JLPT N4 and start your N4 Journey! | | | | | | ------------ | ------- | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | あ | | | | | ああ | | | like that | | あいさつ | 挨拶 | noun | greetings | | あいだ | 間 | | between | | あう | 合う | | fit | | あかちゃん | 赤ちゃん | noun | baby | | あがる | 上る | | to ascend | | あかんぼう | 赤ん坊 | noun | baby | | あく | 開く | | to open | | あげる | 上げる | | to give (give a celebration) | | あさねぼう | 朝寝坊 | | sleep in late | | あじ | 味 | noun | taste | | あした | 明日 | | tomorrow | | あそび | 遊び | | to play | | あつまる | 集る | | to gather | | あつめる | 集める | | to put together, to collect | | あやまる | 謝る | | apologize | | アルバイト | | noun | part-time job | | あんしん | 安心 | | relief | | あんぜん | 安全 | noun | safety | | あんな | | | such | | あんない | 案内 | noun | information, guidance | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | いか | 以下 | | less than | | いがい | 以外 | | except | | いかが | 如何 | | how about ... ? (suggestion) | | いがく | 医学 | noun | medicine | | いきる | 生きる | | live | | いくら\~ても | | | no matter how | | いけん | 意見 | noun | opinion | | いし | 石 | noun | stone | | いじめる | 苛める | | bullying | | いじょう | 以上 | | more than | | いそぐ | 急ぐ | | hurry | | いたす | 致す | | to do | | いただく | 頂く | | to receive | | いちど | 一度 | | once, one more | | いっしょうけんめい | 一生懸命 | | very hard,with utmost effort | | いっぱい | 一杯 | adv. | fully | | いと | 糸 | noun | thread | | いない | 以内 | | within, inside of, less than | | いなか | 田舎 | noun | countryside | | いのる | 祈る | | to pray | | いらっしゃる | | | to come, to go, to be somewhere | | \~いん | \~員 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | うえる | 植える | | to plant, to grow, to raise | | うかがう | 窺う | | to see, to peep | | うけつけ | 受付 | noun | receipt; reception desk | | うける | 受ける | | to receive, to get | | うごく | 動く | | to move | | うそ | 嘘 | noun | lie | | うち | | | of | | うつ | 打つ | | to hit | | うつくしい | 美しい | | beautiful | | うつす | 写す | | to copy | | うつる | 移る | | to move (house), to transfer (section) | | うで | 腕 | noun | arm | | うまい | 旨い | | good | | うら | 裏 | | opposite side, behind | | うりば | 売り場 | | department | | うるさい | 煩い | | annoying | | うれしい | 嬉しい | | glad, joyful | | うん | | | yes | | うんてんしゅ | 運転手 | noun | driver, chauffeur | | うんてん | 運転 | | driving | | うんどう | 運動 | noun | exercise | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | エスカレーター | noun | escalator | | | えだ | 枝 | noun | branch | | えらぶ | 選ぶ | | to pick, to choose | | えんりょ | 遠慮 | noun | precaution | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | おいでになる | 御出でになる | go, come (honorific) | | | おいわい | お祝い | | celebration | | おうせつま | 応接間 | noun | reception room | | おおい | 多い | | many | | おおきな | 大きな | | large | | オートバイ | | noun | motorbike | | オーバー | | | over | | おかげ | お陰 | | thanks | | おかしい | | | funny | | \~おき | | | | | おく | 億 | | a hundred million | | おくじょう | 屋上 | noun | rooftop | | おくりもの | 贈り物 | | present | | おくる | 送る | | to send | | おくれる | 遅れる | | to be late, to fall behind | | おこさん | お子さん | noun | children | | おこす | 起こす | | to wake up | | おこなう | 行う | | do | | おこる | 怒る | | to get angry | | おしいれ | 押し入れ | noun | closet | | おじょうさん | お嬢さん | noun | daughter; young lady | | おたく | お宅 | | (your) house | | おちる | 落る | | fall | | おっしゃる | 仰る | | say (honorific) | | おと | 音 | noun | sound, noise | | おとす | 落とす | | to drop, to reduce, to remove | | おどり | 踊り | | to dance | | おどる | 踊る | | to dance | | おどろく | 驚く | | to be surprised | | おまつり | お祭り | noun | festival | | おみまい | お見舞い | | visit someone who is in injury and suffering | | おみやげ | お土産 | noun | souvenir | | おもいだす | 思い出す | | to remember | | おもう | 思う | | to think | | おもちゃ | 玩具 | noun | toy | | おもて | 表 | noun | surface, face, front side (of a building) | | おや | | | oh! | | おりる | 下りる、降りる | to descend, to alight | | | おる | 居る | | to be | | おれい | お礼 | | thanks | | おれる | 折れる | | to break | | おわり | 終わり | | end, conclusion | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | \~か | \~家 | | professional suffix (e.g. 政治家 = politician) | | カーテン | | noun | curtain | | \~かい | \~会 | | | | かいがん | 海岸 | noun | coast, beach | | かいぎ | 会議 | noun | meeting | | かいじょう | 会場 | noun | meeting place, assembly hall | | かいわ | 会話 | noun | coversation | | かえり | 帰り | | to return | | かえる | 変える | | to change, to move | | かがく | 科学 | noun | science | | かがみ | 鏡 | noun | mirror | | \~がくぶ | \~学部 | noun | university department | | かざる | 飾る | | to decorate | | かじ | 火事 | noun | fire (disaster) | | ガソリン | | noun | gasoline | | ガソリンスタンド | noun | gasoline station | | | 〜かた （読み方） | 方 | | way of 〜 | | かたち | 形 | noun | shape | | かたづける | 片付ける | | to tidy up | | かつ | 勝つ | | to win | | かっこう | 格好 | | shape, posture | | かなしい | 悲しい | | sad, sorrow | | かならず | 必ず | | always, without fail | | かねもち | 金持ち | | rich person | | かのじょ | 彼女 | pron. | she | | かべ | 壁 | | wall | | かまう （かまいません） | 構う | | to care | | かみ | 髪 | | hair | | かむ | 噛む | | to bite | | かよう | 通う | | to commute | | ガラス | | noun | glass | | かれ | 彼 | pron. | he | | かれら | 彼ら | pron. | they | | かわく | 乾く | | to dry | | かわり | 代わり | | substitute | | かわる | 変わる | | to change | | かんがえる | 考える | | to consider, to think about | | かんけい | 関係 | | relationship | | かんごふ | 看護婦 | | nurse (female) | | かんたん | 簡単 | | easy | | がんばる | 頑張る | | to do one's best | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | き | 気 | noun | spirit, mind, heart | | きかい | 機械 | noun | machine | | きかい | 機会 | noun | opportunity | | きけん | 危険 | | danger, dangerous | | きこえる | 聞こえる | | to be heard, to be audible | | きしゃ | 汽車 | noun | train | | ぎじゅつ | 技術 | noun | technology, engineering | | きせつ | 季節 | noun | season | | きそく | 規則 | | rules | | きっと | | | surely, certainly | | きぬ | 絹 | noun | silk | | きびしい | 厳しい | | severe, strict | | きぶん | 気分 | noun | feeling, mood | | きまる | 決る | | to be decided | | きみ | 君 | pron. | you | | きめる | 決める | | to decide | | きもち | 気持ち | noun | feeling | | きもの | 着物 | noun | kimono | | きゃく | 客 | pron. | guest | | きゅう | 急 | | sudden | | きゅうこう | 急行 | noun | express (train) | | きょういく | 教育 | noun | education | | きょうかい | 教会 | noun | church | | きょうそう | 競争 | noun | competition | | きょうみ | 興味 | noun | interest | | きんじょ | 近所 | noun | neighborhood | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ぐあい | 具合 | | condition, convenience | | くうき | 空気 | noun | air | | くうこう | 空港 | noun | airport | | くさ | 草 | noun | grass | | くださる | 下さる | | give (honorific) | | くび | 首 | noun | neck | | くも | 雲 | noun | cloud | | くらべる | 比べる | | to compare | | くれる | | | give | | くれる | 暮れる | | to get dark, to come to an end | | \~くん | \~君 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | け (髪の毛) | 毛 | | hair | | け (毛のセータ) | | | | | けいかく | 計画 | | planning | | けいかん | 警官 | pron. | police officer | | けいけん | 経験 | noun | experience | | けいざい | 経済 | noun | economy | | けいさつ | 警察 | | police | | けが | 怪我 | noun | injury | | けしき | 景色 | noun | scenery | | げしゅく | 下宿 | | lodging | | けっして | 決して | | never | | けれど | | | although | | けれども | | | | | \~けん | \~軒 | | | | げんいん | 原因 | | main reason, main cause | | けんか | 喧嘩 | | fight, argument | | けんきゅう | 研究 | noun | research | | けんきゅうしつ | 研究室 | noun | laboratory | | けんぶつ | 見物 | noun | sightseeing | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | こ | 子 | | child | | ご\~ | 御\~ | | | | こう (指示詞) | | | this | | こうがい | 郊外 | | outskirts, suburbs | | こうぎ | 講義 | noun | lecture | | こうぎょう | 工業 | noun | (manufacturing) industry | | こうこう | 高校 | noun | high school | | こうとうがっこう | 高等学校 | noun | senior high school | | こうこうせい | 高校生 | | high schooler | | こうじょう | 工場 | noun | factory, plant | | こうちょう | 校長 | | headmaster | | こうつう | 交通 | noun | traffic | | こうどう | 講堂 | noun | lecture hall | | こうむいん | 公務員 | | civil servant | | こくさい | 国際 | | international | | こころ | 心 | noun | heart | | \~ございます | | | | | こしょう | 故障 | noun | breakdown, fault | | ごぞんじ | ご存じ | noun | knowing | | こたえ | 答 | noun | answer | | ごちそう | ご馳走 | noun | feast | | こっち | | | here | | こと | | | | | ことり | 小鳥 | noun | small bird | | このあいだ | この間 | | lately, recently | | このごろ | この頃 | | nowadays | | こまかい | 細かい | adj. | small | | ごみ | 塵 | noun | trash, garbage | | こむ | 込む, 混む | | to be crowded | | こめ | 米 | noun | rice (uncooked) | | ごらんになる | 御覧になる | | to see, to look (honorific) | | これから | | | from now on | | こわい | 怖い | | scary | | こわす | 壊す | | break, destroy | | こわれる | 壊れる | | break, broken | | コンサート | | noun | concert | | こんど | 今度 | | this time | | こんや | 今夜 | | tonight | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | さいきん | 最近 | | recently | | さいご | 最後 | | finally, lastly, the last | | さいしょ | 最初 | | the first | | さいふ | 財布 | noun | wallet | | さがす | 探す | | to look for, to seek | | さがる | 下がる | | to fall, to get lower | | さかん | 盛ん | adj. | popular | | さげる | 下げる | | to lower | | さしあげる | 差し上げる | | to give, to raise | | さっき | 先 | | just now | | さびしい | 寂しい | | lonely | | \~さま | \~様 | | Mr., Miss, Mrs., Ms. | | さらいしゅう | さ来週 | | the week after next | | さわぐ | 騒ぐ | | to make noise | | さわる | 触る | | to touch | | サンダル | | noun | sandal | | サンドイッチ | | noun | sandwich | | ざんねん | 残念 | | regrettable, disappointing | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | じ | 字 | noun | character (kanji) | | しあい | 試合 | noun | match, game, contest | | しかた | 仕方 | noun | way, method | | しかる | 叱る | | to scold | | \~しき | \~式 | noun | ceremony, event | | しけん | 試験 | noun | exam | | じこ | 事故 | noun | accident (e.g. traffic) | | じしん | 地震 | noun | earthquake | | じだい | 時代 | | period, epoch, era, age | | したぎ | 下着 | noun | underwear | | したく | 支度 | | preparations, arrangements | | しっかり | 確り | adv. | tightly, firmly | | しっぱい | 失敗 | noun | failure | | しつれい | 失礼 | | impoliteness | | じてん | 辞典 | noun | dictionary | | しなもの | 品物 | noun | products, goods | | しばらく | | adv. | a while | | しま | 島 | noun | island | | しまう | 仕舞う | | to finish, to end | | じむしょ | 事務所 | noun | office | | しゃかい | 社会 | noun | society, public, community, the world | | しゃちょう | 社長 | pron. | company president | | じゃま | 邪魔 | | obstacle | | ジャム | | noun | jam | | じゆう | 自由 | noun | freedom, liberty | | しゅうかん | 習慣 | noun | habit | | じゅうしょ | 住所 | noun | address | | じゅうどう | 柔道 | noun | judo | | じゅうぶん | 十分 | | enough, sufficient | | しゅっせき | 出席 | noun | attendance | | しゅっぱつ | 出発 | noun | departure | | しゅみ | 趣味 | noun | hobby | | じゅんび | 準備 | noun | preparation | | しょうかい | 紹介 | noun | introduction (e.g. introduce oneself) | | しょうがつ | 正月 | | new Year | | しょうがっこう | 小学校 | noun | elementary school | | しょうせつ | 小説 | noun | novel | | しょうたい | 招待 | noun | invitation | | しょうち | 承知 | noun | knowledge | | しょうらい | 将来 | noun | future | | しょくじ | 食事 | noun | meal | | しょくりょうひん | 食料品 | noun | groceries | | じょせい | 女性 | | woman, lady | | しらせる | 知らせる | | to inform | | しらべる | 調べる | | to investigate | | じんこう | 人口 | noun | population | | じんじゃ | 神社 | noun | Shinto shrine | | しんせつ | 親切 | | kind | | しんぱい | 心配 | | worry | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | すいえい | 水泳 | | swimming | | すいどう | 水道 | noun | water supply | | ずいぶん | 随分 | adv. | very, extremely | | すうがく | 数学 | noun | mathematics | | スーツケース | | noun | suitcase | | すぎる | 過ぎる | | to pass (e.g. time) | | \~すぎる | | | too much | | すく | 空く | | empty | | すく | | | | | すくない | 少ない | | few, a little | | すごい | 凄い | | amazing, great | | すっかり | | adv. | completely, entirely | | すっと | | adv. | suddenly | | ステレオ | | noun | stereo | | すてる | 捨てる | | to throw away | | すな | 砂 | noun | sand | | すばらしい | 素晴らしい | | wonderful, splendid | | すべる | 滑る | | to slip, to slide, to fail a test | | すみ | 隅 | noun | corner | | すむ | 済む | | to finish, to end | | すり | | | | | すると | | (接) | then | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | \~せい | \~製 | | made in 〜 | | せいかつ | 生活 | noun | life | | せいじ | 政治 | noun | politics | | せいよう | 西洋 | | western style | | せかい | 世界 | noun | world | | せき | 席 | noun | seat | | せつめい | 説明 | noun | explanation | | せなか | 背中 | noun | back (anatomy), height | | ぜひ | 是非 | adv. | certainly | | せわ | 世話 | noun | aid, assistance | | せん | 線 | noun | line | | ぜんぜん | 全然 | adv. | not at all | | せんそう | 戦争 | noun | war | | せんぱい | 先輩 | pron. | senior, superior | | せんもん | 専門 | noun | specialty, area of expertise | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | そう | | | that | | そうだん | 相談 | noun | consultation | | そだてる | 育てる | | to raise, to train, to foster | | そつぎょう | 卒業 | noun | graduation | | そふ | 祖父 | pron. | grandfather | | そぼ | 祖母 | pron. | grandmother | | それで | 其れで | | therefore | | それに | 其れに | | besides, in addition | | それほど | それ程 | | to that extent | | そろそろ | | adv. | slowly, gradually | | そんな | | | such, like that | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | \~だい | \~代 | | fare | | たいいん | 退院 | | discharge from hospital | | だいがくせい | 大学生 | pron. | college student | | だいじ | 大事 | | important, serious | | だいたい | 大体 | noun | outline, main point | | タイプ | | noun | type | | だいぶ | 大分 | | very much | | たいふう | 台風 | noun | typhoon | | たおれる | 倒れる | | to fall, to collapse | | だから | | | so that, therefore | | たしか | 確か | | sure, certain | | たす | 足す | | to add (numbers) | | \~だす | | | | | たりる | 足りる | | to be enough | | たずねる | 訪ねる | | to visit, to pay a visit to | | ただしい | 正しい | adj. | correct | | たたみ | 畳 | noun | tatami | | たてる | 立てる | | to stand up, to set up | | たてる | 建てる | | to build, to construct | | たとえば | 例えば | adv. | for example | | たな | 棚 | noun | shelf, rack | | たのしむ | 楽む | | to enjoy (oneself) | | たまに | 偶に | adv. | occasionally, once in a while | | ため | 為 | | good | | だめ | 駄目 | | no good, useless | | だんせい | 男性 | | man, male | | だんぼう | 暖房 | noun | heater | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ち | 血 | noun | blood | | ちいさな | 小さな | | small | | ちから | 力 | noun | strength, force | | ちっとも | 些とも | adv. | not at all | | \~ちゃん | | (尾) | suffix for familiar person | | ちゅうい | 注意 | noun | caution, warning | | ちゅうがっこう | 中学校 | pron. | middle schooler | | ちゅうしゃ | 注射 | noun | injection | | ちゅうしゃじょう | 駐車場 | noun | parking lot | | ちり | 地理 | noun | geography | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | \~ついて | | | about, of | | つかまえる | 捕まえる | | to catch, to arrest | | つき | 月 | noun | moon | | \~つき | \~月 | | month | | つく | | | to turn on | | つける | | | to turn on | | つける | 漬ける | | to soak in, to dip | | つごう | 都合 | | circumstances, condition | | つたえる | 伝える | | to tell | | つづく | 続く | | to continue | | つづける | 続ける | | to continue | | つつむ | 包む | | to wrap up, to pack | | つま | 妻 | pron. | wife | | つもり | 積もり | noun | intention, plan | | つる | 釣る | | to fish, to catch | | つれる | 連れる | | to bring along, to go with | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ていねい | 丁寧 | | polite, courteous | | テキスト | | noun | text | | てきとう | 適当 | | suitable, proper | | できる | | | | | できるだけ | 出来るだけ | | as much as possible | | てつだう | 手伝う | | to help, to assist | | テニスコート | | noun | tennis court | | てぶくろ | 手袋 | noun | glove | | てら | 寺 | noun | temple | | てん | 点 | noun | point | | てんいん | 店員 | pron. | store clerk | | てんきよほう | 天気予報 | noun | weather forecast | | でんとう | 電灯 | noun | (electric) light | | でんぽう | 電報 | noun | telegram | | てんらんかい | 展覧会 | noun | exhibition | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | どうぐ | 道具 | noun | tool, instrument | | とうとう | 到頭 | adv. | finally | | どうぶつえん | 動物園 | noun | zoo | | とおく | 遠く | | far away, distant | | とおり | 通り | noun | street, avenue | | とおる | 通る | | to pass | | \~とき | | | when, during | | とくに | 特に | adv. | particularly, especially | | とくべつ | 特別 | | special, exceptional | | とこや | 床屋 | noun | barbershop | | とし | 年 | noun | year | | とちゅう | 途中 | | on the way | | とっきゅう | 特急 | noun | limited express train | | どっち | | | which, where | | とどける | 届ける | | to deliver, to report | | とまる | 泊まる | | to stay at (places) | | とめる | 止める | | to stop | | とりかえる | 取り替える | | to exchange, to replace | | どろぼう | 泥棒 | pron. | thief, robber | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | なおす | 直す | | to cure, to repair | | なおる | 直る | | to be cured, to be repaired | | なおる | 治る | | to be cured, to be repaired | | なかなか | 中々 | | considerably | | \~ながら | \~乍ら | | while, during | | なく | 泣く | | to cry | | なくす | 無くす | | to lose (something) | | なくなる | 無くなる | | to be lost, to be missing | | なくなる | 亡くなる | | to die | | なげる | 投げる | | to throw, to give up | | なさる | 為さる | | to do | | なぜ | | | why, how | | なる | 鳴る | | to sound, to ring | | なるべく | 成るべく | adv. | as much as possible | | なるほど | なる程 | | I see | | なれる | 慣れる | | to get used to | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | にがい | 苦い | | bitter | | \~にくい | | | difficult to (do) | | にげる | 逃げる | | to escape, to run away | | にっき | 日記 | noun | diary, journal | | にゅういん | 入院 | noun | hospitalization | | にゅうがく | 入学 | noun | school admission | | にる | 似る | | to resemble | | にんぎょう | 人形 | noun | doll | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ぬすむ | 盗む | | to steal, to rob | | ぬる | 塗る | | to paint, to spread | | ぬれる | 濡れる | | to get wet | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ねだん | 値段 | noun | price, cost | | ねつ | 熱 | noun | fever | | ねっしん | 熱心 | | passionately | | ねむい | 眠い | | sleepy | | ねむる | 眠る | | to sleep | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | のこる | 残る | | to remain | | のど | 喉 | noun | throat | | のりかえる | 乗り換える | | to transfer (train), to change (bus) | | のりもの | 乗り物 | noun | vehicle, transport | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | は | 葉 | noun | leaf | | ばあい | 場合 | noun | situation | | ばい | 倍 | | twice, -fold | | はいけん | 拝見 | | seeing | | はいしゃ | 歯医者 | pron. | dentist | | \~ばかり | | (助) | just, only | | はこぶ | 運ぶ | | to carry, to transport | | はじめる | 始める | | to start, to open | | はず | 筈 | | expectation | | はずかしい | 恥ずかしい | | embarrassing, disgraceful | | はつおん | 発音 | noun | pronunciation | | はっきり | | adv. | clearly | | はなみ | 花見 | noun | cherry blossom viewing | | はらう | 払う | | to pay, to wipe away | | ばんぐみ | 番組 | noun | television program | | はんたい | 反対 | noun | opposition | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ひ | 日 | noun | sun, day | | ひ | 火 | noun | fire | | ひえる | 冷える | | to make cold (e.g. room temperature) | | ひきだし | 引き出し | noun | drawer | | ひげ | 髭 | noun | mustache, beard | | ひこうじょう | 飛行場 | noun | airport | | ひさしぶり | 久しぶり | adj. | a long time | | びじゅつかん | 美術館 | noun | museum | | ひじょうに | 非常に | | extremely | | びっくりする | 吃驚する | | to be surprised | | ひっこす | 引っ越す | | to move | | ひつよう | 必要 | | necessary | | ひどい | 酷い | | cruel, harsh | | ひらく | 開く | | to open | | ビル | | noun | building | | ひるま | 昼間 | | daytime | | ひるやすみ | 昼休み | | lunch break | | ひろう | 拾う | | to pick up, to gather | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ふえる | 増える | | to increase | | ふかい | 深い | | deep | | ふくざつ | 複雑 | | complex | | ふくしゅう | 復習 | | to revise (e.g. to revise for a test) | | ふつう | 普通 | | normal, plain | | ぶどう | 葡萄 | noun | grape | | ふとる | 太る | | to get fat | | ふとん | 布団 | noun | futon (traditional japanese bed) | | ふね | 船、舟 | noun | ship, boat | | ふべん | 不便 | | inconvenience | | ふむ | 踏む | | to step | | プレゼント | | noun | present, gift | | ぶんか | 文化 | noun | culture | | ぶんがく | 文学 | noun | literature | | ぶんぽう | 文法 | noun | grammar | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | べつに | 別に | | separately | | ベル | | noun | bell | | へん | 変 | | strange | | へんじ | 返事 | | reply | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ぼうえき | 貿易 | noun | trade (economy) | | ほうそう | 放送 | noun | broadcasting | | ほうりつ | 法律 | noun | law | | ぼく | 僕 | | I, me (informal) | | ほし | 星 | noun | star | | ほど | | | as much as | | ほとんど | 殆ど | | most of | | ほめる | 褒める | | to compliment | | ほんやく | 翻訳 | noun | translation | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | まいる | 参る | | to go, to come | | まける | 負ける | | to lose, to be defeated | | まじめ | 真面目 | | serious, honest | | まず | 先ず | adv. | firstly, first of all | | または | 又は | | or, otherwise | | まちがえる | 間違える | | to make mistake | | まにあう | 間に合う | | be on time for | | 〜まま | | | | | まわり | 周り | noun | circumference | | まわる | 回る | | to turn, to revolve | | まんが | 漫画 | noun | manga | | まんなか | 真ん中 | noun | middle, center point | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | みえる | 見える | | to be seen | | みずうみ | 湖 | noun | lake | | みそ (みそ汁) | 味噌 | noun | miso (soup) | | みつかる | 見つかる | | to be found, to be discovered | | みつける | 見つける | | to find, to discover | | みどり | 緑 | | green, greenery | | みな | 皆 | pron. | everyone | | みなと | 港 | noun | port, harbor | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | むかえる | 迎える | | to go out to meet | | むかし | 昔 | | in the past, a long time ago | | むし | 虫 | noun | bug | | むすこ | 息子 | noun | son | | むすめ | 娘 | noun | daughter | | むら | 村 | noun | village | | むり | 無理 | | impossible | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | 〜め | 〜目 | | part counter (e.g. 一番目 = first) | | めしあがる | 召し上がる | | to eat (honorific) | | めずらしい | 珍しい | adj. | rare | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | もうしあげる | 申し上げる | | to tell, to express | | もうす | 申す | | to say | | もうすぐ | もう直ぐ | adv. | soon, shortly | | もし | 若し | adv. | if, in case | | もどる | 戻る | | to return, to go back | | もめん | 木綿 | noun | cotton | | もらう | 貰う | | to receive, to accept | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | やく | 焼く | | to burn, to grill | | やくにたつ | 役に立つ | | to be of use | | やくそく | 約束 | | promise | | やける | 焼ける | | to be burned | | やさしい | 優しい | | kind, easy | | \~やすい | 易い | | easy to〜 | | やせる | 痩せる | | to become thinner | | やっと | | | finally | | やはり | | | too, either; as expected | | やっぱり | 矢っ張り | | as expected | | やむ | 止む | | (rain etc.) to stop | | やめる | 止める | | to stop | | やる | 遣る | | to give | | やわらかい | 柔らかい | | soft | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | ゆ | 湯 | noun | steam | | ゆうはん | 夕飯 | | dinner | | ゆしゅつ | 輸出 | noun | exportation | | ゆび | 指 | noun | finger | | ゆびわ | 指輪 | noun | ring | | ゆめ | 夢 | noun | dream | | ゆれる | 揺れる | | to shake | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | よう | 用 | | thing, work | | ようい | 用意 | | preparation | | ようじ | 用事 | | things to do | | よごれる | 汚れる | | to get dirty | | よしゅう | 予習 | | preparation | | よてい | 予定 | | plan | | よやく | 予約 | | booking | | よる | 寄る | | to approach | | \~によると | | | according to | | よろこぶ | 喜ぶ | | to be glad | | よろしい | | | all right, ok | | よわい | 弱い | | weak | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | りゆう | 理由 | | reason, cause | | りよう | 利用 | noun | use, usage | | りょうほう | 両方 | | both | | りょかん | 旅館 | noun | traditional Japanese inn | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | るす | 留守 | | absence, being away | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | れきし | 歴史 | noun | history | | れんらく | 連絡 | | contact | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Word type | Meaning | | わかす | 沸かす | | to boil | | わかれる | 別れる | | to part, to separate | | わく | 沸く | | to boil, to get excited at | | わけ | 訳 | noun | conclusion, reason | | わすれもの | 忘れ物 | noun | something forgotten | | わらう | 笑う | | to laugh | | わりあい | 割合 | noun | rate, ratio | | われる | 割れる | | to break, to split | ### Essential Vocabulary for JLPT N5 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt-n5-vocabulary/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:51.000Z Hey Japanese learners! To help you learn Japanese and [pass JLPT easier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/jlpt/), we present you the complete list of 681 words required to know to get the proficiency certificate of JLPT N5. [JLPT](https://www.jlpt.jp/e/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) is an official Japanese test administered by the [Japanese Foundation](https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). And N5 is the fifth level among N5 to N1, with N1 being the highest level. The list below is summarized based on the BOOK: JLPT Guide. Click [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/jlpt-n5.pdf) to download the pdf of JLPT N5 and start your N5 Journey! | | | | | | ------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ああ | | inter. | Oh!, Ah! | | あう | 【会う】 | verb | meet | | あおい | 【青い】 | adj. | blue | | あかい | 【赤い】 | adj. | red | | あかるい | 【明るい】 | adj. | bright | | あき | 【秋】 | noun | autumn, fall | | あく | 【開く】 | verb | open, to be opened | | あける | 【開ける】 | verb | to open | | あげる | 【上げる】 | verb | raise, give | | あさ | 【朝】 | noun | morning | | あさごはん | 【朝御飯】 | noun | breakfast | | あさって | 【明後日】 | noun | the day after tomorrow | | あし | 【足】 | noun | foot, leg | | あした | 【明日】 | noun | tomorrow | | あそこ | 【彼処】 | pron. | there, over there | | あそぶ | 【遊ぶ】 | verb | to play, to amuse oneself | | あたたかい | 【暖かい】 | adj. | warm | | あたま | 【頭】 | noun | head, brains | | あたらしい | 【新しい】 | adj. | new, fresh | | あちら | 【彼方】 | pron. | there, that | | あつい | 【暑い】 | adj. | hot (weather, etc), warm | | あつい | 【熱い】 | adj. | hot (things), heated | | あつい | 【厚い】 | adj. | thick | | あと | 【後】 | noun | back, rear, after, later | | あなた | 【貴方】 | pron. | you | | あに | 【兄】 | noun | elder brother | | あね | 【姉】 | noun | elder sister | | あの | 【彼の】 | attri. | that, those | | あの | | inter. | er, umm, uh | | アパート | | noun | apartment, apartment building | | あびる | 【浴びる】 | verb | to pour on oneself, to bathe in | | あぶない | 【危ない】 | adj. | dangerous | | あまい | 【甘い】 | adj. | sweet | | あまり | 【余り】 | adv. | not very (with negative sentence) | | あめ | 【雨】 | noun | rain | | あらう | 【洗う】 | verb | to wash | | ある | | verb | to be (usu. of inanimate objects) | | あるく | 【歩く】 | verb | to walk | | あれ | | pron. | that, that one | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | いい | 【良い】 | adj. | good, right, excellent | | いいえ | | inter. | no | | いう | 【言う】 | verb | say, state, express, be said | | いえ | 【家】 | noun | house, home, household | | いく | 【行く】 | verb | go, come, proceed | | いくつ | 【幾つ】 | noun | how old, how many | | いくら | 【幾ら】 | noun | how much, how many | | いけ | 【池】 | noun | pond, pool, basin | | いしゃ | 【医者】 | noun | doctor, physician, surgeon | | いす | | noun | chair, sofa | | いそがしい | 【忙しい】 | adj. | be busy, be engaged | | いたい | 【痛い】 | adj. | be painful, be sore, hurts | | いち | 【一】 | noun | one | | いちにち | 【一日】 | noun | one day, all day | | いちばん | 【一番】 | adv. | most, best, number one, first | | いつ | | noun | when | | いつか | 【五日】 | noun | the fifth of the month, five days | | いっしょに | 【一緒に】 | adv. | together | | いつつ | 【五つ】 | noun | five items, five years of age | | いつも | | adv. | always | | いま | 【今】 | noun | now, at present, just now | | いみ | 【意味】 | noun | meaning, sense, significance | | いもうと | 【妹】 | noun | younger sister | | いや | 【嫌】 | adj.n. | disagreeable, unpleasant | | いりぐち | 【入口】 | noun | entrance | | いる | 【居る】 | verb | be, exist, live, reside | | いる | 【要る】 | verb | need, be necessary | | いれる | 【入れる】 | verb | put in, add, send | | いろ | 【色】 | noun | colour | | いろいろ | | adv. | various, several | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | うえ | 【上】 | noun | up, upward, above | | うしろ | 【後】 | noun | the back, the rear | | うすい | 【薄い】 | adj. | thin, weak | | うた | 【歌】 | noun | a song, singing | | うたう | 【歌う】 | verb | sing | | うち | | noun | a house, a household | | うまれる | 【生まれる】 | verb | be born, come into existence | | うみ | 【海】 | noun | sea, ocean | | うる | 【売る】 | verb | to sell | | うわぎ | 【上着】 | noun | coat, suit jacket | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | え | 【絵】 | noun | picture, painting, drawing | | えいが | 【映画】 | noun | movie, motion picture | | えいがかん | 【映画館】 | noun | a movie theatre | | えいご | 【英語】 | noun | English, the English language | | ええ | | inter. | yes, yeah | | えき | 【駅】 | noun | station | | エレベーター | | noun | elevator | | ～えん | 【～円】 | noun | \~yen | | えんぴつ | 【鉛筆】 | noun | pencil | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | おいしい | 【美味しい】 | adj. | good-tasting, delicious | | おおきい | 【大きい】 | adj. | big, large, great | | おおぜい | 【大勢】 | noun | a great number of people | | おかあさん | 【お母さん】 | noun | mother | | おかし | 【お菓子】 | noun | sweets, confectionary | | おかね | 【お金】 | noun | money | | おきる | 【起きる】 | verb | wake up, get up | | おく | 【置く】 | verb | put, place, lay, leave | | おくさん | 【奥さん】 | noun | wife, married woman | | おさけ | 【お酒】 | noun | liquor, alcoholic beverage | | おさら | 【お皿】 | noun | dish, plate, saucer, etc | | おじさん | | noun | uncle, a middle-aged man | | おじいさん | | noun | grandfather, an old man | | おしえる | 【教える】 | verb | teach; tell, inform | | おす | 【押す】 | verb | push; stamp, seal | | おそい | 【遅い】 | adj. | late; slow | | おちゃ | 【お茶】 | noun | tea | | おてあらい | 【お手洗い】 | noun | lavatory, rest room | | おとうさん | 【お父さん】 | noun | father | | おとうと | 【弟】 | noun | younger brother | | おとこ | 【男】 | noun | man, male | | おとこのこ | 【男の子】 | noun | boy | | おととい | | noun | the day before yesterday | | おととし | | noun | the year before last | | おとな | 【大人】 | noun | an adult, a grown up | | おなか | | noun | stomach | | おなじ | 【同じ】 | adj.n. | the same, alike | | おにいさん | 【お兄さん】 | noun | older brother | | おねえさん | 【お姉さん】 | noun | older sister | | おばさん | | noun | aunt; a middle-aged woman | | おばあさん | | noun | grandmother; an elderly lady | | おべんとう | 【お弁当】 | noun | box lunch | | おぼえる | 【覚える】 | verb | memorize, remember | | おもい | 【重い】 | adj. | heavy; severe, grave | | おもしろい | | adj. | amusing, funny; pleasant | | およぐ | 【泳ぐ】 | verb | swim | | おりる | 【降りる】 | verb | get off, disembark | | おわる | 【終わる】 | verb | to end; to finish doing something | | おんがく | 【音楽】 | noun | music | | おんな | 【女】 | noun | woman, female | | おんなのこ | 【女の子】 | noun | girl | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | \~かい | 【\~回】 | suf. | \~th times | | \~かい | 【\~階】 | suf. | \~th floor | | がいこく | 【外国】 | noun | foreign country | | がいこくじん | 【外国人】 | noun | foreigner | | かいしゃ | 【会社】 | noun | corporation | | かいだん | 【階段】 | noun | stairs | | かいもの | 【買い物】 | noun | shopping | | かう | 【買う】 | verb | buy, shop, purchase | | かえす | 【返す 】 | verb | return, turn over | | かえる | 【帰る】 | verb | go back, return | | かお | 【顔】 | noun | face | | かかる （時間がかかる） | verb | take/require (time/money/resource) | | | かぎ | | noun | key | | かく | 【書く】 | verb | write | | がくせい | 【学生】 | noun | student | | \~かげつ | 【\~か月】 | suf. | \~months | | かける （眼鏡をかける） | | wear (glasses) | | | かける （電話をかける） | | make a phone call | | | かさ | 【傘】 | noun | umbrella | | かす | 【貸す】 | verb | rent, lease | | かぜ | 【風】 | noun | wind, breeze | | かぞく | 【家族】 | noun | family | | かた | 【（この方）】 | | direction, way, person | | かたかな | 【片仮名 】 | noun | Katakana | | \~がつ | 【\~月 】 | suf. | \~month | | がっこう | 【学校 】 | noun | school | | かど | 【角 】 | noun | corner | | かない | 【家内 】 | noun | wife | | かばん | | noun | bag | | かびん | 【花瓶 】 | noun | vase | | かぶる | | verb | wear (hat, cap, mask, helmet) | | かみ | 【紙 】 | noun | paper | | カメラ | | noun | camera | | かようび | 【火曜日 】 | noun | Tuesday | | からい | 【辛い 】 | adj. | hot, spicy | | からだ | 【体】 | noun | body | | かりる | 【借りる 】 | | borrow | | \~がる | | suf. | to feel \~ | | かるい | 【軽い】 | adj. | light | | カレンダー | | noun | calendar | | かわ | 【川 】 | noun | river | | かわ | 【河 】 | noun | river | | \~がわ | 【\~側】 | suf. | \~('s) side | | かわいい | | adj. | cute, adorable | | かんじ | 【漢字 】 | noun | kanji | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | き | 【木】 | noun | wood, tree | | きいろい | 【黄色い】 | noun | yellow | | きえる | 【消える】 | | to vanish | | きく | 【聞く】 | verb | to hear | | きた | 【北 】 | noun | north | | ギター | | noun | guitar | | きたない | 【汚い】 | adj. | dirty | | きっさてん | 【喫茶店】 | noun | coffee lounge | | きって | 【切手 】 | noun | postage stamp | | きっぷ | 【切符 】 | noun | ticket | | きのう | 【昨日 】 | noun | yesterday | | きゅう | 【九 】 | noun | nine | | ぎゅうにく | 【牛肉 】 | noun | beef | | きょう | 【今日 】 | noun | today | | きょうしつ | 【教室 】 | noun | classroom | | きょうだい | 【兄弟 】 | noun | siblings | | きょねん | 【去年 】 | noun | last year | | きらい | 【嫌い 】 | | dislike, hate | | きる | 【切る】 | | to cut, to chop | | きる | 【着る】 | | to wear | | きれい | | adj. | pretty, beautiful, clean | | キロ （キログラム） | noun | kilogram | | | キロ （キロメートル） | noun | kilometer | | | ぎんこう | 【銀行】 | noun | bank | | きんようび | 【金曜日】 | noun | Friday | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | く | 【工】 | noun | \~worker, \~smith | | くすり | 【薬】 | noun | medicine | | ください | | | please | | くだもの | 【果物 】 | noun | fruit | | くち | 【口 】 | noun | mouth, opening, orifice | | くつ | 【靴 】 | noun | shoes | | くつした | 【靴下 】 | noun | socks | | くに | 【国 】 | noun | country | | くもる | 【曇る 】 | verb | to become cloudy/dim | | くらい | 【暗い 】 | adj. | dark, gloomy | | \~くらい | | suf. | approximate (quantity) | | \~ぐらい | | suf. | approximate (quantity) | | クラス | | noun | class | | グラム | | noun | gram | | くる | 【来る】 | verb | to come | | くるま | 【車】 | noun | car, vehicle, wheel | | くろい | 【黒い】 | noun | black, dark | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | けさ | 【今朝】 | noun | this morning | | けす | 【消す】 | verb | to erase, to turn off | | けっこう | 【結構】 | adj. | splendid, nice, well enough | | けっこん | 【結婚 】 | noun | marriage | | げつようび | 【月曜日 】 | noun | Monday | | げんかん | 【玄関 】 | noun | entranceway, entry hall | | げんき | 【元気】 | noun | health, spirit, energy | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | \~こ | 【\~個】 | suf. | counter for military units | | ご | 【五】 | noun | five | | \~ご | 【\~語 】 | suf. | language, word | | こうえん | 【公園 】 | noun | (public) park | | こうばん | 【交番 】 | noun | police box | | こえ | 【声 】 | noun | voice | | コート | | noun | coat, tennis court | | ここ （指示詞） | pron. | here, this place | | | ごご | 【午後】 | noun | afternoon, PM | | ここのか | 【九日 】 | noun | nine days | | ここのつ | 【九つ 】 | noun | nine | | ごしゅじん | 【御主人 】 | noun | husband (hon) | | ごぜん | 【午前 】 | noun | morning, AM | | こたえる | 【答える 】 | | to answer, to reply | | こちら | | pron. | this person, this direction | | コップ | | noun | glass | | ことし | 【今年 】 | noun | this year | | ことば | 【言葉 】 | noun | word, language, speech | | こども | 【子供 】 | noun | child | | この | | | this | | ごはん | 【御飯 】 | noun | (cooked) rice | | こまる | 【困る 】 | | to be worried/bothered | | これ | | | this | | \~ころ | | suf. | time, about, toward | | \~ごろ | | suf. | time, about, toward | | こんげつ | 【今月 】 | noun | this month | | こんしゅう | 【今週 】 | noun | this week | | こんな | | | such, like this | | こんばん | 【今晩 】 | noun | tonight, this evening | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | さあ （感動詞） | | come, come now | | | \~さい | 【\~歳】 | suf. | \~years old | | さかな | 【魚】 | noun | fish | | さき | 【先】 | noun | the future, priority | | さく | 【咲く】 | verb | to bloom | | さくぶん | 【作文】 | noun | composition, writing | | さす （傘をさす） | verb | to raise (stretch out) hands | | | \~さつ | 【\~冊】 | suf. | counter for books | | ざっし | 【雑誌】 | noun | journal, magazine | | さとう | 【砂糖】 | noun | sugar | | さむい | 【寒い】 | adj. | cold (weather) | | さらいねん | 【再来年】 | noun | year after next | | \~さん | | suf. | Mr., Mrs., Ms. | | さん | 【三】 | noun | three | | さんぽ | 【散歩】 | noun | walk, stroll | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | し | 【四】 | noun | four | | \~じ | \~時 | suf. | time (o'clock) | | しお | 【塩】 | noun | salt | | しかし | | conj. | however, but | | じかん | 【時間】 | noun | time | | \~じかん | 【\~時間】 | suf. | \~ hours | | しごと | 【仕事】 | noun | work, occupation | | じしょ | 【辞書】 | noun | dictionary, lexicon | | しずか | 【静か】 | adj. | quiet, peaceful | | した | 【下】 | | under, below, beneath | | しち | 【七】 | noun | seven | | しつもん | 【質問】 | noun | question, inquiry | | じてんしゃ | 【自転車】 | noun | bicycle | | じどうしゃ | 【自動車】 | noun | automobile | | しぬ | 【死ぬ】 | verb | to die | | じびき | 【字引】 | noun | dictionary | | じぶん | 【自分】 | noun | myself, oneself | | しまる | 【閉まる】 | verb | to close, to be closed | | しめる | 【閉める】 | | to close, to shut | | しめる | 【締める】 | | to tie, to fasten | | じゃ （感動詞） | | well, well then | | | じゃあ （感動詞） | | well, well then | | | しゃしん | 【写真】 | noun | photograph | | シャツ | | noun | shirt, singlet | | じゅう | 【十】 | noun | ten | | \~しゅうかん | 【\~週間】 | suf. | \~weeks | | じゅぎょう | 【授業】 | noun | lesson, class work | | しゅくだい | 【宿題】 | noun | homework | | じょうず | 【上手】 | adj. | skill, skillful, dexterity | | じょうぶ | 【丈夫】 | | hero, gentleman | | しょうゆ | 【醤油】 | noun | soy sauce | | しょくどう | 【食堂】 | noun | cafeteria, dining hall | | しる | 【知る】 | | to know, to understand | | しろい | 【白い】 | noun | white | | \~じん | 【\~人】 | suf. | \~person | | しんぶん | 【新聞】 | noun | newspaper | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | すいようび | 【水曜日】 | noun | Wednesday | | すう | 【吸う】 | verb | to smoke, to breathe | | スカート | | noun | skirt | | すき | 【好き】 | | liking, fondness, love | | \~すぎ | | | past, after, too much | | すぐに | | | instantly | | すこし | 【少し】 | noun | small quantity | | すずしい | 【涼しい】 | adj. | cool, refreshing | | \~ずつ | | suf. | apiece, each, at a time | | ストーブ | | noun | heater | | スプーン | | noun | spoon | | スポーツ | | noun | sport(s) | | ズボン | | noun | trousers | | すむ | 【住む】 | verb | to abide, to reside | | スリッパ | | noun | slippers | | する | | verb | to do, to try | | すわる | 【座る】 | verb | to sit | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | せい | 【背】 | noun | height, stature | | せいと | 【生徒】 | noun | pupil | | セーター | | noun | sweater | | せっけん | | noun | soap | | せびろ | 【背広】 | noun | business suit | | せまい | 【狭い】 | adj. | narrow, confined | | ゼロ | | noun | zero | | せん | 【千】 | noun | thousand, many | | せんげつ | 【先月】 | noun | last month | | せんしゅう | 【先週】 | noun | last week | | せんせい | 【先生】 | noun | teacher, master, doctor | | せんたく | 【洗濯】 | noun | washing, laundry | | ぜんぶ | 【全部】 | | all, entire, whole | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | そう （そうです） | | so, really | | | そうじ | 【掃除】 | noun | cleaning, sweeping | | そうして | | conj. | and, like that | | そして | | conj. | and | | そこ （指示詞） | pron. | that place, there | | | そちら | | | over there, the other | | そと | 【外】 | noun | outside, exterior | | その （連体詞） | | that, the | | | そば （窓のそば） | | near, close, beside | | | そら | 【空】 | noun | the sky | | それ （指示詞） | pron. | that, it | | | それから | | conj. | and then, after that | | それでは | | | in that situation, well then... | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | \~だい | 【\~台 】 | suf. | counter for vehicles | | だいがく | 【大学 】 | noun | university | | たいしかん | 【大使館 】 | noun | embassy | | だいじょうぶ | 【大丈夫 】 | adj. | safe, all right, OK | | だいすき | 【大好き 】 | adj. | very likeable | | たいせつ | 【大切 】 | adj. | important | | たいてい | | | usually, generally | | だいどころ | 【台所 】 | noun | kitchen | | たいへん | | adj. | awful, dreadful, terrible | | たかい | 【高い 】 | adj. | tall, high, expensive | | たくさん | | | many, a lot, much | | タクシー | | noun | taxi | | だす | 【出す】 | verb | to put out, to send | | \~たち | | | (plural suffix) e.g. | | たつ | 【立つ】 | verb | to stand | | たてもの | 【建物 】 | noun | building | | たのしい | 【楽しい 】 | adj. | enjoyable, fun | | たのむ | 【頼む 】 | verb | to request, to beg | | たばこ | | noun | tobacco, cigarettes | | たぶん | | | perhaps, probably | | たべもの | 【食べ物 】 | noun | food | | たべる | 【食べる】 | | to eat | | たまご | 【卵 】 | noun | spawn, eggs, roe | | だれ | | | who | | たんじょうび | 【誕生日 】 | noun | birthday | | だんだん | | | gradually, by degrees | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ちいさい | 【小さい 】 | adj. | small, little, tiny | | ちかい | 【近い 】 | adj. | near, close by, short | | ちがう | 【違う 】 | verb | to differ (from) | | ちかく | 【近く 】 | noun | near, neighborhood | | ちかてつ | 【地下鉄 】 | noun | underground train | | ちず | 【地図】 | noun | map | | ちち | 【父 】 | noun | father (humble) | | ちゃいろ | 【茶色 】 | | light brown, tawny | | ちゃわん | | noun | rice bowl, teacup | | \~ちゅう | 【\~中 】 | | middle, during | | ちょうど | | | just, right, exactly | | ちょっと | | | just a minute, a short time | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ついたち | 【一日 】 | noun | first of the month | | つかう | 【使う 】 | verb | to use, to handle | | つかれる | 【疲れる 】 | | to get tired, to tire | | つぎ | 【次 】 | noun | next, stage, station | | つく | 【着く】 | verb | to arrive at, to reach | | つくえ | 【机 】 | noun | desk | | つくる | 【作る 】 | verb | to make, to create | | つける | | | to attach, to join | | つとめる | 【勤める 】 | | to serve, to fill a post | | つまらない | | adj. | insignificant, boring, trifling | | つめたい | 【冷たい 】 | adj. | cold, icy, freezing | | つよい | 【強い 】 | adj. | strong, powerful | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | て | 【手】 | noun | hand | | テープ | | noun | tape | | テープレコーダー | noun | tape recorder | | | テーブル | | noun | table | | でかける | 【出かける】 | | to depart, to go out | | てがみ | 【手紙 】 | noun | letter | | できる （英語ができる） | | to be able to | | | でぐち | 【出口 】 | noun | exit, gateway, outlet | | テスト | | noun | test | | では （感動詞） | | then, well, so, well then | | | デパート | | noun | department store | | でも | | conj. | but, however | | でる | 【出る】 | | to appear, to come forth | | テレビ | | noun | television, TV | | てんき | 【天気 】 | noun | weather, the elements | | でんき | 【電気 】 | noun | electricity, (electric) light | | でんしゃ | 【電車 】 | noun | electric train | | でんわ | 【電話 】 | noun | telephone | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | と | 【戸】 | noun | door (Japanese style) | | \~ど | 【\~度】 | suf. | counter for occurences | | ドア | | noun | door (Western style) | | トイレ | | noun | toilet, restroom | | どう （副詞） | | | how, in what way | | どうして | | | why?, for what reason | | どうぞ | | | please, kindly, by all means | | どうぶつ | 【動物 】 | noun | animal | | どうも | | | thanks, how, (very) much | | とお | 【十 】 | noun | ten | | とおい | 【遠い 】 | adj. | far, distant | | とおか | 【十日 】 | noun | ten days, the 10th of the month | | ときどき | 【時々 】 | | sometimes | | とけい | 【時計 】 | noun | watch, clock | | どこ | | | where, what place | | ところ | 【所 】 | noun | place | | としょかん | 【図書館 】 | noun | library | | どちら | | | which (of two), who | | とても | | adv. | very, awfully, exceedingly | | どなた | | | who? | | となり | 【隣 】 | | next to, next door to | | どの （どの人） | | which, what (way) | | | とぶ | 【飛ぶ】 | | to jump, to fly | | とまる | 【止まる】 | | to stop, to come to a halt | | ともだち | 【友達 】 | noun | friend | | どようび | 【土曜日 】 | noun | Saturday | | とり | 【鳥 】 | noun | bird, fowl, poultry | | とりにく | 【鳥肉 】 | noun | chicken meat | | とる | 【取る】 | | to take | | とる | 【撮る】 | | to take | | どれ | | | well, now | | どんな | | | what, what kind of | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ない | | | there isn't | | ナイフ | | noun | knife | | なか | 【中 】 | | inside, middle | | ながい | 【長い 】 | adj. | long | | なく | 【鳴く】 | verb | to bark, to purr | | なつ | 【夏 】 | noun | summer | | なつやすみ | 【夏休み 】 | noun | summer vacation | | \~など | | | et cetera | | ななつ | 【七つ 】 | noun | seven | | なに | 【何 】 | | what | | なん | 【何 】 | | what | | なのか | 【七日 】 | noun | seven days | | なまえ | 【名前 】 | noun | name | | ならう | 【習う 】 | verb | to learn | | ならぶ | 【並ぶ 】 | verb | to line up | | ならべる | 【並べる 】 | | to line up, to set up | | なる | | verb | to become | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | に | 【二】 | noun | two | | にぎやか | | adj. | bustling, busy | | にく | 【肉 】 | noun | meat | | にし | 【西 】 | noun | west | | \~にち | 【\~日 】 | | day of the month | | にちようび | 【日曜日 】 | noun | Sunday | | にもつ | 【荷物 】 | noun | luggage | | ニュース | | noun | news | | にわ | 【庭 】 | noun | garden | | \~にん | 【\~人 】 | | counter for people | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ぬぐ | 【脱ぐ】 | verb | to take off clothes | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ネクタイ | | noun | necktie | | ねる | 【寝る】 | verb | to sleep, to lie down | | \~ねん | 【\~年 】 | suf. | \~year(s) | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ノート | | noun | notebook, copybook | | のぼる | 【登る 】 | verb | to climb | | のみもの | 【飲み物 】 | noun | drink, beverage | | のむ | 【飲む】 | verb | to drink | | のる | 【乗る】 | verb | to get on, to ride in | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | は | 【歯】 | noun | tooth | | パーティー | | noun | party | | はい | | | yes | | \~はい | 【\~杯 】 | suf. | counter for cupfuls | | はいざら | 【灰皿 】 | noun | ashtray | | はいる | 【入る 】 | verb | to enter/to break into | | はがき | 【葉書 】 | noun | postcard | | はく | | verb | to wear/to put on (a sword) | | はこ | 【箱 】 | noun | box | | はし | 【橋 】 | noun | bridge | | はし | | noun | chopsticks | | はじまる | 【始まる 】 | verb | to begin | | はじめに | 【初めに 】 | | to begin with | | はじめて | 【初めて 】 | | for the first time | | はしる | 【走る 】 | | to run | | バス | | noun | bus/bath/bass | | バター | | noun | butter | | はたち | 【二十歳 】 | noun | 20 years old/20th year | | はたらく | 【働く 】 | verb | to work/to labor | | はち | 【八 】 | noun | eight | | はつか | 【二十日 】 | noun | twenty days | | はな | 【花 】 | noun | flower | | はな | 【鼻 】 | noun | nose | | はなし | 【話 】 | noun | talk/speech/chat | | はなす | 【話す 】 | verb | to speak | | はは | 【母 】 | noun | mother | | はやい | 【早い 】 | adj. | early | | はやい | 【速い 】 | adj. | quick/fast/swift | | はる | 【春 】 | | spring | | はる | | verb | to stick/to paste | | はれる | 【晴れる】 | | to be sunny | | はん | 【半 】 | noun | half | | ばん | 【晩 】 | noun | evening | | ～ばん | 【～番 】 | suf. | number ～ | | パン | | noun | bread/panning | | ハンカチ | | noun | handkerchief | | ばんごう | 【番号 】 | noun | number/series of digits | | ばんごはん | 【晩御飯 】 | noun | dinner/evening meal | | はんぶん | 【半分 】 | noun | half minute | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ひがし | 【東 】 | noun | east | | \~ひき | 【\~匹 】 | suf. | small animal counter | | ひく | 【引く】 | verb | minus/to pull/to play | | ひく | 【弾く】 | verb | to play (piano, guitar) | | ひくい | 【低い 】 | adj. | short/low/humble | | ひこうき | 【飛行機 】 | noun | airplane | | ひだり | 【左 】 | noun | left hand side | | ひと | 【人 】 | noun | man/person/human being | | ひとつ | 【一つ 】 | noun | one | | ひとつき | 【一月 】 | noun | one month | | ひとり | 【一人 】 | noun | one person | | ひま | 【暇 】 | noun | free time/leisure/leave | | ひゃく | 【百 】 | noun | 100/hundred | | びょういん | 【病院 】 | noun | hospital | | びょうき | 【病気 】 | noun | illness/disease/sickness | | ひらがな | 【平仮名 】 | noun | hiragana/47 syllables | | ひる | 【昼 】 | noun | noon/daytime | | ひるごはん | 【昼御飯 】 | noun | lunch/midday meal | | ひろい | 【広い 】 | adj. | spacious/vast/wide | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | フィルム | | noun | film (roll of) | | ふうとう | 【封筒 】 | noun | envelope | | プール | | noun | swimming pool | | フォーク | | noun | fork/folk | | ふく | 【吹く】 | verb | to blow (e.g. wind) | | ふく | 【服 】 | noun | clothes | | ふたつ | 【二つ 】 | noun | two | | ぶたにく | 【豚肉 】 | noun | pork | | ふたり | 【二人 】 | noun | two persons/two people | | ふつか | 【二日 】 | noun | second day of the month | | ふとい | 【太い 】 | adj. | fat/thick | | ふゆ | 【冬 】 | noun | winter | | ふる | 【降る】 | verb | to precipitate | | ふるい | 【古い 】 | adj. | old (not of person) | | ふろ | 【風呂】 | noun | bath | | \~ふん | 【\~分 】 | suf. | \~ minutes | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | へた | 【下手】 | adj. | unskillful, poor, awkward | | ベッド | | noun | bed | | へや | 【部屋】 | noun | room | | へん | 【辺 】 | noun | area, vicinity | | ペン | | noun | pen | | べんきょう | 【勉強 】 | noun | study, diligence, discount | | べんり | 【便利 】 | adj. | convenient, handy, useful | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ほう （比較を表す） | verb | divide | | | ぼうし | 【帽子 】 | noun | hat | | ボールペン | | noun | ballpoint pen | | ほか | 【外 】 | noun | other place/the rest | | ポケット | | noun | pocket | | ほしい | 【欲しい】 | adj. | wanted/wished for | | ほそい | 【細い 】 | adj. | thin/slender/fine | | ボタン | | noun | button | | ホテル | | noun | hotel | | ほん | 【本 】 | noun | book | | \~ほん | 【\~本 】 | suf. | counter for long cylindrical things | | ほんだな | 【本棚 】 | noun | bookshelves | | ほんとうに | 【本当に】 | adv. | really/truly | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | \~まい | 【\~枚 】 | suf. | counter for flat things | | まいあさ | 【毎朝 】 | adj. | every morning | | まいげつ | 【毎月 】 | adj. | every month/each month | | まいつき | 【毎月 】 | adj. | every month/each month | | まいしゅう | 【毎週 】 | adj. | every week | | まいにち | 【毎日 】 | adj. | every day | | まいねん | 【毎年 】 | adj. | every year/yearly | | まいとし | 【毎年 】 | adj. | every year/yearly | | まいばん | 【毎晩 】 | adj. | every night | | まえ | 【前 】 | | before/in front/fore part | | \~まえ | 【\~前 】 | suf. | before/in front | | まがる | 【曲る 】 | verb | to turn/to bend | | まずい | | adj. | unappetising/unpleasant | | また | | conj. | again/and | | まだ | | | yet/still/more/besides | | まち | 【町 】 | noun | (1) town (2) street/road | | まつ | 【待つ】 | verb | to wait | | まっすぐ | | adj. | straight (ahead)/direct | | マッチ | | noun | match | | まど | 【窓 】 | noun | window | | まるい | 【丸い 】 | adj. | round/circular | | まるい | 【円い 】 | adj. | round/circular | | まん | 【万 】 | noun | 10,000/ten thousand | | まんねんひつ | 【万年筆 】 | noun | fountain pen | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | みがく | 【磨く 】 | verb | to polish/to shine | | みぎ | 【右 】 | noun | right hand side | | みじかい | 【短い 】 | adj. | short | | みず | 【水 】 | noun | water | | みせ | 【店 】 | noun | store/shop | | みせる | 【見せる】 | verb | to show/to display | | みち | 【道 】 | noun | road/street/way | | みっか | 【三日 】 | noun | three days/the third day | | みっつ | 【三つ 】 | noun | three | | みなさん | 【皆さん 】 | noun | everyone | | みなみ | 【南 】 | noun | south/proceeding south | | みみ | 【耳 】 | noun | ear | | みる | 【見る】 | verb | to see | | みんな | | | all/everyone | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | むいか | 【六日 】 | noun | six days | | むこう | 【向こう】 | noun | beyond | | むずかしい | 【難しい 】 | adj. | difficult | | むっつ | 【六つ 】 | noun | six | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | め | 【目】 | noun | eye | | メートル | | noun | meter | | めがね | 【眼鏡】 | noun | glasses | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | もう （もう、帰りました） | | already | | | もう （もう一度） | | already | | | もくようび | 【木曜日 】 | noun | thursday | | もしもし | | inter. | hello (on phone) | | もちろん | | | of course | | もつ | 【持つ】 | verb | to hold | | もっと | | | more | | もの | 【物 】 | noun | thing | | もん | 【門 】 | noun | gate | | もんだい | 【問題 】 | noun | problem | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | \~や | 【\~屋】 | suf. | \~store | | やおや | 【八百屋】 | noun | greengrocer | | やさい | 【野菜 】 | noun | vegetable | | やさしい | 【易しい 】 | adj. | easy | | やすい | 【安い 】 | adj. | cheap | | やすみ | 【休み 】 | noun | rest | | やすむ | 【休む 】 | | to rest/to have a break | | やっつ | 【八つ 】 | noun | eight | | やま | 【山 】 | noun | mountain | | やる （仕事をやる） | verb | sexual intercourse | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ゆうがた | 【夕方 】 | | evening | | ゆうびんきょく | 【郵便局 】 | noun | post office | | ゆうべ （’昨晩’の意） | | evening | | | ゆうめい | 【有名 】 | noun | fame | | ゆき | 【雪 】 | noun | snow | | ゆっくり | | | slowly | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ようか | 【八日 】 | noun | eight days | | ようふく | 【洋服 】 | noun | Western-style | | よく （よく行く） | | frequently | | | よく （よくできる） | | nice | | | よこ | 【横 】 | | beside | | よっか | 【四日 】 | noun | four days | | よっつ | 【四つ 】 | noun | four | | よぶ | 【呼ぶ】 | verb | to call out | | よむ | 【読む】 | verb | to read | | よる | 【夜】 | noun | evening/night | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | らいげつ | 【来月 】 | noun | next month | | らいしゅう | 【来週 】 | noun | next week | | らいねん | 【来年 】 | noun | next year | | ラジオ | | noun | radio | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | りっぱ | | adj. | splendid | | りゅうがくせい | 【留学生 】 | noun | overseas student | | りょうしん | 【両親 】 | noun | parents | | りょうり | 【料理 】 | noun | cooking | | りょこう | 【旅行 】 | noun | travel/trip | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | れい | 【零 】 | noun | zero/nought | | れいぞうこ | 【冷蔵庫 】 | noun | refrigerator | | レコード | | noun | record | | レストラン | | noun | restaurant | | れんしゅう | 【練習 】 | noun | practice | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ろく | 【六】 | noun | six | | | | | | | | | | | | Kana | Kanji | Type | Meaning | | ワイシャツ | | noun | "Y shirt" | | わかい | 【若い 】 | adj. | young | | わかる | 【分かる 】 | verb | to be understood | | わすれる | 【忘れる 】 | verb | to forget | | わたくし | 【私 】 | pron. | I | | わたし | 【私】 | pron. | I | | わたす | 【渡す 】 | verb | to pass over | | わたる | 【渡る 】 | verb | to cross over | | わるい | 【悪い 】 | adj. | bad/inferior | ### TOPIK I (1&2) Vocabulary | 600 Essential Words You Need to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/topik-1-vocabulary/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:05:54.000Z Deer Korean learners, are you planning to take the TOPIK test? While passing the TOPIK test will surely provide you with a valuable certificate, preparing for the test can also motivate you as a short-term goal. So today, we present you with a list of 600+ beginner-level Korean vocabulary to help you better prepare for the TOPIK 1 test! If you want to [learn Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) in a more systematic and fun way, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is the best place to get started. [The Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)](http://www.topik.go.kr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a Korean language test for non-native speakers of Korean. If you are in Korea, you can take the test six times every year (Jan, Apr, May, Jul, Oct, Nov). If you are outside Korea, it may be less frequent. Check your local Topik official websites for detailed information. Below is the list of beginner-level Korean vocabulary for the TOPIK 1 test. If you wish to learn more, try [naver dictionary's TOPIK word list](https://m.blog.naver.com/dic%5Fmaster/222252169502?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) provided by [National Institute for International Education (NIIED)](http://www.niied.go.kr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), which operates TOPIK. Now let's dive in! You can download the list [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/topik-1-word-list.pdf). | 가게 | store, shop | | ------ | ------------------------------------------ | | 가격 | price | | 가구 | furniture | | 가깝다 | close | | 가르치다 | teach | | 가방 | bag | | 가수 | singer | | 가슴 | chest, breast | | 가위 | scissors | | 가을 | autumn, fall | | 가장 | most | | 가져가다 | take away | | 가져오다 | bring | | 가족 | family | | 간단하다 | simple, easy | | 간단히 | simply | | 간식 | snack | | 간호사 | nurse | | 갈색 | brown | | 갈아타다 | transfer | | 감기 | cold | | 감사 | thank | | 감사합니다 | thank you | | 감자 | potato | | 강아지 | puppy | | 같다 | same | | 같이 | together | | 개 | dog, \~ piece(s) | | 거울 | mirror | | 거의 | almost, nearly | | 거짓말 | lie | | 것 | that, thing, it | | 게임 | game | | 겨울 | winter | | 경주 | Gyeongju | | 경찰 | police | | 계단 | stairs | | 계란 | egg | | 고기 | meat | | 고등학교 | high school | | 고등학생 | high school student | | 고맙습니다 | Thank you | | 고양이 | cat | | 곳 | place | | 공부하다 | study | | 공연 | show, public performance | | 공원 | park | | 공중전화 | payphone, public phone | | 과 | division | | 과거 | past | | 과일 | fruit | | 과자 | snack | | 과학 | science | | 관계 | relation | | 관광하다 | travel, sightsee | | 관심 | attention, interest | | 광고 | advertisement | | 괜찮습니다 | It's fine. | | 교수 | professor | | 교실 | classroom | | 교통 | traffic | | 그 | it | | 그것 | it | | 그곳 | there | | 그날 | that day | | 그냥 | just, as it is | | 그리고 | and | | 그리다 | draw | | 그림 | drawing, picture | | 금요일 | Friday | | 기사 | article, driver, engineer | | 기자 | reporter | | 기차 | train | | 김밥 | Kimbab | | 김치 | Kimchi | | 꽃 | flower | | 나 | I | | 나가다 | go out, get out | | 나라 | country | | 나무 | tree | | 나쁘다 | bad | | 나이 | age, old | | 나타나다 | appear | | 날 | day | | 날씨 | weather | | 날짜 | date | | 남 | south, man | | 남자 | man | | 내 | of mine, my | | 내가 | I | | 내일 | tomorrow | | 냉장고 | refrigerator | | 너 | you | | 너무 | too, very | | 넓다 | wide | | 넘다 | exceed, more than | | 넣다 | put in | | 년 | year | | 노란색 | yellow color | | 노래 | song | | 노래방 | Karaoke shop | | 노래하다 | sing | | 녹색 | green | | 녹차 | green tea | | 놀다 | play | | 농구 | basketball | | 높다 | high | | 놓다 | put | | 누가 | who | | 누구 | who | | 누나 | sister (as seen from the younger brother) | | 눈 | eye, snow | | 닭 | chicken, hen | | 닭고기 | chicken | | 대학 | university, college | | 대학교 | university, college | | 대학생 | college student | | 대한민국 | Republic of Korea, South Korea | | 대화 | conversation, dialogue | | 덥다 | hot | | 덮다 | cover | | 도서관 | library | | 도시 | city | | 동물 | animal | | 동생 | brother, sister | | 동아리 | club, group | | 동안 | during, between | | 돼지 | pig | | 돼지고기 | pork | | 되다 | become | | 두 | two | | 두껍다 | thick | | 드라마 | drama | | 듣기 | listening, hearing | | 듣다 | listen | | 들어가다 | go in, enter | | 들어오다 | come in, enter | | 등 | etc, back | | 등산 | hiking, mountain-climbing | | 딸기 | strawberry | | 러시아 | Russia | | 마리 | \~ animal(s), \~ head(s) | | 마시다 | drink | | 마음 | mind, feeling | | 마지막 | last | | 만나다 | meet | | 만두 | dumpling | | 많다 | many | | 많이 | a lot of, many | | 말 | word, talk | | 말하기 | speaking | | 말하다 | say, talk | | 맑다 | clear, clean | | 맛 | flavor, taste | | 맛없다 | not delicious | | 맛있다 | delicious | | 맞다 | right, fit, correct | | 맞습니다 | That's right. | | 맞아요 | That's right. | | 매우 | extremely, very | | 매일 | everyday | | 매주 | every week | | 맥주 | beer | | 맵다 | spicy | | 머리 | head, hair | | 먹다 | eat | | 먼저 | first, first of all, before | | 멀다 | far, distant, long | | 멋있다 | cool, nice | | 메뉴 | menu | | 메시지 | message | | 멕시코 | Mexico | | 명 | \~ person(s) | | 몇 | a few, a number of | | 모두 | all, everyone | | 모레 | the day after tomorrow | | 문 | door, gate | | 문구점 | stationery store | | 문장 | sentence | | 문제 | problem | | 문화 | culture | | 물 | water | | 물건 | stuff, thing | | 물론 | sure, of course | | 물어보다 | ask | | 뭐 | what | | 미국 | The United States | | 미래 | future | | 미리 | in advance, beforehand | | 미술 | art | | 미술관 | art gallery, art museum | | 미안합니다 | I'm sorry. | | 미용실 | beauty salon | | 바뀌다 | be changed | | 바나나 | banana | | 바다 | sea | | 밤 | night | | 밥 | rice, meal | | 방 | room | | 방법 | way, method | | 베트남 | Vietnam | | 벽 | wall | | 변호사 | lawyer | | 별 | star | | 별로 | not really | | 병 | illness, \~ bottle(s) | | 병원 | hospital | | 보내다 | send, spend | | 보다 | see | | 보도 | sidewalk, report | | 보이다 | show, look | | 보통 | usually, normally, in general | | 복숭아 | peach | | 복잡하다 | complicated, crowded | | 볶다 | fry | | 볶음밥 | fried rice | | 봄 | spring | | 봉지 | bag | | 봉투 | envelope | | 부동산 | real estate | | 부드럽다 | soft, friendly | | 부르다 | call, sing | | 부모 | parents | | 부부 | couple, husband and wife, married couple | | 비슷하다 | similar, like | | 비싸다 | expensive | | 비행기 | airplane | | 사과 | apple | | 사다 | buy | | 사람 | person, man | | 사랑 | love | | 사랑하다 | love | | 사무실 | office | | 사물 | object, thing | | 사십 | 40 | | 사용하다 | use | | 사이 | between, while | | 사이다 | cider | | 사이즈 | size | | 사전 | dictionary | | 사진 | picture, photo | | 사촌 | cousin | | 사탕 | candy | | 산 | mountain | | 산책 | walk | | 살 | flesh, \~ year(s) old | | 살다 | live | | 새벽 | dawn, late at night, early morning | | 새우 | shrimp | | 색 | color | | 색깔 | color | | 샌드위치 | sandwich | | 생각 | thinking, thought | | 생일 | birthday | | 서울 | Seoul | | 서울역 | Seoul station | | 서점 | bookstore | | 서쪽 | west, western | | 선물 | gift, present | | 선배 | elder, senior | | 선생님 | teacher | | 선수 | player | | 선택하다 | choose, select | | 선풍기 | fan | | 소 | small, cow | | 소개 | introduction | | 소개하다 | introduce | | 소고기 | beef | | 소금 | salt | | 소리 | sound, voice | | 소설 | novel | | 수박 | watermelon | | 수영 | swimming | | 수영복 | swimsuit | | 수영장 | swimming pool | | 수요일 | Wednesday | | 시 | city, time | | 시간 | time | | 시간표 | schedule, timetable | | 시계 | clock | | 시원하다 | cool, refresh | | 시월 | October | | 시작 | start | | 시작하다 | start, begin | | 시장 | market | | 시청 | city hall | | 시험 | exam, test | | 식당 | restaurant, cafeteria | | 식사 | meal | | 신발 | shoes, footwear | | 신청서 | application forms | | 신청하다 | put in for, apply for | | 싸다 | cheap, wrap | | 싸우다 | fight | | 쌀 | rice | | 쓰기 | writing, dictation | | 쓰다 | write, use, wear (glasses) | | 쓰레기 | garbage | | 씻다 | wash | | 아가씨 | Miss, daughter | | 아기 | baby, toddler | | 아까 | earlier, while ago | | 아내 | wife | | 아뇨 | no | | 아니다 | no | | 아니오 | no | | 아니요 | no | | 아들 | son | | 아랍어 | Arabic | | 아래 | bottom, under | | 아름답다 | beautiful | | 아마 | maybe, perhaps | | 아무 | any | | 아버님 | father | | 아버지 | father | | 아빠 | dad | | 아시아 | Asia | | 아이 | child | | 아이스크림 | ice cream | | 아저씨 | uncle, mister | | 아주 | very, completely | | 아주머니 | old lady, madame, aunt | | 아줌마 | old lady, madame, aunt | | 아직 | yet, still | | 아침 | morning, breakfast | | 아침식사 | breakfast | | 아파트 | apartment, mansion | | 아프다 | painful, sick | | 아프리카 | Africa | | 안녕하세요 | hi, hello | | 안녕하십니까 | hello | | 언니 | sister (as seen from the younger sister) | | 언제 | when | | 얼굴 | face | | 얼마나 | how much | | 얼음 | ice | | 엄마 | mom | | 없다 | none, no, not | | 없이 | without | | 여행 | travel | | 여행사 | travel agency, travel firm | | 역 | station | | 역사 | history | | 열 | 10 | | 열다 | open | | 열리다 | be opened | | 열쇠 | key | | 열심히 | hard, enthusiastic | | 열차 | train | | 영 | spirit, zero | | 영국 | The United Kingdom | | 영상 | video | | 영어 | English | | 옆 | side | | 예 | yes | | 예문 | example, model sentence | | 예쁘다 | pretty, beautiful | | 예순 | 60 | | 예약 | reservation | | 옛날 | a long ago, olden days | | 오늘 | today | | 오다 | come | | 오른쪽 | right side, right | | 오리 | duck | | 오빠 | brother (as seen from the younger brother) | | 오월 | May | | 오이 | cucumber | | 오전 | morning, a.m. | | 오징어 | squid | | 오후 | afternoon | | 올라가다 | go up | | 올라오다 | come up | | 올려놓다 | put on, place | | 옷 | dress, clothes | | 옷가게 | clothing store | | 옷장 | closet | | 왜 | why | | 왜냐하면 | because | | 외국 | foreign country | | 외국어 | foreign language | | 외국인 | foreigner | | 외출하다 | go out | | 외할머니 | maternal grandmother | | 외할아버지 | maternal grandfather | | 왼쪽 | left | | 요금 | fee | | 요르단 | Jordan | | 요리 | cooking, cuisine | | 요일 | day of the week | | 요즘 | nowadays, around this time, lately | | 우리 | we, us | | 우산 | umbrella | | 우선 | first | | 우유 | milk | | 우체국 | post office | | 우표 | stamp | | 운동 | exercise | | 운동하다 | exercise | | 운동화 | sports shoes | | 운전하다 | drive | | 울다 | cry | | 울리다 | make cry, chime | | 웃다 | laugh | | 원 | won (currency units of Korea) | | 원피스 | one-piece dress | | 원하다 | want, wish, desire | | 월 | month | | 월급 | monthly salary | | 월드컵 | world cup | | 월세 | monthly rent | | 월요일 | Monday | | 위 | top, up | | 위치 | location, position | | 위험하다 | dangerous | | 유럽 | Europe | | 유리 | glass | | 유명하다 | famous | | 유학 | study abroad | | 유학생 | foreign student, international student | | 유행 | trend | | 은행 | bank | | 음료수 | drink, soft drink | | 음식 | food, cooking | | 음악 | music | | 의미 | meaning | | 의사 | doctor | | 의자 | chair | | 이 | this, tooth, 2 | | 이것 | this | | 이곳 | this place, here | | 이따가 | later | | 이런 | this, such \~ | | 이렇게 | like this, so, in this way | | 이렇다 | like this | | 이름 | name | | 이메일 | e-mail | | 이모 | maternal aunt | | 이모부 | maternal uncle | | 이번 | this time | | 이분 | this person | | 이사 | move, moving | | 이상 | more than, strange | | 이상하다 | strange, funny, weird | | 이십 | 20 | | 이야기 | story | | 이야기하다 | talk | | 이용 | usage | | 이용하다 | use | | 이월 | February | | 이유 | reason | | 이제 | now | | 일본 | Japan | | 일어나다 | rise, stand, occur | | 일요일 | Sunday | | 일월 | January | | 일주일 | one week | | 일찍 | early | | 일하다 | work | | 일흔 | 70 | | 읽기 | reading | | 읽다 | read | | 잃다 | lose | | 잃어버리다 | lose | | 입 | mouth | | 입구 | entrance | | 있다 | have, there | | 잊다 | forget | | 잊어버리다 | forget | | 자 | character, Here we go. | | 자기 | myself, own | | 자다 | sleep | | 자동차 | car, automobile | | 자리 | seat, location | | 자신 | myself, own | | 자유 | freedom | | 장소 | place | | 재미없다 | not funny, uninteresting | | 재미있다 | interesting | | 전공 | major | | 전화 | telephone | | 전화기 | telephone | | 전화번호 | phone number | | 점수 | score, point | | 점심 | lunch | | 점심시간 | lunchtime | | 점심식사 | lunch | | 정말 | really, truly | | 정문 | front door, main gate | | 정보 | information | | 정하다 | choose, establish | | 제가 | I | | 제목 | title | | 제일 | most | | 제주도 | Jeju Island | | 조금 | a little | | 조사하다 | investigate | | 조선 | shipbuilding, Korea | | 조심하다 | be careful, warn | | 조용하다 | silent, quiet | | 조용히 | quietly | | 조카 | nephew | | 졸업하다 | graduate | | 종류 | kind, type | | 종업원 | employee | | 종이 | paper | | 종일 | all day | | 좋다 | good | | 좋아하다 | like | | 죄송하다 | sorry | | 주 | week | | 주다 | give | | 주로 | mainly | | 주말 | weekend | | 주사 | injection | | 주소 | address | | 주스 | juice | | 주인 | owner | | 주차장 | parking lot | | 죽다 | die | | 준비 | preparation | | 준비하다 | prepare | | 중 | medium, during | | 중국 | China | | 중국어 | Chinese | | 중요 | importance | | 중요하다 | important | | 중학교 | middle school, Junior high school | | 중학생 | middle school student | | 지각 | tardy, being late | | 지갑 | wallet | | 지금 | now | | 지나다 | pass by | | 지도 | map | | 지방 | fat, region | | 지우개 | eraser | | 지하철 | subway | | 지하철역 | subway station | | 직업 | job, profession | | 직원 | employee, staff | | 질문하다 | ask a question | | 짐 | load, baggage | | 집 | house, shop | | 짜리 | a value (won coin) | | 짧다 | short | | 쪽 | side, page | | 쯤 | about, around \~ | | 찌개 | stew, soup | | 차 | car, tea | | 차갑다 | cold | | 창문 | window | | 찾다 | find, visit | | 채소 | vegetable | | 책 | book | | 책방 | bookstore | | 책상 | desk | | 책임 | responsibility | | 책장 | bookshelf | | 처음 | first, for the first time | | 천 | 1000 | | 천천히 | slowly | | 첫 | first | | 초 | \~second(s) | | 초대하다 | invite | | 초등학교 | elementary school | | 초등학생 | elementary student | | 초록색 | green color | | 초콜릿 | chocolate | | 촬영하다 | take a picture | | 추다 | dance | | 추석 | Chusoku (Korean Thanksgiving Day) | | 추억 | memory | | 축구 | football, soccer | | 축제 | festival | | 축하합니다 | congratulations | | 출구 | exit | | 출근하다 | go to work | | 출발 | start, departure | | 출발하다 | depart | | 춤 | dance | | 춤추다 | dance | | 춥다 | cold | | 취미 | hobby | | 취소하다 | cancel | | 치과 | dentist, dentistry | | 치료하다 | treat | | 치마 | skirt | | 치약 | toothpaste | | 친구 | friend | | 친절하다 | be kind | | 침대 | bed | | 칫솔 | toothbrush | | 카드 | card | | 카레 | curry | | 카메라 | camera | | 카페 | cafe, coffee shops | | 칼 | knife, cutlery, swords | | 캐나다 | Canada | | 커피 | coffee | | 커피숍 | coffee shop | | 컴퓨터 | computer, PC | | 컵 | cup | | 케이크 | cake | | 켜다 | turn on (the light, the power, etc.) | | 코 | nose | | 코트 | coat | | 코피 | nosebleed | | 콜라 | Coke | | 크다 | big, large | | 크리스마스 | Christmas | | 키 | key, height | | 타다 | ride, get on | | 탁구 | table tennis | | 태국 | Thailand | | 태권도 | Taekwondo | | 태어나다 | be born | | 택시 | taxi | | 터미널 | terminal | | 테니스 | tennis | | 테이블 | table | | 토마토 | tomato | | 토요일 | Saturday | | 특히 | especially, in particular | | 틀리다 | wrong | | 티셔츠 | t-shirt | | 팀 | team | | 파 | wave, green onion | | 파란색 | blue color | | 파랗다 | blue | | 파티 | party | | 팔 | 8 | | 팔다 | sell | | 패션 | fashion | | 페이지 | page | | 평일 | weekday | | 포도 | grape | | 포장 | packing | | 표 | table, ticket | | 표현 | expression | | 프랑스 | France | | 프로그램 | program | | 피곤하다 | tired | | 피아노 | piano | | 피우다 | smoke, bloom | | 피자 | pizza | | 필요하다 | need | | 필통 | pencil case | | 하나 | 1 | | 하늘 | sky | | 하늘색 | sky blue, light blue | | 하다 | do, say | | 하루 | one day | | 하얀색 | white color | | 하지만 | but, however | | 학교 | school | | 학기 | semester | | 학년 | grade, school year | | 학생 | student | | 학생증 | student ID card | | 학원 | academy, school | | 한 | one, one of the \~ | | 한강 | Han River, Hangang | | 한국 | Korea | | 한국어 | Korean language | | 한글 | Hangul | | 한번 | once | | 한복 | Hanbok, Korean traditional clothes | | 한식 | Korean cuisine | | 한자 | Chinese character | | 할머니 | grandmother | | 할아버지 | grandfather | | 할인 | sale, discount | | 함께 | together | | 합격 | pass | | 항상 | always | | 해 | year, sun | | 해외 | overseas | | 핸드폰 | cell phone, mobile phone | | 햄버거 | hamburger | | 행복 | happiness | | 행복하다 | happy | | 허리 | waist, hip | | 현금 | cash | | 현재 | now, current | | 형 | brother (as seen from the younger brother) | | 호랑이 | tiger | | 호주 | Australia | | 호텔 | hotel | | 혼자 | alone | | 화요일 | Tuesday | | 화장실 | restroom, toilet, lavatory | | 화장품 | cosmetics | | 화장하다 | makeup | | 확인하다 | confirm, check | | 환영하다 | welcome | | 회사 | company | | 회사원 | employee | | 회색 | gray | | 회의 | conference | | 후 | after | | 휴가 | vacation, holiday | | 휴대전화 | cell phone, mobile phone | | 휴일 | holiday | | 휴지 | toilet paper | | 휴지통 | trash can | | 흐리다 | cloudy | | 흰색 | white color | | 힘 | power | ### Japanese Colors: Learn 30+ Color Words the Creative Way URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-colors/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:57.000Z **Japanese color schemes are fresh and pleasant and play a significant role in Japanese design.** Maybe you're [learning Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/) and want to know how to describe standard colors in Japanese. Or perhaps you're a designer looking for some new inspiration through traditional Japanese colors. Either way, this article will provide you with some helpful information to get you started! ## Vocabularies for standard colors ![how to say colors in japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/standard-colors.png) ### Adjectives: four traditional concepts of colors In the image above, you can see, there are four color words ending in い: "赤あかい," "青あおい," "黒くろい," and "白しろい". In Japanese, words that end in い are usually adjectives. While all other color words are nouns in most cases, **"赤あかい," "青あおい," "黒くろい," and "白しろい" are adjectives because they are the four traditional colors of Japan.** The ancient Japanese people believed that the four traditional colors are the source of all colors. According to this opinion, other colors can be created by adjusting the four colors in terms of shade or mix. It doesn't sound unreasonable. You probably learned that the [three primary colors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary%5Fcolor?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) are red, green, and blue in high school. However, the traditional Japanese colors are only "red" and "blue" without "green." Why? ### Aoi (青い): blue or green? The word "青あおい" was used to represent the colors "green" and "blue" until the 20th century. About 100 years ago, the kanji ["緑みどり(green)" was first introduced to represent green](https://wisdom-box.com/j-origin/color/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). **Today, however, "青あおい" can still mean “blue” or “green,” but is only standardly used for “blue” in a handful of cases.** For example, the green traffic light that allows pedestrians to cross a road is called the "青信号あおしんごう" in Japan. In fact, not only "青あおい" but also "黒くろい," "白しろい," and "赤あかい" represent a broad spectrum of colors conceptually. Thus, although there were only four words for colors in ancient Japan, they also referred to a wide range of colors. ## Using Japanese color words After the above explanation, I think you may have a general understanding of Japanese colors. But don’t feel worried if you don’t quite get it yet! Now, I'll introduce to you how to use these standard Japanese color words. Here are some example sentences that you can use for reference. ![japanese lucky cat color meanings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese_colors.png) In the above five examples (except for "緑みどり" which was added to contrast with "青あおい") you can see the four traditional colors mentioned earlier, which also happen to be adjectives. In Japanese, adjectives are placed directly in front of nouns for modification, just like in English. Additionally, you may have noticed that in the last sentence, "真まっ" is added before "黒くろい." "真まっ" means "pure," which is used to emphasize the depth of color. Next, I will introduce you to Japanese color vocabulary in the form of **nouns**. To modify one noun with another noun in Japanese, you must add "の", the particle used to connect nouns and indicate possession, between the two nouns. We have an article about [Japanese particles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-particles/) if interested to learn more. > 木きの葉はは秋あきには黄色きいろになる > > The leaves of the trees turn yellow in fall > ドア に大おおきな金色きんいろの星ほしがついていました > > There was a big gold star on the door > 雄弁ゆうべんは銀ぎん、沈黙ちんもくは金きん > > Speech is silver. Silence is golden > 彼女かのじょは茶色ちゃいろの目めを している > > She has brown eyes > あの ピンク の服ふくを着きた女性じょせいはだれですか > > Who is the woman dressed in pink > 紫むらさきのじゅうたん > > purple carpet > 橙だいだい色いろの オレンジ > > orange orange ## English loanwords of colors Good news! There is a super-easy way to express colors in Japanese. If you think the above color words written in kanji are too hard to remember, you can try the corresponding loanwords written in Katakana. Just as there are many [Japanese loanwords in English](https://blog.lingodeer.com/english-words-from-japanese/), **most of these words are originally English, so you can quickly memorize and use them.** Nevertheless, these words are thought of as **nouns** in Japanese, which are different from their original lexical category in English. レッド - reddo - red ブルー - buruu - blue ブラック - burakku - black ワイト - waito - white イエロー - yieroo - yellow オレンジ - orenji - orange グレー - guree - gray ゴールド - goorudo - gold シルバー - shirubaa - silver パープル - paapuru - purple ブラウン - buraun - brown ピンク - pinku - pink ## More specific colors in Japanese (e.g., navy blue, violet, scarlet) Before this color journey ends, here are more colors full of Japanese beauty for you. Without further ado, let's enjoy this feast for the eyes! ![colors in japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/more-specific-colors-jp.png) Interested in extend your Japanese learning beyond color words? Let LingoDeer help you! [LingoDeer](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/caa935c1-95e6-4b9d-b9e4-a4c7011274b9/) is one of the best Japanese learning tools that can be easily accessed on mobile or laptop. With vivid vocab illustrations and detailed grammar explanations**,** I'm sure it will help you progress greatly. Click the button below and try it for free today! --- **Check out LingoDeer now to learn Japanese the smart way!** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Spring Holidays in East Asia URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spring-holidays/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:15:25.000Z April 17 is Easter, a festival full of joy and energy. Have you prepared chocolate bunnies already? Have you dyed brightly colored eggs and put them in a basket? While Easter is widely celebrated in the United States, Canada, Europe, etc., East Asia also celebrates their own spring holidays on the other side of the planet. In this article, I'll introduce you to some of these exciting conventional holidays celebrated in the springtime. ## Spring Holidays in Japan ### Hanami Hanami means blossom-viewing in Japanese. For the Japanese people, April is a romantic time of year in which cherry blossoms enter their full bloom. In April, almost all of the streets in Japan shine pink and each row of trees along rivers and parks is richly dyed. When the breeze blows, it sends a shower of petals flying through the sky. Strictly speaking, hanami is not a holiday but a traditional custom that began in the Nara period (710-794). It has nothing to do with religion or politics but is simply a time for Japanese people to get close to nature and embrace spring. During the season of cherry blossoms, Japanese people enjoy spreading out a picnic blanket under the cherry trees to have a relaxing meal with their families or friends. Since the cherry blossoms have a short flowering period of one to two weeks, special consideration needs to be given to the blossom-viewing time. ![hanami](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hanami.jpg) Actually, Japan is a long and narrow country from north to south, and the blooming dates vary geographically. Therefore, the Japan Meteorological Agency announces the blooming dates of cherry blossoms annually (also known as sakura-zensen), just like a weather forecast. ### Golden Week Every year, Japan has a consecutive holiday period from April 29 to May 5\. Golden week is one of the most anticipated occasions of the year for Japanese people, second only to New Year’s. However, Golden Week is not a single festival but a succession of holidays. Several holidays combine to make a relatively long vacation that students and workers alike look forward to each year. Showa Day - April 29 Constitution Day - May 3 Greening Day - May 4 Children's Day - May 5 While each of these national holidays has its own history and symbolism, the focus of Golden Week for many folks living in Japan is taking the opportunity to travel with their family. Popular destinations include domestic tourist cities or even overseas vacation spots, such as New York, London, etc. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism has come to a near halt worldwide, and Japan is no exception. The good news is that things are getting better. According to a survey by JTB Corporation, the number of domestic tourists in Japan is expected to increase by 68.4% this year compared to 2021, soaring back up to 16 million people. ## Spring Holidays in China ### Qingming Festival Qingming Festival (also known as Tomb Sweeping Day), celebrated around April 5, is one of the most significant official festivals in China. It has a very long history of several thousands of years. Chinese people sweep their deceased loved ones' tombs and pay respects to their ancestors on this day. However, it's also a joyful festival for people to get close to nature and enjoy the fun of spring. It could be said that the Qingming Festival has both natural and humanistic connotations. Since ancient times, these two traditional themes have been passed down in China and overseas Chinese societies. More specifically, on this day, Chinese people bring flowers and food to the graves of their deceased relatives to express their reverence. Since Qingming is in spring (around April 5), Chinese people also go hiking, picnic, enjoy the flowers, and fly kites around this time. ![spring views](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/joel-holland-trhgegdw-yy-unsplash.jpg) ### International Workers' Day May 1 is International Workers' Day and an official festival in China. This festival has a consecutive holiday break from April 30 to May 4 every year and also happens to be called Golden Week. However, it's obvious that this one is quite different from the Japanese festival in terms of its themes. This International Workers' Day is celebrated to commemorate the hard work of laborers and the achievements of workers' movements around the world. Let's take a brief look at its history! In July 1889, the Second International, led by economic philosopher Friedrich Engels, held a congress in Paris. The conference adopted a resolution stipulating that the International Workers' Parade would be held on May 1, 1890\. At the same time, they decided to set the date of May 1 as International Labor Day. In December 1949, the Central Government of PRC also decided to set May 1 as Labor Day. Since 1989, the State Council has honored advanced workers who contribute a great deal to their country nationwide every five years, with about 3,000 people honored each time. ## Spring Holidays in South Korea ### Lotus Lantern Festival (Buddha's Birthday ) Every year in mid to late May, Korea celebrates the Buddha's Birthday, a festival that commemorates the birthday of Shakyamuni. This Korean festival dates back to 37 B.C. when the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo adopted Buddhism as the state religion. The celebration of Buddha's Birthday in Korea consists of various events and customs. People usually write one or two wishes on paper and put them into a lantern. Then, they light the lantern and send it to the temple. Throughout the month, lotus lanterns that carry Korean people's hopes are hung in temples. ![lotus lantern](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lotus-lanterns-jpeg.jpg) image from koreanbyme.com Today, many Koreans still visit Buddhist temples in May and even trek to remote ones located in mountainous areas. Many temples also provide complimentary tea and meals for visitors. Furthermore, some devotees will bring turtles or fish to the river to be released as a righteous deed for cleansing spirits. ### 16 Korean Acronyms to Spice up Your Text Messages URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-acronyms/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:19:59.000Z When chatting in Korean, have you ever come across short texts that look like parts of [Korean characters](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) and don't know what they mean? Don't worry, they are just like BTW, FYI, IDK, LOL in English which often confuse language learners. Perhaps there is some truth in saying **it's not until you understand the acronyms in a new language that you truly acquire that language**. While I'm sure you'll gradually learn these acronyms as you [progress in Korean learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/), in this article, I'll present you with 16 most often used Korean acronyms to help you get familiar with them in advance! Now let's start! **Basics** | Acronym | English | Korean | | ------- | ------------ | ------ | | **ㅇㅇ** | Yes | 응응 | | **ㄴㄴ** | No | 노노 | | **ㅇㅋ** | Ok | 오케이 | | **ㄱㅅ** | Thank you | 감사 | | **ㅁㄹ** | I don't know | 몰라 | | **ㄱㄱ** | Go go | 고고 | | **ㄱㄷ** | Wait | 기달 | **Greetings** | Acronym | English | Korean | | ------- | ------- | ------ | | **ㅎㅇ** | Hi | 하이 | | **ㅂㅂ** | Bye-bye | 바이바이 | **Emotions** | Acronym | English | Korean | | ------- | --------------------------- | ------ | | **ㄷㄷ** | Shocked (amazement or fear) | 덜덜 | | **ㅋㅋㅋ** | LOL | 크크크 | | **ㅎㅎㅎ** | hahaha (laughing sound) | 하하하 | | **ㄲㅈ** | Go away | 꺼져 | | **ㄷㅊ** | Shut up | 닥쳐 | **Questions** | Acronym | English | Korean | | ------- | ------- | ------ | | **ㅇ?** | Why? | 왜? | | **ㅇㄷ** | Where? | 어디 | --- **Ready to learn Korean by yourself?** **Check out LingoDeer for structured lessons and fun practices!** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Top 10 Easiest Languages to Learn | A Quick Review in 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/easiest-language-to-learn/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:00.000Z Aloha! Are you wondering what is the easiest language in the world? Since we have so many languages globally, **there must be some relatively easy ones, right?** If you are looking for a language to learn and wish to start off with one of the easiest (by easy we mean you can probably [learn them fast](https://blog.lingodeer.com/get-fluent-in-a-new-language-fast/)), you've come to the right place. This article will offer you some useful information. First of all, it's important to note that the **difficulty level of these languages can vary from person to person**, based on a number of factors like your **mother tongue**, your previous language learning experiences, your motivation to learn a language, etc. So in this article, we'll go through 15 languages that are generally considered easy to learn for English speakers. All of them are [classified by FSI as Category I and Category II](https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), which are the easiest groups of languages for English speakers to learn, requiring less than **36 weeks** to acquire "Professional Working Proficiency." So what are these easiest languages to learn? Let's see! ## Norwegian Norwegian is spoken by around five million people today, primarily in Norway. In many ways, **Norwegian is a language that feels familiar to English speakers**. If we think of the language system as a large tree, then English and Norwegian are both fruits of the **Germanic family** branch. Thus, the two languages share quite a lot of vocabulary. According FSI, Norwegian grammar is supposedly the **easiest** for English speakers to learn. Furthermore, English and Norwegian have almost the same word order and sentence structure (SVO), making it easy for you to understand the logic of the language. For example, “**There are five members in my family**” translates to “**Det er fem medlemmer i familien min**.” Notice any similarities? ## Romanian **Romanian language is another Romance language quite similar to English.** Though less popular than French, Portuguese, and Spanish, Romanian is also quite easy for English speakers to learn. About **24 million** people speak Romanian as their native language. Romanian is the single official language in Romania and Moldova, although in some regions, it shares the official status. A fun fact is that foreign influences have heavily influenced the Romanian language—the [Imperial roman army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial%5FRoman%5Farmy?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in the first century AD and [Slavic languages](https://slavic.fas.harvard.edu/pages/what-are-slavic-languages?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) from the 7th to the 9th century. As a result, **63%** of the Romanian vocabulary is Romanian, and **11.5%** is Slavic. Since many loanwords from the Romanian language group are also present in English, you will feel some familiarity when learning Romanian. ## Danish Danish has about **six million** native speakers, mainly in **Denmark**. Like their geographical relationship, Danish is closely related to Swedish and Norwegian. English speakers will find Danish also has relatively easy grammar rules and quite a lot of familiar vocabulary. Contrary to many people's beliefs, the languages mentioned above are not phonetically interchangeable. However, the writing systems are quite similar. It could be said that if a person is fluent in either language, they can read the other two easily. Thus, **the 3 Scandinavian languages are so common can almost be seen as dialects.** Even though FSI considers Danish a category1 language, I would say that Danish is seen as a language that is not easy to understand and learn because of its complex [phonology](https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/40385/where-are-these-danish-sounds-in-ipa?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Many sounds may be weakened or dropped in Danish. **Danish was heavily influenced by the**[ **Low German**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low%5FGerman?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **language in the Middle Ages and was influenced by English from the 20th century onwards.** Danish verbs are also quite straightforward. Many verbs are conjugated by tense, but there is no change in person or number. For example, the simple present tense of the verb ***spise* (to eat)** is ***spiser***, and it doesn't conjugate whether the subject is in first, second, or third person, singular or plural. This can certainly save you a lot of time when learning Danish. ## Swedish Thanks to IKEA's exposure, you've probably already heard of some Swedish words, like "**hej**" meaning **hello**. Swedish has about **10 million** native speakers, with 9 million in **Sweden**, and the rest mainly in Finland. Swedish belongs to the North Germanic branch of the [Germanic language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic%5Flanguages?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) family and is an East Scandinavian language, along with Danish. Like Norwegian, **Swedish shares a similar word order with English (subject-verb-object)** and has pretty simple grammar rules. For example, Swedish conjugation rules are quite simple, with very few changes just like Danish. And there are only two types of nouns in Swedish: common and neuter, with 3/4 of them being common nouns. The only slightly tricky part in Swedish is probably pronunciation. Swedish has 20 consonants, 9 vowels, and 17 phonemes, **which means it has more vowel phonemes on average than any other** [**major language worldwide**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/)**.** So once you've mastered its tricky pronunciation, Swedish can be very easy to learn. --- Wish to learn a language the easier way? Check out LingoDeer for FREE! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ## Portuguese Portuguese is one of the most prevalent languages in the world, with around **230 million** people speaking it. It is **the second most widely spoken Romance language** after Spanish because it spread to the four corners of the world during the colonial period. As a result, Portuguese is the official language of Portugal, Brazil, and six other countries. Due to the French and Latin influences on English, **Portuguese contains tons of vocabulary that English speakers would immediately recognize**, like most Romance languages. Therefore, if you speak English, you should be able to learn to read some Portuguese easily. Moreover, if you know another Romance language, you can probably read a lot of Portuguese even if you haven't studied it. ## French Did you know that **French is not only the official language of France but also of the other 29 countries,** including Canada, Belgium, and various African countries? It’s estimated that there are between **100 and 120 million native French speakers.** In addition, there are between **150 and 190 million second-language speakers.** French is a vital language of international diplomacy and was once the primary global lingua franca. The English and French languages have a lot in common. Because a great deal of French vocabulary is of Latin origin, English speakers will certainly notice a number of French words that seem like English words. Furthermore, the word order of French in simple SVO phrases is nearly identical to that of English. It could be said that French is both practical and straightforward for English speakers to learn. ![What is the easiest language to learn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/3-4.png) ## Spanish The official language of Spain is [Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/common-spanish-words/), also known as Castilian Spanish. With about 500 million native speakers and another **100 million** who use it as a second language, Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages on the planet. **It is very significant for many international organizations as one of the six official languages of the UN and one of the 24 official languages of the EU.** Like Romance languages in general, the Spanish language shares a lot of related vocabulary with English. You can figure out and remember them more quickly if you associate them with the corresponding English words. Another benefit of learning a Romance language for English speakers is that the basic syntax is very similar to English. ![easiest language to learn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/2-3.png) ## Dutch Dutch is mainly spoken in Europe, although it is also spoken in a few other parts of the world. It has **25 million native speakers and roughly 30 million speakers** in total, including second-language speakers. There's also a language called [Afrikaans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afrikaans?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) which you may have heard of before. Afrikaans is a sublanguage of Dutch prevalent in South Africa and Namibia. It's worth mentioning that Dutch and Afrikaans are mutually intelligible to some extent. As an English speaker, you will notice related vocabulary and similar grammar in Dutch if you disregard pronunciation and spelling and simply look at the most basic sentences side-by-side. Occasionally, some sentences in Dutch might be strangely familiar to English speakers. For example: My name is Paul - Mijn naam is Paul I am a student - ik ben een student ## Italian [Italian](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-hard-is-it-to-learn-italian/) doesn't receive as much attention as French, Spanish, or Portuguese because it’s mainly spoken in Europe rather than in former colonies. However, it’s still one of the most widely spoken languages in the world with over **70 million speakers**. The majority of its speakers (60 million) live in Italy, but it is also an official language of Switzerland, Vatican City, and San Marino. Furthermore, there are almost **70 thousand** people who speak Italian in the U.S. **Italian has had a major cultural impact on the rest of the world.** For example, Italian composer’s developed the current system of musical notation. Hence, Italian is a language of art, and learning Italian is like wandering through the streets of Rome and experiencing magnificent classical beauty. ![easiest language to learn for english speakers](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/4-3.png) ## German Although German is **not** classified by FSI as Category I, but as **Category II** (taking around 36 weeks). Nevertheless, I think it is still easy for English speakers, especially compared to[ Chinese and Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese%5Fvs%5Fjapanese/), which are classified as [category IV](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/). With three types of nouns, various verb conjugation forms and extremely strict syntax, German is considered as quite difficult to start with for many people. However, being in the same language family (Germanic language) with English means **German shares a lot of vocabulary with English**, making it relatively easy to acquire for English speakers from this perspective. Also, you can see why German people are quite patient when you speak: they are waiting to hear the verb at the end of the sentence. **German is also a very useful language to learn.** It is spoken by 95 million native speakers and an **additional 11 to 15 million second-language learners**, especially in Eastern Europe. What’s more, in both [the U.S](https://www.infoplease.com/us/society-culture/most-studied-foreign-languages-us?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Europe](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/edn-20210924-2?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), German comes fourth when it comes to [the most popular languages to learn](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-language-to-learn/). If you are a researcher, knowing some German can also help you a lot because of the many scientific papers documented in German. --- At last, we want to say that even if there are some universally "easy" languages to learn, it shouldn't be your sole factor to consider when choosing [which language to learn](https://blog.lingodeer.com/what-language-should-i-learn/). There are far more important factors like motivation, which is best maintained by interest in a culture or wish to communicate with someone. Language learning probably takes more effort than you think no matter which one you choose. But thankfully, with apps like [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), it's a lot **easier and fun** with bite-sized lessons and various exercises. Give it a try today! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://lingodeer.page.link/RDKy?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Which language(s) are you learning or wish to learn in the future? Leave a comment and let us know! ### Common German Verbs: How to Conjugate and Use Them URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-verbs/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:03.000Z Like all languages, the German language uses some words more than others. In the article below, we’ll cover some of the **most common German verbs**, how conjugate with various pronouns and tenses, and how to use them with example sentences. ![5 COMMON GERMAN VERBS AND HOW TO USE THEM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/distribution-of-the-german-language-e1525693687656-600x418-1.webp) Maybe you have been dreading **German verb conjugation** because you’ve heard it's very complicated, with gendered articles and sentence cases. But not to fear – most verbs actually follow the same patterns. By practicing the most common verbs and how to use them, you’ll be speaking German confidently in no time. You’ll come across these verbs often in [the LingoDeer German course](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) as it steps you through the words and phrases that are used every day, following a natural progression as if you were [immersed in the German language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-german/). It’s a perfect way to practice using these verbs daily as you always have your phone on hand wherever you go. ## 15 Common German Verbs to Know First, let's take a look at a group of 15 common German verbs. Most of these common verbs are irregular – they don’t follow the standard pattern when conjugating them into various tenses. ![5 COMMON GERMAN VERBS AND HOW TO USE THEM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/pink-cream-cute-ramadan-myth-and-fact-infographic-2.png) We won't get into these verbs one by one today, but still, it's suggested to also note down these verbs as they are used very often in day-to-day conversations. --- **Ready to start learning German? Let me help you!** **I’m LingoDeer. I will help make your German learning smart and fun.** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Using Verbs with the Right Pronouns – Verb Conjugation When you change a verb depending on its subject – the one who does the action – that’s called conjugation. For example, the verb “sein” (to be) – ich bin (I am), du bist (you are). The verb changes depending on the subject (pronoun), and the tense (present, past, etc.) or when the action is happening. Before we get into German verb conjugation, I want to give a quick summary of some basics grammar points. If you've already known them, you can also jump directly to [the verb conjugation part](#the-verb-conjugation-part). If you wish to learn deeper about German grammar, check out our other articles or the LingoDeer app to know more. ### The Basics: German Pronouns and Case | **Nominative** | **Accusative** | **Dative** | | ------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------- | | ich (I) | mich (me) | mir (to me) | | du (casual you) | dich (casual you) | dir (to you) | | sie (formal you) | sie (formal you) | ihnen (formal to you) | | er, sie, es (he, she, it) | ihn, sie, es (him, her, it) | ihm, ihr, ihm (to him, her, it) | | wir (we) | uns (us) | uns (to us) | | ihr (plural you) | euch (plural you) | euch (plural to you) | | sie (they) | sie (them) | ihnen (to them) | There are a few verbs that change form depending on the case - nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive (although this is rarely used these days). It is a concept that also exists in English. For example, you can rearrange a sentence in English to use a different case: Who do you give it to? To whom are you sending it? ### The Basics: Sentence Case **Nominative case:** Describes the **subject** of a sentence or the person doing an action. **Einen Apfel** kostet ein Euro. (**An apple* costs one euro.)* **Accusative case:** Describes the **object** of a sentence. Das Kind (subject) isst **einen Apfel** (object). (*The child eats *an apple*.)* **Dative case:** Describes an **indirect object**. Indirect objects in a sentence receive an action or a thing from a direct object in a sentence. Certain German verbs will always take the dative case. Ich (subject) gebe **dir** (indirect object) einen Apfel (object). (*I am giving *you* an apple.*) ![5 COMMON GERMAN VERBS AND HOW TO USE THEM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/beige-illustrated-top-high-paid-jobs-blog-banner-1.png) ### The Basics: Tenses and Auxiliary Verbs **Present tense:** German has only one form for the present tense, unlike English, which has simple present (I walk), present continuous (I am walking) and an emphatic form (I do walk). **Simple past and present perfect tenses:** Written German uses the simple past (e.g. ran), while conversational German uses the present perfect tense (e.g. has run) to indicate an action was performed in the past. The past participle (e.g. driven, colored) of a verb is commonly used as an adjective. **Auxiliary verbs:** Three of the most common verbs are used as auxiliary or ‘helping’ verbs – they modify the tense and meaning of other verbs: “sein” (to be), “haben” (to have), and “werden” (to become). **Modal verbs:** These auxiliary verbs work in much the same way in both English and German. However, sollen (should), wollen or möchten (want to) are not in the top 10 most common German verbs. **Compound verbs:** Three groups of verbs always use “sein” (to be) as an auxiliary verb. 1. Verbs expressing motion from one place to another. - Er ist heute gefahren. (*He left today.)* - Sie ist auf dem Stuhl gesessen. (*She sat down on the chair.)* 1. Verbs expressing a change in state. - Das Kind ist aufgewacht. (*The child woke up.)* - Du bist aber groß geworden. (*You have grown tall (or older).)* 1. The following specific words: “begegnen” (to meet), “bleiben” (to stay), “gelingen” (to succeed), “mislingen” (to fail), “glücken” (to succeed), “glücken” (to fail) and “sein” (to be). ![5 COMMON GERMAN VERBS AND HOW TO USE THEM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/beige-illustrated-top-high-paid-jobs-blog-banner-4.png) ## The 5 Most Common German Verbs and Conjugation Now in this part, I'll introduce to you the 5 Most Common German Verbs and how they are conjugated in different tenses. It might be quite long but I'm sure as you read, it'll get easier and faster as you'll be progressing. These 5 verbs are also the most fundamental ones in the German language. So it's worth taking some time to get to know them. Now take out your notebook and get ready to learn how to conjugate the 5 most German verbs! ### SEIN – TO BE – IRREGULAR The verb “to be” seems to be irregular in all languages and is the most common verb. “Sein” is used as a full verb (to be), and as a helping or auxiliary verb in combination with other verbs. #### PRESENT (PRÄSENS) TENSE - ich bin – I am - du bist – you are - er, sie, es ist – he, she, it is - wir sind – we are - ihr seid – you are - sie sind – they are - Sie sind – you are (formal) **Examples:** - Es ist sehr laut hier. *It is very loud here.* - Bist du am Mittwoch dabei? *Are you here on Wednesday?* - Wir sind im Moment nicht zu Hause. *We are not at home right now.* #### SIMPLE PAST (PRÄTERITUM) TENSE & PRESENT PERFECT (PERFEKT) TENSE In German, past tense is usually reserved for written text, except for the verb “sein”. It is an irregular verb after all! - ich war – I was - du warst – you were - er, sie, es war – he, she, it was - wir waren – we were - ihr wart – you were - sie waren – they were - Sie waren – you were (formal) **Examples:** - Wart ihr letzte Woche in Berlin? *Were you in Berlin last week?* - Er war bis fünf in der Schule. *He was at school until five o’clock.* Spoken German often uses the past perfect to indicate an action happened in the past. You will hear the conjugated “sein” plus “gewesen” in a sentence less often than the simple past tense above. - ich bin gewesen – I have been / I was - du bist gewesen – you have been / you were - er, sie, es ist gewesen – he, she, it has been / he, she it was - wir sind gewesen – we have been / we were - ihr seid gewesen – you have been / you were - sie sind gewesen – they have been / they were - Sie sind gewesen – you have been / you were (formal) **Examples:** - Es war sehr spannend gewesen. *It was highly entertaining.* - Ich bin am Mittwoch in der Schule gewesen. *I was at school on Wednesday* - Wir sind noch nie ins Afrika gewesen. *We have never been to Africa.* #### PAST PERFECT (PLUSQUAMPERFECT) TENSE The past perfect tense – the past tense of “sein” plus its perfect form “gewesen” – can trip even native speakers up. It is still a reasonably common conjugation to use in everyday German, however. Keep practicing and you’ll get the hang of it! - ich war gewesen – I had been - du warst gewesen – you had been - er, sie, es war gewesen – he, she, it had been - wir waren gewesen – we had been - ihr wart gewesen – you had been - sie waren gewesen – they had been - Sie waren gewesen – you had been (formal) **Examples:** - Unsere Freundinnen waren noch nie bei uns gewesen. *Our friends had never stayed with us.* - Sie war damals noch sehr beschäftigt gewesen. *She was very busy back then.* #### FUTURE (FUTUR) TENSE The future tense of “sein” in German is not used all that often, as it is a combination of “sein” and the verb “werden” (to become). Instead, when talking about the future, you would typically use another verb and indicate when the action takes place. Sie wird am Wochenende kommen ® Sie kommt am Wochenende. *She will come on the weekend.* - ich werde sein – I will be - du wirst sein – you will be - er, sie, es wird sein – he, she, it will be - wir werden sein – we will be - ihr werdet sein – you will be - sie werden sein – they will be - Sie werden sein – you will be (formal) ![5 COMMON GERMAN VERBS AND HOW TO USE THEM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unknown-jpeg.jpg) **Examples:** - Sie werden schon Zuhause sein. *They will already be home then.* - Es wird sicherlich sehr trocken sein. *It will surely be very dry.* The future perfect tense (Futur II) is especially difficult, but it is rarely used. It’s again a triple combination of the verbs “sein” and “werden” to mean *will have been*. - ich werde gewesen sein – I will have been - du wirst gewesen sein – you will have been - er, sie, es wird gewesen sein – he, she, it will have been - wir werden gewesen sein – we will have been - ihr werdet gewesen sein – you will have been - sie werden gewesen sein – they will have been - Sie werden gewesen sein – you will have been (formal) **Example:** - Wir werdet bis dahin schon fertig gewesen sein. *We will have already finished by that point.* #### CONJUNCTIVE (KONJUNKTIV I & II) “Sein” is sometimes used in trickier forms, just like “to be” is used in English. While you won’t need to say or write these two forms often, it’s always good to be aware of them. The conjunctive in German is used for indirect speech, or when talking about a third person. **Note:** The letters in brackets are often omitted when writing German. - ich sei – I am said to be - du sei(e)st – you are said to be - er, sie, es sei – he, she, it is said to be - wir seien – we are said to be - ihr seiet – you are said to be - sie seien – they are said to be - Sie seien – you are said to be (formal) Examples: - Er sagte mir, du seist faul. *He told me you were lazy.* - Sie seien uns, Der Arzt sei hilfreich. *They told us the doctor was helpful.* **Subjunctive:** The Konjunktiv II form in German is reserved for wishes and talking about situations that are not real. It expresses uncertainty, doubt and disagreement, and is used mostly in reported speech, just like the conjunctive above. The present subjunctive follows the conjunctive of “sein” as noted above. The other tenses use the conjunctive form of “werden”. ### WERDEN – TO BECOME - IRREGULAR Werden is one of the most important verbs in German, and an irregular one to conjugate. It has two forms: as an auxiliary verb combines with another verb to talk about plans in the future and form the passive voice; and as a full verb used in conjunction with an adjective or noun and talk. With the examples below and practice with the LingoDeer German courses, you’ll be using werden like a native in no time. #### PRESENT (PRÄSENS) TENSE - ich werde – I become - du wirst – you become - er, sie, es wird – he, she, it becomes - wir werden – we become - ihr werdet – you become - Sie werden – you become **Examples (to become):** - Ich werde endlich fertig mit dem Projekt. *I am finally finishing the project.* - Sie werden gute Freunde. *They are becoming good friends.* - Das Wetter wird kalt. *The weather is becoming cold.* - Wirst du hungrig? *Are you becoming hungry?* #### SIMPLE PAST (PRÄTERITUM) TENSE & PRESENT PERFECT (PERFEKT) TENSE - ich wurde – I became - du wurdest – you became - er, sie, es wurde – he, she, it became - wir wurden – we became - ihr wurdet – you (plural) became - sie wurden – they became - Sie wurden – you became Unlike most regular verbs, to form the past perfect tense of “werden” you need to use the verb “sein” (to be). - Ich bin geworden - Du bist geworden - Er, sie, es ist geworden - Wir sind geworden - Ihr seid geworden - Sie sind geworden **Examples:** - Das Wetter wurde kalt. *The weather became cold.* - Die Katzen wurden hungrig. *The cats became hungry.* - Er wurde gestern arbeitslos. *The man became unemployed yesterday.* #### FUTURE (FUTUR I) TENSE AND PASSIVE VOICE (PASSIV) “Werden” is one of the most common verbs in German as it is used to form the future tense and indicate the passive voice – both of which are encountered all the time when speaking and reading. When used as an auxiliary verb to indicate that action will happen in the future, “werden” is placed early in the sentence. - Wir *werden* am Samstag ins Kino gehen. *We are going to the cinema on Saturday.* When used to mean “to become” in the future, you need to use werden twice in the sentence – the first instance (the auxiliary) is conjugated, and the second instance (the full verb) is left in its infinitive (dictionary) form. It can be quite confusing at first but will feel more natural after some time spent practicing. - Dieser Apfel wird schön saftig werden. *This apple will be nicely juicy.* - Ihr werdet noch spät werden! *You are going to be late!* A sentence in the passive voice has a similar structure but uses the past participle of the second verb. - Das Buch werde von meiner Frau gekauft. *The book will be bought by my wife.* - Meine Uhr wurde von ihm repariert. *My watch was being repaired by him.* - Es wird irgendwann gemacht. *It will be done eventually.* **Note:** When you form a complex sentence with a main clause and subordinate clause (combined with “dass” or “so dass”), the auxiliary verb “werden” must come after the full verb. - Ich strenge mich an, so dass ich nächste Jahr eine Reise machen werde. *I am working hard so I can take a holiday next year.* - Es gibt so viele Leute im Buero, dass sie ständig bei der Arbeit gestört wurde. *There are so many people in the office that her work was constantly interrupted.* #### CONJUNCTIVE (KONJUNKTIV I) / CONDITIONAL The conjunctive form of the auxiliary verb “werden” is also very common as it is used to talk about wishes, possibilities, hopes, beliefs, conditions, or situations that aren’t real. You can substitute ‘would’ or ‘might’ in most cases to have a sensible translation to English. - ich würde – I would - du würdest – you would - er, sie, es würde – he, she, it would - wir würden – we would - ihr würdet – you would - sie würden – they would - Sie würden – you would (formal) **Examples:** - Ich würde gern eine Party machen. *I would love to host a party.* - Das würde mich freuen. *That would make me happy.* - Wir würden das Geld nicht investieren. *We would not invest our money.* - Sie würden bezahlen. *They would pay.* - Das würde ich nicht machen! *I would not do that!* **Subjunctive:** (Konjunktiv II) This form uses “werden” to express uncertainty, doubt, and disagreement, and is used mostly in reported speech. The present subjunctive follows the conjunctive of “sein, but the other tenses use the conjunctive form of “werden” as described above. #### FUTURE PERFECT AND PLUPERFECT TENSES The verb “werden” can become even more complicated to conjugate in the lesser-used tenses, for example in the future perfect or pluperfect tenses – for expressing the past in the future or talking about a past event that happened after an earlier event. In these sentences, there are three verbs: the auxiliary “werden”, the perfect conjugated form of “werden”, and the infinitive (dictionary) form or past tense of “sein”. - Wenn er mit seinem Studium anfängt, wird sie schon damit fertig geworden sein. *By the time he will have begun his studies, she will have finished hers already.* - Vor einem Jahr war die Studentin verheiratet geworden. *One year ago, the student was married.* ### HABEN – TO HAVE – IRREGULAR “Haben“ is another irregular verb. As a full verb, it means “to have”, but it is most used in the formation of the present perfect tense to indicate past actions and events in conversational German. “Haben” can also be used as an auxiliary or helping verb and is always paired with some specific verbs that are never conjugated by themselves. #### PRESENT (PRÄSENS) TENSE - ich habe – I have - du hast – you have - er, sie, es hat – he, she, it has - wir haben – we have - ihr habt – you have - sie haben – they have - Sie haben – you have (formal) **Examples:** - Ich habe zwei Katzen. *I have two cats.* - Du hast eine Schwester. *You have a sister.* - Haben wir ein bisschen Zeit? *Do we have a little time?* #### SIMPLE PAST (PRÄTERITUM) TENSE - ich hatte – I had - du hattest – you had - er, sie, es hatte – he, she, it had - wir hatten – we had - ihr hattet – you had - sie hatten – they had - Sie hatten – you had (formal) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/beige-illustrated-top-high-paid-jobs-blog-banner-3.png) **Examples:** - Sie hatten Glück, einen freien Stuhl zu finden. *She had good luck in finding a free chair.* - Ich hatte vorher einen guten Computer. *I previously had a good computer.* #### PRESENT PERFECT (PERFEKT) AND PAST PERFECT (PLUSQUAMPERFECT) TENSES The present and past forms of “haben” are used as an auxiliary verb with other verbs to form their present perfect tense. This is used when talking about the past in conversational German. For example: - Ich habe ein E-Mail erwartet. I expected to receive an email. - Sie hatten das Lotto gewonnen. They had won the lotto. **Double “haben” for the past tense** To form the present perfect with “haben” you need to conjugate the first instance according to the subject of the sentence, and then use the past participle “gehabt”. - Du hast großes Glück gehabt. *You have had a lot of luck.* - Als Kinder, hatten wir drei Katzen gehabt. *As children, we had three cats.* **Past perfect tense (Plusquamperfekt)** Combining the simple past form of “haben” with the past participle “gehabt”, you can form the past perfect tense. Use this tense to say things like the following. - Ich hatte einen Traum gehabt. *I had had a dream (but not anymore).* - Sie hatten mehrere gute Ideen gehabt. *They had had several good ideas.* - Wir hatten noch eine Karte übriggehabt. *We had one ticket left over.* #### FUTURE (FUTUR) TENSES As with other verbs, form the simple future tense with the verb “werden”. - Ich werde in einer Woche Zeit haben. I will have some spare time a week from now. - Er wird am Wochenende Spaß haben. He will have fun on the weekend. **Future perfect (Futur II)** This rarely used tense talks about events and actions that will have finished by a certain time in the future. Just like with the present and past perfect tenses, you need to use “gehabt” plus “haben” and add these to “werden” to show you are speaking about the future. - Du wirst bis dahin schon deinen Urlaub gehabt haben. *You will have taken your vacation at that point.* - Ich werde bis Ende der Woche sicherlich viel Spaß gehabt haben. *I will have had a lot of fun by the end of this week.* ### KÖNNEN – CAN, TO BE ABLE TO - IRREGULAR “Können” is a modal or helping verb – it is added to another verb to show that you can or can’t do that action. While in most cases, you can translate it to can or could, in more complex tenses, “able to” is a better fit. #### PRESENT (PRÄSENS) TENSE - ich kann – I can - du kannst – you can - er, sie, es kann – he, she, it can - wir können – we can - ihr könnt – you can - sie können – they can - Sie können – you can (formal) **Examples:** - Wo können wir hier ein gutes Restaurant finden? *Where can we find a good restaurant here?* - Sie kann alles reparieren! *She can repair anything!* - Ich kann ein bisschen Deutsch sprechen. *I can speak a little German.* - Kannst du Englisch sprechen? *Can you speak English?* #### SIMPLE PAST (PRÄTERITUM) TENSE Unlike other verbs, the simple past is preferred when speaking conversation German instead of the present perfect tense – perhaps because it sounds less formal. - ich konnte – I could - du konntest – you could - er, sie, es konnte – he, she, it could - wir konnten – we could - ihr konntet – you could - sie konnten – they could - Sie konnten – you could (formal) **Examples:** - Ich konnte die ganze Nacht tanzen*. I once could keep dancing for the entire night.* - Ihr konntet letzte Woche ein bisschen lange schlafen. *You could sleep a little longer last week.* #### PRESENT PERFECT (PERFECT) TENSE The present perfect tense of “können” is rarely used. - ich habe gekonnt – I could have - du hast gekonnt – you could have - er, sie, es hat gekonnt – he, she, it could have - wir haben gekonnt – we could have - ihr habt gekonnt – you could have - sie haben gekonnt – they could have - Sie haben gekonnt – you could have (formal) **Example:** - Das hat noch niemand gekonnt. *Nobody has ever been able to do that.* #### FUTURE (FUTUR) TENSES The meaning slightly changes when you conjugate “können” to future tenses. There is still a general meaning of “could” or “will be able to”. Depending on the context, it may change to “will have to”. The future tenses of “können” are rarely used. - ich werde können – I will be able to - du wirst können – you will be able to - er, sie, es wird können – he, she, it will be able to - wir werden können – we will be able to - ihr werdet können – you will be able to - sie werden können – they will be able to - Sie werden können – you will be able to (formal) **Example:** - Du wirst sicherlich eine Woche warten können, oder? *Surely you can wait a week, can’t you?* You can conjugate “können” to form the future perfect to explain that someone will have been able to do something by a specific point in time in the future. First conjugate “werden” to match your subject, then add “gekonnt haben” at the end of the sentence. - Bis Ende nächste Woche, werden wir ins Kino gekonnt haben. *By the end of next week, we will have been able to go to the cinema.* ![5 COMMON GERMAN VERBS AND HOW TO USE THEM](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/06d460c73cbc5f2364c2e905d750400c-jpeg.jpg) ### MACHEN – TO DO, TO MAKE In German “machen” has multiple meanings, with “to do” and “to make” being the most common. Depending on the context, it can mean “take”, “go”, “turn”, “comes to” or even to do something to reach a certain state. With all these meanings, it’s easy to see why it is in the list. **Tip:** “Machen” is a regular verb which follows a common pattern for conjugation. #### PRESENT (PRÄSENS) TENSE - ich mache – I do/make - du machst – you do/make - er, sie, es macht – he, she, it does/makes - wir machen – we do/make - ihr macht – you do/make - sie machen – they do/make - Sie machen – you do/make (formal) **Examples:** - Wir machen eine lange Pause. *We are taking a long break.* - Bitte, machen Sie es fertig. *Please, finish this for me.* - Mache ich das Licht aus. *I am turning out the light.* - Was machst du da? *What are you doing there?* - Das macht fünf Euro. *That comes to five euros.* - Was macht er von Beruf? *What does he do for a living?* #### SIMPLE PAST (PRÄTERITUM) TENSE Like most verbs, the simple past is used in written German. To show you did something in the past in spoken or conversational German, use the present perfect in the section below. - ich machte – I did/made - du machtest – you did/made - er, sie, es machtet – he, she, it did/made - wir machten – we did/made - ihr machtet – you did/made - sie machten – they did/made - Sie machten – you did/made (formal) **Examples:** - Machten sie ein Angebot? *Did they make an offer?* - Ich machte einen Spaziergang gestern. *I took a walk yesterday.* - Sie machten viele Tests ins Krankenhaus. *They did many tests in the hospital.* #### PRESENT PERFECT (PERFECT) TENSE To form the present perfect to show you did or made something in the past in conversational German, use the conjugation of “haben” and add the past participle “gemacht”. - ich habe gemacht – I did/made, or I have done/made - du hast gemacht – you did/made, or you have done/made - er, sie, es hat gemacht – he, she, it did/made, or he, she, it has done/made - wir haben gemacht – we did/made, or we have done/made - ihr habt gemacht – you did/made, or you have done/made - sie haben gemacht – they did/made, or they have done/made - Sie haben gemacht – you did/made, or you have done/made (formal), **Examples:** - Ich habe gemacht, was du hattest gesagt. *I have done what you asked.* - Was denkst du, was ich gerade gemacht habe? *What do you think about what I just did?* - Wer hat diesen Kuchen gemacht? *Who made this cake?* - Sie haben den Fotos gemacht. *They have taken the photos.* #### FUTURE (FUTUR) TENSES AND PASSIVE VOICE (PASSIV) - ich werde machen – I will do/make - du wirst machen – you will do/make - er, sie, es wird machen – he, she, it will do/make - wir werden machen – we will do/make - ihr werdet machen – you will do/make - sie werden machen – they will do/make - Sie werden machen – you will do/make (formal) **Examples:** - Du wirst noch alles kaputt machen! *You will break everything!* - Ich werde morgen meine Hausafgaben machen. *I will do my homework tomorrow.* - Das werde sicherlich schnell gemacht. *Surely that will be done quickly.* To form the future perfect tense (I will have made, or I will have done), use the correct conjugation of “werden” and add “gemacht haben” to the end of the sentence. - Ich werde der Arbeit um 10 Uhr gemacht haben. *I will have finished the work at 10 o’clock.* - Sie wird die Skizzen dort gemacht haben. *She will have done the sketches there.* ### The Best Way to Learn Japanese | Most detailed answer for 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:06.000Z After reading a bunch of articles related to learning Japanese, you may still be puzzled and have no idea what is the best way to learn Japanese. It may be hard to decide which way to go in the beginning. But no worries — it's not your fault if you are perplexed because most articles present too much information for a beginner. For most situations, all we need is just **a few specific and feasible pieces of advice.** Therefore, **my commitment is to offer an appropriate guideline to the self-taught Japanese learner starting their language acquisition from scratch**. I promise this article is just like a packet of space food — there are no bells or whistles, but it's just what you need for your interstellar voyage. Now, please ready your notebook, so we can blast off! ## Kickoff: Learn the Japanese alphabet A.S.A.P Let me begin by reminding you that the Japanese language has three writing systems — **Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji.** Among them, Hiragana and Katakana are viewed as the [Japanese alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/). **Hiragana** and **Katakana** correspond to one another exactly — **the two alphabets have the same pronunciation for each syllable they represent but differ in writing.** Think of them for now as similar to uppercase and lowercase letters in English (although the [difference between the Hiragana and Katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) is much greater than this.) In a few hours, you can figure out these alphabets and utilize them within several weeks. Although many paid courses may suggest that you need to spend a month to comprehend them, **I think it'd be better for you to speed up and shrink the alphabet learning stage as much as possible.** But why? Come on. They are just alphabets, and you will find them extremely easy to knockout after confronting the Ruined Dragon of Japanese — Kanji. Relaxed. We can leave the Dragon for later. Now let's continue to the alphabets. Indeed, there are plenty of diverse resources available for learning the Japanese alphabet. However, as mentioned previously, I will only offer you specific study plans. Ready? Here you go. 1. Print the alphabet sheet issued by the [Japanese Foundation](https://words.marugotoweb.jp/static%5Fcontents/pc/search/romajilist.php?lang=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). 2. Follow the recording on the LingoDeer app and practice pronunciations. 3. Combine transcription and other methods for effective memorization. The above solutions are totally free. If you are not an "on-paper" kind of person, you can go through the alphabet on the website or just ignore Step 1\. It's also worth mentioning that [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/LM96?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is probably the only language app that teaches the Japanese alphabet. Moreover, **all the recordings available on LingoDeer are made by native speakers** while many other apps utilize robotic voices. --- --- ## Forgetting Curve: unlock your memory potential You need to pay attention to picking up an effective method for memorizing the Japanese alphabet and vocabulary. I highly recommend learning Japanese or other subjects using the [Forgetting Curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgetting%5Fcurve?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![how long does it take to learn japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ebbinghaus-forgetting-curve-1.png) According to [the University of Waterloo](https://uwaterloo.ca/campus-wellness/curve-forgetting?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), this Curve shows how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain i**t. In other words, it would be much better if 100 words were spread out over 20 days to be memorized on a regular basis, rather than being learned in one day and then never returned to them.** ## Are you suitable for self-study Now, we need to make some choices. Undoubtedly, everyone has a unique personality and is suited to different learning styles. It's hard for me to design a learning plan tailored specifically to you. But we can at least make **a simple classification in a general way**. Please think about the below questions and note your answers. 1. When reading a book, do you do intense research related to the subject matter? 2. When watching a movie, do you eagerly drag the video scrubber to preview the ending? 3. When preparing for a final exam, do you make a clear-cut revision planner and execute it well? 4. Do you take notes on what you have learned and check them regularly? 5. Do you know the Cornell Notes system? If yes, have you ever tried it? Sorting ceremony! If you got more "yes" than "no," then it means you are more likely a "self-taught" learner. Perhaps you are of two minds now and are wondering, "I'm almost fifty-fifty. Which one am I supposed to be grouped with?" Of course, **you can modify the plan depending on the situation, and you won't have to stick to your guns even after relatively extended study.** ## Learning Japanese in school vs on your own There are certain advantages that come with learning Japanese in school. However, likewise, there are also certain advantages that come with learning Japanese on your own. Learning Japanese in school will provide you with a more systematic way to learn the language, a certain bonus for first-time students who don’t know where to start. However, after students pass the learning curve associated with Japanese, some students may find it easier to study on their own since they can go at a faster pace than compared to a classroom setting. Especially now thanks to online Japanese courses like the ones offered at LingoDeer, it’s much easier to learn Japanese from the very beginning. You can have a detailed guide on where to start and what to learn the entire way. ## A cost-effective way Welcome to Gryffindor! I guess you are the kind of learner who has a robust self-driven personality and is eager to explore more things at your own pace. **The self-taught way has pros and cons.** If you can make the best use of its strengths, the studying style will be much more effective than that of the traditional learner. Here's the ace in your sleeve: 1. whole period: follow a textbook's teaching system. 2. sporadic time: using an online learning app to boost learning. 3. magic weapon: some effective memory apps. ### Textbooks Whether you are a complete beginner or an intermediate learner, the book [*Minna no Nihongo*](https://omgjapan.com/collections/minna-no-nihongo-series?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Minna%20no%20Nihongo%20is%20a,%28Japanese%20Language%20Proficiency%20Test%29.) is highly recommended. Disclaimer: I have never been paid by its publisher (everything is based on my own experience in this article.) ![how to learn japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/minna-no-nihongo.png) Minna no Nihongo is a very classic set of Japanese language books. It is divided into four levels: shokyu1 (Beginner) shokyu2 (Elementary) chukyu1 (Lower intermediate) chukyu2 (Higher intermediate) The difference between this series and other books is that Japanese professors developed this set of textbooks, meaning **you can interact with the original and authentic Japanese.** Its grammar teaching is very systematic, and all you need to do is follow along. Meanwhile, because of all the contents being written in 100% in Japanese, you will be able to enjoy the immersive experience of the Japanese language. Don't worry about semantic questions because each textbook of Minna no Nihongo has **a companion translation＆grammatical notes.** Using these, you can easily solve any comprehension problems you may come across. ### Online Japanese learning apps As suggested before, the textbook is something that you use for a considerably longer time (at least one hour). Nevertheless, some people, especially wage workers, don't have this much time to study at once. As a result, an online app that can be used whenever and wherever is essential for learning Japanese. [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/LM96?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a very professional app in the field of learning languages. **Its Japanese language courses are designed systematically and are visually pleasing.** Like Prof. Hagrid, Coach Deer is glad to help you snowball from a muggle to a wizard! During the Gojuon (the Japanese alphabet) phase, you can take LingoDeer's free lessons to learn authentic pronunciations. An oak is not felled at one stroke. Learning how to read and distinguish each Hiragana and Katakana is your first step. **After a period of memorization (within one week, ideally), you can finally read all of them, and the next step for you is to learn how to write.** LingoDeer presents each alphabet's strokes and formal writing animatedly, which you can imitate in a straightforward way. As you move to higher levels of learning, LingoDeer also offers systematic lessons, **such as an honorific system of Japanese (Keigo), suffixes, and particles.** It could be said that it’s also a perfect substitute for the book Minna no Nihongo if you **don't** have a lot of time for daily study. The conversations recorded by native speakers will create real-life scenes for your spoken Japanese practice. ![what is the best way to learn japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer_japanese-language.png) ### Dictionary I'm a strong advocate of online tools, especially when it comes to heavy, thick dictionaries. Once you get to the advanced level of learning, you're bound to run into unknown words that need to be looked up. [**Jisho**](https://jisho.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **is a free online Japanese dictionary with standard definitions and applications in English.** Furthermore, Jisho also links to related content such as analogs and idioms for each word. For example, if you want to look up the word "高い (high)," you will find a link to Wikipedia for the word "高い城の男" (the Japanese translation of sci-fi book title *The Man in the High Castle*) listed below. If you want to stick to the print dictionaries, the *Oxford Beginner's Japanese Dictionary* is recommended for the start of your journey. When you get to the advanced stage, maybe you can also buy some more complicated ones such as *The Learner's Japanese Kanji Dictionary.* ### Memory tool According to the old proverb, what you already know is the key to learning new things. This tells us that reviewing promptly means a lot for the efficacy of your studies. Still remember the Forgetting Curve I mentioned before? **After learning new words or grammar, you need to develop a review plan to convert short-term memory into long-term memory** (that's how you can say you've really mastered it.) [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is one such app, that helps you to memorize and review scientifically. [**A**](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**nki is a "self-expanding" word bank, where you input the words and their definitions manually on each card.** In the coming days, Anki will present you with a set number of cards each day based on the rules of the forgetting curve. Trust me. It can help you review your learned knowledge significantly more effectively. You may find the manual input process bit annoying at first, but you'll soon enjoy its benefits. Besides, the very act of inputting words also strengthens your memory. ## Quick Q＆A ### Vocabulary or Grammar first? First of all, if you use the book Minna no Nihongo or the app LingoDeer to learn the Japanese language, you don't need to think about this question because both of them are systematic and offer feasible solutions. Second, due to the vast differences between the English and Japanese languages, **having a certain vocabulary base can help you understand grammar better.** Grammar is the trunk, and vocabulary is the leaves. ### How many Japanese words do you need to know? Again, it depends. How proficient do you need to be in Japanese? For the JLPT-N5 test, the simplest proficiency test available, you’ll need to know at least 100 kanji and 800 vocabulary. For the JLPT-N1 test, the most advanced proficiency test available, you’ll need to know at least 2,000 kanji and 10,000 vocabulary. We can also look at it from another angle. [According to Japanese tactics](https://japanesetactics.com/how-many-words-do-you-need-to-be-fluent-in-japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Generally%20speaking%2C%20you%20need%20to,hit%20one%20or%20two%20thousand.), the range of words known for a Japanese native adult is between 25,000-30,000\. For polyglots, it is between 1,000-2,000 words. That being said, Japanese tactics expects that to be fluent in Japanese, you’ll need to know a minimum of **3,000-5,000** Japanese words. ### What is Kanji? Do I Need to Learn Kanji? Kanji is a system of Japanese writing that uses adopted Chinese characters. One of three writing systems in Japan, Kanji is usually used to write nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Each Kanji symbol can represent a word or an idea, but these same Kanji symbols can have different meanings and pronunciations depending on the other symbols they’re matched with. The Kanji alphabet has[ 216 radicals](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/) which combine together to make the structure of each kanji. This makes Kanji arguably the hardest part of learning Japanese because learning Kanji requires a great deal of memorization and practice. If you’re just looking to learn Japanese recreationally, then you won’t be required to learn Kanji. However, for those who want to be fluent, they’ll be required to learn Kanji, especially if they’re going to take any JLPT test, and N1 requires testers to know **2,000+ kanji**. ### How to Learn Japanese On Your Own If you don’t have a teacher who can teach you Japanese, you can always learn Japanese on your own. It may sound daunting to conquer a difficult language like Japanese on your own, but many have done it, including myself, so don’t let anyone discourage you from trying to self study Japanese. You can also find some more useful tips in this [essential guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) written by another fellow learner. Of course, immersing yourself in manga and anime alone is far from sufficient. **The best way to learn Japanese on your own is to follow a structured learning program with good explanations and exercises.** --- **Check out LingoDeer now to learn Japanese on your own today!** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/LM96?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- Do you have any tips for self-learning Japanese? Leave a comment! ### The Japanese Alphabet Explained URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:08.000Z Download [音.m4a](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/yin-1.m4a?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Welcome to a beginner’s guide to the Japanese alphabet! You may have landed on this page because your previous experience with learning the Japanese alphabet wasn’t that positive. Maybe one moment you were looking at square characters that reminded you of Chinese, but the other moment they were followed by very simple looking ones with curved strokes. Well … that’s because **there are three writing systems in Japanese.** ![Japanese Writing System](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-writing-system.png) Example of a typical Japanese sentence with hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Take a look at the sentence above. 私 *watashi* (I) and 名前 *namae* (name) are written in [**kanji** ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanji?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**(Chinese characters)**, リ－ス *Rīsu* (Lies) is written in **katakana** and the remaining characters are **hiragana**. --- 3 systems of alphabet? That's a lot! But don’t worry! You can use tools like LingoDeer to start learning Japanese the easier way. Give it a try today for free and master Japanese alphabet in no time! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/uDLV?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- Now let's dive in and take a look at them one by one! ## The Common Hiragana First, let’s start off with one of the alphabets you will use the most, hiragana. Hiragana literally means simple syllabary. (If you don’t get that now, you soon will when we are going to cover the other writing system, kanji. Trust me.) It consists of **46 characters** in total. ![Hiragana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hiragana.png) But, as you may have noticed, there are no voiced consonants like b, d, and g. That's why we also use [*dakuten*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakuten%5Fand%5Fhandakuten?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ば (those two stripes that look like a quotation mark) and *handakuten* ぱ (the little circle). **Dakuten creates voiced sounds.** For example, it changes ’k’ to ’g’, ’s’ to ’z’, ’t’ to ’d’ and so on, while **handakuten creates half-voiced sounds** (we'll explain later in the katakana part). So for example, apple in Japanese is written as り-ん-ご *ri-n-go*. (Mind the dakuten) **Hiragana is the standard and most commonly used Japanese writing system. Children are taught hiragana first in school.** Actually, children's books are mostly written in hiragana (I definitely recommend checking these books out if you have mastered hiragana, it will really help you with getting more fluent and increasing your vocabulary). ## The Foreign Katakana The next one is also a relatively easy alphabet to learn. It's called **Katakana**, which literally means“**fragmented**”. Because they are actually[ taken from other bigger and more complex characters - **kanji**](https://www.britannica.com/topic/katakana?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Katakana is mainly used to **write foreign words, onomatopoeia, loan words, and so on.** Don’t freak out if you see *inu* (dog) written like イヌ instead of いぬ. there is a tendency to write **animals'** or **plants' names** in katakana. **Just like in hiragana, katakana are written in syllables,** except for ア *a* エ *e* イ *i* オ *o* ウ *u* ン *n*. There are also 46 katakana, and you will see that some of them have similarities with hiragana. But while hiragana are mostly cursive and graceful, katakana is more angular and looks serious. --- Ready to nail down the Japanese alphabet today? Try [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/LM96?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for free! With LingoDeer you can practice writing Japanese characters most efficient way! --- But this still doesn't explain how I can write *shampoo*! Well, you're totally right. In this case, we will need to make use of **small** vowels like ヤ *ya*, ユ *yu* and ヨ *yo*. In order to write シャ *sha*, you're going to combine a big シ *shi* with a **small** ヤ *ya,* シャンプー *shanpū* (the vertical line is used to make the ’u’-sound longer). Be careful that you won't mistake a big vowel for a small vowel or else your word will get a completely different meaning! The examples below and you'll understand. Click the audio bar to hear how they sound differently! 美容院 **びよう**いん *biyōin -* hairdresser 病院 **びょう**いん *byōin -* hospital. If you want to express the double sound, you're also going to make use of **sokuon**: っ or ッ(the small vowel of つ and ツ). By writing it before a consonant, it doubles the consonant. For example: 夫 **おっと** otto - husband 音 **おと** oto - sound ## The Dreaded Kanji But how do you know where one word ends and another one begins? Or how I can be sure that someone is talking about school or someone’s behind? This is where kanji comes in. [**Kanji**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/) **is a writing system derived from Chinese characters, so usually the Japanese get the main idea of what is written in Chinese and vice versa.** **The average Japanese person knows about 2000-3000 kanji**, but if you ask them how many kanji exist, the chances are high that they won't be able to give an answer. Some think it's 40 000, others 50 000, but really there is no set amount. This is one of the reasons why they are dreaded, especially by foreigners. Other reasons that make learning kanji difficult for them, are that it’s something they are not familiar with at all. If you are struggling with learning kanji, you can take a look at our other article about [kanji radicals](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/) (parts of kanji). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/kanji-2.png) Yes, you read that right, **each kanji has a certain set amount of strokes and you need to draw those strokes in the right order.** You always need to draw a stroke from left to right, from top to bottom, and everything is written clockwise. And because all of this isn’t enough, **there are usually two or more ways to read one specific kanji, depending on whether it stands on its own, or is written in combination with other kanji.** But that’s *not* something you need to worry about right now. Okay, let’s move on before you totally want to give up on Japanese, there are lots of positive things about learning Japanese too! Next up is the reading direction. You can read Japanese in **two** ways, depending on which layout is used. If each character is placed below one another (written vertically), you read it from **top to bottom, right to left.** This form is usually used in **newspapers** or certain novels. The other possibility is that it’s written horizontally and then, like in our western writing system, you read it from left to right. Whew! This is quite a lot to remember all at once, right? But on the positive side, kanji is also something very exciting and fun to learn. Don’t you agree that they actually look very beautiful, like a drawing? **They are also quite helpful if you can’t read all of the characters that are written down, but those that you know can still help you with getting the main idea of the text.** And admit, how cool would it be to brag to your friends about your Japanese reading and writing skills? So in the end, I think that you can agree with me that each alphabet has its positive sides. You can’t manage with hiragana alone, and kanji is quite useful and necessary if you want to have a full understanding of what’s written, don't you agree? (Think about how awkward it would be to mistake school for someone’s behind.) I think it’s not something you will forget, and makes you very grateful that kanji exists. ### Russian Verbs: Basic Words and Rules to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-verbs/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:02.000Z For English speakers, [learning Russian](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/) can be a bit harder than learning Roman languages like French and Spanish. Apart from the unfamiliar [Cyrillic alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/), another reason is that **Russian verbs** are slightly different. They not only conjugate like those in German and French, but also have aspects (perfective and imperfective) But don’t worry, this article will help you guide you through the trickest part of learning Russian verbs and introduce to you 10 commonly used verbs. By the end, I'm sure you'll be confident in learning Russian verbs or the language in general! Let's dive in! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/artem-beliaikin-ofuzd8tdgfs-unsplash.jpg) Image from Unsplash ## Overview of Russian Verbs First, let's take a quick overview of Russian verbs to help you get a whole picture of what to pay attention to when learning Russian verbs. What are some important rules that you need to follow and what do you need to expect when learning Russian verbs? ### Russian verb conjugation Like many languages, to master Russian verbs, the main thing you need is to **memorize verb conjugation**. Basically, conjugation means changing a verb so that it gets the meaning you need to get to the listener or reader. These changes are achieved by adding a special ending or changing the form of the verb. It might be challenging at first, especially when you just started learning the language. Still, **it is essential to distinguish between them as that’s how the language works**. For example, \- Что делаешь? / What are you doing?- Читаю. / I'm reading. As you can see, there's no trace of personal pronouns in the original Russian text, yet the translation is unambiguous. Why? To give you a brief idea, Russian verbs are conjugated according to the aspects below: - Person - Gender - Mood If we dive deeper into the topic, we also find out that Russian verbs are conjugated in other aspects: - Past tense - Present tense - Future tense - Perfective aspect - Imperfective aspect Now you may think, how about giving me a verb conjugation chart and letting me remember them now? While there are plenty of materials like this out there, I will not deal with this in-depth in this article. I think learning Russian verb conjugation is a long-term process that may accompany you even to the intermediate level. Learning 5 words and knowing how to use them is better than learning 10 but don't know how to use them. Remember that even native speakers may sometimes feel confused and not be able to conjugate the verb correctly, that is why you don’t need to be so upset as soon as you make a mistake or don’t understand which form to choose. So our first tip for learning Russian verbs is: #### **Tip 1: Learn conjugation gradually as you progress** The biggest challenge here is that there are quite a lot of endings you need to learn, together with various exclusions. So our second tip for learning Russian verbs is: #### **Tip2: Learn the variations, not just the original form of a verb.** Mastering Russian verbs and choosing the conjugation correctly and with ease is just a matter of practice. This article will help you to start. Just be patient, keep practicing and in a while, you will see the progress. ### Perfective and Imperfective Now we've defined what Russian verb conjugation is, to help you understand Russian verbs better, there are 2 other terms you must know: perfective and imperfective. \- **Perfective** – verbs in perfective aspect show the action is complete or the result of an action. For example, сделать (done), прийти (come), отдать (given). \- **Imperfective -** verbs in imperfective aspect indicates the process of action or that the action is incomplete. For example, делать (to do), идти (to go), давать (to give). To give you a better understanding, we can compare these verbs to English infinitives – the form is totally the same – to do, to go, to give. This is perhaps why you often see Russian verbs in pairs. So our third tip is: to distinguish between Russian verbs of motion, better divide them into **pairs**: perfective-imperfective. In this way, you will be able to see the difference and use the verb correctly. #### **Tip3: Learn Russian verbs in pairs** Now let's see how this works using the 10 most common Russian verbs. ## 10 Most Commonly Used Russian Verbs ![10 common Russian verbs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/perfective.png) It becomes easier to see the difference when you see the verbs structured, right? So any time you learn a new verb, **try to find a pair**. Moreover, in such a way you will be learning two verbs at a time instead of one, sounds great? If you feel that you can’t distinguish between the two forms of the verbs, then try to choose it according to our explanations above. Does it sound like an infinitive? **If yes, then it’s imperfective and the next thing you will have to do is to find a perfective form.** This scheme might help you not only in the beginning of your learning process, but at any level at all. While there is no life hack or magic trick that will make it really easy to be able to master Russian verbs, there are some patterns you can trace. So this leads to our 4th tip: #### **Tip 4: Find the patterns of regular verbs and pay extra attention to irregular ones** ## 60 basic Russian verbs for beginners | **imperfective** | **perfective** | **meaning** | | ---------------- | --------------------- | -------------------- | | брать | взять | To take | | бросать | бросить | To throw | | бриться | побриться | To shave | | выбирать | выбрать | To choose | | влюбляться | влюбиться | To fall in love with | | встречать | встретить | To meet | | встречаться | встретиться | To meet | | готовить | приготовить | To cook | | говорить | сказать | To say | | дарить | подарить | To give | | делать | сделать | To do | | думать | подумать | To think | | есть | съесть | To eat | | жениться | пожениться | To marry | | забирать | забрать | To take away | | завтракать | позавтракать | To have breakfast | | запоминать | запомнить | To memorize | | заканчивать | закончить | To end | | заказывать | заказать | To order | | закрывать | закрыть | To close | | знакомиться | познакомиться | To know (somebody) | | звонить | позвонить | To call | | издавать | издать | To publish | | изучать | изучить | To study | | краситься | накраситься | To put on makeup | | мыть | помыть | To wash | | Начинать | начать | To start | | нравиться | понравиться | To like | | обедать | пообедать | To have lunch | | обсуждать | обсудить | To discuss | | опаздывать | опоздать | To be late | | оставаться | остаться | To stay | | оканчивать | окончить | To end | | отвечать | ответить | To answer | | отдыхать | отдохнуть | To relax | | открывать | открыть | To close | | пить | выпить | To drink | | писать | написать | To draw | | покупать | купить | To buy | | получать | получить | To receive | | поступать | поступить | To do / handle | | понимать | понять | To understand | | продавать | продать | To sell | | продолжать | продолжить | To continue | | принимать | принять | To accept | | приглашать | пригласить | To invite | | переезжать | переехать | To move | | помогать | помочь | To help | | посещать | посетить | To visit | | расставаться | расстаться | To part | | рассказывать | рассказать | To tell | | разводиться | развестись | To be divorced | | резервировать | зарезервировать | To reserve | | решать | решить | To decide | | рисовать | нарисовать | To draw | | рождаться | родиться | To born | | слушать | послушать | To listen | | смотреть | посмотреть | To watch | | спрашивать | спросить | To ask | | строить | построить | To build | | становиться | стать | To become | | тратить | потратить | To spend | | убирать | убрать | To clean | | ужинать | поужинать | To have dinner | | учить | научить / выучить | To learn | | учиться | выучиться / научиться | To learn | | умирать | умереть | To die | | читать | прочитать | To read | | чувствовать | почувствовать | To feel | ## Additional Tips on Learning Russian verbs Today we have discussed only one grammar topic related to verbs in Russian. Although there are much more, this was an important step in moving forward in learning the language. Obviously, sometimes it will be hard as many things in this process, but remember not to give up – just practice! Every try gives you growth and you will see it. Apart from the 4 tips we've mentioned in the previous part of this article, there are many more that can help you better master Russian verbs and learn Russian. First, bear in mind these habits you need to follow to succeed in learning Russian: - Practice - Consistency - Reading and listening - Using in real life - Communication - Revision What tips will help you to memorize the verbs easier? #### Practice! Even 10 minutes a day will make a difference rather than making long pauses in your education. The important thing you need to remember is that constant learning and revision are more useful than just taking a lesson or two a week. Until you fill your brain with Russian, it will not work properly and as quickly as you want it to happen. If you need a little help, [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/ru/en/learn-russian-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a perfect tool that uses short lessons to help you learn Russian with 15 minutes a day. 1. #### Write down the verbs you learn. Don’t take too much a day – 3 to 5 will be enough. Many learners think that it will make huge progress to learn by heart dozens of words or write down a bunch of information. But it’s a wrong belief. Your brain is not wired to remember too many words at a time, so just 5 will be enough to be able to remember them constantly and use them in everyday conversations. 1. #### Divide your words into two columns – visualizing what you learn will make it easier. When you learn the forms of one verb, you actually learn several words at once. Many people underestimate this approach, but actually, this is a great one. Especially visuals (people who are able to remember the information better if they physically see it) will appreciate it. Help your brain and visualize what you are learning – it will capture the images and set them thoroughly in your head. If you are the type of a person, who has their own methods of recognizing and memorizing the information better – e. g. formulas, pictures, or maybe there is your own way – just use it! One day you will eventually start finding plenty of words in your head! 1. #### Use them. As soon as you write and learn the verb, try to use it in a sentence, for example, or find it in the text. It will run the processes in your brain to help it “absorb” the information. Without practice, unfortunately, the information is unlikely to settle in your head. It’ll just vanish as soon as you finish the lesson. Nobody wants to waste their time or be disappointed with no result later, so beware. It may be tough in the beginning, but after a while, you will feel such a relief when seeing how easily you can operate the language even if making mistakes. Without practice, though, everything you’ve learned will just be covered with dust somewhere deep in your brain. Just follow these tips, practice, and don’t give up. Remember – when you feel something difficult, it means you are making progress. Doesn’t it sound great? --- *Wish to learn more Russian words but don't know where to start? Let me help!* *I'm *LingoDeer*. I'm here to make your Russian learning journey smart and fun!* [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ### 16 Most Common Japanese Particles | An Essential Guide for 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-particles/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:05.000Z What exactly is the Japanese particle? A quick search may tell you that particles are postpositions with no conjugations and come after other words to reflect defined grammatical relationships. Well, don't be perplexed by this sequence of terms! **Actually, learning Japanese particles can be pretty simple!** This article aims to help you grasp Japanese particles in an easy-to-understand way. Bookmark it first if you want to learn later! ![japanese particles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/03/ld-image-0f540c271865f80f.png) ## What are particles in Japanese? First, let's clarify the fundamental logic of the particle. **A particle is just like a nametag that indicates the grammar component of one or more words in a sentence.** For example, You can compare a sentence to a kingdom, where the subject is the King, and が is the crown that’s always placed atop his head. Similarly, each grammar component has its own symbol to indicate its role. Since each particle suggests a different "identity," variations in particles can completely change a sentence's meaning. Here is an interesting example for you to get a sense of what I mean 👇 > 私わたし 窓まど 割わった。 > > (watashiga madowo watta) > > I broke the glass. > > > > 私わたし 窓まど 割わった。 > > (watashiwo madoga watta) > > The glass broke me. In this article, I'll introduce you to the primary uses of the **16 most common Japanese particles**. If you can master the following content as a beginner, then that means you're off to a great start with Japanese grammar! By the way, to follow along with this article, it’d be best to have a basic understanding of[ Japanese sentences](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/). ## は (ha) は is the first particle that many Japanese learners encounter. Despite seeing it from the start, they never really comprehend its meaning. First of all, **there is no preposition or other counterpart that corresponds to it in English.** Secondly, as one of the fundamental particles in Japanese, the usage of は is impossible to summarize in a single sentence. But no worries, I'm only going to show you its two most crucial uses. If you master them well, you will be able to handle most applications. ### Cue the topic, limiting the follow-up content **は serves to qualify the subject of a sentence.** Many beginners mistake は for the particle that indicates the subject when that is actually が. Although there is no literal translation of は in English, we can tentatively think of it as **"As for"** to make it easier to understand. However, it's significant to note that は appears much more frequently than "As for" in English and is more widely used. > ジェリ―**は** 日本語にほんごの先生せんせいです。 > > (jeriha nihongo no sensei desu) > > As for Jerry, (he) is a Japanese language teacher. > 実じつ**は**、私わたし**も** 知しりません。 > > (jitsuha, watashimo shirimasen) > > To be honest, I don’t know either. ### Emphasis on contrast As mentioned above, は serves to qualify the topic, not suggest the subject as many tend to think. Although it is used with the subject most of the time, it can also function with other sentence components (e.g., object, gerund, etc.) to create contrast in some cases. > テニス**は** 好すきではありません。 > > (tenisuha suki dehaarimasen) > > As for tennis, (I) don’t like (it). This sentence would normally be "テニスが好きではありません" but replacing が with は implies a contrast ー I don't really like tennis (but I like basketball or something else). > ラビット**は** 野菜やさい**は** 食たべます。魚さかな**は** 食たべません。 > > (rabittoha yasaiha tabemasu. sakanaha tabemasen) > > As for the rabbit, (they) eat vegetables, but (they) don’t eat fish. Similarly, this sentence would have initially been > ラビット**は** 野菜やさい**を** 食たべます。魚さかな**を** 食たべません。 > > (rabittoha yasaiwo tabemasu. sakanawo tabemasen) > > As for the rabbit, (they) eat vegetables, but (they) don’t eat fish. The particle **は** replaces **を** as the **object**, contrasting the vegetables with the fish. ## が (ga) As stated previously, **が is used to suggest the subject**, just like the king's crown indicating whoever is the king (subject). Japanese learners always mix up[ が and は](https://blog.lingodeer.com/wa-and-ga/). Indeed, they both have overlapping uses and distinctly separate uses, which can be hard to differentiate. It could be said that a serious comparison between **が** and **は** would be enough for a Japanese language researcher to complete **a master's thesis**. Again, I will only introduce two of the most common uses of **が**. ### Cue the subject Although は often replaces this function of が as a subject, in many cases, **が has an irreplaceable role.** > 象ぞう**は** 鼻はな**が** 長ながいです。 > > (zouha hanaga nagai desu) > > As for the elephant, (its) nose is long. In this sentence, **は** suggests the topic of the elephant, which means that the sentence is about something related to the elephant. The latter **が** suggests the subject. What is long? The nose（鼻が）! The following example may help you better understand the difference between **は** and **が** when they **both** act as subjects. > 私わたし**は** ジェリーです。 > > (watashiha jerii desu) > > As for me, (my name) is Jerry. > 私わたし**が** ジェリーです。 > > (watashiga jerii desu) > > I am Jerry. ### Used in declarative sentences Unlike **は**, which is often used in judgment sentences, **が** is used in declarative sentences. You may be wondering what the difference is between a **declarative sentence** and a **judgment sentence**. In a nutshell, a declarative sentence describes a thing someone sees or experiences without any modification. Meanwhile, a judgment sentence incorporates someone's subjective judgment. > Declarative sentence：雪ゆき**が** 降ふります。 > > *(describing natural phenomena)* > Judgment sentence：ラーメン**は** 美味おいしいです。 > > *(only the speaker feels it delicious, others may not think so)* The above is one of the most common differences between **が** and **は**. But of course, as I noted before, there are more complications between **が** and **は** than that. The complexity of Japanese grammar nags at many people. After reaching a higher level, you will gradually unlock a better understanding. ![japanese particles guide - ga](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-particles-3.png) ## か (ka) Many newbies feel baffled between the particle "**が (ga)**" and the question marker "**か (ka)**." In reality, the difference between them is more than just the two missing points. **The particle "か" is a question marker** that follows the end of a sentence and transforms a declarative sentence into a question sentence. I think this rule is much simpler than the English one, don't you? > 桜さくらが 咲さきました。 > > (sakuraga sakimashita.) > > Cherry blossoms have bloomed. > 桜さくらが 咲さきました**か**。 > > (sakuraga sakimashitaka.) > > Have the cherry blossoms bloomed? ## へ (he) **へ suggests the destination to which the subject is moving.** Imagine that you want to fly from New York to Manchester and you need to buy a plane ticket (in case you don't own a private plane). へ works just like this ticket, telling the flight attendant where you are going. > 来週らいしゅう、私わたしは 米国べいこく**へ** 行いきます。 > > (raisyuu, watashiha beikokuhe ikimasu.) > > I will go to the U.S. next week. > 昨日きのう、病院びょういん**へ** 行いきました。 > > (kinou, byouinhe ikimashita.) > > Yesterday, (I) went to the hospital. ## で (de) で is probably the particle with the most uses. Although there are many, they are not difficult to understand because each usage has its own unique features. As a beginner, if you can understand a few of them, you will be able to use them in most situations ### Indicates where the action takes place > 教室きょうしつ**で** 手紙てがみを 書かきました。 > > (kyoushitsude tegamiwo kakimashita.) > > (I) wrote a letter in the classroom. ### Indicates methods, tools, instruments > 教室きょうしつ**で** 日本語にほんご**で** 手紙てがみを 書かきました。 > > (kyoushitsude nihongode tegamiwo kakimashita.) > > I wrote a letter in Japanese in the classroom. In this sentence, two **で** appear - the **first で** suggests where writing the letter takes place, and the **second で** indicates the language (method) used to write the letter. After all, there are also **two in's** in the English translation. However, this is not always the case, as in the following example. > 電車でんしゃ**で** 東京とうきょうへ 行いきます。 > > (denshade toukyouhe ikimasu.) > > (I) will go to Tokyo by train. The above **で** suggests the means of transportation to Tokyo. Recall that the prepositions used in English to suggest methods, tools, instruments are "**in, by, through, as, with, etc.**" Yet, **the Japanese preposition で is an all-purpose card**. Isn't that easy? ### Indicates the range (time, space) > ここは 日本にっぽん**で** 一番いちばん美味おいしい レストランだ。 > > (kokoha nihonde ichiban oishii resutoranda.) > > This is the best restaurant in Japan. > 一年いちねんの中なか**で** もっとも 忙いそがしい時期じき。 > > (ichinen no nakade mottomo isogashiijiki.) > > The busiest time of the year. ### Indicates the conditions Different grammar books may subdivide the examples given below. But please think deeply about the fact that their meanings semantically come from one origin. > 三冊さんさつ**で** 600円えんです。 > > (sansatsude roppyakuen desu.) > > Three books cost 600 Yen. （In the case of buying three books, it is $600, but it does not mean that buying one book must be $200\. The three books here indicate a situation.） > クラスの皆みな**で** 一緒いっしょに 寿司すしを作つくります。 > > (kurasunominade issyoni sushiwo tsukurimasu.) > > The class will make sushi together. (In what context will sushi be made? Together with the class) ### Indicates raw materials In the previous section, we discussed that **から** can be used to cue raw materials. **で** can also be used to indicate raw materials. The difference between them is that the raw materials suggested by **で** are often directly observable to naked eyes. ![Japanese particle で de](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/03/ld-image-f2a6d61ee59eef58.png) > この机つくえは 木き**で** 作つくったのです。 > > (konotsukueha kide tsukuttanodesu.) > > This desk was made of wood. > 紙かみ**で** 飛行機ひこうきを 作つくります。 > > (kamide hikoukiwo tsukurimasu.) > > Make airplanes out of paper. ## と (to) and や(ya) Many beginners tend to think of **と** as "**and**" in English, but this is only **partially** **true**. The use of **と** to express juxtaposition is far less widespread than "**and**." **と** is usually used only in [juxtaposing](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juxtapose?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) a complete count. If you want to exemplify something, then **や** is appropriate for an incomplete count. > 果物くだものは、イチゴ**と**バナナが 好すきです。 > > (kudamonoha, ichigoto bananaga sukidesu.) > > As for fruit, (I) like strawberries and bananas. (*that’s all, nothing else*) > 果物くだものは、イチゴ**や**バナナ ( **など** ) が 好すきです。 > > (kudamonoha, ichigoya banananadoga sukidesu.) > > As for fruit, (I) like strawberries, bananas, etc. (e*xamples only, maybe something else*) Also, when you want to express that a person and another person are doing something simultaneously, you need to be careful with the position of **と**. > 私わたし**は** 母はは**と** 一緒いっしょに 寿司すしを作つくった。 > > (watashiha hahato issyoni sushiwo tsukutta.) > > I made sushi with my mother. ![Japanese particles: example sentence](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/particles-sentence-1.png) ## を (wo) ### Indicates direct object **を** is also one of the essential particles in Japanese. Its most prominent use is to indicate the [direct object](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/direct-object/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). If you've ever played a shooting game, you must be familiar with the fact that **the scope on a sniper rifle helps you aim at the prey or the enemy. を** is like such a **scope**, aiming at the receptor (direct object) of an action. > 晩ばんご飯めし**は**、私わたし**が** リンゴ**を** 食たべました。 > > (bangohanha, watashiga ringowo tabemashita.) > > As for the dinner, I ate an apple. In this sentence, **は** is suggestive of the subject, telling us that what follows is related to dinner. **が** plays the crown, signifying the subject (私). Furthermore, "**食べました**" is the verb that acts as the predicate, like a gun that goes through the scope (を) and aims at the target (リンゴ). The following example is interesting and more intuitive. > キングが ラビット**を** 射殺しゃさつした。 > > (kinguga rabittowo syasatsushita.) > > The king fired a shot at the rabbit. ### …を降りる Just like に, **を** also has an essential fixed collocation with the verb **降りる** (おりる, get off). I won’t expand on why it’s like this as it’s easier to just remember it as a collocation for now. > 電車でんしゃ**を** 降おりる。 > > (denshawo oriru.) > > (I) get off the train. The above sentence shows how to express "**getting off the train**" from the angle of this action's subject. However, different perspectives require different particles. For example, if you are standing on the platform and see your wife getting off the train, you need to use the particle "**から**." > 妻つまは 電車でんしゃ**から** 降おりる。 > > (tsumaha denshakara oriru.) > > My wife gets off the train. ## の (no) This is also a Japanese particle that gives many beginners a headache. Again, many grammar books or articles will break it down into many uses. Still, you need to remember only one original meaning, which **indicates someone or something's belongings.** > 私わたし**の**先生せんせいは 優やさしいです。 > > (watashi no senseiha yasashii desu.) > > My teacher is gentle. > あれは ジェリーさん**の**靴くつです。 > > (areha jeriisanno kutsu desu.) > > Those are Jerry’s shoes. Additionally, **の can also be used as a pronoun**, equivalent to "**one**". Especially when something has already been mentioned, の can be used to replace that item. > 赤あかいスカートは どうですか。 > > (akai sukaatoha doudesuka.) > > How about the red skirt? > > > > この白しろい**の**は より良よいだ と思おもいます。 > > (kono shiroinoha yoriyoidato omoimasu) > > I prefer the white one. ## に (ni) **に**, like で, has many uses and is a model worker in the world of particles. ### Indicates a place where some things exist in First of all, **に** can be used to indicate a place, and such sentences are often translated as "There is/are…in...". Perhaps you understand it simply as ”**in**“, but if you just mechanically memorize it like that, you will likely confuse it with **で**. Please note that **で suggests the place where the action takes place, and に suggests the place where the object exists.** Here is a set of examples. > 遊園地ゆうえんち**に** 子供こどもが たくさん います。 > > (yuuenchini kodomoga takusan imasu.) > > There are many children in the amusement park. > 遊園地ゆうえんち**で** アイスクリームを 買かいました。 > > (yuuenchide aisukuriimuwo kaimashita.) > > (I) bought an ice cream in the amusement. The following example is similar to the one above. They are actually from the same origin and suggest an **attachment point** for something. > ここ**に** 名前なまえ**を** 書かいてください。 > > (kokoni namaewo kaitekudasai) > > Please write your name here. ### Indicates specific time The third use of **に** is to indicate absolute time, which you can think of as "**at**." Generally speaking, time concepts involving **numbers**, such as "May 2" and "7:50," are indicated by **に**. In addition, it can sometimes be added to the days of the week. > 7時じ**に** 起おきます。 > > (shichijini okimasu.) > > I wake up at 7. > > 木曜日もくようび(に) 試験しけんがあります。 > > (mokuyoubini shikenga arimasu.) > > The exam will be on Wednesday. ![Japanese particle ni](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/particles-sentence-2.png) ### Indirect object of an action While **を** is used to cue a direct object, as we mentioned earlier. **に can be used to cue the person who is the recipient of an action, aka, the** [**indirect object**](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/indirect-object/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **as linguists put it.** Meanwhile, the object or thing receiving an action from a [transitive verb](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUFo94TXwqc&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is called a [direct object](https://www.grammarly.com/blog/direct-object/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). > 彼女かのじょ**に** プレゼント**を** 贈おくりました。 > > (kanojoni purezentowo okurimashita.) > > (I) gave my girlfriend a gift. > 先生せんせい**に** 会あう。 > > (senseini au.) > > (I) meet the teacher. ![Japanese particles: direct object and indirect object](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/03/ld-image-99554090477c278c.png) ### Subject of the action As we mentioned in the previous section, the particles **は** and **が** can be used to cue the subject in active sentences. Nonetheless, in passive sentences, the subject of an action is indicated by **に**. > 先生せんせい**に** 褒ほめられる。 > > (senseini homerareru.) > > (I) praised by the teacher. > 板野いたのさん**は** 会長かいちょう**に** 叱しかられました。 > > (itanosanha kaichoni shikararemashita.) > > Itano-san was criticized by the boss. ### Express a purpose In Japanese, the most basic sentence structure to express purpose is [**verb stem form**](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese-grammar/verb-stem-form-conjugation/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **or noun +に + 行く.** If you understand this, you can quickly master a series of expressions such as "I'm going to do sth", "I went doing sth" and so on. > 釣つり**に** 行いきます。 > > (tsurini ikimasu.) > > I am going fishing. > 買かい物もの**に** 行いった。 > > (kaimononi itta.) > > (I) went shopping. ### …に乗る Another use of **に** is to indicate means of transportation. You may come across the phrase "**xx に 乗のる** (get on)" very often at early stages of Japanese learning. As you have guessed, here **に** is used to indicate means of transportation. > 電車でんしゃ**に** 乗のる。 > > (denshani noru.) > > (I) get on the train. ## も (mo) The usage of **も** is straightforward - it has the role of **が** indicating the subject, and on top of that, it has the additional meaning of "**also**." In English, it is equivalent to "**also**," "**as well**," or "**either**." > ニクソン**も** アメリカ人にんです。 > > (nikusonmo amerikajindesu.) > > Nickson is also American. It can also be used with the negative form of verbs and adjectives to indicate **complete negation**. > 何なに**も** 知しりません。 > > (nanimo shirimasen.) > > （I don’t know anything） ## から (kara) **から** is one of the few particles in Japanese that consists of two kana. It has several meanings and uses. At first glance, they seem very different. But a closer look shows an underlying logic: almost all of them are related to the meaning of "**source**." ### Indicate starting point First, let's learn two examples of how **から** is used to indicate the starting point of time. In such cases, they are always placed after time-related nouns like "**いつ** (itsu)", “**三時 (sanji)**” and "**何時** (nanji)". > いつ**から** 日本語にほんごを 勉強べんきょうしていますか。 > > (itsukara nihongowo benkyoushimashitaka.) > > How long have you been studying Japanese? > 会議かいぎは 三時さんじ**から** 始はじまります。 > > (kaigiha sanjikara hajimarimasu.) > > The meeting will begin at three p.m. ![Japanese particle kara](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/03/ld-image-590dc760cbbf1eec.png) Likewise, **から** can also indicate the starting point of space, which is similar to “**from**” in English. > どこ**から** 来きましたか。 > > (dokokara kimashitaka.) > > Where did you come from? > > > > 大阪おおさか**から** 来きました。 > > (osakakara kimashita.) > > I just came from Osaka. In addition, **から** can also indicate the starting point of some abstract concepts. For example: > 一番いちばんの学生がくせい**から** 順番じゅんばんに 発表はっぴょうします。 > > (ichibannogakuseikara junbanni happyoshimasu.) > > The presentations will be made in order. ### Indicates the subject of an action Kara can also indicate an action's subject, mainly in[ receiving and giving phrases ](https://www.tofugu.com/japanese-grammar/kureru-ageru-morau/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=%E3%81%82%E3%81%92%E3%82%8B%20and%20%E3%81%8F%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%20are%20Japanese,you%20use%20%E3%81%8F%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%20or%20%E3%82%82%E3%82%89%E3%81%86.)– use **から** to indicate the giver if it’s an organization. > 図書館としょかん**から** 本ほんを もらいました。 > > (toshokankara honwo moraimashita.) > > I received a book from the library. If the giver is a person, then use **に**. > 先生せんせい**に** 教おしえて もらいました。 > > (senseini oshiete moraimashita.) > > My teacher taught me. ### Indicates raw materials **Sometimes から** indicates the raw material from which something is made. It's important to note that unlike **で, which suggests raw material has not gone through major changes before becoming the final product, から** is often used in cases when a chemical change has occurred or when the raw material can't be spotted by naked eyes. You can also refer to the differences between “made of” and “made from” in English. > ワイン は 葡萄ぶどう**から** 作つくられています。 > > (wainha budoukara tsukuraretemasu.) > > Wine is made from grapes. > ビール は 麦むぎ**から** 造つくられました。 > > (biiruha mugikara tsukuraremashita.) > > Beer was made from wheat. ![Japanese particle から ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/03/ld-image-ce11f5896e86f29b.png) ### Indicates reason Quite unlike any of the uses above, **から** can also be used to express reasons like “**because**”, “**since**”, and “**so**”. The **から** part is mostly placed at the beginning of a sentence. Here are two examples > ルールだ**から**、守まもってください。 > > (ruurudakara mamottekudasai.) > > It's a rule, so please follow it. > 今日こんにちは雨あめだ**から**、洗濯せんたくをしません。 > > (kyouha amedakara sentakuwoshimasen.) > > It's raining today, so I won't be doing laundry. ## まで (made) ### Indicates the end of time or space As we have already mentioned, **から** can indicate the **starting point** of time or space. Conversely, **まで** indicates the **ending point** of time or space. **まで** is often combined with **から** together, and they appear simultaneously. Of course, they can also be used separately. > 上海しゃんはい**から** 東京とうきょう**まで** 飛行機ひこうきで 行いきます。 > > (shanhaikara toukyoumade hikoukide ikimasu.) > > We will fly from Shanghai to Tokyo. > 九時くじ**まで** 働はたらく。 > > (kujimade hataraku.) > > (I) work until nine o'clock. Many beginners are confused about the difference between **まで** and **までに**. But it's actually not that difficult to distinguish them. **まで** refers to the end of [continuous verbs](https://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/continuous-tenses?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=The%20continuous%20tense%20is%20formed,was%20happening%20in%20the%20past.). What is a continuous verb? It is an action that can be sustained for a while, such as "**eating**," "**sleeping**," "**studying**," etc. In the above example, "**働く(hataraku)**" is a typical continuous verb, meaning working. The word "**までに**" is mainly used to express a[ momentary verb](http://members.chello.at/dan.funk/verbs.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) that must be completed before a specific time. Momentary verbs are not sustainable, such as "**come**," "**go**," "**submit**," etc. > 三月さんがつ五日いつか**までに** 論文ろんぶんを 提出ていしゅつしてください。 > > (sangatsuitsukamadeni ronbunwo teishutsushitekudasai.) > > Papers must be submitted by March 5. Don’t worry if you find this a bit difficult, as you will notice their differences gradually as you progress in Japanese with a comprehensive learning tool like LingoDeer. ## ね (ne) and よ (yo) **ね** and **よ** are two of the most common modal particles in Japanese with quite **different** usages. Although there are many nuances between them, as beginners, we only need to remember the following rules. **ね** expresses agreement with the others based on a shared understanding of the issue or seeking the other's approval for one's inferences or judgments. > A：いい天気てんきです**ね**。- It's nice weather. > > (iitenkidesune.) > > > > B：本当ほんとうです**ね**。- True. > > (hontoudesune.) **よ** is used to emphasize one's judgment or assertion, and to inform or remind others about **something they may not have noticed, should know, or should do.** > あの レストランは 美味おいしいです**よ**。 > > (anoresutoranha oishiidesuyo.) > > That restaurant is delicious. ## より (yori) The most typical use of the particle より is that it introduces comparison. In such a case, より can be translated to "than" in English. > 北京ぺきんは 東京とうきょう**より** 寒さむいです。 > > (pekkinha toukyouyori samuidesu.) > > Beijing is colder than Tokyo. > 倉本くらもと**より** 中野なかのの**ほうが** 金持かねもちです。 > > (kuramotoyori nakanonohouga kanemochidesu.) > > Nakano is richer than Kuramoto. In the second example, "**Noun 1 より Noun 2 のほうが Adj. or Noun**" is a basic comparative sentence structure. meaning “Noun 2 is more xxx than Noun 1”. ## Distinguish movement indicators へ, に, and を Dear reader, you may be wondering - what is it for this part? OK, I‘m glad to explain— All these three articles are related to **movement**, but there are subtle differences among their uses. Take a look at the image below to better understand them. ![Japanese particles: movement indicators へ he, に ni, and を o](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-particles-4.png) As you can see, the particle **を** suggests the **displacement trajectory** created during the climb, focusing on the **route**. > 山やま**を**登のぼって、友達ともだちの家いえ**に**行いきます。 > > (yamawo nobotte, tomodachinoieni ikimasu.) > > I went over a mountain to a friend's home. **に** emphasizes that "**climbing**" is an action, not a displacement trajectory. At the same time, **に gives the impression that the goal is to reach the top of the mountain, while を places more emphasis on the process.** > 天気てんきがいいから、山やま**に**登のぼりましょう。 > > (tenkigaiikara, yamani noborimasho.) > > It's a lovely day! Let's climb the mountain. In the example example, the emphasis of the particle **へ** is on the journey (from home to the foot of the mountain). **へ gives the impression of being on the way to a specific destination.** What you will do (climbing or circling the mountain) when you arrive at the foot of the hill is not the sentence's focus. > 車くるまで山やま**へ**行いきます。 > > (kurumade yamahe ikimasu.) > > We will drive to the mountain. I know the above discussions are a bit difficult, and I am indeed being strict with my beginner friends. It's okay if you don’t understand this part. Dear reader, have you noticed that the special rules I have mentioned in the **を** and **に** section are not actually "special." Last, let's have a look at an easier example. > 体育館たいいくかん**へ** 泳およぎ**に** 行いきます。 > > (taiikukanhe oyogini ikimasu.) > > (I) go swimming at the gym. In this example, "**the gym**" is not the purpose but only the place I'm going to. I’m actually up to "**go swimming**," which is indicated by **に**。 ![how many japanese particles are there](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/9-most-common-japanese-particles-1.png) Admittedly, Japanese particles are **not** a piece of cake. It would be best to practice them repeatedly based on a complete understanding in order to master them. This is why an efficient and professional tool will be essential for your study. [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **is an excellent online tool for learning Japanese particles and other Japanese language knowledge.** The courses are organized scientifically and systematically, and they are also very interesting. The most exciting feature is that you can make use of your free moments by learning Japanese through our app, whether you are on the way to work or waiting in line. Don't hesitate to click the button below and join the journey with me! --- **Check out LingoDeer now to get started on your learning journey!** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Days of the Week in French: Express Time and Date in French Easily URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/days-of-the-week-in-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:15.000Z Whether you have just binge-watched Emily in Paris and now decided to [learn French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/), or you’re planning a trip with your best friends to the sunny beaches of the Côte d’Azur (the glamorous South of France), learning about **Days of the week in French** and months of the year is a great start. That will allow you to build basic conversations about different times of the week and of the year, quickly building up your vocabulary. This quick and easy guide will teach you not only the French words for days and months, but also their pronunciation, as well as some tips and strategies to help you remember them whenever needed. So, let’s start! Or, as we would say in French, “*Allons-y!*” ## 1\. Days of the week in French *–* Les jours de la semaine Below is how French people write and say the days of the week. The table shows both the phonetic pronunciation and the simplified one; the latter might be very useful in case you are not yet familiar with French phonetics. | French | English | Pronunciation | | -------- | --------- | ------------- | | lundi | Monday | Lun-dee | | mardi | Tuesday | Mar-dee | | mercredi | Wednesday | Mare-cruh-dee | | jeudi | Thursday | Zhuh-dee | | vendredi | Friday | Von-druh-dee | | samedi | Saturday | Sam-dee | | dimanche | Sunday | Dee-monsh | Try to say them out loud by following the pronunciation guide in the third column. No worries about making mistakes, that’s how you learn a new language! Also, you may notice a few key things: 1. Unlike English, the **days are not capitalized in French**; 2. All of them end in “**di**”, except from dimanche (Sunday), which starts with “di”. Small tricks like this will help you remember! Now check out a few basic sentences using the days of the week: Vous venez au cinéma ce dimanche ? *Are you coming to the cinema this Sunday?* J’ai rencontré Antoine lundi passé. *I met Antoine last Monday.* A useful note: days of the week are **masculine** in French! Ce samedi, je vais aller à la mer. *This Saturday, I will go to the seaside.* Vous avez une table pour vendredi soir ? *Do you have a table for Friday night?* As you can see, there are no complicated grammar rules concerning the days of the week, their use is very similar to English. There is only one point you should remember: the use of the article “**le**” (the, masculine) before days of the week in French. If you talk about a habit, or something that happens frequently, then you should put “le” before the day, as in the sentences below: Qu’est-ce que tu fais le mardi en général ? *What do you do on Tuesday in general?* Le mardi, en général, je vais à l’école. *On Tuesday, in general, I go to school.* Instead, if you talk about the past or the future and without wanting to emphasize the fact that something is a habit, you should not use the article before the day, as in the sentences below: Qu’est-ce que tu fais mardi prochain ? *What are you doing next Tuesday?* Mardi prochain, je vais à l’école. *Next Tuesday, I will go to school.* Now, let’s wrap up French days of the week vocabulary with this video! ## Months of the year in French – Les mois de l’année Moving on to the months of the year, here they are, together with their correct pronunciation: | French | English | Pronunciation | | --------- | --------- | ------------- | | janvier | January | zhan-vee-ay | | février | Feburary | feh-vree-ay | | mars | March | mahrs | | avril | April | ah-vreel | | mai | May | meh | | juin | June | zhuahn | | juillet | July | zhui-ay | | août | August | oot | | septembre | September | sep-tohm-br | | octobre | October | ok-toh-br | | novembre | November | noh-vahm-br | | décembre | December | deh-sem-br | Remember that French months, like days, are not capitalized. Now try to pronounce them out loud a few times! Here are a couple example sentences using the months of the year: Mon anniversaire est en août. *My birthday is in August.* Quelle est la date aujourd’hui ? Aujourd’hui est le 24 (vingt-quatre) avril. *What is today’s date? Today is April 24th.* Now, let’s wrap up French months of the year vocabulary with this video! ## How to write French dates Now that you have learned the days and months in French, here is how to correctly put them together in order to write dates. It’s easy! You just have to follow the general French date structure: **day + article “le” + date (number) + month + year** Also, keep in mind that to write the date in French, you should use the cardinal number (for example, six) instead of the ordinal number (sixth). This is a key difference between English and French. The only case in which the ordinal number is used is for the first day of the month. In French, first is *le premier* (pronounced: *leh praymay*). Just one last key point and you’re good to go! When writing dates, the definite article “le” (“the”, masculine) precedes the date. Remember this if you want to sound like a native. ![French Days of the Week and Months of the Year](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/56cd4354-74c1-43cb-aca7-fe5b3b0dc8f2_1_201_a-jpeg.jpg) Here are some examples of how to use dates in French: Quel jour tu es né ? Je suis né le vingt-sept (27) fevrier. *What date were you born? I was born on February 27th.* If, instead of the full date, you want to write condensed dates, in French you should still keep the structure indicated above, i.e. **date/month/year.** As in “10/11/2020”, for example, which would be November 10th, 2020\. Or, in French, le 10 novembre 2020\. ## How to remember French days and months After having read – and possibly repeated out loud – all of these new words, you may be wondering “Now, how do I remember them?”. Repeating them over and over is surely a good start, but it could get boring. Below are a few other tricks to learn French days and months. ### TIP #1: Set your phone calendar to French Here is something new you could try: go into your phone settings and set French as your calendar’s language. This can be done on most phones, and if you want to learn French, making it a part of your everyday life is key. Now, every time you will check the calendar or set a new event, you’ll be reminded of the words for days and months in French. This might look different in the beginning, but over time it will help you a lot remember the days and months in French! ### TIP #2: Journal in French Another fun way to expand your vocabulary well beyond days and months is journaling! Start by writing a few simple sentences about your day. If there are additional words you need to describe your day, you can easily google them. You’ll notice in a few weeks that your vocabulary has expanded considerably, simply by describing your everyday life. But remember, consistency is key! So, the pro-tip is: stick to a few sentences per day, and write your journal every day. ### TIP#3: Learn French days and months with a song What better way to learn French days and months, than with a catchy song? Check out this song for the [days of the week](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPGRMNYw8HE&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in French, or this one for the [months of the year](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2odJakoOVVI&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Try to listen to them a few times and sing them along! For sure this a fun way to learn a new language. Also, by listening to a native pronouncing the days and months, you’ll be able to significantly improve your own pronunciation. ## FAQs about days and months in French Finally, here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions about days and months in French: - **What gender are days and months in French?** No need to worry, it’s easy! All days and months in French are masculine. - **Do you need to capitalize days and months in French?** No, you don’t. differently from English, you don’t capitalize days and months in French, as shown by the tables and the examples above. The only case in which you must capitalize them is when they start a sentence, of course. - **Does the French week start on Sunday or Monday?** Unlike other countries, like the US, the French week starts on Monday (lundi). Hope this guide was useful! Now go on and practice what you’ve learned today as much as possible. In the meantime, we’ll be waiting for you with more articles like this one, to help you build your French knowledge quickly and effectively! See you soon! À bientôt! --- *Wish to learn more French vocabulary but don’t know where to start? Let me help!* *I’m *LingoDeer*. I’m here make your French learning journey smart and fun!* [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### 12 Different Ways to Say Goodbye in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/goodbye-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:19.000Z In English, there are many different ways to say goodbye. From a casual "Bye" used between intimate friends, "See you later" that is more appropriate for almost anyone, to a formal "Goodbye", or "Have a nice day!" used between strangers, English language contains a variety of ways to say goodbye. AND SO DOES KOREAN! We all know Korean culture stresses **etiquette and seniority,** which reflects in the Korean language as [speech levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). So when it comes to saying goodbye in Korean, there are many more ways than you know! So in this article, we prepared 12 commonly used ways to say goodbye in Korean, to help you find the right word on the right occasion! ![Different ways to say Goodbye in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/6f9a4923-7ab8-4719-98b6-ca2a18325498_1_201_a-jpeg.jpg) ## Formal ways to say goodbye in Korean When you are in a very serious situation, like on a TV news broadcast, or communicating with your boss, a client, or a less familiar elder, you need to say goodbye in the **formal way**. Also, we often hear clerks saying goodbye to customers in the formal way in convenience stores, restaurants, cafes, etc. In Korea, saying goodbye is very specific. Whether you're leaving and the other person is staying, or you're staying and the other person is leaving, or both are leaving, **you need to say goodbye in a different way**. Don't get confused, as I'll explain them to you one by one clearly. Let's start with what you should say when you're staying and the other person is leaving! ### You're staying and the other person is leaving - **안녕히 가십시오 (*annyeonghi gasipsio*)** 안녕히 가십시오 means “please go peacefully” in English and you can use it at different times of the day. 안녕히 is an adverb, meaning ‘peacefully’. 가십시오 is the courtesy form of verb 가다, which means ‘to go’. Here you need to pay attention to one common mistake: **the distinction between 오 and 요**. When saying formal goodbye, some people mispronounce it as 안녕히 가십시요 (*annyeonghi gasipsi-yo*) when it should be 안녕히 가십시오 (*annyeonghi gasipsi-o*). ### You’re leaving and the other person is staying - **안녕히 계십시오 *(annyeonghee gasipsio)*** 안녕히 계십시오 means “Please stay peacefully”. You can only use it if you're leaving and someone else is staying where they are. 계십시오 is the courtesy form of 있다, which means “to stay”. ## Standard ways to say goodbye in Korean This is **the most common way to say goodbye** when living in Korea, just as oftenly used as "see you later" in English. You can use it with colleagues you don't know very well, classmates, or people of your age whom you don't know well. ### You're staying and the other person is leaving - **안녕히 가세요 *(annyeonghee gaseyo)*** 가세요 is the standard form of 가다. It has the same meaning as 안녕히 가십시오, which means “please go peacefully”. It's still a polite way to say goodbye but more common to lesser-known peers heard in Korea. It is generally used when **we stay where we are**, such as at home or in the office, and **the other person is leaving**. - **조심히 가세요 *(joshimhee gaseyo)*** 조심히 is an adverb, meaning “carefully, safely” in English. So together the phrase means “please go safely/carefully”. ### You’re leaving and the other person is staying - **안녕히 계세요*(annyeonghee geseyo)*** 안녕히 계세요 has the same meaning as 안녕히 계십시오, which means “Please stay peacefully”. It’s important to note that **we don’t say 안녕히 계세요 or 안녕히 계십시오 when we’re at restaurants or cafés**, as even if the other person is staying for a little longer, they are expected to leave at some point in the near future. ![A mother saying goodbye to her child](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/yellow-and-green-bold-money-blog-banner-2.png) ### You’re both leaving - **잘 들어가세요 *(Jal deureogaseyo)*** 잘 means “well”, and 들어가 means “to enter/ go in”. So 잘 들어가세요 literally means “enter well" or "go in well”. We can use it when we know the other person is going home. Common greetings like “hello” and “goodbye” in Korean are also ways to wish for the well-being of the other person. ## Informal or casual ways to say goodbye in Korean ### You're staying and the other person is leaving - **잘 가요*(jal-gayo)*** As we mentioned before, 잘 means “well’, 가요 means “to go“, so together it means “to go well”. You can also say 잘 가, this is the casual way only be used to say goodbye to your close family members or friends. - **잘 들어가요 *(Jal deureogayo)*** It is the informal way of 잘 들어가세요, so they have the same meaning of “enter well/ go in well.” You can use it to say goodbye to someone you've met but don't know very well, or if it's someone you know very well, you can drop the 요 and just say 잘 들어가. ### You’re leaving and the other person is staying - **나 먼저 갈게요 *(na meonjeo galgeyo)*** This is one of the most used phrases in Korea when something comes up and you have to leave first. 나 means “I”, which is an informal expression, 먼저 means “first”, 가 means “to go”, "ㄹ" is placed after the verb to indicate something you are going to do, 게요 is added when you decide to do something under subjective consciousness. If you put them together, it means “I will go first”. 나 먼저 갈게 is the casual way to say it. ![Parents saying goodbye to their kids](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/yellow-and-green-bold-money-blog-banner-3.png) ### You’re both leaving - **(나중에 / 다음에) 봐요 *(najoonge/daeume bwayo)*** 나중에 means “later”, 다음에 means “next time” while 봐요 is the polite form of verb 보다, which means “to see”. So 나중에 봐요 means “see you later”. 다음에 봐요 means “see you next time.” In casual settings, you can say 다음에 봐. - **조심히 가요 *(joshimhee gayo)*** Do you recognize this as an informal form of one of the sentences mentioned above? It has the same meaning as 조심히 가세요 which is “to go carefully/safely”. - **안녕 *(annyeong)*** It is frequently used to say goodbye to close friends or family. In fact, it can be used not only when both are leaving, but you can use it whether you are staying or the other person is going to stay. It has a similar meaning to the very casual "bye" in English. It is important to note that 안녕 does not have the added form of 요 like other expressions. Now you know the 12 different ways to say "goodbye" in Korean! It’s time to try them out! --- *Wish to learn more Korean phrases but don’t know where to start? Let me help!* *I’m *LingoDeer*. I’m here to make your Korean learning journey smart and fun!* [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### 4 Surprising Benefits of Learning Different Languages URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/benefits-of-learning-languages/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:29:11.000Z More than a billion people worldwide are currently learning a foreign language. Some do it to understand their partner’s or loved one’s native tongue, some do it because they want to move to a different country. **But while everyone has different reasons for learning a new language, there are universal benefits that come with it.** Besides getting to know different cultures and developing new ways of thinking, learning a new language has more surprising benefits that you may not know. If you need a little push to finish your language lessons, or just interested in what you can gain from learning a new language, read on and enjoy the ride! ![people from different culture backgrounds talking together](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/learning-different-languages.png) ## Language learning protects brain health When you’re learning a language, you’re dealing with a new system of rules, structures, and lexis. This means your brain will need to cope with that complexity by making sense of the new patterns. [Medium’s feature on language learning](https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/5-fascinating-things-that-happen-to-your-brain-when-you-learn-another-language-2f075fad8f45?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and how it affects the brain explains how it transforms the mind. Perhaps the obvious benefit would be **improved working memory, focus, and attention**. After all, you’ll subconsciously be managing the interface between languages so you don’t end up code-switching. Learning another language also lowers your risk of developing neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s. This is because language learning utilizes all areas of the brain, keeping it active. ## Language learning may improve decision-making skills More research is actually needed in this aspect. But [a study on Frontiers in Psychology](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.549083/full?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) suggests that thinking in a foreign language can generally help you **make more rational decisions**. This is called the **“Foreign-Language Effect”** — which is when a person who actively thinks in their non-native language is less likely to be emotionally involved in a problem they’re facing. This is because thinking in a foreign language creates a distance that can lead to you making a decision that’s more thoughtful and less emotional. Another possible cause is that **language nuances and regional expressions make a person give more thought to the right words and possible hidden meanings.** ## Language learning broadens job opportunities Foreign language skills can give you a significant advantage over other professionals, with employers offering bonuses and higher salaries for multi-linguals. In fact, [a post on international experts by Maryville University](https://online.maryville.edu/blog/international-studies-vs-international-relations/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) talks about the increasing need for multi-linguals to help various organizations achieve their goals. For instance, businesses may want to expand to other countries — and a product localization manager would need economic or social science knowledge to know if it's feasible for a branch to open in a certain country and how they can attract new customers. These experts can also work with **government agencies as diplomats**. Other jobs you can get as a multilingual are **translation, interpretation, and field research.** ## Language learning makes you a global citizen Learning a language isn’t simply learning new grammar and vocabulary. Instead, [Sage Journal’s research on learning language and culture](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2096531120936693?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) shows that it extends into many other aspects — such as being introduced to the culture and cultivating relationships with other people who speak the language. This can encourage intercultural communication, which makes you more open-minded, and promotes a greater tolerance, empathy, and understanding of others. Knowing a foreign language also makes it easier for you to **immerse yourself more in a country’s culture.** After all, you’re able to easily navigate outside the tourist bubble to interact and connect with the locals. This lets you appreciate the culture more than if you didn’t know the language. --- *Feel motivated to start learning a new language today? Try LingoDeer for free!* *We will make your language learning journey easy and fun!* [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) What other advantages of language learning have you personally experienced? Share in the comments! ### What is the hardest language to learn | A Quick Review 2023 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:06.000Z The earth is home to **thousands** of languages. Some are relatively easy for English speakers due to grammatical and lexical similarities. Others are complex and exotic, such as Chinese, Hungarian, Arabic, etc. **It's undeniable that each language has variable levels of difficulty, depending on what the learner's mother tongue is.** Perhaps you're interested in what are the hardest languages to learn for English speakers? Congratulations! This article is glad to introduce you to a reliable answer. ## 1\. Chinese [Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/) is probably the hardest language to learn, with more than 1 billion native speakers and 5000+ years' history. According to [FSI](https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/fsi/sls/orgoverview/languages/index.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), the Chinese language is placed at the hardest level Category IV. Compared to 26 letters in English, **there are 3000+ commonly used characters in Chinese.** For many Chinese learners, the most challenging thing is to remember and write these "painting-like" characters. Furthermore, Chinese is a **tonal** **language**, which indicates the meaning of words can be variable by changing tones. ![hardest languages to learn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/medal-ceremony.png) ## 2\. Arabic After Chinese, Arabic is the second hardest one for English speakers. The Arabic alphabet has 29 letters, and **each letter can represent multiple sounds depending on different situations.** So even though you have learned how to read and write, you may find it challenging to speak Arabic. Add to Arabic includes a variety of **dialects** like MSA, Egyptian, and Maghrebi, which drives many crazy! ## 3\. Japanese Japanese is the veritable third place winner, with a unique writing system comprising [hiragana, katakana,](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) and [kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/). Influenced historically by Chinese, the 2000+ Kanji (Chinese characters) in Japanese is also tricky for learners. Another factor is that Japanese grammar differs significantly from other European languages. For example, **a typical Japanese sentence follows an SOV order rather than SVO as in English.** ## 4\. Korean As one of the most popular languages, the number of Korean learners has been rapidly increased in recent years. Like Japanese, Korean had been influenced dramatically by Chinese but has its own unique writing system ([Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/)) and pronunciation rules. Although there are many loanwords from English in modern Korean, its grammar is quite different from European languages. For example, **the sentence structure of Korean is as same as the Japanese one (SOV)** ![is korean hard to learn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/attractive-korean.png) ## 5\. Russian Russian is one of the most widely spoken Slavic languages and is also considered as difficult because of its phonetics and vocabulary. Russian uses a [Cyrillic alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/) that contains 33 letters and signs. Some of them may seem like English ones but sound totally different, which can be hard for beginners to grasp. Also, **a trait of Russian pronunciation is clustered consonants.** For example, the most common greeting "Здравствуйте" has 3 consonants in the beginning and 4 in the middle. ## 6\. Thai When coming to Thai, it isn't the grammar that will hold you back, yet the **writing** and **pronunciation**. Thai has five various tones and long and short vowel sounds. What's more, there are astonishing 44 consonants and 32 vowels in the alphabet. Moreover, writing Thai scripts also can be challenging for English speakers. Even though it's not as hard to write as Chinese characters, it still takes much effort on your part! ![what's the hardest language to learn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/welcome-to-thailand.png) ## 7\. Hungarian Hungarian is another difficult language for English speakers to learn. Hungarian has its own alphabet and only about 20% Latin-derived words in its vocabulary. Hungarian is also famous for its complex grammar rules like 35 different cases and subtle differences brought by suffixes and prefixes. Furthermore, like to Japanese, **strong cultural overtones of Hungarian can make learning in isolation challenging.** ## Summary Even though the languages mentioned above are complex, many people still struggle with learning them for various reasons. Undoubtedly, **these languages have been proven beneficial in terms of academics and career prospects.** If you are hesitant to learn a new language, you should be more courageous. As a polyglot, I could responsibly say that **the hardest part of learning a new language is not the grammar or vocabulary but taking your first step.** Enrolling in a language course is an excellent option to learn a new language, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Not to mention, in the post-pandemic era, offline courses are fraught with risk. Therefore, I highly recommend trying [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), an online language learning tool. You can easily access it on your mobile or your laptop. It's worth mentioning that LingoDeer has **vivid illustrations and detailed explanations** to help you get started in one or more languages. Don't hesitate to click the button below and make a giant leap on your language learning! --- **Check out LingoDeer now to get started on your learning journey!** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ### Russian Numbers - 1 to 100 and Further URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-numbers/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:08.000Z When learning a new language, the next thing you should do after learning the alphabet is probably to know **how to count**. Whether you wish to tell people about time, age, or ask for prices when shopping, **remembering numbers will make things much easier**. Learning numbers is also a quite independent process as all you need to do is to learning the vocabulary. So now let’s get started to learn Russian numbers! Fortunately, **Russian numbers are counted very logically**. Unlike French which expresses “ninety-nine” as “four times twenty plus nineteen”, the Russian way of counting is much more predictable. Now you have another reason to nail down these words today! Let’s dive in! ## Russian Numbers 0 to 10 ![Russian numbers 0 to 10](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian-numbers-0-to-10.png) Note that the form of один (“one”) and два (“two”) may change according to the gender of the corresponding noun. **masculine: один; два** один мальчик, два мальчика **feminine: одна; две** одна девочка, две девочки **neuter: одно; два** одно окно, два окна **Numbers + Genitive nouns** Note that numbers **ending in 2, 3, and 4** are followed by the **genitive singular**. For example: - четыре собаки - four dogs - три книги- three books - Её 33 года. - She's 33 years old. Numbers ending in **other numbers and teens** are followed by the **genitive plural**. For example: - 12 долларов - 12 dollars - 100 рублей - 100 roubles - Мне 25 лет. - I'm 25 years old. ## Russian Numbers 11 to 19 Numbers 11 to 19 are also really easy. Simply add **“надцать”** behind the numbers 1 to 9\. Note that some numbers may change a little (colored in red). The simple rule is that If a number end with “ь”, then “ь” should be omitted before adding “надцать”. For example, fifteen in Russian is “пятнадцать” instead of “пятьнадцать” - 11 - один**надцать** - 12 - две**н** **а** **дцать** - 13 - три**н** **а** **дцать** - 14 - четыр**надцать** - 15 - пят**н** **а** **дцать** - 16 - шест**н** **а** **дцать** - 17 - сем**н** **а** **дцать** - 18 - восем**н** **а** **дцать** - 19 - девят**н** **а** **дцать** From this part, we don't provide romanized pronunciation anymore, as you should have already covered this part in the alphabet part. If not, it's strongly suggested to learn the [Russian Cyrillic Alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/) and master its pronunciation before you learn anything deeper. If you wish to learn Russian systematically, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a great place to start learning the fundamentals of the Russian language. ## Russian Numbers 20 to 90 Once over 20, the Russian numbers are compounded very much like English ones. Simply add the number 1 to 9 after the tens. - 20 - два**дцать** - 21 - двадцать один - 22 - двадцать два - 23 - двадцать три … - 30 - три**дцать** - 40 - сорок - 50 - пять**дес** **я** **т** - 60 - шесть**дес** **я** **т** - 70 - семь**десят** - 80 - восемь**десят** - 90 - девяносто You must have noticed the tens in Russian are also very easy to remember. 20 and 30 are pretty like number 11 to 19 (adding **дцать**), while 50 to 80 can be easily formed by adding **десят.** Only 40 and 90 are irregular. ## Russian Numbers 100 and above 100 in Russian is “сто”. And the hundreds also follow a pattern of ending with “сти”, “ста” or “сот”. - 100 - сто - 200 - две**сти** - 300 - три**ста** - 400 - четыре**ста** - 500 - пять**с** **о** **т** - 600 - шесть**с** **о** **т** - 700 - семь**с** **о** **т** - 800 - восемь**с** **о** **т** - 900 - девять**с** **о** **т** Larger numbers from 1000 up in Russian are counted exactly the same way as English. - 1,000 - тысяча - 10,000 - десять тысяч - 100,000 - сто тысяч - 1,000,000 - миллион - 1,000,000,000 - миллиард Now try to read 1348 (т ы сяча тр и ста с о рок в о семь). Did you get it? Here is a Summary of Russian Cardinal Numbers. Let's review what we've learned! ![Russian Numbers 0 to 1000 and further](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian-numbers-1.png) ## Russian Ordinal Numbers Now you’ve learned how to count in Russian. Let’s take a quick look at some ordinal numbers. - the first – первый - the second – второй - the third – третий - the fourth – четвёртый - the fifth – пятый - the sixth – шестой - the seventh – седьмой - the eighth – восьмой - the ninth – девятый - the tenth – десятый You may have noticed that **ordinal number endings seem very similar to masculine endings of adjectives**. That’s because they are! As such, the endings will change depending on the corresponding noun. For example, we use **neuter endings with dates**. To express dates in Russian, we use ordinal numbers. For example, 4 марта (March 4) is pronounced as четвёрт ое марта. With years, it’s a different matter. You need to use **the genetive case.** For example, 4 марта 2022 г. (March 4, 2022) is pronounced as четвёрт ое марта две тысячи двадцать втор ого года. Don't worry if you feel a bit confused, as you will encounter these grammar points gradually as you [learn Russian](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/). You can also use[ LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to improve your Russian skills comprehensively. --- Let us know what you think in the comments and share this post if you find it helpful! ### Common Spanish Words and Phrases Every Beginner Should Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/common-spanish-words/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:26:57.000Z The idea of learning Spanish can be fun and exciting but getting started with the process can sometimes be a little daunting. However, you can relax knowing that it’s not necessary to learn the whole Spanish dictionary to be able to hold your first conversation. Whatever your reason may be for deciding to learn Spanish, professional or personal, **you will just need these most common** [**Spanish words and phrases**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-phrases/) **to help you get started and avoid the sometimes awkward language barrier to begin.** ![hola-hello in Spanish](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hola-1-e1645711894970.jpg) Being able to communicate with **basic greetings as well as having some useful phrases** thought out next visit to a Spanish-speaking country will help you start out confidently with your Spanish language learning journey. We all know becoming fluent in a language takes time, but everyone has to start somewhere, right? The idea is to **master a few phrases that you can use to begin and then build on them to eventually become confident enough to dominate the conversation.** Remember practice makes progress and you will become more comfortable with each conversation. ## Basic Spanish Words Below is a list of handy words that will help you make a good first impression and **survive your first conversation with a Spanish native speaker**. So, do you know your hola from your gracias and de nada? Let’s find out. ![Common Spanish Words](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/basic-spanish-words-1.png) ## Survival Phrases to Use in Spain We’ve all been there. You think you’re all set for your first conversation but sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you discover that you’re not so prepared after all. Don’t worry, we can help! **Having a conversation with a native speaker is very different from practicing in the classroom or online.** What happens when they speak too fast? Or when you lose track of the conversation, after spending so much time trying to translate something in your head that there is a long silence? That’s when you need your Spanish survival phrases, **some of the following phrases are bound to get you out of some tricky situations.** - - *¿Puedes repetir por favor? – Can you repeat please?* - *¿Puedes hablar más despacio? – Can you talk slowly?* - *No entiendo – I don’t understand* - *No tengo ni idea – I have no idea* - *¿Qué has dicho? – What did you say?* - *No hablo mucho español – I don’t speak much Spanish* - *¿Qué significa? – What does it mean?* - *¿Cómo se dice … en español? – How do you say … in Spanish?* - *Lo que quiero decir es… \- What I want to say is…* ![writing Spanish phrases on a blackboard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/flower.jpg) Image from Unsplash Making small talk in your own language can sometimes be hard enough let alone in a foreign language. But let’s face it, **small talk is always needed**, whether it be asking someone their name, what they are up to, or talking about the weather, it fills silences in an empty struggling conversation. The following phrases might come in handy when you find yourself in one of those situations. - - *¿Cómo te va? \-* *How's it going?* - *¿Qué haces hoy? \- What are you doing today?* - *Hace buen día \- It’s a nice day* If you’re heading to a Spanish-speaking country **without mobile data or don’t have a good grasp of the language yet**, it’s almost inevitable that you will end up lost. Fear not, with some of the following phrases you’ll find your back to exactly where you need to be. - - *Estoy perdida \- I’m lost* - *¿Me puedes ayudar por favor? \- Can you help me please?* - *¿Dónde está…? \- Where is…?* - *El hotel/hospital/aeropuerto/supermercado/metro – The hotel/hospital/airport/supermarket/underground* - *¿Dónde hay…? \- Where is there a ….?* - *Restaurante/banco/cajero automático - Restaurant/bank/cash machine* - *¿Dónde puedo encontrar…?- Where can I find…?* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-c7a83a5421d158fc.png) ## Asking Questions in Spanish After learning how to follow a conversation you will build up the confidence to ask questions and learning the question words in Spanish is a good place to start. - - *¿Qué…? - What* - *¿Cómo…? - How* - *¿Cuándo…? - When* - *¿Dónde…? - Where* - *¿Quién…? \- Who* - *¿Por qué…? -Why* - *¿Cuál…? - Which* Once you get to grips with the question words and you have started to build your own bank of vocabulary. You will find it much easier to **create your own questions in any given situation**. To keep a conversation flowing input is required from both speakers or the conversation quickly runs dry. Here are some common questions you might like to use in your **first conversations in Spanish.** - - *¿Cómo te llamas? – What’'s your name?* - *¿Dónde vives? – Where do you live?* - *¿De dónde eres? – Where are you from?* - *¿A qué te dedicas? – What do you do for a living?* - *¿Qué haces en tu tiempo libre? – What do you do in your free time?* - *¿Hablas inglés? – Do you speak English?* - *¿Te gusta…? \- Do you like…?* The easiest way to identify a question in Spanish is **the upside-down question mark at the beginning**. You will always find questions written like this, at least in **formal** texts. However, if you are messaging a Spanish friend and using colloquial Spanish they are probably just going to use a question mark at the end of the question. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-b1d3cc2a68809d0b.png) ## Responding to Questions in Spanish **Figuring out what people are asking you is a task in itself when you are just starting out.** So, having your responses prepared is helpful, and you don’t find yourself flustered looking for the answer. Here are some of the most basic **responses to questions** in Spanish. - - *Sí – Yes* - *No – No* - *Tal vez/Quizás – Maybe* - *A veces – Sometimes* - *Claro – Of course* - *No sé – I don’t know* - *Vale – Okay* - *¿En serio? – Really?* - *Madre mía – My goodness* It’s important to note that Spanish-speaking cultures are normally very **expressive**. It is something you will get used to but don’t always expect a **yes** or **no** mundane answer. **Expect exaggeration, volume, and a lot of hand gestures.** Don’t be intimidated by this expression because after a while you will find yourself talking this way in Spanish. The Spanish way of being is contagious and using their **open, warm, expressiveness** is inevitable. **Learning a language is not just about how much you know but also about how confident you are in your ability.** It’s easy to make a few mistakes and want to give up because you feel like you know nothing. But **persevering is important** so that you can get to the level of fluency you desire. It’s also helpful that normally people in Spanish-speaking countries are friendly with language learners and you will find encouragement in short language exchanges with Spanish native speakers. Practicing with native speakers really is one of the quickest ways to see your Spanish improve. **The sooner you make the mistakes, the sooner you learn the corrections and the sooner you’ll have the confidence to keep on practicing.** Now you have enough of the basics to go off and fire up some conversations. Good luck! ¡Suerte! --- **Ready to strike up your first Spanish conversation? Let me help you!** **I'm LingoDeer. I will help make your Spanish learning smart and fun.** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://lingodeer.page.link/RDKy?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ### What does Itadakimasu Mean and How to Use it Properly URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/itadakimasu/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:26.000Z Download [Eat-well.m4a](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/eat-well-1.m4a?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The literal meaning of itadakimasu is to receive something. Before picking up their chopsticks and digging into a meal, Japanese people usually say "itadakimasu." **Itadakimasu expresses reverence for the life of the food ingredients and gratitude to the people involved in cooking the meal.** When watching anime or having a meal with Japanese friends, you may hear "itadakimasu." This article aims to introduce you to the fundamentals of *itadakimasu* — **What it means, What occasion to say it, and How to perform it**. Whether you wish to [learn Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) or just understand this phrase, you can get something from this article. Are you ready? Let's get started! ## Quick facts on itadakimasu ### Meaning First of all, **you need to understand that there is *no* exact counterpart for *itadakimasu* in English.** Because Japanese people say "itadakimasu" before picking up chopsticks to eat, some articles may tell you that *itadakimasu* equals "Bon appétit." However, this is actually incorrect. Then, "[saying grace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace%5F%28prayer%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)" is a **religious** ritual prevalent in Christian homes. Christians express their gratitude to God for the food they are about to eat by gestures and reciting a benediction. However, it is *not* national. For example, the UK tends to be thought of as a Christian state, but some atheist families there do not perform the ritual. Meanwhile, *itadakimasu* is **national** and much less religious. We could say that it is one of the national symbols of the Japanese people. In Japan, no matter where you are from, what you do for a living, or how old you are, everyone says *itadakimasu* before their meal. According to some authoritative Japanese scholars, in modern Japan, *itadakimasu* expresses reverence for the life of the food ingredients (meat, vegetables, etc.) and gratitude to the people involved in the food production (farmers) and meal cooking (families). ![what does itadakimasu mean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-fcf31edac9146477.png) ### itadakimasu vs itadaku itadakimasu (いただきます) comes from the verb, itadaku (いただく) いただく (頂く) has two independent meanings different from this expression related to food etiquette 👇 1. **The humble form for もらう (morau),** meaning (humbly) to take. When you receive physical things from **someone with higher status or deserving of your respect**, you should use the polite [conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/) of 頂く (itadaku) — 頂きます (itadakimasu) instead of もらいます (moraimasu). 入学祝いに先生から辞典を頂きました （My teacher gave me a dictionary as a gift for enrolment.） 1. **The humble form for 食べる (taberu) and 飲む (nomu),** meaning (humbly) to eat or drink. The situation is similar to the one above, and you should use its conjugation when talking to someone of a high position. Boss：もう一杯どうぞ！ (Have another drink!) Employee：もう頂けません。 (I can't drink anymore.) ![itadakimasu meaning](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-04d927af7702861c.png) ## How to use itadakimasu ### Pronunciation As we all know, the pronunciation of Japanese is relatively easy. So, don't worry, *itadakimasu* is not tongue-twisted. Even if you make a mistake, it doesn't matter. **Japanese people have a very high tolerance for non-native speakers’ speaking errors!** The pronunciation of it is similar to “ee-tah-dah-kee-mah-su” Also, you can practice with the recording below. ### Performance Now that you've learned how to pronounce it, let’s try to perform it. Again, it's not so complicated. You only need to remember the following four steps to grasp this Japanese etiquette quickly: 1. Clasp your hands together 2. Say itadakimasu 3. Bow slightly (omitted depending on who you are eating with) 4. Enjoy your food https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI9qGvgMRfg ## FAQs about itadakimasu answered ### Do Japanese people say itadakimasu when eating alone? A quick glance at discussions on forums or social platforms would suggest that **whether Japanese people say *itadamimasu* when they are alone depends on the person.** Some Japanese people don't say it when eating alone or with friends but do when dining with elders or superiors. In contrast, some Japanese say it even when they are alone. Therefore, this is generally just a personal preference. ### Is it rude not to say itadakimasu? Not at all. **It's perfectly acceptable** *not* to follow this etiquette if you don't know it very well or are concerned that you won't do it correctly. After learning it through spending time with your Japanese friends, **you can start to use *itadakimasu* to show your great regard for Japanese culture.** ### Do you need to respond to itadakimasu? Let's suppose you are the host and have prepared a dinner for a Japanese guest. You can respond to the guest's "*itadakimasu*" by saying 👇 いっぱい食べてね ー ippaitabetene （Eat well!） ## Itadakimasu Day After reading the above introduction, I should hope you feel a little more comfortable with *itadakimasu*. It is such an essential phrase for Japanese people that they even set November 11 every year as itadakimasu Day. The purpose of the day is to teach children about the preciousness of food. Furthermore, people observing the holiday try to **make children aware of how tough it is to obtain food** by engaging them in various activities such as cultivating, gathering, and cooking. [This project](http://itadakimasu1111.jp/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) believes that the phrase "*Itadakimasu*" contains five forms of gratitude and allows us to reflect on them 👇 **For nature**: We are grateful for the earth, clean water, and sunshine that nurture our crops. **For life**: We are grateful for the life of vegetables, meat, fish, etc, which are equally as precious as our life. **For labor**: We are grateful for the people who are involved in cooking delicious meals for us. **For wisdom**: We are grateful for the recipes, knowledge, and love that have been spread in communities and families. **For partners**: We are grateful for those close to us and who share the table with us. ## What does Gochisosama deshita mean? Gochisousama deshita (ご馳走様でした) is like the twin sibling of itadakimasu. **After a meal, Japanese people say "Gochisousama deshita" to thank the people who served them that delicious meal.** But, what is the literal meaning of the expression? The phrase paints a picture of a host riding on a horse and rushing around to gather food ingredients to feed his guests. The two Kanji "**馳走**" is an archaic phrasing and it literally mean "**to run.**" Long, long ago, Japanese people relied on hunting and fishing to obtain raw food materials and sometimes had to travel far away for their supplies. At the same time, horses were the primary means of transportation. Therefore, you can see that the Chinese character for "**馬 (uma)**" is also reflected in the Chinese character for "**馳 (chi)**." **In modern society, "Gochisosama deshita" can be used both when others cook a meal for you or when someone invites you to eat at a restaurant.** 佐藤：今晩、一緒にタイ料理を食べましょうか？僕の奢りです！ Satou: konban, issho ni tairyouri wo tabemashou ka? boku no ogori desu! 鈴木：えっ、本当？！ありがとう。 Suzuki: ee, hontou?! arigatou. （食事中） (shokujichuu) 鈴木：美味しかったです！**ご馳走様でした！** Suzuki: oishikatta desu! **gochisousama deshita!** Sato: Shall we have Thai food together for dinner? It's on me! Suzuki: WOW, Thank you! (Eating) Suzuki: It was delicious! Thank you for treating me! If you were to ask a Japanese speaker today what "Gochisou (ご馳走)" means, they would tell you that it represents a good meal or an upscale restaurant. As you might have guessed, **"Gochisou" can be used as a noun on its own.** --- *Wish to learn more Japanese phrases but don't know where to start? Let me help!* *I'm *LingoDeer*. I'm here to make your Japanese learning journey smart and fun!* [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ### Colors in Spanish URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/colors-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:28:57.000Z As the famous saying goes, “**colors are a language everyone understands**”. No matter how beautiful the quote sounds, the truth is you are also going to need to be able to word them in the language you are learning, if you want to become fluent. But no worries, colors in Spanish are really easy to remember, especially with all the tips and examples we are going to share with you throughout this article! First, let's take a look at several most commonly used colors in Spanish! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/colors-in-japanese-1.png) ## The grammar of Spanish colors: rules to bear in mind In English, adjectives are static words, their endings never vary depending on the noun nor on their grammatical context. However, in Spanish, **all adjectives must have the same gender and number as the noun they are accompanying.** And it is not the only rule that is different. This makes Spanish grammar a little bit more difficult, but don’t worry, you will master it with our help! These are all the grammatical rules of the colors in Spanish you must bear in mind: - **The color always comes after the noun** - **Colors must agree with the gender of the noun** - **Colors must agree with the number of the noun** - **When used as nouns, colors are always masculine** Let’s explore them more in depth. ### Word order of the colors in Spanish As previously mentioned, in Spanish, colors are adjectives. Like any other adjective, they appear after the noun in a sentence. It’s exactly the opposite as in English. ![word order of the colors in Spanish](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/me-gusta-mucho-el-coche-rojo.png) ### The colors in Spanish must agree with the gender of the noun **Nouns in Spanish have a gender**, they can be either **masculine** or **feminine**. Since adjectives (and thus colors) must agree grammatically with the noun they describe, their gender must also be the same as the one of that noun. Adjectives (and therefore colors) change their **word endings** in order to undergo such grammatical transformations. When it comes to gender, the only transformation that is needed is to change the -o ending (of those adjectives that end with -o) for an -a when the noun is feminine. If the word is masculine, no transformation is needed. **1- If the color ends with -o, and the noun is masculine, no transformation is needed:** El coche rojo me encanta (I love the red car) Había visto un árbol amarillo (I had seen a yellow tree) **2- If the color ends with -o, and the noun is feminine, we need to change the -o for an -a:** La ventana roja está cerrada (The red window is closed) Había visto una casa amarilla (I had seen a yellow house) Warning: There is only one exception for this rule: the color “índigo” should always end with -o. **3- For all the other endings, no changes are necessary when it comes to grammatical gender** Me encanta el jardín verde (I love the green garden) Había visto una casa verde (I had seen a green house) La casa azul (the blue house) El camino azul (The blue path) In reality, all of this can be summarized into one straightforward rule; **when the color ends with -o, and the noun ends with -a, just change the ending of that color/adjective to -a.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/john-thomas-lte6w_jvtgc-unsplash.jpg) Image from Unsplash ### The colors in Spanish must agree with the number of the noun Adjectives (and therefore colors) must have the same number as the noun they describe. In order to achieve such grammatical concordance, we only need to follow one simple rule: **If the noun is in the plural form, we need to add an -s to the adjective at the very end of the word if it ends with a vowel, and -es if it ends with a consonant.** La casa verde // Las casas verdes (The green house // The green houses) (Here the adjective, “verde”, ends with a vowel, therefore we just have to add -s) La casa amarilla // Las casas amarillas (The yellow house // The yellow houses) (Here the adjective, “amarilla”, is in the feminine form because “casa” is a feminine noun. We only need to add an -s at the end, because the adjective ends with a vowel) El coche azul // Los coches azules (The blue car // The blue cars) (“Azul” ends with a consonant, therefore we need to add -es instead of -s in order to get the plural form). ### When used as nouns, colors are always masculine In Spanish, colors can also be used as nouns when they represent an **entity**. When used as nouns, all colors should be treated in the masculine form, even if they end with -a. Me gusta el rosa (I like pink) (Note that the noun, “rosa”, is being treated as a masculine noun, despite the fact that it ends in -a) El azul es mi color favorito (Blue is my favourite color) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/amy-shamblen-koyklsujaxc-unsplash.jpg) Image from Unsplash ## How to use the verb to be (ser/estar) with colors in Spanish If we want to say that something is a certain color, we must use the form “ser”. Note that the adjective must still agree in gender and number with the noun. El coche es rojo (The car is red) La casa es amarilla (The car is yellow) Los coches son rojos (The cars are red) However, if we want to say that something is a given color but just temporarily, we use “estar”. El coche es blanco, pero está tan sucio que está negro (The car is white, but it is so dirty it is black) Las paredes están rojas por el deterioro (The walls are red due to their deterioration) ## Color-related expressions in Spanish A good way to take your Spanish to the next level is to use popular expressions. They will make you sound much more fluent and knowledgeable of the language. When it comes to colors, there are many expressions directly or indirectly related to them. Here are the most famous color-related expressions in Spanish, hope you use them! **1- Poner verde a alguien (to badmouth someone)** Pusieron a Sara verde cuando no estaba presente (They badmouthed Sara when she was not present) **2- Ponerse morado** (It literally means “to satisfy a desire or a need in excess”. For instance, if you are hungry and you eat a lot to sate it, you are “poniéndote morado”). Estaba muy hambriento, pero en el restaurante me puse morado (I was very hungry, but in the restaurant I pigged out) **3- Quedarse/Ponerse blanco** (To go white) Jamás me lo hubiera esperado. Cuando me enteré, me quedé blanco (I would have never imagined it. When I realized it, I went white) **4- Quedarse en blanco** (To go blank) Me quedé en blanco en el examen, no me acordaba de nada (I went blank in the exam, I didn't remember anything) **5- Comerse un marrón** (To take the blame for something or to have to deal with something undesired and of great magnitude) Hoy he tenido que comerme el marrón por todas tus irresponsabilidades (Today I have had to take the blame for all your irresponsibilities) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/scott-webb-yzyysevqgmm-unsplash.jpg) Image from Unsplash ## How to remember the colors in Spanish? There are scientifically based tricks to boost the speed at which we memorize things. Today we will show you our favourite one, applied to the colors in Spanish. If you want to memorise them faster, you only need to do two things: 1- Take a phonetic or written part of the word in Spanish and **derive meaning from it** (maybe it is similar to a word or a set of words in English, maybe it is similar to the acronym of a football team, etc…) 2- Make a **visualization** in your mind involving the meaning of the word and the newly derived meaning. This visualization should be as implausible, absurd, and fun as possible. If you are not feeling very creative, don’t worry, below we have left you some helpful visualization examples: **Rojo (red)** : take the first part of the word, “ROJ”. It reminds us of the word “ROYAL”. In order to remember the word “Rojo”, just imagine that all royal people have red faces, and that that’s what makes them royal. **Azul**: “Azul” is very close phonetically to the word “ASH”. Just imagine all ashes are blue because they contain water. **Verde**: “VER” is similar to “VERacity”. Just imagine that, if something is green, then it is by law veracious. **Negro**: “NEG” is similar to “NEGotiate”. In order to NEGotiate, people must always wear black suits. Else it is punishable by law. **Blanco**: it is very similar to “BLANK”. We are going to leave this one up to you! --- **Wish to learn more Spanish words? Let me help you!** **I'm LingoDeer. I will make your Spanish learning smart and fun.** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ### Hello in Japanese: 14 Ways to Greet others in Different Situations URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:26:59.000Z You're probably quite familiar with こんにちは *konnichiwa*, or **'hello' in Japanese,** and may think why do I need to know different greetings if I can already say hello? But just like many other languages, the way you **greet someone in Japanese** depends on the **situation, age, gender, and time of the day**, etc. In this article, you will learn **14 different ways to say hello in Japanese**. What? There are 14 different ways to just say hello? Well, yes, but they are not as complex as you thought! So take a deep breath and just keep reading. ## How to say hello in Japanese In Japanese, the way you greet someone depends on **the situation you are in** and **the person you are talking to**. Remember? The Japanese language uses [honorifics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/) to refer to different people. When it comes to greetings, there are also different kinds of words you can use! You're not going to talk to your boss the same way you talk to your homies, right? Below is **a list of greetings you can use, considering the situation you're in**. So buckle up and enjoy the ride! ![different ways to say hello in Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hello-in-japanesedd.png) ### Informal way (with friends, families, etc) Be careful to **only use the following greetings with close friends or family**, or you may come across as very rude. In some cultures, talking in a more familiar way to someone may help to put them at ease or show that you want to lessen the distance between you two, but in Japan it's a big **no-go**. And remember that you want to make a good impression on your in-laws. #### やあ yā or よう yō You're probably already familiar with よう yō, because it's an expression that we already use in English. Just like its English variant, **it's a very casual way to greet someone and you only say this to people who you're very close to.** よう yō is mostly said by **boys**, but girls can also use it sometimes. Don't say this to people who are older than you, I will not guarantee that you will get a nice reaction back. Luckily, the Japanese are very polite and understanding people, but if you wonder why you no longer get invited to a gathering, well… I guess you have your answer. やあ yā has the same meaning as よう yō, **it also means ‘hi’**, and it's often used to grab someone's attention. **Just say やあ yā , insert the name of the person you want to talk to**, and continue with what you want to communicate. #### ヤッホー yahhō or オッス Ossu One of the following expressions is quite girly and the other one is only used by boys, so don't mix them up, or you will get some strange looks. *ヤッホー* yahhō is used between **girls**, usually children or someone who has a very close relation with you. You can compare it with the English 'yoohoo', and it’s often used together with waving hands to attract someone’s attention. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/antonino-visalli-rnibly7ahck-unsplash-1.jpg) image from Unsplash オッス Ossu is a slang that's used between **boys**, it's translated in English as 'hey!' (and don't forget that **u is not pronounced**). I know it might sound funny to say this to your easy-going boss, but just don't. Okay? #### ただいま tadaima When you arrive home, you greet your housemates by saying ただいま *tadaima*. It literally means ‘just now’, but because that sounds a little strange in English, **we translate it like ‘I'm home’**. It's an abbreviation from the sentence ただいま帰りました (*tadaima kaerimashita*) which means ‘I just came home’. **Your housemates in return will welcome you by saying おかえり *okaeri* or おかえりなさい *okaerinasai*, ‘welcome back’.** ### Semi-formal way (with strangers, colleagues, etc) #### お疲れ様です otsukaresama desu Want to avoid an awkward silence when you arrive at your workplace? **The perfect way to dodge this is by saying お疲れ様です** **to your coworkers, you're basically saying that they are working hard.** You will score points with this one, because Japanese love it when someone makes an effort to learn their language, and you will definitely get compliments on how good your Japanese is (even if you can only say a few sentences). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/coworker.png) image from Unsplash #### お久しぶりですね ohisashiburi desune **This is how you can say hello to someone you haven't seen in a while**, like a previous coworker or a schoolmate you can barely remember. When you're talking to someone younger who you are well acquainted with or a friend, you can just say ひさしぶり *hisashiburi*. #### お元気ですか ogenki desuka? Another way to address someone is by asking お元気ですか*,* ‘How are you?’ It has a more casual undertone, but it's definitely something you can say to your **colleagues**. If you want to ask your **friends** how they are, you say げんき *genki.* #### はじめまして hajimemashite If you **meet someone for the first** **time**, you can introduce yourself by saying はじめまして *hajimemashite* and adding your name. Literally translated, it means something like ‘It's the first time’ (we meet), but in order to sound more natural, it's usually translated like ‘Nice to meet you’. #### よろしくおねがいします yoroshiku onegaishimasu **This expression is used after you have introduced yourself or after you have been introduced by someone else.** This sentence has many different uses in Japanese, and doesn't really have an English variant, but after an introduction it's mostly translated as ‘I'm in your care’, ‘Please take good care of me’ or ‘Let's work well together’. If you want to sound very formal, you can add どうも *dōmo* and いたします *itashimasu* (どうもよろしくおねがいいたします*dōmo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu)*, **but only say this to your boss or persons with a high status**, or else you will make your poor coworker feel very uncomfortable (worst case, you can come across as very rude and sarcastic!). When talking to **children** or requesting something from your **friends** you can keep it short by saying よろしく *yoroshiku*. ### Formal way (with professors, leaders, etc) In this part, you will learn **how to address someone with a higher social status.** In the previous parts, you have seen that you can't use informal speech with your boss, professor or people you're not familiar with in general. It's the same in this case, if you start talking to your friends in a very formal way, they will think you're mad at them. So, when your significant other starts talking to you in formal speech, you would know you have done something wrong! ![formal](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-df7a266f463f32e7.png) image from Unsplash #### お会いできて光栄です o-aidekite kōei desu To keep it short (because these expressions are already long enough), it's the **very formal** version of はじめまして *hajimemashite*. This is how you introduce yourself to someone you meet for the first time. #### いかがお過ごしですか ikaga osugoshi desuka ‘How have you been?’, would be the proper translation for this question. Asking how they are is in Japan also a common way to greet someone. ## Other Essential Japanese Greetings You Need to Know In Japan, the way you greet someone depends on the time of the day, so don't lose track of time! #### おはよう(ございます) ohayou (gozaimasu) This is what you say when you want to greet someone in the **morning**, but be aware that おはようございます *ohayou gozaimasu* is a very formal language. If you want to say good morning to your **family or friends**, just say おはよう *ohayou*. #### こんにちは konnichiwa Finally, you may think, a word that I know! こんにちは means ‘**good afternoon**’, and it's usually used between 12 and 5pm. It has more of a formal undertone, so it's not something you say to your family or friends, but you can use it in semi-formal situations. #### こんばんは konbanwa After learning ‘good morning’ and 'good afternoon', ‘**good evening**' is the third one you need to know. Around this time of the day, こんばんは is the greeting you will hear most often. #### Other situations So, you may wonder, if I want to call someone, can I just say one of the greetings I have learned? Well, we have a different expression for that (I don't think that surprises you after this list). **When you pick up the phone or when you call someone, you can start the conversation by saying もしもし *moshi moshi*.** If you need to make a call for your company, you usually say はい *hai* and add the name of the company you represent. ## Summary Learning all these different types of greetings can be quite overwhelming if you have never heard of them before, so here is a quick overview of the ways you can say hello depending on the situation. **Casual:** - If you are a girl, you can say hi with **やあ** *yā* or **ヤッホー* yahhō*. - If you are a boy, you can use **よう** *yō* or **オッス* Ossu.* - **ただいま** *tadaima* is what you say when you arrive home, and someone else will welcome you back by responding with **おかえり** *okaeri*. **Semi-formal:** - **おつかれさまです** *otsukaresama desu:* meaning ‘you’re working hard’, this is a good way to greet your coworkers. - When you haven’t seen someone in a while, you can say **おひさしぶりですね** *ohisashiburi desune* (distant acquantaince) or **ひさしぶり** *hisashiburi* (well acquainted). - **おげんきですか** *ogenki desuka*: how are you? - **はじめまして** *hajimemashite*: when you meet someone for the first time. - **よろしくおねがいします** *yoroshiku onegaishimasu*: after introductions. **Formal:** - **おあいできて こうえい です** *o-aidekite kōei desu*: the very formal version of はじめまして *hajimemashite*. - **いかが おすごし ですか** *Ikaga osugoshi desuka*: how have you been? **Other essential greetings:** - Good morning: **おはよう(ございます)** *ohayō(gozaimasu)* - Good afternoon: **こんにちは** *konnichiwa* (don’t say it to the persons you know well) - Good evening: **こんばんは** *konbanwa* When making a phone call or answering the phone: **もしもし** *moshi moshi* (casual or semi-formal), during working hours you pick up the phone with **はい** *hai* and add the name of your company. --- **Ready to strike up your first Japanese conversation? Let me help you!** **I'm LingoDeer. I will help make your Japanese learning smart and fun.** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### How to Say Hi in French: 10 Ways to Greet Others in French URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:09.000Z We all know that there are many different ways to say hello in English, and the same goes for French. Learning some everyday greetings in French will be very useful no matter which stage of [French learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/) you are at. Below are **10 different ways to say hello in French** that will cover a variety of situations. So buckle up and read on to get ready for your first French conversation! ![How to say hi in french](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/2-4.png) ## Some common ways to say hello ### 1\. “Bonjour” This is the most universal greeting. It can mean “**good morning**”, but it can also mean the same as “**hello**” in English. You can't go wrong using it at any time. If you want to be polite, you can add ”madame” (Mrs), "monsieur” (Mr), "mademoiselle" (Miss) or the person’s name after "bonjour". *"Bonjour, tout va bien?" (Hello, how is everything?)* *"Bonjour, monsieur!" (Hello, Sir!)* When you **answer someone's greeting**, you can answer the same way by saying "**bonjour**", or "**Comment allez-vous?**", meaning how are you, which is a formal way. ### 2\. "Salut" or "Coucou" When greeting a familiar friend or family member, many french people use "**Salut**" or "**Coucou**". They are **informal ways of saying "hey" or "hi"**. The response to "Salut" is very simple: you can **just repeat "Salut!"**. Be careful never to use them with your boss or strangers! *"Salut tout le monde!"(Hi everyone!)* ### 3\. "Ça va?" Or "Comment ça va?" They both mean "how are you", "how's it going", or"What's up". When people ask you "Ça va", you can respond with "Ça va bien", meaning "it's going well" in English. These two sentences are also used often in conjunction with "Salut" : *"Salut, ça va?" ( Hi, how are you?)* *"Salut, comment ça va?" (Hi, how's it going?)* ### 4\. "Enchanté" This is a good way to greet someone when you **meet them for the first time**. It means "nice to meet you/nice to know you" in English. It is pronounced in French as \[a(n) sha(n) tay\]. This word should look quite familiar to English speakers as the English word "**enchant**" is derived from enchanté in French. Be sure to distinguish between its **feminine and masculine forms**: if you are a man, you use "**enchanté**", if you are a woman, you need to use "**enchantée**" adding an "e" at the end. ### 5\. "Allô" "Allô" is used to **greet people on the Phone**. It is similar to "hello, how are you?". It can also be used when you want to confirm that the person is on the line, which means "hello, are you there?" ![how to say hi in french](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-503e13b3767fd4ea.png) ## Greetings at different times of the day Having learned some most basic ways to say hello in French, now, let's see how to greet others at different times in a day. ### 1\. "Good morning" in French In French, you can simply use " Bonjour", which means "good morning". *"Bonjour, tu as bien dormis?" (Good morning, did you sleep well?* ### 2\. "Good afternoon" in French You can say "**Bon après-midi**" in the afternoon as an expression of "hello", or stick with "bonjour" before the evening. The use of "Bon après-midi" is more commonly used to mean "**have a nice day**" when you say goodbye to the others. "Mesdames et *messieurs, bon après-midi et bienvenue."( Ladies and gentleman, good afternoon and welcome.)* ### 3\. "Good evening" in French Like the classic "bonjour", "**bonsoir" is a universal greeting for evening** that applies to most social settings. Once twilight falls, it's time to switch from "bonjour" to "bonsoir". "*Appelons ma mère pour dire bonsoir à Emma." ( We should call my mom and say goodnight to Emma.)* ## What else you can say to impress people ### 1\. Bienvenue It is used to welcome the person, when someone enters your house or office or arrives in a new city/country, it means "welcome!" *"Bienvenue à Paris." ( welcome to Paris.)* ### 2\. "Hé" It is an informal term used mainly for phone calls or when we greet someone we know very well as friends or family members. It has a similar meaning to "hey" in English. *"Hé, mon cherie!"(Hello my dear!)* Have you learned all these greetings? Let's have a final refresher below! ![how to say hi in french](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/8499d2f9-86bf-4a02-96cf-019ccc0834ff_1_201_a-jpeg.jpg) ### Chinese vs Japanese vs Korean Language: Which is the hardest URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-japanese-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:11.000Z Download [中日韩.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/zhong-ri-han-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Asian languages may sound mysterious and alien, which is also why they fascinate so many people. **Chinese, Japanese, and Korean** are three east Asian languages that have many connections and are frequently compared with each other. Contrary to what some would expect, they are independent and unintelligible to one another. If you haven't decided [**which language to learn**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/what-language-should-i-learn/) or wish to know **which is the most difficult**, you've come to the right place. This article will compare Chinese, Japanese, and Korean in terms of their **writing system, grammar, and pronunciation** in an easy way. Don't want to read the whole article? Peek at the final answer [here](#answer). ## Chinese vs Japanese vs Korean writing system First, let's see which language has the most complicated writing system. Japanese, Korean, and Chinese all look pretty complex in their written forms, to the point that you may still wonder which one is which language. To tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese and Korean writing, first, see if there are any spaces between the characters, if there are, then it's Korean. If there are no spaces among characters, see if there are any curvy, cute symbols among the square, complex symbols, if there are, then it's Japanese. ![differenciate Chinese, Japanese and Korean writing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/the-written-cjk.png) ### Chinese: 3,000+ Chinese characters When first learning Chinese, many beginners may ask: where is the alphabet? Well, in contrast to English, which has 26 letters, **Chinese doesn't have an alphabet, but rather 3,000 common Chinese characters.** Yeah, I know that sounds crazy. Chinese characters are **ideological**: each character has one or more meanings, and combinations of characters comprise various words. Furthermore, Chinese characters are **pictographic**, meaning they evolved from images. In other words, they were originally created by the "painter-like" Chinese people. Thus, many non-native speakers feel that writing Chinese characters is like painting. ![Evolution of Chinese character](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/450px-evo-elephant.png) Image from Wikipedia It is worth mentioning that Chinese characters have two writing styles: **the simplified and the traditional.** Mainland China uses simplified characters, while Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan use traditional ones. The simplified and traditional characters correspond to each other and have the same pronunciation but are written differently. ### Japanese: Hiragana, Katakana, Kanji **Japanese consists of the syllabic alphabet (**[**48 Hiragana, 48 Katakana**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/)**) and 2000+ Kanji (Chinese characters).** After a short period of memorization, you will be able to pronounce the kana as soon as you see it. Since Kanji is not syllabic, we need kana to help us pronounce it. The image below may give you a more visual explanation. The application of Hiragana and Katakana is more than just pronunciation. For instance, some words can only be written in Hiragana or Katakana (no kanji equivalent). Generally speaking, **Hiragana is the more common variant in regular text than Katakana.** In contrast, Katakana is usually reserved for specific purposes, such as loanwords and advertising phrases to catch the eye. ![Comparing hiragana, katakana, and kanji](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/writing-system-in-japanese.png) ### Korean: the only alphabet — Hangul Modern Korean has a far simpler writing system than Chinese and Japanese. **Hangul is the official alphabet used to record Korean, which has 40 letters consisting of 21 vowels and 19 consonants.** Although you can still see 한자 / hanja (chinese characters) on ID cards or grave-markers, they don’t appear very often in daily lives. In Korean, any vowel and consonant letter can be used individually or combined to form words. It's systematic and comprehensive. Moreover, it's easy to learn, print, and use on the computer. The creation of **Hangul** has also contributed dramatically to reducing illiteracy and the development of the publishing industry in Korea. So how to distinguish between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean from their appearances? It's actually not so hard when you pay attention to a few key features. Firstly, Korean sentences or texts must have spaces similar to English, whereas Chinese and Japanese do not. Then, Japanese text has some rounded Hiragana without angles, which is not the case in Chinese. **In general, Chinese looks relatively dense, followed by Japanese, and Korean looks quite spacious.** Why do some Japanese scripts look similar to Chinese? Are they mutually intelligible? In case you don't know, just like western languages, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean also share some common words. If interested, we have another article about [Hanzi, Kanja, and Hanja](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hanzi-kanji-hanja/) that addresses this topic. ## Chinese vs Japanese vs Korean pronunciation First, listen to this audio to get a feeling of how Chinese, Japanese, and Korean sounds like! ![Comparing Chinese, Japanese, and Korean sentences](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-e920cdf3280d3d57.png) "Welcome to LingoDeer" in Chinese, Japanese, Korean ### Chinese: logographical characters with tonal system As mentioned before, Chinese characters are ideological. Therefore, **there are no rules to follow other than remembering the pronunciation of each required Chinese character, and the same applies to the Kanji in Japanese.** To standardize Mandarin, Pinyin was created as the phonetic system to pronounce Chinese characters using the Latin alphabet. More importantly, Chinese is a tonal language, and words’ meanings constantly vary according to their tones, which is not the case in either Japanese, Korean, or English. **Thus, we can say that Chinese is the most difficult in terms of pronunciation.** ![4 Chinese tones](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-c665984fe27d8fcd.png) ### Japanese: vowel to consonant 1:1 There is a saying that Japanese is the best-sounding language due to its **1:1 vowel to consonant ratio,** which is close to a musical rhythm. Japanese has no diphthongs, and all syllables are open. What's more, Japanese has **only five vowels** (a i u e o), combined with 14 consonants to form the Japanese syllables. For English speakers, it’s easy to pronounce almost all of the Japanese syllables. Pronunciation is the simplest part of Japanese, compared to its complex writing system. ### Korean: all phonetic The pronunciation of Korean is harder than Japanese. Korean has some complex syllables, such as compound [vowels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-vowels/) and synthetic consonants, which many people find difficult when they first try to practice Korean pronunciation. But the good news is that **Hangul is entirely phonetic, without any hidden sounds.** Beginners can basically read them within one to two hours of study and get familiar with them during **a week’s practice.** ## Chinese vs Japanese vs Korean grammar ### Chinese: relatively similar to English You might be intimidated by the thousands of Chinese characters and their tough pronunciation. However, Chinese still has its strengths — including **an easy grammar system**. Leaving aside ancient Chinese, the grammar of modern Chinese is probably one of the easiest among all languages. To begin with, **Chinese doesn’t have prepositions, verb conjugations, or tense changes,** which means you don't need to memorize all those mind-twisting rules. Then, Chinese doesn’t have the honorific system that both Japanese and[ Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/) have. In addition, Chinese shares a similar sentence order with English, namely the SVO order, which is also different from Japanese and Korean. ### Japanese: SOV sentence structure The grammar of Japanese is possibly the most complex globally. For example, **there are 13 different forms of any given Japanese verb, and when combined with the tense, even more forms are derived.** Furthermore, the [honorific system](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/) of Japanese is quite brain-racking, requiring the speaker to change the speech politeness levels depending on different listeners and situations. Many native Japanese even make mistakes with this themselves! The most substantial difference between Japanese and English is sentence order. As mentioned earlier, **both English and Chinese use SVO order, whereas**[ **the Japanese sentence structure**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/) **is SOV (Subject - Object - Verb).** ![Typical structure of a Japanese sentence](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-8d2c04cf8a20dadb.png) ### Korean: similar grammar to Japanese The grammar of Korean is very similar to Japanese in terms of the honorific system and sentence structure. However, **Korean's grammar system is simpler than Japanese**. For example, the [verbs do not have that many different conjugations](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/). Because the grammatical logic is similar overall, native Japanese speakers and native Korean speakers can learn each other’s languages **relatively easily**. Similarly, if you already speak Japanese or Korean, you will learn the other one more quickly. ## The origin of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean languages Hooray! You've read all about our comparison of Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Now as you are here, stay a bit longer for their history, so you can understand their relationships more deeply. ### Chinese: one of the oldest languages in the world Chinese is the [most widely spoken language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/) with over 1.3 billion native speakers. Meanwhile, it is one of the world's oldest living languages. It is said that the characters written by Chinese people today can be found on oracle bones from[ over 6,000 years ago.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese%5Fcharacters?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) How amazing! However, over its long history, the Chinese language developed many spoken varieties, such as the well-known Cantonese. Because these varieties differ significantly and lack mutual intelligibility, **Mandarin remains China's official language.** So if you wish to learn Chinese, it's often suggested that you start with Mandarin, as it can be understood not only everywhere in mainland China, but also in Taiwan, Macau, and many places in Southeast Asia. ### Japanese: influenced by Chinese Japanese has been [dramatically influenced](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese%5Flanguage?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) by the Chinese language in terms of its pronunciation, vocabulary, and writing system. In archaic times, Japanese was only spoken and not written. Things changed when Chinese characters began to be imported into Japan in the 3rd century AD. By the time of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Japan had studied the Chinese language and culture on all fronts. **Based on the Chinese characters they had learned, Japanese people created kana to suit the needs of the Japanese language.** Nowadays, you can still find many [Kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/) (Chinese characters) in the Japanese language, and many Chinese people can read them without learning Japanese itself. ### Korean: a popular language Before the modern era, Korean was mainly written in Chinese characters, as is Japanese. After World War II, when the Korean peninsula gained independence from Japanese colonial rule and national consciousness rose, the abolition of Chinese characters became a national consensus. **In 1945, both North and South Korea banned Chinese characters and promoted**[ **Hangul**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/)**, the phonetic writing system invented by King Sejong in 1443.** Korean is one of the most attractive languages today. According to the[ Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange](http://eng.kofice.or.kr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), 77 million people worldwide were learning Korean in 2021, in striking contrast to the 52 million people who live in South Korea. During the last two decades, Korean culture has ridden a wave of popularity worldwide as many are fascinated with K-pop and K-dramas, which is probably why so many people are learning the language. ![Compare Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-1b68fc3bc7a84474.png) ## Which one is easier, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean? After reading this comparative review, I'm sure it has become clear that it's hard to tell which one is objectively the easiest or the hardest. You need to consider the three aspects of pronunciation, writing, and grammar and make your decision from there. Here comes our final verdict: the difficulty rankings based on my own learning experience. **Writing system: Japanese ≈ Chinese > Korean** **Pronunciation: Chinese > Korean > Japanese** **Grammar: Japanese > Korean > Chinese** **Although these three Asian languages are challenging, you can take on a rewarding adventure and have a great time learning them on [LingoDeer](https://lingodeer.page.link/ZhjA?ref=blog.lingodeer.com).** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://lingodeer.page.link/ZhjA?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- Thank you for reading this article. Let us know what you think in the comments below and share this article if you find it helpful! ### 9 Tips for Learning Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-learning-tips/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:13.000Z Deer Korean learners! We came across this really good discussion at [r/Korean](https://www.reddit.com/r/Korean/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) on Reddit and thought you might enjoy some of the tips from those who've been through the hard parts of starting out. Take a look and hope it's helpful for your[ Korean Learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/)! ## Tip 1: Use context Some words don’t really exist in English. So they should be understood with context instead of English-Korean translation. Korean has many such words. The word 떨이 (ddeol-i), for example, is a concept that we can easily describe, but English lacks a counterpart. In this case, 떨이 refers to the last few items in a store, the last stock that a merchant has struck to clear the shelves. ## Tip 2: Learn hangul as early as possible It is so important to learn [hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) (Korean Alphabet) and pronunciation rules plus exceptions before continuing to learn Korean and drop the romanizations **as quickly as possible**. Hangul may look quite different from the Roman alphabet, but it's not as difficult as you think! You can use [LingoDeer App](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) learn how to read and write hangul for free. You'll be off a good start and start learning Korean on the fast track! ## Tip 3: Choose the right dictionaries Use the [Naver dictionary](https://en.dict.naver.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#/main) and [Papago](https://papago.naver.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) rather than google translation. The Naver dictionary is the most used online Korean dictionary in South Korea, which can give you examples of the usage when you search a word. Papago is Naver's multilingual translation software. ## Tip 4: Don’t worry about particles too much Actually, [particles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-particles/) are way less important than you think and you very rarely use high formality in your daily interactions. Those two create big barriers for new speakers worrying about if they're using the right [conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/) and if they have the right [subject markers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-subject-topic-particles/) but they're not as prominent for actual speaking as beginners often think. ## Tip 5: Understand Korean culture Learning Korean along with its history, culture and economic background can help you better integrate into Korean society, especially for those who want to study or live in Korea. ## Tip 6: Learn Korean social system while learning Korean Learning Korean is like learning a social system; it is a linguistic system. Coming from a language that has no marked social hierarchy in its linguistic structure, speaking Korean is very subtle and can easily and accidentally be perceived as "rude" or "awkward". If you use the highly formal, highly polite form (indicative ending with \~ ㅂ니다), which is the form taught in most textbooks, you will appear very stiff and unnatural. At the same time, if you are using the informal, highly polite form (ending in \~요) and you forget the honorific affix when referring to something done by an elder or a respected person, it won't work well. In short, if you're obviously not Korean and default to the \~요 level, and just make sure to use the honorific form to refer to those who are older, you should be fine. You can learn more about [Korean honorifics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/) and [speech levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/) from our previous posts Learning Korean with LingoDeer will allow you to easily get the hang of [basic sentence structure](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/). Completing several textbooks will go a long way towards understanding grammar and mastering basic sentence structure. Great for understanding grammar and acquiring a strong vocabulary base. ## Tip 7: Practice speaking from day one Don't be lazy! You need to practice your Korean regularly, it's the only way you can master the language. Try to force yourself a 30-minute to 2 hours practice period every day to enhance your Korean skills. ## Tip 8: FOCUS ON GRAMMAR!! Grammar is the foundation of any language. If you don't know how Korean grammar works, you won't be able to understand what many native speakers are trying to say, and others won't be able to fully understand what you're trying to say. Once you master grammar, conversations in Korean will be much easier and you will learn where words fit into sentences. ## Tip 9: Consonants can have different pronunciations. For example, the two ㅂ in 바보 have two different sounds, or ㅈ has different sounds if it is at the beginning, middle, or end of a word, or these sounds change when the word is used with other words in rapid speech. When you are not sure how it should be pronounced, try searching the Internet for pronunciation instruction from native speakers. ### How to say I love you in different languages URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/i-love-you-in-different-languages/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:37.000Z Love is more than just hormones. It's a unique feeling that consists of passion, intimacy, trust, and commitment. Some say to love is to see yourself in others' eyes. When it comes to being romantic, there is never a shortage of love phrases in different languages. From French to Spanish and from Japanese to Korean, each language has its unique way of saying "I love you". Let's celebrate Valentine's Day with 30+ sentences to express love in different languages. Read on and get prepared to be romantic! ## How to say I love you in French It's not surprising to find a variety of ways to say "I love you" and express affection in the language of love. From > Je t'aime. (I love you.) > > Je t’aime bien. (I like you.) > > Tu me manques. (I miss you.) > > Je suis folle/fou de toi. (I am crazy about you.) ## How to say I love you in Japanese Japanese culture gives an impression of discrete, polite, and preserved. When it comes to showing love, Japanese people also tend to keep their feelings inside rather than expressing out loud. The word 好き(like) is more often used than loaded words like 恋 and 愛 (both meaning love). > 好きです。\[Sukidesu\] (I like you.) > > 大好きです。\[Daisukidesu\] (I really like you.) > > 愛している。 \[Ai shite iru\] (I love you.) Learn more about how to use these [different love expressions in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-say-i-love-you-in-japanese/)! ## How to say I love you in Korean If you are into Korean dramas, you'll know that unlike Japanese, Koreans are quite straightforward when it comes to expressing affection. > 사랑해요. \[saranghaeyo\] (I love you.) > > 저는 당신을 사랑해요. \[jeoneun dangsineul saranghaeyo\] (I love you.) > > xx 씨밖에 없어요. \[dangsinbage eobseoyo\] (There’s nobody like you.) This article explains more about [Korean love phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-say-i-love-you-in-korean/) and how they are used in real conversations. Take a look! ## How to say I love you in Spanish There are different phrases that can mean "I love you" in spanish, and each of them has a different focus. > Te Quiero. (I want you.) > > Te Amo. (I love you.) > > Me gustas. (I like you.) ## How to say I love you in Chinese From slightly light-hearted expressions to strong emotional ones, love phrases in Chinese also vary according to people and situation. Like Japanese, the relatively reserved Chinese culture also don't encourage strong manifestations like 我爱你 or 我喜欢你 (perhaps only on serious occassions like proposing). Instead, the subject 我 is often omitted to make the expression a daily and casual one. > 我喜欢你。\[wǒ xǐhuān nǐ\] (I like you.) > > 喜欢你。\[xǐhuān nǐ\] (I like you.) > > 我爱你。\[wǒ ài nǐ \] (I love you.) > > 爱你哟。\[ài nǐ yō\] (love/like ya.) ## How to say I love you in German In German, the verb lieben literarly translates into love. But when saying "I love you", the verb can take on different forms. > Ich liebe dich. (I love you.) > > Ich hab’ dich lieb. (love ya.) > > Ich bin in dich verliebt. (I'm in love with you.) > > Ich steh auf dich. (I’m into you.) > > Ich mag dich. (I like you.) ## How to say I love you in Russian The Russian language has numerous ways to express feelings, expecially romantic ones. Take a look at some of the most used sentences and phrases below! > Я тебя люблю. \[ya tyebya lyublyu\] (I love you.) > > Ты мне нравишься. \[ty mnye nravishsya\] (I like you.) > > Я тебя обожаю. \[ya tyebya abazhayu\] (I adore you.) > > Мой сладкий / моя сладкая. \[moy sladky / maya sladkaya\] (my sweetheart) ## How to say I love you in Italian As another romantic language, Italian language possesses a variety of cute and affectionate phrases. > Ti amo. (I love you.) > > Sono pazzo di te. (I am crazy for you.) > > Mi piaci. (I like you.) > > sono innamorato / innamorata di te. (I’m in love with you.) --- **Interested in extending your foreign language beyond love phrases?** **Check out LingoDeer Today!** **[Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)** --- ### Is Japanese Hard to Learn | Why it's Easier than You Think URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/is-japanese-hard-to-learn/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:14.000Z The decision to begin learning Japanese can feel **daunting**, particularly if you aren’t sure whether conventional language learning methods will be viable for you. You might have heard that **Japanese is hard to learn for it's so different from English.** Didn’t you hear somewhere that the verb comes *after* the object? And how do you manage to learn all of those kanji? Where is an aspiring Japanese language learner supposed to start? Read on: we hope to **answer your questions about learning Japanese** and push you in **the right direction to get started!** ## Is Japanese hard to learn by yourself? While the traditional classroom environment or regular sessions with an online tutor can be very appealing, scheduling and financial restrictions can often eliminate these as options. Luckily, embarking on your endeavor of mastering Japanese **does *not* necessitate a teacher** and you *can* overcome the significant linguistic differences between English and Japanese **by yourself**. Thanks to the great bounty of free or inexpensive[ language resources available online](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/), **it is *not* difficult to get started learning Japanese by yourself.** There are a myriad of wonderful apps to get you started with basic grammar and vocabulary acquisition. You can watch language lectures on YouTube, download flashcard decks with built-in audio on [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and listen to podcasts designed for language learners. If you feel overwhelmed with the variety of resources online and don't know where to start, you can also try [LingoDeer,](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) which has structured lessons that teach you all the way to intermediate level. You can also take advantage of platforms like [HiNative](https://hinative.com/en-US?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) where you can ask native speakers for help. All of the resources you need to get started are at your fingertips. **The only potential problems** to consider are: *1) how likely are you to make this *a habit*?* *2) is your goal *passive comprehension* or *active language production*?* The most important thing about language learning is neither how talented you are at memorizing new words nor how much money you have available to spend on subscriptions or lessons. The critical difference between someone who gives up at a lower intermediate level and someone who makes it to the point where they can read native level content comfortably is **whether they made their language learning practice a habit.** Twenty minutes a day is far more effective than two hours once in a while when you feel a gust of inspiration. Finally, if your goal is to be able to speak fluently and comfortably, you will *eventually* need to get some **active speaking practice** with teachers or native speakers. However, this is no reason not to begin independently - **you’ll be surprised just how much you can learn on your own.** ## How hard is it to learn Japanese as an English speaker? The U.S. Foreign Service Institute [ranks Japanese](https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (along with Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Korean) as one of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn. While this certainly suggests that it will take more effort and time to master an East Asian language as opposed to Spanish or Italian, I would like to offer a word of hope: **difficult does not mean that it will feel like a chore.** I think that the most compelling aspects of Japanese are exactly what makes it take so long to learn: **the stark difference in grammatical structure compared to English and the writing system.** Learning the three writing systems of [hiragana, katakana,](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) and [kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/) is arguably the most fun part of the language learning process. It feels incredible when you begin to recognize patterns in the radicals and pronunciation of certain kanji and piece the visual puzzle together. Sure, it would be easier if I didn’t have to learn a new writing system, but it wouldn’t feel nearly as intellectually satisfying. But perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself: you may be thinking, **what the heck is a kanji?** Let’s take a look below at some of the key components of Japanese: ## The Japanese Writing Systems Japanese primarily uses **two syllabaries** (hiragana and katakana, collectively known as kana) and **Chinese characters** (kanji) for its writing systems. **Hiragana** are used to indicate the pronunciation of the syllables that make up a word in Japanese. For example, ねこ (“neko” - cat) is made up of the hiragana ね (“ne”) and こ (“ko”). **Katakana** are used in the same way, but are specifically used for sound effects, onomatopoeia, loanwords, and animal names. Finally, **kanji** are symbolic characters that represent a meaning rather than a sound. Of course, there needs to be a way to pronounce these kanji - that’s where the kana come in. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-552c6e26d174df40.png) ## Grammar As I mentioned before, one noteworthy feature of Japanese grammar is that **the verb comes at the end of the sentence rather than in the middle.** This might not mean that much to you without an example, so let’s compare two basic sentences in English and Japanese: - I bought milk *(subject + verb + object)* - 私は牛乳を買った (lit. I milk bought) *(subject + object + verb)* | 私 | は | 牛乳 | を | 買った | | ------- | --------- | ------ | --------- | ------ | | I | | milk | | bought | | Subject | Auxiliary | Object | Auxiliary | Verb | This can take some time getting used to, but **gets easier as you grow accustomed to the use of** [**particles in Japanese**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-particles/) (e.g. the は and を above). These short words are much like prepositions in English but are also critical for identifying the subject and object in the sentence. Practicing particles can be quite fun, and the [LingoDeer+ app](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-plus/) offers a great many fun particle review games in its game library. ## Politeness While you may have heard talk of a foreboding [honorific system in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/), it’s not as hard as it sounds. Many features of the Japanese Keigo (honorifics) system are unique, but there are **consistent grammatical patterns that you can use to show humbleness about yourself** **and respect to others** that are similar to ones you might find in English. For example, you might compare the way a polite service worker would speak to a customer as opposed to how your friend sitting at the table with you would ask you: ご注文はお決まりですか？ - Have you decided on your order? 注文決まってるの？- Did you pick your order? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-156a1ee5eac5e775.png) Your barista usually says “What are you thinking of having today?” or “What would you like to order today?” instead of a curt “What do you want?” right? **English also has its own ways of complicating and drawing out expressions for the sake of politeness, and the Japanese system isn’t as daunting when you think about it like this.** ## Phonetics In fact, **possibly the easiest part of Japanese is the simplicity of its phonetics.** Without difficult heteronyms like “close” (nearby) and “close” (shut) and other inconsistent pronunciation patterns (e.g. through, though, rough), adapting to Japanese pronunciation is a walk in the park. Japanese only has **five** individual vowel sounds: A (pronounced “ah” as in “hawk”) I (pronounced “ee” as in “eat”) U (pronounced “oo” as in “soon”) E (pronounced “e” as in “check”) O (pronounced “oh” as in “rope”) Pretty easy, huh? As you can see, while there are some aspects of Japanese that take getting used to, it’s not all difficult. What’s more, there are a few ways in which **Japanese is *far easier* than English or Romance languages**. Let’s take a look: ## Loanwords In today’s globalized world, we’re all already familiar with sushi, karate, and karaoke. But what about [English loanwords in Japanese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gairaigo?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)? You’d be shocked at just how common these are in everyday Japanese speech. For example, **if you walked into a Japanese supermarket right now, you’d be caught in a whirlwind of English words in katakana.** You might walk by a sign that says 「スーパービッグセール！」(Super Big Sale!) at the entrance. As you make your way to the dairy products, you’ll see ブルーベリーヨーグルト (blueberry yogurt). Later, you might browse for different veggies and meats to make カレーライス (curry rice) at home. In the line to cash-out, you may hear others talking about a new レシピ (recipe) they’ve tried recently or a new レストラン (restaurant) or カフェ (cafe) they’ve been thinking of checking out. **English loanwords are a pervasive presence in everyday Japanese, which can really help with the speed of your language acquisition.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-3c1bbcea4b2dd874.png) ## Lack of Gendered Nouns, Plurals, and Articles Some of the things we take for granted as a necessary feature of language simply do not exist in Japanese. There are no gendered nouns in Japanese, as you might see in Spanish or German (e.g. “el agua” being masculine and “la piscina” being feminine). Indefinite and definite articles (“a,” “an,” “the”) simply do not exist. As for plurals, check out the two sentences below: 私は猫を二匹飼っている。 I have two cats. 私は猫を一匹飼っている。 I have one cat. There is no additional ending needed for 猫 to indicate that there is more than one cat. The plural is simply demonstrated by the presence of the number two. Nice and easy! What’s more, you don’t have to worry about different subject and object pronouns in Japanese. There is no “her” vs. “she” – if the pronoun is included at all, it’s always just 彼女! ## Final Verdict: Is Japanese Hard to Learn on Your Own? We’ve taken a look at many of the features that make Japanese challenging and others that make it simple. There’s no doubt that **the complex writing system means that you will be spending a lot of time working on kana recognition and kanji recall** while a student of Spanish can use that time for more vocab practice. But as I said, **it’s exactly these challenges that can make the process so enjoyable and your little victories that much sweeter.** Ultimately, it all comes down to your own commitment and determination when learning *any* language. Luckily, the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) team is here to support all language learners, be it Japanese or any of the ten other languages we offer curriculum for! --- **Get started learning Japanese the easier way today!** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ### 「北京冬季五輪」マスコットのビンドゥンドゥン、見逃してはならない情報！ URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/bing-dwen-dwen-beijing-olympics-mascot-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:16.000Z Download [Bing-Dwen-Dwen-pronunciation.m4a](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/bing-dwen-dwen-pronunciation-1.m4a?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 中国最大の通販サイト（タオバオワン）では、氷墩墩グッズが10秒で売り切れになった。また、国民から溢れる愛情を受けているマスコットはどこでも手に入らない事態が起きている。 「めっちゃ可愛くて絶対買いたい」、「あのパンダがなくては人生も無意味」、「ビンドゥンドゥンより可愛い生命体ってあまり存在しないと思うんだ」という人が沢山いた。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2022-02-08-at-20-19-29.png) ## ビンドゥンドゥンとは何？ 氷のスーツと金のハートを持ち、ウィンタースポーツが大好きなジャイアントパンダである。氷を模した衣装の内側には五輪カラーがデザインされている。宇宙飛行士っぽい姿で、無限の可能性と未来への展望を象徴する。 氷墩墩は無邪気なのがとても可愛らしくて、中国では皆が買い求めたい記念品となっている。メインデザイナーである曹雪さんは、「私の息子も販売店で買えませんでした」と話した。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ffff.jpg) **ソース：Twitter** ## 冰墩墩とはどういう意味か 冰墩墩 – bīng dūn dūn 「冰」は中国語の「氷」の書き方で、氷のスポーツ、冬、清らかなイメージを象徴。 「墩墩」は「ずんぐりした」様子を表すようだ。温厚、健康的、陽気、そして可愛らしさをパンダに結びつけ、強靱な身体と意志、そして、人を勇気つけてやまないオリンピック精神をシンボルとして表現。 一方、「墩儿 – dūnr」は中国の北部でよく見られるニックネームで、男子が無事に成長し、強く逞しい大人になるようにとの願いが込められる。しかし、多くの外国の方にとって、「儿 - er」という漢字の発音は難しすぎるので、「冰墩儿」を諦め、「冰墩墩」を採用した。 ところが、なぜマスコットは「冰墩」ではなく、「冰墩墩」と呼ばれているのだろうか。 ## 名前の漢字一文字を重ねた呼び方 「墩墩」が日本語で言うなら、「墩ちゃん」という風に可愛いイメージになる。このような呼び方は中国語で典型的なあだ名の付け方である。 名前に使われる以外に、中国語の形容詞の多くもこの形をしている。例えば、「胖乎乎 – pàng hu hu」は「ぽっちゃり」と似たように、ふっくらとした手足を持つ、丸顔でかわいい赤ちゃんを表している。また、「楽呵呵 - lè hē hē」というのは、楽天家の性格という意味で使われる。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-f7ee31d5a468245e.gif) *準備はできましたか。一緒に*[*LingoDeer*](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)*で中国語を勉強しましょう！* ## 中国人ファン、「ぜひ羽生選手に冰墩墩を贈ってください」 北京冬季五輪、フィギュアスケート男子シングルのフリー（FS）を終えた羽生結弦選手は4位となり、３連覇を逃した。男子フリー後、中国でも圧倒的人気を誇る羽生さんに数万通の応援メッセージを届けた。その中には、「至宝の君は私たちの金メダルです」、「永遠の氷上王子様」などの書き込みが相次いでいる。 ルールに従って、上位3位までしか冰墩墩の記念品を贈呈しないことになっている。したがって、中国のSNS「ウェイボー（微博）」には、こんなコメントが一杯だ 👇 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-2235dbfc02cec963.jpg) ### Most Useful Korean Phrases You Should Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-phrases/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:17.000Z If you’re interested in Korean culture and language, chances are you have heard some basic Korean words and phrases. With the popularity of shows like Squid Game, other K-dramas, and K-Pop, you may already be able to produce a few keywords and phrases. That’s great! The first step to effectively using any language is exposure to the basics and the phonetics used in everyday conversation. Whether your goal is to travel to South Korea, converse with Korean people, or enjoy your K-dramas with better understanding, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is here to help! In this article, we will cover some basic Korean words and phrases, survival phrases for travel, everyday phrases that Koreans use, and even some popular phrases you hear in K-dramas. So, get your pencil and pad ready, have a snack (I recommend ramen^^) and let’s get started. ## Most Basic Korean Words and Phrases For you, this may be a review, but it’s always good to revisit the basics of the Korean language. Let’s take a look at the simple phrase and words you will most often use. ### Hello 안녕하세요? annyeonghaseyo? **Tip 1**: This is used any time of day **Tip 2**: If you are speaking to your close friends or people younger than you, just say the first part: 안녕 (annyeong) ### Hello (on phone) 여보세요 yeoboseyo This is how to say “Hello” when answering the phone. You must have heard of it if you are a [k-drama](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/) fan. **Tip**: You don’t need to say “Goodbye” on the phone. Usually, Koreans hang up after the conversation is finished. ![Korean phrases-yeoboseyo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/e-com-gif-maker-1-gif.gif) ### Yes 네 ne **Tip**: Besides ***"Yes"***, this also how to say **“*You’re welcome*”** after someone says [“Thank you” (감사합니다)](https://blog.lingodeer.com/thank-you-in-korean/) ### No 아니요 aniyo ### Sorry 미안합니다 mianhamnida ### Excuse me (to apologize) 실례합니다 sillyehamnida You may make mistakes sometimes, and that’s ok. There is more than one way to apologize. You can also say - 미안합니다 (mi-an-hamnida) **Tip**: to say “Excuse me” in a way to get someone’s attention, you can say – 저기요 (jeo-gi-yo) ## Survival Phrases in South Korea Good job! Now that we have covered the basics, let’s look at some Survival Korean. These words and phrases will help you get around and communicate with Koreans. It can be nerve-wracking trying to find a bathroom in an unfamiliar area. In order to keep yourself from having an embarrassing accident, let’s ask the question…. ### Where is the bathroom? 화장실 어디에 있어요? hwa-jang-sil- eodie- isseoyo? Tip 1: “화장실” actually means “toilet” in Korean, so if you’re in a pinch and can’t remember, just say “toilet” and someone will point you in the right direction. Tip 2: In fact, you can use this question structure **to ask about the location of places.** Just say the *place* and add **\~ 어디에 있어요?** ### Can you speak English 영어 할 수 있어요 yeongeo hal su isseoyo? Sometimes you might just need to ask for help in English. Luckily, many Koreans can speak English at a basic level. ### Please speak slowly 천천히 말해 주세요 cheon-cheon-hi mal-hae juseyo. This phrase can be very handy if the speaker is unaware of your Korean level, and is speaking too quickly. ### Is there / Do you have \_\_\_\_\_? \_\_\_\_\_있어요? \_\_\_\_ isseoyo? This is a very useful way to ask if something is available or if a service is possible. Just say the *object* in question and add \~ 있어요? ### I don’t understand 이해 못해요 ihae motaeyo At times, it may be useful to admit that you don’t understand and need more help. This is a polite way to indicate that you’re confused. Tip: it could be useful to pair this phrase with another, such as… ### Please help me 도와주세요 doh-wa-juseyo Check out the travel phrasebook in our [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to learn more useful phrases for free! ## Common Everyday Phrases in Korean Now let’s study some common phrases that you might use in everyday life for situations such as buying stuff, ordering coffee, and having basic interactions with Koreans. ### Please give me 2 iced Americanos 아이스 아메리카노 두 잔 주세요 aiseu amerikano du-jan juseyo The verb at the end of the sentence, 주세요 (juseyo), is a common way to order or ask for something. It translates to “Please give me \_\_\_\_?” You can use it with other items as well. You may also hear many Korean people, especially the yougn, refering to iced Americano as 아아. Why? Learn more from our previous article about [Konglish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/konglish/). ### What is the Wifi password? 비밀번호 알려 주세요 bimilbeonho allyeo juseyo Wifi is everywhere in Korea. In order to connect to the strongest signal, you might have to ask for the password. ### How much is it? 얼마예요? Eolmayeyo? When shopping in the city markets or with street vendors, you may need to ask how much something costs. This is one of the most common and important phrases you can use. ### Is it spicy? 이거 매워요? igeo maewoyo? There is an abundance of delicious food in Korea, some of it is very spicy. If you’re not a fan of spicy food, you may want to ask before ordering. Tip: if you can eat spicy food, you will impress Koreans. They love to see foreigners eating their beloved spicy dishes. ### How old are you? 몇 살이에요? myeotsarieyo This is often one of the first questions you will hear when talking to Koreans for the first time. Because age is a very important part of the Korean social structure. So are [birthdays](https://blog.lingodeer.com/happy-birthday-in-korean/)! Tip: Another common and more formal way to ask this question is \~ 나이가 어떻게 되세요? (na-iga eo-tteo-ke doeseyo) ### That’s OK 괜찮아요 gwaen-chan-ayo This is probably one of the most common responses used in everyday Korean life. It can be used in a variety of situations: from indicating your condition to responding to an apology. It’s very handy. ## Korean Drama phrases If you’re a fan of [K-drama](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-dramas/), you’ve probably heard some of these expressions. Although they are used in dramas, they are also commonly used in real conversation. These phrases and expressions can be fun to use because they are **current, trendy, and natural.** Let’s take a look at a few. ### Really? 그래? geu-rae 진짜? jin-ja 정말? Jeong-mal All of these are used as common responses to convey **disbelief, shock, or excitement** at what someone has said. You may be already familiar with these phrases if you are a K-drama fan. They are very fun to use. Try them out. ### Older brother / older male friend / boyfriend 오빠 oppa This is an extremely common word that is often heard in romantic dramas. It is widely used by females to address males who are slightly older. It can be used to give a sense of familiarity and kindness. ### By any chance … 혹시 hoksi This phrase is commonly placed at the beginning of a sentence or question. It has a very polite, non-confrontational tone. You will often see this used when the speaker is trying to appear gentle and courteous. It can be translated as "maybe..." or "by any chance..." ### What are you talking about? / What do you mean? 무슨 소리야 이게? mu-seun soriya ige This phrase is commonly used to convey a feeling of **confusion or disbelief** in what the speaker said. Even if you understood their statement, you could use this expression in response. In dramas, we often hear this during arguments and lover’s quarrels ### Don’t lie 거짓말 하지마 geo-ji-mal hajima This is one of the most popular phrases used in K-dramas. Characters often use it when **in disbelief or anger**. I’m sure you can recall this phrase during an emotional break-up or fight scene. Tip: The first part is the word for “*lie*” (거짓말) and the second part is an informal and strong way to say “*don’t* (하지마). These are just some of the many useful words and phrases you will come across in your Korean language learning experience. They are very common and found throughout Korean culture. So, go ahead and practice using them with your family and friends. Even if they can’t speak Korean, you can imitate the feeling behind the words for practice. If you have some Korean friends, show them your new skills and knowledge. Always make sure to check your pronunciation and tone. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the learning experience! --- Do you find this post helpful? Share or let us know in the comments below! ### Is Korean Hard to Learn? A Reliable Answer URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/is-korean-hard-to-learn/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:19.000Z Learning Korean is a fantastic journey full of hardship and joy. If you are considering [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) but haven't started wondering if Korean is hard to learn, then read on to get the motivation as we may prove it wrong! ## Is Korean difficult: A short answer Is Korean hard to learn? Imaginally, yes. **Practically, NO.** You may have noticed many rankings list Korean as one of the [most difficult languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/) for English speakers to learn, but in fact, such rankings sometimes exaggerate the differences between languages. ![Korean letters](https://www.lucalampariello.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/How-to-Learn-the-Korean-Writing-System-in-Just-a-Few-Hours.jpg) image from lucalampariello.com It’s true that Korean language looks really different from English, especially compared to other European languages like French and Spanish. Don't let the appearance fool you! [Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) (Korean writing system) is actually very scientific and easy to use. With a good learning resource like [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), you can nail it in a couple of hours. Give it a try now! From my personal experience, learning a language resembles solving a jigsaw puzzle — If French is a 1,000-piece puzzle, Korean is at most 1,100 pieces (not 2,000 as people think). So, does the extra hundred really matter? ## Why Korean is much easier than you think Now you have a general idea of what to expect when learning Korean, let's what are the easy parts that make learning Korean much easier than you think. ### Many loanwords from English you've already known If you were to judge Korean and English just based on their looks, you would conclude that they are unrelated. But in fact, **modern Korean is inextricably linked to English**, with a massive number of English loanwords. Loanwords are an essential part of the contemporary Korean language. They have **similar pronunciations** and the **same meanings** as their original words. So for English speakers, you don't even have to learn them as long as you know the Korean writing system Hangul, because you already have a significant advantage at the outset. ![English loanwords in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/6ae15003-8d38-494f-8098-aa2c58634c60_1_201_a-jpeg.jpg) ### Entirely phonetic and easy to read ### As mentioned before, Hangul is entirely phonetic, without any hidden sounds. After memorizing the Hangul, you will pronounce any Korean text even though you don't know what it expresses. Moreover, Korean doesn't have tones, unlike the Chinese language. Sounds easy right? Start your [Korean learning journey with Hangul](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) today! The only thing related to the pronunciation that you need to pay attention to is the **accent**. To speak like a native speaker, watching K-drama can easier help you get familiar with the standard Korean accent. Related reading: [Chinese vs Japanese vs Korean: which is the hardest](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-japanese-korean/) ## How long does it take to learn Korean? ## According to [FSI](https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), at least **88 weeks or 2200 class hours** are needed to become proficient in Korean. But when it comes to simple daily conversations, it may take only 12 weeks if you spend around eight hours per week learning Korean. So how much time it takes to learn Korean depends on which level of fluency do you wish to achieve, and how intensive your learning is. To give you a more clear view of what you will encounter when learning Korean, let's first take a quick look at what does the Korean language consists of. ## What are the benefits of learning Korean? Before that, it's better to know why you wish to learn Korean. Why do you want to learn it? What benefits can you get from learning Korean? Learning Korean can [benefit you financially](https://blog.lingodeer.com/foreign-language-career/) and academically in many ways, not to mention the pleasure of enjoying Korean pop culture! ![kpop group blackpink](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/zbghsmuqrbhv5huvumcv4niciy-jpeg.jpg) Besides, South Korea is also the world's [10th largest economy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fcountries%5Fby%5FGDP%5F%28nominal%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) , with numerous high-tech companies such as Samsung, LG, Etc. Furthermore, South Korea also has many world-renowned universities, like Seoul National University and Yonsei University, which both domestic and international students covet. Learning Korean will not only broaden your horizons but also bring you better career prospects. Related reading: [Benefits of learning a foreign language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/benefits-of-learning-languages/) ## Korean Language Components ### Hangul The alphabet of Korean is called Hangul. **Hangul has 40 letters, including 21 vowels and 19 consonants.** Beginners can read them within one to two hours of study and get familiar with them with a week's practice. Hangul has a long history. Before [King Sejong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejong%5Fthe%5FGreat?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (1397-1450) invented it hundreds of years ago, the Korean language was written in Chinese characters, which was hard to learn. To make it easier for Korean people to read and write, the King invented Hangul. So unlike the Japanese language which still kept Kanji (Chinese characters), **Korean has a relatively easy writing system**. ![Korean Hangul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-hangul-alphabet.jpg) ### Grammar Some articles may tell you that Korean grammar is tricky, but I think that's the fun part. The most notable grammar difference between English and Korean is that **Korean uses Subject-Object-Verb word order.** It's a unique feature as just a few languages in the world use this structure. You may also refer to our previous article to learn more about [Korean sentence structure](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/). ![Korean Sentence Structure](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/korean-vs-english-sentence-png.jpg) In addition, **there is no grammatical gender in Korean, and verbs do not conjugate that much.** **And you don't have to consider too much about the singular and plural of words.** \-들 is used to make a noun plural, but you can just omit it most of the time. ### Politeness Indeed, the speech level in Korean is an intricate part. When communicating with teachers, seniors, etc., you need to use proper verb ending to show your respect to the listener. Literally, there are 7 [speech levels in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). Sounds crazy? Take it easy! The good news is that **there are only four common speech levels in modern life.** In the beginning, you will even meet only two of them. The most commonly used one is -**요** \-yo, which adds to the end to show respect. For example, if you want to say, "It's delicious," then it depends on the situation 👇 With friends — 맛있어. With a professor — 맛있어**요**. ## Tips for learning the Korean language ### Make it a habit According to the [forgetting curve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgetting%5Fcurve?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), long-term memory requires consistent daily revision. It means that **learning Korean one hour a day for ten days may be more effective than studying ten hours a day.** So, we recommend you **set a goal in learning Korean and make it a habit**. For example, memorize ten new Korean words and one grammatical rule per day. All you need to do is complete the set tasks each day and reward yourself when you make it. If you don't want to go through all the troubles yourself, let LingoDeer help you! LingoDeer is a language learning app that makes sure you cover all the skills including listening, writing, speaking, and reading. It has bite-sized lessons and learning incentives that will encourage you to achieve goals step by step. Give it a try for free! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Use online learning resources A great convenience of learning Korean is that the cultural industry in Korea is very well developed. You can enjoy a wide range of Korean cultural products on the internet, such as K-dramas, K-pop, and Korean variety shows. Same, **integrated learning tool with systematic teaching is vital.** During the COVID-19, we highly advise you use the online applications, which allow you to learn Korean anytime, anywhere, on your phone or laptop. The following applications (websites) are recognized by many Korean language learners with high ratings. You can try one of them or leverage all in combination 👇 [Li](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/head-logo-512-copy.png) [ngoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), an excellent mobile app (also accessible by its website) with a s ystematic grammar system and scientific word teaching for beginners. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-208e06dc596671f9.png) [T](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [alk T](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [o Me In Korean](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) , one of the most famous websites for learning Korean. It has dialogue videos and online courses with detailed explanations. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-fe344d403d747520.png) [How To Study Korean](https://www.howtostudykorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a good website. You can estimate your Korean level with some quizzes and read short stories on it. ### Make Korean friends For beginners, it's challenging to talk directly to Koreans. Therefore, you can make Korean friends who want to learn English in some language- partner finders like [Hellotalk](https://www.hellotalk.com/?lang=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). It's a win-win strategy. You can learn from each other and make progress together. Also, [Kakaotalk](http://www.kakao.com/talk?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is the most commonly used social app in Korea. Try it out. You might gain something from it. ## Final verdict: Is Korean hard to learn by yourself As mentioned above, Korean is a useful and beautiful language. It may broaden your horizons and help you make new friends. Although Korean has different parts from English, you will find out it is not as tricky as people always think. The alphabet in Korean is easy to read, and the verbs don't have conjugations. Moreover, you will enjoy learning it with the abundant online recourses. Don't hesitate, and take your first step bravely! ### How Hard is it to learn Italian? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-hard-is-it-to-learn-italian/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:21.000Z Download [意大利语.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/yi-da-li-yu-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The city of Rome attracts millions with its glorious culture, heritage, and beautiful sceneries. How I wish I can roll my rs like a native and speak the language of love and art while riding through the Grand Canal in Venice, you may think. Learning the beautiful and intricate Italian language is the key to truly connecting with this ancient yet modern land. **But is Italian hard to learn? What are the difficult parts to expect on your Italian learning journey? How much time should you spare for learning Italian?** Don't worry, read on to get all the answers! ![Rome](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-045b08dd37aab6d1.jpeg) ## Measuring the Difficulty of a Language When it comes to learning a new language, the level of difficulty varies depending on **your mother tongue**. For example, for native speakers of Romance languages (such as Spanish or Portuguese), learning Italian is very easy, since these languages evolved from vulgar Latin and share a similar vocabulary and grammar. With this in mind, this article is for those who want to know how easy or difficult the Italian language is, and what to expect if they decide to learn it. According to the Foreign Service Institute, [Italian belongs to the “Category 1” group of languages](https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Languages in this category are closely related to English, and native English speakers on average take the least amount of time to learn one of them. For example, according to the FSI, it takes **24 weeks of study time to reach a professional proficiency in Italian**, compared to 36 weeks for German, a Category 2 language. However, there are several aspects of Italian that can make your learning experience easier or harder, depending on your affinities. ## Easy aspects of learning Italian - It's really not hard! ### Pronunciation One of the best things about Italian is its pronunciation. Italian is **a “phonetic language”**, which means that the pronunciation rules don’t change. Unlike English, if you know the rules of Italian pronunciation (which are relatively easy), you know how to pronounce even unknown words, which is a huge benefit when learning a new language. ### Melodic language Italian is also widely known as **a “melodic” language** that sounds beautiful to the ear whether it is spoken or sung. There are a couple of reasons for the melodicity of Italian. In English, **vowel** length influences the meaning (e.g., “ship” and “sheep”). But in Italian, there are short and long **consonants**, changing the meaning of the word and adding a sense of melody to the language. For example, *nono* in Italian means “ninth”, while *nonno* means “grandpa”. This change between short and long consonants gives Italian a unique rhythm and musicality. All Italian words except loan words end with a vowel, which enables the flow of words one after the other, similar to notes in a musical piece. Italian language also avoids consonant groups that are difficult to pronounce, and simplifies them to a double consonant. For example, “Stockholm” in Italian is *Stoccolma*, while “beefstake” is *bistecca.* All of these traits makes Italian a melodic and beautiful language to the ear. Listen to it and you'll see! ### ### Loan words and cognates The best news for English learners of Italian is that **English loanwords are by far the most common in the Italian language**, which is a trend that is only becoming more pronounced in recent years. Currently, there are around 6200 English loanwords in Italian, but on top of that, there are many Italian words used in English that you already know, primarily related to music, art, or food. Apart from loanwords between Italian and English, there is a huge group of words in these two languages which share a common origin, so-called **cognates**. The most important link between English and Italian are **words of Latin origin**. Throughout the centuries, English was heavily influenced by Latin - around 28% of English words are of Latin origin. Since Italian evolved from colloquial spoken Latin, there is a large group of English and Italian words in with a shared origin (e.g., “animal” – animale, “situation” – *situazione,* public – “*pubblico”*). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ccccccc-1.png) ## Difficult aspects of learning Italian - be prepared! ### Rolled R One of the most common obstacles for native English speakers when it comes to learning Italian is the “rolled R”. This sound is made by **vibrating the tongue against the roof of your mouth**, and it’s used in many European languages aside from Italian. Native English speakers often have difficulties with producing this sound, since it doesn’t exist in English and learning it is not very intuitive. The good news is that there are many [tutorials](https://www.mosalingua.com/en/how-to-roll-your-r-in-italian/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) that can help you master the rolled R in no time, it just takes patience and a little practice! ### Grammatical gender **All nouns in the Italian language have a “grammatical gender”,** which means they are either masculine or feminine, including inanimate objects. For example, “chair” is feminine (*sedia*), while “table” is masculine (*tavolo*). Usually, **the ending of the noun** lets us determine the gender, ***o* for masculine nouns and *a* for feminine ones**. **Nouns ending in *e* can be both masculine or feminine**. ### Articles Like English, **Italian has definite articles (equivalent to “the” in English) and indefinite articles (equivalent to “a” or “an” in English).** However, in Italian, these articles have many forms, depending on the gender, number, and the beginning sound of the word. For example, the definite article has 7 different forms (il, lo, l’, la, i, gli, le). Another obstacle related to the Italian definite article is that **it merges with prepositions**. For example, the preposition “in” is the same in Italian and English. But, if we want to say “in the house”, we need to join *in + la casa = nella casa.* This may sound a bit complicated but it's actually pretty easy as **all of the forms follow a similar pattern**. ### Verb tenses and conjugations One of the most difficult aspects of learning Italian is **memorizing the verb forms**. (But it's relatively easier than many other languages like German and Russian!) Verbs in Italian are conjugated by person, number, and tense. So you can see the verb often changes: **io lavor* **o** – I work **tu lavor* **i** \-you work **lui lavor* **a** \- he works **...* What's more, be prepared that Italian often uses the subjunctive mood, which is relatively rare in English and scares many. ## How to learn Italian easily online Depending on your preferred style of learning, there is a wealth of excellent options available for learning Italian, which allow you to leverage the improvements in technology and teaching methods and overcome the obstacles mentioned above: ### Online Italian courses Since the appearance of online teaching platforms, it has never been easier to incorporate language lessons into your busy schedule, wherever you are. For example, apps like Duolingo and LingoDeer can help you learn Italian anytime, anywhere. [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) will guide you through all the way right from the beginning with structured lessons curated by professional teachers. [Duolingo](http://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has a variety of vocabulary, phrases, and sentence practice that help you lay a solid foundation. Take a look at their differences[ here](https://ling-app.com/tips/lingodeer-vs-duolingo-review/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! If you prefer a more traditional way of learning from teachers, [Verbling](https://www.verbling.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [Preply](https://preply.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), or [italki](http://www.italki.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) allow you to choose a teacher that suits your specific needs. You also have the benefit of seeing the feedback from previous students on every teacher’s profile. If you wish to know more about online Italian courses, take a look at our review of [8 popular language learning platforms](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/) and choose one that suits you! ### Language exchange Another great way to learn Italian quickly is to **find a language exchange partner**. In a language exchange, you spend half the time speaking in their native language, and half the time speaking in your native tongue. So, if you are a native English speaker, you should find an Italian speaker who wants to learn English. This particular method of language learning has **several benefits**: (1) In a language exchange, you mostly practice speaking in the foreign language, which allows you to **use the vocabulary and grammar you are learning in real life and solidify the knowledge.** (2) The conversation with a native speaker allows you to learn colloquial **expressions, slangs, interesting things** about their culture, and much more. (3) You **motivate each other** to continue to improve and learn new things in each other’s language in a unique way. The most popular website where you can find native Italian speakers to practice with is [HelloTalk](http://hellotalk.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Italian vocabulary When you start learning a new language, you have to memorize an enormous number of words, phrases, and verb forms. It can be difficult to systematize this process and track how well you remember each piece of information. This is where flashcards come in handy, especially if they are incorporated into a “smart” learning tool. For example, [Quizlet](https://quizlet.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) allow you to download and study “decks” of flashcards about a certain topic, and create your own decks. These tools are programmed so that you see less and less of the words you remembered easily, while words you had difficulties with are prioritized until you master them. ### Italian input One of the easiest ways to learn Italian faster is to **increase the “input” in Italian**. In other words, the more Italian you listen and read in different, real-life contexts, the easier it is to understand the knowledge about the grammar and vocabulary and connect it in a meaningful way. By immersing yourself in the language you are learning, you force your brain to **think in that language**, which solidifies the knowledge you’ve already acquired. Luckily, Italian culture is so uniquely rich that you won’t have a problem finding interesting and engaging content in Italian. If you are a music lover, you can listen to beautiful [Italian songs](https://www.fluentu.com/blog/italian/italian-music/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) perfect for training your ear for the Italian language. One of the best ways to learn Italian while having fun and getting to know another culture is to watch the [masterpieces of Italian cinema](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls027095953/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) with subtitles. If you want to immerse yourself even more in Italian, the podcast “[News in Slow Italian](https://www.newsinslowitalian.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)” allows you to listen to the news in Italian at a slower pace. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what you can expect if you decide to learn Italian. If it’s a language close to your heart, you will likely overcome the difficult aspects of Italian mentioned in this article, since the motivation you get from learning the language you love and discovering the culture by yourself pays dividends in terms of improving your Italian skills! ### Bing Dwen Dwen - Chinese name and origin explained URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/bing-dwen-dwen/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:27:11.000Z Cuteness overload! Bing Dwen Dwen was the official mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Beyond his cuddly appearance, his Chinese name and design carry meanings connected with ice, strength, health, and hospitality. Read on to explore his origins, pronunciation, and name. Historical context: The Olympic Studies Centre records that Beijing 2022 ran from February 4–20, 2022, and that 5,816 mascot proposals were submitted from 35 countries. See the [official Olympic mascot history](https://library.olympics.com/cnospa/digitalCollection/DigitalCollectionAttachmentDownloadHandler.ashx?documentId=208983&parentDocumentId=161816&skipCopyright=true&skipWatermark=true&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for the design symbolism and selection background. ![Bing Dwen Dwen, the panda mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2022-02-08-at-20-19-29-1.png) ## Who is Bing Dwen Dwen? Bing Dwen Dwen is a giant panda with a suit of ice, a heart of gold and a love of winter sports. The cute buster was brought to us by designers **Cao Xue and Jiang Yufan** from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. Initially, the team used Bing Tang Hulu, a traditional Beijing winter snack of hawthorn with sugar crust, as a prototype. During Beijing 2022, Bing Dwen Dwen appeared across merchandise, posters, aircraft, and social media, becoming one of the Games’ most recognizable symbols. ![bing dwen dwen products](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/screen-shot-2022-02-09-at-14-48-30.png) search results of Bing Dwen Dwen on Amazon ## What’s in thy name? Bing Dwen Dwen’s name - 冰墩墩 - consists of two unique characters: **冰 (bīng) for “ice” and 墩 (dūn) for “robust, healthy, stout”**. According to the Chinese Olympic Committee, the two characters were chosen to symbolize purity and represent children, the next generation of Olympic winners, respectively. It's easy to understand that 冰(bīng) represents ice. But actually, 墩儿(dūnr) instead of 墩 (dūn) is more commonly used in northern China, often seen in the nickname of **children who look strong, stout and healthy** (just like Bing Dwen Dwen!). However, since 儿 (retroflex "r") is pretty hard for foreigners and people in southern China to pronounce, the mascot's official name was later changed from 冰墩儿 (bīngdūnr) to 冰墩墩 (bīng dūn dūn). But why Bing Dwen Dwen, and not just Bing Dwen? The answer has to do with **reduplication**. ## Linguistics? In my Olympics? It’s more likely than you think! Bing Dwen Dwen is an example of **ABB-type reduplication**: in a three-character reduplicative, the second character is repeated. It’s often done to make the word sound cuter. For example, we often use “胖乎乎” (pànghūhū, “chubby”) to describe cute children with plump limbs and round faces while someone “乐呵呵” (lè hēhē, “giddy”) most often has an optimistic nature. Now you see why “Bing Dwen Dwen” sounds much cuter than “Bing Dwen”! Yet another question remains: how *does* it sound? As in, how do you pronounce Bing Dwen Dwen? ## How to pronounce and write the original Chinese name? Bing Dwen Dwen is actually written as Bīng Dūn Dūn in Chinese Pinyin. The problem is, you gotta know Mandarin Chinese pronunciation rules to be able to read it. Chinese Pinyin, while officially used in Mainland China, has to compete with other Chinese Romanization systems abroad, leaving non-Chinese speakers perpetually confused. With this in mind, the Chinese Olympic Committee decided to Romanize the names of their mascots in an entirely new way. Now foreign athletes and fans call Bing Dwen Dwen “d-when d-when”, which is as close to the original “doon-doon” as an average English speaker can get. Listen to how a native Chinese speaker pronounce 冰墩墩 (bīng dūn dūn)! The real challenge of the lovable panda’s name isn’t the pronunciation, though: it’s the **writing**! ![Animated stroke order for writing 冰墩墩, the Chinese name Bing Dwen Dwen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/02/ld-image-f7ee31d5a468245e.gif) Ready to practice your hanzi? Share your handwriting of 冰墩墩 in the comments to show your love! **Want to learn more about Chinese characters and handwriting?** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Korean Greetings: 5 Common Ways to Say Hello in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:24.000Z How to say hello in Korean? You may have heard this phrase, 안녕하세요(annyeonghaseyo) from K-drama or K-pop singer’s interviews. But how many other greeting phrases do you know in Korean? And what are the differences between each and when to use them? In this article, you will learn about various greeting phrases that you can use in your daily life, and why there are different ways to say the same hello in Korean. ![Hello in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hello-in-korean-1.png) ## Korean Speech Levels Before we get into the specific ways of saying hello in Korean, let’s first look at Korean Speech Levels. In Korean, there is a unique term that you don’t hear a lot in other languages: “Speech Levels”. You should be aware of using correct speech levels depending on the formality of the context, respect towards the listener, politeness of situation, etc. **This is how you show your respect to the people who you are talking to**. In fact, using inappropriate speech levels will make you be considered a disrespectful and uneducated person. Important facts that could help you decide which speech level are: **the listener’s age, status, or relative social position**. Originally there are 7 [speech levels in the Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). And only 4 of them are generally used in daily life. In this post, we will roughly divide them into 2 groups: **Polite and Casual**. ### Polite Korean Speech Polite Korean can be used in a formal situation while being polite to someone older or of higher status than you. You can use them in these circumstances: - To a person of higher status (student to teacher, employee to CEO or any superior, child to parents, etc.) - To strangers you meet in your daily life (a bus driver, a clerk, an officer, etc.) - To someone who you first met As you can see, it can be used to show your respect towards them while talking to an older person, someone who is superior to you in terms of social status, or people you don’t have a close/intimate relationship with. ### Casual Korean Speech In an informal situation, like a conversation between friends or a person of the same or younger age, it’s appropriate to use casual speech. You can use this in the below circumstances: \- To a person of lower status (teacher to student, parents to child, CEO or superior to the employee, etc.) \- Between friends of the same or younger age \- To a younger person (Note that it’s still recommended to use polite speech level if the listener is someone who you first met or you don’t know them very well unless that person is obviously much younger than you.) ## How to say hello in Korean Now move on to our main topic: how to say hello in Korean at different speech levels? ### 1\. Hello #### Polite: 안녕하세요. (annyeonghaseyo) This is the most basic greeting phrase. “안녕하세요(annyeonghaseyo)” is a polite “Hello” that you can use in most situations. I would say the ‘safest’ way to say “Hello” if you are unsure about which speech level to choose. #### Casual: 안녕. (annyeong) This is a casual way to say “Hello” which you can use most when you are talking to your friends. IMPORTANT NOTE: You should understand that in Korea, the term ‘friend’, is slightly different from western culture. Even if someone is considered as your “friend”, if that person is older than you, then you should still use “안녕하세요(annyeonghaseyo)” unless that person allows you to say “안녕(annyeong)”. As you can see, using appropriate speech levels based on age is one of the most important things that you should be aware of when you speak Korean. We also have an article about [Korean age system](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-age-system/) if you are interested in that topic. ### 2\. How are you? / How’s it going? #### Polite: 잘 지내세요? (jal jineseyo) Many Korean people would say this after saying 안녕하세요(annyeonghaseyo), mostly when they are talking to someone who they already know. It’s something like, ‘I hope you have been doing well since we talked last time, how have you been? Is everything good?’ That said, people normally won’t use this phrase before saying 안녕하세요(annyeonghaseyo) because it might seem awkward. #### Casual: 잘 지내? (jal jine) This is a casual way to say “How are you?”. Same as above mentioned you might hear this after “안녕(annyeong)”. ### 3\. Nice to Meet You #### Polite: 만나서 반갑습니다. (mannaseo Bangapseumnida) When you first meet someone in Korean, it’s better to say “nice to meet you” instead of “hello”. 만나서 반갑습니다 means “nice to meet you”. You can say it to anyone you meet for the first time. This phrase does not have a casual counterpart as it’s only used in formal situations. ### 4\. Long Time No See #### Polite: 오랜만이에요. (oraenmanieyo) If you haven’t seen someone for a long time, you can say 오랜만이에요 (Oraenmanieyo) when you meet them. If it’s a really formal situation, you can also use 오랜만입니다 (oraenmanimnida). #### Casual: 오랜만에. (oraenman-e) If you haven’t seen someone in a while, you can use this phrase as a greeting, like you would in English. You can adjust it to be informal for close friends by saying 오랜만에 (oraenman-e). Or to be more formal (like to your boss), use 오랜만입니다 (oraenmanimnida). Note: The “e” ending or the basic form of the verb is least formal, “ieyo” ending is polite, and the “nida” ending is most formal in common speech. ### 5\. Hello (on the phone) #### Yeoboseyo This is what you use when answering the phone. Again, as you often don’t know who is on the other side of the phone, this one can be used without considering speech levels. But remember this is almost only used on the phone, or if you wish to get someone’s attention. Of course apart from the above mentioned different ways to say hello in Korean, there are many more [Korean phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-phrases/) that are used everyday. Learning these frequently used phrases like [thank you](https://blog.lingodeer.com/thank-you-in-korean/), [goodbye in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/goodbye-in-korean/) can help you hold Korean conversations smoothly! --- *Interested in learning Korean? Let *LingoDeer* help.* *We’ll make your Korean learning easy and fun. Try for free!* [Try LingoDeer for FREE](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### How to Cheer for Sports Teams in Different Languages URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-cheer-on-athletes-in-different-languages/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:18:34.000Z Are you watching the Women's World Cup 2023? Are you feeling fired up? Would you like to channel this energy and cheer for your favorite team – **in their native language**? Sports events tend to have a Babylonian quality to them, with tens of thousands people screaming and shouting at the same time. But what do they shout? English-speaking fans usually fall back on "Come on!", "You can do this!", and "Yeah!" (or even "Hell yeah!"). But what about others? In this article, you'll find some great cheers in 6 languages, complete with some fun cultural trivia. Read on to cheer on. ## Cheer in Arabic **يلا يلا (y*alla yalla* \- Come on!)** If you've been watching the Qatar World Cup recently, you probably hear the phrase "yalla yalla" a lot. In Arabic, **يلا يلا (*Yalla Yalla*)** means "hurry up" or "come on". It's a common cheer phrase to use when a team is winning or the match becomes exciting. You can also use **يلا يلا (*Yalla Yalla*) + someone's name** to cheer on a specific player. **هيا (*hayyaa*\- Let's go!)** Another Arabic cheer phrase is هيا (*hayyaa*). While there is no exact translation of it in English, it roughly means "let's go" or "come on". Similar to يلا يلا (*Yalla Yalla*), this chant phrase is also used when your team is about to strike a goal. ## Cheer in French **Allez (Go!)** Allez is probably one of the most common French cheers you can hear. It’s like “Go!” or “Go for it!” in English. If you are watching Tour de France on the road, you can hear this expression all the time. Besides, “vas-y !” also has a similar meaning. **Allez les Bleus (Go the blues!)** If you want to watch the World Cup and cheer for the France team, be sure to learn this term. “Allez les Bleus” means “Go the blues!”. As French players mostly wear blue shirts, the color blue gradually becomes a symbol of the France team. **Bien joué ! (Good job!)** "Bien joué !" literally means "good job!” or “well done!" It can also be used to encourage others in your daily lives. Another common expression is "Tu peux le faire", meaning "you can make it". ## Cheer in Spanish **¡Viva! (hooray)** Viva literally can sometimes be translated to "long live" in spanish. The word is from the Spanish verb *vivir*, which means to live. It can be also translated to hooray which doesn’t have an exact meaning. Viva is often paired with a country or a city’s name. **Olé (bravo)** If you like watching sports on spot with fans cheering and singing, you must have heard of Spanish fans singing olé olé olé…Actually, the word olé [came from the Greek ololigi to describe a “ritual cry”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ol%C3%A9,%5FOl%C3%A9,%5FOl%C3%A9?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Origin,-Main%20article%3A%20Ol%C3%A9&text=Ol%C3%A9%20is%20a%20Spanish%20interjection,in%20bullfighting%20and%20flamenco%20dance.&text=An%20early%20chant%20similar%20to,quickly%20spread%20to%20other%20clubs.), which later became “olé” meaning “bravo”. Nowadays, this expression became so famous that you can hear it all over the world. **¡Vamos! (Let’s go)** Vamos is the conjugation form of the Spanish verb ir (go) when the subject is we. So it literally means “let’s go!”. Vamos is very commonly used for many situations including encouraging others generally. In sports, *vamos* is often paired with the name of the team. For example, “¡Vamos, vamos Chilenos!” ## Cheer in German **Auf geht's Deutschland, schießt ein Tor (Let's go Germany, score a goal!)** This is probably the most common chant in German. It means "Let's go Germany, score a goal!" You can also replace the country name *Deutschland* with any other team you are cheering for. **Los Deutschland! (Let's go Germany!)** You can also go with a simple, quick "Los Deutschland!" which can be translated to "(Let's) go Germany!". You can further shorten the phrase to **"Deutschland!"** (Germany!) or use its full form **"Los geht’s Deutschland!"** ## Cheer in Japanese **頑張って！(*Ganbatte* \- Try your best!)** The most famous Japanese cheer is probably 頑張って (Ganbatte). It came from the verb 頑張(がんば)る meaning to persist and to try one’s best. This expression can be used almost in any situation when you want to cheer someone on. Related expressions include “頑張(がんば)れ” (informal tone) and “頑張がんばってください” (formal tone). **あきらめないで！(*akiramenaide* \- Don't give up!)** Another one is “あきらめないで!” , meaning “Don’t give up!”. It came from the verb “あきらめる” (to give up). While あきらめないで is a softer expression used more by female speakers, “あきらめるな” is a harder version used mostly by males. **XXXならできるよ！(*xxx nara dekiru yo - Y*ou can do it!)** If you want to encourage someone, you can also say “君(きみ)ならできるよ！” or “あなたならできるよ！”, meaning “You can do it!”. You may also replace君(きみ) or あなた with someone’s name to make it more personal. For example, “マギーならできるよ” means “You can do it, Maggie!” ## Cheer in Korean **파이팅 (*hwaiting* \- Go for it!)** It’s supposed to be the English word “fighting” but as there is no “f” sound in the Korean language, it became 파이팅\[hwaiting\]. Don’t try to pronounce it as the English word “fighting” because according to the official rules in South Korea, 파이팅 is the correct form. 화이팅 can be translated to “good luck!” or “Go!” and is one of the most commonly used cheering expressions in Korean. For example, “코리아 화이팅!” means “Go Korea!” **힘내세요! (*himnaeseyo* \- Cheer up)** 힘내세요 is equivalent to “cheer up” or “keep going” in English. While it’s not strictly related to cheering athletes, it can be used in daily situations to encourage a friend. Note that 힘내세요 is the polite form. There is also the impolite form 힘내. ## Cheer in Chinese **加油！(*Jiāyóu* \- Go)** The Chinese expression 加油 can mean so many things besides "Good Luck!", "Go for it!", and "Don't give up!" It even [entered the Oxford English dictionary](https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-45890216?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) as it's too hard to find a proper English translation for it. The phrase literally means “add oil” and it’s said that [it originated from a racing competition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiayou%5F%28cheer%29?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=It%20is%20commonly%20believed%20that,them%20to%20speed%2Faccelerate%20faster.) where supporters urge their driver to add oil and speed up. Nowadays, 加油 can be used in many situations like sports cheer and encouraging friends. Sometimes it's even used as the marker of the end of a conversation. ### How to Master French Verbs Conjugation Easily? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-verb-conjugation/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:26.000Z French is a beautiful language. Regardless of how useful it may be to speak French, you may have chosen to learn it for its beauty. In fact, a lot of grammar and pronunciation rules in French are made just to make it sound nice. If you're a complete beginner in French, perhaps you could first take a look at [this article about the best way to learn French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/), step by step. So, here you are, now that you've taken a leap of faith and decided to add French to your arsenal. You've been dreading French verb conjugation for quite a while. But deep inside, you know it's something that you'll need to face. Fear no more, as I come with wonderful tips on how to learn French conjugation. ## What Is Conjugation? *La conjugaison* (conjugation) is the act of **changing a verb** depending on its subject (the one who is doing the action). Let me show you an example with the verb "être" (to be): - Je suis (I am) - Tu es (you are) Here, the verb that is being conjugated is the verb "être". This is the concept of verb conjugation: the verb will change according to the subject and the tense used. ## The Basics: French Personal Pronouns First things first, learning French conjugation comes with learning personal pronouns. We use them to refer to a certain subject. In French, they are: - Je (I) - Tu (you) - Il (he) elle (she) - Nous (we) - Vous (you plural) - Ils (them *masculine*) elles (them *feminine*) There is an extra pronoun that doesn't exist in English : "**on**". - The first major use of **"on"** would be the equivalent of **"nous"**, but in the informal way. - It can also be used to talk about **people in general**, or an **unknown subject** (**somebody** or **someone**). - This particular pronoun is conjugated the same way as "il" and "elle" would be. ## How Does French Conjugation Work? The act of conjugation in itself is quite simple. If you take the infinitive of a verb, you will notice that verbs have different endings (-er, -ir, -re...). The infinitive form of a verb is the nonconjugated verb. Remove those endings and you will be left with the stem of the verb (also called *the radical*). To each stem, you will add a different ending. The ending will change according to the verb's **group**, the **subject** and the **tense**. ### The 3 Verb Groups As I've already mentioned above, French verbs are categorized into different groups. There are 3 verb groups : 1. Verbs with their infinitive ending in **\-er**. Such as **danser**, **parler**, **manger**... 2. Verbs with their infinitive ending in **\-ir**. Such as **finir**, **réussir**, **répartir**... 3. Verbs with their infinitive ending in different ways: -ir, -re, and **irregular** verbs. Some examples: **être, avoir**, **prendre**, **aller**, **venir**... **Présent:** | **1st Group : -er** | **2nd Group: -ir** | **3rd Group: irregular** | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | ***Danser***Je dans**e**Tu dans**es**Il dans**e** /Elle dans**e**Nous dans**ons**Vous dans**ez**Ils dans**ent** / Elles dans**ent** | ***Finir***Je fin**is**Tu fin**is**Il fin**it** / Elle fin**it** Nous fin**issons**Vous fin**issez**Ils fin**issent** / Elles fin**issent** | ***Prendre***Je prend**s**Tu prend**s**Il prend /Elle prendNous pren**ons**Vous pren**ez**Ils prenn**ent** /Elles prenn**ent** | Here's a video detailing the conjugation of verbs of the 3rd group, present tense. You may find it very useful. It's entirely in French, as some extra exposure is always good! ### French Moods and Tenses In French conjugation, you should also know the basic **moods** and **tenses**. What are they? ![French verb conjugation: MOOD](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/mood-2-0.png) Regarding tenses, they are located inside each mood and are classified this way: ![French verb conjugation: Mood and tense](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/mood-2.png) ## The Pronunciation Rules of French Verb Conjugation One important thing that you need to know when it comes to learning French conjugation, is pronunciation. **Most endings will have silent letters, such as S , T , X and E**. Let's take an example with the verb "danser", at the present tense: - Je danse (*Zhe dance*) - Tu danses (*Tu dance*) - Il / elle danse (*il / elle dance*) - **Nous dansons (*nou danson*)** - **Vous dansez (*vou danseh*)** - Ils / elles dansent *(il / elle dance*) Look closely at the pronunciation of the verb "danser" in the present tens. You can clearly notice that only "**nous dansons**" and "**vous dansez**" will change. 💡The rest of the verbs are pronounced the same way, despite being spelled differently. This concept works for almost every tense in the French language, which makes learning French conjugation much easier! ## How Do Native French Speakers Learn Conjugation? In French-speaking countries, children learn conjugation by **memorization**. I remember my teacher asking some of us to recite the list of verbs she gave us. We were also used to do another trick. I was about **memorizing only the endings**. We used to recite them out loud, as letters only. Just like a poem. An example with the present tense, **verbs in -er**: > \-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent If you're curious about how native speakers learn French conjugation, here's an example, with this video. This details regular and irregular verbs at the present tense. Notice how the person insists on the **endings**. The reason why this works is also because French children are surrounded by French. They're exposed 24/7 to it. This might not be the case for you. Nonetheless, I have a method that I use with my students who struggle with French conjugation. I encourage them to be **curious** about the language they're learning. Here are some tips about how to learn French conjugation. ## Some Tips on How to Learn French Conjugation ![Prioritise French conjugation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/how-to-learn-french-conjugation-1-1.png) ### Prioritize Prioritizing your work helps you organize yourself and be much more efficient. Here's how I would prioritize learning French conjugation: 1. Learn tenses in this order, know that **l'indicatif is the first mood to learn**: Présent → Passé → Futur 2. Learn how verbs of the first 2 groups are conjugated, practice with a list of verbs you can find anywhere. **The main irregular verbs you quickly need to master are être, avoir, aller, venir.** 3. Learn other irregular verbs. You can find a list of irregular verbs in French right [here](https://www.conjugaisonfrancaise.com/verbes/liste-verbes-irreguliers.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). 4. Once you have mastered the basic tenses, you can learn new ones. See the previous table about French moods and tenses. ### Practice - Listen and read. Listening will help you recognize more and more structures and will help you with pronunciation. Remember, pronunciation is one of the most important aspects of French conjugation. As for reading, it is more than important. It helps you acquire excellent writing skills in French. Don't be afraid to analyze verbs you stumble upon. - Work on small exercises you can find online or in a language learning app (such as [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/fr/en/learn-french-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and Deerplus). - Verb tables and online conjugators are wonderful tools to help you learn French conjugation. You can find **a great conjugator** right [here](https://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), which allows you to type in any verb. It will show you how to conjugate it. ### Challenge yourself Learning French conjugation is a tough job. It requires a lot of effort and practice. But don't be afraid of moving forward and pushing through your limits. Once you've learned a new verb or a tense, **use it within a context**. Practice by creating dialogues with someone or a friend, watching videos or listening to podcasts. Would you like to practice past tenses? Wonderful! Try thinking about *when* you would actually use the past tense in French: talking about your holidays? Passé composé and l'imparfait! About your childhood? More like l'imparfait! What about the future tense? Think of when you would like to use it for yourself. Is it to talk about your plans? Imagine different situations where you would use this tense. After that, practice with a topic. If you learn French conjugation by only memorizing the charts, it's useless. You won't know when or how to use them. **Learning French and mastering French conjugation requires discipline. A little bit every day goes a long way. So set your own pace and stick to it.** ### The Complete Duolingo Russian Review - All You Need to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-russian-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:28.000Z You’ve been interested in learning Russian and you are tired of traditional sit-down classes and private tutors. So you started searching for simpler ways to learn Russian. Duolingo attracts your attention. It claims to be the best way to learn a language in the world. It's many people’s first stop to get around a language and you might even know someone using it right now. But for a language as complicated as Russian, how does Duolingo handle it? Is Duolingo Russian a good choice? What else do you need to acquire Russian? Read this Duolingo Russian Review and learn what Duolingo Russian offers, its pros and cons, alternative choices, and get on the right track of Russian learning from Day 1! ## What Does Duolingo Russian Include Duolingo Russian course (beginner level) includes 6500+ words and 8400+ sentences. It’s aimed at helping you **build basic conversation skills, supplement school classes, or prepare for business-level communication**. You can easily sign up for a free Duolingo account and get started right away. Before entering the main lessons, you’ll answer a few questions (why you want to learn Russian, what type of learners you are), and complete a 5-min placement test to see where your level is. Then you’ll enter the main course – a 4-unit lesson tree that comprises about 100 short lessons in different themes. They are short, gamified, and interactive. In terms of content, each lesson is designed in a way to help you build comprehensive reading, writing, listening, and reading skills. Apart from the lessons, Duolingo also has **a huge community**, where you can easily interact with other Russian learners and share thoughts. You can also join the leaderboard others to make learning more competitive and fun. ## Pros of Duolingo Russian ## It’s completely free (with ads) Talking about Duolingo’s advantages, most people would think it's for free. With the slogan “Learn a language for free, forever”, Duolingo makes language learning **available to the majority** and quickly became **the most popular language learning app** in the world. Even though there are plenty of apps in the market right now and some of them probably teach better (like Babbel and LingoDeer), Duolingo remains one of the very few that doesn’t require purchasing to get full access. So if you are unsure about whether you’ll learn Russian seriously and don’t want to spend 15 bucks a month on an unknown program, then Duolingo is a great starting point. You will quickly **get a feeling for the Russian language**, its unique pronunciation, the Cyrillic script, basic sentence structures, spelling rules, etc. The app will give you an overall feeling of how Russian learning feels like and get you confident in learning more. After a month or so, you can then decide if learning Russian is something you wish to do. And the best part is that this whole process with Duolingo costs you nothing but 10 minutes a day. ## It’s encouraging and interactive Another great thing about Duolingo is how interactive and encouraging it is. Within each lesson, there are **animated characters** that cheer you on whenever you give a correct answer. If you answer correctly 5 times in a row, the mascot owl will fly on the screen and say “Hey, you are good at this”, or “You’ll be speaking Russian in no time”. After you successfully finish a lesson, you’ll also get a huge confidence boost. This kind of positive psychology gives you a sense of reward and motivates you to achieve more. ![Duolingo Russian lesson: translate sentences](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/duolingo_russian_question.png) ![cute characters in Duolingo Russian](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/duolingo_russian_completed.png) ![Duolingo Rssian is rewarding](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/duolingo_russian_interactive.jpg) Duolingo is also designed in a way that encourages you to **learn regularly**. The combination of a stimulating day streak and frequent daily reminders helps you overcome laziness and just get things done. Every time you keep a day streak, you are rewarded with more points. Once you achieve a streak of about 15 days, you don’t want to see that number trickle down to zero again. This way, you are motivated to open the app and learn consistently, which is crucial to successful learning. ## It’s fun and gamified Learning Russian may seem like a daunting task at first sight, but with Duolingo, it's easy and fun. Duolingo does very well in **keeping everything simplified**, especially for relatively difficult languages like Russian. Its **convenience and** **gamified experience** set it apart from traditional ways of language learning like using word lists and completing translation tasks. By incorporating game concepts like points, levels, leaderboard, and streaks, Duolingo successfully makes Russian learning an enjoyable experience. You’ll like its lessons, and learn even more because of that! ## Cons of Duolingo Russian Despite being a free, interactive, and fun app to learn Russian, there are also disadvantages that make it not that an ideal choice for everyone. ## Poor teaching of alphabet and typing The unfamiliar Cyrillic alphabet is probably the biggest barrier that holds Russian beginners from moving on. You’d expect a language app like Duolingo to teach you the basics like the alphabet, pronunciation rules, and strokes. But Duolingo doesn’t do well in this respect. **It just hopped into some phrases and vocabulary, ignoring the alphabet completely**. While this might be less of an issue for learners of Roman languages like Spanish and French, it's quite detrimental for Russian learners. Another thing that troubles me is **Duolingo doesn’t have a built-in Cyrillic keyboard**. Typing is probably one of the most important language skills in the information age, even more so than writing. However, the fact that I can’t type in Russian makes it really inconvenient. Because the Cyrillic keyboard looks very different from the English one, it’s necessary to dedicate a considerable amount of time to it prior to using Duolingo. For example, read [this practical guide to learning the Russian alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/) and you’ll be all set with Russian alphabet and typing! ## Lacking logic and explanations To me, Duolingo is **more like a game rather than a serious language learning tool**. Even though it might be fun and handy at the beginning, as you dig deeper into it, you’ll find so many places where it lacks logic and comes short in explaining underlying reasons. Duolingo seems to expect you to figure out the rules and logic behind the Russian language like the way native speakers did when they were a kid. However, it fails to provide a similar language learning environment. For instance, the audio in the Russian lessons sounds quite unnatural and botlike, which we’ll cover in the following part. ![an awkward sentence from Duolingo Russian lesson](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/duolingo_russian_weird.png) Duolingo’s way of teaching is through **error and correction**. You fail again, again, and again to finally summarize some complicated grammar rules, which could have been provided for you all along by a more comprehensive language tool. So it's highly recommended to **find another tool, especially one that is strong in grammar, to supplement your learning**. ## Unnatural audio and limited materials So far, the worst part of the Duolingo Russian course, in my opinion, is the audio quality. The male voice seems to be alright but the female audio is unnatural. For beginner Russian learners, the effect can be detrimental because you need to develop good pronunciation and listening skills the most. And exposing your ears to what native speakers say, not what robots say, is a must. Despite being a fun and easy tool to use, Duolingo actually offers very limited learning materials. [The app started by using free translation materials](https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/22/duolingo-teaches-you-a-language-while-helping-translate-the-web-and-could-be-googles-next-purchase/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) from language learners and it’s hard to say if their current database is any different from the past. So if you wish to learn Russian seriously, you’ll soon need to look for a more professional learning tool other than Duolingo. Duolingo is constantly updating its courses and I hope these issues can be solved in the near future! ## What else to use other than Duolingo Russian So if you wish to give Duolingo a try to get a grasp on Russian in the beginning stages, go ahead as it won’t cost you anything and boost your confidence. But for serious learners, you need a variety of resources to get fluent in Russian. Check out these alternative or supplementary resources we've put together for you: ## Best Alternative to Duolingo – [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![LingoDeer App icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer-icon-1.png) For those who enjoyed Duoling’s bite-sized fun lessons, LingoDeer is the best alternative. It’s an all-in-one language learning app that doesn’t require supplementary resources for beginners. Instead of using translation materials, LingoDeer’s courses are **professionally curated to cover speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills all at once**! At first sight, LingoDeer may look a lot like Duolingo. It borrowed many ideas from Duolingo like gamified lessons, leaderboard, and xp. But the similarity stops there. As you dig deeper, you’ll see LingoDeer has a lot more features that make it **a comprehensive language learning tool, rather than just a game**. LingoDeer uses native-speaker audio with customizable speed. It covers key grammatical points in each lesson so you don’t need to figure it all out all by yourself. It also includes AI-assisted speaking practices and applies speech recognition technology to help you master the correct pronunciation right from the beginning. ## Best Speaking Supplement – [HelloTalk](https://www.hellotalk.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![HelloTalk app icon](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hellotalk-icon.png) If you are a more social type of person or prefer learning Russian by putting it into practice, then HelloTalk is a great place for you to find native speakers and practice communication skills! HelloTalk is a **language exchange program** that supplements many other resources’ biggest shortcoming – little access to native speakers. You must have heard the importance of **communicating with native speakers** in your target language, especially in the early stages of language learning. With HelloTalk, you can **find Russian native speakers who wish to learn your native language** **and exchange**! But be careful not to get distracted and end up using too much English. ## Best Russian YouTube Channels to Watch YouTube is also a great treasure land for language learners. It provides so many engaging and fun videos to learn Russian. There are **immersive learning channels** created by native Russian speakers. For example, [Russian with Dasha](http://www.youtube.com/c/RussianwithDasha?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is an educational YouTuber focused on culture and daily life in Russia, while [Maria Petrova](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQCYKqNiQzVxuENH-bwvWg?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) teaches Russian from the very basics in Russian. Once you know some vocabulary and daily expressions, check out [Moscow Streets](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxXJ-7-hS6Sjy6sWgDSy3A?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a channel that does **street interviews** **with Russian natives** in Moscow. You can also learn some daily vocabulary, topics, and get a sense of what real life in Moscow feels like. Explore more on your own interests! ## Commonly Asked Questions about Duolingo Russian ## \>Who is Duolingo Russian for? I believe everyone who learns a language has their own goals and learning styles. So choosing a resource that fits your style saves you a lot of time in the latter stages. Personally, I think Duolingo Russian is a good starting point **for beginners to see if they like the language and want to learn more**. But its lack of grammar explanations, nonsensical phrases, and poor audio meant it's probably not the best choice for serious language learners. ## \>What about Duolingo Stories for Russian learners? Story is a new feature on Duolingo that targets reading and listening comprehension skills. For English speakers, the feature is **not yet available for learning Russian**. It's currently available in: Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Japanese. ## \>How hard would it be to learn Russian using Duolingo? Russian is a relatively complex language for English native speakers and learning it without a big effort is almost impossible. Is it hard to learn Russian with Duolingo? No. You'll probably enjoy the learning journey and pick up many useful words and expressions. Can you learn Russian with Duolingo alone? Probably no. Even though Duolingo provides plenty of vocabulary, grammar, and sentences, you still need to **spend some effort learning and practicing with other resource**s in order to truly grasp the language. Therefore, learning Russian solely on Duolingo is very difficult, or as some may think, nearly impossible. It’s never too late to start learning a new language, even a difficult one like Russian. The biggest advantage of Duolingo Russian is that it allows you to **get started easily for free**. It’s great when you have 10 to 20 minutes to kill as you will certainly learn something than wasting that time away. The fact that it’s free and addictive makes it **a valid complementary tool to a more comprehensive resource**. However, just like any language, **Russian learning takes more than games**. There is no shortcut and it **requires dedicated time and effort to fully grasp the intricacies and understand the language**. Therefore, we’d highly recommend using a more comprehensive tool, like [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and expanding your search to more native-curated contents:) Interested in reading about the best way to learn Russian? Check out our [Essential Guide to Learning Russian](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/)! ### All You Need to Know about LingoDeer Plus URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-plus/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:54.000Z We often receive emails from deer learners about our other practice app – **LingoDeer Plus** (DeerPlus for short). Does LingoDeer Plus mean LingoDeer premium? Can I use LingoDeer without DeerPlus? If you also have questions like these, read on to learn more about LingoDeer Plus: what it provides, why we designed it, subscription models… Without further ado, let's move on to see what is LingoDeer Plus. ## What is LingoDeer Plus If we have to describe LingoDeer Plus using only one word, that is “**games**”. LingoDeer Plus is a fun, gamified language practice app for learners of **Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, and German**. It's available for mobile users only. Take a look at DeerPlus on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer.plus&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-plus-language-games/id1476253711?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ![LingoDeer Plus app logo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lingodeer-plus-icon-2.png) Unlike traditional language practice apps, DeerPlus doesn't just help users practice key vocabulary and phrases, it also pays close attention to one of the most important parts of language learning, **comprehension**. Each game is kept under 90 seconds so you have to try decoding, interpreting, and responding to information very quickly just like in **real life**. With a **deer-themed narrative** behind each short game in LingoDeer Plus, mastering tricky grammar points like verb conjugation and particles is also no longer a tedious task. DeerPlus provides **11 games** in total, each **tailored for a specific language skill** including but not restricted to spelling, listening, and reading. The table below summarises the types of games and the relevant skills they are intended for. | Category | Game | Skill | | ----------------- | ----------------------- | ----------------------- | | Vocabulary | Word Express | Reading Vocabulary | | Memory Castle | Listening Vocabulary | | | Drifting Letters | Spelling | | | Grammar | Grammar Tunes | Comprehensive Grammar | | Sea of Verbs | Verb Conjugation | | | Particle Workshop | Particles | | | Phrases | Phrasal Construction | Form Phrases | | Stream of Phrases | Form Sentences | | | Integrated | Speed Reply | Listening Comprehension | | Match to Advance | Reading Comprehension | | | Dialogues | Listening Comprehension | | ## Why we designed LingoDeer Plus Another question we often hear is **why we designed LingoDeer Plus** despite a pretty self-sufficient LingoDeer app. As language learners ourselves, we know **there is no shortcut in achieving fluency**. Memorizing vocabulary, practicing verb conjugation, learning spelling… There are so many moments in [language learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/) when we have no one to turn to but ourselves. Flashcards, grammar tables, vocabulary lists, etc. will accompany most language learners a long way until they progress to a higher level. The last thing we want to see is these repetitive practices in the beginning stages of language learning discouraging you from accomplishing something bigger. So we combined them with what you will never get bored with – **games**. ![practice languages with LingoDeer Plus](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/practice-with-lingodeer-plus.png) To develop LingoDeer Plus, every member on our team started learning another new language so we can again think from your perspective, and choose **a collection of skills you need to practice the most**. From vocabulary, phrases, to tricky grammar points and comprehension skills, DeerPlus is designed to help you reinforce key language skills and improve in a smoother way. But what’s the main difference between LingoDeer and LingoDeer Plus, you may ask. If LingoDeer is **a structurally designed textbook**, then LingoDeer Plus is **an additional workbook**. The former has everything you need to get acquainted with 12 languages, while the latter is a fun, challenging tool to aid you to digest what you’ve learned, further expand knowledge, enhance language skills, and prepare for tests. Can I use only one of them? Of course, yes! Both LingoDeer and DeerPlus cover **A1 to B1** level materials but **follow totally different learning paths**. As a result, you can use either one of them or both together according to your own study needs. ![difference between LingoDeer and LingoDeer Plus](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/difference-between-lingodeer-and-lingodeer-plus.png) If you are already a LingoDeer user, you’ll be automatically assigned a basic DeerPlus account, which can be accessed with your LingoDeer login method. We highly **recommend you use LingoDeer Plus together with LingoDeer**. They can accompany your language learning journey for a long time. While LingoDeer has professionally curated curricula, AI-assisted dialogues, different learning, and review modes to be your main learning source, DeerPlus can help you practice key language skills to level up even faster. So if you already have a main learning resource (e.g. apps, classes, textbooks) but wish to **reinforce language skills**, then don’t hesitate to **practice with DeerPlus**. If still unsure if DeerPlus is for you, give it a try for 1 month and you’ll know its worth:) ## LingoDeer Plus Pricing Like LingoDeer, we don’t want to compromise your learning outcomes with LingoDeer Plus. We’ve put in a lot of time and effort in order to make every minute you spend with LingoDeer Plus count. So we kindly ask for a small subscription fee for full access to LingoDeer Plus, which is also separate from your LingoDeer subscription. **LingoDeer Plus Pricing (Dec 2021)** \- Monthly subscription for $8.99 \- Quarterly subscription for $19.99 \- Annual subscription for $54.99 \*Pricing may vary depending on your location. ## What DeerPlus Users Say With an overall rating of 4.9 out of 5, LingoDeer Plus is undoubtedly one of the best language practicing apps. Let's hear what DeerPlus users say! *🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 LingoDeer plus is so captivating and easy! It’s so useful and it helps me remember my Korean vocabulary in a fun and educational way. I’m very happy to be using LingoDeer+ and LingoDeer! I’ve been with LingoDeer for quite a long time and to be honest, I deleted many of my other language learning apps because it did not help me the way LingoDeer did! I love this new app!* *🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 All the games are so fun! The levels and games all fit together so you learn the vocab words and the grammar. I used the other app and a lot of their grammar points are reinforced in this app. I am really glad I decided to buy it because I finally found an app that makes me feel like I’m challenging myself without making me furious.* *🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 It contains the key skills you need to enhance and help you move forward a lot easier. I feel my time spent on this app is truly worth it! I'm using it to prepare for an exam and so far it's working very well!* Interested in giving DeerPlus a try yourself? Check it out now on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer.plus&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-plus-language-games/id1476253711?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! Takeaway: LingoDeer Plus is not the premium version of LingoDeer. It is a gamified language practice app designed by the LingoDeer team. DeerPlus has its own database and progression that covers A1 to B1 level for 6 languages (Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, and German). It can be paired with any main learning source to enhance your comprehensive language skills in a fun and effective way. ### Top Platforms for Learning English URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-platforms-for-learning-english/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:29.000Z Very often the pace of life, work, and study simply does not allow us to [learn a foreign language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/what-language-should-i-learn/) the traditional way, forcing us increasingly engage in learning by ourselves. Thanks to the advancement of technology, you don't need to sign up for English schools or hire expensive 1-on-1 teachers. You only need to find the right materials and [master the language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/) in a convenient way for you. And one of the most popular ways is to use smartphone applications. They do not take away your time at all. You can study in a traffic jam, on public transport, during breaks at work, at home, while waiting for the kettle to be heated, or before bedtime. The applications that we will present in this collection require 10-20 minutes of practicing per day. While they may not be enough for all language learners, they can be a good bonus. This way you can keep your vocabulary in shape and gradually learn new things. **1\.** [**Duolingo**](https://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**: Learn Basic English for Free** Duolingo is the most popular mobile app for learning 100+ languages, including English. It has more than 1.3 million reviews and a high rating of 4.7/5 on the App Store, which is a very good result that speaks for millions of satisfied users. Duolingo will help you learn English with practical exercises such as conversational dialogues, reading, listening, and writing. The material in Duolingo is presented playfully, so it is as easy as possible to memorize. The difficulty of the exercises and your vocabulary will increase as you go along. Duolingo is even used in schools and universities - teachers recommend the program to their students as additional lessons in English. It's especially nice that the app is free and available to iOS and Android users. You can also learn Spanish, German and French in Duolingo. **2\.** [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**: Improve Comprehensive English Skills** LingoDeer is the overall best language learning app with a rating of 4.8/5 on the App Store. It is designed in a similar style as Duolingo but has more structured curricula and useful features. It teaches right from the alphabet and provides lessons up to B1 level. Each bite-sized lesson includes vocabulary, grammar, sentences, and culture. You can also test out easy lessons and start at a level most suitable for you. You only need to invest about 15 minutes a day to gradually acquire the language. If you wish to travel to an English-speaking country, LingoDeer also provides a free travel phrasebook where you can learn day-to-day expressions in a variety of travel situations. All the audios are recorded by native speakers so you acquire the right pronunciation from the beginning, which saves you a lot of time in the latter stages of language learning. While LingoDeer and Duolingo are great resources of beginners, read on to see where to find more materials once you've established a solid foundation. **3\.** [**TED**](https://www.ted.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**: Learn English while Gain Knowledge** TED Talks are inspiring and educational videos from influential expert speakers in a variety of fields. It is a great resource for learning English with subtitles in 100+ languages. The speakers come from all over the world, which can help you get familiar with different accents. As it covers a wide range of topics such as education, business, science, and tech, you can also hit two birds with one stone, gain knowledge while learning English. **4\.** [**BBC Learning English**](https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**: Learn British English and More** BBC Learning English is a great platform provided by BBC to help you improve your English. It consists of videos and radio broadcasts that explain English grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, news, culture on a daily basis. It's a great way for intermediate-level learners to improve their communication skills and learn some culture-specific language at ease. **5\.** [**HelloTalk**](https://www.hellotalk.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**: Practice with Native English Speakers** HelloTalk is the most popular language exchange platform where you can chat and make friends with native English speakers. Simply put in your mother language and target language and wait for the platform will automatically recommend language partners for you. Of course, you'll also need to help others learn your language as well. Although HelloTalk is a great tool to practice your English speaking skills, which is deemed a very important aspect of language learning, it still requires you to put a considerable amount of time into practicing. Just like learning any other language, there is no shortcut to achieving fluency in English. Finally, a few general tips for all mobile language learners: **Change the interface language on your phone** It might seem a trifle, but useful. Some studies show that people use their smartphones for up to 5-7 hours a day. So why not make your screen time count and use it as another guide to the world of a foreign language? At the very least, words that appear repeatedly on the display, such as weather, notifications, messages, settings, uninstall, and so on, will be remembered easily. **Subscribe to native speakers on social networks** Facebook, Instagram, Twitter - at least. From the obvious - Instagram accounts of Hollywood actors, Twitter entrepreneurs like [Elon Musk](https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), writers like [J.K. Rowling](https://twitter.com/jk%5Frowling?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and so on. Or just find the content of your interest, be it Instagram about food, clothes, analytical posts on Facebook about the economy, and so on. Let posts in English regularly pop up in your feed. The main thing then is not to be lazy to read them. ### 5 Best Ways to Harness Technology to Learn Mandarin URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/5-best-ways-to-harness-technology-to-learn-mandarin/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:06:57.000Z This article is contributed by a guest writer. From computers to cell phones, advancements in technology have changed the ways we learn languages, and the impact of technology for learning Mandarin has been positive, too. To help students discover the best tips for learning Chinese with technology, this article will discuss how the smart use of technology makes learning Chinese more effective. It will also give some pointers so students can further their own studies with the [most useful tools](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/66fe77fa-3aac-4958-952e-236100d03275/) that are out there right now. Among other effects, the integration of technology in Chinese study programs has allowed students to: - feel more comfortable [learning Chinese as a beginner](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/); - spend their study time more effectively; - communicate with native speakers on the other side of the world; - find more and better study materials; - [learn Chinese vocabulary](https://www.hackchinese.com/blog/proven-techniques-to-learn-chinese-vocabulary?utm%5Fsource=guest-post&utm%5Fmedium=blog&utm%5Fcampaign=technology) with increased efficiency. These are some of the benefits that Chinese learners can take advantage of with the help of technology. Let’s look at each benefit in more detail now. ## Ease into Your Studies It’s widely known that significant differences between Chinese and English make Chinese a very difficult language for English speakers to learn. This difficulty can make potential Chinese learners hesitant to start their studies, even when they’re interested in the benefits of learning Chinese. With the explosion of language learning apps catering to beginners, getting started with Chinese is easier than ever before. Many allow learners to get their feet wet through gradual lesson progressions and engaging games, so taking that first step is less intimidating. Apps like ChineseSkill, YoYo Chinese, HelloChinese, and DuoLingo can help you overcome the fear of learning Chinese. The apps offer approachable lessons and exercises designed to acquaint new learners with Mandarin. Users make their way through the app’s curriculum on their own, so learners can build a strong foundation at their own pace. ## Spend Your Time Wisely Technology for learning Chinese enables students to spend more study time doing activities that actually matter. [Digital and pop-up dictionaries](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chrome-extensions-for-language-learners/) are good examples of this. If you encounter characters you don’t know when you’re following a purely paper-and-pencil study program, then you have to look them up using a physical Chinese-English dictionary. These dictionaries can be difficult to navigate, and you can easily end up wasting precious study time just finding the entry you need. If you read a book on your mobile device or computer with a good dictionary installed, you can instantly call up information about a specific character or word. If you need to refresh your memory of what tone a word is or what it means, you only need to spend a few seconds. The time you save this way can be used to get further in your reading or to brush up on other skills. ## Get Your Mandarin Vocabulary to the Next Level Get ready to say goodbye to your paper flashcards, because technology makes your Mandarin vocabulary practice easier to manage, more efficient, and more effective. A well-developed example of this is [spaced repetition](https://www.hackchinese.com/study-guide/spaced-repetition?utm%5Fsource=guest-post&utm%5Fmedium=blog&utm%5Fcampaign=spaced-repetition) software. While you can keep track of how well you know words and characters in Chinese manually, it becomes exceedingly hard to do so as your vocabulary grows. Keeping track of hundreds of paper flashcards can be difficult to manage; keeping track of thousands can be near impossible. Technology can take care of this burden for you. [Hack Chinese](https://www.hackchinese.com/?utm%5Fsource=guest-post&utm%5Fmedium=blog&utm%5Fcampaign=grow-chinese-language) is a great tool for refreshing your memory because it uses the methodology of spaced repetition. Using this technique, Hack Chinese schedules vocabulary reviews for you when you’re at risk of forgetting certain words and characters. This ensures you retain what you’ve already learned while saving you time. ## Connect with Native Speakers There’s no better way to practice speaking and listening to Chinese than conversing with a native speaker. However, not everyone lives in a Chinese-speaking region where in-person conversations are possible. With the internet, you can easily find friends, language exchange partners, and teachers to [learn Chinese online](https://www.hackchinese.com/blog/best-way-to-learn-chinese-online?utm%5Fsource=guest-post&utm%5Fmedium=blog&utm%5Fcampaign=learn-chinese-language), effectively eliminating the distance between you and native speaker conversation partners. You can find someone to help you practice right where you live right now. This is how tools like HelloTalk can help. HelloTalk is a language exchange app that has over one million users. It’s easy to find native speakers from China willing to help you practice Chinese, so you can take advantage of practicing with native speakers while saving yourself the cost of a plane ticket. ## Access the Best Resources A good Chinese learning program will expose you to many different learning sources so that you expand the breadth of your knowledge. Technology for learning Chinese increases your access to learning materials. While in the past students were limited to textbooks and perhaps a few other resources like cumbersome CDs, today you can find almost unlimited audio and text reading materials online. [ChinesePod](https://www.chinesepod.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is an example of a Mandarin podcast app that can supply you with a wealth of content. It offers thousands of audio lessons, something which would never have been produced without a global market. **Conclusion** Technology has really brought about a revolution in language learning, but it’s a tool that needs to be used wisely. Technology on its own won’t get you fluent in Mandarin. You still need to keep yourself motivated and be smart about how you study, making sure to incorporate a variety of activities into your study plan that target your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while also building up your knowledge of Chinese grammar and vocabulary. So, don’t throw out your textbooks just yet. As long as you do keep your studies balanced and consistent, technology will revamp and enhance the way you study Chinese. Check out some of the apps mentioned in this article to get started. This article is contributed by Daniel Nalesnik, Founder of Hack Chinese Daniel moved to China in 2009 for a year of full-time Mandarin immersion at Peking University (in Beijing) and Fudan University (in Shanghai). In the years since he has worked with teachers throughout China to discover what learning methods are most impactful for Mandarin Chinese learners. This experience inspired Daniel to found [Hack Chinese](https://www.hackchinese.com/?utm%5Fsource=guest-post&utm%5Fcampaign=omeida), a spaced-repetition platform for learning Mandarin Chinese. ### iDeerKids is "Teacher Approved" on Google Play URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-for-kids-ideerkids-is-teacher-approved-on-google-play/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:30.000Z We have some exciting news to share! LingoDeer for kids - iDeerKids is officially **Teacher Approved** on Google Play! In 2020, [Google Play collaborated with education experts ](https://blog.google/products/google-play/teacher-approved-apps/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)such as HGSE (Harvard Graduate School of Education) and Georgetown University to select entertaining and enriching apps for kids. According to Google Play, apps are rated based on age-appropriateness, quality of experience, enrichment, and delight. The best apps receive a “Teacher Approved” badge. Now finding good apps for your kids is no longer a difficult task! In 2021, Google Play awarded [iDeerKids](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideerkids&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) the "Teacher Approved" badge for a variety of features including fun and engaging topics, easy-to-use interface, animated art, thoughtfully designed lessons, etc. iDeerKids is also prised for its innovation in fostering critical thinking skills and love of learning among children. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ideerkids_appstore_1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ideerkids_appstore_2.png) Developed by the team behind [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), iDeerKids is a fully animated app for kids aged between 3 and 8 to learn English vocabulary, phonics and more. Every word, phrase, and sentence in iDeerKids comes with animated mini-games, so kids just need to do what they do best: stay curious and have fun learning! iDeerKids is available on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ideerkids&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ideerkids_app_logo.png) ### Russian Alphabet | A Complete Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:32.000Z Download [б-2.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2026/07/b-2-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The Russian alphabet uses the Cyrillic script and has 33 letters in total. Originated from the ancient Greek script, Cyrillic script is used in several **Slavic languages like Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Serbian, and Bulgarian**. Mastering the Cyrillic script is your first step to successfully learning Russian. You’ll feel like entering a new world and understand so many words in no time! For example, the seemingly unfamiliar word журн а л may look intimidating at first, but once you learn the alphabet, you’ll see it’s just “journal” wearing a “Cyrillic outfit”, and so are аэроп о рт, п и цца, суперм а ркет, and so on. ## *Russian Alphabet* | **А а** | **Б б** | **В в** | **Г г** | **Д д** | **Е е** | | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | ------- | | **Ё ё** | **Ж ж** | **З з** | **И и** | **Й й** | **К к** | | **Л л** | **М м** | **Н н** | **О о** | **П п** | **Р р** | | **С с** | **Т т** | **У у** | **Ф ф** | **Х х** | **Ц ц** | | **Ч ч** | **Ш ш** | **Щ щ** | **Ъ ъ** | **Ы ы** | **Ь ь** | | **Э э** | **Ю ю** | **Я я** | | | | Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the unfamiliar Cyrillic alphabet? Don't worry, we'll guide you through them in an innovative way. Now read on and get ready to master the Russian alphabet today! First, letters of the Russian alphabet can be divided into **4 categories**: - Those that look like and sound like English (5 letters): - А а, О о, К к, М м, Т т - Those that look unlike English but sound like English (17 letters): - И и, Й й, Э э, Ю ю, Я я, Б б, Г г, Д д, Ж ж, З з, Л л, П п, Ф ф, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ - Those that look like English but sound different from English (8 letters): - Е е, Ё ё, У у, В в, Н н, Р р, С с, Х х - Those that neither look nor sound like English (3 letters): - Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь Now, let's take a look at them in detail. ### ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lalpdiq3lzewtk5ixa_92_98-1.png)English look- and sound-alikes In Russian, there are 5 letters that look and sound like English. These are your friends and you can (mostly) count on them to sound the same with English pronunciation. | **Cyrillic** | **Cursive** | **Pronunciation** | **Transliteration** | **Example** | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------- | ------------------- | ----------- | | А а | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-a.png) | f**a**ther | a | мама | | О о | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-o.png) | b**o**rn | o | вот | | К к | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-k.png) | **k**ind | k | ноутбук | | М м | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-m.png) | **m**other | m | метро | | Т т | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-t.png) | **t**ime | t | тут | Don’t let the number deceive you: the five look- and sound-alikes are actually used **frequently**. For example, “О о” and “А а” rank the first and the third respectively among the most used Russian vowels. The letter “О о” is pronounced as \[o\] in “born” when it is stressed and it is pronounced like \[a\] or schwa (\[ə\]) when it is not stressed. For example, the word окн о (window) sounds like \[akn**o**\]. The first “o” is reduced to \[a\] while the second one is still stressed as a full \[o\]. This is known as the **Vowel Reduction Rule** which can be applied to many Russian vowels. The letter “Т т” looks and sounds very much like English. But note that when it comes to lowercase and cursive handwriting, it still looks a bit different from English. Sounds easy? Let's move on to the slightly more difficult strange-looking sound-alikes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lalpdhjztf-zqqliww_91_98-1.png) ### *Strange-looking sound-alikes* These are **unique Cyrillic letters that don’t exist in the English alphabet**. They may look strange at first sight but they’ll be your friends once you know them. This is also the largest category among the four, containing **17 letters in total**. The trick is to constantly write, read, and repeat them using flashcards or any other tools you find helpful. First, let’s look at the four vowels and 1 semivowel (Й й). | **Cyrillic** | **Cursive** | **Pronunciation** | **Transliteration** | **Example** | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ----------- | | И и | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-i.png) | pol**i**ce | i | учиться | | Й й | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-i-1.png) | to**y** | y, i, j | русский | | Э э | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-e.png) | b**a**t | e, è | это | | Ю ю | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-iu.png) | **you** | yu, ju | Юля | | Я я | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-ia.png) | **ya**rd | ya, ja | моя | You may have noticed the first two letters “И и” and “Й й” look very alike. They sound alike! “Й й” (or *и краткое* which means short и) is pronounced as a shorter version of “И и” (like the \[i\] in the English word “to**y**”). These two letters are also often seen together in single masculine adjectives like “русский”. Actually, “Й й” was [not even officially considered a separate letter until the 1930s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short%5FI?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Nowadays, “Й й” is also considered as a consonant sometimes, using y or j in transliteration. It's often seen in diphthongs like -ай, -ий, -ый, -ой, etc. “Я я'' is pronounced like “ya” in the word “yard”. A common mistake even proficient learners make is mispronouncing “Я я'' as two separate sounds like йа. So make sure to pronounce “Я я'' **as a single unit**. In some unstressed syllables, **“Я я” can be pronounced as \[ɪ\] or \[ɛ\]**. For example, лягу́шка is pronounced as \[l’ɪguʃk’ʌ\]. Like “О о” and “Я я”, “Э э” also abide by the **Vowel Reduction Rule**. When stressed, it’s pronounced like the “a” in the English word “bat”, while it sounds more like “И и” when unstressed. | **Cyrillic** | **Cursive** | **Pronunciation** | **Transliteration** | **Example** | | ------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ----------- | | Б б | Б б | **b**est | b | баскетбол | | Г г | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-g.png) | **g**uide | g | герой | | Д д | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-d.png) | **d**og | d | два | | Ж ж | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-zh.png) | plea**s**ure | zh, ž | журнал | | З з | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-z.png) | **z**oo | z | из | | Л л | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-l.png) | **l**ike | l | лото | | П п | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-p.png) | **p**ie | p | папа | | Ф ф | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-f.png) | **f**ine | f | футбол | | Ц ц | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-ts.png) | pi**zz**a | ts | пицца | | Ч ч | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-ch.png) | **ch**eese | ch, č | чёрный | | Ш ш | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-sh.png) | **sh**ow | sh | шок | | Щ щ | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-shch.png) | pu**sh sh**ips | shch, sch, šč | борщ | These 12 consonants may look unlike roman letters but it’s quite **easy to find an equivalent in pronunciation in English**. Above in the chart are the most common pronunciations of these letters, but sometimes there can be variants, too. Note that “Г” is sometimes pronounced as a voiced sound **в (\[v\])**. For example, a very common word ег о (“his”) is pronounced as \[иво\] rather than \[иго\]. And when appearing at the end of a word, the voiced Г is pronounced as a voiceless **к (\[k\])**. For example, шаг is pronounced as \[шак\]. (The same applies to most voiced consonants: compare хлеб with \[хлеп\], плед with \[плет\], лаз with \[лас\] and so on.) While the change in the pronunciation of Г may not be used very frequently, the following rule can be seen very often. So make sure to remember: **after consonants “Ж ж”, “Ц ц”, and “Ш ш”, the vowel “И и” is pronounced as \[ы\] instead of \[и\].** For example, маш и на is pronounced as \[машына\] instead of \[maʃyɪna\]. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lalpdhmos0ldnk9iww_91_98-1.png) ### **False Friends** This is probably the trickiest category, as the letters look like those in English but sound totally different! After years of using English, it's likely that your brain has paired the pronunciation with the writings and it can be hard to replace them with new sounds. Give it a month or so by practicing with **audio-based resources**, after several times of messing up words like вода and cok, you’ll remember the right pronunciation! | **Cyrillic** | **Cursive** | **Pronunciation** | **Transliteration** | **Example** | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | ----------- | | Е е | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-e-1.png) | **ye**s | ye, je, e | лето | | Ё ё | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-e-2.png) | **yo**ur | yo, jo, ë | ёлка | | У у | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-u.png) | b**oo**k | u | улица | | В в | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-v.png) | **v**ictory | v | водка | | Н н | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-n.png) | **n**ote | n | ноутбук | | С с | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-s.png) | **s**ilent | s | стол | | Р р | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-r.png) | rolled r | r | Россия | | Х х | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-kh.png) | Lo**ch** Ness (closer to Scottish pronunciation than English one) | kh, h | химия | Sometimes, the letter “В в” can be pronounced as **\[f\]**. For example, “вто́рник” is pronounced as \[ˈftɔrnik\]. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/lalpdgq9u2yvn7niww_91_98-1.png) ### **Total Strangers: Signs** | **Cyrillic** | **Cursive** | **Pronunciation** | **Transliteration** | **Example** | | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------- | ----------- | | Ы ы | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet-y.png) | **i**ll (but harder) | y | ты | | Ь ь | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet.png) | soft sign | ' | день | | Ъ ъ | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian_alphabet--svg_.png) | hard sign | ʺ | объект | The letter **“Ы ы”** is probably the most difficult one to pronounce for English speakers. Some say it sounds a bit like the sound of vomiting, because when pronouncing it, you need to move your tongue to the back of your mouth near the throat. **Try to say “oo” while keeping your mouth in the shape of “we”** and you’ll roughly get the pronunciation. **“Ыы” is used very often in Russian pronouns** like мы (we), вы (you, plural & formal), ты (you, informal). **“Ьь” and “Ъъ” are signs that mark the quality of a preceding consonant.** They are **never pronounced** though. The soft sign “Ь ь” is called м я гкий знак in Russian and it **softens the preceding consonant**. The hard sign “Ъъ” is called твёрдый знак and it **separates the sound of a succeeding vowel from the preceding consonant.** To hear exactly how they sound, check out the free alphabet lesson in the [LingoDeer app](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and learn more about how to pronounce Russian words! The letter “ь” is also used very often in many Russian nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc. [Its softening function preserves one of the most unique and distinctive sounds of the Russian language.](https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/22687/what-is-the-function-of-the-soft-sign-%D0%AC-in-russian/22689?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## **Special Combinations** Russian is infamous for consonant clusters second only to Polish. Luckily for new learners, most of such clusters contain **silent letters.** Now, take a look at the pronunciation table of **frequent letter combinations** and boost your Russian reading skills! | **Pronunciation** | **Combinations** | **Examples** | | ----------------- | ---------------- | ------------ | | ц (ts) | \-тьс- | учиться | | \-тс- | учится | | | щ (sch) | \-сч- | счёт | | \-жч- | мужчина | | | \-зч- | грузчик | | | х (kh) | \-г (before к) | легко | | silent л | \-лнц | солнце | | silent т | \-стн | устно | | \-стл | рестлер | | | \-стск | пацифистский | | | silent д | \-здн​​ | праздник | | \-рдц | сердце | | | \-ндск | шотландский | | | silent в | \-вст | здравствуйте | ## **How to TYPE in Russian** To type in Russian, the first thing you need to do is to **add a Russian keyboard**. Here are the steps of how to add a Russian keyboard on different devices. If you have already done this, you can skip these instructions and go directly to learn the layout of the Russian keyboard. iOS/Mac 1. Tap settings 2. Tap General 3. Choose Keyboards 4. Add new keyboard 5. Choose *Russian* 6. Go to where you want to type 7. Tap the globe icon to change languages Android 1. Install [Gboard](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) on your phone 2. Go to where you want to type and enter text 3. Tap Open features menu 4. Tap More (...) 5. Go to Settings 6. Tap languages > Add keyboard > Choose *Russian* 7. Pick a layout and tap done Windows 1. Go to the Control Panel 2. Go to Clock-Languages and Region 3. Choose Change Input Methods 4. Click Add Language and choose *Russian* 5. Go to where you want to type 6. Click the language button in the taskbar and choose Russian If you plan to type in Russian on your PC or cellphone, take a look at the Russian keyboard layouts below. It may take some time getting used to, so we recommend using a keyboard cover or stickers, pulling an on-screen keyboard, or perhaps buying a laptop from Russia ;) You can also check out this website to practice typing in Russian online! ![Russian windows keyboard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/russian-keyboard-windows.png) Russian Windows keyboard layout (source: konstantinbulgakov.com) ![Russian Mac keyboard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/mac-keyboard.png) Russian Mac keyboard layout ## **How to Get Started with Russian Learning** You can find plenty of Russian learning materials on the internet. And the key is to find something not only well designed but also “catchy”, aka something you can stick to especially when you just get started. This is where **LingoDeer** might come in handy. LingoDeer is a language learning app designed for beginners and intermediate-level learners. It will teach you from the scratch and get you confident with speaking, listening, reading, and writing in only **15 minutes a day**. Most importantly, its courses are comprehensively designed by professional teachers in a fun and effective way. [](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you haven’t found the right method to learn Russian, check out this [Essential Guide to Learning Russian](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/), and hopefully you’ll find something useful there. ## **Conclusion** To get started with learning Russian, **knowing the Cyrillic alphabet is a must**. Whether you use [the traditional method of dividing it into vowels and consonants](https://blog.lingodeer.com/russian-alphabet/), or you choose the categorization based on the Roman alphabet in this article, remember the sole aim is to master the script, sounds, and writing system of the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. We hope this article can make you feel a little bit more confident about learning the Cyrillic alphabet and build a solid foundation for your Russian learning journey:) Did we miss anything out? Let us know in the comments. --- *If you find this article useful, don't forget to share it!* ### How I Picked up my French --Story from a fellow deer learner URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-i-picked-up-my-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:35.000Z Have you learned some French in high school but gradually lost the language? Do you wish to take your French skills to the next level? Read this story from deer learner Jane who used [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to pick up French skills several years after graduating. It may not be as hard as you thought! --- When I was 15, my French teacher told me that the most essential aspect of [learning French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/) is to practice intonation and master the various verb tenses. To do so, he said that one must immerse themselves in French and listen to as much French as possible. So I immersed myself into French movies, soon becoming absorbed in romantic comedies such as Amélie and "La Délicatesse." However, as I grew older, I didn't have the time to dedicate to language study the way I did when I was younger. In reality, I gradually forgot what I’d learned in school as I didn’t really have the time and motivation to relearn a language. Not surprisingly, I found myself stuttering in speaking, I forgot the gender of certain nouns and verbs, and I found it difficult to compose sentences with complicated grammar, such as imparfait. Over the years, I eventually formed a love-hate connection with French - I was fascinated by the "euphony" of French tonality and how chauvinistic it sounded when words were strung together, exactly like a symphony, but I was also terrified by its grammar principles. In recent years, I have turned to language learning apps for help. I didn’t really begin with the intention of bringing my French level forward by a far margin. Instead, I used it to cement my French grammar foundation, which I discovered to be significantly weak, as well as to ensure that I didn't lose all of the French I had studied when I was younger. Among the many popular apps out there, I eventually chose LingoDeer because of its well-designed courses with a strong emphasis on teaching grammar. Without having high expectations, I decided to give it a try, and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by some of the features in LingoDeer's courses. Of course, there were also some that I didn't enjoy as much (I'll get to that later), but for those of you learning French, let me share with you **why I highly recommend adults to learn French with LingoDeer.** ## Why you should Learn French with LingoDeer ### Reason 1: You don’t need to start all the way from the beginning You can skip lessons on LingoDeer by completing the TestOuts at the end of every few lessons. LingoDeer expects you to obtain near-perfect results, otherwise, you will be advised to review the lessons again. This is wonderful because, while we have complete choice over what we want to study and where we want to learn as language app users, LingoDeer nevertheless acts as a teacher by keeping us on track with our language learning and ensuring that we don't rush through the courses and end up learning nothing. ### Reason 2: Two types of French courses, depending on your needs While most language learning apps only have one course for each language, LingoDeer has 2 types of French courses. According to their website, **French Normal** provides learners with a holistic grasp of the language with a heavy emphasis on essential grammar, while **French Accelerated** is more practical and includes colloquialisms you may encounter in daily life. For someone like me who is looking to solidify their base in grammar, and is not in a rush to learn colloquial French, French Normal is the best choice, but if you’re looking to be able to speak french as fast as possible, do go for the accelerated for it equips you with a wide variety of french phrases needed for daily conversations. It will be even better if you can use both of these two courses to supplement your learning. ### Reason 3: LingoDeer makes sure you learn your gender Grammar is typically the most tedious aspect of learning a language since we have to learn rules that are vastly different from those in our native languages. What I found was that, with LingoDeer exercises, French grammar was made a little less intimidating. For example, French conjugates its verbs in many different tenses. Some of the French tenses are quite similar, though, and we have to be careful not to mix them up. In French, all nouns are either masculine or feminine (e.g. le journal, la idée). They are generally used with their articles, and the plural is usually constructed by adding an “s”. These are the grammar principles I often mess up. However, as I was using LingoDeer, I found myself being increasingly more aware of the rules both consciously and subconsciously. As you can see in the images below, Lingodeer develops your sense of French grammar rules by incorporating them into various activities. ### Reason 4: Travel Phrasebook guides your French-speaking Despite the fact that Lingodeer doesn’t offer ways for you to practice speaking with a native speaker, LingoDeer has a travel phrasebook filled with pre-recorded phrases for a variety of scenarios. You know those cheat sheets you made for oral exams? They are just like those but much better because it comes with a voice file recorded by native speakers with great quality. This is also applied in their main courses and other features throughout the app. So no more awkward bot recordings! I had so much fun with the travel phrasebook, browsing through the many different phrases I might use in different scenarios, and repeating after the voice audio. If you stick to learning two to three phrases a day, you’ll gradually realize how far you’ve progressed and that they might come in handy one day! ### Reason 5: French tips to boost your learning In addition to all the activities, LingoDeer comes with easy to understand language tips that help you boost your language learning. Having this feature is like having a teacher personally transmit key information and knowledge. I usually jot down notes from the tips section into my notebook so I can create my little cheat sheet to help me learn more effectively. As you can see from the image below, in the explanation about the gender of French nouns, LingoDeer equips you with theoretical knowledge before you put them into practical use in the series of games and activities. So despite LingoDeer being a generally great app for many, **is it for you?** LingoDeer has given me a wide range of tasks to help me improve my **reading** and **writing** skills as a French learner. But **speaking**, not ideally. Although I can practice dialogues with AI in a chatbox, it’s still quite different from actually talking to a human being. In fact, I've memorized all of the phrases in the Travel Phrasebook and can recite one or two sentences if necessary. If I had to have a one-on-one conversation with a native speaker, **I wouldn't have any trouble getting my message across**, but I would likely lack the ability to **speak with movement**. Thus, if you’re aiming to be fluent in spoken French, LingoDeer can be used in conjunction with **other tools that can pair you with native speakers** to help you become fluent in spoken French. The other thing to take note of is that LingoDeer presents its courses in a series of activities and games, but these activities and games aren’t exactly those you can play for fun whenever you need a break from work. In fact, they require a lot of attention and focus, as they are essentially quite challenging. You have to pay attention to the wording of the sentences, and make sure to not miss out on any of the accents, or else you’ll be advised to relearn it. This essentially is the spirit of learning language: **repeated practice strengthens language skills**. At times, I find the app quite tedious, however, the sense of accomplishment I feel wherever I complete a lesson is extremely big, and every time I look back at my progress, I am reminded of why I decided to study French in the first place. ## My tips for using LingoDeer to learn French LingoDeer is an extremely good app for French learners, one of the reasons being it has two courses for French users; French Normal and French Accelerated. I recommend everyone play around with both to decide which one suits you the best. As you progress through the exercises, pay attention to certain grammar principles of the phrases you come across, such as plural, gender, tense, and even the accents in vocabulary. Once you learn how to do that, you’ll be able to progress very quickly through the lessons, and learn efficiently. LingoDeer records your newly learned words, but it's best if you can also prepare a notebook to have with you whenever you’re learning, so you can jot down information that requires more attention. Lastly, remember to recite the words out loud. French has a lot of different pronunciations from English, so it's important to take note of silent words and the French “R”, which is quite difficult to pronounce especially for non-native speakers. With LingoDeer, you can first listen to the right pronunciation provided by native speakers, and then record yourself speaking and compare. Thus, it’s a great tool to hone your listening and pronunciation. To sum up, LingoDeer is a great app for French learning, one that doesn’t disappoint. Do check out the free courses on LingoDeer first and see whether it works for you! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### 9 Extinct Languages of The World And Their Last Speakers URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/9-extinct-languages/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:21:03.000Z No one knows for sure how many languages exist and have existed in the world since scientists differ in their opinion. However, data show that only 4% of the world's population speaks 96 percent of all languages, while other languages such as Chinese, English, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, Russian, French, Swahili, and others are widely spoken. In today's cosmopolitan world, there is a worrying trend: by the middle of this century, hundreds of languages will have disappeared, and it is estimated that 80-90 percent of the world's languages will be extinct. It's also worth mentioning the incredible illiteracy of the twenty-first century: about a billion people worldwide are unable to write and read normally. According to UNESCO, more than half of the world's languages are endangered, with one language disappearing every two weeks on average. When a language is lost, humanity loses a lot of knowledge about that people's culture, customs, and traditions. It's hard to know exactly when a language died out. However, for some languages, the last active speaker of the language can be pinpointed. This is the date when a particular language died. In this article, we'll present 9 extinct languages with a brief description of their last speakers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/extinct-languages.jpg) ## **Cornish** **Last native speaker: Dolly Pentreath (? - 1777), England** Cornish was previously only spoken by the people of Cornwall, a peninsula in the southwest of the United Kingdom. Celts existed on the island by the time the Romans conquered it. The locals spoke Celtic, with Dolly Pentreath being the last monolingual speaker. The Cornish language was officially declared queen in 2002 and since the early 20th century there have been attempts to bring the language back through bilingual Britons. They differ from Dolly Pentreath in that they speak two languages: Cornish and English, both of which they learned as children, whereas Dolly only learned English as an adult. It is believed that her last words were: “I don't want to speak English!”. She was a unique figure in her time; others described her as someone who frequently used curses and smoked a pipe, and some even described her as a witch. There was a lot of information about Dolly's adored swearing “kronnekyn hager du”, which people were terrified of. According to some scientists, Dolly Pentreath is not the last speaker of the Cornish language, and that the Cornish language has never entirely disappeared from the face of the Earth. ## **Manx** **Last native speaker: Ned Maddrell (about 1878 - 1974), Isle of Man, Great Britain** There is some debate over whether Ned is the last representative of his language - Manx, just as there is with Dolly. Until the mid-nineteenth century, it was the official language of the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a British Isles archipelago located between Great Britain and Ireland; the island was part of Scotland in the 13th century and is now controlled by the United Kingdom. The area was once inhabited by Celts and from the 9th century onwards the Normans began to settle there. Manx is part of the Galician languages, from which some modern languages such as Irish, Scottish, and Cornish are derived. These languages have no connection with English, which is part of another group. As for Ned Maddrell, he is a fisherman from Cregneash who traveled extensively but ended his life on the Isle of Man, where he was studied by language researchers. Attempts are now being made to restore the lost language, at least in part, even taught at Bunscoill Ghaelgagh. Although it is likely that now we are talking about the so-called New Manx, this language, according to scientists, appeared after Ned Maddrell. ## **Yana** **Last native speaker: Ishi (1860 - 1916), USA** The Yana language was spoken by the Yahi Indians living in the territory of modern California. Ishi was the last representative of both the language and the tribe. His name is a pseudonym, which means “man” in his native language. In Indian society, it was considered taboo to speak real names. His story is not at all happy - when his family was killed, he began to hide. A group of hunters found him. Several documentaries and feature films have been made about his life to cover many aspects of Indian life. Ishi died of tuberculosis in 1916\. Thanks to the efforts of linguist Edward Sapir, the Yana language is relatively well documented compared to many other lost languages in North America. ## **Warrungu** **Last native speaker: Alf Palmer (about 1891-1981), Australia** Alf Palmer was the last member of the Australian population to speak the local Warrungu language. These are part of Australia's indigenous Aboriginal languages. The majority of them are now extinct, and what distinguishes them from other languages is that they are unwritten and unrelated to those spoken on other continents. Little is known about Alf Palmer. He was born in Townsville, Queensland, and like other members of the dynasty, he tried to save his own language by working with linguists from Australia and Japan. Later these scholars return to Townsville to try to bring Warrungu back with the help of Alf Palmer's heirs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/language-letters.jpg) ## **Dalmatian** **Last native speaker: Tuone Udaina (? - 1898), Croatia** Tuone Udaina was a barber who spoke Dalmatian as a second language, which he learned by listening to his parents' secret discussions. Despite the fact that he was deaf and had not used the language in over 20 years, he embraced the effort with enthusiasm in the late 1800s, when he was working with an Italian linguist to save the endangered Dalmatian language. It is a Romance language, similar to Romanian. It was once used in Dalmatia (today's Croatia) where, incidentally, almost every town has its own dialect. The linguist's original notes are in Italian, and only German translations can be seen today. Udaina died from a mine explosion, and with his death, the language disappears completely. ## **Gaagudju** **Last native speaker: Big Bill Neidjie (abound 1920 - 2002), Australia** Big Bill Neidjie has long been regarded as a local hero. In the East Alligator River region of northern Australia, he was raised in the traditional Aboriginal style. His family lived on the territory of Kakadu National Park. Hunting was passed down to Big Bill Neidjie by his father and grandpa. He was noted for his endurance and strength, as well as his commitment to the Australian Aboriginal cause. He also put in a lot of effort to keep his culture alive. Interestingly, in the Gaagudju language, as in most local Australian languages, there was a taboo on discussing traditional secrets passed down from generation to generation with strangers. Actually, the language itself was not possible to convey, proceeding from these taboos. When Big Bill Neidjie felt the imminent disappearance of the language, he was faced with a dilemma: break the taboo or let his culture disappear completely. He decided to break the prohibitions and shared his wisdom with the chosen people. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/language-flag-1.jpg) ## **Beothuk** **Last native speaker: Shawnadithit (1801-1829), Newfoundland (Canada)** Shawnadithit was not only the last individual who spoke Beothuk, but also the last Beothuk tribe member. She was a respected Newfoundlander, but her life was not easy at all. Shawnadithit loses much of her family to tuberculosis or attacks by the British, who treat her people like thieves. She works as a maid for the last few years of her life before dying because of tuberculosis. Philanthropist William Cormack taught her English, and the Indian woman also proved her talent in painting. Through her drawings, modern man has information about the culture and way of life of this tribe. The British would not leave her alone even after her death - her skull was sent to the Royal College of Medicine in London and then to the Royal College of Surgeons. Unfortunately, it was destroyed and lost in the bombing of London by Nazi soldiers. The rest of Shawnadithit's remains were buried at St John's Church in Newfoundland. There is still a debate about Beothuk, whether it is isolated or related to some of the so-called Algonquian languages spoken in Quebec and Labrador. ## **Shuadit** **Last native speaker: Armand Lunel (1892 -1977), France** Shuadit is a lost Jewish language from the south of France. The name “shuadit” literally means “jew”. Armand Lunel, its last representative, was a writer, teacher, and philosopher born in Provence, France. His family had lived there for centuries but later moved to Monaco. His writings were in French, and he often wrote about everyday Jewish life in Provence. A recording of Lunel singing in his native language was made in 1968, but the writer died before he could make more recordings. Linguists are confused by the origins of the Judeo-Provencal language. Shuadit has been used since the 11th century, although its use has declined since the French Revolution. ## **Dura** Last native speaker: Soma Devi Dura (1926-2008), Nepal A few years ago an elderly woman from Nepal, Soma Devi Dura, the last woman to speak Dura, appeared in the media. The woman was described as a rich source of songs and stories in her native language. Kedar Nagila studied Nepali languages and worked with her to compile a small dictionary. Since Soma Devi even during her lifetime communicated with her relatives in other languages, this language was lost. The Dura language is one of many Nepali languages, of which there are over 120\. Because of the phrase “one nation, one language, one dynasty, one language”, 96% of them are at risk of the same fate. UNESCO has been attempting to standardize and conserve the world's unique languages for many years. In 2010, the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger was compiled. The aim is to attract wide public attention to the problem of endangered languages. This atlas contains all extinct languages since 1950, and all existing languages of the world were assigned one of six statuses according to 9 criteria, depending on the probability of their extinction. *This article is contributed by Angela Johnson, a skilled blogger and content writer who writes about education, self-growth, and business leadership. She is also a leadership consultant from [Essay Map](https://essaymap.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com).* ### 5 Japanese Movies You Need to Watch URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-movies/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:07:04.000Z Are you learning Japanese and looking for a way to stay motivated? Or maybe you just need to brush up on your skills. Either way, watching movies is a great way to [learn and improve your Japanese skills](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/). And since Japanese is one of the [most spoken languages](https://www.langoly.com/most-spoken-languages/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in the world and Japan has a world-renowned film industry, there are a lot of Japanese movies and series to choose from. This article will show you some of the best Japanese movies that are great for picking up new words and phrases and improving your Japanese comprehension skills without leaving your living room. So to get started, all you need to do is press “Play” on any of the content below to start learning! ## 1\. Howl’s Moving Castle Sophie's life is dull and uneventful working at her late father’s hat shop. All that changes when she meets a wizard named Howl though. The two quickly become friends, much to the disdain of the evil Witch of Waste. The evil witch casts a spell on Sophie to turn her into an old woman, and Howl must use all of the magic he knows to try and make Sophie young again. ![Japanese movie Howl’s Moving Castle](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51+FWnABEzL._AC_.jpg) *Howl’s Moving Castle* is a classic Japanese anime film directed by the iconic Japanese director Hiyao Miyazaki. If you’re an anime lover, ***Howl’s Moving Castle* is the perfect way to learn new words and phrases in Japanese.** **The dialogue is simple and easy to follow, and the story will have you hooked from the very beginning.** The imagery is also stunning! ## 2\. Spirited Away *Spirited Away* is another anime from Hiyao Miyazaki. The story follows Chirio, who finds an abandoned theme park with her parents. After Chihiro’s parents are mysteriously turned into pigs, she meets Haku, who tells her that the theme park is full of supernatural creatures. Throughout the film, Chihiro works to find a way to free her parents from the horrible curse put on them. ![Spirited Away: Spirited Away](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjlmZmI5MDctNDE2YS00YWE0LWE5ZWItZDBhYWQ0NTcxNWRhXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTMxODk2OTU@._V1_.jpg) Similar to *Howl’s Moving Castle*, the vocabulary used in *Spirited Away* is straightforward and the story is easy to follow. You’ll also learn important topics that **improve your Japanese communication skills, like commands and** [**how to address others**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/you-in-japanese-anata/). The main message of the film will also **help you understand more about Japanese culture.** ## 3\. Grave of the Fireflies If you’re a history buff, *Grave of the Fireflies* is a must-see on Netflix. The story follows Seita, a young boy who gets separated from his sister after an American firebombing during World War II. The film portrays a heart-wrenching tale of survival and shows the real impact that war can have on everyday people. ![Japanese movie Grave of the Fireflies](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BZmY2NjUzNDQtNTgxNC00M2Q4LTljOWQtMjNjNDBjNWUxNmJlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTA4NzY1MzY@._V1_.jpg) Outside of improving your vocabulary and communication skills, *Grave of the Fireflies* will also help you understand more about Japan’s history and culture. Watching it will show you a different perspective of the war and how it affected ordinary people in Japan. ## 4\. Good Morning Call If you’re not a fan of anime, there are also plenty of live-action Japanese movies and series available on Netflix. One of the most popular series is *Good Morning Call*. This show is a Japanese shōjo manga series that follows Nao Yoshikawa, who moves away from her parents to live in the city. There’s a problem though: She was a victim of a scam. The apartment she is moving into has also been rented to Hisashi Uehara, a popular boy from her school. The two decide to live together to make rent more affordable, but they also decide to keep their living arrangement hidden from their classmates. *Good Morning Call* is **a lighthearted comedy with a simple and straightforward storyline**. The writing is clear and uses common vocabulary words. Watching this show will also give you **a glimpse into the lives of Japanese teenagers**. You’ll definitely **pick up some useful slang** as well as learn how native Japanese speakers speak with each other. ## 5\. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories *Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories* is another live-action Japanese series. It’s about Meshiya, a small restaurant in the back alley of a bustling district in Tokyo. The restaurant looks like any other ordinary restaurant from the outside, but Meshiya is extraordinary once you go in. Only open from midnight until 7 am, the chef at Meshiya (known as the Master) cooks whatever his customers want. Coming from all walks of life, the customers bond with each other and the Master over his delicious food. *Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories* is a really cool series not only because of its stories, but because of how useful it can be for Japanese learners. **You get to listen to a variety of people discuss a lot of different topics related to life in Japan.** Of all the options on this list, *Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories* is probably **the most immersive one**. ## Final Thoughts The 5 Japanese movies and series mentioned above are just a few of the many Japanese-language choices you can find. If you're interested in improving your language skills while learning more about Japan's history or culture, these five options are the perfect place to start. Before you know it, you’ll be speaking Japanese like a native speaker! Have you watched any of these films before? Let us know in the comments which one do you like the best! If interested in learning a foreign language through watching films, you can also check out our complete list of 47 Foreign Movies for Language Learners. https://gblog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/foreign-movies-3.html *This article is contributed by Chad Emery, a freelance writer and editor who loves learning about other cultures and languages. Chad has a passion for travel and is always looking for an excuse to explore new countries or visit his friends dotted around the globe.* ### Happy Birthday, LingoDeer! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/4-years-old/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:37.000Z LingoDeer turned 4 today! 🎉 🎉 In the past four years, we've come a long way, creating 13 quality language courses and earning the trust of 20 million learners from all over the world. [](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) In the past year alone, we: - added 2 language courses (Arabic and French Accelerated), as well as 3 interface languages (Italian, Turkish, and Thai) - made 1 major update with a brand new Challenge Mode to help you nail speaking in no time ;) - made some long-awaited changes to our app interface (dark mode in iOS, anyone?) - got [an official TikTok account](https://www.tiktok.com/@lingodeer.app?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and created 100+ fun videos about language and culture We could never have achieved these without our deer community. As a thank-you, we'd like to give **FREE annual memberships to 4 lucky users**! Check out [our birthday post on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/lingodeerapp/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to find out more :3 (Winners will be announced on **Sep 12th, 19th, and 26th**! ) Thank you all for supporting us on this journey! Your love means the world to us <3 Thank you! 감사합니다! ¡Gracias! Merci ! Grazie! Danke! Obrigado(a)! Спасибо! Cảm ơn! شكرًا! ありがとう。 谢谢！ ### 10 commonly used English Words from Spanish URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/10-commonly-used-english-words-from-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T12:21:23.000Z The ultimate crossover isn’t on TV, it’s in real life with English and Spanish! **Languages have influenced one another for as long as humans have been able to speak, even more so when different cultures interact and coexist.** Some words that we use as English speakers can be easily traced back to another language; for example, the word *entrepreneur* is obviously French, and *karate* is clearly Japanese. On the other hand, the origin of some common words may surprise you. Here are **10 English words from Spanish and what they mean.** ![mosquito](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/burrito.jpg) ### Burrito A delicious tortilla pocket filled with tomato, lettuce, rice, and all sorts of fillings, *burritos* have become just as well known as tacos. But did you know that *burrito* translates to “**little donkey**” in English? Rather than being named after the meat inside, this tasty Mexican dish is named after a beast of burden for being able to carry so much food inside of one tortilla! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/mosquito.jpg) ### Mosquito Pesky *mosquitos* are the worst! They may be found all over the world, but the word *mosquito*, or “little fly” in English, is actually a Spanish word that comes from ***mosca*, or “fly”.** ![Plaza](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/plaza.jpg) ### Plaza A *plaza* is a nice open space in the middle of the city that provides a reprieve from traffic-filled streets and can feature fountains, shops, and other public amenities. English speakers must have liked Spanish *plazas* so much that they decided to use the word too! ![Cargo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/cargo.jpg) ### Cargo This word comes from **the Spanish verb *cargar* which means “to carry.”** Literally translated, *cargo* means “I carry” because after all, we like to carry our own precious cargo! ![Salsa and chips](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/salsa.jpg) ### Salsa We know *salsa* as a delicious tomato based dip paired with tortilla chips and other Mexican dishes, but did you know that ***salsa* is the word for all sauce in Spanish**? So don’t be surprised if you see *salsa* listed as a topping for pasta and other foods. ![Cafeteria](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/cafeteria.jpg) ### Cafeteria While the Spanish version of this word has an accent mark (*cafetería*), the meaning is about the same in both languages. ***Café* means coffee and *\-ería* is a suffix added to words to make them places.** ### Guerrilla Not to be mistaken for gorilla the animal, *guerrilla* came into popular use in English during times of military combat. Guerrilla warfare refers to small groups attacking in subtle and unconventional ways such as ambushes in order to take down a larger enemy. The term more often appears in history textbooks and news coverage. Note that in Spanish the pronunciation is a little different, and sounds like gue-ree-ya. ![Patio](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/patio.jpg) ### Patio This word originally meant an inner courtyard that was open to the sky, but has expanded to include many outdoor spaces. When imagining a dream home, it should include a *patio*! ![Bodega](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/bodega.jpg) ### Bodega A cultural phenomenon and neighborhood staple in places like New York City, the bodega serves food, drink, and other necessities and can be the cornerstone of a community. However, the word *bodega* in Spanish originally just meant “**wine shop.**” Quite the upgrade! ![Cilantro](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/cilantro.jpg) ### Cilantro The herb *cilantro*, also known as coriander, is native to Southern Europe. It’s no wonder that the Spanish were the ones to name it! Americans tend to use the word *cilantro* instead of coriander because of its prevalence in Mexican cuisine. As you can see, there are so many English words from Spanish! While you may have already known about some of the words on this short list, their original Spanish meanings are a delight and provide more insight as to why we English speakers use them. All of the words above have maintained the same spelling, but there are plenty of other words that have been changed over time to become less recognizably Spanish. With that in mind, what are some other English words from Spanish that you may know? ### 14 English Words from Japanese that You Already Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/english-words-from-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:19:25.000Z ## Quick Answer: Which English words came from Japanese? English has borrowed many Japanese words, especially terms connected with food, culture and Japanese practices. This guide explains 14 examples, including sushi, soy, unagi, ramen, matcha and sudoku, and traces how their forms or meanings entered English. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | Food | sushi, soy, unagi, ramen and matcha | | Games and practices | sudoku and other culture-specific terms | | How to use the list | Check both the Japanese form and the route into English | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. It doesn’t take long for [Japanese language learners](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) to realize just how many foreign terms have become a part of everyday Japanese. Whether it’s English interjections like グレート (great) and オッケー (O.K.) or nouns of European origin like アルバイト (from the German “Arbeit” for “work”) and ブランコ (from the Portuguese “balanço” for “swing”), Japanese is chock-full of loanwords. Similarly, the English language has managed to absorb dozens of Japanese words, many of which are used on a daily basis. Do you know if any of your commonly used buzzwords originate from the land of the rising sun? We’ve put together a list of **fourteen popular English words from Japanese** and their etymology to keep you motivated on your [language learning journey](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ![japanese words from English](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/japanese-word-you-already-know.png) Let’s begin with one of Japan’s most mouthwatering exports: food! ## **1\. Sushi** ![A sushi roll held between chopsticks](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/sushi.jpg) **寿司(すし)** Whether or not you’re a fan of these colorful combinations of rice, dried seaweed, fish, and wasabi, you’ve undoubtedly heard of sushi. The most common theory about the origin of this word is that it began seeing use during the Edo Period and came from **the classical Japanese conjugation of the adjective 酸(す)い (vinegary, sour), which was written and pronounced 酸(す)し (すし)**. As you can imagine, this came from the sour taste of the vinegary rice used in sushi. Language learners should take note that when 寿司(すし) is used in compound words, like 巻(ま)き寿司(すし) (sushi rolls), 手巻(てま)き寿司(ずし) (hand-rolled sushi) and 回転寿司(かいてんずし) (conveyor belt sushi), the pronunciation of “sushi” becomes “zushi.” ## **2\. Soy** ![Soy sauce being poured into a dipping bowl](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/soy.jpg) **醤油(しょうゆ) (そい)** The most common Japanese word for soy sauce is “shouyu,” but regional variants include “shoi” and “soi,” and **it’s the latter pronunciation that formed the basis of the modern English word “soy.”** However, this term wasn’t introduced to English directly from Japanese. Dutch was the first language to absorb this word (becoming “soja”) through Japan’s limited contact with the Netherlands during the 1600s, and English later borrowed this term from Dutch. ## **3\. Unagi** ![A bowl of grilled unagi over rice](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/unagi.jpg) **鰻(うなぎ)** While even those without any interest in Japanese cuisine or culture have heard of sushi, only those who have ventured into a sushi restaurant and ordered the freshwater eel will know the word unagi. This tender fish is commonly served in sushi or in a rice bowl called 鰻丼(うなどん) and is smothered in a dark, sweet tare sauce. **Unagi has an unbeatable flavor and makes for great comfort food,** but it may be wise to keep it to an occasional indulgence as [the fish was designated as endangered by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment in 2013.](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2013/02/02/environment/ministry-officially-classifies-japanese-eel-as-species-at-risk-of-extinction/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## **4\. Ramen** ![A bowl of Japanese ramen with sliced pork and eggs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ramen.jpg) ラーメン While ramen is **originally from China** (ラーメン being the Japanese pronunciation of the word **拉麵lāmiàn, or “pulled noodles”**), this delicious noodle soup was popularized in Japan in the early 20th century and has made its way across the globe. The uninitiated may immediately think of the cheap, processed, and unhealthy packages of instant noodles when they hear the term “ramen,” but **there is so much more to ramen than that**. If access to a nearby ramen shop isn’t realistic, teens can check out anime like [*Naruto*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naruto?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [*Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ms.%5FKoizumi%5FLoves%5FRamen%5FNoodles?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to live vicariously and get a sense of the power of ramen, while adults would be advised to check out the 1985 comedy film [*Tampopo*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampopo?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a “ramen-western” about a struggling ramen shop and two truck drivers who try to help its owner improve her recipe. ## **5\. Matcha** ![Matcha powder with a bamboo whisk and scoop](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/matcha.jpg) **抹茶(まっちゃ)** The flavor of this brightly green powdered green tea is unlike any other tea product out there and inspires very strong reactions from those who drink it – **you either love it or you hate it.** Popularized in the states around 2015 when wellness-influencer Gwyneth Paltrow began blogging about it, matcha has become a staple at cafes as a healthy coffee alternative that still gives you a good caffeine boost. **The word comes from the kanji characters 抹 meaning “rub” or “grind,” and 茶 meaning…you guessed it! Tea!** The majority of tea ceremonies today utilize matcha green tea, but there are some that use whole-leaf sencha green tea instead. Now that I’ve sufficiently whetted your appetite, let’s move onto some fun loanwords related to pop culture, recreation, and religion! ## **6\. Sudoku** ![A partially completed sudoku puzzle and pen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/sudoku.jpg) **数独(すうどく)** Most of us remember being encouraged to play sudoku by our teachers and parents as a kid whether we wanted to or not. Although number puzzles like sudoku don’t originate in Japan, the name of this particular number puzzle game comes from the Japanese kanji for **数(すう) “number” and 独(どく) “solitary**. This is actually an abbreviation of a much longer title – the stimulating puzzle game first appeared in Japanese papers under the title 数字(すうじ)は独身(どくしん)に限(かぎ)る (“The Digits Must Be Single”) in 1984\. Japanese language learners might notice the elongated vowel in すう and realize that the Western pronunciation of sudoku is nothing like the original Japanese. Some people will say “soo-DOO-ko” or “soo-DOH-koo” in English, but it is really much more like **“SOO-doh-ku” with the emphasis on the first syllable**. ## **7\. Emoji** ![A smartphone displaying the thinking-face emoji](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/emoji.jpg) **絵文字(えもじ)** That’s right! Emojis originate from Japan, too! **The word “emoji” comes from the Japanese 絵(え) “picture” and 文字(もじ) (”character” or “letter”).** [Interface designer Shigetaka Kurita popularized the emoji](https://www.cnn.com/style/article/emoji-shigetaka-kurita-standards-manual/index.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) by designing a set of 176 colorful emojis in 1999 for use on DoCoMo’s i-mode, a mobile internet platform. They have since become **extremely popular and occasionally controversial** due to the usage and connotations of certain emojis like the infamous 🍑. There is actually a non-profit organization known as the Unicode Consortium that manages emojis and introduces new additions each year. ## **8\. Ninja** ![A ninja with only the eyes visible through a dark mask](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/ninja.jpg) **忍者(にんじゃ)** Ninja, or shinobi (忍(しの)び), were **stealthy agents active during feudal Japan**, particularly in the Sengoku Period. In this era of samurai and shoguns, ninja would be hired for covert operations such as **espionage, sneak attacks, and even terrorism.** The word 忍者(にんじゃ) is comprised of the characters 忍 (“endure” or “conceal”) and 者 (“person”). While modern pop culture has promoted these unscrupulous tricksters to the position of honorable warriors with supernatural powers, this was certainly not their image during the feudal period. ## **9\. Dojo** ![Two martial artists training in a dojo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/dojo.jpg) **道場(どうじょう)** What ties the words 合気道(あいきどう) aikido, 柔道(じゅうどう) judo, and 剣道(けんどう) kendo together? You guessed it – that second character 道(どう), meaning “way” or “pursuit.” Similarly, **a dojo (literally 道(どう) “pursuit” and 場(じょう) “place”) is the place where you might practice one of these lofty physical pursuits.** The term dojo was incorporated into the English language to refer to a facility where you would work on karate or other kinds of martial arts, but these days it has expanded into other fields. You can even find **coding or hacking dojos** where passionate programmers can get together and hone their skills. ## **10\. Rickshaw** ![A rickshaw runner carrying two passengers in kimono](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/rickshaw.jpg) **人力車(じんりきしゃ)** Have you ever seen someone pulling a passenger in a small cart, almost like a human-powered taxi? That’s a rickshaw. Derived from the Japanese word **人力車(じんりきしゃ) “jinrikisha” – 人 (man) + 力 (power) + 車 (vehicle)** – rickshaws are still used today, although it is much more common to see motorized rickshaws than hand-pulled ones. Still, if you’re keen on pretending that you’re a moneyed aristocrat from the 1800s, you’re welcome to seek out a private traditional rickshaw tour in cities like Kyoto. ## **11\. Zen** ![A pink lotus flower on a pond](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/zen.jpg) 禅 (ぜん) Hopefully, if you find yourself saying things like “I’m in my zen today” or “That’s so zen,” you at least have an idea of where the word originates from! Zen comes from 禅(ぜん) (the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese pronunciation of the Sanskrit dhyana, meaning “deep meditation”) and is a sect of Mahayana Buddhism. **Zen teachings emphasize** **the denial of the ego, relinquishing attachment to emotions, and the importance of meditation.** Finally, let’s look at three Japanese loanwords related to business and power! ## **12\. Honcho** **班長(はんちょう)** Although “honcho” sounds like it could originate from Spanish, it actually comes from 班長(はんちょう), meaning squad or group leader. This may have entered the English language after WWII when American soldiers heard troops refer to squad leaders as “honcho.” **In English, we tend to use the expression “head honcho” to refer to the highest-ranking person in a company or organization, but there are a vast array of role titles in Japanese companies,** and “honcho” does not rise nearly as high up in the ranks as 社長(しゃちょう) (company president) or even 部長(ぶちょう) (department head). ## **13\. Tycoon** **大君(たいくん)** Still got *Rollercoaster Tycoon* installed on your PC? Tycoon comes from the Japanese word 大君, meaning “great lord.” This was a title given to the shogun by foreigners during the Edo Period. While you could argue that feudal lords do have a fair amount in common with the prominent and ruthless businessmen we apply “tycoon” to in English, you can see that **this word changed quite a bit when it was integrated into English.** ## **14\. Kaizen** **改善(かいぜん)** This term is a bit less common for everyday English speakers, but office workers and innovators are likely to have come into contact with it. **Kaizen (改 meaning “renew” or “revise” and 善 meaning “good”)** refers to the business philosophy of continuous improvement and involving every member of an organization in problem-solving and process improvement. Popularized by Toyota and other successful manufacturing companies, this philosophy has spread to a wide variety of fields and specialties. How recently did you drink a matcha latte or eat a bowl of ramen? Did you find yourself at the karate dojo last weekend or laughing at a goofy string of emojis? Has your boss been lecturing you about the importance of kaizen in the workplace? It’s undeniable that Japanese culture has laid down strong roots in the English-speaking world and the proof is in the language. So, what Japanese word do you predict will gain traction and seep into our vernacular next? Post in the comments below and tell us why! **Recommended reading** https://gblog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/what-is-romaji.html https://gblog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/world-flags-anime-character.html https://gblog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide-8.html https://gblog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana-14.html ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are all English words from Japanese borrowed directly? No. As the article shows with soy, some words reached English through another language. ### Is ramen originally Japanese? The dish became strongly associated with Japan, while the article notes that its name and earlier history have Chinese roots. ### Why do borrowed words change? Pronunciation, spelling and meaning can shift as a word moves between languages and communities. ### Does knowing these words make Japanese easier? They provide memorable connections, but learners should still study the Japanese spelling, pronunciation and context. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### A Beginner’s Guide to は and が URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/wa-and-ga/ Last updated: 2021-06-10T12:21:33.000Z Particles may be some of the smallest pieces of Japanese grammar, but they’re essential for Japanese sentences to make sense. Much like English prepositions, the difference between particles can change the entire meaning of your sentence. You wouldn’t want to mix up “to” and “from,” would you? However, there are some particles used in ways that don’t quite match up with English prepositions. Take, for example, the infamous topic marker は\* and the subject marker が. \*pronounced “wa” when used as a particle, not “ha” ## What is a topic marker? While the idea of a topic marker doesn’t exist in English, you can think of this particle as signifying what is doing an action. > 彼は医者です。- He is a doctor. は introduces the topic of the sentence and what this topic is doing or having done to it. Sometimes は is translated as “as for” to more accurately convey the way it works in a sentence. > ケーキ**は**もう食べた。- As for the cake, (I) already ate it. > > ケーキ**を**もう食べた。- (I) already ate the cake. Here, you can see the difference in nuance when choosing between topic marker は and direct object marker を. In the first sentence, the topic is the cake. In the second sentence, the topic is the person eating the cake, which happens to be omitted. ## What’s a subject marker? Japanese also has a similar particle が, commonly referred to as the subject marker. The difference between は and が is that は focuses on introducing the topic and what action it’s doing in your sentence, while が is there to highlight the subject itself. > 私**は**ケーキを食べた。 - I ate the cake. > > 私**が**ケーキを食べた。 - *I* (was the one who) ate the cake. In the first sentence, the focus is on the speaker eating the cake. In the second sentence, the focus is on the speaker. *I* ate the cake. Not you, not those guys. *I* did. ## Comparing to Others with が To build on what we just saw, let’s take a look at the following sentences: > 私**は**大学生です。 > > 私**が**大学生です。 The only difference here is the particle. In the first sentence, は creates a completely neutral statement. “I am a college student.” Great! Perhaps you’d say this when making a self-introduction or when someone asks you what your occupation is. However, let’s say you’re the only college student in a room full of people and someone heard there was a university student present. They might ask “Who is the college student here?” and you could say 私が学生です – “*I* am the college student.” が here is used to emphasize and highlight you as the subject. Here’s another example. > 彼女の車**は**赤です。 - Her car is red. > > 彼女の車**が**赤です。 - *Her* car is red. Once again, the は statement is neutral and primarily focused on the state of the car being red. However, when we swap は for が, it becomes “*Her* car is red,” which would be quite natural in response to a question like “Was *he* the one with the red car?” No, it’s *her* car that’s red. *Her car* becomes the focus. Much like in the above situations, if you were to compare yourself to your past or future self, you would opt for が over は. 私が小学生の時、よくテニスをしました。When *I was a kid*, I often played tennis (but nowadays, I don’t play it very often). In conclusion, が adds emphasis and highlights new or important information in the context of the conversation. ## が as an Object Marker You’re likely already familiar with を as the direct object marker (e.g. 魚を食べた – I ate fish). However, there are certain verbs and adjectives for which it is much more natural to use the particle が, even though we would consider these to be direct objects in English grammar. > 野菜**が**嫌いです。 - I hate vegetables. > > 日本語**が**分かりません。 - I don’t understand Japanese. > > クモ**が**怖いです。 - I’m afraid of spiders. 9 times out of 10, you’ll want to use が with these verbs and adjectives. There is a situation when you might to convey a certain nuance and replace this が for は, though. Let’s move on and take a look! ## Contrastive は は is often used to emphasize contrast. However, you can think of this as broader than the scope we saw with the comparative が. When used to demonstrate contrast, は can replace particles like を and が. Let’s say someone asks you if you eat meat, and you do, but just not pork. You might say: > Someone wants to know if you drink alcohol, and you say: > > ワイン**は**飲みません。 I don’t drink wine (but I might take a beer if you’re offering…) > > Your date asks, “Do you like pets?”: > > 猫**は**好きだ。 - I like cats (but dogs, not so much…\] In the above question about liking pets, it is a typical and natural use が to express likes and dislikes. However, when you want to emphasize what it is you like compared to something else you may not like, you can swap that が for は. The contrastive は is incredibly useful to imply things that can or should be left unsaid. It can be very rude to make blunt statements about your likes, dislikes, and opinions in Japanese. Rather than answering your dates question by going into a tirade and saying “I hate dogs! They’re smelly and loud!” you can tactfully say 猫**は**好きです and move on. As you can see, there are many situations where you can swap は for が for a change in nuance or emphasis in your sentence. But there are also certain times where you simply cannot swap は for が. Let’s take a look. ## Who, What, When, Where, Which? - 何**が**食べたいんですか？ - What do you want to eat? - 誰**が**来ましたか？ - Who came? - どっち**が**正しいですか？ - Which one is correct? - 何時**が**都合がいいですか？ - What time is good for you? - どこ**が**痛いですか？ - Where does it hurt? All of the above question words must take the particle が. Now that’s a hard and fast rule you can rely on! Now that you’ve got a better understanding of the different functions of は and が under your belt, are you ready to tackle some practice questions? Download DeerPlus and try out our Particle Workshop to test your newfound knowledge! Happy learning! ### TOP 5 Language Learning Tips: Learn from the best! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/five-learning-tips/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:42.000Z Learning a foreign language can be a daunting task if you don't know the right methods or have the right tools. So in order to maximum your language learning outcome, we asked some of our proficient users to share their insights on language learning. The learning tips they provide could very well make YOUR experience with LingoDeer more special, or shed some light on language learning methods in general if you're not a Deer member. So buckle up and get ready for… ## Top 5 Language Learning Tips ## Tip #1: SHADOW IT *When you want to learn a language, it’s really important to repeat what native speakers say, again and again, until you actually acquire the way how to say it properly.* \-- Nishimatsu Kiyomi, teacher, voice actor, musician and language enthusiast better known as Sora The Troll on YouTube ![Shadow speaking practice on language learning app LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-250c67ab485df200.jpg) Story from the first unit of our Korean course. It's never too early to speak up! **LingoDeer Shadow Speaking function** is a real treat for someone who’s sick and tired of speaking into the void - or, in other words, for any beginner or even intermediate language learner. Not all of us can afford expensive and time-consuming language classes, and not every language teacher, saddled with a dozen novices at the same time, has the opportunity to correct your pronunciation. The Shadow Speaking function takes care of that by letting you read aloud along with native speakers and compare your pronunciation to theirs! ## Tip #2: LEARN BY DOING *I recommend you find some way to sort of get your hands on the language, to touch it, to hear it, to play with it, and I think [\[LingoDeer\]](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a really good app for that.* \-- Jeremy, creator team member of Motivate Korean, an online language community for committed learners Memory training doth not true learning make! Don’t waste your time on memorizing words and machine-translated sentences - be productive in your studies. Here at LingoDeer, we give our users an opportunity to not only speak, but also write. Once you type something out, you will be less likely to forget it, so press that sweet “Let me type” button and get to work! ![Typing exercises on language learning app LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-2e785efa53e0ca0d.jpg) Learn to type in Russian (and other languages) like a pro! And if you feel like typing in your target language is impossible (which is a common, if unfounded, concern for learners of Japanese and Chinese), take a look at our blog - we have [handy](https://blog.lingodeer.com/typing-in-japanese/) [guides](https://blog.lingodeer.com/typing-in-chinese/) for setting up your keyboard like gods of studying intended ;) ## Tip #3: UNDERSTAND WHY *\[LingoDeer\] will lead you all the way up through, until you know the more advanced grammar structures as well as vocabulary… Ooh, I see there are grammar notes! There are proper explanations in English as well!* \-- Miku, native speaker and teacher of Japanese, host of Miku Real Japanese channel on YouTube A lot of language schools and teachers, as well as language learning apps, seem to be infatuated with the idea of learning a language “like a child would” - via full immersion and constant repetition. What they never seem to consider is that even for children living in a perfect language environment, it takes literal years to start sounding remotely human; that for many, such an environment is nothing more than a pipe dream; and that, of course, none of us working adults have “a preschooler’s level of language proficiency” as the end goal. The biggest appeal of this “childlike” approach is that it saves the teacher a lot of energy that would otherwise go to explaining grammar - but here at LingoDeer we aren’t afraid of a little challenge! ![Learning tips on language learning app LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-73507beb3ed56fe3.jpg) Learning Tips for the first unit of our Japanese course\~ On LingoDeer, every unit of every language course starts with succinct Learning Tips that will break complicated concepts down into digestible info. And if you’re a long-read type of person, be sure to subscribe to [our blog](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/caa935c1-95e6-4b9d-b9e4-a4c7011274b9/) where we post in-depth articles about different languages, cultures, and more\~ ## Tip #4: REVIEW EVERY DAY *You can \[review\] via flashcards where you select if the flashcard is “bad” for you or “good” in the sense that you don’t remember it or you know it very well.* \-- Lindie Botes, a polyglot and YouTuber based in Singapore Reviewing material you have recently (or not so recently) learned is the key to successful retention of knowledge… Made you stifle a yawn here, didn’t we? Luckily, the actual review process pn LingoDeer won’t be this dull! LingoDeer has algorithms for selecting specific words and sentence patterns you seem to have the most trouble with, so you will always have to stay on your toes! But if you aren’t in the mood, you have the option of skipping flashcards and doing practice lessons instead - whichever works best for you. And finally, last but not least... ## Tip #5: GET LINGODEER *If you want to pay for one thing that allows you to practice, check yourself, do exercises as well as have grammar printouts to read and to hear your voice against natives… if you want one place that does all of those things for you, LingoDeer is where it’s at.* \-- review from Gladly Global, a company run by passionate youth dedicated to promoting polyglotism Check out our best deals at [https://gblog.lingodeer.com/content/files/2026/07/www-lingodeer-com-51.html](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and make the first step on your [language learning journey](https://support.lingodeer.com/en/support/solutions/articles/61000194359-quick-tips-how-to-study-with-lingodeer?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! You won’t have to worry about a thing - we, as well as our top-quality audios, native-provided material, exiting exercises, and well-structured lessons, will support you along the way :D ![language learning app LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/front-page.png) LingoDeer web-version. See you there <3 ### 50 Foreign Movies for Language Learners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/foreign-movies/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:45.000Z Watching foreign movies has always been one of the most enjoyable ways to learn a language. So we asked our language learners to share the name of their favorite movies in their target learning language. Long story short, let's see which movies are selected as Deer's Choice! ## [Japanese Movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-japanese-movies-on-netflix/) For many years now, [Japanese](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/jp/en/learn-japanese-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has been one of the most popular languages to study, so it makes sense our learners would come up with a looong list of Japanese language favorites ;) The first place, unsurprisingly, goes to Hayao Miyazaki's works, known and loved all over the world by children as well as adults, no matter how far they are from the so-called anime culture. Our users specifically mentioned **Howl's Moving Castle**, **Kiki's Delivery Service**, **Ponyo**, **Spirited Away**, and **My Neighbor Totoro**; this little deer believes that **Princess Mononoke** and **Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro** also deserve a mention. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/hawaiian-summer-outdoor-travel-photo-grid-1.jpg) The list of anime goes on: other fan-favorites include **Your Name** and **A Silent Voice**, which blew away the audiences in many a country back in 2016\. Two beautiful stories of young love will touch even the coldest of hearts, and help viewers learn some useful daily vocab. ![Your Name Film](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-b25e8957ea30b847.jpg) Another great choice for people who like highschool drama would be **Wolf Girl and Black Prince**, and if you want to see actual wolves (or rather, actual werewolves), don't miss out on **Wolf Children**! If you're into high fantasy drama, be sure to check out **Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms**. One of our participants wrote: *\[it is\] the deep analysis of the topic of the futility of human life that is not reversed but seen through the importance of the feelings, special and unique. It is something so different, so precious.* For more action/adventure-oriented users we have **Kimetsu no Yaiba: Demon Slayer**, an incredibly popular shounen manga- and anime-series centered around familial love and demon-butt-kicking, as well as **Case Closed: the phatom of Baker Street**, one of the many feature-length installments of **Detective Conan** saga. Next up is an oldie but goldie **Tampopo** (1985), a brilliant comedy and the first ramen western in the history of mankind. Another unconventional choice would be **Shin Godzilla**, which provides a unique look into the classical genre of Giant Monster Attacks Town through the eyes of an unassuming government employee. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-361608572955883f.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-3a4180308cfb5431.jpg) ![Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-8f1a2507076ee4de.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-8660d8e78122956b.jpg) ## [Korean Movies](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-movies/) [LingoDeer Korean](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is one of our oldest courses; it is our most darling baby and it makes us proud. So, sentimental as we tend to be, we were ecstatic to see the range of our deer learners' tastes in Korean movies and dramas. ![Train to Busan Filme](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-814ea6d3a05fc06b.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2021/01/ld-image-792c18449e1bf044.jpg) ![My little brother Film](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-a731f90301b1c2e1.jpg) You can probably guess the first three picks: **Train to Busan**, **Parasite**, and **Memories of Murder**, critically acclaimed both in South Korea and worldwide. Here's what our participants had to say about them: > *While \[Train to Busan\]'s a zombie movie on the surface, it is a movie that looks at what it means to be a father* (and a decent human being in general, this deer would like to add). > > *\[Parasire is\] such a great criticism of society and you really don't know who to take as the bad guy; so Oscar worthy!* > > *You laugh, you wonder, you do not blink. The killer part of \[Memories of Murder\] was the end. Actors were great, director was great, movie was great.* For less bloody, but no less serious picks, consider **Kim Ji-young, Born 1982**, a pro-feminist drama about generational vices and unseen labor of motherhood, and **My Little Brother**, a dramedy with a heavy focus on what it means to be a real family. Heist-movie fans will appreciate **Going by the Book** \- a Korean remake of a sadly forgotten Japanese classic *Asobi no jikan wa owaranai*, where an extremely straight-laced policeman gets tasked with playing a robber during a drill and gets scarily good at his new "job". And if you're in a romcom mood, check out **A Werewolf Boy** (my, is there a market for this type of stuff?) and **My Sassy Girl**! ![Memorise of Murders Film](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-c99b4bc24feed278.jpg) ![My sassy girl](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-71c9fff495e286db.jpg) ![Going by the book](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-d2476d725047219c.jpg) ![Kim Ji-young, born 1982](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-6041319e6cc9af23.jpg) ![werewolf boy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-12cccc5d67211023.jpg) No Korean visual media overview can be free of K-dramas, though. Here they are, left to right: **Strong Woman Do Bong Soon**, **True Beauty**, **Boys over flowers**, **It´s okay not to be okay**, **One Spring Night**, **Tomorrow, with you**, **No second chance**, **Pinocchio**... Take your pick! And help us expand on this list, if you're up to it :) ## Chinese Movies [Chinese](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/cn/en/learn-chinese-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is deemed one of the most "our their" languages in the world: difficult to grasp, difficult to learn, difficult to retain... Many a foreigner complained that while they can jump right back to speaking and writing in English even after a long break, Chinese is a completely different story: you need to practice it constantly to remain somewhat decent. How to do that? Study, study, study - preferably with LingoDeer's help ;) - and if you're tired of that, sit back and watch something nice! The first movies in the Chinese section will come as no surprise to anyone who can point to China on the map: the two classics worthy of instant rewatch are **Farewell My Concubine** and **To Live**. One user called the latter *a stunning movie, visually perfect, giving both cultural and historical insight into China*, but this support deer thinks it applies to both. ![to live](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-013c870d417accab.jpg) ![Farewell My Concubine](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-6d9db54731b31479.jpg) Another movie you probably heard of would be **Chungking Express**, a comedy-drama about a simple policeman in throes of pining. But what about less famous goodies? We got 'em too! There's **The Longest Night in Shanghai**, a 'funny and kooky and sweet' movie co-produced by China and Japan, where, according to our user, *each of the two main characters is using their own languages (no, they can't understand each other mosts of time, which kicks off a quite impressive series of events over one night)*. There's **Starry Starry Night**, a fantasy drama based on an illustrated novel by Jimmy Liao. ![The Longest Night in Shanghai](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-e9705418d447ef30.jpg) ![Chungking Express](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-6436bf2a3dbaa1ab.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-7268ce1ebcae89bb.jpg) There's the war movie **Devils on the Doorstep**, the most side-splitting comedy with the most harrowing ending you'll ever see, and **Have a Nice Day**, an animated crime drama set in the sweltering heat of Sichuan night. Speaking of Chinese animation, while it often gets overlooked in favor of its more prominent competitor from the East, you'd be remiss if you didn't give it a try. Start with **Legend of Luo Xiao Hei**, a vivid and entertaining story of found family, if you are looking to spend quality time with your kids or younger siblings, and with **Da Hu Fa** if you can stomach a more violent take on the action-adventure genre. ## Honorary Mentions In terms of learning goals, East Asian languages seem to be all the rage nowadays, but here at [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), we have no intention to forget the good ol' Europe either. What do our overseas users have to say about Italian, Spanish, French, and German cinema? Let's find out! For learners of Italian, we've got **La vita è bella** (because of course we did! You probably heard its English title, *Life is Beautiful*) and **Malèna**. Spanish movies go in strong with **The Invisible Guest**, **Wild Tales**, and **The Distinguished Citizen**. France, cradle of the movie industry, has **Amélie**, **Blue is the Warmest Colour**, **The Chorus**, **Little Nicholas**, **Love Me If You Dare**, and **Welcome to the Sticks**. Finally, German movies are represented by such fan-favorites as **The Best of All Worlds**, **Goodbye Lenin**, **The Lives of Others**, **Never Look Away**, **Run Lola Run**, **System Crasher**, and **The Wave** (it's a shame this movie never seems to age! Watch it and you'll know why). ![Emelie](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-14f424b2ebffc871.jpg) ![Goodbye Lenin](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-89dd8a4f76985ac3.jpg) ![la vita e bella](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-fbe0de2d22ac45e3.jpg) ![Malena](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-818e9fcad0dda5bb.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-bb220a972f7f3744.jpg) ![The Chorus](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-57e790b09ccd6dec.jpg) ## A Full List ### Japanese Movies Howl's Moving Castle Kiki's Delivery Service Ponyo Spirited Away My Neighbor Totoro Princess Mononoke Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro Your Name A Silent Voice Wolf Girl and Black Prince Wolf Children Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms Kimetsu no Yaiba: Demon Slayer Case Closed: the phatom of Baker Street Detective Conan Tampopo Shin Godzilla ### Korean Movies Train to Busan Parasite Memories of Murder ### Chinese Movies Farewell My Concubine To Live Chungking Express The Longest Night in Shanghai Starry Starry Night Devils on the Doorstep Have a Nice Day Legend of Luo Xiao Hei Da Hu Fa ### Italian Movies La vita è bella Malèna ### Spanish Movies The Invisible Guest Wild Tales The Distinguished Citizen ### French Movies Amélie Blue is the Warmest Colour The Chorus Little Nicholas Love Me If You Dare Welcome to the Sticks ### German Movies the Best of All Worlds Goodbye Lenin The Lives of Others Never Look Away Run Lola Run System Crasher The Wave This article was brought to you by one of our Deer language experts. Here at [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) we encourage our learners to have fun with their target languages: watch those movies! Learn those songs! And, last but not least, complete those exercises :D Have you watched any of the films mentioned? What do you think? If you have any other recommendations for the list, let us know in the comment section below! ### Essential Guide to Learning Russian: From Newbie to Advanced URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-russian/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:49.000Z ## Learning Russian: Common Beginner Questions Like many great ideas, the thought of learning Russian usually takes people by surprise. Perhaps you are inspired by tragic, high-brow Russian literature or interested in Russia’s turbulent past; perhaps you are yearning to try Russian cuisine and drink a toast with your new best friends on a long-distance train; it could be that your homeland has historical ties to Russia, and even if it doesn’t, you are well within your right to dream of coming here to travel, study, or work. No matter your reasons for taking up Russian, you may be struggling with some **big questions at the beginning** of your language learning journey. ![St. Isaacs Cathedral, Russia, Saint-Petersburg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/st--isaacs-cathedral-russia-saint-petersburg-1.jpg) Source: Ilia Schelkanov, Unsplash ### Is It Difficult to Learn Russian? Yes. No. Maybe? Ultimately, the answer to this question comes down to three points: - your native language; - your experience with second language acquisition; - your motivation. **The number of shared traits your mother tongue has with Russian will reflect on your learning process**, but don’t get discouraged if your first language doesn’t belong to the same regional subgroup as Russian, Belarusian, and Ukranian. Even coming from one language family can go a long way (evidenced by German speakers, who grasp the Russian noun case system with relative ease), and barring that, there are some similarities that occur randomly, but help learners in huge ways. An example that comes to mind is Chinese r, which sounds similar to Russian ж. Lucky coincidence? Maybe. Useful in overcoming one of the bigger hurdles of Russian phonetics? *Yes*. **Your experience with second language acquisition** can be a double-edged sword: - on the one hand, people who only ever learned their own language may lack the humility and discipline necessary for building another language identity from the ground up; - this being said, polyglots, for all their experience and time-tried learning habits, are prone to mixing their languages up. so don’t dwell on the things you never learned in the past, focus on the present and future instead. Finally, **the most important part is motivation**, the driving force behind your studies. It doesn’t have to be grand, but it absolutely must get you all fired up. Learning a new language is a daunting, lengthy process, so you should find something that will help you keep going forward. ### How Long Does It Take to Learn Russian? An old (like, Soviet Union-old) Russian joke comes to mind: *How long does it take to learn Chinese?* *A renowned professor will say, “Oh, it is an impossible task; even if you dedicate your whole life to it, there will always be something new for you to puzzle over.”* *A research assistant will say, “About ten years.”* *A lecturer will say, “Five years.”* *A college student will say, “When do we need to take this exam?”* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/d914b7855c6dcf13526fa2a9535e1d32d51de06a_00.jpg) Questionable comical value aside, this joke does contain a kernel of truth: > **it is mostly your goals that determine the length of your study process**. A tourist doesn’t need to be as fluent as a businessman, and an engineer will be forgiven for lacking the knowledge deemed crucial among Liberal Arts majors. **Find your desired “field of expertise”**, be it simple small talk or discussing classical music, and stick to it without trying to compare yourself to others. “We all have the same 24 hours” is a myth designed to shame people for doing things at their own pace; don’t fall for it. However, if you belong to the type of people who thrive within competitive and/or meticulously organized environments, you might want to take a look at the official [TORFL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test%5Fof%5FRussian%5Fas%5Fa%5FForeign%5FLanguage?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) standards. If we consider taking a full-time language class as the norm, then Level A1 takes 60 to 80 hours of training to complete, while A2 takes 160 to 200 hours, B1 - 400 to 480 hours, B2 - 560 to 680 hours, C1 - 960 to 1,200 hours and so on. Adjust these numbers according to your schedule and you’re good to go! ![Moscow State University, Moskva, Russia](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/moscow-state-university-moskva-russia-1-e1605255310611.jpg) Source: Alexander Smagin, Unsplash ## How to Successfully Learn Russian: Intention, Goals and Motivation The key to success lies within clearly defined goals. **Many learners fail because their goals are too abstract**: no one can track their progress and celebrate small victories when their goalposts are constantly shifting. This is exactly why gamified learning apps, LingoDeer included, are so popular - they provide external motivation in the form of pre-made lessons, learning stats, leader boards, small prizes and other exciting features. But no app and no games can replace your **internal motivation** and the goals you set for yourself, so take some time brainstorm: - **Your motivation**: What makes you want to learn Russian? What will keep you going even when it gets really tough? Will your life change for the better if you learn well? Will your life change for the worse if you don’t? - **Your goals**: What do you want to achieve by mastering Russian? Be specific and pragmatic. Saying *“I want to pass TORFL-I and study in Russia”* or *“I want to surprise my MMORPG party by keeping a simple conversation going in their native language”* is better than *“I want to* really *understand this country and its people”* (which is a great answer too, if you’re prepared to fail many times before you succeed). - **Intentions**: What are the small stepping stones that will lead you to your goal? How do you plan to hold yourself accountable on this journey? Create a suitable schedule and stick to it. If you find yourself overworked, adjust it as you go. This soul-searching will get you ready to learn and succeed. But first, let’s look at some common mistakes that hinder other learners’ progress. ## DON’Ts in Learning Russian as a Beginner ### DON'T Rely on Romanization One of the easiest aspects of learning Russian is the so-called **mechanical reading**, or reading focused on identifying and pronouncing different letters with little attention to the meaning - in a word, just what the doctor ordered for beginners. Mechanical reading in Russian is a lot more straightforward than in English or French, so mastering it won't be a huge investment of time, but it will pay off in the long run. Romanization, on the other hand, promotes unnatural accents, stunts sound acquisition, and, last but not least, doesn't look nearly as cool as a full-on Cyrillic script. If you feel intimidated by Russian letters, don't be! This very article includes **a step by step guide to learning the Russian alphabet**, which is a nice addition to the "Alphabet" unit of the Russian language course on our app. ![learn Russian alphbet](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/azbukaa.jpg) The beginning and the middle of the LingoDeer Russian Alphabet lesson. Sign in for more! :) ### DON'T Ignore Russian Terms of Address Spanish speakers are in luck: Russian is yet another language where the plural *you* \- Вы - can be used as a polite form of address. But even Spanish speakers sometimes struggle with a curious Russian habit of addressing your teachers, superiors, older neighbours and equals you don’t know very well by their given name and patronym, like this: | **Full name** (surname + given name + patronym) | **How to address them** | | ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | Ивано́в Ива́н Ива́но**вич** | Здра́вствуйте, Ива́н Ива́но**вич**! Hello, Ivan Ivanovich! | | Петро́ва Мари́я Ива́но**вна** | Здра́вствуйте, Мари́я Ива́но**вна**! Hello, Maria Ivanovna! | Patronym (о́тчество) is one’s father’s given name with a gendered suffix attached (men get -**вич**, women get -**вна**), so knowing someone’s full name automatically means you know ⅔ of their dad’s name: | | Surname | Given name | Patronym | | ------ | ------- | ---------- | --------- | | Son | Ивано́в | Ива́н | Ива́нович | | Father | Ивано́в | Ива́н | | | | Surname | Given name | Patronym | | -------- | -------- | ---------- | --------- | | Daughter | Петро́ва | Мари́я | Ива́новна | | Father | Петро́в | Ива́н | | Neat, isn't it? Either way, **don’t go around calling people by their given names or surnames unless they took pity on you and gave you specific permission to do so!** To make a polite inquiry, say: Как Вас по о́тчеству? **OR** Как Вас по ба́тюшке? What is your patronym? ![learn Russian: Patronym](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/matryoshki.jpg) Ah, if only matronyms were more common... Source: Julia Kadel, Unsplash ### DON’T Try To Learn Everything At Once As a new learner, you might be tempted to try and learn everything at once. This rarely leads to desired results, especially when it comes to a grammatically complex language like Russian. Don’t burn out too fast; **pick a schedule** you’ll be able to stick to day after day after day, **take your time and don’t rush**: as Russians say, ти́ше е́дешь, да́льше бу́дешь - “the slower you go, the further you get”. ### DON’T Overthink It We’ve all had this happen to us (and by we, I mean native speakers of Russian who dabble into teaching Russian as a Second Language, of course): a learner approaches with a theoretical question, the answer to which is way too complex for their understanding yet, and yet they persist in asking for clarification. You give one, to the best of your ability. The learner doesn’t get it. The language acquisition process is stalled, and everyone feels bad about it. Some Russian grammar is tricky. Some (seems) incomprehensible. Don’t let this stop you. **Learn as much as you can and come back to the difficult stuff later**, having amassed more background knowledge about the inner workings of the language. Remember, sooner or later, quantity will turn to quality, so don’t chase perfection too early. ## Getting Started as An Absolute Beginner in Learning Russian Russian is a language that requires time and patience, but it doesn’t mean you can’t learn some simple stuff first. With that thought in mind, let’s take a look at the Russian azbuka and some common Russian phrases. ### Azbuka, the very first step The Russian alphabet (also known as алфави́т or а́збука) consists of 33 letters: 21 consonants, 10 vowels, and 2 signs that are not pronounced: ![Learning Russian Alphabet](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-49156774f6607d11.jpg) Russian азбука, as you might have seen it in movies. Source: Pinterest While overwhelming at first glance, the Russian alphabet is not that difficult to learn - especially for English speakers, since there are some similarities between the Latin and Cyrillic alphabets. Generally speaking, the **Russian letters can be divided into four groups**: 1. **SIMILAR to Latin letters in WRITING and PRONUNCIATION \[5 in total\]** - А а (a as in ah): ма́ма (mom) - К к (k as in kite): ком (lump) - М м (m as in mate): там (there) - О о (o as in cot): кот (cat) - Т т (t as in take): так (so, this way, thus) 2. **SIMILAR to Latin letters in WRITING, but not pronunciation \[7 in total\]** - В в (v as in Dave): Ве́ра (faith – also used as a female given name) - Е е (e as in yeah): нет (no) - Н н (n as in no): он, она́ (he, she) - Р р (r as in corrida): метро́ (subway) - С с (s as in same): Москва́ (Moscow) - У у (u as in boot): су́мка (bag) - Х х (kh as in hale, butstronger): хор (choir) 3. **SIMILAR to Latin letters in PRONUNCIATION, but not writing \[15 in total\]** - Б б (b as in born): бокс (boxing) - Г г (g as in gone): год (year) - Д д (d as in done): дом (house) - Ё ё (yo as in York): самолёт\* (airplane) - З з (z as in zoo): Земля́ (the Earth) - И и (i as in kit): они́ (they) - Й й (short y as in toy): чай (tea) - Л л (l as in land): ле́то (summer) - П п (p as in park): парк (park) - Ф ф (f as in found): ко́фе (coffee), кафе́ (cafe) - Ч ч (ch as in charm): чёрт (devil; damn! (as an expletive)) - Ш ш (sh as in shut): хорошо́ (good, well) - Э э (ae as in cat): э́то (this) - Ю ю (yu as in Eugene): меню́ (menu) - Я я (ya as in yarn): я (I), Росси́я (Russia) \*Good news! The letter Ё ё is always stressed ![😉](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/13.0.0/svg/1f609.svg) 4. **UNIQUE letters \[6 in total, including two voiceless signs\]** - Ж ж (zh): жизнь (life) - Ц ц (ts): центр (center) - Щ щ (such): борщ (borsch) - Ы ы (y): ты, вы (you, singular and plural/polite) - Ъ ъ (hard sign): съел ((male) ate) - Ь ь (soft sign): день (day) With this framework in mind, learning the Russian alphabet will be (almost) as easy as breathing, and the sooner you get on that, the better. ![handshake](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/handshake.jpg) Source: Sebastian Herrmann, Unsplash ### Basic Russian Phrases **Even the simplest words can go a long way** when you find yourself in a distant land, surrounded by people who either don’t speak English very well, or feel tired of illiterate foreigners. Take a look at the list below: 1. да - yes 2. нет - no 3. Здра́вствуйте! Приве́т! - Hello! Hi! 4. До́брое у́тро! - Good morning! 5. До́брый день! - Good afternoon! 6. До́брый ве́чер! - Good evening. 7. Как Вас зову́т? - What is your name? (formal) 8. Как тебя́ зову́т? - What is your name? (informal) 9. Меня́ зову́т… - My name is... 10. Как дела́? - How are you doing? 11. Как жизнь? - How’s life? 12. Хорошо́. - Good. 13. Непло́хо. - Not bad. 14. Не о́чень. - Not too good. 15. А у Вас? - And you? (formal) 16. А у тебя́? - And you? (informal) 17. До свида́ния! - Goodbye! 18. Пока́! - Bye-bye! 19. Пожа́луйста\*… - Please... 20. Скажи́те, пожа́луйста… - Could you tell me... 21. Извини́те… - Excuse me... 22. Помоги́те, пожа́луйста. - Help me, please. 23. Спаси́бо! - Thanks! 24. Большо́е спаси́бо! - Thank you very much! 25. Пожа́луйста!\* - You’re welcome! **\*You aren't seeing double; in Russian, "please" and "you're welcome" are homonyms.** 26. Не́ за что! - It’s no trouble! Does this seem like an exhaustive list to you? Of course not. Also, you can get a much better learning experience with our **Travel Phrasebook, available for free on our LingoDeer app**. ![Russian Travel Phrasebook Screenshot](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-03f6ac58c16e7380.jpg) Lingodeer Russian Travel Phrasebook. Free of charge! ## Beware of the Challenges in Learning Russian Russian is a notoriously difficult language to learn, but no one can tackle a problem they aren’t aware of. As such, future **learners of Russian should be prepared to deal with**: ### Russian alphabet and pronunciation Wait, you might ask, didn’t you say that mechanical reading is the easiest part of Russian? Didn’t you say that learning the alphabet will be a walk in the park with a piece of cake? Was it all a lie? Do not fret: it wasn’t. However, those of you who may still rely on Romanization (i.e., beginners), need to keep these details in mind: 1. **the letters Й й and Ы ы are both transcribed as y** Does this mean they’re pronounced the same way? Of course not (as you might have guessed from my tone): the letter **Й й denotes a short consonant** (think *toy*), while **Ы ы denotes** **a deep vowel** that follows a hard consonant and sounds a little bit like getting punched in the throat (for a little less unorthodox approach to phonetic explanation, please refer to [How to Pronounce the Russian Vowel Ы](https://livefluent.com/how-to-pronounce-the-russian-vowel-%D1%8B-5-approaches/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- and remember to scroll all the way down). Take a look at the following words: \- Большо́й \[bolshoy\] теа́тр (Bolshoy theater) \- Жил-был \[byl\] пёс (Once Upon a Dog, lit. “a dog lived and existed” - a cartoon classic, highly recommend) If that seemed complicated, wait till you see the words ending in -ый, transcribed as *yy* in English! Первый (the first), красный (red) and many more… The only thing you can do is submit, **learn azbuka and read without the crutch of Romanization**! ![once upon a dog](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/once-upon-a-dog.jpg) Screenshot of "Once Upon a Dog". Source: YouTube 2. **the P p sound does not have English analogs** (so much so that we were forced to use a Spanish word as a pronunciation example) The Russian P p is known to be very difficult to master, unless rolling r’s are in vogue in your native language too, and even then **it is fairly challenging**: the so-called карта́вость inability to roll your r’s is the most common type of speech impediment among native Russian speakers, as widespread as lisping in the English-speaking world, if not more. The correct pronunciation of P p requires a certain amount of tongue strength, which can be **obtained with time through rigorous exercises** (look [here](https://language101.com/russian/how-to-learn-russian/roll-your-russian-rs-like-a-ruski/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [here](https://www.wikihow.com/Roll-Your-%22R%22s?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for inspiration), so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get it right on your first try. 3. **the letter Ё ё exists, but is rarely used in writing** (and this is the reason why the gap between the English spelling (with an e) and the Russian pronunciation (with an o) of Mr. Gorbachev’s surname exists) The letter Е е and Ё ё are not equally favored by Russians: many of us don’t feel like adding the dots for Ё ё in writing or reaching to the top left corner of our keyboard to get it just right, so Е е is used instead. At times, this switch can hinder reading comprehension even for native speakers: for instance, все can be read as все (everyone) and всё (everything) - talk about a pain in the neck! A more serious problem, however, lies with the English transcription: the Russian Е е is automatically turned into the English Е е with no regard to the actual Russian pronunciation; as a result, thousands of men unfortunately called Semyon (written as Семён or Семен in Russian) have the word “Semen” written on the very first page of their international passports. 4. **the voiceless signs Ъ ъ (hard sign) and Ь ь (soft sign)** rarely, if ever, make an appearance in Romanization Meanwhile, their role in Russian is impossible to overestimate. The soft sign **Ь ь palatalizes the preceding consonant**, which can play a crucial part in word distinction; compare брат brother and брать to take. On the other hand, the hard sign **Ъ ъ** **hardens the preceding consonant** and makes sound division clearer than ever; compare съел ((male) ate, pronounced as *sss...yel*) and сел ((male) sat down, pronounced as *syel*). As shown above, Ъ ъ and Ь ь can play a crucial part in word meaning determination, so don’t ignore them (like Romanization tends to do). These and many more exciting things await those who decided to take up Russian, so get ready! LingoDeer and our high quality audios will be there for you whenever you feel unsure in regards to the pronunciation of this or that word. ### Russian Word Stress In terms of word stress, Russian is a lawless land: there is very little rhyme and reason as to how certain syllables are emphasized while others are not. In addition to this, every word (except some particles) must have a stressed syllable, but **no authentic Russian texts feature stress marks**! Many learners decried the Russian word stress - to no avail: it still goes strong in the year 2020 and we have no choice but to memorize the correct pronunciation of words one at a time. ![woman portrait](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/woman-portrait.jpg) TFW Russian word stress exists. Sourse: engin akyurt, Unsplash Fortunately, every word featured in LingoDeer comes with an audio attached, so knowledge of correct pronunciation will come to you as easy as breathing (or close to that, anyway) soon enough! ### Russian Noun Cases and Word Order You may have heard of Russian sentence word order being all over the place and you may have wondered: how come Russians can ignore the basic SVO structure and still get other people to understand them? The answer is simple: **noun cases**. Every noun in Russian can change its case depending on its role in the sentence, and after that, it doesn’t really matter where it goes - at the beginning, the middle, or the end. Take a look: Ма́ша лю́бит Са́ш у **.** Лю́бит Ма́ш а Са́шу **.** Са́шу лю́бит Ма́ш а **.** Ма́ша Са́шу лю́бит **.** Са́шу Ма́ша лю́бит **.** Лю́бит Са́ш у Ма́ша **.** These sentences all mean the same thing: Masha loves Sasha . The noun cases (which affect the last letters of nouns) make this unimaginable syntactic freedom possible, but it comes at a horrible price: **Russian learners must memorize the system of noun endings**. It is a grueling task which may seem impossible to accomplish at first, but, fortunately, here at LingoDeer we prepared a bunch of handy tables that will make all of this information easier to digest. ![Russian Accusative Case](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-bcc366d52cd4c764.jpg) Accusative Case used in the examples above ## Russian Learning Lifehacks ### Learn the practical words first Busy as you are, try to **stick to the words that are most likely to come up in a real life conversation** between you, a foreigner dabbling in language learning, and a native speaker. Start out with pronouns and nationalities, then move on to job titles, then daily items… If this list sounds similar to our Russian course plan at LingoDeer, don’t worry, it’s intentional! Our lessons and wordlists are prepared with practicality in mind, so you won’t have to wait years till that knowledge comes in handy. ### Look for similarities in vocabulary The Russian language may seem like an impenetrable wall of East Slavic culture, but in truth, it has always been influenced by the outside world. Germans will immediately recognize such words as рюкза́к, бутербро́д and бухга́лтер, the French won’t have to think twice about the meaning of эта́ж, макия́ж and пальто́, learners from Japan will be happy to find a lot of culturally-specific Japanese terms directly transcribed into Russian (think дзюдо́, икеба́на, минта́й, аниме and манга)... ![pushkin](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/pushkin.jpg) Pushkin, self-portrait. The great Russian poet, like most nobility of his time, started out speaking French better than Russian. Source: Open Culture Of course, English speakers take the cake: from job titles like ме́неджер to computer terms like ноутбу́к to colloquialisms like креати́вный, **Russian is saturated with English words**. Not all Russians are happy about it, of course, but as a learner, you should use this development to your advantage. At the same time, **be aware of the so-called “translator’s false friends”**: words that sound like you know them, but mean something completely different: for instance, магази́н means *a store*, not *a magazine*, анекдо́т is *a joke*, not *an anecdote*, торт means *cake*, not *tort*, and so on. ### Get acquainted with the basic meaning of the six noun cases Weathered learners and newbies alike need to have **a clear understanding of the Russian noun case system**, so we decided to put one in our Lifehacks section: | **Noun Case** | **Basic Meaning** | **Example** | | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | **NOMINATIVE** | infinitive form, functions as subject | Са́ша (Sasha) | | **GENITIVE** | denotes belonging | кни́га Са́ши (Sasha’s book) | | **DATIVE** | denotes giving something to someone OR going somewhere | даю́ кни́гу Са́ше ((I am) giving a book to Sasha) | | **ACCUSATIVE** | denotes object of action | ви́жу Са́шу ((I) see Sasha) | | **INSTRUMENTAL** | denotes instrument needed for certain action | горжу́сь Са́шей ((I’m) proud of Sasha) | | **PREPOSITIONAL** | denotes location OR someone/something you’re thinking about | ду́маю о Са́ше ((I’m) thinking about Sasha) | ...as well as in our Russian language course: ![Russian Noun Cases](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-3b5a02a196d22408.jpg) Noun Case tables, our proudest work :) Does it seem easy now or too complicated? Either way, you’re one small step closer to your goal! ## Improve All Four Areas in Learning Russian As You Advance ### Getting Better At Speaking Russian - **Imitating native speakers**: don’t just concentrate on the sounds, go for the intonations, emphasis, and mood; play with your voice and have fun! - **Don’t forget to record yourself**: not only will those recordings serve as proof of your progress in the future, they can also provide immediate help in correcting mispronunciation. Our app offers a playback function that will let you listen to your recordings against the backdrop of recordings made by native speakers, so if something sounds off, you will be the first to know! - **Broaden your range**: parrot store owners and news anchors, teachers and vendors, YouTube MUAs and pop-singers (singing is especially useful for building the self-confidence necessary to speak Russian with your whole chest). - **Make sure to use a text that carries word stress marks**, if you decide to practice some mechanical reading. When in doubt, use word stress marking tools available online, such as [RussianGram](https://russiangram.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or [StressFinder](https://www.readyrussian.org/WebApps/StressFinder/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![Music from the 90-s](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/music-from-the-90-s.jpg) What Russians listened to in the 90-s. Choose your fave! Source: Ignat Kushanrev, Unsplash ### Getting Better At Listening to Russian Learning to listen is not something that can be done within one day. - **Start with clear and slow recordings** before gradually moving onto more natural-sounding stuff. Our app offers the speed adjustment function that will leave you in charge of your progress. - **Make sure to always have something Russian sounding in the background.** You don’t have to force yourself to pick out words and phrases - just get used to the speech flow as you go about your day. - **Start building up vocabulary** to talk about the stuff that interests you early on. As your skill develops, you may find yourself gravitating to some particular topics - this is good! Russians don’t really like small talk, but we do appreciate passionate people. - Other than that, don’t forget about **the abundance of movies, TV shows and cartoons in Russian**, both new and old, available online with English subtitles. Usually, a cursory search on YouTube will get you the “\[movie title\] eng sub” in a matter of seconds, but if you are in a browsing mood, go to [SovietMoviesOnline](https://sovietmoviesonline.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and take your pick. ### Getting Better At Reading in Russian What do you do when azbuka and mechanical reading are no longer an issue? **Use reading to expand your vocabulary and strengthen your understanding of grammar**, of course! Just don’t try to translate every unfamiliar word you see; the tediousness will turn you away from reading in Russian forever. Instead, **let the written word wash over you, and something will inevitably stick.** Lower your expectations: even if you are a Yale graduate, don’t start your reading practice with “War and Peace”. **Pick up a graded reader**, some pulp fiction or a flashy magazine and build up your skill slowly. Be wary of children’s books though - many of them contain vocabulary that will only clog your memory and offer no use in real life. ![Russian books](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-63f33696c34741dd.jpg) The Black Kitten series of YA thrillers. Look into it once you're tired of graded readers! Source: Pikabu ### Getting Better At Writing in Russian The only way to get better at writing is… to write, write, write! Write down new words and phrases, grammar notes, famous quotes, song lyrics and the like; some beginners are even brave enough to write diaries in Russian, so you can try that too. If you need to check your writing, you can ask a native speaker for help on [Italki](https://www.italki.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and similar platforms. **Writing by hand is great for reinforcing literacy and spelling accuracy**, but, living in the modern world, we cannot ignore the necessity to type stuff out. Get a Russian keyboard extension if you haven’t! If nothing else, you can always use it to do writing exercises in our app - we do offer a “Let me type” option for those users who don’t really like the ol’ drag and drop. ## Best Online Resources for Learning Russian Start out your language journey with these online resources: 1. [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/ru/en/learn-russian-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (app and blog): A scientifically structured curriculum + deep insight into language learning 2. [Master Russian: ](http://masterrussian.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)One of the oldest online resources on the Russian language in English. 3. [Learn Russian](https://learnrussian.rt.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): A state-supported language learning platform. 4. [Russian with Dasha: ](https://www.russianwithdasha.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)An educational Youtuber, focused on culture and daily life in Russia. 5. [Soviet Movies Online: ](https://sovietmoviesonline.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)A website providing Soviet and Russian movies with subtitles. 6. [Russian Reddit Wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/russian/wiki/full%5Fcourse?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): A Russian language learning guide on Reddit. 7. [Learn Russian Reddit：](https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnRussian/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)A Russian language learning community on Reddit. 8. [Russian Memes Ltd.: ](https://twitter.com/russianmemesltd?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)A Twitter page that will help you understand Russian humor better. English translations provided! **Уда́чи! Good luck!** ### Die Lieblingsfilme in der LingoDeer-Gemeinschaft URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/die-lieblingsfilme-in-der-lingodeer-gemeinschaft/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:39.000Z Das Ansehen von Filmen in der Zielsprache ist ein magischer Schlüssel zum Sprachenlernen und zum kulturellen Verständnis. Werfen wir einen Blick auf die wunderbaren Filme, die von den Benutzern der LingoDeer-App empfohlen werden! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Asiatische Filme ## ### Filme aus Südkorea Einerseits sind Südkoreaner gut darin, soziale Filme zu machen, die die soziale Realität widerspiegeln, und andererseits erzählen sie auch gerne interessante und romantische Liebesgeschichten. #### Parasite 기생충 ein schwarzer Comedy-Thriller gewann bei der Oscarverleihung 2020 vier Academy Awards. Es geht darum, wie arme Menschen, die gut täuschen können, geschickt in den Häusern reicher Menschen leben und versuchen, ihre Klassenattribute zu ändern, aber schließlich desillusioniert sind. Das Auf und Ab der Handlung und die zum Nachdenken anregenden Absichten machen zusammen diesen exzellenten Film aus. ![Film Parasite](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2021/01/ld-image-792c18449e1bf044.jpg) #### Train to Busan 부산행 Welches ist schrecklicher, die Menschheit oder Zombies? “Es ist ein Film, der untersucht, was es bedeutet, Vater zu sein.” Kleines warmes Tipp: Sieh diesen Film nicht im Zug. ![Train to Busan Filme](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-814ea6d3a05fc06b.jpg) #### Memorises of Murders 살인의 추억 ein klassischer Krimi. In einer Zeit des Chaos kann jeder gewöhnliche Mensch ein Dämon werden. Man hat immer das Gefühl, dass die Wahrheit sehr nahe ist, aber die Wahrheit ist, es keine Wahrheit gibt. ![Memorises of Murders Film](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-c99b4bc24feed278.jpg) #### My little brother 그래, 가족 eine lustige Familienkomödie. Welche Überraschung oder Erschrecken wird ein jüngerer Bruder, der plötzlich auftaucht, zu einer Familie mit drei Kindern bringen, die sich bereits in ständigen Gefechten befindet? Wenn du auch Geschwester hast, wirst du bestimmt von diesem Film berührt sein. ![My little brother Film](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-a731f90301b1c2e1.jpg) #### Kim Ji-young, born 1982 82년생 김지영 Wie soll eine gewöhnliche Frau in einer patriarchalischen Gesellschaft verschiedene Rollen im Leben wie Ehefrau, Mutter, Schwiegertochter und Angestellte spielen? ![Kim Ji-young, born 1982](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-6041319e6cc9af23.jpg) #### My Sassy Girl 엽기적인 그녀 Lassen wir uns zusammen von der interessanten und romantischen Liebesgeschicht heilen! So schön ist die Heldin! ![My sassy girl](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-71c9fff495e286db.jpg) #### A Werewolf Boy 늑대소년 Mit einer Temperatur von 46 Grad, einer unbekannten Blutgruppe und einer Bedrohung für die Welt begegnet der Werwolf Junge der Liebe zum Schicksal. ![werewolf boy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-12cccc5d67211023.jpg) #### Going by the Book 바르게 살자 Dieser Film erzählt von einem beispiellosen und eigenartigen Training zur Simulation von Banküberfällen! Absurder Humor, perfekte Handlung und reiche Charakterbilder sind die Merkmale des Films. ![Going by the book](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-d2476d725047219c.jpg) ### ### Filme aus Japan Wenn es um japanische Filme geht, ist es unmöglich, nicht an ghibli studio zu denken. Hayao Miyazaki und seine Kollegen haben eine neue und wundervolle Animationswelt für Filmliebhaber geschaffen. ![ ghibli studio](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2021/01/ld-image-f8ca0b0460ebdb4a.png) #### Spirited Away千と千尋の神隠し als Hayao Miyazakis größtes unsterbliches Werk angesehen. Folge 千尋 in die mysteriöse und bizarre Welt. Die wilde Fantasie gepaart mit den exquisiten und atmosphärischen Bildern ist schockierend. Die Metapher ist tief und voller Unschuld. #### Howl's moving castle ハウルの動く城 Das junge Mädchen wurde von der Hexe in eine 90-jährige Frau verwandelt und betrat dann versehentlich Hows mobiles Schloss. Im Leben des Schlosses erlangte sie allmählich den Sinn des Lebens und des Selbstwertgefühls zurück, obwohl der Körper alt ist, ist der Geist jünger. Dieser Film sagt uns, dass das geistige Alter nicht auf körperliches Altern beschränkt ist. #### Kiki’s Delivery Service 魔女の宅急便 ein entzückender Cartoon mit sanften und süßen Bildern, lebhafter Musik, und Das Anschauen dieses Films ist wie ein Spaziergang am Strand, bei dem eine angenehme Meeresbrise weht. Es geht um die Geschichte einer süßen kleinen Hexe. #### Ponyo 崖の上のポニョ Bekannt als die japanische Version der Tochter des Meeres. Die unschuldige und liebenswerte Tochter des Meeresgottes traf und verliebte sich in menschliche Teenager. Die ganze Geschichte dreht sich auch um die Themen Umweltschutz und Antikrieg. #### My Neighbor Totoro となりのトトロ Ein ziemlich bekannter japanischer Animationsfilm. “Unschuld ist eine Art von Reichtum.” #### Andere ausgezeichneten Japanischen Filme #### Your Name 君の名は Ein in Tokio lebender Junge hat seine Seele mit einem im abgelegen Bergdorf lebenden Mädchen ausgetauscht. Sie fühlten sich gegenseitig und verliebten sich unweigerlich ineinander. Dahinter verbirgt sich ein riesiges Geheimnis…… ![Your Name Film](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-b25e8957ea30b847.jpg) #### Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street 名探偵コナン ベイカー街の亡霊 Man kann sagen, dass Conan ein bekannter Detektiv auf der ganzen Welt ist. Die Filmversion dieses Anime ist wie ein Gruß an Sherlock Holmes. ![Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-8f1a2507076ee4de.jpg) ### Film aus China #### The Longest Night in Shanghai夜·上海 “Es ist lustig, verrückt und süß. Und es ist billual!. Es war eine janpanisch / chinesische Produktion, bei der jede der beiden Hauptfiguren ihre eigene Sprache verwendete (nein, sie können sich die meiste Zeit nicht verstehen, was eine beeindruckende Reihe von Ereignissen über eine Nacht auslöst.)” ![The Longest Night in Shanghai](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-e9705418d447ef30.jpg) #### Farewell My Concubine 霸王别姬 "Farewell My Concubine" wird von chinesischen Fans als epischer Film angesehen. Indem es das Schicksal von Individuen erzählt, spiegelt es das Erscheinen einer Periode und die Geschichte einer Ära wider” Es beschreibt das Engagement des Schauspielers Cheng Dieyi für die Kunst der Oper. ![Farewell My Concubine](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-6d9db54731b31479.jpg) #### Chungking Express 重庆森林 “Wer Liebeskummer hat, sollte den Film 重庆森林 nicht sehen. Aber wie können Menschen, die keinen Liebeskummer haben, den Film 重庆森林verstehen?” ![Chungking Express](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-6436bf2a3dbaa1ab.jpg) #### To Live 活着 Der Film ist aus dem berühmten gleichnamigen chinesischen Roman adaptiert. “Vor dem Hintergrund einer besonderen Ära kämpfen die Menschen so schwer ums Leben, aber es wirkt so lächerlich und traurig.” ![to live](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-013c870d417accab.jpg) #### Dying to Survive 我不是药神 Dieser Film basiert auf der realen Geschichte von Lu Yong, einem Patienten mit chronischer myeloischer Leukämie, der Krebsmedikamente Krebsmedikamente aus Indien kaufte, um viele Leukämiepatienten in China zu retten. Schließlich wurden Krebsmedikamente in die Krankenversicherung aufgenommen. Er ist ein Sünder und ein Held. ![Dying to Survive](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-7e7925d05f4d6c7f.jpg) ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Europäische Filme ### Französische Filme #### The Chorus/Les choristes Die Geschichte handelt von einem mitfühlenden Lehrer, der die Seelen der Schüler mit Musik wäscht und sie dazu anleitet, gut zu sein. Die Musik im Film ist sehr schön. ![The Chorus](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-57e790b09ccd6dec.jpg) #### ***The Bélier Family/***La Familie Bélier “Es hat keine fantastische Handlung, aber es hat einige emotionale und lustige Momente” ![La-Familie-Belier](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-7f286c82b9cd45b6.jpg) #### Blue Is the Warmest Colour/La vie d'Adéle Der Film folgt Adèle, einer französischen Teenagerin, die Begierde und Freiheit entdeckt, als eine aufstrebende Malerin Emma in ihr Leben tritt. ![La vie de Adele](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-fe1e29ca29f76fe2.jpg) #### The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain/Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain “Eine perfekte Interpretation der französischen Romantik.” ![Emelie](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-14f424b2ebffc871.jpg) #### The little Nicolas/Le petit Nicolas Ein lustiger Kinderkomödienfilm ![Nicolas](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-dcde4dd3b53237a0.jpg) ### Italienische Filme #### Life Is Beautiful/La vita è bella “Ein wunderbarer Film mit vielen Lektionen” ![la vita e bella](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-fbe0de2d22ac45e3.jpg) #### Malèna Eine schöne Frau ließ die ganze Stadt umfallen. Schönheit ist unschuldig, Verlangen ist beschämend. ![Malena](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-818e9fcad0dda5bb.jpg) ### Deutsche Filme #### Goodbye Lenin! Der Film erzählt die bewegende Geschichte des Sohnes, der die Tatsache verbirgt, dass sich die DDR aufgelöst hat, um zu verhindern, dass die an Herzkrankheiten leidende Mutter gereizt wird, und ein "Deutschland" schafft, das sich völlig von der drastisch veränderten Außenwelt unterscheidet. Ein Land, das seit 41 Jahren existiert, wird nicht aufgrund des Einsturzes einer Mauer in unserer Erinnerung verschwinden. ![Goodbye Lenin](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-89dd8a4f76985ac3.jpg) #### Das Leben der Anderen Der Film wurde mit Auszeichnungen überhäuft, darunter 2006 der Deutsche Filmpreis (sieben Preise bei elf Nominierungen), der Bayerische Filmpreis (in vier Kategorien) und der Europäische Filmpreis (in drei Kategorien) sowie der Oscar für den besten fremdsprachigen Film. ![Das Leben der anderen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2021/01/ld-image-886d9f543cc62d2d.jpg) #### Lora Rennt Sehen wir, wie Lora ihren entführten Freund rettete und in 20 Minuten 100.000 Mark zurückbekam. ![Lora rennt](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-bb220a972f7f3744.jpg) #### Werk ohne Autor 91\. Oscar nominierter Film. Das Reale ist schön und künstlerisch. Das Leben gewöhnlicher Menschen ist auch poetisch, Es ist wie eine Biografie voller Philosophie. ![Werk ohne Autor](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-3fe8e793e8e3ed28.jpg) #### Systemsprenger Der Begriff "Systemsprenger" wird verwendet, um Kinder zu beschreiben, die gegen jede Regel verstoßen. ![Systemsprenger](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2021/01/Systemsprenger.jpg) ### Spanische Filme #### The Invisible Guest/Contratiempo Ein weltberühmter Suspense-Film. Man kann nie erraten, welche Umkehrung die letzte ist. Jedes Detail ist eine Überlegung wert. ![The Invisible Guest](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/p2566212060.jpg) #### Wild Tales/Relatos salvajes Relatos salvajes ist eine schwarze Komödie, die aus 6 unabhängigen gewalttätigen Rachegeschichten besteht. Es ist ein scharfer Angriff auf eine Gesellschaft, in der Korruption weit verbreitet ist und Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft stark ungleich sind. ![wild tales](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-6f04bc5d0b3c76bd.jpg) #### The Distinguished Citizen/El ciudadano ilustre Der große Schriftsteller, der den Nobelpreis für Literatur gewann, kehrte in seine Heimatstadt zurück, aber alles änderte sich. . . ![The Distinguished Citizen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-394ede582ca7f1ab.jpg) Was ist dein Lieblingsfilm? Teile ihn bitte mit uns in dem Kommentarfeld！⬇ ### Meet Isabelle: Our Japanese-German Translator URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/isabelle-japanese-german/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:36.000Z **Q: Tell us about yourself! Why did you want to learn Japanese?** A: My name is Isabelle, I am 30 years old and I work as a translator (both Japanese and English to German), mainly in the gaming or entertainment field. The question of why I wanted to learn Japanese is not that easy for me to answer. I have always been interested in learning new languages. In school I started with English, of course, and later I also took Spanish and Latin classes. After school I decided not to pursue linguistic academics, fearing I would lose the passion for my dearest hobby when having to work with it every day, which I later learned was an unfounded fear. During my studies of Horticultural Sciences (which I turned to, instead of English studies or similar language programs), one evening I stumbled upon a video on YouTube, that taught Japanese Hiragana, one of the alphabets of the Japanese writing system. I was curious, watched it, and suddenly, found myself learning half of the alphabet that very evening. I was fascinated by how this works, while being so different from the languages I had known so far, be it in terms of grammar, writing system, expressing thoughts or also the melody of the language. I never had much to do with Japan or the Japanese language, but this one random video sparked my curiosity and the more Japanese I learned the more I wanted to know not only about the language, but also about the culture and the people living there. it was a "vicious circle", in the best possible way. My passion for Japanese was so extensive, that I decided to dedicate all my time to it and study it full time at University, including spending six months abroad in Japan and working with it in a real-time living context. **Still, it remains one of the best decisions I have ever made. Japanese can be challenging, but you grow with your tasks and the reward, when you can use it out in the “wild” of everyday life, is an absolutely great feeling!** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/switch-game.png) Source: Unsplash **Q: We know you have worked on game localizations before. Can you tell us what it's like to localize a Japanese game for German speakers? Any fun stories?** **A:** Especially in games, we often have to work with strict character limitations for translations, to make dialogue or item name fit in the box on the screen. German is known for “having many letters” and so this can sometimes be a really frustrating task. Shortening item names can be difficult, because we always strive to carry over all the information from the original term into the target language, but sometimes simply shortening is not enough. **When the original term consists of four Japanese characters and you have to fit the translation of “Cursed flame sword of the demon king” in a tiny text box… the required linguistic gymnastics become obvious.** Another thing, that is often challenging, is to handle Japanese cultural terms. When Japanese go to a “Konbini” to grab a “Bento”, it is always a question of the audience, if these words should be translated or not. Someone who is interested in Japan and watches, for example, anime on a regular basis, probably knows these terms and appreciates them untranslated for their authenticity. But someone who has never dipped a toe into the vast sea of Japanese culture might be a bit clueless when he or she gets confronted with these things. These are only two examples; game translation really never gets boring. You can have many different genres, in different settings, with different characters, who all have their own individual way of speaking. There are so many factors that make every project new and exciting. **Q: We all know it's been an unusual year. How are you dealing with being in lockdown? Do you have any advice that you would like to share with others to help them get through this difficult time?** A: Many things have changed over the last year. When it comes to my work, I am working in my home office over the internet regardless, and in this aspect, not much has changed for me personally. But of course, as soon as I leave the house, I feel the changes, as well when I speak to family and friends. These are really challenging times, but as I already mentioned above, we grow with our tasks. And if we stay positive and take care of each other and act thoughtfully, I am sure we can very soon call COVID-19 the past and enjoy time together with our dear ones. **Q: Last but not least, what are your wishes for 2021? Anything you want to say to our deer learners?** A: My biggest wish for 2021 would be that everyday life goes back to normal, with normal problems and normal spare time activities. I really miss going to that one Japanese restaurant close by with my friends and I also miss traveling. But even if we have to deal with these challenging circumstances for a little longer, we should always stay positive and make the best out of our time at home. Why not use the opportunity to learn a new language? I can recommend Japanese, it is actually fun and rewarding! ### スペイン語の勉強方法おすすめ URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-study-spanish-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:14:29.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## 始める前の心構えと準備 あなたがスペイン語を勉強してみようと思ったきっかけは何でしょうか？ 観光に行こうと思っている国で話されているのがたまたまスペイン語だから？ 身の回りにスペイン語話者がいて、もっとコミュニケーションをとってみたいと思ったから？ それとも、なんとなく面白そうだから？ どんなきっかけで始めるにしても、せっかく勉強するなら根気よく続けて、ぜひ話せるようになってみたいものですね。ここでは、スペイン語の勉強を始める前の心構えと準備について、ご紹介してみたいと思います。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### モチベーション維持は必須！ーー目標を決める 何事もそうですが、スペイン語の勉強を続けていくうえでも、モチベーションをどうやって維持していくかがカギになります。そのために絶対欠かせないのが、目標を決めることです。スペイン語の勉強でどんな目標を設定できるのか、いくつか例を挙げてみたいと思います。 **1\. 身近にいるスペイン語話者ととにかくコミュニケーションをとってみたい！** 急速に国際化が進む日本。スペイン語圏から来た人たちが身近にいるなら、仲良くなってみたいと思うのは自然なことですね。たとえば地元のコミュニティーにいるスペイン語話者にスペイン語で話しかけて、仲良くなってみたいと思うかもしれません。その場合、とりあえず簡単な挨拶を覚えて、スペイン語話者に話しかけてみることを目標にできるでしょう。スペイン語圏の人はフレンドリーな人が多いので、すぐに仲良くなれると思いますよ。 あるいは、同じ職場でスペイン語話者が働いているかもしれません。日本語をある程度話せる方も多いですが、時として細かいニュアンスが伝わらなくて、「スペイン語で説明できたら分かってもらえるのに…」ともどかしく思った方もおられるでしょう。せっかくですから、頑張って仕事上のコミュニケーションをスペイン語でできるようになることを目標にしてみるのはどうでしょうか。それがきっかけになって、将来思ってもみなかったチャンスが開かれるかもしれませんよ。 **2\. スペイン語圏を旅行してみたい！** スペイン語は世界のいろいろな国で話されています。スペインはもちろん、メキシコからパナマまでの中米の国々（メキシコは厳密には北米）、キューバ・ドミニカ共和国などカリブ海地域、ベネズエラ・アルゼンチン・チリなどの南米の国々。さらに実はアフリカでも、赤道ギニアでスペイン語が公用語として話されています。また意外に思うかもしれませんが、アメリカにもかなりの数のスペイン語話者がいます。2010年の調査ではアメリカに住むヒスパニックは人口の16％以上で、黒人よりも多い割合です。例えばロスアンゼルスでは白人が30％弱なのに対しヒスパニックは50％近くで最大の割合を占めています。もちろんアメリカで生まれたヒスパニックの中にはスペイン語を話さない人もいますが、大人になってから移住してきた人たちの多くはやはり母語のスペイン語を普段から使っています。世界のスペイン語話者は4億人以上と言われています。 スペイン語圏は旅行先としても魅力的な国が多いです。現地の言葉を話せたら、旅の面白さが倍増するのは言うまでもありません。スペイン語圏の国に行ってみたいと思っているなら、旅先で役立つフレーズを一通りマスターするという目標を掲げてみるのはどうでしょうか。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/levi-sun-ScFR_p0T78A-unsplash.jpg) image from unsplash **3\. DELEスペイン語検定にチャレンジしたい！** DELEスペイン語検定とは、スペインの教育・職業訓練省の監督下で運営されているスペイン語検定です。国際的に高く信頼されており、日本で唯一のスペイン語の公認資格でもあります。入門レベルのA1から最上級のC2まで6段階に分かれているので、モチベーションを維持しながらスペイン語の学習を続けていきたいと思っている人にはうってつけの資格でしょう。 中には「いつかスペイン語圏の国で仕事を見つけて生活してみたい！」という夢を持っている方もおられるでしょう。国によっては日本人を対象にした求人がかなりあります。応募の際の必須条件として「日常会話レベル以上」と書かれていることがありますが、実際どの程度のレベルが求められているのかは分かりにくいものです。その点DELEを取得していれば、具体的に自分のスペイン語のレベルを提示できるのでその面でも有用です。「DELE B2（中上級）以上」などと指定されている求人もあります。 以上、いくつか考えられる目標を挙げてみました。人それぞれ、自分なりの「スペイン語を使ってやってみたいこと」があると思います。まずはそれを明確にしてみましょう。次に、それをスペイン語学習の具体的な目標に落とし込みます。「最近やる気が起きないな～」と思った時には、なぜスペイン語を勉強してみたいと思ったのか、初めに掲げた目標を思い出してください。「よし、頑張るぞ！」とモチベーションを維持する上できっと役立つと思いますよ！ ![スペイン語の勉強方法おすすめ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-2e93b33799d1dadf.png) DELE 2021 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### 正しい方法で勉強しよう！ーーアウトプットする環境を作る 言語の学習においては、インプットとアウトプットの両方が大切だとよく言われます。インプットとは読んだり聞いたりして情報を取り入れること、アウトプットとは取り入れた情報を話したり書いたりして発信することです。言語を学ぶ上で、まずはインプットに重点を置いて単語や文法を勉強するとよいでしょう。そもそもインプットしていない情報はアウトプットすることもできないわけですから、その大切さは明らかですね。 でも、アウトプットの大切さも無視できません。主にテレビや映画などを見て言語を学んだ人が、何の問題もなくネイティブの会話を聞いて理解できるのに、その言語で話そうとするとうまく出てこない、ということがあるようです。やはり話す能力は実際に口に出して発音することによって伸びていきます。これは聞く時と話す時に使われる脳の部位が違うことからも分かります。 ほとんどの学習者にとって、インプットの環境を作るのはそれほど大変ではないでしょう。スペイン語を勉強するための本やサイト・参考書などもたくさんあるので、そういったものを活用して情報を取り入れていくことができます。もちろんどんな言語の学習にも言えることですが、インプットは地味な勉強を長く続けることが求められるので根気がいりますが。 それに対してアウトプットの環境を作るのは少し難しいかもしれません。身近にネイティブのスペイン語話者がいれば積極的に話しかけるなどできますが、そうでない場合、実際に単語やフレーズを声に出して言ってみるだけでもいいと思います。書かれた文章を読んでいるだけよりも、スペイン語の発声に慣れていくことができます。 また、言語学習のアプリなども大いに活用するとよいでしょう。言語学習アプリ「リンゴディア（LingoDeer）」なら、ネイティブが話す短い動画を見た後、自分の発音を録音・再生できる機能があります。ワンフレーズずつネイティブの発音と聞き比べながら確認できるので、とても便利です。 ![スペイン語の勉強方法おすすめ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-73b0413edbc47bc4.png) リンゴディア スペイン語 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### 隙間の時間を使う この記事を読んで下さっている皆さんは、きっと毎日の忙しいスケジュールの中、なんとか時間を作ってスペイン語の勉強を始めてみたいと思っている方が多いのではないでしょうか。それで、隙間の時間を活用しない手はありません。 出かける時にはカバンの中に参考書などを入れておいて、通勤・通学の電車の中やちょっとした待ち時間を有効活用して勉強している方は多いですね。でもカバンに入れるのを忘れてしまったり、カバンが重くなる欠点があります。リンゴディア（LingoDeer）のアプリはその点でも便利です。スマホにアプリをダウンロードしておけば、ちょっとした空き時間にいつでも勉強の続きができます。スマホはいつも持ち歩くものなので、カバンが重くならないのも嬉しいですね。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## スペイン語独学ステップ ではこれから、スペイン語を学ぶ上でどんなステップを踏んでいけばよいのか、順に見ていきましょう。 **1\. スペイン語独自のアルファベットや綴り・発音を知る** 以下がスペイン語のアルファベットです。 A a → ア B b → ベ（”V” と区別するため「ベ アルタ」「ベ グランデ」ということもある） C c → セ D d → デ E e → エ F f → エフェ G g → ヘ H h → アチェ I i → イ J j → ホタ K k → カ L l → エレ M m → エメ N n → エネ Ñ ñ → エニェ O o → オ P p → ぺ Q q → ク R r → エレ（”レ” の部分を巻き舌で発音する） S s → エセ T t → テ U u → ウ V v → ウベ（中南米では「ベ」と発音する地域もある。”B” と区別するため「ベ バハ」「ベ チカ」ということもある） W w → ウベ ドブレ（中南米では「ドブレ ウ」または「ドブレ ベ」ということもある） X x → エキス Y y → ジェ（「イ グリエガ」ということもある） Z z → セタ お気づきのように英語にはない ”Ñ” という文字がありますが、あとは英語と同じです。ただ読み方が英語読みに引っ張られやすいので、何度も声に出して練習し、慣れてしまいましょう。スペイン語の文章を読むときは日本人が慣れているローマ字読みで基本的に読めてしまいますが、単語のつづりを説明する時など、文字単体で発音されることも結構あるので、ここでしっかり覚えておくと後々苦労しません。 ちなみに、 CH ch → チェ LL ll → エジェ の2つは、以前はアルファベットの一文字として扱われていましたが、今はアルファベットに含まれません。1994年に開かれたスペイン語アカデミア協会の第10回会議で、この2文字をスペイン語のアルファベットから除外することが決まりました。 **2\. 語彙を増やす** アルファベットの読み方が分かったら、次は単語を覚えて語彙をどんどんと増やしていきましょう。少し前の「アウトプットする環境を作る」のところでも触れましたが、インプットしていなければアウトプットすることもできません。それで初めのうちはとにかく知っている単語の数を増やしていくことが大事です。 スペイン語は、よく使われる上位2,000個の語彙で、一般的なコミュニケーションの約87％を占めていると言われています。ちなみに中国語は約82％、日本語は70％です。つまり、他の言語と比べてコミュニケーションをとるために必要な語彙の数が比較的少ないということです。この点は嬉しいですね。 スペイン語学習で誰もがぶち当たる壁は、動詞の活用がたくさんあることです。大きく分けて直接法・命令法・接続法があり、直接法の中に現在・点過去・線過去・未来・過去未来がありますし、接続法の中にも現在・過去 -ra形・過去 -se形があります。さらにややこしいのが、主語が1人称・2人称・3人称の単数・複数によっても動詞が活用するところです。一つの動詞でもたくさんのバリエーションを覚えなければならないわけです。 考えただけでも気が遠くなりますが、大丈夫！スペイン語の動詞の活用はいくつか不規則なものもありますが、ほとんどは規則性があります。その規則さえ慣れてしまえば、思ったより大変ではありません。具体的な規則は今後学んでいくとして、ここではスペイン語学習の難関、動詞の活用を覚えるコツをお伝えしたいと思います。 人によって覚えやすいやり方があると思いますが、個人的には書いて覚えるのが役立ったと思っています。と言っても最初から全ての活用形を覚えようとしても無理があります。なにしろ接続法が何を意味するかもまだ分からないわけですから。それで最初は、直接法の現在形だけ覚えるところから始めるとよいでしょう。スペイン語の参考書やレッスンなども、直接法の現在形から始まって、次に点過去や線過去というように、少しずつ新しい文法が出てきます。その時点で、今までの活用に加えて新しい活用を書いて覚えていくのがいいと思います。 私の場合、スペイン語学校の先生が毎回紙にいくつか動詞を書いて、宿題として渡してくれていました。左上に動詞の原形と意味が書いてあり、その下に、上から順番に私・あなた・彼（彼女）・私たち・あなたたち・彼ら（彼女たち）と書いてあるので、それに応じて動詞を活用させて書き込んでいくという方法です。これは、独学でスペイン語を学ぶ場合でも応用できる方法だと思います。最初は直接法現在だけの活用を書いて覚えますが、教科書に点過去が出てきた時点でその紙に点過去が加わります。今まで直接法現在の活用を縦1列に書き込んでいた右側に、直接法点過去の活用が加わることになります。それが線過去、未来、過去未来…という具合に、新しい文法を学ぶごとに横に増えていくわけです。 新しく学んだ活用を書いて覚える時、面倒でも以前習った活用もその都度全部書くようにすることをお勧めします。忘れた頃にもう一度繰り返すことによって、記憶を定着させる効果があります。漢字を覚える時のように同じ単語を繰り返し書くわけではないのでそれほど苦にはなりません。私の場合、実際に書くことによってあいまいな点がはっきりしましたし、手を動かすので、印刷されている活用を見て覚えようとするよりも確実に覚えることができました。 **3\. 文法を学ぶ** 語彙を増やすと同時に文法も学んでいく必要があります。前の部分でも触れた通り、スペイン語は動詞の活用の種類がとにかく多いので、始める前から圧倒されがちです。それで、最初から全部完璧に覚えようとしない方がうまく行くと思います。自分が実際に使う範囲の文法を重点的に押さえる方が効率的です。 例えば動詞の活用ですが、接続法過去には -ra形と -se形の二つあります。でも基本的にはどちらを使っても同じで、中南米では -se形はほとんど使われません。なので接続法過去は -ra形をまず覚えるとよいでしょう。話す時には -ra形を確実に使えるようにしておいて、-se形は聞いたときに「これは接続法過去の -se形だな」と気づける程度に頭に入っていれば問題ありません。 確実に押さえておきたいのが、動詞「haber（ある・いる）」の活用です。「haber」のさまざまな活用形と動詞の過去分詞形を組み合わせることによって、現在完了・過去完了・未来完了・過去未来完了など、さまざまな意味を作ります。それで点過去や線過去など新しい文法を習うごとに、早めの時点で「haber」の活用を完璧に覚えるようにしましょう。 **4\. 会話を練習する** 少し前のところでアウトプットの大切さに触れました。会話を練習することは、まさにこのアウトプットになります。ネイティブとほんの短い間でも会話が成立したときには、それは嬉しいものですよね！その喜びはさらに上達することへのモチベーションを上げてくれることにもなります。また、実際に口を動かして声を出すことによって、スペイン語のリズムに慣れていくこともできます。身近にスペイン語話者がいる場合は、どんどん話しかけてみましょう！ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## スペイン語勉強の難点 ### ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### 男性名詞・女性名詞を覚える スペイン語学習の難点には先ほども触れた「動詞の活用の多さ」がありますが、他にも「全ての名詞に男性・女性の性別がある」ことも難点かもしれません。なぜ名詞が男性か女性かを見分ける必要があるかというと、その性によって、また単数か複数かによって、その前につける定冠詞・不定冠詞も変える必要があるからです。男性名詞の前には el、los、un、unos が、女性名詞の前には la、las、una、unas が付きます。ここでは、男性名詞と女性名詞の見分け方のコツをお伝えします。 **1\. 最後の文字が o で終わる名詞は男性名詞、a で終わる名詞は女性名詞** 男性名詞： el libr**o**（本）、el carr**o**（車）、el vas**o**（コップ）など 女性名詞： la cabez**a**（頭）、la cas**a**（家）、la sill**a**（椅子）など ただし、例外もあります。 男性名詞： el dí**a**（日、一日）、el map**a**（地図）、el problem**a**（問題）など 女性名詞： la man**o**（手）、la fot**o**（写真）、la mot**o**（バイク）など **2\. -or で終わる名詞は男性名詞** el dolor（痛み）、el humor（気分）、el amor（愛）など **3\. -ión で終わる名詞は女性名詞** la situación（状況）、la presión（圧力）、la conexión（つながり）など **4\. -ad で終わる名詞は女性名詞** la amistad（友情）、la unidad（調和）、la enfermedad（病気）など ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### リスニングの練習ーー参考書、YouTube、子ども向けアニメ、音楽を聴く どの言語の学習でもそうですが、ネイティブの発音を聞くのは大切です。読むだけではなくリスニングにも時間を取りましょう。効率良くリスニングの練習をするために、YouTube のビデオは役立ちます。「スペイン語」で検索するとたくさんヒットします。 中級以上の人に個人的にお勧めなのが、アメリカの公共ラジオ局 NPR が配信している「RADIO AMBULANTE（ラジオ・アンブランテ）」というポッドキャストです。興味深い話題についての20～30分のエピソードを聞けるのですが、ネイティブの表現をナチュラルスピードで聞けるのでとても勉強になります。トランスクリプション付きのものがかなり出ているので、聞き取れない部分も確認でき、スペイン語学習者には大変ありがたいです。特に DELE の B2 以上を目指している人にはいいツールだと思います。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### スピーキングの練習ーーネイティブ・スピーカーを探す 外国語を学ぶ醍醐味は、やはりネイティブとコミュニケーションすることです。簡単な会話でもネイティブに話しかけて生の反応が返ってくるととても嬉しく、もっと上達しようという気になります。最近はネイティブ・スピーカーとつながれる言語交換アプリなどもあるので、上手に活用するといいかもしれません。いくつかご紹介します。 「Tandem」 言語交換アプリの中でも評価が高いアプリです。テキストメッセージ・ボイスメモ・音声通話・ビデオ通話の機能があるので、まだ会話を続けられるレベルでなくても音声でコミュニケーションができる点はメリットかもしれません。 ![スペイン語の勉強方法おすすめ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-e631a6da9ea62f81.png) Tandem 「Slowly」 2019年のグーグルプレイ・アワードで最も画期的なアプリとして表彰されたアプリ。音声のやり取りはありませんが、ネイティブとメッセージのやり取りができます。住んでいる場所に応じてメッセージを送ってから届くまでにタイムラグが生じるというアナログな要素を取り入れたユニークな作りになっています。個人情報を入力しないで使えるのもメリットです。 もちろんこういうSNS系のアプリを使う際には、十分の注意も必要です。運営側の管理が徹底しているかどうか、レビューなどもよくチェックして選ぶようにしましょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## 語学学習サイト・本紹介 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### おすすめの参考書 「文法から学べるスペイン語」（井戸光子 石村あつ 共著 ナツメ社） スペイン語の知識がゼロの人が読んでも分かるように書かれている親切な本。 ![スペイン語の勉強方法おすすめ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/amazon.jpg) Image from Amazon 「これならわかるスペイン語文法 入門から上級まで」（廣康好美 著 NHK出版） スペイン語の文法が一通り網羅されていて、詳しい解説も載っています。 「DELE試験対策問題集 A1・A2 (CD 2枚付) + 小冊子」（坂東省次 ダニエル・アリエタ 高木和子 共著 インタースペイン・ブックサービス） DELE の模擬試験2回分と日本語の解説も載っている数少ないDELE対策本。セルバンテス書店で購入可。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### おすすめの学習サイト・アプリ [東外大言語モジュール｜スペイン語](http://www.coelang.tufs.ac.jp/mt/es/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 東京外国語大学のスペイン語の教授陣が独自に作成したテキストを、スペイン語を独学で学んでいる人たちのために公開しているとても有用なサイト。 ![スペイン語の勉強方法おすすめ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/ld-image-31afa01e36957ce5.png) 東京外国語大学言語モジュール [Glosbe辞書 - すべての言語が1か所に](https://ja.glosbe.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) スペイン語だけでなくいろいろな言語の辞書が一つのサイトにまとまっています。 [DeepL翻訳](https://www.deepl.com/ja/translator?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) グーグル翻訳よりも精度が高いという意見も多いようです。 [Radio Ambulante - Un podcast que cuenta las historias de América Latina](https://radioambulante.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 「リスニングの練習」でも紹介した、アメリカの公共ラジオ局 NPR が配信している「RADIO AMBULANTE（ラジオ・アンブランテ）」というポッドキャスト。 [スペイン語ゼロからたった4ヶ月で現地就労した大学生の学習法-単語編](https://www.spani-simo.com/blog/archives/680?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [僕のスペイン語の勉強法を紹介します！｜Yuma Takahashi｜note](https://note.com/yuma2525/n/nc0a86d7414b4?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [【スペイン語の勉強法まとめ】スペイン在住の私が日本でゼロから学習するとしたら](https://jopelog.com/start-spanish/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [スペイン語｜語学学習サイト紹介｜一橋大学語学ラボラトリー](http://www.rdche.hit-u.ac.jp/ll/hint/es%5Frcmd%5Fsites.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [スペイン語の独学勉強方法おすすめ6選はコレだ！最短2ヶ月で習得！](https://xn--eckybyf9do28qrupfo3e.com/spanish-self-study?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## まとめ スペイン語を話せるようになれば、世界がグーンと広がります。ぜひあなたもスペイン語にチャレンジして、新しい世界に飛び込んでみてください！ ### Meet Amélie: Our Deer Blog Writer Fluent in Japanese, English and French URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/meet-amelie/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:19:19.000Z Welcoming our great blog writer, Amélie! ## Quick Answer: What does Amélie’s experience suggest for learners moving to Japan? In this interview, Amélie-Marie describes moving from France to Japan, studying Japanese and working with international students. Her central advice is to begin learning Japanese before arrival because language ability supports daily communication, cultural understanding and workplace adaptation. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Background | French writer and student-program coordinator living in Japan | | Main lesson | Start studying Japanese before moving | | Workplace insight | Language helps learners notice hierarchy, expectations and unspoken cues | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. She has shared with us her heart-warming journey to Japan and is the author of our abundant how to [Learn Japanese blogs!](https://blog.lingodeer.com/author/amelie-marie-nishizawa/) ## **🎤Q: Tell us about yourself!** 💡A: Sure! Hi, my name is Amélie-Marie and I'm French. I've been living in Japan since 2013 and I've been in love with learning the culture and the language since then. I'm a student program coordinator, I spend my days helping foreigners come to Japan to study Japanese! At night, I write a lot about learning languages, Japanese in particular, but also about what's trending in Japan. ![Amélie-Marie sitting at an outdoor café in Japan](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/IMG_9061.jpg) ## **🎤Q: What was the opportunity that brought you to Japan?** 💡A: Love and France-Japan's Working Holiday Program agreement brought me to Japan — sounds cheesy, I know! When I graduated from University in France, I didn't know what kind of job I'd like to do. So, I chose to travel around the world, to gain some life (and language) skills. During a 6-month stay I did in Moscow (Russia), I met this kind, funny Japanese guy and fell in love. We started dating, but we eventually had to go back to our home countries. However, our relationship survived the long-distance for almost a year and I eventually hopped on a plane to join him in Tokyo, where he was completing his studies. We're now married — and I'm still in Japan. ## **🎤Q: How did you wish you knew before going to Japan?** 💡A: Gosh, a lot of things, really! I mean, I'm from that generation who grew up hooked to Japanese animation, manga, J-pop (not so much J-drama though, when it boomed in France, I wasn't into TV so much). So I thought I 'had' some kind of background knowledge. But clearly, it wasn't enough to prepare me for the culture shock I got. The culture shock, in Japan, isn't brutal. At first, you're usually wowed by both natural and urban amazing sceneries, people's kindness and politeness. But when you try to fit in, you'll often hit some 'cultural walls' that are hard to perceive or understand. So I wish I knew more about Japanese customs, Japanese way of thinking, and of course, Japanese language. I had no rudiment of the language at all and I was enrolled in a language school. But looking back, I think I should have studied Japanese way before coming. It would certainly have prepared my mind and smoothed out the first few years. To anyone considering going and studying in Japan, I'd say "seriously study Japanese first, don't think you'll start learning once you're there". ## **🎤Q: What is the biggest change to your work style/habits after working in Japan?** 💡A: Well, there's the diet — we eat mainly at home and mostly cook Japanese dishes. If you stick to the traditional way of preparing meals, Japanese diet is rather healthy. But of course, if you're a noodle lover and indulge yourself once too often with ramen, you'll probably say it isn't *that* healthy! I also became very active. According to the latest statistics, Japanese people are into sports. They practice some form of exercise at least once a week and love walking. I definitely could sense that and got influenced to become more active. Just go to a nearby park and you'll see people from 6 to 90 years old enjoying nature and moving around! When it comes to work, I'm not sure I can give a clear answer. I spent my entire career in Japan, first in a 100% Japanese company, then in a company founded by foreigners, but where 50% of the staff is Japanese. I can certainly say that working with Japanese people made me more of a team player. Working well in a group is one of the key foundations of their working culture. As a French, I tend to speak openly and I never hide what I think — it goes against my nature. But my Japanese colleagues taught me to keep my natural frankness while rounding the angles in a conversation, not to hurt the other ones, and to be more understanding. ## **🎤Q: What is your advice for those who want to work in Japan? Do they need to learn Japanese before they go there?** 💡A: I know there are more and more job offers that advertise "no or low Japanese skills OK", but unless the company has at least 50% of its staff foreign, the transition to a Japanese work environment with no Japanese can and will be painful at times. Learning the language isn't only about communication, it's about understanding how people in a country see and understand the world. With no or limited Japanese, a freshly arrived foreigner will probably miss some significant cues from his coworkers or boss. Even if the person is very skilled, that can dramatically affect their experience, their results, their integration in the company and the country. The Japanese working culture, although changing with the country is opening up to more foreign labor, is rigid and its codes, very specific. There's also a lot of unspoken rules that you can only learn through the language. How can you know where to sit in a meeting room, if you can't grasp the hierarchy order because you don't know the word "shachou", "kachou", "buchou"... How can you meet with a Japanese client if you don't know how to exchange business cards and what to say at the right time? Japanese employers are forgiving at first. But after a few months, what was considered to be cute 'clumsiness' won't be so easily tolerated. Now, you'll always find people that smoothly overcome all this by picking up some Japanese on the way. I think that's doable for confident people that are quick to adapt themselves to a new environment. It's certainly possible to get by with no or very limited competency, especially if your employer provides some help in your mother tongue. But I still feel and think, that's taking the risk to miss out on some opportunities or to have frustrating experiences in the country! ## **🎤Q: We all know it's been an unusual year. What are your wishes for 2021?** 💡A: The least I can say is that 2020 wasn't the year I, we, expected. But despite the doom and gloom, I think some positive things happened and I wish 2021 to be more focused on the good, starting with everyone fighting for the Earth. Climate change activism made some noise in the past months, so I hope everyone will root for a greener 2021\. On a personal level, I wish to dedicate more time to my Japanese studies. My mother started learning and she's in her 60s, proving that it's never too late to learn something new and keep at it! ![Amélie-Marie holding an award and certificate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/IMG_9719.jpg) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### When did Amélie say she moved to Japan? She says she had been living in Japan since 2013 when the interview was written. ### What did she wish she had done earlier? She says she wished she had studied Japanese before arriving. ### Does she say everyone needs the same Japanese level? No. Her answer recognizes that circumstances, adaptability and employer support differ, while still recommending preparation. ### Why is language important beyond basic communication? She argues that language also helps newcomers understand how coworkers interpret hierarchy, teamwork and social expectations. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### How to Learn German Smarter: The Intentional Immersion Method URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-german/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:26.000Z Just like all languages, the best way to learn German is through immersion. But there is a common misconception that you have to travel all the way to Germany to immerse yourself in the language as you are learning it. Many from the immigrant community in a foreign country that do not actively interact with the larger society also do not have the immersion experience, despite being in the country themselves. **Immersion is therefore the learning environment you create for yourself**, and this article will get started with this process. The best way to learn German is by following these steps: 1. Work out why you want to learn German. 2. Be mindful of the challenges ahead. And know your do’s and don’ts in intentional immersion. 3. Work on all four skill sets right from the start. 4. Build your language learning toolbox with fun resources and friends. 5. Do something in German every day and keep at it. ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Why intentional immersion matter? **Immersion without conscious practice doesn’t help you learn a language.** When I initially moved to Germany, I didn’t speak or understand a single word. I did what most people do when moving into a new country without language skills - I attended an intensive course at the local community college. I picked up some vocabulary and grammar, enough to cover the basic things taught in the textbook - directions, prices, where I was from. But even though I was living in Germany, I couldn’t understand or speak German - I was an English teacher, spoke English at home, watched movies and TV in English, and surfed the English web for information. I didn’t intentionally immerse myself and therefore it didn’t stick. Four years later, I decided to get serious about learning German. I’m now working as German-English translator on legal and medical content, so I know that intentional immersion really works! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Why are you learning German? ![learn German: German city](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/unnamed.jpg) Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash I agree with the many polyglots and language hackers - the **first and most important step is to work out your why**. Once you find your why, you’ll find your motivation. And instead of German being too difficult, it’ll become a fun challenge. My reason for improving my German? First, to be able to chat with researchers and hospital staff and then to become a skilled translator. You may want to learn German for **school classes**, to **pass an exam**, **apply for jobs**, **travel on holidays**, **chat with German-speaking** family members and friends, or simply because you **love languages**. If you are learning to get to a specific CEFR level (that is, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in German for studying or working in Germany, you may want to focus on the section ["German reading, writing, speaking and listening"](#German) where we focus on the four components that are on all German tests. ![learn German - CEFR levels](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/CEFR.png) Whatever your reason, let your reason guide how you immerse yourself in the German language. Make sure you pick the language learning tools and tasks that you enjoy, and that are relevant to your non-language interests. The best way to learn German is to have fun while doing it! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## What are the dos and don’ts in learning German? Now that you’ve decided to embark on a new journey, let’s talk about how to better prepare for it. When you try to immerse yourself in the new language, there are things we hang onto in order to feel safe when probing into new waters. However, there are some things to watch out for that would, later on, help you avoid creating holes that you later have to take much more to fill. ### Beware of false friends in German Some words might look familiar but it takes practice to recognize which ones might be very far off from their English counterpart. Those words are called false friends, and they are **not cognates**! Let’s look at some examples, where the English word looks similar or even identical to the German word but the meaning differs by far: - become vs. *bekommen* (means "receive" in English) - fabric vs. *Fabrik* (factory) - caution vs. *Kaution* (deposit) - fast vs. *fast* (almost) - billion vs. *Billion* (trillion) ![learn German - false friends](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/false-friends.jpg) So a good rule of thumb is to double-check the actual meaning of the word (by the way, *aktuell* in german does not mean “de facto” like it does in English, but “up-to-date, current”) before you confidently use a word that might sound similar to another word in English but means something drastically different in German. With the above being said, however, learning German using English is still a very advantageous position to be in, compared to learning using a source language much further apart, like Urdu. You just have to **watch out for the little things that might mislead you simply because of familiarity**. Instead, immerse fully in the language and accept the words as they mean in German. ### Direct translation can be tempting, but don’t do it! At least when you can help it ;) One easy trap to fall into when learning German is directly translating words from English into German. The drawback of this may not become obvious in the beginning as most Germans would understand you. For example, “I take a picture” is “ich mache ein Foto” which literally means “I make a photo”, and Germans don’t say “*ich nehme ein Bild*”, which is what the direct translation from English should you choose to do so, meaning “I’m taking a physical photograph from a stack of them”. If you want to level up and be more accurate in your expressions, beware of this trap early on in your learning process that may require much more effort to get out of later on. However, there are expressions that wiggled their way into the colloquial German, such as “*das macht Sinn*” which should be “*es ergibt Sinn*” if one wants to say “it makes sense” in German. Many Germans are frustrated about this mishmash of languages, so your accurate use of the German expressions would definitely impress. ### Memorize not just words, but also the corresponding gender! **The articles used with nouns, *der*, *die*, *das* and the four cases are considered to be the most difficult parts of German grammar to master.** That’s partly because they are so tightly interwoven - the case affects which article is used, and the article even has a knock-on effect on adjectives! ![learn German articles der das die](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ger-meme-300x300-1.png) Source: LingoDeer Many German learners, including me, struggle to use these correctly. But don’t worry - even if you make a mistake, German speakers will understand, and some will offer helpful corrections. The best way to learn the German articles is to learn them like local children did - **memorize both the article and the noun together**. You may have tried learning German words by putting sticking notes on things around the house, like labeling your milk with “*Milch*”. However, if you’re only marking down “*Milch*” in your memory, you’re missing the article and thus the grammatical gender. Remembering “*die Milch*”, both the word and the corresponding article indicating the gender of the word, will help you build up a solid foundation for later learning. An app that regularly drills you on nouns and their correct gendered articles using flashcards and exercises is invaluable for memorizing the articles. ![learn German cases](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/german-articles-1024x329-1.png) Source: LingoDeer The case affects which form of the article you use, and is one of the trickier aspects of German grammar for English speakers to get comfortable with. Of course, it’s made more difficult by knowing which article goes with which noun. Some grammatical phenomena like **verbs paired with different cases** are simply to be memorized as rules in the beginning when the logic has not yet become self-evident. The best way to learn German cases would be **through lots of listening and speaking practice**. The more you hear and use phrases and combinations that include these different cases, the faster you’ll memorize them. Again, this is the necessary immersion you should seek out for yourself and learn through conscious and unconscious memorization. ### Differentiate between the formal Sie and the informal du One feature of the German language that English speakers have to get used to is the different ways of addressing “you”, which is “*Sie, du, ihr*” in the formal, informal, and the informal plural form, respectively. In a day-to-day conversation, **german speakers differentiate between the formal and informal according to the context.** For example, in business contexts, to strangers or to people with social prestige such as professors, “*Sie*” is predominantly used (same for singular and plural). To **friends and family**, “*du*” and “*ihr*” are used. (Well, if you address some **stranger in their 20s** on the streets, they would actually appreciate it if you use “*du*”, escaping the old-fashion airs of the German stereotypes.) Why is this important? Because the verbs and adjectives must conjugate accordingly! For example: “you are” can be “*Sie sind*”, “*du bist*”, or “*ihr seid*” These kinds of conjugations are prevalent in German and would take some time to get used to in the beginning. Of course, there are **more regular conjugations with only changing suffixes**, but in principle there are no expedient ways to learn them. Also, because learners find out later on that the “*Sie*” version of the verb is the same as the infinitive, they very often decide therefore “to always resort to using the formal “*Sie*” whenever speaking”. Well, not a bad strategy at first but I’d strongly suggest against it! It will limit your expressive capabilities in the language and would sound very off or inadequate in informal contexts or addressing close friends. The earlier you immerse yourself in materials demonstrating different contexts, the more you’d grasp the cultural element of the language as well. ### Develop an ear for different accents If you use an app to build vocabulary and grammar, make sure the exercises give you an option to hear the words, spoken by a native speaker. Look for a **textbook that comes with audio or video versions of the conversations.** Don’t forget to listen to a wide range of speakers to **understand the different accents and dialects**: Swiss German, Austrian German, and people in each of the states have different ways of pronouncing German. People in Bayern and Sachsen have some of the stronger accents, even when they aren't speaking in their own dialects! But don’t let these differences intimidate you, try to immerse yourself using all these different kinds of materials and develop tolerance for the “unconventional” sounds and the ambiguities in speech. When you recognize that even native speakers of Germans do not have the “perfect standard accent”, you’d also develop more self-confidence in the process and not get not hung up on how “perfect” you should sound. That’s how immersion would also help. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## How to improve German reading, writing, speaking and listening as you advance By working on all four skills from the start, you will build a more powerful language-learning network in your brain. You’ll be able to remember words and phrases more quickly and learn many more new words because of the associations you’ve already built in your mind. This is especially important if you intend to sit any of the[ official German exams](https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/prf.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), where reading and listening skills are assessed with multiple-choice questions, written skills with a short essay, and speaking skills with an interview. The structure of a typical standardized language test ![learn German test of Goethe Institute](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/1565264103916.jpg) Source: Goethe Institute ### Building German listening skills **Movies and TV shows** made outside Germany are almost always dubbed in German - check the language settings of your favorites to see if there is a German audio track. Just don't look at their mouths when they speak - when it's not perfectly synchronized, dubbed audio can be very distracting. **Kaberett shows** on TV are great once you reach an intermediate level. These satirical revues with a little standup comedy are fantastic both for building skills and for gauging your progress.[ Die Anstalt](https://www.zdf.de/comedy/die-anstalt?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is one of my favorites. **German podcasts** are very helpful, especially as a beginner. The[ Slow German podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slow-german/id1085828103?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) was very useful to listen to as I walked to work. But I believe it’s much better if you don't only listen to language teaching podcasts. Listening to people talking about normal topics in German will level up your conversational skills more naturally. ![learn German Slow German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/slow-german-1024x503-1.png) Source: Slow German mit Annik Rubens → Browse through the[ German podcast directory on Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/de/genre/podcasts/id26?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). **Youtube channels** are simply what you can’t do without in this day and age. I’d recommend [Easy German](https://www.youtube.com/c/EasyGerman/videos?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) as another great resource that’d help you tremendously along the way! It gives you access to a wide range of German material used in “real” conversations. You can watch themed videos where random people on the streets were asked certain questions related to the German language and culture. The perks of what they offer are: 1) real conversation with a wide range of German speakers (from different regions, different countries, different age groups, and so much more) 2) videos are also sorted into playlists that roughly correspond to different German levels, so you can start with the easy ones and level up instead of feeling daunted by all the complexities in their speech 3) all videos have bilingual subtitles and they mark out the “mistakes”, if any, an awesome feature that I also always refer back to. **Native speakers** in natural settings are best. Are you having trouble finding a native speaker? Try Twitch - it's not just for games these days. Twitch categories like Art and Real Life have German-speaking streamers and audiences that you can chat with. →[ Browse the Twitch directory](https://www.twitch.tv/directory?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to find a category you are interested in, then add “German” to the filter to find German-speaking streamers. ### Practice speaking German Tutors, language classes, friends, family, meetups - the more German speakers you can actively practice speaking with the better! - If you're a gamer, join a guild or team that speaks German and chat in voice channels. - Try[ meetup](https://www.meetup.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to find a local German-speaking group around your interests. - Check for German-speaking groups on the online platforms you use for your hobbies: Ravelry, Facebook and special interest sites often have German-language groups. - Find a tandem partner on[ myLanguageExchange](https://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Search.asp?selX3=23&ref=blog.lingodeer.com),[ Polyglot club](https://polyglotclub.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), or[ iTalki](https://www.italki.com/partners?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- you might become great friends! **Speak from day one!** In my opinion, both as a language learner and a language teacher, speaking is by far the most powerful skill for learning a language quickly. Of course, this means you shouldn’t be afraid of making mistakes - no one will hate you for using the wrong words or grammar! Mark Twain shared his personal anecdotes of trying to speak German accurately in his humorous gisty classic “**The Awful German Language**” and complained about the confusing conjugations of the “accusative, dative, genitive”. The best piece of advice? Learn the drill until your response becomes second nature. For example, “*ich danke dir*” - “I thank you” and “*ich frage dich*” - “I ask you” require **different cases of “you“ determined by the verbs**. It wouldn’t help much in the beginning to fret about the “why” when you speak. Simply accept them as the traits of the language, immerse yourself in it, and have as much fun as possible along the way！ **Speak aloud**, right from your first steps as a beginner: Name things, repeat simple sentences, repeat the words you heard and try to mimic their pronunciation, and sing along to German lyrics. It can take a little while to build your German pronunciation 'muscle memory'. ![learn German Polyglot club](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/polyglot-club.jpg) Source: Polyglot Club Don't worry about making mistakes - every German speaker I have met was excited when I spoke to them in German, even when I made mistakes. Apps that record you speaking are very useful, especially if you can compare your phrase with one recorded by a native speaker. These are perfect for working on your pronunciation! And finally, turn your voice-assistants to German: Siri, Cortana, Google and Alexa are infinitely patient! ### Enjoying Reading German One of the easiest ways to get started in German and build basic vocabulary and grammar is to use a language acquisition app or a textbook. **German textbooks** When I started seriously learning several years ago, German apps were few and far between, so I used a set of textbooks from Heuber to get my language certification quickly. There are better German self-study textbooks available today than there were back then. **German grammar books** One of the best grammar explanations I found is[ English Grammar for Students of German.](https://www.amazon.com/English-Grammar-Students-German-Learning/dp/0934034435?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[ Schaum's Outline of German Grammar](https://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-German-Grammar-Outlines/dp/1260120996?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is also a good reference with useful exercises.[ The Practice Makes Perfect series](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=practice+makes+perfect+german&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is great for targeted practice exercises. ![learn German grammar books](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/german-grammar-books-1024x1024-1.jpeg) Source: Amazon.com **Books and news in German** Read your favorite books translated into German - you already know the story, and if you pick something easier, it will expand your vocabulary quickly. Graded German readers are easily available from online stores and even in public libraries. Reading is especially important for German language learning because the written past tense of verbs does not match how they are spoken! **Mobile devices and computers** Turn your computer and mobile devices into German if you are familiar enough with the menu options to turn them back. Since we use our devices so often and usually know what functions there are on the interfaces, this is a great way to pick up native expressions. ### Improving your German writing skills The language exchange websites mentioned above also list German language exchange partners looking for an email or chat penpal. You could also find an **online group or forum** on any topic that you are interested in, and start chatting in German. I can really recommend **Hellotalk** here, because you can try to formulate sentences and post them for native speakers to correct them. It’s a great way to check your process and test your skills. There are a couple of aspects of German that scare learners, especially when writing or speaking in German: The gendered articles for nouns (der, die, das) and the various cases (nominative, accusative, dative and genitive). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## What are the best tools for learning German? Don't stick to one learning tool, like a single textbook, a course you attend in person, an audio program or even a single app. Have a variety of interesting tools in your toolbox and your motivation will stick around. Don’t keep doing something you hate - that’s deadly to your German learning goals! If you aren’t having fun with one or more of the tools, books or courses, drop it and find another one that you *do* enjoy. Consider some or all of the following tools and activities: - textbooks - in-person courses and/or online tutoring - mobile apps (dictionaries, language acquisition apps like[ LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), games) - movies and TV shows - podcasts and music - online language exchange communities - streamers and hobbyists ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Use an app that lets you work on all four skills [Language acquisition apps like LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) are convenient - you can fill all the dead time you have in your day with German language studies. Only have a couple of minutes between classes? Step through vocabulary and grammar flashcards. You can even customize down to the exact words or grammar points you want to focus on. ![learn german lingodeer app flashcard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/1.1.jpg) ![learn german lingodeer app flashcard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/1.2.png) ![learn german lingodeer app flashcard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/1.3.png) ![learn german lingodeer app flashcard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/1.4.png) Waiting for a while at the doctor's or for a bus to arrive? Grab your phone and do an exercise or two. You don’t always need sound or voice input to complete these lessons. You can choose to turn off the audio for the lessons using silent study mode. ![learn german lingodeer app silent mode](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/2.1.png) ![learn german lingodeer app silent mode](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/2.2.jpg) ![learn german lingodeer app silent mode](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/2.3.jpg) ![learn german lingodeer app silent mode](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/2.4.jpg) That way you won’t be held back from your learning progress and can read and practice writing extensively. Want to practice listening and speaking? When you don't need the silent mode, practice your listening and speaking in the regular lessons and the story function! ![learn german lingodeer app practice speaking and writing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/3.1-1.jpg) ![learn german lingodeer app practice speaking and writing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/3.2-1.jpg) ![learn german lingodeer app practice speaking and writing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/3.3-1.png) ![learn german lingodeer app practice speaking and writing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/3.4-1.png) Can’t sleep? … Maybe don’t use your app. Soft music with German lyrics would work better. ### The best way to learn German is daily practice with an app Apps are masters at encouraging us to use them every day. With reminders and notifications, streak tracking, spaced repetition features that take the tedium out of flashcards, you name it: language acquisition apps are definitely one of the best ways to learn German, if only because they keep our motivation high! What are your favorite ways to learn German? What tools, platforms, tricks, and tips do you use to learn German? Let us know in the comments below =) ### How to Conjugate Spanish Verbs?[A Simple Guide] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-verb-conjugation-2/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:29.000Z They say actions speak louder than words, so learning how to say and use verbs should be twice as loud! This article reviews the basics when it comes to Spanish verb conjugation and teaches you how to conjugate in different tenses like the past, present, and future. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## How Does Spanish Verb Conjugation Work? **Conjugation is simply when you make the verb match the person doing the action.** English tends to rely on pronouns for this, whereas Spanish changes the verb itself therefore making the pronoun optional. For example, here is the verb “to talk” conjugated in the present tense in English: | I talk | We talk | | --------------------------- | ------------ | | You talk | You all talk | | He talks/She talks/It talks | They talk | In order to use verbs, you’ll have to know Spanish **pronouns**. The pronouns that share a square have the same conjugation, much like how in English “he, she, it” are in the same box. | Yo - I | Nosotros - We (men, mixed men and women) Nosotras - We (women only) | | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Tú - You (informal) | Vosotros - You all (men, mixed men and women) Vosotras - You all (women only) | | Él - He Ella - She Usted - You (formal) | Ellos - They (men, mixed men and women) Ellas - They (women only) Ustedes - You all (formal, latin american) | 🚩Note that in Spanish, “**it” is not really a pronoun** so “he” or “she” is used. Now, let’s learn some verbs! ### ### Spanish Verb Types And The Infinitive **In the Spanish language, all verbs end in -ar, -er, or -ir.** These are the three verb types that you will encounter and will determine how the verb is conjugated. To exemplify each verb type, we will be using ***hablar* \- to talk, *comer* \- to eat, and *vivir* \- to live**. These verbs are currently in the **infinitive form**, which is a fancy way of saying that it is the “pure” version of the verb that hasn’t been changed to match a pronoun or verb tense. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## What Are The Basic Steps to Conjugate Spanish Verbs? Once you know the Spanish pronouns, the second thing to learn is the **verb endings**. Each box in that pronoun table from earlier has its own unique verb ending, plus each verb type has its own set of endings. ### Basic Spanish Verb Conjugation To learn the basic steps to verb conjugation, we will be looking at the present tense. 1. Select your verb. 2. Select the pronoun. Do you want to say that he speaks, we speak etc. 3. Take off the ending, either - *ar, -er,* or *\-ir.* 4. Attach the ending that matches the tense, pronoun, and verb type. In summary, take off the verb’s last two letters then stick on the appropriate ending to make it match the pronoun. Here are all of the verb endings along with examples. **Present Tense -AR Verb Endings** - Yo - o - Tú - as - Él, Ella, Usted - a - Nosotros/as - amos - Vosotros/as- áis - Él, Ella, Usted -a - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - an **Present Tense *Hablar* \- To Speak** | Yo hablo | Nosotros/as hablamos | | --------------------- | ---------------------------- | | Tú hablas | Vosotros/as habláis | | Él, Ella, Usted habla | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes hablan | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “we” - *nosotros*. ![Spanish verb conjugation Nosotros hablamos](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/CAAF409B-87A7-49a7-BC8C-AF9E85167DA7.png) **Present Tense -ER Verb Endings** - Yo - o - Nosotros/as - emos - Tú - es - Él, Ella, Usted - e - Vosotros/as - éis - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - en **Present Tense *Comer*\- To Eat** | Yo como | Nosotros/as comemos | | -------------------- | --------------------------- | | Tú comes | Vosotros/as coméis | | Él, Ella, Usted come | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes comen | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “I” - *yo*. ![Spanish verb conjugation present tense Yo como](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/C5DBE652-BDED-4f75-89A9-84B61E6AEF88.png) **Present Tense -IR Verb Endings** - Yo - o - Tú - es - Él, Ella, Usted - e - Nosotros/as - imos - Vosotros/as - ís - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - en **Present Tense *Vivir* \- To Live** | Yo vivo | Nosotros/as vivimos | | -------------------- | --------------------------- | | Tú vives | Vosotros/as vivís | | Él, Ella, Usted vive | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes viven | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “she” - *ella*. ![Spanish verb conjugation present ella vive](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/03A254D3-18F4-433b-8B9E-DE78832C3CC4.png) ### Irregular Spanish Verbs All verbs use these predetermined endings, however, some verbs are irregular and have an extra step. For example, some verbs are called **stem changers** because the middle part of the verb changes. *Querer* \- to want, is an E→ IE verb because it becomes *qu*ie*r- + verb ending.* Other verbs are totally irregular and don’t follow a pattern. *Ser* \- to be, is a great example of this. Present Tense ***Ser*** \- To Be | Yo soy | Nosotros/as somos | | ------------------ | ------------------------- | | Tú eres | Vosotros/as sois | | Él, Ella, Usted es | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes son | As you can see, this one is totally weird. Not many verbs act as oddly as this one, but they are out there! [Many common verbs like ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-irregular-verbs-in-spanish/)*ser* are irregular and can be picked up easily with some practice. If you aren’t sure if a verb is regular or irregular, don’t sweat it. If you treat these unknowns as regular verbs, people will still likely understand you and can even teach you. ### ### Reflexive Spanish Verbs A reflexive verb describes an action that is done to oneself. Any verb that has “**se**” after it is a reflexive verb, like *levantarse* and *dormirse.* Basically, these verbs are conjugated normally then have an additional piece tied to them. This piece is called a **reflexive pronoun** and also must match with the subject. For example, to say “I get myself up” you would say *me levanto*. Reflexive verbs are not limited to the present tense. You can use the past tenses, the future, or any other verb conjugation with the reflexive pronouns. Here is a basic **formula for reflexive verb conjugation**: > **(Pronoun) + Reflexive verb pronoun + conjugated verb** Reflexive Verb Pronouns | Yo - me | Nosotros/as - nos | | -------------------- | -------------------------- | | Tú - te | Vosotros/as - os | | Él, Ella, Usted - se | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - se | Here is an example using the pronoun “you” - *tú* with the verb *levantarse*. ![Spanish verb conjugation reflexive tú te levantas](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/CBCD35B2-2730-4833-ABC7-39DB0B39BBF7.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## How to Conjugate Spanish Verbs in Different Tenses ### How to form present progressive verbs in Spanish The present progressive is used to talk about things that are happening right now in this very moment. In English, we use the verb “to be” plus the gerund “-ing,” such as “she is talking” or “we are watching.” Spanish acts the same way! **Simply conjugate the verb *estar* \- to be, then add the Spanish version of “-ing.**” - \-*ar* verbs use the ending *\-ando* - *\-er* and -*ir* verbs use the ending *\-iendo*. *Bailar* becomes *bailando, comer* becomes *comiendo*, and so on. - Yo **estoy**+v +ando/iendo - Tú **estás**+v +ando/iendo - Él, Ella, Usted **está**+v +ando/iendo - Nosotros/as **estamos**+v +ando/iendo - Vosotros/as **estáis**+v +ando/iendo - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes **están**+v +ando/iendo For example: 1. I am eating - *Estoy comiendo* 2. They are dancing - *Ellos están bailando* 3. We are living - *Estamos viviendo* ### How to Conjugate Spanish Verbs in The Past Tenses The past tense uses the exact same steps as the present tense! Take off the ending and add the one that matches the pronoun you want to use. Spanish has two forms of the past, and there is a short description on what each is used for. #### #### The Preterite tense The preterite tense is for **single, completed actions**. Think of the major plot points to a story, all of the action that moves the plot forward. **Preterite Tense -AR Verb Endings** - Yo - é - Tú - aste - Él, Ella, Usted - ó - Nosotros/as - amos - Vosotros/as - asteis - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - aron Preterite Tense *Hablar* \- To Speak | Yo hablé | Nosotros/as hablamos | | --------------------- | ------------------------------ | | Tú hablaste | Vosotros/as hablasteis | | Él, Ella, Usted habló | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes hablaron | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “you” - *usted*. ![Spanish verb conjugation preterite tense Usted habló](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/C031D608-49FF-4470-87C9-F87B27F50F51.png) **Preterite Tense -ER/-IR Verb Endings** - Yo - í - Tú - iste - Él, Ella, Usted - ió - Nosotros/as - imos - Vosotros/as - isteis - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - ieron Preterite Tense *Comer* \- To Eat | Yo comí | Nosotros/as comimos | | --------------------- | ------------------------------ | | Tú comiste | Vosotros/as comisteis | | Él, Ella, Usted comió | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes comieron | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “I” - *yo*. ![Spanish Verb conjugation preterite tense Yo](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/34F44A64-579C-42db-9EBB-F5FCB7B02682.png) #### The imperfect tense The imperfect is for the **continuous past**. It’s the description that sets the scene of a story, the little details that are hard to contain with definitive start and endpoints. **Imperfect Tense -AR Verb Endings** - Yo - aba - Tú - abas - Él, Ella, Usted - aba - Nosotros/as - ábamos - Vosotros/as - abais - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - aban Imperfect Tense *Hablar* \- To Speak | Yo hablaba | Nosotros/as hablábamos | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------ | | Tú hablabas | Vosotros/as hablabais | | Él, Ella, Usted hablaba | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes hablaban | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “they” - *ellos*. ![Spanish verb conjugation imperfect tense ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/63BF09C5-6A6B-4674-8112-36C75033FF00.png) **Imperfect Tense -ER/-IR Verb Endings** - Yo - ía - Tú - ías - Él, Ella, Usted - ía - Nosotros/as - íamos - Vosotros/as - íais - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - ían Imperfect Tense *Vivir* \- To Live | Yo vivía | Nosotros/as vivíamos | | --------------------- | ---------------------------- | | Tú vivías | Vosotros/as vivíais | | Él, Ella, Usted vivía | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes vivían | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “she” - *ella*. ![Spanish verb conjugation Ella viviá imperfect tense](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/3636735D-E623-4577-9057-C9FFBF87AC93.png) ### How to Conjugate Spanish Verbs in The Future Tenses Talking about the future can be hard, but conjugating in the future tense won’t make it harder. That’s because the future tense uses the same endings for all verb types, and **you don’t even have to remove the *\-ar, -er,* or -*ir* part of the verb.** Future Verb Endings (**All Verb Types**, Attached to the Infinitive) - Yo - é - Tú - ás - Él, Ella, Usted - á - Nosotros/as - emos - Vosotros/as - éis - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - án Future Tense *Hablar* \- To Speak | Yo hablaré | Nosotros/as hablaremos | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------ | | Tú hablarás | Vosotros/as hablaréis | | Él, Ella, Usted hablará | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes hablarán | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “yo” - *I*. ![Spanish verb conjugation future tense yo](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/73D49FE1-A678-4baa-803C-BF4471BA91A8.png) ### Conditional The conditional is the “would” tense. Would you like to know how to conjugate with it? Just like the future tense, it’s actually even easier than normal conjugation because you don’t have to take off the verb ending! All you do is attach the following endings to the back of the infinitive form of the verb. Conditional Verb Endings (**All Verb Types**, Attached to the Infinitive) - Yo - ía - Tú - ías - Él, Ella, Usted - ía - Nosotros/as - íamos - Vosotros/as - íais - Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes - ían Conditional Tense *Comer* \- To Eat | Yo comería | Nosotros/as comeríamos | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------ | | Tú comerías | Vosotros/as comeríais | | Él, Ella, Usted comería | Ellos, Ellas, Ustedes comerían | Here are the steps in action using the pronoun “he” - *él*. ![Spanish verb conjugation conditional tense](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/12/F801275B-5ECC-4862-84D7-AA8C5A4C6871.png) ## Summary of Spanish Verb Conjugation All Spanish verb conjugation can be done using tables and formulas. It’s a lot like math because it’s logical, there are rules, and once things click with one tense then you will easily understand the other tenses. Take it one tense at a time, practice a lot, and before you know it you will be an expert! ### Meet Michael: Our China Expert and Chinese-English Teacher URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/michael-chinese-teacher/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:24.000Z Q: Tell us about yourself! A: Hi, I'm Michael, I'm a Chinese and Russian speaker currently working in the field of international trade. In my free time, I love to travel, read and am a keen runner. Q: What's your favorite thing to do in China? A: I love to travel and have been very privileged to have the opportunities and time to travel a lot in China for both leisure and for work. From camel riding in Inner Mongolia, hiking in the Wuyi mountains as well as spending time exploring China's large cities, there are so many different opportunities within China if you are keen to explore and see new places. Q: What surprised you the most after you moved to China? Anything you wish you knew? A: I was surprised at how widespread some technologies are adopted and how some are relied on a daily basis in China compared to my own country. I wish I had made myself aware of the various apps and tools that you need to survive before moving to China. Q: How did you learn Chinese to the level you can work in this language? What are your tips for beginners? A: I studied Chinese initially at university and then spent time working with Chinese companies after my graduation. My tip for beginners is that repetition is key. It is more useful to study Chinese ten minutes every day than one or two hours once a week. Q: What are your favorite Chinese movies/shows/social media channels? What do you like about them? A: I don't generally watch much television, however, I do enjoy watching some good documentaries and programmes about culture, cooking, travel, etc. A bite of China (舌尖上的中国) was one programme definitely worth watching and will help introduce you to the different foods and eating habits within China. Q: We all know it's been an unusual year. What are your wishes for 2021? A: As someone who used to traveling quite frequently for work, I am looking forward to being able to travel again. ### Meet Keith: Korean-English Writer & Teacher URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/13081-2/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T10:59:49.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/IMG_0041-e1607589377746.jpeg) Today, let's meet our blog writer who is working as an English teacher in Korean. You probably have read his blogs about [Korean learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/author/keith/) already! **🎤Q: Tell us about yourself:** 💡A: Hello! My name is Keith. I'm an American who has lived in South Korea off-and-on for a while. I'm a university instructor, and I really enjoy my job. Living in Korea has been a wonderful experience for me. I love the ocean, the mountains, the food, and the variety of things to do in Korea (especially going to the unique cafes). I'm continuously studying Korean and learning about the culture. I hope you have a chance to visit Korea! It's a great place. **🎤Q: Why did you choose to teach English in Korea?** 💡A: When I was deciding to teach abroad, I considered several different places: Latin America, China, and Korea. After doing a lot of research it seemed like Korea was a good fit for me. It’s a developed country with good education, health care, decent salary, and affordable cost of living. Plus, I knew someone who was living here, and I had a Korean friend from high school. My friends gave me a lot of information and showed me pictures of the beaches in Busan. That was enough to make me commit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/image.jpg) credit to timeout.com https://www.timeout.com/busan/things-to-do/best-things-to-do-in-busan **🎤Q: What did you wish you knew before moving to Korea?** 💡A: I wish I knew how much having a master’s degree can help you advance in your career. When I first started teaching, I had only a bachelor’s degree which is enough to get you standard ESL teaching jobs. However, if you want to continue your teaching career into more lucrative and established positions, you need an advanced degree. I spent time getting a TESOL Certification and then a master's. It was a great decision, but I wish I had done it earlier. **🎤Q: What have you learned from your Korean students?** 💡A: It sounds cliche, but I feel that my students have taught me much more than I have taught them. I’ve been fortunate to teach mostly young adults, so they’ve provided my valuable insight into Korean culture, food, the language, etc. Korea has a unique culture that is built on social hierarchies, which has always fascinated me. Learning the intricacies of these social standards and how Koreans think has been valuable. **🎤Q: What is your advice for those who want to teach in Korea? Do they need to learn Korean before they go there?** 💡A: My advice is to not come with any expectations and be flexible. Many newcomers arrive with ideas of what should and shouldn’t be. They become frustrated when it does not match their ideal. One thing I’ve learned is that if you can be flexible, it will be returned to you in the future. Also, expect to be treated as a novelty when you first arrive at your school. Koreans are still fascinated by the differences in appearance and behavior of foreigners. You may feel like you’re an “edu-tainer”, but it doesn’t last forever. As for the Korean language, I would recommend learning the basics and getting a handle on introductions and phrases. But don’t go out of your way to be proficient the moment you step off the plane. Learning the alphabet, sentence structure, and common verb-endings are more than enough to get started. Just take it one day at a time. If you can say anything, most Koreans will be impressed. So don’t feel pressured. Did you enjoy reading this interview? Let us know in comments! Check out some of Keith's Korean learning articles here: - [Learn Korean: From Newbie to Advanced](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) - [How to Say Thank You in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/thank-you-in-korean/) - [Korean Honorifics: Suffixes, Titles, Pronouns, Verbs and More](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/) ### Memory Strategies of The World's Top Language Learners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/memory-strategies-of-the-worlds-top-language-learners/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T08:27:59.000Z Have you ever wished someone would give you a **precise roadmap** to **achieving fluency** in your dream language? Well, I used to wish for that kind of exact guidance too. However, it turns out that everyone enters the language learning world with a different level of competence. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/dmitry-ratushny-wpi3sDUrSEk-unsplash.jpg) Unsplash credit to Dmitry Ratushny This means that no matter what, there are certain things you just have to figure out on your own. These aspects include: - Your best time of day for learning - The exact ways you want to learn the language - Regional dialect considerations - Personal scheduling skills That said, there are some **universal techniques** that will help all language learners. And that’s what this post is all about. So if you’re ready, check these off one-by-one. They are VERY helpful. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Minimalism For Language Learners Overwhelm is one of the biggest barriers learners face. And it isn’t new. Even before the Internet, there were competing companies offering language learning audio programs, books, and courses. But in the last thirty years, the options have exploded. Now, there are more books and courses than ever, plus language learning software programs. However, as Christopher Huff talked about during his 2015 presentation at the Berlin Polyglot Gathering, **minimalism is a winning strategy.** Instead of hoarding dozens of books and going through just a bit of each, try completing one book at a time. Or, as Olly Richards puts it, limit yourself to: - One book - One recorded program (audio or video course) - One teacher I like Olly’s advice because it matches a learning technique called “**interleaving**.” The trick is to make sure that the limited materials you choose meet you at your level and encourage you to complete meaningful missions. For example, you might want to [jump straight to fluency](https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/how-to-become-fluent-in-a-language/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), but without knowing the days of the week, you’re going to have a hard time. Therefore, **focusing just on the days of the week** for a short while will pay off over the long run. Other missions you can complete quickly include: - Pronouns - Colors - Adjectives for specific topics (shopping, traveling, family) - Numbers The important metric to consider is figuring out how you can constantly align your focus on what you need in order to progress. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## The Single-Syllable Memory Strategy Léa Tirard-Hersant urges her students to **leverage the power of rhyme.** Take a **one-syllable word** like loon, for example. Loon in English is a one-syllable word that can be rhymed with a one syllable word in French, like une. To get started with[ minimal pairs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimal%5Fpair?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for this exercise, you can find a pile of one-syllable words that rhyme within your own language. The example she and I played around with was "ache" sounding one-syllable words, words like: | lake | break | bake | cake | snake | | ---- | ----- | ----- | ---- | ----- | | rake | flake | take | make | jake | | fake | sake | blake | ... | ... | You could compile a list like this and then ask your language learning partner or teacher to help you find words in your target language to pair these with. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Get Help From A Pro At a certain point in your [language learning journey](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/), you’re going to plateau. This is a period where you feel like you’re not progressing. This happened to me with German and so I reached out to [Kerstin Hammes](http://fluentlanguage.co.uk/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to act as an analyst and coach because I needed help from an expert German **native speaker** to get a precise picture of where I need to improve and how I should approach the next stage of my journey. ![native Speaker ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/adam-winger-UFG04g43hqs-unsplash.jpg) Unsplash credit to Adam Winger ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Learn How To Strategize Better [Edward de Bono](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward%5Fde%5FBono?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) talks about **six hats**, each of a different color. Each color denotes a different function: - White = Objectivity - Red = Emotions - Black = Critical thinking - Yellow = The sunny positivity big language learning goals require - Green = Growth through creativity and the generation of new ideas - Blue = Organization To apply these “hats” to language learning, spend about 15 minutes thinking through each at the beginning of each week. **White Hat:** Where do you need to look at things realistically? Do you have too much on your plate? Do you really need to be learning vocabulary for advanced calculus when you still haven’t mastered numbers? This step is not about judging yourself or even making changes. It's just about **assessing the status quo and creating a solid, accurate picture**. That way, when you do make changes to your learning plan, you’ll get better results. **Red Hat:** The red hat is all about checking in with your emotions. For example, a lot of learners get frustrated. By analyzing the emotions, you can better recognize where you’re not being realistic and defuse some of the mental states that are probably holding you back from making real progress with your language. **Black Hat:** This hat is about critical thinking, which means creating strategies. Here’s where you **correct course** and **make a better plan.** **Yellow Hat:** [Getting to fluency](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learning-a-language-for-travel/) requires a lot of sunny positivity. To help with that, I suggest[ meditation](https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/how-to-improve-concentration-and-memory/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). If you can link this with a language you’re learning like I talked about in my TEDx Talk, all the better. **Green Hat:** To include more creativity in the language learning process, using memory techniques is one of the best bets. Minimal pairs are fun, but it will only get you so far. I suggest learning the [Memory Palace technique](https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/memory-palace/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for language learning. **Blue Hat:** This is the phase where you focus on organizing. You could use this hat to delete all those apps from your phone that aren’t helping, for example, and schedule time with a language speaking partner instead. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Embrace the Challenge and Ditch Frustration As we’ve seen, there really is no “best” way to keep making progress with your language. A successful outcome is much more something you build for yourself than anything you can discover or borrow. That’s going to be a challenge, but that’s okay. In fact, **challenge is necessary for growth.** The trick is in **recognizing what frustrates you and then scaling back**. You don’t want to make it so easy that you get bored and give up. But you do need to stretch and this bit of pushing needs to happen consistently. If all else fails, then your lack of success probably has nothing to do with a lack of “how to” knowledge. It may be that you need to seek help from a **performance coach** instead. There are people who specialize in this area and they don’t have to be learning languages themselves in order to help you succeed. ![challenge](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/kristopher-roller-rgrZVTjuuPw-unsplash.jpg) Unsplash credit to Kristopher Roller But hopefully, the tips in this post can help spare you the time and you’ll use de Bono’s hats to coach yourself. Language learning is such a great adventure and the rewards keep stacking on the more you show up. Just make sure you aren’t dodging the growing pains involved. Managed appropriately, it’s in them that you’ll find the progress you seek. ### Meet Milena - Our manga loving, Japanese-Spanish Teacher & Translator URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/teacher-milena/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:10.000Z Are you learning Japanese to understand manga or anime in its most original form? To know your true passion is not an easy thing, but to realise and turn that passion into reality is even harder. 👏Meet our beloved JP-ES translator Milena! Who found her life passion and has turned it into reality!! We just interviewed this talented girl and cannot wait to share her all-inspiring story with you guys❤ **Q1: Tell us about yourself!** A: My name is Milena, I'm from Argentina living in Buenos Aires. I'm a 30-year-old Fine Arts graduate, but right now I'm working as a Japanese teacher and translator, and I'm also an illustrator. I studied English in primary school and Japanese when I was a teenager. I'm very passionate about Japan and the Japanese language, but also I love art! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/128057035_163642955505644_1989864906001363378_n.jpg) Milena's drawing **Q2:** Do you feel like two different persons when you speak Spanish and Japanese? Tell us about those personas? A: Yes, I do sometimes feel like two different persons when I'm speaking Spanish and Japanese. My Spanish speaking persona is more confident and maybe more colloquial, and my Japanese speaking persona is more formal and shy. Even my tone of voice and speed changes a bit. It is very interesting. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/117633411_960960951044383_6122135070419599084_n-e1607346716468.jpg) **Q3: We know you love art and are also very creative yourself. Who is your favorite Japanese artist? And why?** A: Oh well, this is hard! I have some manga artists' that I love very much, some traditional and some contemporary. My favorite manga artists are Clamp (I love their magical worlds), Nemu Yoko (her manga style is my favorite) and Asano Inio (his mangas are so detailed and the stories are very interesting). My favorite traditional artist is Utamaro, a woodblock artist from the 18th century, mainly her woman portraits. And on a more contemporary note, I've been a fan of Yuko Higuchi's illustrations for years (especially her cats!), also installation artist Chiharu Shiota and Ryuho Hamano's calligraphy works. **Q4:** How did you start your anime and manga translating career? Did anything about this work surprise you? A: I started translating some manga I wanted to read because there were no translated versions. And then some people asked me if I could translate some short manga's for them and that is how it all started. I wasn't even at an advanced level of Japanese yet, so it helped me a lot to get better. What surprised me most was onomatopoeias! These words are not common in daily speech and I didn't learn them with my teacher, so I had to do research on them and use some specific onomatopoeia dictionary. It took me a long time at first because in Spanish we don't have that many words for sounds and emotions, some I had to translate them into English (like, "woof" or "bang") and some I had to do a literal translation (like "smiling", yes there is an onomatopoeia for the sound of a smile). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/122357547_376787757066052_5554935833540520169_n.jpg) @milenamanzanaon instagram **Q5: Do you think your art is influenced by your knowledge of another language and culture? How?** A: Yes, definitely my art is very influenced by Japanese culture. Of course, manga influence is very notable in my art, like the eyes and the hairstyle and the colors. Also, Japanese fashion is very important in my illustrations. But I'm also influenced by the language and the traditional Japanese calligraphy, which I studied for 3 years because in some works I also add Japanese phrases in a calligraphic style. I think all the cultures that we study when we learn a language we like, becomes somehow a part of our life unconsciously. And especially Japanese, because you can't just learn it by studying with a book; you need to immerse yourself in the culture, watch anime and movies, read manga and literature, listen to music and do some traditional activity. This is what happened to me, and it really inspired me! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/12/122108679_1060971757671481_4864624556930025104_n.jpg) Follow Milena on Instagram (@milenamanzana) and share your thoughts or story with us in comments\~ ### How Foreign Language Skills Can Help Your Career URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/foreign-language-career/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:08.000Z Typically, there is always some reason we start learning a new language. Sometimes we want to learn a particular language because we like how it sounds; someone might want to learn for fun and someone because they want to move to a place where this language is spoken. However, among the [many benefits of learning a new language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/benefits-of-learning-languages/), those related to careers can be particularly useful. Read on to find out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/photo-1571844307880-751c6d86f3f3.jpg) ### Foreign Language Skills Bring Greater Job Opportunities The job market is always changing. While decades ago, a different set of skills was required from a prospective employee, nowadays, foreign language abilities are one of the most required skills. While there is nothing wrong with knowing only your native language, it is, however, kind of limiting in terms of finding job opportunities. But if you’re an individual who happens to know more than one language, get ready to sort out through job opportunities you’re going to get. ### ### Foreign Language Skills Increase Your Earning Potential Foreign language skills can bring greater job opportunities, but they also can bring you higher incomings. With these language abilities, you can aim for jobs that pay more or even get promoted to more senior positions and earn more. Either way, you stand on a win-win situation. ### ### Foreign Language Skills Improve Your Hiring Prospects When it comes to hiring new personnel, every little detail could make the difference for employers. They’ll be looking for something that sets you apart from all other applicants. If you know a foreign language and have added that to your resume, that could be your advantage. You’ll have the chance to land the job hundreds of applicants were after. While having a set of different skills is certainly essential, language skills are considered the ‘hottest’ job skills. In an article written by the Cnn, fluency in a foreign language was considered one of the most required skills by the Fortune 500 companies, the army, the State Department, hospitals, schools, and local courts. Whenever you feel like giving up on learning a new language, remind yourself what an advantage a foreign language can be in your CV. ### ### Foreign Language Skills Make You a Better Leader Just like we said above, when you know a foreign language, you become a better communicator. Better communication skills make you a better leader. When you understand the people you work with, their ideas and concerns, you will know how to respond to them. You cannot put to use other virtues like empathy and compassion when you don’t really understand your team. Besides communication, being bilingual helps you make better decisions. As a leader, most of the time, it’s you the person who has to make certain important decisions. You want those decisions to be as rational as possible. When you’re a person that is proficient in more than one language, the process of decision-making can become much easier. When we think in a foreign language, we usually put emotions aside and rely on analytical. This experience will prove useful to you as a leader as you’ll become more objective and, in turn, make objective decisions. ### ### Foreign Language Skills Make You a More Effective Communicator When you’re a team member or a team leader in a particular department, one of the primary skills you need to have developed is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Not all people have developed this specific skill. However, this is where people with more than one language proficiency excel. Communication is their forte. The reason behind this ability is that when you learn a new language from scratch, you become better at your own native language. You learn to analyze the native language from different angles by finding similarities and differences between your first and second language. Knowing a second language will prove useful when dealing with a bilingual team. Many companies worldwide have multi-national teams. Knowing both of the languages spoken by the team makes you an even more critical individual for the organization. You can clearly communicate with all the people involved and thus understand what each of them has to say. Indeed, foreign language skills are valuable in many different aspects of our life. One of them happens to be our professional life. We’re not debating whether foreign language skills are relevant but rather what we can do to actually learn one. For starters, you can enroll in a language program, for instance, in an [ESL program](https://potomac.edu/degree-programs/certificates/esl-chicago/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or any other. Then, you’ll get to reap the benefits of that language on your career life. ### Japanische Grammatik: Japanische Satzstruktur und Partikel URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanische-grammatik-satzstruktur-und-partikel/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:39:46.000Z Du hast deine ersten japanischen Wörter gelernt und möchtest nun anfangen erste Sätze zu bauen, weißt aber nicht wie? Dann haben wir genau den richtigen Ansatz für dich. Dieser Artikel erklärt dir die grundlegende Funktionsweise der japanischen Satzstruktur sowie die wichtigsten Funktionen aller Partikel der japanischen Sprache. ## Kurzantwort: Wie funktioniert die japanische Satzstruktur? Japanische Grundsätze werden oft als Subjekt–Objekt–Verb beschrieben. In neutralen einfachen Aussagen steht das Prädikat normalerweise am Satzende. Partikeln zeigen die Funktion vorausgehender Satzteile an; は kennzeichnet typischerweise das Thema, が häufig das Subjekt und を das direkte Objekt. Die Wortstellung ist flexibel, aber nicht beliebig. | Partikel | Grundfunktion in diesem Leitfaden | | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | は (wa) | Thema oder Kontrast | | が (ga) | Subjekt oder fokussierte Information | | を (o) | Direktes Objekt | | に / へ | Ziel, Richtung oder andere Beziehungen je nach Kontext | | で | Ort einer Handlung oder Mittel | *Quellenhinweis:* Die Funktionsübersicht orientiert sich an den Unterrichtsmaterialien der [Japan Foundation](https://www.jpf.go.jp/Documents/vce/japanese2nd/2019JapaneseSLSD.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Die einzelnen Partikeln können je nach Konstruktion weitere Funktionen haben. Nachdem du diesen Artikel gelesen hast, wirst du ohne Probleme in der Lage sein, deine Gedanken in einen grammatisch korrekten japanischen Satz zu bringen und hast eine solide Grundlage für deine zukünftigen Lernfortschritte gelegt. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Japanische Grammatik: Wie unterscheidet sie sich von der deutschen Grammatik? Die japanische Grammatik bzw. Satzstruktur mag zunächst etwas verwirrend erscheinen. Besonders wenn du versuchst Wort für Wort zu übersetzen, wirst du feststellen, dass dies auf Deutsch oft nur Kauderwelsch ergibt. Das liegt an der Besonderheit der Wortstellung des Japanischen, die ich dir im Folgenden erklären möchte. ### Japanische Grammatik: Wortstellung Deutsch ist in einfachen Aussagesätzen typischerweise eine S-V-O-Sprache (Subjekt – Verb – Objekt). Japanisch wird für Lernzwecke häufig als S-O-V-Sprache beschrieben: In einem neutralen einfachen Aussagesatz steht das Prädikat normalerweise am Ende. In natürlichen Äußerungen können Satzteile jedoch ausgelassen, vorangestellt oder nachgetragen werden. ![Japanische Grammatik: Japanische Satzstruktur](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/Ich-mag-Japanisch.png) Um daher einen Satz korrekt von Japanisch auf Deutsch zu übersetzen hilft es sehr zunächst das Subjekt zu übersetzen, dann ans Ende des japanischen Satzes zu springen und das Verb zu übersetzen und schließlich das Objekt. Lass mich dies anhand einer kleinen Tabelle visualisieren: | ねこは | 魚を | 食べる | | ------- | ------ | ----- | | Katze | Fisch | essen | | Subjekt | Objekt | Verb | Dies klingt auf Deutsch zunächst ungewohnt, weil das Objekt vor dem Verb steht. Japanische Verben werden allerdings sehr wohl flektiert: Sie verändern ihre Form unter anderem für Zeit, Verneinung und Höflichkeit, aber nicht wie deutsche Verben nach Person und Numerus. Nach dem Grundmuster lässt sich der Beispielsatz als „Die Katze isst (den) Fisch“ verstehen. Bestimmte und unbestimmte Artikel wie „der“, „die“, „das“, „ein“ oder „eine“ gibt es im Japanischen nicht. Hier ist ein etwas komplexeres Beispiel: | 私は | 友だちに | てがみを | 書きました | | ------- | ------------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------- | | Ich | an Freund | Brief | geschrieben | | Subjekt | indirektes Objekt (Dativ) | direktes Objekt(Akkusativ) | Verb | Zwischen dem Subjekt und dem Verb am Ende des Satzes findest du die zwei Objekte des Satzes. Du kannst die Bedeutung des Satzes noch immer erkennen, aber mit zunehmendem Schwierigkeitsgrad und steigender Komplexität der Sätze wird es immer wichtiger die einzelnen Elemente des Satzes richtig zu erkennen und zu übersetzen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Was gehört in einen japanischen Satz? Die erste Regel, die man lernt (und von der du vielleicht auch schon gehört hast) ist, dass ein japanischer Satz **nur ein Verb braucht**, um grammatikalisch vollständiger Satz betrachtet werden zu können. So kann man mit dem Wort “食べた” schon einen Satz abschließen und ihn mit “Ich habe gegessen.” übersetzen. Werden japanische Sätze komplexer, helfen Partikeln dabei, die grammatische Rolle einzelner Elemente zu erkennen. Die Wortstellung ist in vielen Fällen flexibler als im Deutschen, aber nicht beliebig: Informationsstruktur, Fokus, Satztyp und natürliche Sprachgewohnheiten schränken die möglichen Reihenfolgen ein. Wie bringt man also Struktur in den japanischen Satz? Die Antwort: mit Partikeln. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Japanische Satzstruktur: Partikel, die du kennen musst | 私 | は | 友だち | に | てがみ | を | 書きました | | ------- | - | ------------------------ | - | -------------------------- | - | ----------- | | Ich | | Freund | | Brief | | geschrieben | | Subjekt | ? | indirektes Objekt(Dativ) | ? | direktes Objekt(Akkusativ) | ? | Verb | Die gelb hinterlegten Wörter sind, was wir “grammatische Partikel” nennen. Stelle dir einen japanischen Satz wie eine Mauer vor. Die Wörter sind die Steine und die Partikel sind der Zement, die sie zusammenhält. ### Wie funktionieren Partikel in einem japanischen Satz? Partikel sind grammatikalische Marker, die **hinter** Nomen, Adjektive, Verben und manchmal sogar ganze Sätze angefügt werden und ihnen eine grammatikalische Funktion zuordnen. Einfach gesagt weisen Partikel dem Element im Satz seine Rolle zu und sagen uns: - was das **Thema** des Satzes ist, - **wer** etwas macht, - **wo** die Handlung stattfindet, **woher** sie stammt oder **wohin** sie führt - **wann** die Handlung stattfindet - **wie** die Handlung stattfindet - **mit** **wem** - usw. In unserem ersten Beispielsatz kannst du erkennen, dass は und を die Beziehung der Elemente (Katze, Fisch) zu dem Verb (essen) herstellen. | ねこ | は | 魚 | を | 食べる | | ------- | -------- | ------ | -------- | ----- | | Katze | | Fisch | | essen | | Subjekt | Partikel | Objekt | Partikel | Verb | は sagt in diesem Fall aus, wer etwas isst: ねこは食べる。(Die Katze isst) を sagt uns, was gegessen wird: 魚を食べる。(Fisch essen) Subjekt und Objekt sind also **unmittelbar mit dem Verb verbunden.** Das heißt der Satz mit dem Subjekt benötigt nicht zwingend das Objekt und der Satz mit dem Objekt benötigt nicht unbedingt ein Subjekt, **aber beide Sätze benötigen ein Verb.** Beide Elemente vereint, ergeben den Satz: “Die Katze isst Fisch.” In unserem zweiten Beispielsatz kannst du erkennen, dass は das Subjekt markiert, を das direkte Objekt (Akkusativ) markiert und に das indirekte Objekt (Dativ) markiert. | 私 | は | 友だち | に | てがみ | を | 書きました | | ------- | -------- | ----------------- | -------- | --------------- | -------- | ----------- | | Ich | | Freund | | Brief | | geschrieben | | Subjekt | Partikel | indirektes Objekt | Partikel | direktes Objekt | Partikel | Verb | Was besonders am Anfang eine Herausforderung darstellt, ist die Tatsache, **dass Partikel meistens kein Äquivalent auf Deutsch haben** und sich entsprechend kaum übersetzen lassen. In manchen Fällen kann man mit Hilfe von Präpositionen, wie “an, auf, von, bei, usw.” die Bedeutung von Partikel widerspiegeln. Partikel stellen nach den Verben die grundlegendste grammatikalische Einheit dar. Die Anzahl der Partikel ist überschaubar, jedoch hat jede Partikel mehrere grammatikalische Funktionen, die du mit der Zeit lernen wirst. Am Anfang ist es wichtig, sich auf die Hauptfunktionen jeder Partikel zu konzentrieren. Je mehr du in der Sprache fortschreitest, umso mehr wirst du ein Gefühl und Verständnis für die Funktionsweise der Partikel erlangen. Du hast nun genug verstanden, um dich den Partikeln zu widmen. Lass uns mit den Partikel は und が beginnen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### は - die Themapartikel “wa” Die Partikel は (Aussprache als Partikel immer: wa) wird mit gutem Recht die “Themapartikel” genannt. Sie stellt das Thema des Satzes vor, in anderen Worten: Das, worüber du sprechen möchtest. **明日の天気は**どうでしょう。 = Wie wird **das Wetter morgen** wohl sein? （あしたのてんきはどうでしょう） Das Thema im obenstehenden Satzes ist das Wetter. Es braucht einige Zeit, bis man das Konzept des “Themas” verstanden hat, da es in unserer Sprache so nicht existiert und wir es daher häufig mit dem Subjekt gleichsetzen. Oft wird das Thema mit der Phrase “Was … betrifft” versucht ins Deutsche zu übersetzen. **今日は**何をしましたか。= Was hast du **heute** gemacht? Hier wird “heute”, im Unterschied zu “gestern” und “morgen”, als Thema des Satzes vorgestellt. Auf deutscher Seite eine Zeitangabe, wird sie durch は am Anfang des Satzes zum Thema. Du wirst schnell feststellen, dass は sehr häufig am Satzanfang zu finden ist. Sie teilt den Zuhörenden bzw. Lesenden die Grundinformation des Satzes mit, sodass jeder Bescheid weiß worüber gesprochen wird, worauf die Details des Satzes folgen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### が - die Subjektpartikel “ga” Im Kontrast zur eben beschriebenen Themapartikel, markiert が das Subjekt einer Handlung. 頭が痛い （あたまがいたい）= Mein Kopf tut weh 私がやる！（わたしがやる）= Ich werde es machen! が markiert häufig das grammatische Subjekt oder hebt neue bzw. fokussierte Information hervor. Das markierte Element ist nicht immer die handelnde Person; bei Ausdrücken wie 好き oder 分かる übernimmt が Funktionen, die sich nicht direkt mit dem deutschen Handlungssubjekt gleichsetzen lassen. In Kombination mit gewissen Adjektiven und Verben, wird anstatt der Objektpartikel を die Partikel が verwendet. Dies ist unter anderem der Fall bei: - 好き（すき）- mögen - 嫌い（きらい）- nicht mögen - 分かる（わかる）- verstehen 意味が分からない。（いみがわからない）= Ich verstehe den Sinn nicht. 私は本が好きです。（わたしはほんがすきです）= Ich mag Bücher. (Was mich betrifft...) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### は vs. が - Der Unterschied zwischen “wa” und “ga” Die Differenzierung zwischen は und が ist keine leichte Sache. Die schlechte Nachricht ist: Es ist wahrscheinlich eines der am schwierigsten zu verstehenden Konzepte der japanischen Sprache, bei dem sich selbst Linguisten uneins sind. Mit der Zeit wirst du ein Gespür dafür bekommen, ob は oder が natürlicher klingt. Aber die gute Nachricht ist: Selbst wenn du die Unterscheidung noch nicht perfekt beherrscht, werden Japaner dich verstehen. Wie kann man also zunächst は oder が grob voneinander unterscheiden? Es hilft, sich は als die Partikel vorzustellen, die sich auf die Informationen bezieht, mit denen jeder Gesprächsteilnehmer vertraut ist. Sei es das Wetter, Jahreszeiten, Personen etc**. は legt den Rahmen der Konversation, zu der weitere Informationen folgen** und wird daher sehr häufig verwendet. Die Subjektpartikel **が hingegen ist spezifischer und identifiziert den Akteur einer Handlung eindeutig.** 山田さんは日本から来ました。（やまださんはにほんからきました）= Herr Yamada kommt aus Japan. 山田さんが日本からは来ました。Herr Yamada (innerhalb einer erwähnten Gruppe/ist derjenige, der...) kommt aus Japan. In anderen Worten: は beschreibt den Kontext und が beschreibt die Handlung oder die Identifizierung. Während du diesen Brocken Grammatik erst einmal verarbeiten musst, lass uns mit Partikeln weitermachen, die einfacher zu verstehen sind. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### を - Die Objektpartikel “o” Die Partikel を wird manchmal als “wo” und manchmal als “o” transkribiert. Die Wahrheit ist, die korrekte Aussprache liegt irgendwo dazwischen, aber bevor man ein zu starkes “w” ausspricht, ist es ratsam es mehr wie ein “o” auszusprechen. Die Objektpartikel markiert, wie der Name schon zeigt, das Objekt einer Handlung. Also die Person, der Gegenstand mit dem etwas passiert und entspricht daher dem Akkusativobjekt auf Deutsch. すしを食べる。= Ich esse Sushi. テレビを見る。= Ich schaue Fernsehen. Durch Umstellen der Elemente eines Satzes kannst du sehen wie die japanische Satzstruktur verändert werden kann, ohne ihre Bedeutung zu verändern, solange du die Partikel korrekt hinter die Elemente hängst. Dieser Aspekt ähnelt in gewisser Weise der deutschen Satzstruktur. Auch auf Deutsch können Elemente im Satz vertauscht werden und solange der Kasus sich nicht verändert, bleibt auch die Bedeutung des Satzes dieselbe. 犬はケーキを食べる。Der Hund isst Kuchen. (Das sollte er natürlich nicht tun, aber..) ケーキを犬は食べる。Kuchen isst der Hund. Natürlich bedeutet grammatikalisch korrekt nicht gleich, dass es natürlich klingt. Japaner neigen dazu der SOV-Struktur zu folgen und erst das Subjekt zu nennen, gefolgt von direktem Objekt (Akkusativ) und Verb. | 犬は | ケーキを | 食べる | | ---------------- | --------------- | ---- | | Thema des Satzes | direktes Objekt | Verb | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### へ - Die Richtungspartikel “e” Die Richtungspartikel へ (geschrieben “he”, aber als Partikel ausgesprochen “e”) markiert die Bewegung in eine gewisse Richtung und wird zusammen mit Bewegungsverben, wie z.B. 行く (iku - gehen) oder 送る (okuru - schicken) verwendet. スーパーへ行く = In den Supermarkt gehen / Ich gehe in den Supermarkt. 海外へ送る（かいがいへおくる）= Ins Ausland schicken / Ich schicke (es) ins Ausland. Die Betonung liegt bei へ auf der Richtung, in die sich etwas bewegt und weniger auf dem Ziel(ort). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### に - Die Partikel “ni” Wie dir aufgefallen sein mag, habe ich dieser Partikel keinen besonderen Namen gegeben. Dies liegt daran, dass sie mehrere Verwendungsmöglichkeiten hat, die ich dir hier erklären möchte. Die Funktionen, die **ausschließlich** von に erfüllt werden, sind die Bestimmung der Zeit (Uhrzeit, Tag, Monat, Jahr), zu der etwas stattfindet, die Bestimmung des Ortes, an dem sich etwas befindet, sowie die Angabe des indirekten Objekts (Dativ) und des Agens in einer Passivkonstruktion. #### Zeit: パーティーは**６時に**始まる。Die Party fängt **um 6 Uhr** an. **月曜日に**テストがあります。**Am Montag** habe ich eine Klausur. **５月に**日本へ行く。**Im Mai** gehe ich nach Japan. **２０２１年に**大学を卒業する。**Im Jahr 2021** beende ich mein Studium. Beachte: に nicht mit allen Wörtern zur Angabe der Zeit verwendet werden. Hier eine (unvollständige) Auflistung von Wörtern, die du **nicht** mit に kombinieren kannst: - 今日（きょう）heute - 昨日（きのう）gestern - 一昨日（おととい）vorgestern - 明日（あした）morgen - 明後日（あさって）übermorgen - 今（いま）jetzt - 朝（あさ）(der) Morgen - 晩（ばん）(der) Abend - いつ wann - 毎〜（まい）jeden… wie in 毎日（まいにち）= jeden Tag - 今〜（こん）diesen … wie in 今晩（こんばん）= diesen Abend - 来〜（らい）nächsten… wie in 来月（らいげつ）= nächsten Monat #### Ort: 学校にいる。Ich bin in der Schule. 本はテーブルの上にある。Das Buch befindet sich auf dem Tisch. 東京に住んでいる。Ich lebe in Tokio. Zur Angabe wo sich etwas befindet benötigst du die Verben いる und ある. Wie du an den Beispielsätzen wunderbar erkennen kannst, wird いる mit lebendigen Wesen, die einen eigenen Willen haben (wie Mensch und Tier), verwendet, und unbewegliche Dinge ohne eigenen Willen (wie Pflanzen oder Gegenstände) werden mit ある verwendet. Das Beispiel mit dem Verb 住む（すむ）”leben”, habe ich hinzugefügt, da es oft fälschlicherweise mit einer anderen Partikel verwendet wird, die ich gleich erklären werde. #### Indirektes Objekt (=Dativobjekt): Darüber hinaus kann に auch zur Angabe des indirekten Objektes verwendet werden. Sieh dir folgendes Beispiel an: | 私は | かれに | ぺんを | あげました | | ------- | ----------------- | --------------- | ------- | | Ich | “zu” ihm | Stift | gegeben | | Subjekt | indirektes Objekt | direktes Objekt | Verb | Dieser Satz lässt sich mit “Ich habe ihm einen Stift gegeben.” übersetzen. Das indirekte (Dativ-) Objekt zeigt an, wer oder was etwas erhält. Das direkte (Akkusativ-) Objekt ist der Gegenstand der überreicht wird. Angabe des Agens (Täters) in einer Passivkonstruktion: Schließlich wird に auch zur Angabe des Täters in Passivkonstruktionen verwendet. | 私は | 先生に | しかられました | | ------- | ------------ | ------------------ | | Ich | “vom” Lehrer | zurechtgewiesen | | Subjekt | Agens | Verb in Passivform | Dieser Satz lässt sich mit “Ich wurde vom Lehrer zurechtgewiesen.” übersetzen. Der Agens ist das Element, welches dem Subjekt des Satzes etwas “antut”. Besonders gut konnte ich mir dieses Beispiel anhand des folgenden Beispielssatzes merken: 雨に降られた（あめにふられた）= Ich wurde vom Regen “beregnet”. In dieser Konstruktion kann man förmlich spüren, wie man vom Regen durchnässt wurde; sprich regelrecht “beregnet”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### へ vs. に - Der Unterschied zwischen “e” und “ni” へ und に teilen sich die Funktion für die **Richtungsangabe** und sind in dieser Hinsicht **austauschbar**. Die beiden folgenden Sätze sind daher grammatikalisch korrekt. 学校に行く。= Ich gehe zur Schule. 学校へ行く。= Ich gehe zur Schule. Überraschenderweise wissen auch Muttersprachler auf Nachfrage nicht, warum sie manchmal die eine oder die andere Partikel benutzen und wählen sie ganz natürlich. Wie kannst du sie also auseinanderhalten? Wenn du ein Grammatikbuch aufschlägst, wird dir vermutlich erklärt, dass der Unterschied zwischen へ und に im “Fokus” liegt. Ein guter Anfang ist also, **sich に als eine Partikel zu merken, die sich auf das Ziel fokussiert**, auf den Ort, den du erreichen möchtest. 学校に行く。= Ich gehe zur Schule (und habe die Absicht dort pünktlich für meinen Unterricht anzukommen) Im Gegensatz dazu **fokussiert sich へ auf die Bewegung in Richtung des Ziels**, unabhängig davon, ob du besagtes Ziel letztendlich erreichst oder nicht. スーパーへ行く。= Ich gehe zum Supermarkt (aber ich könnte möglicherweise nicht dort hingehen, sondern auf dem Weg dorthin meine Meinung ändern und woanders hingehen) Wenn die Differenzierung für dich immer noch unklar ist, hilft es dir vielleicht sich zu merken, dass に mit Verben, wie: - 着く（つく）ankommen - 乗る（のる）fahren, einsteigen (insb. Bus und Bahn) - 帰る（かえる）heimkehren verwendet wird, da sie allesamt ein Gefühl des “Erreichen eines Ziels” vermitteln. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### で - Die Partikel “de” Die Partikel で hat hauptsächlich drei Funktionen, die klar voneinander unterschieden werden können. #### 1.Handlungsort: で wird verwendet um den Handlungsort von Verben anzugeben. **学校で**運動会をする。= Wir veranstalten ein Sportfest **in der Schule**. **電車で**漫画を読む。 = Ich lese einen Manga **im Zug**. #### 2.Mittel: で wird verwendet, um den Gegenstand oder das Mittel anzugeben mit dem man etwas tut. **ペンで**書く。= Ich schreibe **mit einem Stift**. **車で**来た。= Ich bin **mit dem Auto** gekommen. #### 3.Angabe des Grundes で wird verwendet, um den Grund anzugeben, weshalb etwas passiert ist. **風で**学校を休んだ。= **Wegen einer Erkältung** hab ich in der Schule gefehlt. **雨で**イベントは中止になった。= **Wegen des Regens** wurde das Event abgesagt. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### で vs. に - Der Unterschied zwischen “de” und “ni” Können sich で und に überschneiden, wenn es darum geht einen Ortsangabe zu machen? Glücklicherweise, nicht wirklich. Die Partikel で fokussiert sich auf die Handlung an sich und weniger auf den Ort der Handlung, der mehr als zusätzliche Information verstanden werden sollte. Hier ist ein Beispiel, das dir hilft diesen Unterschied zu verstehen: 都会**で**暮らす。（とかいでくらす）= **Ich lebe** in der Stadt. 都会**に**暮らす。（とかいにくらす）= Ich lebe **in der Stadt.** Während die Übersetzung im Deutschen keinen Unterschied macht, bringt die Verwendung von で und に eine Nuance ein, die für Muttersprachler leicht zu verstehen ist. Im ersten Satz wird das Verb “leben” von der Partikel で betont. Der Sprecher fokussiert sich auf den “Vorgang des Lebens” und die Stadt ist bloß eine Detailangabe. Mit dem zweiten Satz hingegen, fokussiert sich der Sprecher auf den Ort, in dem er lebt. Deshalb wird, wie oben bereits erwähnt, für gewöhnlich die Partikel に zur Angabe des Wohnorts verwendet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### から - Die Partikel “kara” Hier möchte ich dir die zwei Verwendungsmöglichkeiten von から vorstellen. Grundsätzlich lässt sich から mit dem Deutschen “von” oder “ab” übersetzen. Behalte diese Bedeutung im Hinterkopf, wenn du dir die Beispiele ansiehst. Ursprung oder Beginn: から wird zur Angabe des Ursprungs oder des Beginn von etwas verwendet. 学校は朝８時から始まる。 = Die Schule fängt um (“ab”) 8 Uhr morgens an. ドイツから来ました。 = Ich komme aus (“von”) Deutschland. Zusammen mit der Partikel まで (bis) wird es verwendet, um den Beginn und das Ende von etwas anzugeben. 学校は朝８時から午後３時までです。= Die Schule (der Unterricht) findet von 8 Uhr morgens bis 3 Uhr nachmittags statt. Angabe des Grundes oder der Ursache. から kann auch dazu verwendet werden, um anzugeben, warum etwas getan wird oder passiert. Beachte, dass der **Grund vor der Ursache** kommt! この本は面白いから、読んでください。= Bitte lies dieses Buch, da es interessant ist. (wortwörtlich: weil dieses Buch interessant ist, lies es bitte.) Beachte auch, dass から angepasst werden muss, abhängig von der Wortart, an die es gehangen wird. - Verb + から = から - い-Adjektiv + から = から - な-Adjektiv + から = **だ**から - Nomen + から = **だ**から - 食べた**から**、いらない。 = Ich brauche es nicht, weil ich gegessen habe - 安い**から**、買う。 = Ich kaufe es, weil es günstig ist. - きれい**だから**、好き。 = Ich mag es, weil es schön/sauber ist. - 冬**だから**、寒い。 = Es ist kalt, weil Winter ist. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### と - Die Partikel “to” Die Partikel と ist eine der ersten Partikel, die Japanisch-Lernenden vorgestellt wird, da sie ein sehr praktischer Mittel ist, um auszudrücken, dass man etwas “mit jemandem” oder “mit etwas” macht. Man kann mit と auch Nomen miteinander verbinden und auflisten. 1. **友だちと**海に行く。 = Ich gehe **mit einem Freund** zum Meer. 2. **猫と犬**が好き。 = Ich mag **Katzen und Hunde**. Neben den Bedeutungen “mit” und “und” hat と noch viele weitere Bedeutungen und wird z.B. beim Zitieren von wörtlicher Rede oder bei “wenn..., dann…”-Konstruktionen verwendet. Für den Anfang reicht es aber, dir diese beiden Bedeutungen zu merken. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### も - Die Partikel “mo” Kommen wir zu einer der leichteren Partikel. Die Partikel も hat die Grundbedeutung “auch” und kann zusammen mit der Partikel は als Fokuspartikel bezeichnet werden, da sie das markierte Element ebenfalls hervorhebt und mit der Bedeutung “auch” versieht. 山田さんはすしを食べる。私もすしを食べる。= Herr Yamada isst Sushi. **Ich** esse **auch** Sushi. Wie du siehst hat も in diesem Beispiel das Subjekt hervorgehoben und die Partikel は ersetzt. Merke: も kann anderen Partikeln kombiniert werden, kann aber nicht mit den Partikeln が und を benutzt werden. In diesem Fall überwiegt も. お母さんにはてがみを書く。= Ich schreibe einen Brief an meine Mutter (impliziert, dass an niemand anderen ein Brief geschrieben wird) お母さんにもてがみを書く。= Ich schreibe einen Brief an meine Mutter (impliziert, dass auch an jemand anderen ein Brief geschrieben wird) - リンゴがもおいしい。 - リンゴもおいしい。 \= Äpfel sind auch lecker. - (私は)リンゴをも食べる。 - (私は)リンゴもたべる。 \= (Ich) esse auch Äpfel ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### の - Die Partikel “no” Die Partikel の ist eine der wichtigsten Partikel überhaupt. Du kannst es an Nomen oder sogar Teilsätze hängen, um Besitz, Zugehörigkeit oder Details anzugeben. #### Besitz: 先生のコート = Der Mantel des Lehrers 私のバッグ = Meine Tasche #### Zugehörigkeit: 東京の人 = Ein Mensch aus Tokio 先生の提案 = Der Vorschlag des Lehrers (ein Vorschlag, der vom Lehrer stammt) #### zusätzliche Informationen: 日本語の本 = ein japanisches Buch (du gibst Informationen zum Gegenstand) 学校の前 = vor der Schule (du gibst Informationen zum Ort) こちらは山田のどうりょうです。 = Das hier ist mein Kollege, Tanaka. eine weitere **überaus wichtige grammatikalische Funktion von の** ist, dass es ein Adjektiv oder ein Verb (bis hin zu einer ganzen Verbalphrase) **in ein Nomen umwandeln** kann. #### Nominalisierung: **安いの**を買う。 = Ich kaufe das **Günstige**. #### Vergleiche: 友だちと話す。 = Mit Freunden sprechen **友だちと話すの**がすきです。= Ich mag es mit Freunden zu sprechen (wortwörtlich: Ich mag **das Sprechen mit meinen Freunden**) Die neu geformte “Nominalphrase” wird genau wie ein Nomen verwendet und kann daher durch andere Partikel mit dem Rest des Satzes verbunden werden. Es mag vielleicht offensichtlich sein, aber vielleicht ist es gut darauf hinzuweisen, dass in einer Nominalphrase die Partikel の ihre Freiheit verliert und nicht mehr bewegt werden kann, da ansonsten das Konstrukt in sich zusammenfällt und die Phrase ihre Bedeutung verliert. Bisher hast du nur Partikel kennengelernt, die du in der Mitte eines Satzes verwenden kannst. Im nächsten Kapitel soll eine Partikel vorgestellt werden, mit der du eine Aussage ganz einfach in eine Frage verwandeln kannst. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Japanische Fragen mit der Fragepartikel か bilden In höflichen japanischen Sätzen wird eine Aussage häufig durch das satzabschließende か zur Frage. Das ist ein wichtiges Grundmuster, aber nicht die einzige Möglichkeit: In informeller Sprache können Intonation, Fragewörter und andere Satzendformen eine Frage kennzeichnen. In traditionell gesetztem Japanisch ist bei か kein Fragezeichen erforderlich, in moderner informeller Schrift wird es dennoch häufig verwendet. ラーメンを食べます。 = (Ich) esse Ramen. ラーメンを食べます**か**。 = Essen (Sie) Ramen? できました。 = (Ich) habe es geschafft. できました**か**。 = Haben (Sie) es geschafft? Auf diese Weise kannst du ganz einfach Ja- oder Nein-Fragen machen. Beachte, dass か **nur bei Fragen in der Höflichkeitssprache** verwendet wird. In der Umgangssprache wird eine Frage beispielsweise durch die Intonation angedeutet. ラーメン（を）食べる？ = Isst (du) Ramen? Neben Ja- oder Nein-Fragen gibt es natürlich auch die berühmten W-Fragen. ### Was: 何 “nani” bzw. “nan” **何（なに）**を食べます**か**。 = **Was** essen Sie? すしを食べます。 = Ich esse Sushi. **何（なん）**です**か**。 = **Was** ist das? うどんです。 = Das sind Udon-Nudeln. ### Wo: どこ **どこ**で食べます**か**。 = **Wo** essen Sie? うちで食べます。 = Ich esse zu Hause. **どこ**です**か**。 = **Wo** ist das? 渋谷です。 = In Shibuya. ### Wer: 誰 “dare” **誰**です**か**。 = **Wer** ist das? 田中さんです。 = Herr Tanaka **誰と**海に行きました**か**。 = **Mit wem** bist du zum Meer gegangen? かれしと行きました。 = (Ich bin) mit meinem Freund gegangen. ### Wann: いつ “itsu” **いつ**食べますか = **Wann** isst du? １２時に食べます = Ich esse um 12 Uhr. Das Fragewort “wie” lässt sich auf Japanisch mit zwei verschiedenen Fragewörtern ausdrücken: どう und どうやって. どう fokussiert sich auf den Zustand und どうやって fokussiert sich auf das Mittel. **Sehr oft wird auf eine Frage mit どうやって auch in der Antwort die Partikel で benutzt, die wir oben bereits behandelt haben.** ### Wie (Zustand): どう **どう**です**か**。 = **Wie** ist es? おいしいです。 = Es ist lecker. ### Wie (Mittel): どうやって **どうやって**日本語を勉強します**か**。 = **Wie** lernen Sie Japanisch? LingoDeer**で**勉強します。 = Ich lerne **mit (durch)** LingoDeer. Toll, dass du bis hierhin gelesen hast! Lass uns jetzt noch schnell einen Blick über ein paar Charakteristika der japanischen Satzstruktur werfen. ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Andere Charakteristika der japanischen Satzstruktur Während du gelernt hast, wie man japanische Sätze bildet, ist dir sicherlich aufgefallen, dass das ein oder andere fehlt, was du aus dem Deutschen gewohnt bist. Lass uns einen kurzen Blick darauf werfen, was die japanische Satzstruktur “nicht hat”. ### Japanische Satzstruktur: Keine Artikel Das dürfte eine riesen Erleichterung sein! Während du dich in Japanisch mit den Partikeln auseinandersetzen musst, brauchst du dir auf der anderen Seite keine Gedanken um Artikel, wie “der, die das”, geschweige denn “dem, den usw.” machen. Was uns zu einer noch besseren Nachricht führt. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanische Satzstruktur: Nomen flektieren nicht Genau! Japanische Nomen sind im Grunde unveränderlich. Nomen flektieren nicht aufgrund von Geschlecht, Anzahl oder grammatikalischer Funktion. Diese Eigenschaften machen japanische Nomen vergleichsweise formstabil. Für korrekte Sätze müssen Lernende neben den Partikeln jedoch auch Verb- und Adjektivformen, Satzendungen, Informationsstruktur und den jeweiligen Kontext beherrschen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanische Satzstruktur: Auslassen von Informationen Wenn du anfängst Japanisch zu lernen, verbringst du zunächst viel Zeit damit korrekte und vollständige Sätze zu bilden, das Thema sorgfältig zu markieren und den Satz mit allen direkten sowie indirekten Objekten und Partikeln zu versehen. In Wirklichkeit ist die japanische Sprache höchst kontextabhängig und erlaubt es dir Informationen, die dem Kontext entnehmbar sind und daher dem Zuhörer bekannt sind, auszulassen. Muttersprachler lassen Pronomen, wie 私 oder あなた sowie das Thema des Satzes (は) in ohne großes Zögern aus. ![japanischer Grammatik: Japanische Satzstruktur](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/ich-liebe-dich-japanisch.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### japanische Satzstruktur: Grammatische Reihenfolge vs. Natürliche Reihenfolge In diesem Leitfaden haben wir immer wieder festgestellt, dass ein japanischer Satz grammatikalisch korrekt ist, solange Wörter und Sätze mit den richtigen grammatikalischen Partikeln verwendet werden und an ein abschließendes Verb angehängt werden. Aber klingt dein Satz auch natürlich? Muttersprachler neigen dazu einer gewissen Reihenfolge zu folgen, wenn sie Sätze bilden. Here ist also die Struktur, die du im Kopf behalten solltest, wenn du komplexe Sätze konstruieren möchtest. **Satzthema - Zeit - Ort - Subjekt - indirektes Objekt - direktes Objekt - Verb** Merke dir dieses “Gerüst” der japanischen Satzstruktur und dein Japanisch wird wie das eines Muttersprachlers klingen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Die Grundzüge der japanischen Grammatik: Eine kurze Zusammenfassung Fassen wir kurz zusammen: Partikeln erlauben im Japanischen eine gewisse Flexibilität der Wortstellung, doch die Reihenfolge kann Fokus, Natürlichkeit und Interpretation beeinflussen. In neutralen einfachen Sätzen steht das Prädikat typischerweise am Ende. Um einen japanischen Satz zu bilden, benutzt du Partikel, die du an Nomen, Verben, Adjektive oder Sätze anfügst, um ihnen eine grammatikalische Funktion zuzuweisen. Partikel helfen dabei einen Satz inhaltlich mit den richtigen Informationen zu füllen, unabhängig davon, wie die Elemente angeordnet sind. Die größte Schwierigkeit für Anfänger besteht darin, die Feinheiten der japanischen Partikel zu verstehen, insbesondere, wenn sie keine Entsprechung im Deutschen haben. Die Wortstellung und die Partikel können die Betonung beeinflussen, sodass ein frühes Verständnis der japanischen Satzstruktur der Schlüssel zum Erlernen grammatikalischer Konzepte für fortgeschrittene Anfänger und Fortgeschrittene ist. Abschließend sei noch einmal zu erwähnen, dass ein großes Hindernis, welches dir auf deiner Reise begegnen wird, die Leichtigkeit ist, mit der Muttersprachler Satzteile auslassen und dich mit der Frage hinterlassen, was denn genau fehlt. Nur eine gute Kenntnis der japanischen Syntax wird dir helfen, diese Lücke instinktiv zu füllen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) Falls du Lust bekommen hast, noch mehr über das Japanischlernen zu erfahren, dann haben wir genau den richtigen Artikel für dich! Klicke [hier für unseren Leitfaden](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanisch-lernen-anfaenger/) zum Erlernen der japanischen Sprache, der dir viele wertvolle Tipps und das richtige Werkzeug in die Hand legt, um dein Lernziel noch schneller zu erreichen. ## Häufig gestellte Fragen ### Steht das Verb im Japanischen immer am Satzende? In neutralen einfachen Aussagesätzen steht das Prädikat normalerweise am Ende. Natürliche Sprache kennt jedoch Auslassungen, Nachträge, eingebettete Sätze und markierte Reihenfolgen, weshalb „immer“ zu absolut wäre. ### Werden japanische Verben konjugiert? Ja. Japanische Verben verändern ihre Form unter anderem für Zeit, Verneinung und Höflichkeit. Anders als deutsche Verben richten sie sich dabei nicht nach der Person oder dem Numerus des Subjekts. ### Was ist der grundlegende Unterschied zwischen は und が? は führt typischerweise ein Thema ein oder markiert einen Kontrast. が kennzeichnet häufig das grammatische Subjekt oder fokussierte beziehungsweise neue Information. Die genaue Wahl hängt von Satzbau und Kontext ab. ### Kann man japanische Satzteile beliebig umstellen? Nein. Partikeln ermöglichen eine gewisse Flexibilität, doch Fokus, Informationsstruktur, Satztyp und natürliche Sprachgewohnheiten beeinflussen, welche Reihenfolge verständlich und idiomatisch ist. ### Wie bildet man eine japanische Frage? In höflichen Sätzen steht häufig か am Satzende. Informelle Fragen können dagegen durch Intonation, Fragewörter oder andere Satzendformen gekennzeichnet werden. *Referenzen:* Siehe die Partikelübersicht der [Japan Foundation](https://www.jpf.go.jp/Documents/vce/japanese2nd/2019JapaneseSLSD.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) und die Grammatikmodule der [Tokyo University of Foreign Studies](https://www.coelang.tufs.ac.jp/mt/ja/gmod/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### All You Need to Know About Duolingo German-[Duolingo German Review] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-german-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:28:26.000Z German was never available as a language to learn at school, and it never started to learn German until after I moved to Germany in 2011\. I arrived in Germany without knowing a word! Even though English is related to German, the pronunciation is very different and I found that not being able to make myself understood to be very disorienting. Apart from the **additional vowels** through umlauts and combinations, the grammar of German sentences feels like it has been turned on its head. Numbers are back-the-front, and **all nouns require an article with the correct gender**, which also **changes the adjective endings and plurals**! There is so much to remember as a new German-language student. Having said that, I went from zero to an intermediate level in a few months of almost daily exercises and speaking practice. But, can Duolingo German help you get there quickly? Especially if you live in another country? ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## How Does Duolingo Make Learning Fun? Duolingo has **gamified** language learning - when you have more fun, you can more easily remember what you have learned, and keep your motivation high. There are many fun and useful features that Duolingo uses to encourage you to study German daily. - **Level up!** As you complete and repeat each lesson and maintain your daily language study streaks and XP goals, you earn points (**Lingots**), **hearts** and level ups (**crowns**). With each level you unlock, you receive achievement badges. You can **purchase costumes** and **access to bonus lessons** using the Lingots and hearts. ![Duolingo German Review Lingots, hearts and crowns](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-581db6f140658d88.png) - **Smooth design:** The app is well designed with a cute and fairly busy artwork style that will appeal to some language students. The interface itself is intuitive - quick to learn and easy to use - and is the same across Duolingo’s languages. New words are usually presented with cute graphics which may aid in recall. It’s **not boring**, and unlockable mascot costumes will certainly keep some people playing and learning. - **Intelligent revision:** The spaced repetition system, while it doesn’t contribute to your experience levels, is useful for cementing the German you learn and making it easier to recall. As more time has passed since you last covered a word or phrase, you will be prompted to revise it. ![Duolingo German Review Plus](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-4fe1b1b3835200d8.png) - **Community spirit:** The language community around Duolingo is large, regularly participating in events and communicating via the busy **forum**. Studying alongside other people learning the same language is motivating. Plus, you can **compete** with your friends and the community to place on the leaderboards each week. - **Limited hearts:** While earning hearts with which you can unlock further lessons is a good incentive, it can also feel like it breaks up the learning process. ## ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## How Does Duolingo Organize Its Lessons? Duolingo German follows the standard Duolingo formula but has also been redesigned to align more closely with the *Common European Framework of Reference for Languages* (CEFR). In each short themed lesson (called skills), you will learn a handful of words and phrases, and revise others that you have learned in earlier skills. As the **vocabulary is grouped by skill (topic)**, and not by difficulty, the related context may make it easier to remember and start using what you have learned. The app guides you to learn in a natural way through exposure, which works well for English native speakers who are studying German because the two languages are quite closely related. Duolingo German is also good for those who like to jump in at the deep end. ### Step-Through Duolingo Skills The skills are arranged into loosely related groups, with **each skill building on the previous skills**, revising the words and phrases you learned there. You do need to complete each skill multiple times to level it up enough to progress to the next skill, with 133 skills in the full German tree today. ![Duolingo German Review: Duolingo Skills](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-c4a7a8b40c2c55c2.png) You can’t dip into skills randomly, however - you **must progress through the Duolingo German lessons in order**. This is frustrating if you just want to learn a few phrases for a holiday or to ask some basic questions of a German-speaking visitor. The earlier skills, in particular, are geared more towards school-aged German students, containing vocabulary that an adult learner **does not often need** to use. ![Duolingo German Review exercise in lessons](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-84330531b86bd2b7.png) ### Use German Placement Tests to Skip Skills When starting with Duolingo German, you can select whether you are a complete beginner, or **sit a placement test**. These placement tests are available at any time to jump to a ‘checkpoint’ at the end of a very large group of skills. While this is fantastic in theory for more advanced learners, in practice, the test questions are **very restrictive**, harshly graded, cover too many topics, and allow few errors so you won’t unlock many (if any) skills or levels. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## How Does Duolingo Teach German ### Receptive Language Skills - Reading and Listening This is an app for smartphones and web browsers, so you’ll be reading and listening to spoken words and phrases most of the time. The audio is not of the highest quality, as the **spoken phrases are very fast** and often **cut off abruptly**. ![Duolingo German Review Duolingo stories](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-45d09a4b5e6aa90e.png) The stories available in Duolingo German provide you with more of a challenge for improving your reading and listening comprehension skills. **Stories** in the German language tree, in particular, are quite **over-the-top** and sometimes amusing, even if the language is not necessarily what you need for every-day communication. ![Duolingo German Review Duolingo Stories](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-96ef28876ce9450b.png) ### Productive language skills - Writing and Speaking Even more important than reading and listening when learning a new language, are the two productive skills of writing and speaking. Unfortunately, there is little practical speaking practice in Duolingo German apart from simply repeating phrases out loud. Duolingo makes you complete many **translation activities** which reinforce bad habits, such as **not requiring the correct capitalization of nouns** in German phrases, or **ignoring punctuation** in both English and German tasks. Plus, where there are many different correct answers, **only one is acceptable**, which can lead to frustration. For example, occasionally, only an idiomatic or regional phrase is accepted, even when there is a simpler, more literal correct translation. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## What Should I Expect (Or Not) From the Duolingo Course? Each skill (and placement test) is a collection of activities chosen randomly from a pool of a few limited types of tasks. - Arrange the words in a translated phrase into the right order. - Rearrange a mixed-up sentence. - Translate an entire phrase or word from one language into the other. - Tap matching pairs of words. - Transcribe what you hear spoken in German. - Choose the right picture to match a word or vice versa. - Choose the correct pronunciation of a word. - Listen to a phrase or story and answer a question correctly. At the end of the Duolingo German tree, you will have learned approximately **2000** words, putting you somewhere around **A2-B1 for listening and reading skills**, using the CEFR levels (not quite intermediate). Duolingo German does not let you practice writing or speaking, which means these skills will be at a much lower level than your listening and reading skills, which means you won’t reach conversational fluency. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Is Duolingo a Good Option For You? Everyone who learns a language has a different goal, they have different learning styles, and have fun with different types of activities. Personally, I think Duolingo German is a good taster **for complete beginners to see if they like the language**. It may also be a good refresher for upper-beginner to intermediate students. But its **lack of grammar explanations, nonsensical phrases and poor audio** meant it was not the app for me. 1. ### Duolingo German Is Good For ... 1. People who are trying out various languages to see which one they want to learn. 2. Beginners who want to learn their first 2000 words. 3. Busy people who want to dip in and review basic vocabulary and phrases. 4. Students at the A-B1 levels in the CEFR language learning system. 2. ### Duolingo German Is Not So Good For ... 1. People who prefer grammar explanations or learning more systematically. 2. Students who want clear audio or who want to work on their pronunciation. 3. Beginners who learn best when they receive appropriate feedback on written and spoken phrases. 4. Intermediate+ students who are looking to expand their vocabulary beyond their first 2000 words. 5. People who want to learn some German phrases for their next holiday. 3. ### Long Term Effects of Using Duolingo to Learn German 1. Trying to learn grammar purely from exposure makes it difficult to learn how to conjugate verbs, and use sentence case and gendered articles correctly. 2. Because the audio in Duolingo is too fast and not clear, students’ pronunciation will suffer. While the iOS app allows you to record yourself speaking, the Android and web apps don’t. 3. Duolingo German does not explicitly teach the difference between polite and casual German. This is considered especially important in business situations in Germany. 4. The lack of capitalization correction when typing German sentences cements poor spelling and bad habits. ## ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Verdict Duolingo German Review - Is Duolingo Good for Beginners? If you want an easy, gamified, and cute introduction to German, but don’t want to study the language seriously, it’s great! If you are aiming to reach a conversational level, or to write correctly in German, or even just pronounce words correctly, you will need to supplement Duolingo German with another program, app, textbook or tutor. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Alternatives to Duolingo Of course, to get fluent in German, you need a variety of tools in your language-learning toolbox. Apps, textbooks, podcasts that you can listen to on your commute and online dictionaries are the best tools to have. Don’t forget to add listening to music and watching movies in German to work on your listening skills and have fun at the same time! ### German Language Learning App **LingoDeer** currently offers two German language courses and a Travel Phrasebook (along with many other languages). The tasks that you complete in each topical lesson are more varied than Duolingo, and the Learning Tips ensure that you understand the grammar and the context in which you can use the words and phrases you have learned. **The Learning Tips** are particularly useful as they are often more detailed than a textbook. ![German learning tips](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/lADPDh0cNohpUl3NCHDNBDg_1080_2160-e1607415427206.jpg) ![knowledge card in review](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/lADPDh0cNohpUp3NCHDNBDg_1080_2160-e1607415445178.jpg) The audio in LingoDeer was recorded by native Germans, initially **spoken slowly,** then repeated faster, which ensures that the pronunciation you hear is much better than the other apps I have tried. Plus, each phrase is recorded separately, and not cobbled together from single recorded words - there is no abrupt cut-off audio here. ![Duolingo German Review Lingodeer travelbook](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-aeb978012fcb4a96.png) Finally, **the Travel Phrasebook** and vocabulary are extremely practical for practicing before you go on holiday. **LingoDeer German** is available as iOS and Android apps, as well as on the web with your browser. ### German Language Textbook When I arrived in Germany, I needed to get fluent fast. My intensive language course powered through the textbooks from A1-B2 level in just a couple of months, alongside conversation practice classes. Those textbooks are no longer available, sadly. The closest textbooks to the ones I used would be **Themen aktuell** or **Deutsch im Einsatz**. Studying by myself after the intensive course, I’ve found the **Essential Grammar in Use** and **Practice Makes Perfect** series for the German language both very useful, but then I learn best when drilling vocabulary and grammar in writing. You may find another German textbook more to your liking. ### Learn German with a Podcast **GermanPod101.com** follows the very successful formula pioneered by Innovative Language, and is a good way to hear a range of pronunciation and natural sentences. They provide podcast lessons for beginners through to advanced. ### German-English Online dictionaries **Dict.cc** has the most comprehensive explanations of German words in English, and shows you a wide variety of alternatives. **Linguee.de** will translate a phrase from German into English and vice versa, and provide you with examples of it being used in context. Like all online translations, take these with a bit of salt. The examples have often only been machine translated, and not checked by a native speaker. But it’s a good tool to ‘get a feel’ for how to use a particular word or phrase in a sentence. ### How Does Duolingo Teach French? | Duolingo French Review URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-french-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:03.000Z Bonjour bonjour! As a teacher, many of my students have asked me if language learning apps are worth their time (and sometimes, money). I like to personally test every tool I advise my students to use, and today, it’s time for Duolingo French review! Is Duolingo any good? How does it actually contribute to language learning?Let’s find out by analyzing some aspects of this app... ## What Should I Expect from Duolingo’s French Course? Before you decide to start your journey with Duolingo French, here are a few things that you could expect from it: - Learning a lot of French **vocabulary**. - Practice building **simple sentences**. - Learn **basic textbook** French. As much fun as Duolingo is, there are also some things that you should not expect from it, such as: - You probably will not be any close to fluent. - You probably will not be able to talk to a native French-speaking person that speaks everyday French. - You probably will not be able to use the expressions used in everyday French. Now that you have all this in mind, let’s continue… ## Duolingo is a Game-like Language Learning App It is accessible to beginners in French, but also to those who already have some knowledge. As you select your language course, the app will ask you if you already have some knowledge or not. If you don’t, it is perfectly fine to start off from scratch. It’s a fun and somehow addictive way to learn languages. As you progress in your language learning journey with Duolingo, you will find even more challenging levels to unlock. What makes it so fun is that **you need to achieve a certain score before you can even unlock those levels.** By repeating the same content (words and phrases) in a friendly game environment, The Duolingo leaderboard: ![Duolingo French Review Leaderbroad](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/F-leaderboader.png) Once you achieve a goal, you’ll be able to claim the reward: gems that will allow you to visit the Duolingo shop and buy some perks (see below). ![Duolingo French Review Duolingo shop](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/Outfits.png) ## What does a Typical Duolingo French Lesson Look Like? If you’ve never tried Duolingo before, this is how a typical lesson goes like. The main goal is to **learn more vocabulary** and **complete your “tree”** that has over 200 lessons. Each lesson includes 2 to 10 parts and will take about 15 minutes to finish. Duolingo will help you **read and memorize your vocabulary** quite fast. However, Duolingo uses English to teach French, and **most of the exercises are based on English-French translation and vice-versa.** You will first start to learn simple words, one by one, and slowly upgrade to learning sentences. ![Duolingo French Review topics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/lesson.png) It has a wide range of topics, from greetings to travel and family. Each Duolingo French lesson has 5 types of exercises: - Match pictures with words, with pronunciation audio as well. - Translate words or sentences from English to French, and vice-versa. - Rearrange words into proper sentences in French - Write or select what you hear - Read a word or a sentence out loud ![Duolingo French Review exercises](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/choose.png) ![Duolingo French Review exercises](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/F-translate.png) You can also learn French with **Duolingo stories*:* ![Duolingo French Review- Duolingo Stories](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/F-stories.png) There has also been a recent update that now includes stories, accessible after you reach checkpoint 1\. You will be able to select a story, listen and read it, but also answer some quizzes. **Stories can be a great way of acquiring language comprehension,** as it focuses on other points than vocabulary. Many of my students have reported that they actually enjoyed the Duolingo French stories as they are fun to read. ## What Difficulties will a Native English Speaker Encounter in Learning French? As most of you know, French and English are two **completely different** languages. English is a **Germanic** language, whereas French a **Romance** language. This means that there are not a lot of similarities between the two of them. English would be similar to German, Danish, Swedish, and French would be similar to Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. Unlike in English, French has some aspects that **native English speakers could find challenging** and here are some of them: - French pronunciation - French spelling and silent letters (you don’t write exactly what you *think* you hear) - French nouns and their gender - French conjugation - French grammar ### How does Duolingo Teach French Pronunciation? In Duolingo, the acquisition of French pronunciation will be done through repetitive exercises that include the audio sound of those phrases and words, read by a man or a woman (you will hear both voices). Basically, if you listen to the same word or phrase repeated after a certain amount of time, you are supposedly able to repeat it and thus, know the proper pronunciation. Duolingo’s audio system for French is actually good. It reads, with a human voice, each word but **NOT** each sentence. **The sentences and phrases are read by assembling each word side by side.** **The main issue with it, outside of the “robotic” effect, is that the pronunciation is sometimes too fast, and it makes it unclear to learners**: pauses between words are too short, words are pronounced too fast and it doesn’t take into account syllable timing and stresses. The speaking exercises provided in each lesson will also help you learn pronunciation, although it is judged by the voice recognition algorithm of the app. #### Side note: Why is French so hard to pronounce for beginners? The biggest struggle that beginners (but also intermediate learners) can face is French pronunciation. No joke, it can be such a headache! According to most French learners, they will mostly struggle with these specific points below: - The French R - The nasal vowels - The liaisons **The French R** What makes it so difficult? It is clear that this sound doesn’t exist in many languages. It is produced by **the back of your tongue (and not the throat!**) pressing against your soft palate. Listening to French speakers will help you notice that the French R is actually **not** a very strong sound. **Nasal vowels** Nasal vowels will come in second position in this list, as it can be a little bit easier to master their pronunciation. What are **nasal vowels**? They are vowels that you are going to pronounce using your **nose**, such as: *in, on, an, en, un* These vowels are challenging because they don’t exist in the English language. **Liaisons** A liaison is when a supposedly **silent letter, a consonant, at the end of a French** word is pronounced and linked to the following word starting with a vowel. Liaisons could also be difficult to master for beginners that are not used to listening to French or have little exposure to the language. It can confuse learners as they mostly know **“textbook French”**. ### How Does Duolingo Teach French Grammar? French grammar has rules, just like any other language. However, French grammar rules contain so **many exceptions** that it can be a hassle to remember them. As a French teacher, I don’t insist on teaching the grammar itself without anything else, but rather on teaching it along with **everyday situations** and **how to apply it** properly depending on the context. Grammar should be taught for understanding how a language works. Learning how basic sentences are formed and what they are built from helps you get a better grasp of everything and strengthens your memory by analyzing the different components. This is why I was hoping to see **more in-depth grammar tips** (even **full** lessons) in Duolingo French, which I did not really find. It does include some grammar or conjugation explanation and tips before a lesson if you tap on “tips” (see example below). ![Duolingo French Review Grammar tips](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-e503f2cf69bca5e5.png) During the exercises, you also have the option to tap on the words and see the exact translation in English (which can be a great way to spot prepositions and adverbs): ![Duolingo French Review comments](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/options.png) You might find this important to know that there is **very little grammar explanation** before each lesson. This means that you will have almost no information regarding the grammar used to form the sentences you are learning. Regarding the tips (this is what I would call “**mini lessons**”) that they provide, they are pretty basic, although very attractive to read. I was hoping to see a little bit more of those. On the other hand, they also provide a forum for learners, where they can discuss a specific grammar point or sentence with other learners. Once again, Duolingo is a free app, so we can’t expect EVERYTHING to be in there! ## ## Is Duolingo Useful? Before downloading a language learning app (and take up more space on your smartphone), you must be wondering: is this app useful? Let’s take a deeper look at how Duolingo is a useful language learning app. ### What Level can Your French Achieve with Duolingo? By learning French with Duolingo, you might expect to reach an **A1 or A2** CEFR level (Common European Framework Reference), which is a **beginner** or **elementary** level. But that is all depending on how seriously you will take your lessons and how much effort you are willing to put in them. **📍The fact that Duolingo does not really teach you the basics of conversation or daily life situations, it will unfortunately not get you anywhere near fluent in French.** However, you will learn **vocabulary** and a lot of it. ### Pros of Using Duolingo to Learn French I’ve listed the most useful information to share with you, French learners, in case you were thinking about downloading Duolingo French. | Pros | Cons | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | | 🆗a lot of vocabulary | 🆖bad for learning pronunciation | | 🆗frequently updated | 🆖little in-depth grammar explanation | | 🆗100% free to use, but... | 🆖Overly dependent on translation exercises and English | | 🆗fun to use | 🆖too many ads | So, let us first list down all of the pros that this language learning app has to offer! #### Duolingo French has a lot of vocabulary One of the biggest pros is that this app will contribute to vocabulary learning, given the exercises that it provides. Although it may seem a little too repetitive for some, for others this is the best way they could learn. #### The app Duolingo is frequently updated The French tree goes through regular updates, so you can learn more vocabulary and have up-to-date content, which is a big bonus. #### The app is 100% free to use, but... Duolingo is a pretty fun language learning app, and all of it for free, so why not? Well, remember, nothing is really free. **If you’re not buying the product, you are the product.** You can expect to get presented with a lot of **ads** while learning on Duolingo. If you’re a parent, you might want to be careful with that because who knows what kind of ads your child might see. #### Duolingo makes it fun to use The fact that the app looks (and feels) like a game is making it really fun to use. The goals to achieve makes me think about some addictive games that I used to play before (whether they were apps or online games). ### Cons of Learning French on Duolingo Of course, we can’t go through the pros of Duolingo without checking out the cons, and there are some of them… #### Its inaudible audio does not help you improve pronunciation This is also one of the most noticeable things in the app: inaudible audio. The exercises are pretty fun, though the audio that goes with them…not always. I find it a little too fast for my taste and sometimes. And because the sentence audio is assembled by word audios, the pronunciation of phrases and sentences is unnatural. #### Little in-depth grammar explanation As mentioned previously, there is very little grammar explanation in Duolingo. The exercises are pretty basic, and you are only given some tips before starting them. #### Overly dependant on English translation It keeps you working on your French, but with English at the back of your mind (or in front of you). This means that you will actually be learning **French in English**. This can be great to understand and focus on **some specific points** of the language that you have trouble understanding, but it is not a viable long-term solution. French is a completely different and separate language. If you are into language learning, you might already know that it is not only important to speak and write, but also to think in that specific language. #### Too many ads Yes, Duolingo is a free app, which is great! But as a user, you might find the number of ads…overwhelming. Or maybe am I just being too picky? After all, they do offer Duolingo Plus, which is a paid version of the app, that allows you to enjoy it without all of the ads. ### Learn how to count in German - a complete guide (with audio) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/count-in-german/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:24:04.000Z Download [DE-NUMBER100.wav](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/11/DE-NUMBER100.wav?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Learning how to count in German is easy and should be one of the first things you learn when you start with the language! In this article, we will start with the basic forms of numbers (cardinal numbers/"*Kardinalzahlen*"), then move on to how to do math in German, and eventually how to use those numbers in real-life situations. If you want to start using German as soon as possible, to count in German is one of the easiest ways to get you going in day-to-day situations. Let’s start! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## How to count in German from 1-99 ### German numbers 0-12 Number ––– German - **0 — null** - **1 — eins** - **2 — zwei** - **3 — drei** - **4 — vier** - **5 — fünf** - **6 — sechs** - **7 — sieben** - **8 — acht** - **9 — neun** - **10 — zehn** - **11 — elf** - **12 — zwölf** 👉Click and play Your browser does not support the audio element. In German, the numbers 1 to 12 are unique and are the basis of counting in German. 👉 Fun fact: the English “dozen”, meaning a total of 12, corresponds to “*das Dutzend*” in German, both of which come from the Latin origin of *duodecim*. ### German numbers 13-19 - **13 — Dreizehn** - **14 — Vierzehn** - **15 — Fünfzehn** - **16 — Sechzehn** - **17 — Siebzehn** - **18 — Achtzehn** - **19 — Neunzehn** **(number in ones place) + “** \-zehn **” ← easy formula!** 👉Click and play Your browser does not support the audio element. Numbers between 13 and 19 are created using the same formula: single digit number plus “-*zehn*” (see highlighted above), which means “ten” in German, like “-teen” in English. 👉 **Note that some syllables are shortened to single syllable prefixes.** For example in “16 – *sechzehn*”, *sechs* dropped the “*s*” to “*sech”* before adding on the “-*zehn*” suffix; and in “17 – *siebzehn*”, *sieben* is shortened to “*sieb*”. Same goes for 60 and 70, as shown below: ### German numbers 20-99 First, moving onto numbers larger than 20, starting with multiples of ten: - **20 — zwanzig** - **30 — dreißig** - **40 — vierzig** - **50 — fünfzig** - **60 — sechzig** - **70 — siebzig** - **80 — achtzig** - **90 — neunzig** **(tens place number) + “*\-zig*”** 👉Click and play Your browser does not support the audio element. Notice that *zwanzig* is “*zwan-*” instead of “*zwei-*”, *dreißig* is “*\-ßig*” instead of “*\-zig*”. “*\-zig*” is the equivalent to “-ty” in English. See how easy it is? How to keep counting: simply add ones to tens using “ *und* ”. **👉 But here’s the catch: the digit at the ones place goes BEFORE the tens place.** For example, “21 - *einundzwanzig*” is made up of the number in the ones place "*ein*", the glue word " *und* ", and the tens place "*zwanzig*". - **21 — einundzwanzig** - **22 — zweiundzwanzig** - **33 — dreiunddreißig** - **44 — vierundvierzig** - **55 — fünfundfünfzig** - **66 — sechsundsechzig** - **77 — siebenundsiebzig** - **88 — achtundachtzig** - **99 — neunundneunzig** **(number in ones place) + “** **und** **” + (number in tens place)** There is no “and” between the ones and the tens in English numbers, because it is ‘reserved’ for the numbers in the hundreds, while in German it's the other way around. Let’s take a look: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## How to count in German from 100? - **100 — (ein) Hundert** - **101 — hunderteins** - **110 — hundertzehn** - **200 — zweihundert** - **234 — zweihundertvierunddreißig** - **765 — siebenhundertfünfundsechzig** **(Number in hundreds place) + “** hundert **” + (the two digit number)** There is no “ *und* ” necessary between the hundreds and the tens in German, but only between the tens and the ones. It’s really easy to notice that *die Hundert* is “hundred” in German. When it is a number between 101-199, then the “*ein*”, meaning “one”, can be omitted. The rest are exactly the same as in English, where you’d say “three hundred” – “*dreihundert*”, “five thousand” – “*fünftausend*”, “eighty million” – “*achtzig Millionen*”... very regular and predictable from this onwards. Wait...what’s *tausend* and *Millionen*? Let’s find out below! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## How to count in German from 1000? Number (German format) — German — English - **1.000 — (ein) Tausend — one thousand** - **1.001 — (ein)tausend(und)eins — one thousand and one** - **2.000 — zweitausend — two thousand** - **10.000 — zehntausend — ten thousand** - **100.000 — (ein) hunderttausend — one hundred thousand** - **100.001 — (ein)hunderttausend(und)eins — one hundred thousand and one** - **1.000.000 — eine Million — one million** - **2.000.000 — zwei Millionen — two million** - **1.000.000.000 — eine Milliarde — one billion** - **2.000.000.000 — zwei Milliarden — two billion** - **1.000.000.000.000 — eine Billion — one trillion** - **2.000.000.000.000 — zwei Billionen — two trillion** 👉Click to play Your browser does not support the audio element. **Hundert**, **Tausend**, **Million**, **Millionen, Milliarde, Milliarden, Billion, Billionen** 👉**Notes:** *Billion* is a common false friend in German because it is 1000 times larger than the English “billion”, and actually means “trillion”. Therefore, when you want to say how many people there are on earth, make sure to say: “*Es gibt 7,77 Milliarden Menschen auf der Welt.”* “There are 7.77 billion people in the world.” Oh, and what if there is a two digit number before your thousands and millions, and so on? Follow the same rules above and latch on the numbers! (The "*ein*" and "*und*" marked in gray can either stay or be left out.) For example, the number 123, 456 in German would be... ![count in German - German number (ein)hundert dreiundzwanzig tausend vierhundert sechsundfünfzig](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/123456.png) And all the changes are regular and predictable – easy-peasy! ### How to use commas and periods to count in German You might’ve already noticed by now that commas and periods are used differently in English! In German we use “*das Komma*” – decimal commas (instead of decimal points in English), and “*der Punkt*” – points or dots are used as thousands separators (instead of commas in English). You’ll see more examples as you read on and find out how numbers are used in real-life situations. ![count in German - german numbers versus english numbers comma and period](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/1.png) However, there is one exception to the above rule – when dots are used to express ordinal numbers: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## How to Write Ordinal Numbers in German If no digits follows the points (like in cardinal numbers), then you’d know it’s an ordinal number: Ordinal number (German format) — German — English - **1\. — erste — first** - **3\. — dritte — third** - **7\. — siebte — seventh** - **101\. — hunderterste — hundred-first** - **1015\. — eintausendfünfzehnte — one thousand and fifteenth** **\---** - **21\. — einundzwanzigste — twenty-first** - **100\. — hundertste — hundredth** - **1000\. — tausendste — thousandth** - **1.000.000\. — millionste — millionth** Easy rule of making ordinals out of cardinals: 1. For numbers 1-19, add “***\-te***” to the end of the cardinals - 1st, 3rd, and 7th are irregular 2. For numbers 20 onwards, you should add “***\-ste***” instead! All ordinal numbers are regular no matter how large they are! - exceptions are those ending with numbers 1-19 (notice how 21\. and 101\. are different though both ending with 1) ### Where to use ordinal numbers in German Ordinal numbers are very common in writing down centuries, dates, floors, frequency, and many more. For example: “*Wir sind im einundzwanzig* *sten* */ 21\. Jahrhundert.*” "We are in the twenty-first century." “*Heute ist der neunzehn* *te* */ 19\. Januar*.” "Today is January nineteenth." “*Ich wohne im vier* *ten* */ 4\. Stock.*” "I live on the fourth floor." *“Ich kam zum fünften / 5.* *Mal hierher”* "I came here for the fifth time." Grammatically speaking, ordinal numbers are all considered adjectives. And **“*\-te*”** and **“*\-ste*”** are in fact base forms of the adjective ending. Remember that while you can write down the ordinals as numbers, you should still pronounce them with the right adjective endings. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Doing math in German ### How to do basic math in German Now you know how to count the numbers, let’s find out how to do easy math with them! *addieren* — add *plus* or *und —* plus or and (like in English) *subtrahieren* — subtract *minus —* minus (also used in negative numbers) *multiplizieren* — multiply *mal —* times *dividieren —* divide*durch x teilen* — divided by x *ist* or *macht* (or *ergibt*, but less used) — equal Some examples for how they are said : 5 + 4 \= 9 — *fünf plus/und vier ist/macht/ergibt neun* 3 x 6 \= 18 — *drei mal sechs ist/macht/ergibt achtzehn* ![count in German - basic math in German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/3.png) ### How to make fractions in German Fraction — German — English - **½ — eine Hälfte — one half** - **⅓ — ein Drittel — one third** - **⅔ — zwei Drittel — two thirds** - **¼ — ein Viertel — one fourth / one quarter** **\---** - **1/24 — ein Vierundzwanzigstel — one twenty-fourth** **(cardinal numerator/"*Zähler*" ) + (denominator/"*Nenner*")** 👉 Unlike in English, the denominators in fractions are **not the same** as the ordinal numbers! But we have a similar pattern of change that is regular and predictable: 1. For denominators 1-19, the number becomes fractional by adding “***\-tel***” to the end of the number - “*eine Hälfte*” is the exception here, and note that in mixed fractions the adjective form “*halb*” is used instead of the noun form “*Hälfte*” (examples coming later) 2. For denominators larger than 20, you should add “***\-stel***” instead of “*\-tel*” (Although it's very unlikely that you’d need this ;) - here also exceptions with numbers ending with 1-19 also apply Mixed fractions are exactly the same in English: no conjugations for numerators and whole numbers! Hurray! - **1 ½ — eineinhalb / anderthalb — one and a half** - **2 ½ — zweieinhalb — two and a half** - **3 ⅘ — dreivierfünftel — three and four fifths** 👉 simply name the whole number and append the proportions directly afterwards, no “and” is needed! ### How to write decimal numbers in German Like in English, decimal numbers are made up of a whole number and a string of single numbers following the decimal separator. In German, the decimal separators are also pronounced out loud, but just as “*Komma*”: *3,65 —* **drei Komma sechs fünf —* three point six five / 3.65 The rule with the commas and periods are the same as above: simply replace the commas with dots and dots with commas! ### How to write percentages in German Percentages are easy: just like in English, use cardinal numbers and add a %-sign at the end, pronounced as “*das Prozent*”. *99,9% — neunundneunzig Komma neun Prozent* — ninety-nine point nine percent ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Count Numbers in Real-Life Situations We’ve talked about quite a few forms of numbers which will allow us to tell quantity, order, and so on. Now ready for some more real-life examples? ### How to say dates in German Let’s start with the big ones: “*das Jahrhundert*” is “century” in German, which literally means “year hundred”. Same as in English, use ordinal numbers to express the number of centuries: *21\. Jahrhundert* — *das einundzwanzigste Jahrhundert —* 21st century Similar to in English, the four-digit year is broken down into two groups of twos and you can omit the “*und*”. But make sure to throw in a “*hundert*” in there: *1989 — neunzehn* *hundert* *(und)neunundachtzig —* nineteen eighty-nine Different from English, when the hundreds place is a zero, you should use the normal cardinal number: *2020 — zweitausend(und)zwanzig* — twenty-twenty “*das Jahrzehnt*” is “decade” in German, which literally means “year ten” (“*das Dekade*” is also decade, but seldomly used). When we are referring to a specific decade, we add “*\-er*” to the end of the cardinal number: *90er* — *die Neunziger —* the 90s Ordinal numbers are used to express the day of the month: *16\. Mai —* *Sechzehnte Mai* — May 16th / 16th of May Please keep in mind that in German, the whole date is usually written as DD.MM.YYYY: *22.11.2020* — *zweiundzwanzigste November zweitausend(und)zwanzig* — November twenty-second, twenty-twenty (Nov. 22, 2020) ### How to ask for the time in German When asking for the time, the question posed would be “*wie viel Uhr haben wir?*” or “*wie spät ist es?*”, literally translating to “how many hour have we?” or “how late is it?” The answer is: “*es ist XX Uhr.*” — It is XX o’clock. To ask and answer “at what time”, the preposition “at” would be “*um*” in German: “*Wann?*” / “*Um wie viel Uhr?*” — When? / At what time? “*Wir treffen uns um neun (Uhr).*” — We are meeting at nine (o’clock). To ask “for how long”, the preposition “for” would be “für”: *“Für wie lange?”* — For how long? “*Zwei Stunden*.” — Two hours. 👉 this is where “*Uhr*” may be mistaken as the equivalent to “hour” in English, which is actually “*Stunde*” in German. ### Telling the exact time *"Uhr"* means “o’clock” and "*Minuten"* means minutes in German. To tell the exact minute, we simply add the corresponding number. Just like in English, *Uhr* and *Minuten* can be omitted in a daily conversation. Here are some examples: 06:25 — *sechs (Uhr) fünfundzwanzig (Minuten)* 15:06 — *fünfzehn (Uhr) sechs (Minuten)* Ya I know...expressing time past noon can be a bit trickier: ### Telling time in formal/official situations - 24-hour clock In Germany, people are used to saying time in a 24-hour format, which is also the more formal and official way of indicating time. 11:48 – *elf Uhr achtundvierzig* *(Minuten)* – eleven forty-eight 16:00 – *sechzehn Uhr* – 4 o’clock in the afternoon / 4 p.m ### Telling time in informal/unofficial situations - 12-hour clock I know adding 12 to the 12-hour clock can be tricky for those of you who are used to the 12-hour notation. So if you don’t want to do math in your head before saying the time, you can alternatively add the time of the day: ![count in German - time of the day in German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/4.png) For example, 5 p.m. would be “*5 Uhr am Nachmittag*” instead of “*17 Uhr*” *17:00 – 5 Uhr am Nachmittag* – 5 p.m. *21:00 – 9 Uhr am Abend* – 9 p.m. 👉 Here, “*am Nachmittag*” means “this very afternoon (today)”; if we say “*nachmittags*” instead, it means “(generally/usually) in the afternoon”. Same goes for “*morgens*”, “*vormittags*”, “*abends*” and “*nachts*”. Alternatively, if the context is clear that it cannot be 5 o’clock in the early morning, go ahead and just say “*5 Uhr*”, and it would be self-evident that you meant 5 o’clock in the afternoon. ### Telling time the colloquial way in German We’ve already talked about how to express fractions in German, and this is where knowing how to say "quarter" – "*Viertel*" or "half" – "*halb*" comes in handy. Expressions such as “five/ten/quarter to...” or “five/ten/quarter past...” are common in German as well, and their equivalents are “f*ünf/zehn/Viertel vor*” or “*fünf/zehn/Viertel nach*”. “*Vor*” literally means “before” and “*nach*” means “after”. If you want to be more specific with all the variations available to you on how to express the time more precisely, check out this diagram here: ![count in German - how to tell time in German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/2.png) ### How to express frequency in German Interestingly enough, “d*as Mal*” (the noun form) and “*mal*” (the adverbial form) means the same as “time” in English, which we used above to indicate multiplication! To count the “times” using numbers like “once, twice, thrice” in English, we can simply form this expression using “*mal*”. Version 1: **(cardinal numbers) + “*mal*”** in one word *"einmal, zweimal, … tausendmal"—* once, twice, … a thousand times Version 2: **(cardinal numbers) + space + “*Mal*”** in two words *"ein Mal, zwei Mal, ... Millionen Mal..." —* one time, two times, … a million times… Naming the specific times: **(ordinal number) + space + “*Mal*”** *"das erste/zweite/dritte... Mal" —* the first/second/third... time *zum hundertsten und tausendsten Mal* — for the hundredth and thousandth time ### How to say numbers in units and prices We’ve already mentioned above in “How to use commas and periods to count in German” that in German, commas are the decimal separator and periods are the thousands separator (exactly opposite from those in English). The same rule applies to using numbers in real life. “*Länge des Äquators ist vierzigtausendfünfundsiebzig Komma ein sechs eins Kilometer (40.075,161 km)*.” Length of the equator is 40,075.161 kilometers. If there is a given unit, for example "*Euro"* or *"Meter",* instead of the “*Komma*” we can plug in the whole unit and say: *€ 3,59 —* “*drei Euro neunundfünfzig (Cent)*” — three euro fifty-nine (cents) *1,85m —* “*ein Meter fünfundachtzig (Zentimeter)*” — one meter eighty-five (centimeter) ## What’s next? Phew! Having had all the information thrown at you, it could be overwhelming I know! But don’t be scared! Let’s take baby steps, start with familiarizing yourself with the numbers by listening and repeating them to yourself. Try counting in German whenever you find the chance to and get your reaction speed up. If you are ready for more learning in German, check out other articles below. *Viel Spaß beim Lernen!* (have fun learning!) ### LingoDeer User Norbi on Learning Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-user-norbi-on-japanese/ Last updated: 2020-11-12T09:52:00.000Z *Our guest tonight is a man of the world: born in England, raised in Canada, anxious to socialize with his future in-laws from Japan... Meet Norbi Whitney, a professional circus artist slash photographer and a proud LingoDeer User!* **LD: Tell us about yourself!** **NW:** Hi. My name is Norbi Whitney, and I’m a full time professional circus artist (when global situations allow it, at least) as well as an avid photographer. I’m from England, but have spend the past 10 years or so based in Quebec City, Canada. LD: What got you interested in the Japanese language? **NW:** I’ve always thought it was an interesting culture, and I had some Japanese friends in the circus world, so I learnt a few phrases here and there. “おはよう” (*Good morning!*), “元気ですか” (*How are you?*), and “またね” (*See you later!*) for example, but it never really went any further than that. Then a few years ago, I met my now fiancée, a Japanese lady from the outskirts of Tokyo. Her English wasn’t great at the time, so I made an effort to learn at least the basics. Totally unexpectedly, I fell in love with the language too! I also speak French fluently, and can get by in German… but they were both kind by obligation (due to living there), and never really fascinated me as languages. Japanese’s writing systems, etymology, and its whole different way of thinking, really piqued my interest from the beginning. **LD: Name three things you want to do with your Japanese skills. Please explain why as well.** **NW:** First and foremost I’d like to be able to communicate with my future in-laws with a reasonable level of comfort. No one in my fiancée’s family speaks even a word of English, so it’s always a chore to try and hold, or even start, a conversation. I’ve visited 3 times already, and each time is better, but I’m still too reliant on others to translate. 1. I guess “watch anime without subtitles” is a pretty classic answer. Unfortunately I’m not a big anime watcher, so it’s not a huge goal of mine. Along the same lines though, I’d like my partner to be able to show me a funny clip on Instagram or whatever, without fear of if I’ll get the joke or not. 2. I guess just **general comfort in the language**. Now having a direct connection to the country, it’s somewhere I’d like to spend more time in the future. I was always surprised by the lack of English even in places like downtown Tokyo. It really is important to have a grasp of Japanese if you want to experience the most of Japan. **LD: What's your learning routine? How do you use LingoDeer?** **NW:** When I started using LingoDeer, I would do about 30-45 minutes before going to sleep. I felt that it was a good idea to think about that as the last thing in the day. Then the next morning try to remember what I learnt. I would also **redo courses, or do reviews**, whenever I was travelling or waiting (thanks offline learning!). After going through Level 1 and 2 of Japanese on LingoDeer, which really helped to introduce various grammatical concepts and drill vocab in a comfortable, intelligent matter, I started working mostly from textbooks. I think handwriting answers definitely helps to enforce it in your mind, and I’m lucky enough to have someone close by who can check my answers. These days I still refer to the **LingoDeer Lesson Tips, and Knowledge Cards**, when I want to clarify something. They’re fantastically laid out, have built in human audio, and are in my pocket all the time. There’s really no better resource for quick refreshers. I also use **LingoDeer+** when I’ve got some spare time and want to keep my mind active. The challenges are really fun, and a great little motivation boost of education disguised as gaming :) **LD: What do you do when you feel stuck or frustrated by Japanese?** **NW:** Stop, haha. But seriously - while it’s obviously very important to stay motivated even when things are difficult, as there are no shortcuts in language learning… it’s also important to **listen to your body and mind.** Japanese, like any language which doesn’t share roots with a currently spoken language, has *so* much information to take in. If you’ve given yourself a challenge of learning 5 kanji every day, but after a week you can’t remember any and start feeling... bad*,* then maybe **rethink your goals realistically.** It’s important to keep pushing through difficult times, and it’s as important to reset your head for a moment when the times are *too* difficult. So to answer the question - I’ll cut way back on information intake and just review what I know. Also instead of trying hard to create whole perfectly natural sentences at home, I’ll just try incorporating 1 new grammatical concept as much as I can for a week. ### Duolingo Spanish Review - Who Should Try It? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-spanish-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T10:59:51.000Z I’m back to reviewing! My name is Kirsten and I am a Spanish teacher in the United States that has taught Spanish to all ages and language levels. Recently I purchased and reviewed Rosetta Stone’s Latin American Spanish program as part of my mission to evaluate Spanish resources for independent learners. This time, I am going to give **Duolingo Spanish Review** and evaluating its language teaching approach, app format, and more so that aspiring Spanish speakers can choose the right programs and resources for them. Let’s get started! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Duolingo Spanish, Free vs Duolingo Plus Duolingo has a free version for everyone and is available for computer and smartphones. Most of Duolingo’s material is available, but this version is definitely more **limited** than the subscription version. Duolingo acts like a **videogame** in that **if you make a mistake, you lose a “heart” and if you run out of hearts you “lose” and have to wait for the hearts to recharge**. This will be a tedious process unless you purchase Duolingo Plus. One of the main draws to **Duolingo Plus**, aka the paid version, is that it has **no ads**. The free version has an ad after every lesson and these ads can become quite annoying. In addition, Duolingo Plus allows you to **download lessons** to do offline, offers **progress quizzes**, **unlimited skill test-outs** so that you can skip lessons that teach material that you have already mastered, and unlimited hearts (so no fear of making mistakes). ### Who Should Try Duolingo Plus? If you **have some Spanish experience**, you will have to test out of lessons which cost “gems” (points that you earn by using the app) so you can’t go immediately to the lessons that are appropriate for your level. **If this describes you, I recommend doing the free trial and testing out of the basics, then ending the subscription.** ### Price About Duolingo Plus There is a **2-week free trial,** and the website claims that a subscription starts at **6.99/month.** However, after doing some research, Duolingo Plus actually costs **$12.99 per month**, with a discount if you pay for a year ($79.99) or half a year ($47.99) upfront. They do not offer this information readily on their website. > **Duolingo’s free version has a lot of ads and limits your experience, whereas Duolingo Plus has no ads and additional features. The company is not direct when it comes to price.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Does Gamification Really Work? Duolingo has 5 tabs at the bottom of the screen; **Lessons, Stories, Profile, Leaderboard, and Shop**. Overall, **Duolingo presents language learning as a fun, competitive game.** You earn XP (experience points) and “money” which they call “lingots” and “gems” for each lesson that you pass, as well as crowns and achievements. **The reward system is a bit confusing** because of all of the categories, but the general effect is that you are rewarded for doing the lessons. Also, as mentioned previously you have 5 “hearts” to start and you lose a heart for each question you get wrong. This is to motivate you to get questions right in order to be able to continue because if you run out of hearts you have to wait for hours before you can play again. You can buy more hearts with gems or buy Duolingo Plus if you don’t want to wait. Your profile has all of the achievements you have unlocked, your daily streak (number of days in a row that you use the app), total XP, total crowns, and your league (bronze, silver, gold, etc.). Again, **it’s unclear what these measurements do besides give you a sense of completion and achievement**, but it looks like the goal is to advance your league status and compete with other players that are also learning the same language as you. ![Duolingo Spanish Review Achievements and Profile tab](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/Achievements-and-profile.png) Achievements and profile tabs **If the competition motivates you, then this app has the right format for you.** If you don’t like to compare yourself to others and want a more independent language learning journey, I recommend ignoring the profile and leaderboard tabs or using a different app altogether to avoid the competitive nature of the app. > **Duolingo runs like a game where you earn points and lose lives, and you are ranked alongside fellow players around the world. It’s good if you like ranked games and competition, and bad if you want to take your time and avoid comparison to others.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## How Does Duolingo Teach Spanish? When you are just getting started, Duolingo Spanish categories include Travel, Family, Restaurant, Phrases, and more. Lessons are divided into groups called “**checkpoints**” and you have to complete the available lessons in order to unlock the ones at the next checkpoint. You can complete them in whatever order you like, for example, you can start with the “shopping” level then move on to “family.” ![How Does Duolingo Teach Spanish?](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/lessons-and-checkpoints-tab.png) lessons and checkpoints tabs There is a great variety of activities that range from matching games and fill in the blank to typing what you hear. Some of the activities have fun animated characters too! ![Duolingo Spanish activities](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/translation-tabs.png) activities tabs There is also **speaking practice** where you repeat a sentence or respond to a question. If you are unable to talk or use the microphone, you can skip them. ![Duolingo Spanish Review speaking](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/speaking-activitz.jpg) Speaking activity ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Are Duolingo “Lessons” Effective to Learn A Language? While these games are fun, **I hesitate to call them lessons. They are more like an interactive quiz on the material that you haven’t learned yet, and the quiz teaches you as you go**. I’m not a huge fan of this method, especially since you only have 5 hearts and therefore only 5 mistakes allowed. **The real lessons are presented as “tips”** that you can view before starting the activities, and calling them **“tips” makes them seem optional.** To be frank, it’s misleading. On the other hand, these “tips” are short, well-written grammar lessons that are very valuable for learners. ![Duolingo Spanish Review grammar](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/grammar-tips.jpg) grammar tips ### Duolingo Spanish Stories Now, this feature is awesome! The Stories tab offers cute short stories in Spanish and reads the story to you **piece by piece**. It allows you to move at your own pace because you hit “continue” after each sentence and can tap a sentence to hear it again. It also asks you comprehension questions as you go. As a Spanish teacher, I think **it’s a fantastic tool and a great way to practice listening and reading skills.** ![Duolingo Spanish Review Stories](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/stories.png) Stories ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Advantages to Duolingo Spanish The first advantage of Duolingo is that **it’s free!** And you can try out Duolingo Pro for 2 weeks and see if you like it. Activities are fun and the interface is light with colorful animations. Next, due to the **game-like nature** of the app, users are **encouraged and reminded** to play every day. The addictive nature of smartphone games and social media is often viewed as a negative, however since in this case it’s in the name of knowledge I think it can be considered a positive. The leaderboard and points system lends both a sense of competition and camaraderie as your name is posted alongside fellow learners. You can also follow your friends and keep each other on track! Last, an ingenious feature during the lessons is the ability to **leave public comments on activities**. You can ask questions about that particular activity and look at past conversations from the Duolingo community. ![Duolingo Spanish Review comments](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/comments.jpg) Comments ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Problems with Duolingo Spanish The first major downside to the Duolingo Spanish program is that there is **no distinction between the** [**Spanish from Latin American**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/new-course-latin-american-spanish/) **and from Spain**. Lingodeer and Rosetta Stone allow you to choose between the two accents and vocabularies, whereas Duolingo does not differentiate between the two Spanish dialects. The audio quality for the voices varies - the audio for the Stories tab is great, but for the activities, some of the voices are a bit fuzzy. Second, as mentioned previously the **“lessons” aren’t actually lessons**. They are activities on material that the app has not taught and you are expected to learn as you go, which is hard because the app only allows you to make 5 mistakes total. This can be discouraging to new learners as they may feel that they should already know the information. There is also an **advertisement** after the completion of each lesson and the exit button is hard to see. For some activities, you are prompted to **type in Spanish**. This can be a problem if you do not have a Spanish keyboard and can’t type accent marks. And if you do have a Spanish keyboard downloaded to your phone, it makes auto-suggestions that can give away the answers. Lastly, a major negative to Duolingo is the **inability to test out of levels** without paying gems or getting Duolingo Plus. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Should You Learn Spanish with Duolingo? Duolingo is definitely worth trying, in part because it’s free. **It’s better to use Duolingo if you have some prior knowledge of Spanish because it doesn’t always explicitly teach Spanish vocabulary and grammar.** If you’re taking a class, it could act as a supplementary resource and a way to keep you on track and using Spanish every day, or you can use it to maintain your Spanish skills in between classes. The Stories tab is a great tool for this. If you are truly a beginner and want to **start learning Spanish**, I recommend **Rosetta Stone,** [**Lingodeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), or another program that takes more time to teach you versus test you. Whatever app you choose, you are taking a step in the right direction by choosing to learn Spanish! ### フランス語の独学での勉強法―それぞれのメリットとデメリット― URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-self-study-french-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:14:32.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ### フランス語を勉強するのはなぜ―フランス語を勉強するメリット― フランス語学習を始めるきっかけは何でしょうか？フランスには、ファッション、グルメ、芸術など様々な魅力があり、そういったフランス文化がきっかけで学習を始める人も多いと思います。 一方、この記事を読んでいる人の中には、フランス語の学習経験はなくても英語を学習したことのある人は多いと思います。実は、フランス語学習は英語学習にとってもメリットがあります。 ### フランスの文化に直接触れることができる フランスは、文学、美術、ファッション、料理などの芸術や文化で世界をリードする国です。よって、フランス語がわかるとフランスの芸術や文化により直接触れることができます。 また、フランスには魅力的な観光地がいくつもあります。パリなどの大都市では英語は通じますが、地方では観光地であってもほとんど通じないことも珍しくありません。さらに、フランス語で簡単な会話ができることで現地の人とぐっと距離が縮まり、旅を何倍も楽しむことができます。 ![フランス語の独学](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/alex-harmuth-bOICdD-Gulk-unsplash.jpg) ### 世界中の多くの人と交流ができる フランス語はフランス本国だけでなく、スイス、ベルギー、ルクセンブルク、アフリカの国々、カナダなどで公用語として使われています。また、国連などの多くの国際機関の公用語の一つにも採用されています。そのため、フランス語を学ぶことで世界中の多くの人と交流することができます。 また、フランスは技術面でも世界をリードしていますので、フランス語ができることでビジネスのチャンスを増やすことができます。 ### 英語学習にも効果がある フランス語学習は初めてでも英語学習をしたことのある人は多いのではないでしょうか？ 歴史的な経緯から、英語にはフランス語が「外来語」として多く取り入れられているため、フランス語由来の単語やフレーズがたくさんあります。英単語として学習するdeja vu（デジャヴュ、既視感）、vis-a-vis（～に関して）、RSVP（=répondez s’il vous plaît、お返事ください）は英語学習者には読み方も分からない厄介な単語ですが、フランス語学習者であれば初心者レベルで簡単に覚えることができます。そのため、フランス語を学習することで英語の語彙力も伸ばすことができます。 また、英語以外の言語を勉強することで、日本語も含めたそれぞれの言語の特徴を知ることができ、その相乗効果によって英語学習にも良い効果が期待できます。 ![フランス語の独学での勉強法―それぞれのメリットとデメリット―](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/Japanese-numbers-2_07.png) この記事では、独学でフランス語を学習するときに役立つ勉強法をまとめました。すでにフランス語を学習している人も、これから学習しようという人もぜひ参考にしてくださいね。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## 初心者がフランス語学習に持ちやすい誤解 フランス語は難しいというイメージを持っている人が多いと思いますが、それはなぜでしょうか？ここでは、フランス語を難しいと感じる原因についていくつか見てみましょう。 ### 発音が難しい？ フランス語には特徴的な音として「r」と「鼻母音」（口と同時に鼻からも息を出して発音する母音）があるため、発音が難しいと感じるかもしれません。 確かに「r」と「鼻母音」は日本語にはない音ですが、音としては比較的容易に聞きとることができるので、それを真似して練習することで発音をすることができます。また、英語にも日本語にはない音があるので、フランス語の発音が特別難しいというわけではありません。 さらに、フランス語を読むには綴り字の読み方の規則を覚える必要がありますが、こちらは覚えてしまえば例外が少ないので英語よりも簡単に感じる人も多いでしょう。 ### 文法が難しい？ フランス語には名詞に性があります。また、動詞の活用が多いので、文法が難しいと感じるかもしれません。 確かに英語にはない文法がフランス語にはあるためそう思うこともあるかもしれません。しかし、これらは英語以外の他のヨーロッパ言語から見ると特別なことではありません。例えば、ドイツ語の名詞には「男性名詞」「女性名詞」以外に「中性名詞」があります。 また、英語よりも複雑な分、文から正確に意味をとれるというメリットもあります。 このように、初心者がフランス語学習を難しいと感じる理由には英語との比較による部分が大きいと言えるでしょう。よって、最初からフランス語は難しいと身構えることなく、数多くある言語のひとつとして捉えると、フランス語が特別難しい言語ではないことにお気付きいただけるでしょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語の発音と会話の勉強法 フランス語ネイティブのような発音や自然な表現を身に付けるには、ネイティブのフランス語を真似たり、ネイティブと会話の機会を作るのがオススメです。 ### ネイティブのフランス語音声のシャドーイング シャドーイングは、リスニング、スピーキング、発音の強化などに役立つ効果的な学習法です。フランス語には綴り字の読み方やリエゾンなどの発音のルールがありますので、その点での効果も期待できます。 このようにメリットの大きいシャドーイングですが、初めは難しく感じることが多いので、慣れるまではスピードを遅くしたり、易しい短文から始めるのがオススメです。また、独学では間違った発音をそのまま覚えてしまう可能性がありますので注意が必要です。 ### フランス語のネイティブと会話の機会を作る フランス語のネイティブとの会話では自然なフランス語表現を身に付けることができます。例えば、地域の教育機関が主催するフランス語圏の留学生が参加する国際交流イベントなどに参加してみるのもよいかもしれません。日本語や日本文化に興味を持った学生と知り合うことができるため、会話がスムーズに進む可能性が高くなります。また、ネイティブの友人を作ることはフランス語の学習になるだけではなくモチベーションの維持にも役立ちます。 ただし、独学で学習を始めたばかりの初心者はフランス語で十分なコミュニケーションをとることが難しいため、トラブルを少なくするためにも安全なものに参加するように心がけましょう。 ## ## フランス語単語の勉強法 ### オリジナルのフランス語ノートを作る 単語の学習には単語帳を使うのが一般的ですが、日頃の学習や生活の中で気になって調べた単語やフレーズなどを集めたオリジナルのフランス語ノートを作ってみるのはいかがでしょうか？自分にとって本当に必要な単語やフレーズが詰まったオリジナルのフランス語ノートは記憶に残りやすく、どんな単語帳やフレーズ集よりも使える特別な1冊になります。 この勉強法のデメリットとしては、ノートの作成に時間がかかることです。短期間である程度の頻出語を押さえたい場合は、市販の単語帳との併用を検討するのもよいでしょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語のリスニングの勉強法 ### フランス語でラジオを聞く フランス語のラジオでは、生きたフランス語に触れることができます。聞き取りの練習になるだけでなく、作業や休憩をしているときに流しておけばフランス語に耳を慣らしながら気分転換をすることもできます。 例えば、無料で聴けるものにFRI（[Radio France Internationale](https://www.rfi.fr/fr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)）がありますが、こちらの[Journal en français facile](https://savoirs.rfi.fr/fr/apprendre-enseigner/langue-francaise/journal-en-fran%C3%87ais-facile?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)（簡易フランス語ニュース）というチャンネルはスクリプトも付いているため、学習しやすくなっています。 ### フランス語で映画を見る 映画を通してフランス語に触れることで、楽しみながら聞き取りの練習ができます。また、フランス人の生活文化にも触れることができます。 ![フランス語の独学での勉強法―それぞれのメリットとデメリット―](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-2ea801359eb1d609.jpeg) フランス映画 アメリ Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain ### ### YouTubeでフランス語を学ぶ YouTubeには、フランス語学習に関するものから娯楽的な要素の高いものまで様々な動画があります。気軽にフランス語の勉強ができるだけでなく、気分転換にもなります。 フランス語でラジオを聞いたり映画を見たりする勉強法のデメリットとしては、本格的に学習に取り入れるためには中級以上のフランス語力が必要になる点です。初心者は、これらの勉強法とは別に、文法と語彙の学習が必須となります。 YouTubeを使った学習については、フランス語学習の教材として使う場合は動画によってレベル差があったり、乱暴な話し言葉が使われることも多いので選ぶときには注意が必要となります。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語作文の勉強法 ### 自分の書いたフランス語をネイティブに添削してもらう フランス語のライティングの力を伸ばしたいときには、自分の書いたフランス語の文をネイティブに添削してもらうと効果的に力を伸ばすことができます。しかし、添削をしてくれるネイティブと知り合いになることは簡単なことではありません。 そんな時は、例えば、[HiNative](https://hinative.com/en-US?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)という相互学習プラットホームを活用するのもよいでしょう。HiNativeでは、言葉や文化について気軽にネイティブに質問することができます。 HiNativeを使う場合のデメリットとしては、語学学習互助サービスになるため、回答に時間がかかることがある点です。また、回答者が必ずしもプロではないため回答の質にばらつきがある点にも注意が必要です。 ### 普段考えていることや日常生活の場面をフランス語にしてみる いろんな場面を想定したフランス語の会話表現集はありますが、実際に話したいと思うことは意外と見つからないことが多いのではないでしょうか？ 日頃からフランス語で考えたり、それを独り言のように口に出すことで、自然で使いやすい表現が身につきます。 ![フランス語の独学での勉強法―それぞれのメリットとデメリット―](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/Image-from-petite-merveille.png) Image from Petite Merveille この勉強法では、添削をしてくれる人がいないため、間違ったまま使い続けてしまう可能性がある点に注意が必要です。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語初心者向けの教材/辞書 ### フランス語初心者向けの教材 「絵で楽しむフランス語\[単語\]」（学研プラス）宮方 由佳 「絵で楽しむフランス語\[会話フレーズ\]」（学研プラス）小林まみ 「はじめての声に出すフランス語」（白水社）高岡 優希、ジャン＝ノエル・ポレ、富本 ジャニナ ### フランス語初心者向けの文法書 「新リュミエール―フランス文法参考書」（駿河台出版社）森本 英夫、三野 博司 ### フランス語初心者向けの辞書 「ディコ仏和辞典」（白水社） 「プログレッシブ仏和辞典」（小学館） 「プチ・ロワイヤル仏和辞典」（旺文社） ### 無料で使えるフランス語学習サイトやオンライン教材を活用する フランス語学習サイトやオンライン教材には、無料で本格的にフランス語を学習できる質の高いものや、気軽にフランス語学習をスタートできるものがあります。 フランス語の発音と会話の勉強法で少し触れましたが、フランス語には綴り字と発音に規則性がありますので、こういったサイトを使って理解を深めたり、実戦的な問題で身に付けていくのもよいでしょう。 例えば、[東京外国語大学言語モジュール](http://www.coelang.tufs.ac.jp/mt/fr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)は発音・会話・文法・語彙のモジュールから総合的にフランス語を学習することができます。Duolingoは文法、単語、発音をゲーム感覚で気軽に楽しみながら学習できるアプリです。 ここで気をつけたいのは、総合的なフランス語学習サイトは、コンテンツがあまりにも多く、初心者がモチベーションを保ちながら最後までやり切るには相当の覚悟が必要になる点です。また、語学学習アプリは、本格的に学習したいときには物足りなさを感じるかもしれません。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## まとめ 語学学習では、インプットとアウトプットの学習をうまく取り入れていくことが効率的に学習を進めるポイントになります。独学ではインプット中心の学習になりがちなので、上手くアウトプットの学習を取り入れていくことも意識することが大切になります。また、成果を出すためには一定の学習量が必要となるので、継続的な学習が大切になり、その継続を可能にするモチベーションの維持も大きなポイントになるでしょう。 ここでご紹介した勉強法のメリットとデメリットを参考に自分に合った勉強法を探してみてくださいね。 私たちの語学学習アプリ[ LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)はアプリ学習の気軽さと、本格的に学習できるカリキュラムが特徴です。LingoDeerや更にここでご紹介した語学学習ツールを組み合わせて楽しく本物のフランス語力を身に付けていきませんか？ みなさんのフランス語学習の成功をお祈りしています！Bon courage! ### Duolingo Chinese Review: Is It Worth Trying? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-chinese-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:35:48.000Z Duolingo is one of the most popular language-learning apps that has been operating for many years now, and its main goal is to help people learn a foreign language for free. But is Duolingo a good choice for learning a language as difficult as Chinese? In this Duolingo Chinese review, we’re going to talk about **how Duolingo can help you improve your Chinese** language skills, and more specifically, **how the app works** and **what its teaching methods are**. Read on and get everything you need to know about Duolingo Chinese! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Chinese Is Not as Difficult as You Think! - Difficulties and Key Points of Learning Chinese Before we begin our actual app review, let’s first see the main differences between the English language and the Chinese language. ### Pronunciation: Pinyin and Tones Needless to say, Chinese pronunciation is completely different from English, therefore, how can an English speaker pronounce Chinese characters? Since Chinese characters, unlike most languages, are ideographic, **the pronunciation of Chinese words can’t generally be derived from the characters themselves.** That’s why different systems have been created to represent the Chinese pronunciation of characters using the Latin alphabet system. The standard way that is currently used to serve this purpose is the “pinyin”, a system designed by Chinese native speakers that allow English speakers to recognize and be familiar with the sounds used in the Chinese language. However, pinyin alone isn’t enough to help a non-native Chinese person properly pronounce Chinese characters; in fact, a series of tones is also needed to perfectly be able to speak this language and be understood by Chinese native speakers. More specifically, Chinese has **four different tones** that are necessary in order to avoid any possible confusion when speaking. Remember that **a word’s meaning can change based on the tone the speaker uses to pronounce it**, **therefore, mastering the four tones is essential to properly learn and speak Chinese.** ![Chinese tone](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/3481490_orig.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Grammar: No Conjugations Another main difference you’ll find between Chinese and English is the fact that the former doesn’t really have any verb conjugations. Basically, this means that since the verbs have no tenses, you won’t get any type of information whether the action is taking place in the present, in the past, or in the future. Although this might sound confusing to the average English speaker who is used to tenses and conjugations, in practice this isn’t an awfully complicated concept; it simply happens because the **Chinese language relies on adding different types of particles** to the sentence or the words instead of changing the basic form of the verb. Alternatively, time expressions can also be included in order to specify the exact time of the action. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### The Written System: Characters and Radicals The Chinese writing system is probably the first difference an English speaker notices when they approach this language. As we’ve previously mentioned, Chinese uses an **ideographic system** instead of an alphabet, therefore, it’s quite normal to feel confused at the beginning. Generally, **each character conveys the meaning of a word** and, by combining different characters you can either obtain other words or a full sentence. Looking deeper into the structure of a single character, you’ll find the **radical, namely a graphical component** that is commonly used to list Chinese characters in a dictionary. In general, **a radical is a semantic indicator**, almost like a morpheme, but we can sometimes also find radicals that serve as phonetic components that suggest the pronunciation of a specific character. ![Duolingo Chinese Review Radical](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/Chinese-Radical.jpg) In other words, radicals are the base components of Chinese characters and they often carry information either about the meaning or the sound of a word. In total, there are around 200 radicals used in Chinese and, although they can be placed anywhere inside a character, you can oftentimes find them in the leftmost part. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## How Does Duolingo Teach Chinese? Now that we’ve briefly gone over the main differences between Chinese and English, let’s move on to analyzing how the Duolingo language learning app teaches Chinese to non-native speakers. ### What Does A Typical Duolingo Chinese Lesson Look Like? The way Duolingo is structured is quite similar to that of other free language learning apps on the market. In this case, specifically, there are several mini-units that are based on different topics (such as family, health, body parts, etc…). Each topic includes two to five lessons that are useful to learn Chinese grammar and the user is usually able to **complete a single lesson in around 5 to 15 minutes.** One lesson usually is split into different activities; more often than not you’ll start off with learning 4 or 5 characters that are relevant to the topic at hand and, once you’ve learned how to properly **match a character with its pinyin**, you’ll move on to creating sentences in English or Chinese starting from a sentence in the other language. ![Duolingo Chinese Review matching](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/matching.png) 📌Keep in mind that Duolingo gives users a set number of ‘lives’ that start going down whenever you get an answer wrong. Once you’re out of health, you’ll need to either wait it out or, alternatively, you’ll need to use the coins you’ve built up to get a spare life. Additionally, if you already feel confident about a lesson, you’ll be able to jump ahead and move to the following topics. However, in order to test out of a lesson, **you’ll need to take a test and you’ll only be allowed to move forward if you pass it.** The app gives you three chances to successfully pass the test and, if you fail, you’ll either have to try again or simply make your way through the lessons in order. ![Duolingo Chinese Review](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/14.png) **Duolingo’s way of teaching grammar heavily focuses on Chinese to English translations and vice-versa**, and, although hint words are provided by the app to help you, oftentimes **Duolingo has a low tolerance of translation diversity.** ![Duolingo Chinese Review translation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/low-translate-tolerance.png) In other words, Duolingo’s Chinese lessons are a mix of listening exercises and translation exercises, however, we found that **the app doesn’t put enough focus on the actual explanation of grammar rules.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How Does Duolingo Teach Pinyin and Tone? Earlier in the article, we’ve explained why learning pinyin and tone is crucial for an English speaker in order to learn how to speak Chinese. Unfortunately, **Duolingo does very little to help the user learn or improve Chinese pronunciation.** While you won’t find any information about pronunciation inside the app, the Duolingo website does offer some tips and explanations about the different Chinese tones, but **there still won’t be anything about the actual pronunciation.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/Screenshot_20201202_195526_com.duolingo-e1606910972996.jpg) ![how duolingo teaches Chinese tone](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/Screenshot_20201202_200709_com.duolingo-e1606910989887.jpg) During the first few lessons, Duolingo includes some exercises that make the user match some characters with their respective pinyin, however, **it results quite difficult for beginners to successfully learn when there is no explanation provided.** As for the listening part, **the app’s pronunciation of the characters is quite fast**, and therefore hard to follow for people who are just starting to approach the Chinese language. The risk is that, since the explanation isn’t included, many users will get the habit of pronouncing Chinese words as they would pronounce English words and, needless to say, this will cause complications when they’ll have to interact with actual Chinese speakers. Moreover, fixing pronunciation problems further on will be harder and will take a lot of effort. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Does Duolingo Teach Chinese Grammar? In terms of teaching Chinese grammar, let’s say that although Duolingo **does offer some tips** before each topic or lesson, there is still **very little grammar explanation** included. On the Duolingo website, sometimes you’ll find more information or further explanations of Chinese grammar rules and structures, however, the app often only includes some exercises and fun games that don’t actually give you a complete explanation of the grammar you’re using. As we’ve previously mentioned, Duolingo is heavily based on translation exercises and that’s often the method it uses to teach grammar concepts to English speakers. Needless to say, **it becomes clear that getting the translations right without first having a solid grammar explanation becomes quite hard.** Moreover, you can also notice in the previous screenshot how **Duolingo often doesn’t tolerate different translations than the ones it has in its database**, this means that it can become a bit frustrating to get the answers wrong just because you used a synonym. Not to mention that users only have three tries to pass a lesson test to move on with the course and, if they fail, they’ll have to wait and take it again later. ![Duolingo Chinese Review Translation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/translation-Chinese.png) low translation tolerance 📌One of the main faults we’ve found Duolingo to have is that **it basically requires the user to look at a character, hear its pronunciation and then answer a question about its meaning without ever being told what the character translation is**. For this reason, using Duolingo can be quite confusing for beginners that are still not used to Chinese characters and grammar. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Does Duolingo Teach Chinese Characters? What Duolingo should get credit for is the fact it introduces its users to Chinese characters right away. This means that during the very first few lessons, you’ll soon get in contact with a few characters. However at the beginning, as long as the possible answers are written using pinyin, it’ll be quite easy to play the audio and select the right option about what you’re hearing, but after a couple of questions, **Duolingo quickly switches to asking you what a character or a specific combination of characters means without never having given you an actual explanation.** In the following screenshot, you can see how Duolingo asks you to properly use the word “快” without having introduced it before in the lesson. ![Duolingo Chinese Review 快](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/translation.png) 📌Basically, **the user will have to guess the answer and learn by trial and error.** To try and improve this aspect of the app, Duolingo has recently been adding more pinyin throughout the lessons so that the users will be able to see and get in contact with pinyin more often to learn how to properly pronounce Chinese characters. Moreover, the hope is that seeing pinyin and characters placed side by side will help English speakers see the connection between one and the other and, since Duolingo is introducing the ability to type in the language you’re learning, knowing how to spell a character is becoming more and more important. Up until very recently, Duolingo’s **favorite way of teaching characters** was making the user complete **“tap the pairs” exercises** that basically required the learner to match a character with its right pinyin pronunciation, and, although the method is not wrong per se, in the long run, it can get quite repetitive. Due to this, Duolingo adding **the option of typing using pinyin to actually write the characters** makes for an important change to provide the users with a different learning method while at the same time making the app more pleasant to use. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Why is Duolingo NOT Good for Learning Chinese Initially? Reviews from Users Although Duolingo is a professional in teaching Latin and Germanic languages, the same cannot be said when it comes to Chinese. This is due to the fact that **the app is quite new in this field,** therefore, there’s still a lot that can be done to improve some of its features. In other words, **beginners are bound to have a bit of a hard time learning Chinese from scratch through Duolingo.** To get more into the details, Duolingo isn’t the best app for beginners because **Chinese tones and pronunciation are almost completely ignored** and, since they are the main factor in successfully learning the language, this is an aspect that should be improved. Moreover, Duolingo has **a lack of basic grammar explanations** that isn’t going to offer the users a solid knowledge of grammatical rules. Needless to say, this might cause some confusion in a beginner. ![Duolingo Chinese Review](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/explanation.png) Another aspect that could be improved is **Duolingo’s interface**. This doesn’t refer to the graphic of the games, which is actually quite enjoyable, but to the way the exercised are implemented in the app. More specifically, **the hints Duolingo gives are sometimes misleading**, almost as if they were put in generically without checking exercise per exercise. As for the difficulty of the sentences, the main concern users had is that it doesn’t grow regularly; **a user might find difficult sentences at the beginning of the course, or an easy one further on with the lessons.** As we’ve mentioned during our Duolingo review, the translation exercises provided by the app could certainly be improved, especially because they often sound **too mechanic** and the software rarely accepts solutions that are even slightly different from the ones in the database. As a matter of fact, we can say Duolingo makes the user **rely too much on rote memory** that involves a lot of repeated exercise rather than provides more insights into the Chinese language. Last but not least, even though the app is free, there is a **really high number of ads** that often interrupt the users’ learning. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Is Duolingo Chinese Worth Trying? ### What is Duolingo Good At? Even though Duolingo might not be the best app to learn Chinese from scratch, it’s still a good option if you want to review your knowledge of Chinese while **having fun with games** that are, for the most part, well designed. Also, if you wish to **learn new characters about specific topics**, Duolingo can help you do that. ![Duolingo Chinese Review](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-f0077caef7fe779b.png) ### Duolingo’s Course Does Not Match the HSK Test Duolingo is a fun way to practice and review your Chinese, however, the course doesn’t match the [HSK test](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-1-vocabulary-list/). Remember that Duolingo focuses on conversational sentences and some specific characters, but the HSK test **has a different list of characters** you need to learn in order to pass. Not to mention passing the **HSK test requires a knowledge of Chinese grammar rules** that Duolingo still doesn’t offer. ### Alternatives to Duolingo In terms of other mobile apps you can use to learn Chinese, there are 3 honorable mentions we’d like to suggest: The first one is [ChineseSkill](https://www.chineseskill.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a Chinese learning app dedicated to teaching basic Chinese vocabulary, characters, sentence structure, and more. It is **the most popular Chinese learning app** in the market today and has an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5 on App Store. It also provides short video lessons that you can watch anytime, anywhere. The second one is [**HelloChinese**](http://www.hellochinese.cc/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), an app that was specifically designed to teach Chinese to beginners in order to help them improve their knowledge lesson after lesson. Unlike Duolingo, HelloChinese starts its course with **a thorough explanation of Chinese pronunciation and pinyin**, making sure English speakers understand the main phonetic differences between their mother tongue and Chinese. The last option and our favorite one is [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). This mobile app is a good alternative if a user wants to improve their Chinese level. **LingoDeer focuses on teaching how to speak, read, and write in Chinese** and, more importantly, the app doesn’t constantly use English so that **the user can be surrounded by the Chinese language as much as possible.** Furthermore, LingoDeer will help you learn **how to write Chinese characters** while also expanding your vocabulary to reach a conversational level, moreover, the app allows beginners to listen to Chinese native speakers speak **in slow motion** helping them constantly improve their pronunciation. ![Duolingo Chinese Review](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-e4e5028c099b1ba5.png) Lingodeer app Last but not least, LingoDeer will **show you a summary of your performance** after each lesson; this will help you spot your weaknesses in order to highlight which aspects you need to work on using the app’s Review mode. ### Spanish Numbers 1-100 and How to Use Them URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-numbers-1-100/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:36:00.000Z Whether you want to haggle at the flea market or discuss the stock market, learning numbers in Spanish is a practical skill that you can learn here today! Much like in English, numbers in Spanish follow a logical pattern and are used in daily life. This article will teach you how to count Spanish numbers 1-100, how to say and read longer numbers, how to say how old you are, and almost any numbers related topic you can think of! ![Lamps with numbers ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/carlos-irineu-da-costa-r8dmu2mchQw-unsplash.jpg) Unsplash Credit to Carlos Irineu ## How to count in Spanish: Spanish Numbers 1-100 The numbers 0-100 are the building blocks to all larger numbers and are used to express common things like a person’s age, the time, the date, and how many beers you want. ### Spanish Numbers 0-15 Here are the numbers 0 to 15\. Each number is unique and is written as one short word. Study them carefully, especially numbers 1 to 9\. They will come up in the next section quite a lot! - 0 - cero - 1 - uno - 2 - dos - 3 - tres - 4 - cuatro - 5 - cinco - 6 - seis - 7 - siete - 8 - ocho - 9 - nueve - 10 - diez - 11 - once - 12 - doce - 13 - trece - 14 - catorce - 15 - quince ### Spanish Numbers 16-100 This is where we begin to see a pattern with numbers. When we get to 16 and beyond, all we do is take the tens place and add the ones place. - 16 - *diez y seis* (ten and six) - 27 - *veinte y siete* (twenty and seven) - 82 - *ochenta y dos* (eighty and two) See the pattern? **This means once you have mastered the Spanish number 1-10, and twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, and ninety, you can say any number all the way up to 99!** Here is a chart with all of the 2 digit numbers ending with zero. - 10 - diez - 20 - veinte - 30 - treinta - 40 - cuarenta - 50 - cincuenta - 60 - sesenta - 70 - setenta - 80 - ochenta - 90 - noventa - 100 - cien/ciento **For numbers 16 to 29**, you will often see a “modern” version written out as one word instead of three, as seen in *dieciseis* instead of *diez y seis* for sixteen, and *veintiocho* instead of *veinte y ocho* for twenty eight. Over time, **the components *diez y seis* just got squished together to form one word**, and this was applied to the numbers 16 to 29 (sometimes languages like Spanish like to squish words together to make them look more like they sound). **The word for 100 has two words in Spanish; *cien* and *ciento.*** Basically, 100 by itself is *cien*, and when you count past 100 people use *ciento* instead. You will see examples of this in the next section, so don’t stress if you don’t get it yet! ## Spanish Numbers: What happens beyond 100 You might think that if you’re just travelling for a short while, there’s no need to learn to count past 100\. However, **if you are going to a Latin American country and want to buy something, learning higher numbers could come in handy.** This is because one US dollar is equivalent to about 21 Mexican pesos, 755 Chilean pesos, or 3,815 Colombian pesos as of writing this article. That means a simple purchase will likely be over 100 pesos! ### Hundreds To count past 100, it is very similar if not the same as English. Here are some examples with helpful colors to illustrate. - 154 - - One hundred / fifty four - Ciento cincuenta y cuatro - 115 - - One hundred / fifteen - Ciento / quince - 193 - - One hundred / ninety three - Ciento / noventa y tres - 462 - - Four hundred / sixty two - Cuatrocientos / sesenta y dos If you want to say two hundred, three hundred, etc. then usually you can put the number *dos* or *tres* in front of the word for hundreds. **There are a few exceptions**, so here is a chart with all of the hundreds listed. - 100 - ciento - 200 - doscientos - 300 - trescientos - 400 - cuatrocientos - **500 - quinientos** - 600 - seiscientos - **700 - setecientos** - 800 - ochocientos - **900 - novecientos** ### Thousands Now that you know how to count up to 999 and know the numbers pattern, counting in the thousands will be intuitive. **The word for one thousand in Spanish is *mil*.** Anything from 1000 to 1999 will start with *mil* and end with the remaining part of the number. For example,1421 is *mil cuatrocientos veinte y uno*. When you look at each piece and compare it to English, it’s the same format! To say numbers from 2,000 all the way to 999,000, say the number before the comma, then the word *mil,* then the rest of the number. Just like in English. 👉**Remember though, Spanish uses a decimal point instead of a comma, and vice versa.** Here are some more examples with corresponding colors that will visually explain how the numbers are put together. - 3.592 - Three thousand / five hundred / ninety two - Tres mil / quinientos / noventa y dos - 827.249 - Eight hundred / twenty seven thousand / two hundred / forty nine - Ochocientos / veinte y siete mil / doscientos / cuarenta y nueve - 332.943 - Three hundred / thirty two thousand / nine hundred / forty three - Trescientos / treinta y dos mil / novecientos / cuarenta y tres ### Millions, Billions and Trillions The word for million in Spanish is a cognate, so it looks and sounds like the English word. **One million is *un millón.*** For two million, three million, and so on, be sure to **pluralize** it and say ***millones* as in *cinco millones*.** 👉Watch out! *Billón* is a common false friend in Spanish, meaning it looks like an English word but it doesn’t mean what it looks like. The word for **billion is actually *mil millones*** in Spanish - a thousand millions. So what does *billón* mean? ***Un billón* is a trillion!** ![how to read large Spanish number ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/coma-point.png) --- ## How to use Spanish Numbers in Sentences Now that you know how to count all the stars in the sky in Spanish, let’s look at some practical applications and how to use numbers in daily life. ### Numbers in Adjective Form You may not have realized before that numbers can act as adjectives. Think about it - you are describing how many of something there is, and an adjective **describes** a noun. In Spanish, adjectives have to match the gender and plurality (as in singular vs plural) of the noun they are describing. “The brown and white dog” is *el perro moreno y blanco*, while “these big and yellow pillows” is *estas almohadas grandes y amarillas*. **A few numbers change in gender depending on the noun they are describing**. **Numbers ending in one**, as in 21, 31, 161 change to *un* if it is a masculine word. “I am twenty one” is *tengo veintiún años*. They also change to una if it is a feminine word - “thirty one women” is *treinta y una* mujeres. Think of indefinite articles *un* and *una* used to say “a/an” - it’s the same concept. **Numbers containing *ciento/s*** change to *cienta/s* if they are describing feminine nouns. Three hundred tables would be *trescientas mesas*. Now that’s a lot of tables! ### How to Say Your Age in Spanish How old are you? *¿Cuántos años tienes?* In Spanish, age is expressed with the verb *tener* \- to have. *Tengo treinta años* means “I am thirty years old” but it literally translated to “I have thirty years.” To say your age, just plug in the number using this sentence: *Tengo # años.* The number is in adjective form here because you are describing how many years, so the adjective form rule for numbers ending with one applies. In short, “I am twenty-one” is *tengo veintiún años*. ### How to tell time in Spanish Here is a short and simple way to tell the time in Spanish. There are other terms not included for the sake of time (pun intended) so take this as an introduction and practice and learn more with apps like Lingodeer! For times that are right on the hour, use the following formulas: > It’s one o’clock. > > ***Es la una*.** > ***Son las* (number greater than 1).** > “It’s three o’clock” is *son las tres*. “It’s seven o’clock” is *son las siete.* Pretty straight forward so far. Note that for one o’clock the word *es* is used along with the singular *la* whereas numbers greater than one use *son* and *las*. To add minutes, tell the time like shown above then add *y* followed by the number of minutes. > ***Es la una y veinte.*** > > > > It’s 4:10 > > ***Son las cuatro y diez.*** ### Years and Dates in Spanish *¿Cuál es la fecha hoy?* What is the date today? Expressing the date can be used for more than just this simple question, but learning how to answer it will help you talk about other dates like your date of birth, the date of your flight to Puerto Rico, your anniversary, and so on. In English, we use ordinal numbers like first, second, third, and so on when saying the date. Luckily, Spanish only uses one - first! All the other dates are simply numbers. Take a look at these formulas and examples. > Today is the first of (month), (year). > > ***Hoy es el primero de* (month) *de* (year).** Example: Today is the **first** of July, 2020. *Hoy es el *primero* de julio de dos mil veinte.* In Spanish the year is said like any other number, versus English which breaks the year into two parts. > Today is the (#) of (month), (year). > > ***Hoy es el* (#) *de* (month) *de* (year).** Example: Today is the **seventeenth** of **February, 1983**. *Hoy es el *diez y siete* de *febrero* de *mil novecientos ochenta y tres*.* If you want to talk about other dates besides today’s, replace the word *hoy* with the event! For example, “**my birthday** is October 12th” is **mi cumpleaños* es el doce de octubre.* Here are the months of the year in Spanish. **Months are not capitalized.** ![12 months in Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/Months-of-the-Year.png) ## Mathematics in Spanish A lot of us have trouble doing math in English, let alone in another language! It’s useful to know a few terms if you’re splitting the bill with friends at a restaurant, are confused about your bill at the hotel, want to haggle and use math to justify a lower price, etc. Don’t worry, there’s no need to get into square roots and calculus, the basics are perfect. ### Add, Subtract, Multiply and Divide Once you know numbers in Spanish, you can read a math problem by learning the following terms: plus - *más* minus - *menos* divided by - *dividido entre* times - *por* equals - *es igual a* Here are some simple math problems written out using the above terms so that you can see them in action. > Ocho **más** diez es igual a dieciocho > > 125 - 25 = 100 > > Ciento veinticinco **menos** veinticinco es igual a cien > > 60 ÷ 20 = 3 > > Sesenta **dividido entre** veinte es igual a tres > > 2 × 40 = 80 > > Dos **por** cuarenta es igual a ochenta ![Spanish number mathematics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/amol-tyagi-UZFCQPNc4bs-unsplash.jpg) ### 中国語の初心者がやるべき勉強法をまとめて紹介！ URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-study-chinese-for-beginners-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:14:35.000Z 私が中国語に出会ったのは、もう30年以上前のこと。 小学校5年生のとき、母が観ていた台湾の映画を観たことが中国語に興味を持つきっかけとなりました。字幕をいっしょうけんめい目で追いながら聞こえてくる美しい発音に惹かれ、自分でも「話したい！」と思うようになりました。30年経った今もやっぱり、中国語の美しい発音を聞くと心が癒されます。 中国語の学習で大切なのは、「楽しい」と思いながら学ぶこと。 何かひとつの単語でも、フレーズでも話せるようになったり、聞いてわかるようになると、「楽しい！」「嬉しい！」と感じますよね。 ここでは、そんな「楽しい！」「嬉しい！」を感じながら中国語の初心者がやるべき勉強法をまとめて紹介したいと思います。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## 目標設定 - 検定試験を受ける 中国語を習得するための大切なポイントは「目標を立てる」こと。目標を立てることで、方向性を見失しなわずに学習を進めることができるようになります。 ここでは目標設定に検定試験を利用することをおすすめします。 中国語の主流な検定試験は、中国政府公認で世界基準の中国語資格として知られる「HSK（汉语水平考试）」と、一般財団法人日本中国語検定協会が主催する「[中国語検定試験](http://www.hskj.jp/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)」です。 ![中国語の初心者がやるべき勉強法をまとめて紹介！](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/ld-image-35499b972e5f9b62.png) これらの試験を利用することで学習の目標が明確化し、自分にあったレベルで学習でき、 また、試験によって客観的な評価が得られる、というメリットがあります。検定試験にはいくつかのレベルがあり、例えばHSKなら1～6級、中国語検定なら準4～1級までのレベルに分かれています。ここから、「HSK3級を目指したい」、「中国語検定4級を目指したい」など目標を立てます。それぞれのレベルに必要な語彙量、文法内容、リスニング、スピーキングの内容がある程度明確に案内されているので、計画的に学習を進めることができます。 「中国語を話せるようになりたい」と思っても、具体的な目標がなければ何をどのように学べば良いのかわからなくなってしまいます。目標を立てて、効率よく学習し、学習した内容の力試しをする。そのために検定試験を利用することはとても有効な手段であるといえます。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## 発音の勉強法 ### 正しい発音の理解＆発音を真似る練習 中国語には21の声母（子音）と38の韻母（母音）に加え約400の音節、そしてすべての音節に四声があり、全部で1600種類の発音があると言われています。 ![中国語の初心者がやるべき勉強法をまとめて紹介！](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/ld-image-403886b69c481f3c.png) 日本語は50音、そこに拗音、撥音を合わせても100種類程度になります。そのため、日本人にとって中国語を習得するのに最も難しいのは発音だと言われています。 発音をマスターするための重要なポイントは子音、母音の発音、四声をしっかりと身に付けることですが、そのときに自分の苦手な発音を知ることがとても大切です。 自分の苦手な発音をノートに書き出してみたり、テキストにマーカーで印をつけるのも良いでしょう。そして、その発音を繰り返し練習するようにします。 また、ひとつの単語を分解して発音練習することもおすすめです。 例えば、「称（cheng）」という発音が苦手だったとします。この「称（cheng）」をchとeとngにわけてゆっくり発音を確かめながらつなげていきます。何度も何度も繰り返し練習することで苦手な発音を克服できるようになります。 また、正しい発音を習得するためにネイティブの発音を真似ることもポイントです。 [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/cn/jp/learn-chinese-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)でネイティブの発音を聴くことができます。 インターネットを使ってネイティブの方と交流することもできますね。 このようなツールを使って、ネイティブの発音を真似たり、自分の発音を録音して聴いてもらうのも良い方法です。動画などで聴くことができる場合は、ネイティブの方の口元の動きにも注目し、動きも真似てみましょう。 そして、上述したように、苦手な発音を見つけたら繰り返し発音の練習をしましょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### ピンインのおぼえ方 上述の通り、中国語の子音は21個、母音は36個で400余りの組み合わせ（音節）があります。一見、とても多く感じられますが、「絶対おぼえられない！」量ではありません。 子音と母音の発音をしっかりと身に付け、あとはこれらを組み合わせるだけ、 ピンインは「とにかくおぼえる！」こと。 テキストや小説、絵本、その他インターネットのニュースをコピーしたものなど、なんでも良いので、ピンインを書き込んでいきましょう。ピンインがわらかないときは辞書を使用します。根気のいる地道な作業ですが、何度か調べ、書いているうちに自然とおぼえられるよになります。また、現在は手書きの辞書ツールなどさまざまな便利アプリがあるので、活用するのもおすすめです。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## 単語の勉強法 中国語を学習する中で、「単語がおぼえられない！」という悩みを持つ人は多いのではないでしょうか。ここでは、単語をおぼえるためのポイントや効率おぼえられる方法をご紹介します。コツを掴めば、単語学習も楽しくなりますよ！ 【単語をおぼえるために必要なポイント】 - ピンインをしっかりと身に付けておくこと - 四声をしっかりと身に付けておくこと 単語学習をはじめる前に、[ピンイン](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/cn/jp/learn-chinese-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)と[声調（四声）](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/cn/jp/learn-chinese-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)をしっかりと理解し、身に付けておくことはとても重要なポイントになります。特に四声は、発音が違うとことばの意味がまったく異なってしまうので、単語学習をはじめる前に、しっかりとマスターしておきましょう。 ピンインと四声をある程度マスターできたら、単語教材を準備しましょう。現在では書店やインターネットでたくさんの単語教材が販売されています。その中から、初心者向けの単語教材をいくつかご紹介します。 - [キクタン（入門編）](https://ec.alc.co.jp/book/7008096/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - [新ゼロからスタート中国語単語BASIC1000](https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%96%B0%E3%82%BC%E3%83%AD%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E3%83%88%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E8%AA%9E%E5%8D%98%E8%AA%9EBASIC1000-%E7%8E%8B-%E4%B8%B9/dp/4863924526/ref=pd%5Flpo%5F14%5Fimg%5F1/355-7963779-9702431?%5Fencoding=UTF8&pd%5Frd%5Fi=4863924526&pd%5Frd%5Fr=0149e6cc-73c4-4a6e-8d58-e06076809c9f&pd%5Frd%5Fw=TBZKx&pd%5Frd%5Fwg=tIapE&pf%5Frd%5Fp=4b55d259-ebf0-4306-905a-7762d1b93740&pf%5Frd%5Fr=ZDZBJQD3YH3YYTQNH659&psc=1&refRID=ZDZBJQD3YH3YYTQNH659&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - [品詞別・例文で覚える HSK基本語彙 1級-4級](https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E9%9F%B3%E5%A3%B0%E3%83%80%E3%82%A6%E3%83%B3%E3%83%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%83%89-%E5%93%81%E8%A9%9E%E5%88%A5%E3%83%BB%E4%BE%8B%E6%96%87%E3%81%A7%E8%A6%9A%E3%81%88%E3%82%8B-HSK%E5%9F%BA%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E5%BD%99-1%E7%B4%9A-4%E7%B4%9A-%E6%98%A5%E8%B2%B4/dp/486398409X/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?%5F%5Fmk%5Fja%5FJP=%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8A&dchild=1&keywords=HSK%E5%9F%BA%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E5%BD%99&qid=1603151134&s=books&sr=1-1&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ちなみに、初級の中国語検定試験に出題される語彙量は - 新HSK1級：150語 - 新HSK2級：300語 - 中国語検定準4級：500語 - 中国語検定4級：500～1000語 語彙量の多さに驚いてしまうかもしれませんが、初級の単語は日本語と共通の語彙も多いので、おぼえやすい単語もたくさんあります。 また、中国語の単語には、1つの単語に対して複数の意味を持つものがあり、これが学習者の悩みとなることが多いようです。 1つの単語に複数の意味がある単語であっても、すべての意味をおぼえる必要はありません。まずは1つの単語に対して1つの意味をおぼえることから、気軽におぼえていきましょう。1つの単語を重点的におぼえようとするよりも、一度にある程度の量をまとめて学習することが大切です。とは言っても、一度にまとまった量の単語はおぼえきれません。おぼえきれなくて当然なのです。しかし、学習していく中で「何となく見たことがある単語だな、何ていう意味だったかな？」と思うようになり、これを繰り返し復習することで徐々におぼえられるようになります。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## 文法の勉強法 発音、ピンイン、単語をある程度学習できたら、次は文法学習に進みましょう。文法は、おぼえた単語を入れる「枠組み」のような存在です。基本的な文法を習得できれば、日常会話もできるようになります。 日本語のSOV構文に対して中国語の基本はSVO構文。日本語の文法とは異なりますが、中国語の文法はシンプルです。 ![中国語の初心者がやるべき勉強法をまとめて紹介！](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/ld-image-a174f22525c53c5f.png) また、英語では進行形や過去形、未来形や受動態などで動詞が変化しますが、中国語では動詞が変化することがなく、語順も変わることも少ないので理解しやすいです。 しかし、中国語の文章はすべてが漢字なので、慣れるまでは文章をどこで区切るかわからなくなったり、どれが動詞でどれが目的語か、わからなくなったりすることがあります。 もしこのような問題に直面したときは、並べ替え問題をたくさん解いてみたり、文章にスラッシュを引いて単語を区切る練習をするのも良いでしょう。慣れてしまえば、文章がぐっと読みやすくなってくるはずです。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## 独学で中国語を習得するための5つのステップ ### 1.ツールを準備する 中国語を習得するためにまず必要なことは、自分にあった教材・ツールを選ぶこと。先に述べたとおり、発音→ピンイン→単語・文法の順で学習をすすめましょう。書籍の教材の他、現在ではたくさんの学習アプリが配信されています。単語、文法、練習問題、リスニング、スピーキングなどいろいろなメニューが盛り込まれ、少しの空き時間を使って、いつでもどこでも手軽に学習できるメリットがあります。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### 2.発音をマスターする これまでにも述べたとおり、中国語で重要なのは発音です。新しい単語を学習するときは、「1週間で〇〇個、〇〇ページまでおぼえよう」と決めて発音までマスターできるように計画を立ててみるのもおすすめです。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### 3.教科書を朗読・暗唱する 教材の中にある短文、長文を朗読・暗唱してみましょう。スラスラ読めるようになるまでは時間がかかりますが、中国語の文章や漢字に慣れる良いきっかけになります。同じ文章を2週間を目安に読みつづけてみましょう。慣れてくると文章の中でどれが動詞、どれが目的語、など単語の区別が徐々にできるようにもなってきます。最初はスラッシュを引きながら、たくさんの文章を読んでみましょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### 4.過去問題を繰り返し解く 検定試験を目指す方は積極的に過去問題に取り組みましょう。過去問題は決めた範囲を3週間を目安に何度も復習しながら解いてみましょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### 5.「話す」と「書く」を鍛える 新しい単語やフレーズをおぼえたら、実際に声に出して発音してみましょう。声に出して教科書を朗読するのも良いです。CDなど音声ツールに合わせて発音練習するのも良いでしょう。 また、文章を「書く」練習として、中国語で日記を書くのもおすすめです。最初は1行でもかまいません。書きたい出来事や気持ちを中国語で表現できるように辞書やテキストを活用しながら、毎日の日課としてチャレンジしてみましょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## ネイティブと話してみる- ネイティブと話してみる＆チャット学習 現在はインターネットの普及にともなって、中国語学習でも自宅、オフィス、学校、世界中のどこからでもネイティブと会話できるチャットワーク学習や会話レッスンアプリが多数あります。 【チャット学習アプリ】- [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/jp?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) LingoDeerは基礎的な単語からセンテンス、発音や読解、リスニングなど幅広い分野で中国語を学ぶことができるアプリです。各項目ごとに文法を丁寧に解説◎初心者の方でもわかりやすい内容になっています。 ゲームのような感覚で楽しく中国語を学習できるので続けやすいのも魅力的なポイント！旅行や出張ですぐに使える挨拶やフレーズなども多数収録されています。 中国語学習をはじめるなら、是非LingoDeerをお試しください♪ 以下のアプリから、ネティブとの会話レッスンをご体験いただけます！ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/ld-image-a4bbd253197ac45c.png) 【中国語会話レッスンアプリ】- [Tandem](https://www.tandem.net/ja/practice-speaking-chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 【チャット学習アプリ】-[ Cafetalk](https://cafetalk.com/lessons/?term=lesson-language&term%5Fsub=lesson-language-chinese&lang=ja&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) などいろいろな種類のアプリがあるので、目的や用途に合ったものを選べるのも魅力的なポイントのひとつですね。 発音やリスニングなど、ネイティブとの会話を通して得られるメリットはとても大きく、中国語レベルアップへの近道になります。 また、実際にネイティブの方と会話することで中国の文化や習慣に触れ、視野を広げることができ、中国語を学習する「楽しさ」を実感できるようにもなります。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## 好きなことを中国語で学ぶ ### ドラマ・映画で学習 ある程度の語彙量、文法力がついてきたら、実際に中国や台湾のドラマや映画を観てみましょう。現在はyoutubeやbilibili動画でもたくさんの作品を視聴できます。 最初はスピードの速さに驚くかもしれませんが、中国語で字幕も出るのでだんだん慣れて理解できるようになって楽しく視聴できるようになります。 聞き取れないところや、分かりにくかったところなどは繰り返し観てみるのも勉強になりますね。本場の中国語を耳で聞くことで、楽しみながら耳の練習になるので、おススメです。 [中国語ドラマサイト（簡体字）](https://www.youku.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [中国語ドラマサイト（繁体字）](https://vidol.tv/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ドラマやバラエティー番組を視聴できます。 是非お気に入りの作品を見つけてみてくださいね。 ◆おすすめの映画◆ [霸王别姬](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P3sxrGOWAk&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 日本でも大人気のレスリーチャン主演の映画です。日中戦争や文化大革命を背景に、翻弄されながらも力強く生きる京劇役者たちの目線から描かれた近代中国のストーリー。 ![中国語の初心者がやるべき勉強法をまとめて紹介！](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/116035_01.jpg) 覇王別姫「さらば、わが愛」監督 チェン・カイコー 「覇王別姫」とは、劇中に登場する四面楚歌で有名な項羽と虞美人を描いた京劇作品で中国の伝統的な古典演劇である京劇は衣装や隈取など見た目にも華やかで美しく、いろいろな角度から楽しめる内容になっています。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### ニュース番組を見る スマートフォンの言語設定を中国語に変更してみるのもおススメです。中国語に設定すると、ツールなどの他、グーグルニュースも中国語に切り替わります。 中国語でニュースを読むなど、毎日少しずつ日常の中に中国語を取り入れることでより自然に語学力が身に付きます。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### おすすめの中国語学習の本・参考書 ◆おすすめのテキスト（初心者編）◆ 少し前までは書店でもあまり見かけなかった中国語のテキストも、最近ではいろいろの種類のものがたくさん並ぶようになりました。 テキストを選ぶとき、もっとも大切なことは、ピンインや発音に関してわかりやすく解説しているものを選ぶことです。それは、中国語の基本がピンイン・発音にあり、今後学習していく上でとても重要なポイントになるからです。 すべて漢字で表現される中国語は、その字を正確に読み・発音しないと伝わりません。 そのため、ピンイン・発音はとても重要な基礎部分になります。「わかりやすい」と思えるテキストで学習できると、この基礎の部分がしっかりと身に付きます。 販売されている多くのテキストにはCDなどが付属していて、ネイティブの発音を聞くことができるようになっています。ある程度理解を深めたら、ネイティブの発音を聞いたり、合わせて発音する練習をするとなお良いでしょう。 【初心者におすすめのテキスト】 [①新ゼロからスタート中国語 文法編](https://bookwalker.jp/de762686f6-8046-4d86-a7cb-c0bc721c5ac4/?adpcnt=7qM%5FVsc7&utm%5Fsource=google&utm%5Fmedium=cpc&utm%5Fterm=%5F&utm%5Fcampaign=&utm%5Fcontent=%5F%5Fcp%5F1471997507%5Fgr%5F65566109508%5Fkw%5Fpla-428567606763%5Fcr%5F281840075652&gclid=CjwKCAjw5p%5F8BRBUEiwAPpJO61IQlHL3uOuQS-17DJUMai5KBbCvCZTzg047WFAhrHGvGV-4Z6JSPRoCFPYQAvD%5FBwE) [②世界でいちばんやさしい中国語の授業 (日本語) 単行本](https://www.amazon.co.jp/CD%E4%BB%98-%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%84%E3%81%A1%E3%81%B0%E3%82%93%E3%82%84%E3%81%95%E3%81%97%E3%81%84%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E6%8E%88%E6%A5%AD-%E5%B7%9D%E5%8E%9F-%E7%A5%A5%E5%8F%B2/dp/4471113143/ref=asc%5Fdf%5F4471113143/?tag=jpgo-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=295691468097&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17705545050199052268&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1009501&hvtargid=pla-526722160558&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [③本気で学ぶ中国語(CD BOOK) 単行本](https://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4860642473/kazuuiword-22/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ◆おすすめのテキスト（中・上級者編）◆ ある程度基礎知識がついたら、次は中・上級者編のテキストを選んでみましょう。 中・上級学習のポイントは、さらに複雑な文法を理解し、表現力を身につけることです。初級から中級で学習した単語やフレーズ、慣用句を活かして応用できるように、テキストには長文問題や作文問題も多数出題されているものもあります。 また、中～上級者用のテキストはHSK（汉语水平考试）に役立つものも多いです。 ここでも、「わかりやすい」と思えるテキスト選びが大切なポイントになります。 【中・上級者におすすめのテキスト】 [本気で学ぶ中級中国語](https://item.rakuten.co.jp/hmvjapan/4145039/?gclid=CjwKCAjw5p%5F8BRBUEiwAPpJO6xeuOjV63l3LLfJ2adLePPd680At4WFeCxqZEf2zIcruya7cGvBU3RoCLA4QAvD%5FBwE&scid=af%5Fpc%5Fetc&sc2id=af%5F113%5F0%5F10001868&gclid=CjwKCAjw5p%5F8BRBUEiwAPpJO6xeuOjV63l3LLfJ2adLePPd680At4WFeCxqZEf2zIcruya7cGvBU3RoCLA4QAvD%5FBwE&icm%5Fagid=55532127066&icm%5Fcid=1423254182&icm%5Facid=288-622-7470&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) [本気で学ぶ上級中国語](https://www.google.com/search?q=%E6%9C%AC%E6%B0%97%E3%81%A7%E5%AD%A6%E3%81%B6%E4%B8%AD%E7%B4%9A&oq=%E6%9C%AC%E6%B0%97%E3%81%A7%E5%AD%A6%E3%81%B6%E4%B8%AD%E7%B4%9A&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.9474j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) また、小説も語学力のアップにつながります。 まだまだ書店では見かけない中国語の小説ですが、中国ではたくさんの本がリーズナブルな価格で販売されているので、旅行に行ったときなど機会があるときに購入したり、 日本でも、Amazonなどで少し販売されているのでチェックしてみてください。 小説は、わからない単語があると辞書で単語を引きながら自分のペースでゆっくりと読み進められるので、読解力や文法力などのレベルアップにも効果的です。 【おすすめの中国語小説】 [三体](https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E4%B8%89%E4%BD%93-1-3-%E5%A5%97%E8%A3%85%E5%85%B13%E5%86%8C/dp/B00OB3SNMY/ref=sr%5F1%5F4?adgrpid=103120086883&dchild=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5p%5F8BRBUEiwAPpJO6w91bECCF-ymM6gtBqQoSgYyob8c3tQ2xmF21J9WxFKnkUdLheMJ6RoCy4gQAvD%5FBwE&hvadid=445104656805&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1009501&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=7013468695265307659&hvtargid=kwd-926676443729&hydadcr=14086%5F10900192&jp-ad-ap=0&keywords=%E4%B8%89+%E4%BD%93&qid=1602815565&sr=8-4&tag=googhydr-22&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![中国語の初心者がやるべき勉強法をまとめて紹介！](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/0_2sIjdOB74PArRgYQ-1.jpg) 著者 劉慈欣 [第七天](https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%83%E5%A4%A9-%E4%BD%99%E5%8D%8E/dp/7513331413/ref=sr%5F1%5F8?%5F%5Fmk%5Fja%5FJP=%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8A&dchild=1&keywords=%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%83%E5%A4%A9+%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD&qid=1602815695&sr=8-8&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) など。他にも多数販売されています。お気に入りの作品を見つけてみてくださいね。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## まとめ いかがでしたか？ 中国語の習得は決して容易ではありませんが、適度にリフレッシュを取り入れながら、少しずつマイペースで楽しみながら学習するのがポイントです。 はじめはピンイン、発音、単語や文法などおぼえることがたくさんあり、時には「楽しい」と思えなくなることも。ですが、この段階での「積み重ね」は必ず後で役に立つようになります。学習が「なかなか進まない」、ペースが「遅い」と感じても、大切なのは「必ず身についている」ことを忘れないこと。学習したことが身につかない日はありません。 単語やフレーズを覚えたら恥ずかしがらず、どんどん発音してみましょう！ 身近なところに中国人のお友達ができたり、留学やビジネスで中国に行けるチャンスがあれば、さらに上達は早くなります。毎日の積み重ねが語学力につながり、きっと自信につながるはずです。 頑張ってください！皆様の中国語学習を応援しています！ ### Learn Korean: From Newbie to Advanced URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T10:59:54.000Z ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Learning Korean: Common Beginner Questions ### Is It Difficult to Learn Korean? Korean, like all languages, is not easy to learn and use fluently. **It takes time, effort, failure, and persistence.** So, you have to ask yourself: **What’s your WHY?** Constantly reminding yourself of you WHY will keep you on track in your studies and practice of the Korean language. Is your reason to travel? To find a job? To study in Korea? To enjoy popular dramas and music? To find a partner? To reconnect with family? **Whatever your reason, keep it in the back of your mind and you will be able to overcome frustration and setbacks.** The difficulty of developing Korean proficiency also depends on if you already have a second language learning experience. Studies have shown that people who acquire a second language are more likely to acquire additional languages. And they can do so more easily. This is partly because they know how to learn. They have developed systems for studying and practicing languages that work for them. They know their strengths and weakness, what to focus on, and how to study efficiently. **So if you are someone who can already speak another language, you have an advantage.** If Korean is your first foreign language, don’t worry. Take some time to become familiar with effective study practices, and copy the techniques of others. This will get you started on the right foot. ### How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean? There is no definite answer to this question, unfortunately. Ask any advanced level learner, and they will probably tell you that they are still learning. That’s the thing about Korean language acquisition: it is a constant process of development, stagnation, and progress. **Everyone has different circumstances and learning speeds.** Personally, I’ve been studying Korean for years, but not consistently. I’ve taken breaks and had periods of focused study. It all depends on your life situations. I know people who have spent 10-plus years studying, yet haven’t reached advanced levels. I know other people who have easily picked-up Korean through K-Dramas and K-Pop. So, **don’t beat yourself up if you don’t feel quick progress.** ### How to Successfully Learn Korean: Intention, Goals, and Motivation **Most learners fail because they don’t have clear goals.** Often, they set unrealistic goals that underestimate who much time and effort will be needed to achieve it. For example, often learners say that their goal is to understand songs or dramas without subtitles. That’s a great goal, but far too vague and general. A vague goal and lack of planning mean failure. **Success in learning Korean starts with defining your goal and making a plan. With a clear goal and a solid plan, you can start assembling your toolbox.** For example, make a goal to study and understand one verse of your favorite song, then another, and then another. After you can understand one song entirely, start on your next favorite song. Bit by bit you will be adding to your knowledge and skill. Once you have a goal, a plan and the right tools, all that’s left is execution. Along the way you’ll need to fight your own laziness or frustration caused by plateauing, here’s why motivation becomes crucial. Whether you can reach your goal is all about your “WHY” – the thing that will keep you motivated and prevent you from quitting. Let’s look at some common reasons people study Korean: - For work or study - For traveling - For enjoying Korean entertainment - For personal reasons **Learning Korean for work or study?** If you’ve decided to go to university in Korea, you will need to become proficient in Korean. Luckily, the university programs are among the best and most successful in helping students become quickly proficient in Korean. So, if you’re willing to put in the work, there is an abundance of opportunities for foreign students in Korea these days. Some people want or need to study Korean for work: in order to get a job, a promotion, a new position, or for some other reason. Being able to speak Korean and your native language will give you a leg-up in the Korean job market. **Companies are constantly looking to add bilingual employees to their workforce and will help pay for your language training.** **Learning Korean for travel?** Korea is great for travel. Whether you plan to spend a long time getting to know the country, or just stay for a brief visit, Korea has a lot to offer. Being able to speak some Korean will greatly improve your experience. Not to mention, Koreans will be impressed with your skill and flattered that you made an effort to learn their language. ![An ancien Korean palace](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-9805c8cc4473b688.jpg) Unsplash, credit to Bundo Kim **Learning Korean because you’re a fan of Korean pop culture?** K-Pop and K-Dramas have been building a following internationally for a long time. With bands like BTS and Blackpink, Korean Pop Culture known as *Hallyu* is established world-wide. Maybe you want to sing along with your favorite songs or interact with band members on social media. Whatever the reason, **having a motivation centered on entertainment is one of the best ways to enjoy language learning.** ![Posters and souvenirs of Korean stars](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/joel-muniz-aJe1a2ZpubA-unsplash.jpg) Unsplash, credit to Joel Muniz **Learning Korean for personal reasons?** There are many other reasons to learn Korean. Some people feel a need to reconnect with their heritage, while others are just interested in the culture. Whatever the reason, it’s imperative to set goals, study with intention, and remember your motivation. So, **take some time to brainstorm and write down your motivation, your goals, and your intentions.** **Motivation**: Why do you want to study Korean? **Goals**: What milestones are you going to set for yourself along the way? **Intentions**: How are you planning to study and hold yourself accountable? Now that you’re mentally prepared for success, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of Korean learning. B**ut first, we need to get some bad habits out of the way if you haven’t already done so.** ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Don’ts in Learning Korean as a Beginner ### Stop Relying on the Romanizations When you first start to learn Korean, you may be tempted to use the Romanizations of Korean to help you understand and pronounce words. Don’t! **Try to read everything in Hangul.** Why? Because it is so much fun! ![order of strokes in hangul ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/06/1-1.png) One of my fondest memories of studying Korean is when I first understood the alphabet. I had just finished a study session and was riding the bus home. As I passed by the buildings, I tried to read the signs as practice. I could put a few syllables together quite easily, even if I didn’t understand what I was reading. Then, I read a sign on a restaurant which read – 치즈버거. As I put the syllables together, I was shocked to realize that I was reading “*Cheeseburger*”. I had just been introduced to the playful world of Konglish: English words spelled with Hangul. It provided me a jolt of refreshing confidence. **The beauty of Hangul is its simplicity**. One can learn the alphabet in a matter of hours and sound out words in a couple of days. So just do it! ### Don’t Try to Memorize Long Random Words List When developing your vocabulary, do it with some intention. There are several proven strategies out there to utilize. **Most importantly, don’t try to memorize every word you come across, and don’t memorize randomly.** Studies have shown that **language is more easily recalled if it is** **tied to emotion or real-life situations**. For example, if you like to go to cafes, use that scenario as a foundation for memorizing the vocabulary typically used in cafes. This will provide you with an abundance of relevant vocabulary that you can use daily. You will be emotionally charged to recall these words because of the smells, sounds, and challenges of the real-life context. Another way is to **group words according to their meanings, such as colors, animals, and food.** Putting vocabulary into categories will result in more efficient study and recall. For example, start building a list of words for everything related to money. As your experiences compound, you’ll be able to add to the body of knowledge. Plus, you’ll be better able to recall vocab and phrases related to money. ![Korean word list](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/Word-list.jpg) Photo provided by Xueyin Liu ### Don’t Trust Machine Translations I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used an app to translate a word, only to be told later that the word was entirely wrong: either it is not commonly used these days, or it is only used in official written documents but not in speech. It can be tempting to utilize translation apps to assist you in your language acquisition process, but this can sometimes be more harmful than helpful. Apps like Google translate, Naver, and Papago can make a lot of mistakes. **The subtle nuisances of the language are ignored**, and often the direct translation is entirely inaccurate. **Machine translations also ignore the proper speech level to use**. Korean is a language that is very sensitive to tone, formality, and honorificity. These rules are best learned in everyday life and are not accurately translated by translation apps. This could cause some embarrassment and awkwardness, so it is best not to trust these apps. ![ Korean word translation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/google-translation.jpg) However, they still can be useful. One method I recommend is writing your message in Korean, then checking to see if it is accurate in your native language. This is not fail-proof, but it will help you form accurate sentence structures and improve memorization. ### Don’t Nitpick Exceptions to Grammatical Rules Do not spend too much time on the few exceptions to grammatical rules, because almost all grammatical rules have exceptions, and they are only the minority. Just like all languages “grammatical exceptions” exist in Korean too. Sometimes it seems like they don’t even make sense, or are even counter-intuitive. **But, don’t overthink it.** The best way to learn exceptions is not through comparison, but rather with repetition. Don’t get caught up in trying to find a pattern or understand the nuance behind the exception. **Just recognize it, study it, and move on.** ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## 3 Easy Steps to Start Learning Korean As An Absolute Beginner The three easy steps to get started with learning Korean are: - Learn Hangul, the Korean alphabet - Learn basic Korean sentence patterns - Memorize Korean set phrases for daily situations Let’s talk about each of them in detail. ### Hangul - The Very First Step As mentioned, don’t rely on romanization. **Do learn Hangul -- the Korean alphabet**. Although it may look intimidating, once you understand the basics you will soon realize how wonderfully simple it is. Developed by the famous King Sejeon in the Year 1446; he made Hangul simple and logical. Each vowel or consonant stands alone and can be combined into syllables to form sounds and words. Essentially it is made from varying lines, squares, and circles that are put together in different combinations. That’s it! ![Korean vowels and consonants](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/ld-image-9e5ed6b9a8f4bc64.png) It is surprisingly simple, and anyone can learn it quickly. Check out this article later for a detailed guide on [learning Korean alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/), or visit [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to play free interactive Hangul lessons. ### Step 2: Get Familiar With Basic Korean Sentence Structures In English, the basic sentence structure follows a *Subject + Verb + Object* pattern. But in Korean, the basic sentence structure is ***Subject + Object + Verb*.** The conjugation of the final verb will dictate **tense, respect, conjunction, tone, and feeling**. It is also where the most variation will take place as far as slang, reduction, and intonation. Therefore, it is a good idea to focus on learning verbs and basic conjugations. That way if you only understand the final part of the message, you are able to deduce other parts. [Click here to see more details for Korean sentence structures.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/) ### Step 3: Memorize Basic Korean Phrases Perhaps we have all come across some simple Korean phrases when watching Korean dramas or listening to k-pop. We will find that when we are able to recognize some Korean phrases, our sense of achievement spikes a little every time, and our interest in learning is also thus enhanced. Check out this video below for some most common phrases in Korean dramas: When we travel to Korea, we don’t really need to master all the complicated grammar structures in order to communicate, but some rather basic phrases like[ knowing how to say phrases like “thank you](https://blog.lingodeer.com/thank-you-in-korean/)” or “how much is it” can help us go a long way. There is a free section in the Lingodeer App called **Travel Phrasebook**, you can use this as a great way to memorize some basic Korean Phrases on the go. It covers various situations that may be encountered during travel. Each phrase is accompanied by an audio recording read by native speakers, and you can adjust the playback speed and slow it down if needed. ![LingoDeer Korean Phrasebook](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/travel-phrasebook-1.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Beware of the Challenges in Learning Korean ### The Pronunciations of Korean Also, there are some tricky vowels that exist in Korean you should be aware of. It’s not that they are difficult, but getting an understanding of them will help your Korean pronunciation skill. Importantly, **try not to pronounce them with an English equivalent**. In the long run, it is better to develop the Korean pronunciation from the start. Besides, they’re not hard to learn. **The basic vowels are 아, 이, 어, 우, 오, 에, 애, 으.** They can be combined to make a different sound as well. It may be hard to hear these combinations clearly, but if you go slowly, you’ll hear the logical pronunciation. Note, the 에 and 애 actually have the same pronunciation but are used differently in writing. Their counterparts are called *aspirated consonants*: meaning that an extra exhale or puff of air from the throat is included in the pronunciation. They are also written with an extra stroke, which signifies the aspiration: ㅋ,ㅌ,ㅍ and ㅊ. The Korean language has some pronunciation characteristics that can be confusing and hard to say for learners. To start let’s look at the **unaspirated (plain) consonantsㄱ,ㄷ,ㅂ and ㅈ**. I hesitate to tell you how these sound through writing, but they are somewhere between the pronunciations of - “K / G” for ㄱ, “D / Th” for ㄷ, “B/P for ㅂ and “Ch/ Gje” for ㅈ. So, when you pronounce the aspirated consonants, they have a higher tone due to the extra force of air being used. For example, notice the difference when you say “Jib” compared to “Chip”. Although “Jib” is not a word, when you say “Chip” you can hear the aspiration in the “CH” and the “P” compared to the softer “J” and “B”. **Then there are complex vowels.** The extra stroke indicates a “y” sound should be added to the beginning of the pronunciation: **에, 얘, 요, 유, 여, 야, 에, 의**. A combination that uses 우 or 오, indicates that a “w” sound should be added to the beginning of the pronunciation, for example, **왜, 와, 외, 워,웨**, etc. | Aspirated | Tense | Plain | | --------- | ----- | ----- | | ㅋk | ㄲkk | ㄱk/g | | ㅍp | ㅃpp | ㅂp/b | | ㅌt | ㄸtt | ㄷd/t | | ㅊch | ㅉjj | ㅈj | | | ㅆss | ㅅs | Additionally, you will see and hear **double consonants ㅉ, ㄸ, ㄲ, ㅆ, ㅉ, ㅃ**. These can be hard to pronounce like native speakers who are accustomed to the nuance. Basically, the method I use to pronounce these double consonants is to simply **put** **more strength and intensity** into the pronunciation. **Double Consonant = Double Strength.** It can sound harsh or even aggressive, but that’s how Koreans use them. It may even sound like they are angry, but they are not. In fact, they are using a double consonant. The sounds of double consonants exist somewhere between the normal speaking tone and aggressive tone, in a short, quick burst. To practice, have fun with it. Let them rip! See if you can impress Koreans with your double consonants. Lastly, be aware that **Korean words do not end with a consonant**. They always end on a vowel. Korean is not a true tonal language, but it does use intonations that can change the meaning of the sentence or question. This is like English in which we emphasize a certain word or part of the message to alter the feeling or meaning. Take the sentence, *“I didn’t’ do anything*”. Now put the emphasis on different words to change the meaning. When you emphasize “I”, the sentence has a different feeling compared to if you emphasize “anything”. There is a similar concept in Korean. Likewise, when you ask a question in English, the intonation rises to indicate curiosity. This also exists in Korean. ### Korean Speech Levels Probably the most unique trait of Korean (at least in my opinion) is the use of different [speech levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/), called HONORIFICS. ***Age, respect, and formality*** play a huge role in how Koreans speak to each other. The more familiar and equal, the more casual and loose the language can be. The more formal, respectful, and unfamiliar the more strict and polite the language should be. ![I love you in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/stufen.png) English does not use this system, but in Korean it is expected to be used by everyone. To get the concept, think about this: How would you speak to your best friend, compared to how would you speak to a well-respected CEO? Probably much different. But in Korean, this concept is applied to the most subtle of **social differences**. Even if two speakers are a year apart in age, the younger one must speak to the older one [using honorifics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/). Fortunately, this doesn’t always apply to non-native Korean speakers. Koreans don’t expect you to follow these guidelines as a foreigner, but they will be impressed if you do. For now, don’t worry about learning these. But do take note of differences when you hear them. ### Two Korean Number Systems Korean uses two different sets of numbers depending on the content of the message. I’m not going to lie, this can be frustrating as a beginner, and it is still something that trips me up from time to time. | Numeral | Sino-Korean | Native Korean | | ------- | ----------- | ------------- | | 1 | 일 il | 하나 hana | | 2 | 이 i | 둘 dul | | 3 | 삼 sam | 셋 set | | 4 | 사 sa | 넷 net | | 5 | 오 o | 다섯 daseot | | 6 | 육 yuk | 여섯 yeoseot | | 7 | 칠 chil | 일곱 ilgop | | 8 | 팔 pal | 여덟 yeodeol | | 9 | 구 gu | 아홉 ahop | | 10 | 십 sip | 열 yeol | The first set is called the **Sino-Korean system**, which comes from Chinese, and is used for things like ***dates, addresses, phone numbers***, etc. You may be wondering why Korean uses a Chinese numbering system? The long history of China has had an influence on all of Asia at some point. So remnants of the Chinese language and culture are quite common. The **Native Korean system** is used for ***counting things, numbering items, and speaking about age***. The most common way in which this is used is when communicating about quantities of items or how many people are in your group when walking into a restaurant. So, a fun way to practice this Native Korean system is to go out to eat and go shopping. As for telling time, it becomes a little more complicated. Telling time uses a hybrid of the two systems, but it best to be studied as a stand-alone subject. If you are worried about making mistakes, don’t be. Koreans are quite understanding when it comes to numbers, and will know what you mean if you use one system in place of the other. [ Click here to see how to count in Korean.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-numbers/) ### Korean Verb Conjugations Many grammatical functions are expressed through verb conjugations in Korean. In fact, it is said that the most important part of the sentence usually comes at the end. This is because the end of the sentence is where the most important conjugations take place. Additionally, how the verb is conjugated can dictate the tone, feel, and honorifics of the message. [Click here to see when and how are Korean Verbs conjugated.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Tips for Hacking Korean Learning ### Konglish - So Many Korean Words You Already Know! Don’t disregard Konglish. It is one of the best tools for developing familiarity and confidence in the Korean language. In fact, I would say that Konglish is becoming so prevalent that Koreans sometimes don’t even recognize the word as an English word. So, how to read English words written in Korean? It’s quite easy. Once you grasp Hangul, simply sound out the syllables slowly and distinctly. You’ll immediately hear the English version hidden in there. Then you’ll start to see Konglish everywhere. Some examples \- Ice cream is 아이스크림. Notebook is 노트북. Shirt is 셔츠. \- A good example of how Konglish has progressed, take a look at the word 미용실 which is the Korean word for “hair shop”. You will still see this word used today, but you’ll much more commonly see the Konglish version – 헤어숖 For fun, try to convert your name into Korean. Use the Hangul pronunciations to sound-out your name. They’re not exact pronunciation matches, but you can hear the name. \- Jon is 존. Mike is 마이크. Jennifer is 제니퍼. Sara is 새라 Some other examples of common Konglish words: 컴퓨터, 택시, 크리스마스 ### Using Common Characters to Memorize Sino-Korean Vocabulary As you study Korean you’ll begin to notice patterns that can help you identify and memorize new words. For example, 국 is often a suffix for a “country”. So when you see or hear that word, it may refer to a country, but not always. It could mean soup! Delicious! Another common Sino-Korean word is “님” which is often in reference to a “person”. These patterns are everywhere, so take notice! - Example: Korean - 한국, China - 중국, America - 미국 ![LingoDeer Korean exercise ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/countries.png) ### Rule of Thumb for Managing Sentence Endings - Adding 요 A great way to quickly improve your Korean skill without offending anyone is to default to using the ending - 아/어/여요, if you don’t know which honorific to use. This is kind of the “middle-ground” when it comes to honorificity: **it carries enough politeness to be acceptable in most situations, but it can also be casual.** I still use this rule of thumb regularly because it allows me to speak without having to think about which honorific ending is most suitable for the situation. This frees up my mind to focus on speaking and gives me confidence that I won’t be blatantly offending someone. Koreans will usually accept this level of politeness, especially from a foreigner. - Verb stem + 아/어/여요 - Adjective stem + 아/어/여요 - Noun + (이)요 ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Improve All Four Areas in Learning Korean As You Advance ### Getting Better at Speaking Korean **Try to imitate native speaker’s recordings as much as possible, and copy what you hear around you**. It can be great fun to test your accent and intonation by mimicking how Koreans speak. This was a strength of mine when I first began learning Korean. I focused on imitating what I heard because it was the easiest way to practice without thinking about the meaning. Granted, sometimes this got me into a little trouble when I would imitate swear words on accident, or say something in a way that only females would say it. But overall, it usually made for a good laugh, and Koreans always complimented me on my accent. Koreans have a range of emotions, attitudes, emphasis, and subtle meaning riddled throughout their speech: from low grumbles to high-pitch cuteness. It’s always fun to see what you can copy, and they usually get a kick out of hearing it come from a foreigner. **To get a better idea of how you sound, record yourself from time to time so you can be sure that you are understandable.** Playback your own recordings and listen to it along with a native speaker’s recordings → function supported in [the LingoDeer app.](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Fluent in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/Screenshot_20201105_151431_com.lingodeer-e1604561473395.jpg) ![conversational topic](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/Screenshot_20201105_151408_com.lingodeer-e1604561496980.jpg) ![impoving speaking korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/Screenshot_20201105_151436_com.lingodeer-e1604561448433.jpg) ![shadow exercise](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/Screenshot_20201105_151356_com.lingodeer-e1604561512815.jpg) ### Getting Better at Listening to Korean For me, one of the biggest challenges is listening comprehension. So, I’ve had to emphasize listening. There are many helpful ways to do this. - - You can watch a **Netflix show or YouTube channel** with subtitles, then with Korean subtitles, then without subtitles at all. - Another way is to listen to **music, or podcasts, or the radio.** - My favorite way is to just listen to **what is happening around me**. Do some casual eavesdropping on a public conversation to see what you can pick up. Don’t worry about being offensive. Koreans often talk quite loud in public places, so it’s easy to get some real-life practice. If you use a feature that allows you to slow down the speaking, this can be extremely useful to pick up the meaning of a sentence or message. Listen to clear and slow speeds and gradually move to speech at a faster, natural speed → function supported in[ the LingoDeer app ](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![LingoDeer Korean listening practice interface](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/11/lingodeer-Korean-1.jpg) ### Getting Better at Reading Korean Reading is a great way to improve your vocabulary and sentence structure. Your first inclination is to whip out the dictionary and translate every word you don’t know. We recommend refraining from this practice. Not only is it tedious, but it removes a crucial learning mechanism from the process: *deduction*. This involves using the broader context of the syntax to figure out the specific meaning of a word. So, try to guess the meaning of new words with contextual information. It may be harder at first, but it’s a great way to increase your vocabulary. **Have a notebook to collect useful new words and well-written phrases.** There is so much new, fun, and interesting information to gather while learning. You’re going to want somewhere to stash it so that you can reference and recall it later. Don’t rely on memory. Develop a system of recording and collecting things you’ll want to remember. Then, review them regularly. ### Getting Better on Writing in Korean Accept the fact that writing is the hardest and takes a long time to practice and improve. So invest in some pencils and a few heavy-duty erasers, because it’s going to take some time to write well. Especially since digital mediums are so common these days. You don’t spend much time with paper and a writing tool, but this is crucial to your language development. **That tactile process of putting pen to paper will ignite your childhood learning system and help you lock in important and useful content.** Writing Hangul is tough at first, but once you get the strokes down, you’ll see that it’s a beautiful language and a lot of fun to write. These days, you’re going to have to type on a device. So, **get a** [**Hangul keyboard**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-keyboard/) and start forming the habit of typing in Korean. Get familiar with useful writing templates, such as an email, a sick leave notes, or an invitation. ![ Korean Hangul keyboard](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-155519.jpg) image source: Desalas ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Assembling Your Toolbox for Self-studying Korean ### Must-Have Main Tools [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Start as an absolute beginner and follow an expertly structured curriculum to get your foot in the door - Learn Korean on the go with the app using the offline mode - Read the blog to get great supplementary material on language learning [Talk To Me In Korean](https://talktomeinkorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Learn Korean with sample dialogue videos - Get beautiful printed books that you can use along with the online courses or for extra learning, or buy ebooks on google play and amazon kindle [How To Study Korean](https://www.howtostudykorean.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Test your skills at the end of each unit, including comprehension, listening, and grammar - Listen to dictation practice videos available and read short stories for extra intermediate-level practices ### Other Handy Apps to Support Korean Language Learning - [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): flashcard decks for vocabulary memorization - [Drops](https://languagedrops.com/language/learn-korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): game-like vocabulary building app - [Naver dictionary](https://endic.naver.com/?sLn=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com): most popular dictionary among Koreans - [Papago](https://papago.naver.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): translation app developed by Naver - [Tandem:](https://www.tandem.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) language exchange platform to make native speaker friends - [HelloTalk](https://www.hellotalk.com/?lang=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com): a language exchange app used by many Koreans ### French Alphabet and How to Type Them URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-alphabet-and-pronunciation/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:35:31.000Z The first step to take in your French learning journey is of course: the French alphabet and pronunciation. But why? First, knowing the basics of the French alphabet will help you have a strong foundation for your learning. And then, it’s very common that you do not pronounce words in French the exact same way you read them. For example, **not all the letters will be pronounced** (silent letters) while others, depending on where they are placed, will be pronounced in different ways. In this article, let me show you the details of the French alphabet. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## How many letters are there in the French alphabet? There are **26 letters + variants** in the French alphabet, for a total of **39** letters. Here they are, and how you should read them. | Letter | Pronunciation | Variants | | ------ | -------------------------------- | ---------- | | A | ah | à, â | | B | beh | | | C | seh | ç | | D | deh | | | E | uhh | é, è, ê, ë | | F | ef | | | G | zheh | | | H | ash | | | I | ee | ï, î | | J | zhee | | | K | kah | | | L | el | | | M | em | | | N | en | | | O | oh | ô | | P | peh | | | Q | ku | | | R | er (little gargle) | | | S | ess | | | T | teh | | | U | uuh (lips pinched,like whistling | ù, û, ü | | V | veh | | | W | double-veh | | | X | eeks | | | Y | eegrek | | | Z | zed | | Regarding the **accents**, this is how we call them: - Acute accent (é) : Accent aigu - Grave accent (à, è, ù): Accent grave - Cedilla (ç): Cédille - Circumflex (â, ô, û): Accent circonflexe - Trema (ï, ü): Tréma. ### ### Basic French accents and how to type them Unfortunately, not all of us have a **French “AZERTY” keyboard**. We call them AZERTY keyboards, as they are the first letters that are displayed on a French keyboard, whereas “English” keyboards are called “QWERTY” keyboards ![french alphabet keyboard](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/10/Azerty-keyboard.png) Wikipedia, Yitscar But I have good news for you, **you can type the accents if you have a numeric keypad**! For Windows users, simply hold the **ALT** key and type in the numbers that match the accent. For Mac users, please see below the ALT code table. | Accent | ALT code UPPERCASE | ALT code lowercase | | ------ | ------------------ | ------------------ | | à | ALT+0192 | ALT+133 | | â | ALT+0194 | ALT+131 | | ç | ALT+019 | ALT+135 | | é | ALT+0201 | ALT+130 | | è | ALT+0200 | ALT+138 | | ê | ALT+0202 | ALT+136 | | ë | ALT+0203 | ALT+137 | | î | ALT+0206 | ALT+140 | | ï | ALT+0207 | ALT+139 | | ô | ALT+0212 | ALT+147 | | ù | ALT+0217 | ALT+151 | | û | ALT+0219 | ALT+150 | | ü | ALT+0220 | ALT+129 | If you are using a Mac: **For Mac users** - Acute accent (é): Press the “option” key + letter “e” at the same time. Release. Press on the letter “e” key. - Grave accent (à, è, ù): Press the “option” key + “ ‘ ” (top left of your keyboard) at the same time. Then press on the key of the desired letter (a, e, or u). - Cedilla (ç): Press the “option” key + letter “c” at the same time. - Circumflex (â, ô, û): Press the “option” key + letter “i” at the same time. Press on the key of the letter of your choice (i, e, u). - Trema (ï, ü): Press the “option” key + letter “u” at the same time. Press on the key of the desired letter (a, e, i, o, u). ### ### What about æ and œ? And how do we type them? In French, in addition to all the letters seen above, we have what we call “**ligatures**” and there are 2 of them: œ, æ. \- œ is a blend of the letters “o” and “e”. It can be found in the word “cœur” (heart). We will pronounce “œ” the same way as we pronounce “eu” in “heure”. \- æ is a blend of the letters “a” and “e”. It can be found in the word “curriculum vitæ” (CV). We will pronounce “æ” like “eh”. Here are the keyboard shortcuts for those ligatures: | Ligature | Windows | Mac | | -------- | -------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | œ | LowercaseALT + 0156UppercaseALT + 0140 | “Option” key + letter “q” | | æ | LowercaseALT + 145UppercaseALT + 146 | “Option” key + “ ‘ ” (apostrophe) | ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Why are French pronunciation and spelling so different? This is why I insisted on the pronunciation and spelling tips above. In French, we do not always pronounce letters the same way. What makes French pronunciation so particular, is that firstly, we have *so many* **silent** **letters**. And then, we might also have **different spellings** for the **same sound**! Let’s take a look … ### Basic pronunciation and spelling rules for French beginners #### Silent letters Here are when you should *not* pronounce some letters in French: | Silent letter | When is it silent? | | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | | b | after -m at the end of a word: plomb, aplomb. | | c | after -n at the end of a word: banc, blanc. | | d | at the end of a word: pied. | | g | at the end of a word after -n: sang. | | h | always silent : hôpital, hilare. | | m | in a nasal vowel: parfum. | | n | in nasal vowels: important, chanter. | | p | at the end of a word: loup, trop. | | r | after -e at the end of a word: parler, chanter. | | s | at the end of a word: des, fleurs. | | t | at the end of a word: jouet, tout. | | x | at the end of a word: deux, hiboux. | | z | at the end of a word: chez, mangez. | #### Nasal vowels Nasal vowels in French are pronounced using the nose. This means that you need to partly expel the air out of your nose as well while you pronounce them. The “n” should not be heard. | \-an\-en | enfant | | -------- | ------ | | \-in | lapin | | \-on | maison | | \-un | un | One tip to help you know if you pronounced it right: **pinch your nose** and pronounce the nasal vowel. If you are not able to pronounce it, then you did it right! #### The case of the letter “H” The letter “H” in French, unlike in English, is always silent. At the beginning of a word, we have 2 types of letter “H”: \- **le H muet** (silent H): this one is considered as a **vowel**. It requires an elision after “le” or “la”. For example: l’hôpital, l’heure. \- **le H aspiré** (plugged H): still silent but considered as a **consonant**. It will not require an elision after “le” or “la”. For example le haricot, le héros. #### Liaisons and contractions ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Common mistakes and difficulties One of the most common difficulties that you might encounter regarding the French alphabet is how to pronounce the sounds “r”, “u” and the reading rhythm. ### The French R The French R (international phonetic alphabet character \[ʁ\]) can be a hassle for speakers who do not have that sound in their native language (such as Spanish, German and even Hebrew). Unlike most people believe, the French R is not really happening in the throat, but mostly **at the back of your tongue going up and down against your soft palate**. Once you think you’ve got it, repeat phrases like la ravissante robe rouge / une orange rangée dans le tiroir. ### Whistling U This sound doesn’t exist in English either. To help you out with this sound, try to pronounce the letter “E” or the sound “ee” in English (like in “deer”). **The tip of your tongue should touch your teeth.** Once you have that sound, continue saying it, but while pursing your lips together, up to the point you look like you’re whistling. Et voilà! ### Reading rhythm If you listen to a French person read, you might notice that some areas of the sentences are more accentuated than others. In English, stress occurs within the syllables of words themselves. For example: \- a PREsent: a gift \- he preSENTs the verb “to present”. In French, it is important **not** to **maintain the same tone throughout the sentences**. Mark **pauses** before punctuation marks, **raise your tone at the end** if you ask a question, lower it if you are reading a statement… To practice more, visit LingoDeer's free online courses for the [French alphabet pronunciation.](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/fr/en/learn-french-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) **How can I practice French pronunciation and spelling?** There are many ways that you can practice French pronunciation or spelling. The most effective ways, for me: \- **Reading**: I cannot say this enough, but reading is the best way to practice your French spelling skills. The more you read, the more your mind will memorize how to spell a specific word, and even expressions. LingoDeer's Fluent section provides everyday conversation for you to do shadow reading. You can speed down the audio for each word and phrase. And playback to check how you did it. Moreover, the content updated regularly! ![lingodeer fluent section](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/10/Screenshot_20201110_182054_com.lingodeer-e1605004129208.jpg) ![improving french speaking](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/10/Screenshot_20201110_182046_com.lingodeer-e1605003989504.jpg) ![fluent french](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/10/fluent-french-e1604491611524.jpg) \- **Listening**: Listening to **audio files, the radio, podcasts**, is an effective way to practice your French pronunciation. By **listening to** **French speakers**, you will be able to pick up (and mimic) the most common practices when it comes to pronunciation, expressions, and even sometimes, verbal tics in French. ![les Miserables Musical](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/10/les-mis-banner.jpg) \- **Dictation exercises**: This is one of the best exercises that you can do to practice both your pronunciation AND your spelling skills. There are tons of dictation exercises available on the internet, listen, and then write what you hear (or what you *think* you hear)! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Conclusion [Learning French](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/) can seem intimidating at first, especially if you are not familiar with the French alphabet or pronunciation. There is one final tip I can give you to improve your skills: **have more exposure to French.** **Do things that you love in French**. Read, sing, play games, we have tons of resources nowadays (thank you Internet!) and it would be too bad to miss out on them. Bon courage et à bientôt! ### Japanisches Alphabet: Hiragana und Katakana, Was Sind Sie? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanisches-alphabet/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T10:59:57.000Z Wenn du dich dazu entscheidest Japanisch zu lernen, dann dürfte eine der ersten Fragen, die du dir stellst, diese sein: “Was sind all diese verschiedenen Schriftzeichen?” Warum sehen die japanischen Alphabete bzw. die Schriftzeichen so unterschiedlich aus? Die Antwort: **Japanisch hat drei verschiedene Schriftsysteme: Hiragana, Katakana und Kanji**. [Kanji, oder auch chinesische Schriftzeichen](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/), sind berühmt für ihren hohen Schwierigkeitsgrad. Was sind dann die beiden, etwas lustig anlautenden Schriftsysteme Hiragana und Katakana? Worin unterscheiden sie sich? Nachdem du diesen Artikel gelesen hast, wirst du die Antworten dazu finden. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Was sind Hiragana und Katakana? Ganz allgemein betrachtet, kann man sagen, dass **Hiragana und Katakana zwei Arten des japanischen Alphabets (oder auch Syllabarien) sind**. Anders als Kanji, repräsentieren sie keine einzigartige Bedeutung. Sie sind phonetische Buchstaben, d.h. jedes Hiragana und jedes Katakana repräsentiert immer genau **einen Laut.** So lässt sich jedes der 46 Syllabarien pro Alphabet eindeutig anhand seines Lautes unterscheiden. ![kanji, hiragana, and katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/ld-image-9ce31aa78a2142b5.jpg) ### Was ist der Unterschied zwischen Kana und [Romaji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/)? Romaji bezeichnet die Romanisierung der geschriebenen japanischen Sprache. Sie bildet die Aussprache der Kana (Hiragana und Katakana) sowie der Kanji in **lateinischen Buchstaben** ab. Wenn du zum ersten Mal anfängst Japanisch zu lernen, ist es vielleicht verlockend auf die Romanisierung zurückzugreifen, um die Aussprache der japanischen Wörter zu lernen. Um jedoch deine Aussprache zu perfektionieren, ist es nötig zunächst die Aussprache der Kana zu meistern und sie direkt beim Lernen neuer Wörter anzuwenden. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Was sind die Unterschiede zwischen Hiragana und Katakana? ### Die Ähnlichkeiten zwischen Hiragana und Katakana Bevor wir uns den Unterschieden zwischen Hiragana und Katakana widmen, lass uns zunächst einen Blick auf ihre Gemeinsamkeiten werfen. 1. Hiragana und Katakana bestehen aus jeweils 46 Zeichen 2. Jedes Zeichen repräsentiert eine Silbe 3. Jedes Hiragana hat ein äquivalentes Katakana, deren Laut identisch ist. Manche Hiragana und Katakana **können sich äußerlich sehr ähnlich sein**, da sie vom selben chinesischen Schriftzeichen abgeleitet wurden. Beispielsweise stammen die Kana für den Vokal “u” (う und ウ) beide vom chinesischen Schriftzeichen 宇 ab. Die Hiragana へ und Katakana ヘ, die aus 部 entstanden sind und den Laut “e” repräsentieren, sind nahezu identisch. ![Japanisches Alphabet - Hiragana und Katakana, Kana development chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/tumblr_inline_ohzbkvKljo1sg0zfq_540.png) Quelle: Kana-Wikipedia Darüber hinaus können Katakana manchmal anstelle von Hiragana verwendet werden. Dies ist z.B. der Fall, wenn man ein Wort stilistisch besonders hervorheben möchte oder um ein Wort, zu dem zwar ein Kanji existiert, welches aber für gewöhnlich nicht verwendet wird, von den angrenzenden Hiragana abzuheben und den Satz so leserlicher zu machen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Hiragana und Katakana haben eine unterschiedliche Form Hiragana haben eine **geschwungene Form**, vergleichbar mit der deutschen Schreibschrift. Katakana hingegen ähneln in ihrem Erscheinungsbild eher der Druckschrift: sie sind **eckiger und spitzer**. Das liegt daran, dass Katakana auf der regulären Schriftform (kaisho) chinesischer Zeichen basiert, während die kursive Schriftform (sōsho) der Kanji der Ursprung von Hiragana war. Außerdem entwickelten sich Hiragana aus dem gesamten Kanji, während sich Katakana nur aus Teilen eines Kanji entwickelten. Interessanterweise wurde Hiragana wegen seiner geschwungenen Form früher als eine weibliche Schreibform angesehen. Andererseits wurden Katakana und Kanji in der Vergangenheit vor allem von Männern verwendet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Hiragana und Katakana werden unterschiedlich gebraucht Du fragst dich vielleicht, wie Japaner in ihrem alltäglichen Leben Hiragana und Katakana getrennt voneinander benutzen. In diesem Kapitel werden wir dir Situationen vorstellen, in denen die unterschiedlichen Kana zum Einsatz kommen. Bei einem Blick auf japanische Vokabeln, fällt einem sofort auf, dass **Katakana häufig für Lehnwörter** benutzt wird, während **Hiragana für die Schreibung rein-japanischer Wörter** angewendet wird. Außerdem werden Hiragana auch zum Schreiben der **okurigana** benutzt: die Schriftzeichen innerhalb **eines** Wortes, die **nach dem Kanji** folgen. Um ein Beispiel zu geben: die Hiragana, die in dem Wort 食べる auf das Kanji folgen, werden okurigana genannt. Manchmal wird die Schreibweise eines Wortes in Hiragana bevorzugt, wenn die Schreibweise in Kanji zu formal wirkt. Im Vergleich dazu wird Katakana oft für wissenschaftliche Begriffe, Tiernamen, Essen oder Firmennamen verwendet. Katakana werden häufiger als **phonetische Notation** verwendet, während Hiragana häufiger als **grammatikalische Notation** verwendet werden. In Hiragana werden daher verschiedene grammatikalische Wörter, wie z.B. Partikel, geschrieben. Wenn du auf Japanisch schreibst, insbesondere in einem formalen Rahmen, solltest du zum Schreiben grammatikalischer Wörter nur Hiragana verwenden. Zusammenfassend kann man sagen: Hiragana ist die grundlegende und gebräuchliche Schreibweise, während Katakana eher zur **Betonung und für verschiedene stilistische Zwecke** verwendet wird. > ACHTUNG: **Du solltest niemals Hiragana und Katakana innerhalb eines Wortes vermischen. Stelle sicher, dass du zwischen Hiragana und Katakana unterscheiden kannst.** ![hiragana, katakana, and kanji in one sentence](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/3b.Ich-mag-Anime.png) LingoDeer empfiehlt, dass du dir kurz dieses Video anschaust, um ein paar grundlegende Katakana-Wörter zu lernen und um ein klares Verständnis für die Unterscheidung zwischen Hiragana und Katakana zu bekommen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Wie kann man sich die Kana schnell einprägen? Es gibt hauptsächlich zwei verschiedene Wege sich die Kana zu merken und du kannst entscheiden, welchen du gehen möchtest. Eine Möglichkeit besteht darin **Mnemotechniken** zu verwenden, d.h. jedes Symbol als ein Bild zu sehen. Zum Beispiel ぬ: "nu" für "Nudel", weil das Zeichen wie ein verschnörkelter Nudelhaufen aussieht. Das mag lustig und interessant klingen. Es könnte aber auch ein zusätzliches Hindernis für dein Gedächtnis darstellen, sodass du dich unter Umständen nur an die von dir geschaffene Geschichte erinnerst, aber vergisst, was das Kana dahinter ist. ![hiragana mnemonics](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/xjapanese-hiragana-mnemonics.jpg.pagespeed.ic_.0sF9WKxRAy.jpg) Quelle: learn Japanese adventure Die andere Möglichkeit besteht darin, die Kana einfach so oft wie möglich auszuschreiben. Während du schreibst, kannst du dir die Aussprache denken oder tatsächlich den Laut aussprechen. Du kannst dir mit der Lern-App “[Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)” Karteikarten herunterladen, damit du überall und jederzeit die Karten wiederholen kannst. Dies könnte zwar ein bisschen langweilig klingen, aber vergiss nicht: dieser Lernprozess wird nicht sehr lange dauern! Bedenke auch, dass du, sobald du einmal in der Lage bist, die Kana zu lesen, in der Lage sein wirst, alle japanischen Wörter mit Hilfe von Kana zu lesen und das wird faszinierend sein! ![hiragana and katakana wallpaper](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/lingodeer-kana-wallpaper-aug2020.png) kana Hintergrundbild – Übung macht den Meister! Das Wichtigste ist eine Lernmethode zu finden, die zu dir passt. Hier ein Vorschlag für dich: Lade dir dieses Wallpaper herunter und höre dir unsere [kostenlose Kana-Audio-Tabelle](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/jp/en/learn-japanese-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) an. Es wird Zeit, den ersten Schritt des Japanisch-Lernens zu machen! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Was sollte ich zuerst lernen? Hiragana oder Katakana? ### Was ist nützlicher? Hiragana oder Katakana? Beide sind nützlich und du kannst Japanisch nicht ohne das eine oder andere Schriftsystem meistern. Es ist offensichtlich, dass Katakana nützlich sind. Viele japanische, meist aus dem Englischen entlehnte, Wörter werden in Katakana geschrieben. Doch es gibt auch Lehnwörter aus dem Deutschen. Wenn du also Katakana lernst, bist du im Nu in der Lage viele Wörtern, die dir vertraut klingen zu verstehen. Und was noch wichtiger ist: Da eine beträchtliche Anzahl von Speisekarten in Katakana geschrieben sind, werden dir Katakana vor allem in Restaurants und Supermärkten helfen. Schaue dir dieses Video an, um eine spezielle Art von Katakana-Wörtern zu lernen: Wasei-eigo (Japanische Ausdrücke, die an das Englische angelehnt sind, so aber nicht im Englischen existieren bzw. gebraucht werden) Hinweis: Auch wenn Katakana immer eigenständige Wörter bilden, d.h. sie kommen ohne Kanji aus, könnte eine lange Reihe von Katakana ohne Kanji oder Hiragana schwer zu verstehen sein, da es keine Leerzeichen zwischen den japanischen Wörtern gibt. Auf der anderen Seite ist **Hiragana die am häufigsten verwendete Standardform der japanischen Schrift**. Das japanische Vokabular wird in der Regel in Hiragana geschrieben. Hiragana wird auch zum Schreiben der **Furigana** verwendet, einer Lesehilfe, die die Aussprache von Kanji-Zeichen anzeigt, was sicherlich hilfreich ist. Wenn du einmal die Schreibweise eines Kanjis vergessen solltest, so ist es nie ein Problem stattdessen auf Hiragana zurückzugreifen und einfach die Lautung des Kanjis auszuschreiben. ![Japanisches Alphabet: Katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/brands.jpg) Logos von Uniqlo, Burger King, Coca Cola und Sprite in Katakana ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Welche Schrift ist einfacher? Hiragana oder Katakana? Die Antwort variiert natürlich von Person zu Person, doch oft wird Hiragana als leichter zu erlernen betrachtet. Tatsächlich bedeutet "hira" im Japanischen wörtlich "einfach" oder "gewöhnlich". Es ist außerdem wahrscheinlicher, dass du beim Lesen von Texten oder Video-Untertiteln auf Hiragana stößt, wodurch du vertrauter mit diesem Alphabet wirst. Außerdem sind die meisten Kinderbücher in Hiragana geschrieben, sodass diese sich gut als Übungsmaterial eignen. Der wohl größte, rein äußerlich betrachtete Unterschied ist, dass Katakana-Zeichen sich einander in Ihrer Form ähnlicher sind, als Hiragana-Zeichen. Daher könnte es schwieriger sein, sich Katakana zu merken. Manche mögen jedoch argumentieren, dass Hiragana schwieriger zu schreiben sind. Katakana sind für manche aufgrund ihrer Geradlinigkeit leichter zu "zeichnen". Darüber hinaus kann es einfacher sein sich die Katakana anhand einzelne Lehnwörter zu merken, da diese zu einem gewissen Grad vertraut klingen, sodass es leichter sein kann den Klang zu imitieren. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Wann beginnen Japaner damit Hiragana und Katakana zu lernen? Dies kann von Familie zu Familie unterschiedlich sein. Da Hiragana für Kinderbücher genutzt werden, entscheiden sich manche Familien dazu ihren Kindern zunächst Hiragana beizubringen. Einige Eltern haben das Gefühl, dass Hiragana schwieriger zu schreiben sind, sodass sie sich für Katakana entscheiden. **Heutzutage wird in Schulen zuerst Hiragana unterrichtet.** Vor 1948 haben jedoch viele Schulen zuerst Katakana unterrichtet und haben Hiragana zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt nachgeholt. Zu dieser Zeit wurden Katakana noch hauptsächlich für offizielle Dokumente verwendet, doch heute finden sie überwiegend Anwendung für die Schreibung von Lehnwörtern. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Die Geschichte von Hiragana und Katakana **Sowohl Hiragana als auch Katakana haben ihren Ursprung im 9\. Jahrhundert und sollen von dem buddhistischen Priester Kūkai erfunden worden sein.** Die Entstehung der Kana ist in der japanischen Geschichte von Bedeutung, da es das erste originale Schriftsystem war, das von Japanern geschaffen wurde. Beide Kana-Systeme haben ihren Ursprung in **man'yōgana**: chinesische Schriftzeichen, die für die japanische Aussprache verwendet werden. ![Japanisches Alphabet: Unterschiede zwischen Hiragana und Katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/kukai.jpg) Japanische Priester Kudai – Quelle: Japan Reference Fun fact: Hiragana war zunächst nur unter Frauen populär und wurde für inoffizielle Schriften, wie persönliche Briefe verwendet. In der Zwischenzeit wurden Katakana und Chinesisch für offizielle Dokumente verwendet. Für eine lange Zeit wurden Hiragana und Katakana daher von zwei verschiedenen Gruppen für zwei verschiedene Zwecke verwendet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Warum braucht Japanisch drei verschiedene Schriftsysteme? Vor dem 4\. oder 5\. Jahrhundert gab es in Japan lediglich die gesprochene Sprache, jedoch kein Schriftsystem. Als man die Kanji aus China einführte, wurden sie zum ersten verwendeten Schriftsystem in Japan. Die Japaner passten daraufhin die importierten Kanji-Schriftzeichen an, um Wörter ihrer eigenen Sprache darzustellen. Der Grund, dass die Kanji auch nach der Erfindung der Kana nicht verschwanden ist folgender: die japanische Sprache hat eine sehr begrenzte Anzahl von Lauten. Gäbe es keine Kanji, so hätte Japanisch zu viele Homonyme, als dass der Leser den Text verstehen könnte. Auch erschwert das Fehlen von Leerzeichen das Lesen japanischer Sätze. Kanji helfen zu erkennen, wann ein Wort beginnt und aufhört. ![Japanisches Alphabet: homonym](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/Duden-homonyn.png) Begriffsbestimmung von "homonym" – Quelle: Duden ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Sollte ich zuerst Hiragana oder Katakana lernen? Ein abschließendes Urteil Die Antwort ist, dass du beide Schriftsysteme innerhalb einer kurzen Zeit beherrschen solltest. Daher kannst du mit dem Schriftsystem anfangen, dass dir einfacher erscheint! Sobald du ein Schriftsystem gelernt hast, kannst du direkt mit dem Nächsten weitermachen. Tatsächlich sind die Kana nicht so schwierig, wie man glauben mag: Innerhalb weniger Tage kann man beide Schriftsysteme lernen. Dabei ist die Reihenfolge nicht von großer Bedeutung. Falls du Lust bekommen hast, noch mehr über das Japanischlernen zu erfahren, dann haben wir genau den richtigen Artikel für dich! Klicke [hier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanisch-lernen-anfaenger/) für unseren Leitfaden zum Erlernen der japanischen Sprache, der dir viele wertvolle Tipps und das richtige Werkzeug in die Hand legt, um dein Lernziel noch schneller zu erreichen. ### アメリカの英語スラング24選：恋愛トークで使う英語フレーズ URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/american-english-love-slang-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:14:27.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## スラング（俗語）とは？ スラング（俗語）は、書き言葉よりも話し言葉でよく使われるくだけた言葉です。**このようなくだけた話し言葉は、共通の知識による部分が多く、言葉の文字どおりの意味とはほとんど関係がありません。**それは、アメリカのスラングも変わりません。そのため、語学学習者はネイティブスピーカーがスラングを使って話しているときに何を言っているのか理解するのに苦労することがあります。 たとえば、date という語は、誰かと 1 対 1 でロマンチックな時間を設けることを意味します。慣例的に、何かをしに出掛けたり（映画を見る、コンサートに行く）、食事をすることを意味します。これは、アメリカ人の恋愛トークで耳にする最も基本的なスラングの一つです。例えば they are dating （彼らは付き合っている）、I have a date tonight.（今晩、デートがある）などはよく耳にします。しかし、date の文字通りの意味は「数字で指定された特定の年または日」です。もしこのアメリカのスラングを理解していなければ、会話全体が分からなくなってしまいます。 恋愛関係においてスラングは特に重要です。アメリカでは、親密な恋愛関係はあまり堅苦しいものではありません。むしろ、形式張らないことや親密さがその特徴です。そのため、スラングは現代の恋愛関係のボキャブラリーの大部分を占めており、学習が大切になります。 ここで注意したいのは、学習で新しく覚えたスラングの単語やフレーズをすぐに使い始めたいと思っても、英語の基礎知識がなければ、適切にコミュニケーションを取ることができないという点です。 **そのため、適切なコミュニケーションのための基礎ができるまではスラングは使用するべきではありません。**もし英語の基礎力アップを目指すなら、ぜひLingoDeerをお試しください。LingoDeerには、英語をはじめとする多くの言語を学ぶための徹底した使いやすいカリキュラムがあります。もし基礎があり、さらに流暢さを伸ばすことを目指すなら、アメリカのスラングを学習することは必ず役に立ちます。英語の話し言葉をよりよく理解し表現する助けになるでしょう。 この記事では、特にアメリカ英語を話す人と恋愛関係について話をするときに知っていると役立つスラングについてご紹介します。知っておくべき恋愛トークで使うアメリカの英語スラング24選をご覧ください。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## 恋愛トークで使う英語のスラング(俗語)：名詞 ### 1\. Babe **男女共通で「魅力的な人」という意味で使われます。**このスラングを耳にしたことがあるかもしれませんが、古い言い方になるため頻繁には使われません。 【例文】 Chris is a babe. All the girls want to date him. クリスは人気者だよ。女の子はみんな彼とデートしたいと思っている。 ### 2．Bae **BAEはbabeに由来しています。babeよりも人気があり、babeのかわりにBAEが使われるようになりました。**BAEはbefore anyone else（誰より先に）を意味し、彼氏や彼女を呼ぶときに使います。また、babeと同じように魅力的な人のことを言うときにも使えます。 【例文】 Mark is Ashley’s Bae. They’ve been together forever. マークはアシュリーの恋人だ。彼らはいつも一緒だ。 Or She’s a Bae. 彼女はモテるよ。 ### 3\. Ex **exは、昔交際をしていた彼女または彼氏の事を指します。**普通、exを使うときはネガティブな感情が入っています。 ![知っておくべき恋愛トークで使うアメリカの英語スラング24選！](https://media.giphy.com/media/1YdwaHhbB9C55D9hFY/giphy.gif) 【例文】 My ex is a jerk. I’m so glad we aren’t together anymore. 私の元カレって本当に嫌な奴！別れてよかったー！ ### 4\. Player **player は「遊び人」「浮気者」を意味します。**一般的にplayerは魅力的で面白い人物を指しています。しかし、彼らは他人の感情をまったく気にしません。 【例文】 John is such a player. He was dating Megan, while talking to Jessica, and texting Mary. ジョンはとんでもない遊び人だ。ミーガンと付き合っている間、メアリーにメッセージしながらジェシカと話していた。 ### 5\. Old flame **old flameは今もロマンチックな感情が残っている昔の恋人を意味しています。**exとは違ってポジティブな感情が入っています。 【例文】 I saw my old flame yesterday, and she looked great. 昨日、昔の恋人を見た。彼女はすてきだった。 ### 6\. Chick **chickは中立的な言い方で単に女性を指す言葉です。** ![知っておくべき恋愛トークで使うアメリカの英語スラング24選！](https://media.giphy.com/media/teNIxdOwyPC3C/giphy.gif) 【例文】 There was a new chick at my work today. She seemed chill. 職場に新人の女の子が入ってきた。落ち着いているようだ。 ### 7\. Stud **studは強くて魅力的な、親切で成功した男性を指しています。** studと呼ばれる男性は体力だけではなく、精神面でも強い人です。 【例文】 Mark is such a stud. He plays football, does well in school, and is nice to everyone. マークはとんだモテ男ね。サッカーをやっているし、勉強もできるし、みんなにやさしいんだ。 ### 8\. Wingman/wingwoman **wingman/wingwomanは、意中の人と仲良くなる手助けをしてくれる友人を指します。**つまり、その場の雰囲気を和ませたり、会話が続くように助けてくれるような人です。 【例文】 Jake is the best wingman. Whenever we go to a bar, he helps me meet women. ジェイクはナンパの最強補助役だ。 一緒にバーに行くと、いつもチャンスを作って私を女の子に会わせてくれる。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## 恋愛トークで使う英語のスラング(俗語)：動詞 ### ### 9\. Dating dateには、もともとはカレンダー上で日時を決めて誰かと一緒に時間を過ごすという意味があります。**今は、date（デートする）という形で2人で一緒に意図的に時間を過ごすことを意味します。**ここでの時間は、ロマンチックな1対1の時間を過ごすことであり、単に友人と時間を過ごすのとは違います。datingは、恋人関係にある場合にも、付き合うかどうか決めようとしている関係の場合にも使うことができます。 ![知っておくべき恋愛トークで使うアメリカの英語スラング24選！](https://media.giphy.com/media/7XHG0Le1Q2YoM/giphy.gif) 【例文】 Ashley and Mark have been dating for a month now. アシュリーとマークはもう一ヶ月付き合っている。 Or I’ve got a date tonight. 今夜はデートがある。 ### 10\. Make out **情熱的に長い間キスをしたり、イチャイチャすることを意味します。making outという形でよく耳にします。人前ではしないようなことで、もしそういったことを人前ですると、恥ずかしい思いをするようなことです。** 【例文】 We were making out when my roommate walked in. Awkward… いちゃついている最中にルームメイトが入って来ちゃったよ。恥ずかしい… ### ### 11\. Crushing **好きな人がいてもそのことを伝えていない、片思いをしているときに時にcrushingまたはhaving a crush on someoneを使います。**その人を見たり、話しかけたりしたいと思っても、相手が同じように興味を持ってくれているかどうかは分からない状態です。 ![知っておくべき恋愛トークで使うアメリカの英語スラング24選！](https://media.giphy.com/media/bMLGNRoAy0Yko/giphy.gif) 【例文】 I’m crushing on him so hard. 彼のことが大好きだ。 Or I have a huge crush on Justin Bieber. 私はジャスティン・ビーバーに夢中だ。 ### 12\. Hit on **hit onで「口説く、ナンパする」という意味になります。**通常、hit onの対象は付き合いたいと思っている人です。男性が女性をhit onすることが多いですが、実は女性も男性をhit onすることができます。 【例文】 Jake told Emily that she looked great in her jeans. He was hitting on her again. ジェイクはエミリーに彼女のジーンズがとても似合っていると言った。また彼女をナンパしている。 ### 13.Dump **dumpの意味は「（恋人など）を振る、捨てる」になります。**2人で決断した別れではなく、一方が相手を振る、または相手と恋愛関係を終わらせる時に使います。 【例文】 After dating for two months, Jake dumped Amanda. She is very sad. 二か月付き合った後、ジェイクはアマンダを振った。 彼女はとても悲しい。 ### 14\. Hook up Hook upは、付き合っていない人とイチャイチャするという意味になります。イチャイチャする程度は、「キスする、イチャイチャする」(make out) から性行為に至るまで幅広い範囲を指します。 【例文】 John and Mary always hook up at parties even though they aren’t dating. ジョンとメアリーは付き合っていないけど、いつもパーティーでイチャイチャしている。 ### 15\. Netflix and chill **直訳すると「ネットフリックスを見てくつろぐ」という意味になりますが、実は、遠回しにセックスに誘うニュアンスも含む暗号メッセージです。** 【例文】 Jake invited me over to Netflix and chill, but I know he just wants to have sex. ジェイクは私をNetflixを見てくつろごうと誘ったが、ただ私とセックスしたいと思っているだけだ。 ### 16\. Ghosting **ghostingはしばらくメッセージのやり取りをしていた人と急に連絡が取れなくなってしまった状態のことを言います。**1 対 1 でのやり取りの場合でも、グループメッセージの場合でも使えます。 ![知っておくべき恋愛トークで使うアメリカの英語スラング24選！](https://media.giphy.com/media/xT9DPz0PhxgyrzLg7S/giphy.gif) 【例文】 I was texting Megan and asked her if she wanted to Netflix and chill, but then she ghosted me. *ミーガンにネットフリックスを見てくつろごうってメッセージしたんだけど、彼女にバックレられたよ。* ### 17\. Go out with **go out withは、恋愛感情を持っている人と時間を過ごすことを意味します。**「デートする」という意味でも、「付き合う」という意味でも使います。 【例文】 Are you going out with Matt? マットと付き合っているの？ ### 18\. Lead on llead someone onで「（人）に気を持たせる」という意味になります。相手のことをとても大切にしているけれど、実際のところは恋愛関係になりたいわけではないというときのことを指します。lead onは、恋愛関係を結びたいのではなく、何か他の目的があって行われるのが一般的です。 【例文】 Jake led me on for a month. I should have known he never actually wanted to date me. ジェイクは私に一ヶ月も気を持たせた。本当は私と付き合う気なんてないということを知っているはずだった。 ### 19\. Ask out **ask out は「デートに誘う」という意味です。**相手がどう返事をしてくれるかわからないので、不安な状態です。 【例文】 I’m trying to work up the courage to ask Ashley out this weekend. 勇気を絞ってアシュリーをデートに誘おうとしている。 ### 20\. Cheat on **これは夫や妻、恋人に隠れて不倫をする、浮気をするという意味になります。**普通は、秘密で不正な行為です。 ![知っておくべき恋愛トークで使うアメリカの英語スラング24選！](https://media.giphy.com/media/J8Plsh8drss3C/giphy.gif) 【例文】 Jay cheated on me with Lindsey. It broke my heart. We had been dating for over a year. ジェイは私に隠れてリンジーと不倫をした。 彼は私の心を傷つけた。 私たちはもう1年以上付き合っていたのに。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## 恋愛トークに使う英語のスラング(俗語)：形容詞 ### ### 21\. Knocked up **Knock upは「妊娠する」という意味です。**とても砕けた失礼な言い方です。 ![知っておくべき恋愛トークで使うアメリカの英語スラング24選！](https://media.giphy.com/media/dZ858lbbBTDwI/giphy.gif) 【例文】 Katie got knocked up by Tom and doesn’t know what to do. ケイティはトムの子供ができちゃって、どうしたらよいかわからなくなった。 ### 22\. Thirsty **男女ともにセックスや恋人に飢えている人のことを指します。**デートをしたい、またはその時に都合のつく人であれば誰とでも寝る人のことを指すので、ポジティブな言葉ではありません。 【例文】 Sarah is super thirsty. She wants a boyfriend and will date anyone. サラは欲求不満だ。 彼氏を作りたくて誰とでもデートしたいと思っている。 ### 23\. Hot **これはアメリカで最も一般的でポピュラーなスラングの 1 つ**で、魅力的な人を表すために使われます。男性にも女性にも使うことができます。 【例文】 Cait is really hot. ケイトは本当にセクシーだね。 ### 24\. Fine これはhotほど頻繁に使われていませんが、意味はほぼ一緒です。 **魅力的だという意味になります。** 【例文】 Gerald is looking fine tonight. 今晩ジェラルドは格好いいね。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## 恋愛関係で使うスラングを理解するメリット スラングは、流暢かつ自然にコミュニケーションを取る鍵になります。とくに恋愛関係について話す場合はそうです。そのため、スラングを使えると、あなたの英語力は次のレベルに上がるでしょう。アメリカの映画をよりよく理解できるようになるのはもちろん、日常会話で使えばアメリカ人の友人を感心させるに違いありません。 そうは言ってもスラングを使い始める前にしっかり英語の基本知識を勉強しなければいけません。より強固な英語の基礎を作ろうとしているなら、[LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)はあなたの勉強をお手伝いすることができます。使いやすく、直感的な言語学習プログラムで、きっとあなたの英語学習に役立ちます。LingoDeerと一緒に勉強することで一日も早く英語話者の友達とスラングを使って話すことができます！ 別の記事で他のスラングをご紹介します。ぜひ[インスタグラム](http://www.instagram.com/lingodeerapp?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)、[フェイスブック](http://facebook.com/lingodeer)、[ツイッター](http://twitter.com/lingodeer?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)でLingoDeerをフォローしてください！ ### Master Prepositions in French in 10 Minutes URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/prepositions-in-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:35:22.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## What Are Prepositions in French? In French, prepositions play an important part in speech. We use prepositions in our daily lives, without even noticing them (unless you actually *teach* French). But first, let’s answer the question that you should really be asking yourself: what are prepositions in French? **Well, prepositions are short words that are invariable and used to link two elements together in a sentence.** The most typical prepositions in French are “**à**” and “**en**”. - Je viens de France. - Il va à la plage. However, there are many, many more of them. Let me guide you through the world of prepositions in French. Allons-y! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Comparison of Prepositions in French and English Prepositions are not easy to translate from French to English (or vice versa). As a matter of fact, **most of them do not have a word per word translation and French prepositions do not have a one-to-one correspondence with the English ones.** It is important to always check the good use of each preposition. For example: | French | English | | ------ | ---------------------------------------- | | À | to, in, at | | De | of, from | | Chez | at (a person´s placeor a professional´s) | Although we may find ***some*** equivalents in English, keep in mind that French is a completely different language with different sentence structures. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Prepositions in French of Time First things first, prepositions in French have different categories. One of those categories is prepositions of time. These prepositions will express a temporal indication. The most common French prepositions of time are en, depuis, pendant, à… But, to help you find out how and when to use them, here is a list of temporal prepositions in French: | Preposition | To express... | Examples | | ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | en | The duration of an action, the season (except for spring),or a date. | Il est arrivé en janvier 2020\. (date)He arrived in January 2020.Nous sommes allés à la mer en été. (season)We went to the sea in summer.Marie a fait le trajet en deux heures. (duration)Marie did the trip in two hours. | | dans | When an action will start. | Le film commence dans quinze minutes.The movie will start in five minutes. | | depuis | The beginning of an action that is still ongoing. | Il est boulanger dequis 1996.He has been a baker since 1996.**Le magasin est ouvert dequis 9h.**The store is open from 9 AM.J´attends depuis deux heures.I have been waiting for two hours. | | pendant | The duration of an action that is now over. | Il a attendu pendant trente minutes.He waited for thirty minutes.Nous y avons habité pendant trois ans.We have lived there for three years. | | à | The time at which the action will take place. | Le magasin ouvre à huit heures.The store opens at eight o´clock. | | de...à... | The exact time/date an action will start and end. | Le magasin ouvre de 8h à 19h.The store is open from 8AM to 7PM. | | pour | The duration of an action is still ongoing, the duration of an action that will take place in the future. | Le directeur part en vacances pour trois semaines.The manager is going on holiday for three weeks.Nous sommes à Paris pour dix jours encore.We´re still in Paris for ten days. | | jusque | Until a precise temporal indication. Becomes jusqu´ before a vowel. | Nous avons cours jusqu´ à vendredi.We´re having classes until Friday. | | dès | The precise start of an action/event. | Les nouvelles recommandations prennent effet dès lundi.The new recommendations are starting this Monday. | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Prepositions in French of Position and Direction Another category that you need to learn is the prepositions of position and direction. They are used to describe conditions in space. Here’s a list of those prepositions in French. | Preposition | To express... | Examples | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | à | A location, before a city, a masculine country,building. | Il habite à Paris.He lives in Paris. | | en | A location, before a feminine country. | Nous allons voyager en Chine.We´re going to travel in China. | | dans | A location, before a country, a city, a building,a street, a room. | Il est entré dans la chambre.He entered the room.Vous faites quoi dans Paris?What do you do inside Paris?Elle est dans la cuisine.She´s in the kitchen. | | chez | A location, before a person or a professional´s Place. | Je vais chez le médicin.I´m going to the doctor´s.Il est chez son père.He is at his father´s. | | sur | A location "on" something. | Le chat est sur la table.The cat is on the table. | | sous | A location "under" something. | **Le chien est sous le lit.**The dog is under the bed. | | contre | A location "against" something. | La chaise est contre le mur.The chair is against the wall. | | entre | A location, "between". | Le bureau est entre le lit et l´armoire.The desk is between the bed and the wardrobe. | As a bonus, here are how we can mix those prepositions and use them as adverbs of place: | à côté (beside, next to) | à gauche (to the left) | à droite (to the right) | | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | | ailleurs (elsewhere) | autour (around) | au-dessus (above) | | dedans (inside) | dehors (outside) | derrière (behind) | | dessous (below) | dessus (above) | devant (in front) | | en bas (down, downstairs) | en haut (up above) | en dessous (down below) | | ici (here) | là (there) | là-bas (over there) | | loin (fair) | partout (everywhere) | près (near) | | quelque part (somewhere) | nulle part (nowhere) | n´importe où (anywhere) | | par là (around there, there) | ci-dessus (above) | ci-dessous (below) | | ci-joint (attached) | à l´ intérieur (indoors, inside) | à l´extérieur (outdoors, outside) | ![French Prepositions of direction](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/french-prepositions.png) **Take note:** the preposition “à” can change depending on the **gender** of what follows it. Yes, genders in French nouns… For example: - Je vais à la plage. (I’m going to the beach) à “La plage” is feminine singular, therefore, we will use “la” after it. - Nous allons au centre commercial. (We’re going to the mall) à “Le centre commercial” is masculine singular. We will use “le” after it. However, “à le” is forbidden, which is why we use “au” (à + le = au). - Ma mère aime aller aux puces. (My mother likes to go to the flea market) à “Puces” (everyday term for “flea market) is feminine plural. Since “à + les” is also forbidden in French, we will use “aux” for masculine and feminine plural nouns. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Other Prepositions in French | Preposition | Use | Examples | | ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | à | Before an ingredient or a flavor. | Une tarte à la fraise.A strawberry tart. | | Travelling by foot or something you can ride on. | Je vais à l´école à vélo.I bike to school.Moi j´y vais à pied.I go there by foot. | | | de | To express where something comes from or to whom it belongs. | J´aime les livres de Jane Austen.I like Jane Austens´books.C´est le chat de mon frère.It´s my brother´s cat. | | en | To express how something is done, the materials, thetransportation mode. | Il fait le ménage en chantant.He cleans the house while singing.C´est un pull en coton.It´s a cotton jumper.Il va au travail en voiture.He goes to work by car. | The same prepositions can also be used to express other things. In this list of prepositions in French below, you will find other uses for them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Tips and Tricks about Prepositions in French One last thing, before you go, keep in mind these most common **mistakes** that you can make when using prepositions in French: 1. Learning directly with the English translation: **most prepositions in French will not have the exact equivalent in English.** 2. Learning verbs without prepositions: some verbs in French require a preposition in order to be used. For example, “dire à” (to say to) and “s’intéresser à” (to be interested in). The verb “jouer” is also particularly tricky, as we use it with both “de” and “à”, depending on the context of the sentence. - Je joue du violon. (I play the violin) **de Musical instrument** - Je joue au football. (I play football) **à Sports / Games** 3. Forgetting prepositions in French: sometimes, in French, a preposition is needed in a sentence, when there are none in English. Prepositions have an especially important place in the French language, therefore, learn to use them systematically. Here you go! You have finally wrapped up this article about French preposition, and kudos to you, it was a tough one. To learn more about French and the many different grammar points of this language, feel free to take a look at [LingoDeer’s blog](https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-numbers-counting/). Or, you can learn French directly with us on [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/fr/en/learn-french-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), the fun way! ### Imperfect Tense in Spanish And When to Use It? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/imperfect-tense-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:03.000Z Despite having the name “imperfect,” this Spanish tense has nothing to do with flaws or defects. Actually, **the imperfect tense in Spanish is used to talk about things you “used to” do or “were” doing in the past, as well as to set the scene for a story.** The imperfect tense is often taught in conjunction with the preterite tense because they are both used to talk about the past and are often interwoven in narratives. Here is a quick example: > *Mientras *jugaba* en el jardín, *empezó* a llover.* > > While I was playing in the garden, it started to rain. This sentence uses the imperfect for the first verb and the [preterite](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-preterite-tense/) for the second verb due to their difference in meaning. *Jugaba* means “was playing” and is a continuous action, while *empezó* means “it started” and indicates a single, sudden action. It is generally recommended to learn the preterite first, however, the order in which you learn the different past tenses doesn’t matter too much as long as you study both! This article will teach you how to conjugate in the imperfect tense in Spanish as well as when to use it. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Regular Verbs in the Imperfect Tense in Spanish Most verbs are regular verbs in the imperfect tense. In fact, there are **only three irregulars** (a true miracle)! You will be conjugating in the imperfect in no time! The first step, like with most verbs, is to **remove the ending of the verb.** Once you remove *\-ar, -er,* or *\-ir* from the verb, add the appropriate ending. That’s it! Let’s start with *\-ar* verb endings. Note that **the *nosotros/as* form has an accent mark on the first “a.”** | Yo | \-aba | Nosotros/as | \-ábamos | | ------------- | ------ | ------------------- | -------- | | Tú | \-abas | Vosotros/as | \-abais | | Él/Ella/Usted | \-aba | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | \-aban | - ***Mi amiga hablaba por teléfono con sus padres todos los días.*** - My friend (female) used to speak to her parents on the phone every day. - ***Los compañeros caminaban a la escuela.*** - The classmates would walk to school. - ***Mientras yo miraba la televisión, mi hermano dibujaba en su cuaderno.*** - While I was watching TV, my brother was drawing in his notebook. Based on the example sentences, you may have noticed that there are a few ways to translate the imperfect. There is more information on this later on, when we talk about the uses of the imperfect, so sit tight! Here are the endings for both -er and -ir verbs. Much like the preterite tense, these two verb types share the same endings. All of the imperfect endings below have **an accent mark on the first “i.”** | Yo | \-ía | Nosotros/as | \-íamos | | ------------- | ----- | ------------------- | ------- | | Tú | \-ías | Vosotros/as | \-íais | | Él/Ella/Usted | \-ía | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | \-ían | - ***Según mis tíos, mis padres salían mucho antes de tener hijos.*** - According to my uncles, my parents used to go out a lot before having kids. - ***No dormíamos bien en la ciudad.*** - We used to not sleep well in the city. - ***Antonio aprendía una lengua extranjera en el colegio.*** - Antonio was learning a foreign language in high school. ![the imperfect tense in Spanish ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/10/element5digital-learning.jpg) Unsplash credit to element5digital **For all verb types, the *yo* form and the third person plural (*él/ella/usted*) have the same conjugation.** To differentiate between these, Spanish speakers will **either include the pronoun or the pronoun will be implied based on context.** ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Irregular Verbs in the Imperfect Tense in Spanish The only three irregular verbs in the imperfect tense in Spanish are ***ser, ir,* and *ver*.** That’s it! Below are the conjugations for these three irregular verbs. ### *Ser* \- to be This verb has an accent mark in the nosotros/as form. | Yo | era | Nosotros/as | éramos | | ------------- | ---- | ------------------- | ------ | | Tú | eras | Vosotros/as | erais | | Él/Ella/Usted | era | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | eran | - ***Cuando era niña, no me gustaba la espinaca.*** - When I was a girl, I didn’t like spinach. - ***Éramos jóvenes cuando teníamos dieciséis años.*** - We were young when we were sixteen years old. - ***El chico era alto y su camiseta era blanca.*** - The boy was tall and his shirt was white. ![the imperfect tense in Spanish Ser-to be](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/10/chase-chappell-jUhx6Lj4xIA-unsplash.jpg) Unsplash credit to Chase Chappell ### *Ir -* to go This verb pretty much adopts the -ar endings except the first *a* is an *i*. | Yo | iba | Nosotros/as | íbamos | | ------------- | ---- | ------------------- | ------- | | Tú | ibas | Vosotros/as | \-ibais | | Él/Ella/Usted | iba | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | \-iban | - ***Ibas a la tienda cada viernes.*** - You went to the store every Friday. - ***La familia iba al museo mucho.*** - The family would go to the museum a lot. - ***¿Iban a estudiar?*** - Were they going to study? ### *Ver -* to see This one is **barely irregular!** Just take off the last *\-r* from ver and use the *\-er/-ir* endings, and you’re in business. | Yo | veía | Nosotros/as | veíamos | | ------------- | ----- | ------------------- | ------- | | Tú | veías | Vosotros/as | veíais | | Él/Ella/Usted | veía | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | veían | - ***Te veía a veces en el pasillo.*** - I saw you sometimes in the hallway. - ***Los hombres se veían en el bar.*** - The men would see each other in the bar. - ***Veíamos al perro por la ventana.*** - We used to see the dog through the window. And there you have it! Just three irregular verbs. *Ser, ir,* and *ver* are used often so be sure to study them. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Uses of the Imperfect Tense in Spanish **There are a variety of ways to translate the imperfect tense in Spanish into English.** For example, the sentence *Los compañeros caminaban a la escuela* can be translated in the following ways: - The classmates would walk to school. - The classmates were walking to school. - The classmates used to walk to school. - The classmates walked to school. So how do you know which one is right? With so many options, how do I choose? Do I even have to choose? The answer is, it doesn’t really matter. As language learners, **we need to avoid the fallacy of translating everything into our native language.** Instead, we should look at the meaning of the imperfect tense in Spanish and the situations in which it is used. In all of these possible English sentences, what is the message? The message is that walking to school is a past action with no specified time or frequency, and that the act of walking is **a continuous action that may be habitual**. It could be setting the scene for something more definitive. > To better define the imperfect and when to use it, a useful acronym is **CHEATED. This stands for Characteristic/Description, Health, Emotion, Age, Time, Endless Activity, and Date.** ### Characteristic/Description When describing a person, place or thing in the past, it is hard to define a specific time frame. When you say that a person was tall, when did they start being tall? Did they stop being tall? A characteristic or description is continuous and therefore should be in the imperfect. The verb *ser* is often in the imperfect tense because of this. - ***Los estudiantes eran inteligentes.*** - The students were intelligent. - ***La sopa de mi abuela era rica.*** - My grandmother’s soup was delicious. ![the imperfect tense in Spanish Description](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/10/soup-beccatapert.jpg) Unsplash credit to Becca Tarpet ### Health Health is another topic where it is hard to pin down a time frame. It’s vague and is also like a description of a person’s past state of being. If by chance there is an exact time frame regarding health, then the preterite is acceptable, but this is rarely the case in daily conversation. - ***Estaba enferma pero ahora me siento bien.*** - I was sick but now I feel well. ### Emotion Emotion is not always visible and is felt internally, and for that reason it is considered continuous with no specific start or end. An example of an exception is **if you talk about a time in which you became angry. This would use the preterite** because it is talking about the onset, which can be measured. Otherwise, the imperfect tense is the best option. - ***La mujer estaba molesta en la reunión.*** - The woman was annoyed in the meeting. ### Age Even though age has a specific time frame (everyone is that age for one year, after all) **it is treated more like a characteristic or description.** So when saying someone’s past age, conjugate *tener* into the imperfect. - ***Ella tenía veinte años en su primer año de universidad.*** - She was twenty in her first year at university. ### Time The time always uses the imperfect tense and is yet another reason why learning the irregular *ser* is important. Despite its specificity, **think of it more as a description of the past that is setting the scene**. - ***Era la una.*** - It was one o’clock. - ***Eran las tres.*** - It was three o’clock. ### Endless Activity **Any action that is repeated or ongoing uses the imperfect tense in Spanish.** This is an important one! To clarify, this is something done **habitually or continuously**. Here are some keywords that indicate endless activities and show when the imperfect should be used: - ***Siempre*** \- Always - **Generalmente* \-* Generally - **Frecuentemente** \- Frequently - ***Mientras*** \- While - ***Cada día*** \- Every day - **Muchas veces* \-* Many times - ***Todos los días*** \- Every day - ***Todo/as + (unit of time)*** \- Every + (unit of time) ### Date Much like time, the date always uses the imperfect despite being specific. This is because it falls into the “setting the scene” category, as in, “It was the twelfth of March when we adopted our puppy.” **Even if** you are simply stating the past date **with no additional information, use the imperfect.** - ***Era el ocho de octubre cuando fuimos a Lima.*** - It was October eighth when we went to Lima. - ***Era el seis de septiembre.*** - It was September sixth. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Summary of the Imperfect Tense in Spanish Now you know how to conjugate the imperfect tense in Spanish and when to use it! It will be a breeze to master the conjugation with only three irregulars. Some people call the imperfect the ***aba’*s** and the ***ía*’s** because of the verb endings and their simplicity. It may take some practice to learn the differences between the two major past tenses (preterite and imperfect). The acronyms really help when you first start out. In fact, I still use them to this day! **SIMBA** is for the preterite (again, click [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-preterite-tense/) for more information on the preterite), and **for the imperfect the acronym is CHEATED**. **Characteristic/Description, Health, Emotion, Age, Time, Endless Activity, and Date.** To master the past, remember that **SIMBA CHEATED!** ### Japanisch Lernen: Ein Leitfaden vom Anfänger bis zum Fortgeschrittenen URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanisch-lernen-anfaenger/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:24:07.000Z ## Wie man Japanisch lernt – Ein wesentlicher Leitfaden ![japanisch lernen Fuji ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Fujisan_manuel-cosentino-n-CMLApjfI-unsplash.jpg) (Quelle: Manuel Cosentino/Upsplash) Japanisch zu lernen ist wie eine wunderbare Reise durch Zeit und Kultur. Eine Reise, die deine Sicht auf die Welt verändert und dein Verständnis für Japan und die japanische Gesellschaft vertieft. Wenn du auf dieser Seite bist, befinden du dich wahrscheinlich am Anfang deiner Reise und suchst nach einem geeigneten Leitfaden, der dir den Einstieg erleichtert. Oder vielleicht hast du in der Vergangenheit bereits versucht, Japanisch zu studieren, aber dir fehlte die Struktur, um auf Kurs zu bleiben und weiter zu lernen. Hast du das Gefühl, dass es dir nie gelingen wird, von Null auf fortgeschrittenes Japanisch-Niveau zu kommen? Lass diese Sorge hinter dir und lies dir diesen Leitfaden zum Japanisch-Lernen durch. Am Ende dieses Artikels wirst du alles haben, was du brauchst, um dich ins Lernen zu vertiefen und fließend Japanisch zu sprechen. ![japanisch lernen - Nihongo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ld-image-a83ef9801a686219.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Zunächst ein paar Informationen über den Autor: Jana Hallo liebe Japanisch-Interessierte, lieber Japanisch-Interessierter. Wenn ich mir vorab kurz vorstellen darf: Mein Name ist Jana. Ich bin 28 Jahre alt und studiere Japanologie und Koreanistik im 5\. Semester. Meine allerersten Versuche Japanisch zu lernen liegen bereits mehr als 10 Jahre zurück. In diesen 10 Jahren habe ich alles Mögliche ausprobiert, um Fortschritte zu machen. Ich kenne daher die Schwierigkeiten und Probleme des Japanisch-Lernens, über die du vielleicht schon gestolpert bist, nur allzu gut und dieser Leitfaden soll dir einige Tipps und Werkzeuge an die Hand geben, woran du dich auf deinem persönlichen Weg zum Erlernen der Japanischen Sprache orientieren kannst. Auf meinem Weg habe ich unterschiedliche Methoden des Japanisch-Lernens ausprobiert. Eine Hand voll verschiedener Bücher, Apps, Podcasts, Immersion durch Musik und Film. Von allem ein bisschen, doch mir fehlte es an Struktur und Regelmäßigkeit, so dass ich sehr lange keine Fortschritte gemacht habe. Viele Lernmaterialien, darunter auch einige der Hilfsmittel, die in diesem Guide vorgestellt werden, sind auf Englisch verfasst, sodass Englischkenntnisse ein großer Vorteil beim Japanisch-Lernen sind. ![Japanisch Lernen - japanische Kinderbücher](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ld-image-c9ffb23c11939d17.png) (Japanische Kinderbücher – Quelle: Jana Henning) Daher entschied ich mich vor etwas mehr als drei Jahren dazu für 9 Monate an eine Sprachschule in Tokio zu gehen. Denn, so dachte ich, dies ist der schnellste, effektivste und beste Weg um Japanisch zu lernen. Auch wenn es mir dabei geholfen hat eine solide Basis zu schaffen und ein ”Gefühl für die Sprache” zu bekommen, so war ich nach meiner Rückkehr nicht so gut in Japanisch, wie ich es erwartet hatte. Ich habe die Erkenntnis gemacht, dass das Japanisch-Niveau bei Beginn eines Auslandsaufenthaltes eine enorme Rolle dabei spielt, wie viel Fortschritte man tatsächlich machen wird. Mein Level war von Anfang an niedrig, also war mein Fortschritt auch nur mäßig. Wirkliche Fortschritte habe ich erst gemacht, nachdem ich wieder in Deutschland war und an der Universität die Feinheiten der Sprache studiert habe und mich mit so vielen Muttersprachlern wie möglich umgeben haben. Ich habe gemerkt, dass Japanisch seine Zeit gebraucht hat, um sich in meinem Gedächtnis festzusetzen. Aber inzwischen kann ich Filme auf Japanisch schauen und mich mit Japanern unterhalten. Eindrucksvolle Beispiele im Internet zeigen immer wieder: Auch wenn man nie im Land der Zielsprache gewesen war, kann man durch hartes und regelmäßiges Lernen der Sprache mächtig werden. Gerade in unserem Zeitalter der Vernetzung stehen uns dank des Internets viel mehr Möglichkeiten zu Verfügung, als noch vor 5-10 Jahren. Also welcher Zeitpunkt, als genau jetzt, wäre besser um eine neue Sprache zu lernen? ;-) ![Japanisch lernen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/los-gehts.jpg) (Quelle: Adobe Stock) ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Diese Fragen solltest du dir stellen, bevor du anfängst Japanisch zu lernen ### ### Warum möchtest du Japanisch lernen? Am Anfang ist es wichtig, dass du dir vor Augen führst, warum du eigentlich Japanisch lernen möchtest. Du magst jetzt vielleicht denken: “Ich möchte einfach fließend Japanisch sprechen. Ich möchte alles können.” Aber es ist wichtig sich kleine, erreichbare Ziele zu stecken, sodass du deinem Langzeitziel Schritt für Schritt näher kommst und nicht entmutigt bist, wenn du nach einem halben Jahr immer noch “nicht Japanisch kannst”. ![Japanisch lernen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ziele_by-Trufflepix_Adobe-Stock.jpg) (Quelle: Truffelpix/Adobe Stock) **Möchtest du eine JLPT-Prüfung machen und bestehen?** Dann solltest du deine Lernmethode genau an die jeweilige JLPT-Prüfung anpassen und dich auf die relevante Grammatik und das relevante Vokabular konzentrieren. Eine Website, die dir für alle Prüfungen Vokabular und Grammatik bereitstellt, findest du [hier](https://japanesetest4you.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). **Möchtest du in Japan arbeiten und leben?** Dann solltest du ein umfangreiches Wissen über Grammatik und Vokabular verfügen. Die meisten Unternehmen verlangen den JLPT N2\. Setze dich außerdem genauer mit *keigo*, der Höflichkeitssprache, auseinander, um im Arbeitsalltag angemessen zu sprechen. **Möchtest du deinen Lieblings-Anime ohne Untertitel verstehen?** Dann trainiere vor allem dein Hörverständnis und mache dich mit der Umgangssprache vertraut. **Möchtest du deinen Lieblingsroman oder Manga auf Japanisch lesen und verstehen können?** Dann werden Kanji eine große Rolle spielen, damit du flüssig lesen kannst. Eine gute Website zum strukturierten Lernen von Kanji, findest du [hier](https://www.wanikani.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). **Oder möchtest du gelegentlich nach Japan reisen und dafür die nützlichsten Ausdrücke lernen?** Dann genügt ein grundlegendes Verständnis von Grammatik und Vokabular sowie gängige Floskeln. LingoDeer hat hierfür genau den richtigen Kurs "Reise-Sprachführer" in der App bereitgestellt. ![Japanisch Lernen - Japanisch Kurs Reise Sprachführer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ld-image-a70f1f3faef14657.png) (Quelle: LingoDeer App) 🤔 Diese Überlegung soll dir dabei helfen dein Ziel klar abzustecken, damit du weißt, was du bei deinem Lernprozess vernachlässigen kannst und worauf du dich stattdessen fokussieren solltest. So hält es dich eher auf komplizierte Kanji oder zu spezielles Vokabular zu lernen, wenn du dich im Alltag mit Japanern verständigen möchtest, könnten aber unter Umständen wichtig sein, wenn du den JLPT bestehen möchtest. ### Wie schwer ist es, Japanisch zu lernen? Dies ist tatsächlich eine schwierige Frage, da die Antwort unterschiedlich ausfällt, abhängig davon, wen man fragt. Man kann es leider nicht schönreden, aber aus Sicht eines deutschen Muttersprachlers stellt Japanisch aufgrund fehlender Parallelen eine Herausforderung dar. Viele neue Wörter, die du lernst, werden dir zunächst inhaltslos erscheinen, da du sie nicht mit Wörtern verknüpfen kannst, die du bereits kennst. Ein Lichtblick: Japanisch hat auch viele Wörter aus der englischen Sprache übernommen. Springe zum Abschnitt [“Gairaigo - So viele japanische Wörter kennst du bereits!”](#gairaigo), wenn du mehr darüber erfahren möchtest. Die japanische Grammatik unterscheidet sich grundlegend von denen europäischer Sprachen. Ich würde sie jedoch nicht als “schwierig”, sondern als “anders” bezeichnen. Um dir einen ersten Eindruck zu geben: Japanisch - hat keine Artikel und auch keine verschiedenen Wortgeschlechter - hat keine Pluralform (Abgesehen von den Suffixen 達 “tachi” und ら “ra”) - hat wenig Zeitformen: Es gibt eine Präsensform, eine Vergangenheitsform, eine Verlaufsform, aber keine Zukunftsform - hat eine immer gleiche Verbkonjugation Über vieles, was Menschen, die Deutsch lernen Schwierigkeiten bereitet, musst du dir also erstmal keine Sorgen machen. Solange du bereit bist, dich auf eine ganz neue Sprache einzulassen und Zeit und Motivation mitbringst, wirst du deinem Ziel Schritt für Schritt näher kommen. ### Realitätscheck: Wie lange dauert es, Japanisch zu lernen? Japanisch wird aus Sicht eines englischen Muttersprachlers, zusammen mit Chinesisch und Koreanisch, zu den Sprachen gezählt, die am meisten Zeit in Anspruch nehmen, bis man sie beherrscht. Das US-Außenministerium gibt für das Erlernen von Japanisch einen Richtwert von 88 Wochen bzw. 2200 Lehrstunden als erforderlich an, um es fließend sprechen zu können. In anderen Worten, wenn du jeden Tag 2 Stunden lernen würdest, dann würde es ca. 3 Jahre dauern, bis du Japanisch auf einem hohen Niveau beherrscht. Aber vergiss dabei nicht, dass du schon viel früher in der Lage sein wirst zu kommunizieren und dich mit anderen auszutauschen. Ich habe nach 9 Monaten Aufenthalt in Japan den JLPT N3 bestanden und danach etwas mehr als ein Jahr gebraucht, um auf N2-Niveau zu kommen. Sehr fleißige Studenten schaffen mitunter den JLPT N2 in einem Jahr und benötigen ein weiteres Jahr für den N1\. Es ist also alles eine Frage der Motivation und des Fleißes! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Die ersten Schritte als Neuling in der japanischen Sprache Wenn du ganz neu in der Community von Japanisch-Lernenden bist, dann lass uns zunächst über die Grundlagen schauen, die du benötigst, um Japanisch zu lernen. Du hast bereits eine grobe Ahnung, wie die Japanisch funktioniert? Eine Wiederholung schadet nie, aber du kannst zum Abschnitt [„Diese Fehler solltest du von Anfang an vermeiden“](#fehlervermeiden) springen, wenn du möchtest. ### Wissenswertes vor dem Start: Was muss ich über Japanisch wissen? ![Japanisch Lernen - kanji hiragana katakana im Satz](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Schriftsystem_LingoDeer.png) Japanisch verfügt über drei verschiedene Schriftsysteme, die du beherrschen musst: - Hiragana - Katakana - Kanji ![japanisch lernen Beispiel Satz Schriftsysteme](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/3b.Ich-mag-Anime.png) Im Gegensatz zu den uns bekannten Alphabeten, handelt es sich bei Hiragana und Katakana um Silbenschriften. Das heißt: Konsonanten (k - s - t - n - h - m - y - r - w) können nie alleine stehen und werden immer mit einem der fünf Vokale (a - i - u - e - o) kombiniert. Eine Ausnahme: den Konsonanten “n” gibt es auch ohne Vokal. Das schöne bei Hiragana und Katakana: jedes Zeichen repräsentiert immer ein und denselben Laut. Jedes Hiragana-Zeichen besitzt ein äquivalentes Katakana-Zeichen. Kanji sind chinesische Schriftzeichen, die etwa im 5\. Jahrhundert n.Chr. ihren Weg nach Japan gefunden haben. Ursprünglich gab es mehr als 50.000 Schriftzeichen. Von diesen sind in Japan nur noch rund 6000 in Gebrauch, 3000 davon regelmäßig. Das japanische Kultusministerium stellt die sogenannte Jōyō-Kanji-Liste zusammen, Kanji des täglichen Gebrauchs, die verbindlich für für Behörden, Schulden und Medien sind und 2136 Kanji umfasst. Anstelle eines Lautes repräsentiert jedes Zeichen einen Gedanken oder ein Gefühl und sind sogenannte „Logogramme“. Fast alle Kanjis haben mehrere Lesungen. Unterschieden wird dabei zwischen der chinesischen Lesung (on-yomi) und der japanischen Lesung (kun-yomi). ### Der allererste Schritt: Hiragana und Katakana Legen wir nun also los. Als Erstes solltest du dich mit den beiden Silbenschriften Hiragana und Katakana auseinandersetzen und sie lesen, sprechen und schreiben üben. LingoDeer hat eine tolle Möglichkeit entwickelt, das Alphabet auf eine interaktive Weise zu lernen. Mit Audio-Aufnahmen jedes Hiragana und Katakana-Zeichens, eingesprochen von Muttersprachlern, kannst du die beiden Alphabete lernen, ohne den Umweg über die Romanisierung zu machen. Die Schreibweise jedes Zeichens wird dir ebenfalls beigebracht und durch kleine Übungsaufgaben noch während des Erlernens der Alphabete kommt keine Langeweile auf. Im Nu wirst du die beiden Alphabete lesen, schreiben und aussprechen können. Lade hierzu einfach die LingoDeer-App ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) herunter und du kannst sofort anfangen! ![Japanisch Lernen - Nu Japanische Alphabet Tabelle ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/3b.Japanische-Alphabet-Tabelle_nu.png) (die App zeigt auch die Strichreihenfolge - Quelle: LingoDeer App) #### ⭐️Welches Schriftsystem solltest du zuerst lernen? Am Anfang mag es vielleicht schwer erscheinen sich gleich zwei verschiedene Schriftsysteme zu merken. Beide Alphabete sind ohne Frage essentiell, um Japanisch zu meistern. Katakana bietet dir den Vorteil alle Wörter, die aus anderen Sprachen entlehnt sind, mit einem Schlag lesen und verstehen zu können. Manchmal ist ein bisschen Nachdenken erforderlich, doch kann man in den meisten Fällen erraten, um was für ein Lehnwort es sich handelt. Große Vorteile hast du in Restaurants oder Cafés, da das Menü meistens in Katakana geschrieben ist. Da jedoch Hiragana für die rein-japanischen Wörter verwendet wird und besonders am Anfang schwierige Kanji ersetzen kann, würde ich dir empfehlen als erstes Hiragana zu lernen. Durch wiederholtes Schreiben und Aussprechen wirst du den Bogen schnell rausbekommen und kannst schon eine ganze Menge lesen. Ganz nebenbei: Eine Möglichkeit die Hiragana und Katakana zu lernen, ist sich spielerisch damit auseinanderzusetzen und zu versuchen Wörter, die du vielleicht schon kennst, selbst zu schreiben. Eine Anleitung, um auch am Computer Japanisch schreiben zu können, findest du [hier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/typing-in-japanese/). ### Wie lernt man am besten Kanji? Ich weiß aus erster Hand, wie überwältigend das Erlernen von Kanji für Anfänger erscheint, insbesondere für diejenigen, die noch keine Kanji-Kenntnisse haben. Das Erlernen von Kanji erfordert Zeit, Disziplin, Übung und Strategie. Lass mich dir ein paar Tipps geben. **Strichreihenfolge** ![Japanisch Lernen - Strichreihenfolge Blume](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ld-image-d2639501c13c7eef.png) Kanji haben, ebenso wie Hiragana und Katakana, eine bestimmte Strichreihenfolge. Präge dir diese Reihenfolge ein! Die Strichreihenfolge entscheidet nicht nur darüber, wie symmetrisch deine Kanji am Ende aussehen, sondern du wirst mit einiger Übung feststellen, dass es ein System hinter der Schreibweise gibt. Ab dem Zeitpunkt kannst du dann selbst unbekannte Kanji schreiben.Außerdem: Es kommt nicht selten vor, dass Kanji, z.B. vor Restaurants, mit Hand oder Pinsel geschrieben sind und nur schwer leserlich sind. Kennst du aber die Strichreihenfolge, kannst du irgendwann selbst diese Kanji lesen! Schaue [hier](https://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/stroke-order.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=The%20basic%20rule%20of%20kanji,written%20before%20the%20right%20strokes) für eine Erklärung der Strichreihenfolge. **Radikale** ![Japanisch Lernen - Kanji mit Radikal Wasser](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Radikale.png) Es gibt Tausende von Kanji, aber sie bestehen aus nur 216 Radikalen. Wenn du zunächst die Radikalen lernst, was sie repräsentieren sowie ihre Strichreihenfolge, dann wird das eine solide Grundlage für das Verständnis von Kanji darstellen. [Hier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/) findest du eine detaillierte Erklärung zu Radikalen. Überprüfe also jedes Mal, wenn du ein neues Kanji lernst, aus welchen Radikalen es besteht und welche Lesarten es hat. Versuche aber nicht alle Lesungen auf einmal zu beherrschen, sondern merke dir ein bis zwei Lesungen. **Schreiben, schreiben, schreiben** Es mag altmodisch klingen, aber Kanji per Hand zu schreiben, hilft beim Einprägen! Der Schlüssel liegt nicht so sehr darin, sie oft zu schreiben, sondern vielmehr darin, beim Schreiben aufmerksam zu sein und auf ihre Bedeutung und ihre Strichfolge zu achten. Die LingoDeer-App bietet dir eine unterhaltsame und effiziente Kanji-Drill-Funktion, die dir beim Einstieg helfen kann. Sie stellt dir die ersten 100 grundlegendsten Kanji vor. Das Tolle: Auch ohne Stift und Papier kannst du hier die Strichreihenfolge üben. Zeichne die Kanji per Hand nach und bekomme schon gleich ein Gefühl für die richtige Schreibweise. ![Japanisch Lernen - Schriftzeichen Drill](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/3c.Schriftzeichen-Drill.png) (Quelle: LingoDeer App) **Mnemotechniken** Mnemotechniken sind deine besten Freunde. Hierbei verbindest du jedes neues Kanji mit einer Geschichte, um es dir auf diese Weise leichter zu merken. Hierfür verweise ich nochmal auf [WaniKani](https://www.wanikani.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): ![Japanisch Lernen - Wanikani Screenshot](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Wanikani-screenshot1.png) (Quelle: Wanikani) Letztendlich ist das regelmäßige Üben der Kanji der einzige Weg, um sicherzustellen, dass du die gelernten Kanji nicht sofort wieder vergisst, sondern sie sich irgendwann im Langzeitgedächtnis ansiedeln. Du weißt jetzt, wie man Japanisch schreibt. Lass uns also mit einem kurzen Überblick über die japanische Grammatik und Satzstruktur fortfahren. ### Grundlegende japanische Grammatik und Satzstruktur Wie oben bereits kurz erwähnt, funktioniert die japanische Grammatik ganz anders, als die deutsche Grammatik. Die grundlegendsten Unterschiede: **Japanisch ist eine agglutinierende Sprache** bezogen auf Japanisch bedeutet das, dass Suffixe an das Verb angehängt werden, die das Verb modifizieren. Während wir auf Deutsch viel mit Hilfsverben (haben, werden, sein) und Modalverben (können, wollen) arbeiten, werden auf Japanisch diese Informationen durch Suffixe am Ende des Verbs ergänzt. **Wortstellung** Die Wortstellung im Japanischen ist: SOV (Subjekt - Objekt - Prädikat)Das heißt: das Verb steht immer am Ende des Satzes und stellt die wichtigste Information dar. So weiß man bis zum Ende eines Satzes zunächst nicht, ob die Handlung in der Gegenwart oder Vergangenheit stattfand, und ob das Verb verneint oder bejaht ist. Also gut bis zum Ende zuhören! **Nomen** Nomen behalten immer ihre Form! Es gibt kein Plural, kein Geschlecht und keine Artikel! **Verben** Verben lassen sich in drei Kategorien unterteilen: ru-Verben, u-Verben und unregelmäßige Verben. Für eine genaue Erläuterung zu den Unterschieden siehe [hier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/). **Adjektive** Adjektive lassen sich in zwei Gruppen unterteilen, häufig auch *i*\-Adjektive und *na*\-Adjektive genannt. Abhängig zu welcher Gruppe ein Adjektiv gehört, verändert es seine Form entsprechend seiner Stellung im Satz (adnominal, adverbal) **Partikel** Um die Funktion der einzelnen Elemente im Satz zu kennzeichnen, verwendet Japanisch verschiedene Partikel (z.B. Subjektpartikel “ga” (が) Objektpartikel “wo” (を), die hinter das Satzelement gehängt werden). Schaue [hier ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-particles/)für eine Erklärung des Partikels. ![japanische Grammatik Satzbau](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Satzbau_updated-themenpartikel-1.png) Für einen Einblick in die grundlegende Grammatik findest du [hier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/) einen Leitfaden zur japanischen Sprache. ### Lerne die wichtigsten japanischen Redewendungen ![japanisch lernen ich spreche japanisch](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ld-image-4cacbdc8ce44b516.png) Sich gebräuchliche japanische Redewendungen zu merken, hilft dir dein Selbstvertrauen als Anfänger in Japanisch zu stärken. Ich nenne dies den "Survival-Modus" des Japanischen. Obwohl diese Ausdrücke sehr einfach sind, werden sie ständig verwendet. Gewöhnliche japanische Redewendungen können dir helfen, während deiner Reise in Japan zurechtzukommen. Und wenn du Muttersprachler auf Japanisch begrüßen kannst und ein paar Höflichkeitsfloskeln kennst, sammelst du sofort Pluspunkte. Garantiert! Auf diese Weise kannst du bereits effektiv Japanisch sprechen, auch wenn du mit der Grammatik noch nicht so vertraut bist! Hier sind [42 Redewendungen](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-phrases/) auf Japanisch aufgelistet, mit denen du beginnen kannst. Am Ende dieses Leitfadens findest du darüber hinaus weitere nützliche Ressourcen online Japanisch zu lernen. ### Diese Herausforderungen erwarten dich beim Lernen von Japanisch **Kanji** Im Vergleich zu anderen Sprachen, die über ein Alphabet verfügen, nimmt es deutlich mehr Zeit in Anspruch in der Lage zu sein Japanisch lesen zu können. Auch nach vielen Stunden des Kanji-Lernens, wird es dir häufig passieren, dass du im Satz auf Kanji triffst, die du noch nicht kennst, oder auf Kombinationen von Kanji die du bereits kennst, deren Konstellation aber neu für dich ist. Hier hilft nur: Kontinuierliches Lernen. Am besten empfiehlt sich hierfür ein sogenanntes Spaced Repetition System (SRS), welches weiter hinten im Guide noch genauer erläutert wird. **Höflichkeit und die respektvolle Form der Sprache** Japaner werden immer wieder für ihre Höflichkeit und Aufmerksamkeit gegenüber ihren Mitmenschen gelobt. Dieser gegenseitige Respekt ist tief in der japanischen Sprache verwurzelt und spiegelt sich daher auch in der Art und Weise wider, wie sie sprechen. Ähnlich wie auf Deutsch, sprechen Japaner ihre Familie und Freunde nicht auf die gleiche Weise an, wie den Chef, Arbeitskollegen oder Kunden. Während das Deutsche zwei Stufen der Höflichkeit kennt: die Standardform und die Höflichkeitssprache, gibt es im Japanischen mindestens vier verschiedene Stufen. Umgangssprache : wird für Freunde, Familie, enge Mitarbeiter, jüngere Leute oder Leute im gleichen Alter wie man selbst, benutzt Höflichkeitssprache (keigo) : wird überall dort benutzt, wo Respekt und Höflichkeit gezeigt werden muss. Also hauptsächlich in der Arbeitsumgebung oder gegenüber Fremden. keigo wird darüber hinaus in drei verschiedene Sprachstile unterteilt: 1. die “höfliche Sprache” (auch masu-Form) 2. die “respektvolle Sprache” (sonkeigo) - wenn man zu oder über eine Respektsperson und dessen Handeln spricht 3. die “bescheidene Sprache” (kenjōgo) - Gegenstück zu sonkeigo, welche das eigene Handeln bescheidener erscheinen lässt Als Anfänger sollte man sich zunächst auf die Umgangssprache und die höfliche Sprache konzentrieren, da diese einfach zu bilden und verstehen sind. Mit der masu-Form kann man höflich genug sein, ohne dass die Japaner es einem übel nehmen würden, denn: Sie wissen, wie schwierig die anderen beiden Sprachformen für Ausländer sind. Wortverschönerung Darüber hinaus kann Höflichkeit ebenfalls durch die Modifizierung von Wörtern ausgedrückt werden. Durch Hinzufügen der Präfixe *o* oder *go* klingen Worte eleganter. Manche Wörter, die gerade alltägliche Dinge im Leben eines Japaners beschreiben, funktionieren sogar gar nicht mehr ohne sie. Beispielsweise: *ocha* (Tee), *gohan* (gekochter Reis) oder *ohashi* (Stäbchen). Suffixe an Personennamen Je nach Beziehung zu seinen Mitmenschen hängen Japaner verschiedene Suffixe an die Namen von Personen, um Höflichkeit, Respekt oder ein enges Verhältnis zu signalisieren. Lese [hier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/) den Guide zu dem Thema Suffixe und wie sie zu benutzen sind. **Zähler** Korrektes Zählen auf Japanisch, war für mich lange Zeit eine große Herausforderung. Wenn du die Zahlen auf Japanisch noch nicht kennst, dann klicke [hier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/1-to-10-in-japanese/) für eine Einführung in die Welt der japanischen Zahlen.Zähler sind japanische Wörter, die man mit Zahlen kombiniert, um Menschen, Tiere, Dinge, Handlungen, Häufigkeit und Zeit zu zählen, so dass man "zwei Katzen", "drei Häuser" oder "fünf Menschen" sagen kann. Die allgemeine Form dabei ist: Nomen + Zahl + Zählwort. - Die japanische Sprache hat etwa 500 Zähler, aber mit den gebräuchlichsten \~20 Zählern, kann man schon eine Menge korrekt benennen. - Japanische Zahlen allein können nicht zum Zählen verwendet werden, sodass man keine Wahl hat, als die Zähler zu lernen. - Jedes Mal, wenn du einen neuen Zähler lernst, musst du überprüfen, ob dieser Zähler eine Angleichung der vorhergehenden Zahl verursacht. Dies ist oft bei den Zahlen 1 bis 10 der Fall. Die Änderungen folgen bestimmten Regeln, die konsistent sind, aber auch hier gibt es Ausnahmen. Aber glücklicherweise kann ich dir sagen, dass es zwei Universalzähler (\~*tsu* und \~*ko*) gibt, auf den man für den Fall, dass einem der richtige Counter nicht einfällt, zurückgreifen kann. **Japanische Verbkonjugation** Auch wenn das System der Verbkonjugation im Japanischen mit wenigen Ausnahmen relativ einfach ist, ähnelt es dem Deutschen überhaupt nicht. Dies kann einen Anfänger leicht abschrecken, daher betrachte ich das Erlernen der Konjugation als eine Herausforderung, der man sich bewusst sein muss. Es gibt drei Verbgruppen (*ru*\-Verben, *u*\-Verben und unregelmäßige Verben) und eine begrenzte Anzahl von Konjugationsformen (14). Diese Formen sind für jede Verbgruppe unterschiedlich. Wichtiger Unterschied: Japanische Verben konjugieren nicht mit dem Subjekt, sondern mit Zeitform und Formalität. Eine Anleitung zu allem, was du zur Konjugation japanischer Verben wissen musst, findest du [hier](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Diese Fehler solltest du von Anfang an vermeiden Es gibt einige Dinge, die dir das Japanisch-Lernen zunächst zu vereinfachen scheinen, doch sie halten dich am Ende von einem erfolgreichen Lernstil ab und sind daher zu vermeiden. ### Löse dich von der Romanisierung - so schnell wie möglich! ![Japanisch Lernen - what is romaji](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/what-is-romaji.png) Was wir *romaji* (ローマ字) nennen, ist das System der Romanisierung der japanischen Sprache. Mit anderen Worten, es ist eine vierte Art, Japanisch zu schreiben, nämlich mit Buchstaben des Alphabets. Hier einige kurze Fakten: - Es gibt drei Standards für die Romanisierung: das Hepburn-System, das Nippon-shiki-System und das Kunrei-shiki-System. Hier ist einen ausführlichen [Artikel](https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/) für dich, wenn du wissen möchtest, was Romaji ist und wie es in Japan verwendet wird. - *romaji* kann Anfängern dabei helfen die Grundlagen der japanischen Aussprache zu verstehen. Auch wenn *romaji* zunächst wie eine gute Alternative klingen mag, sofort Japanisch lesen und verstehen zu können, sind sie in Wirklichkeit aus verschiedenen Gründen ein großes Hindernis für deinen Lernfortschritt: - Die Romanisierung setzt die japanische Aussprache nicht perfekt um und kann irreführend sein. - Romaji spiegelt die japanische Satzstruktur und Grammatik nicht sehr gut wider und lässt dich damit an der Oberfläche deines Studiums zurück - Romaji kann zu schlechten Lesegewohnheiten führen und für Fehlannahmen in der Grundstruktur des Japanischen verantwortlich sein, die später schwer zu korrigieren sein werden. Deshalb lautet mein Rat, vom ersten Tag an alles in Kana zu lesen. ### Anime und Manga sind nicht die richtigen Quellen zum Lernen ![Japanisch Lernen - japanischer Manga Anime](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/books-8-rotated-e1600836837181.jpg) (Mangareihe "Meitantei Konan", oder "Detektiv Conan" – Quelle: Jana Henning) Versteh mich nicht falsch. Die japanische Unterhaltungsindustrie ist eine tolle Quelle, um deine Motivation neu zu entfachen oder das ein oder andere Wort aufzuschnappen. Aber sie eignen sich nicht als Lernquelle für Einsteiger. - Unterhaltungsmedien beinhalten oft nicht standardisierte Grammatik und umgangssprachliche Ausdrücke. Dies kann dazu führen, dass du bei der Unterscheidung von Umgangssprache und Höflichkeitssprache Schwierigkeiten hast. Du gehst das Risiko ein, ein unhöfliches, gebrochenes Japanisch zu lernen. - Die Art und Weise, wie Charaktere in der Fiktion sprechen, unterscheidet sich oft sehr von der Art und Weise, wie Menschen im wirklichen Leben sprechen: Vieles von dem, was in Anime, Manga oder sogar J-Drama gesagt wird, ist übertrieben. Ihre Reden sind so geschrieben, dass sie eine dramatische Wirkung erzielen. Im wirklichen Leben sind die Menschen weit davon entfernt, so zu reden. - Um natürliches Japanisch zu hören, empfehle ich auf Videoplattformen, wie YouTube, nach Channels Ausschau zu halten, die ein Thema behandeln, das dich interessiert und auf diese Weise Japanisch zu konsumieren. ### Versuche nicht dir lange, zufällige Listen von Wörtern zu merken Ich denke, du hast inzwischen verstanden, dass das Erlernen der japanischen Sprache einen enormen Aufwand beim Auswendiglernen erfordert. Durchschnittlich können wir aber nicht mehr als 20-25 Wörter effektiv pro Tag auswendig lernen, weil das Gedächtnis Zeit braucht, um neue Informationen zu verarbeiten und zu speichern. Einige Apps können dir dabei helfen auf eine interaktive Art und Weise eine soliden Grundwortschatz zu erlangen. Hilfreich ist es auch sich neue Wörter anhand von Themen oder Wortgruppen zu merken. Eine besondere Empfehlung meinerseits ist: Merke dir Wörter nicht einzeln, sondern im Zusammenhang mit anderen Worten. Dies kann dir dabei helfen, bei Wörtern mit ähnlicher Bedeutung, ein Gefühl dafür zu bekommen in welchen Situationen welches Wort benutzt wird. Schlage also auch immer einen Beispielsatz nach! ### Vertrau nicht auf Online-Übersetzer Auch wenn die Versuchung groß ist: automatische Online-Übersetzer von Deutsch nach Japanisch und umgekehrt sollten mit großer Vorsicht genossen werden und allenfalls als Hilfestellung herangezogen werden, um eine **grobe** Idee vom Inhalt des Satz zu bekommen. - maschinelle Übersetzungen machen viele Fehler - teilweise werden ganze Teilsätze bei der Übersetzung ignoriert - maschinelle Übersetzungen können Konzepte und Ideen nicht in der Form wiedergeben wie das menschliche Gehirn - maschinelle Übersetzungen verstehen den Kontext eines Textes nicht. Japanisch ist eine **sehr kontextbasierte** Sprache. Auslassungen, die in der japanischen Sprache sehr häufig auftreten, können von der Maschine nicht erkannt und dementsprechend nicht übersetzt werden Den einzigen Online-Übersetzer, den ich **zur Hilfestellung** empfehlen kann, ist der von einer deutschen Firma entwickelte Übersetzer von [DeepL](https://www.deepl.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Satzstrukturen werden meist richtig erkannt und geben eine grobe Idee des Satzes. Doch kein Online-Übersetzer ist perfekt! Versuche stets den Satz erst mithilfe von Online-Wörterbüchern, wie [Wadoku](https://www.wadoku.de/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), selbst zu übersetzen. Dies hilft dir auch beim Verständnis für die Struktur von Sätzen. ### Versteif dich nicht auf Ausnahmen von grammatikalischen Regeln ![Japanisch Lernen - ausnahmen sind immer die Minderheit](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/lesen_siora-photography_upslash-e1600326548932.jpg) (Quelle: Siora Photography/Upsplash) Auch wenn die japanische Sprache für ihre Konsequenz und relativ simple grammatische Struktur gelobt werden kann, so gibt es dennoch Ausnahmen. Sollte man sich darüber aber den Kopf zerbrechen? Nein! - Verbringe nicht zu viel Zeit mit den wenigen Ausnahmen von grammatikalischen Regeln, denn auch wenn fast alle grammatikalischen Regeln haben Ausnahmen, sind diese letztendlich nur die Minderheit. - Am Anfang hilft es einen Blick auf die Ausnahmen zu werfen und zur Kenntnis zu nehmen, dass sie existieren, dann aber zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt darauf zurück zu kommen, wenn du dich sicherer im Umgang mit dem Regelfall fühlst. - Mit der Zeit werden die Ausnahmen Sinn machen und dir natürlicher vorkommen. Da du nun weißt, was du beim Japanisch-Lernen vermeiden solltest, lass uns zu dem kommen, was dir effektiv weiterhelfen kann. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Effizient Japanisch lernen Es gibt aus meiner Sicht drei Methoden deine Art Japanisch zu lernen effizienter zu machen und so die Energie, die du investieren musst, zu senken. 1. Benutze das was du bereits kennst 2. Wiederhole regelmäßig 3. Tausche dich mit Muttersprachlern aus ### Gairaigo - So viele japanische Wörter kennst du bereits! Japanisch hat viele Wörter aus anderen Sprachen übernommen. Dabei wird zwischen *wasei-eigo* und *gairaigo* unterschieden. - *gairaigo*: Wörter, die aus anderen Sprachen übernommen wurden und ihre Bedeutung **beibehalten** haben - *wasei-eigo*: Wörter, die aus dem Englischen übernommen wurden, aber ihre Bedeutung **verändert** haben ![Japanisch Lernen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/gairaigo-vs.-wasei-eigo.png) Wir wollen zunächst einen Blick auf *gairaigo* (外来語), wortwörtlich ‘von außerhalb kommende Wörter’, werfen. - Gairaigo-Wörter wurden mit Hilfe des Silbenschriftsystem in die japanische Sprache übertragen. Eine gute Möglichkeit, sich damit vertraut zu machen, wie man Wörter ins Japanische umwandeln kann, ist der Versuch, [den eigenen Namen ins Japanische umzuwandeln](https://apps.nolanlawson.com/japanese-name-converter/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). - Lehnwörter tauchen vor allem in den Bereichen von neuer Technologie und Werbung auf. Statistisch gesehen findet man *gairaigo* besonders in japanischen Zeitungen, Fernsehnachrichten und in der aktuellen japanischen Popkultur. - Interessanterweise neigen gesellschaftliche Trends und jüngere Generationen eher dazu, Fremdwörter zu benutzen. Auch wenn sie es nicht immer in den allgemeinen japanischen Wortschatz schaffen, werden Muttersprachler dich verstehen! Das sogenannte *wasei-eigo* (和製英語), wortwörtlich “durch Japaner gemachtes Englisch" sind Wörter, die im Englischen nicht existieren oder nicht auf dieselbe Weise verwendet werden. Schau dir [Hirokis Erklärung über *wasei-eigo*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OWq4BIq6Mw&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) an, um mehr darüber zu erfahren. ![Japanisch Lernen - wasei-eigo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/5a.Wasei-eigo_Hiroki-e1600327511739.png) Auch wenn *wasei-eigo* neue Bedeutungen von englischen Wörtern vermittelt, kann dir die Nähe zu bereits bekanntem Vokabular beim Wortschatzaufbau helfen. Japanisch hat Wörter aus anderen Sprachen bis zu dem Grad übernommen, dass es heute stellenweise kaum mehr möglich ist, über bestimmte Themen mit rein-japanischen Wörtern zu sprechen. [Hier](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88Nh0wvQGYk&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) gibt es ein witziges Video, bei dem Japaner auf der Straße gebeten werden ein gewissen Gegenstand mit rein-japanischen Begriffen zu beschreiben. ![Japanisch lernen - japanische Lehnwörter](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/5a.loanwords-2.jpg) (Quelle: Asian Boss/Youtube) ### ### Benutze ein Spaced Repetition System (SRS), um deinen Wortschatz zu verbessern ![Japanisch Lernen - spaced repetition ystem Vergessenskurve](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/5b.verteilte-Wiederholung.jpg) (Quelle: Catchthezenith) Je nachdem, wie gut du Japanisch beherrschen möchtest, musst du viel Zeit für das Lernen und Behalten neuer Vokabeln verwenden. Um Ihnen dir eine grobe Vorstellung zu geben: Um fließend Englisch zu sprechen, muss man ungefähr 2.000 Wörter kennen. Das gleiche Niveau in Japanisch zu erreichen, setzt jedoch voraus, dass du mindestens 8.000 bis 10.000 Wörter und 2.000 Kanji beherrschst. Um irgendwann diese Menge an Wörtern zu beherrschen, ist eine regelmäßige Wiederholung von Vokabeln **unerlässlich**. Was dir dabei helfen kann, ist ein sogenanntes Spaced Repetition System (SRS). - SRS ist eine bewährte Lerntechnik, die von Karteikarten-Apps, wie Anki, weit verbreitet ist und dir hilft, deinen Wortschatz effektiv zu verbessern, indem die Häufigkeit, mit der die Wörter wiederholt werden, davon abhängig ist, wie gut du dich daran erinnerst. - Der Algorithmus der App ist so gestaltet, dass dir Karten, die du gut beherrscht, seltener angezeigt werden und Karten, die neuer und daher schwieriger sind zunächst häufiger angezeigt werden, bis du dich gut an sie erinnerst und immer seltener auftauchen. - Es gibt sowohl für Android als auch iOS eine Menge Auswahlmöglichkeiten. Probiere einfach ein paar Apps aus, bis du diejenige findest, die für dich geeignet ist. ![Japanisch Lernen - Leitner System](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/5b.das-Leitner-System.jpg) (Quelle: Catchthezenith) Mach es dir zur Gewohnheit, deine Karteikarten täglich für mindestens 10-15 Minuten zu lernen. Achte darauf stets konzentriert zu sein, damit du die Wörter besser behältst. Versuche auch die Wörter laut vorzulesen oder kurze Sätze damit zu bilden. ### Finde Muttersprachler und spreche vom ersten Tag an Japanisch Ich kann nicht genug betonen, wie wichtig es ist, so wie früh wie möglich damit zu beginnen, dein Japanisch mit echten Japanern zu “testen”. Hier sind drei Argumente, die die Vorteile einer frühen Kommunikation mit Muttersprachlern aufzeigen: - Wenn du das Gelernte aktiv in die Praxis umsetzt, kannst du es schneller und besser behalten. Eigene Sprachproduktion ist ungeheuer wichtig für das Festsetzen der Sprache in deinem Kopf - Du verbesserst deine Aussprache, dein Hörverständnis und vermeidest den Gebrauch falscher Grammatik. - Einfache Gespräche machen dich mit der Umgangssprache und der Höflichkeitssprache des Japanischen vertraut. Gerade als Anfänger ist es unangenehm, auf Japanisch zu sprechen. Ich weiß nur zu gut, wie sehr wir uns davor fürchten können, Fehler zu machen und lächerlich zu klingen. Doch existiert diese Angst nur unseren Köpfen. Muttersprachler sind gerne bereit, mit dir zu üben und dich zu korrigieren. Halte Ausschau nach örtlichen Language-Exchanges, Meet-Ups, Vereinigungen, die mit der japanischen Kultur zu tun haben, oder sogar nach Gemeinschaften von Japanern, die im Ausland leben. Es geht nichts über das Sprechen mit Menschen im wirklichen Leben! Du kannst auch nach Online-Plattformen suchen, die Sprachlernende miteinander verbinden, wie HiNative, iTalki oder HelloTalk. Menschen zu finden, mit denen man üben kann, ist einfacher, als man vielleicht denkt. Wenn du dich noch nicht bereit fühlst mit Muttersprachlern zu reden, kannst du mit Audioaufnahmen deine Aussprache üben. Du kannst einzelne Wörter oder ganze Sätze so oft wiederholen, wie du möchtest und auf diese Weise Aussprache und Hörverständnis gleichzeitig trainieren. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Wie du alle vier Grundfähigkeiten trainieren kannst Nachdem du eine grundlegende Basis des Japanischen geschaffen hast, kann es passieren, dass du in eine altbekannte Falle tappst: Du fokussierst dich auf die eine der vier Grundfähigkeiten, mit der du dich am wohlsten fühlst. Für einen guten Umgang mit der Sprache, musst du jedoch alle vier Fähigkeiten im gleichen Maße trainieren. Du musst Japanisch verstehen (lesen, hören) und produzieren (sprechen, schreiben) können. Lass mich dir ein paar Tipps geben, wie du dies erreichen kannst. ### Japanisch sprechen ![Japanisch lernen - sprechen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/6a.speech-bubble.png) Viel zu häufig passiert es im (Japanisch-)Unterricht, dass man mit Vokabellisten und Grammatikeinheiten überhäuft wird und dann plötzlich von einem erwartet wird, dass man das Gelernte von diesem Moment an perfekt beherrscht, nie vergisst und flüssig sprechen kann. Doch genau wie Vokabeln und Grammatik muss auch das Sprechen geübt werden. Dies kommt leider häufig viel zu kurz. Daher gebe ich dir jetzt ein paar Tipps, wie du im Selbststudium dein Sprachgefühl verbessern kannst: **Shadowing** Suche eine Quelle, die deinem Japanisch-Level entspricht und spreche nach, was du hörst. Möglichst ohne dabei das Video, den Film oder das Lied zu stoppen. Dies erscheint im ersten Moment herausfordernd, doch sobald du dich erstmal daran gewöhnt hast, wird es viel besser klappen. Versprochen! **Nehme dich selbst beim Japanisch-Sprechen auf.** ![Japanisch lernen - Audioaufnahmen Funktion Lingodeer Story](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/6a.Audioaufnahmen.png) (Quelle: LingoDeer App) Dies wird dir dabei helfen zu verstehen, was an deiner Aussprache noch nicht perfekt ist. Für den Anfang kannst du in der LingoDeer-App während des Lernens neuer Wörter gleichzeitig eine Sprachaufnahme von dir machen und diese mit dem Original vergleichen. Für Fortgeschrittene empfehle ich die [Hörübungen von japanesepod101](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVsOB9LiV7A&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) auf YouTube. ### Japanisch hören ![japanisch lernen - hören](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/6b.rupixen-com-3I41s9-BMro-unsplash-e1600336374756.jpg) (Quelle: rupixen/Upsplash) Dein Hörverständnis zu verbessern geht Hand in Hand mit deiner Sprechpraxis, aber du solltest dennoch Wert darauf legen, gesprochenes Japanisch besser zu verbessern. Die gute Nachricht ist, dass Japanisch nicht per se eine Tonsprache, wie Chinesisch oder Thai, ist. Es gibt den sogenannten Pitch-Accent, der es ermöglicht Homonyme wie hashi (Brücke) und hashi (Stäbchen) voneinander zu unterscheiden. Aber auch ohne diesen Pitch-Accent zu beherrschen, ist der allgemeine Kontext des Gesprächs ausreichend, um eine klare Kommunikation zu ermöglichen. Hier sind einige Tipps, die zur Verbesserung deines Hörverständnisses beitragen können: - Höre dir zunächst Audio-Inhalte an, die speziell für Sprachlernende entwickelt wurden. Beginne mit einer langsamen Geschwindigkeit und einer klaren Aussprache und gehe allmählich zu einer schnelleren, natürlichen Sprechgeschwindigkeit über. Apps mit dieser Funktion können dir dabei helfen. - Achte auf Regelmäßigkeit und versuche dir täglich Japanisch anzuhören. Einige Studien deuten darauf hin, dass das Hören von Audioinhalten am Abend, in einer entspannten Umgebung oder vor dem Schlafengehen helfen kann, eine Sprache besser zu lernen. - Wenn du dich sicherer im Umgang mit diesem Medien fühlst, kannst du damit beginnen dich mit Audio-Inhalten aus dem wirklichen Leben zu beschäftigen, wie z.B. Radio- und Fernsehprogrammen, Podcasts oder Hörbüchern und allmählich komplexere Inhalte anstreben. ### Japanisch lesen ![japanisch lernen - lesen](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/6c.japanisch-lesen.jpg) (eine Seite aus dem Buch "Minna no Nihongo" – Quelle: Xiaoxiao Lu) Auf Japanisch zu lesen hilft dabei den Wortschatz zu erhalten und zu erweitern. Selbst ein Neuling im Japanischen profitiert vom Lesen sehr leichter Inhalte, wie z.B. kurze Lehrbuchdialoge oder Graded Readers, eine Sammlung von Texten kategorisiert nach dem Kenntnisstand des Lesers. - Wähle das richtige Niveau: Du möchtest, etwas lesen, was du ohne große Probleme verstehen kannst und dich nicht ewig mit dem Nachschlagen von Wörtern und Grammatik aufhalten. Dies dämpft erheblich die Motivation. Umgekehrt pusht es dein Selbstbewusstsein enorm, wenn du ganze Texte ohne großartige Hilfe verstehen kannst. Wähle außerdem ein Thema, das dir gefällt, damit du Spaß dabei hast. - Üben Sie aktives Lesen: Bevor du im Wörterbuch nach den Wörtern schaust, die du nicht verstehst, versuche anhand von Kontextinformationen die Bedeutung zu erraten. Das klappt häufiger als man denkt! - Vergiss nicht: Lesen ist eine großartige Gelegenheit, sich nützliche Wörter und gut geschriebene Phrasen zu merken. Habe stets ein Notizbuch oder eine App an deiner Seite, um sie in organisierten Listen zu sammeln. ### Japanisch schreiben ![Japanisch lernen - schreiben](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/notes-2-rotated-e1600835310240.jpg) (Janas Schreibübung – Quelle: Jana Henning) Schreiben ist wahrscheinlich die letzte Fähigkeit, mit der sich Japanisch-Lernende beschäftigen möchten. Japanisch zu sprechen oder zu lesen fühlt sich nach einer größeren Errungenschaft an, doch trägt das Schreiben von Japanisch beachtlich dazu bei, die Struktur vollständig zu erfassen. Das Schreiben eines Textes auf Japanisch hilft dabei - die Gedanken zu organisieren, wie man den Inhalt am besten formuliert - auf Japanisch zu denken - und neues Vokabular zu lernen. Sei nicht entmutigt. Schreiben ist die schwierigste aller vier Fähigkeiten. Es dauert lange sich zu verbessern, aber - konsequentes Üben wird dich nach vorne bringen. Japanische Sprachschulen bitten die Schüler, wöchentlich kurze Aufsätze zu einem bestimmten Thema anzufertigen. Das ist ein guter Rhythmus für den Anfang. - Lass die Texte von einem Muttersprachler korrigieren und schreibe die korrigierte Version nochmals auf. So setzt es sich besser im Gedächtnis fest. - Sammle die korrigierten Texte. So kannst du deinen Fortschritt rückblickend überprüfen und realisierst, wie viel du dazu gelernt hast. - Du weißt nicht, was du schreiben sollst? Schreibe ein Tagebuch, erzähle über deine Hobbies oder übe mit Vorlagen: eine Einladung, Urlaubspostkarten, E-Mails... Wie wäre es mit einem eigenen Blog auf Japanisch? ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Die besten Online-Ressourcen für Japanisch im Selbststudium Hier sind einige der besten Online-Ressourcen, um auf eigene Faust Japanisch zu lernen: | LingoDeer App & Blog | LingoDeer ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) | Folge einem strukturierten Lernplan | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | LingoDeer Plus ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer.plus&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOs](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/language-games-lingodeer-plus/id1476253711?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) | Durch interaktive Spiele dein Wissen verfestigen | | | [LingoDeer Blog](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/) | Bekomme einen tieferen Einblick in die Japanische Sprache und das Sprachenlernen an sich | | | Wörterbücher | [jisho](https://jisho.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Englisch-Japanisch Wörterbuch | | | [wadoku](https://www.wadoku.de/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Deutsch-Japanisch Wörterbuch | | | Yomiwa ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yomiwa.yomiwa&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOs](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/yomiwa-japanisches-w%C3%B6rterbuch/id670931120?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) | Wörterbuch-App für Android und iOs | | | [rikaichamp](https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/rikaichamp/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[rikaikun](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/rikaikun/jipdnfibhldikgcjhfnomkfpcebammhp?hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Erweiterung für Firefox bzw. Chrome, welches dir unbekannte Wörter durch Mouse-Hovering anzeigt | | Kanji-Helfer | [wanikani](https://www.wanikani.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | kostenpflichtige Website zum Kanji-Lernen | | | [Namenlexikon von kanshudo](https://www.kanshudo.com/searchn?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Als Referenz für die Aussprache von japanischen Namen | | | [Kanji Study](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mindtwisted.kanjistudy&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | kostenpflichtige App zum Kanji-Lernen | | Hörübungen auf Japanisch | [Japan Podcast](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=aworld.podcast.japan&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | App für Android, mit der man Podcasts hören kann | | | [Youtube-Channel von japanesepod101](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ox9NuTHYeRys63yZpBFuA?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Dialoge für alle Sprachlevel | | Aussprache-Helfer | [forvo](https://de.forvo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Aussprachelexikon von nahezu allen Wörtern von Muttersprachlern eingesprochen | | SRS | anki ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ichi2.anki&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOs](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/ankimobile-flashcards/id373493387?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) | App um Karteikarten anzulegen | | | Quizlet ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.quizlet.quizletandroid&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOs](https://apps.apple.com/de/app/quizlet-karteikarten-lernen/id546473125?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) | Zwar kein SRS-System im eigentlichen Sinne, aber eine Karteikarten-App mit unterhaltsamen Abfragen der Karten | | Nachrichten | [NHK News Web Easy](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Nachrichten auf einfachem Japanisch verfasst | | | [NHK News](https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Nachrichten auf normalem Japanisch | | Online-Sprachcommunity | [HiNative](https://hinative.com/de?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Forum zum Sprachaustausch | | | [iTalki](https://www.italki.com/?hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | Online Face-to-Face Unterricht mit Muttersprachlern | | | HelloTalk ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hellotalk&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOs](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hellotalk-language-learning/id557130558?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) | App, bei der sich Sprachlernende gegenseitig unterstützen | ### Everthing You Need to Know About Spanish Preterite Tense URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-preterite-tense/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:14:57.000Z If you are reading this article, you are likely competent in the [present tense in Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-verb-conjugation-2/) and are looking to advance to the next level by **learning to talk about the past.** Or perhaps you simply want to be able to say a few things in Spanish using the past tense and have stumbled upon the preterite tense without really knowing what it is. Either way, welcome! ## Quick Answer: What Is the Spanish Preterite Tense? The Spanish preterite (also called the *pretérito indefinido* or *pretérito perfecto simple*) presents a past action as completed or bounded. It is commonly used for specific events and sequences in a finished past time frame. The imperfect is often used for background, ongoing or habitual past situations, but the intended viewpoint and context determine the choice. | Verb type | Regular preterite endings | | ---------- | --------------------------------------- | | \-ar | \-é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron | | \-er / -ir | \-í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis, -ieron | ![Spanish Preterite Verbs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/julian-hochgesang-past.jpg) Unsplash Credit to Julian Hochgesang **The Spanish preterite tense is used to talk about completed past actions**, and once learned will allow you to talk about when you went on that school trip a few years ago, a funny travel story about a guy who tried to take a monkey through security at the airport, or just what you did yesterday. Here you will learn everything about the Spanish preterite tense; **how to conjugate regular verbs, which verbs are irregular, how to conjugate all of the irregular verbs, and when it is appropriate to use the preterite tense versus other tenses**. Feel free to skip around and practice using the Lingodeer app! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Regular Verbs In Spanish Preterite Tense Much like the present tense, to conjugate in the preterite simply **remove the infinitive verb ending (*\-ar, -er, -ir*) then attach the appropriate ending to the remaining root**. Below are the regular preterite endings for each pronoun. ### AR Spanish Preterite Verbs | Yo | \-é | Nosotros/as | \-amos | | ------------- | ------ | ------------------- | -------- | | Tú | \-aste | Vosotros/as | \-asteis | | Él/Ella/Usted | \-ó | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | \-aron | Note the **accent marks** in the *yo* and *él/ella/usted* endings. It is important to use these accent marks because ***hablo* means “I speak”** while ***habló* means “he/she/you formal spoke.”** Also, the **nosotros form has the exact same ending as the present tense**, so when you see a verb like *cocinamos* it could mean “we cook” or “we cooked.” Context will show whether it is referring to the past or the present! Here are some examples of **regular *\-ar* preterite conjugations**: - Tú + Hablar = Hablaste ***¿Hablaste con tu marido ayer?*** Did you speak to your husband yesterday? - Nosotros + Gastar = Gastamos ***La semana pasada gastamos mucho dinero en la tienda.*** Last week we spent a lot of money at the store. - Ella + Escuchar = Escuchó ***Mi amiga escuchó música en el concierto.*** My friend listened to music at the concert. ### ER and IR Spanish Preterite Verbs | Yo | \-í | Nosotros/as | \-imos | | ------------- | ------ | ------------------- | -------- | | Tú | \-iste | Vosotros/as | \-isteis | | Él/Ella/Usted | \-ió | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | \-ieron | Since ***\-er* and *\-ir* verbs have the same preterite endings** there is less to study! However, a common mistake made by beginners is to make up a new *\-er* ending and say *comemos* instead of *comimos*. Just remember that -er and -ir are the same and that **all of these endings start with the letter *I.*** Here are some examples of regular *\-er* and *\-ir* preterite conjugations: - Nosotros + comer = comimos ***Comimos pizza el lunes.*** We ate pizza on Monday. - Ustedes + salir = salieron ***¿Salieron ustedes el fin de semana?*** Did you all go out on the weekend? - Yo + escribir = escribí ***Escribí en mi cuaderno esta mañana.*** I wrote in my notebook this morning. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Irregular Verbs In Spanish Preterite Tense It is important to note that just because **a verb is irregular in the present does not mean that it is irregular in the preterite.** There are quite a few irregulars, and many are commonly used verbs, but here they are broken down into easy-to-study groups so you can learn them a few at a time. ### SER and IR For some reason ***ser* and *ir* are totally irregular and look exactly the same in the preterite tense.** *Fui* could mean “I was” or “I went”! You will know which verb is being used through context, as *fui al supermercado* obviously means “I went to the supermarket” not “I was to the supermarket.” Below is the conjugation. | Yo | fui | Nosotros/as | fuimos | | ------------- | ------ | ------------------- | -------- | | Tú | fuiste | Vosotros/as | fuisteis | | Él/Ella/Usted | fue | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | fueron | ### \-CAR, -GAR, -ZAR Verbs Verbs ending in *\-car, -gar,* and *\-zar* are **irregular in the *yo* form only**, otherwise, they follow the usual regular endings. If you know Spanish formal commands, then these irregulars will look familiar. The preterite *yo* form for these verbs is as follows: - Tocar → to**qu**é - Cargar → car**gu**é - Empezar → empe**c**é As you can see, *\-car* becomes *\-qué, -gar* becomes *gué, -zar* becomes *cé*. When said out loud these verbs sound like regular verbs, and the **irregularity in spelling is there in order to preserve the sound.** ### Y Verbs This category is called Y verbs because **in the third person singular (él/ella/usted) and third person plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes) the letter “y” is in the verb ending.** Additionally, there are accent marks in every conjugati**on except for ellos/ellas/ustedes.** Only a handful of verbs, the most common being *leer, creer,* and *oír*, are in this group. It is easier to understand with a visual, so here is the full conjugation for *leer*. - *Leer -* to read | Yo | leí | Nosotros/as | leímos | | ------------- | ------ | ------------------- | -------- | | Tú | leíste | Vosotros/as | leísteis | | Él/Ella/Usted | leyó | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | leyeron | ### Stem Changers If a verb is a stem changer in the present tense, this **does not** mean that it is a stem changer in the preterite. There are **only a few verbs that have a stem change like in the present tense.** The two most common are ***dormir*** and ***preferir***, “to sleep” and “to prefer.” Dormir has an **o → u** change in the third person only and uses the regular preterite endings. So the weird ones are *él d*u*rmió* and *ellos d*u*rmieron*. Preferir follows these same rules but has an **e → i** change. Therefore the irregulars are *él pref*i*rió* and *ellos pref*i*rieron.* ### VER and DAR *Ver* \- “to see” acts normally except there are **no accents.** So this one is easy! *Dar* \- “to give” actually uses the regular *\-er/-ir* preterite endings with **no accents**, therefore it looks just like *ver*. ### Irregular Ending Verbs These last few irregular verbs have their own set of preterite endings and have a stem change of sorts. 1. **The first step is to know what is the preterite stem for the verb**. 2. Next, attach the appropriate ending to the stem. A lot of these irregulars are common verbs used in daily conversation and are easy to learn with practice. Here is the list of verbs and their preterite stems: - Estar → estuv- - Andar → anduv- - Venir → vin- - Poder → pud- - Poner → pus- - Querer → quis- - Saber → sup- - Tener → tuv- - Hacer → hic-/hiz-(él/ella/usted only) - \*Conducir → conduj- - \*Decir → dij- - \*Traer → traj- This last starred group is slightly different because **in the *ellos/ellas/ustedes* conjugation it uses *\-eron* instead of *\-ieron*.** Next, attach the appropriate ending to the stem. | Yo | \-e | Nosotros/as | \-imos | | ------------- | ------ | ------------------- | -------- | | Tú | \-iste | Vosotros/as | \-isteis | | Él/Ella/Usted | \-o | Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | \*-ieron | Now to see these verbs in action! - Tú + Poder = Pudiste ***Pudiste hacer la tarea.*** You were able to do the homework. - Nosotros + Estar = Estuvimos ***No estuvimos en clase el miércoles.*** We were not in class on Wednesday. - Ella + Tener = Tuvo ***Ayer ella tuvo que lavar los platos.*** Yesterday she had to wash the dishes. - Ustedes + Saber = Supieron ***¿Ustedes supieron la noticia?*** Did you all find out the news? - Ellos + Decir = \*Dijeron ***Me dijeron que no.*** They told me no. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## When to Use Spanish Preterite Tense The preterite tense is not the only way to talk about the past in Spanish, much like how in English “I slept on the floor,” “I used to sleep on the floor,” “I have slept on the floor” etc are all referring to the past but have different meanings. The preterite is more akin to the first sentence “I slept on the floor” as it is a single completed action. **On a timeline, the preterite is either a dot on the timeline or a specific range of time - we know when or for how long the action happened.** ![when to use Spanish perterite tense? timeline ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/timeline.png) A good way to remember the Spanish preterite tense’s uses is with the acronym **SIMBA** (the famous Lion King character) which stands for **Single Action, Interruption, Main Event, Beginning Action, Arrival and Departure.** This section will elaborate on these instances and give examples. ### Single Action A single action in the past is expressed with the preterite. If you are unsure whether or not something classifies as a single action, here are a few keywords that often accompany the preterite and indicate that **an action occurred only once.** - Yesterday - *Ayer* - Last night - *Anoche* - Last week - *La semana pasada* - Last year - *El año pasado* - One time - *Una vez* - One day - *Un día* - Last month - *El mes pasado* - Last … - *… pasado* Here are some examples of these words used with the preterite: - Yesterday I ate a salad. - ***Ayer comí una ensalada.*** - We went to Disneyland last year - ***Fuimos a Disneyland el año pasado.*** - One time I tried octopus! - ***¡Una vez probé pulpo!*** Another indicator of a single action is **if a range of time is specified.** For example, we know that the sentence “she wrote in her journal for four hours” is a single action. Habitual expressions such as “every day” or “all the time” often point learners toward the imperfect when describing an ongoing past habit. However, the preterite can also describe repeated actions when the speaker presents them within a completed or bounded past period, so context matters. *Grammar note:* The [Instituto Cervantes curriculum](https://cvc.cervantes.es/Ensenanza/biblioteca%5Fele/plan%5Fcurricular/niveles/02%5Fgramatica%5Finventario%5Fa1-a2.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) distinguishes habitual or cyclical imperfect uses from preterite uses, while the [RAE grammar](https://www.rae.es/gram%C3%A1tica/sintaxis/el-presente-canto-i-caracterizaci%C3%B3n-de%C3%ADctica-los-presentes-generalizadores?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) notes that the simple preterite can occur in some generalizing or repeated-event contexts. ### Interruption - I was riding the train, when suddenly the lights went out! - ***Estaba tomando el tren, ¡cuando de repente se fue la luz!*** This sentence demonstrates an interruption. It is a single action that disrupts the story and therefore is in the preterite tense. ### Main Event In a narrative, the preterite commonly presents completed events that move the story forward. Summaries therefore often use it for key plot points, while descriptions, background and actions viewed as ongoing commonly use the imperfect. The choice still depends on how the speaker frames each event. To summarize the main events of **Cinderella**, we would use the preterite and say: - Cinderella’s father died. - ***El padre de Cenicienta murió.*** - Her stepmother treated her poorly - ***Su madrastra le trató mal.*** - She met a fairy godmother and went to the ball. - ***Conoció a una hada madrina y fue al baile.*** - She lost her shoe, and was later discovered by the prince. - ***Perdió su zapato, y luego fue descubierta por el príncipe.*** Any additional information such as describing her dress, talking about how she was feeling, and other embellishments would likely use a different past tense form given that they are not main events. ### Beginning Action The verbs empezar, comenzar and other verbs of beginning often appear in the preterite when the beginning is presented as a completed event in the narrative. They can occur in other past forms when the speaker chooses a different viewpoint, such as background or an ongoing situation. *Grammar note:* This is a useful narrative pattern, not an “almost always” rule. The [Instituto Cervantes grammar inventory](https://cvc.cervantes.es/Ensenanza/biblioteca%5Fele/plan%5Fcurricular/niveles/02%5Fgramatica%5Finventario%5Fa1-a2.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) treats past-tense choice through aspect and discourse context. - I started college last year. - ***Empecé la universidad el año pasado.*** - Miguel began to yell at his coach. - ***Miguel comenzó a gritar a su entrenador.*** ### Arrival and Departure *Llegar* \- “to arrive” and verbs like *salir* and *irse* that mean “to leave” are often in the preterite when referring to the past. This is because an arrival happens once - it is a single action that happens at a specific point in time. - The girls arrived at the house at seven o’clock. - ***Las chicas llegaron a la casa a las siete.*** - We left the hotel this morning. - ***Salimos del hotel esta mañana.*** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Verbs That Change Meaning In Spanish Preterite Tense Due to the nature of the preterite, some verbs change meaning slightly when in this past tense form. For example, ***conocer*** usually means “to know” while **in the preterite it means “to meet**.” It makes sense when you think about it - if the preterite is a single completed action then meeting someone is basically knowing someone for the first time. Another verb that does this is *saber*. What is knowing within the context of a single completed action? *Saber* in the preterite means “to find out” as in to know information for the first time. You only find out something once, much like a realization it happens in an instant and then it’s over. Here are the remaining verbs that change meaning in the preterite. As you will see, the affirmative and negative forms are different! - *Querer -* to try ***Yo quise cerrar la puerta*** I tried to close the door. - *No querer -* to refuse ***No quisiste comer la fruta.*** You refused to eat the fruit. - *Poder -* to manage to ***Pudimos aprobar la clase difícil.*** We managed to pass the difficult class. - *No poder -* to fail to (as in tried and failed) ***Ayer no pude correr cinco millas, solo corrí cuatro.*** Yesterday I failed to run five miles, I only ran four. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does the Spanish preterite express? It presents a past action or event as completed or bounded. Typical examples include a specific event, a sequence of completed actions or an event within a finished time period. ### What are the regular preterite endings? Regular *\-ar* verbs use -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis and -aron. Regular *\-er* and *\-ir* verbs use -í, -iste, -ió, -imos, -isteis and -ieron. ### Why can *fui* mean “I was” or “I went”? *Ser* and *ir* share the same preterite forms. The sentence context tells you which verb is intended. ### Is the imperfect always required for habitual past actions? No. The imperfect is common for ongoing or habitual background, but the preterite can describe repeated actions presented as completed within a bounded past period. Context and viewpoint matter. *Reference:* See the [Instituto Cervantes grammar inventory](https://cvc.cervantes.es/Ensenanza/biblioteca%5Fele/plan%5Fcurricular/niveles/02%5Fgramatica%5Finventario%5Fa1-a2.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and the [RAE grammar discussion](https://www.rae.es/gram%C3%A1tica/sintaxis/el-presente-canto-i-caracterizaci%C3%B3n-de%C3%ADctica-los-presentes-generalizadores?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Koreanisch lernen: Der komplette Ratgeber für absolute Anfänger bis Fortgeschrittene URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/koreanisch-lernen-tipps-fur-anfanger/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:45:12.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Kurzantwort: Wie beginnt man am besten mit Koreanisch? Beginne mit Hangul und der Aussprache der Buchstaben. Lerne danach einfache Satzmuster, grundlegende Partikeln und häufige höfliche Endungen. Übe nützliche Alltagsausdrücke mit Aufnahmen von Muttersprachlern und verbinde Hören, Sprechen, Lesen und Schreiben in kurzen, regelmäßigen Einheiten. | Lernbereich | Sinnvoller erster Schritt | | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | | Schrift | Hangul lesen und Silbenblöcke erkennen | | Aussprache | Muttersprachliche Aufnahmen hören und nachsprechen | | Grammatik | SOV-Grundmuster, Partikeln und höfliche Endungen | | Wortschatz | Alltagswörter in Themen und Beispielsätzen lernen | | Praxis | Kurze Übungen in allen vier Fertigkeiten wiederholen | *Einordnung:* Das [National Institute of Korean Language](https://www.korean.go.kr/eng%5Fhangeul/principle/001.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) beschreibt Hangul als phonemisches Schriftsystem, dessen Konsonanten- und Vokalbuchstaben zu Silbeneinheiten verbunden werden. ## Warum möchtest du Koreanisch lernen? Es gibt zahlreiche Gründe, warum man sich dazu entscheidet, Koreanisch zu lernen. ✔ **Südkorea ist ein Land mit boomender Wirtschaft.** Viele südkoreanische Unternehmen wie Samsung, LG oder Hyundai sind inzwischen auf der ganzen Welt bekannt. Vielleicht möchtest du also Koreanisch lernen, weil du in deiner Arbeit viel Kontakt zu Korea hast oder eine Geschäftsreise ansteht. ✔**Auch wenn du noch Student bist, bietet Südkorea viele Möglichkeiten.** Es gibt zahlreiche Partnerschaften zwischen deutschen und koreanischen Universitäten. Vielleicht planst du bereits ein Auslandssemester in Südkorea? Das ist die perfekte Gelegenheit, um mit dem Koreanisch lernen zu beginnen. **✔Vielleicht ist Südkorea auch dein nächstes Urlaubsziel.** Ob atemberaubende Königspaläste, das Nachtleben von Seoul oder leckeres koreanisches Essen – als Tourist hat man in Korea immer etwas zu tun. Mit ein paar Basics in der koreanischen Sprache wird dein Aufenthalt bestimmt noch schöner. **✔Oder bist du etwa ein Fan der Boygroup BTS?** ![Korean posters and souvenirs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/joel-muniz-aJe1a2ZpubA-unsplash.jpg) K-Pop und koreanische Fernsehserien erfreuen sich mittlerweile auf der ganzen Welt großer Beliebtheit. Vielleicht hast du so bereits ein paar Brocken Koreanisch aufgeschnappt und möchtest deine Kenntnisse jetzt vertiefen. Natürlich gibt es noch jede Menge andere Gründe, um die koreanische Sprache zu lernen. Ganz gleich, was deine Motivation ist, eine Fremdsprache zu lernen ist immer eine gute Idee. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Ist Koreanisch schwierig zu lernen? Es gibt das **Vorurteil**, dass Koreanisch eine sehr komplizierte Sprache ist. Natürlich ist es wahr, dass sich die koreanische Sprache sehr vom Deutschen unterscheidet. Viele Anfänger lassen sich vielleicht auch von der koreanischen Schrift abschrecken. **Tatsächlich ist das koreanische Alphabet aber sehr einfach zu lernen!** Auch wenn du bereits **über andere Fremdsprachenkenntnisse verfügst, hast du einen Vorteil:** Grundlagen in **Chinesisch** und **Japanisch** sind eine große Hilfe beim Koreanisch lernen. Aber auch zum **Türkischen** gibt es viele grammatikalische Ähnlichkeiten. Ob es schwierig für dich sein wird, Koreanisch zu lernen, lässt sich also nicht so einfach beantworten. Letztendlich ist aber jede Fremdsprache lernbar. ### Wie lange dauert es, Koreanisch zu lernen? Jeder Mensch lernt unterschiedlich schnell, deswegen gibt es auf diese Frage keine exakte Antwort. Es kommt natürlich auch stark darauf an, wie viel **Zeit und Energie** du in das Lernen investieren möchtest und ob du vielleicht **Vorkenntnisse in ähnlichen Fremdsprachen** hast. Meine persönliche Erfahrung: Während meiner Schulzeit war ich immer sehr gut in Fremdsprachen und habe schnelle Fortschritte gemacht. Als ich dann mein Studium begann und im Nebenfach Koreanisch lernte, habe ich gemerkt, dass das mit viel mehr Zeitaufwand verbunden ist. Das liegt daran, dass man als Deutschmuttersprachler Koreanisch wirklich lernen muss und sich nichts ableiten kann, wie es zum Beispiel beim Englischlernen der Fall ist. Der Lernprozess ist also etwas langsamer. Ich persönlich war nach drei Jahren Koreanischunterricht von ungefähr sechs Stunden pro Woche auf einem guten Sprachlevel. Das heißt, ich hatte keine Probleme in Alltagssituationen in Südkorea, konnte Fernsehnachrichten verstehen und mich über komplexe Themen unterhalten. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Koreanisch lernen als absoluter Anfänger ### Hangul – die ersten Schritte Modernes Koreanisch wird hauptsächlich mit Hangul geschrieben. Dieses phonemische Alphabet ordnet Konsonanten- und Vokalbuchstaben zu Silbenblöcken. Für Anfänger ist Hangul deshalb ein sinnvoller erster Lernschritt. ![koreanisch lernen: Hangul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ld-image-b6d98b79be88add4.png) Besonders wichtig ist, dass du die Aussprache der koreanischen Buchstaben übst. Hier gibt es nämlich einige Unterschiede zum Deutschen. Außerdem sind das richtige Lesen und Schreiben der Hangul wichtig. Nimm dir auch hierfür genügend Zeit. Denn mit dem Lernen der Hangul legst du den Grundstein für alles weitere. ### Die koreanische Satzstruktur Die Wortreihenfolge im Koreanischen ist am Anfang etwas ungewohnt: - **Subjekt – Objekt – Verb (SOV)**. In neutralen koreanischen Aussagesätzen steht das Prädikat typischerweise am Satzende. Das häufig verwendete Grundmuster Subjekt–Objekt–Verb ist eine hilfreiche Orientierung; in natürlichen Sätzen können Satzteile je nach Kontext ausgelassen oder hervorgehoben werden. ### Koreanische Sätze – die Basics Als erstes solltest du ein paar nützliche Basics lernen, die du im Alltag verwenden kannst. Hierzu gehören Begrüßungen, Danksagungen und Entschuldigungen. Die wichtigste **Grußformel** ist 안녕하세요. Sie kann zu jeder Tageszeit verwendet werden und bedeutet so viel wie „Hallo“ oder „Guten Tag“. Wenn du dich bei jemandem **bedanken** möchtest, dann kannst du das mit dem Wort 감사합니다 machen. Natürlich ist es auch wichtig, sich höflich **entschuldigen** zu können. „Entschuldigung“ heißt auf Koreanisch 죄송합니다. Auf LingoDeer findest du außerdem praktische Ausdrücke für typische Alltagssituationen, die du hören, nachsprechen und wiederholen kannst. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Die Schwierigkeiten beim Koreanisch lernen ### Die koreanische Aussprache Standardkoreanisch verwendet keine lexikalischen Töne wie Mandarin. Tonhöhe, Rhythmus und Satzintonation beeinflussen die natürliche Aussprache trotzdem und sollten beim Hören und Nachsprechen beachtet werden. Allerdings kann auch die Aussprache des Koreanischen am Anfang etwas knifflig sein. **Bei den koreanischen Konsonanten muss man beispielsweise darauf achten, wie hart sie ausgesprochen werden.** Einige von ihnen werden sehr hart ausgesprochen, andere eher gehaucht. Hierfür braucht es ein bisschen Übung. **Je nachdem an welcher Stelle im Wort ein Buchstabe steht, kann sich seine Aussprache ändern.** Zum Beispiel kann das ㄹin manchen Fällen so ähnlich wie ein deutsches „L“ ausgesprochen werden oder aber wie ein gerolltes „R“. Außerdem gibt es in der koreanischen Sprache einige Vokale, die wir im Deutschen nicht kennen. Besonders aufpassen solltest du auch auf die Hangul ㅗ und ㅓ. Im Deutschen haben wir nämlich nur einen Buchstaben für diese Laute: „O“. Im Koreanischen wird ㅗ wie das deutsche „O“ in „Ofen“ ausgesprochen.ㅓ spricht man aber wie das „O“ in „Kartoffel“ aus. Merkst du den Unterschied? ### Koreanische Höflichkeitsstufen In der deutschen Sprache gibt es nur zwei Höflichkeitsstufen: Wir verwenden entweder „Sie“ oder „du“, um jemanden anzusprechen. Im Koreanischen ist das weitaus komplizierter. Es gibt **viel mehr Höflichkeitsstufen**. Die feinen Unterschiede zwischen den einzelnen Sprechstufen sind besonders als Anfänger noch schwierig zu verstehen. ![Different "I love you" in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Ich-liebe-dich-1.png) Versuch dich also am Anfang nur auf die Formen -요 und -ㅂ니다 zu konzentrieren. Sie werden am häufigsten verwendet. Im Koreanischen wird die Höflichkeitsstufe vor allem durch die Endung der Verben ausgedrückt. ### Koreanische Zahlen Im Koreanischen gibt es zwei Arten, zu zählen. Das heißt, es gibt zwei verschiedene Wörter für die gleiche Zahl. Aber wann verwendet man welches? Zum einen gibt es **das sino-koreanische Zählsystem**, das aus dem Chinesischen stammt. Mit diesem Zählsystem gibt man zum Beispiel das **Datum** an. Dann gibt es noch **das rein-koreanische Zählsystem**. Hierbei handelt es sich um die ursprünglich koreanischen Bezeichnungen für die Zahlen. Mit diesem System wird unter anderem das **Alter** einer Person angegeben. **Außerdem gibt man mit dem rein-koreanischen Zählsystem die Anzahl von Gegenständen, Menschen und Tieren an**. Besonders aufpassen musst du bei der Uhrzeit: Für die Stunden verwendet man normalerweise rein-koreanische Zahlen, für die Minuten sino-koreanische Zahlen. Ganz schön verwirrend, oder? Aber keine Sorge, Übung macht den Meister. ### Koreanische Verben In der koreanischen Sprache ist das Verb der wichtigste Teil des Satzes. Anders als im Deutschen konjugiert man die Verben aber nicht anhand des zugehörigen Subjekts. **Stattdessen drückt man mit Verben verschiedene grammatikalische Funktionen oder auch Höflichkeitsstufen aus.** Hierfür gibt es verschiedene Endungen, die an den Stamm des Verbs angehängt werden. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Vermeide diese Anfängerfehler beim Koreanisch lernen ### Verlass dich nicht auf Romanisierungen Die koreanischen Buchstaben wirken auf Anfänger oft sehr verwirrend. Deshalb gibt es sogenannte Romanisierungen. Hierbei versucht man, koreanische Wörter mit lateinischen Buchstaben zu schreiben. Verlass dich aber besser nicht auf Romanisierungen. **Mit lateinischen Buchstaben kann die koreanische Aussprache nicht genau ausgedrückt werden. Es ist also besser, wenn du von Anfang an versuchst, alles in Hangul zu lesen.** So schleichen sich keine Aussprachefehler ein. ### Kein stures Auswendiglernen von Vokabellisten Versuch besser nicht, lange und zusammenhangslose Vokabellisten auswendig zu lernen. Es ist viel effektiver, wenn du Vokabeln in Themen gruppierst. Zum Beispiel: Farben, Tiere, Lebensmittel, … So kannst du dir die neuen Vokabeln viel besser merken. ### Don’t trust Google translate Maschinelle Übersetzungen können bei der ersten Orientierung helfen, erfassen aber nicht immer Kontext, ausgelassene Satzteile oder koreanische Sprech- und Höflichkeitsstufen. Prüfe wichtige Formulierungen deshalb mit einem Wörterbuch, verlässlichen Lernmaterialien oder einer sprachkundigen Person. ### Grammatikalische Ausnahmen sind… Ausnahmen Natürlich gibt es auch in der koreanischen Grammatik Ausnahmen. Versuch aber nicht, dich zu sehr darauf zu fokussieren. Denk immer daran: Die Ausnahme bestätigt die Regel. **Konzentriere dich also lieber auf die grammatikalischen Regeln und nicht zu sehr auf ihre Ausnahmen.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Koreanisch lernen mit Abkürzungen ### Konglish – So viele Wörter, die du schon kennst! Im Koreanischen gibt es einige Wörter, die aus dem Englischen stammen. Man bezeichnet sie deshalb auch als Konglish – eine Mischung aus Koreanisch und Englisch. Beispiele: 컴퓨터 (Computer), 택시 (Taxi), 버스 (Bus), 크리스마스 (Christmas) Diese Wörter sind auch für Anfänger sehr leicht zu verstehen. Du solltest nur darauf achten, dass die Aussprache der Konglish-Vokabeln von der ursprünglichen englischen Aussprache abweichen kann. ### Grundregel für Satzendungen: 요 anfügen Für die häufig verwendete höfliche 해요-Stufe werden Verben und Adjektive normalerweise mit Formen auf -아/어/여요 gebildet; Nomen stehen mit (이)요. Die Form hängt vom Wortstamm und von der jeweiligen Wortart ab, nicht von Person oder Numerus des Subjekts: - Verbstamm + 아/어/여요 - Adjektivstamm + 아/어/여요 - Nomen + (이)요 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Verbessere alle vier Sprachaspekte des Koreanischen ### Koreanisch sprechen Versuch so oft wie möglich, **die Aussprache** **von Muttersprachlern zu imitieren**. Besonders gut eignen sich dazu die LingoDeer-Audioaufnahmen, die du dir immer wieder anhören und nachsprechen kannst. Du kannst auch eigene **Audioaufnahmen erstellen**. Im Anschluss kannst du sie dir anhören und deine Aussprache mit der der Muttersprachler vergleichen. ### Koreanisch hören Ebenso wichtig wie das Sprechen ist das Hören. Versuch ganz genau hinzuhören, wie Muttersprachler die koreanische Sprache verwenden. **Achte auch auf die Betonungen der einzelnen Wörter und Silben in einem Satz.** Im aktuellen LingoDeer-Koreanischkurs sind Wörter und Beispielsätze von Muttersprachlern eingesprochen. Höre kurze Abschnitte mehrfach an, sprich sie nach und vergleiche Rhythmus und Aussprache mit der Vorlage. ### Koreanisch lesen Wenn du über ein unbekanntes Wort stolperst, dann versuch dir seine Bedeutung erst aus dem Kontext zu erschließen. Danach kannst du dir die Übersetzung ansehen. Schreib dir neue wichtige Wörter und nützliche Sätze in einem Notizbuch auf. So kannst du sie später besser wiederholen. ### Koreanisch schreiben Das Schreiben ist oft die Königsdisziplin, wenn man eine Fremdsprache lernt. Es ist vollkommen normal, dass es am Anfang noch schwierig für dich ist. Am besten versuchst du zu üben, indem du **alltagsnahe Texte** schreibst. Das kann zum Beispiel eine E-Mail sein, eine Krankmeldung oder eine Einladung. ![Korean conversation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Schreiben.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-1eef8969a4dd3dd0.png) ## Tipps für das Koreanisch-Selbststudium ### LingoDeer App & Blog LingoDeer bietet einen Koreanischkurs für deutschsprachige Lernende mit schrittweisen Grammatik- und Aussprachehilfen sowie Aufnahmen von Muttersprachlern. Der Kurs führt vom Einstieg in Hangul zu Wortschatz, Satzmustern und praktischer Sprachanwendung; der LingoDeer Blog ergänzt ihn mit ausführlichen Lernhilfen. In unserem Blog findest du außerdem viele nützliche Tipps für das Lernen von Fremdsprachen. ### Praktische Apps für das Lernen der koreanischen Sprache - Anki: Karteikarten-App, die sehr praktisch für das Lernen von Vokabeln ist - Drops: spielerische Vokabellern-App - Naver dictionary: das bekannteste Online-Wörterbuch Südkoreas - Papago: eine von Naver entwickelte Übersetzungs-App - Tandem: eine Plattform für Sprachaustausch mit Menschen aus aller Welt - Hello Talk: eine Sprachaustausch-App, die von vielen koreanischen Usern benutzt wird ### Koreanische Medien Ein sehr guter Weg, um dein Koreanisch zu verbessern, sind Medien. Wenn du gerne **koreanische Musik** hörst, kannst du vielleicht schon ein paar koreanische Vokabeln aus deinen Lieblingssongs heraushören. Es gibt auch viele Youtube-Videos, in denen der koreanische Songtext während des Liedes eingeblendet wird. So kannst du gleich mitlesen und mitsingen! Du bist eher ein Fan von koreanischen **Filmen und K-Dramas**? Perfekt, denn inzwischen gibt es sogar auf großen Streaminganbietern wie Netflix viel Material aus Korea. Ein großer Vorteil ist auch, dass viele koreanische Filme oder Serien nicht synchronisiert werden. Du kannst sie dir also im Original mit deutschen Untertiteln ansehen. Das ist super, um dein Hörverständnis zu schulen! Wenn du später ein bisschen besser Koreanisch verstehst, kannst du dir auch koreanische Untertitel einstellen. Eine weitere Möglichkeit, dein Koreanisch zu verbessern, sind **Zeitungsartikel**, **Blogs** oder **Webtoons.** Über das koreanische Suchportal Naver findest du aktuelle Rankings der meistgeklickten Nachrichtenartikel. Du findest hier außerdem jede Menge kostenloser Webtoons. Der Vorteil davon ist, dass sie oft nur wenig Text enthalten und du dir einen Teil der Story über die Bilder erschließen kannst. Auch koreanische Blogs sind sehr beliebt. Besonders gerne wird über beliebte Restaurants und Essen gepostet. Ganz egal, für was du dich begeisterst. Es ist bestimmt etwas dabei, mit dem dir das Koreanisch lernen noch mehr Spaß macht! ## Häufig gestellte Fragen ### Was sollte man zuerst lernen: Hangul oder Vokabeln? Hangul ist der beste Ausgangspunkt. Wer früh direkt auf Koreanisch liest, ist weniger von ungenauen Romanisierungen abhängig und kann Aussprache, Wortschatz und Grammatik miteinander verbinden. ### Ist Koreanisch für deutschsprachige Anfänger schwer? Koreanisch unterscheidet sich deutlich vom Deutschen, besonders bei Schrift, Wortstellung und Höflichkeitsformen. Wie schwierig es sich anfühlt, hängt jedoch von Vorkenntnissen, Lernroutine und Übungszeit ab; eine allgemeingültige Lerndauer gibt es nicht. ### Welches Zahlensystem verwendet man für die Uhrzeit? Für Stunden verwendet man normalerweise rein-koreanische Zahlen, für Minuten sino-koreanische Zahlen. Datum und viele größere Zahlen werden ebenfalls mit dem sino-koreanischen System ausgedrückt. ### Kann man Koreanisch nur mit Romanisierung lernen? Romanisierung kann kurzfristig beim Einstieg helfen, bildet die koreanische Aussprache aber nur näherungsweise ab. Für nachhaltiges Lernen sollte sie möglichst früh durch Hangul ersetzt werden. ### Was bietet der aktuelle LingoDeer-Koreanischkurs? Der deutschsprachige Kurs vermittelt Koreanisch schrittweise und bietet Grammatik- und Aussprachehilfen sowie von Muttersprachlern eingesprochene Wörter und Beispielsätze. *Produktquelle:* Funktionsangaben beziehen sich auf die aktuelle offizielle [LingoDeer-Seite zum Koreanischkurs](https://www.lingodeer.com/de/language/korean?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Produktfunktionen können sich später ändern. ### How to say thank you in German URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/thank-you-in-german/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:24:10.000Z Download [Gern-geschehen.mp3](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/media/2020/09/Gern-geschehen.mp3) Just like in English, there are many ways to show you are grateful and to thank someone in German. While you would only use some phrases in person, there are others that are also commonly used in email and letters. How to say "thank you" in German then? One of the first things you learn in any new language is how to be polite. As punctuality and formality are both important aspects of German culture, knowing a few phrases with which you can express your gratitude is both polite and shows respect and appreciation. Whether you are chatting in German with someone online, traveling to Germany and interacting with shop attendants and servers in restaurants, collaborating with your German colleagues, or just thanking someone for helping you with directions, you can use the phrases below to show your gratitude. As German and English are closely related, you’ll find that many ways to say thanks are quite similar to their counterparts in English. ![how to say thank you in German](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/Thank-you_courtney-hedger-t48eHCSCnds-unsplash-e1600657224564.jpg) (Photo by Courtney Hedger/Unsplash) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## How to say "thank you" in German - the basics These are the three phrases you will use every day in various situations to show your gratitude in German. ### Danke! - the basic German "thanks" While “Danke” by itself is considered casual and friendly, it can be used everywhere, similar to how you would use “thanks” in English. If you want to learn just a single way to say thank you, this is the best one to use with family and friends, when served in shops and restaurants or to thank a colleague. **💡Tip:** To turn someone down politely with a “No, thank you”, say “Nein, Danke.” ### Danke schön / danke sehr - “thank you very much” “Danke schön” and “danke sehr” are a little more formal. These two phrases are often used in a business context or to express a little more gratitude than the simpler and shorter “Danke.” ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## “Thank you very much!” - an emphasis on gratitude and sincerity You will hear the following phrases used a lot to say “thank you very much” in a wide range of situations. They all mean essentially the same thing, and can be used interchangeably. The only thing to be careful of is the politeness level of the pronoun - “dir” versus “Ihnen”. ### Vielen Dank - "many thanks" This is one of the more common phrases and is used in both casual and formal situations. You can’t go wrong with a “vielen Dank.” ### Ich danke dir / Ihnen / euch - “my thanks to you” In casual situations with friends or close colleagues, use “dir” or “euch” as the pronoun in this phrase. In a more formal business setting, or when talking to someone who is older or in a position of authority, make sure you use the polite pronoun “Ihnen.” ### Vielen Dank noch mal / nochmals - “many thanks again” “Noch mal” or “nochmals” literally means “once again”. Use this phrase to thank someone again in German after you have previously expressed your gratitude. 👉 **The following phrases have more emphasis and show more emotion and enthusiasm.** > **Note:** Be a little careful of how you use the stronger phrases below - if you use them when someone has done something small, or especially if they have done something you don’t really like, it will look like you are being sarcastic and rude. ### Vielen, vielen Dank / vielen lieben Dank - “thank you very, very much” How to say thank you in German and accentuate it? To show you are very grateful, add more emphasis with “vielen” or “vielen lieben”. You can also say “herzlichen Danke”, which means “my heartfelt thanks”, or “besten Dank”, which translates literally to “best thanks”, but also means “thank you very much.” ### Tausend Dank - “thanks a million” You wouldn’t say “thanks a million” in a business context, and neither is “tausend Dank” appropriate in such a situation. This phrase is very casual and typically reserved for friends and family. ### Ich bin dir / Ihnen / euch dankbar - “I’m grateful to you” This phrase can be used casually with friends, family and even close colleagues using “dir” or “euch” as the pronoun, or in a more formal business situation when you use “Ihnen.” ![how to say thank you in German](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/Thankful_pro-church-media-p2OQW69vXP4-unsplash-e1600657819832.jpg) (Image source: Unsplash) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## “Thank you” in different situations Just like in English, there are special phrases that you can use in specific situations to say thanks in German. Apart from knowing how to say thank you in German, you should also know how to respond by saying thanks. ### “Thanks, you too!” - a response to good wishes When someone says “Have a good weekend” or “Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende”, you would respond “thanks, you too!” The following three phrases all mean the same and can be used interchangeably. If you want to use them in a more formal context, make sure you use the polite “Ihnen” as the pronoun. - Danke, gleichfalls - “thanks, the same to you” - Danke, ebenfalls / ebenso - “thank you, likewise” - Danke, dir / Ihnen auch - “thanks, you too” ### “Thank you in advance” - gratitude in emails If you have asked someone for their help or to do something for you in an email or a letter, you will typically thank them for their future effort. Even in English, “in advance” is polite and formal, used more often in business than with friends and family. **💡Tip:** Be cautious showing your gratitude in this way, as it can be a double-edged sword: You are more likely to get a response, but some people may take it as a passive-aggressive “I expect you to do this.” While the very formal “Ich bedanke mich bei Ihnen im Voraus” is very formal, the following four phrases can be used more casually and share the same meaning. - Vielen Dank im Voraus - “thank you very much in advance” - Herzlichen Dank im Voraus - “my heartfelt thanks in advance” - Besten Dank im Voraus - “many thanks in advance” - Vorab (schon einmal) danke - “thank you in advance (once again)” ### “Thanks” for specific things Of course, you can thank people for specific things just as easily in German as you can in English. ### Danke für … - “thank you for ...” You’ll use this phrase quite a lot: “Danke für deine Hilfe” or “thanks for your help”. Most commonly used with friends and family, this is also appropriate in any situation, as long as you swap the casual “deine” or “eure” for the more formal “Ihre” where appropriate. To thank someone for considering your job application or project proposal in German, you can say “Danke für Ihre Berücksichtigung.” If you have received a gift from a friend, “Danke für das Geschenk” is a good phrase to remember. ### Vielen Dank, dass… - “many thanks, that …” If you want to thank people for attending an event, remember this useful sentence: “Vielen Dank, dass Sie heute gekommen sind.” Here are a few more examples of how to say thank you in German to people for specific things they have done for you. Phrases 1-4 are quite formal, the last two are also used casually. 1. Danke für die Hilfe / Danke für die Zusammenarbeit - Thank colleagues for collaborative work. 2. Danke für Ihre Treue - Thank customers for feedback and their loyalty. 3. Danke für Ihre Mühe - Thank organizers after attending an event. 4. Danke für das Zuhören - Thank the audience after giving a presentation. 5. Danke für den schönen Abend - Thank friends or family for dinner. 6. Danke, dass du so ein guter Freund bist - Thank friends for their friendship. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## How to respond by saying “you're welcome” in German Just as in English, when someone thanks you, you are expected to respond politely. Below are the most common ways to say “you’re welcome.” ### Bitte - “you’re welcome” Although this literally means “please,” when you use it after someone has said “Danke,” it means “you’re welcome.” ### Bitte schön / bitte sehr - “you’re very welcome” “Bitte schön” and “bitte sehr” are slightly more formal. When someone says “Danke schön” or “Danke sehr,” reply with the matching “Bitte.” ### Kein Problem - “no problem” More casual, this is a common response to a friend or close colleague. You can say this or a number of other phrases with a similar meaning: “kein Ding” for “it was nothing”, and “jederzeit” for “any time”. ### Sehr gern - “you’re very welcome” If someone has thanked you enthusiastically, “sehr gern” is a good response. ### Gern geschehen - “it’s been my pleasure” Both “sehr gern” and “gerne geschehen” can be used in both casual and formal situations, but are most commonly heard in business settings. ![how to say thank you in German](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/Thank-you_priscilla-du-preez-M4FUKFJ73tM-unsplash.jpg) (Photo by Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash) Now that you've been equipped with how to say thank you in German and respond to others in German, if you want to further your German language learning, check our introduction to "[The best way to learn German](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-german/)". 💛 ![how to say thank you in German travel phrasebook](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/German-language-learning-e1600760542380.jpg) 👆Download the LingoDeer app ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) now and start right away with the **free** **Travel Phrasebook** course! Hundreds of useful phrases await you\~ Viel Spaß beim Lernen 📚 ### Spanish Direct Object Pronouns Explained In Simple Language! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-direct-object-pronouns/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T08:28:01.000Z Spanish direct object pronoun is something our learners ask about a lot. We thought it would be helpful, to give you a clear rundown of the concept. So if you also have similar questions, read on to get an answer! Before we get to the Spanish direct object pronouns, let’s start with the basics. ## What is a pronoun? **A pronoun is a type of word we use in place of a noun or a noun phrase.** You use them everyday in English without thinking about it twice! For example, let’s take a sentence: *I enjoy eating chocolate.* - You can substitute the word “chocolate” with a pronoun “it”. *I enjoy eating it*. (it = chocolate) - Or, you can use “it” to substitute the whole phrase. *I enjoy it.* (it= eating chocolate) One of the special kinds of pronouns is a **personal pronoun**. That’s what we use to refer to people. With this explanation out of the way, you probably wonder about the Spanish personal pronouns. Here they are! | Singular | Plural | | | | ---------- | ------------ | -------------- | ----------------- | | English | Spanish | English | Spanish | | I | yo | we | nosotros | | you | tú | you(masc/fem) | vosotros/vosotras | | formal you | usted | formal you | ustedes | | he/she/it | él/ella/ello | they(masc/fem) | ellos/ellas | What’s important to remember is that **in Spanish** **each noun has a gender.** The gender of the word governs how it behaves in sentences, and what pronoun the word will be substituted with. Among other indicators, gender will be signaled by the noun’s article. For example, articles “la” and “una” signal the feminine singular, “el” and “un”, masculine singular, and “las/unas”, and “los/unos” feminine and masculine plurals respectively. Correct use of articles is notoriously difficult for Spanish learners, even those at an advanced level! Before we go on, let’s take a look at one more example of using pronouns. In English people sometimes use personal pronouns when referring to animals. For example, *Have you seen this lovely red squirrel? She’s very fast.* In the sentence above, “she” refers to the squirrel. While in English it’s quite rare to use personal pronouns when talking about non-living objects, **in Spanish it’s a grammatical rule**. In English, if we use “it” instead of “she” it will not be a mistake, but in Spanish, you’ll have to stick to the gender of the word. The above sentence in Spanish is: *¿Has visto esta preciosa ardilla roja? Ella es muy rápida*. “La ardilla” (squirrel) is a feminine noun. In the second sentence have to use the word “ella” (she), and it would be a mistake to say *“ello es muy rápida”*. (ello = it). ### What does all this mean for you? In short, when you learn a new word in Spanish you should always **pay attention to its gender.** This is so that you can avoid making grammatical mistakes later. As you’ll see below, **knowing the gender of the word is essential to be able to use the Spanish direct object pronouns correctly.** ## Introducing direct & indirect object We learned that a pronoun is used to substitute a noun in a sentence. But, each sentence can have several nouns. **Depending on their role and place in a sentence, we can use different pronoun types to replace them.** Let’s look at an example in English. *Mum gives Paula a book.* There are three nouns here: *mum, a book*, and *Paula*. In this simple sentence, the word “book” is a **direct object**. *Why*? Because this is the thing that the action is done to. The “book” is the object that’s being given. “Paula”, on the other hand, is an **indirect object**. *How*? An indirect object is what adds extra information to the sentence. The sentence would still be grammatically correct and would make sense without “Paula”. **The indirect object is often the recipient of the direct object.** Now, if we used the simplest rule and just swapped the nouns in the sentence for pronouns we’d end up with: *She gives she it.* That hardly makes sense, right? Your intuition tells you the correct way to do it is: *She* *gives it to her*. You notice constricting this sentence required three changes: - “She” turned into “her”. - “It” changed places and was put immediately after “gives”. - A preposition “to” was added before “her”. That’s what happens in English. Through years of speaking the language, you’ve developed an intuition to quickly make such changes as you speak. After reading this article and a few rounds of [Spanish practice at LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), you’ll be well on your way to developing a similar intuition in Spanish. Let’s dive in! ## What are the types of object pronouns in Spanish? Now that we’re clear about the concepts, we can dig in a little deeper. There are three basic types of object pronouns in Spanish. - Direct object pronoun - Indirect object pronoun - Reflexive pronoun. There are full books and PhDs written about each of them! For this article, we’ll focus on what you need to know to be able to speak Spanish, rather than discuss its grammar. We’ll cover the basics of Spanish direct object pronouns and what differentiates it from the indirect object pronoun. ## The Spanish direct object pronoun **Spanish direct object pronouns** **are used to replace the word that the action is done to in a sentence.** Here is a table with the Spanish direct object pronoun. | Direct Object Pronoun English vs Spanish | | | | | ---------------------------------------- | ------- | --------------------------- | ------- | | English | Spanish | English | Spanish | | me | me | us | nos | | you | te | you | os | | he, it, formal you masculine | lo | them, formal you(masculine) | los | | she, it, formal you feminine | la | them, formal you(feminine) | las | Let’s take a look at a few examples. The underlined words are the ones you’d be replacing, the ones that the action is done to: > ***Pedro compra*** ***.*** > > > ***Ellos leen*** ***.*** > They read . > > ***Mamá tira*** ***.*** > Mum throws . ## How to use Spanish direct object pronouns? We will continue using the examples from above. Let’s start by understanding what pronouns we’d use in English. > Pedro buys . (them = the cakes) > > They read . (it= a book) > > Mum throws . (it = the rubbish) Understanding what pronoun you’d use in English can help you understand how to approach this in Spanish. However, we use it here only to help introduce and explain the new concept of the Spanish direct object pronoun. You might resort to translating in your head in the early stages of learning, but we wouldn’t advise this method in the long run. Because **grammatical concepts in English and Spanish don’t map on to each other, relying on translations can be deceptive.** After this housekeeping note, let’s jump back to learning. - **The first step** is to **establish the gender** **and the number of the noun** we’re talking about. We can then locate the required pronoun in the table above. > *"*Las* *tortas*"* is plural, feminine so the direct object pronoun we need is => **las** > > ***“Un libro”*** is singular masculine => **lo** > > ***“La basura”*** singular feminine => **la** - **The step two** is to **change the order** in the sentence. Rather than placing the pronoun where the noun was, we need to **place it before the verb**. Don’t worry, it might sound complicated, but in reality is pretty simple. > Pedro ***las*** compra. (las= las tortas) > > Ellos ***lo*** leen. (lo = un libro) > > Mamá ***la*** tira. (la = la basura) Simple! ## Using Spanish direct object pronouns with people You’d be happy to hear the above covers the more complex part of using the Spanish direct object pronoun. It’s harder to use it with simple nouns because to do it correctly you need to remember their grammatical gender. When using the pronouns with people, the situation is easier as we typically know the person’s grammatical gender. Let’s illustrate it with examples. To use the direct object pronoun we follow the same process as in the section above. 1. **Replace the noun**, in this case, a person, *la niña*, with the correct pronoun (*la*). 2. **Change** **the order**. *Ellos la bañan.* 3. We can also skip the pronoun, ellos, and end up with: *La bañan.* A few more examples. - El profesor ve a nosotros. - El profesor **nos** ve. - La abuela visita a ti. - La abuela **te** visita. - Los padres no entienden a vosotros. - Los padres no ***os*** entienden. ## Spanish indirect object pronoun The Spanish indirect object pronouns are used to replace the nouns that the direct object belongs to. In other words, the indirect object is something that receives the item or action that’s being done. In English you can often can recognize the indirect object based on prepositions—like “to”, or “for”—or through asking the questions “to whom?”, or “for whom?” For example: - The baker gives the bread *to Sandra*. (*To whom* is the bread given?) - Uncle reads *a child* the book. (*To whom* is the book read?) - Grandma made *the dog* a sweater. (*For whom* was the sweater made?) “Sandra”, “child”, and “the dog” are all indirect objects in the sentences above. In Spanish: - El panadero da el pan *a Sandra*. - El tió lee el libro a *un niño*. - La abuela hizo *al perro* un suéter. You are probably curious to supplement your knowledge of the Spanish direct object pronouns with the indirect ones. The best news is...**you know almost all of them already!** How come? Because they are almost the same. | Indirect Object Prounoun English vs Spanish | | | | | ------------------------------------------- | ------- | ----------- | ------- | | English | Spanish | English | Spanish | | me | me | us | nos | | you | te | you | os | | you(formal) | le | you(formal) | les | | he/she/it | le | them | les | ## Spanish indirect object pronoun: How to use it? Once you know how to use the Spanish direct object pronoun, the indirect one will be a piece of cake. The process is the same as with the direct object and we can summarise it with a simple rule: 1. **Replace,** 2. **Change the order.** What is the correct order here? The order is the same as with the direct object— **the indirect object pronoun has to be placed before the verb**. For example: 1) *Mi profesora compra el libro *para mí*.* ↓ *Mi profesora *me* compra el libro.* My teacher buys me a book. 2) *Preparo tragos *para tus amigos*.* ↓ **Les** preparo tragos. I prepare drinks for them. 3) Vende coches ***a vosotros***. ↓ **Os** vende coches. I sell cars to you. There is just one additional step. The **indirect object pronouns have to be mentioned even if the indirect object remains present in the sentence**. We know, this sounds really convoluted! Here is how it looks like in practice. **Extra credit:** If we wanted to keep the phrase “para mí” in the sentence above—for example for emphasis— we’d still need to add the indirect object pronoun. The sentence would then look like this: Mi profesora *me* compra el libro *para mí*. ## Bonus Now that you’re an expert as it comes to the Spanish direct and indirect object pronouns, we can introduce a special, advanced scenario. A case where you use both types of pronouns in one sentence. Let’s illustrate this with one of the examples above. Mi profesora compra el libro *para mí.* You can see the sentence has two objects: direct— el libro , and indirect—*para mí*. How to turn them into pronouns? **1) Replace.** You’d start as before, by replacing the objects with appropriate pronouns. el libro = lo para mí = me **2) Change the order.** You know **both pronouns should stand before the verb**. But, in what order? The order is: **the indirect object pronoun goes first**, followed by the direct object pronoun. In other words, first, we say *who the recipient is (indirect object)*, and then what they are receiving (direct object) . Answer: Mi profesora *me* lo compra. Here are several more examples. Read them carefully, make sure you understand, and you can later [practice these new Spanish skills at LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! Escribo una carta *a ti*. \=> *Te* la escribo. Quiero prestar mi bicicleta a ti. \=> Te la quiero prestar. ![forming double object pronouns](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/forming-double-object-pronouns-1.jpg) ## Spanish direct object pronoun vs indirect object pronoun As a quick summary, let’s list the similarities and differences between the two object pronouns we’ve covered. - Spanish direct object pronouns are **me, te, lo, la, nos, os , los, las.** - Spanish indirect object pronouns are **me, te, le, nos, os , les.** - Both direct and indirect object pronouns are used to replace a noun and both appear **before the verb.** - Spanish direct object pronoun goes after the indirect one. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/indirect-direct.png) ...*Aaaand* that’s it! Congratulations on getting this far! The Spanish object pronouns are a tough topic, and there is **a lot more** to say about both the direct and indirect ones. If you’re new to the idea, the best way to approach it is to make sure the knowledge sticks before moving on. [Practice Spanish on LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to learn the smart way! ### 108 Useful Spanish Phrases for Travel [With Audio] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-phrases/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:28:23.000Z Download [Me-han-robado.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/09/Me-han-robado.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Believe it or not, you don’t have to be fluent in a foreign language to travel to another country! If you don't speak Spanish but dream to go to Spain, Mexico, Peru, or any other Spanish-speaking country, look no further. **This guide includes many situations that travelers encounter such as taking public transport, checking into a hotel, shopping, and getting to know the locals.** ![spanish phrases for travel](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ken-cheung-VbLTNceBTFE-unsplash.jpg) Unsplash Credit to Ken Cheung The daily Spanish words here are only the [most common Spanish words and phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/common-spanish-words/) you may hear. If you want to be fully prepared, don't hesitate to check out our complete Travel Phrasebook on the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?%5Fga=2.112269382.393539948.1595858632-93925231.1592264962&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app. It's for FREE! ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Spanish Phrases for Meeting and Greeting When meeting someone for the first time in a Spanish-speaking country, don’t be surprised if they kiss you! Women are greeted with **air kisses on the cheek**, and the number of kisses and which side of the face depends on the country. Men typically greet other men with a **handshake** but **close friends may also kiss each other on the cheek**. It is polite to greet and say goodbye to everyone individually. When approaching someone, it is polite to say hello before anything else. You can use these greetings at any time of the day: - Hello - *Hola* - Good morning - *Buenos días* - Good afternoon - *Buenas tardes* - Good evening/night - *Buenas noches* The Spanish language has two levels of formality. When addressing others, *Usted* is used with strangers and authorities as a way to **show respect.** *Tú* is used amongst friends to show familiarity. If you're not sure, use *usted* to be polite! For example, to ask a **stranger** how they are, you would say: - How are you? - *¿Cómo está usted?* To ask a **friend** or **someone your age** how they are, you can say: - How are you? - *¿Como estás?* - What’s up? - *¿Qué tal?* Here are some potential **responses** that you can give when asked the same question: - I am well - *Estoy bien* - I am fine - *Estoy normal* - I am bad - *Estoy mal* ### Getting to Know Someone When getting to know a **stranger,** you can say: - Where are you from? - *¿De dónde es?* - What is your profession? - *¿Cuál es su profesión?* When introduced to someone by your friend, say the following to be more informal: - Where are you from? - *¿De donde eres?* - What is your profession? - *¿Cuál es tu profesión?* ### Goodbye Always remember to say goodbye, whether it’s to a shopkeeper or new friends! - Goodbye - *Adiós* - Until later - *Hasta luego* - Until tomorrow - *Hasta mañana* - See you soon - *Hasta pronto* - Bye - *Chao* ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Spanish Phrases for Dating When traveling you may come across someone you like. This may happen in some informal situations like at a café or a bar. So here are some ways to express affection using the informal form. ### Compliments There are many ways to **pay a compliment to a woman**. Here are a few: - You’re so pretty! - ¡*Qué guapa eres!* - Are you single? - *¿Estás soltera?* - You are beautiful. - *Eres hermosa.* - What a pretty name! - ¡*Qué nombre tan bonito!* Men like compliments too! Here are some **gender-neutral** expressions to say to a man or a woman. - I love your eyes - *Me encantan tus ojos.* - I can’t take my eyes off of you - *No puedo apartar la vista de ti* - I love talking to you - *Me encanta hablar contigo.* When receiving a compliment from a special someone, say *¡gracias!* (thank you!). ### Asking Someone Out From a subtle approach to a direct move, there is something for everyone. In Spain and Latin America, traditionally men make the first move and ask out the women. In modern times though, it is not uncalled for if the woman asks the man out. To make your interests known, you can say any of the following: - Do you want to go out with me? - *¿Quieres salir conmigo?* - Can you give me your phone number? - *¿Me puedes dar tu número de teléfono?* - How can I contact you? - *¿Cómo puedo contactar contigo?* - Do you mind if I sit next to you? - *¿Te molesta si me siento a tu lado?* ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Spanish Phrases for Travelers Who Need Help ### Public Transport Spain has an advanced train system that allows you to easily go from Madrid to Seville without a car or plane ticket. Other countries have a metro in the city but rely on buses and cars exclusively for greater travel. To use public transportation, some useful questions and words are: - What is the next stop? - *¿Cuál es la próxima parada* - What time does the train leave? - *¿A qué hora saldrá el tren?* - What stop can I transfer to line 2? - *¿En qué parada puedo hacer transbordo a la línea 2?* - I want to rent a bicycle. - *Quiero alquilar una bicicleta.* - I want a taxi to… - *Quiero un taxi a….* - Bus - *El autobús* - Metro/subway - *El metro* - Train - *El tren* - Ticket - *El boleto* ![Daily Spanish Words: Street in Valldemossa](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Patrick-Baum-Valldemossa-Spain.jpg) Unsplash Credit to Patrick Baum ### Asking for Directions Even with today’s technology like Google Maps and having a map in the train car on public transport, you can get lost and may need to ask for help or clarification. Some questions you can ask are: - How long does it take to arrive to… ? - *¿Cuánto tardará en llegar a …?* - How can I get here? - *¿Cómo puedo llegar aquí?* - Where is…? - *¿Dónde está…?* - Airport - *el aeropuerto* - Station - *la estación* - Address - *la dirección* Understanding the answers are just as important as asking the questions. So here are something you may hear: - To the north - *al norte* - To the south - *al sur* - To the east - *al este* - To the west - *al oeste* - Right - *la derecha* - Left - *la izquierda* - Close - *cerca* - Far - *lejos* ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Spanish Phrases for Shopping Souvenirs are the best! Family and friends love to receive trinkets and as a bonus, you can help the local economy. ![Daily Spanish Words：Market in Mexico](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ld-image-0d7f576592d62188.jpg) Unsplash Credit to Roberto Carlos Roman Countries like **Ecuador** have open-air markets where you can buy artisanal local products. The stalls are colorful and lined with shopkeepers beckoning you over to see their wares. Even though prices are cheaper than in Europe or the United States, **negotiating is often expected** (so learn the numbers, for bargain's sake!) and **cash is king**. They also have malls and other stores with set prices if you want a more familiar environment. **Here are some phrases to help you buy whatever you need.** - How much is it? - *¿Cuánto es?* - I want to buy… - *Quiero comprar…* - Can I pay with credit card? - *¿Se puede usar tarjeta de crédito?* - I’ll take this. - *Me llevo esto.* - Is there another size? - *¿Hay otro tamaño?* - Small - *pequeño* - Medium - *mediano* - Large - *grande* - Is there another color? - *¿Hay otro color?* - Does it fit me well? - *¿Me queda bien?* - Can I try this on? - *¿Me puedo probar este?* - Where is the fitting room? - *¿Dónde está el probador?* ![spanish phrases for shopping](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/unleashed-Agency.jpg) unsplash Credit to unleashed agency - Very expensive. - *carísimo* - I only have five dollars. - *Solo tengo cinco dólares.* - There are quality problems. - *Hay problemas de calidad.* - Is there another cheaper one? - *¿Hay otro más barato?* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Spanish Phrases for Eating Out Whether it’s a nice dine-in restaurant, a taco truck, or a friend’s house, knowing a few food words is handy! In Spain and Latin America, **the largest and most important meal of the day is lunch**. Workers often go home for a few hours to eat with family and have a rest called ***la siesta***. Since lunch is served late by American standards, **dinner is also served late and tends to be a smaller meal**. ![spanish phrases for eating out](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/paella-Kaitlin-Dowis.jpg) Unsplash Credit to Kaitlin Dowis ### Restaurant - Table for two. - Una mesa para dos - Menu - *El menú* - Waiter - *el camarero* - Waitress - *la camarera* - I want... - *Quiero…* - Chicken - *El pollo* - Salad - *La ensalada* - Beer - *La cerveza* - Wine - *El vino* - Check please. - *La cuenta por favor.* ### Eating as a Guest in a Home Here are some phrases to get on the host’s good side and impress other guests with both your manners and your Spanish. If *mamá* is cooking, be sure to compliment the food and say thank you! - How delicious! - ¡Qué rico! - How tasty! - ¡Qué sabroso! - I (male) am full - Estoy lleno. - I (female) am full - Estoy llena. - Bon appetit - Buen provecho - Cheers! - ¡Salud! - It’s been a pleasure. - Ha sido un placer. ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Spanish Phrases for the Hotel After a long day of trekking across the city or getting off of a long flight, the last thing you want is a language barrier to stop you from checking into the hotel to rest. With these words, it will be smooth sailing. - I have a reservation - *Tengo una reservación.* - Is there a room available? - *¿* *Hay habitación disponible?* - Is breakfast included? - *¿* *Está incluido el desayuno?* - What is the WiFi password? - *¿* *Cuál es la contraseña del wifi?* - Can you change the towels and sheets? - *¿* *Me pueden cambiar las toallas y las sábanas?* - Reception - *la recepción* - Room key - *la llave de habitación* - Single room - *la habitación individual* - Double room - *la habitación doble* ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png)Spanish Phrases for an Emergency while traveling Latin America, unfortunately, has a reputation for being more dangerous than European countries. **Please do not let this hold you back from experiencing the amazing and rich cultures of Mexico, Colombia, and other places south of Texas.** As long as you take normal precautions and are smart, you will have a fabulous time! Hopefully, you will never have to use these phrases when abroad, however, it is better to be safe than sorry. With this vocabulary, you can feel safe and prepared in the event of an emergency. ![spanish phrases for Emergency](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/emergency-DDP.jpg) Unsplash Credit to DDP ### Medical Emergency If you remember anything from this emergency section, it should be this: - Help me! - *¡Ayúdame!* These other phrases are useful and more related to details. - I need to see a doctor - *Necesito ir al médico.* - It hurts a lot - *Me duele mucho.* - Call an ambulance! - *¡Llama una ambulancia!* ### Other Emergency - Fire! - *¡Fuego!* - Everyone out. - *Todo el mundo fuera.* - Assault! - *¡Asalto!* - Robbers! - *¡Ladrones!* - Call the police - *Llama la policía* - Emergency exit - *Salida de emergencia* - Police station - *Comisaría* - I do not know him - *No lo conozco* - They stole from me - *Me han robado* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/ld-image-89f4a54777e6a9a9.png) ## Conclusion With this list of daily Spanish words and phrases, you will not only survive in a Spanish-speaking country for your travels, but also thrive and navigate the world with confidence! For more travel vocabulary, or if you want to learn Spanish, check out the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?%5Fga=2.112269382.393539948.1595858632-93925231.1592264962&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app and learn on the go. --- ***Interested in learning beyond travel vocabulary and improving your Spanish level?*** ***Let LingoDeer help you! Give it a try for free.*** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Learn Japanese From Beginner to Advanced [Essential Guide] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:13:40.000Z Learning Japanese is like embarking on a wonderful journey through time and culture, one that changes how you view the world and that deepens your understanding of Japan and Japanese society. ![View of Mount Fuji](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/photo-1526481280693-3bfa7568e0f3.jpg) Image from Unsplash If you are on this page, you are probably at the premises of your studies, looking for the proper introduction to get you started. Or maybe you’ve tried to study Japanese in the past, but you lacked the structure to stay on track and keep on learning. Are you worried you’ll never succeed in going from zero to advanced Japanese? Leave your worries behind and continue reading this essential guide on how to learn Japanese. By the end of this article, you’ll have everything you need to dive into your studies and reach Japanese fluency. ## Essential Questions Before You Start Learning Japanese You are probably excited to jump right into your studies. But I feel it's important for you to first ask yourself some essential questions before you start learning Japanese. - What’s motivating you? - [Is Japanese hard to learn](https://blog.lingodeer.com/is-japanese-hard-to-learn/)? - How long does it take to learn Japanese? ### Why Do You Want to Learn Japanese? When you learn Japanese, your experience is not linear. You have some ups and downs. I’ve been there! Understanding your motivations and having a clear vision of your goals are key to stay on course with your studies. **Your goals will carry you through hard times when you feel like giving up and ditching your learning app**. Here are a few of the main reasons people start learning Japanese. - **Studies & Career**: Japan offers plenty of opportunities to pursue your education or your career. But knowing Japanese is often required for study programs and employers. There are very down-to-earth reasons to start learning Japanese, however, they offer the advantage to set concrete goals such as passing the JLPT or the BJT. - **Japanese culture**: Japanese animation, manga, J-drama, and J-pop inspire a lot of fans, myself included!, to learn Japanese. What can be more rewarding than to rediscover your favorite work with an in-depth understanding of what’s written or said? The pleasure of not relying on translation or subtitles is a powerful motivation to remain focused on your studies. ![Animation Totoro](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Credit-Studio-Ghibli.jpg) Credit: Studio Ghibli - **Traveling in Japan**: Traveling in Japan, when you can read signs, menus and speak with the locals, is an eye-opening experience. The excitement of being able to exchange with Japanese people, the confidence you can explore Japan off the beaten path, not missing out on cultural experiences can encourage you to stick to your Japanese studies. - **Love, challenge, and all the other valid reasons to learn Japanese**: Have you met someone special? Or do you have Japanese ancestry perhaps? It can also be a personal challenge you throw yourself, trying to learn something entirely new. Maybe you’re a polyglot wannabe, passionate about linguistics and eager to add Japanese to the long list of languages you love. Truth be told, I think there are as many valid reasons to learn Japanese as there are learners! The take-away point is that keeping in mind your targets and setting some milestones fuel your motivation to go through difficult times. Let’s now have a brief overview of what you’re getting into when you start learning Japanese. Is learning Japanese (*that*) hard? ### How Hard Is It to Learn Japanese? I think that’s a hard question - pun intended! ![Screenshot of Wolf Children](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/3.gif) Credit: Mamoru Hosoda Objectively, the US Department of State considers Japanese to be [super-hard to learn](https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for native English speakers and labels [Japanese as Category IV Languages next to Chinese and Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-japanese-korean/). Although some languages including Japanese are widely perceived as [hard languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/), personally I believe **no language is inherently difficult and it’s just a matter of time to get used to it**. Of course, take a peek at advanced level contents and you’ll be scared by the complex concepts that do not resemble your native tongue at all. The big picture makes the Japanese language appear hard to learn. But the difficulty level, in my opinion, is influenced by factors tied to you, as a learner. It's suggested to first ask yourself these questions to see what type of learner you are if you plan to [learn Japanese on your own](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/). **Have you studied foreign languages before?** I’m a firm believer that you have what it takes to learn a new language. But learning is a skill that needs to be nurtured. If you have studied a second language in the past, you are aware of what learning a new foreign language entails: consistency, practice, time, memory, and the desire to challenge yourself with new concepts. You may have to revisit your native tongue’s grammar too. If you are new to language learning, then Japanese will appear difficult because you are building both your ability to learn new things and Japanese language skills at the same time. - Focus not only on Japanese but also on language learning itself. - The earlier you stop translating everything into your native tongue, the faster and better you will learn. **What’s your mindset when you are studying?** **The biggest obstacle to learning Japanese is maybe yourself**. I mentioned before how crucial knowing your motivations is. In the same line of thought, you need to be open-minded and focused. Are you fully rested and concentrated when you are studying Japanese? If so, you progress easily. But if you are unmotivated, rushing to get your lessons done, learning Japanese feels like climbing a mountain. - Take a minute to assess how motivated and eager to learn you are. If you are not, consider a break or take this opportunity to do some easy review. This leads us to another key question.[ **How long does it take to learn Japanese?**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/) ### Reality Check: How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese? As a Japanese school student coordinator, that’s a question students often ask me. I think there’s no definite answer because like for the difficulty of learning Japanese, the time it takes you to get to fluency depends on your goals, how often you study and how you study. Here again, a [good reference](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/) to start with is the [US Department of State’s language learning timeline](https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Based on their extensive experience, they estimate you need **2200 class hours** to fluently understand and speak Japanese. That’s roughly **88 weeks** of learning and we’re talking about straight-A students, studying every day. Japanese language schools’ courses are set for 2 full academic years because Japanese scholars believe 2 years of studies are needed from an absolute beginner level to pass the JLPT N2. In practice, students managing to pass JLPT N2 in a year and JLPT N1 in 2 years are not unheard of. But as you can guess, **the majority does need about 2 to 3 years of studies or longer to reach high fluency**. Alright, now that we’ve established some ground base, let’s move on to what you need to know to get started. ## Getting Started as an Absolute Japanese Beginner If you are brand new to the learning community, aka an absolute Japanese beginner, let’s review the foundations you need to start learning Japanese. (*Do you have some rough knowledge of how the Japanese language works? A little bit of review never hurts, but you can skip and move on to *don’ts and dos with your studies.*)* ### The Very First Step: Hiragana and Katakana Contrary to English, which uses the Latin alphabet (i.e 26 letters), the Japanese language has [three different writing systems](https://www.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/hiragana-katakana-kanji?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). The first two scripts you need to focus your attention on are the Hiragana and Katakana. - Hiragana and Katakana are syllabaries. Every character represents a syllable called a ‘kana’. - There are two sets of 46 kana, each hiragana having a corresponding katakana. - Kana are always pronounced the same way. - Kana have a specific stroke order. Bookmark our article on the [differences between hiragana and katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) to know more about their history later on. Here’s a quick summary. ![Japanese kanji, hiragana and katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/ld-image-9ce31aa78a2142b5.jpg) #### **What are Hiragana and Katakana used for?** The Hiragana writing system is used to write **kanji pronunciation and words for which there is no kanji, as well as all the grammatical words and conjugation inflexions for verbs and adjectives**. - Hiragana are round like cursive letters Katakana, however, are used mostly for **foreign words, scientific words and phonetic notation**. Check [Hiroki’s Japanese lesson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CIXDuavgN4&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to understand further how to set them apart. - Katakana are sharp print font like #### Which script should you learn first? It goes without saying that both writing systems are needed to read Japanese so **you can’t skip one or the other**. Since the **Hiragana writing system** is the most commonly used and essential to learn basic grammar, I suggest you start with them first. Ultimately, you should learn both right from the beginning and in a short amount of time, not to lose your momentum! ![Hiragana vs katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/anime-ga-1.png) #### When learning Hiragana and Katakana, practice Japanese basic pronunciation too! Studying the kana is like doing a 4D puzzle. You learn how to: - Read them - Handwrite them - Pronounce them - Type them [Mastering Japanese pronunciation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-pronunciation/) right from the beginning will help you a lot as you progress, especially for native English speakers. But thankfully [LingoDeer](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) got you covered! It teaches you the nuances of Japanese pronunciation using native speaker audio and speech recognition systems. Give it a try if you wish to learn Japanese systematically as well! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) A way to have fun memorizing the kana is to master how to type Hiragana & Katakana on your computer or your smartphone. Setting your keyboard is very easy, so save this quick [intro to typing in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/typing-in-japanese/) for another time. Let’s now review Japanese’s third writing system, the Kanji. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### What is Kanji and How to Learn It Kanji is based on Chinese characters, imported around the fifth century AD when Japan only had a spoken language. It’s the most used writing system in Japanese: - Kanji are said to be ideograms, but if we want to be really precise, they’re actually “logograms”. Kanji represent words, concepts, or ideas, but not a specific sound. - Kanji’s representation can change depending on other kanji they’re matched with. Japanese has a limited amount of syllables (5 vowels and 13 consonants), so kanji allows speakers to distinguish words by meaning rather than pronunciation and help differentiate homonyms. ![Japanese - Kanji Calligraphy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/unsplash-2.jpg) Image from Unsplash Are you wondering if you need to [learn kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/)? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. **Kanji is an important component of the Japanese language**. - Kanji are used to write nouns, adjectives, and verbs, so you have to learn them. - There are over 50,000 kanji, but luckily you only need to learn approximately 2,000 to pass the JLPT N1 and be considered fluent in Japanese. An average educated Japanese adult knows about 3,000 of them. This brings us to the next logical question. #### How do I learn Kanji? I know firsthand how daunting learning kanji appears to beginners, especially for students who have no kanji knowledge. **Learning kanji requires time, discipline, practice and strategy.** Let me share a few tips: - Like kana, kanji characters have a specific stroke order which you need to memorize at first. Don’t skip this part! You can refer to sci.lang.japan [How Does Kanji Stroke Order Work](https://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/stroke-order.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=The%20basic%20rule%20of%20kanji,written%20before%20the%20right%20strokes.). - Some consider this method old-school, but handwriting kanji regularly helps a lot with memorization. The key is not so much to write them a lot, but to be mindful when you write them, paying attention to their meaning and their stroke orders. - Each time you learn a new kanji, check its radicals and make sure you also memorize its readings. - Mnemonics are your best friends. If you can get a copy of James W. Heisig legendary [Remembering the Kanji](https://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Kanji-Complete-Japanese-Characters/dp/0824835921/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?dchild=1&keywords=Remember+the+kanji&qid=1598005705&s=books&sr=1-1&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), you’ll be on the right track to associate about 3,000 kanji with memorable stories. There are thousands of kanji, but they are composed of only [216 radicals](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/). Learning the radicals at first, what they represent and their stroke order, will give you solid foundations in kanji understanding. ![Stroke hierarchy in Kanji 休](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/2-5.png) Ultimately, **drilling yourself on a regular basis is the only way** to ensure you memorize all the kanji you need to know. **The LingoDeer app features a fun and efficient kanji drilling function that can help you learn to write 100 frequently used Kanji characters.** ![LingoDeer Kanji writing practice](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Screenshot_20200917_150056_com.lingodeer-e1600327509551.jpg) You know how to write Japanese, so let’s proceed with a brief review of Japanese grammar and sentence structure. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Basic Japanese Grammar and Sentence Structure The first thing you notice when you learn Japanese is that the word order of a Japanese sentence looks like the exact opposite of what a sentence looks like in English. ![Japanese sentence structure](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/27463D20-EC18-498b-A64E-B146D732B018.png) The basic sentence structure of the Japanese is different from that of English. Without going too far into linguistic concepts, just memorize that **Japanese is an SOV, Subject-Object-Verb, language**, whereas English is an SVO, Subject-Verb-Object, language. Don’t let this difference intimidate you! The word order is different, but the Japanese sentence structure isn’t hard at all to get used to. Building a Japanese sentence is like doing some mind gymnastics. Here’s essentially what you can find in a Japanese sentence: - Particles: they are short suffixes assigning grammatical functions to nouns, adjectives, and verbs. - Nouns: they’ll stay the same, no matter what. There’s no plural, no gender, no articles in Japanese! - Verbs: they’re divided into 3 groups, with few exceptions and a limited number of conjugation forms. - Adjectives: they’re divided into 2 groups, and can be inflected like verbs. I think it’s time you now learn some common Japanese phrases, just so you can familiarize yourself a bit more with how Japanese sounds and works. ### Learn the most common Japanese phrases Learning common Japanese phrases help boost your confidence as a beginner in Japanese. I call this the “survival mode” of Japanese. While these phrases are very basic, they’re used all the time. - Common Japanese phrases can help you get by during a trip in Japan. - Knowing [greetings](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-japanese/) and polite phrases please native speakers and offer a starting point for real practice. - You can effectively speak Japanese, even if you are not yet familiar with [grammar](https://blog.lingodeer.com/should-you-learn-grammar/)! We have listed 42[ Japanese phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-phrases/) that you can start with and you’ll find more resources at the end of this guide. ### Beware of these Challenges in Learning Japanese For a lot of beginners, the writing system appears challenging at first. But I think that building your understanding of kana and kanji, as time-consuming and memory demanding as it may be, is not really tricky. Consistent practice gets you a long way into learning Japanese. Here are the main challenges in learning Japanese that I think you need to pay attention to as you advance in your Japanese studies. **Politeness and honorifics** Japanese people are praised for being excessively polite and mindful of others. This respect is deeply ingrained in the Japanese language and reflected in how they speak. - You do not address the same way your family, boss or clients. In time, you need to understand the honorific speech system (called “keigo”). - Casual language: for friends, family, close coworkers, younger people or people the same age as you. - Keigo system: Keigo encompasses several speeches, the “polite language” or masu-form, the “respectful language” and the “humble language”. **Beginners should focus their attention on casual and polite languages first.** Beyond speeches, politeness is also expressed with: - A limited number of special “respectful verbs” that are required in certain social settings. - Word beautification: modifying words by adding the prefixes o or go to make them sound more refined. Finally, you should also beware of honorific suffixes that you add to people’s names to refer to their polity. Check LingoDeer’s Guide to [Japanese honorifics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/) to know more. **Japanese Verb Conjugation** While the Japanese verb conjugation system is relatively straightforward with few exceptions, it doesn’t resemble English at all. The lack of proximity with how verbs work in English can easily throw off a beginner, hence I view learning conjugation as a challenge you need to be mindful of. - You have 3 verb groups and you need to learn each group’s characteristics. - Japanese has a limited number of conjugation forms (14), these forms are different for each verb group. - **Japanese verbs do not conjugate with the subject, but with tenses and formality.** Get yourself on the right path by learning all you need to know with our guide to [Japanese verb conjugation.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/) **Counters** Correctly [Counting in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/1-to-10-in-japanese/) was my personal pet peeve when I was a beginner and living in Japan, I can tell you that native speakers struggle with “counters” too. - Counters are Japanese measure words you combine with numbers to count people, animals, things, actions, frequency and time, allowing you to say “two cats”, “three houses” or “5 people”. - Japanese numbers alone cannot help you count stuff, so you have no other choice but to learn counters. - Japanese language counts around 500 counters, but you only have to learn commonly used counters. - Every time you learn a new counter, you must check if this counter changes some numbers’ readings: this is often the case for numbers 1 to 10\. The changes follow certain rules that are consistent, but you need to beware of exceptions. **The path to Japanese language mastery is a long one and you don’t want to hinder your progress with bad habits.** ## Don’ts in Learning Japanese as a Beginner Some major don’ts in learning Japanese as a beginner are very tempting, but they end up being a disservice to your studies. ### Stop Relying on the Romanizations What we called Romaji (ローマ字) is the system of Romanization of Japanese language. In other words, it’s a fourth way to write Japanese, using alphabet letters. Here’s some brief fact: - There are three romanization standards: the Hepburn, Nippon-shiki and Kunrei-shiki systems. We have a detailed article for you to learn more about [what romaji is](https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/) and its usage in modern Japan. - Romanization is used a lot on the internet and can be blended with a mix of kana and kanji. At first, romaji can help absolute beginners understand the basics of Japanese pronunciation. ![Japanese address and name ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/aid1663096-v4-728px-Address-Envelopes-to-Japan-Step-5-Version-2.jpg) Romaji is used in English translation for addresses and names in Japan. I think that using the alphabet we’re used to appears like a good idea because it gives us (false) confidence that we can read and understand Japanese right away. In reality, **romaji are quickly a major obstacle for your studies** for a few reasons: - Romanization doesn’t perfectly transcribe Japanese pronunciation and can be misleading. - **Romaji doesn’t reflect Japanese sentence structure and grammar very well**, leaving you at the surface of your studies. - Romaji can give you bad reading habits and foundations in Japanese that’ll be hard to correct later on. So from day one, my advice is to read everything in kana. ### Don’t Try To Learn Too Much Too Fast Setting yourself clear goals, such as the JLPT, is good to feed your motivation, but don’t be overly ambitious with the timeframe of your studies and what you can digest. Learning Japanese is a marathon, so keep a good, regular pace, not to burn yourself out. - Find your pace: set yourself a reasonable schedule in terms of study duration and rhythm. Vary exercises and learning content to avoid boredom. - Be disciplined: more than trying to learn it all too fast, regular and consistent study will help you keep the passion for Japanese burning, while not burning out. ### Don’t Try To Learn From Anime Or Manga As A Beginner Don’t get me wrong, Japanese pop culture is a great source of motivation and helps learn some natural lingo. But anime or manga are not friendly learning resources for beginners. - Entertainment media often involves non-standard grammar and casual expressions: you may take bad habits and struggle with distinguishing casual and polite speech as you improve. You take the risk to learn a rude, broken Japanese. - The way characters speak in fiction is often very different from how people talk in real life: a lot of what is said in anime, manga or even J-drama are over-exaggerated. Their speeches are written to create a dramatic effect. In real life, people are far from talking like this. Speaking differently, don’t be that learners believing the expressions learned in their favorite anime makes them sound like native speakers. They don’t. ### Don’t Try to Memorize Long Random Word Lists I think you understand by now that learning Japanese requires a tremendous amount of effort in memorization. On average, though, we can’t really memorize more than 20-25 words a day, because you need time to process and store new information in your memory. Learning the words that pop up in your grammar lessons and the most commonly used vocabulary will help build a good base. However, be smart about expanding your vocabulary beyond the basics and don’t try to memorize long random word lists. - Group words according to their meanings, such as colors, animals and food. - Practice mind maps, which allows you to visually list up words that are connected to each other. Mind maps are excellent to learn vocabulary easily. ### Don’t Trust Machine Translations AI translation has come a long way in the past years, but is nowhere near perfection. [Translating Japanese into English](https://www.daytranslations.com/languages/japanese-translation-services?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or other Romance languages and vice-versa, will not help you at all, because machine translations cannot easily render concepts and ideas as human brains do. - Machine translation can make a lot of mistakes - Machine translation can’t read the context and perceive omissions - Machine translation ignores the proper speech level to use **Dictionaries like** [**Japanese**](https://www.japaneseapp.com/features/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#download) **will be your best friends.** The silver lining, the time and effort you put into translating Japanese by yourself helps you with memorization. ### Don’t Nitpick Exceptions to Grammatical Rules While Japanese language can be praised for its relative simplicity, exceptions do exist. Should you sweat over them, though? No! - Do not spend too much time on the few exceptions to grammatical rules, because almost all grammatical rules have exceptions, and they are only the minority. - You can always revisit a rule later, when you have built more confidence in your skills. - In time, the exceptions will make sense and come to you more naturally. Ultimately, learning Japanese grammar is like adding layers of comprehension and knowledge on top of one another, until you’ve built a solid block. Now that you know what not to do when learning Japanese, let’s move on to what can effectively help you. ## Dos in Learning Japanese More Efficiently I can see three major do’s for beginners, which are critical in learning Japanese more efficiently and lessen the energy you need to put into your studies. - Using what you already know - Be smart about your studies - Speak with native speakers ### Gairaigo - So Many Japanese Words You Already Know! Japanese has a lot of loanwords from other languages such as Chinese, English, German but also French and Russian. These loanwords are referred to as “gairaigo”, literally “foreign language”. Very often, these words kept their original meanings and are easily recognizable. - Gairaigo has simply been syllabicated in the Japanese phonological system. You just need to roughly understand how to convert words into Japanese using katakana. A good way to familiarize yourself with this is to [try to convert your name into Japanese](https://apps.nolanlawson.com/japanese-name-converter/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). - Loanwords are important in the fields of new technology and advertisements. Statistically, you find a lot of gairaigo in Japanese newspapers, TV-news and recent Japanese pop culture. - Interestingly enough, social trends and younger generations tend to borrow foreign words more easily. Even if they don’t always make it into Japanese common vocabulary, native speakers will understand you! After Chinese English has strongly influenced Japanese. But some of the borrowed words have been “Japanized”, giving birth to Wasei-eigo, literally “Japanese made English”. - Wasei-eigo will sound and somewhat look close to English, but in fact do not exist in English or aren’t used the same way. Bookmark [Hiroki’s lesson on Wasei-eigo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OWq4BIq6Mw&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to get back to this in the future. - Even if wasei-eigo offers new meaning and concepts, the proximity with the vocabulary you already know helps with vocabulary building. Are you curious about how Japanese speak Gairaigo and Wasei-eigo? This video will show you! ### ### Use a Spaced Repetition System (SRS) to Improve Your Vocabulary Depending on how proficient you would like to be in Japanese, you need to spend a lot of time on learning and retaining new vocabulary. To give you some perspective, you need to know approximately 2,000 words to speak fluent English. But the same level in Japanese requires you to know at least **8,000-10,000 words and 2,000 kanji**. Your best friend to improve your vocabulary effortlessly is the Spaced Repetition System (SRS). - SRS is a proven learning technique widely used by flashcard apps such as [Anki](https://www.ankiapp.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), that helps you improve your vocabulary by playing with the frequency in which you review words. The app algorithm alternates between older, easy flashcards and new, more difficult cards, showing you less the easier cards and more the difficult ones. - You’ll have plenty of choices for both iOS and Android. Try a few apps until you find the one that works for you. - Commit to reviewing your flashcards 10-15 minute daily. Be mindful and focused about it, so your memory will retain the words better. It’s also an opportunity to read the words out loud, maybe even build short sentences for fun. ### ### Find Native Speakers and Speak From Day One I cannot emphasize more how fundamental practicing with native speakers and speaking from day one is. Here are three arguments in favor of early practice: - Actively putting what you learn to practice helps you retain what you learn faster and better. - You avoid bad pronunciation & grammar habits. - Basic conversation gets you familiar with Japanese casual & polite speeches. Speaking in a Japanese as a beginner is intimidating. I know too well how we can be afraid to make mistakes and sound ridiculous. Quite frankly, the fear is in our head. Native speakers are always happy to practice with language learners and to correct them. Finding people to practice with is easier than you might think too. - Look for local language exchange groups, Japanese culture related associations or even communities of Japanese expatriates. Nothing beats speaking with people in real-life! - It can help to take a community course or join a local school. - You can also look up online platforms that connect language learners, such as [HiNative](https://hinative.com/en-US/questions?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [iTalki](https://www.italki.com/teachers/japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). If you cannot find anyone to partner with, **the LingoDeer app has the voice of native speakers to practice with you.** You can repeat as many times as you want and correct your pronunciation while training your listening skills. ## How to Improve All Four Japanese Skills As You Advance After building good foundations in basic Japanese, you may fall into a very common trap, that is to focus on the one language skill - speaking, listening, reading or writing, you’re comfortable with. But in order to communicate well, you have to equally develop all four Japanese skills. You need to understand (listening, writing) and produce (speaking, writing) Japanese. Let me introduce some good strategies to apply when you further advance in your studies. *You will find learning resources listed at the end of this guide*. ### Speaking Japanese I think school teaches us to spend a tremendous amount of time on learning words and grammatical rules, until we’re finally ready to “speak”. On the contrary, no amount of preparation can replace practicing speaking to effectively learn how to speak Japanese. Here are some ideas that work for all learners, from beginner to more advanced levels. - Shadowing. Try to imitate native speaker’s recordings as much as possible. You can practice with songs, J-drama on Netflix, YouTube videos and so on. There’s also an excellent collection called [Shadowing Japanese](https://www.amazon.com/Shadowing-Speak-Japanese-Beginner-Intermediate/dp/4874243541?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), perfect for the task. - Read out loud whenever you review kanji - you’ll memorize them better while polishing your pronunciation. - Record yourself and play back your own recordings and listen to it along with native speaker’s recordings with LingoDeer app. ### Listening to Japanese Improving your listening goes in hand with your speaking practice, but you do need to work on boosting your understanding of spoken Japanese. **The good news is that Japanese is not per se a tonal language, like Chinese or Thai**. Native speakers do have a pitch that helps distinguish homonyms such as hashi (bridge) and hashi (chopstick). But the truth is the general context of the conversation is in fact enough to allow clear communication. Here are some strategies to improve your listening Japanese in casual and formal settings: - At first, listen to audio content specifically developed for language learners. Listen to clear and slow speed and gradually move to speech at a faster natural speed with apps such as LingoDeer who have a dedicated function to help you with that. - Try to be regular and to listen to Japanese every day. Some studies suggest that listening to audio content in the evening, in a relaxed environment or before sleeping, can help better learn a language. - When you get confident in your listening skills, you can move on to real-life audio content such as radio and TV programs, audiobooks for young Japanese, gradually aiming for more complex content. ### Reading Japanese I’m a book lover and I strongly believe that from the early stage of your studies, you can and should read in Japanese to help the vocabulary stick. **Even an absolute beginner in Japanese benefits from reading very easy content, such as short textbook dialogue or Graded Readers.** - Aim for the right level: you want what you read to be approachable, not indecipherable! Pick topics that you like too, for the experience to be enjoyable. - Practice active reading: before you look for new words in the dictionary, make the effort to guess their meaning with contextual information. - Take note: reading is an opportunity to record useful words and well-written phrases. Have a notebook/use apps to collect them in organized lists. ### Writing in Japanese Writing is probably the last skill Japanese learners want to spend time on. Believe me when I say I get it! **Speaking or reading Japanese feels more rewarding, but you cannot grasp Japanese language structure entirely if you do not write in it.** Contrary to basic drilling exercises, writing a text helps you think in Japanese, organizing your thoughts and learning new vocabulary. Don’t get discouraged, writing is the hardest skill of all four. It takes a long time to practice and improve, even for native speakers! - - Consistent practice will get you a long way. Japanese language schools ask students to practice speech writing on a weekly basis. That’s a good rhythm to start with. - Always get your texts corrected and learn from the feedback. Rewrite your texts in a neat manner. - Save the corrected texts because writing in Japanese is an excellent way to see your progress along the way and review what you learned. - Not sure to know what to write? Practice with templates: emails, sick leave note, an invitation, holiday postcards… What about having your own blog in Japanese? ## Best Online Resources for Self-study Japanese Here are some of the best online resources you can find for self-study Japanese. | **LingoDeer App & Blog** | LingoDeer App | Follow a scientifically structured curriculum | | ------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | LingoDeer Blog | Get a deeper insight on language learning and Japanese language | | | **Learn Japanese with podcasts** | Build listening & speaking skills, as well as vocabulary | NHK News | | News in slow Japanese | | | | small talk in Japanese | | | | SBS Radio Japanese Program | | | | **Learn Japanese on Youtube** | Build listening skills, as well as vocabulary and grammar | Japanese Ammo with Misa | | Akkie Sensei | | | | Real Miku | | | | Erin Ga Chosen | | | | **Japanese Articles** | Build reading skills | Hiragana Times (beginner friendly) | | Google News | | | | CNN Japan | | | | Asahi Shinbun | | | | Yomiuri Shinbun | | | | **Other Japanese Media** | Advancing to sounding like a native speaker | Japanese movies | | JDrama | | | | Anime | | | | Variety shows | | | | Advancing to reading like a native speaker | Manga | | | light novels | | | ### The Present Perfect in Spanish: How to Use It in Sentences? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/present-perfect-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T08:28:08.000Z ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## What Is the Present Perfect In Spanish? Have you ever played the game **“Never Have I Ever”** with your friends? ![The Present Perfect in Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/Never-Have-I-Ever-Game-Card-Credit-Zachary-A.-Ruden-Image-from-Neverhaveiever.jpg) Never Have I Ever Game Card, Image from Neverhaveievergame, Credit Zachary A. Ruden The statements made in this game are great examples of the present perfect tense. **The present perfect is when we use the verb “to have” with the past participle to express past events,** such as “We have taken Spanish together” and “Have you seen U2 in concert?” I’ll get into this later, but for now just know that the present perfect in Spanish is a general way to talk about the past! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## How to Form the Present Perfect in Spanish? While English uses “to have” for the present perfect, Spanish uses the verb *haber*. Below is the **formula for the present perfect in Spanish**: Subject (yo, tú, él, etc.) + *haber* conjugated to the subject + verb in the past participle 👉 Note that in Spanish including the subject is optional, but it is included here for clarity. To see this formula in action, let’s do a quick example. I have painted → **(** ***Yo)* *he pintado*.** To negate it: I have not painted → (*Yo)* ***no*** *he pintado*. This post goes over each component of this formula, so don’t stress if you are unfamiliar with some of these terms. Once you have reviewed how to conjugate *haber* and how to form the past participle, you can revisit this section and it will be a piece of cake! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to Conjugate Haber for the Present Perfect in Spanish Here is a table with all of the present tense *haber* conjugations. | Pronoun | Haber | Pronoun | Haber | | --------------------------------------- | ----- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | | I - Yo | he | We - Nosotros/as | hemos | | You (informal) - Tú | has | You all (informal) - Vosotros/as | habéis | | He - Él She - Ella You (formal) - Usted | ha | They (masculine) - Ellos They (feminine) - Ellas You all (formal) - Ustedes | han | It is quite an irregular verb so I recommend practicing with flashcards or with the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?%5Fga=2.112269382.393539948.1595858632-93925231.1592264962&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## How to Form the Past Participle for the Present Perfect in Spanish As mentioned previously, the past participle is the verb that goes after *haber*. (We have this in English too - we say “you have **cooked** dinner” not “you have **cook** dinner.” In other words, the past participle is the “-ed” form of an English verb.) ### Spanish Regular Past Participle Verbs To change “cook” to “cooked” and “smell” to “smelled” is simple, right? It’s just as easy in Spanish. - **For *\-ar* verbs**, **remove the ending *\-ar* then add -*ado*** to the remaining stem. ex. *hablar (to speak) →* *hablado.* - **For *\-er* and *\-ir* verbs**, **remove the ending then add *\-ido*** to the remaining stem. *ex. comer* (to eat) → *comido* *salir* (to go out) → *salido* **👉 Note: if a verb is irregular in English, this does NOT mean that it is irregular in Spanish.** (Case in point, all of the above examples are regular in Spanish and irregular in English.) ### ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Spanish Irregular Past Participle Verbs Some verbs are basically regular in the past participle in Spanish but have **an additional accent mark** when written. **👉 The rule is that if an *\-er* or -*ir* verb’s stem** ends with the vowels **\-a,-e,-i, or -o,** then use the ***\-ído*** ending. ex. *leer* (“to read”) is an *\-er* verb. *le* ends with -e. *leer* → *leído*. 👉 Additionally, there are **a few verbs in Spanish that are totally irregular.** They don’t have the *\-ado/-ido* ending and have a change in the stem. Here is a list of the most common irregular past participles in Spanish. | English Verb | Spanish Verb | Spanish Past Participle | | ------------ | ------------ | ----------------------- | | to open | abrir | abierto | | to put | poner | puesto | | to cover | cubrir | cubierto | | to say | decir | dicho | | to break | romper | roto | | to write | escribir | escrito | | to do/make | hacer | hecho | | to see | ver | visto | | to return | volver | vuelto | | to die | morir | muerto | ## ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Present Perfect Examples and Practice Questions Now that you have read about each component for the present perfect in Spanish, here are some simple examples of this tense in action! Highlight to reveal the translations. - Sara has cooked the dinner. - *Sara ha cocinado la cena.* - You all (informal) have not taken the class. - *Vosotros no habéis tomado la clase.* - Ana and I have gone to the museum. - *Ana y yo hemos ido al museo.* - Have you (informal) bought the tickets? - *¿Has comprado los boletos?* - I have not called my parents. - *No he llamado a mis padres.* - The boys have read the text. - *Los chicos han leído el texto.* - You all (formal) have not cleaned the living room. - *Ustedes no han limpiado la sala.* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Where to Place Pronouns with the Present Perfect in Spanish To take your Spanish to the next level, learning how to use direct, indirect, and reflexive pronouns with new verb tenses are important. If you are familiar with these pronouns and using them with verbs in a sentence, then there will be no surprises here! ### Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns 👉 In Spanish, object pronouns go before the verb instead of after. (Read more about [object pronouns here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-direct-object-pronouns/).) To demonstrate: I give her it. → Y*o se lo doy*. As you can see in this sentence, the indirect object pronoun *se* goes first followed by the direct object pronoun *lo*. **The formula for present perfect with pronouns in Spanish:** indirect object + direct object + conjugated *haber* \+ past participle 👉 It is important to note that **the objects always go before *haber*** and **cannot attach to the past participle** like in other tenses. Here are some examples of direct and indirect object pronouns used with the present perfect in Spanish: - She has not found it - *Ella no lo ha encontrado.* - Paula has told him it - *Paul se lo ha dicho.* - I have copied it - *Yo lo he copiado.* - They have given us the keys. - *Ellos nos han dado las llaves.* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Reflexive Verb Pronouns Reflexive verb pronouns go **ONLY** **BEFORE** *haber*. - I have gone to bed - *Yo me he acostado.* - You all have not washed yourselves. - *Ustedes no se han lavado.* - Manuel has broken his arm. - *Manuel se ha roto el brazo.* - You (informal) have woken up early. - *Tú te has despertado temprano.* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## When to Use the Present Perfect vs the Preterite in Spanish Even though *haber* is conjugated in the present tense, it is referring to past events. **👉 The present perfect should be used to describe the past or events that began in the past and are still ongoing.** For example, you could say *Yo he trabajado desde las seis* \- “I have worked since six o’clock” to show that you began work earlier in the day and are still working. Here are some phrases that indicate a past action that is still ongoing: - **Todavía (still)** I still have not called my boss → *Todavía no he llamado a mi jefe.* - **Ya (already)** She has already bought the coat → *Ella ya ha comprado el abrigo.* - **Toda mi vida (all my life)** All my life I have loved chocolate. → *Toda mi vida me ha encantado el chocolate.* - **Nunca, Jamás (never)** We have never traveled to Mexico → *Nunca hemos viajado a México.* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Present Perfect vs Other Past Tenses in Spanish Spanish has a few different tenses that are exclusively used to talk about the past. - **The preterite tense is for single completed actions and is quite specific** (like telling all of the key plot points to a story) - **The imperfect is more general and descriptive** (setting the scene for past events) - **The present perfect** is used to talk about the past too, not just **the recent past or a past event that is still ongoing.** ![present perfect in Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/present-perfect-in-Spanish.png) 👉 One difference between Latin America and Spain is: **Spaniards tend to prefer the present perfect when about the past too the preterite tense.** For example, to say “you (informal) went to the market today," *fuiste al mercado hoy ✅* *has ido al mercado hoy ✅* because through context, you know that this was a singular action. - 👉In short: **if you want to be specific, use the preterite** **If you want to be more general, use the present perfect.** These two sentences illustrate the difference: - I went to Peru last year. - *Fui a Perú el año pasado.* - I have been to Peru before. - *He ido a Perú antes.* As you can see, the preterite is referring to a specific trip last year, whereas the present perfect is stating that at some point in the past I went to Peru. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## The Present Perfect in Spanish Summary Now you know how to conjugate *haber*, form the past participle, place the object and reflexive pronouns first, and play “Never Have I Ever” in Spanish! The present perfect is a great way to talk about the past as well as past events that are still ongoing. It can even replace the preterite in most cases. For present perfect practice and more Spanish language lessons, check out [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?%5Fga=2.112269382.393539948.1595858632-93925231.1592264962&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app! ### 15 Language Learning Tips Based on Major Research Findings URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-research/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:24:13.000Z Who doesn't want to master a new language fast and effortlessly? This article will introduce you to 9 major research findings in the field of language acquisition and give you a headstart in learning a new language more efficiently. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## General Learning Let’s get started with some research findings that provide general guidance for language learning. These findings should help you develop a learning strategy or long-term plan that can guide your study process from a novice to a master in your target language. The tips from these theories are applicable to learners of all levels. ## Processability Theory The Processability theory seeks to account for the developmental stages in learners of a second language. The Processability theory suggests that from an absolute beginner to an advanced-level speaker, the learner’s development across time can be divided into a number of hierarchal stages. At each stage, **the learner can only produce what he or she can process and comprehend**. As learners progress through each stage, they will acquire a wider range of processable language materials. Pienemann (1998), for instance, found the following developmental stages from the performance data of ESL learners on the topic of *Question Formation.* | **Stage** | **Structure** | **Example** | | --------- | ------------------------ | --------------------------- | | 1 | One-constituent question | Here? | | 2 | SVO question | He live here? | | 3 | WH + SVO | Where he is? | | 4 | Copula inversion | Where is he? | | 5 | Aux-second | Where has he been? | | 6 | Cancel Aux-second | I wonder where he has been. | In this case, at each stage, **the learner is only able to understand or produce questions of the current structure**. For a beginner, the only type of question he or she can understand is a one-word statement with rising intonation. When the learner progresses to the second stage, s/he can form a simple question by adding rising intonation to a declarative statement: Subject + Verb + Object. From stage 3 to 5, the learner gradually starts to understand WH-words: inverting the word order with an interrogative structure and using auxiliary verbs for grammaticality. In the final stage, Stage 6, the learner can form a question without a question mark by using “wonder”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/volodymyr-hryshchenko-L0oJ4Dlfyuo-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash ### ### Take-home message - **Tip #1: Find a well-designed curriculum that fits the universal developmental pattern of second language acquisition.** [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) builds its curriculum in such a way that the complexity of input is increased step-by-step to make sure that learners at different levels can progress at a steady pace. - **Tip #2: Find suitable study materials according to your ability.** When you are a beginner, practice listening to sentences consisting of only a few words and make sure that you understand every word. Once you grasp the content, gradually increase the length and complexity of the sentences you process. ## Task-based Learning Task-based language teaching and learning emerged in the early 1980s and is currently one of the most effective approaches to language instruction and acquisition. This approach suggests that learners are most engaged when learning content **through tasks that mimic real-life situations**. For example, students should study shopping-related phrases by being placed in a shop and tasked with buying certain items. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/airfocus-8hDDPavjW2o-unsplash.jpg) Photo by airfocus on Unsplash In one experiment, Ruso (1999) applied task-based learning to a traditional classroom situation for Turkish students of ESL. The findings of the study revealed that implementing a task-based learning approach in language classes creates variety for the students, which enhances their engagement and learning. The tasks encourage student involvement, basic problem-solving, and lead to significant improvements regarding their language performance. ### Take-home message - **Tip #3: Design imaginary scenarios for yourself to tackle tasks.** For example, imagine yourself in a Korean restaurant and try to order your favorite dish. To tackle this task, you challenge and improve yourself in multiple ways: to be familiar with food or dish names in order to read the menu, to know the expressions of addressing the waiter or waitress and saying what food you would like to have, to know how to communicate politely and appropriately, etc. - **Tip #4:** After learning a new set of sentence patterns in [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), **try creating a dialogue to self-practice or do a role play with your language buddy/tutor.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Vocabulary Building ## Semantic Category Effect - For Beginners It is a long-standing assumption in the field of language sciences that presenting new second language vocabulary in semantically grouped sets, i.e. according to the category of the word meanings, is an effective method of learning and teaching. Compared with trying to remember words in a random order, learning words with related meanings in the same category is supposed to be more efficient. ### Take-home message - **Tip #5: Learn new words or expressions grouped in meaning categories**, such as a group of color names, country names or food names. You can also learn words in relevant semantic groups. For example, prepare two groups of words for a memorization challenge: one consisting of 10 major country names, and the other consisting of the capital city names of those countries. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Annotation-2020-08-24-2.jpg) ## Using Flashcards It is regarded as a good technique to show new words or expressions on flashcards to help learners strengthen the memorization. In 2013, Sitompul carried out a study to investigate the most effective English vocabulary teaching method. In the experiment, young students were trained with either flashcards or a plain word list. The results showed that students’ vocabulary improved more after they were taught with flashcards than with a word list. The students who were taught with flashcards admitted that they could memorize the words easily, and they were motivated to try to learn and understand. ### Take-home message **Tip #5:** Use flashcards when you try to teach yourself new words and expressions. [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has a built-in flashcards module to help learners achieve optimal vocabulary learning. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/unnamed.png) ## Spaced Repetition Spaced repetition is a learning technique that is usually performed with flashcards. Newly introduced and more difficult flashcards are shown more frequently while older and less difficult flashcards are shown less frequently in order to exploit the psychological spacing effect and build robust long-term memory. **As the time proceeds, the inter-study intervals should also be expanded,** as shown in the following graph. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/1_C3HTFVEtk3iN6yFRdt4xVQ.png) Image from osmosis.org Evidence supporting spaced repetition technique can be found in a review (Cepeda et al., 2006) of 839 assessments of distributed practice in 317 experiments located in 184 articles. The review examined effects of spacing and of expanding inter-study intervals. The analyses suggested that the spaced retention and expanded inter-study intervals over time jointly improved the final retention outcome of targeted learning contents, not necessarily only for the purpose of vocabulary memorization. ### Take-home message - **Tip #6:** Review newly learned words actively and periodically in order to prevent forgetting. As time goes on, the review intervals should be expanded accordingly. - **Tip #7:** [Anki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a free flashcard program that uses spaced repetition. You can utilize this software to intelligently achieve your vocabulary learning goals. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Listening Development ## Using Suitable Materials- For All Levels Choosing suitable materials can play a key role in a learner's development of listening skills. Using authentic materials, including songs in the target language, radio, and a larger variety of multimedia resources should be taken into consideration. A descriptive study (Brett, 1998) investigated incidental language learning using multimedia as a self-study method. The study compared the language items of the multimedia input with learners' output. It showed that learners are a lot more likely to reuse the language items made salient and with interactive opportunities in the multimedia input. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/illustration-technology-vector_53876-5319.jpg) Image from freepik.com ### Take-home message - **Tip #8:** Listen to songs or podcasts in your target language. J-pop and K-pop are the ultimate motivation for many learners of Japanese and Korean, trying to understand the lyrics of J-pop or K-pop is a great exercise for learners. - **Tip #9:** Watch movies or TV programs in your target language. For example, the Oscar award-winning Korean movie *기생충 Parasite*. From video materials like this, you can not only get access to the most authentic expressions in daily scenarios, but also get a glimpse of the culture and society. ## Effects of Speech Rate - For Beginners & Intermediate Level The different rates of speech have different outcomes in the development of learners' listening comprehension skills. Rate of speech can be especially utilized to develop learners' listening in computer-assisted language learning materials. In a study investigating the effects of training learners of English as a foreign language with different rates of speech (McBride, 2011), evidence was found to suggest that exposing L2 learners to **slow and clear** spoken input can encourage their acquisition of the target language. This does not mean that learners should always practice with slow speech. A higher level of proficiency requires learners to be exposed to a large variety of styles of speech. However when introducing new words or grammatical structures, slow and clear speech is more helpful in letting them notice the details. Another study (Hayati, 2010) showed that for learners of intermediate or even higher level, **natural** speech rate could demonstrate greater improvements than slow speech rate in learners' listening comprehension. ### Take-home message - **Tip #10:** For beginners, listen to slow, clear speech and try to notice the details of language. [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) provides slow, clear speech recordings by native speakers. - **Tip #11:** For intermediate learners, try to listen to materials at a natural speech rate. You can challenge yourself by watching movies in your target language with subtitles on the first time and without subtitles the second time. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Improving Pronunciation ## Corrective feedback - For All Levels Having a good teacher, preferably a native speaker of the target language, and getting corrective feedback on one's production is important. Corrective feedback can confirm the strengths, and 7point out the weakness of the learners' speech production, and explicitly teach them the standard pronunciations in the target language. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2017-04-21-at-17.37.06.png) Image from sam-barrow.com Saito and Lyster's (2012) study, which used communicative language tasks, showed that an explicit focus on form with corrective feedback led to improvement in the learner's pronunciations. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Take-home message - **Tip #12:** Practice with native speakers or advanced learners and drill on the sounds that have been the most challenging for you. - **Tip #13:** You can even practice with Siri or any other intelligent chatbots! If Siri can perfectly transcribe whatever you say in your target language, give yourself a little reward because this is not easy. ## Effects of Language Awareness - For All Levels Researchers hypothesized that learners can produce speech in a foreign language more accurately or appropriately when they are aware of how this language conveys meanings. In terms of pronunciations, it suggests that if the learners are more aware of how certain pronunciation or prosodic patterns work in conveying meanings, they can produce speech with better pronunciation. The study of Kennedy and Trofimovich (2010) examined the relationship of learners' second language awareness and the quality of their pronunciation. They found a relationship between the students' pronunciation ratings and the degree of qualitative language awareness. When the students were clear with the rules of pronunciation and prosodic patterns, they got better ratings regarding their speech production. ### Take-home message - **Tip #14: Try to make clear and take notes about the pronunciation and prosodic features of your target language and practice accordingly.** For example, tell yourself that Japanese does not allow a syllable to end with a consonant except a nasal. Even if you know certain words are loans from English, let your awareness of language knowledge guide you to produce it in the Japanese way but not the English way which you are more familiar with. - **Tip #15:** Listen to the recordings by native speakers on [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and take notes about what the difficult parts are and what you need to be careful with when you try to speak. ## Final words Sometimes we spend more time researching how to learn a new language instead of actually just learning. Success in second language acquisition is only partly down to what tools and methods you use, the key is maintaining consistency in learning, practicing and using the language every day. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) References: - Pienemann, M. (1998). Language processing and second language development: Processability theory (Vol. 15). John Benjamins Publishing. - Pienemann, M. (2005). An introduction to processability theory. Cross-linguistic aspects of processability theory, 30, 179-199. - Dettori, G. (2011). Task-based language learning and teaching with technology. British Journal Of Educational Technology, 42(5), E114–E115. - Ellis, R. (2003). Task-based language learning and teaching. Oxford University Press. - Ruso, N. (1999). Influence of task based learning on EFL classrooms. - Finkbeiner, M., & Nicol, J. (2003). Semantic category effects in second language word learning. Applied psycholinguistics, 24(3), 369-383. - Sitompul, E. Y. (2013). Teaching vocabulary using flashcards and word list. Journal of English and Education, 1(1), 52-58\. - Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 354-380. - Smolen, P., Zhang, Y., & Byrne, J. H. (2016). The right time to learn: mechanisms and optimization of spaced learning. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17(2), 77. - Brett, P. (1998). Using multimedia: A descriptive investigation of incidental language learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 11(2), 179-200. - Miller, L. (2003). Developing listening skills with authentic materials. - Meskill, C. (1996). Listening skills development through multimedia. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 5(2), 179-201. - Sevik, M. (2012). Teaching Listening Skills to Young Learners through. In English teaching forum (Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 10-17). US Department of State. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. - Hayati, A. (2010). The effect of speech rate on listening comprehension of EFL learners. Creative Education, 1(02), 107. - Kara McBride (2011) The effect of rate of speech and distributed practice on the development of listening comprehension, Computer Assisted Language Learning, 24:2, 131-154, DOI: 10.1080/09588221.2010.528777 - Saito, K., & Lyster, R. (2012). Effects of form‐focused instruction and corrective feedback on L2 pronunciation development of/ɹ/by Japanese learners of English. Language Learning, 62(2), 595-633. - Grant, L., & Brinton, D. (2014). Pronunciation myths: Applying second language research to classroom teaching. University of Michigan Press. - Kennedy, S., & Trofimovich, P. (2010). Language awareness and second language pronunciation: A classroom study. Language Awareness, 19(3), 171-185. ### 15 Irregular Verbs in Spanish: Cheat Sheets Included URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-irregular-verbs-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:15.000Z When you go to Spain, these15 most commonly used irregular verbs in Spanish can help you get through the most important life situations. Irregular verbs in Spanish aren't as hard as they seem. There are some easy tricks to overcome this challenge. ## Why Do We Need to Learn Irregular Verbs in Spanish? Whether Spanish is the first new language you’re learning or one in the line of many, you might have noticed a certain peculiarity. Namely, that most—*if not all!*—languages of the world come with both many clear rules and...exceptions to those rules. The truth is...no one designs the language in any planned fashion. **Languages evolve depending on how speakers use them.** The words and forms used most often, change the quickest and are prone to developing irregularities. The exceptions can happen in most languages. Take an English verb as an example: - speak => spoke => spoken ### Why Do We Need Irregularities? Well, we don’t really *need* them… They just happen. And, there are many reasons for that. - One of them is **speed**. Speakers tend to shorten the most common words, or change their pronunciation to make them easier, and quicker, to pronounce. This is one of the reasons why [pronouns tend to be short](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-direct-object-pronouns/) in most languages. - Another reason can be **morphology** — the structure of the words— in combination with pronunciation rules of a given language. In order to preserve specific pronunciation, we need to change the spelling. There are specific types of verbs that tend to behave in an irregular way. For example, **verbs that are used very frequently, or those that describe simple actions**, such as *to be*, *to go*, *to speak*. All of them **have irregular forms both in English and in Spanish.** ## What Are The Most Commonly Used Verbs in Spanish? A lot of beginner learners cram new verbs, thinking the more they learn, the easier it will be to speak. **This is not the case.** Fluency is more about knowing how to say the most common phrases with confidence. This is what helps you find your way in a language quickly, even in new situations. Language is about communicating thoughts and desires. Whether you’re talking to a new Spanish *amigo* about your favorite film, or are ordering a *café con leche*, **you’re trying to achieve a specific goal**—pass information to another speaker to complete a transaction or build a connection. > Knowing most frequently used verbs in Spanish will help you communicate in most common situations. Based on an analysis of a lot of Spanish texts, Mark Davies, the author of “[A Frequency Dictionary of Spanish. Core Vocabulary for Learners](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415334292?ie=UTF8&tag=vistawide-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0415334292&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)” made a list of the most frequently used verbs in Spanish. Based on what we explained above about verb usage, you won’t be surprised to learn **the first 13 of the frequency list are in fact irregular verbs.** There is **no need to cram 100 new verbs in Spanish**. Especially not in the initial stages of your learning. You can achieve 80% of results learning just the most commonly used ones. Because [regular verb conjugation is a piece of cake](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-verb-conjugation-2/) in this post **we’ll focus on the top 13 irregulars**. You’re probably aching to know which ones they are. ### Here is the list of most frequently used verbs in Spanish: - Ser - to be - Haber - to must, helping verb in compound tenses - Estar - to be - Tener - to have - Hacer - to do - Poner - to put - Decir - to say - Ir - to go - Ver - to see - Dar - to give - Saber - to know - Querer - to want, like, love - Llegar - to arrive After the first 13, the frequency list has a mix of regular and irregular verbs. To teach you a round number of 15 verbs in one post we’ll add another two. The two following irregulars on the Davies’ frequency list are: ***poder* (to be able to)** and ***parecer* (to seem)**. One note here before we move on. Remember that it’s hard to give each of the verbs in Spanish one simple equivalent in English. **There will rarely be one-for-one translations**. We provided the translations above for convenience, but bear in mind that they may not work for every sentence. For example, *ser* and *estar* have the same translation, but their usage differs. Mastering the distinctions between *ser* and *estar* in Spanish is something that even advanced learners have to work on! **✅TLDR?** Check out the cheat sheets of irregular verbs in Spanish below ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/irregular-verbs-in-Spanish.jpg) ![Irregular verbs in Spanish 1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/Irregular-verbs-in-Spanish-1.jpg) You’ll learn about the nuances of each verb as you progress through the [LingoDeer Spanish course](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## How to Use Irregular Verbs in Spanish It will be surprisingly **easy for you to learn irregular verbs in Spanish**. *Why?* Because they appear so often! Not only do they describe your daily activities, but also feature in many common set phrases or as parts of phrasal verbs and sayings. In other words: > There is no way to escape irregular verbs in Spanish, regardless of what you do to avoid them. ### Irregular Verbs in Spanish: Regular Stem Change We keep using the term “irregular verbs”, but the truth is there are regularities that can be found in the ways they behave. The most common regularity is called **a stem change**. The stem is a part of the verb, before the ending, like here: - **Habl**ar - **Conoc**er - **Sent**ir In some stems, we’ll see a change in spelling and pronunciation in one or more persons. The most common changes are: - *e ➡ ie* which happens in, for example, *sentir* (to feel), *pensar* (to think), or, *entender* (to understand) - *o ➡ ue* which happens in, for example, *cocer* (to bake), *encontrar* (to find), *poder* (to be able to), *tener* (to have) - *e ➡ i* which happens in, for example, *seguir* (to follow), *decir* (to say), *pedir* (to ask for) Let’s see how this works in practice! You’d expect the verb *sentir* to look like this: - *Sento* *el olor del chocolate.* But, following the rule above, e turns into ie, and the correct version of this sentence is: - *Siento el olor del chocolate. (I feel the smell of chocolate.)* Since this post is about the **most common irregular verbs in Spanish,** below we give you **present tense** conjugations of the verbs we listed earlier, and in which we can see the stem change. | | e → ie | e → ie | o → ue | | ---------- | -------- | -------- | ------- | | | sentir | querer | poder | | yo | siento | quiero | puedo | | tú | sientes | quieres | puedes | | él/ella/Ud | siente | quiere | puede | | nosotros | sentimos | queremos | podemos | | vosotros | sentís | queréis | podéis | | ellos/Uds. | sienten | quieren | pueden | Let’s have three short—and useful!—example sentences for easier memorization. - *No me siento bien.* — I feel unwell. - *¿Puede usted ayudarme?* — Can you help me? - *¿Quieres ir a la playa?* — Do you want to go to the beach? ### Irregular Verbs in Spanish: First Person Change There are also several verbs where **the only change you’ll witness is in the first person**. Since it’s the one you use to talk about yourself—and that’s what we all talk about most often :P — you’ll have an easy time remembering it! This category includes seven verbs from our list of the most common verbs in Spanish. Take a look at the conjugations: | | dar | hacer | poner | ver | | ----------- | ----- | ------- | ------- | ----- | | yo | doy | hago | pongo | veo | | tú | das | haces | pones | ves | | él/ella/Ud. | da | hace | pone | ve | | nosotros | damos | hacemos | ponemos | vemos | | vosotros | dais | hacéis | ponéis | veis | | ellos/Uds. | dan | hacen | ponen | ven | | | ir | parecer | estar | saber | | ----------- | ----- | --------- | ------- | ------- | | yo | voy | parezco | estoy | sé | | tú | vas | pareces | estás | sabes | | él/ella/Ud. | va | parece | está | sabe | | nosotros | vamos | parecemos | estamos | sabemos | | vosotros | vais | parecéis | estáis | sabéis | | ellos/Uds. | van | parecen | están | saben | If you **follow the LingoDeer course** you have probably come across sentences using these verbs. But, let’s have a few more sentences to illustrate how they work and help you memorize the irregular forms. To make your learning even more efficient, try to come up with some more sentences yourself! - *Te doy un café.* — I give you a coffee. - *No hago más.* — I don’t do (anything) more. - *Pongo la mesa.* — I set the table. - *No te veo.* — I don’t see you. - *Voy al bar.* — I’m going to the bar. - *Me parezco a una tortuga.* — I look like a turtle. - *Estoy cansada.* — I’m tired. - *No sé cuándo.* — I don’t know when. **Challenge**: Try to come up with a storyline that would fit all these sentences in! ;-) ### Combo: Stem Change with Irregular Yo Now that you know the two important concepts above, we can quickly handle the verbs *to say* and *to have* in Spanish. The verbs *decir,* and *tener* have both a stem change (*i > e*) ***and*** an irregular first person form. | | **e → i** | **e → ie** | | ----------- | --------- | ---------- | | | **decir** | **tener** | | yo | d**igo** | t**engo** | | tú | d**ices** | t**i**enes | | él/ella/Ud. | d**ic**e | t**i**ene | | nosotros | decimos | tenemos | | vosotros | decís | tenéis | | ellos/Uds. | d**ic**en | t**i**enen | Speaking Spanish, you’ll often be using phrases that use the verbs above. For example: - *¿Qué dices?* — What are you saying? - *Te digo que…* — I’m telling you that… - *No tengo mucho dinero.* — I don’t have a lot of money. - *¿Tienes ganas de comer?* — Do you feel like eating? Take note of the phrases using the verb to say that appear in the [LingDeer Spanish course](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or write your own. The more you use them the easier it will be to remember how the [Spanish verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-verb-conjugation-2/) looks like. ### To be… An Expert on Irregular Verbs in Spanish! If you go back to the initial list of most common verbs you’ll notice that we already covered 13 out of the 15 we promised to talk about. We have two left. One of them is the verb *llegar*. It’s common in use but, it’s only showing irregular behavior in its subjunctive and imperative forms, something you’ll learn at the later stages of your Spanish journey. So, we can actually skip it for now. The **only verb we have left to cover** is the ubiquitous **verb *ser*, *to be***. You probably already learned to say your name, so you know at least one of its conjugations. Let’s take a look. > **ser** > > Yo **soy**, tú **eres**, él/ella/Ud **es**, nosotros **somos**, vosotros **sois**, ellos/ellas/Uds **son** Notice that most forms start with “so-” and follow an almost regular pattern. The only irregularities are in: - The **first** person, which ends with “-y”, just like in the case of *ir* (=> *voy*) or *dar* (=> *doy*). - The **second** and **third** person singular. These are truly irregular, and start with “e-” rather than “so-”. Now, because *eres un buen estudiante* (you’re a good student), we’ll end this section with a task. Come up with an example sentence for each of the forms above. **Creating sentences that are meaningful to you is one of the best ways to practice new material**. And, if you want to accompany that with a structured course, [LingoDeer is here](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for you! ## Bonus: Practice Irregular Verbs in Spanish with This Song! > And, if you’d rather jump straight to hands-on practice of verbs in Spanish...[start right away with the LingoDeer Spanish course](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! > > > ### I in Japanese: 8 Ways to Say It [Bonus Included] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/i-in-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:18.000Z Learning the different ways that pronouns are used will help you to get a better understanding of the Japanese and pick up on jokes and nuance you wouldn’t have understood before. Don’t worry about learning them all at once: practice the most common ones first and the rest you can pick up as you encounter them. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Most Commonly Used I in Japanese: Polite And Normal Let’s take a look at the most common forms of the pronoun "I" in Japanese: **私 (わたし), 私 (わたくし), 僕 (ぼく), 私 (あたし), 自分 (じぶん), 俺 (おれ). There are dozens upon dozens of words for "I" in Japanese, depending on who you are talking to and what the situation is. The use of the first pronoun "I" vary between gender, age, formality, and even regional dialect.** ![differernt I in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/65606288_2340385019415172_651672630453075968_o.jpg) Image source: @JPTIP日語 from Facebook ### 1\. 私 (わたし): This is the most common and *relatively* gender-neutral version of “I” and is perfectly acceptable for you to use in almost any situation. This will likely be the first pronoun you learn in your textbook or language class. As a new learner of Japanese, no native speakers will expect you to use a gendered or casual first person pronoun, so don’t feel pressured to mimic your language partners’ personal pronoun use until you feel comfortable with the nuance of the words. However, **it is important to note that the use of わたし in casual contexts is usually seen as feminine or sometimes a little too polite.** You may consider using ぼく if you identify as masculine. ### 2\. 私 (わたくし): This is slightly more formal than わたし and is often used in a business context. わたくし is also gender-neutral. Unless you are making a speech in front of a large group of people or you’re using Japanese for business purposes, you don’t need to stress about using this pronoun. ### 3\. 僕 (ぼく): This is a slightly more casual and masculine form of わたし. ぼく is the most common masculine personal pronoun and can be used by men at any age, though it is most frequently heard by boys. While ぼく is certainly more casual than わたし, it can be safely used in slightly more polite contexts, such as when speaking in front of a teacher or among coworkers at work. However, **certainly try to avoid using it in front of superiors at work**. You may also occasionally hear girls using the personal pronoun ぼく, but this gives off a sort of tomboyish, anime-lover vibe. ### 4\. 私 (あたし): This is a more casual and feminine form of わたし. It sounds sweet, cute, and girlish. Primarily used by women, you may occasionally hear a man using it to convey a feminine gender identity and/or queer sexuality. ### 5\. 内・家 (うち): This personal pronoun is more commonly used by young women, but can be heard from young men as well. It can be used by a person of any gender to mean “we” or “our” as in one’s in-group, whether that is a household, a company, etc. For example, うちの犬 (our dog / the family dog). This pronoun used to be more commonly heard in the Kansai Region but is now much more widespread. ### 6\. 自分 (じぶん): This is a casual personal pronoun that can be used as a first-person or second-person pronoun depending on the region. Most of the time, it is used as a first-person pronoun that creates a slight sense of distance between the speaker and the listener. It was also originally used by Japanese soldiers to refer to themselves and has gained some popularity amongst members of sports clubs, police, firefighters, etc. It can also be used as a second person pronoun for “you” in the Kansai Region, so don’t be confused if someone asks a question about じぶん - they’re probably asking you about you, not themselves! As you can see, there is a lot of nuance around gender identity and social standing with many of these pronouns. Suddenly going from using a casual pronoun to a slightly more formal one can change how your conversation partners think you’re viewing them and your relationship to them. This clip from the 2016 body-switch film 君の名は*(Your Name)* provides a glance at how a sudden change in personal pronoun use can cause major confusion among friends! ## ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## I in Japanese: The Casual Forms You May Have Encountered in Anime and Drama ### 7\. 俺 (おれ): おれ is a casual way of saying *I* in Japanese. **Warning: Don’t try this one at home!** This very casual, very masculine personal pronoun is commonly heard among boys in school showing off in front of their friends or from anime protagonists. But, you might protest, I heard plenty of male university students using it when I studied abroad in Japan! While the pronoun おれ is not as uncommon as it is made out to be by your textbook, it can take a long time for a learner of Japanese to figure out which context it’s appropriate in and how to make the rest of the sentence match its casual, masculine nature. It’s best to observe and implement on your own when you really feel you understand when and how to use it. **Until then, go for ぼく.** ![I in Japanese: 8 ways You Should Know and Dozens of Extras!](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/I-will-be-kaizokuou-Credit.jpg) ![how to say I in Japanese- おれ is a casual way of saying "I" in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/Credit-One-Piece.png) おれ is a casual way of saying "I" in Japanese. Credit: One Piece ### 8\. 儂 (わし): You may have heard old male characters in anime using わし instead of わたし. This is commonly used by older men when speaking to a younger conversation partner. ![first pronoun changes through Japanese history](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/ichininshoudaimeisi-rekisihyou.jpg) First pronoun changes through Japanese history Image source: https://ruppatiti-rupam.com/ichininshou/ ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## I in Japanese: Professional Situations You are far less likely to encounter the following pronouns unless you’re working for a Japanese company and interact with a lot of **business e-mails, texts, and situations**. It’s worth mentioning that someone whose profession may confer them the use of one of these pronouns is not going to go home to their family at the end of the day and refer to themselves as しょうしょく. The use of these pronouns exists entirely within **a professional context.** ### 9\. 小職（しょうしょく) : This first person pronoun is primarily used by low-level government workers. As you can surmise from the use of the kanji character for small (小), this pronoun has a very humble connotation. ### 10\. 当方（とうほう）: A very formal pronoun used to represent the “we” of the company or in-group. Literally, the kanji means “this side.” ### 11\. 本職 (ほんしょく) : Some professionals such as lawyers or public officials may use this pronoun to refer to themselves. ### 12\. 先生（せんせい）Sensei : Yes, Sensei is a noun meaning teacher or doctor, but can also be used as a personal pronoun by a teacher to his or her own students or by a doctor to his or her own patients. This is not especially common, however. ### Publishing Field： ### 13\. 作者 (さくしゃ) : This noun meaning “author” can become a personal pronoun to refer to oneself as an author in the context of an interview or commentary following one’s written literary work. ### 14\. 編集子 (へんしゅうし) : This can be used as a pronoun for a member of the editorial staff on a publication. ### 15\. 筆者 (ひっしゃ) : This can be used as a personal pronoun when the author of writing refers to themselves within that writing. This is different from さくしゃ in that ひっしゃ does not refer to being the author of a creative “work,” be it a play, novel, or personal essay. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Old Fashioned I in Japanese The following pronouns will primarily be read in fiction or heard in period pieces, as they are old-fashioned and no longer used in everyday conversation. ### 16\. 我輩、吾輩、我が輩、吾が輩（わがはい）: The most famous use of this pronoun is in the title of Natsume Soseki’s novel, I Am a Cat (我輩は猫である). Today this pronoun is primarily seen in literary contexts and will make the speaker sound masculine and a bit haughty. ![how to say I in Japanese- I Am A Cat](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/I-Am-A-Cat-by-Natumesouseki-image-from-Amazon.jpg) Book Cover of "I Am A Cat". Credit: Natsume Sōseki ### 17\. 某（それがし）: You might encounter this one in a samurai period piece. This first person pronoun was a humble way for samurai to refer to themselves. It grew more arrogant sounding over time. ### 18\. 朕（チン）: This one was used by the emperor prior to WWII. Think of the British royal “we” and you’ll get the idea. ### 19\. 麻呂・麿（まろ）: This archaic pronoun was used in ancient times but can now be heard in period pieces among male aristocrats participating in court life. ### 20\. 我（われ）: Don’t mix this one up with the pronoun for “we” 我々 (われわれ) used in business contexts. The singular われ is very old-fashioned and exceedingly polite, so you will likely only encounter it in a literary context. ### 21\. 吾（わ): This pronoun is even older than われ and so will not come up on its own in any modern context outside of a period piece. That said, it is still used in formal contexts in the possessive form when followed by が and the object. For example, 我が家 (わがや) means “my/our house” or 我が社 (わがしゃ) means “my/our company.” ### 22\. 余・予（よ）: Used primarily by nobles during the Heian period. Similar to われ but a bit more pompous. ### 23\. 妾（わらわ）: The humble pronoun used by women in samurai families. Often used to indicate that a woman is of high standing in period pieces. ### 24\. 拙者（せっしゃ) : This is commonly heard in samurai flicks as a humble way for samurai to refer to themselves. ### 25\. 此方（こなた) : An archaic first-person pronoun used by noblewomen. Do you see the similarity to あなた? Literally, こなた originally means “this side” and あなた means “that side.” You can see where the sense of distance comes from when using the term あなた! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Discouraged Way of Saying I in Japanese ### 26\. 俺様 (おれさま): While you may hear おれ pretty frequently these days, おれさま still sounds like an incredibly arrogant anime character or yakuza thug. If someone is using it with you, they’re probably (hopefully!) making a joke. ### 27\. あたくし: While this pronoun seems at first glance to just be a more explicitly feminine version of わたくし, it can also make the speaker sound pompous. So be wary of this one and **don’t use it unless you’re confident that it’s appropriate for the context!** ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Fun Facts: I in Japanese Dialects To add another layer of flavor to the connotations of personal pronouns in Japanese, you will find that there are many region-specific pronouns as well! Note: not everyone from these regions uses these pronouns. ### The Kansai region or the Kinki region ### 28\. わい: This personal pronoun heard mostly among male speakers from the Kansai region and is used in casual contexts. ### 29\. わて: Not so commonly heard these days, you may encounter a character in media who is meant to be portrayed as a stereotypically Kansai character using わて. This pronoun is gender-neutral. ### 30\. あて: Not so commonly heard these days, you may encounter a female character in media who is meant to be portrayed as a stereotypically Kansai character using あて. ### The Tohoku region: ### 31\. わだす: Tohoku dialect for わたし. ### 32\. あだす: Tohoku dialect for あたし. ### 33\. わす: Tohoku dialect for わし. ### Kanto area: ### 34\. 俺ら (おら): Kanto version of おいら, a casual masculine personal pronoun that gives off a rural, country-boy vibe. ### Kyushu area: ### 35\. おいどん: The Kyushu version of おれ. Used by older men. ### 36\. おい: The Kyushu version of おれ. Used by men of all ages but often by boys. ![how to say I in Japanese- Japanese dialects map](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/09/japanese-dialects-map-Image-from-theDaoofDragonBall.jpg) Japanese dialects map, Image from theDaoofDragonBall ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Other Words That Are Used in “I”’s place As we will see in a moment, there are plenty of times where the subject is omitted from the sentence entirely. However, there are also times when Japanese speakers feel they need to include the subject in the sentence but prefer not to use first-person pronouns and instead use someone’s name or title. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Use One’s Own Name This is like talking in the third-person. This practice tends to be used by very young children (girls and boys, but mostly girls) and sometimes young women (under 20). Luckily, verb conjugation in Japanese doesn’t change based on whether you’re referring to a first-person, second person, or third person, so you don’t have to think too hard about making the verb match the subject! - 「私は動物園にいっちゃった。」 - *I went to the zoo.* - 「みちこは動物園にいっちゃった。」 - *Michiko went to the zoo.* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Family Roles (Towards Children) Sometimes Japanese speakers will refer to themselves and other family members in the same way the children in the family call them. For example, a woman may call herself “ママ (mommy) ” and her husband パパ (daddy). **This tends to be done in front of the children.** If there are multiple aunts, uncles, grandpas or grandmas in question, someone might refer to themselves with the title but add their first name as a prefix (e.g. an uncle named Hiroshi may call himself ひろしおじさん). This is like saying Grandpa Joe or Auntie Sue in English. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### When Can Japanese Pronouns Be Omitted? To English-speaking learners of the Japanese language, the abundance of personal pronouns can seem novel, fascinating, and also daunting. Not only are there different ways of referring to the first person based on gender and formality, but there are also times when the pronoun can be omitted altogether! Let’s take a look at some examples of some simple sentences that function perfectly well without a specific subject or personal pronoun. - 「昨日スーパーに行きました。」 - *Yesterday, (I) went to the supermarket.* - 「二年生です。」 - *(I) am a student.* - 「土曜日も仕事に行くの？」 - *Will (you) go to work on Saturday, too?* Pronouns are often omitted entirely **as long as the meaning of the sentence is still clear.** This is especially the case for first and second personal pronouns (“I” and “you”). If you were to introduce yourself, it’s perfectly acceptable to say - *「私は学生です」 (I am a student)* or - 「私の名前はジョンです。よろしくおねがいします。」 *(My name is John. Nice to meet you).* But from context, it’s obvious that when you initiate a conversation with someone and just say - 「ジョンです。よろしくおねがいします。」*(\[I\] am John. Nice to meet you)* that the person you’re referring to as John is yourself. If you began a conversation and said 「ねえ、昨日、遊園地に行っちゃった。」*(Hey, yesterday \[I\] went to an amusement park)* it is probably obvious to your conversation partner that you’re telling them about something that happened to you, not them or a third person altogether. This can take some getting used to, but it’s even easier to figure out when someone is asking a question. Remember that it’s generally rude to use [the second personal pronoun あなた ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/you-in-japanese-anata/)*(you)* in Japanese. It is far more common and natural to use the person’s name or title or omit the pronoun altogether. So, amongst a group of friends, you might say 「ひろこちゃん、週末は何しているの？」*(Hiroko-chan, what will \[you\] do this weekend?)* to specify who you’re talking to, but you still don’t need the “you” pronoun. **In a one-on-one conversation, you can just ask your question without any pronoun.** As for third-person pronouns, they are more likely to require contextual establishment as the subject of the sentence at the beginning of the conversation, but **this is again done more frequently with a person’s name or title.** Actually, the third person pronouns 彼 (“he”) and 彼女 (“she”) can also mean “boyfriend” and “girlfriend,” so it’s important to be careful. You might say 「土曜日に彼女と一緒に映画を見るつもりだ」 *(\[I\] plan on going to see a movie with her on Saturday)*, but it might sound like you’re talking about your girlfriend if this “her” isn’t clearly established beforehand! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) You may be feeling like you’re in a pronoun daze after digesting all of this information. Perhaps you even feel jealous that English merely has the universal, gender-neutral “I.” Why can’t it be so simple for Japanese? While the initial challenge does exist, think of all the language play you can learn to create with all of these pronouns. Expressing your personality and even your gender identity can be so much more nuanced and meaningful with all the possibilities that Japanese provides. Reading Japanese texts and watching anime will become a much richer experience when the hidden meanings behind pronouns become available to you. Get excited and [keep on learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/)! ### Typing in Chinese: How and What Programs to Use URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/typing-in-chinese/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:34:18.000Z As you progress from a beginner to an intermediate learner of Chinese, the likelihood of having to produce Chinese text increases. A skill you need to learn at this stage is typing in Chinese on your computer or smartphone. But there are about 2500 commonly used Chinese characters! Does that mean that I have to get a keyboard with at least 2500 buttons? ![typing in chinese: meme of funny chinese keyboard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image6.png) Image from KnowYourMeme The answer is NO! You can easily type any Chinese character you want with the QWERTY keyboard. 1. You need to know the Pinyin and tones or the radical of the character you want to type. 2. Choose an input method. 3. Download a Chinese keyboard. 4. Note some unique letters in the Pinyin system. 5. Know how to use punctuation. Let’s get started! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## An Introduction to Input Method for Typing in Chinese As the universal keyboard on computers consist of 26 letters, and Chinese characters look nothing like them, the first thing you need to do to start typing in Chinese is to find a suitable input method. An input method is a typing software on your device that allows you to represent all Chinese characters with the 26 letters in a systematic manner. We introduce three input methods for Simplified Chinese: Pinyin, five-stroke and handwriting. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Typing in Chinese with Pinyin Input Method The Pinyin input method is the most commonly used one today. As the name suggests, the Pinyin input method uses Pinyin, the Romanization system to represent the pronunciations of Chinese characters. To use this input method, you first have to be familiar with Pinyin, which is usually the first thing learners of Chinese will learn. You also need to know the pronunciation of the characters you are typing. ![typing in chinese: pinyin ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image4.png) Image from TutorMing Blog When using the Pinyin input method, you first type in the Pinyin letters that represent Chinese syllables, then you choose the correct character among all possible results that share the same pronunciation. We’ll start learning how to type Chinese with Pinyin step-by-step in a minute. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Typing in Chinese with Five-stroke Input Method Chinese characters are made up of components, and these components are written with strokes. The five-stroke input method utilizes this feature of Chinese characters. It divides the 26-letter keyboard into 5 areas, and the buttons in each area represent components that are made up of the 5 basic strokes in Chinese: “一” (heng)、“丨” (shu)、 “丿” (pie)、“丶” (dian) and “乛” (zhe). ![typing in chinese: five-stroke input method explanation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image24.png) Image from Wubizhijia To use the five-stroke input method, you need to know the order of the strokes to write each Chinese character. An advantage of this input method is that it actually types Chinese in a more straightforward manner - what you type is what you see on the screen, you don’t have to choose among results. Therefore, typing with the five-stroke input method can be really fast when you are familiar enough with it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Typing in Chinese with Handwriting Input Method This input method is the easiest to understand: you write the Chinese character by hand on the screen, then your device will recognize it. With this input method, you can input characters whose pronunciation you don’t know. You don’t even have to know the order of the strokes in a character, because this input method only recognizes the whole character after you complete writing it. Two main drawbacks of this method, however, often mean that not many people choose it. Firstly, it is the slowest, as you have to write each character one by one. Also, if your writing is not easy to recognize, you have to choose again from the results the machine suggests based on what you’re writing. The second drawback is that you probably need a touchscreen to write. Computer users are not able to use this input method, because it’s extremely difficult to write Chinese characters with your mouse. ![typing in chinese: handwriting input method](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image25.png) Sogou Handwriting Pad ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Before Typing in Chinese - Install a Pinyin Keyboard As mentioned before, the Pinyin input method is the most common one, so we are going to teach you how to use it step-by-step. Before you’re ready to type, you need to install a Pinyin keyboard on your device. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Install the Default Keyboard of Your Operating System Whether you want to type on your computer or smartphone, you can always install a default Pinyin keyboard, whatever the operating system of your device. For Mac and iPhone users, you can find it through your settings. ![typing in chinese: default pinyin input on Mac](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image3.png) Pinyin Input on Mac ![typing in chinese: default pinyin input on IOS](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image5.png) Pinyin Input on IOS ![typing in chinese: default pinyin input on windows](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image2.jpg) Pinyin Input on Windows ![typing in chinese: google pinyin for android ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image23.png) Pinyin Input on Android ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Tool Recommendations for Typing in Chinese Besides the default Pinyin keyboard, we also recommend a couple of tools that can be useful for Chinese learners. [Sogou](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sohu.inputmethod.sogou&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Pinyin keyboard is one of the input method software with most users in the Chinese market. It is powerful for its lexicon and machine learning algorithm to let you type the most efficiently. ![typing in chinese: sogou input method app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image18.png) Sogou Input Method on Appstore [Gboard](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is highly recommended for Android users who need to type in more than two languages on their smartphones. You can get keyboards of multiple languages with this app and exchange them according to your needs when you type. ![typing in chinese: gboard app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image26.png) Gboard on Google Play Store ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Start Typing Chinese Characters with Pinyin Once you are set up with your input software on your device, we can officially start typing Chinese characters. We start by typing single Chinese characters. ### What About Tones When Typing in Chinese? As you know, Pinyin consists of two parts: the **romanization** and the **tonal mark**. To type any Chinese characters, you only have to type the romanization on your keyboard. For example, I want to type the character 你 (nǐ), I press “n” and “i” on my keyboard, then this is what I see: ![typing in chinese: typing 你](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image19.png) After I type in romanization “ni”, the Microsoft default Pinyin keyboard provides me with a list of possible results for “ni”. In this list, characters with different tones are **mixed** together, but they all have “ni” as their romanization. Therefore, when you type with Pinyin keyboard, you **don’t** need to know the exact tone, but **you need to know the romanization of the characters and what they look like** in order to pick them out from the results list. Because the first one on the list is the character 你 I need, I either press “space” or “1” to type this character out. If I want to type a less commonly used character 匿 (nì) which shares the same romanization, I have to expand the list and view more results. To do this, I press the “+” button on the keyboard. ![typing in chinese: how to expand result list](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image20.jpg) The list changes to other results: ![typing in chinese: typing 匿](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image12.png) To pick out the character 匿 I want, I press “6” to select it. Note that due to the modern machine learning algorithms, the result selection system becomes more and more intelligent. It considers both the general character frequency and your personalized typing history. The more and recent you type a character, the more likely it will be put towards the front of the results list. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to Type ü Now you might be wondering which letter on the keyboard represents the special “ü” letter in Chinese Pinyin. The answer for that is “v”. “v” stands for “ü” on the keyboard. So here are which letters you would press to type words involving “ü” : - 女 nv - 绿 lv Compare them with typing “nu” and “lu”: - 怒 nu - 鹿 lu ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Typing Chinese Words or Phrases with Pinyin The Pinyin keyboard also allows you to type multiple characters at the same time! This will improve your efficiency a lot by typing common words and phrases all at once instead of picking out each character one by one. ### How to Pick the Correct Words or Phrases To type a word or a phrase, you input all the romanization you need. For example, if I want to type 你好, I press “n” + “i” + “h” + “a” + “o” continuously, and this is what I get: ![typing in chinese: typing 你好](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image14.png) Because 你好 is listed as the first one, I either press “space” or “1” to select it. If the word or phrase you are typing is not a common one, you will have to still pick individual characters out. For example, if I try to type somebody’s name 李粒, I input the full romanization “lili” first. However, all the listed results are not what I want. ![typing in chinese: typing 李粒](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/1-2.png) So I press “+” to view more results and find the first individual character I want. After I find 李, I press “6” to select it. ![typing in chinese: typing 李粒](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/2-3.png) Then the system will automatically move to the result of the second syllable “li”. I browse through the list to find the one I want. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/11.png) After I find 粒，I press “1” or space to get the whole name. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Apostrophe - the Syllable Dividing Mark The apostrophe is a very useful tool to divide the syllables when you type words consisting of short syllables that might be confused as one. This can happen when the second syllable starts with a vowel. For example, the romanization of the city name 西安 is “xi” and “an”. If I input “xian” directly, the system will give me results with the syllable “xian” but not “xi + an”. In order to solve this, I type an apostrophe ‘ after inputting the first syllable. By typing “xi’an”, I make sure that I get the correct word. ![typing in chinese: typing 西安](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image1.png) Here are another two examples requiring the syllable dividing mark: - 饥饿 ji’e - 湖岸 hu’an ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Typing in Chinese: Punctuations When you move on to type Chinese sentences or even paragraphs. You will need to use punctuation. There is no spacing in Chinese writing, but punctuation is necessary. Some Chinese punctuation rules work the same as in English. Here is a list of common punctuation rules in Chinese and a brief introduction to their function. - Full stop 。 The full stop marks the end of a sentence. - Comma ， The comma marks a pause in a sentence. - Exclamation mark ! The exclamation mark marks the end of an exclamation. - Quotation mark “” The Quotation marks in Chinese are used to directly quote other people’s words. - Question mark ? Question marks are used at the end of questions. - Colon : A colon usually precedes a list, an explanation or a quotation. - Semicolon ; The semicolon is something in between a full stop and a comma. It is used to segment clauses that are related. - Enumeration comma **、** The enumeration comma is used to separate items in a list. - Middle dot ‧ The middle dot is put between the first and last names of translated western names. - Title marks 《》 Title marks are used to signify the names of books or movies. - Ellipsis …… The Ellipsis is used to signify that some contents are omitted here. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Another Pinyin Keyboard Layout on Smartphone - 9 Key 9 Key, also known as PhonePad, is another Pinyin keyboard layout which is typically used on smartphones nowadays. It was actually the only keyboard layout available for Chinese people before the smartphone era, simply because all phones only had 9 keys for inputting back at that time! ### Why and How to Get 9 Key As people gradually move to smartphones which can fit a 26-key keyboard on the screen, 9 key is now less commonly used, however it still remains the preferred choice for many people because it is easier to type with only **one hand.** ![typing in chinese: 9-key layout](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image7.png) This is a typical 9 key layout on the phone. Key “1” represents the syllable dividing mark, while key “2” \~ “9” each represents 3 or 4 letters. Before starting using 9 Key, you need to get it on your device first. The good news is that you don’t have to install any extra app for this. Most of the Chinese input apps allow you to change between 26 key full keyboard or 9 key within it. ![typing in chinese: how to get 9-key layout](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image11.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Typing Chinese Characters, Words and Phrases with 9 Key Now you might be wondering how to use this keyboard layout with clusters of letters. The answer is don't panic and just remember to use it according to Pinyin input rules. Instead of pressing the button representing each letter directly, you press the button containing the letter you want. For example, if I want to type 你(nǐ), I need “n” and “i”. So I press “6” and “4” that contain these two letters. ![typing in chinese: typing 你 on 9 key](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image9.png) Because the sequence of “6” + “4” can only make syllables “ni” or “mi”. The app will automatically provide you with the results of both syllables. Because 你 is a very common character, it ranks the first here, so I press it to type it into my text. If your wanted character is less common and thus not listed in the first few recommendations, there are two things you can do. First, you can select the specific syllable you want on the left side of the keyboard. By doing this, the app will only give you character results of the specified syllables, so you can pick out your character faster. ![typing in chinese: specify the syllable on 9 key](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image16.jpg) The other thing you can do is to extend the result list by pressing the “>” button in the upper right corner. ![typing in chinese: expand the list on 9 key](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image15.jpg) Then you'll see an expanded result list and you can pick your desired character from there. To type multi-syllable Chinese words or phrases, in the same manner, you press the buttons that contain the letters you need. For example, if I want to type the four-character idiom 人山人海, I need the letters “renshanrenhai”. So I press the buttons “7367426736421”. ![typing in chinese: type 人山人海 with 9 key](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/image21.jpg) Since this is a commonly used idiom, the app intelligently gives it to me. However, if you do not see the words or phrases, press the “>” button to view more in the expanded list. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Last But Not Least... Congratulation for the acquisition of another important skill - typing in Chinese. We have a few more advice for you on not only practicing this skill to perfection but also improving your general competence in Chinese. - Review your panoramic plan of[ learning Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/) and wisely utilize your skill of typing in Chinese to practice Chinese through texting with Chinese friends, writing blogs in Chinese, etc. - Build your necessary vocabulary and practice typing in Chinese at the same time! Try to type these [HSK 1](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-1-vocabulary-list/), [HSK 2](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-2-vocabulary-full-list/), and [HSK 3](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-3-vocabulary-full-list/) words. - Keep learning Chinese with [LingoDeer's](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/cn/en/learn-chinese-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) scientifically designed curriculum! ### Japanese Counters: How to Talk About Numbers Like a Native URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-counters/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:51:19.000Z ## Prerequisite of Japanese Counters: Counting in Japanese ## Quick Answer: How do Japanese counters work? Japanese numbers are commonly paired with counter words selected for the object, person, event, duration or concept being counted. The counter can affect pronunciation, and different counters combine with Sino-Japanese, native Japanese or borrowed number forms. Learning counters in complete phrases is more reliable than memorizing a number alone. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------ | -------------------------------------------- | | 枚 (まい) | flat objects such as sheets | | 本 (ほん) | long cylindrical objects, with sound changes | | 匹 (ひき) | many small animals, also with sound changes | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. This article builds off of a previous understanding of basic counting in Japanese. We suggest reading our article about [Japanese numbers ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/1-to-10-in-japanese/)before continuing with this guide. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## What Are Japanese Counters? In Japanese, numerals cannot quantify nouns by themselves. Numerals must be combined with a counter word that corresponds with the object or concept being counted. **These counters are also not independent words; they must appear with a numeric prefix.** This may sound confusing at first, but let’s take a look at a similar pattern in English: **✔** “I have three bottles of wine at home.” ❌ “I have three wines at home.” **✔** “Can you give me three sheets of paper?” ❌ “Can you give me three papers?” As you can see, this counter system is also at play when counting certain nouns in English. Some nouns just don’t sound natural when being counted unless you have a counter word describing them. However, the key difference between the two languages is that **Japanese nouns will always have a counter associated with them** while some English nouns do not (e.g. counting cats and dogs requires no counter in English). So, you’re probably thinking, “Okay, teach me the most common counter words already so I can start speaking Japanese naturally!” But there’s one more thing you should know --- the numeric prefix can be radically different depending on the syllables that follow it or the type of counter that follows it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Japanese Counters and Three Counting Systems: Kango, Wago and Gairaigo ![3 different Japanese counting system ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/national-flags.png) Three methods of counting with different linguistic origins in Japanese. | Wago, Kango, and Gairaigo Numbers 1 - 10 | | | | | ---------------------------------------- | ------ | --------- | -------- | | | Wago | Kango | Gairaigo | | 1 | 一 (ひと) | 一 (いち) | ワン | | 2 | 二 (ふ) | 二 (に) | ツー | | 3 | 三 (み) | 三 (さん) | スリー | | 4 | 四 (よ) | 四 (よん・し) | フォー | | 5 | 五 (いつ) | 五 (ご) | ファイブ | | 6 | 六 (む) | 六 (ろく) | シックス | | 7 | 七 (なな) | 七 (しち・なな) | セブン | | 8 | 八 (や) | 八 (はち) | エイト | | 9 | 九 (ここ) | 九 (く・きゅう) | ナイン | | 10 | 十 (とお) | 十 (じゅう) | テン | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Counters with Kango The most common counting system is Kango (漢語). **Kango means that the word is Sino-Japanese, or has its roots in the Chinese language.** The pronunciation is similar to the original Chinese pronunciation of the kanji for numbers (See the chart above). This is the counting method that’s taught first to Japanese learners because it appears most frequently. Commonplace counters for minutes (分), hours (時間), amount of yen (円), flat objects like sheets of paper (枚), long and thin object like bottles (本), and small animals (匹) go with Kango numbers. For example, 二分 (にふん) is two minutes and 五円 (ごえん) is five yen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Counters with [Wago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wago?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) The next counting system is Wago (和語), **meaning that the word is derived from native Japanese pronunciation.** While Kango is seen far more frequently than Wago, it is still essential that you get used to counting in Wago style because there is **a generic counter you can use for the idea of “things”** that’s used for many physical and abstract nouns. Plus, it will come in handy if you forget the counter for a specific object. While using this counter may not sound natural for every object, you will be understood. (p.s. いくつ means "how many things?"). One of the Japanese counters for things 1- 10 and their pronunciation: - 一つ-ひとつ - one - 二つ-ふたつ - two - 三つ-みっつ - three - 四つ-よっつ - four - 五つ-いつつ - five - 六つ-むっつ - six - 七つ-ななつ - seven - 八つ-やっつ - eight - 九つ-ここのつ - nine - 十つ-とお - ten **\*Take note** \--- after you exceed ten things, the counter changes from つ to 個 (こ) and begins to follow **Kango numbers**. For example, fifteen things is 十五個 (じゅうごこ). You can also use the 個 counter for one through ten using Kango, but while 一つ (ひとつ) and 一個 (いっこ) are often interchangeable, there are some cases where one can’t replace the other.\* Besides the generic counter for “things,” you must also learn Wago numbers in order to express number of days and days of the month. - 一日 (いちにち・ついたち) - one day ・ first of the month - 二日 (ふつか) - two days or 2nd of the month - 三日 (みっか) - three days or 3rd of the month - 四日 (よっか) - four days or 4th of the month - 五日 (いつか) - five days or 5th of the month - 六日 (むいか) - six days or 6th of the month - 七日 (なのか) - seven days or 7th of the month - 八日 (ようか) - eight days or 8th of the month - 九日 (ここのか) - nine days or 9th of the month - 十日 (とおか) - ten days or 10th of the month - 何日 (なんにち) - how many days or what day? You may have noticed that the pronunciation of some of these numerical prefixes is slightly different from the corresponding pronunciation in the “thing” counters (e.g. ふたつ and ふつか, やっつ and ようか). **It’s easiest to just memorize these small differences as they come up**, especially since the “thing” counter and days of the month are very common subjects in daily Japanese conversation. There are other counters in which “one” and “two” are counted with Wago numbers (and sometimes even a different pronunciation of the counter word) and the rest of the numbers are counted with Kango numbers. For example, 人 (にん), the counter for the number of people, starts with 一人 (**ひとり**), 二人 (**ふたり**), 三人 (さんにん), 四人 (よにん), 五人 (ごにん), and so on. These exceptions also just have to be memorized as you discover them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Counters with Gairaigo The last counting system in Japanese comes from the pronunciation of numbers in English. This is the least common counting system and is typically replaceable with a Kango number (See the chart above). - Example: ワンセット = one set Easy enough, right? Don’t stress memorizing these numbers right away. They’re easy enough to pick up once you’ve grown accustomed to transliteration patterns in wasei-eigo (Japanese words of English origin) and mostly come in handy outside of the counter context (e.g. セブンイレブン = 7-Eleven, ワンパンマン = One Punch Man). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Systematic Reading Changes of Japanese Counters To complicate things further, these base numeric prefixes will often change pronunciation through linguistic phenomena called **rendaku** and **sokuon**. In essence, this refers to altering pronunciation or dropping sounds to make words easier to say. You can read more about this in the “Tricky Pronunciation Rules” section of our [basic counting article](https://blog.lingodeer.com/1-to-10-in-japanese/). ### Systematic Reading Changes of Kango Word Counters Let’s take a look at how Kango numbers will commonly drop a syllable or change the pronunciation of the first syllable of the Japanese counter that follows them. Keep in mind that the following rules have a handful of exceptions, but are generally a safe guideline to follow. **一 (いち)** becomes いっ when followed by kana from the k, s, t, h, or p column. When followed by kana from the h column, the h column kana changes from an h to a p sound. > Examples include: 一個 (いっこ) - one thing, 一足 (いっそく) - one pair (e.g. of shoes), 一頭 (いっとう) - one large animal (e.g. cow), 一分 (いっぷん) - one minute. **二 (に)** will become your new best friend because it does not change depending on the kana that follow it. The only times it changes are when the counter requires a Wago pronunciation (e.g. as we saw before, 人 (にん) requires ふた pronunciation for 二, and the pronunciation of the counter itself even changes from にん to り). **三 (さん)** changes the pronunciation of kana following it when they are from the h column. If followed by は、ひ、へ、or ほ, the pronunciation will change from an h sound to a b sound. If followed by ふ, the pronunciation will change from an f sound to a p sound. Finally, if followed by the kana わ, it can be pronounced the same or change the わ to a ば sound. > Examples include: 三本 (さんぼん) - three long cylindrical objects (e.g. bottles), 三分 (さんぷん) - three minutes, and 三羽 (さんわ・さんば) - three birds or rabbits. **四 (よん)** can change the pronunciation of kana following it when they are from the h column to a p sound, but it is also acceptable to leave it as is. Same goes for when 四 is followed by わ; it’s acceptable to change the わ to ば or keep the わ as is. Sometimes, the ん is dropped, as in 四時 (よじ) - four o’clock. > Examples include: 四分 (よんふん・よんぷん) - four minutes, 四羽 (よんわ・よんば・よわ) - four birds or rabbits. **五 (ご)** is even more user-friendly than 二 because it will not change the pronunciation of any kana following it. **六 (ろく)** becomes ろっ when followed by kana from the k, h, or p column. When followed by kana from the h column, the h column kana changes from an h to a p sound. When followed by the わ kana, the ろく pronunciation can stay the same or contract to ろっ and turn the わ into a ぱ sound. > Examples include: 六個 (ろっこ) - six things, 六本 (ろっぽん) - six long cylindrical objects (e.g. bottles), 六分 (ろっぷん) - six minutes, 六羽 (ろくわ・ろっぱ) - six birds or rabbits. **七 (なな・しち)** does not change the pronunciation of the kana that follow it. なな can technically be swapped for しち in any given context and still be correct. However, it simply sounds more natural in daily conversation to use one over the other（for example, 七時 (seven o’clock) is much more commonly pronounced しちじ than ななじ). なな is often used to avoid misunderstandings because しち sounds quite a bit like いち, especially over the phone. **八 (はち)** is a bit tricky because it *can* shorten to はっ when followed by kana from the k, s, t, or p column, but doesn’t always have to. When followed by わ, it can stay はち or become はっ and convert the わ into ぱ. > Examples include: 八個 (はちこ・はっこ) - eight things, 八足 (はちそく・はっそく) - eight pairs (e.g. of shoes), 八頭 (はちとう・はっとう) - eight large animals (e.g. cows), 八分 (はちふん・はっぷん), 八ページ (はちぺーじ・はっぺーじ) - eight pages, 八羽 (はちわ・はっぱ). **九 (きゅう・く)** will not change the pronunciation of any kana following it. Occasionally, the きゅう pronunciation becomes く. For example, 九時 (くじ) - nine o’clock. **十 (じゅう)** can either change to じゅっ or じっ when followed by a kana in the k, s, t, h, or p column. When followed by わ, it can either shorten to じゅっ or じっ and turn the わ into a ぱ, or remain as is. > Examples include: 十個 (じゅっこ・じっこ) - ten things, 十足 (じゅっそく・じっそく) - ten pairs (e.g. of shoes), 十頭 (じゅっとう・じっとう) - ten large animals (e.g. cows), 十分 (じゅっぷん・じっぷ・) - ten minutes, 十羽 (じゅっぱ・じっぱ・じゅうわ) - ten birds or rabbits. **百 (ひゃく)** becomes ひゃっ when followed by a kana from the k, h, or p column. When followed by kana from the h column, it converts the h sound to a p sound. When followed by わ, it can shorten to ひゃっ and change the わ to ぱ, or remain as is. > Examples include: 百個 (ひゃっこ) - one hundred things, 百分 (ひゃっぷん) - one hundred minutes, 百羽 (ひゃくわ・ひゃっぱ) - one hundred birds or rabbits. **千 (せん)** does not change in pronunciation when followed by a counter. However, when followed by は, ひ, へ, or ほ, it will change the h sound to a b sound. When followed by ふ, it will change the f sound to a p sound. When followed by わ, it can change the わ to ば or leave it as is. > Examples include: 千本 (せんぼん) - one thousand long and cylindrical objects (e.g. bottles), 千分 (せんぷん) - one thousand minutes, 千羽 (せんわ・せんば) - one thousand birds or rabbits. **万 (まん)** does not change in pronunciation *but is preceded by an 一 (いち)*. However, when followed by は, ひ, へ, or ほ, it will change the h sound to a b sound. When followed by ふ, it will change the f sound to a p sound. When followed by わ, it can change the わ to ば or leave it as is. > Examples include: 一万本 (いちまんぼん) - ten thousand long and cylindrical objects (e.g. bottles), 一万分 (いちまんぷん) - ten thousand minutes, 一万羽 (いちまんわ・いちまんば) - one thousand birds or rabbits. **何 (なん)** does not change in pronunciation. However, when followed by は, ひ, へ, or ほ, it will change the h sound to a b sound. When followed by ふ, it will change the f sound to a p sound. > Examples include: 何本 (なんぼん) - how many long and cylindrical objects (e.g. bottles), 何分 (なんぷん) - how many minutes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Systematic Reading Changes of the Japanese Counter 個 (こ) Using our newfound knowledge of systematic reading changes, let’s take a look at the Kango counter for things - 個 (こ). - 一個 (いっこ) - one thing - 二個 (にこ) - two things - 三個 (さんこ) - three things - 四個 (よんこ) - four things - 五個 (ごこ) - five things - 八個 (ろっこ) - six things - 七個 (ななこ・しちこ) - seven things - 八個 (はちこ・はっこ) - eight things - 九個 (きゅうこ) - nine things - 十個 (じゅっこ・じっこ) - ten things - 百個 (ひゃっこ) - one hundred things - 千個 (せんこ) - one thousand things - 一万個 (いちまんこ) - ten thousand things - 何個 (なんこ) - how many things? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Systematic Reading Changes of the Japanese Counter 匹 (ひき) Now let’s try 匹 (ひき), the Japanese counter for small animals! If you’ll recall, there are a lot of pronunciation changes here. - 一匹 (いっぴき) - one small animal - 二匹 (にひき) - two small animals - 三匹 (さんびき) - three small animals - 四匹 (よんひき) - four small animals - 五匹 (ごひき) - five small animals - 六匹 (ろっぴき) - six small animals - 七匹 (ななひき・しちひき) - seven small animals - 八匹 (はちひき・はっぴき) - eight small animals - 九匹 (きゅうひき) - nine small animals - 十匹 (じゅっぴき・じっぴき) - ten small animals - 百匹 (ひゃっぴき) - one hundred small animals - 千匹 (せんびき) - one thousand small animals - 一万匹 （いちまんびき) - ten thousand small animals - 何匹 (なんびき) - how many small animals? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## How to Know What Japanese Counter to Use: Databases That You Can Use It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? So many counters, so little time… luckily, with enough practice, you’ll have the most common ones down pat in no time. For more uncommon instances, you can search the Japanese concept or object using the following databases: ### Minna no Chishiki: Chotto Benricho [ものの数え方〔助数詞〕 database](https://www.benricho.org/kazu/index.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Screenshot of MInna No Chishiki](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Screenshot-of-MInanochishiki.png) you can input the word you look for in the blank space before "検索" or use the kana chart ### Kazoekata Tani Jiten [数え方単位辞典](https://www.sanabo.com/kazoekata/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![Screenshot of Kazoekata Tani Jiten](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Screenshot-of-Kazoe-Kata.png) you can input the word you look for in the blank space before "検索" These databases require some knowledge of Japanese to navigate, as they are written entirely in Japanese. However, they provide very detailed information on the appropriate circumstances for the counter! For example, when you search [ぶどう](https://www.sanabo.com/kazoekata/ct%5Fha/hu/budo/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (grapes) in Kazoekata Tani Jiten, it explains that the 房 (ふさ) counter is used for bunches of grapes, 山 (やま), 箱 (はこ) or 袋 (ふくろ) are used for retail packages of grapes, and grapevines are counted with the 本 (ほん) or 株 (かぶ) counters. That’s a lot of info! [Here](https://www.imabi.net/countersv.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) you will find an excellent list of fifteen kinds of more advanced but still very useful counters. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## How to Use Japanese Counters in Sentences Now that you have gotten a taste of a few common counters, let’s see how they’re used in a sentence! ### Counters Counting Nouns 1: number + counter + の + noun When a counter isn’t specific (e.g. number of people, time, etc.) then the number and counter need to be followed by the specific noun that the counters are counting. - 二匹の犬がいる。 - There are two dogs. - 三つのリンゴを買いました。 - I bought three apples. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Counters Counting Nouns 2: noun + number + counter When a counter is specific (e.g. number of people, time, etc.), then the number and counter can act as a subject/object on their own in the sentence. - 二人は一緒に昼ご飯を食べた。 - The two ate lunch together. - あと十分で食べるよ。 - We’ll be eating in another ten minutes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Counters as Adverbs: number + counter + verb - ビールを二本飲んだ。 - beer + direct object marker + two bottles + drank - (I) drank two bottles of beer. - 猫を三匹飼っている。 - cat + three small animals + owning - (I) own three cats. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## List of Common Japanese Counters The following are lists of some common Japanese counters to get you started on your numerical journey! | Counter | Pronunciation 1-10 | | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | | ～つ Wago counter for things | ひとつ、ふたつ、みっつ、よっつ、いつつ、むっつ、ななつ、やっつ、ここのつ、とお | | ～個 (こ) Kango counter for things | いっこ、にこ、さんこ、よんこ、ごこ、ろっこ、ななこ・しちこ、はちこ・はっこ、きゅうこ、じゅっこ・じっこ | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Counters for Objects | ～枚 flat objects (e.g. CDs, papers, cookies, paintings) | いちまい、にまい、さんまい、よんまい、ごまい、ろくまい、ななまい・しちまい、はちまい、きゅうまい、じゅうまい | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | | ～本 long, cylindrical objects (e.g. bottles, umbrellas, pencils) | いっぽん、にほん、さんぼん、よんほん、ごほん、ろっぽん、ななほん・しちほん、はちほん・はっぽん、きゅうほん、じゅっぽん・じっぽん | | ～冊 books | いっさつ、にさつ、さんさつ、よんさつ、ごさつ、ろくさつ、ななさつ・しちさつ、はちさつ・はっさつ、きゅうさつ、じゅっさつ・じっさつ | | ～軒 houses and buildings | いっけん、にけん、さんげん、よんけん、ごけん、ろっけん、ななけん・しちけん、はっけん、きゅうけん、じゅっけん | | ～足 pairs (e.g. shoes) | いっそく、にそく、さんそき、よんそく、ごそく、ろくそく、ななそく、はっそく、きゅうそく、じゅっそく・じっそく | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Counters for Living Beings | ～人 people | ひとり、ふたり、さんにん、よにん、ごにん、ろくにん、ななにん・しちにん、はちにん、きゅうにん・くにん、じゅうにん | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ～匹 small to medium animals (e.g. insects, cats, frogs) | いっぴき、にひき、さんびき、よんひき、ごひき、ろっぴき、ななひき・しちひき、はちひき・はっぴき、きゅうひき、じゅっぴき・じっぴき | | ～頭 large animals (e.g. cows, horses, large fish) | いっとう、にとう、さんとう、よんとう、ごとう、ろくとう、ななとう・しちとう、はちとう・はっとう、きゅうとう、じゅっとう・じっとう | | ～羽 rabbits, bats, birds | いちわ、にわ、さんわ・さんば、よんわ・よんば・よわ、ごわ、ろくわ・ろっぱ、ななわ・しちわ、はちわ・はっぱ、きゅうわ、じゅうわ・じゅっぱ・じっぱ | | ～尾 certain small fish and shrimp | いちび、にび、さんび、よんび、ごび、ろくび、ななび・しちび、はちび、きゅうび、じゅうび | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Counters for Transportation | ～台 large machines and appliances, cars, trucks, bikes | いちだい、にだい、さんだい、よんだい、ごだい、ろくだい、ななだい・しちだい、はちだい、きゅうだい、じゅうだい | | ----------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | ～機 airplanes | いっき、にき、さんき、よんき、ごき、ろっき、ななき・しちき、はっき、きゅうき、じゅっき | | ～両 train cars | いちりょう、にりょう、さんりょう、よんりょう、ごりょう、ろくりょう、ななりょう・しちりょう、はちりょう、きゅうりょう、じゅうりょう | | ～隻 boats | いっせき、にせき、さんせき、よんせき、ごせき、ごせき、ろくせき、ななせき、はっせき、きゅうせき、じゅっせき | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Counters for Time | ～秒 seconds | いちびょう、にびょう、さんびょう、よんびょう、ごびょう、ろくびょう、ななびょう・しちびょう、はちびょう、きゅうびょう、じゅうびょう | | ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ～分 minutes | いっぷん、にふん、さんぶん、よんぷん・よんふん、ごふん、ろっぷん、ななふん・しちふん、はっぷん・はちふん、きゅうふん、じゅっぷん・じっぷん | | ～時 o’clock | いちじ、にじ、さんじ、よじ、ごじ、ろくじ、しちじ・ななじ、はちじ、くじ、じゅうじ | | ～時間 hours | いちじかん、にじかん、さんじかん、ごじかん、ろくじかん、しちじかん・ななじかん、はちじかん、くじかん、じゅうじかん | | ～ヶ月 | いっかげつ、にかげつ、さんかげつ、よんかげつ、ごかげつ、ろっかげつ、ななかげつ、はちかげつ・はっかげつ、きゅうかげつ、じゅっかげつ・じっかげつ | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Abstract Japanese Counters | ～回 number of times an action is done | いっかい、にかい、さんかい、よんかい、ごかい、ろっかい、ななかい・しちかい、はちかい・はっかい、きゅうかい、じゅっかい・じっかい | | ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | | ～番 numbers in a series | いちばん、にばん、さんばん、よんばん、ごばん、ろくばん、ななばん・しちばん、はちばん、きゅうばん、じゅうばん | | ～歳 years old | いっさい、にさい、さんさい、よんさい、ごさい、ろくさい、ななさい・しちさい、はっさい、きゅうさい、じゅっさい | | ～曲 songs | いっきょく、にきょく、さんきょく、よんきょく、ごきょく、ろっきょく、ななきょく、はっきょく、きゅうきょく、じゅっきょく | | ～件 incidents, events | いっけん、にけん、さんけん、よんけん、ごけん、ろっけん、ななけん、はっけん、きゅうけん、じゅっけん | | ～画 strokes in a kanji character | いっかく、にかく、さんかく、よんかく、ごかく、ろっかく、ななかく、はっかく、きゅうかく、じゅっかく | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Tips on Learning Japanese Counters The secret to learning Japanese counters is pattern recognition and practice, practice, practice! Flashcards are very handy for beginning to memorize the many pronunciation changes that occur when counters are added to numbers. It’s good to devote plenty of time to the numbers and counters that are more often subject to change. For harder numbers and counters like the unique days of the month, using songs as mnemonic devices can help to get the words initially stuck in your head. Finally, there are lots of useful apps like LingoDeer that will teach you Japanese counters clearly and precisely and make sure they’re ingrained in your memory through the use of spaced repetition quizzes! The most important thing is not to be afraid of Japanese counters. Counter words are one of the most unique and fascinating aspects of the Japanese language that make it such a joy to practice and master! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why does Japanese need counter words? Counters classify what is being counted and form a counting phrase with the numeral. ### Can one counter be used for everything? The native つ series is a useful general counter in some situations, but it does not replace every specific counter. ### Why does the pronunciation of a counter change? Sound changes make combinations easier to pronounce; the exact form depends on the number and counter. ### What should a beginner learn first? Start with counters needed for everyday topics—people, time, age, flat objects and general things—and learn each with several number combinations. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Master the Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles in 10 Min URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-definite-and-indefinite-articles/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:34:36.000Z “The” is the most used word in the English language, yet for such a common word we use every day it can be hard to define. What exactly does “the” mean? “The” is a **definite article** \- it goes in front of a noun to help define the word. To demonstrate, the word “chair” by itself can mean any chair, or even the concept of chairs as things we sit on, whereas “**the** chair” refers to a specific chair. “A” and “an” are also in the top most used words in English and are **indefinite articles**. They refer to quantity, as in defining a noun as one singular thing, and are used in a more general sense. When a friend says “grab a chair” it could be any chair available. “Some” is used in the same way but as a plural indefinite article. It shows that there is more than one, like “pull up some chairs.” ![Spanish definite and indefinite articles: English "a' and "the" ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/1-4.png) Spanish definite and indefinite articles are used just as often as English, if not more! Keep reading to learn how to say “the,” “a/an,” and “some” in Spanish and to learn when to use them! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Quick Grammar Note on Spanish Gender and Number Before learning the Spanish definite and indefinite articles, you need to know about two key concepts: gender and number. If you are already familiar with these, feel free to skip ahead to the next section! As you may know, in Spanish all nouns have a gender and are either masculine or feminine. This is purely grammatical - *la mesa* is feminine and means “the table” but of course the table is not a woman. **The rule of thumb is that words ending with *\-o* are masculine and words ending with *\-a* are feminine.** ![spanish definite and indefinite articles: rule of thumb for the gender of spanish words ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/2-6.png) Another quick note is that to make a word plural, simply add *\-s* if the word ends with a vowel, and *\-es* if it ends with a consonant. If a word does not end with *\-s* then it is likely singular. To learn more about these concepts, check out the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## What Are Spanish Definite Articles? The article in front of a noun must match the gender as well as the number of the said noun. For example, *barrios* (“neighborhoods”) is a plural masculine word, therefore the article in front must be plural and masculine. As you can see in the chart below, the plural masculine word for “the” is *los*, so “the neighborhoods” is *los barrios*. English does not have a plural version of “the” so this might take some getting used to. Also, vocabulary lists and dictionaries will often list the gender of the word, or even include the definite article, so you won’t have to guess! | | **Singular** | **Plural** | | ------------- | ------------ | ---------- | | **Masculine** | *el* | *los* | | **Feminine** | *la* | *las* | Here are some more examples of definite articles paired with Spanish words: - The things - *Las cosas* - The coffee - *El café* - The street - *La calle* - The stores - *Las tiendas* - The friends (male) - *Los amigos* - The television - *La televisión* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## What Are Spanish Indefinite Articles? The same gender and number rules also apply when it comes to indefinite articles. Below is a chart with the Spanish indefinite articles. | | **Singular (a/an)** | **Plural (some)** | | ------------- | ------------------- | ----------------- | | **Masculine** | *un* | *unos* | | **Feminine** | *una* | *unas* | Here are the same words as the previous section but with indefinite articles! Some things - *Las cosas* - A coffee - *Un café* - A street - *Una calle* - Some stores - *Unas tiendas* - Some friends (male) - *Unos amigos* - A television - *Una televisión* ![spanish definite and indefinite articles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/3-4.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles Can Be Weird with Words That Start with “A”! If you know anything about grammar you should know that there’s an exception to every rule, and Spanish is no different. When it comes to articles, sometimes words that start with the letter “a” that are feminine such as *agua* use the singular masculine articles *el* and *un*. This developed in order to avoid having two “a” sounds in a row (*la agua* when said out loud mashes together and sounds like *lagua*). In the plural these words go back to using the feminine article. Below are some examples of these situations. - The water - *el agua* - The waters - *las aguas* - The classroom *\- el aula* - The classrooms *\- las aulas* - The eagle *\- el águila* - The eagles *\- las águilas* This is fairly uncommon and nothing to worry about, just know that it exists! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## When to Use Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles Below are some general rules for when to include an article in front of a noun. A word of advice is that when in doubt, include the article! ### Use Spanish Definite Articles When Talking About Likes and Dislikes Even though definite articles tend to indicate that the noun is specific, you should include “the” when talking about what you like and don’t like even if it is a general concept. In English we drop the article, but as you can see in the examples below it needs to be included. > ***Me gustan los perros.*** > > I like dogs. > ***Odio la tarea.*** > > I hate homework. > ***Te encanta el restaurante.*** > > You love the restaurant. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Use Spanish Definite, Feminine Articles to Tell Time When telling time, Spanish uses *la hora* (“the hour”) and *las horas* (“the hours”) even when it is not explicitly in the sentence. Like how in English we can just say “it’s 12” instead of the full “it’s 12 o’clock,” Spanish keeps it simple and just uses the articles *la* and *las* plus the number. For example, “it’s 12” is *son las doce*. Below are the easy formulas to tell time! > ***Es la una.*** > > It’s one o’clock. > ***Son las* \+ number greater than one** > > It’s (number greater than one) o’clock. As you can see, the singular article *la* is used with the number one because it is singular, and the plural *las* is used with larger numbers. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Use Spanish Definite Articles with Habitual or Specific Days When using days of the week, the article is not usually included unless it is referring to a specific day or days, such as **the day of an event.** > ***El examen es el viernes.*** > > The exam is on Friday. The plural article is used when referring to a habitual or repeated event. > ***Sacamos la basura los lunes.*** > > We take out the trash on Mondays. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### With Tener Expressions, Use Spanish Indefinite Articles for Emphasis If you want to exaggerate and say “I’m **so** hungry!” or “I’m **so** cold!” then you can add an indefinite article in front of the noun. This is more of a colloquial way of speaking with friends and family. > *Tengo *un* hambre.* > > I’m **so** hungry. > *Tienes *una* prisa.* > > You are in **such** a rush. This works with most *tener* expressions and will make you seem like a native! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## When to Drop Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles Sometimes it is not necessary to include an article before a noun. Here are some guidelines to help you know when to drop the Spanish definite or indefinite article! - When talking about profession, nationality, and religion. - When talking about an unspecified quantity. - When mentioning general transportation and some locations. - When saying the month and the day of the week.Let's expand on each of them and check out some examples. ### Drop the Articles When Talking About Your Profession, Nationality, and Religion When talking about yourself, it’s common to say what you do for a living, like “I’m a student,” or say where you are from, like “I’m American.” The article is dropped when saying someone’s profession, nationality, or religion. Here are some more examples: > ***Soy ingeniero.*** > > I am an engineer. > ***Mi amigo es católico.*** > > My friend is catholic. > ***Mi madre es doctora.*** > > My mother is a doctor. However, if you want to add more information and describe how a person is in this profession, nationality, or religion, the article is included. Basically if you are adding an adjective, include the article too! > ***Mi madre es una doctora fantástica!*** > > My mother is a fantastic doctor! > ***Eres un cristiano malo.*** > > You are a bad Christian. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Drop the Articles When Talking About an Unspecified Quantity In Spanish, an article is **not** used when talking about an unspecified quantity or when the noun is **uncountable**. This is different from the indefinite article because *un/una* is for one and *unos/unas* is for a small amount. When something is not there, you can’t count it because it doesn’t exist. Therefore you drop the article like in the following sentences: > ***No hay sal en la mesa.*** > > There isn’t any salt on the table. > ***No tienes coche.*** > > You (informal) don’t have a car. > ***No tengo dinero.*** > > I don’t have any money. As you can see, in English we tend to use the word “any” when using uncountable nouns. Another word we use in these cases is “some.” Here are some more examples of uncountable nouns that drop the article. > ***Hay comida en la refrigeradora.*** > > There is some food in the fridge. > ***Queremos café.*** > > We want some coffee. > ***Ella vende fruta.*** > > She sells fruit. ![spanish definite and indefinite articles: ella vende fruta](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/4-5.png) **So why can’t we use *unos/unas* as “some” when translating these sentences? “**Some” is used in English for both the plural indefinite article **and** for uncountable nouns, while in **Spanish *unos/unas* is only for the plural indefinite article.** If you are not sure if unos/unas should be used, look at the sentence in English and take out the word “some.” Does the sentence still make sense? If so, drop the article. If the sentence needs the word “some” then keep it in Spanish too! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Drop the Articles with General Transportation and Some Locations The article is not needed when talking about any transportation (planes, trains, and automobiles) if used in a prepositional phrase. In other words, drop the article after *en* and *por*. > ***Vamos al museo en autobús.*** > > We are going to the museum in a bus. > ***Voy a la fiesta en coche.*** > > I’m going to the party in a car. > ***La caja viene por avión.*** > > The box is coming by plane. This rule also applies to places like class or home. Even in English we drop the article after a preposition, as you can see here: > ***Estoy en clase.*** > > I am in class. > ***Estamos en casa.*** > > We are at home. ![spanish definite and indefinite articles: estamos en casa ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/5-3.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Drop the Articles with Months and When Saying Today's Day of the Week This one is pretty straight forward. As the heading says, drop the Spanish article with months and when saying today's day of the week. As mentioned previously, this is because the article is only used when talking about a specific event and habitual events. > ***Hoy es miércoles.*** > > Today is Wednesday. > ***Mi cumpleaños es en febrero.*** > > My birthday is in February. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## That Is all About Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles! Definite and indefinite articles are vital to becoming proficient in Spanish and are used in much the same way as they are in English! This quick guide went over when to include the article, such as when talking about likes and dislikes and telling time, and when to drop the article, like when stating your profession and nationality and when using an uncountable noun. You can practice using articles with the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app and remember, when in doubt use the article. Have fun with it and don’t stress if you forget one of these rules when speaking Spanish - you will still be understood and your efforts will be appreciated! ### Korean Honorifics: Suffixes, Titles, Pronouns, Verbs and More URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:28:17.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## What Are Korean Honorifics? There are 3 basic dimensions of honorifics in the Korean language: [formality, politeness](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/), and honorificity. This means that the type of Korean you speak could change depending on the situation, the status, or the age of the people involved in the conversation. ![korean honorifics: korean sebae](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/1104_schung_greetingsjeol1.jpg) To get a better understanding of how these affect the Korean language, let’s look at them individually. Ask yourself…. - **Formality**: how formal is the context? How familiar are the parties involved? How serious is the situation? - **Politeness**: is politeness important in this situation? Is the listener older than the speaker? Is the listener of higher status? - **Honorificity**: how much respect does the speaker want to convey? How much respect does the listener deserve? In western culture, we do not have these strict sets of guidelines that dictate the words and terms we use. However, this concept is not completely absent from the English language. Imagine you were having a conversation with someone you admired and respected, for example, a politician, a famous genius, or an accomplished CEO. You would probably adjust your manner of speaking to reflect your respect for that person. If you had a meeting with the president of your country, even if you hate that president, you would probably speak and behave with elevated manners, compared to how you would speak to a friend or family member. Compare: 1. **To your friend**: “*Hey buddy, what’s up*?” 2. **To the President**: “*Hello, Mr. President. It’s a pleasure to speak with you*.” This is the general concept of **Korean Honorifics**, except in Korean culture, the practice is much more common and complex. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Why Do Koreans Use Honorifics? To show respect to people who are **older or of higher status** Koreans use honorifics because Korean culture is built on a foundation of Confucianism: which places high importance on social status and age. This hierarchy is accepted and rarely challenged. Part of acknowledging this hierarchy is through the practice of using honorifics in communication. By doing so, you are showing the respect that the listener deserves according to their position in the social hierarchy. Wealth, success, accomplishment, and age are considered important characteristics that should be recognized. #### Age This hierarchical culture is followed strictly. Not only just for differences in status but differences in age as well: even a 1-year age difference is considered enough to warrant honorificity. This article will tell you more about [Korean age](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-age-system/). In many situations, you will see Koreans become overjoyed when they learn that their conversation partner is the same age. They'll smile, hi-five, giggle, maybe even hug. As strange as it may seem, this is important to them. This is because they can speak freely and comfortably to people of the same age, so they will refer to each other as 친구 (chingu, meaning friend), even if they are not close. But if their conversation partner is older, they must use a more polite and formal way of speaking. If they don’t, it could be thought of as disrespectful, embarrassing, or socially insensitive. This disrespectful situation can also be observed in dramas and everyday life. You may witness a Korean ask another person, “Why are you using this language with me?” More precisely, “Why are you using 반말?” The use of 반말 (ban-mal) is strictly for familiar and informal relationships. Using it inappropriately could be disrespectful and make for an interesting situation, but many times it can be used to tease one another or make jokes. #### Status Differences in status or position is another very common reason to use honorifics. Honorifics are usually used vertically; from lower-status to higher-status, or younger to older. Examples: - Teacher to Student - Employee to Manager, or any superior in the company. - Child to parent or grandparent. - Citizen to Public official. Commonly, these titles have particular terms that must be used when a subordinate is addressing a senior. The most common ones are 님 (nim) and 씨 (ssi) which are attached to a person’s title or name to signify honorficity. We’ll take a look at some examples later. ![korean honorifics: status comparison in korean culture](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/1-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Do I Need to Learn Korean Honorifics? As a beginner, it is **not** necessary to use all honorifics correctly in every situation. (Click [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) for the most comprehensive guide for beginners.) But, when speaking with older Korean or people of high status, you should try to imply respect when possible. You can get by in most conversations without using Korean honorifics. Sometimes, it can even be fun to use honorifics with your Korean friends. 오빠 (oppa), 형 (hyeong), 언니 (eonni) and 누나 (nuna) are probably the most common you will hear and use in everyday life, KPOP, and K-Dramas. Koreans love to figure out each other’s age so they can use these honorifics with each other. These honorifics will often be used in place of the person’s name. So, it could be really helpful to understand these honorifics when you hear other people use them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Suffixes & Titles of Korean Honorifics ### Korean Honorific Suffix 님(nim) The use of 님(nim) is often attached to people’s names or titles, and it roughly translates into *Mr. Name* or *Mrs./Ms. Name*. ![korean honorifics: 님 on Korean instagram ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-d14b74bfdcf51485.jpg) The Korean version of Instagram adds 님 after user IDs. In western culture, using Mr. or Mrs. may make the listener feel old, and therefore uncomfortable. This is not true in Korea. 님 is a way to show respect to someone older and is used as the more formal version of a person’s title or relationship. For example: \- 할아버지 is similar to **Grandpa**, compared to 할아버님 (which is more formal and respectful) similar to **Grandfather**. Sometimes the meaning does not change but simply implies formality and politeness. For example: \- 기사 means **Driver**. 기사님 also means **Driver** but is more polite and formal. So that latter is used when speaking directly to the subject. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Honorific Suffix 씨(ssi) The use of 씨(ssi) is similar to the use of 님 (above) but it is only attached to people’s names (given name, family name, or full name) to represent formality and politeness. For example, if you are waiting at the doctor’s office, the receptionist may call your name with 씨 attached to the end because it is a professional situation, and therefore more formal. Compare: \- Suzy 수지 (informal) compared to Suzy 수지 씨 (formal) ![korean honorfics: 씨 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/what_160411_img02.png) Image From Online Newsletter of National Institute of Korean Language ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Honorifics: Family Titles You can find a list of honorific family titles in Korean. The general rule is to attach **님 after Korean family member titles** to make them honorific titles. You would use the honorific titles to talk about the listener’s or other people’s family members. You may also use the honorific titles to talk about your own family members in formal situations, but you should never use 아드님 or 따님 to talk about your own children. | **Korean Family Title** | **Korean Honorifics for Family Title** | **Meaning** | | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | 할아버지 halabeoji | 할아버님 halabeonim | Paternal grandfather | | 할머니 halmeoni | 할머님 halmeonim | Paternal grandmother | | 외할아버지 wehalabeoji | 외할아버님 wehalabeonim | Maternal grandfather | | 외할머니 wehalmeoni | 외할머님 wehalmeonim | Maternal grandmother | | 아버지 abeoji | 아버님 abeonim | Father | | 어머니 eomeoni | 어머님 eomeonim | Mother | | 형 hyeong | 형님 hyeongnim | Older brother (of a male) | | 누나 nuna | 누님 nunim | Older sister (of a male) | | 오빠 oppa | 오라버니 orabeoni | Older brother (of a female) | | 언니 eonni | 형님 hyeongnim | Older sister (of a female) | | 동생 dongsaeng | 동생분 dongsaengbun | Younger sibling | | 아들 adeul | 아드님 adeulnim | Son | | 딸 ddal | 따님 ddanim | Daughter | Note : 1. It is not a typo but a truth that the Korean honorific for 언니 is [형님](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?wordMatchFlag%3DN%26mainSearchWord%3D%25ED%2598%2595%25EB%258B%2598%26currentPage%3D1%26sort%3DW%26searchType%3DW%26proverbType%3D%26exaType%3D%26ParaWordNo%3D85711%26nation%3Deng%26nationCode%3D6%26viewType%3DA%26blockCount%3D10%26viewTypes%3Don%26myViewWord%3D68395%26myViewWord%3D70380%26myViewWord%3D27780%26myViewWord%3D82094&sa=D&ust=1598425437215000&usg=AFQjCNG5mX3NYX3BUUXJq2qktOimYd9EjA&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Even many Koreans do not know this fact. This is not a commonly used word after all. 2. The only honorific title that doesn't end with a -님 suffix in the table is 동생분. We add the suffix [\-분](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://krdict.korean.go.kr/eng/dicSearch/SearchView?wordMatchFlag%3DN%26mainSearchWord%3D%25EB%25B6%2584%26currentPage%3D1%26sort%3DW%26searchType%3DW%26proverbType%3D%26exaType%3D%26ParaWordNo%3D70380%26nation%3Deng%26nationCode%3D6%26viewType%3DA%26blockCount%3D10%26viewTypes%3Don%26myViewWord%3D27780%26myViewWord%3D82094&sa=D&ust=1598425437213000&usg=AFQjCNFo1bZkDbCXXAG7G-MuA4QgLY3xAQ&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) when calling other people's younger siblings with respect. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Honorifics: Titles for Non-family The family member titles for siblings can also be used to address non-family people who are older than you. You can use 선배(님) to address people who are older or more senior than you in a certain context, and 후배(님) to address people who are younger or less senior than you. | **Korean Title** | ****Korean Honorifics** | **Meaning** | | ---------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------- | | 형 hyeong | 형님 hyeongnim | Older male (to a male) | | 누나 nuna | 누님 nunim | Older female (to a male) | | 오빠 oppa | 오라버니 orabeoni | Older male (to a female) | | 언니 eonni | 형님 hyeongnim | Older female (to a female) | | 선배 seonbae | 선배님 seonbaenim | Somebody older or more senior | | 후배 hubae | 후배님 hubaenim | Somebody younger or less senior | ![korean honorifics: how to address other people (non-family)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/4-4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Honorifics: Job Titles You would also want to use honorific titles to refer to people at work, because you want to show enough respect to your superiors and co-workers on professional occasions. You can simply address them with their **job title + 님**. | **Korean Job Title** | **Korean Honorifics for Job Title** | **Meaning** | | -------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ------------------ | | 회장 hwejang | 회장님 hwejangnim | Chairman | | 사장 sajang | 사장님 sajangnim | CEO | | 부장 bujang | 부장님 bujangnim | Head of department | | 과장 gwajang | 과장님 gwajangnim | Head of section | | 대리 daeri | 대리님 daerinim | Assistant manager | | 팀장 timjang | 팀장님 timjangnim | Team leader | | 실장 siljang | 실장님 siljangnim | General manager | ![korean honorifics: korean honorific job titles](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/misaeng.jpg) 미생 (Misaeng): a famous K-Drama show about the Korean workplace. If you are a student, you would also use honorific titles to refer to your teachers and professors at school. | **Korean Job Title** | **Korean Honorifics for Job Title** | **Meaning** | | -------------------- | ----------------------------------- | ----------- | | 선생 seonsaeng | 선생님 seonsaengnim | Teacher | | 교수 gyosu | 교수님 gyosunim | Professor | As the example of using 기사님 to call your driver mentioned before, you would also use honorific titles to refer to other people around you in the society. Here are more examples of honorific job titles in the society. | **Korean Job Title** | **Korean Honorifics for Job Title** | **Meaning** | | -------------------- | ----------------------------------- | -------------- | | 작가 jakka | 자각님 jakkanim | Author | | 대표 daepyo | 대표님 daepyonim | Representative | | 셰프 syepeu | 셰프님 syepeunim | Chef | | 감독 gamdok | 감독님 gamdoknim | Director | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Pronouns of Korean Honorifics In Korean, it is normal to use honorifics pronouns even when speaking about yourself in the first-person (“I”) or in the first-person plural (“We”). This is done to show humility, or imply respect to the listener who may be older of higher status. You can see the differences in the table below. | **Point of View** | **Korean Pronoun** | **Korean Honorifics** | **Meaning** | | ----------------- | ------------------ | --------------------- | ----------- | | 1st person | 나 na | 저 jeo | I | | 1st person | 우리 wuri | 저희 jeohi | We | | 2nd person | 너 neo | 당신 dangsin | You | It’s important to note that when talking about things such as a family, home, car, etc. it is common to use “**Our/We**” (우리 wuri, 저희 jeoji) instead of “My”. This may seem a little unnatural at first, but it becomes rather endearing the more you use it. For example: \- “*My father works for a company*” **becomes** “*Our father works for a company”* Even though the listener is not part of the speaker’s family, the speaker is implying a collective notion within his or her own family. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Nouns of Korean Honorifics Honorifics are so important that Koreans use honorific nouns to show respect when you talk about things related to a person older or higher than you in status. As you can see in the table below, the word actually changes entirely. These are also used in official situations or within government work. So it is important to be aware of the different nouns you may hear as a foreigner in Korea. The most common ones are: \- Name: 이름 (informal) ↔ 성함 (formal) \- Person/ People: 사람 (informal) ↔ 분 (informal) The key point is to understand that you may hear a different word depending on the situation, so it’s great to be aware of these differences which can help you understand. | **Korean Noun** | **Korean Honorifics** | **Meaning** | | --------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ | | 집 jip | 댁 daek | home | | 이름 ireum | 성함 seongham | name | | 생일 saengil | 생신 saengsin | birthday | | 나이 nai | 연세 yeonse | age | | 병 byeong | 병환 byeonghwan | Illness or disease | | 말 mal | 말씀 malsseum | Words (said by somebody) | ![Korean honorifics: 나이 vs. 연세 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/9.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Verbs of Korean Honorifics Often, verbs can be changed to show respect and politeness in your sentences. This can be very important when communicating with people who are older or of a higher status. As you can see in the examples below, often you can make the verb honorific by adding -(으)시 after the verb stem. The following table illustrates how some regular verbs in Korean are made honorific verbs. | **Korean Verb** | **Korean Honorifics** | **Meaning** | | --------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ | | 가다 gada | 가시다 gasida | To go | | 받다 batda | 받으시다 bateusida | To receive | | 운동하다 undonghada | 운동하시다 undonghasida | To do sports or exercise | But, in some cases, the word changes completely. The most common one you will probably be exposed to is the verb **EAT**: 먹다 or 드시다. Often Koreans ask “*밥* *먹었어요*?”, which means “Did you eat?” This is basically how Koreans say, “How are you?” But, when speaking to an older person you should use 식사하셨어요? The following table provides more examples of irregular Korean honorific verbs. | **Korean Verb** | **Korean Honorifics** | **Meaning** | | --------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------ | | 먹다 | 드시다 / 식사하다 | To eat | | 보다 | 뵙다 | To see | | 말하다 | 말씀하다 | To speak, say | | 있다 | 계시다 | To be somewhere or exist | | 자다 | 주무시다 | To sleep | | 배고프다 | 시장하시다 | To be hungry | | 주다 | 드리다 | To give | | 아프다 | 편찮으시다 | To be sick or be in pain | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Useful Phrases with Korean Honorifics The structure of the first phrase is: **verb stem + 아/어/여해** **드릴게요**. This is commonly used to tell someone that you will do something for them. You can translate it to “I will do … for you.” For example: > 보고서를 써 드릴게요. > > I will write the report for you. If you form this phrase as a question, it will be: **verb stem + 아/어/여해** **드릴까요?** This is commonly used to ask someone if they would like you to do something for them? It translates to “Shall I do … for you?”. For example: > 노래해 드릴까요? > > Shall I sing for you? Here is a polite way to tell someone to sleep well. > 안녕히 주무세요. > > Sleep well. / Good night. The following phrases are very common and great things to say when eating with others. > 많이 드세요. > > Please eat a lot. Or > 맛있게 드세요. > > Please enjoy your meal. This can be used to politely tell someone to speak or tell you something. > 말씀하세요. > > Please speak. This is used to ask if someone is present or available. This phrase is typically used on the phone. > xx 씨/님 계세요? > > Is xx there? ![Korean honorifics: 계시다 vs. 있다 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/2-5.png) Click [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) to learn more about Korean learning. ### Latin American Spanish is now in beta! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/new-course-latin-american-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:34:30.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Screen-Shot-2020-08-24-at-3.35.15-PM.png) The answer to this email is... **sí**, yes! The highly requested course **Latin American Spanish** (Level 1) is now in beta! If you're interested in learning Spanish for work, leisure or school, please try it out and let us know what you think! 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My name is Daniela Ríos 🇲🇽, I studied Spanish Literature and Linguistics at UNAM in Mexico City and since 2017 I teach Spanish as a foreign language. I enjoy traveling to other states in my country, as well as eating traditional Mexican food (the variety is stunning!) I also love talking to my students about our cultures and all the tricky words Spanish has, believe me, there are many. This course will give you the tools to travel to Mexico and talk to everybody. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn a language and become part of one of the richest and fascinating cultures in the world, with stunning places, amazing people, incredible food and tons of art everywhere. **It's important that you let us know how you like the new course. Please don't hesitate to share your feedback with us via Contact Us in the app. We look forward to hearing from you.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/kirsten.png) ¡Hola! My name is Kirsten Agla 🇺🇸. I have been fascinated by foreign languages since childhood and have made it my mission to share with others the fun in learning Spanish. I hold a master’s degree in Hispanic Studies from Boston College and have tutored and taught students of all ages. **I hope you enjoy learning Spanish with LingoDeer and don't forget to share your thoughts on the course via Contact Us in the app.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/elena.png) ¡Hola! My name is Elena Yang 🇨🇳. Ever since I was a kid, I've been intrigued by foreign languages. I speak Chinese natively and Spanish fluently after studying it for four years in university. I have been teaching Spanish since I graduated and still enjoy it every day of my life. **We strive to bring you the finished course as soon as possible, and we can really benefit from your feedback. So write us via Contact Us!** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/luisa.png) My name is Luisa Fernanda González 🇨🇴. I'm from a Colombian town called Pennsylvania, in the department of Caldas. I have been an announcer for about 15 years. To the students ... The Spanish language is very beautiful, rich in lexicon and somewhat complicated by grammatical figures that surely you will learn very well in this course, without a doubt each of you is looking for a particular objective and that goal is what you must motivate each time the road becomes difficult. Courage and successes. \-- Dear premium members, thank you so much for your continued support of the little deer's growth over the years. LingoDeer is turning 3 in September. We will be hosting some fun events to celebrate this important milestone. Follow us on Instagram (@lingodeerapp), Facebook or Twitter for announcements. Last but not least... **¡Vamos a aprender español! Let's learn Spanish together!** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/deardeer-circle.png) #### Latest Stories: ### The Kimono Project: Guess Which Kimono Is Your Country URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/the-kimono-project/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:34:39.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Guess Which Country This Kimono Represents? After six years of hard work and with help from all over the world, the Kimono Project finally completed 213 splendid kimonos in July 2020, each of which represents one country. We have selected our favorite kimonos from the project. Take a guess at which countries they represent. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/1-1.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/2-7.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/3.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/4.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/5.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/6.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/7-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/8.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/9.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/10.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/11.jpg) Highlight the hidden text below to reveal the answers: 1. **United Arab Emirates** (a towering skyscraper, a palm tree, a camel, and luxurious ornaments based on the color of the national flag) 2. **Republic of Singapore** (the Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, the Botanical Garden, and the national flag) 3. **People’s Republic of China** (The Great Wall, a panda, peony and plum blossoms, and bamboo) 4. **Republic of Korea** (hibiscus flowers, Korean magpies, Changdeokgung Palace, and the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress) 5. **Arab Republic of Egypt** (a papyrus meadow, hieroglyphs, pyramids, and the Nile) 6. **Republic of Ghana** (rainbow with the color of the national flag, cacao, an eagle, and a crocodile on the Niger River) 7. **United States of America** ("state flowers" to represent a country that consists of 50 states, an American eagle, a baseball, an American football, Hollywood movies, the Statue of Liberty, and the iconic Apollo plans) 8. **Argentine Republic** (the Sun of May, the national colors of blue and white, and the Los Glaciares glacier in the Andes) 9. **Australia** (the Opera House, Aboriginal art and a platypus) 10. **Republic of Iceland** (volcanoes blowing out of landslides, hot springs, glaciers, and the most transparent lake in the world） 11. **England** (theTemple, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, the Tower of London, Stonehenge, and the Royal Observatory Greenwich) 12. **Kingdom of the Netherlands** (the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, the Dom Tower of Utrecht, canals, and tulips) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## How did The Imagine One World Kimono Project Start? The Imagine Oneworld Kimono Project was founded in 2014 by Yoshimasa Takakura, the third-generation owner of a kimono shop in Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture. The team collected donations via a crowdfunding site and various other sources to fund the design and creation of a unique kimono for each of the 216 countries. For each kimono, patterns were carefully chosen based on the country’s culture, climate, and natural beauty. **Fun fact:** the title of the project “Imagine One World” is taken from John Lennon’s famous song "Imagine": > Imagine there is no country...the world will live as one. Through the wonders of kimono and Japan’s master craftsmanship, the project wants to spread Japan’s “Wa (和)” or culture to the world. The “Wa” culture aims to unite everyone together, respecting each other’s cultures. The project lead believes that art has the power to unite people across the world in this way. ![Kimono ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/twinewood-studio-SumSSYr60RI-unsplash.jpg) Image from Unsplash The project has showcased its early creations at fashion shows in Tokyo and in the USA since 2014, and has attracted attention from fashion designers from all over the world. > Love ❤️ the aim of the Kimono 👘 Project? > > Please consider supporting us in this crowdfunding effort: > > Many 🙏 thanks! 😊 > > https://gf.me/u/yh7rmk > > by [Imagine Oneworld Kimono Project](https://www.facebook.com/imagineoneworldkimonoproject/) on [2020.7.23](https://www.facebook.com/imagineoneworldkimonoproject/posts/1688694054633290) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Kimono And More: Japanese Words Related to Kimono Now that you have had a taste of the incredible beauty of kimono, you may want to know more about kimono and Japanese culture. Learn more about kimono and some of the words used to describe them below. - **kimono (きもの/着物):** kimono is written as “着物” in Japanese, which literally means “things to wear”. Kimono are traditionally flat, T-shaped garments with square sleeves and a rectangular body. It is famous as Japan’s national costume. - **kiru (着る):** kiru is a verb meaning “to wear” in Japanese. - **mono (もの/物):** mono means “things” in Japanese. - **Yukata (浴衣):** Yukata are casual cotton summer kimono. Check out our favorite kimono expert Sheila's Yukata below: - **Furisode (振袖):** Furisode literally means “swinging sleeve" in Japanese. Furisode are the most formal kimono for young, and often unmarried women. - **Shiromuku (白無垢):** Shiromuku literally means “white pure” or innocence. They are the pure-white wedding kimono worn by brides for a traditional Japanese Shinto wedding ceremony. Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata once said: > There are no borders between countries when you see Earth from space..." The Imagine One World Kimono Project delivers the same message via breathtakingly beautiful kimonos. Learn a new language with [LingoDeer](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and connect with Japanese culture! More information: [The Official Site of The Kimono Project](https://www.piow.jp/?lang=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### How to Say I Love You in Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-say-i-love-you-in-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T10:51:51.000Z Love is one of the most powerful motivators to start learning a foreign language. Knowing how to say I love you in Japanese is often among the first things beginner Japanese learners look for. Though a short but mighty phrase can say it all in English, expressing your affection is trickier in Japanese. So read our guide to learn **the vocabulary for love and how to properly say I love you in Japanese**. ## Quick Answer: How Do You Say “I Love You” in Japanese? **好きです (suki desu)** and **大好きです (daisuki desu)** are useful ways to express affection in Japanese. **愛している (aishite iru)** expresses stronger, more serious love. The most natural choice depends on the relationship, setting and tone. | Expression | Meaning in this guide | Usage note | | ---------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------------- | | 好きです | I like/love you | A direct confession of affection | | 大好きです | I really like/love you | A stronger form using 大 | | 愛している | I love you | A strong and serious expression | | 彼に恋している | I am in love with him | Describes being in love | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Cultural Difference of How to Say I Love You Before you master how to translate your romantic emotions in Japanese, let’s take a quick look at how love is differently expressed in the West and in Japan. If love is a universal signal for humans, our cultural mindset defines how we share our feelings. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Love in the West For better or for worse, Western cultures are obsessed with love and all that the notion entails, a deep emotional involvement with others, the endless search for the soulmate and the constant reaffirmation of our feelings. We have this idea ingrained from an early age that declaring our flame is healthy, that public grand gestures, as crazy as they may be, are romantic. And when it comes to saying “I love you”, we do so more times than we can count. We say I love you over the phone, on sticky notes and emails. The phrase is used so much that we can sometimes wonder if the feeling is real or if it’s just a habit. But in Japan, however, love ain’t that straightforward. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Love in Japan When you learn Japanese, you quickly realize that Japanese communication is very indirect and far less verbose than what the West is familiar with. Generally speaking, Japanese people are much more discreet, keeping their feelings bottled up inside, as a way to preserve themselves and others from loud emotions. *Context note:* This is a broad cultural observation, not a rule about every speaker. Communication style varies by person, relationship and situation. Japan's [Agency for Cultural Affairs](https://www.bunka.go.jp/kokugo%5Fnihongo/sisaku/joho/joho/kakuki/22/tosin04/11.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) discusses the importance of context and interpersonal relationships in communication. It doesn’t mean Japanese do not love passionately, they do very much so! But they express their feelings indirectly, with such a subtlety that reading through the lines ain’t easy for foreigners. **They have a strong belief that love is better expressed through actions rather than words.** So keep this perspective in the back of your mind as we take a closer look at the vocabulary for love in Japanese. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Vocabulary for Love in Japanese The first thing you discover when you look up the word “love” in a dictionary, is that Japanese has not one, but two kanji to express the notion of love. At first glance, the words koi (恋) from ai (愛) feel similar. After all their English translation is the same and both have for radical the kanji 心, the “emotional” heart. However, as you can imagine, they each have nuances that clearly set them apart. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Koi （恋） The word 恋 expresses an intense, passionate and uncontrollable love we feel for someone. While its translation is “love”, we’re talking about the almost painful attraction and desire that makes us long for the object of our affection. When you feel butterflies in the stomach, when you ache for your one-sided love to finally move on to something more, that’s 恋. In that spirit, **恋 is probably close to what we label romantic love in the West.** No wonder then that you find the kanji used in phrases such as “to fall in love”, “first love”, “lover” and “love letter”. - 恋に落ちる : to fall in love - 初恋 : first love - 恋文 : love letter - 恋人 : lover However, because 恋 expresses our own personal desire with no actual care for what the object of our affection is feeling towards us, it isn’t always such a positive feeling. In fact, Japanese people consider that 恋 is a selfish way of loving. Hence, 恋 appears in sorrowful words too. - 失恋 : disappointed love - 悲恋 : tragic love ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Ai（愛） Contrary to 恋, the word 愛 expresses a long lasting love, with the expectation of reciprocity. Japanese people view 愛 as a mature love, one that isn’t about passion anymore, but a deep care for someone. The kanji has a larger meaning too. 愛 shows our love for a significant other but also the profound affection we have for family members, pets, and more. - 愛の告白: Love confession - 愛情: Affection - 愛娘: Beloved daughter - 愛犬 : beloved dog The wonderful thing about Japanese language is that kanji can be combined in compound words, bringing their nuances into the mix. ![love in Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Image-from-Aikotoba.jpg) Kanji character "愛 (love)" combined by hiragana "ありがとう (thank you)", image from Aikotoba ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Renai （恋愛） The word 恋愛 is the combination of passion (恋) and long-lasting love (愛). Such a beautiful mix of concept expresses the deep feelings two people in a relationship have for one another. 恋愛 is used in numerous expressions related to romantic involvement. - 恋愛結婚 : the marriage of love - 恋愛詩: love poem - 恋愛事件: an illicit love affair ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Suki (好き) The word 好き means to “like” as in “I like sport” or “I like curry”. But depending on the context, especially if two people are alone together, it can actually mean “love”. Because Japanese people consider both 恋 and 愛 are loaded words, too intense and abstract to be used lightly, they find 好き is more friendly and easy to use. ![I love you in Japanese -Rich Man, Poor Woman](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/I-love-you-in-Japanese-Rich-Man-Poor-Woman.png) Screenshot from Rich Man, Poor Woman ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Rabu (ラブ) Finally, the introduction of loanwords from English, in particular, ラブ for “*love*”, opened the door to new concepts to talk about love imported from the West. ラブ isn’t used in love confession, but introduces a wide range of modern expressions. - ラブアフェア : a love affair - ラブレター : a love letter - ラブコール : a love call - ラブラブ: head over heels in love You have learned some keywords to talk about love, time to see how to confess your feelings the proper way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## How to Say I Love You in Japanese in Different Way We’ve seen the words 恋, 愛 and 好き, but which one should you pick to say *I love you* in Japanese? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to Say I Love You When Confessing Your Feelings We can quickly move the word 恋 out of the way. While it expresses that you are uncontrollably, madly even, in love with someone, you can’t say “I love you” with 恋 because conceptually, the word expresses a one-sided desire. It doesn’t expect reciprocity. The expression built with 恋 is intransitive. You can say: - 彼に恋している。 - “I am in love with him”. But you cannot say: - あなたに恋している - “I’m in love with you” #### 愛している The phrase 愛している certainly translates “I love you” in Japanese and has been heavily used in the translation. - あなたを愛している。 - “I love you” - 彼女を愛している。 - “I love her” But while that may be technically accurate, should you *really* use 愛している? The short answer is “not really”. Surely, the phrase has been used a lot by translators for convenience and you can also hear it often in movies and shows for a dramatic impact. But in reality 愛している doesn’t exactly translate the romantic love as we understand it in the West and 愛 which refers to an aesthetic love, has fallen out of fashion because of its strong connotation. To give you a little more insight, native speakers consider that 愛している is the type of expression you can maybe use **once in a lifetime** \- or not at all, because such an absolute love is rare. *Usage note:* “Once in a lifetime” is a common way of emphasizing how weighty the expression can feel, not a literal rule. Actual usage varies by speaker and context. That leads us to the very popular phrase 好き “like/love” and its stronger version 大好き “like/love a lot”. #### 好きです & 大好きです If you’re a Japanese popular culture aficionado, then you know well how characters confess their feelings with a heartfelt 好きです. Japanese men tend to use 好きだよ and women 好きよ for its soft tone. The adjunction of 大 (big) deepens the meaning of your love declaration, rendering your intention clearer. - 彼が好きよ - “I love him”. - あなたが大好きだよ！ - “I love you *a lot* !” or “I *really* love you” While 好き is easier said, it doesn’t mean it isn’t serious. That’s often a way to take a friendship to another level or to remind your partner how you feel about them. ![I love you in Japanese - suki](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Ossans-love.png) Screenshot from Ossan's love #### Fun Fact: How to Say I Love You in Japanese Dialect So far, we’ve focused our attention on the Japanese you learn in books and apps which is called standard Japanese. The vocabulary and grammar you learn is roughly based on how Japanese is spoken in the Kanto region. But there are many regional dialects in Japan, the most popular being the Kansai dialect, which is spoken in the western part of the country. When it comes to declaring their flame, Kansei folks use a goofy “好きやねん”. A phrase so popular across Japan that it even became the name of a cup noodle brand! You may feel that Japanese people aren’t very romantic because they’d rather use the word “like” to open their heart, if they even express it at all. But in fact, this has more to do with the incredible difficulty to translate concepts in another language. Luckily, the more you learn Japanese, the more you get a peek at how people in Japan think. Looking back at historical translations, you can see that Japanese authors were very much romantic people! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Famous Quotes of How to Say I Love You in Japanese Back when Japan opened itself to the West and foreign literature found its way to Japanese bookshelves, Japanese authors got seriously lost in translation with the expression “I love you”. The concept of romantic love was so foreign and far away from Japanese existing vocabulary that they were greatly confused as to how they could convey the nuance to Japanese speakers. - **今夜は月がきれいですね。** Natsume Soseki, probably one of the most famous Japanese authors from the Meiji Era, transcribed “I love you” with 今夜は月がきれいですね, “the moon is so beautiful tonight”. *Source note:* This is a widely repeated anecdote. However, [Japan's National Diet Library collaborative reference service](https://crd.ndl.go.jp/reference/entry/index.php?id=1000160743&page=ref%5Fview&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) reports that researchers have not found a reliable primary source confirming the attribution to Sōseki. ![Natsume Soseki's translation for “I love you” in Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Natsume-Soseki.jpg) Natsume Soseki If you’re wondering how it can make sense to a Japanese speaker, try to place yourself in time when people were taught not to speak for nothing. You wouldn’t tell someone you dislike or feel nothing particular about, how beautiful the moon is, on purpose, would you? ![I love you in Japanese The moonlight is so beautiful-ossan's love](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/The-moonlight-is-so-beautiful-ossans-love.png) Screenshot from Ossan's love - **私死んでもいいわ。** Very much like the previous quote from Natsume Soseki, 私死んでもいいわ, “I can die for you” has been chosen by Futabatei Shimei, an author and translator from the late 19th century, to translate the English “I love you”. *Source note:* This historical attribution should be treated as an anecdote unless it is tied to a primary text or an authoritative bibliographic record. With a more dramatic twist, telling someone that you can die for them certainly conveys strong feelings of attachment! ![Futabatei Shimei‘s translation for "I love you" in Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Futabatei-Shimei.jpg) Futabatei Shimei ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Other Ways to Express Your Love in Japanese We focused our attention on the word “love”, but there is more than one way to confess our feelings to the object of our affection. Very much like in English, other expressions can tell much about what’s in our hearts. #### #### Daiji (大事) The word 大事 means “important”, “great thing” can be used towards people, emphasizing how significant they are for us. - あなたのことを大事にする。 - I will cherish you. - お前が一番大事。 - You are my most important one. #### Soba ni iru (そばにいる) The word そば which translates as “side” as in “by my side” (physically) can be used to tell the person you love that you’re with them (figuratively). - いつもあなたのそばにいるよ。 - I will always be with you. #### 嫌いではない Japanese men are said to be particularly shy when it comes to confessing their feelings. So some of them avoid entirely saying the scary words love (愛) or like (好き) and opt for a cryptic love confession. - 嫌いではない - “I don’t dislike you” Yes, you’re reading right! Saying they don’t dislike someone is a way to tell that in fact, they like that person *very much*. While this indirect love confession is certainly far less embarrassing for both parties, there’s always a risk the object of their affection does not get the point… #### 毎日味噌汁を作ってくれないか Alright, this expression or rather, invitation to make “someone’s miso soup everyday”, is a little bit outdated and sexist. But it used to be another way for Japanese men to declare their love to someone, basically letting them know that they’d like to have them making their soup everyday, for the rest of their life. - 毎日味噌汁を作ってくれないか - “Could you make me miso soup everyday?” The expression has often been translated as a “would you marry me”. #### 結婚を前提に付き合ってくれませんか Surprisingly, while we explained that Japanese people are rather short on words, when they open their hearts they can be pretty serious. Believe it or not, this phrase, which basically means “go out with me until we get married”, can be used to declare your flame for the very first time. Talk about pressure! - 結婚を前提に付き合ってくれませんか - “Would you go out with me until marriage?” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to talk about your boyfriend or your girlfriend in Japanese? Now that you’re dating, you need to know how to talk about your partner. You can use the word 彼女 to speak about your girlfriend, while you have the choice of using 彼 or 彼氏 to refer to your boyfriend. Mind that both 彼女 and 彼 also translate “she” and “he”, but the context is usually clear enough that you can tell what the speaker meant. Going out with someone also means that you can drop the formality when addressing your loved one. Instead of the honorific suffix さん, which can be used for both men and women, women use \~くん with their boyfriends’ name, while men use \~ちゃん for their girlfriends. - まことさん becomes まことくん - かおりさん becomes かおりちゃん Apart from romantic love, how do Japanese people share their feelings towards family members? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to Say I love you in Japanese: to Family Members While in the West we’re not shy of telling how much we care for our parents, siblings and children, in Japan, you’ll be surprised to learn that’s not natural at all. Family members rarely if not at all, share how they feel about one another and their emotions are left unspoken. *Context note:* Family practices vary by generation, household, personality and situation. The following examples illustrate possible expressions rather than a universal pattern. So if you’d ask a Japanese person how they say I love you to their parents, they’d be at loss and wouldn’t really be able to answer you. #### To parents: Japanese children are more likely to tell how much they love their parents. They are not yet trained to hold back what they feel. Young ones, in particular, do not hesitate to use 好き and 大好き energetically. - パパ大好き！ - I love you dad - お母さん好き！ - I love you so much mum! Words of love are rarely exchanged between adults, but children can express their feeling of gratitude towards their parents by thanking them for giving them life. - 産んでくれてありがとう = Thank you for giving birth to me #### To children: Do Japanese parents tell their kids how much they love them? Yes, but only when they’re little. Once they become adults, children become part of the family and you’re not supposed to feel anything special within this intimate social circle. So to a young one, a mother or a father will simply use 好き as well. - ママは小太郎好きだよ。 - “I (mother) love you Kotaro” Japanese grandparents tend to cherish their grandchildren very much and they’ll express their love towards them by saying how “precious” they are. - 悟は私の宝物 - “Satoru is my treasure” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## How to Respond to I Love You in Japanese Whether the feeling is mutual or you’re definitely not interested, here’s some key expressions to know how to respond to a love confession in Japanese. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### The feeling is 100% mutual You’re overwhelmed with happiness and excitement. Yes, this is happening! You can simply make their day with a simple “me too”, eventually repeating the words they told you for emphasis. - マリ、好きです。 - Marie, I love you - 私も（好きです） - I love you too (literally, “me too (love)”) - ジョン、愛しています。 - John, I love you. - 俺も（愛しています） - I love you too (literally, “me too (love)”) Note that women tend to use 私, while men refer to themselves with 俺. You, or your now significant other, can follow up with a “let’s have a date” or “let’s go out”. It’s the beginning of a new story! - デートしましょう - Let’s have a date - 付き合ってくれる - Will you go out with me? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### You’re not quite sure yet Someone told you how deeply they care for you, but you haven’t made up your mind yet. Well, in that case, you can simply ask for some time to think, with or without a deadline. - 考える時間をください - Please give me some time to think. - ちょっと考えます - I need to think. - 明日まで待ってください - Please give me until tomorrow. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### You do not love them back Turning down a love confession when the feelings aren’t mutual is hard, even more so in a foreign language, where you’re at a loss when finding the right word. Here are a few expressions to reject someone honestly but as kindly as possible. - お断りします・・・ - I decline - ちょっと無理です・・・ - Sorry, that’s not possible… - 他に好きな人がいます・・・ - There’s someone else I love… You’ve learned all there is to know about confessing your feelings in Japanese. As a final note, remember that sometimes, it is just the meaningful silence that fills the gaps where “I love you” might fit. **To the Japanese, love is better expressed through acts rather than words**. *Context note:* This describes one communication tendency discussed in the article, not a rule for all Japanese speakers or relationships. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is a common way to express affection in Japanese? As explained in this guide, 好きです (suki desu) and 大好きです (daisuki desu) can express affection. The exact meaning and intensity depend on the relationship and context. ### What does 愛している mean? 愛している (aishite iru) means “I love you” and conveys strong, serious love. It does not fit every situation in which an English speaker might say “I love you.” ### What is the difference between 好きです and 大好きです? 好きです expresses liking or affection. Adding 大 makes 大好きです stronger: “I really like you” or “I love you a lot.” ### Did Natsume Sōseki translate “I love you” as “The moon is beautiful”? The story is widely repeated, but [Japan's National Diet Library collaborative reference service](https://crd.ndl.go.jp/reference/entry/index.php?id=1000160743&page=ref%5Fview&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) reports that researchers have not found a reliable primary source confirming the attribution. ### 42 Basic Japanese Phrases to Survive in Japan [With Audio] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-phrases/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:13:31.000Z Download [42-how-wonderful.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/08/42-how-wonderful.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Japan’s beauty is unique in Asia and attracts millions of people worldwide. Who hasn’t thought to themselves at least once, > I would love to get lost here. If you plan to travel to Japan someday, learning some basic Japanese phrases will not only help you to survive in Japan, but also increase your chance of communicating with native Japanese that adds amazing flavor to your journey. In this post, we'll present you with **42 basic Japanese phrases** that can navigate you through your stay in Japan. From introducing yourself, navigating public transportation and asking for directions, shopping, eating out, and coping with an emergency, this article will cover almost **all the basic Japanese phrases for tourists**. Read on to prepare for your next trip to Japan! ## Japanese Phrases for Meeting and Greeting We all know that Japanese people speak and act politely. Here are some greeting phrases that will make your life in Japan a lot smoother. First, if you want to talk to someone, you’d better start with a greeting. If you meet somebody in the morning, you can start the conversation by saying: | | **おはようございます。** Good morning. | **Ohayou gozaimasu** | | | ------------------------------- | --------------------- | | | **こんにちは。** Good afternoon/Hello | **Konnichiwa** | | | **こんばんは。** Good night | **Konbanwa** | | | **はじめまして。** Nice to meet you | **Hajime mashite** | | | **私は…です。** My name is | **Watashi wa … desu** | | | **さようなら!** Good bye! | **Sayounara** | | | **じゃあね。** See you | **jaane** | | | **すみません。** Sorry/Excuse me | **Sumimasen** | Note that Japanese people use “すみません” frequently to apologize for things like stepping someone in the bus, or stopping someone to ask for direction. So this could be one of the most useful Japanese phrases you want to memorize. ## Japanese Phrases for Navigating Public Transportation and Getting Around When Using Public Transportation, you may have heard that Japanese cities like Tokyo have one of the most complex railway systems in the world. But don’t worry, here are several phrases to help you survive in those underground labyrinth ([Navitime](https://www.navitime.co.jp/pcstorage/html/japan%5Ftravel/english/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) can help to navigate you through Japan's confusing metro system). First, you need to find the bus stop (バス停, basutei) or the railway station (駅, eki). | | **バス停はどこですか？** Where’s the bus stop? | **basutei wa doko desuka?** | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | | **券売機はどこですか？** Where’s the ticket machine? | **kenbaiki wa doko desuka?** | | | **どうやって切符を買いますか？** How can I buy a ticket? | **douyatte kippu o kai masuka?** | | | **チケットはいくらですか？** How much are tickets? | **chiketto wa ikura desuka?** | | | **これは池袋（いけぶくろ）にいきますか？** Does this (train or bus) go to Ikebukuro? | **kore wa ikebukuro ni ikimasuka?** | | | **チケット二枚、お願いします。** Two tickets, please. | **chiketto nimai, onegaishimasu.** | You may want to try the [Japan Rail Pass](https://www.jrailpass.com/?utm%5Fsource=aff&utm%5Fmedium=cpa&utm%5Fcampaign=&affiliate=https://toomanyadapterscom0362361001514891806) to save some money as well as effort to buy tickets every time. Also, a useful app called [HyperDia](http://www.hyperdia.com/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) can help you decide which train to take and warn you when a journey isn’t covered by the [Japan Rail Pass](https://www.jrailpass.com/?utm%5Fsource=aff&utm%5Fmedium=cpa&utm%5Fcampaign=&affiliate=https://toomanyadapterscom0362361001514891806). ![Japanese public transportation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/fikri-rasyid-3ba59K57wE4-unsplash.jpg) Image from Unsplash ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) More Japanese phrases for asking for Directions | | **ここから、浅草まで歩いて行けますか。** Can I walk from here to Asakusa? | **Koko kara, asakusa made aruite ikemasu ka?** | | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | | **東京タワーまでどのくらいかかりますか？** How long does it take to get to Tokyo Tower? | **Tokyou tawa made donokurai kakarimasuka?** | | | **トイレはどこですか？** Where is the bathroom? | **toire wa doko desu ka?** | | | **まっすぐ行ってください。** Please go straight ahead. | **massugu ittekudasai.** | | | **二つ目の角を右(左)に曲がってください。** Please turn right (left) at the second corner. | **hutatsume no kado o migi (hidari) ni magattekudasai.** | | | **地図お書いてもらえますか？** Can you draw me a map? | **chizu o kaite morae masuka?** | | | **ありがとうございます。** Thank you very much. | **Ari gatou gozaimasu.** | Now try yourself! To find digital maps or travel brochures, you can consult [JNTO-Travel Brochures](https://www.jnto.go.jp/brochures/eng/index.php??ref=blog.lingodeer.com). For all the help you received, you can express your gratitude with the simple phrase: ## Japanese Phrases for Shopping While traveling in Japan, you may find there are so many things you want to purchase and take home. Then what phrases are used when shopping for souvenirs? Don’t forget to get your tax refund if you are an international tourist staying in Japan for less than 6 months. | | **これはいくらですか？** How much is it (are they)? | **Korewa ikura desu ka?** | | | ----------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | | | **おすすめは何ですか？** What would you recommend? | **Osusume wa nan desuka？** | | | **これは何ですか？** What is this? | **Kore wa nan desu ka?** | | | **シャツはありますか？** Are there any T-shirts? | **Tsyatsu wa arimasu ka?** | | | **免税で買えますか？** Can I buy this without tax? | **Menzei de kaemasu ka?** | ![A Japanese street](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/albert-dera-3A4YNbpn9Sc-unsplash.jpg) Image from Unsplash ## Japanese Phrases for Eating Out After walking and shopping, you may find yourself hungry and want some authentic Japanese cuisine. With these basic Japanese phrases, you can walk into any restaurant you want with confidence. | | **メニュー、お願いします。** A menu, please. | **menyu, onegaishimasu.** | | | -------------------------------- | ------------------------- | If you want to ask for an English menu, you may say: 英語のメニュー、お願いします。(eigo no menyu, onegaishimasu.) When you find something you are interested in, you can just point to the menu and tell the waiter: | | **これ、三つ、お願いします。** Three of these, please. | **ko re mittsu, onegaishimasu.** | | | ----------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- | If you want to order the food by its name, you could use the sentence structure “ください (kudasai)”. For example, if it is the tea that you want, you can say: | | **お茶をください。** I’d like tea, please. | **ocha o kudasai.** | | | ---------------------------------- | ------------------- | ![Japanese food](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/jia-ye-EDGH8ypPDAw-unsplash.jpg) Image from Unsplash If you happen to be dining with a Japanese person, say this before you start: | | **いただきます！** Let’s eat! | **Itadakimasu!** | | | ---------------------- | ---------------- | Japanese people say “[いただきます](https://blog.lingodeer.com/itadakimasu/)” before eating (not towards anyone, but to the food), and “ごちそうさまでした” after finishing it. You can say “ごちそうさまでした” to the owner of the restaurant, and he or she will be very much glad. When you are satisfied with the food, you can say this Japanese phrase to compliment the food: | | **おいしい！** (It’s) tasty! | **o i shi i!** | | | ----------------------- | -------------- | After finishing the delicious meal, you may want to express your gratitude by saying: | | **ごちそうさまでした。** Thank you for the meal. | **Gochisou sama deshita.** | | | -------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | As one can imagine, the amount of help you might receive doesn’t only depend on the welcoming nature of your host but also on how respectful you are. **💡Tips: Japanese dining etiquette 101** - Don’t point at someone or something with your chopsticks. - Use the chopsticks to grab your food, not as a fork. - Do not leave your chopsticks planted up in your rice. - Don’t pass on food to other people around you from chopsticks to chopsticks. To better plan your trip and find local cuisine, you can consult:[ Japan Travel](https://www.japan.travel/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com); [Japan-Guide](https://www.japan-guide.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Gurunavi.](https://gurunavi.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)Before going to Japan, you might want to know more about [Japanese Manners Do's and Don'ts](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/japanese-manners-dos-and-donts/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Know their manners so that you can use these Japanese phrases wisely. ## Japanese Phrases for Emergency I do hope you will not run into any unpleasant situations in Japan. However, as the saying goes, “Better safe than sorry”, I hope you can remember the following phrases to prepare for any emergency cases that might occur. First, the situation will be a lot better if you can find anyone who is able to speak English, so you can try to find one by asking: | | **英語が分かる人、いますか？** Is there anyone who can speak English? | **Eigo ga wakaru hito, imasuka?** | | | -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- | If it is getting dangerous, just shout out: | | **助けて！** Help! | **Tasukete!** | | | --------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | | **警察を呼んでください。** Please call the police. | **Keisatsu wo yondekudasai.** | If you get lost, try to explain your situation to people around you. Remember you can get help from the embassy and do note down the phone number and address of the embassy of your country. If you cannot use your phone, try to ask others for help: | | **迷子になりました** I’m lost. | **maigo ni narimashita** | | | ------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | | | **大使館に連絡したいんですが。** I want to contact the embassy. | **taishikan ni renraku shitaindesuga.** | Except for the last section, I do hope all the basic Japanese phrases you learned in this post will come in handy during your stay in Japan. As a bonus, I will introduce several cute Japanese phrases that can be used to express your emotion when talking to native speakers! ## Japanese Phrases to Express Emotion You may have already known the phrase, Japanese people do use “かわいい” a lot. It seems that “かわいい” can be used to show their likeness for almost anything, from clothes, stationery, to buildings and shops. Another phrase that you are most likely to hear in Japan is “すごい”. Try to use “ すごい” to compliment others and you may make some native friends. | | **かわいい** Cute | **Kawaii** | | | ---------------------------- | ---------------------- | | | **すごい！** Wow! / Amazing! | **Sugoi** | | | **かっこいい！** Cool! | **Kakkoii** | | | **立派ですね！** How splendid! | **rippa desune** | | | **素晴らしいですね。** How wonderful. | **subarashii desune.** | If you are interested in learning more Japanese phrases, check out [LingoDeer's travel phrasebook](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and learn 1000+ common Japanese travel phrases **for free**. You may also encounter some anime expressions;) If you already fall in love with Japanese, go on and read our blog articles [How long does it take to learn Japanese, ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/)or this essential guide to [Learn Japanese From Beginner to Advanced.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) Hope you can find something useful there, too! For more personal expressions, learn [how to say I love you in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-say-i-love-you-in-japanese/). See, learning Japanese is not as hard as you think! If you wish to find more Japanese learning resources, check out [this article about the best Japanese learning apps](https://vidalingua.com/best-apps-learn-japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and hopefully you'll find one suits you! --- *Wish to learn more Japanese phrases but don't know where to start? Let me help!* *I'm *LingoDeer*. I'm here to make your Japanese learning journey smart and fun!* [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ### How to Say Thank You in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/thank-you-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:34:00.000Z One of the most critical parts of using any language is knowing how to be polite. As a Korean language beginner, having manners and speaking politely will be valuable tools during the early stages of your skill development. Koreans are famous for their social etiquette, so being able to say [phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-phrases/) like “*Please”,* “*Thank you”*, and “*You’re welcome”* will go a long way in helping you win new Korean friends. This article will teach you how to say "*Thank You"* in Korean properly. Before we start, here's a recap: The Korean language has [different levels of etiquette](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/), which can change the structure and syntax of the message. The basic 3 levels are: - **Formal polite**: used in business, to speak to superiors, in the News, official events, etc. - **Informal polite**: everyday interactions with strangers, daily life, TV dramas, etc. - **Casual**: among friends, peers, and to other people with whom you are close. Now, let’s learn how to say *Thank You* in Korean in different ways. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Thank You in Korean: Most Common Expressions In all three of these levels, you can say 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da.), which makes it very useful and simple. In fact, there are no situations in which this would be inappropriate. So feel free to fire off 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) in all kinds of situations. Koreans will love to hear you say it. The official pronunciation is broken down as follows - **감 사 합 니 다** **gam sa ham ni da** ![  gamsahamnida: the most common way to say thank you in Korean ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/f6e680432af748bd34474aba73e49304.jpg) "Thank you, all the medical staff!" As your pronunciation skill improves, you will be able to string the syllables together in a more fluid and natural form. To sound like a native Korean, the pronunciation is more similar to this - **감 사합 니 다** **Gam sahm ni da** **Word Structure:** The root word is an unconjugated verb 감사하다 (gam-sa-ha-da), which is a two-part word; with a **noun** \+ a very common **verb ending.** - 감사 + 하다 - 감사: thanks - 하다: to do ![how to say thank you in korean: formation of Gamsahmnida ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/2-4.png) So, literally, the word translates into “*Thanks to do*”. In English, you can think of this as “*to give thanks*”. The verb ending 하다 (ha-da), which means “To do” is an extremely common verb-ending in the Korean language. But, it does not always directly mean *to do*. Sometimes it more accurately means *to be*, *there is*, or *to give*. In the case of 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da), we can see that the verb-ending changes to \~ 합니다 (ham-ni-da). This is the **formal polite** way to conjugate the verb 하다 (ha-da). **감사하다** becomes **감사합니다** **Hint #1*: any time you see or hear a word ending with \~합니다 / 니다, it is a formal polite form of the verb.* The conjugations of 감사하다 for [different etiquette levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/) are listed in the following table. Here is a complete guide to [Korean verbs and conjugations](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/). | **Dictionary form** | **감사하다 gamsahada** | | ------------------- | ------------------ | | Formal polite | 감사합니다 gamsahamnida | | Informal polite | 감사해요 gamsahaeyo | | Casual | 감사해 gamsahae | From the table above, it is best to use the **formal polite** version as a beginner speaker. It is a fail-proof form of “Thank you” and will be acceptable in almost every situation. As you develop, you will become more comfortable using the other forms in the table above. **Hint #2*: Don’t try to use anything less than the Formal Polite with older Koreans. Even if you feel comfortable with them, or you think it is cute, DON’T DO IT. There is a high probability seeming rude.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Thank You in Korean: Between Close Friends **고** **마** **워** **요.** **go** **ma** **wo** **yo.** **고** **마** **워.** **go** **ma** **wo.** The second most common way to say “Thank you” in Korean is with the root verb 고맙다 (go-mop-da). This version of “Thank you” is not different from what we studied above. It is used less, but the casual form is used more often in close relationships. Please refer to the table below for the different conjugations and varying levels of etiquette. | **Dictionary form** | **고맙다 go-map-da** | | ------------------- | ----------------------- | | Formal polite | 고맙습니다 go-map-seum-ni-da | | Informal polite | 고마워요 go-ma-wo-yo | | Casual | 고마워 go-ma-wo | ![how to say thank you in korean: how to conjugate gomapda ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/4-3.png) **Hint #3*: As you can see, the more Casual form is considerably shorter than the Formal form. This is a common pattern in Korean conjugations. Basically, the more Formal the situation, the longer, and harder conjugation should be used. The more informal and casual the situation, the shorter and easier forms can be used.* In short, the two short phrases below will solve 90% of the problem of how to say thank you in korean. > 감사합니다. (gamsahamnida.) > > Thank you. > > > > Thank you. The first version - 감사합니다 - is the standard way to say thank you, and can be used in most situations. The second version - 고마워요 or 고마워 - is more commonly used in casual and familiar relationships. You may hear this being used among couples or close friends. Especially couples tend to use 고마워 with their partner because it sounds cuter and softer; indicating a sense of affection with their significant other. Here are two example situations and the suitable ways of how to say thank you in Korean. - A manager buys an employee a coffee: 감사합니다 - A boyfriend buys his girlfriend a delicious pastry or snack: 고마워 So, please, if someone you are close to does something nice for you, you should try to use 고마워. It will indicate that you feel familiar and comfortable with him or her. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Thank You in Korean: Less Common Forms > 감사드립니다. (gam-sa-du-rim-ni-da.) > > Thank you. \- this is the highest honorific form of “Thank you”. It is extremely polite, very formal, and highly respectful. > 감사해요. (gam-sa-hae-yo.) > > Thank you. \- You will hear this used occasionally, but the formality and respect are a bit ambiguous. > 고맙습니다 . (go-mop-seum-ni-da.) > > Thank you. \- this is polite and formal, but less common than 감사합니다. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Thank You Very Much in Korean Except using only the verb, you can also add degree modifiers to the phrase to emphasize how much you would like to thank other people. Add the modifier before the verb. So, literally it becomes “Very thank you” or “Really thank you” You can add 정말 (jeong-mal), which means **REALLY**, before the verb: > **정말 감사합니다**. > > Thank you so much. Or add 너무 (nuh-mu), which means **VERY**, before the verb: > **너무 감사합니다.** > > Thank you so much. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Thank you for xxx in Korean Similar to the structure above, you can simply add the noun to the front of the sentence, which carries a similar meaning to “*Thank you for \_\_\_\_*” or more literally “*For \_\_\_\_\_\_, thank you*” > **선물 (sun-mul) 고마워요** > > Thank you for the gift (선물). > > Literally: Gift thank you*.* ![How to say thank you in korean when receiving gift](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/6-1.png) > **커피 너무 감사합니다** > > Thank you very much for the coffee (커피: keo-pee) > > Literally: Coffee (커피) very much thank you > > **와 주셔서 감사합니다.** (wa ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da.) > > *Thank you for coming.* > > Literally: You came, so thank you. **Breakdown**: 와 (come) 주셔서 (because you did) 감사합니다 (thank you) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Respond to Thank you in Korean Responding to “Thank you” in Korean is not the same as it is in English. In western culture, it could be rude NOT to respond to “Thank you”. But in Korean culture, it is not always necessary. This could take some time to adjust to as a beginner. Koreans may simply respond by saying “Yes” with “네” or the more casual “예”. This may seem rude by western standards, but it is not rude in Korean culture. “You’re welcome” just isn’t as common. However, there are ways to say, “You’re Welcome.” The most common way to say “You’re Welcome” is with > 아니에요 (anieyo.) > > You’re welcome. / Don’t mention it. > > Literally: No. ![You're welcome in Korean: anieyo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/7.png) or > 뭘요 (molyo.) > > You’re welcome. > > Literally: What. A less formal way is to say > 별말씀을요. (byeol-mal-sseum-eul-yo.) > > You’re welcome. Another informal polite of “You’re Welcome” is > 별거 아니에요. (byeol geo anieyo) > > It’s not a big deal. Overall, using “Thank you” in Korean is very simple and straightforward. Although there are several different forms, you can get by with the 3 most common forms: 감사합니다, 고마워요, 고마워. So, don’t be hesitant to say “Thank you” to friends and strangers. Watch their eyes light up with kindness and warmth from your politeness. Enjoy! ### Japanese Studies with LingoDeer User Ally URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-studies-with-lingodeer-user-ally/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T13:04:24.000Z *Learn Japanese with LingoDeer and meet one of our users today!* LD: Tell us about yourself! **A:** My name is Ally, I'm a 26-years-old French girl, currently living and working in Singapore as legal counsel for a big international company. My main hobby at the moment is learning the Japanese language, and I created an Instagram account at the beginning of that process (in May 2019) to follow my progress and give me motivation! After a very intense year, and since I made very good progress, I'm also using my account to convey positivity and give inspiration to others to either start learning a foreign language or do their best in learning their target language(s). My ultimate message is: if you work hard for it, anything is possible: I am the proof! LD: What got you interested in the Japanese language? **A:** I honestly don't know, it just happened! I had always been attracted to the culture and the country, like many French people, but never thought I would be able to learn the language one day. But then at the beginning of 2017, I just stumbled upon a French YouTube channel offering free beginner courses for Japanese (*Cours de japonais!* by *Julien Fontanier*), and I got hooked because I realized that learning the language was possible! It took me almost 2 whole years to properly start studying the language because I wanted to be done with my studies first, and since then I have been very passionate about it. I guess on the language itself I could say it is the reunion of the language having ideograms (kanji) which I had always wanted to learn to decipher, and being so fresh and different from the two languages I already know, that got me hooked. Plus I love how it sounds, and I love discovering Japanese expressions and sayings along the way! LD: Name three things you want to do with your japanese skills. Please explain why. **A:** On top of reaching overall fluency, I would like to (1) **be able to work in Japan and use the Japanese language in everyday working life**, because my current goal is to be able to live there, (2) **be able to read anything and NOT struggle on the kanji**, since this is one of the hardest parts of the language and I want to be able to read Japanese literature without difficulty, and (3) **be able to communicate easily in all levels of politeness**, since again, mastering this like natives do comes with this language and is therefore a goal in itself. **LD: What is your learning routine? How do you use LingoDeer?** **A:** I have detailed posts about my routine on my account, but very simply I can say that I study Japanese at any free moment I have during the day, and I make it a point to study it or be in contact with it everyday. That's very important in my opinion. When I'm in transports and I only have my phone on me **LingoDeer and LingoDeer+** **are very useful to maintain that constant immersion**. I especially like the tab "Fluent Japanese" on LingoDeer and the contents for intermediate/advanced learners, and also the games "Word Express", "Memory Castle", "Sea of Verbs" and "Speed Reply" on LingoDeer+. Usually when I spend time on the applications I combine all those contents, and it's always satisfying since it's not that easy and always challenging! Learning a language through games has always been one of my motto because I'm convinced it allows for the vocabulary words to stick and it is crucial to get a general grasp of the language. LingoDeer and LingoDeer+ are very good applications to allow for this natural immersion I'm looking for. ![Learn Japanese on LingoDeer!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechat-image_20200819011309-1.jpg) Japanese courses on LingoDeer **LD: What do you do when you feel stuck or frustrated by** **Japanese** **?** A: Invariably, I would stop all studying and would just pick up a book I've always wanted to read in Japanese (I have them in my bookshelf precisely for that purpose) or I would watch or rewatch a Japanese movie, drama or anime. Sometimes, if I am really frustrated, I only listen to my favourite Japanese music. It always calms me down realizing that I still **love the language**, that I already know a lot, and that if I keep fighting **I will surely reach my goals**. It gives me inspiration to continue. And also, art in any form or language heals everything, right? \_\_\_\_\_**Want to be featured in a community story like Ally's and inspire other LingoDeer users? Sign up here and a deer agent will be in touch! We look forward to hearing from you!** ### Learning Japanese as an English-speaking Russian: a Huge Challenge? Interview with a Lingodeer User URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-as-an-english-speaking-russian/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T13:03:59.000Z *Learn Japanese with LingoDeer!* *Meet LingoDeer user Maksim and read about his experience of learning Japanese as an English-speaking Russian. Who knows? This new perspective may be of use to you as well!* **LD: Tell us about yourself!** **M:** I was born and raised in Krasnoyarsk krai, but after college graduation I moved to St. Petersburg where I now work as an in-house lawyer. I've been learning English as a second language my whole life without any specific reason for it but ended up graduating with a degree in Comparative Law Department and a pretty good level of common and professional English. I love to travel, learn about different cultures and am very fond of tasty food (as most of us are). I pass cold Russian winters by watching TV-shows, playing computer games and slowly learning Japanese. LD: What got you interested in the Japanese language? **M:** As a college student, I was charmed by Anime, Manga and Light Novels and wanted to be able to consume Japanese culture without translation, but for the longest time, I hadn't acted on this urge. The push I needed came from an announcement about Duolingo adding a free Japanese course to its app. I realized that I didn't have to learn Japanese the same way I learned English - with the help of modern technology I could do it on my own (up to a certain level). Not to mention that it's much cheaper than hiring tutors and attending language classes. ![Learn Japanese on LingoDeer!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechat-image_20200819011309-2.jpg) Japanese courses on LingoDeer The Japanese writing system seemed very intimidating, and I was hoping that Duolingo would make the learning process less boring and not as time-consuming. At the beginning there were very cool lessons that slowly teach you hiragana and katakana. But then the app jumped straight to practice sentences without explaining any grammar and continued to use hiragana where kanji should have been used. That was a deal breaker for me. I continued to learn hiragana and katakana using a chart I found on the internet and a simple app that would ask me characters at random. Eventually, I got more confident in my knowledge of the alphabet and was ready to try another way of learning of Japanese. That's when I learned about **LingoDeer**. It was recommended to me on Google Play as one of the most popular language learning apps for Japanese, Chinese and Korean languages. I tried it and found everything I needed: very simple but comprehensive grammar sections, lessons with audio and new vocabulary with writing in kanji and pronunciation of each word if needed. **LD: What's your learning routine like these days? How do you use LingoDeer?** **M:** I go through about two new lessons a week, slow and steady. After each lesson I copy all of the new words and some of the sentences to a different app, similar language cards. After that I repeat and memorize new words and grammar by writing them down by hand in a notebook. I use another app, *"Kanji Study",* to write kanji. I do reviews during my daily commute and go through new lessons in the LingoDeer app at home. I was a bit self-conscious studying on the subway at first but with time I was able to concentrate on the task and ignore curious looks. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechat-image_20200819062446.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechat-image_20200819062441.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechat-image_20200819062437.jpg) I also watch Anime from time to time (less than during my student years) and listen to J-Rock. I wouldn't call it studying, but with my progress in LingoDeer I began to recognize some words and grammatical structures which is a very rewarding feeling in itself. **LD: What do you do if you get frustrated by Japanese?** **M:** The short answer would be "I try to avoid frustration by taking it slow but steady and not worrying about it". But it wasn't always like that. Right after I found LingoDeer I decided to do one new lesson a day, and also used the app "Drops" to broaden my vocabulary. Everything was going well for the first 6 weeks, but then the problems started to occur: I noticed that I started to forget some of the earlier lessons. To compensate, I introduced revision to my everyday routine which led to an increase in study time. At some point it seemed like a second job and demanded a huge amount of willpower. I even started to skip my lessons due to fatigue. I realized I could not go on like this and decided to experiment with the amount of new lessons and revision sessions until I hit the perfect ratio. In the end, **the most important thing is to study the language regularly**. If your study plan is ambitious to the point of frustration, you're just shooting yourself in the leg. You may even stop learning the language for a long time and lose the progress that you already made. The way I see it, if you're learning a language for yourself without external deadlines like exams or work qualification requirements, you might as well do it at a comfortable pace. **Structure of lessons in apps like LingoDeer will make sure that you are making steady progress**. It took me some time in order to understand this, but I see no other way to learn such complex language while working a full-time job and keeping my sanity. LD: We heard you visited Japan not too long ago. Were you able to use your new language skill? How was it? **M:** Yeah, I was lucky enough to be able to visit Japan in 2019\. That was one of the best vacations in my life! It was incredibly motivating in terms of studying. Of course, half a year is not enough time to master the language, but even my limited knowledge was very useful - even before I landed in Japan! The flight attendant saw me studying, and that led to friendly chatting, as well as my first practical use of the language - I was able to say *"One beer please"* (びるをひとつおねがいします)! During the trip I often used English, but when I went to some local markets which are not usually visited by tourists, I was able to understand the business owners there. I was also able to say *"Thank you very much for the food"* (ごちそさまでした) after every meal which pleasantly surprised the staff of the places I visited. Recognizing such words as 東京, 京都, お茶, 新幹線, ホテル, 焼き鳥 was very inspiring and even useful sometimes. There was also one time when a nice old lady in a Coin Laundry saw me and said こんにちは. Being able to understand her and say the same in return left a very nice and warm feeling. Oh yeah! Those fancy toilets that are almost everywhere in Japan - I was very surprised when I was able to understand what almost all of the buttons did, despite the fact that they were written in Japanese without any translation! Overall it was a very fun, informative and tasty adventure. People in Japan are very appreciative of your attempts to learn their culture and language even if you make some mistakes. Language knowledge is not a necessary but still very useful skill for any visitor. And for me, it's a motivation to keep learning and return for a second visit with a much better skill! --- **Want to be featured in a community story like Maksim's and inspire other LingoDeer users? Sign up here and a deer agent will be in touch! We look forward to hearing from you!** ### How to Say I Love You in Korean: An Essential Guide to Survive in Romantic Korea URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-say-i-love-you-in-korean/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:24.000Z Have you ever gotten the impression that Korean people are very romantic? Your intuition is probably right. If you wish to not only survive but also live your life to the fullest in this romantic country, you must know **how to say *I Love You* in Korean properly** . Unlike in some cultures where it’s extremely rare for people to express affection, Koreans are hardly ever afraid to do it. *I Love You* is a phrase often heard in those romantic confession scenes of K-dramas. Even if you haven't found your Miss/Mr Right, these phrases about how to say *I Love You* in Korean can also come in handy when expressing your love to family and friends as well. Now get prepared to become romantic in Korean! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## The Basics of How to Say I Love You in Korean If you have watched Korean drama, you must have heard of this most common way of saying "*I Love You"* in Korean. > 사랑해요. (saranghaeyo.) > > I love you. 사랑해요 is taken from the verb love 사랑하다 (saranghada), with informal polite speech and present tense conjugation. Interested in knowing how the verb 사랑하다 become 사랑해요? Check out this article about [Korean verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/). But there is much more to know other than 사랑해요. Read on to learn more! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### The Phrase I Love You is Actually Only a Verb "Love"?! So does this short phrase only consist of a verb? The answer is YES! Don’t be surprised. The fact is that, unlike [romantic phrases in many languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/i-love-you-in-different-languages/), the whole *I Love You* phrase in Korean actually only requires the verb *Love*. If you’ve already learned about [Korean sentence structures](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/), you should know that it is sometimes okay to omit the subject and/or object in Korean. As long as the [Korean verb](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/) is conjugated correctly, it can stand as an independent phrase. Therefore, in a non-confusing context, a Korean person only needs to say the verb *Love* in its proper [sentence ending form](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/), and the listener can easily interpret it as *I Love You*. The full Korean phrase to say I Love You (informal polite) is: > 저는 당신을 사랑해요. (jeoneun dangsineul saranghaeyo.) > > I love you. 저 (jeo) is the honorific term for “I”, and 당신(dangsin) is the honorific term for “you”. This is a very literal phrase to say *I Love You* in Korean, because 당신 is **not commonly used** in spoken Korean. A more natural expression is to substitute “you” with the listener’s name + honorific suffix 씨: > xx 씨 사랑해요. (xx ssi saranghaeyo.) > > I love you, xx. Or you can include the title with which you call the listener, such as 오빠 or 누나: > 오빠/누나 사랑해요. (oppa/nuna saranghaeyo.) > > I love you, my significant other. Here is a [guide to the titles for other people with relation to age](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-age-system/). 오빠 literally translates to the older brother of a female, and 누나 literally translates to the older sister of a male, but Korean people use these two terms to call their significant others who are older. !["I love you" in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/3-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### The Formation of the Word Love in Korean Now, let’s take a closer look at the word *Love* 사랑하다 (saranghada). The word *Love* 사랑하다 is a typical -하다(-hada) verb in Korean. Like many other -하다 verbs in Korean, 사랑하다 can be split into two parts **사랑** \+ **하다**. - The first part **사랑** is a **noun** by itself, and it means “love”. - The second part **하다** is a versatile **verb** in Korean. It literally translates to “do” or “have*”,* and it can be combined with many nouns to turn the word into a verb. ![Korean composition of I love you](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/1-1.png) Here are a few more examples of typical **\-하다 verbs** in the form of **noun + 하다**: - 수영하다 (swim) = 수영 (swimming) + 하다 (do) - 공부하다 (study) = 공부 (study) + 하다 (do) - 준비하다 (prepare) = 준비 (preparation) + 하다 (do) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## How to Say I Love You in Korean in Different Ways Now you are familiar with the Korean verb *Love* 사랑하다, and learned how to say *I Love You* in korean in informal polite speech. This section is going to teach you how to say *I Love You* in korean in [different levels of formality and politeness](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). !["I love you" in different Korean levels](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/4-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to Say I Love You in Korean in Casual Speech If you want to express love to someone you’re close to, such as your boyfriend or girlfriend, you can use the casual speech. In casual speech, you don’t have to use honorific terms 저(jeo) and 당신(dangsin) to say “I” and “you”. The casual words for “I” and “you” are respectively 나(na) and 너(neo). The full phrase of *I Love You* in casual speech: > 나는 너를 사랑해. (naneun neoreul saranghae.) > > I love you. More often than not, Korean people would omit the [subject and object particles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/), so the phrase would be: > 나 너 사랑해. (na neo saranghae.) > > I love you. Or you can substitute “you” with the listener’s name. You don’t need to add 씨 anymore in casual speech, but with 아 or 야 after the name: > xx아/야, 사랑해. (xx-na/ya, saranghae.) > > I love you, xx. You add 아 after the name if it ends with batchim, and 야 if it doesn’t end with batchim. You may omit the subject “I”: > 널 사랑해. (neol saranghae.) > > I love you. 널 is the abbreviation of 너 + 를. It is common for people to abbreviate 를 as -ㄹ after a noun or pronoun without batchim in spoken Korean. The simplest way is still to only keep the verb: > 사랑해. (saranghae.) > > I love you. ☝️ Click to watch a short video clip of love confession scene from It's Okay To Not Be Okay (사이코지만 괜찮아) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to Say I Love You in Korean in Formal Polite Speech Theoretically, you would use formal polite speech to say *I Love You*, when you are expressing your love to somebody older or in a higher status, like your grandparents for example. If you are expressing your love to your significant other, you also need to use formal polite speech if it’s in a formal setting. For example, when you are giving a speech at the wedding. However, Korean people **rarely** use formal polite speech to say *I Love You*, even though the listener is older in real life. The formal polite speech of *I Love You* may appear more often in writings or lyrics. All the examples listed below are likely to be written language instead of spoken language. You can formally express the phrase *I Love You* as: > 저는 당신을 사랑합니다. (jeoneun dangsineul saranghamnida) > > I love you. Or you can substitute “you” with the addressee’s name + honorific 씨: > 저는 xx 씨를 사랑합니다. (jeoneun xx ssireul saranghamnida.) > > I love you, xx. You may omit the subject “I”: > 당신을 사랑합니다. (dangsineul saranghamnida.) > > I love you. Or substitute “you” with the addressee’s name + honorific 씨: > xx 씨를 사랑합니다. (xx ssireul saranghamnida.) > > I love you, xx. You may only keep the verb: > 사랑합니다. (saranghamnida) > > I love you. ☝️ Swipe left to watch a short video clip of love confession scene from Itaewon Class (이태원 클라쓰) To learn more phrases from K-dramas, watch [our Webinar with Hyeon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hMQkELjsfI&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## How to Say I Love You in Korean with Bonus Now you’ve learned how to say *I Love You* in Korean in the three most common speech levels. It’s time to level up the game and learn some phrases to say *I Love You* with bonus by adding modifiers or confessing your love with rhetorics. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to Say I Love You Very Much in Korean First, let’s look at the ways of saying *I Love You Very Much*. This can be done by simply adding the degree modifier 너무(neomu) or 많이 (mani), both meaning *very much, a lot* before the verb: > 너무 사랑해요. (neomu saranghaeyo.) > > I love you very much. > > 많이 사랑해요. (mani saranghaeyo.) > > I love you a lot. Or you can express how much you’re in love with the other person in more rhetorical ways: > xx 씨 없이 못 살아요. (xx ssi eobsi mot sarayo.) > > I can’t live with you. > > xx 씨밖에 없어요. (dangsinbage eobseoyo.) > > There’s nobody like you. > > xx한테 첫눈에 반했어요. (xx-hante cheotnune banhaeseoyo.) > > I fell in love with you at first sight. > > 저 xx한테 완전히 빠졌어요. (jeo xx-hante wanjeonhi ppajyeoseoyo.) > > I’m crazy about you. The names of the listener (+ 씨) can be substituted with their titles, such as 오빠 or 누나. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Other Indirect Ways to Say I Love You in Korean Besides saying *I Love You* directly, you can also express your feelings to the other person in indirect ways. You can ask if s/he would like to go out with you: > 저랑 사귈래요? (jeorang sagwilraeyo?) > > Would you go out with me? You can tell the other person that you want to be with him/her: > 같이 있고 싶어요. (gachi itgo sipeoyo.) > > I want to be with you. If s/he is not by your side, you can tell him/her that you miss him/her via phone or text: > 보고 싶어요. (bogo sipeoyo.) > > I miss you. You can tell the girl you love that she’s pretty or even beautiful: > 예뻐요. (yeppeoyo.) > > You’re pretty. > > 아름다워요. (areumdawoyo.) > > You’re beautiful. You can tell the boy you love that he’s handsome: > 잘 생겼어요. (jal saenggyeoseoyo.) > > You’re handsome. > > 멋있어요. > > You’re looking good. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## How to Respond to I Love You in Korean If you don’t have anybody to confess your love to, it would be useful for you to learn how to respond to *I Love You*, if you receive a confession. When you receive a love message, obviously, you have two choices: to accept or to reject. If you also love the other person, then you can say: > 저도 사랑해요. (jeodo saranghaeyo.) > > I love you too. With accepting the love, you can suggest that you two start dating: > 우리 사겨요. (wuri sagyeoyo.) > > Let’s date. If you don’t love the other person, then you can reject directly by saying that you don’t love him/her: > 사랑하지 않아요. (saranghaji anayo.) > > I don’t love you. > > 제 스타일 아니세요. > > You’re not my type. You can also reject by suggesting that you should just be friends: > 우리 친구로 지내요. (wuri chinguro jinaeyo.) > > Let’s be friends. ![two ways to respond to I love you in Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/5-1.png) ### Japanese Grammar 101: Japanese Sentence Structure and Particles (2023 updated) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-sentence-structure/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:27.000Z So, here you are, thrilled to have learned your very first Japanese words and ready to put them to use into a sentence. But how does Japanese sentence structure work…? How should you put different types of words together to make a grammatical sentence? After reading this quick guide, you will know the basics of Japanese sentence structure and particles. You’ll be set to speak and write Japanese in no time! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Japanese Sentence Structure: How are Japanese sentences structured? At the beginning, Japanese sentence structure will confuse you, especially if you try to translate the sentence literally. The word order will kind of look the opposite of what it should be in an English sentence. ### Japanese Sentence Structure: Word Order Well, that’s because English (and romance languages in general) is an SVO, Subject-Verb-Object, language. **Japanese, in comparison, is an SOV, Subject-Object-Verb,** language. Speaking very simply, the word order is different in Japanese, with the object coming in between the subject and the verb. ![how to use two verbs in a sentence japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-ec47026daefd2526.png) Japanese sentence structure vs English sentence structure Here’s a short sentence to help you visualize how a simple Japanese sentence looks like: | ジョンは | パンを | 食べる | | ------- | ------ | ---- | | John | bread | eat | | Subject | Object | Verb | While the order is off in English, you can easily infer the meaning: “John eats bread”. Here’s another example, with a more complex sentence: | ジョンは | 私に | パンを | くれました | | ------- | --------------- | ------------- | ----- | | John | To me | bread | gave | | Subject | Indirect Object | Direct Object | Verb | Between “John” and the final verb “gave”, you’ll have two groups of words which translate “to me” and “bread”. You can still guess the meaning, but as you keep on learning Japanese and build more complex sentences, literal translations in English are like puzzles you need to reassemble. So having a fundamental understanding of how Japanese sentence structure works is important to help you get the pieces in a flash. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Sentence Structure vs English The very first rule you learn is that a **Japanese sentence only needs a verb to be grammatically complete.** One verb equals one sentence! Of course, like in English, a sentence can also contain nouns, adjectives and additional verbs. So as your vocabulary expands, you build more complex sentences, adding bits of information between the subject and the verb. Now, in English and most romance languages, the word order is rigid because it serves a purpose. The order is here to tell us the grammatical function of each word or group of words. A sentence starts with a subject - a noun or pronoun for example, followed by a verb and one or more objects. But **in Japanese, the word order is more flexible and words can be arranged in various ways**. So how does it make sense? With the help of grammatical particles. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Japanese Sentence Structure: Particles You Must Know Looking back at one of our examples, you can see the adjunction of little words to nouns and verbs. | ジョン | は | 私 | に | パン | を | くれました | | ------- | - | --------------- | - | ------------- | - | ----- | | Jon | | me | | bread | | gave | | Subject | ? | Indirect Object | ? | Direct Object | ? | Verb | These little words are what we call grammatical particles. Take a Japanese sentence and imagine it’s like a wall made of bricks. The words are the bricks and the particles act like the cement that sticks them all together. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How Do Particles Work in Japanese Sentence Structure Particles are grammatical markers, or suffixes, that you attach to nouns, adjectives, verbs and even sentences, to assign them a grammatical function. Plainly saying, they assign a role to words and groups of words, telling us: - what’s the senten ce is about, - who is doing what, - where the action is done, or where it’s from or going to, - when the action is done, - how the action is done, - with whom - and so on. As you can see in the example below, は and を show the relationship between pieces of information (John, bread) and the verb (eat). | ジョン | は | パン | を | 食べる | | -------------- | -------- | ------------- | -------- | ---- | | John | | bread | | eat | | Subject (noun) | Particle | Object (noun) | Particle | Verb | Let’s follow up with more details. We see that the particle は marks the subject, を the direct object and に the indirect object. | ジョン | は | 私 | に | パン | を | くれました | | ------- | -------- | --------------- | -------- | ------------- | -------- | ----- | | John | | me | to | bread | | gave | | Subject | Particle | Indirect Object | Particle | Direct Object | Particle | Verb | What’s tricky for beginners at first, is that **Japanese particles can rarely be translated** because they have no counterpart in English. Depending on the context, however, some of them can be close to English prepositions such as “to, from, in, at, on, etc.” **Particles are the very foundations in Japanese sentence structure after the verbs**, and each one has multiple grammatical functions that you need to memorize. Keep things easy at first and focus your attention on their main functions. As you progress, you’ll develop a more complex understanding of their usage. You’re now set to learn the main particles in Japanese, starting with the は and が pair. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Wa は The particle は (“wa”) is called the topic marker for a good reason, as **は introduces the topic or theme of a sentence, basically what you’re talking about.** - **明日の天気は**どうでしょう = What will be **tomorrow’s weather** like? The theme in the above example is the weather. In English, it can be confusing to understand the concept of sentence thematic, as it often overlaps with what we consider to be the subject. - **今日は**何をしましたか。= What did you do **today** (introducing for the theme “today”) You’ll quickly notice that は is very often at the beginning or near the beginning of a sentence. While to be grammatically correct the word order doesn’t matter much in Japanese, native speakers naturally place topic phrases at first. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Ga が In a subtle contrast with は, the particle **が is called the subject or identifier marker**, meaning it marks the subject of the action or the verb. - 頭が痛い = my heart hurts - 私がやる！= I’ll do it! が can also be used instead of the particle を with some verbs and conjugation, as well with adjectives, that express like or dislike, desire, knowledge, and other feelings. - 本が好き = I like book - 意味がわからない = I don’t understand the meaning ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Wa vs Ga は vs が The nuance between the topic marker (は) and the subject marker (が) is a blurry one for more. The bad news is that it’s probably one of the Japanese language’s most difficult concepts to grasp, one that Japanese linguists themselves can’t seem to agree on. With time and practice, you’ll develop an intuition and know which one is appropriate to use. Thankfully, until then, know that native speakers will have no problem understanding you if you mix up the two! So, what’s going on between は and が? A good way to keep things simple for now, is to understand that **the particle は refers to information that everyone taking part in the conversation is familiar with.** And by information, we mean that the parties taking part in the conversation are aware of what we’re talking about. は has therefore a rather broad usage and can even replace other particles for emphasis. On the other hand, **the particle が is down to earth the marker of the verb's subject**, meaning the who or the what doing the action. - リーさんは中国から来た。= Lee came from China - リーさんが中国から来た。= Lee (in a group of people: is the one who) came from China. Another way to look at this pair is to consider that (broad) **は provides context, while (limited)が provides action or identification.** While you take time to digest this big chunk of grammar complexity, let’s move on to an easier particle. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### O を The particle を, whose written wo but read “o”, is your go-to particle to indicate **the direct object** in a sentence. So basically を marks to **what or whom the action is done**. In English, it doesn’t necessarily have an equivalent. - パンを食べる = I eat bread - ピアノを弾く = I play piano Playing around with を shows you how **a Japanese sentence structure can be changed with no influence on its meaning as long as you properly use particles**. - 太郎はのりこを見る = Tarou sees Noriko - のりこを太郎は見る = Tarou sees Noriko Of course, grammatically correct doesn’t necessarily mean that it sounds natural. Japanese people tend to place the direct object at first or after the topic of a sentence, following the SOV order. | 太郎は | のりこを | 見る | | -------------- | ------------- | ---- | | Sentence Topic | Direct Object | Verb | ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### E へ **The particle へ (written “he” but read “e”) marks a motion movement towards a direction** and is used with directional verbs such as “go” (行く) and “send” (送る). - スーパーへ行く = I go to the supermarket. - 海外へ送る = to send abroad The emphasis is on the movement of heading toward something more than the intended destination. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Ni に Despite being short, the particle に is busier than it seems! **This particle’s main functions are to indicate the time something takes place on (at, in, on) and to focus on the location in which something is (in, at).** Time - 午後3時に来る = I will come at 3PM Location - 学校にいる = I’m at school Finally, に can mark an indirect object and work hand in hand with verbs in a lot of set expressions such as になる (“to become”). Indirect Object - ジョンは**私に**プレゼントした = John offered **me** a gift. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Ni vs E に vs へ Both に and へ can be attached to a direction and are grammatically interchangeable. Both sentences below are correct: - Direction: 学校に行く = I go to school - Direction: 学校へ行く = I go to school Surprisingly, native speakers themselves, when asked to think about one or the other, don’t always know how to explain why they’ll choose naturally one or the other. So how do you distinguish the two? If you open a grammar book, you’ll be taught that between に and へ, it’s just a matter of focus. So a very clever way to sort them out is to memorize that **に focuses on your destination as a “goal”**: you intend to reach a place. - 学校に行きます = I go to school (and I have for intention to get there on time for classes) On the contrary, **へ emphasizes the movement toward a destination**, **regardless of whether you reach the said destination.** - スーパーへ行きます = I go to the supermarket (but might actually not go there, I can change my mind on the way!) If the distinction is still blurry, a more down to earth tip is to memorize that に is naturally used with a verb such as “to arrive (to)” (着く), “乗る” (to get on), “to come back (to)” (帰る) because these verbs give somewhat a sense of reaching a final point. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### De で The particle で has three main functions. The first is to give the location of an action, for example, a sporting event at the school, the means by which an action is done, such as writing with a pen, or a cause or reason for a negative event. **Means** - ペン**で**書く = I write with a pen **Location** - 学校で運動会をする = We do a sport event **at** school **Cause** - 風邪で学校休んだ = I missed school due to a cold ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### De vs Ni で vs に Can で somewhat overlap with the particle に when it comes to giving a location? Lucky for you, not really. **The particle で focuses on the action and the location is not a goal, but accessory information.** Here’s an example to help you sort them out. - 都会**で**暮らす = **I live** in the city. - 都会**に**暮らす= I live **in the city.** While the translation in English is the same, the use of で or に brings in a nuance that native speakers easily understand. In the first sentence, what で emphasizes really, is the verb “to live”. The speaker is focused on the “act of living” and the city is just a detail. With the second sentence, however, the speaker simply gives information. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Kara から The first usage of the particle から is to indicate **the origin or the beginning of something**. - 午後3時**から**始まる = It starts **from** 3 PM - アメリカ**から**来た = I came **from** America It’s often paired with the particle まで which marks the end or limit of something. - 午後3時から5時**まで** \= from 3pm **to** 5pm - いつ**まで**日本にいますか = **Until** when will you be in Japan? With a more complex twist to it, から can also be used to give a reason or cause for something. Note that the reason comes before the consequence. - この本は面白いから、読んでください = This book is interesting, so please read it (literally, “because this book is interesting, please read it!”) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### To と The particle と is one of the first particle beginners learn because it’s a very convenient connector **expressing that something is done “with” someone or something**. と also comes in to list multiple things as in “A and B”. 1. ジョン**と**、海に行く = I go to the sea **with** John. 2. パンはバター**と**ジャムを食べる = I eat bread with butter **and** jam. This particle is used in a lot of set verbal phrases in particular to express conditions and to make quotations. But for now, just keep in mind that と = and/with. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Mo も In a way, the particle も has been compared to the topic marker は in the sense that も, which translates “too, also”, makes a reference to the sentence theme. This particle helps make an analogy and add emphasis. - ジョンはパンを食べる。私**も**パンを食べる = John eats bread. **I** eat bread **too**. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### No の The particle の is one of the most important particles there is. You use の to stick nouns or even partial sentences together in order to mark possession, belonging or to give details. **Possession** - ジョンのレストラン = the restaurant of John/ John’s restaurant - 私のバッグ = my bag **Belonging** - 大阪の人= a person from Osaka - 夏目漱石の詩 = Natsume Soseki’s poem (= the poem Natsume Soseki composed) **Giving more details** - 日本語の本 = a Japanese book (you provide details on what is the book) - 学校の前 = in front of the school (you provide details on the location) - こちらは田中の同僚だ = Here’s Tanaka, my colleague Another major grammatical function of の is to turn an adjective or verb phrase into the equivalent of a noun. **Nominalization** - 青いのはいい = the blue one is nice - 友達と話すのが好き = I like talking with my friends The newly formed “noun phrase” is used exactly like a noun and therefore can be connected to the rest of the sentence with other particles. While it may be obvious, it’s worth telling that in a noun phrase, the particle の loses its freedom and cannot be moved around, or the phrase will break down and lose all meaning. So far, we’ve seen particles that you can find in the middle of a sentence to connect words and phrases together. The Japanese language also has ending particles, the most important of all being the “question” particle か. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Build Japanese Questions with Ending Particle か Once you know basic Japanese sentence structure, you basically know how to ask a question in Japanese. **All you have to do is add the ending particle か after your sentence’s final verb.** This is how you can turn every sentence into yes-no questions. - パンをたべます = I/you eat bread. - パンを食べます**か** \= do you eat bread? - できました = I/you did it. - できましたか = did you do it? Beyond yes and no questions, you can also ask wh-questions and the like by using question words at the beginning of your sentence. The sentence’s word order does not change. However depending on the context, the question word may need to be attached to the correct particle for the question to work. Thinking about the answer and reversing back to the question will help you figure out what particle should be used. What: - 何を食べますか = **What** do you eat? - パンを食べます = I eat **bread**. - 何ですか = What’s this? - パンです = Bread. Where: - どこで食べますか = **Where** do you eat? - うちで食べます = I eat **at home**. - どこですか = Where is it? - 学校です = At school. Who: - 誰ですか = Who is this? - ジョンです = John. - 誰と海に行きましたか = With whom did you go to the sea? - ジョンと行きました = I went with John. When: - いつ食べますか = When do you eat? - 12時に食べます= I eat **at noon**. You can express “how” with two question markers, どう that focus on the state of something and どうやって, which has a narrower meaning, focusing on the means for something to happen. **Very often, the answer to a どうやって question will include the particle で we previously read about.** How (state): - どうですか = How is this? - いいです = Good. How (means): - どうやって日本語を勉強しますか = How do you study Japanese? - LingoDeerで勉強します = I study with LingoDeer. Good job on reading this far! Now, let’s quickly get over a few more characteristics of Japanese sentence structure. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Other Characteristics of Japanese Sentence Structure Learning about how to make a Japanese sentence, you might have noticed a few things missing, while not figuring them out quite yet. Let’s have a brief overview of what a Japanese sentence structure doesn’t “have”. ### Japanese Sentence Structure: No Articles What a relief! While you have to deal with particles, Japanese language doesn’t have an equivalent for the English indefinite “a” and definite “the”. Which leads us to an even brighter side. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Sentence Structure: Nouns Do Not Inflect Yes! Japanese nouns are basically immutable. Nouns do not inflect based on gender, number or grammatical function. Another good news. Japanese language doesn’t inflect based on gender, number or grammatical function. So, all you have to do, really, is master particles! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Sentence Structure: Ommissions When you start practicing Japanese, you spend a lot of time building fully formed sentences, careful to state the subject, use all the particles and all the objects, indirect objects and bits of information you want to share. In reality, **Japanese language is highly context-sensitive and allows you to omit information whenever it can be inferred from the context by the listener**. Native speakers drop pronouns (私, あなた, etc.) and sentence’s topic (は) in a heartbeat. ![Japanese Sentence Structure: Ommissions](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-a08e33d04ec5e87b.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Grammatical Order vs Natural Order Throughout this guide, we’ve seen that as long as words and phrases are used with the correct grammatical particle and attached to a final verb, a Japanese sentence will be grammatically correct. However, will your sentence sound *natural*? Native speakers do follow a logical order when they make a sentence. So here’s the structure you should keep in mind whenever you are making complexes sentences: **Sentence Topic - Time - Location - Subject - Indirect Object - Direct Object - Verb** Memorize this “skeleton” of the Japanese sentence structure and your Japanese will flow like a native. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## The Basic of Japanese Sentence Structure: A Quick Summary To sum up, what you’ve learned so far, the word order doesn’t really affect a sentence’s meaning, as long as your sentence ends with a verb. **To build a Japanese sentence, you use** [**grammatical particles**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-particles/)**, one or two hiragana words, that you attach to nouns, verbs, adjectives, or sentences, to assign them a grammatical function.** They help build a sentence regardless of how groups of words are arranged. The main difficulty for beginners is to understand the subtleties of Japanese particles, especially when they have no equivalent in English. The word order and the particles can affect the emphasis, so **understanding Japanese sentence structure early is key to learning intermediate and advanced grammatical concepts.** Finally, the most important obstacle you face in Japanese, is how native speakers very naturally **omit** some parts of a sentence, leaving you to guess what’s been left out. Only a good knowledge of Japanese syntax helps you fill in the gap instinctively. If you're looking for some more useful tips on learning Japanese, [this guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) from a fellow Japanese learner might help you along the way. ### Learn Chinese From Zero to Advanced: 2023 Guide to Success URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:13:35.000Z Have you always wished you could learn Chinese but felt intimidated by how hard it seems? Or maybe you’ve tried to study Chinese in the past but ended up giving up. Have you ever felt envious of others who seem to have a gift for language learning? What if someone could give you the roadmap that could guarantee your success to go from zero to advanced in Chinese? And what if someone told you that you don’t need any special powers or gifts to accomplish this? Continue reading this article and you’ll find out the precise roadmap to bring you to the Chinese fluency you’ve always dreamed of. And reading this article, you’ll find out that you already have what it takes to succeed. ## **A little background on Makoto** I’m a language teacher and a language coach who was born and raised in America. I love language learning and have studied different languages over the years. My first language learning experience was with Japanese. My parents spoke to me in Japanese and I even attended Saturday Japanese school but still grew up with my Japanese being not very good. I simply thought I wasn’t very gifted in language learning. ![How to Learn Chinese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/AfterlightImage-22-2367401532-1597391962988.jpg) Photo provided by author My second language learning experience started a few years ago with Chinese. I studied Mandarin Chinese as an adult and had a totally different experience. I found out that I did have the ability to learn another language. Since that time I’ve learned Chinese to an advanced level (ACTFL Advanced-High or CEFR C1). I live and work in China and use my Chinese ability all the time. Although my job involves teaching English, I regularly interact with my coworkers in Chinese and even hold meetings in Chinese. In this article, I hope to share with you the things I’ve learned in my own journey. I’ll share with you the different strategies and methods I used to get to an advanced level. But I’ll also share with you the right mindset and motivation you need to get on the right track for success. ## **Why Many Aspire But So Many Fail to Learn Chinese** Many people set out to learn a foreign language. Some set a New Year’s Resolution to learn a new language over the course of a year. But like others who set a goal to eat healthier or exercise regularly, by mid-February they find themselves failing and abandoning their goal. According to [U.S. News & World Report](https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2015-12-29/why-80-percent-of-new-years-resolutions-fail?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), failure rates for New Year’s Resolutions are around 80%. ![woman biting pencil while sitting on chair in front of computer during daytime](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1516534775068-ba3e7458af70?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80) Photo by Jeshoots.com on Unsplash If you want to be one of the few people who actually achieve their goals, we need to first talk a little bit about psychology before we can talk about learning techniques or strategies. We see the same problem in those who resolve to exercise at the gym regularly. The problem isn’t about lacking exercise tools or methods. The gym is there anytime they want to go exercise. But even with access to all the equipment, without the right mindset and motivation success is not guaranteed. Therefore the first half of this article is a discussion about mindset and motivation. Something I feel is crucial for success and discuss deeply in my book: [The Thoughtful Language Learner](https://www.amazon.com/Thoughtful-Language-Learner-Self-awareness-Success-ebook/dp/B07L4CD1X1?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## **Why Right Thinking is So Important When You're Learning Chinese** When I was a teenager, I was really into J-pop. I would buy popular music CDs from the Japanese market. Often these CDs would include karaoke tracks without any vocals. I enjoyed singing in my bedroom to these tracks. One day my mom walked in while I was trying to sing and said, “Makoto, you’re talented in so many different things. It’s okay if singing isn’t one of them.” I was devastated. Apparently I was 音痴 (onchi), or tone-deaf. And so I avoided singing from that day on. Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” This rings true for so many things such as singing, dancing, math, and also language learning. And it’s unfortunate if you’ve been told in the past by a teacher or parent that you’re just not gifted in a particular subject. It’s unfortunate because like a self-fulfilling prophecy, the stories we tell ourselves can often become artificial limits to our abilities. ![toddler looking at believe in yourself graffiti](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1549633030-89d0743bad01?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80) Photo by Katrina Wright on Unsplash It wasn’t until years later that I tried singing again. I was teaching myself guitar and learning to play some songs. Since I was learning to play along with different songs, I thought it couldn’t hurt to try singing. I realized that with a little bit of music theory and watching different YouTube tutorials, I could actually sing decently. I found out that my singing wasn’t necessarily hopeless. When it comes to language learning, what are the stories you tell about yourself? Is it more positive or more negative? Do you believe the myth that only some people have the gifting to learn a second language? Or the myth that once you’re an adult, your brain can’t pick up another language? I can refer you to various research articles showing you that these are myths. But ultimately it’s not my job to persuade you. It’s your job. If you’re still reading this article, let me encourage you to choose to believe that you can succeed in learning Chinese. Many people have done it in the past, and you can too! ## **Why Do I Really Want to Learn Chinese?** Along with mindset, motivation is another critical factor to consider. Why do you want to learn Chinese? Is it for career development? Or maybe it’s for being able to communicate with your significant other? Being crystal clear on your purpose is very important for reaching your goals. If you didn’t know already, let me tell you that language learning is very hard. There will be many moments in which you’ll feel like giving up. There will be many days where you will be tempted to skip practicing. Many people face similar challenges in working out. A tiny minority actually enjoys exercising but most people hate it. They don’t enjoy the process. However, they do enjoy the benefits. Most people exercise for better health or longer lifespan. And they believe the short-term discomfort is worth the long-term reward. ![AfterlightImage 24](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/AfterlightImage-24.jpg) Photo provided by author It’s okay to have different reasons for wanting to study Chinese. What’s important is that you are clear about your own reasons. What do you gain from becoming fluent in Chinese? Or maybe ask yourself what you miss out on if you don’t make the effort to learn Chinese. If you don’t know why you want this, you won’t have the motivation to carry you through the tough times. I’ve found it helpful to write down my purpose for different goals I set in my life. On the days I feel tempted to skip the hard work, I open my journal and remind myself of my purpose. This often helps me to continue making meaningful progress. ## **How to Fight Against Procrastination When Learning Chinese** We’ve all been guilty of procrastination. We prefer to spend time doing easy things and avoid doing hard things. But we all know that they only way to grow and make progress is by doing hard things. And learning Chinese is one of those hard things. ![red, white, and green traffic signages](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1548104210-6d130801c54a?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80) Photo by Pedro da Silva on Unsplash But there are some strategies that we can use to remove some of the friction in doing hard things. For example, one reason studying a foreign language might be hard is because we’re not sure what we should be doing with our time. Just like if you arrive at the gym and see all those exercise machines but aren’t sure what to spend time working on. We can fight procrastination by setting a consistent daily routine. For language learning, that means setting aside time each day to study. But it also means planning what to do with that time in advance. For example, schedule in time in your calendar to study (e.g. 30 minutes each morning before work). And then also decide what you will do with that time. Don’t wait until you start the clock to decide what you will study. These days there is an abundance of Chinese learning resources (e.g. textbooks, apps, podcasts, online courses, etc.). Too many choices can lead to analysis paralysis. Choose one or two resources to commit to each day. In the beginning, an app like [Lingodeer](http://lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is an excellent choice. It will not only give you relevant practice that you need but it will also keep track of your time and progress. ## **Reality Check of What’s Really Involved in Learning Chinese** So you want to become fluent in Chinese but still have questions about what it really involves. How long will it actually take me? How can I know what the best learning resources are for me? ![person holding dual bell alarm clock reading at 12:14 o' clock](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508599804355-8ce5238b44b1?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80) Photo by Tristan Gassert on Unsplash First let’s be clear about the timeframe. You are not going to master Chinese in 90 days. In fact you might not reach an advanced level even after 2 years of regular study. If you’re a native English speaker, according to the [U.S. State department](https://www.state.gov/foreign-language-training/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), on average it takes 2,200 class hours to reach a “professional working proficiency”. This [language learning book](http://www.amedeo.net/wb/TheWordBrain2015.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) quotes a similar number that it takes about 1,500 to 2,000 hours of intense listening practice to get to a fluent level. Let’s assume that 2,000 hours of study gets you to your goal. If you could treat studying Chinese like a full-time job and study 8 hours each day, you might reach your goal in 1 year. But if you could only commit to 4 hours each week, the process might be stretched to 10 years. These estimates aren’t meant to discourage you but to give you a realistic idea of what to expect. The reality is that there are no short cuts in language learning. But it is also true that if you put in the work, you’ll eventually arrive at your goal. ## **Taking Classes to Learn Chinese or Doing Self-Study** You might be wondering if you should attend some formal classes or plan to just learn on your own. When I began studying Chinese, I attended a language school for 2 years (in China). I would say that I benefited from having classes, but I still invested a lot of time doing self-study. In fact, I feel most of the effective work was done at home by myself. So here’s my advice: If you are thinking about attending a class or having a teacher, wait until you are at a later phase of study. If you’re motivated and disciplined, I believe that you don’t really need a teacher or tutor until the end of Phase 2. ![low light photography of woman in gray knit sweatshirt writing on desk](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1521999693742-4717d76f97cc?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80) Photo by Daniel Chekalov on Unsplash The reason for this is that it makes more sense to have a teacher to practice conversation only after you’ve built up enough vocabulary and listening skills. It doesn’t make much sense to pay for beginner lessons when there are plenty of free online resources. **But 2 caveats I will mention:** 1. Paying for classes or a teacher can be a strong motivator. Once you’ve paid for lessons, you’ll probably be more inclined to do the work compared to those who are doing self-study. 2. Having a teacher is helpful if you find yourself struggling with mastering tones or mastering pronunciation. I believe you can learn to pronounce Chinese correctly through self-study, but it can be helpful to have a native speaker give you feedback. If you’re reading an article like this, you’re probably more inclined to do it by yourself. Let this article be your roadmap for personal success. ## **How to Learn Chinese: Phase 1 – Zero to Novice** ![girl in pink long sleeve shirt writing on white paper](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1586694680938-9682c9e1f736?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80) Photo by Jason Sung on Unsplash Welcome to Phase 1 of the roadmap to learning Chinese (Phase 1 roughly corresponds to mastering **HSK 1 and 2**). The outcomes for this phase are: - Becoming proficient in hearing and producing tones - Becoming proficient in Pinyin - Becoming proficient in pronunciation of all Chinese speech sounds - Recognizing a few hundred Chinese characters - Mastering basic Chinese grammar ## **Mastering Tones** Mandarin Chinese is a tonal language. Tones are very important. Unfortunately I’ve met too many learners who didn’t spend the time mastering tones right from the beginning. Not being able to hear tones and produce tones correctly can lead to a lot of problems later. There are plenty of great resources for learning and practicing the different tones in Chinese. *Some of them are linked at the end of this article*. ## **Pinyin and Pronunciation** Pinyin is the Latin script that is used to romanize Chinese characters. There are many great resources (listed below) to teach you Pinyin. But let me first share two key points about Pinyin. 1. Pinyin does not follow the same pronunciation rules as English. Be very conscious of this that your knowledge of English words does not influence your pronunciation of Pinyin. 2. Pinyin is a good tool to help you in the beginning, but do not let it become a crutch. As you progress past Phase 1, the goal is to move fully into Chinese characters. *You may find some good resources linked at the end of this article*. In addition to practicing Pinyin, it’s a good idea to understand the range of sounds that exist in Chinese. All languages, including Chinese, have a specific set of possible sounds that make up each syllable. Take for example some simple words in English: at, cat, tea. These are all one-syllable words. A syllable might start with a vowel or a consonant. A syllable might end with a vowel or consonant. These are known as initials and finals. There are only a finite number of initials and finals in Mandarin. Take the time to learn each of the initials and finals that exist in Chinese. The LingoDeer app has a nice chart showing the different combinations: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/WeChat-Image_20200818122415.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/WeChat-Image_20200818122423.jpg) ## **Starting to Learn Hanzi** English words are made up of different combinations of 26 letters. But Chinese words are made up of thousands of unique characters. Learning all these Chinese characters, or Hanzi, might seem daunting at first, but don’t let it intimidate you. Let me share a few tips for learning Hanzi: 1. Every Chinese character has a specific stroke order. Most textbooks will recommend you to memorize the stroke order, something I also encourage. 2. I believe the practice of physically writing out each character is very helpful. So don’t skip it. This might be especially important if you’re more of a kinesthetic learner. 3. Always make it a point to learn the tone and pronunciation of a character when you’re learning new Hanzi. 4. Some may find using mnemonics helpful in memorizing Hanzi. There are books like [Remembering Hanzi](https://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Simplified-Hanzi-Meaning-Characters/dp/0824833236?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) that gives memorable stories to help you associate with each Chinese character. 5. (Optional) I personally found it helpful to take the time to memorize the most common Chinese radicals. Radicals can give you big clues about either the meaning or pronunciation of a character. [Hacking Chinese](https://www.hackingchinese.com/kickstart-your-character-learning-with-the-100-most-common-radicals/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has a great article. For beginners, there are many great resources to get you started in learning Hanzi. *Some recommendations are linked at the end of this article.* ## **Building Confidence with the Basic Sentences** Building confidence in this early stage of language learning is so critical. Resources like [Lingodeer](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer/) are a great resource to help you learn not only vocabulary but also some basic grammar and basic phrases. Fortunately basic Chinese grammar is quite simple. There are no verb tenses or verb conjugations like other languages. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/WeChat-Image_20200818112918.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/WeChat-Image_20200818112914.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/WeChat-Image_20200818112910.jpg) With your small vocabulary and a few grammar rules, you’ll be able to start creating simple phrases and sentences. You’ll also find out how simple it is to create questions in Chinese. Even at this beginner level, you’ll be surprised at all the different things you’re able to say to express yourself. You’ll begin to see that Chinese is not as difficult as you first thought. Little by little you are getting closer to mastering Chinese. This boost in confidence is what you need to continue to carry you forward from Phase 1 into Phase 2. ## **How to Learn Chinese: Phase 2 – Novice to Intermediate** ![girl watching behind boy holding smartphone](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1458546450666-ebb1e605853f?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80) Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash Welcome to Phase 2 of the roadmap to learning Chinese (Phase 2 roughly corresponds to mastering [**HSK 3**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-3-vocabulary-full-list/)**, 4,** **and half of 5**). The outcomes for this phase are: - Continuing to learn Hanzi and building up a vocabulary around 1,500 \~ 2,000 words - Reading through graded readers at different levels - Listening to audio resources at different levels - Beginning to hold simple conversations in Chinese Once you have a good grasp of tones, pinyin, and some basic Hanzi, it’s time to move towards deeper study. There are plenty of awesome learning resources to help you during this phase. But before you start jumping from one resource to the next, let me give you my top strategy. My best advice for you is to focus first on building a large vocabulary. Then focus on listening and reading skills. ## **Building Vocabulary** There are a few reasons why I think this is the best use of your time: 1. I tend to agree with [Steve Kaufmann](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EqcL-HVYWE&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (a popular polyglot) that at the novice stage, it’s better to expose yourself to a wide range of words than to drill deeply on specific things like grammar. 2. Building your vocabulary is one of the biggest tasks in language learning. The [average native English speaker](http://testyourvocab.com/blog/2013-05-10-Summary-of-results?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has a vocabulary size of at least 20,000 words. You probably won’t be learning 20,000 Chinese words, but you should aim to learn at least a few thousand. This is going to take a lot of time and commitment. The best way to learn vocabulary is to utilize a Spaced Repetition System (SRS). Many flashcard apps utilize SRS to vary the frequency in which you review words. This makes language learning far more efficient. It makes no sense to manually review every single word you have learned in the past. Some words are easier to remember and require less frequent review while other words that you’ve struggled with should be reviewed more frequently. A flashcard app with SRS automatically takes care of all this for you. When I was building up my Chinese vocabulary, I relied heavily on [Skritter](https://skritter.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). By committing to 30 minutes of flashcards each day, I was able to learn over 2,000 characters and 4,000 words [in one year](https://mtokudome.wordpress.com/2017/03/16/how-many-chinese-characters-do-i-really-need-to-learn/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#skritter). And that’s not to boast, but to show the power of SRS and consistent practice. *You may find some vocabulary apps with SRS* *linked at the end of this article*. ## **Building Reading and Listening Skills** As you begin developing a large vocabulary, it’s also time to build up your reading and listening skills. Flashcards are an efficient way to study individual words but the next step is seeing these words used in the context of sentences. Reading and listening to the different words you are learning is the best way to consolidate your vocabulary. So what should you read or listen to? Use graded readers and level appropriate listening material. Finding material that is appropriate for your level is very important. Psychologists have studied successful performance and have found that there is a [sweet-spot](https://alifeofproductivity.com/how-to-experience-flow-magical-chart/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in which flow, or a sense of deep work, takes place. If you choose something that is too challenging, you’ll experience anxiety and probably give up quickly. If you choose something too easy, you’ll probably find it boring and waste your practice time. You want to study material that is challenging but not too challenging. Graded readers are books and stories that use a limited range of vocabulary that are appropriate for your proficiency level. Some are based on HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) levels while others are based on general vocabulary size (e.g. 300, 500, 750, etc.). In a similar way, you want to find listening material that is appropriate for your level. There are a number of online resources that offer material ranging from beginner to advanced. *You may find some great resources linked at the end of this article.* Let me give you a tip about managing your study routine at this point. Once you have developed a large enough vocabulary (\~1,500 to 2,000), you should start spending more time each day doing reading and listening practice and less time doing flashcard practice. Towards the end of this phase, start transitioning to do more reading and listening practice for your daily routine. ## **What About Speaking and Advanced Grammar?** Up to this point, I haven’t really mentioned the skill of speaking. And there’s a good reason for this. Although some may disagree with me, I believe the benefits of speaking come only after you’ve developed a sizable vocabulary and good listening skills. I agree with Steve Kaufmann again that developing listening comprehension is the [fundamental skill](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8zWV9XGJtI&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in language. The reason for this is that, being able to have a conversation with somebody requires enough vocabulary and listening comprehension to follow the dialogue. It might not be necessary if you’re asking simple questions (e.g. *Where is the bathroom?*) or even making a simple presentation. But if you desire real-life conversations in Chinese, vocabulary and listening skills are crucial. ![AfterlightImage 23](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/AfterlightImage-23.jpg) Photo provided by author Towards the end of Phase 2 is when you can really start benefiting from holding conversations in Chinese. If you’re interested, it might be a good time to consider hiring a teacher or tutor. If you don’t have access to a teacher, you might consider finding one online. For example, [italki.com](https://www.italki.com/teachers/chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a great website to find a language teacher or tutor. You’ll also notice that I haven’t focused too much on advanced grammar. Most textbooks or resources will give you a good foundation in basic Chinese grammar. It is definitely important to learn the basics. However there are some things to consider when learning more advanced grammar. Researchers argue for two different approaches to learning grammar: a deductive approach or an inductive approach. So some teachers argue that grammar rules should be taught explicitly and that learners should memorize each and every rule. Other teachers argue that grammar rules should be discovered and learned naturally through observation. I believe that both approaches for learning grammar can work just fine. What is most important is discerning which approach you prefer. Don’t let learning grammar confuse you or get you discouraged. I personally got frustrated doing grammar drills and disliked the deductive method. I preferred discovering rules on my own. If you want to take the more deductive approach, make sure you use a resource or textbook that can give you good explanation for different grammar points. If you prefer to take the more inductive approach, just focus on exposing yourself to a lot of example sentences through reading and listening. Some grammar resources are linked at the end of the article. ## **How to Learn Chinese: Phase 3 – Intermediate to Advanced** Welcome to Phase 3 of the roadmap to learning Chinese (Phase 3 roughly corresponds to mastering **HSK 5, 6**, **and beyond**). The outcomes for this phase are: - Continuing to learn Hanzi and building up a vocabulary around 4,000 \~ 5,000 words - Transitioning to reading native material (e.g. young adult books) - Transitioning to listening to (or watching) native material (e.g. TV shows) - Becoming more comfortable in various types of conversations Congratulations on making it this far. Many have aspired to reach even this point in learning Chinese, so good for you. By this point, you have been reading different graded readers and listening to different podcasts. Your vocabulary size is now around 2,000+ words. But it’s time again to make a shift in study routines. My best advice for this phase is to focus on extensive reading and extensive listening. ## **Why Extensive Reading and Extensive Listening is Crucial** This is the major task for Phase 3\. But before I explain what this is, let me first explain why this practice is so crucial if you want to learn Chinese. I mentioned in the introduction to be prepared to spend around 2,000 hours of study to get to an advanced level or higher. Most of these hours are not going to come from classroom hours (e.g. Even if you had 10 hours of class each week, that would take 4 years). Furthermore, each hour of class is actually not a continuous hour of listening to the teacher talk in Chinese or having the chance to converse in Chinese. There might be other students asking questions or the teacher explaining something in English. Therefore the most effective practice you can do at this phase is to read or listen to get continuous input of the language. Extensive reading and extensive listening are learning methods that involve reading and listening to large amounts of comprehensible text/audio. The crucial term is “comprehensible”. Researchers define this as any resource in which you understand about 95 \~ 98% of the content. So if you were to pick up a Chinese book and open it to a random page, there should only be about 5 words / every 100 words that you don’t recognize. If there are significantly more words that you don’t know, then the book is probably too hard for you. Depending on your vocabulary size, you might not quite be ready for native material. For reading resources, once you’ve finished reading different graded readers, you can try reading children’s books or young adult books. The goal is to find a book or article that is the appropriate difficulty and then spend extensive time reading it. Here’s one store that sells young adult books, both [Chinese authors](http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/education/chinese-books/literature/young-chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Western authors](http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/education/chinese-books/literature/young-western?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). It can give you an idea of books you might try reading. Similarly for listening practice, continue listening to a lot of resources that are appropriate for your level. Make sure to check different podcasts and shows, especially those that offer episodes for more advanced learners. *Some examples are* *linked at the end of this article*. ## **Making the Leap to Native Material** Towards the end of Phase 3, you’ll be ready to dive into native material. This is one of the most exciting parts of the language learning journey. You can begin to consume material that native Chinese people consume. ![woman wearing black pants](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1563718641844-4c4ac543b2c8?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80) Photo by Yue Iris on Unsplash You’ll find some language learners complain about the lack of learning resources at this advanced level. While it’s true that most language learning companies don’t produce as much content for advanced learners, there is now much more content available to you since you can begin to consume native material. You can also begin to pursue language material that lines up with your passions or interests. For example, if you’re into basketball, try watching a NBA game with Chinese commentary. Or maybe if you love cooking, try out a Chinese recipe book. Now is the time to start diving into native content that you’re most interested in (e.g. sports, travel, food, TV shows, movies, etc.). *You can start off with suggestions linked at the end of this article.* ## **Being a Life-long Learner** So what now? Are you now “fluent” in Chinese? Unfortunately some people get hung-up over this definition of becoming “fluent” and conflate the idea with becoming like a native speaker. I prefer to focus less on these definitions and focus instead on what I’m able to do with the language. Again, it would be good to return to your “Why”. Why did you decide to learn Chinese in the first place? Was it to be able to communicate with your spouse or spouse’s family? Was it to be able to watch Chinese television dramas? Whatever your goal was, if you’re now able to do them, then congratulate yourself and consider it a victory. You have reaped the fruits of your labor. And you’re also free to set new learning goals and continue growing in the language. ## **Understanding Culture to Learn Chinese** There’s one final piece of advice I want to leave you with. In my own language learning journey, there’s one area of study that I’ve often felt gets glossed over by textbooks and learning apps: learning about the culture. Most resources spend some effort explaining things like Chinese New Year or Beijing Opera. But I have yet to see a language learning resource that goes really deep about Chinese culture. I believe that language and culture are closely intertwined and that you really shouldn’t learn one without learning the other. I’ve also personally found that in deeper levels of conversations, I sometimes face difficulty understanding not because of language but because of lack of cultural understanding. So my final advice I leave you with is to make the effort to learn Chinese culture. If you are investing time and energy to learn the language, make sure to invest some of that into learning about the culture and history. There are many great resources, and you may find the links to some of them below. ## How to Learn Chinese: Resources Besides [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/LM96?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), here are some other resources I recommend: | PHASE 1: ZERO TO NOVICE | Mastering Tones | [Hacking Chinese](https://www.hackingchinese.com/the-hacking-chinese-guide-to-mandarin-tones/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) guide for learning tones | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [WordSwing Tone Training Course](https://wordswing.com/tone-training-course/welcome?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | [Allset Learning Tone Pair Drills](https://www.sinosplice.com/learn-chinese/tone-pair-drills?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | Pinyin and Pronunciation | [Yoyo Chinese](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2hrlAGewvY&list=PLioS%5F-8erSI1B8dEErLr28sdgsHMui1d-&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Pinyin YouTube Series | | | [Fluent Forever](https://blog.fluent-forever.com/chinese-mandarin-resources/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Chinese Pronunciation Trainer | | | | Starting to Learn Hanzi | [Skritter](https://skritter.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | [Noodle Chinese](https://www.noodlechinese.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | [Lingodeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/LM96?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | [Duolingo](https://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (although it doesn’t have handwriting practice) | | | | [Remembering Hanzi](https://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Simplified-Hanzi-Meaning-Characters/dp/0824833236?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (Hanzi mnemonics) | | | | [Hacking Chinese](https://www.hackingchinese.com/kickstart-your-character-learning-with-the-100-most-common-radicals/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) article on Hanzi radicals (optional) | | | | Basic Sentences | [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/LM96?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | PHASE 2: NOVICE TO INTERMEDIATE | Building Vocabulary | [Skritter](https://skritter.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | [Pleco](https://www.pleco.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (which is the best Chinese dictionary has a [flashcard add-on](https://store.pleco.com/products.php?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) | | | | [Anki](https://www.ankiapp.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (a SRS flashcard app that can used to [study Mandarin](https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks/mandarin?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) | | | | [LingoDeer Plus](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-plus-language-games/id1476253711?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | Building Reading Skills | [Mandarin Companion](https://mandarincompanion.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | [Chinese Breeze Graded Readers](https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Breeze-graded-readers-Books/s?k=Chinese+Breeze+graded+readers&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | [Friends Chinese Graded Readers](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=friends+chinese+graded+reader&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | [Rainbow Bridge Graded Chinese Readers](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rainbow+bridge+graded+chinese+reader&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) also available to read on [Pleco](https://store.pleco.com/products.php?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | Building Listening Skills | [ChinesePod](https://chinesepod.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | [Pop-up Chinese](http://popupchinese.com/podcasts?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | [Slow Chinese](https://kitchenknif.github.io/SlowChinese/menu/archive.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | Speaking | [italki.com](https://www.italki.com/teachers/chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | Advanced Grammar | [Chinese grammar wiki](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | [Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar](https://www.amazon.com/Basic-Patterns-Chinese-Grammar-Structures/dp/1933330899?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | Example Sentences | [Clozemaster](https://www.clozemaster.com/languages/learn-mandarin-chinese-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | PHASE 3: INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED | Extensive Reading | [China Sprout Bookstore](http://www.chinasprout.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): [Chinese authors](http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/education/chinese-books/literature/young-chinese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [Western authors](http://www.chinasprout.com/shop/education/chinese-books/literature/young-western?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | Extensive Listening | [iMandarinPod](http://www.imandarinpod.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | [Learning Chinese Through Stories](https://learningchinesethroughstories.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | | | Making the Leap to Native Material: Reading | [Chinese Text Sampler](http://www-personal.umich.edu/~dporter/sampler/sampler.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (giving you a sampling from both classical and modern literature) | | | Chinese-forums.com has some great threads about [what other learners are currently reading](https://www.chinese-forums.com/forums/topic/2034-what-are-you-reading/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and other [book lists](https://www.chinese-forums.com/forums/topic/53547-book-list/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). | | | | Making the Leap to Native Material: Listening | [故事](https://player.fm/series/1496859?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[FM](https://player.fm/series/1496859?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (sort of like a Chinese version of This American Life) | | | [逻辑思维](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYpYY4G4T1PI-Jug8q6lNGA?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (different philosophical lectures) | | | | [喜马拉雅](https://www.ximalaya.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (One of the biggest podcast/audio content sites in China) | | | | BEING A LIFELONG LEARNER | Understanding Chinese Culture | [Sinica Podcast](https://supchina.com/series/sinica/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (a great show about news, politics, and culture) | ### The Art of Saying "You" in Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/you-in-japanese-anata/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:33:53.000Z You may already know that "あなた (anata)" is the second-person pronoun, singular "you" in Japanese. However, did you know this is a word that should not be used as frequently as in many languages, such as in English? You must wonder: *what could go wrong with addressing someone "you".* **This article explain the two main reasons "あなた" (you in Japanese") is rarely used in real life and when its use is acceptable.** ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Why You Shouldn't Say "You" in Japanese ### Reason 1: あなた (anata) Creates a Sense of Distance The first reason is the sense of distance associated with the word "あなた". **This word comes from "あちらの方" (the person of the other side), which means you think the person you are addressing is not on your side.** So if you use "あなた" to address a person, it sounds like you are saying "you are not my companion". No wonder the listener will feel a sense of distance. Therefore, when talking one-on-one, try to avoid using "あなた". Wait. Why a sense of distance? Then why do characters call their significant others "あなた" in TV shows? **In fact, it is rare to hear people call their partners "あなた" in the real world.** According to the survey carried out by Gennai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in 2020, only 1.2% of the female participants use "あなた" to address their partners, and only 1.5% are called "あなた" by their husbands at home. Nickname and name+ちゃん/さん are most frequently used by both wives and husbands. ![how to say you in Japanese- how to refer to the spouse](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/The-result-of-the-survey-on-how-to-refer-to-the-spouse-image-from-Cancam.png) The result of the survey on how to refer to the spouse, image from Cancam **When dating a Japanese person, using "あなた" to refer to your partner will give him or her the impression that you want to keep your distance.** In a nutshell, no matter what the occasion is, do not use "あなた" when talking face to face. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Reason 2: The Preference of Addressing People By Their Names Plus Suffixes The norm in Japan is to **address each other by their names (usually followed by suffixes) if at all possible**. In English, you would not never address the party you're speaking to by their name, as it would be very confusing and unnatural. But in Japanese, using "you" instead of the other party's name sounds rude. Therefore, make sure to use the listener's name if you know it. **Then what should I do if I do not know the other party’s name? Can I use "あなた"?** **The answer is no. It is better to omit the subject rather than use "あなた".** Japanese speakers often leave out the subject, so it is acceptable to omit it if you do not know the other party’s name. One lesson you can take away from this section is that you should **try your best to remember the other party’s name when meeting Japanese people**. However, if you fail to do so, just omit the subject without hesitation. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## When Can You Use "You" in Japanese? So does that mean "あなた", "you" in Japanese, should be avoided of all times? That's not necessarily the case, either. In the following scenarios, it is okay to use "あなた". - **When there is a sense of distance between the speaker and listener** - **When it is natural not to know the other party’s name** Using "あなた" on such occasions will not make others uncomfortable. For example, **"あなた" is often used in advertisements.** - あなたの運命が本当に変わる心理学。 (Psychology that really changes your destiny.) あなたの勉強を応援します 。 (We will support you in your job search.) ![how to say you in Japanese あなたを応援します](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/image.jpg) A poster with "あなたを応援します" on itImage from VENTO ORIENTALE **On these occasions, there is of course a sense of distance between the advertiser and the consumer.** Also, the advertiser would have no way of knowing the name of the consumer. Therefore, in these cases, using "あなた" will not create any sense of violation. If the above two conditions are met, it is proper to use "あなた". ![how to say you in Japanere yourself](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/Image-From-Westergaard-Hatenablog.png) The theme song of Frozen 2, "Show Yourself" is translated as "見せて、あなたを" in JapaneseImage from Westergaard, Hatenablog ## Final Words: The Art of Saying "You" in Japanese The rules of using あなた may seem a little (or, for some, overly) complicated. My suggestion is if you are not sure whether it’s the proper situation to use "あなた", then do not use it.（ゝω・） These subtle cultural differences in Japanese words and their English counterparts can be difficult to learn and master in a short time without living there. Follow LingoDeer's blog and social media to learn more about languages, culture and learning strategies. **あなたを応援します。** **(We support you.)** ### Possessive Pronouns in Spanish -- A Complete Guide with Examples URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/possessive-pronouns-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:33:51.000Z ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## What is the Spanish Possessive? When going to someone’s house for a visit, you may have heard the host welcome you and other guests by saying *mi casa es su casa,* which means “my house is your house.” This Spanish phrase has somehow made its way into American English, and is a great example of the Spanish possessive form in action! The possessive is a way to describe the relationship between a person and an object, such as “his pencil” or a person with another person, like “my mother.” Essentially it answers the question, whose is this? And possessive pronouns in Spanish will answer this question in short. **Studying the** [**possessive adjectives**](#possessive-adjective) **and** [**possessive pronouns**](#possessive-pronoun) **in Spanish in groups will definitely help you master them, so let's start with possessive adjectives first.** ![mi casa es su casa door decor sign ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/DT5617_7394150d-9fc5-4c4c-bd14-8bcf63b225f2_1024x1024.jpg) Image from DutchNovelties.com ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Possessive Adjectives in Spanish ### What Is Possessive Adjective in Spanish? The example sentence *mi casa es su casa* uses possessive adjectives. This means that the ***mi*** in ***mi casa*** is an **adjective** that describes who the house belongs to, as does the *su* in *su casa*. Also, the possessive adjective replaces the article in front of a word - it wouldn’t make sense to say “the my house”, would it! As you may have learned: - **in Spanish the adjective must match the word that it is describing when it comes to** **gender** (masculine or feminine) as well as **number** (singular or plural). - **Some adjectives that are gender-neutral and don’t chang**e no matter the gender of the word being described, as you will see coming up. **To continue with the word** *casa* **as our example**, “their yellow house” in Spanish is *su casa amarilla*. Yellow is an adjective describing the house, therefore it must be feminine and singular like the word *casa*. *Su* is a gender-neutral word so there is no change needed in that regard, but must be singular because the house is singular. **A common mistake that Spanish learners make is to have the possessive adjective match the gender and number of who the thing belongs to**, thinking that if something belongs to “them” plural, the word for “their” must also be plural to follow Spanish grammar rules. Like in the above example, you may be tempted to say **sus* casa* for “their house,” but this is **incorrect**. The possessive adjective must match *casa* and be singular because *casa* is the word being described. So watch out! Here are some more phrases that demonstrate the do’s and don’ts of agreement: ![Possessive pronouns in Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/2-2.png) correct and incorrect possessive adjective agreements ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Possessive Adjectives in Spanish: Chart and Examples #### Gender-neutral possessive adjectives Below are all of the possessive adjectives in Spanish conveniently divided into singular and plural. **These are gender-neutral**, so you don’t have to worry about making the gender match! - If the person or object being described is singular, such as *la planta*, then use the singular column on the left. - If it is plural, like *las plantas*, use the plural on the right side! **Gender-neutral Spanish possessive adjectives:** | | **Singular** | **Plural** | | ------------------ | ------------ | ---------- | | My | mi | mis | | Your (informal) | tu | tus | | His | su | sus | | Her | su | sus | | Your (formal) | su | sus | | Their | su | sus | | You all’s (formal) | su | sus | You may have noticed that **a lot of these are the same - so many *su* and *sus***! Fear not, this is explained later in **the ambiguous “suyo”** (click to skip to this part). #### Gendered possessive adjectives **Now we come to the possessive adjectives in Spanish that are gendered.** This means that if a word is masculine, like *el café*, you have to use the singular masculine form *nuestro café* for “our coffee” and *vuestro café* for “you all’s coffee.” Simply look at the word that you want to add the possessive to, and match it to the correct gender and number below: | | **Singular masculine** | **Singular feminine** | **Plural masculine** | **Plural feminine** | | -------------------- | ---------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------- | | Our | nuestro | nuestra | nuestros | nuestras | | You all’s (informal) | vuestro | vuestra | vuestros | vuestras | Here are some examples to demonstrate how to match the right possessive adjective to the word. - The pencil - *el lápiz* - Her pencil - *su lápiz* - The mother - *la madre* - Our mother - *nuestra madre* - The apartment - *el apartamento* - My apartment - *mi apartamento* - The food - *la comida* - Your (informal) food - *tu comida* Practice with any Spanish vocabulary words, and watch out not to mix up with possessive pronouns in Spanish. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Possessive Pronouns in Spanish ### What Is Possessive Pronouns in Spanish? Possessive pronouns in Spanish are counterpart words like “mine” and “theirs” in English that replace a noun in a sentence. If someone asks you which car to take to the store, you can say “mine” instead of “my car” because you already know from the context that you are talking about cars. Pronouns are useful tools that allow us to shorten sentences and avoid needless repetition. For instance, instead of “Paul went to his house” you can say “he went to his.” Much simpler, right? ![demonstration of pronouns in a sentence](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/3-2.png) **A possessive pronoun in Spanish must agree with the gender and number of** **the word that it is replacing**. Therefore *vámonos a *mi casa** would become *vámonos a *la mía*.* Notice that the article is included with the pronoun. In general, you will include the article with the pronoun except when using the verb *ser* \- “to be”. This is partly because sentences with “to be” are already describing the relationship between the person and the object, like in the sentence “whose **is** this?” Here are some examples using *ser* \-“to be” that exclude the article. > The car **is mine** \- *El coche *es mío** > > The notebook **is hers** \- *El cuaderno *es suyo** > > That table **is ours** \- *Esa mesa *es nuestra** ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Possessive Pronouns in Spanish: Chart and Examples This is a complete chart of the possessive pronouns in Spanish that makes gender and number agreement easy! | | **Singular masculine** | **Singular feminine** | **Plural masculine** | **Plural feminine** | | -------------------- | ---------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------- | ------------------- | | Mine | el mío | la mía | los míos | las mías | | Yours (informal) | el tuyo | la tuya | los tuyos | las tuyas | | His | el suyo | la suya | los suyos | las suyas | | Hers | el suyo | la suya | los suyos | las suyas | | Yours (formal) | el suyo | la suya | los suyos | las suyas | | You all’s (formal) | el suyo | la suya | los suyos | las suyas | | Theirs | el suyo | la suya | los suyos | las suyas | | Ours | el nuestro | la nuestra | los nuestros | las nuestras | | You all’s (informal) | el vuestro | la vuestra | los vuestros | las vuestras | Here are some examples of how to use the possessive pronouns in Spanish. As you can see, the possessive pronouns in Spanish matches the gender and number of the word that it is replacing. > I drink from **my cup**. - *Tomo de *mi vaso*.* > > I drink from **mine.** \- *Tomo *del mío*.* > > We return to **our house**. - *Volvemos a *nuestra casa*.* > > We return to **ours**. - *Volvemos a *la nuestra*.* > > You (informal) eat at **his restaurant** \- *Comes en *su restaurante*.* > > You (informal) eat at **his**. - *Comes en *el suyo*.* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Formal and Informal “You": Which Possessive Pronouns in Spanish to Use? All of the charts include a lot of “you” variations - you informal, you formal, you all informal and you all formal. This is because in Spanish, there are **two levels of formality when addressing someone**, as well as singular and plural. Once you learn a bit about these variations, it’s easy to know the difference and when it is appropriate to say *tu casa* or *su casa*. How are "tu" and "su" used in Spanish: - **The singular informal is used when talking to a friend or someone you are familiar with.** So you can say to your best friend: *vámonos a tu casa* \- “let’s go to your house.” - **The singular formal is used with a stranger or in a professional setting.** For example, a waiter will show you to *su mesa* \- “your (formal) table” since he is serving a customer. These same formality guidelines apply to the plural informal and the plural formal*,* which are used when addressing more than one person. It is important to note, however, that **the plural informal is mainly used in Spain, whereas in Latin America it is more common to use the plural formal to address any group no matter the formality level.** It’s a cultural thing! ![ formal and informal "you"](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/4-2.png) For more information about the “you” variations, also known as the second person, the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?%5Fga=2.112269382.393539948.1595858632-93925231.1592264962&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app has tons of information and practice! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### The Ambiguous “suyo” After reviewing all of the charts with the possessive adjectives and possessive pronouns in Spanish, you may have seen that there is a lot of repetition. The possessive for you (formal), his, her, their, and you all (formal) is the same! | | **Singular** | **Plural** | | ------------------ | ------------ | ---------- | | His | su | sus | | Her | su | sus | | Your (formal) | su | sus | | Their | su | sus | | You all’s (formal) | su | sus | On one hand, this is great for Spanish learners like you because there are less words to study. On the other hand, how will you know which is which? *Su casa* can mean your house, his house, her house, their house, you all’s house… **One way to know the difference is based on context.** If a conversation is about **his** classes, then each *su/sus/suyo/suya* is about him. And when a host is welcoming you and your family and says *mi casa es su casa*, the *su* is for all of you! **Another way that Spanish speakers clarify ambiguity in the possessive is with *de* \+ person/s possessing**. This structure is equivalent to apostrophe “s” in English and literally means “of + person/s,” which allows you to use names as well as pronouns! To demonstrate, below are some examples. Note that there are two ways to translate this structure into English and both have been included. With names: > Marco’s homework / The homework of Marco - *La tarea de Marco* > > Paula’s house / The house of Paula - *La casa de Paula* > > Sherry and José’s daughter / The daughter of Sherry and José - *La hija de Sherry y José* With pronouns: > Their work / The work of them - *El trabajo de ellos* > > Your (formal) time / The time of you - *El tiempo de usted* > > Her book / The book of her - *El libro de ella* ![Formal way to say your time in Spanish](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/5-2.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### The Possessive Neuter Form in Spanish There may come a time when you want to refer to something general, and don’t have a word for the possessive pronoun to match gender and number to. In English we would say “what’s mine is yours” or “that country wants what is ours” and are referring to all possessions. In Spanish, the following formula is used when speaking generally about non-specific possessions: ***Lo* \+ singular masculine pronoun**. Here are some sentences that use this formula. > We have to protect what is ours. - *Tenemos que proteger lo nuestro.* > > I like what is mine. - *Me gusta lo mío.* > > Melisa eats what is hers. - *Melisa come lo suyo.* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Summary: Possessive Pronouns in Spanish In this article, we learned that the possessive is used to describe what belongs to who. - **Possessive adjectives** replace the article and go before the word being described, as in ***tomo de* *mi* *vaso* \- “I drink from my cup”** - **Possessive pronouns** replace the word, as in ***tomo* *del mío* \- “I drink from mine.”** Most of the possessive adjectives like *mi* and *su* are gender-neutral and don’t need to be changed to match the gender of the word, however, they still must match the number and become *mis* and *sus* if they are describing something plural. In contrast, a possessive pronouns in Spanish has an article (*el, la, los, las*) in front of it unless the sentence uses *ser* \- “to be.” In addition, all of these pronouns need to account for gender and number. The possessive is pretty straight forward, but some topics arose that you may not be familiar with. As you continue your Spanish learning journey, things that seem complicated like the formal and informal “you”, the third person like *su* and *suyo* being the same, and gender and number agreement will become easy. The best way to learn a language is to be motivated and practice and [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is with you every step of the way! ### Simple Guide to Korean Particles 은는 vs 이가 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-subject-topic-particles/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:28:02.000Z ## Distinguish between particles 이/가 and 은/는 **이/가** and **은/는** are two of the most frequently used particles in the Korean language. At the same time, they are usually the most confusing particles for Korean learners. We have another guide to more[ Korean particles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-particles/) if you wish to dig deeper. ## Subject marking particles 이/가 To sum it up, 이 and 가 are used to denote the subject of a sentence. - 이 is used after a noun that ends in a consonant. (E.g. 선생님이 / 책이 / 이름이 ) - 가 is used after a noun that ends in a vowel. (E.g. 학교가 / 엄마가 / 의자가 ) ![difference between 이/가 and 은/는](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-09c9b22a12839360.png) explanation for 가 in lingodeer‘s’ app Let's look at some example sentences: > **신발이** 더러워요. > The shoes are dirty. > > **날씨가** 추워요. > The weather is cold. > > **민지가** 학교에 갔다. > Minji went to school. > > **강아지가** 잠을 잡니다. > The dog is sleeping. > > **비행기가** 공항에 도착했습니다. > The plane has arrived at the airport. ## Topic marking particles 은/는 은 and 는 are used to denote the topic of a sentence. - 은 is used after a noun that ends in a consonant. (E.g. 선생님은 / 책은 / 이름은 ) - 는 is used after a noun that ends in a vowel. (E.g. 학교는 / 엄마는 / 의자는 ) ![difference between particles 이가 and 은는](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-67c89cbca027ce5e.png) explanation for 은/는 in lingodeer's app For example: > **오늘은** 날씨가 좋아요. > *The weather is nice today.* 오늘 = “today”. It is the topic of the sentence. > **그는** 곧 결혼을 할 거예요. > *He'll get married soon.* 그 = “he”. It is the topic of the sentence. ## Four Differences Between 은/는 and 이/가 ### Difference #1: Subject vs Description #### 이/가 puts the focus on the subject: > **누가** 이 컵을 깼어요? > *Who broke this cup?* 가 puts the focus on "who" broke the cup. > **제가** 깼어요. > *I did.* 가 puts the focus on the subject "I", who broke the cup. #### 은/는 puts the focus on the description: > **수진 씨는** 지금 뭐 해요? > *What is Sujin doing now?* 는 puts the focus on what Sujin is "doing". > **수진 씨는** 지금 요리하고 있어요. > *Sujin is cooking now.* 는 puts the focus on Sujin’s action, which is "cooking". ### Difference #2: New Information vs. Known Information #### 이/가 is used to introduce new information: > 새로운 **친구가** 생겼어요. 그 **친구는** 17살이에요. > *I have a new friend. The friend is 17 years old*. **Explanation:** In the second sentence, the "friend" is no longer new information, because the friend was previously mentioned in the first sentence. That's why you have to use “친구**는**”, and not “친구**가**” in the second sentence. #### 은/는 is used to mention known information: > 어제 한국어 **시험이** 있었어요. 그 **시험은** 너무 어려웠어요. > *I had a Korean language test yesterday. That test was very difficult.* **Explanation:** Because the “test” is no longer new information, as it was previously mentioned in the first sentence, you have to use “시험은”, and not “시험이” in the second sentence. ### Difference #3: Statements vs. Comparisons #### 이/가 is used to making broad statements: > **드레스가** 예뻐요. > *The dress is pretty.* > > 시장에 **사람이** 많았어요. > *There were many people in the market.* #### 은/는 is used in comparisons and contrasting: > 저는 **그림은** 잘 그리지만 **공부는** 못해요. > *I'm good at painting, but I'm not good at studying.* > > **철수는** 키가 크고 **지민이는** 키가 작아요. > Cheolsu is tall and Jimin is short. > > 그 식당은 **햄버거는** 맛있어요. > *That restaurant has good hamburgers.* > *(* ### Difference #4: Only after subject vs. After any noun #### 이/가 can be used only after the subject of a sentence: > **케이크가** 맛있어요.*The cake is delicious.* > > **고향이** 어디십니까? > *Where is your hometown?* > > **부산이** 제 고향이에요. > *Busan is my hometown.* #### 은/는 is used after any noun that requires emphasis: > **저는** 김지민입니다. > *I'm Jimin Kim.* > > **이것은** 책이에요. > *This is a book.* > > **그것은** 의자입니다. > *That is a chair.* ### Conclusions: 이/가 vs 은/는 Please note that these are some of the most complicated grammar rules in Korean. Even advanced Korean learners often get confused when trying to distinguish the correct use of 은/는 and 이/가. The best way to better understand these particles is to read Korean texts as much as you can, while keeping the aforementioned explanations in mind. Now you know the difference between Korean particles 이/가 and 은/는. But how to use them correctly in sentences? Download [LingoDeer Plus](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-plus/) now to practice how to use particles, verb conjugation, and more with fun, engaging language games! It's available on both [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer.plus&hl=en%5FUS&gl=US&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-plus-language-games/id1476253711?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! Interested in [learning Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) or other languages? Check out LingoDeer, the best way to learn Korean and 11 other languages by yourself! [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a one-stop learning resource that is committed to providing learners with the most perfect learning experience! Give it a try now! [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://lingodeer.page.link/Kj9N?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Master Japanese Verb Conjugation in One Article URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:28:11.000Z ## Quick Introduction Without a doubt, the key to becoming fluent in Japanese in no time is to grasp a really good understanding of **Japanese verb conjugation** early on. Verbs are the very foundation of the language. In fact, a sentence requires only a verb to be grammatically correct! With knowing as little as a few basic verbs, you can already express yourself and get by in Japan. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Is It Difficult to Learn Japanese Verb Conjugation? Learners often apprehend diving into Japanese grammar, anticipating that verbs will be somewhat challenging. But the truth is, Japanese verb conjugation is actually quite straightforward with hardly any exceptions. The few irregular verbs are even actually regular in their irregularities. Unlike English, Japanese verbs do not conjugate with the subject. Once you’ve learned the verb 書かく, to write, you’re set to say “I write”, “you write”, “they write” and so on. Said differently, you do not have to worry about the subject’s gender or number. **One form says it all!** However, because Japanese verbs do conjugate based on their group, tenses and formality, you have to memorize their inflections. Luckily, the Japanese language has only **3 verb groups and 14 conjugation forms** to have fun with. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## How to Conjugate Verbs in Japanese In order to know how to conjugate a verb in Japanese, you first must know which group it belongs to. Verbs in the same group obey the same rules when you conjugate them. **Knowing which group a verb belongs to helps you find its stem.** In other words, the base of the verb to which you attach Japanese conjugation inflections. Fear not, as Japanese verbs are divided into only three groups: - The U-verbs, also known as V1 verbs or Godan verbs - The Ru-verbs, also known as the V2 verbs or Ichidan verbs - Irregular verbs / V3\. We will start with the irregular verbs, and you’ll see why very soon. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese verb group: Irregular verbs / V3 Despite its name, the irregular verb group is very easy to learn, since only two verbs fall into this category: **する (to do) and くる (to come)**. Their conjugation forms set them aside from the other verbs, but they’re so commonly used that you’ll memorize their forms in a flash. A lot of verbs are made with する attached to nouns like - 勉強べんきょうする (studies + to do = to study) - 散歩さんぽする (walk+to do = to take a walk) Once you have memorized all the conjugation forms of する you can conjugate all these verbs too. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese verb groups: Ru-Verbs / V2 Ru verbs or V2 verbs end in any kana in the い(i)/え(e) column + る(ru). This is why sometimes ru-verbs are also known as iru-verbs and eru-verbs. **Because the base of the verb stays the same when it’s conjugated**, these verbs are called 一段いちだん動詞どうし (“one-form verb”). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese verb groups: U-Verbs or V1 verbs The U-verb group gathers all the verbs that end with a /u/ vowel sound, like 話はなす (to speak), 買かう (to buy), 読よむ (to read), 飛とぶ (to fly) etc. **When you conjugate a u-verb, the stem’s final /u/ vowel changes to another vowel in the hiragana chart: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/.** This is why these verbs are also called **五段ごだん動詞どうし** (It literally means “five form verbs”) in Japanese. **A chart to summarize the three groups:** | **Irregularverbs/V3** | 来る | 来る(kuru/to come) | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | | する | する(suru/to do) | | | Kanji+する | 勉強する(benkyousuru/to study) | | | **Ru-verbs / V2** | A kana from い/えcolumn +る | 寝る(neru/to sleep) | | 食べる(taberu/to eat) | | | | 着る(kiru/to wear) | | | | **U-verbs / V1** | Most verbs ending in a u-kana and everything except V3 and V2 | 飲む(nomu/to drink) | | 買う(kau/to buy) | | | | 書く(kaku/to write) | | | | 死ぬ\* (sinu/to die) | | | \*It is worth noting that 死しぬ is the only Japanese verb ending with ぬ. ### Can a verb ending with る actually be a U-verb? If the preceding hiragana vowel was /e/ like 答こたえる or /i/ like できる, the verb is most *likely* a ru-verb. As you keep on learning, you will encounter a few deceiving verbs, but their number is very limited. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Japanese Verb Conjugation Forms: For Beginners Now that you’re familiar with Japanese verb groups and you know how to find the stem of a verb, you’re set to delve deeper and learn the 14 Japanese verb conjugation forms, starting with the easiest form of all, the polite masu form. Let’s start from some of the most frequently used, most basic Japanese verb conjugation: - [masu form](#masu) \- the "normal" form - [plain form](#plain) \- the "dictionary" form - [nai form](#nai) \- the plain negative form - [ta form](#ta) \- the plain past affirmative form - [nakatta form](#nakatta) \- the plain past negative form - [te form](#te) \- the "naming a list" form ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Masu Form and Its Derivatives Without going too far ahead into advanced explanations, formality greatly influences Japanese language construction. The masu form, or 丁寧語ていねいご in Japanese, is the “normal” form native speakers use with people they’re not intimate with or with people that are socially higher. Most methods of Japanese (including LingoDeer) teach beginners the masu form early on, **because of how easy it is to memorize, but also so they can speak politely in their first encounters with Japanese people.** The ます (masu) form can translate both the English present and future tense, and as such, is said to be a state of “nonpast”. For more clarity, you can consider that it expresses the polite present affirmative. Time-related words and context will tell you whether the present or the future is intended by the speaker. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: ます Form | Verb group | Rule | Example verb | Example sentence | | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ | ---------------- | | V1 | Change the u-kana to the corresponding i-kana and attach ます to the verb stem | 話す → 話します | 教師と話します | | I speak with the teacher | | | | | V2 | Attach ます to the verb stem | 食べる→ 食べます | パンを食べます | | I eat bread | | | | | V3 | Attach ます to the verb stem | 勉強する → 勉強します | 日本語を勉強します | | くる → きます | I study Japanese | | | | 学校にきます | | | | | I go to school | | | | The negative form is **ません** (masen), and like for the affirmative form, it can express both the present and the future. The conjugation is simple after you know how to conjugate the ます-form. Simply replace ます with ません to conjugate the negative form: - 絵えを描えがきません = I don’t draw a picture or I won’t draw a picture - 本ほんを読よみません = I don’t read a book (I won’t read a book) - 宿題しゅくだいを しません = I don’t do my homework (I won’t do my homework) Both the past affirmative **ました** and past negative of the masu form ませんでした are regular and easy to remember as well: - 絵えを描えがきました = I drew a picture - 絵えを描えがきませんでした = I didn’t draw a picture - 本ほんを読よみました = I read a book - 本ほんを読よみませんでした = I didn’t read a book - 宿題しゅくだいを しました = I did my homework - 宿題しゅくだいを しませんでした = I didn’t do my homework The imperative & volitional conjugation forms also have a formal inflection. But to keep this introduction to Japanese verb conjugation clear, their formal forms will be introduced later on, with their plain counterparts. Following the masu form, the most important inflections you must master to have a solid handle of Japanese verb conjugation are the four basic forms that are the **plain form** (present affirmative & future), the **nai form** (present negative & future), the **ta form** (past affirmative) and the **nakatta form** (past negative). Beyond expressing tenses, those basic forms are the base for numerous grammatical constructions, hence you need to memorize them right. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Plain Form The plain form is called dictionary form in Japanese (辞書じしょ形けい) because it is the form **you find in dictionaries** when you look up a verb. This form helps you find a verb’s group and stem. All Japanese verbs in plain form end with a hiragana from the /u/ row of the hiragana table. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Plain Form | Plain Form | | | ---------- | ------------------------------ | | U-verbs | 吸う, 書く, 話す, 脱ぐ, 待つ, 死ぬ, 呼ぶ, 読む | | Ru-verbs | 食べる, 見る, できる etc. | | Irregular: | | | する | する, 勉強する, 料理する etc. | | くる | くる | **The plain form is colloquial,** which means you should use this form only when interacting with familiar people such as family members, friends or a very close colleague. Also, you usually write in plain form unless it is written to a specific reader, like an email. Newspaper articles, academic papers, documents that give information and are not directly addressing the reader, are written in plain Japanese. You use the plain form to make simple declarative statements such as “I write” (書かく), “you speak”(話はなす) etc. Like with the masu form, the plain form can also express the future based on the context of your sentence: - 絵えを描えがく = I draw a picture (I will draw a picture) - 本ほんを読よむ = I read a book (I will read a book) - 宿題しゅくだいを する = I do my homework (I will do my homework) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Nai form - The Plain Negative form The nai form is the negative counterpart of the plain form. This is your go-to form when you want to make a negative statement such as “I don’t see” (見みない) or “you don’t smoke” (吸すわない) and “I won’t see” or “you won’t smoke”. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Nai Form | Verb group | Rule | Example verb | Example sentence | | ------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ---------------- | | V1 | Stem’s /u/ vowel changes to /a/. | 話す → 話さない | 教師と話さない | | Verbs that ends with the hiragana う will change う to わ | 吸う → 吸わない | I don’t speak with the teacher | | | タバコを吸わない | | | | | I don’t smoke tobacco | | | | | V2 | Attach ない to the verb stem | 食べる → 食べない | パンを食べない | | I don’t eat bread | | | | | V3 | する becomes しない | 勉強する → 勉強しない | 勉強する → 日本語を勉強しない | | くるbecomes こない | くる→こない | I don’t study Japanese | | | くる → 学校にこない\* | | | | | I don’t come to school | | | | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Ta form - The Plain Past Affirmative Form The ta form, or plain past affirmative, expresses that an action was done in the past, like “I did my homework” (宿題しゅくだいをした) or “you ate bread” (パンを食たべた). The construction of the ta form is a little bit tricky when it comes to u-verbs depending on their last hiragana character, but the good news is that these exceptions are limited to a few verbs only! - 絵えを描えがいた = I drew a picture - 本ほんを読よんだ= I read a book - 宿題しゅくだいを した = I did my homework #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Ta Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | --------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- | | U-verbs | If the last hiragana is う,つ,る, add った to the verb stem | 笑う → 笑った | | If the last hiragana is む, ぶ, ぬ, add んだ | 読む → 読んだ | | | If the last hiragana is く, add いた to the verb stem: | 働く→ 働いた 行く→行った(irregular) | | | If the last hiragana is ぐ, add いだ to the verb stem | 泳ぐ → 泳いだ | | | If the last hiragana is す, add した to the verb stem | 隠す→ 隠した | | | Ru-verbs | Attach た to the verb stem | 食べる → 食べた | | Irregular | | | | する | Attach た to the verb stem | 勉強する →勉強した | | くる | くる → 来た | | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Nakatta Form - The Plain Past Negative Form A trick to remember how to conjugate the plain past negative form is start from the nai-form’s stem (/a/) and add “katta” to the verb. You can now casually express that action didn’t take place: - 本ほんを読よまなかった = I didn’t read the book - 夕飯ゆうはんを食たべなかった = I didn’t eat dinner - 宿題しゅくだいを しなかった = I didn’t do my homework #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Nakatta Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | -------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | | U-verbs | Stem’s vowel /u/ changes to /a/ to which you add なかった: | 話す → 教師と話さなかった | | I didn’t speak with the teacher | | | | ⚠︎ Verbs that end with the hiragana う will change う to わ | Ex: 笑う → 笑わなかった | | | I didn’t laugh | | | | Ru-verbs | Attach なかった to the verb stem | 食べる → 食事を食べなかった | | I didn’t eat my meal | | | | Irregular | | | | －する | Attach なかった to the verb stem | 勉強する → 日本語を勉強しなかった | | I didn’t study Japanese | | | | －くる | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for くる’s past negative form is こ | くる → 学校にこなかった | | I didn’t come to school | | | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Te Form Pillar of Japanese grammar, the te-form is the cement that helps connect clauses together to build more complex sentences. For example, you use the te-form to list success actions or to show causality between several events: - 手てを洗あらって、食事しょくじを食たべた = I washed my hands and ate my meal - 朝あさ7時ときに起おきて、運動うんどうして、仕事しごとに行いく = I wake up at 7, exercise and go to work. - 時間じかんがなくて、レポート書かかなかった = I lacked the time and didn’t write my report. In principle, a sentence with a te-form inflected verb is a subordinate clause that requires the main clause to be grammatically complete. However, when casually speaking, native speakers sometimes stop at a te-form verb clause, leaving the rest of the sentence implied. - A: レポートは? = What about the report? - B: 時間じかんがなくて・・・ = I lacked time… (implied sentence = レポート書かかなかった “I didn’t write my report”) The te-form is also used in a gazillion of grammatical expressions that you will progressively learn. The most common construction is to make a polite request. - レポート を書かいてください = Please write your report - 手てを洗あらってください = Please wash your hands For u-verbs, the affirmative te-form conjugates like the ta-form form - you just need to switch the vowel /a/ to /e/. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Affirmative Te Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | | U-verbs | Last hiragana is う,つ,る | 吸う → 吸って | | → Add って to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is む, ぶ, ぬ | 読む → 読んで | | | → Add んで | | | | Last hiragana is く | 書く(to write) → 書いて 行く(to go) → 行って（irregular\*） | | | → Add いて to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is ぐ | 泳ぐ (to swim) → 泳いで | | | → Add いで to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is す | 隠す (to hide) → 隠して | | | → Add して to the verb stem | | | | Ru-verbs | Attach て to the stem: | 食べる → 食べて | | Eat, eating | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | Attach て to the stem: | 勉強する → 日本語を勉強してください | | Study Japanese | | | | くる | くる → 学校にきてください | | | Come to school | | | #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Negative Te-Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- | | U-verbs | Take for start base the negative plain form stem ない, drop the い and add なくて to the stem | 話す→ 話さない → 話さなくて | | Ru-verbs | Attach ないで to the stem | 食べる → 食べないで | | Don’t eat snacks. | | | | Note: All verb groups have both ないで (Negative Te form) and \~なくて forms (and the rules are the same for both, per their group). | | | | する | Attach ないで to the stem: | する → 音をしないでください | | Don’t make noise | | | | くる | Attach ないで to the stem: ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for くる’s negative te-form is こ | くる→ 学校にこないでください | | Don’t come to school | | | \*Please note the Negative Te Form does not just apply to the U and Ru verbs. When you use the Negative Te form, there is a simple rule: think of the negative plain form ending in ない, then simply replace ない with なくて or ないで. For example, 食たべる → 食たべない → 食たべなくて/食たべないで ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Japanese Verb Conjugation Forms: For Intermediate Good job! Now you have mastered the basic forms of Japanese verb conjugation, it is time to go level up and challenge the more complicated ones. Let’s start! ### Conditional Form ba Japanese verb conjugation has two forms to express the conditional and make hypothetical statements: ba form and tara form. With time, their nuances won’t have any secret for you and you will know when to use one or the other. But for now, just remember that the ba-form is a general conditional that cannot express any form of intention, such as a command, a request, an invitation or a wish. The ba-form is often used to ask for or to give advice, as well as to express regret for something in the past: - どうすればいいですか = What should I do? - 教師きょうしに聞きいてみれば = Why don’t you ask the teacher? - こうすればどうですか = What about doing like? - 行いけばよかったのに = I wish I had gone… While the negative form exists, its usage is not common and doesn’t feel very natural outside of set idiomatic expressions such as なければならない “I cannot not do”: - 勉強べんきょうしなければならない = I have to do study (If I don’t study, something negative happens) Like for the ta-form and the te-form, the stem of u-verbs will vary depending on their ending hiragana. The vowel /u/ changes to the corresponding hiragana with the vowel /e/. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Affirmative Ba Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | --------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------ | | U-verbs | Last hiragana is う,つ,る | 吸う → 吸えば | | → Add えば to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is む, ぶ, ぬ | 読む → 読めば | | | → Add めば | | | | Last hiragana is く | 行く(to go) → 行けば | | | → Add けば to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is ぐ | 泳ぐ (to swim) → 泳げば | | | → Add げば to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is す | 隠す (to hide) → 隠せば | | | → Add せば to the verb stem | | | | ru-verbs | Add れば to the verb stem | 食べる → 食べれば | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add れば to the verb stem | こうする → こうすれば | | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for する’s affirmative ba-form is す | If doing like this… | | | くる | Add れば to the verb stem | くる → これば | | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for くる’s affirmative ba-form is こ | If going… | | #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Negative Ba Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------ | | U-verbs | Start from the negative plain form ない, drop the い and add ければ to the verb stem | 話す → 話さない → 話さなければ | | ru-verbs | Add なければ to the verb stem | 食べる → 食べなければ | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add なければ to the verb stem | 勉強する → 勉強しなければ | | くる | Add なければ to the verb stem | くる → こなければ | | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for くる’s negative ba-form is こ | | | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Conditional Form tara The tara form is another way to express the conditional and translates the hypothetical “if” with a focus on what happens after the condition is realized or not. - お金かねがあったら、新あたらしい パソコン を買かう = If I have the money, I’ll buy a new computer In that sense, tara is also a form you can use to express what will happen in the future if conditions are met. - 冬休ふゆやすみがきたら、地元じもとに戻もどる When the winter holidays come, I will go back to my hometown The tara form is also the form you use when expressing an unrealistic proposition. - 王様おうさまだったら、毎日まいにちを日曜日にちようびにするのになぁ = If I was the king, I would make every day to be Sundays… Luckily, its conjugation is based on the plain past form for both the affirmative and negative and you just have to add “ra”. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Affirmative Tara Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | -------------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------- | | U-verbs | Last hiragana is う,つ,る | 笑う → 笑ったら | | → Add ったら to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is む, ぶ, ぬ | 読む → 読んだら | | | → Add んだら | | | | Last hiragana is く | 行く(to go) → 行ったら | | | → Add いたら to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is ぐ | 泳ぐ (to swim) → 泳いだら | | | → Add いだら to the verb stem | | | | Last hiragana is す | 隠す (to hide) → 隠したら | | | → Add したら to the verb stem | | | | Ru-verbs | Add たら to the stem | 食べる → 食べたら | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add たら to the stem | する → 料理したら | | くる | Add たら to the stem | くる → きたら | #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Negative Tara Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | | U-verbs | From the past negative plain form stem なかった add ら | 話す→ 話さない → 話さなかったら | | Ru-verbs | Add なかったら to the stem | 食べる → 食べなかったら | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add なかったら to the stem | する → しなかったら | | くる | くる → こなかったら | | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Imperative Form Set a rule for yourself to avoid as much as possible using the imperative form, whether casually or formally. Considered quite rude by Japanese people, the form is mostly used by **authority figures**, such as the police or parents with their children, and on public road signs 止とまれ (Stop!). The imperative should be limited to extreme contexts where you are required to give an order and there’s no time to lose with politeness and formality. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Imperative Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ---------- | ------------------------- | --------- | | U-verbs | The vowel /u/ becomes /e/ | 話す→ 話せ | | Speak! | | | | Ru-verbs | The ending る becomes ろ | 食べる → 食べろ | | Eat！ | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add ろ to the stem for する | する → 勉強しろ | | Study! | | | | くる | くる has an irregular form | くる → こい | | Come! | | | While formal, imperative form なさい still has to be used with care not to offend anyone. | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | --------------- | ------------------------ | ----------------- | | U-verbs | Add なさい to the verb stem | 話す→ 話しなさい | | Speak! | | | | Ru-verbs | Add なさい to the verb stem | 食べる → 食事を食べなさい | | Eat your meal! | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add なさい to the verb stem | 勉強する → 日本語を勉強しなさい | | Study Japanese! | | | | くる | Add なさい to the verb stem | くる → 学校にきなさい | | come to school! | | | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Volitional Form Shortly speaking, the volitional form turns verbs into suggestions. This form expresses our intention to do an action and can be translated by “let’s” or “shall we”. - 行いこうか = Let’s go? Beyond your intention, the volitional can also mark that you’re making an effort or an attempt to do something or that you planned to do something. - やってみようと思おもう = I’d like to give it a try - 今日きょう勉強べんきょうしようと決きめた = I’ve decided to study today #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Volitional Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ---------------- | | U-verbs | The stem vowel /u/ becomes /o/ to which you add う | 教師と話す→ 教師と話そう | | Let’s speak with the teacher! | | | | Ru-verbs | Add よう to the verb stem | 食事を食べる → 食事を食べよう | | Shall we eat our meal? | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add よう to the verb stem | 勉強する → しよう | | くる | Add よう to the verb stem | くる→ こよう | | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for くる’s plain volitional form is こ | | | #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Volitional Form The formal volitional form is ましょう for all 3 verb groups. | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ------------------------------ | ------------------------- | ------------------ | | U-verbs | Add ましょう to the verb stem | 話す→教師と話しましょう | | Let’s speak to the teacher | | | | Ru-verbs | Add ましょう to the verb stem | 食べる→一緒に食べましょう | | Let’s eat together | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add ましょう to the verb stem | 勉強する → 日本語を勉強しましょう | | Study Japanese! | | | | くる | Add ましょう to the verb stem | くる → 皆さんも遊びに来ましょう | | Everyone, please come to play! | | | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Potential Form Unlike English, Japanese language doesn’t have a modal verb like “can” to express one’s ability to do something. Instead, you have a potential form inflection which will create a new ru-verb that can be conjugated too. Like its name indicates, this particular conjugation allows you to express that the verb’s action is possible. - 日本語にほんごが話はなせるようになった = I became able to speak Japanese - 料理りょうりができる = I can cook - ピーナツ が食たべられない = I cannot eat peanuts #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Potential Form Notice that the particle を becomes が with potential verbs. | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------- | | U-verbs | The vowel /u/ changes to /e/, to which you add る | 日本語を話す→日本語が 話せる | | I speak Japanese → I can speak Japanese | | | | Ru-verbs | Add られる to the verb stem | 肉を食べる → 肉が食べられる | | I eat meat → I can eat meat | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | | する→ できる | | くる | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for くる’s potential form is こ | くる→ こられる | You may have noticed that the potential form ending makes ru-verbs quite long to pronounce. Native speakers, when speaking casually, may shorten られる to れる, for example, 見みられる becomes 見みれる. However, that’s actually colloquial and not grammatically correct. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Passive Form While the passive form isn’t hard to memorize in itself, it can take a while to wrap your mind around passive sentences. Don’t worry, you’ll get there! Contrary to English and many roman languages, the passive form is commonly used in Japanese and not at all seen as a clumsy way of speaking. For Japanese native speakers, when the action “what is done”, or the **consequences for the person**, “what is done to you”, are more important than the subject, “who did it”, the passive form sounds more natural and is preferred. Speaking differently, it’s a matter of perspective. Japanese people also use the passive form to speak **more politely**, as it tunes out the subject (you) making you sound modest. Another nuance of the passive voice is that Like with the potential form, the passive inflection gives birth to new verbs that fall into the ru-verb groups and therefore, that can be conjugated. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Passive Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------ | | U-verbs | The stem vowel /u/ changes to /a/, to which you add れる | 聞く→ 教師は答えを聞かれる | | The teacher was asked the answer. | | | | Ru-verbs | Add られる to the verb stem | 食べる → パンが誰かに食べられた | | The bread was eaten by someone | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add れる to する‘s stem | する → 部屋はよく掃除される | | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for する’s passive form is される。 | The room is cleaned well/often. | | | くる | Add られる to くる’s stem: | くる → ストーカーに家までこられる | | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for くる’s passive form is こ | My home was visited by a stalker. | | Note that the passive form of ru-verbs is identical to their potential form. The context and grammatical particles will give you clues as to which form is intended. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Causative Form Along with the passive form, the causative form can feel challenging to learn. This particular conjugation is used to express that you make someone do an action, let someone do an action or, on the contrary, you prevent someone from doing an action. In other words, you are the original cause for an action to take place or not and you speak from this very perspective. A good way to remember the causative is to think with the verb “make” or “let”. - 子供こどもに タバコ を吸すわせない = Kids are not allowed to smoke tobacco - 母ははは私わたしに野菜やさいを食たべさせる = I am made to eat vegetables by my mother - 週末しゅうまつに子供こどもを遊あそばせる = I let my kid play on weekends #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Causative Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ---------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | | U-verbs | The vowel /u/ changes to /a/, to which you add せる to the stem | 話す→ 教師は生徒に事実を話させる | | The teacher makes the student tell the truth. | | | | Ru-verbs | Add させる to the verb stem | 食べる → 父は子供に甘いものを食べさせる | | The father let the kids eat sweets. | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add させる to the verb stem | する → 勉強させる | | Let to study/made to study | | | | くる | Add させる to the verb stem | くる → ウェイターをこさせる | | ⚠︎ Notice that the stem for くる’s causative form is こ | Call the waiter (make the waiter to come) | | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Causative Passive Form This ultimate form consists of adding the passive form to the causative form of a verb, making it extra long for sure, but not hard to conjugate. The newly created verb belongs to the ru-verb group and can be conjugated with all the other conjugation forms (as long as it sounds logical). The action of making someone do, letting someone do or preventing someone to do was done to that person. Because the form is used to express **something over which the speaker has no choice or control**, the causative passive has **a strong negative connotation**. It’s conceptually very hard for Romance language speakers to understand, so simply remember that the causative passive form is primarily used with verbs such as “to recall”, “to feel”, “to conceive” or “to think”. #### Japanese Verb Conjugation Chart: Causative Passive Form | Verb Group | Rules | Examples | | ----------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | | U-verbs | The stem vowel /u/ becomes /a/, to which you add せられる | 思い出す→ 嫌な記憶を思い出させられる | | I am made to recall a bad memory | | | | Ru-verbs | Add させられる to the verb stem | 見せる → 昔の写真を見させられる | | I am made to show my old photos | | | | Irregular: | | | | する | Add させられる to the verb stem: | する → 上司に残業させられる | | I’m made to do overtime by my boss. | | | | くる | くる → 休日なのに会社に来させられる | | | Although it’s a day off, I’m made to go to my company | | | While knowing all 14 Japanese conjugation forms is critical to reaching fluency, take your studies one day at a time and focus first on mastering the masu form, following up with the basic plain forms. As you progress in Japanese, the rest will naturally come in place. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Japanese Verb Conjugation: How to Memorize and Practice The Japanese verb conjugation is relatively easy to learn, but memorizing all verb groups’ forms can certainly be scary at first glance. Every time you feel overwhelmed by your Japanese studies, remember that learning a language is like having fun with a very big puzzle. Piece by piece, the puzzle will become clearer and easier to solve. This is what language learning with [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) feels like, fun, easy, and effective. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Learn Japanese Verb Conjugation by Dictionary The first good habit you must take is to look up every new verb you encounter in the dictionary. Be active with your learning and make a conscious effort to search for information. Not only will you find the verb’s meaning(s), but you will also know its group, kanji, and usage. The act itself helps with memorization and to spot the verbs that have irregular conjugation forms. Keep notes of the newly learned verb as you go, on paper or in an app. ![Japanese verb conjugation Oxford Beginner's Japanese Dictionary](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/Oxford-Beginners-Japanese-Dictionary.jpg) Oxford Beginner's Japanese Dictionary, Image from Amazon ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Learn Japanese Verb Conjugation by Checking the Verb Conjugator You now have a good understanding of Japanese verb conjugation. Facing a new verb, trust yourself and try to conjugate on your own in the beginning. It’s very important that conjugated forms come to use naturally. Use a [verb conjugator](http://www.japaneseverbconjugator.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to check that you got the forms correctly. It’s okay if some forms give you a harder time than others, learning a language is not a sprint, but a marathon. Depending on your learning style, writing them down or reading them at loud will help your memory. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Learn Japanese Verb Conjugation by Sentence Making The key to actively learn a language will always be to see words used in a natural context. So take the time to write a series of sentences using new verbs you’ve just learned. This provides a good opportunity to review Japanese particles as well. Don’t avoid the difficulties and challenge yourself with new vocabulary. Make your sentences sound fun too! Read your sentences out loud to practice your speaking skills and review them from time to time to refresh your memory. If you worry about making mistakes, share your sentence on [HiNative](https://hinative.com/en-US?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for feedback and help from native speakers. Once you’ve had your sentences checked out, you can make effective flashcards to remember your verbs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Japanese Verb Conjugation: Self-study Resources **A good way to practice Japanese verb conjugation is to drill yourself regularly**. You’ll find plenty of useful resources online. Many websites dedicated to Japanese language, starting with Genki Online and Marugoto Plus, offer some free exercises that you can do directly online, print or integrate with apps. For example, If you use Anki to study Japanese, you will find drilling decks developed by other learners to help you with your practice. If you dread the thought of having to do (boring) and repetitive grammar exercises and need a fun break, [**LingoDeer Plus**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-plus/) **turned drilling conjugation into a cool game that you’ll help improve with no pain.** The awesome team of LingoDeer developed original and enjoyable content to create an engaging learning experience that’ll make you happily practice Japanese verb conjugation. - Genki-online: Verb/Adjective Conjugation Practice [https://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self/verbadjective-conjugation-practice](https://genki.japantimes.co.jp/self/verbadjective-conjugation-practice?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Japan Foundation’s official course Marugoto Plus [https://marugotoweb.jp/en/](https://marugotoweb.jp/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Anki: flashcard tool for memorization [https://apps.ankiweb.net](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - LingoDeer [https://lingodeer.com](https://lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### 6 Tips for Learning a Language For Your Next Trip URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learning-a-language-for-travel/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:33:25.000Z Most of the time, the end goal of language learning is fluency. But sometimes you don’t have the time or need to become fluent. Maybe you scored a deal and are heading off to Dominican Republic. Maybe your job is sending you to Cameroon next month. Or maybe you’ve just always wanted to see Prague but probably won’t ever immerse yourself in Czech literature, at least not in the original. How should you change your learning to match a goal that is somewhere short of fluency? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/annie-spratt-qyAka7W5uMY-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash I’ve never become fluent in a foreign language. I’m working on it, but I’ve never hit that level. However, I’ve traveled a lot and learned how to quickly pick up just enough of a language to get by. Along the way, I’ve learned that most people really appreciate the effort and had some experiences that wouldn’t have been available to me without having tried to master the local tongue. **If you have a bit of time before you take off, but not enough to realistically master the language, here is what I recommend working on.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ### Tip #1: Practice Speaking As Much As You Can Read everything out loud. This sounds silly but it works. Not only does it allow you to practice your accent, but **the act of saying a foreign language aloud has been shown to help with retention and understanding**. There is some pretty interesting cognitive science behind this if you want to explore ⌈1⌋, but trust me: reading out loud can help you improve your accent, understand sentence structure, and remember vocabulary more easily. LingoDeer already has you speak aloud but go even further and read all of the sentences aloud. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) **My recommendations:** - LingoDeer’s ability to **play back your own voice and listen to it next to a native speaker** is fantastic, but you can use the app even more aggressively if you read every sentence aloud. Try to say sentences alongside the recorded version. - If you have an iPhone, you can use the Notes app to practice pronunciation. **Set your keyboard to the appropriate language and try to dictate notes.** It sounds weird but if you can make your phone understand you then a human will not be a problem. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/dynamicwang-qLlxZcROGmU-unsplash.jpg) Photo by DynamicWang on Unsplash ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ### Tip #2: Focus on Basics (and Ignore Grammar) People you interact with will make very quick judgments about your ability to speak their language, which will determine how they deal with you. If their first impression is that you are terrible at their language, this can range from condescension (What’s up, Italy?), to stereotypical rudeness (Parisians, I’m looking at you), to not even letting you in to certain establishments (Thanks, Tokyo). A good command of the basics (and learning some basic local etiquette) will **make people much more likely to help you** and far more sympathetic when you butcher the more advanced phrases. For basics, learn greetings, polite requests, thank yous, and any other courteous phrases you think you’ll need. Learn how to ask for directions and how to order food. If there are particular circumstances you’re worried about, look up those situations too. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/priscilla-du-preez-EFoH8YajQuA-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash **You also shouldn’t worry too much about grammar.** You’ll need to really understand grammar to become fluent, but that’s not what we’re doing here. Grammar often has a lot of exceptions, and those exceptions are disproportionately found in everyday speech. Take the French *passé composé*. That’s a tense that is for completed actions in the past. Usually, it uses the auxiliary verb *avoir* (to have) before the past tense verb. But for some verbs, it uses the auxiliary verb *être* (“to be”) ⌈2⌋. And the words that use *être* are all very common words, mostly related to movement. “To come,” “to go,” “to enter,” “to exit,” “to rest,” “to arrive,” and “to leave” all use *être* in the *passé* *composé* ⌈3⌋*.* And I haven’t even gotten to the really fun part: there are also words (mostly reflexive verbs) that change meaning if you use *être* in place of *avoir.* This would all be very important if you wanted to read Rousseau or speak with President Macron. But if you’re trying to get *un café* before asking directions to the Catacombs, you can probably get by having memorized the phrases, rather than understanding the finer points. While we’re here, one interesting thing to consider: why are everyday words so much more likely to be exceptions? Because they can be. Words we use every day, like “to go,” “to have,” and “to be” are often irregular *because* they get used every day. They are unlikely to be loan words, which are typically regular, and their common use means they can maintain their irregularity while less common verbs, like “to defenestrate” will eventually default to standard forms ⌈4⌋. **Bottom line: travelers will get much further with** **a limited but perfect understanding of the basics** than a broad but imperfect knowledge of the language. If you want to become fluent, you’ll have to learn all of the grammar structures of the language and a wide variety of vocabulary. But for travel, it really pays off to study only what you’ll need and make sure you get that stuff right. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) **My Recommendations:** - Go back and review the first lessons in LingoDeer. Don’t push yourself to keep advancing in the course just for the sake of doing it. Even as you move forward, try to do one review lesson a day. That repetition will help a lot. - You know a few situations you’re likely to be in, like checking into a hotel or ordering food at a restaurant. Focus on those and work on your accent. - And be sure to **check out the LingoDeer’s newest feature --** [**Travel Phrasebook**](https://lingodeer.page.link/tp?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ### Tip #3: Learn Your Verbs Verbs are the heart of language. Nouns are great, but you can often point, describe, or mime them. It’s not ideal, but you’ll make yourself understood. **Verbs are harder but have a higher return for travelers.** Messing up a verb is also much more likely to make your sentence incomprehensible or mean something else entirely. There are some verbs you know you are going to use: **to go, to have, to be, to want, to eat, to drink, to come, and to leave** are all certainties. Be sure to learn those and then think about what else you’ll need. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) **My Recommendations**: - Practice the major verb conjugations in the **most common tenses**, or at least the present and the simplest way to put something in the past and future tenses and learn the major irregular verbs. To be, to have, and to go are all going to come up on pretty much any trip, but as we’ve seen, they tend to be irregular. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ### Tip #4: Learn Essential Vocabulary Certain words matter more to you than to someone else. I’m allergic to oysters (yeah, I know, they’re delicious and it sucks). It is very important that I know how to communicate that when I travel, even though they’re not the most common food. I’ll always learn that word before a trip, just in case. But most resources will group vocabulary by subject, because that is what makes sense for someone looking to completely master the language. Do you really need to learn all of the words related to a particular topic? For a week-long vacation, probably not. But while you might not need all the words for sports in your arsenal, if you’re going to a game while traveling, you might want to look up the vocabulary particular to that sport. (I recommend doing this for most sports in the United Kingdom even if you’re a native English speaker, as cricket is basically a foreign language anyway.) Same with clothes; your basic course might teach you how to say “skirt” but not “necktie,” or vice-versa. But you know what you wear or might want or need to buy. So look up those words. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) **My Recommendations:** - Make a list of the words you will absolutely need, then the words you would like to know or would be helpful. Be sure you know those, regardless of what your language learning resources are teaching you. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/kevin-grieve-bbP9uaNFliw-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Kevin Grieve on Unsplash ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ### Tip #5: Cultural Competence Matters Languages have idioms, false cognates, and lots of other traps for the unwary. **Sometimes these can be pretty offensive**. I once learned a pretty bad word from a French movie. A word that LingoDeer’s editorial standards won’t let me translate here. I used this word when trying to speak French. With my professor. During an oral exam. To my infinitely patient professor’s credit she laughed it off ⌈5⌋. Some of these areas are a bit more subtle. French people often think of Americans as bubbly or overly positive because we tend to respond to “how are you doing?” with “very well,” or “good!” Either of those responses is common and grammatically correct in French, but French people tend to say *pas mal* (“not bad”) and it can sound grating and over eager to them when we respond to “how are you” with *très bien* (“very well”). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) **My Recommendations:** - Google **common mistakes** and regional differences before you go. Sometimes the subreddit for the language you’re learning will have a good list of examples. It doesn’t take long and at worst, won’t hurt you, but at best can really help you out in a jam. - Listening to the radio or watching movies and television in the foreign language can be very helpful. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/yongzheng-xu-Xj9qVP1D6w4-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Yongzheng Xu on Unsplash ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ### Tip #6: Don’t Practice Writing Of the four basic areas of competence in a foreign language, speaking, listening, reading, and writing, writing is by far the hardest. For a short trip, you are unlikely to be writing much. It is more efficient to use your time listening to native media or learning new words. **Think of this as an application of** [**the 80/20 rule**](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/1/80-20-rule.asp?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**.** Most of your success will come from a relatively small number of things. Why prioritize the skill that is not only the hardest to learn, but that you will use the least? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) **My Recommendations:** - Don’t bother with writing, except to the extent that it helps you work on speaking, listening, or reading. - If you absolutely have to write something, use Google Translate (but be careful), try to rely on phrases you know cold, and ask a native speaker to help you if you can. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/dariusz-sankowski-3OiYMgDKJ6k-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Dariusz Sankowski on Unsplash ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ### Tip #7 (Optional): Get Familiar with Colloquialisms The last tip I’ll give you should only be used if you feel comfortable with it. **If you still feel like you’re struggling with basics, you can skip this**, but colloquialisms can also help you sound far more natural. In Japanese, for example, native speakers tend to omit pronouns if (or once) it’s clear who they are talking about. The first time I went to Japan, I was pretty locked into my English syntax, and would overuse pronouns. If the host of a bar or restaurant asked me how many people we were, I would answer with something like *watashitachi wa futari desu*. It was a dead giveaway that my Japanese sucked. *Watashitachi* is hard to say perfectly (Japanese stresses syllables in a very different way from English) and a native speaker would likely omit it entirely. The second time I went, places that might have been “full” on our first trip let us in because my Japanese sounded much more natural, even though I was still a relative novice in the language, because in the same scenario I knew to just say *futari desu*. It’s a very small change, but it helped a lot. Traveling in Munich, a pharmacist was much more willing to put up with my halting German (which was much worse than normal because I had a head cold, hence the pharmacy), because I used the greeting *grüß gott*, which is used in Bavaria in place of *guten tag* and is a point of regional pride. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) Learning about these differences is also **a very fun way to learn about cross-cultural communications.** There are two ways to acquire that knowledge: - look them up as much as possible ahead of time, or - let yourself discover them on your own. This is the one area where I think study may not be the way to go; learning these differences naturally can be a really wonderful moment of cross-cultural understanding, and the process of figuring it out will deepen your understanding of the language and the culture. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/eleonora-albasi-MbkAh8PcSW0-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Eleonora Albasi on Unsplash ### Final Thoughts Learning a language for fluency is a different process than learning for travel. Some of the techniques I’ve pointed out here are good advice for any language learner, but they are particularly effective if you are only learning for a short trip. I can’t promise you’ll never run into a situation where your language skills just aren’t enough, but **if you follow this advice, you’ll not only get to do some things most tourists don’t, but you’ll be a better traveler.** References: ⌈1⌋ One summary is Liangguan Huang, *Reading Aloud in the Foreign Language Teaching*, Asian Social Sciences Vol. 6, NO. 4, 2010, at 148, but there is a ton of research behind this. ⌈2⌋ There are 13 of these verbs, and generations of students of French have learned to curse Dr. and Mrs. Vandertramp, the acronym often used to remember them. ⌈3⌋ If you’re curious, the full list is: *devenir, revenir, monter, rester, sortir, venir, aller, naître, descender, entrer, rentrer, tomber, retourner, arriver, mourir,* and *partir.* No, I didn’t do this off the top of my head but there was definitely a time in my life when I could have. ⌈4⌋ There’s even a mathematical formula for this process, that shows how the [less frequently a verb is used, the faster it will regularize](https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/the-evolution-of-the-past-tense-how-verbs-change-over-time?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ⌈5⌋ The word was *connard*. Feel free to look it up, just keep in mind that the conventional translations don’t capture the full force of how terrible a word this is in French. Then imagine an idiotic nineteen-year-old student saying this to a tenured professor at a major research university. ### How to Memorize Spanish Verb Conjugation: Follow Some Easy Rules! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-verb-conjugation/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T12:59:53.000Z Conjugation sounds like a Harry Potter spell. And, many learners would describe it as a dark spell too— something they’d rather avoid! Indeed, Spanish verb conjugation is a complex topic. To tackle it you want to make sure you start from a place of clarity. So, before we move on to the specifics of the Spanish verb conjugation, let’s make sure we’re on the same page with its underlying ideas. # What is conjugation in the first place? Conjugation is the name of a grammatical concept. Don’t get scared just yet! It’s pretty simple. Conjugation is just changing the verb to add extra information to it. **Different languages can encode more or less information in the verb**. In English, where we see conjugation, for example, is when we add “s” in the third person in the present tense. We say: *You eat a piece of cake*. But, *He* eat**s** *a piece of cake*. Imagine you only saw the end of this sentence “... eats a piece of cake”, and were asked to guess who is eating. You’d know that the only [pronouns](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-direct-object-pronouns/) that could be used in this sentence are he, she, or it. What is more, the verb “eats” tells you about the time the action takes place. It’s happening now, in the present. This is what we mean when we say that **the verb contains, or encodes, additional information**. In English, not a lot information is contained in the verb. This is why in most sentences we have to use pronouns, like you, I or them—otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to tell who exactly is doing the action. # When should the Spanish verb be conjugated? **Spanish verb conjugation encodes more information than the English one**. At the basic level, it contains details about: - The **person**. Is it you or I doing the action? - The **number**. Is it one or more people doing the action? - The **tense**. Is the action happening now, or in the past, or in the future? Conjugation is a very useful system. Based on just one word you are able to tell that an action is done, for example, by many people and in the past. It definitely saves ink and space in writing! ;-) For example, - *Vivisteis en una tienda*. - *You lived in a tent*. In the English translation, we have to specify the pronoun (*you*) and \*even that\* doesn’t tell us whether we’re talking about one person or many. In contrast, Spanish verb conjugation makes it clear from the verb that we’re referring to the plural you. Deciphering the Spanish verbs you see is just one part of the learning process. The other part is learning to encode the information into the verbs yourself. In this article, we’ll teach you how to pack all these grammar bits into \* *one*\* Spanish verb, like shrimps into a Spanish paella. The good thing about conjugation is that the methods to handle Spanish verbs follow predictable patterns—**there is a clear system underlying the Spanish verb conjugation**. The only thing we’ll need to do is...understand the system! # What types of Spanish verb conjugation are there? Let’s get started on our little “grammar cryptography” course. There are several things you have to consider to handle conjugation like a language pro. **Spanish verb conjugations typically follow predictable pattern**s. But, it depends on several factors which specific pattern you use in which case. Here are the ingredients for your perfect Spanish verb conjugation recipe. ### Three verb endings. If this was Instagram we’d add a motivational quote here—something like “the end of the story, is the beginning of many”. Because, the verb ending is where the story begins for Spanish verbs. There are three verb endings in Spanish: - ar - er - ir Depending on the ending, the verb will follow different conjugation pattern. When talking about verb groups, we often refer to them using their ending, for example: - AR verbs are verbs like hablar, llegar, pasar - ER verbs: poder, poner, deber - IR verbs: vivir, decir, seguir ### A quart of tenses. The choice of the correct Spanish verb conjugation pattern will also depend on the tense. Here we have a choice among the following: - Past tense. Spanish has two past tenses: imperfect and perfect. If you want to be fancy, and impress your friends at parties, you can refer to them by their Spanish nicknames: *el Pretérito Imperfecto* and *el Pretérito Indefinido*—typically shortened to *imperfecto* and *indefinido*. - Present tense, aka *el Presente*. - Future tense, aka *el Futuro*. There are also compound tenses. But, we’ll cover them at LingoDeer at the later stages of the Spanish course. ### Three packs of verb types. Spanish verbs come in three different flavors, which also dictate how they are conjugated. - Regular, like hablar or quedar - Irregular, like poder or querer - Reflexive, like ducharse, or sentirse We said before Spanish verb conjugation follows predictable patterns. Well…it wasn’t \* *entirely*\* true. There are many verbs that are irregular, that is, they *look like* they should follow a pattern, but they undergo other changes. Thankfully, these irregular verbs are ones you’ll be using most often. And, this means you’ll almost unavoidably memorize them, especially if you[ learn Spanish with LingoDeer!](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### A spoon-full of moods. - Conditional - Imperative - Subjunctive Apart from tenses, Spanish has moods which often have specific conjugation patterns too. But, those are concepts on an intermediate and advanced level, so for the moment you can safely ignore them. You might encounter their traces in several set phrases you’ll learn, but otherwise your mood won’t be spoiled by those moods in the near future. ;-) We admit… it’s a lot to take in in terms of new concepts. But, **you don’t have to understand it all at once**. This is what learning is about. [At LingoDeer we teach you little by little](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) starting with the essentials you need to communicate. In this post we’ll start off with the essentials. # Spanish verb conjugation: Regular verbs Now that you know all the ingredients of Spanish verb conjugations, we can zoom in on the first case. Regular verbs in the present tense, with all three verb endings. ## When is the Spanish present tense used? Well, mostly, to talk about the present! Here is a more detailed breakdown. The present tense is used to describe: - **Present habitual actions:** I study Spanish. => *Estudio Español.* - **Ongoing actions:** I’m studying Spanish. => *Estudio Español.* - **Actions taking place in the near future:** I’m studying Spanish on Friday. => *Estudio Español el viernes.* - **Universal truths:** Many people study Spanish. => *Mucha gente estudia Español.* When you learn only the present tense, you’ll be able to talk about many different things. ## Spanish verb conjugation in three easy steps Throwing the whole conjugation table at students, can cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety. So instead we’ll go step by step, just like we do at the LingoDeer Spanish course. ### 1\. Stems. First of all, we need to be familiar with the stems of the verbs. A **stem** is a part of the verb right before ending. | | estudiar (to study) | deber (to have to) | vivir (to live) | | ------ | ------------------- | ------------------ | --------------- | | stem | estudi | deb | viv | | ending | ar | er | ir | In the tables below we’ll be using some of the most commonly used verbs to illustrate how each verb type works. **Yo.** The first person is the form you are likely to be using most often. It’s simple to remember, as it will always end in -o. | | ar verbs | er verbs | ir verbs | | -------- | -------- | -------- | -------- | | yo | \-o | \-o | \-o | | Examples | estudio | debo | vivo | An example sentence you might use here to aid remembering this conjugation is: - *Yo no hablo mucho Español.* - I don’t speak a lot of Spanish. (But you’ll change that very soon!) ### 2\. El/ella/Usted. Creating the third person only requires chopping of the “r” from the infinitive of the verb. In case of verbs ending with -ir you’ll also change the final “i” for an “e”. | | ar- ending verbs | er- ending verbs | ir- ending verbs | | ----------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | | yo | \-o | \-o | \-o | | él/ella/Ud. | \-a | \-e | \-e | - *¿Habla Usted Inglés?* - Do you speak English? That’s another sentence you might be using a lot when you go to Spain! The third-person form also serves as a base for *tú* (you) and *ellos* (them). - To create *tú*, add “s” to the third person. - To create *ellos*, just add “n”. | | ar- ending verbs | er- ending verbs | ir- ending verbs | | ----------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | | yo | \-o | \-o | \-o | | él/ella/Ud. | \-a | \-e | \-e | | tú | \-as | \-es | \-es | | ellos | \-an | \-en | \-en | - *¿Que quieres?* - What do you want? This is a sentence you’ll hear and use a lot, for example when going to a tapas bar with friends. - *Ellos no viven aquí.* - They don’t live here. ### 3\. Nosotros & vosotros For *nosotros*, we chop off the “r” and add “mos” behind the stem, like this: | | ar- ending verbs | er- ending verbs | ir- ending verbs | | ----------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | | yo | \-o | \-o | \-o | | él/ella/Ud. | \-a | \-e | \-e | | tú | \-as | \-es | \-es | | ellos | \-an | \-en | \-en | | nosotros | \-amos | \-emos | \-imos | - *Vamos a la playa.* - We’re going to the beach. - *Bebemos mucha agua.* - We drink a lot of water. - *Vivimos en Nueva York.* - We live in New York. For *vosotros*, we add an accent on the last letter of the stem and ***add*** “is”. But obviously, -íis makes no sense. So, it’s just **ís**. | | ar- ending verbs | er- ending verbs | ir- ending verbs | | ----------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | | yo | \-o | \-o | \-o | | él/ella/Ud. | \-a | \-e | \-e | | tú | \-as | \-es | \-es | | ellos | \-an | \-en | \-en | | nosotros | \-amos | \-emos | \-imos | | vosotros | \-áis | \-éis | \-ís | # 10 most important irregular verbs you have to know You mastered the regular conjugations, well done! Time to step up your game and take a look at irregular verbs. The notion of irregular Spanish verb conjugations paralyzes many learners. But, not those who [learn Spanish with LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! People forget two important things when they think about irregular verbs. 1. **Most common verbs tend to be irregular**. This means you’ll be hearing and using them more often. So often in fact, that you won’t need to spend a lot of time memorizing them. In a sense, they come with a built-in spaced repetition algorithm. 2. [**There are clear regularities within the irregular verbs**.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/top-irregular-verbs-in-spanish/) Yup, you read that right. Even though irregular verbs don’t follow the standard Spanish verb conjugation pattern, there are still things you can predict their behavior. For example, in many Spanish verbs, **the last syllable of the verb stem** goes through a predictable vowel change in the yo/tú/él/ellos forms. The table below illustrates that: | | e>ie | o>ue | e>i | | ----------- | ---------------- | ----------------- | ------------------ | | | querer (to want) | dormir (to sleep) | seguir (to follow) | | yo | quiero | duermo | sigo | | él/ella/Ud. | quiere | duerme | sigue | | tú | quieres | duermes | sigues | | ellos | quieren | duermen | siguen | | nosotros | queremos | dormimos | seguimos | | vosotros | queréis | dormís | seguís | Here are **10 irregular verbs you’ll need to focus on** when learning Spanish verb conjugation. It’s not a random guess, but what the [Spanish verb frequency tables](https://www.vistawide.com/spanish/top%5F100%5Fspanish%5Fwords.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) tell us! - Ser - Haber - Estar - Tener - Hacer - Poner - Decir - Ir - Ver - Dar Investigate the conjugation in the present tense and try to come up with simple sentences to memorize. This will help make the conjugation patterns stick in your head. # How to learn & practice Spanish verb conjugation: the Do's and Don'ts - **Go slowly.** Pick one thing at a time, for example, present tense first person, and construct several short sentences using it. After you feel confident with it, move on. - **Repeat often.** Make language practice an integral part of your day and repeat your example sentences regularly (we covered more about efficient learning tips in [our guide on how to learn a language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/)). > *Our* [*Spanish course at LingoDeer*](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) *uses both of the principles above. Our curriculum progresses at the right pace and includes frequent repetitions.* - **Find an exchange partner.** You learn Spanish to make connections and speak. To do that you can’t stay confined to the phone screen or pen and paper. Go into the wild, find a tutor or an exchange partner. - **Don’t memorize conjugation tables!** Rather, learn short example sentences, ideally ones you are likely to use very often. There is no point in memorizing a sentence *Mi tortuga come mucha lechuga*. (My turtle eats a lot of lettuce.) ...If you don’t have a turtle! - **Don’t learn new verbs together with conjugations.** It’s hard to memorize both a new word and practice Spanish verb conjugation patterns at the same time. To focus on grammar practice, pick a verb whose meaning you already know. - **Don’t give up!** Accept you will make mistakes at first. It’s an integral part of learning. If you knew everything from the outset, you wouldn’t have to learn, right? We covered a lot of ground in this post and showed you that learning Spanish verb conjugation is not as hard as many would think. It’s time to use your learning enthusiasm and [start practicing Spanish at LingDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ### Body Parts in Spanish: Vocabulary, Grammar and More! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/body-parts-in-spanish/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:29.000Z ## Body Parts in Spanish The human body (*el cuerpo humano*) is important - it’s what you live in! Being able to talk about your body and body parts in Spanish is one of the first steps to becoming proficient, and is actually quite useful in basic conversation. Imagine you are climbing Machu Picchu in Peru and you twist your ankle, or you are taking a yoga class on Playa del Carmen in Mexico. Vocabulary about the body would be a life-saver! Combining necessary vocabulary with correct [Spanish verbs](https://blog.lingodeer.com/spanish-verb-conjugation-2/) will greatly boost your fluency. This quick guide will not only tell you the names of commonly discussed body parts, it will also include helpful phrases and ways to express body movement and feeling. Each section will have the basics, as well as extra words for learners that want more specific vocabulary. Once you review the words from head to toe, you’ll be able to play Simon Says (or *Simón dice*) in no time! The best way to learn a language is with consistent practice, and that’s where [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?%5Fga=2.112269382.393539948.1595858632-93925231.1592264962&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) comes in. Feel free to check it out after you read this article! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Body Parts in Spanish From the Neck Up - "La cabeza" - Head - la cabeza - Face - la cara - Eyes - los ojos - Nose - la nariz - Mouth - la boca - Ears - las orejas - Neck - el cuello - Hair - el cabello/el pelo (be careful not to say *el cab*a*llo* because this means “horse”!) ![body parts in Spanish from the neck up](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/1.png) - Eyebrows - las cejas - Forehead - la frente - Cheeks - las mejillas - Chin - la barbilla (similar to *la barba* which means “beard”) - Inner ear - el oído (like the verb *oír* which means “to hear”) - Tongue - la lengua (this also means language!) - Lips - los labios - Teeth - los dientes (much like “dentist” in English) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Body Parts in Spanish from the Shoulders to Waist - "El torso" - Torso - el torso - Chest - el pecho - Back - la espalda - Shoulder - el hombro - Hip - la cadera - Waist - la cintura - Buttocks - las nalgas ![body parts in spanish from the shoulders to waist](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/6.png) - Abdomen - el abdomen - Spine - la columna vertebral - Breasts - las mamas (like *mamá* for “mom” but without the accent mark) - Belly button - el ombligo - Groin - la ingle - Penis - el pene - Vagina - la vagina ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Body Parts in Spanish That Make Up Your Arms and Hands - "El brazo" - Arm - el brazo - Hand - la mano (this one is irregular because it ends in “-o” but has a feminine article) - Finger - el dedo (this means “digit” and can refer to fingers or toes) - Elbow - el codo ![body parts in Spanish - arms and hands](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/3.png) - Palm - la palma - Thumb - el pulgar - Finger nail - la uña (this is all nails, fingers and toes) - Underarm - la axila - Wrist - la muñeca (this also means “doll” like the toy, but with context it is easy to understand the difference) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Body Parts in Spanish That Make Up Your Legs and Feet - "La pierna" - Leg - la pierna - Knee - la rodilla - Ankle - el tobillo - Foot - el pie - Toe - el dedo de pie ![body parts in spanish - legs and feet](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/4.png) - Thigh - el muslo - Calf - la pantorrilla - Heel - el talón ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Body Parts in Spanish Inside the Body - Brain - el cerebro - Throat - la garganta - Stomach - el estómago - Heart - el corazón - Lungs - los pulmones - Bone - el hueso - Liver - el hígado - Intestines - los intestinos - Anus - el ano (this is why the *ñ* in *¿Cuantos años tienes?* \- “How old are you?” is so important) - Kidneys - los riñones ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Quick Grammar Note on Body Parts in Spanish What’s great about Spanish is that you don’t have to use the possessive with body parts because it is usually implied with the sentence. This means that the vocabulary listed above is exactly what you are going to use! In summary, if you want to talk about **my, your, his, her or their** hand in a complete sentence, say *la mano* \- “**the** hand”. Like with all languages, there are exceptions to this grammar rule, but don’t worry about those until you’ve mastered the basics. Examples: - *tóquense los pies* \- “touch your feet” - *me duelen la cabeza y la pierna* \- “my head and leg hurt” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Ways to Talk About Your Body Parts in Spanish Now that you have the vocabulary, let’s learn how to put it to use! Below are some real-life situations in which people talk about their bodies and how you can easily thrive and express yourself like a native. ### *Simón dice* To play a simple version of Simon Says in Spanish, the only verb you need to know is *tocar* which means “to touch”. Assuming you are playing with a group, use the following formula: - Tóquense + \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (body part) For those interested in grammar, the verb is in the *ustedes* \- “you (plural)” command form. This is a great way to practice body vocabulary with some friends or classmates! It is also what yoga or other exercise instructors may say in a class, for example, *tóquense los pies* \- “touch your feet”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Where Does It Hurt? In a medical situation, it is vital to be able to tell the doctor if you are in pain and where that pain is located. *Doler* means “to hurt” and is an o→ue stem-changing verb that acts like the verb *gustar*. If you have no idea what this means yet, don’t worry! All you have to do is use the following formulas: - Me duele + \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (**singular** body part). - Me duele**n** \+ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ (**plural** body parts). The first sentence is for a singular body part. For example, *me duele la cabeza* means “my head hurts”. You only have one head, so the first sentence is best. If your legs hurt then you would use the second sentence because “legs” is plural; *me duelen las piernas*. This is also for if you want to say more than one body part, like *me duelen la cabeza y la pierna* \- “my head and leg hurt”. You can use these formulas and plug in any of the vocabularies from this article in order to describe where the pain is. If you want to be more specific, simply add the words *mucho* (a lot) or *un poco* (a little) to the end of the sentence. Pretty handy! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Reflexive Verbs and Body Parts in Spanish A reflexive verb is a type of verb that describes an action done to oneself. Basically, if you are doing it to yourself it is a reflexive verb, like if you brush your own teeth or wash your own face. Here is a list of common reflexive verbs that are used with body parts. - To brush one’s teeth - cepillarse los dientes - To wash one’s hands - lavarse las manos - To shave one’s legs - afeitarse las piernas - To cut one’s finger - cortarse el dedo - To comb one’s hair - peinarse el pelo - To dry one’s body - secarse el cuerpo - To break one’s arm - romperse el brazo ![body parts in spanish: lavarse las manos](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/5.png) As you can see, reflexive verbs can cover everything from daily grooming to bodily injury and are good to know if you want to use more Spanish body parts vocabulary. To learn how to conjugate these verbs so that you can talk about yourself or others, check out the [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/es/en/learn-spanish-online?%5Fga=2.112269382.393539948.1595858632-93925231.1592264962&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) app! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-1eef8969a4dd3dd0.png) ## Idioms and Common Expressions with Body Parts in Spanish Just like in English, different body parts have been mixed into Spanish idioms and common expressions and aren’t taken literally. In English we use the phrase “are you pulling my leg?” to mean “are you kidding me?” - we don’t actually think someone is physically pulling our leg. On the other hand (another body part expression us anglophones use), Spanish speakers use “hair” instead of “leg” to achieve the same meaning, and say *me tomas el pelo?* \- “are you pulling my hair?”. Here are some fun expressions that use your newly found Spanish body parts vocabulary! The subject varies throughout but you can conjugate the verbs to any subject. | **Expression Meaning** | **Spanish Idiom** | **Literal Translation** | | -------------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------ | | I am fed up! | ¡Estoy hasta las narices! | I am up to the noses! | | You talk a lot. | Hablas por los codos. | You talk by your elbows. | | She is shameless. | Tiene mucha cara. | She has a lot of face. | | We rush out. | Salimos por piernas. | We leave by legs. | | He helps out. | Arrima el hombro. | He brings his shoulder closer. | | It costs a lot. | Cuesta un ojo. | It costs an eye. | | It doesn’t make any sense. | No tiene ni pies ni cabeza. | It neither has feet nor head. | ### Counting in Japanese: Everything You Need to Know About Numbers URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/1-to-10-in-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:32.000Z Download [百千万.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/08/ld-audio-f3a383c5868e5890.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Despite being quite different from English, Japanese actually has a very easy counting system. Japanese numbers are strictly based on the decimal system. Once you've mastered the tricky pronunciations of Japanese numbers, you'll be all set to count in Japanese! After reading this article, you'll be able to count from 1 to 100 in Japanese effortlessly! If you wish to improve your Japanese skills overall, [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is always the best choice! Now read on and start learning! ## Japanese Numbers & How to Count in Japanese Before we start, there are a few things you need to know to help you learn Japanese counting even faster. **First of all, people in Japan use Arab numerals a lot like the rest of the world.** But Japanese numbers are still important as on special occasions like traditional ceremonies, Japanese people always use the Japanese kanji numerals. **Secondly, the Japanese use counters, which could be a headache for English speakers.** [Counters](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-counters/) specify what kind of objects you are counting in Japanese, and the list of counters can be quite long. So in this article, we will introduce a few counters related to time. Without further ado, let's dive in to learn how to count in Japanese! ## How to count 1 to 10 in Japanese There are two different ways to pronounce the numbers 1 to 10 in Japanese. **One is the Sino-Japanese way**, or pronouncing numbers as Chinese characters (on’yomi or “On reading”); **the other way is the native Japanese way**, which is based on the ancient pronunciation of the native Japanese language (kun’yomi or “Kun reading”). To distinguish between the two, you just need to remember that the native Japanese numbers always has the phoneme “tsu” at the end of the word. **Sino-Japanese number** **Native Japanese number** | Number | Sino-Japanese reading | Kanji | Native Japanese reading | Kanji | | ------ | ------------------------------ | ----- | ----------------------- | ----- | | 1 | いち (ichi) | 一 | ひとつ (hitotsu) | 一つ | | 2 | に (ni) | 二 | ふたつ (futatsu) | 二つ | | 3 | さん (san) | 三 | みっつ (mittsu) | 三つ | | 4 | **し、よん (shi, yon)** | 四 | よっつ (yottsu) | 四つ | | 5 | ご (go) | 五 | いつつ (itsutsu) | 五つ | | 6 | ろく (roku) | 六 | むっつ (muttsu) | 六つ | | 7 | **しち、なな (shichi, nana)** | 七 | ななつ (nanatsu) | 七つ | | 8 | はち (hachi) | 八 | やっつ (yattsu) | 八つ | | 9 | **く、きゅう (ku, kyuu)** | 九 | ここのつ (kokonotsu) | 九つ | | 10 | じゅう (juu) | 十 | とう (tou) | 十 | | 0 | **れい、ゼロ、マル (rei, zero, maru)** | 零 | | | ![1 to 10 in Japanese Finger Counting](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/finger-counting-in-Japan.jpg) Finger Counting in Japan (Credit: EU-Terminology Coordination) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Lucky and Unlucky Numbers in 1 to 10 in Japanese Just like the number 13 is considered an unlucky number in the West, **there are also some ominous pronunciations in Japanese which people want to avoid.** For example, you may find that numbers like 4, 7, and 9 have two different Sino-Japanese pronunciations. **The main reason why they have two pronunciations is taboo. “Shi” means “death” and “ku” means “suffering” in Japanese, and “shichi” sounds like “a place to die”.** That is why in most cases, the number 4 is pronounced as “yon”, 7 as “nana” and 9 as “kyuu”. But you still need to memorize both forms. By the way, 8 is considered a **lucky number** in Japan because of the shape of kanji for 8: **八**. It widens at the bottom, which is called *suehirogari* (末広がり), and Japanese people believe it is a sign of prosperity and fertility. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Zero in Japanese Japanese has three words for “0”: **れい (rei)**, **ゼロ (zero)** and **まる (maru)**. How to distinguish among them? The loanword **zero** is frequently used when reading phone numbers. **Rei** is somewhat more formal and is more likely to appear in formal speeches and news broadcasting. **Maru** basically means a circle and is an informal way of referring to “0” when reading individual digits of a number one by one, instead of as a full number. A popular example is the famous 109 store in Shibuya, Tokyo, which is read as ichi-maru-kyū ( 一〇九). Maru in Japanese is similar to reading numeral 0 as “oh” in English. ## How to Count to 100 in Japanese ### 11 to 20 in Japanese Once you have learned how to read 1 to 10 in Japanese, memorizing numbers up to 100 will be a piece of cake, **because everything you need to do is repeatedly compounding and adding.** There is only a single compounding rule compares to the various rules when counting french numbers. Add “ichi” (一) as a suffix to “juu” (十), and you will get 十一 (11)--”じゅういち(juu-ichi)”. So, **counting from 10 to 20 in Japanese just means repeating this same pattern until number 19.** The table below includes hiragana, kanji and romaji. You can consult this table to learn the pronunciation as well as the writing of each number. | Number | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | Kanji | | ------ | ----- | ----------- | ------------------ | ----- | | 11 | 十一 | じゅういち | Jū-ichi | 一つ | | 12 | 十二 | じゅうに | Jū-ni | 二つ | | 13 | 十三 | じゅうさん | Jū-san | 三つ | | 14 | 十四 | じゅうよん、じゅうし | Jū-yon, jū-shi | 四つ | | 15 | 十五 | じゅうご | Jū-go | 五つ | | 16 | 十六 | じゅうろく | Jū-roku | 六つ | | 17 | 十七 | じゅうしち、じゅうなな | Jū-shichi, jū-nana | 七つ | | 18 | 十八 | じゅうはち | Jū-hachi | 八つ | | 19 | 十九 | じゅうきゅう | Jū-kyū | 九つ | | 20 | 二十 | にじゅう | Ni-jū | 十 | ### ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### 21 to 99 in Japanese Simply attach “**二**” (ni) to “**九**” (kyuu) respectively in front of the “**十**” (juu), then you will get 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90. For the numbers 21 to 99, the format is as follows. - **28** \= 二十八＝**2**(に)+**10**(じゅう)+**8**(はち)＝ni-juu-hachi - **95**\=九十五＝**9**(きゅう)+**10**(じゅう)+**5**(ご)＝kyuu-jyuu-go ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Numbers Beyond 100 100 is pronounced as “hyaku” in Japanese. The table below shows how to write and read Japanese numbers beyond 100. 1000 and 10,000 are pronounced as "sen" and "man", respectively. 👉Click to play “hyaku”, "sen" and "man". | Number | Kanji | Hiragana | Romaji | | ---------- | ----- | ------------ | ---------------- | | 101 | 百一 | ひゃくいち | hyaku-ichi | | 145 | 百四十五 | ひゃくよんじゅうご | hyaku-yon-ju go | | 199 | 百九十九 | ひゃくきゅうじゅうきゅう | hyaku-kyu-ju kyu | | 200 | 二百 | にひゃく | ni-hyaku | | 201 | 二百一 | にひゃくいち | ni-hyaku-ichi | | 300 | 三百 | さんびゃく | san-byaku | | 400 | 四百 | よんひゃく | yon-hyaku | | 600 | 六百 | ろっぴゃく | roppyaku | | 800 | 八百 | はっぴゃく | happyaku | | 1000 | 一千 | せん | sen | | 1001 | 千一 | せんいち | sen-ichi | | 10000 | 一万 | まん | ichi-man | | 100000 | 十万 | じゅうまん | jū-man | | 1 million | 百万 | ひゃくまん | hyaku-man | | 10 million | 千万 | せんまん | sen-man | You may find this video helpful! Try to say Japanese numbers from 0 to 1000. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Tricky Pronunciation Rules You Should Mind It’s important to note that “hyaku (hundred)” changes pronunciation when following certain numbers. **After 3, it becomes “byaku” and after 6 and 8 it becomes “pyaku”.** This is a pronunciation phenomenon called “**rendaku**,” or sequential voicing. You will also see this in words like **花火 (“hanabi” - fireworks)**. While 花 (flower) and 火 (fire) are pronounced “**hana**” and “**hi**” when uttered individually, combining them changes the “**hi**” to “**bi**”. While this may seem a bit strange at first, think about it a little. **Is it easier to say “hana-hi” or “hana-bi”? Rendaku helps smooth out the pronunciation.** **An additional pronunciation phenomenon you will see here is called “sokuon,”.** This refers to when a syllable in Japanese gets dropped and is replaced with a glottal stop, or small tsu (っ). This is present in words like **待って (“matte” --- to wait)** and **喫茶店 (“kissaten” --- cafe)**, as well as our numbers in the hundreds. As you can imagine, **saying “rokuhyaku” and “hachihyaku” for 600 and 800 would be much more of a mouthful than “roppyaku” and “happyaku.”** ## How to Express Time in Japanese As mentioned above, in Japanese, you need to add different counters after each number to count different objects. **Actually, there are over 500 counters in the Japanese language.** But don't worry, Lingodeer will guide you step by step to master the most frequently used counters. First, let's learn [Japanese counters for units of time.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/telling-time-in-japanese/) As we saw with “hyaku”, the pronunciation of Japanese numbers can also be varied when combined with different counters. ![how to say time in japanese (hours)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers_04.jpg) Counters for Time in Japanese For example, when combined with the counter for “hours” (ji), most of the pronunciations remain unchanged except for 4 (yo). But when it comes to minutes (fun) and seconds (byou), there are several adjustments to the pronunciations. ![how to say what time is it in japanese (minutes)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers_02-1.jpg) Counters for Time in Japanese For example, 1 minute (いっぷん) is pronounced as “ippun” rather than “ichi fun”, and 6 minutes is “roppun”, 8 minutes is “happun” and 10 minutes is “juppun”. Here we see the rendaku and sokuon pronunciation changes at play again. ![how to tell time in japanese (seconds)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers_06.jpg) Counters for Time in Japanese When it comes to reading years, there are two systems in Japanese. **One is to follow the Gregorian calendar.** This one is relatively simple to read: you just need to add “nen (年)” as a suffix to the four-digit number. Keep in mind that when the number 4 is followed by the counter “nen”, it is read as ”yo”, which means the Year 2014 is nisenjuuyo-nen” **Another way to read the years in Japanese is by using the Japanese era name (gengō) system.** To this day, each [**Japanese Emperor**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor%5Fof%5FJapan?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#:~:text=Naruhito%20is%20the%20current%20emperor,Akihito%2C%20on%201%20May%202019.) has designated an era name (gengō) which commences the day the Emperor ascends to the throne and ends on the day of the Emperor's death (or, as we saw for the first time recently, his resignation). **For example, this year (2022) is Reiwa yonnen (令和4年) in Japan (the fourth year of Reiwa).** ## How to Read Phone Numbers in Japanese You may need to read phone numbers in Japanese while in Japan or talking with Japanese people. When reading Japanese phone numbers, **you just need to read the numbers in order and use の (no) to connect different segments.** For example: 0081**+**(0)3**\-**1234**\-**9875 is pronounced as zero zero hachi ichi **no** zero san **no** ichi ni san yon **no** kyuu hachi nana go **“zero” can also be pronounced as “maru”.** ## Mathematics in Japanese Now you have mastered the basic numbers in Japanese, you may want to know how to do the basic mathematics in Japanese. ### Add, Subtract, Multiply and Divide in Japanese The operators in Japanese are as follows. ![Add, subtract, multiply and divide in Japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-6374fba2138d31d9.jpg) the operators for Japanese To say “equals” or “is”, you can just use “wa (は)” 1**+**1=2 is 1**足す (ta su)** 1は2。 5**\-**2=3 is 5 **引く(hi ku)** 2は3。 6**x**3=18 is 6 **掛ける(ka ke ru)** 3は18。 9**÷**3=3 is 9 **割る(wa ru)** 3は3。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Fractions in Japanese As for fractions, you just need to read them as **(Denominator) + bun no + (Numerator).** Note that you must read the denominator first in the reverse order of notation. Unlike English, **Japanese does not have a word for “quarter” (1/4)”. And the word for “half” (1/2) is “hanbun (半分)”.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Percentages in Japanese % is called “paasento (パーセント)” in Japanese. Just like in English, **you can add numbers before the word “paasento”.** When the number is a multiple of 10, the end part of the Japanese word is “juu”. At that time, “juu” and “paasento” combine and they experience sokuon to become “ju**pp**aasento”. **To express percent of a multiple of 10, you can use “wari (割り)”. For example, 六割 (“roku-wari”) means 60%.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Decimals in Japanese In Japanese, **periods are used as a decimal point and are read as “ten (点)” meaning “dot” in English.** Each of the numerical figures after a decimal point is read as a single number. 0 is read as either zero or rei. When 0 precedes the decimal, it is usually read as “rei”. For example, 3.14 = san ten ichi yon 0.618 = rei ten roku ichi hachi Now enhance what you've learned about time and numbers in Japanese with a video from [LingoDeer YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@LingoDeer?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xp5EKTA2u4 ## How to Memorize Japanese Numbers I suggest you start out with Kanji in order to learn Japanese numbers. This is because when you begin to learn numbers larger than 1 to 10 in Japanese, using [katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) or [romaji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/) to write them out can be quite annoying and inefficient. **Compared with reading Japanese numbers in hiragana, Kanji is more helpful as you can see the structure of the numbers.** So you can memorize them more quickly than **Arabic numbers**, which you’ve already associated heavily with their English pronunciations. [Kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/) can be a big headache for Japanese learners. But thankfully, tools like [**LingoDeer**](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **provides step-by step kanji lessons designed for beginner to intermediate level learners to help you nail the trickest parts!** Check it out and you'll master counting, kanji, and more in no time! If you are looking for more Japanese learning tools for different learning styles, check out [this article about the best apps to learn Japanese](https://vidalingua.com/best-apps-learn-japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and hopefully you'll find one that suits you the best! If you're looking for more Japanese learning tips in general, make sure to check out this [essential guide to learning Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/)! ### Korean Numbers | How to Count in Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-numbers/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:35.000Z The [Korean language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-language/) has two separate number systems. The first is called the **Sino-Korean number system**, which is based on Chinese numbers. The other is the **native Korean number system**. This article will teach you**how to** **count in Korean**with both Sino-Korean and native Korea number systems, and everything you need to know about when and how to use Korean numbers in conversations. ## How to Count 1-10 in Korean Let's first take a look at the 1-10 in Sino-Korean. - 1—일 il - 2—이 i - 3—삼 sam - 4—사 sa - 5—오 o - 6—육 yuk - 7—칠 chil - 8—팔 pal - 9—구 gu - 10—십 sip ## Korean Numbers 11-99 The general rule to form a double-digit number is **number + 십(sip) +** **number**, reading the numeral from left to right: - 24 = 이**십**사 (two-ten-four) - 92 = 구**십**이 (nine-ten-two) For numbers 11-19, it's just **십(sip) + number:** - 11 = **십**일 (ten-one) - 16 = **십**육 (ten-six) If the number is the multiples of 10, it's **number + 십(sip):** - 30 = 삼**십** (three-ten) - 90 = 구**십** (nine-ten) > **Important note: the rules for 10-99 will be used again if you encounter them in larger numbers above 100\.** Now let's enjoy a song of Sino-Korean numbers! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### What's Hundred, Thousand and Ten Thousand in Korean? The number units 백(baek), 천(cheon), and 만(man) can be used directly for 100, 1000 and 10,000: - 100 = 백 (baek) means "hundred" - 1000 = 천(cheon) means "thousand" - 10,000 = 만(man) means "ten thousand" ![Korean number digits 10 to 100 million](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/2-3.png) ## Counting 100\~999 in Korean To form any number between 100\~999, the general rule is **number** **\+ 백 + number+ 십 + number**, reading the numeral from left to right: If the number is 100\~199, **start with 백** directly: - 113 = **백**십삼 (hundred-ten-three) - 189 = **백**팔십구 (hundred-eight-ten-nine\_ ## Counting 1000\~9999 in Korean To form a four-digit number, the general rule is **number + 천 + number + 백 + number + 십 + number**, reading the numeral from left to right**.** For example: If the number is 1000\~1999, **start with 천** directly: - 1199 = **천**백구십구 (thousand-hundred-nine-ten-nine) - 1812 = **천**팔백십이 (thousand-eight-hundred-ten-two) ## Counting in Korean vs Counting in English **만(man)** is an important word in Sino-Korean numbers because the **Korean number system uses increments of 10,000 rather than 1,000**. For example, - 10,000 — **만(man) —** ten thousand - 1,000,000 —"백만(baekman) — million - 10,000,000 — “천만(cheonman) — ten million - 100,000,000 — **억(eok)** — billion (which turns into the new increment for the numbers over this one) ### Why Do Koreans Use Two Systems for Counting? Before King Sejong created Hangul in 1443, Koreans had to use Chinese characters for writing, and many Korean words, such as numbers, were influenced by the Chinese language. After [Hangul](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/) was born, Koreans have developed two number systems with distinct usage over the years. ### When to Use Which Korean Number System **Native Korean** numbers are used for quantifying items, expressing age, the hour or counting months. On the other hand, **Sino-Korean** numbers are used in more specific cases, such as dates, telephone numbers, addresses, and counting days or money. ![Sino korean numbers vs native Korean numbers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/9.png) ## Sino-Korean Numbers with Hanja Counters Sino-Korean numbers are known to have inseparable friendship with some **Hanja counters**. “Hanja” means that these count words originated from the Chinese language. Here are some common Hanja counters that are used after a Sino-Korean number: 년(nyeon), 월 (wol), 일(il), 분(bun), 초(cho), 원(won), 주일(juil), 층(cheung), and 인분(inbun). ![List of Hanja counters with Sino-Korean numbers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/6-1.png) ## How to Count in Korean with Native-Korean Numbers - 1 — 하나 hana - 2 — 둘 dul - 3 — 셋 set - 4 — 넷 net - 5 — 다섯 daseot - 6 — 여섯 yeoseot - 7 — 일곱 ilgop - 8 — 여덟 yeodeol - 9 — 아홉 ahop - 10 — 열 yeol > Do you know that Minions talk numbers in Korean? ![List of "Minions" language in English](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/afd5e92844e4a4fa0914e32c87d25613.jpg) ### Counting up to 99 with Native Korean Numbers Unlike Sino-Korean numbers, **the native Korean numbers have different names for each of the tens**, and they are used to create any other number between 20 and 99. - 20 — 스물 seumul - 30 — 서른 seoleun - 40 — 마흔 maheun - 50 — 쉰 swin - 60 — 예순 yesun - 70 — 일흔 ilheun - 80 — 여든 yeodeun - 90 — 아흔 aheun If you want to make a native Korean number from 11 to 19, the rule is: **열(ten) + number** **between 하나(one) and 아홉 (nine)** inclusive. For example: - 11 = 열하나 (ten-one) - 18 = 열여덟 (ten-eight) If you want to make native Korean numbers from 21 to 99 **excluding multiples of tens**, you need to combine **a number for the tens and a number between 1 and 9 inclusive**. For example, the tens number for 21\~29 is 스물 (twenty). To make a number from 21 to 29, the rule is **스물(twenty) + number** between 하나(one) and 아홉 (nine) inclusive. For example: - 25 = 스물다섯 (twenty-five) - 23 = 스물셋 (twenty-three) Native Korean numbers from 31 to 99 are made in the same manner. Here are more examples of numbers from 31 to 99: - 35 = 서른다섯 (thirty-five) - 43 = 마흔셋 (forty-three) - 58 = 쉰여덟 (fifty-eight) - 66 = 예순여섯 (sixty-six) - 71 = 일흔하나 (seventy-one) - 89 = 여든아홉 (eighty-nine) - 94 = 아흔넷 (ninety-four) Now let's enjoy another song of Native Korean numbers! ### Counting above 100 with Native Korean numbers? **👉The maximum that the native Korean number can reach is 99.** For any numbers starting from 100, the Sino-Korean number system is used. ### Specify Quantities with Native Korean Numbers The general usage is **Noun + Number + Count word** in a sentence. Example: > 사과 네 개가 있어요. > > There are four apples. Like Hanja counters with Sino-Korean numbers, native Korean numbers are also used with collocative count words to specify quantities of items. The most common counter is **개(gae),** which can be used in most situations when counting items. Here are some more examples: 개(gae), 달(dal), 시(si), 시간(sigan), 명(myeong), 살(sal) and 마리(mari). ![Korean count words with native numbers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/7-1.png) Native Korean has five numbers that take **a short form** before a count word: 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 and 스물. Here they are, followed by 살 (years old) as examples. ![Native Korean numbers in different forms](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/8-1.png) ## How to Use Korean Numbers in Real Life? ### Asking Number-Related Questions with 몇 and 얼마 **Use the question word 몇(myeot) when the answer involves counters** such as 시 (time), 살 (years old), 명 (persons), etc. Examples: > 몇 살이에요? > How old are you? > > 내일 사람 몇 명 만나요? > How many people will you meet tomorrow? > > 내일 몇 시에 일어날 거예요? > What time are you going to get up tomorrow? **Use the question word 얼마** **(eolma) when you ask for the amount**, price and degree that you do not know exactly. > 가격이 얼마예요? > How much is the price? > > 여기서 얼마나 멀어요? > How far is it from here? ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### How to Say Zero in Korean There are two ways of saying zero in Korean: 영 (yeong) and 공 (gong). **영** is used in arithmetic: - 0 X 1 = 0 → 영 곱하기 일은 영 (zero multiplied by one is zero) - 0.35 = 영 점 삼오 (점 means dot) - 0.0002 = 영 점 영영영이 **공** is used for phone numbers or other occasions in which people say numbers digit-by-digit. The digit 0 is then pronounced as 공. Example: - 010 0101 1234 = 공일공 공일공일 일이삼사 ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Ask and Talk About Date and Time in Korean You can ask the date of a day like this: > 오늘 몇월 며칠이에요? > > What’s today’s date? Expressing the date in Korean is in year-month-day format,: from the biggest and down to the smallest unit. You can say **년(nyeon), 월(wol), and 일(il)**, (which is year, month, day respectively)after the numbers, as Sino-Korean numbers. Example: > 오늘은 7월(칠월) 12일(십이일)이에요. > > It is July 12th today. Korean months are named after their numeral sequences in a year with Sino-Korean numbers. They don’t have individual names in the same way as English. The names are formed with the **number + 월 (wol)**. Notice that the numbers in 유월 (June) and 시월 (October) undergo a form change. __Months in Korean__ | Sequence in year | English | Korean | | ---------------- | --------- | ------------ | | 1st | January | 일월 ilwol | | 2nd | February | 이월 iwol | | 3rd | March | 삼월 samwol | | 4th | April | 사월 sawol | | 5th | May | 오월 owol | | 6th | June | 유월 yuwol | | 7th | July | 칠월 chilwol | | 8th | August | 팔월 palwol | | 9th | September | 구월 guwol | | 10th | October | 시월 siwol | | 11th | November | 십일월 sibilwol | | 12th | December | 십이월 sibiwol | To ask the time, you can say: > 지금 몇 시예요? > > What time is it now? When we tell the time in Korean, we use both Sino-Korean numbers and native Korean numbers. We use native-Korean numbers in front of 시 for the hour, and Sino-Korean numbers in front of 분 for the minute. - 3:15 = 세 시 십오 분 - 7:05 = 일곱 시 오 분 ![Clock with Korean numbers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/69569_Korean-Number-Wall-Clock_24CBA298.jpg) image source: harbringerofpeace on MemRise ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Ask and Talk About Prices in Korean Numbers When you want to know the price for something, you can ask: > (이거) 얼마예요? > > How much (is this)? To say the price, you just add the money unit “won” after a Sino-Korean number. But you need to remember the Korean won comes in 만(man, 10000) increments, as the price increases. For example: - 500 won = 오백 원 - 9,000 won = 구천 원 - 12,000 won = 만이천 원 - 369,900 won = 삼십육**만**구천구백 원 - 5,000,800 won = 오백**만**팔백 원 ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Ask and Talk About House Numbers and Phone Numbers in Korean When you ask about one’s address, you can say: > 몇 동 몇 호에 사세요? > > What is your house number? 동 is a unit for building number and 호 is for room number. To answer, you can just add the count word after sino-Korean numbers. - 백이 동 천일 호 = Building 102 Room 1001 - 사 동 오백이 호 = Building 4 Room 502 To ask the phone numbers, you can say: > 전화번호가 어떻게 되세요? > > What is your phone number? To say a phone number, you just need to say it digit by digit as Sino-Korean numbers: - 010-1234-5678 = 공일공 일이삼사 오육칠팔 ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Using Numbers When Ordering Items When you order something, you just need to say the items and quantities, usually as native Korean numbers. When ordering one item, you can omit the count words: > 아이스아메리카노 하나 주세요. > > Please give me one iced Americano. > > 아이스아메리카노 한 잔 주세요. > > Please give me one glass of iced Americano. You can use the most common count word 개 in most cases, even if you don’t know what the collocative count word for the item is. > 공책 한 권 주세요 = 공책 한 개 주세요. > > Please give me one notebook. ## Exercises ### Exercises for Native Korean Numbers Try to read some phrases containing native Korean numbers. Highlight to see the answers! Four dogs = 강아지 네 마리 Twenty hours = 스무 시간 Nine people = 아홉 명 7 o’clock = 일곱 시 9 months = 아홉 달 ### Exercises for Sino-Korean Numbers **Part 1**: Try to read the following numerals as Sino-Korean numbers. Challenge yourself - do not peep the keys! 37 70 498 5,500 60,081 812,345 1,003,567 21,250,000 934,714,575 **Part 2**: Try to say some phrases containing Sino-Korean numbers. 35,000 won 3 weeks No. 100 15th floor 10 portions/servings **Keys:** Part 1: 37 = 삼십칠 70 = 칠십 498 = 사백구십팔 5,500 = 오천오백 60,081 = 육**만**팔십일 812,345 = 팔십일**만**이천삼백사십오 1,003,567 = 백**만**삼천오백육십칠 21,250,000 = 이천백이십오**만** 934,714,575 = 구**억**삼천사백칠십일**만**사천오백칠십오 Part 2: 35,000 won = 삼만오천 원 3 weeks = 삼 주일 Number 100 = 백 번 15th floor = 십오 층 10 servings = 십 인분 ## Conclusion Through this article, you have learned how to use the two Korean number systems, how to count numbers for different purposes and how to use numbers in various daily conversations, so now it's time to level up the challenge with exercises! [LingoDeer's Korean course](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) includes 3 lessons to cover all aspects of Korean numbers and provides you a variety of exercises to strengthen what you have learned. For better language learning, start with LingoDeer from today! There's also a free video by LingoDeer about the two number systems in Korean ### Kanji Radicals: The Cornerstone of Kanji Mastery URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:51:03.000Z I remember a few years ago, before I had even [started learning Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/), whenever I saw one of those kanji characters I was always so confused as to how someone could actually learn to *read* one of those things, let alone memorize tens of thousands of them! Tiny, complicated characters without rhyme or reason? I'll pass! ## Quick Answer: What is a kanji radical? A kanji radical is the component under which a character is traditionally classified in a dictionary. Kanji may contain several visual components, but the radical is the designated indexing component. Learning recurring components can help learners analyse character structure and build memory associations. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | | Radical | the designated dictionary-classification component | | Component | any recurring visual part of a kanji | | Learning use | supports lookup, comparison and memory cues | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. That was silly of me, because I didn't know the secret…that is: Kanji radicals! So in this article, we'll tell you everything about Kanji radicals and how to learn them, so you don't have to be nervous, let's go! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## What is Kanji Radical? ### Kanji Radicals: the Building Blocks of Kanji As it turns out, learning [kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/) doesn't have to be endless hours of staring at character after character, trying to remember the difference between 名 and 各, 音 and 意, with brute memorization. Instead, almost every kanji character can be broken down into **components** and **radicals**. A kanji's radical is its primary component, by which it is classified and sorted in the dictionary. Let's look at the kanji **意**(**い)** , which means "idea; feelings; meaning," and appears in words like **意味**(**いみ**) "meaning" and **意識**(**いしき)** "awareness; consciousness". 意 is made up of three components: 立 "stand", 日 "day", and 心 "heart". The radical of this kanji is the 心 component. ![Components in kanji 意](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/1-7.png) Top 30 most common used radicals. | | | meaning | examples | | -- | --- | ------------ | -------- | | 1 | 亻 | person | 休、位、代 | | 2 | 口 | mouth | 可、石、古 | | 3 | 土 | earth | 地、型、坊 | | 4 | 日 | sun, day | 晴、晩、時 | | 5 | 月 | moon, month | 服、朝、明 | | 6 | 木 | tree | 樹、林、機 | | 7 | 氵 | water | 河、泳、湖 | | 8 | 火 | fire | 炎、焼、灯 | | 9 | 辶 | walk | 選、迎、遷 | | 10 | 貝 | shell | 財、貪、員 | | 11 | 釒 | metal, gold | 銀、針、鉄 | | 12 | 力 | power | 男、助、加 | | 13 | 目 | eye | 眼、相、省 | | 14 | 禾 | grain | 利、季、和 | | 15 | ⺮ | bamboo | 箸、笑、算 | | 16 | 田 | field | 思、町、留 | | 17 | 車 | vehicle | 輪、軍、較 | | 18 | ⻊ | foot | 距、路、踏 | | 19 | 寸 | length | 尊、対、射 | | 20 | 彳 | small step | 彼、律、微 | | 21 | 工 | work | 功、巧、江 | | 22 | 艹 | grass | 花、英、茶 | | 23 | 刂、刀 | knife, sword | 分、刻、切 | | 24 | 訁 | language | 説、講、試 | | 25 | 扌 | hand | 押、打、抱 | | 26 | 糸 | silk | 紀、細、紙 | | 27 | 巾 | scarf | 市、布、帳 | | 28 | 馬 | horse | 場、駐、罵 | | 29 | 衤 | clothes | 初、裁、被 | | 30 | 尸 | corpse | 尾、居、展 | ### Kanji Radicals vs Strokes Kanji components can also be further broken down into their individual strokes. When you study proper Japanese handwriting, you will learn all about the different types of strokes and how to write them properly. This illustrates the kind of "hierarchy" of kanji construction. **Strokes build radicals, radicals build kanji, kanji build words and sentences.** Let's explore this hierarchy with another kanji, **休**(**きゅう)**, which means "rest; retire": ![Stroke hierarchy in kanji 休](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/2-5.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Classify Kanji Radicals by Their Functions ### Kanji Radicals Can Indicate Meaning Similar to English, where we have prefixes, suffixes, infixes, and roots, all of which indicate a modicum of meaning, **a kanji's radical can sometimes give hints as to the kanji's meaning**. Now, this is not nearly as reliable of a general rule as it is for English words, as you will see, but it can still be useful for giving your memory a sort of "hook" by which you can remember each kanji. Let's look at another common radical – **水**(**みず)** , which means "water". Now, this radical is pretty interesting, because it actually appears in different forms: in addition to the standalone form 水, it can also appear in the form of three strokes on the left side 氵. There are a few other radicals that do this. In fact, we already saw that the 人 radical ("person") also appears in the form 亻. Now we know that 氵 means "water," let's look at a few kanji that use it to see if we can spot a few similarities in meaning: - **河**(**かわ)** – "river" - **涙**(**なみだ)** – "tears" - **酒**(**さけ)** – "alcohol" - **池**(**いけ)** – "pond" ... and the list goes on. Unfortunately, though numerous, these examples *are* cherry-picked. There are plenty of other kanji that use the water radical that no longer carry much (if any) connotation to water anymore: - **決**(**けつ)** – "decision" - **治**(**ち)** – "government; cure" - **泊**(**はく)** – "overnight" - **法**(**ほう)** – "law" ![Kanji with radical meaning water](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/3-5.png) So, although the kanji radicals originally had a lot more significant meaning to them, unfortunately, you can no longer rely on them to be related to the practical meaning of the kanji. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Kanji Radicals Can Indicate Reading Similarly to how some components can hint at the meaning of a kanji, some other components indicate reading instead of meaning. Again, this is not a hard and fast rule, but for some components it works surprisingly well. An important note: in this category, many of the reading indicators are compound components, i.e. they are made of multiple sub-components. Let's start with 复, which is not really used by itself, but when it appears within another kanji, that one tends to be pronounced フク: **復**(**ふく)**, **複**(**ふく)**, **腹**(**ふく)**. If a kanji contains 生, it is more often than not pronounced せい: **性**(**せい)**, **姓**(**せい)**, **星**(**せい)**. There's a myriad of these so-called "phonetic components," an excellent write-up of which can be found [here](https://namakajiri.net/nikki/testing-the-power-of-phonetic-components-in-japanese-kanji/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Wanna know why the pronunciations of the 复 and 生 are represented in different ways? Read this article to learn the [difference between hiragana and katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/). ![Kanji with radical sei as reading indicator ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/4-4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Can Kanji Radicals Work Like Kanji? If you've been studying Japanese for very long, you'll know that 水 is the *kanji* for water, and not only a radical. Like 水, **a few other kanji can also be radicals**. We already saw 人 and 心, and 日, 口, and 言 also make this list. However, **not all kanji components are also kanji**. For example, ⻌ is a common kanji component, but it is not a standalone kanji. So are 宀 and 艹. You can check this complete [list of all the kanji radicals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fkanji%5Fradicals%5Fby%5Ffrequency?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). One of the most popular kanji learning methods, Heisig's Remembering the Kanji (RTK), focuses on learning kanji by remembering them as constructions of smaller kanji components that have certain meaning keywords attached to them. Kanji components often do not stand alone as their own kanji character. ![Some kanji radicals can be standalone kanji while some cannot ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/5-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Why Should You Learn Kanji Radicals? ### Kanji Radicals Can Accelerate Kanji Learning The most obvious reason for learning kanji radicals is understanding that kanji are not just arbitrary jumbles of strokes that one must memorize, but that rather, they are modular organizations of even smaller kanji components that are significantly easier to recognize and process. With this realization comes the ability to **more quickly learn new kanji**, figure out how to write them, and remember what they mean. ### Kanji Radical Can Help You Expand Vocabulary Another great reason to learn the radicals is that when you come across an unknown kanji in your studies, say in a manga or on a street sign, you'll need to look it up. Nowadays just about every online Japanese learner's dictionary has a kanji radical search function. For example, check out the one on [Jisho.org](https://jisho.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) by clicking the "Radicals" button to the left of the search bar. And, even if you're not using an online dictionary, paper dictionaries also sort kanji by radical. If you're anything like me, you're looking up kanji all the time, so it will be worth your while to learn the radicals, even if it's just for this point. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## How To Learn The Kanji Radicals? If you've come this far and decided that you should learn the kanji radicals, I recommend that you first check out [KanjiAlive's great technical overview](https://kanjialive.com/214-traditional-kanji-radicals/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). They list 214 different radicals, and most of them are pretty simple. If you're just getting started learning kanji, it's not important to memorize the name of each radical – just its form, meaning, and position should be enough to get going. ![7 main groups of kanji radicals according to their position in the character as categorized by Kanji Alive: hen, tsukuri, kanmuri, ashi, kamae, tare, nyou](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/6-3.png) 7 Main Groups of Kanji Radicals According to Position Categorized by Kanji Alive ### Resources for Learning Kanji Radicals When I started studying kanji for the first time, I focused on three primary things: 1. I started out learning Japanese using the Genki textbooks, and they contain a good list of starter kanji to learn. I would recommend learning the radicals and components of every single kanji in both Genki I & II well before moving on. Make sure you are writing out all of these by hand! 2. I went out and bought Heisig's Remembering the Kanji (a.k.a. RTK). This book holds a somewhat legendary status among modern Japanese learners. It easily breaks down kanji into their different components and teaches them in the easiest order to understand. 3. I also recommend Chase Colburn's [Kanji Study](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mindtwisted.kanjistudy&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Android app. This app is well worth the money if you want to support it, otherwise, the free version is great for beginners, too. However, once you reach a higher Japanese level, it might be worth your while to go back and memorize the names of at least a few of the most common radicals so you can talk about kanji in Japanese with your new friends. There are also some [free Anki decks](https://ankiweb.net/shared/decks/kanji%20radical?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [free Memrise courses](https://www.memrise.com/courses/english/?q=kanji+radical&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) that can help you on your journey. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## How To Find A Kanji's Radical? Let's say you've encountered a new kanji that you have never seen before, and you want to know the structure of the character. Maybe it contains a new radical or a variation that you've never seen before. Luckily, there are some handy web applications you can use to break down the character and learn about how it's constructed. For instance, let's say you've encountered the character **尊**(**そん)** (honor, precious), and you don't know its radical. Let's pop it into [KanjiAlive](https://app.kanjialive.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and see what it has to say. ![kanji radicals: detailed explanation of 尊 by Kanji Alive](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/7-3.png) Explanation of 尊 on Kanji Alive Not only does KanjiAlive provide the stroke order, readings, meaning, and other such information, it also shows the radical, which, in this case, is **寸**(**そん)**, meaning "inch, thumb." Other online dictionaries, such as [Jisho.org](https://jisho.org/search/%E5%B0%8A%20%23kanji?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), also support similar features. ### Kanji Radicals with More Than One Form Keep in mind that some radicals have multiple forms! Water has 水 and ⺡, small has 小 and ⺌, etc. Some radicals only appear in certain locations in a character. We have ⼵, which takes up the bottom and the left, leaving space in the upper right for other components. On the other hand, ⼞ only leaves space on the inside for other components. As kanji become more familiar, you will get used to the locations in which each radical usually appears. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Final Words Leaning Kanji don't have to be overwhelming! Even though thousands of them exist, they are almost all some combination of the 214 radicals. Learn the radicals and you can learn the kanji. The process of learning the kanji will still be long, but there is a system behind them that can be understood. Key points to remember: 1. Kanji are made up of radicals and components 2. Kanji are sorted by their radicals 3. Some components provide meaning (semantic components), others provide reading (phonetic components) 4. Learning kanji components gives you the building blocks to understand the construction and structure of kanji 5. You can learn kanji! Best of luck to you in all of your studies! 頑張って！ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## Resource List Here are some of the resources mentioned in this article, along with a few extras! - Kanji Alive: a free web application for reading and writing kanji, with an explanation of radicals [https://kanjialive.com/](https://kanjialive.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Anki: flashcard tool for memorization [https://apps.ankiweb.net/](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - WaniKani: Tofugu’s kanji learning application - GCSE picture kanji cards: [https://www.jpf.org.uk/language/kanjifiles/kanjicard.html](https://www.jpf.org.uk/language/kanjifiles/kanjicard.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - LingoDeer [https://lingodeer.com/](https://lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does every component count as the radical? No. A kanji can contain several components, but only one is normally designated as its dictionary radical. ### Do radicals always reveal the full meaning? No. They may provide a semantic or structural clue, but many characters cannot be understood from the radical alone. ### Can radicals help with dictionary lookup? Yes. Traditional and digital references often allow learners to search by radical or component. ### Should learners memorize radicals separately? A practical approach is to learn common radicals alongside real kanji and vocabulary rather than treating them as isolated symbols only. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Japanese Honorifics: "San", "Kun" and "Chan" URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorifics/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T08:28:24.000Z ## Intro to Japanese Honorifics As is known by many, Japanese is one of the most **polite** languages in the world. However, not knowing when and how to be polite can cause a lot of trouble for language learners. [Japanese honorifics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorific%5Fspeech%5Fin%5FJapanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (Keigo) are complex. But don’t worry, let’s get them done gradually! In this article, we will mainly focus on the most basic kind of honorifics: honorific suffixes in Japanese. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## What Are Japanese Honorific Suffixes? Japanese Honorific suffixes are titles used to refer to others in a polite way. **さん(San), 様(Sama), 君(Kun), ちゃん(Chan) are common Japanese honorific titles used in daily conversation.** These suffixes are often attached to the end of one’s name and different suffixes suggest the gender, age, and the relationship of the speaker to the referred person. ![Shaking hands](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/image4.png.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Why Are Japanese Honorifics Important? Japanese honorifics are an important way to express respect, formality, and friendship to those you interact with. In Japan, its use is mandatory in many formal and informal social situations. Japanese people start to use honorifics from kindergarten, and use them everyday with people at school, at work, or even in the family. If you fail to use honorifics correctly, you may leave a bad impression on others or hurt others’ feelings. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Common Japanese Honorific Titles | English (and explanation) | 日本語 | Romaji | | ------------------------- | -------- | ------- | | Mr. /Mrs. /Ms. | Name さん | San | | For boys | Name くん | Kun | | For girls | Name ちゃん | Chan | | For Business scenes | Name さま | Sama | | For teacher | Name 先生 | Sensei | | Senior at School/work | Name 先輩 | Senpai | | Company CEO | Name 社長 | Shachou | | Department head | Name 部長 | Buchou | | Old Japanese suffix | Name 殿 | Dono | The following sections will introduce the differences between and usage of several common Japanese honorifics. ### San (さん) **San** is the most common form of honorific suffix, and also the safest one when you are not sure which suffix to choose. It can be translated into “Ms.” and “Mr.” in English. You can use it on formal occasions like schools and offices, as well as on less formal occasions with acquaintances. **It expresses respect to people in a moderate way: not too rude, yet not overly polite.** ### Sama (様) **Sama** is the most formal honorific suffix. How formal is it? In fact, Japanese use “sama” to address God (神様 kami-sama) and royalty (天皇様 tennō \-sama). That’s why you rarely have a chance to use “sama” in daily life. However, Japanese people do use "sama" in business to show their respect for customers, calling them "お客様 (okyaku-sama)". By the way, when you hear someone using it before “ore (俺)”, which means “I”, it connotes sarcasm about that person being overly self-confident. ![japanese honorific](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/japan-best-cities-tokyo.jpg) ### Kun (君 orくん) **Kun** is a male suffix used for kids and between friends. The word can also be used by people of senior status to address people of junior status. **Remember: you never use “kun” to address a man who is older or of a higher level than you.** Teachers use “kun” to address male students sometimes, but you do not want to address your teacher with “kun”. ### Chan (ちゃん) **Chan** is an endearing female suffix. It is most commonly used for children but is also widely used among female family members and close friends. Chan has a sense of cuteness and acquaintance, so it is also used towards pets and lovers. **However, if you use it to address a superior, it will sound condescending and rude to others.** These four are the most common honorifics you may encounter, but the following ones can also be important in certain situations. ### Senpai (先輩) and Kōhai (後輩) **Senpai** and **kōhai** are reflections of hierarchical relationships in Japanese culture. Senpai can be used to refer to or address one's older or more senior colleagues, or those with more experience in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club. It can be used as a suffix following someone’s name or replace their name entirely. In contrast, Kōhai can be used to refer to one’s younger or more junior colleagues. However, this is not used to address someone directly. ### Sensei (先生) You may have already known that **“sensei”** means “teacher” in Japanese, but the word is also used to refer to doctors, politicians, lawyers, and other authority figures. Generally, **the word has the meaning of a high level of mastery in certain skills.** You use “sensei” to show your respect for the person addressed. “Sensei” can be used as a suffix or replace someone’s name entirely. ![Japanese honorifics: san, chan, kun, sensei](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/FB1E9F09-D893-4069-AB94-9339D20E5D72.png) Characters from a Japanese cartoon. The red banners show how they are being addressed in the show. You can see chan (ちゃん), kun (くん) and sensei (先生) used in this picture. ### Shi (氏) You will most commonly encounter **“shi”** in news readings. **Shi is a formal honorific suffix used to address someone you have known through publications but have never actually met.** It is preferred in legal documents, academic journals, and other formal written styles. ![Japanese honorifics-shi](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/image2.png.png) Credit: Asahi Digital ### Dono (殿) **“殿”** is pronounced **“dono”** when attached to names. It is not common in daily conversations, but is sometimes used in **business correspondence, as well as on certificates and awards.** It is less respectful than “sama”, indicating that the person referred to rank as the same level of the referrer, yet commands respect from the speaker. Now that you’ve got a general idea of common Japanese honorifics, you can judge for yourself which ones to use on which occasions. **For beginners, you can just stick with the -san suffix if you get confused.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Japanese Honorifics: How to Use The Titles and Their Differences Unlike English prefixes added to one’s last name, the Japanese suffixes can be attached to the end of either the first name or the last name. **The first name is generally considered closer than the last name,** so you can choose to use first name plus honorifics when you are familiar with the one you refer to. ![Guide of Japanese Honorific Suffixes](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers-2_06-1.png) **📌Note that the honorifics should be used in accordance with other forms of honorific speech in Japanese**. For instance, using the plain form with a polite honorific (-san, -sama) can sound ridiculous. 山本：これは富士山に行った時の写真です。 Yamamoto: This is a photo I took when I traveled to Mt. Fuji. 中村：えっ！山本**さん**が撮った写真か！すごい、見てよ。(sounds weird) Nakamura: Wow! You took this photo, Mr. Yamamoto? Wonderful, show me! However, you may have noticed that there are times when Japanese people drop the honorifics in some conversations. So when should you add honorifics and when shouldn’t you? Here are a few rules to follow. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## When Not to Use Japanese Honorific Suffixes When referring to a third person, **you can drop honorifics** if referring to a family member in a conversation with someone outside of the family or when referring to a member of your company to a customer or someone from another company. **山本**：母が作った寿司です。どうぞ。 Yamamoto: My mother made this sushi. Please enjoy. **佐藤**：美味しそうですね。お母さんは料理が上手だったんでしょうね。じゃあ、いただきます。 Satou: Looks delicious! Your mother must be good at cooking. Much appreciated. \- **中野**：ABC株式会社の中野と申します。いつも大変お世話になっております。企画部の林部長はいらっしゃいますか。 Nakano: My name is Nakano from ABC company. Thank you very much for your continued support. Is Mr. Hayashi, the head of the Planning Department here? 社員：申し訳ございません。林はただいま不在です。 Staff： Sorry. Hayashi is currently out of the office. In addition, the honorific suffix is never used to refer to oneself, except for dramatic effect, or some exceptional cases. Also, nowadays, some people of younger generations prefer to be referred to without an honorific even when they just knew each other. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) Honorific suffixes are a part of Japanese Keigo (honorific system). When it comes to Keigo, one of the most important things to learn about is **Uchi-Soto consciousness** in Japanese, which can help you get a better grasp on honorific suffixes and other things related to politeness levels! Uchi (inside) literally means *inside*, and Soto means *outside*, but don’t just take them literally. **Their actual implications are *us* and *them* in English, emphasizing the boundaries between human relationships.** In Japanese, when you speak to someone identified as Uchi (us) in your mind, you can use 君 (kun), ちゃん (chan), etc. Conversely, if you talk to someone identified as Soto (them), you can use さん (san) and other polite suffixes. The Uchi-Soto consciousness is not unique to the Japanese language, nor does it imply a xenophobic culture. Actually, **every language in the world, including English, has this concept to some degree.** Please think about how your politeness levels vary from casual chatting to formal occasions in daily life. **The difference in Japanese is reflected mainly through honorific huffixes and other Keigo.** Though there are certain conditions under which you can drop honorific suffixes, do remember that in most cases, dropping the honorifics (呼び捨て or “yobisute” in Japanese) from the name of the person you’re referring to is rude unless you are very close with them. （First day of school） **倉本**：始めまして！佐藤と申します。今日からよろしくお願いいたします！ **中野**：始めまして、倉本**さん**。中野と申します。よろしくお願いいたします！ Kuramoto: Hello! My name is Sato. Nice to meet you! Nakano: Hello, Kuramoto-**san**. My name is Nakano. Nice to meet you! （Six months later） **中野**：おい、倉本。宿題を写させて。 **倉本**：お前、しょうがないなぁ。 Nakano: Hey, Kuramoto. Let me copy your homework. Kuramoto: You're a pain in the ass. It's easy to tell that the politeness levels between Kuramoto and Nakano changed after they had gotten to know each other for a while. When Nakano called out to Kuramoto, he dropped honorifics, **which indicates that their relationship has become closer than before (i.e. they have come to think of each other as Uchi).** This example shows that Uchi-Soto is fluid. Likewise, it is possible to change from Uchi to Soto when you are estranged from someone. **Another characteristic of Uchi-Soto is subjectivity, which means you can decide who is in the Uchi group or the Soto group.** Nevertheless, it would be better to remember that it may offend the other person not to see them as Soto too soon. If you see someone as Uchi too soon, they may feel offended or overwhelmed. Being over-friendly is not good. Similarly, treating someone as Soto when you are already on good terms may make them feel alienated. In brief, **the sense of Soto-Uchi is very subtle and takes a long time to grasp precisely.** But no worries, Japanese people have a high language tolerance for foreigners. Before we move on to the next part, another thing you ought to know is that the **honorific suffix is never used to refer to oneself**, except for dramatic effect, or some exceptional cases. Please read on. Let's learn more about the connection between honorific suffixes and the Uchi-Soto consciousness. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Honorifics at School At school, students typically **call the teacher “last name+sensei”**, for example, a teacher named Hiroshi Tanaka is called “Tanaka sensei” by his students. In most cases, the teacher **calls students by their last name+san or kun (for boys)**. For instance, a male student whose name is “Takubi Sugimoto” can be addressed as “Sugimoto san” or “Sugimoto kun” by his teachers. ![Students are having a lesson](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/honorifics-for-teacher-sensei.jpg) Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash **How Do Students Refer to Each Other?** As mentioned above, “**senpai**” is a frequently used honorific suffix **between peers** at school. If Sakura Yamamoto is a student in the fifth grade, and Erika Suzuki is a student in the fourth grade. Then it is very likely that Sakura calls Erika “Suzuki san” or “Erika san”, and Erika calls Sakura “Suzuki senpai” or “senpai”. If the two are classmates, they are likely to call each other “first name/ last name+san”, depending on personal preference and the relationship between them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Honorifics at Work Have you ever wondered how to address people at work? Though it can be rather complicated to learn, using honorifics correctly will help you look professional and polite in business settings. **How to address your boss, subordinates and co-workers at the office** You should use a title for referring to your boss or seniors at the office. For example, if you have a boss whose name is Mr. Satou (佐藤) and is a **department head**, you can call him just “**Buchou** (部長, department head)” or “Satou Buchou (佐藤部長，Department Head Satou )” in office. **How to address your subordinates or co-workers** The most frequently used suffix “title” is a good choice here. For instance, if you have a co-worker whose family name is Satou, you can call him “Satou-san”. As mentioned above, seniors sometimes use “kun” to address male subordinates, like “Satou-kun”. **Names to use when talking with your clients or people outside the company.** If you need to mention the name of your boss or co-worker in a business talk with clients or people outside your company, you are to use his/her family name, without any suffixes. For example, you should not call your coworker "Satou Buchou” when talking to your client. Rather, you are to call him or her “Buchou no Satou”(部長の佐藤，our Department Head, Satou)”, or “our company's department head” (弊社の部長). ![two mans are shaking hands](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/sebastian-herrmann-NbtIDoFKGO8-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash **Names to use for clients or seniors** To express respect for the clients or seniors at work, you may want to use the most formal suffix “sama” to address them. Since san is less formal than sama, using san for clients may sound too casual and should be avoided. **Sensei** As mentioned before, for politicians, lawyers or consultants, use “sensei” instead of “san”. For example, “Satou-sensei”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Japanese Honorifics with Family Now that you have already learned about formal and informal Japanese honorifics, aren’t you curious about how Japanese people address their family members? As mentioned above, Japan has a culture of **“uchi–soto (in-group/out-group) distinction”**, so they developed two different ways to refer to family members. When referring to your own family members while talking to others, you want to be humble and use neutral nouns, such as haha (母) for "mother". **When addressing your own family members (especially those older than you) or addressing or referring to someone else's family members, you need to use honorific forms**, which use the suffix“san”. For example, "mother" becomes okāsan (お母さん) in the honorific form. Usually, the older family member just calls the younger one by name. Check out the chart below and learn the two sets of family words in Japanese. ![Japanese Honorifics for famaily members](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-1b66779c0a61708c.png) Notably, sometimes honorifics “chan” and “sama” can also be used instead of -san, to indicate a higher level of closeness or reverence, respectively. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Conclusion on Japanese Honorific Suffixes **Japanese honorifics originate from and exemplify Japanese culture.** As you learn more about them, you may get a taste of the Senpai-kōhai culture, the Uchi-soto culture, and so on. You may also find yourself able to speculate about different interpersonal relationships according to different levels of respectfulness through the use of honorifics. It is noteworthy that **nowadays, some people of the younger generation prefer to be referred to without honorifics**, so you can ask for the person’s personal opinion when you are not sure to use honorifics or not. Another way is to follow his or her way of addressing you. For example, **if someone you just knew at the party calls you with the first name+san, it possibly means he or she would like to be called the same way.** Being prudent about Japanese honorifics is necessary since you do not want to leave others with a rude impression or sound excessively intimate. Try to use what you have learned to address others politely and you will find you are one step closer to understanding Japanese culture. You may also want to know some [basic Japanese phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-phrases/) to show your politeness. ### Meet Sung-youp Lee, the Voice Behind Your Korean Lessons URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/meet-the-voice-behind-your-korean-lessons-mr-sungyoup-lee/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:33:28.000Z Download [李成烨6.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/07/ld-audio-e5dc06175362cb54.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) You've probably heard his voice hundreds of times, but you have no idea who he is! Today, let's finally meet our male voice - Mr. Sung-youp Lee (이성엽)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/r8gtwDOYGn6uFj22.png) Sung-youp Lee, the voice of LingoDeer's Korean lessons #### **Q: Tell us about yourself!** **Lee:** Hello! It is a pleasure to meet the users of LingoDeer. My name is Sung-youp Lee. It’s a new opportunity for me to greet the users of LingoDeer directly like this. After I graduated from high school and college and finished my work in Beijing, the capital city of China, now I’m living in Korea. My hometown is Daegu, located in Gyeongsangbukdo, Korea. Although I’m living in Korea now, I miss the life in Beijing now and then. I especially miss the hotpot in Beijing. **이성엽:** 안녕하세요. 링고디어 이용자 여러분, 반갑습니다. 저는 이성엽입니다. 이렇게 링고디어 이용자 여러분들에게 인사할 수 있게 되어 정말 감회가 새롭습니다. 저는 중국의 수도 베이징에서 고등학교와 대학교를 졸업한 후에 직장 생활을 마친 후 현재는 한국에서 살고 있습니다. 저의 고향은 한국의 경상북도 대구입니다. 현재는 한국에서 생활하고 있지만 가끔 베이징의 생활이 그리울 때도 많습니다. 특히나 북경의 훠궈가 그립네요. (He also recorded his responses at a normal speaking speed and tone.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-30-at-3.14.35-PM.png) Lee's hometown: Daegu, South Korea #### **Q: What would you do to prepare your voice before a recording?** **Lee:** I usually ensure myself adequate rest the day before the recording, so that I can have a good voice for the recording which takes place the next afternoon. Also, I would drink moderately warm water an hour before the recording to protect my throat. What’s more, I sometimes eat mint candy to give myself a sense of refreshment. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/1-8.png) 저는 일반적으로 녹음하기 전날에는 충분히 휴식을 취합니다. 그래야 다음 날 오전에 시작하는 녹음에서 좋은 목소리를 낼 수 있거든요. 그리고 녹음을 시작하기 한 시간 전에는 되도록 미지근한 물을 마셔서 목을 보호해줍니다. 그리고 가끔은 민트 사탕도 먹으면서 청량감을 높여 주기도 합니다. #### **Q: Is there anything in Korean you consider particularly hard to pronounce? Anything particularly beautiful-sounding?** **Lee:** The **ㄹ(r/l) sound** was quite difficult for me. As a result, when recording Korean words or sentences involving loanwords, I had to record multiple times. Even if I am Korean, it is hard for me at times like that. To assure the experience of LingoDeer’s users who listen to my voice for learning, **I practiced a lot by listening to pronunciation correction audio when I was driving.** **My favorite Korean word to hear is 미리내 (mirinae). It is a native Korean word and it means the universe.** 저는 'ㄹ' 발음이 많이 어려웠어요. 그러다 보니 외래어로 표기된 한국어 단어나 문장 등을 녹음 할 때는 여러 번 다시 녹음하기 일쑤였는데요. 그때마다 한국인인 나도 어려운데 내 목소리를 듣고 배우시는 링고디어 이용자 여러분들에게 보답하기 위해 평소에도 운전 중에 발음 교정 오디오를 들으며 많이 연습했습니다. 그리고 한국어 중에 제가 가장 듣기 좋아하는 단어는 바로 미리내라는 단어입니다. 순 한국어인데요. 우주를 뜻하는 뜻입니다. #### **Q: If a LingoDeer user travels to Korea, please recommend an activity to him/her and explain why.** **Lee:** If you ever travel to Korea, **I would recommend Gyeongju, a city with a rich history**. Since the city itself is preserved as cultural and historic heritage, for people who travel to Korea for the first time, it seems to be a good place for you to approach Korean culture and history with relative ease. There are historic sites all over the city, so I think it will be a fun experience for you to visit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/hugo-d-CyOc-lP3C8w-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Hugo D. on Unsplash **There is another place I would recommend - Jeju Island.** Koreans and foreign tourists love this island so much that they call it the Hawaii of Korea. As the saying “there are people who have never been to Jeju Island, but there are no people who have only been to Jeju Island once” goes, so many tourists come to visit Jeju Island again. Its beautiful natural scenery and clean seawater win the hearts of many visitors. 한국에 오시면 저는 천년 고도의 경주 여행을 추천합니다. 도시 전체가 역사의 문화 유산으로 보존되어 있어 처음 한국으로 여행 오시는 분들에게 한국의 문화와 역사 등에 대해 비교적 친숙하게 접근할 수 있을 것 같네요. 도시 곳곳에 유적지가 있어서 오신다면 정말 즐거운 경험을 하실 수 있을 거라 생각됩니다. 그리고 한 곳이 더 있는데요. 제주도입니다. 한국의 하와이라 불릴 만큼 많은 한국인들과 외국인들에게 사랑을 받는 섬입니다. '제주도를 안 가 본 사람은 있어도 한 번만 가 본 사람은 없다.' 고 할 만큼 많은 여행객들이 다시 찾게 되는 곳인데요. 수려한 자연경관과 깨끗한 바다로 인해서 많은 여행객들에게 사랑을 받는 곳입니다. #### **Q: Are you fascinated by any film, TV or literary works recently?** **Lee:** I don’t usually watch TV in my spare time. I mainly watch movies or read books. I would like to recommend a movie called *The Way Home* (집으로...). It is a pretty old movie. I could feel a warm feeling in my chest after watching it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-f0c4e017c91527c4.jpg) Movie Poster of 집으로..., image from Wikipedia I would also like to recommend the book Baridegi (바리데기) by Seokyoung Hwang. Because there are many versions of foreign translations for this book, I think LingoDeer users can have access to it easily. 저는 평소 티비를 즐겨보지 않는데요. 평소에 주로 영화나 책을 즐겨보고 있습니다. 저는 영화로는 '집으로' 라는 영화를 추천 드리고 싶습니다. 조금 오래된 영화이기는 한데요. 보시고 나시면 가슴 한 켠에 따뜻함을 느끼실 수 있을 겁니다. 그리고 책은 황석영 작가님의 '바리데기' 를 추천해 드립니다. 아마 많은 해외 번역으로 인해서 링고디어 이용자 여러분들이 가장 쉽게 접근할 수 있을 것 같네요. #### #### **Q: What else would you like to say to our deer users?** **Lee:** In the end, I wish health and peace for all LingoDeer users. Please give us a lot of love and support if you find it useful. Thank you. 끝으로 링고디어 이용자 여러분들의 건강과 안녕을 기원합니다. 링고디어가 도움이 되셨다면 많은 격려와 사랑 부탁합니다. 감사합니다. \--- #### **Have you met the female voice yet?** If you haven't, [**click here to meet Ms. Heo,**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/interview-with-the-voice-behind-the-screen-jeong-eun-heo/) the female voice behind our Korean lessons. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Purple-Wedding-Floral-Blog-Title-5.png) ### Meet Jiayu Yan, the Voice Behind Your Chinese Lessons URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/meet-the-voice-behind-chinese-lessons/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:37.000Z Download [LD录音员的采访-汉语-闫嘉煜6.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/07/ld-audio-f144dc86300261fb.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: Who is the voice behind LingoDeer’s Chinese lessons? Yan Jiayu (Sherry Yan) is introduced in this interview as a voice contributor to LingoDeer’s Chinese lessons. She discusses her background in Chinese International Education, recording preparation, audio post-production and pronunciation advice for learners. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | Guest | Yan Jiayu (闫嘉煜), also introduced as Sherry Yan | | Work discussed | Chinese recording and multilingual audio post-production | | Learner focus | Clear pronunciation, careful listening and repeated practice | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. You have already heard her voice so many times, but you have no idea who she is! It is her voice that gives life to the complicated Chinese characters. It is her voice that guides you to pronounce Chinese like a native speaker. **She is the voice behind LingoDeer’s Chinese lessons - Yan Jiayu (闫嘉煜).** ![Yan Jiayu, the voice of LingoDeer's Chinese Lessons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-4c53bccfbd269eb6.png) Yan Jiayu, the voice of LingoDeer's Chinese Lessons ## Q: Tell us about yourself! A: Hello everyone! I am Yan Jiayu, the voice of LingoDeer’s Chinese lessons. My English name is Sherry Yan. I have an MA degree in Chinese International Education. LingoDeer’s old friends might be familiar with my voice, since I have worked with LingoDeer for a long time. English is my second language. When I first started learning English **around 20 years ago**, I could only practice by reading and listening to recordings. However, nowadays LingoDeer makes language learning like a game. Also, the tips explain everything I need to know while learning. **LingoDeer is changing how people learn foreign languages.** Aside from English, I can also speak a little Japanese. In the multilingual environment of LingoDeer, I am trained to do the audio post-processing with any language such as English, French, Japanese, Spanish or German. Yes, all the voices you hear in Lingodeer could be the results of the cooperation among the language teacher, sound recorder and me. Give us a “Like” if you enjoy learning with LingoDeer! 大家好！我是汉语录音员，闫嘉煜，英文名是SherryYan。我是汉语国际教育专业硕士。说起来，LingoDeer的老朋友可能对我的声音比较熟悉，我是LingoDeer合作很久的录音员了。 英语是我的第一外语，我学习英语有20年的时间了，那时学习方式只是读书听录音，而LingoDeer在语言学习中引入了游戏机制，各种贴心小Tips也能及时解答语言学习时遇到的困惑，LingoDeer提供了一种全新的学习方式！ 除了英语外，我还会一点点日语，在LingoDeer多语环境下，我锻炼出了无论是英、法、日、西还是德语等任何一种语言，我都能帮忙做音频后期处理。是的，你们听到的所有声音可能就是对应语言老师、录音员和我合作的成果。如果您真的受益于LingoDeer，请给我们比心点个赞吧！\~ (This is how Sherry normally speaks Chinese. Feel free to use it as a listening comprehension material. ^-^) ![LingoDeer is changing how people learn foreign languages.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lingodeer-review.png) LingoDeer is changing how people learn foreign languages. ## Q: What would you do to prepare for a recording? A: Before recording, I will confirm the recording time, the contents and quantity of the recording texts, and also check the state of my voice. If it is done at a recording studio, the sound engineer will help to adjust the recording equipment, and will help to ensure that the pronunciation is clear and there is no background noise. While during this special period of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have to record at home. I will find a room with good sound proofing and no echo. I usually do the recording at night, when there is less noise outside. Of course, sometimes **I will record the same text several times** until I get a high-quality audio. 录音前我会确认汉语录音内容、数量，确定嗓子状态声音状况，确定录音时间。如果是录音棚的话，录音师会帮忙调试好录音设备，录音时会和录音师相互配合确保没有喷麦、发音清晰等；如果是20年上半年这个疫情特殊时期，只能在家录音，我会寻找一个没有回声的隔音效果好的房间，等夜深人静时，户外的噪声降到最低，我就准备好录音设备开始工作啦，当然录得不满意有时候会反复录好几遍直到声音质量达到最佳为止。 ![A studio microphone set up for voice recording](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/recording-studio.jpg) Recording Studio, image from Will Francis on Unsplash ## Q: Is there anything in Chinese that you consider particularly hard to pronounce? Anything particularly beautiful-sounding? A: Maybe the syllables with initials/ j/, /q/, /x/, /r/, and those containing the unique vowel of ü will need special attention of beginners. I personally think that there is no difference in the level of difficulty between different sounds. The mother tongue has a great impact on anyone who tries to learn foreign languages. You feel certain sounds are especially difficult just because you have not encountered them before. **All you need to do is to practice more by listening, shadowing and speaking.** Take j as an example. Many people may pronounce /j/ as J in English. If you want to pronounce it correctly in Chinese, you need to press the tip of the tongue against the lower incisors, and keep the front part of the tongue close to the hard palate. The airflow will rush out from the narrow slit and create a sound. The tongue (except the tip of the tongue) is almost parallel to the hard palate. Please listen to this sound /j/ again. A particularly beautiful-sounding word could be ài (love). As the saying goes, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. Maybe you have never learned it before, but you can pronounce it correctly. **"Love" makes our lives better. Our love for language and LingoDeer gathered us together.** 可能声母为/j/,/q/,/x/,/r/的音、韵母中含有/ü/这个汉语特有的音，相对来说需要特别注意，我个人觉得没有难易之分，母语对每个人的影响较大，这些音只是大家以前没接触过而已，多听多模仿多练习，会了就不难。以/j/为例，很多人可能会读成英文的J，但汉语中发音时，舌尖抵住下门齿，舌面前部紧贴硬腭，气流从窄缝中冲出，摩擦成音。舌头（除舌尖外）与硬腭整体上近乎平行。请再听一遍这个音/j/ 特别好听的词，可能就是“爱”ài（love），所谓“大道至简”，也许正在看这个词的你虽然没学过，但也能正确发音，“爱”让我们的生活更美好。我们对语言的热爱，对LingoDeer的喜爱，聚到了这里。 ![How to pronounce j in Chinese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/How-to-pronounce-j-in-Chinese.png) How to pronounce j in Chinese, image from 普通话学习 ## Q: If a LingoDeer user travels to China, please recommend an interesting activity to them and explain the reason. A: It is too difficult to pick just one activity! If you travel to China, **please come at the end of December.** You can go skiing in Harbin Ice and Snow World, go seeing the lanterns in Beijing, eat Xiaolongbao in Shanghai,climb the Yulong Snow Mountain in Yunnan, and go fishing in Guilin Yangshuo Lake. At the end of the journey, you can go surfing in Sanya, Hainan (please prepare clothes for all seasons). From north to south, you will get a vivid feeling of China’s vast territory, abundant resources and inclusiveness of various cultures. 只能推荐一项活动的话，这太难了！如果大家来中国旅行，请选择12月末来，请先去哈尔滨的冰雪大世界滑雪、再去北京看花灯、之后去上海吃小笼包、然后去云南大理爬玉龙雪山、桂林阳朔游湖钓鱼、最后落脚海南三亚冲浪（请准备好四季衣物哦\~）。从北至南直观感受中国的地大物博、包容并蓄。 ## Q: Are you fascinated by any films, TV or books recently? Please tell us about it. A: I recently read a book "Understand the Psychology of Dogs by Pictures". This book helped me to understand my puppy. It is called Xiaoqi and is 2 years old. I have been pretty busy recently, and have no time to watch TV or films. 最近读了一本《看图读懂狗狗心理》，这本书帮助我了解我家小狗，它叫小七，今年2岁了。其它的暂时没有，最近比较忙，没时间追剧了。 ![Yan Jiayu and her beloved puppy Xiaoqi](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-87bea82983e2e8a3.png) Yan Jiayu and her beloved puppy Xiaoqi Last but not least... If you find LingoDeer’s lessons helpful, please give us support and love by subscribing to our membership plan! Thank you so much. 最后，如果觉得LingoDeer对您学习语言有帮助，请多多支持我们\~谢谢您使用LingoDeer\~ ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Yan Jiayu’s academic background? In the interview, she says she has an MA in Chinese International Education. ### How does she prepare for recording? She checks the script, recording conditions and her voice, then works to minimize background noise and repeat unsatisfactory takes. ### Which Mandarin sounds receive special attention? She mentions initials such as j, q, x and r, along with syllables containing ü, as sounds beginners may need to practise carefully. ### Can the bilingual passages be used for study? Yes. The article explicitly presents her spoken Chinese as listening-comprehension material alongside the English interview. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Typing in Japanese: A Step-by-Step Guide to Get Started URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/typing-in-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:41.000Z ## Intro to Typing in Japanese Are you learning Japanese and want to know how you can type in Japanese on your computer or smartphone? It’s easy to install a Japanese keyboard to type in hiragana, katakana and kanji. We will step you through this below and show you how to type in Japanese. You’ll even learn some handy keyboard shortcuts and how to create [kaomoji ](#kaomoji)\- like ╰(\*´︶\`\*)╯♡, the text-face emoji that are popular with Japanese speakers. **We highly recommend** you launch the notepad application on your phone or computer and try typing Japanese with us as we walk you through this article. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## How to Install a Japanese Keyboard To type in Japanese, the first thing you need is a Japanese keyboard. **That does not mean you need to buy a real, physical Japanese keyboard** with kana printed on it! Today’s computers and smartphones allow you to install a Japanese keyboard input method that lets you use your normal keyboard to ‘sound out’ the Japanese words and will convert these to hiragana, katakana and kanji for you. In the sections below, you’ll find instructions for installing a Japanese keyboard on macOS and Windows 10, as well as iOS and Android smartphones. **If you were already done with the installation, you can skip it and go to the part "**[**Typing in Japanese with Romaji"**](#skip) Shortcuts for your device OS: [macOS](#macos), [Windows](#windows), [iOS](#ios), [Android](#android) ### Install a Japanese Keyboard on Mac OS Open `System Preferences`, and click on `Language & Region`. ![Install a Japanese Keyboard on macOS-Step 1](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step1.png) In the `Language & Region` dialog, click on the plus `+` symbol underneath the `Preferred languages` list. ![Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step2](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step2.png) Scroll down until you see `日本語 - Japanese` in the list, select it, then click `Add`. ![Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step3](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step3-1024x793-1.png) You will see a prompt asking if you want to switch and use Japanese as your primary language. Select `Use English` for now. ![Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step4.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step4.png) You will be prompted to add an input source. Japanese is automatically selected and uses the built-in Mac OS Japanese language settings. Click `Add Input Source`. ![Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step5](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step5.png) If you want to tweak the settings or check which keyboard shortcuts you should use, select `日本語 - Japanese` in the list of preferred languages, then click` Keyboard Preferences`. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step6.png) The language input switcher is displayed by default in the menu bar at the top of your monitor. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-5c47baf3fc13a677.png) Click on the input switcher `A`, then select one of the Japanese input options. Hiragana is the easiest to use and will automatically select kanji for words based on their context as you type. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-macOS-Step7-e1606896284465.png) #### How to switch input languages in Japanese quickly: Instead of reaching for the mouse every time to switch input languages, you can use the keyboard shortcuts as indicated on the language input switcher menu. By default, the following shortcuts will be used. - `Ctrl+Shift+;` for romaji - `Ctrl+Shift+J` for hiragana - `Ctrl+Shift+K` for katakana (If you are wondering about the difference between hiragana and katakana, check [this article](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/).) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Install a Japanese Keyboard on Windows 10 Search for `language settings` in the Windows search field, and click on the top result - `Language Settings` in System `Settings`. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-Windows-10-step-1.png) In the `Language settings` dialog, click on `Add a preferred language`. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-Windows-10-step-2.png) Search for Japanese, select `日本語 - Japanese`, then click `Next`. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-Windows-10-step-3.png) Click `Install`, and then wait for Windows 10 to download and install the input method for Japanese. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-Windows-10-step-4.png) To switch between your input methods/languages, press `Windows` \+ `space`, or use the language switcher in the system tray. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-Windows-10-step-5.png) ### Install a Japanese Keyboard on an Apple Smartphone or Tablet Open `iOS Settings`, tap on `General`, then on `Keyboards`. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-an-Apple-Smartphone-or-Tablet-Step1.png) Tap on `Add New Keyboard`, then on `Japanese` (you may need to scroll in the lower list to find it). Select either or both `Kana` or `Romaji`, and tap on `Done<`. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-an-Apple-Smartphone-or-Tablet-Step2.png) Now, you can switch between keyboard languages using the globe icon whenever you are entering text. Tap and hold the globe icon to bring up a list of input languages, then select which one you want to use. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-an-Apple-Smartphone-or-Tablet-Step3.png) ### Install a Japanese Keyboard on an Android Smartphone First, download **Google Japanese Input** to your phone. ![Google Japanese input app](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/191BCBFC-155D-4e54-A6F0-CAC9C4DB54B1.png) Click on `Enable in settings`, choose Google Japanese Input. If you want, select **Google Japanese Input** as the default input method in the `Language & input settings`. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-an-Android-Smartphone-Step2.png) Choose your theme then click on `Get Started`. Now, you can switch between Japanese and English using the `あ/a` icon whenever you enter text. Slide your finger to the kana. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-an-Android-Smartphone-Step4.png) If you are more familiar with a standard romaji keyboard layout, switch to QWERTY mode in the Keyboard Layout settings. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/Install-a-Japanese-Keyboard-on-an-Android-Smartphone-Step5.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Typing in Japanese with Romaji Now you are ready to start typing in Japanese. Since you are typing Japanese using an English keyboard, you need to know the romaji (pronunciation) of each character in order to type it. **In fact, many Japanese people use romaji to type in Japanese too**, even though they have hiragana printed on their keyboards. Becoming familiar with [romaji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/) is essential. ### Type Japanese Hiragana Using Romaji **Romaji is a literal spelling or romanization of** [**how you would pronounce the various Japanese kana**](https://www.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/hiragana-katakana-kanji?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**.** Most Japanese language input methods on both computers and smart devices accept both the Hepburn system (below) and the Kunreishiki system. | あ | か | さ | た | な | は | ま | や | ら | わ | ん | | - | -- | --- | --- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | a | ka | sa | ta | na | ha | ma | ya | ra | wa | nn | | い | き | し | ち | に | ひ | み | | り | | | | i | ki | shi | chi | ni | hi | mi | | ri | | | | う | く | す | つ | ぬ | ふ | む | ゆ | る | | | | u | ku | su | tsu | nu | fu | mu | yu | ru | | | | え | け | せ | て | ね | へ | め | | れ | | | | e | ke | se | te | ne | he | me | | re | | | | お | こ | そ | と | の | ほ | も | よ | ろ | を | | | o | ko | so | to | no | ho | mo | yo | ro | wo | | How to type the Japanese character ん Be careful when typing a word with ん in it, especially when it is followed by another n- character. For example, you need to enter three *n*’s or *minnna* to type the word *everything* in Japanese - みんな, or *onnna* to type the word for *woman* \- おんな。 To type long vowels in katakana, use a -. For example, ha-to will convert to ハート. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Typing Japanese: Contractions Using Romaji Typing contractions works in much the same way - type how they are pronounced and the input method will automatically format the smaller characters. | きゃ | しゃ | ちゃ | にゃ | ひゃ | みゃ | りゃ | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | kya | sha | cha | nya | hya | mya | rya | | きゅ | しゅ | ちゅ | にゅ | ひゅ | みゅ | りゅ | | kyu | shu | chu | nyu | hyu | myu | ryu | | きょ | しょ | ちょ | にょ | ひょ | みょ | りょ | | kyo | sho | cho | nyo | hyo | myo | ryo | Form the long contractions simply by adding a u at the end. For example, kyuu will type きゅう, and nyou will type にょう. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Typing Japanese: Dakuten and Dakuten Contractions This works roughly in the same way - type how they are pronounced using your English or romaji keyboard. | が | ざ | だ | ば | ぱ | ぎゃ | じゃ | びゃ | ぴゃ | | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --- | -- | --- | --- | | ga | za | da | ba | pa | kya | ja | bya | pya | | ぎ | じ | ぢ | び | ぴ | | | | | | gi | ji | di | bi | pi | | | | | | ぐ | ず | づ | ぶ | ぷ | ぎゅ | じゅ | びゅ | ぴゅ | | gu | zu | du | bu | pu | kyu | ju | byu | pyu | | げ | ぜ | で | べ | ぺ | | | | | | ge | ze | de | be | pe | | | | | | ご | ぞ | ど | ぼ | ぽ | ぎょ | じょ | びょ | ぴょ | | go | zo | do | bo | po | kyo | jo | byo | pyo | For the long dakuten contractions, add the extra u. For example kyou for きょう. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## Typing Katakana or Kanji Using Romaji After typing your word in romaji, you will see your computer automatically convert it to hiragana, katakana or [kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/) (and a few other smart options), based on its Japanese conversion rules and your past preferred characters. If you want to select specifically the hiragana version after it has converted it to katakana or kanji, or see what other conversions are available, press space on your keyboard. ### Typing Katakana or Kanji On A Computer For example, typing *kyou*, automatically converts to きょう to 今日. Press *Space* to see what other options are available. Keep pressing Space or Tab or use the arrow keys to cycle through the options, then press Enter when the one you want to use is highlighted, or immediately if you want to use the word your computer selected for you. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/On-a-computer.png) ### Typing Katakana or Kanji On A Mobile Device Various auto-suggest options will be shown above the keyboard when you are entering Japanese on a smartphone or tablet. If you don't see the option immediately in the auto-suggest bar, tap to see the full list, then tap on the one you want to use. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/On-a-mobile-device.png) ### ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## Typing Japanese: Small Tsu and Casual Half-Height Characters The small tsu character っ or sokuon indicates a short and sudden stop between two kana. To type this, type the Japanese word in romaji using a double consonant to indicate this pause. For example: yatta, やった or or mittsu みっつ . The more casual Japanese you see on social media often uses half-height characters for vowel sounds. Type these with an ”l“ (lowercase L) before the vowel, for example: la ぁ, li ぃ, lu ぅ, le ぇ, loぉ. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## Type Classical Japanese Old Kana If you are studying Kobun, or classical Japanese, there are a number of old characters you’ll also need to be able to type. Note that the input methods on all operating systems and devices will try to autocorrect away from these old forms. | ゐ | ヰ | ゑ | ヱ | | -- | -- | -- | -- | | wi | wi | we | we | Most applications, including Google Docs will have trouble with the older forms of yori and koto . ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## How to Type Japanese If I don’t Know the Pronunciation of a Kanji? If you are using Windows 10 or macOS, you can install a hand-writing recognition ‘keyboard’ or input method where you can draw the kanji on a touchpad or with your mouse. Smartphones and tablets also have this as an input option. Look for the handwriting input method for Traditional Chinese. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-73b677eaa8f4ab1f.png) As these characters are also used in Japanese, this is a handy shortcut when you don’t know how to pronounce the kanji. Once you have selected this input method, draw the characters with your mouse or finger to input the kanji. Alternatively, look up the pronunciation in an online dictionary such as [Jisho.](https://jisho.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## Typing Japanese: Punctuation and Symbols Of course, now that you know how to type in kana and kanji, you need to know how to use Japanese punctuation. | 。 | 、 | 「」 | 〜 | ・ | ￥ | ー | | - | - | ---- | -- | - | - | -- | | . | , | \[\] | \~ | / | | \- | There are also a number of Japanese symbol shortcuts you can input using romaji. | 〒 | ※ | ○ | × | ← | ↓ | ↑ | → | | ------ | ---- | ---- | ----- | -- | -- | -- | -- | | yuubin | kome | maru | batsu | zh | zj | zk | zl | There are many variations of some Japanese symbols and the input method often lets you access related emojis easily. Type the romaji, then step through the options and choose the one you want. These may be different depending on your operating system and/or device. | ○●◉◎🔴 | ▲▷▽▼∵ | ⭐︎✴︎★☆彡＊ | ☀︎☁︎☔︎☃⛅ | ♪🎶🎵♬♭ | ♡❤︎💛💘💑 | | ------ | ------- | -------- | -------- | ------- | --------- | | maru | sankaku | hoshi | tenki | ongaku | ha-to | ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## How to Type Japanese Face Emoji "Kaomoji" Most Japanese keyboards offer quick access to the common kaomoji - the text-based facial emoji Japanese use to indicate emotions and actions. Type kaomoji in romaji and you’ll be presented with a long list to choose from! Sometimes when you type a word, you’ll see a corresponding kaomoji you can select. | happy | ureshii | (\*^ω^\*) | ♪(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑)♪ | | | | -------- | -------- | ------------------ | ------------ | | | | like | suki | ╰(\*´︶\`\*)╯♡ | （╹◡╹）♡ | | | | sad | kanashii | (◞‸◟) | :;(∩´﹏\`∩);: | | | | sleepy | nemui | (( \_ \_ ))..zzzZZ | (@￣ρ￣@) | | | | to greet | haisatsu | ヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノ | ( ´ ▽ \` )ﾉ | | | Typing in Japanese may seem difficult at first, but it's worth the effort. Once you've learned how to type in Japanese, you'll have access to more Japanese content online. So start practicing today with an [online Japanese keyboard](https://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/hiragana.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to accelerate your Japanese learning. If you need any help with Japanese learning, don't forget to try [the LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for a comprehensive learning experience! ### Everything You Need to Know about Duolingo Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-japanese-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:27:14.000Z **Duolingo may be a good Spanish learning app, but can it teach a complicated language like Japanese?** This review is from an intermediate student’s perspective, one who finished Duolingo’s Japanese course to review. Update (August 2026): Duolingo’s official overview now documents character tabs and kanji tracing, freehand writing, and component exercises. See [How to Learn to Read Japanese](https://blog.duolingo.com/learning-to-read-japanese-characters/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for current feature details. Some observations below describe the earlier course version reviewed at publication. I first started learning Japanese when my company offered Japanese classes. Although the class was soon cancelled after employee interest waned, I was already fascinated by the language and decided to keep learning by myself. After **I reached an intermediate level,** I moved to Japan for a year. However, since moving to Europe eight years ago, I haven’t used Japanese at all. Now that I have more time, **I want to pick it up again.** I love using [language apps](https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-app-qualities/) to fill in dead time while waiting for public transport, so I decided to have a look at Duolingo and the various Japanese language apps, such as [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), that are available today. Before we jump into the details, here is some easy takeaway to help you decide if Duolingo Japanese is for you. Pros 1. A **GOOD range** of vocabulary and grammar in the course. 2. It’s **FUN** with all the different gamification elements. 3. The variety of exercise types makes it **INTERESTING**. 4. It’s **SUPER CUTE** with the owl mascot and colorful. Cons 1. Lack of **professional grammar explanations.** 2. The **audio** could be of better quality. 3. Being forced to follow the **set lesson progression** makes themed lessons **frustrating**. 4. **A flashcard deck** built automatically from problem areas would be useful. 5. **kanji stroke order** currently missing from Duolingo. ## How does Duolingo teach languages? There are many language teaching apps available these days, and each has a different approach to teaching. Duolingo is not only popular, but also completely free, so I thought at least it should not be a [bad language app](https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-app-qualities/) and decided to try it out. ## Themes - How Duolingo Organizes Content To help students build stronger connections between related words and concepts, Duolingo **organizes their lessons by topics, or themes**, instead of by grammar or difficulty. This is a good thing! By grouping words into themes, rather than based on similar grammatical behaviour, **there is more context**. Following the thematic organization in Duolingo Japanese, you can start using the vocabulary you have learned immediately. ![duoling-japanese-content-themes](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/ld-image-c30dfdee00d48884.png) ## Osmosis - How Duolingo Teaches A Language **It sounds effortless, right?** Put a textbook near your pillow, and it seeps into your brain through osmosis while you sleep. **Osmosis** **means you're learning in a natural, organic, and indirect way through exposure**. It’s the way children learn a language. It sounds ideal, doesn't it? Learning by osmosis can work well when you are studying languages in the same family (German, Italian, etc). Trying to **learn Japanese by osmosis without explanations is inefficient and confusing** because it’s in a different linguistic family. Duolingo attempts to teach via osmosis by exposing you to the language and encouraging you to translate a lot. Because of the reasons mentioned above, it **falls quite a bit short of the ideal.** Plus, you can’t easily dip into the themes that interest you, or that you could use right now. Instead, you are forced to follow the recommended progression of themed lessons, or try to jump ahead with a placement test. More on this feature below. Perhaps even worse for adult learners (but also a common problem with textbooks), the early lessons have quite a lot of school-themed words and phrases. ## Gamified Learning - Duolingo Makes Studying Fun **We learn better when we are having fun,** which is why gamification is such a popular motivational carrot, used in schools, apps and even in workplaces today. There are many ways gamification is built into Duolingo - **Leveling system**: spend more time and progress through sessions and you can level up. Complete with gold stars! - **Unlockable rewards**: level up to customize certain aspects of the user interface (like dressing up the Duolingo owl), or access special fun lessons. - **Achievement badges**: reach milestones such as the number of hours spent studying to get badges you can display on your profile. - **Streak tracking**: study every day for a set amount of time to continue your streak. You don’t want to break the chain. - **Goal tracking:** select a goal (or track) and the coach owl will tell you whether you are on track to meet that goal or not. - **Leaderboards and leagues**: compete with your friends and the Duolingo community by being ranked on the leaderboards. ![duolingo-japanese-gamification-learning](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/ld-image-715a3bcefdd09b06.png) All of these are excellent motivational tools to help you feel invested in your studies, which Duolingo has skillfully included. **It is encouraging to see your progression measured by levels, achievements, and the leaderboard.** ## Social Learning - Duolingo Makes Things Competitive Friends and co-students provide **a bit of competition and a lot of accountability**. Of course, you don’t want to fall behind! Duolingo students **can follow or friend each other** via their Duolingo profiles or add their Facebook friends. Most people want to keep up with their friends, which is why the leaderboard element is a powerful social element. There are few other social features through, **you can’t chat with other users** to give and receive encouragement inside the app. Duolingo Clubs, a social feature where you used to be able to chat with others, was removed to improve the safety of the app for children. You can, however, click on the chat bubble for each question in the lessons to **see what other users have asked** and about that specific question and the replies they received, or ask your own question. ## Is Duolingo Japanese friendly to intermediate learners? **Placement tests allow you to skip ahead** in the Duolingo Japanese lessons. Surprisingly, this was quite infuriating. I was interrupted before completing the test the first time I took it, but Duolingo did not remember my progress - I had to restart. Even though I had only two wrong answers, only half of the first section of the course was unlocked. You can **tap on the next section to test out** of the remaining lessons and move on. The placement tests are strict, and even if you get only a few answers wrong, none of the lessons in which you successfully answered all of the questions in the test will be unlocked. **And the translations of the example sentences are not always easy to decipher.** You’ll need to level up the lessons you unlocked via those placement tests to reach the more difficult content. ## Learn Japanese with Duolingo - a review ![duolingo-japanese-review](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/WechatIMG198.png) One of the most popular free apps for learning Japanese is Duolingo. The developers of the [Japanese Duolingo course](https://www.duolingo.com/course/ja/en/Learn-Japanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) aim to have learners speaking Japanese right from the start, following a teaching method that is similar to how children learn. That means learners need to use katakana, hiragana and kanji immediately, and overcome the hurdle of the Japanese grammar being ‘backwards’ to most English speakers. Even though it was one of the most-requested languages, **Duolingo didn't release their Japanese course for many years as they struggled** with both how to teach it effectively and how to work around some technical hurdles (e.g. some kanji are identical to kana, there are no spaces between words, etc.) ## A typical Japanese lesson in Duolingo Each thematic lesson (and test) randomly draws from **a collection of exercises of different types**. After the first few lessons where you’ll learn hiragana, the Japanese sentences and phrases are **entirely presented in hiragana and kanji.** ## Does Duolingo Japanese Teach Hiragana, katakana and kanji? ![duolingo-japanese-lesson-breakdown](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/ld-image-f1c9cf4c80694db4.png) **The first four lessons introduce you to hiragana.** Almost all of the exercises are to match the hiragana character on a card to its correct pronunciation in English. This is relatively easy to guess because the cards are spoken aloud whenever you tap them. Katakana is introduced in the same way in the next lesson. Then kanji are introduced as they are needed in the exercises, always with a **card-matching-pronunciation** exercise first to match their pronunciation to the correct hiragana. Earlier versions of the Japanese course drew complaints for introducing kanji too early without writing support. Duolingo has since added dedicated character practice, including kanji tracing, freehand writing, and component exercises on supported mobile courses. After those introductory hiragana lessons, words that are in hiragana, are always in hiragana. Kanji words and phrases are always in kanji, and katakana are always in katakana. **There are no options to change this, or to use furigana to help with pronunciation**. This can be quite daunting for many people, especially on smaller screens where the differences in kanji are not easily seen. The exact kanji coverage changes as Duolingo revises its Japanese course, so learners should check the current course rather than rely on a fixed historical total. Personally, I would like to see furigana and an explanation of the kanji, and a discussion of the radicals within them - perhaps how you can visualize their meanings or how they are related to each other. This would build more bridges for non-rote-learners making it easier to remember which is used in which context. ## What exercises will you see in Duolingo lessons? For some of these exercises you’ll see a translation in your native language. There are five main groups of exercise types with several variations: - **Arrange the words** - Drag each word into the right position or tap them in order to form the grammatically correct sentence. - Rearrange a mixed up sentence. - Select the missing word and drag it to the right position. - **Translation** - Type the missing word. - Translate the entire sentence from one language into the other. - Pick the right word to match the highlighted word in the sentence. - Choose the right picture card that matches a word. - **Matching pairs** - Tap the matching kanji and their pronunciation in hiragana. - Match the Japanese words or phrases to their meanings. - Choose the picture cards and their corresponding words. - **Speak** - Speak a sentence aloud. (These exercises **do not grade your pronunciation**, but do prompt you to speak.) - **Listen** - Transcribe what you hear. - Listen to a sentence and choose the correct response. ![duolingo-japanese-exercise-types](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/ld-image-1d5753467e6c5dd5.png) The audio exercises can be a bit problematic as some **audio is clipped and generated by text-to-speech technology**. Without clear pronunciation, you’ll have to listen to a sentence multiple times in order to transcribe or answer it correctly. **Translation exercises are quite inflexible** \- they will often accept only one right answer. As many words can be omitted in Japanese (and English) sentences, the meanings can be quite ambiguous and yet still correct. ## How many words are taught in Duolingo Japanese? Duolingo has revised its Japanese course since the former skill-tree version reviewed here, so its structure and vocabulary totals can change over time. The course still provides a broad beginner introduction, but learners should check the current app for its latest organization and coverage. As with kanji characters, new words are introduced with a card matching exercise, and then subsequently used in sentences. The repetition of one particular word becomes less the more you level up in the themed lessons. ## How much grammar is covered in Duolingo Japanese? The grammar used in Duolingo’s Japanese exercises **covers most of** what is assessed in the JLPT **N5 and N4 language exam.** That’s good coverage for basic conversations. Even though **the new Japanese course has “TIPS”,** a section that provides clickable explanations on how to use a structure, **the “why” is rarely explained.** In some translation exercises, you can tap on parts of the sentences to see translation hints, but not an explanation of the grammar. The exercise-specific questions and answers (the chat bubble) is where you’ll typically find explanations, but **as these are written by the student community, there is no guarantee they are correct.** This means, you’ll predominantly be **learning the grammar by rote memorization, without learning *why*** you are using it in any specific context. ## Does Duolingo teach polite and casual Japanese? No. The grammar and vocabulary covered by Duolingo are **essentially textbook Japanese.** **Not overly polite, and not at all casual**. As there are **multiple levels of politeness** in the Japanese language, to go past a beginner level, you’ll need to learn the different grammar and words for at least casual and polite (business) Japanese. ## Is Duolingo the app for you? Language students have different goals, we have varying proficiency levels, and what may be fun and useful to one, is not to another. > **I feel it’s a fun and intensive introduction to Japanese for beginners, and it’s a good app to kill time in line**. **But, as an intermediate learner, it’s not the app for me.** ## 4 reasons Duolingo is great for beginners 1. There is a **GOOD range** of vocabulary and grammar in the course. 2. It’s **FUN** with all the different gamification elements. 3. The variety of exercise types makes it **INTERESTING**. 4. It’s **SUPER CUTE** with the owl mascot and colorful. ## 5 reasons I’m NOT thrilled with Duolingo 1. I’d like links to **professional grammar explanations.** 2. The **audio** could be much better quality. 3. Being forced to follow the **set lesson progression** makes themed lessons frustrating. 4. **A flashcard deck** built automatically from problem areas would be useful. 5. I want to learn how to **write with kanji stroke order**, currently missing from Duolingo. Duolingo is great for ... - **Rote learners:** students who learn best by repetition and memorization - **Dabblers:** someone who wants to try Japanese to see if they like it - **Busy people:** those who need to fill short blocks of time with quick lessons - **N5/N4 students:** anyone who wants to revise for the JLPT N5 and N4 exams ## Duolingo is not so great for … - **Tourists:** tourists looking for a phrasebook - **Serious learners:** students who need to know the ‘why’ behind the grammar - **Kanji writers:** people who want to learn to write kanji - **Intermediate students:** anyone who wants to go beyond a beginner level ## Is Duolingo good for intermediates to refresh their Japanese? **The good** - It’s free, you can’t beat that! - If you have a spare minute, it’s easy to speed through a lesson. - When you want to review the basics, it’s a fun and colorful option. **The bad** - You won’t be prompted to really use the kanji, only recognize them. - Written answers are inflexible, not like Japanese in real life. - The vocabulary and grammar is for beginners. - Casual and polite Japanese aren’t included. ## Good app alternatives to Duolingo Japanese [**LingoDeer**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer/) currently offers two Japanese courses with more in development (along with many other languages). The tasks you do in each thematic lesson are **more varied than Duolingo**, which helps you remember what you have learned more easily. The Learning Tips for each lesson contain **detailed explanations for the grammar and usage** of the words and phrases you learn. These are often **more detailed than those in a textbook!** ![LingoDeer Japanese course screens showing lesson topics, vocabulary practice, grammar notes, and audio exercises](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/ld-image-5ffea7ebdaaded69.png) **The audio is very helpful for pronunciation** \- better than most of the other apps I've tried because everything has been spoken by native Japanese speakers. Plus, like many language learning apps, motivational tools like a streak tracker and levels are built in. [LingoDeer is available as a web app and as apps on iOS and Android](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/jp/en/learn-japanese-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). **Kanji alive** is ideal for learning how to read, pronounce *and write* kanji. You can sort the kanji by popular textbooks, reading, pronunciation - almost any order in which you are studying them. Each character animation is written by pen, showing you how a real person would write it. Plus, you can see how the kanji look using both the common and historical fonts actually used in Japan on signs and in print. Kanji alive is a free and open source web app, which means it works on all platforms and devices. ![Kanji Alive screen showing the kanji 寺 with meaning, readings, stroke order, examples, and mnemonic hint](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/ld-image-6a324987f1b11ced.png) If you like visual mnemonics and silliness, **Dr Moku** has developed a set of apps to learn katakana, hiragana and kanji. Dr Moku's apps are available on iOS and Android. What apps do you use for[ learning Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/)? What's your experience like learning with Duolingo? Tell me what you think in the comments down below. ### Korean Age: How to Calculate and Talk About It URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-age-system/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:47.000Z “How old are you” is one of the very first questions you get from meeting Koreans for the first time. Many find this a bit shocking because it can be quite personal. Also, they may suddenly find themselves one or two years older in the Korean age system. (read on to find out the exact calculations) Why is it so? The Korean age system is an important yet very basic part of the Korean culture. This article will give you a complete introduction to the Korean age system and help you understand how to apply Korean age in real-life scenarios. You will also learn about all the age-related Korean culture and authentic language use. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Why Are Korean Age and Biological Age Different? The biggest difference between one’s Korean age and one’s standard biological age lies in the calculation method, and there are two reasons for this. First, Korean people consider the 9 months of your mom’s pregnancy as the first year of your life. Therefore, the Korean age for a baby is **1 at birth**. Biological age, in contrast, starts with 0 at birth. Second, your Korean age is calculated based on calendar years, not by the actual number of years passed since your date of birth. As soon as a new year starts, Koreans add 1 year to their age, no matter if their birthdays have already passed in the current year or not. Biological age is counted based on the actual date of birth and one year is only added after that date. ![Age system between Korean and International ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/2-4.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## What’s My Age in the Korean Age System? "What’s my age in the Korean?” You might think that is a simple translation problem, but it's actually way more complicated than that. **Here are two formulas for you to calculate your Korean age easily:** - **Formula 1:** current year +1 - birth year - **Formula 2:** - biological age + 1 if you have already celebrated your birthday this year - biological age + 2 if you haven't celebrated your birthday this year Here are two visuals to help you calculate: ![Calculation of age in Korea](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/5-2.png) ![Calculation of age in Korea](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/1-5.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Why is the Korean Age System So Important? So, why do Koreans exchange their age information at the very first meeting? Because age affects many aspects of the Korean language and social norms. Age determines how you would talk to and treat the other party in Korea. You could accidentally offend people if you are not careful! Although, Koreans also use the international or biological age system **for official paperwork** and legal purposes. **In daily conversations and social interactions, such as giving a self-introduction, people always use the Korean age system.** So, as a foreigner, you have to know how Korean age works. ![When to use Korean and international age systems ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/3-4.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## What Does It Mean to Be Older or Younger in Korea? To fully understand this part, we need to dive deeper into Korea’s history and culture. Being the older person in your group could mean these for you: - You're allowed to ask younger people (동생) to run errands for you. - Younger Koreans greet you with a bow. - Younger Koreans address you with a respectful term, such as 오빠/누나, 선배님. - Younger Koreans speaking to you in polite speech. - You are expected to pay the bill that’s shared with younger people. - You are expected to be the leader of the group. The implications of being younger works the other way around. As you can see, **being older brings both benefits and obligations**. ;) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Age System: The Historical and Cultural Background Due to the influence of Confucianism, age plays a huge role in shaping interpersonal relationships. For example, it’s a big deal for Koreans to show proper respect to older people. It is called “Jang Yu Yu Seo”, meaning that **there is a social order between the older and the younger.** ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## How Does Korean Age Affect the Way Koreans Speak? For Koreans, age is significant enough to be **a determining factor** for the way they use the Korean language. To explain, age determines the level of **formality** and **politeness** in language, known as the speech level. 1. In general, people should use polite speech and honorifics when talking with older people, and casual speech with close friends or younger people. 2. Age also determines how people should **address** each other. Oftentimes, Korean learners from non-Asia regions are confused by the way Korean people address each other -- they literally just call each other “brother” or “sister” when they are not at all related. For example, if you’re male, 1. you call an older male **형 (hyung)**, which means “older brother”, 2. and call an older female **누나 (nuna)**, which means “older sister”. As a female, 1. you address an older male as **오빠 (oppa**), which means “older brother”, 2. and an older female as **언니 (eonni)**, which means “older sister”. When addressing a young person: 1. regardless of sex, you can address him or her as **동생 (dongsaeng)**. 2. add **남 (nam) or 여 (yeo)** before 동생 (dongsaeng) If you want to specify their that they are male or female, respectively. When at school or work (not used to address other people directly): 1. **후배 (hubae)** refers to people who are younger, 2. **선배 (seonbae)** for people who are older than you. 👉 A special note to add is that sometimes **the division of 후배 and 선배 doesn’t necessarily depend on the age**, but on people’s **relative seniority** in a specific situation. For example, a younger man can be referred to as 선배 (more senior) by an older man if the younger man served in the military earlier than the older man. When addressing someone at a more senior position: - you might use 선배님 (seonbaenim, **님 nim** is a commonly used [honorific in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-honorifics/)) ![Address people based on Korean age](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-3.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Asking Koreans “How old are you?” in 3 situations Depending on your estimation of the other party's age with relevance to yours, there are five ways to go about this. ### Situation #1: The other person seems significantly older than you You need to use **연세 (yeonse)**, which is the honorific term for the noun 나이 (nai), meaning “age”. In formal polite language, the sentence goes: > 연세가 어떻게 되십니까? (yeonsega eoddeoke doesimniga?) > > How old are you? Or in informal polite language: > 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (yeonsega eoddeoke doeseyo?) > > How old are you? ### Situation #2: The other person seems to be around your age In this case, you don’t need to use the honorific term anymore, you can say: > 나이가 어떻게 되세요? (naiga eoddoke doeseyo?) > > How old are you? Or: > 몇 살이에요? (myeot salieyo?) > > How old are you? ### Situation #3: The other person seems significantly younger than youThen you say: > 몇 살이야? (myeot saliya?) > > How old are you? ![Ask for age in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/9-1.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## How to Say Your Own Age in Korean? The general rule for saying your age is to use the **native Korean numbe**r plus **살 (sal)**, the word for "year(s) old". This article provides you with a complete guide to Korean numbers systems and[ how to count in Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-numbers/). A typical sentence for introducing your age would be: > 저는 \_\_살입니다. (jeoneun \_\_ salimnida) > > I am \_\_ years old. For age between 10 and 99, the formula is: terms for tens + terms for 1-9 + 살 (sal). For e xamples: - 12 years old is 열두 살 (yeoldu sal) - 35 years old is 서른다섯 살 (seoleundaseot sal) - 78 years old is 일흔여덟 살 (ilheunyeodeol sal) __Ages in Korean__ | English | Korean | Romanization | | ------------ | ------ | ------------ | | 1 year old | 한 살 | han sal | | 2 years old | 두 살 | du sal | | 3 years old | 세 살 | se sal | | 4 years old | 네 살 | ne sal | | 5 years old | 다섯 살 | daseot sal | | 6 years old | 여섯 살 | yeoseot sal | | 7 years old | 일곱 살 | ilgop sal | | 8 years old | 여덟 살 | yeodeol sal | | 9 years old | 아홉 살 | ahop sal | | 10 years old | 열 살 | yeol sal | | 20 years old | 스무 살 | seumu sal | | 30 years old | 서른 살 | seoleun sal | | 40 years old | 마흔 살 | maheun sal | | 50 years old | 쉰 살 | swin sal | | 60 years old | 예순 살 | yeseun sal | | 70 years old | 일흔 살 | ilheun sal | | 80 years old | 여든 살 | yeodeun sal | | 90 years old | 아흔 살 | aheun sal | 📍Important notes: some native Korean numbers **do not** remain in their original forms when they are followed by 살. These numbers are 하나, 둘, 셋, 넷 and 스물. ![5 Native Korean numbers form change ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/7-2.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### “Years old” in Korean, which one to use? 살(sal) or 세(se)? In Korean, **\[native Korean number + 살\]** is not the only way to express age. The Hanja counter 세 (se) also means year(s), and can be used with Sino-Korean numbers to express age. The difference is, **\[native Korean number + 살\]** usually refers to one's Korean age and is normally used in conversations, while **\[Sino-Korean number + 세\]** is reserved strictly for one's legal age. As a result, the former is used much more frequently than the latter in spoken Korean. ![2 ways of saying Korean age](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/8-2.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-1eef8969a4dd3dd0.png) ## Different Ways to Introduce Your Own Age in Korean When you give a self-introduction or are asked about your age, you can state your Korean age directly. For example, if you are 23 years old in Korean age: > 저는 스물세 살이에요. (jeoneun sumulse salieyo.) > > I am 23 years old. Or you can answer with your year of birth: > 저는 구십팔년생이에요. (jeoneun gusippalnyeonsaengieyo.) > > I was born in ‘98. If you feel it’s necessary to specify your legal age, you can include **\[만으로\]** for clarification, similar to “even though, but” to do so: > 저는 올해 스물세 살이지만 만으로는 스물두 살이에요. > (jeoneun olhae seumulse salijiman maneurosms seumuldu salieyo.) > > Although I am 23 years old (in Korean system), I am actually 22 years old. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-d438c2e911ba627e.png) ### How to Declare Your Role After Exchanging Age Information After exchanging information regarding age, you’d typically establish your role in this relationship. If you find out that you’re older than the listener, you can refer to yourself as an “older brother” or “older sister”: - 저는 형예요. / I am hyung (the older brother of a younger male). - 저는 오빠예요. / I am oppa (the older brother of a younger female) - 저는 누나예요. / I am nuna (the older sister of a younger male) - 저는 언니예요. / I am eonni (the older sister of a younger female) - (jeoneun hyung/oppa/nuna/eonniyeyo.) Because you're older, you can also use casual speech to talk to the other person from now on. If you find out that you’re the younger one, then you would refer to yourself as a 동생 (dongsaeng): > 저는 동생이에요. (jeoneun dongsaengieyo.) > > I am the younger brother/sister. As the younger person, you need to keep the polite speech when speaking to the older listener **unless s/he gives you the permission to talk casually.** **If you find out that you and the listener are the same age**, then you use the term **동갑 (donggap)** to describe the equal age relationship. > 우리 동갑이에요. (wuli donggapieyo.) > > We are the same age. From now on, you can also refer you two as 친구 (chingu), meaning friends. > 우리 친구예요. (wuli chinguyeyo.) > > We are friends. Because both of you are the same age, you may speak casually to each other when you feel comfortable and close enough. Let’s summarize in a chart: | | You address yourself as | You talk to the other person in | | ---------------------- | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | If you’re older | 형/오빠/누나/언니 | Casual speech | | If you’re younger | 동생 | Polite speech (unless permission is given to talk casually) | | If you’re the same age | 친구 | Casual speech | That's it! You've made it to the end of the incredibly complicated Korean age system and culture! Now you can test what you've learned in language exchange events and see how age affects your interactions in action. (Click here for the most comprehensive [Korean learning guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) for beginners.) ### French Numbers 1 to 100: How to Count in French (With Audio) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-numbers-counting/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T12:51:08.000Z Download [0-10.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/11/0-10.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: How do French numbers from 1 to 100 work? French numbers are mostly built from a small set of base forms. Numbers 17–19 combine dix with another number; 20–69 generally combine a multiple of ten with a unit; 70–99 use additional combinations based on sixty or eighty. Pronunciation and the use of et and hyphens need separate attention. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | ----- | ------------------------------------------------ | | 0–16 | mostly independent forms to learn | | 17–69 | largely regular combinations | | 70–99 | combinations involving soixante or quatre-vingts | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. Bonjour! If you are learning French, you might have started complaining about French numbers. True, French numbers can be a real headache. But it is definitely not something that you cannot conquer after reading this article, and I am happy to help. Vous êtes prêts ? Trois, deux, un… C'est parti! Let's begin counting in French! ## French Numbers 1 to 100 ### Starting from 0 to 10 - **0 — zero** - **1 — un** - **2 — deux** - **3 — trois** - **4 — quatre** - **5 — cinq** - **6 — six** - **7 — sept** - **8 — huit** - **9 — neuf** - **10 — dix** First of all, let's start with the basics. Counting from 1 to 10 in French is quite easy. The numbers are all independent. You just need to memorize them. ### French Numbers 11 to 19 - **11 — onze** - **12 — douze** - **13 — treize** - **14 — quatorze** - **15 — quinze** - **16 — seize** - **17 — dix-sept** - **18 — dix-huit** - **19 — dix-neuf** When you are counting from 10 to 19 in French, you can now see two types of numbers: **independent** and **composed** numbers. As you might have noticed, from 17 to 19 (dix-sept, dix-huit, dix-neuf) we have the first glance of composed numbers. ### When to use the Hyphens in French Numbers Are you wondering if there's an easy way to memorize the use of hyphens in numbers? Well, it really depends on how obsessed you are with spelling French numbers out. If you are not obsessed, **the simple rule is to add hyphens between words in composed numbers**. (This rule was mentioned in "[Reforms of French Orthography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reforms%5Fof%5FFrench%5Forthography?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#Tr%C3%A9ma)".) ### French Numbers 20 to 69 Counting 20-69 is easy. It's pretty similar to English numbers. The rules: - Firstly: 20/30/40/50/60 are independent numbers. - Secondly: 21/31/41/51/61 share the same rule: "vingt/*trente*/*quarante*/*cinquante*/*soixante" plus *"et un"** - Everything else: **replace "et" with "-"**. For example, 22 is vingt-deux instead of vingt et deux. The image below summarizes this group of numbers. ![french numbers 20 to 69](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/french-numbers-20-to-69-1.png) **How about 70?** Well, once you reach 70, the pattern changes. Let's take a closer look in the next section. ### French Numbers 70 to 79 Super easy addition based on "soixante (60)" is involved. Number — French — English - **70 — Soixante-dix** *(sixty-ten)* - **71 — Soixante-et-onze** *(sixty-and-eleven)* - **72 — Soixante-douze** *(sixty-twelve)* - **73 — Soixante-treize** *(sixty-thirteen)* - **74 — Soixante-quatorze** *(sixty-fourteen)* - **75 — Soixante-quinze** *(sixty-fifteen)* - **76 — Soixante-seize** *(sixty-sixteen)* - **77 — Soixante-dix-sept** *(sixty-ten-seven)* - **78 — Soixante-dix-huit** *(sixty-ten-eight）* - **79 — Soixante-dix-neuf** *(sixty-ten-nine)* ### French Numbers 80 to 100 Now, similar to counting from 61-79, counting from 81 to 99 in French is done by adding **1-19 to 80**. Number **—** French **—** English (literal) - **80 — Quatre-vingts** *(four-twenties)* - **81 — Quatre-vingt-un** *(four-twenty-one)* **(no "et")** - **82 — Quatre-vingt-deux** *(four-twenty-two)* - **83 — Quatre-vingt-trois** *(four-twenty-three)* - **84 — Quatre-vingt-quatre** *(four-twenty-four)* - **85 — Quatre-vingt-cinq** *(four-twenty-five)* - **86 — Quatre-vingt-six** *(four-twenty-six)* - **87 — Quatre-vingt-sept** *(four-twenty-seven)* - **88 — Quatre-vingt-huit** *(four-twenty-eight)* - **89 — Quatre-vingt-neuf** *(four-twenty-nine)* - **90 — Quatre-vingt-dix** *(four-twenty-ten)* - **91 — Quatre-vingt-onze** *(four-twenty-eleven)* - **92 — Quatre-vingt-douze** *(four-twenty-twelve)* - **93 — Quatre-vingt-treize** *(four-twenty-thirteen)* - **94 — Quatre-vingt-quatorze** *(four-twenty-fourteen)* - **95 — Quatre-vingt-quinze** *(four-twenty-fifteen)* - **96 — Quatre-vingt-seize** *(four-twenty-sixteen)* - **97 — Quatre-vingt-dix-sept** *(four-twenty-ten-seven)* - **98 — Quatre-vingt-dix-huit** *(four-twenty-ten-eight)* - **99 — Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf** *(four-twenty-ten-nine)* - **100 — Cent** *(one hundred)* Notice that " *quatre-vingt-un* " does not add an extra "et" before "un"? Yep, it's an exception. Regarding the "s" at the end of "quatre-vingts", it only applies when "quatre-vingts" is **not** followed by any other numeral: *quatre-vingt*s* for 80,* *quatre-vingt-trois for 83*. If you want to do more exercises with numbers-related expressions, or even other French expressions that will come in handy, check out the LingoDeer app ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) for the **free Travel Phrasebook course!** ![French courses for English speakers](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/french2-1-e1604662717520.png) ![Travel Phrasebook course](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/french1-1-e1604662733459.png) ![Numbers](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/french3-e1604662746637.png) [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Fun Facts About Numbers in French #### Why is the French counting system so strange? As you can see, the French counting system is different from most languages because it starts adding two numbers together once it reached 70\. This is because the French language uses the [**vigesimal numeral system**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigesimal?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), meaning the system is based on 20 (the same way the decimal numeral system is based on 10). This counting system actually comes from **Gaulish**, a Celtic language spoken in France before modern Romance languages. Similar languages that have a root in Gaulish are **Welsh and Scottish**. If you take a look at the counting system in these two languages, you will notice a similar pattern. #### Is this system used in all French-speaking countries? In French and Quebec in Canada, the above system is used. However, in French-speaking **Belgium and Switzerland**, people don't say "soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, quatre-vingt-dix". They will instead follow the usual pattern as from 20 to 60 and use : *Septante* for **70** instead of **Soixante-dix.** *Octante or Huitante* for **80** instead of **Quatre-vingts** (only in Switzerland). *Nonante* for **90** instead of **Quatre-vingt-dix**. This would be more logical if you take a step back and look at how 40, 50 and 60 are written. But French will always be French and if there are no complications in the language... it's not real French! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## French Numbers: What happens After 100? Afterwards, let's move on to the **hundreds**. It's very similar to the English way of counting hundreds. Take a look at this table: Hundreds (centaines) - **100 — Cent** - **200 — Deux-cents** - **300 — Trois-cents** - **400 — Quatre-cents** - **500 — Cinq-cents** - **600 — Six-cents** - **700 — Sept-cents** - **800 — Huit-cents** - **900 — Neuf-cents** - **1000 — Mille** If you would like to read composed numbers **out loud**, let me show you how to do it: Let's take 152 as an example: *cent-cinquante-deux*. There are no particular tricks here, just assembling the numbers together. **Hundreds** \+ **tens** and **units**. Now let's do the same thing with 368: *trois-cent-soixante-huit*. Have you noticed something? Yes. **The "s" of "*trois-cents*" has disappeared.** This rule is the same as the "s" of "*quatre-vingts*": **if it's above 100 and not followed by any other numeral, the "s" stays** (*deux-cents, trois-cents...*). Before you go ahead and read the next paragraph, try to train yourself and figure out how to spell these numbers now: > 145 - 324 - 294 - 569 - 812 - 900 Answer: Cent-quarante-cinq / Trois-cent-vingt-quatre / Deux-cent-quatre-vingt-quatorze / Cinq-cent-soixante-neuf / Huit-cent-douze / Neuf-cents. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## French Numbers: Above Thousands Thousands in French. Surprisingly, reading thousands in French is not the hardest part of the numbers chapter! Thousands (millers)—French - **1000 — Mille** - **2000 — Deux-mille** - **3000 — Trois-mille** - **4000 — Quatre-mille** - **5000 — Cinq-mille** - **6000 — Six-mille** - **7000 — Sept-mille** - **8000 — Huit-mille** - **9000 — Neuf-mille** - **10,000 — Dix-mille** - **100,000 — Cent-mille** - **500,000 — Cinq-cent-mille** In the case of thousands, "*mille*" stays the same, regardless if it's followed by another numeral or none. Above thousands come millions and billions: **million (EN) = million (FR)** **billion (EN) = milliard (FR)** ### Reading Years in French Reading years in French is simple, it only requires a little bit of training with numbers. The trick is to decompose the year into **thousands** \+ **hundreds** \+ **tens** and **units**: 1952 = mille-neuf-cent-cinquante-deux (1000 / 900 / 52) 1879 = mille-huit-cent-soixante-dix-neuf (1000 / 800 / 79) Now, your turn! Train yourself how to read these numbers (or years) out loud: > 2014 - 1789 - 1515 - 1981 - 1993 - 2003 Answers: Deux-mille-quatorze / Mille-sept-cent-quatre-vingt-neuf / Mille-cinq-cent-quinze / Mille-neuf-cent-quatre-vingt-un / Mille-neuf-cent-quatre-vingt-treize / Deux-mille-trois. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Mathematics in French ### Add, Subtract, Multiply and Divide in French Reading mathematics is something that you might also have to master if you *really* want to know how to count in French. Here's how you do it: - **Addition:** - **plus — Add — Un plus deux** - **Soustraction:** - **moins — Sustract — Deux moins un** - **Multiplication:** - **fois|multiplié par — Multiply — Trois fois cinq; Trois multiplié par cinq** - **Division:** - **divisé par — Divide — Dix divisé par deux** - **Equal:** - **Est égal à — Equals — Un plus deux est égal à trois** ### Fractions in French How do you read fractions in French? This first table will show you how to read some fixed expressions: Usual Fractions—FR - **1/2 — Un demi** - **1/3 — Un tiers** - **1/4 — Un quart** - **1/5 — Un cinquième** - **1/10 — Un dixème** - **1/20 — Un vingtième** Regarding other types of fractions, you will have to use this pattern: (number) sur (number) Let me show you an example: 5/20 = cinq sur vingt. Easy, right? And what if you would like to read a number such as ***x.y***? (0.5 , 2.9 ... ) 👉Regarding **decimal separators** (the period between numbers) in French, we don't use the period. In fact, we will use a comma ("**,**") to separate decimals: **0,5 or 2,9** ... If you would like to pronounce them out loud, just add "**virgule**" (comma) in between. 0,5 = zéro **virgule** cinq / 2,9 = deux **virgule** neuf. ### Percentages in French To read percentages in French, it's even easier. You only will need to add "**pourcent**(s)" (or "pour cent") at the end of your number. **15%** \= quinze pourcents / pour cent. Note that "pourcent" will change and **agree with the number** (if there is more than 1%, then "pourcent" will be written with an "s"). "Pour cent", on the other side, will always be invariable. **In other words, "pourcent" is "per-hundred", a noun, and "pour cent" is the noun phrase "per one hundred".** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## How to Read Phone Numbers in French Finally, let's take a look at our last part of how to count in French... phone numbers! This may not be exactly counting, as I would say, but it's part of daily life. Note that most French telephone numbers are written this way : 0x xx xx xx xx (Example: 04 . 98 . 10 . 20 . 32) So we read them **by pairs** (zéro quatre , quatre-vingt-dix-huit, dix, vingt, trente-deux). However, you may stumble upon different numbers using different formats (such as 3 by 3 instead of pairs), you may read them using "hundreds" : 851 - 121 (*huit-cent-cinquante-et-un / cent-vingt-et-un*) ## Conclusion There you go! You now know pretty much everything about reading numbers in French and you may now start counting in French. The key here is to train yourself to read numbers out loud, a little bit of exercise with [LingoDeer](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) goes a long way. Remember, with hard work and practice, it will be easier for you to master reading and pronouncing French numbers. If you are a complete beginner, don't forget to check out [The Best Way to Learn French for Complete Beginners ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/)and master the basics in a 15-min reading. If you have already known some French, we'd always suggest using as many resources as possible. For example, listening to podcasts recorded by native speakers. [Study French](https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/study-french/id1529103764?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a great resource for those who wish to move beyond the intermediate level while listening to interesting topics. It's available both on Apple and Spotify. Au revoir et à bientôt! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Why are French numbers 70 to 99 unusual? Standard French builds many of them through additions and multiplication-based forms, such as soixante-dix and quatre-vingts. ### When is et used in a French number? It appears in forms such as vingt et un; the detailed patterns and exceptions are shown in the article. ### Is quatre-vingts always written with an s? The plural s is used when quatre-vingts ends the number; it is normally dropped when another number follows. ### What is the best way to practise French numbers? Combine the written patterns with the article’s audio and practise saying dates, prices, ages and random numbers aloud. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### フランス語の数字1~100まで：フランス語の数の数え方の究極ガイド(完全保存版) URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-numbers-1-100-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T04:12:54.000Z Download [11-19.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/07/11-19.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## フランス語の数字は頭痛の種 Bonjour! もしあなたがフランス語を学習しているなら、フランス語の数字に不満を言い始めているかもしれませんね。この記事で、あなたはフランス語の数字マスターを目指すことができます。 私の名前はエデンです。フランス語を教えた経験が5年間あります。フランス語の数字の世界をご案内します。一般的な言語学習のコツをお探しですか？私たちのguide to language learning（言語学習のガイド）の確認をお忘れなく。 Vous êtes prêts ? Trois, deux, un… C’est parti! フランス語で数を数え始めましょう！ AD [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/10/Green-and-Cream-Modern-Sales-Marketing-Presentation.png)](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語の数字：1～100 ### フランス語の数字：1～10 まず最初は、基本から始めましょう。フランス語で1から10まで数えるのはとても簡単です。数字は全て独立しています。あなたはその数字をただ覚えるだけです。 - 0 ***Zéro*** - 1 **Un** - 2 ***Deux*** - 3 ***Trois*** - 4 ***Quatre*** - 5 ***Cinq*** - 6 ***Six*** - 7 ***Sept*** - 8 ***Huit*** - 9 ***Neuf*** - 10 ***Dix*** Numbers Song In French（フランス語の数字の歌）、フランス語で1～10をどのように読むか聞いてみましょう！ ### ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語の数字：11～19 フランス語で10から20まで数えたら、2つのタイプがあることに気づくでしょう。つまり、**独立した数字**と**組み合わせの数字**です。 - 11-onze - 12-douze - 13 - treize - 14 - quatorze - 15 - quinze - 16 - seize - **17 - dix-sept** - **18 - dix-huit** - **19 - dix-neuf** お気づきのように、17から19（dix-sept、dix-huit、dix-neuf）は、初めて出てくる**組み合わせの数**です。つまり、10-7、10-8、10-9といった具合です。 20は独立した数字です。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語の数字20～70 20～70を数えるのは簡単です。下の画像を見てください。 | 20 | vingt | 30 | trente | 40 | quarante | 50 | cinquante | 60 | soixante | | -- | ------------ | -- | ------------- | -- | --------------- | -- | ---------------- | -- | --------------- | | 21 | vingt et un | 31 | trente et un | 41 | quarante et un | 51 | cinquante et un | 61 | soixante et un | | 22 | vingt-deux | 32 | trente-deux | 42 | quarante-deux | 52 | cinquante-deux | 62 | soixante-deux | | 23 | vingt-trois | 33 | trente-trois | 43 | quarante-trois | 53 | cinquante-trois | 63 | soixante-trois | | 24 | vingt-quatre | 34 | trente-quatre | 44 | quarante-quatre | 54 | cinquante-quatre | 64 | soixante-quatre | | 25 | vingt-cinq | 35 | trente-cinq | 45 | quarante-cinq | 55 | cinquante-cinq | 65 | soixante-cinq | | 26 | vingt-six | 36 | trente-six | 46 | quarante-six | 56 | cinquante-six | 66 | soixante-six | | 27 | vingt-sept | 37 | trente-sept | 47 | quarante-sept | 57 | cinquante-sept | 67 | soixante-sept | | 28 | vingt-huit | 38 | trente-huit | 48 | quarante-huit | 58 | cinquante-huit | 68 | soixante-huit | | 29 | vingt-neuf | 39 | trente-neuf | 49 | quarante-neuf | 59 | cinquante-neuf | 69 | soixante-neuf | 規則： ・まず初めに、20/30/40/50/60は**独立した数字**です。 ・次に、21/31/41/51/61は同じ規則を共有しています： vingt/trente/quarante/cinquante/soixante + et un ・それ以外は、vingt/trente/quarante/cinquante/soixante + -un/deux/trois/…/neuf **70はどうでしょう？** さて、70にたどり着くと、パターンが変わります。次の段落で詳しく見ていきましょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語の数字70～80 soixante（60）をもとにしたとても簡単な足し算が含まれます。 ![フランス語の数字70～80](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers_01.png) ### ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語の数字81～100 さて、61～79を数えるのと似たように、フランス語で81から99まで数えるには**80**に**1～19**を加えます。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/French-numbers-chart_02.png) quatre-vingt-un は un の前に et がないことに気づきましたか？そう、これは例外です。 quatre-vingts の最後の s については、quatre-vingts に他の数字が**続かない**ときだけあてはまります：80は quatre-vingt**s**、83はquatre-vingt-trois もうあなたはフランス語の数字トップ100をマスターしました。French Lesson 1-100（フランス語レッスン1～100） のビデオで復習しましょう。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語の数字の面白い事実 ベルギーとスイスのフランス語圏では、soixante-dix、quatre-vingts、quatre-vingt-dix とは言いません。 その代わりに20から60までのいつものパターンに従い、それを使います： **Soixante-dix** の代わりに Septante **Quatre-vingts** の代わりに Octante（スイスでのみ） **Quatre-vingt-dix** の代わりに Nonante もし前に戻って40、50、60をどのように書くのかを見たら、これはより論理的でしょう。しかし、フランス語は常にフランス語、もしフランス語に複雑さがなけれは...それは本当のフランス語ではありません！ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語の数字：100の位と1000の位 ### フランス語の数字：100のあとはどうなる？ この後は、**100の位**に移りましょう。100の位を数えるのは英語のやり方ととても似ています。この表を見てください： ![フランス語の数字：100の位](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers_02.png) もしあなたが組み合わせの数字を**大きな声で**読みたいのなら、どのようにするかお見せします。 152を例にとってみましょう：cent-cinquante-deux 。ここには特別なトリックはありません。数字を集めるだけです。**100の位** \+ **10の位** と **1の位**です。 では、同じことを368でやってみましょう：trois-cent-soixante-huite。何か気づきましたか？そうです、trois-cents の **s** が消えました。この規則は、quatre-vingts と同じです：もし**100以上**であとに何も**続かなければ**、s は**そのまま**です（deux-cents、trois-cents...）。 **関連記事**：言語を学ぶ一番良い方法：ステップバイステップ・ガイド（The Best Way to Learn a Language: A Step-By-Step Guide）） 先に進んで次の段落を読む前に、ここでトレーニングをしてこれらの数字がどのような綴りになるか理解しましょう： 145 – 324 – 294 – 569 – 812 – 900 答え： Cent-quarante-cinq / Trois-cent-vingt-quatre / Deux-cent-quatre-vingt-quatorze / Cinq-cent-soixante-neuf / Huit-cent-douze / Neuf-cents ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語の数字：1000の位 フランス語の1000の位。驚くことに、フランス語で1000の位を読むのは数字の章の一番難しいパートではありません！ ![フランス語の数字：1000の位](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers_03.png) 1000の位の場合は、別の数字が続くかどうかに関わらず、mille はそのままです。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語の数字：ハイフン「-」 数字のハイフンの使い方を覚える簡単な方法はないかと思っていますか？ そうですね、それは本当にあなたがフランス語の数字を綴るのに悩んでいるかどうかによります。 もし悩んでいないのなら、簡単な規則は組み合わせの数字でできている単語の間にハイフンを加えることです。（この規則は「Reforms of French Orthography（フランス語の正書法改革）」に書いてありました。） ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語で年号を読む フランス語で年号を読むのは簡単で、ほんのちょっとだけ数字のトレーニングが必要なだけです。コツは、年号を1000の位 + 100の位 + 10の位と1の位に分解することです： 1952 = mille-neuf-cent-cinquante-deux (1000 / 900 / 52) 1879 = mille-huit-cent-soixante-dix-neuf (1000 / 800 / 79) さあ、あなたの番です！これらの数字（または、年号）をどう読むか大きな声でトレーニングしましょう： 2014 – 1789 – 1515 – 1981 – 1993 – 2003 答え： Deux-mille-quatorze / Mille-sept-cent-quatre-vingt-neuf / Mille-cinq-cent-quinze / Mille-neuf-cent-quatre-vingt-un / Mille-neuf-cent-quatre-vingt-treize / Deux-mille-trois ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語の数字：1000より上の位 100万の位や10億の位のような、1000より上の位： million (EN) = million (FR) billion (EN) = milliard (FR) 組み合わせの数字については...、すでに練習方法を知っていますね。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語の計算 ### フランス語の「足す」、「引く」、「掛ける」、「割る 」 もし、あなたが“本当に”フランス語でどのように数を数えるのかを知りたいのなら、計算を読むことも、あなたが習得しなければいけないことなのかもしれません。どのようにするかは、次のとおりです： ![フランス語の計算](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers_04.png) ### ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語の分数 フランス語での分数はどのように読むのでしょう？この初めの表は、いくつかの決まった表現をどのように読むか示しています： ![フランス語の分数](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-numbers_05.png) 他のタイプの分数については、このパターンを使わなければいけません： （数字）SUR（数字） 例を１つお見せしましょう：5/20 = cinq sur vingt。簡単ですよね？ そして、もし **x.y**（0.5、2.9...）のような数字を読みたいときはどうすればいいのか？ フランス語の**小数点**（数字の間のピリオド）については、フランス語ではピリオドは使いません。実際には、小数を分けるためにコンマ（「**,**」）を使います：**0,5 - 2,9** ...。もし、大きな声で発音したいときは、**virgule** （コンマ）を間に入れるだけです。 0,5 = zéro **virgule** cinq / 2,9 = deux **virgule** neuf ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### フランス語のパーセンテージ フランス語でパーセンテージを読むのは、さらに簡単です。読みたい数字の最後に pourcent(s) （または、pour cent）を加えるだけです。15% = quinze pourcents / pour cent pourcent は変化して**数字に一致する**ことに注意してください（もし1％以上であれば、pourcent に s が付きます）。一方、Pour cent は常に**変わりません**。言い換えると、pourcent は per-hundred で名詞、pour cent は名詞句 per one hundred なのです。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## フランス語の電話番号の読み方 最後に、フランス語の数え方の最後のパート... 電話番号を見てみましょう！これは正確には、私が言いたい“数える”ではないかもしれませんが、日常生活の一部です。 ほとんどのフランス語の電話番号がこの方法で書かれることに注目してください： 0x xx xx xx xx （例: 04 . 98 . 10 . 20 . 32） このように、電話番号は**ペアで**（zéro quatre , quatre-vingt-dix-huit, dix, vingt, trente-deux）読みます。 しかし、別の形式を使った別の数字（ペアで読む代わりに、3つずつ読むようなもの）に出くわしたり、「100の位」を使って読むことがあるかもしれません： 851 – 121 (huit-cent-cinquante-et-un / cent-vingt-et-un) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## 結論 よくやりましたね！今や、あなたはフランス語の数字の読み方を全てとてもよく知っています。フランス語で今すぐ数を数え始められるかもしれません。 ここでのカギは、数字を大きな声で読む練習をすることです。そして、LingoDeer でほんの少し練習するととても効果があります。 頑張ることと練習することで、フランス語の数字を読んだり発音したりすることをマスターするのがより簡単になることを忘れないでください。Au revoir et à bientôt! [](https://lingodeer.page.link/e7gx?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Recommended Posts - [アメリカの英語スラング24選：恋愛トークで使う英語フレーズ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/american-english-love-slang-japanese/) - [スペイン語の勉強方法おすすめ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-study-spanish-japanese/) - [フランス語の独学での勉強法―それぞれのメリットとデメリット―](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-self-study-french-japanese/) - [中国語の初心者がやるべき勉強法をまとめて紹介！](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-study-chinese-for-beginners-japanese/) ### What is Romaji and Should You Learn it URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:13:47.000Z Did you know that as an English speaker, you already know Romaji? Romaji is not a unique Japanese script like hiragana or katakana that requires learning. Romaji is simply the Latin script used to help you pronounce the Japanese language. It's also called the Romanization of Japanese. Although Romaji is typically not used by Japanese speakers in day-to-day conversations, it has indeed helped many Japanese words and expressions enter the Western world. Here are some words you might find familiar: - - Sushi - 寿司(すし) - Tsunami - 津波(つなみ) - Samurai - 侍(さむらい) - Manga - 漫画(まんが) Some people think romaji is just an additional tool used to pronounce Japanese before learning the actual Japanese alphabet. However, Japanese speakers also use romaji in situations or places like: 1. [typing in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/typing-in-japanese/) 2. name cards 3. road signs 4. website URL 5. design elements 6. ...... (A road sign in Japan using both kanji and romaji) But.. if there is romaji, do I still need to learn [hiragana, katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/), and [kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/)? Don’t we see Japanese transliterated into English already with words like *sayonara*, *sushi* and *karate*? You may see these "westernized" Japanese words all the time, but if you truely wish to learn Japanese, **you should still start with the** [**Japanese alphabet**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/)**. It's important to remember that Romaji does not equal to Japanese, and there are certain drawbacks to limiting yourself to this one writing system.** Below we are gonna tell you more about romaji. From its history, to how to combine it with your [Japanese learning journey](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-japanese/). Read on if you wish to know more! ![example of romaji](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Japanese-romaji.png) Related post: [how long does it take to learn Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Do Japanese people understand Romaji? It's a bad idea to use only romaji when speaking Japanese. Japanese people probably don't understand scripts written entirely in romaji, at least they don't like it. Think of having to read English words written in Japanese like アイスクリームand you'll see why*.* Also, even if romaji is often used to indicate pronunciation. It is not how Japanese natives learn their language. Romaji is more often used in more international scenarios, for example: - Japanese students learn Romaji in elementary school in order to spell their names with English letters, which makes it easier for them to fit into the international environment. - You may also see Romaji interspersed throughout an article, advertisement, or graphic design. (One of the advantages of having so many different writing systems in one language is the diverse functionality of each one. Romaji can be used to draw the eye to the word and emphasize it, adding nuance of surprise, sophistication, or stylishness. ) - The other inevitable reality of existing in the internet age is that website URLs are always written with the English alphabet. Furthermore, most websites require the use of English letters in usernames and passwords, most programming languages are in English, and touch-typing on a QWERTY keyboard is arguably faster than using a kana keyboard. **There’s just no getting around the prevalence of English in the 21st century and its hold on information technology.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-3f10a13f44087794.png) The website URL written in romaji (the official website of Prime Minister's Office of Japan) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Romaji - a bit of history Japan is known for having a centuries-long isolationist policy lasting from 1639 to the Meiji Period, in which the country closed its borders to nearly all foreign trade and cultural imports. However, in the century prior to this isolationist period, Japan conducted regular trade with European countries such as the Netherlands and Portugal. **It was the Jesuit missionaries from Portugal that initially introduced Roman script to the Japanese in the mid-16th century.** In 1548, a Japanese Catholic named Yajiro developed the Romaji writing system, which was soon put into print by the Jesuit missionaries. Romaji grew less popular during the isolationist period, but made a comeback when Japan shed its isolationist policies and worked towards becoming a global player in the Meiji Period. ## The three types of romaji The Romaji used during the 16th century looked fairly different from what we know today. In the modern era, Romaji developed into three different systems: - the widely known **Hepburn System** (ヘボン式) - the **Nippon-shiki System** (日本式) - **Kunrei-shiki System** (訓令式). This table compares the three romanization systems. As you can see, the same Japanese word can be spelled in as many as three ways! ![Romanization system](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/9C2815E4-36DE-4f3f-B116-58FF95072CB3.png) **The Hepburn System does a better job at reflecting the pronunciation** in its transliteration of syllables in Japanese. For example, た, ち, つ, て, and と are written as ta, chi, tsu, te, and to. Syllable pairs such as しゃ and じゃ are written as sha and ja. Long vowels can be exemplified either by using the kana spelling or macrons (e.g. たいよう for “sun” can become taiyou or taiyо̄). To differentiate between かんい (“simple”) and かに (“crab”), the hepburn system employs an apostrophe or hyphen in between: kan’i or kan-i and kani. Meanwhile, in the Nippon-shiki System and Kunrei-shiki System, you will see た, ち, つ, て, and と written as ta, **ti**, **tu**, te, and to. The syllable pair しゃ is written **sya** and じゃ is **zya**. However, in Kunrei-shiki, ず and づ are romanized the same way (zu), while they are differentiated in Nihon-shiki (ず is zu and づ is **du**). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Which type of Romaji Should You Know? **Since Hepburn is the most widely used, this is the one you should focus your studies on,** but it’s a good idea to briefly familiarize yourself with the other two systems so you don't mistake them for incorrect Romanji if you encounter them. ### Tricky ones: wana without standardized forms of romaji As you read about with Hepburn, Nippon-shiki and Kunrei-shiki, **some kana do not have universally standardized forms of romanization**. Furthermore, you may encounter a text or resource that **uses a blend of Romaji systems**. Special attention should be paid to these tricky kana in your studies. We’ve already seen づ written as zu and du and しゃ written as sha or sya. Perhaps you’ve seen the English loanword ファミリー before? How might you romanize this word? Most commonly you’ll see famirii, which most closely represents its actual pronunciation, but you may also see fuamirii, which more closely indicates which kana are used to form the word. T**here are more than a few of these tricky exceptions without standard spellings in Romaji, making consistency a difficult thing to achieve.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## How to switch between romaji and hiragana? As you begin to learn Hiragana, you can convert them to Romaji and vice versa using online conversion tools. However, online conversion tools do not always stick to one system (e.g. Hepburn or Nippon-shiki) and sometimes get thrown for a loop if you type something like kan’i in the Romaji field. **The best way to master a consistent style of Romaji is through exposure and a good dictionary.** [Tangorin.com](https://tangorin.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and [japandict.com](https://www.japandict.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) are two great resources that will show you the Romaji for your search term. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Is romaji useful in learning Japanese? Now that you’re familiar with the history of Romaji and its different systems, it’s time to get to the most pressing question --- should I learn Romaji? Is it useful for my language learning journey or will it be a crutch that hinders my progress? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### What is good about Romaji? **The best thing about Romaji is that a beginner can read a word or sentence and *mostly* understand the pronunciation.** It may be discouraging to some who want to learn some vocabulary and phrases but haven’t gotten a handle on hiragana and katana yet if all resources are devoid of Romaji. Plus, if you haven’t gotten used to using a Japanese keyboard yet, typing out your search terms in Romaji is the most efficient way to find what you’re looking for! We also have another article about how to [type in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/typing-in-japanese/). In fact, there are two styles of keyboard input you can choose from: **kana input (かな入力にゅうりょく) or Romaji input (ローマ字じ入力にゅうりょく).** **Children tend to prefer the latter, and it’s *much* quicker for beginners** trying to type out a sentence on their smartphone to produce words in kana or kanji. We recommend it! ![typing romaji on Android keyboard](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/type.png) typing in romaji on Android keyboard Outside of language learning, there are other practical applications where Romaji comes in handy. For example, if you wanted to send a package to a friend in Japan, it would be much quicker for you to write out their address in Romaji than to spend an hour trying to neatly copy down the kanji! Furthermore, if you do not have a Japanese keyboard available on a device you’re using, you can look up search terms in Japanese using Romaji on Google Maps and the like. This could really come in handy when trying to navigate to your destinations on a visit to Japan! ![Address envelopes to Japan](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/aid1663096-v4-728px-Address-Envelopes-to-Japan-Step-5-Version-2.jpg) Credit: Wikihow-How to Address Envelopes to Japan ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### What is bad about Romaji? Here’s the rub: Romaji will help you *mostly* understand the pronunciation, but there are times when it can be misleading. #### Romaji could lead to wrong pronunciation Remember how づ can be written out as zu or du? There is simply no du sound in Japanese. Furthermore, ず is pronounced zu, but づ sounds much more like dzu when pronounced. If you read a text after learning kana, it’s easier to recognize づ and pronounce it properly. But if you see the word つづける (to continue) written as tudukeru or tsuzukeru in Romaji, chances are your pronunciation is going to be off when you read it aloud. #### Romaji could lead to bad pronunciation habits Then there are Japanese words we often come across in English such as Tokyo, Kyoto, sayonara, and arigato. You may have already encountered some initial surprise learning that Tokyo (とうきょう) is pronounced with two long syllables (“toukyou”) and not three brief syllables (“to-ki-o”). Sayonara (さようなら) does not have that emphasis on the “na” syllable as is often heard in English, but rather a long, drawn out “you” sound (sa-you-nara). **This is another fault of Romaji. The system’s inconsistent styles frequently misguide folks into poor pronunciation habits.** #### Romaji can be hard to read The other major issue is moving past individual words and reading whole sentences or paragraphs written out in Romaji. Take a look at this self-introduction sample written **entirely in Romaji**: > Hajimemashite. Watashi no namae wa andoruu sumisu desu. Daigaku ninensei desu. Nihongo wo mi ni tsuku you ni ganbatteimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu. That’s a lot of letters and very hard to read! Compare it to the same sentences written **entirely in kana**: > はじめまして。わたしのなまえはアンドルー・スミスです。だいがくにねんせいです。にほんごをみにつくようにがんばっています。よろしくおねがいします。 Somehow, it’s a little easier to get through. That’s because kana represent syllables, or more specifically rhythmic units called “mora,” so the sounds “h” and “a” are combined to become one unit: は. Now see how much smoother it looks when written in **a blend of kanji and kana**: > はじめまして。私わたしの名前なまえはアンドルー・スミスです。大学だいがく二年にねん生せいです。日本語にほんごを身みに付つくように頑張がんばっています。よろしくおねがいします。 > > (Translation: Nice to meet you. My name is Andrew Smith. I'm a sophomore. I'm working hard at learning Japanese currently. Please take good care of me!) Once you can start incorporating kanji into your language learning, reading becomes that much smoother. The point is that Romaji is **a great first step** for wetting your feet in the Japanese language learning journey, but **try not to rely on it for too long**. As you begin to memorize words and grammar points, Romaji will end up slowing you down and hindering your reading speed and comprehension. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## How to use romaji for learning Japanese? Compared with the real Japanese writing systems, romaji is relatively easy to learn for English speakers. They use the same Latin alphabet as English and can be pronounced quite correctly just by instinct. However, you should not just use romaji for learning Japanese. Here are some suggestions: ### Type, don't speak in romaji First of all, Romaji should be treated as a “writing system,” **not a way to learn pronunciation**. You should definitely not rely on Romaji to read or speak Japanese. You’re certainly allowed to type out individual search terms in Romaji using your dictionary app or while browsing Google. You might feel more comfortable writing out the Romaji next to your new vocab words written in Kana. **However, as soon as you feel like you have a good foundation in Kana, drop the Romaji.** The longer you rely on Romaji to help you remember the pronunciation and read texts, the slower your reading comprehension and developmental progress will become. Finally, the last reason to get out of your comfort zone and learn hiragana and katakana is the sense of pride and accomplishment you will feel once you can read Japanese words in [kana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) and[ kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/). There is nothing quite like this bubbling feeling of empowerment, excitement, and pride once you’ve made it passed the barrier of a new writing system. The sphere of possibility in your language learning journey suddenly broadens immensely. ### Unlearn romaji if necessary In short, using romaji is a bad habit if you wish to learn Japanese seriously. By seriously I mean being able to read more than a few lines. So if you're already used to using romaji for everything in Japanese, we suggest you quit this habit and learn proper [Japanese writing systems](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/) instead. But how? The overall idea is to stop seeing romaji. You can start doing this by changing your learning tools. Make sure to use Japanese learning tools that give you the option to turn off romaji and choose display options (like[ LingoDeer](https://lingodeer.page.link/vyCN?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)). We at Lingodeer encourage you to take this step and are honored to share this journey with you! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Final verdict: should I use romaji when learning Japanese? Ultimately, it’s better not to rely on Romaji so much. The [best way to learn Japanese pronunciation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-pronunciation/) is to start with Kana. You’d be surprised how quickly you can learn both [hiragana and katakana](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/jp/en/learn-japanese-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) with the use of websites and apps such as [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! Spend an afternoon or two with flashcards, a spaced-repetition system quiz, or writing out each kana on paper to get used to the flow of the syllables. We guarantee you will have mastered most of the syllabaries and surprise yourself with how much you’ve naturally come to recognize. If you want to go beyond the writing systems and learn more about how to go about Japanese in a more systematic fashion, check out this fellow learner and her [essential guide to learning Japanese from beginner to advanced](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/)! ### Is it enough to learn only Romaji? **NO**. Many beginners may think this way: If Romaji can be used to pronounce Japanese, why should I learn Hiragana and Katakana? Well, actually, Romaji alone **can‘t** perfectly represent the Japanese phonetic system. If you want to speak Japanese standardly **like a native speaker** someday, you are supposed to learn the authentic Japanese alphabet. **Plus, Hiragana and Katakana are not only used for pronunciation** but also an essential part of the Japanese writing system. Thus, you have plenty of reasons to learn them. ### Meet Jeong-eun Heo, the Voice Behind Your Korean Lessons URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/interview-with-the-voice-behind-the-screen-jeong-eun-heo/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T01:23:04.000Z Download [许廷银6.m4a](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/07/ld-audio-049177e8558618ed.m4a?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Quick Answer: Who is the voice featured in LingoDeer’s Korean lesson interview? Jeong-eun Heo (허정은) is introduced as a voice contributor to LingoDeer’s Korean lessons. In this bilingual interview she discusses living in Beijing and Seoul, preparing her voice for recording, practising the Korean ㅅ sound and her interest in clear articulation. | Topic | Key point from this guide | | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | Guest | Jeong-eun Heo (허정은) | | Recording preparation | Avoiding foods that affect her voice and using warm drinks | | Pronunciation example | Repeated practice of ㅅ, including the syllable 수 | *Editorial note:* This summary is extracted from the examples and explanations in the original article; it does not replace their context and usage notes. You have already heard her voice so many times, but you have no idea who she is! If your journey of studying Korean can be compared to sailing in the sea, then her contribution is like the propelling power of the wind - invisible, but indispensable. **She is the voice behind LingoDeer’s Korean lessons - Jeong-eun Heo (허정은).** ![Portrait of Jeong-eun Heo, a voice contributor to LingoDeer Korean lessons](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/Eipgo5dnOWAryNHG__thumbnail.png) Jeong-eun Heo, the voice of LingoDeer's Korean Lessons ## **Q: Tell us about yourself!** **A:** Hello everybody, my name is Jeong-eun Heo. I used to stay in Beijing and **study Chinese for 5 years**. Now I have graduated from college, and am living in Seoul, the capital of Korea. Despite living in Seoul, I miss Beijing very much, especially Guo-bao-rou (known as fried pork in scoop or double cooked pork slices in English, a renowned dish from Northeastern China)! If you ever go to Beijing, please definitely try Guo-bao-rou. I think you will like it too. 안녕하세요, 허정은입니다. 저는 베이징에서 5년 동안 중국어를 공부했어요. 대학교를 졸업한 지금은 한국에 살고 있고요. 저는 한국에 수도인 서울에 살아요. 서울에 살고 있지만 베이징이 너무 그립네요. 특히 꿔바로우가요! 베이징에 가면 꿔바로우를 꼭 먹어보세요. 아마 당신도 좋아할 거예요. ![A plate of guobaorou, Chinese sweet-and-sour pork](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-248f7846a2265f7e.jpg) Jeonge-eun's Beloved Guo-bao-rou, image from Annylee on Steemit ## **Q: What would you do to prepare your voice before a recording?** **A:** On the recording day, I almost **don’t eat any sweet food**. If I eat sweet food before a recording, my voice is likely to crack a lot. Also, as the recordings usually happen in the afternoon, I almost **don’t eat any greasy food for lunch** before that. When my throat feels uncomfortable, I would drink something warm, like a cup of warm Americano, which is my personal preference. 저는 녹음 당일에는 단 음식을 거의 안 먹어요. 단 음식을 먹고 녹음을 하게 되면 목이 갈라지는 소리가 되게 많이 나더라고요. 그리고 녹음도 보통 오후에 있으니까 점심시간에도 기름진 음식은 거의 안 먹는 것 같아요. 또 목이 아플 때는 따뜻한 아메리카노 같은 거 한잔 마셔요. 제가 아메리카노를 좋아하거든요. ![Illustration about preparing the voice for recording by avoiding greasy sweets and drinking warm coffee](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/1-2.png) ## **Q: Is there anything in Korean that you consider particularly hard to pronounce? Anything particularly beautiful-sounding?** **A:** When I recorded for the first time, the ㅅ(s) sound was the most difficult, as it turned out to sound like /f/. In order to fix the pronunciation of ㅅ(s), you have no idea how many time I recorded before it worked. My dream is to be a TV announcer, so I attend an announcer academy in Korea every holiday. Thanks to my hard effort to practice pronunciation and articulation at the announcer academy, I could successfully pronounce the 수 sound well. I personally think that all the pronunciations in Korean sound good. Do you agree with me? It may be a little corny, but **my favorite Korean word is 열정 (passion)**. I think that with passion I am able to do anything. 처음에 녹음했을 땐 시옷 발음이 제일 어려웠어요. 시옷 발음이 f처럼 들렸거든요. 그래서 시옷 발음을 고치려고 정말 몇 번을 녹음했는지 모르겠어요. 제 꿈이 아나운서거든요. 그래서 방학 때마다 한국에서 아나운서 학원을 다녔어요. 아나운서 학원에서 발성이랑 발음을 열심히 연습하다 보니까 그제서야 '수' 발음이 되더라고요. 제 생각에 한국어 발음은 다 듣기 좋은 것 같아요. 다들 공감하시나요? 좀 오글거릴 수도 있지만 제가 제일 좋아하는 단어는 열정이에요. 열정만 있으면 뭐든 다 할 수 있다고 생각하거든요. ![Jeong-eun Heo quote in Korean and English: With passion I am able to do anything](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/2-1.png) ## **Q: If a LingoDeer user travels to Korea, please recommend an interesting activity to him/her and explain the reason.** **A:** If you come to Korea, **please experience wearing a Hanbok** (the traditional Korean clothes) and going to Gyeongbokgung Palace (the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, located in Seoul, Korea). If you wear a Hanbok, you can enter Gyeongbokgung Palace for free. Even if you don’t have a Hanbok, you can find many places around that area to rent one. By paying around 20000 won (≈ 17 US dollars), you can even get your hair nicely done in addition to the Hanbok. With the outfit and hairstyling, it would be nicer to take many pictures. I also did this with my friends recently and I liked it. 한국에 오면 한복을 입고 경복궁에 한번 가보세요. 한복을 입고 가면 입장이 무료거든요. 한복이 없어도 그 주변에 빌릴 수 있는 곳이 되게 많거든요. 2만 원 정도 내면 머리도 예쁘게 손질해 줘요. 그러면 더 사진 찍을 맛도 나는 것 같고, 음 저도 최근에 친구들이랑 한번 갔다 왔는데 되게 괜찮더라고요. ## **Q: Are you fascinated by any film, TV or literary works recently? Please tell us about it.** **A:** I enjoy watching variety shows rather than TV dramas recently. **Among the variety shows, I find Knowing Bros the most interesting.** You probably also have times when you simply want to laugh without having anything on your mind. At a time like that, watching Knowing Bros seems to really have a healing effect. Sugeun Lee (이수근) is the funniest one among the MCs, who are referred to as “knowing bros”. He is a total comedian from head to toe. 저는 요즘 드라마보다는 예능을 즐겨보고요. 예능 중에서는 아는 형님이 제일 재밌는 것 같아요. 진짜 아무 생각 없이 웃고 싶을 때 있잖아요. 그럴 때 아는 형님을 보면 정말 힐링 되는 것 같아요. 아는 형님 중에서는 이수근이 제일 웃긴 것 같고요. 이수근은 진짜로 뼛속까지 개그맨인 것 같아요. Last but not least... If you find LingoDeer’s lessons helpful, **please give us support and love** by subscribing to our membership plan! Thank you so much. 링고디어가 도움이 되셨다면 많은 격려와 사랑부탁드립니다. 감사합니다! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Where did Jeong-eun Heo study? She says she studied Chinese in Beijing for five years and later lived in Seoul. ### How does she prepare on recording days? She describes avoiding sweet and greasy foods and choosing a warm drink when her throat feels uncomfortable. ### Which sound did she find difficult in recording? She identifies ㅅ and explains that repeated recording and articulation practice helped her improve it. ### Why does the article include Korean passages? They preserve her answers in Korean and can be used alongside the English text for listening and reading practice. *Scope:* These answers summarize this article. Language varies by context, speaker and region, so consult the full examples before applying an expression. ### Korean Verbs: When and How Are They Conjugated? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-verbs-conjugation-guide/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:55.000Z ## What is the Korean Verb Conjugation? ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Why learn Korean verb conjugations? Korean verb conjugations are the most important part of [Korean sentences](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/). It’s essential to learn Korean verbs to fully understand the language. The more verbs you understand, the better you can communicate and read the text. It’s also important to learn how to conjugate verbs so that you can properly convey your thoughts and speak naturally with fewer mistakes. Verb conjugations are prevalent to achieve grammatical functions in Korean. Korean verb conjugations determine the tense, mood, and context of sentences. So, when you learn how to properly conjugate verbs, your Korean language comprehension is enhanced. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Different Forms of Korean Verbs Different forms of Korean verbs include dictionary form, verb stem, sentence ending form, noun modifier form, passive verb, causative verb, indirect quotation form, etc. ![korean verbs: examples of korean verb forms ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/991.png) This table isn't even exhaustive of all the possible forms for these verbs, but don’t get overwhelmed! ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/1-3.png) ## How Does Korean Verb Conjugation Work? Basically, the verb stem stays consistent, and the verb ending changes. ![Formation of Korean verbs ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/1.png) Each verb in Korean has two parts: a word stem and a word ending or suffix. Verbs can also be quite long because of all the suffixes that mark grammatical contrasts. To conjugate a Korean verb, the first step is to separate the word stem from the “다” ending, which is a word ending used to make a verb’s dictionary form. Then, we can transform, or conjugate, the dictionary form into the many different forms by adding another word ending behind the word stem. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/1-3.png) ## When Are Korean Verb Conjugations Needed? ![korean verbs: korean vs. english factors for verb conjugation ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/caca.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### First/second/third person of subject? No In many languages, a verb conjugation depends on the subject of a sentence. However, Korean grammar does not make any differentiation. Sample sentences: 그는 동물을 사랑해요→ He loves animals. 저는 동물을 사랑해요 → I love animal. The subject is 3rd person and the verb “love” should be conjugated into “loves”. But in Korean, 사랑해요 is the same with the verb in a sentence with the first-person subject. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Singularity/plurality of subject? No Korean verbs are always conjugated in the same manner, regardless of the number of people. 그는 동물을 사랑해요 → He loves animals. 그들은 동물을 사랑해요 → They love animal. The verb 사랑해요 does not change according to the number of people in the subject. ![korean verbs: English vs. Korean verb conjugation for the subject](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/5.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Past, present, future tense? Yes In English, *loved*, *love*, and *will love* are past, present, future tense forms of the verb “love”. Korean verbs also show the tenses by conjugation. 사랑했어요 → loved 사랑해요 → love 사랑할 거예요 → will love ![Korean verb conjugation for tense](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lala.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Formality & Politeness? Yes Conjugations happen differently depending on [formality and politeness level](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). Formal Polite→ 저는 동물을 사랑합니다 Informal Polite → 저는 동물을 사랑해요 Casual → 나는 동물을 사랑해 [](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Speech Act? Yes Korean conjugations even determine if you ask or order for something. For more information about different Korean sentence structures of different speech acts, read [Korean Sentence Structures: A Complete Overview](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/). 저는 동물을 사랑해요 → I love animals. 동물을 사랑해주세요 → Please love animals. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Passive? Yes When a verb is changed to passive, the verb is conjugated with some infixes like -이, -히, -기, -리. Not all verbs have passive forms. 먹다 + -히 = 먹히다 → to be eaten 보다 + -이= 보이다 → to be seen ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Causative? Yes This form is also made by attaching some infixes like -이, -히,-리,-기,-우-추. 먹다 + -이 = 먹이다 → to make eat 보다 + -이 = 보이다 → to show ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Modifying nouns? Yes To modify nouns, verbs can be added to the suffix -는, which is to show the ongoing action for the verb. 내가 사랑하는 사람 → The one that I love 사랑하다 + -는 = 사랑하는 It modifies the noun 사람. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Indirect quotation? Yes When citing what someone said, -고 can be attached and used with the verb 하다. 그는 동물을 사랑해요 → He loves animals. 그는 동물을 사랑한다고 했어요 → He said that he loves animals. 사랑하다 + -고 + 했어요 = 사랑한다고 했어요 ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/1-3.png) ## Korean Verb Conjugation For Formality & Politeness For more information about Korean formality, politeness, and honorifics, read [The definitive guide to Korean speech levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Conjugation Rules for the Three Most Common Speech Levels In Korean, you must consider formality and politeness level when speaking, especially because different conjugations of the same word can depend on who you’re speaking to. Korean verbs should be conjugated according to the speech level. ![korean verb conjugation for 3 most common speech levels ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/88.png) - **Formal Polite** To make a formal and polite speech, you have to add \~ㅂ니다/습니다 at the end of your sentence. If a word stem ends in a vowel, you add \~ㅂ니다. If a word stem ends in a consonant, you add \~습니다. 보다 + ㅂ니다 = 봅니다 see 먹다 + -습니다 = 먹습니다 eat 하다 + ㅂ니다 = 합니다 do 사랑합니다 + ㅂ니다 = 사랑합니다 love - **Casual** The rule of choosing between 아 and 어 is decided by the character that’s in front of 다. If the last vowel in the verb is ㅏor ㅗ, it should use 아. Otherwise, it should use 어. 먹다(eat) +어 = 먹어 → eat If the verb stem ends in a vowel, the 아 or 어 will combine with the previous syllable. 보다 (see) + 아 = 보아 -> 봐 (ㅗ + 아 = ㅘ) → see If the verb stem is 하, you add 여and 하여 can be shortened to 해. 하다 → 해 do 사랑하다 → 사랑해 love - **Rule of Thumb - Informal Polite** This is done the exact same way as the informal form, but you can just add ‘-요’ to the end of the word. In Korea, the \~요 ending adds respect and politeness to your sentences, as shown in the examples below. 먹어 + 요 = 먹어요 → eat 봐 + 요 = 봐요 → see 해 + 요 = 해요 → do 사랑해 + 요 = 사랑해요 → love ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/1-3.png) ## Korean Verb Conjugation For Tense ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Conjugation Rules for Present, Past and Future The usage of present tense has already been illustrated through the sentences in the previous section, so this section will focus on other tenses. ![Korean verb conjugation for past, present and future tense](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/7.png) - **Past Tense** In this case, if the verb stem ends in either ㅗ or ㅏ, you add -았 and -어요 to the word stem. Otherwise, add 었+어요. If the verb is하다, its stem 하 is attached to 였 + 어요. 먹다 + 었어요 = 먹었어요 → ate 보다 + 았어요 = 보았어요 → saw (It’s shortened to 봤어요) 하다 + 였어요 = 하였어요 → did (Can be shortened to 했어요) 사랑하다 + 였어요 = 사랑하였어요 = 사랑했어요 → loved ![Korean past tense verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/3.png) - **Future Tense (will+verb)** There is more than one way to express the future tense, but we will consider only the most common ways for future tense. First, remove the -다 from the verb and add -ㄹ if the verb ends in a vowel or -을 if it ends in a consonant. 먹다 + 을 거예요 = 먹을 거예요 → will eat 보다 + ㄹ 거예요 = 볼 거예요 → will see 하다 + ㄹ 거예요 = 할 거예요 → will do 사랑하다 = ㄹ 거예요 = 사랑할 거예요→ will love Second, you can conjugate verbs to the future tense by adding -겠어요 to the stem of the word. 먹다 + 겠어요 = 먹겠어요 보다 + 겠어요 = 보겠어요 하다 + 겠어요 = 하겠어요 사랑하다 = 겠어요 = 사랑하겠어요 ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/4-1.png) ### Other tenses? Korean only has three tenses: present, past and future, but they also express the progressive and perfect aspect through verb conjugations. ![Korean verb conjugation for progressive & perfect aspect](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/8.png) - **Present Progressive (am/is/are + verb-ing)** To conjugate Korean verbs into present progressive tense, you drop the 다 ending and add -고 있어요. 먹다 + -고 있어요 = 먹고 있어요 → is eating 보다 + -고 있어요 = 보고 있어요 → is seeing 하다 + -고 있어요 = 하고 있어요 → is doing 사랑하다 + -고 있어요 = 사랑하고 → 있어요 is loving - **Past Perfect** This tense is used when talking about an event that doesn’t continue in the present, or a past event that separates itself from the present. In other words, the past perfect is used to describe an action taking place before a certain time in the past. If verb stem ends in vowel ㅏ or ㅗ, it is formed by adding -았었어요 to the stem. Otherwise, -었었어요 is added. For verbs ending 하다, -였었어요 is added. 먹다 + -었었어요= 먹었었어요 → ate 보다 + -았었어요 = 보았었어요 -> 봤었어요 → saw 하다 + -였었어요= 하였었어요 -> 했었어요 → did 사랑하다 + -였었어요= 사랑하였었어요 -> 사랑했었어요→ loved ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/1-3.png) ## Still a Long Way to Go Don’t be overwhelmed. The more you learn, the easier it gets! It’s said that, in Korean, there are over 40 basic word endings and over 400 combinations of these endings, but you do not have to be intimidated. Korean word endings are numerous, but are quite regular and common. The more you learn, the easier proper verb conjugation gets! The conjugation system is the core of Korean grammar. When you learn how it works, it will help you to understand the beauty of Korean language and culture much more. Thankfully,[ LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) covers everything you need to get started on learning Korean — conjugations, causative verbs, passive verbs, [sentence structures](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/) of different speech acts, noun modifying forms, indirect quotations, etc. It also has another practice tool [LingoDeer Plus](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-plus/) where you can practice verb conjugation and multiple language skills easily! Give them a try if you wish to learn or practice Korean by yourself! ### What is Otaku? Meaning, History, Types and More URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/what-is-otaku/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:00:58.000Z What is a Otaku in your mind? If you live in Japan, you may think of chubby, long-haired men with glasses in a plaid shirt walking in Akihabara. If you live in America, you may think of someone who dresses like it is Halloween every day and talks in a weird way. But these could just be biased views or stereotypes of Otaku. Well then, what does “Otaku” really mean? What kind of person is a Otaku? ![Japanese cosplay](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/muhammad-faiz-zulkeflee-qNCOVaOmzSo-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Muhammad Faiz Zulkeflee on Unsplash ## What Is an Otaku? According to Cambridge Dictionary, an Otaku is a young person who is very interested in and knows a lot about computers, computer games, anime, etc., but may find it difficult to talk to people in real life. According to the definition, aside from having an obsessive interest in something, "Otaku" also has the nuance of being less social or lacking basic knowledge in other areas. However, you may find that this definition is not agreed upon by everyone. **Actually, the meaning of Otaku varies according to different people.** One example is that people nowadays are using “xx Otaku” to describe someone who has a strong interest in different areas. But in this article, we will mainly focus on Anime Otaku. ### The History of Otaku The word Otaku is derived from a Japanese honorific, 御宅（Otaku）, which means “you” or “your house”. Now it is normally written in hiragana “おたく” or katakana “オタク” to show a distinguished meaning from the original word “御宅”. The modern slang form was first used by the humorist and essayist Nakamori Akio in 1983 in his essay “Research for Otaku”. He used the word in a pejorative way to refer to unpleasant anime fans. **After that, anime fan groups started to use the term “Otaku” to label themselves in a self-mockery way.** In 1989, the word “Otaku” attracted wide public attention as Otaku murderer Tsutomu Miyazaki randomly selected and murdered four girls. In his bungalow, the police found 5,763 videotapes, including anime and slasher films. Thus, the media labeled Miyazaki as an “Otaku murderer” and the event generated a moral panic against Otaku, marking them as dangerous, aberrant murderers. Even now, some Japanese still hold negative views of Otaku because of this event. More recently, Hachiro Taku, a freelance writer who calls himself "Otaku Critic", appeared on a bunch of TV programs where he acted like a madman. His neurotic performance on TV is considered to be a major factor for Otaku to be labeled as "a person who became abnormal or mad due to being overly absorbed in his hobbies." Since the 1990s, the negative connotation of the word “Otaku” has gradually diminished. People have started to use the word affirmatively to refer to a person with a passionate interest in something. When the Otaku culture started to boom in English-speaking countries, people tried to translate the Japanese word “おたく” into "geek" or "nerd", but they find both are unable to express the whole original meaning of Japanese word "Otaku". **“Geek” cannot express the feeling of the subculture, while “nerd” is a derogatory term describing people’s personalities.** As a result, the romaji of the Japanese word “おたく” became widely used in the West. ### Otaku in [Hiragana and Katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) Interestingly, though Otaku is written as “おたく” in hiragana or “オタク” in katakana, the two forms are slightly different. Since the hiragana word was once frequently used to describe people who love Erotic Manga, in many middle-aged Japanese people’s minds, the word still has a pornographic meaning. In contrast, the katakana word is now used by the Japanese government to promote “Otaku Economics” or “Otaku International Soft Power”, which makes the word more formal and approvable. However, for the younger generation, either form is OK. ### Best Places for Otaku **The district of Akihabara in Tokyo is a notable attraction center for Otaku.** There, you will find dozens of maid cafés featuring waitresses who dress up and act like maids or anime characters, as well as stores specializing in anime, manga, retro video games, figurines, card games and other collectibles. When talking about Otaku, “Akiba (Akihabara)” is the typical place that most Japanese people will think of. **By the way, if you live in America, Seattle could be a good place for you to get a taste of Otaku culture,** as well as Japanese culture as a whole. You may find yourself immersed in Japanese culture through all kinds of large events such as the Summertime Cosplay Picnic, the Seattle International Butoh Festival, Japan Fair, the Dragon Festival, and the Bon Odori Festival. ![Japanese buildings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/jordan-duca-aOqEXM_zI_4-unsplash.jpg) Photo by jordan duca on Unsplash ## What types of otaku are there? Now that you understand what Otaku means, let’s look at different subtypes of Otaku. Here are some interesting examples. You may hear these words now and then when talking to Japanese people. - **Vocaloid Otaku** - **Gundam Otaku** - **Fujoshi** - **Reki-jo** **Vocaloid Otaku** refers to a person who is in love with Vocaloid. Vocaloid has become a trend across the globe within the past 15 years, with Hatsune Miku at the center of it all. Miku is a Vocaloid software voicebank with a moe anthropomorph that looks like a cute, big-eye teenage girl. But in the eyes of Mikufans, Miku is far more than a “voicebank”. “She” is alive. Miku's fans are doing anything you can imagine to show their love for Miku. They create music pieces using her voice, do cosplays of her, draw illustrations of her, decorate shrines of her and even marry her. An obsessive fan called Akihiko Kondo literally held a wedding ceremony for Miku and himself in Dec 2018\. The ceremony cost around 2 million yen, which is almost all the money he had. After the ceremony, Akihiko started to live with Miku every day. He posted photos of Miku doing everything: reading, eating, sleeping, chatting on the phone, and playing with the Switch. A **Gundam Otaku** is a fan of Gundam. The Gundam series is seen as the representative of robot anime. Many said they had not expected their hobby for Gundam to be so expensive. They said once you started collecting the first model kit, it was much more likely that you would continue collecting more and more. Maybe that is the reason why Gundam ranked as the top 15 highest-grossing media franchises of all time in 2018, estimated to have generated more than $20 billion in total retail sales. The impact of Gundam can be seen in various other aspects. For example, you can find post stamps featuring Gundam, a train station playing Gundam theme music as its departure melody, cars themed around the Gundam mech cockpit, and even the “Gundam Project” of the Japanese Self Defense Force. ![Japanese anime models](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/daily-choice-atVCKBxKiqQ-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Daily Choice on Unsplash **Fujoshi** refers to female fans of yaoi, which focuses on homosexual male relationships. Fujoshi is sometimes used as a derogatory word for women who have Otaku hobbies. **Reki-jo** are female history buffs. Initially, the term was used to describe women with Otaku tastes towards characterized Japanese historical figures, but now the meaning has been expanded to ordinary women who visit tourist spots and simply love history. Of course, there are many other Otaku, like pasokon (computer) Otaku, voice actress (seiyuu) Otaku, military Otaku, robot Otaku, and so on. ### Am I a "real" Otaku? At the end of the day, you may want to know if you yourself could be labeled as “Otaku”. People may set different standards for "real Otaku", but you can call yourself "Otaku" if you want to. The definition of the word just depends on who's defining it. You may have watched 1000 different anime but you do not like to label yourself as "Otaku", or you may watch anime or read manga once a week but you believe you are a true Otaku. ## Is Otaku a Bad Word? It depends. **It depends on where you are**. As previously mentioned, in Japan, Otaku is generally regarded as an offensive word for historical reasons. But in the West, the word is used to refer to passionate consumers of anime and manga. **It also varies according to different people**. Even in Japan, the lifestyle of Otaku has gradually gained traction among Japanese youth and adolescents. The reason could be the intense work and academic culture in contemporary Japan. ## What's the difference between a Weeaboo and otaku? **An Otaku is someone who is obsessed with anime or manga, but a weeaboo is a westerner who wants to be Japanese.** Weeaboos will usually pepper in some Japanese words they learned from anime or manga like “kawaii” “sugoi” or “baka” in daily speech and tend to speak like a manga character. Some other words similar to weeaboo are wapanese (wanna-be-Japanese) and weeb. ![Difference between a Weeaboo and otaku](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-db90a72cce0700ea.png) A person could be Otaku and weeaboo at the same time. **This is because weeaboos usually love anime like Otaku do, which is why they want to act like anime characters.** ## Otaku vs. Hikikomori (shut-ins) Hikikomori refers to people who withdraw from society to seek extreme social isolation. They prefer staying alone rather than hold events like anime conventions as Otaku do. Different from Hikikomori who tend to avoid all social connections, Otaku communities are highly social and networked. ## Why Are There So Many Otaku? You can find the answer in the popularity of Japanese anime. According to the Association of Japanese Animations, its 60 anime production company members are now providing products in 112 countries to around 87.2 percent of the world's population. **People love Japanese anime mainly because it broke the convention that animation is just for kids.** Since it is targeted to grown-ups, the anime always has intense storylines, complex characters, and real-life issues. Also, anime is illustrated, so it has the advantage of being flexible in creating facial expressions and silly visuals. Otaku culture first started in Japan after World War Ⅱ. That was a time when Japanese people tried to seek hope and comfort, facing the reality of poverty and desperation. **Anime and manga were seen as ways to escape from cruel reality.** Though Japan has achieved considerable development since then, people nowadays are still using anime and manga to escape from reality and seek comfort. Japanese society is considered one of the most stress-filled societies in the world. Due to the restrictive culture and stressful work life, suicide has become a major social issue in Japan. While reality makes you cry, anime and manga can provide you with a place to rest. **As an Otaku, you can not only be consoled by anime and manga but also find solace in fan groups.** When communicating with friends who share common interests with you, the flames of hope could be ignited again. Then why was Otaku culture able to gain popularity across the world? As Susan Napier (2007) suggested in her book *From Impressionism to Anime*, > European and American otaku and 19th-century impressionists are united by almost the same theme: aesthetic pleasure, intercultural fascination, and Japanophilia. On the one hand, the unique culture shown in Japanese anime and manga, like Zen Buddhism, Ninja, and Bushido is very attractive to Euro-Americans. On the other hand, modern Japanese culture has learned a lot from the Western world, which makes Japanese otaku culture much easier to accept by westerners. For example, Osamu Tezuka, the father of contemporary manga and anime, called himself a big fan of Disney animation. ## From Subculture to Mainstream Culture Though Otaku culture used to be perceived as a typical subculture, it now plays more and more of an important role in mainstream society. The Japanese government has also noticed the cultural influence of Otaku and now regards it as an important part of international soft power. ### The Economic Value of Otaku culture According to a survey by Nomura Research Institute, the market size of enthusiast consumers of Otaku in 2004 was 1.27 million in 12 major fields, amounting to 411.0 billion yen. Other institutions have estimated the economic impact of Otaku to be as high as ¥2 trillion ($18 billion). Though the Japanese economy seems to have been on the decline for the past several years, **the market for Otaku merchandise stays steady.** The market could be even larger as Otaku culture becomes popular in other countries. In addition, local governments all over Japan are starting projects to help promote hidden tourist attractions related to Otaku culture. They want to attract more Otaku to their city. There are already successful examples of this, such as "Moe okoshi" (to use Otaku or Moe culture to promote regional development) in Saitama. **In a word, though Otaku was once considered a subculture, it is now being accepted and assimilated into mainstream culture.** Otaku is making great contributions to the economic development of Japan and other parts of the world. Now, let’s think about the question again: what image of Otaku do you have? ## More than Otaku Japanese culture is not all about anime and manga. Otaku is just one of the countless labels people have given to aspects of this country’s rich culture. Through their long history, Japanese people have created a splendid culture. If you approach it with an open mind, you will be fascinated by the elegant color of Ukiyo-e, the beauty of the Dancing Girl of Izu, the deep sound of Taiko, the aesthetic poems in the Tale of Genji, and so on. ![A Japanese ancien street](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/photo-1493976040374-85c8e12f0c0e.jpg) Photo by Sorasak on Unsplash If you want to truly understand Japanese culture, [learning Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/) is an essential step. Firstly, talking to people in their own languages can lead your conversation to a deeper level. Secondly, the language itself contains numerous cultural messages. Lingodeer aims to not only help you master the language, but also provide you with a window into Japanese culture. [Start this extraordinary exploration with us.](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/jp/en/learn-japanese-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ### Korean Sentence Structures: A Complete Overview URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-sentence-structures-a-complete-overview/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:01:01.000Z ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## A Quick Impression of Korean Sentence Structures Korean sentence structure is frequently regarded as one of the most challenging parts in learning Korean as a foreign language. - Basic word order in Korean: SOV - Basic word order in English: SVO ![Random star wars fact](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/2e8qhg.jpg) image source: greg2630 - imgflip Let’s consider English as an example. English is a Subject-Verb-Object language, which means that the subject always comes before the verb, and the object comes after the verb. For instance, in the sentence "I eat apples", "I" is the Subject, "eat" is the Verb， and "apples" is the Object. However, the Korean language works with a Subject-Object-Verb structure, so verbs and adjectives are placed at the *end* of a sentence. Therefore, the same sentence above would be organized as "I apples eat." Example sentences in this article are all in simple present tense and Hapsyo-che (formal honorific speech). For more information about [Korean speech levels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/). ![korean sentence structure: Korean sentence structure vs. English](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/korean-vs-english-sentence.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Basic Korean Sentence Structures of Various Speech Acts Let’s see some different types of basic Korean sentence structures. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Statement Sentence - Subject + Noun (이다 to be) The Korean verb “이다” (i-da) means “to be”, which serves like an English “be”-verb in a subject+noun sentence. **Key Points:** → 이다 is neither a verb nor an adjective, but it can be conjugated like either one. → 이다 is used to indicate that a noun *is* indeed a noun. Common structure is Noun1은/는 and Noun2\[이다\], Sample sentence: **나는 학생이다** (Naneun haksang ida) → I am a student With the same meaning, this sentence can be changed into: **저는 학생입니다** (Jeoneun haksang imnida) → I am a student Comparing the two sentences, “저” (Jeo) is more formal than 나 (Na) and -ㅂ입니다 is the formal and polite ending of “이다” . ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English subject + noun sentence ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/subject-noun-question.png) - Subject + verb English speakers learning Korean will be relieved to know that making a Korean sentence without an object is the same structure in English. **First comes the subject, then comes the verb.** Let’s take a look at some more examples. 저는 달립니다 (jeoneun dalrimnida) → **I run.** 달립니다**\= 달리다** (To run) **\+ -ㅂ니다** (Polite/formal ending of 달리다) 저는 노래합니다 (jeoneun noraehamnida) **→ I sing** 노래합니다**\= 노래하다** (To sing) **\+ -ㅂ니다** (Polite/formal ending of 노래하다) ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English subject + verb sentence ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/subjectverb.png) - Subject + object + verb This sentence structure has already been explained before. English: I drink water. Korean S+O+V pattern in English: I water drink. 저는 물을 마십니다. (jeoneun mulreul masimnida) - Subject + adjective As mentioned before, the verb 이다 isn’t used in subject + adjective sentences. When we use adjectives in English, we must use the be-verb. For example, the sentence “The picture is beautiful” can’t be said as “The picture beautiful” without the verb “to be” or "is". Adjectives in Korean can function like verbs if they are conjugated into present and past tenses. However, when describing nouns using adjectives placed in front of them, like “a beautiful picture”, the adjectives must be conjugated to a descriptive form. Thus, we don’t use “이다” when describing a subject in a subject + adjective sentence in Korean. Take a look at the picture to see that 이다 isn’t used in these types of sentences: ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English subject + adjective sentence](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/subjectadjective.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Question Sentence - “Yes/No” questions Another sentence structure commonly used in Korean are “Yes/No” questions. “Yes/No” questions commonly begin with “do”, “will”, “can”, and more. Unlike the required “do”, “will”, “can”, etc. needed at the beginning of English yes-no questions, Korean language formulates a yes-no question simply by changing the sentence ending, from -ㅂ/습니다 in statements into -ㅂ/습니까 as questions. All other elements in the sentence remain in their places. -ㅂ니까 is added to end-vowel stems, and 습니까 is added after end-consonant stems. Sample Sentence: 당신은 학생입니까? (Dangsineun hakssaeng imnikka?) → Are you a student? ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English yes/no question (1)](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/subjectnoun.png) 당신은 사과를 먹습니까? (Dangshineun sagwareul moksumnikka?) → Do you eat apples? ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English yes/no question (2)](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/yes-no-question.png) - Five Ws In English, the Five Ws (Who, What, Where, When, Why) are questions that begin with letters “wh”. Syntacticians, or linguists who specialize in grammar and syntax, describe this process as “wh-movement”. Compared with a statement, a Five W (“wh-”) question in English changes the element in question into its corresponding wh-word and moves the wh-word to the beginning of the sentence, then the supporting “do” is placed after the wh-word. Korean questions are simpler - they keep the wh-word in its place and don’t require do support. The question word – where, who, when, what, etc. – doesn’t need to come at the beginning of the sentence. It stays in the same place where the missing information that is being asked for would be included in the corresponding answer. Sample sentence: 당신은 무엇을 먹습니까? → What do you eat? (Dangsineun muoseul moksseumnikka?) ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English Five Ws](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/wh-question.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Command Sentence - Verb In English, we can simply add “please” before a command to make it polite. In Korean, a single-verb command is expressed by conjugating the verb into an imperative ending. You can add -(으)십시오 to a verb stem. Similarly to English, a command in Korean does not have a subject. In English, we can simply add “please” before a command to make it polite. In Korean, single-verb command endings like -(으)십시오 can be expressed by conjugating the verb into an imperative ending. Like English, Korean doesn’t have a subject when using command sentence structure. Sample sentence： 가십시오. (Ka sibsio) → (Please) go. ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English verb only command](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/verb-command.png) - Object + verb Similar to a statement sentence, a Korean command also puts the object before the verb, which is the opposite of English. Sample sentence: 사과를 드십시오 (먹으십시오). (Sagwareul deusibsio) → (Please) eat apples. ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English command](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/verb-object-command.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Invitation Sentence Invitation is a special type of sentence structure in Korean. English doesn't have such a grammar, but usually, invitations are expressed in a “Let’s + verb” structure, while Korean invitational expressions are formed by conjugating the verb ending with -(으)ㅂ시다. - Verb 갑시다. (kapsida) → Let’s go. - Object + verb 사과를 먹읍시다. (sagwareul mokeupsida) → Let’s eat apples. ![korean sentence structure: Korean vs. English invitation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/invitation.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Korean Particles: Indispensable in Korean Sentence Structures In order to better understand and form Korean sentences, you should be aware of markers or particles in Korean. Having a tight grasp on Korean particles is necessary, as there are no official translations of these particles to English, as English speakers don’t use any grammar functions like them. Particles are attached to words in Korean sentences. They indicate which word is **the subject or object in a sentence**. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Topic vs. Subject Marking Particles 이/가 are used for the subject of the sentence. 는/은 are the particles used to indicate the topic of the sentence. The topic is like the subject of a sentence, but with some differences. The topic marker puts the emphasis on the **verb** while the subject marker places emphasis on the **subject**. 그**는** 고양이를 봅니다. (keuneun koyangireul bomnida) →He **sees** a cat. It emphasizes on the fact that he **sees** a cat. 그**가** 고양이를 봅니다. (keuga koyangireul bomnida) → It’s **him** who sees a cat. In this sentence, the emphasis would be on him, **who** sees the cat. We encourage you to read more about subject and topic marker particles on our blog! See more here: [Understand the Difference between 은/는 and 이/가 in 2 Minutes](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-subject-topic-particles/) ![korean sentence structure: Korean subject and object marking particles](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/topic-subject-particle.png) Korean Subject and Topic Marking Particles ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Object Marking particles Particles 를 and 을 are placed after a word to indicate **the object** of a sentence. Example: 저는 영화**를** 봅니다. (Jeoneun yeonghwaleul bonida) → I watch a movie. 를 marks that “A movie” is the object in the sentence. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Adding adverbials in Korean Sentence Essentially, adverbials give more information about an action word. They can be a single word (happily, here) or phrase (at work, in two days) and state how, where, when or how frequently something occurs or is done. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Adding Manner in Korean Sentence 저는 밥을 맛있게 먹습니다. → I eat rice deliciously . 저는 열심히 공부합니다. → I study hard . In English, we can put adverbs before or after verbs, whereas Korean adverbs should be added before the verb they are describing. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Adding Time in Korean sentence 저는 어제 밥을 먹었습니다. → I ate rice yesterday . 어제 저는 밥을 먹었습니다. → Yesterday I ate rice. To be more specific time-specific, say from the largest units to the smallest ones. 저는 어제 오전 8시에 일어났습니다. → " Yesterday I woke up at 8am ." ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Adding Place in Korean Sentence 저는 식당에서 밥을 먹었습니다. I ate rice at the restaurant . Locations are put between subject and object or before verbs. -에서 is location particle, which is similar with “at/in” in English. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Particle 에 Particle 에 is similar with “to”. It makes a word become a location. 저는 학교에 갑니다. → I go to school . 그는 서울에 일을 하러 갑니다 → He goes to Seoul to work. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Summary Complete Korean sentence structure (declarative): **subject + time + place + object + manner + verb** Sample sentence: 저는 요즘 집에서 한국어를 열심히 공부합니다. I study Korean at home very hard these days. ![korean sentence structure: 저는 요즘 집에서 한국어를 열심히 공부합니다. ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/full-sentence.png) ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## The Flexibility of Korean Sentence Structures Korean sentence structures are actually quite flexible. Let's learn a couple of rules of flexibly forming sentences and sound more native. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Possibility to omit the subject in Korean Sentence Structure Unlike English, it is quite common to omit the subject in Korean sentences. 저는 사과를 먹습니다 → I eat apples Subject-Object-Verb This can also be written as: 사과를 먹습니다 → I eat apples (Subject)–Object–Verb Like the second case, if the Subject is inferred from the context by the readers or speakers, you can drop it from the sentence. Depending on a situation or context, it is possible to speak without a subject. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Possibility to omit some particles in colloquial Korean Sentence Koreans, especially in spoken Korean, often omit the particles from sentences when the context is enough to make clear what the subject or object in a sentence is even without particles. 저는 사과(를) 먹습니다. → I eat apples. 그는 영어(를) 공부합니다. → He studies English. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Flexible word order in colloquial Korean Sentence When the meaning is clear or roles are marked clearly with particles, **Koreans occasionally just switch the order in a casual conversation.** All the components can move to any position in a sentence. As mentioned, particles clearly **mark what is the subject or object in a sentence**, so Koreans can tell what’s the subject or the object no matter what. 저는 사과를 먹습니다. → I eat apples. 사과를 저는 먹습니다. → I eat apples. 사과를 먹습니다 저는. → I eat apples. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Learn & Practice more sentences with LingoDeer ### Learn and practice what has been mentioned - Declaratives, Questions, Imperatives, Invitations LingoDeer has about 100 lessons covering the different kinds of Korean sentence structures, including declaratives, questions, imperatives, and invitations. Specifically, LingoDeer provides declarative sentences with various topics and situations, namely four lessons for questions, two for imperatives and one for an invitation. You can practice these sentences in the Review section where quizzes and activities such as listening, word-matching and free typing are available. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### More to learn about Korean sentences - Negation - [Speech levels & Honorifics](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/) - Existence - Suggestions - [And so much more! ](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) LingoDeer’s curriculum also covers many lessons for other types of sentences like negation, honorifics, and suggestions. Users enjoy how LingoDeer organically integrates these sentences in lessons, and how the sentences are so practical that you can use them in real life! LingoDeer also reviews *negation*, one of the trickiest concepts for foreign learners to understand. Thankfully, LingoDeer offers three lessons for this topic so learners can gradually acquire and practice new skills using negation with confidence. [Start learning now.](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **Latest Posts** ### A Complete Guide to Hangul – How to Learn them Fast and Easily URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet-hangul/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T08:58:13.000Z Download [kr-m-zy-soe-1.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/06/kr-m-zy-soe-1.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Is Hangul the first thing to learn if you’re an absolute beginner to Korean? The answer is a definite yes! As the Korean alphabet, Hangul is one of the easiest writing systems in the world. After learning Hangul, you will be able to read anything written in Korean. Doesn’t that sound magical? So why still use romanization that only hinders your Korean learning? Let's learn Hangul, which is guaranteed to be an effective, cheerful, and motivational start to your [Korean learning](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) journey! ## Korean Alphabet Hangul ### What is Hangul Hangul (한글) is the official writing system for South Korea. The term Hangul can be used interchangeably with the Korean Alphabet. Hangul consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels. To form Korean characters, Hangul letters are grouped into **syllabic blocks**, which is explained in more detail in [LingoDeer's hangul lesson](https://www.lingodeer.com/korean-alphabet/hangul?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). In this article, we will focus only on the basics of hangul: Korean consonants and vowels. ### Korean Consonant ![Hangul: Korean Consonants Chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/consonant.png) The above image shows all 19 [Korean consonants](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-consonants/) and how to easily remember them with English mnemonics. Note that the English letters in red are only very similar to, but not 100% the same as, the pronunciation of these Korean letters. For example, the letter ㄹ actually has no English counterpart. It sounds like but is not exactly the same as l or r in English. In order to fully grasp the pronunciation of Korean letters, we suggest using tools like [LingoDeer](https://lingodeer.page.link/NQLj?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) which has native speaker audio and pronunciation guide to learn more comprehensively. Give it a try for free here. ### Korean Vowels ![Hangul: Korean Vowels Chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/vowels.png) The 21 [Korean vowels](https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-vowels/) are divided into two categories: simple vowels and complex vowels. Single vowels are easy to pronounce as they are produced with a single articular movement. Complex vowels are formed by 2 single vowels. The trick to complesx vowels in Korean is to glide from one single vowel to another without any breaks. ### Hangul Pronunciation | **Hangul** | **Romanization** | **Pronunciation** | | --------------------- | ---------------- | ----------------- | | **Korean Consonants** | | | | **ㄱ** | g/k | | | **ㄴ** | n | | | **ㄷ** | d/t | | | **ㄹ** | r/l | | | **ㅁ** | m | | | **ㅂ** | b/p | | | **ㅅ** | s(/t) | | | **ㅇ** | ng | | | **ㅈ** | j/ch | | | **ㅊ** | ch(/t) | | | **ㅋ** | k | | | **ㅌ** | t | | | **ㅍ** | p | | | **ㅎ** | h | | | **Korean Vowels** | | | | **ㅏ** | a | | | **ㅐ** | ae | | | **ㅑ** | ya | | | **ㅒ** | yae | | | **ㅓ** | eo | | | **ㅔ** | e | | | **ㅕ** | yeo | | | **ㅖ** | ye | | | **ㅗ** | o | | | **ㅘ** | wa | | | **ㅙ** | wae | | | **ㅚ** | oe | | | **ㅛ** | yo | | | **ㅜ** | u | | | **ㅝ** | wo | | | **ㅞ** | we | | | **ㅟ** | wi | | | **ㅠ** | yu | | | **ㅡ** | eu | | | **ㅢ** | ui | | | **ㅣ** | i | | ## Hangul History ### When and How was Hangul Invented The Korean alphabet (Hangul or Hangeul) was invented by King Sejong in 1443\. Before the invention of Hangul, Korean language was hugely influenced by Chinese, using classical Chinese characters (Hanja) as their main way of writing. The inconsistency between their spoken and written languages caused a high rate of illiteracy amongst Korean people. Thankfully, King Sejong's [introduction of Hangul](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangul?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) has enabled Koreans to have the freedom to write in their own language and significantly improved the literacy rate. ![Statue of King Sejong in Seoul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/str2_ev_1801_zhseoul_king-sejong.jpg) Statue of King Sejong in Seoul (image source: 6gmagicalstars) Hangul is similar to the English alphabet in the sense that words in both languages are spelled out with individual letters. With its simple visualization and the organized syllables, Korean Hangul is a scientific writing system that is easy and efficient to read and write with, which secured Korean language as one of the most popular languages to learn in the world today. ### Why is Hangul Day Important Every year on October 9, Hangul Day is observed in South Korea in order to celebrate the invention and proclamation of Hangul. Nowadays, in the minds of Korean people, Hangul Day is very important for remembering the invention and tough history of Hangul. Hangul was once almost erased from history. During World War II, when Japan occupied Korea, Korean people were forbidden to speak Korean, and the publication of all books about Korean was hindered. However, resilient Korean people made dialects and spoke Korean in secret for long and difficult years until Korea succeeded in gaining independence. On [Hangul Day](https://blog.mangolanguages.com/happy-belated-hangul-day/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), various events are held throughout Korea to promote the history of the Korean language and traditional culture. Many people visit the King Sejong museum in Seoul to celebrate this day. ## How to Learn Hangul - A Step-to-Step Guide Now you have got an overview of hangul, let's see how to remember them easily. In this part, we have grouped all Hangul letters into some fun categories with images. You can also practice Hangul writing and learn more Korean with [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) anytime, anywhere! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 1: Getting to Know Some Basic Vowels in Hangul The first step is to get to know some basic vowels in Korean. They will be introduced in groups, according to their appearance or sound for better memorization. **Group 1: A stick with one twig** The first group has four vowels, and each one looks like a wooden stick with a twig. The only difference between them is the direction they face. This group includes the basic single vowels in Korean. | ㅏ a | ㅓ eo | | --- | ---- | | ㅗ o | ㅜ u | ![Illustration of a wooden stick with one twig](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/178-1787067_branch-leaves-twig-plant-grow-nature-ecology-twig.png) image source: pngitem.com **Group 2: A stick with two twigs** Remember the sounds of the four sticks in Group one? Well, the vowels in Group 2 look very similar to the first four, but they appear as wooden sticks with two twigs. The extra twig adds a y /j/ sound before the four original single vowels. Do you get it? | ㅑ ya | ㅕ yeo | | ---- | ----- | | ㅛ yo | ㅠ yu | **Group 3: A straight stick** There are also two straight wooden sticks in the Korean alphabet: one vertical and one horizontal. They are also basic single vowels. | ㅣ i | ㅡ eu | | --- | ---- | **Group 4: Burgers….and with extra ingredients** The first two of this group look like two types of burgers rotated for 180 degrees - /ae/ with cheese and /e/ with an olive on top. The latter two are upgraded versions of the first two. The extra ingredients have the same function as the extra twig in Group 2 does - adding the sound y /j/ before the basic vowels. | ㅐ ae | ㅔ e | | ----- | ---- | | ㅒ yae | ㅖ ye | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 2: Getting to Know the Consonants in Hangul **Group 5: Start with some easy ones** Consonants in this group are not related to one another, but they are tough, independent individuals who contribute nasals and liquids to the Korean language. \*\*Nasals are consonants produced by releasing air through the nose instead of the mouth. On the other hand, liquids are consonants in which air is released through the mouth, but involves more tongue movement and positioning. | ㄴ n | ㅁ m | | ----- | --- | | ㄹ r/l | ㅎ h | **Group 6: Three brothers in the same family but with different tempers** Consonants in this group have family relations. Almost each family has three brothers. The elder brothers in each family are the strongest, they are produced intensely with an expulsion of air. The middle brothers require no aspiration, but are still intense sounds. Lastly, the little brothers are the weakest: they are not tense, nor are they produced with aspiration. | Elder brother/Aspirated | Middle brother/Tense | Little brother/Plain | | ----------------------- | -------------------- | -------------------- | | ㅋk | ㄲkk | ㄱk/g | | ㅍp | ㅃpp | ㅂp/b | | ㅌt | ㄸtt | ㄷd/t | | ㅊch | ㅉjj | ㅈj | | N/A | ㅆss | ㅅs | ![Illustration of three brothers ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/9ab0d4f6221c8f87db40377c02f3a5ff.jpg) image from pvabca.com with modification ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 3: Getting to Know Complex Vowels in Hangul **Group 8: /w/ + simple vowel** Vowels in this group are all made up of two vowels introduced in Step 1\. These complex vowels all start with a /w/ sound. | ㅘ wa | ㅚ oe | | ----- | ---- | | ㅙ wae | ㅝ wo | | ㅟ wi | ㅞ we | **Group 9: A versatile one** This vowel forms a group on its own because it is very versatile and plays different roles depending on the occasion. When it is by itself, it is pronounced as /ui/. When it functions as a possessive marker, it is pronounced as /e/. When there is a consonant, it is pronounced as /i/. ㅢ ui You can also find audio practice and more tips on how to learn Hangul [here in Lingodeer's free course.](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 4: Building Syllable Blocks with Two Bricks of Hangul (Minimum) From Step 4, we will start building syllable blocks, also known as Korean characters. The smallest syllable consists of two bricks: a consonant and a vowel. **Left + right** The two bricks can be placed in a left + right structure, with the consonant on the left and the vowel on the right. ㅇ + ㅓ = 어 ㅂ + ㅏ = 바 ㅎ + ㅣ = 히 ![how to learn hangul: 가](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-154604.jpg) **Up + down** The two bricks can also be placed in an up+down structure, with the consonant on the top and the vowel at the bottom. ㄷ + ㅗ = 도 ㅋ + ㅜ = 쿠 ㅈ + ㅛ = 죠 ![how to learn hangul: 구 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-15460.jpg) **Left + right (complex)** In a left + right structure, if the vowel is a complex vowel, then the consonant only takes the upper left quarter of the syllable block. ㅈ + ㅟ = 쥐 ㅅ + ㅚ = 쇠 ![how to learn hangul: 귀 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-1546.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 5: Building syllable blocks with three bricks of Hangul A fancier syllable block is built with three bricks: it has a foundation now. **Left + right + bottom** Left + right structure in Step 4 can be built on top of a final consonant at the bottom. ㅂ + ㅏ + ㄴ = 반 ![how to learn hangul: 간 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-154.jpg) **Up + down + bottom** Similarly, the up + down structure can also be built on top of a final consonant. ㅂ + ㅗ + ㄴ = 본 ![how to learn hangul: 군 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-15.jpg) **Left + right (complex) + bottom** What if the vowel on the right is a complex vowel? The final consonant does not interfere with the part above it at all. ㄱ + ㅟ + ㄴ = 귄 ![how to learn hangul: 귄 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-1.jpg) **A member we almost missed! ㅇ with a cloak of invisibility** We almost missed a consonant member, because this naughty little one carries a cloak of invisibility! When it serves as the initial in building a syllable block, it remains absolutely silent. When it serves as the final in building a syllable block, it's pronounced as the nasal /ng/. ㅇ + ㅔ = 에 e ㅁ + ㅏ + ㅇ = 망 mang ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 6: Building Syllable Blocks with Four Bricks of Hangul (Maximum) Level up! Now we are trying to build syllable blocks with four bricks, the maximum number of letters a syllable block can accommodate. **Left + right + left bottom + right bottom** One step forward: building the foundation with two final consonants. ㅁ + ㅏ + ㄴ + ㅎ = 많 ![how to learn hangul: 많](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-.jpg) **Notice** Not any possible combination of two consonants can serve as the final consonants, and there are only 7 possible pronunciations for the 27 possible final consonants. | Actual pronunciations | Finals | | --------------------- | ------------- | | ㄱ | ㄱ,ㅋ,ㄲ,ㄳ,ㄺ | | ㄴ | ㄴ,ㄵ,ㄶ | | ㄷ | ㄷ,ㅆ,ㅅ,ㅈ,ㅊ,ㅌ,ㅎ | | ㄹ | ㄹ,ㄼ,ㄽ,ㄾ,ㅀ,ㄺ | | ㅁ | ㅁ,ㄻ | | ㅂ | ㅂ,ㅍ,ㅄ,ㄿ,ㄼ | | ㅇ | ㅇ | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 7: Trying to Read Hangul After becoming familiar with the letters and the construction of syllable blocks, now we can try to read Korean words and phrases. **The rule is: in a word or phrase, read character by character, and one character at a time.** Within one character, read from left to right, from top to bottom. The following image illustrates how to read 안녕하세요 letter by letter. It's the most common greeting phrase in Korean and I bet you've heard of it. ![ order of strokes in hangul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/1-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 8: Trying to Write/Type Hangul The next step, after being able to read, is to attempt to write or type Korean characters. If you try to write a Korean character, you need to know the correct sequence of letters and strokes. The rule on the character level is the same as in reading: from left to right, from top to bottom. When we zoom in on the letters, you also need to know how many strokes each letter consists of and the order to write the strokes. For example, ㄱ is written with only one stroke as shown in the following picture. ![how to write a stroke](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/2-1.png) The following image illustrates the stroke order to write all the basic vowels and consonants. ![how to write Hangul consonants and vowels](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/hangulstrokeorder.png) image source: jreidy17 If you try to type out Korean on your computer or phone, knowing the Korean keyboard layout is indispensable. After getting familiar with the Korean keyboard layout, you can try to type out letters just in the order just like how you would write them. ![ Korean keyboard layout](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-155519.jpg) image source: Desalas ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Step 9: Practice Makes Perfect You might take one or two more weeks to memorize the entire set of Hangul. During this period, we have a few tips for you. First, stop relying on Romanization! It might be slow to try to read things directly in Hangul, but do not take the easy way or you will never learn. Second, use flashcards to strengthen your memory and test yourself the ones which are especially hard for you. Third, keep reading and learning new words. Memorizing the alphabet and new words simultaneously is way more efficient. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Quiz Point Try to read the following words: Level 1: 이, 거리, 아버지, 어머니, 여자 Level 2: 줘, 왜, 사귀다, 사과, 퀴즈 Level 3: 여관, 습관, 상상, 형, 일기, 은행 Level 4: 괜찮다, 읽다, 귀찮다, 없다, 값 ## Beyond the Alphabet As you familiarize yourself with the Korean alphabet, they are a few more things that will be helpful to your learning. ### A Couple of Important Phonological Rules in How to Learn Hangul You can basically read almost anything in Korean by knowing Hangul, but here are a couple of important phonological rules that can help you read particular words correctly. **Plosive sounds \[ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ\]** are unreleased at a final position. Your mouth needs to be prepared to produce the plosive finals but never actually released to make the sounds audible. Try to pronounce the following words. 빅뱅 먹다 **Syllable contact law**: the end of the previous syllable cannot be more sonorant than the beginning of the following syllable. Usually, when the former syllable ends with a final ㅋ, ㄲ, ㄱ and the following syllable starts with a nasal, the previous final consonant will be nasalized as a /ng/. See the following examples. 국민 -> 궁민 닉네임 -> 닝네임 ![sound change rules when reading hangul ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/3.png) **Younger brothers** in the families (step 3), also known as plain/lax Korean plosives, are voiced in intervocalic positions. Try to pronounce the following words. 바보 pabo 기금 kigeum ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Chinese Characters Popping Up? If you try to learn Korean through news reports or TV shows, you are probably surprised to see some Chinese characters popping up in Korean texts every now and then. Here are a few examples of commonly used Chinese characters in Korean, known as Hanja. 北 North. Typically used to represent North Korea. 南 South. Typically used to represent South Korea. 無 Nothing, non-existent. [](https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1Z42AFYAWY?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 爱 Love. [](http://www.jeonmin.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=206566&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 中 Center, middle. Typically used to represent China. [](https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/1Z42800YAD?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) This is likely to be a lot of information for you as a beginner to process. Don't worry if you cannot pronounce words perfectly at this stage! Wondering what the next step in learning Korean is? Common greeting and phrases? Grammatical rules? [Which app is better for learning Korean?](https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-korean-review-good-bad/) Keep following our blog and getting useful tips about everything you need to know in learning Korean. Click[ here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) for the most detailed Korean study guide ### Korean Speech Levels and How To Use Them Properly URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/korean-speech-levels/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:27:51.000Z ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## The Significance of Korean Speech Levels Honorifics are very important in Korean and are something you will encounter in Korean literally every day. From when you call a stranger who dropped a purse or a worker in a restaurant to when you talk to your parents or boss, every daily situation involves using honorifics. ### The Confucianism-influenced Cultural Background The reason for the importance of honorification in Korean is that it is required by the vertical hierarchy of Confucianism, where age and social status play a big part. An idiom 장유유서(長幼有序) is the one that shows the basis of Confucianism, which means there is a strict order that needs to be followed and obeyed between adults and children. Therefore, it is a huge deal in Korea to show proper respect to older people, which refers to physically older or of a higher social status. ![korean speech levels: Illustration of 장유유서](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/zhangyou.jpg) image source: gedu.net ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## What Are the Consequences If a Korean Person Doesn’t Use Honorific Terms Properly? If a Korean chooses the wrong honorific, it can result in humiliation, embarrassment or even offending the listeners. Sometimes we can hear the news that two men fought each other seriously and its cause turned out that one man started to use an informal/impolite speech manner, which is called 반말 (banmal) in Korean, to the other man. It is an extreme case, but it gives away how important it is to use appropriate speech levels and honorifics in Korean society. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ## What Are the Consequences If a Foreigner Doesn’t use Honorifics Properly? If someone, whether he is a Korean or a foreigner, does not use honorifics properly, whether a Korean or a foreigner, it is easy to offend the listeners. Of course, people understand that it is hard for foreigners to use honorifics rightly, so in most cases, they just laugh it over. But in some cases, for example, if a foreigner says “안녕 (annyeong)”, the most casual version “hello” in Korean, to a university president, the listener could feel embarrassed or even offended. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## The 3 Dimensions of Korean Speech Level ### Korean Speech Levels vs Formality Formality does not consider the relations between the speaker and the listener, but rather, the situation they are in. For example, a TV announcer usually speaks during news recording with a **formal polite style** (하십시오체), but then after recording when talking to a coworker about daily stuff, he would speak in an **informal impolite** style (해체). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Speech Levels vs Politeness Politeness is related to the relations between the speaker and the listener. Impolite could also mean as familiar or intimate. You speak with the polite form if the listener is older or in higher social status than you, and impolite one if the listener is younger or with a similar social status. For example, you would speak to a senior citizen in a store in a polite but informal style (해요체), but to your siblings in 해체 (impolite and informal style). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean Speech Levels vs Honoficity Honorificity is not only for the listener but also for the parties mentioned in the conversation. For example, when you say to your mom, “엄마, 할아버지 지금 주무세요”, which means “mom, my grandfather is sleeping now”. Because the listener is the speaker’s mom, you use the polite final verb ending -요, and also because your grandfather is mentioned, you use ‘주무시다’, the honorific form of ‘자다 (to sleep)’. ![korean speech levels: how to address other people](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/4-3.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## What are Korean Speech Levels? Short Definitions There are seven speech levels; Hasoseo-che (하소서체), Hapsyo-che (하십시오체), Haoche (하오체), Hageche(하게체), Haerache (해라체), Haeyoche(해요체) and Haeche(해체). Each level shows a different level of formality and politeness to the audience. **Koreans show respect to the person they talk to or about by choosing the appropriate speech level.** [](https://www.reddit.com/r/linguisticshumor/comments/gf1769/learning%5Fkorean%5Fin%5Fa%5Fnutshell/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) There are three factors for Korean honorific speech: - subject honorification (주체 높임법) - object exaltation (객체 높임법) - addressee honorification (상대 높임법) Subject honorification is to honor the subject of the sentence and object exaltation is to respect the object. Addressee honorification is used when honoring the audience. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Comparison with English or European Languages The honorific is one of the most difficult parts in Korean to foreigners because there are not many things like this in English or other European languages. In English, there are not many changes according to situations like age or social rank difference and publicity of the situation. But in Korean, the language changes a lot because of those situations. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## What Speech Elements Are Affected by Speech Levels? As already mentioned, the Korean honorification has three kinds. **To honor the subject in the sentence, you have to consider if you should add the honorific verb suffix** “-(으)시” in the verb or adjective, the honorific particles like “-께서” and some honorific words. In “아버지께서 운전을 하신다”, the subject “아버지 father”, the honorific word of “아빠”, is honored with “-께서” and “-시-” in the verb. **When the object is to be honored by the speaker, certain words will be replaced by honorific ones**. For example, “많은 관심 감사드립니다”, which means “Thank you for all your caring”. Here, “드리다” in “드립니다” is an honorific form of “주다 (to give)” for honoring the object “you” in the sentence. **Addressee honorification is to signal formality or closeness between the speaker and the listener.** It is reflected in the choice of suffix as a sentence ending. The sentence endings differentiate sentences into different speech levels. People divide Korean speech levels differently, between three to seven levels. We will consider 7 levels from the wider viewpoint. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## The 7 Korean Speech Levels by Definition Of the following seven levels, the first five are categorized as "formal speech level(격식체)”, and the last two levels, as “informal speech level(비격식체)”. Watch this free online lesson by LingoDeer to learn more about the 7 Korean speech levels! ### Korean formal speech levels (격식체) #### 1) Hasoseo-che (하소서체) Hasoseo-che (하소서체) is the highest and extremely formal speech level to show the utmost respect for the person you are addressing. It was used when addressing a king, queen, high official, or other members of the royal family in the past. There is no need to speak this way today and you can see this type of speech in some historical dramas and religious writing such as the Bible, when referring to a deity. Declarative form: stem + -나이다 알다 \+ -나이다: 당신의 종을 아나이다. You know your servant. Interrogative form: stem + -나이까 가다 \+ -나이까: 주여, 어디로 가나이까? Lord, where are you going? ![Korean historical drama: 광해 - 왕이 된 남자 ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/ld-image-8d8ba525c5206bf4.jpg) A Korean Historical Drama: 광해 - 왕이 된 남자 (image source: Wikipedia) #### 2) Hasipsio-che (하십시오체) Hapsyo-che (하십시오체) is a very respectful, polite form of formal speech. It is commonly used in public speeches, broadcasts, business, and the service industry to speak to customers. It is used to speak to strangers, elders, anyone higher in social rank. It can also be used to speak to people of lower rank when you want to show them respect. The books are written in this form along with Haerache(해라체). Declarative form: stem + -ㅂ니다 읽다 \+ -습니다 \= 저는 매일 책을 읽습니다. I read books every day. Interrogative form: stem + -ㅂ니까? 가다 \+ -ㅂ니다 \= 지금 어디 갑니까? Where are you going now? #### 3) Haoche (하오체) Haoche(하오체) is used to address people that are in a lower or the same social position. It still maintains a moderate degree of respect. It should not be used when speaking to those ranked above us. Unlike Hapsyo-che (하십시오체), it does not lower the speaker to show humility. In modern times, it is spoken only among some people of older generations and not used much in real life. You can find this style almost only in historical dramas. Due to the popularity of historical dramas, young ones sometimes use it online for a humorous effect. Declarative form: stem + -소/-오 있다 \+ -오 \= 여기 책이 있소. Here is a book. Interrogative form: stem + -오? 하다 \+ -오? = 여기서 무엇을 하오? What do you do here? #### 4) Hageche(하게체) Hageche(하게체) is a relatively outdated style of formal speech. It implies the speaker treats the audience with respect. It is used to speak to people who are the same rank or lower by some older people, like a director of a company speaking to lower-ranking employees, a mentor passing down advice to a mentee, between adult male friends or in some novels. Declarative form: stem + -네 지내다 \+ -네 \= 나는 요즘 잘 지낸다네. I’m doing fine these days. Interrogative form: stem + -ㄴ/는가? 지내다 \+ -ㄴ/는가? = 요즘 어떻게 지내는가? What are you doing these days? #### 5) Haerache (해라체) Haerache (해라체), also known as “plain form”, is formal speech and it is one of the most commonly used forms. It is used with those who are of the same or lower rank with no added degree of respect. But it is not considered disrespectful to use this form in the proper situation. For example, in a conversation between close friends or between adults and children. We can often see this form in the dictionary, textbooks, newspapers, and indirect quotations like “he said that...” When it used in spoken language, it is to casually describe the present state such as “나 간다 now I am going” and to show exclamations like “아, 슬프다 Ah, it’s sad.” Declarative form: stem + ㄴ다/-는다 하다 \+ ㄴ다/-는다 \= 내 남동생은 주말마다 축구를 한다 My younger brother plays soccer on weekdays. Interrogative form: stem + -냐? 하다 \+ -냐? = 너 지금 뭐하냐? What are you doing now? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Korean informal speech levels (비격식체) #### 1) Haeyoche(해요체) 해요체 is an informal, but polite speech. Regardless of the social rank and age of the addressee, it can show respect or politeness. This is the most common speech style, used in everyday situations, so if we are not sure which speech level to use, it is usually the best choice. It is commonly used between strangers, between colleagues, and when the addressee is a superior, such as children speaking to their parents, students to teachers. Almost every sentence ends with -요. Only imperative form ends with -세요. Declarative form: stem + -요 공부하다 \+ -요 \= 저 지금 공부해요. I am studying now. Interrogative form: stem + -요? 공부하다 \+ -요? = 지금 공부해요? Are you studying now? #### 2) Haeche (해체) Haeche(해체) is an informal, casual speech with no added degree of respect. It is called “Banmal반말” (informal speech) in Korean. It is used to speak casually between close friends, siblings, relatives and when addressing younger people. Recently, many children use Banmal to their parents. Also, people use it when they are angry with each other and to insult others. Declarative form: stem + -아/어/지 하다 \+ -아/어/지 \= 나 지금 게임 해. I am playing game now. Interrogative form: stem + -냐/니? 하다 \+ -냐/니/까/나? = 너 지금 뭐 하냐? /하니? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDh0cMe4Ct7JiXA_92_98.png) ## Four Commonly Used Korean Speech Levels In modern-day Korea, only four styles of speech: **Hasipsio-che (하십시오체), Haeyo-che (해요체), Haera-che (해라체), Hae-che (해체)** are frequently used in everyday life. The first two styles are called polite speech (Jondanmal ) and the last two styles are called casual speech (banmal). Here is the summary for each speech level with example usage: - **Formal and polite/** **합니다/ Hasipsio** **\-che (** **하십시오체** **):** used by TV broadcasters, to elders - **Formal and casual/** **한다/** **Haera-che (** **해라체** **):** used in reported speech and written materials - **Informal and polite/** **해요/** **Haeyo-che (** **해요체** **):** used between strangers, colleagues - **Informal and casual/** **해/** **Hae-che (** **해체** **) or banmal (** **반말** **):** used between close friends and to younger people ![korean speech levels: Proper speech levels towards other people](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/Annotation-2020-06-23-144719.jpg) image source: Korean Lab - Youtube As you can see from the four categories above, **politeness does not equal to formality in the Korean language**. 해라체, or formal form, is mostly used in written Korean, while polite form is used to express politeness, often by adding 시 to sentences To help you better understand polite speech form and 시, let's take a look at the sentence below. “김치 좀 주세요.“ I’d like to have some kimchi, please. Generally speaking, the verb 주다 does not carry any politeness. If you add 세요, which means "please", it will sound more polite in the conversation. This is from 주체높임말 (which elevates the subject of the sentence and uses '-시-'). 높임말 is simply expressing respect for someone mentioned in a conversation and does not carry any kind of "formality". For example, "어머니가 만들어 주**신** 점심을 먹었어" I had lunch made by my mom. As you can see, the sentence itself is not formal, it doesn’t end with 먹었습니다 or 먹었어요, after we translated this sentence into English, it doesn’t carry any politeness as well. However, in Korean, the word 시 was added to show respect to the mother and has no real meaning. Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Take it easy, Korean grammar is much different compared to English, but it is not rocket science. Anyone with a good method can master it within one or two years. For Korean learning methods, check out our[ step-by-step guide to learn Korean](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/) the smart way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/08/ld-image-1eef8969a4dd3dd0.png) ## Common Korean Greetings at Different Speech Levels Let’s introduce some common [Korean greetings](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hello-in-korean/) in formal and informal ways. **1.안녕하세요 Hello/Hi/Good morning/Good afternoon/Good evening** - Formal and polite: 안녕하십니까? - Informal and polite: 안녕하세요 - Informal and casual: 안녕 It is the most common greeting for any time of day. 안녕하세요 can be used almost to anyone. 안녕하십니까 may sound too formal to use in daily conversations. You need to use 안녕 carefully only to close friends or younger ones. **2\. 만나서 반가워요 Glad to meet you** - Formal and polite: 만나서 반갑습니다 - Formal and casual: 만나서 반갑다 - Informal and polite: 만나서 반가워요 - Informal and casual: 만나서 반가워 Its literal meaning is "I am glad we met" and can be used any time you meet someone. Or you can just say “반가워요” without “만나서”. If you have prior knowledge of that person, you can add “again 다시” and then say 다시 만나서 반가워요. 3\. 요즘 어떻게 지내세요? How are you these days? - Formal and polite: 요즘 어떻게 지내십니까? - Formal and casual: 요즘 어떻게 지내니? - Informal and polite: 요즘 어떻게 지내세요? - Informal and casual: 요즘 어떻게 지내? It is used with a present tense verb “spend 지내다” and it is asking how you are nowadays. If you want to ask, “how have you been?”, you can slightly change the verb into the past tense and say “어떻게 지내셨습니까/지냈니/지냈어요/지냈어?”. You can use the adverb “well 잘”, instead of “how 어떻게”. There are other Korean expressions and all of them have the meaning of showing a general nuance of the well-being of the other. ### Differences Between Hiragana and Katakana and Which to Learn First? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:13:27.000Z When you make up your mind to [learn Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/), the first question that pops into your head may be: What are these?! ![Japanese Writing System](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/03/Japanese-Writing-System.png) Why do Japanese characters look so different from each other? **In fact, Japanese has three different writing systems: hiragana, katakana, and kanji.** Hiragana and katakana are unique Japanese characters that are often regarded as the [Japanese alphabet](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/). Kanji, on the other hand, is Chinese characters that are still used in the Japanese language. In this article, we will focus on the first two writing systems: hiragana and katakana. We will explain the differences between hiragana and katakana and give you some tips to learning them. ## What Are Hiragana and Katakana? Generally speaking, hiragana and katakana can be seen as **two sets of Japanese alphabets or syllabaries.** They do not represent unique meanings as kanji do. They are phonetic letters representing one of the 46 unique syllables. ### The Similarities Between Hiragana and Katakana Before distinguishing [hiragana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/) and [katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/katakana-chart/), let’s first explore a few of their similarities. First, hiragana and katakana represent **the same sounds**, with each system consisting of 46 characters, one for each syllable. Second, hiragana and katakana **may look similar** because some kana derive from **the same Chinese character**. For example, う and ウ both derive from 宇. The hiragana へ and katakana ヘ, which developed from 部, are almost identical. We have another article that explains the [difference between Japanese and Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese%5Fvs%5Fjapanese/) in detail, if interested. ![hiragana and katakana chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/tumblr_inline_ohzbkvKljo1sg0zfq_540.png) Credit: Kana-Wikipedia ### What's the difference Between Kana and Romaji? Romaji is the Romanization of the Japanese written language. **It shows the pronunciation of kana (the general term for these two syllabaries) as well as kanji.** When you first start to learn Japanese, you may tend to rely on [romaji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/) to pronounce Japanese words. However, **the** [**best way to master Japanese pronunciation**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-pronunciation/) **is to master the pronunciation of kana and use kana to learn new words.** ![what are examples of hiragana, katakana and kanji writing](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/ld-image-9ce31aa78a2142b5.jpg) ## What Are the Differences Between Hiragana and Katakana? - **Hiragana is curly like English cursive while Katakana is more block-ish and sharp.** This is because katakana is based on the regular script (kaisho) form of Chinese characters, while the cursive script (sōsho) form of the kanji was the origin of hiragana. Also, hiragana originates from the entire kanji, while katakana develops only from [parts of kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/). - **Katakana is more frequently used in loan words, while hiragana is used for native words.** Hiragana is used to write okurigana (kana suffixes following a kanji root) to form words with kanji. When the kanji form appears obscure or too formal, these kanji could also be written in hiragana instead. Katakana is frequently used in scientific words, animal names, foods, and company names. - **Katakana is more frequently used as phonetic notation while hiragana is more frequently used as grammar notation.** Various grammatical and function words, such as particles, are written in hiragana. When writing in Japanese, especially in a formal setting, you should only use hiragana to write grammatical words. - **Hiragana is a more basic and common way of writing, while katakana is sometimes used for emphasis and various stylistic purposes.** For example, when you use katakana where hiragana is supposed to be used, you are emphasizing the written word for literal or stylistic purposes. Interestingly, because of its curly form, hiragana was once and is even now regarded as a feminine form of writing. On the other hand, katakana and kanji were mostly used by men in ancient times. 📌ATTENTION: **You should never mix hiragana and katakana in one word in formal writing. Make sure you can distinguish which is hiragana and which is katakana.** ![Differences between Hiragana and Katakana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/anime-ga-1.png) Lingodeer suggests you watch this short video to learn some basic words written in katakana and get a clear explanation of the differences between hiragana and katakana. ## How to Memorize Japanese Kana Fast? There are mainly two different ways to memorize kana, and you can choose whichever you like. Some prefer to **use mnemonics**, which means seeing each symbol as a picture. For example, ぬ: “Nu” for “noodle”, because the character looks like a squiggly pile of noodles. This may sound fun and interesting. However, it could add an extra burden to your memory, and there is a possibility that you only remember the story you created but forget what the kana is. ![how to memorize hiragana and katakana fast](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/xjapanese-hiragana-mnemonics.jpg.pagespeed.ic_.0sF9WKxRAy.jpg) image source: learn Japanese adventure The other way is to simply **write it out as much as you can.** As you write them, sound out the pronunciation in your head or actually voice them out. It might be a bit boring, but the process will not last very long. Be sure to remember that once you make it, you will be able to read all Japanese words with the help of kana, and that will be fascinating! ![hiragana and katakana chart](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/lingodeer-kana-wallpaper-aug2020.png) KANA wallpaper. Practice makes perfect! **The important thing is to find a method that you can stick with and use.** Here is an idea for you. Download this wallpaper and listen to our [free kana audio online](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/jp/en/learn-japanese-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Time to get ready for your first step in learning Japanese! ## Which Should I Learn First, Hiragana or Katakana? ### Which is more useful, Hiragana or Katakana? Both are useful, and you cannot truly master Japanese without either of the two. It’s stating the obvious to say that katakana is useful. Many Japanese loan words, including those borrowed from English, are written out in katakana, so learning katakana will give you access to hundreds of words that sound familiar to you. More importantly, since **a considerable amount of menus are written in katakana**, it will help you in restaurants and supermarkets. (Check this video to learn more katakana words: Wasei-eigo (Japanese-language expressions based on English words.) However, though katakana always forms independent words (without kanji), a long row of katakana without any kanji or hiragana could be hard to understand since there are no spaces between Japanese words. In a sense, **hiragana is the most commonly used, standard form of Japanese writing**. Japanese vocabulary usually tends to be written in hiragana as opposed to katakana. Also, hiragana is used to write furigana, a reading aid that shows the pronunciation of kanji characters, which is sure to be helpful. ![what is katakana used for](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/brands.jpg) Logos of Uniqlo, Burger King, Coca Cola and Sprite in katakana ### Which One is Easier, Hiragana or Katakana? You may say it’s hiragana. In fact, “hira” in Japanese literally means “simple” or “ordinary”. **You have more chances of encountering hiragana than katakana when reading texts or video subtitles, which will familiarize you with those letters.** Also, most children’s books are written in hiragana, so you will have plenty of good resources to practice. Most importantly, katakana characters look more similar in shape to one another than hiragana, **so memorizing katakana could be more difficult.** However, some may argue that hiragana is too difficult to write. Katakana is **easier** to “draw” because the structure of the katakana character is usually more simple. In addition, katakana words sound familiar to English speakers, so imitating the sound is easier. ### When Do Japanese People Begin to Learn Hiragana and Katakana? It depends on the family. Since hiragana is used as furigana for children's books, parents may choose to teach children hiragana first, but some parents feel hiragana is more difficult to write, so they teach katakana first. **Nowadays, hiragana is taught first in school.** However, before 1948, many schools taught katakana before hiragana. At that time, katakana was still used in most formal writings like official documents, but now it is mostly used in loan words. ### The History of Hiragana and Katakana **Both hiragana and katakana originated in the 9th century and are believed to have been invented by the Buddhist priest Kūkai.** The birth of kana is important in Japanese history for it is the first original writing system created by Japanese people. Both kana systems originate from man'yōgana, which are Chinese characters used for Japanese pronunciations. Fun fact: hiragana first gained popularity among women and was then used for unofficial writing such as personal letters. Meanwhile, katakana and Chinese were used for official documents. ![A portrait of Kūkai who invented kana](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/kukai.jpg) Credit: Japan Reference ### Why does Japanese writing need three different sets of characters? Prior to the 4th or 5th century, Japan only had a spoken language but no writing system. Then kanji was introduced to Japan and became the first writing system used there. The Japanese matched the kanji characters to represent words in their own language. Kanji did not disappear after kana was invented **because the Japanese language has a very limited number of sounds**. **If there were no kanji, there would be too many homonyms for readers to understand the text.** ### Should I Learn Hiragana or Katakana First? Final Verdict **The answer is that you should master both of them within a short period of time. So, starting with either one is OK!** Once you have learned one system, you can start remembering another one immediately after. **Learning the corresponding columns within a short time may help you associate them more strongly with each other.** In fact, kana is not as difficult as you think; you could learn both syllabaries within a couple of days. Therefore, the sequence does not really matter. If you're wondering how long it takes to learn Japanese? [Click here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/) to find out. If you want to find more useful tips on how to get from an absolute beginner level to advanced level, check out this [essential guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) from another fellow learner! Have fun! ### Chinese Song Xue Hua Piao Piao Meaning and Origin Explained URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/xue-hua-piao-piao-origin-and-meaning-explained/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:27:49.000Z ## What is the meaning of Xue Hua Piao Piao? Xue Hua Piao Piao refers to the romanization of the Chinese phrase "雪花飘飘", which literally means "snow flakes float". It comes from a Chinese song called Yi Jian Mei (一剪梅). It became viral after a video of Chinese man singing the song in the snow appeared on YouTube and sparked multiple spinoffs. The meme has since evolved and developed its own meaning and usage. Now people are using it to express not just sadness, helplessness and desperation, but also a "whatever", "it is what it is" or "I give up" attitude. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/5.jpeg) ## The origin of Xue Hua Piao Piao meme and how it went viral It all started with a Chinese man, with a perfectly bald and shiny egg-shaped head, singing a mysteriously captivating song while standing in the middle of the snow. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/478C50F4-C1BA-4618-B42E-596CAE013938.png) Zhang Aiqin On January 6th, Zhang Aiqin, aka Egg Man or Egg Bro, uploaded a video clip of him singing the Chinese song "Yijianmei" to Kuaishou, a Chinese video-sharing platform similar to Tiktok. Then, Youtuber Buhj uploaded the video named "Chinese man in da snow" to Youtube. The video started getting noticed by YouTube and TikTok users, and spinoffs and remixes of the video appeared. Ever since then, the keyword "Xue Hua Piao Piao", which is the main lyric of the song, has surged in search volume, according to Google Trends. ![xue hua piao piao meaning search](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/xue-hua-piao-piao-search.png) ## Why do people love Xue Hua Piao Piao and Egg Man so much? As with all viral memes and videos, there are several reasons why this video attracted so much attention. At the very beginning, the impression of **a man with a perfectly egg-shaped head in the snow** was just **too funny to ignore.** Then he started **singing something foreign, yet somehow catchy**. That's when people started to get curious about the words coming out of his mouth. As it turns out, the lyric was about "snow" and "winter", related to the background. Despite the snowy background, Egg Man, with his comical appearance, seems very relaxed and jolly whilst singing a sad song about winter**.** His singing has seemingly **lightened up the mood for thousands** that are otherwise quite frustrated by COVID19, the lockdown and economic downturn. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/45D25774-3179-4c2d-A544-7DD577A6059A.png) Especially for those living in cold, wintery countries like Norway, "Yi Jian Mei", the song Egg Man was singing, has topped the Spotify viral 50 chart in Norway, Finland and New Zealand and ranked 2nd place in Sweden. ![Xue Hua Piao Piao song tops the charts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/8B452873-3F48-4F1C-A2DA-9303F1CCF26B.png) On a phonetic level, the sound of "piao piao" and "xiao xiao" may have amused the ears of those who are new to the Chinese language. Like hocus-pocus, hotch-potch and chit-chat, "piao piao" and "xiao xiao" are two words created by reduplicating the same Chinese characters. Repeating the same Chinese character to create a word is called "AA" reduplication if [you're interested in learning Chinese.](https://lingodeer.page.link/xuehua?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) That is probably why "Xue Hua Piao Piao Bei Feng Xiao Xiao" sounds so rhythmic and is easy to imitate. ## Xue Hua Piao Piao Lyrics, Translation and Chinese Culture The words "Xue Hua Piao Piao, Bei Feng Xiao Xiao" comes from Chinese popular singer Fei Yu-ching's most popular song, Yi Jian Mei / 一剪梅. But this song is way more sophisticated than just a pop song. ### Obsession with the plum flowers "Yi Jian Mei / 一剪梅" literally meaning "one cut plum" is not just about "one branch of plum blossom". In classical Chinese literature, the plum flower is frequently used as a metaphor for tenacious, determined individuals. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/1e4ee2b501bff9824e1028e5a0be60c3.jpg) (image from comuseum.com) "Xue Hua Piao Piao Bei Feng Xiao Xiao" means “The snow falls and the Northern wind blows.” It describes the harsh environment in which the plum thrives. Let's take a look at the main chorus: 雪花飘飘 北风啸啸 xuěhuā piāo piāo běi fēng xiào xiào The snow falls and the wind blows 天地一片苍茫 tiāndì yīpiàn cāngmáng The heaven and the Earth are completely white 一剪寒梅傲立雪中 yī jiǎn hánméi ào lì xuě zhōng One branch of plum stands proudly in the snow 只为伊人 飘香 zhǐ wèi yīrén piāo xiāng Its scent is only for her 爱我所爱 无怨无悔 ài wǒ suǒ ài wú yuàn wú huǐ I will always love whom I love without complaint and regret 此情长留心间 cǐ qíng cháng liú xīn jiān This love always stays in my heart See? This particular song is actually about the love for someone, not fighting "winter is coming". ### Rhyme schemes in Chinese poetry The word "Yi Jian Mei" actually has a second meaning. It is **the name of a specific rhyme scheme for composing Chinese poems**. In simple English, a rhyme scheme for a Chinese poem regulates the number of lines, the number of characters and the tones of the characters. Yi Jian Mei is a very common rhyme scheme for composing poems. So unsurprisingly, the catchy nature of "Xue Hua Piao Piao Bei Feng Xiao Xiao" owes to the fact that it's ordered in a classical Chinese rhyme scheme. While many Chinese netizens credit Fei Yuqing, the Taiwanese singer who sang the song, for the success of a Chinese song breaking into western pop culture, we Chinese teachers at **LingoDeer think the magic at work here is the transcending power of classical Chinese poetry.** ## Learning Chinese is as easy as singing a song Chinese is not as difficult as you think, right? By learning Xue Hua Piao Piao, you already speak Chinese! The pronunciation of the consonant "x", as represented with Chinese pinyin, has always been a difficulty for learners. Now it seems that this problem can be easily solved by a song! [Why not take your Chinese to the next level](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/) and start expressing yourself in Chinese? LingoDeer offers structured lessons on Chinese grammar and vocabulary that can be learned on the phone in 20 minutes. You can try a free lesson out right now by [clicking here.](https://lingodeer.page.link/xuehua?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Recommended reading [An interview with LingoDeer user Justin](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese-lingodeer-user-justin/) on time management, career choices and learning Chinese ## Different Versions of Xue Hua Piao Piao ## Other Chinese songs that have gone viral More hit songs on Chinese Tiktok: ### What Language Should I Learn? A Helpful Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/what-language-should-i-learn/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:01:06.000Z "What language should I learn?" Choosing which language to learn is about choosing how you want to invest your personal time and money. If we start thinking in terms of profit and return on investment, logic suggests that you should choose one of the most spoken or most widely spoken languages as this way you’ll be able to converse with more people. Based on this logic, your first choice would be English, followed by French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), German, Japanese, Portuguese and Hindi/Urdu. If you are reading this article, then congratulations, you’ve already mastered the most widely used language in the world! However, why not also [learn a language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/) that adds strength to your resume and helps you meet your future work and personal goals. So how do you decide what language you should learn? ## What Really Matters to You: ROI or Passion? Depending on where you live, there are differing demands for foreign language skills. For example, in Africa the most spoken languages include English, French, Swahili and Arabic, whilst English, Spanish, Portuguese and French are the [most spoken languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/most-spoken-languages/) in the Americas. The most widely spoken languages in the Asia-Pacific region are Chinese, Japanese, Cantonese and Korean, while in Europe they are English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. Learning a language can also be a hobby or become a deep passion. There are many interesting languages and your motivation to learn may not be to improve your employment chances, but to widen your horizons, discover culture and history and enrich your spiritual life. Whether or not the language is difficult, requires textbooks and intense study - these all become just an afterthought. **As the saying goes: "A skill is no burden".** Whatever your personal motivation, no matter which foreign language you learn, you will deepen your understanding of two different cultures and gain one more skill than others in the process. This article will help you understand **why there are differences in difficulty between foreign languages** **and help you choose the challenge that is right for you.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/unsplash-5.jpg) Image Source: Unsplash ## Are some languages easier to learn than others? The reason that you might find some languages easier to learn than others is due to a **common ancestor language**. English speakers will find French easier to pick up as compared to, say, Thai. That’s because French descended from Latin, but had strong Germanic and English influences. Conversely, English is a Germanic language with strong Latin and French influences. This common ground means that the two languages end up borrowing plenty of loanwords from each other. Many words in English can be found in French, and both use the same alphabet. The same is true of English and German. On the other hand, English speakers might find that Mandarin and its related languages are an absolute beast to learn. The Chinese writing system is completely unrelated to English and employs a different set of grammar and vocabulary rules. For Japanese and Korean, although almost half of their vocabulary is adapted from Mandarin, the remaining half still has little English influence. ![mandarin calligraphy](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/unsplash-2.jpg) Image Source: Unsplash ## What language would be easiest for me to learn? Due to the overwhelming number of languages in the world, this article will focus mainly on a few **major language families**. ### Romance Languages For native English speakers, picking up one of the Romance languages would be your best bet, and vice versa. The Romance language family refers to a family of languages that were derived from the Latin alphabet - the language that the Romans used. The five main Romance languages are French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian. Although English is a Germanic language, it uses the same Latin lexicon as the Romance languages, and the letters are pronounced the same way. This makes it possible for English speakers to read texts without understanding what is being written - not that it’ll do you a lot of good! ### Chinese Languages If you are a native Mandarin speaker, it’s easier for you to start by learning one of the Chinese languages. Just like the Romance languages, the Chinese language is a family in its own right. Some of the more popular languages are Hokkien, Cantonese, and Standard Chinese - otherwise known as Mandarin. What’s confusing is that even within China, these languages have evolved their own dialects. However, the differences mainly remain in pronunciation rather than grammar. ### Semitic Languages If you are an Arabic speaker, you will likely find other Semitic languages easier to learn, such as Aramaic and Hebrew. The Semitic language family includes Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic, and is used by approximately 260 million people around the world. It is primarily used by people living in the Middle East, although many westerners are picking it up as a secondary language. The most popular language in this family is **Arabic**, which has a completely different grammar system from the Romance and Chinese languages. Surprisingly, Arabic seems to share a few common words with Japanese, such as the word ساقي (saki) and 酒 (saké), and the word for ‘you’ (أنتن (antun) and あなた (anata)). However, this is theorized to be pure coincidence, since they are so geographically distant. ### Slavic Languages The Slavic family of languages includes Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Belarusian, amongst others. Of the Slavic languages, **Russian** is the most commonly used. Russian speakers may find it easier to pick up Ukrainian and Polish, while Czech and Slovak speakers may find more common ground in each other’s languages The Slavic alphabet differs from region to region, but most use **the Cyrillic script**, which is written in a similar way to English. But note that although some of the Slavic alphabets may resemble English alphabets (e.g. щ, д, ж), they may be pronounced in a completely different waya. ### Dravidian Languages The Dravidian languages include Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam. Tamil is used mainly in India, and is the most common of the four. Those fluent in Tamil might find Malayalam the easiest to pick up, since the Malayalam language is regarded as a mix of Tamil and Sanskrit. Surprisingly, those who are fluent in Tamil may find it easy to pick up Japanese as well! This is because the two languages share strikingly similar grammar and syntax, as well as onomatopoeic expressions. ### Japanese and Korean If you’re a native Japanese speaker, Korean should be easy for you to pick up, and vice versa. Although Japanese and Korean both borrow many loanwords from Chinese, the two languages are entirely different. Japanese has three different systems for writing: kanji, hiragana, and katakana, while Korean uses a writing system known as hangul. Hangul actually operates in a similar manner to English, with a fixed number of alphabets. The good thing is that Korean and Japanese are grammatically similar, and both use similar sentence structures. If you are interested in Japanese, you may also find this article helpful: [How long does it take to learn Japanese.](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/lisda-kania-yuliani-Csb83mXkCG4-unsplash.jpg) Image Source: Unsplash ## What makes some languages harder to learn? Apart from your own language background, some **linguistic features** of your chosen language can also make it [harder to grasp](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hardest-languages-to-learn/). #### Alphabet Writing System In some languages such as English and Korean, it is possible for you to read a word without knowing its meaning. As long as you can remember the letters and the way they are arranged, you can phonetically sound out any word you want. These are known as **phonological writing systems**. However, not all alphabets feature phonological writing systems. In the case of Chinese, the phonetic element is built into the glyph itself, making it impossible to sound out the word if you don’t understand it. These writing systems are known as **logographic writing systems**. #### Tonal languages Most languages have a tonal aspect to them. There are two main types of tonal languages: one is more **sentence-based**, whereby your intonation changes the meaning of your sentence. The other kind is more **word-based**, where different tones can change the meaning of a word. In sentenced-focused languages such as **English and French**, you can change your pitch to indicate if your sentence is a question or not. By placing more emphasis on certain syllables, you can also change the ‘mood’ of your sentence. To show an example, changing the emphasis on any word in the sentence “I never said he took my money” can alter its meaning drastically. Tonal languages that are focused on words are more difficult to learn because the way that you adjust the pitch of your words can change their meanings significantly. This is why native English speakers find it so difficult to speak Mandarin fluently - the way they control the air coming out of their vocal tract is different. It also means that certain words can hold multiple meanings. For instance, the Chinese word 的 can be pronounced as de, dí or dì. Depending on your intonation, it can change from a grammar word into a possessive particle. Those who are keen on learning a simpler language might want to focus more on non-tonal languages, as there is less to keep in mind when pronouncing a word. #### Conjugations and Inflections [Conjugation](https://conjugator.reverso.net/conjugation-english.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) refers to the creation of verbs, and inflection refers to the manner in which you alter the verb’s form. Languages that employ a heavily inflected language will tend to have a more complicated vocabulary since you have to learn a great amount of different suffixes/infixes/prefixes for many different grammatical features. For instance, the inflected word ‘Bugs’ consists of a noun and the suffix -s. On its own, ‘Bug’ is a legitimate word, while -s does not mean anything when unbound to a word. Languages that consist of many inflections include Latin, German, Russian, and Spanish. #### Honorifics Honorifics are titles that convey your respect to someone else. Honorifics are most commonly seen in Indian, Japanese, and Korean, although most languages have their own way of referring to their elders respectfully. The levels of honorifics differ from culture to culture; for instance, Korea has six levels of honorifics, although only four are commonly used. Japan, on the other hand, has three levels of honorifics. Although they might not seem important at first, learning how to use honorifics prevents you from accidentally offending someone when you talk to them for the first time. Languages that focus greatly on honorifics tend to sway towards **the Asian region**, which means that it would be beneficial for those who commonly travel there. #### Pronunciation and Syllables If a word is pronounced similarly to your native tongue, it is easier to listen to and speak, even if you don’t know what it is that you’re saying. This ties back to family languages: most languages that fall under the same language umbrella are easier to learn because they employ a similar set of vowels and consonants. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/leonardo-toshiro-okubo-jBSTNenQxok-unsplash.jpg) Image Source: Unsplash ## Conclusion Interest is the best teacher. Although it might be easier for you to pick up a similar language, the only real restriction to learning is yourself. Don’t choose a language because it’s [easy](https://blog.lingodeer.com/easiest-language-to-learn/). Choose it because you’re interested in it. Because that interest will turn into motivation and help you overcome frustration. To find out The Best Way to Learn a Language, [click here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/). *Correction: The original article misplaced Persian and Kurdish in the Semitic language category. Persian and Kurdish are Iranian languages in the Indo-European language family. Although they may be geographically close, these two languages and Arabic do not belong to the same language family.* ### How Long Does It Take to Learn Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:01:09.000Z I’m guessing you’ve clicked your way to this page because you’re hoping to learn how hard Japanese is. **In order to answer this question, you’re going to need to identify two significant factors. The first** is what your native language is, and **the second** is how strong your motivation to learn Japanese is. As a language expert, [LingoDeer](https://lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) would like to help you from a theoretical point of view. Actually, the amount of time that it takes to learn Japanese depends on the level of mastery that you want to reach. To give you a good reference, though, the [US Department of State](https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/fsi/sls/orgoverview/languages/index.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) says that **it will take approximately 88 weeks of learning, or 2200 hours**, to be able to fluently understand and speak Japanese. ## Two Key Factors Decide How Hard is Japanese First of all, the first factor is important because **the closeness of your native language to Japanese can determine the relative difficulty of learning the language.** For example, as a native Chinese speaker, the numerous vocabulary in Japanese that originates from the Chinese language gives me a greater learning advantage over other language speakers. I would suspect that you, dear reader, are probably an English speaker. It’s true - English and Japanese are indeed very different languages, but please don't get frustrated too soon. Actually, **you have much more of an advantage in learning Japanese than you can imagine.** In fact, **except for a few languages in the** [**Sinosphere**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East%5FAsian%5Fcultural%5Fsphere?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **countries (Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese), English is the most related language to Japanese.** Am I kidding? No. There are a large number of English loanwords in modern Japanese, which means that you can easily comprehend many Japanese words. ![how hard is japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/japan-view.jpg) The second question is more complicated. Have you ever wondered why some people are multilingual while others fail their French exams in middle school? Contrary to what many people think, **linguistic talent doesn't play a prominent role in language learning.** [Robert C. Gardner](https://publish.uwo.ca/~gardner/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is a pioneer in the field of Motivation for Second Language Acquisition. He discovered in the 1950s that **what determines language achievement depends on the strength of motivation for the target language.** In short, how fast and well you can learn Japanese relies on the strength of your willingness to learn it. Just as [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph%5FWaldo%5FEmerson?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) said, *Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved.* ## How Hard is it to Learn Japanese for English speakers? According to the [US Department of State](https://2009-2017.state.gov/m/fsi/sls/orgoverview/languages/index.htm?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), **Japanese is a Category IV language, right next to Chinese, Korean, and Arabic.** Category IV languages are languages that are exceptionally difficult for native English speakers to understand. This makes Japanese a pretty difficult language to learn, especially for those who aren’t familiar with a second language. If you want to truly master Japanese, you’re going to need to take the [JLPT](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese-Language%5FProficiency%5FTest?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) N1 test, the highest-level Japanese-language-proficiency exam which tests your ability to understand Japanese in a wide variety of complex situations. According to [Coto Academy](https://cotoacademy.com/many-hours-take-pass-jlpt-illustrated-guide/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), for those **who have an understanding of Kanji** (we’ll get into this later), you can expect approximately **2150 hours of study time**. For those **without an understanding of Kanji**, you can expect approximately **3900 hours of study time.** One entire year is about 8760 hours. Therefore, you would need to put aside just under 45% of your year to study Japanese if you wanted to take the N1 exam within a year, a feat that is extremely difficult to accomplish, if not impossible. However, passing the N1 exam within two to three years is a very feasible accomplishment! There are many stories of beginners who passed the N2 exam within 1-1.5 years and then went on to pass the N1 exam a year after that. Is learning Japanese going to be a tough challenge? Absolutely. The N1 exam is one of the toughest language exams out there. But if you put aside the time to learn Japanese every day, you can become fluent and ace the N1 exam within a few years! ![how long does it take to learn japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/JAPAN.jpg) ### Learning Japanese as a native English speaker Now, the reason learning Japanese as a native English speaker can be so hard is because of the lack of familiarity between the two languages. Japanese does not incorporate the same sentence structure, grammar rules, or writing style as English does--and the same goes the other way around. However, **this does not necessarily mean that Japanese is entirely harder than English**. For example, Japanese phonology tends to be much simpler than English phonology. Japanese only has 5 vowels and 13 consonants while English has 12 vowels and 24 consonants. But other areas, such as [**Japan’s writing system**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-alphabet/), can be harder to learn. Whereas for English, one can simply memorize how the letter looks, Japan’s writing system combines three different writing systems from around the world: [**kanji**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji/)**,** [**hiragana**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/hiragana-chart/)**, and katakana.** ![is japanese hard to learn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/japanese-anime.jpg) What exactly is kanji, hiragana or katakana? Check out this[ interactive page](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/jp/en/learn-japanese-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) with click-to-play audio and explanations from LingoDeer. You are also recommended to read [this article](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) to learn the [difference between hiragana and katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/). ## How Much Time Should You Spend Learning Japanese? **The amount of time you spend learning Japanese depends on your goals and your circumstances.** If you’re looking to become fluent in Japanese within two years, then you would need to spend about 5 hours each day learning Japanese before taking the N1 test. (this is assuming you need 3900 hours to become fluent) I recommend studying one or two hours every day minimum if you’re looking to take one of the Japanese Language Proficiency tests in the coming years. **For the hardest tests of the JLPT, which are the N2 and N1, I recommend that you spend as much time as you can permit each day to learning Japanese since the N2 and N1 exams truly test your understanding of Japanese.** If you study for only a few hours a day, there’s a good chance that you’ll be ready to take the N5 test after a year, which would guarantee minimum fluency. ![japanese festival masks](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/japanese-culture-1.jpg) ## Best Resources to Learn Japanese There are plenty of great resources out there to use if you’re looking to learn Japanese on your own. We are primarily looking at online resources which specialize in teaching Japanese. ### Tae Kim’s Japanese Grammar Guide [Tae Kim’s Japanese Grammar Guide](https://guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is the perfect free resource for those who prefer a more traditional sense of learning. The PDF itself contains 352 pages of information pertaining to Japanese grammar and vocabulary. You can also find it on both the Android and Apple app store and on Amazon as paperback. ### LingoDeer Japanese Course [Lingodeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Japanese course provides bite-sized lessons and structured learning. So beginners will not be overwhelmed, while at the same time learn Japanese effectively. **The learning tips before each lesson pushes you in the deep end with the grammar but almost imperceptible as the streak goes and level build-up.** ![is lingodeer free](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/07/lingodeer-1.jpg) ![is lingodeer for japanese](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2022/07/LingoDeer-2.jpg) Lingodeer’s audio material could rival any textbooks’ MP3, and it is even easier to use because you can choose the audio speed you like (in IOS), another customize option is about Japanese writing system display. The course originally has all the content in [romaji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/romaji/), [hiragana, katakana](https://blog.lingodeer.com/differences-between-hiragana-and-katakana/) and [kanji](https://blog.lingodeer.com/kanji-radicals/). You can choose to turn off the romaji, if you want to focus on the Japanese writing system and memorize kanji. It is also practical to practice conversation. **The story module after each lesson review and extend the vocabulary you have just learned in authentic conversation. Travel phrasebooks and fluent modules provide useful phrases and sentences in a specific scene.** So it allows you to practice applying what you’ve learned into practical situations created by native speakers. ### LingQ [LingQ](https://www.lingq.com/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) gives access to thousands of hours of Japanese podcasts, audiobooks, courses, and more. You can learn Japanese through their courses and then apply it by listening to one of their podcasts or reading an audiobook. LingQ also introduces you to Japanese culture, politics, sports, and entertainment so that you can immerse yourself within the world of Japan. ### JGram [JGram](https://takoboto.jp/bunpo/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is another Japanese grammar database, but this one is specifically designed for every JLPT you can take. For each level of the JLPT, there are different grammar points which you can go over. JGram provides an explanation for each grammar point on the JLPT, including tons of sample sentences provided by other users. This is an older site that uses the old levels of JLPT 4-1 instead of JLPT N5-N1, but the grammar is still the same. ## Tips for Learning Japanese While Japanese may be hard, there are a great number of ways in which one can make learning Japanese an easier experience. In fact, applying all these tips together can make learning Japanese more fun than it needs to be tedious. ### Learn Japanese From Manga, Anime, and Other Resources While in traditional Japanese courses, you may learn simple sentences, greetings, and sayings, anime and manga disregard those who are not fluent in the language. This forces you to truly apply what they’ve learned if they want to understand what’s going on. ![Japanese anime sky](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/ld-image-a4461ba6147def3e.jpg) A word of caution should be noted, though. While Japanese can certainly be improved through anime and manga, it shouldn’t be a primary source of learning. You can find great anime and manga which can be applied to real life, but most shows and series aren’t appropriate for most of the situations that you’ll be put in. Thus, as an avid learner of the Japanese language, I recommend that you turn to a reputable online course, a course which can prepare you for many of the different scenarios you’ll face in the real world. ### How to Improve Japanese With Anime and Manga How exactly do you improve your Japanese with anime and manga, though? First of all, improving your Japanese by watching anime and improving your Japanese by reading manga are completely different. One question you should ask yourself is, “Does the anime represent real-life situations well?” A good example would be Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru, a show about preparing for a marathon that could very realistically happen in real life. The trick behind improving your Japanese through anime is not just watching the anime itself, but how you watch it. **Instead of viewing an episode, watch one time through with the English subtitles on. After a period of time, come back and watch the same episode--this time with no subtitles.** After a while, you’ll find that this method will help you parse together spoken Japanese! ![kiminonaha](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/ld-image-69dcbf39e2f37dd2.jpg) Improving your Japanese through manga is different. [After combing through Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnJapanese/comments/1zry2c/how%5Fto%5Feffectively%5Fuse%5Fmanga%5Fto%5Fimprove%5Fjapanese/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), looking at how different people improved their Japanese by reading manga, I found that the most effective way for most users was to just read! ### Learn about Japanese Culture Another great way to learn Japanese language is to understand the culture. There are so many words associated with Japanese culture that a student won’t learn about when they’re studying Japanese. ![japanese food](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/ld-image-5a167c50d50235ad.jpg) A great example would be martial arts. Japan is home to many different types of martial arts, including but not limited to karate, judo, aikido, iaido, and jujutsu. When you’re practicing one of these types of martial arts, you’ll be exposed to terms not normally covered in a standard textbook. For example, in aikido, expressions like “Ichi-go Ichi-e” (each moment, always the first) and “Mannen Shohō” (Ten thousand years, first step) are learned by students. If you truly want to improve your Japanese, embracing different aspects of Japanese culture like their wide array of martial arts will introduce you to new terms, expressions, and sayings that you won’t find in a standard classroom setting. ### Find Someone to Speak Japanese With In my opinion, this is the most important tip of them all. If you can find someone to speak Japanese with, then this will drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to learn Japanese. Like with manga and anime, you’re applying what you learn to the real world; but when you speak Japanese with someone, you apply your Japanese in a more direct manner. #### What if I Don’t Have Someone to Speak Japanese With? If you don’t have someone to speak Japanese with, that’s no problem! Not everyone has a language partner who’s available on demand, or you might not want to talk to a native speaker until you’re comfortable with your pronunciation yourself first. If that’s your case, **the** [**LingoDeer app**](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **allows you to practice speaking by shadowing its example sentences and dialogues**. You can listen to the audio by read the native speaker, record your own reading and let the app play both to compare. This is a great way for improving pronunciation on your own. You can always simulate a conversation between two people by yourself. While it may seem a little weird at first being the only talking, this still helps you apply what you’ve learned into the conversation and thus, helps you understand the language on a deeper level. ![japanese geisha](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/japanese-geisha.jpg) ## How do I speed up the learning process? Whether you are learning Japanese or any other foreign language, **it is crucial to master the underlying mechanism of language learning.** According to the second language acquisition theory, language learning is divided into two main categories and four branches: input (listening, reading) output (speaking, writing) Therefore, no matter what method you use to learn a language, the above four dimensions need to be trained effectively for proper acquisition. Browsing through forums such as Quora, you may notice that everyone's opinion on the difficulty of learning Japanese and how long it will take to master is not quite the same. **Answers vary individually because some learners have grasped the scientific learning methods and reached a high level, while some stay stuck in the mud.** Learning a foreign language is like climbing the Alps; courage and physical strength are the keys to victory. However, equipment is also significant, and it is almost impossible to climb to the top without suitable equipment. **Many learners on the App Store reviews page describe** [**LingoDeer**](https://lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **as a good tool and an excellent teacher.** If you haven't tried it, give it a shot!. LingoDeer offers Japanese lessons in a fun way by incorporating [O’Malley, J. M.](https://www.scirp.org/%28S%28i43dyn45teexjx455qlt3d2q%29%29/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceID=364050&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)'s theory of language learning strategies. With the help of LingoDeer, you will be able to make progress in learning Japanese effectively. ## Final Verdict: So How Long Will it Take to Learn Japanese? How long it takes to learn Japanese depends on how willing you are to learn the language. After all, learning Japanese is no easy task. There are three different writing systems that constitute the language, one of which you must master if you want to become truly fluent. There are over 10,000 words that need to be learned to meet the minimum requirements to pass the JLPT-N1 test and you’re going to need to put in countless hours if you want to be able to speak Japanese on a comfortable basis. However, learning Japanese isn’t as difficult as you might make it out to be. If you’re willing to put in a couple of hours every day, you can become fluent within one or two years, a reality that comes with almost any other language you want to learn. Furthermore, **there are plenty of online resources like the Japanese course offered at LingoDeer which** [**make it faster to learn the language**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/get-fluent-in-a-new-language-fast/). You can always supplement your learning with J-pop, movies, manga or anime and finding a language partner on [HelloTalk](https://www.hellotalk.com/?lang=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). That being said, expect it to take a few years on average to truly become fluent in the language. Check out this guide for tips on how to get [from beginner to advanced in Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/). And if you need to just receive a basic understanding of Japanese, that could take just a couple of months. ### How Is LingoDeer Different from Other Apps? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:07:12.000Z You might clicked in this article because you have so many options for language apps including LingoDeer. You might have heard that LingoDeer teaches better than many other apps especially when it comes to Asian languages. This article will answer all your questions about how is LingoDeer different from other language learning apps. In short, LingoDeer teaches **languages – not just their separate parts.** You can also give [LingoDeer app](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) a try today for free and you'll understand why it's a better choice. #### A grammar-based structure Grammar, the system that governs these parts, is generally considered to be the most difficult aspect of a language to learn, particularly outside of the classroom. So while most other apps settle for standard word lists and phrasebooks as the foundations of their lessons, LingoDeer tackles the much greater challenge – emphasizing grammar alongside vocabulary to help you fully master your chosen language. *But is grammar really that important?* Yes! **Learning a language without understanding its underlying principles is like building a house without blueprints.** It may appear complete from a distance. But upon closer inspection, you notice that the hallways lead to nowhere and the staircases are only half complete. There’s no way to get from one place to another! Similarly with learning a second or third language, we need a strong mental framework to connect the individual components. LingoDeer guides you through the unique grammatical system of your chosen language and teaches you like a real professional teacher would – by understanding the relationships between vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and sentence structure, and **tying them all together**. #### Can you reach fluency with LingoDeer? Yes. LingoDeer's newly released Fluent section is designed to help you reach fluency faster. Be it speaking or writing, you can practice using the language in real-life situations. Alongside with LingoDeer's main courses, you can start learning a new language from scratch and reach an intermediate level with enough knowledge to leap forward to advanced learning. If you feel like a bit more practice, [LingoDeer Plus](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-plus/) is always the best choice to complement your learning with LingoDeer. **Sound like a lot of work? It’s not!** #### LingoDeer makes language learning fun and easy! Language learning with LingoDeer can actually be much quicker than learning with other apps. Here’s how: - **Gamification:** Each LingoDeer lesson is set up as a series of engaging games and quizzes to help you tap into the right side of your brain for a more effective and creative learning experience. - **Strategic Pacing:** LingoDeer’s lesson plans are expertly designed to gradually introduce more advanced grammatical devices as you reach new milestones to help you master the natural speech patterns of your chosen language. - **Learning Tips:** LingoDeer provides you with easy-to-understand grammar study notes at the beginning of each module to help prime your understanding before diving into new lessons. Each card is concise, intuitive and perfect for quick reference down the line. - **Customization:** To help maximize your learning potential, LingoDeer allows you to customize your study environment. You can magnify or shrink text, toggle between fonts and even choose your own background color. ### [Webinar] Learn Katakana and Wasei-eigo with Hiroki URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/kataka-with-hiroki/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:30:32.000Z Have you ever been confused by Katakana? Have you ever wondered how these foreign loan words came to be is and how to use them? If your answered yes, join our live stream and enjoy a fun 1-hour lesson with Hiroki, your expert guide to the world of Japanese! **Speaker:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/06/unnamed.png) Hello! I'm Hiroki. I come from Osaka, a city famous for the good food and vibrant atmosphere! I am a certified Japanese teacher, completing a 420-hour training. I lived in Taipei before, and now I live in Tasmania, Australia :) **When: Friday, June 12 at 8pm EST** **Where:** Zoom (please install it before the event) **How to join:** Join from this [Webinar Room URL](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87150500734?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **\[IMPORTANT\]** Due to the high demand in the event, we must advise that seats for this live session are ***FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED*** **FAQs:** Q: Will I need to show my face? A: No. This is a webinar, where only the teacher will be on camera and share the screen. Q: Is this event free? A: Yes, this is a free event for LingoDeer users. Q: Do I need to know Japanese already? A: No, this is an event for complete beginners. If you don’t get a seat in the Zoom session, you can rewatch our webinars on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lingodeer ### LingoDeer User Justin on Chinese Learning, Productivity and Blockchain URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese-lingodeer-user-justin/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:38.000Z “When I first set out to learn Chinese, I was aware that China was well on its way to becoming a huge technical superpower and all I planned to do was to be ready when this reality was realized,” said Justin. Justin majored in computer science and now works in a cutting edge IT company. He started learning Chinese long after he had finished university, on the side while he was working full time, knowing a second language would give him an edge as a software developer in the IT industry. A second language is an asset - as Justin found when interviewing for a position at his current company. **Knowing Chinese and being willing to travel there made him stand out from the other developers** with the same technical skillset. He was also happy to join a company who showed they value language skills. “I was selected by my company as the sole engineer who would be representing the company at various workshops and events in China. To prepare for those events, **my company has been financing my language learning as I pursue a higher level of fluency in Chinese.”** While he is in China, Justin is expected to give presentations from a rehearsed script. But he would like to be able to speak naturally about technical topics related to his work with blockchain technology. ### Languages can change your career path Justin is now more likely to seek a job or career path that brings him closer to more diverse groups of people. “Since starting to learn Chinese, I have exclusively worked remotely and I find that it really suits my personality. It gives me the flexibility to continue traveling and learning about the world.” It’s not only knowing a second language - **knowing how to learn languages in general and diligently studying can help your career in a multitude of ways**, as Justin has found out. “Knowing how to study languages gave me confidence to study new programming languages and technology as well. ” From starting to learn Chinese while working until this trip, it was about 8-9 months – a very efficient learner! On the side of Justin’s full-time job, he is focusing on improving his Chinese because his company would like him to travel for work. He finds it slower going than when he was immersed and not working, but he has found other strategies to learn effectively. ## How to start learning Chinese Finding something that deeply interests you in a language helps you get started and keeps you going. Justin says that **he had no idea what he was getting into**, but he was driven by curiosity. He also wanted to learn a language that was completely different to anything he had learnt before, fascinated by the idea of language that didn’t use a phonetic alphabet system and had tonal pronunciation. Justin started learning Chinese long after he had finished university, on the side while he was working full time. He studied using apps to drill Chinese vocabulary and simple grammar on his daily walking commute to work - 30 minutes each way. It was the most convenient way to start. Because learning during your commute is daily, you’ll be able to remember and recall what you learn a lot easier. Eventually, he decided to quit his job and move to Taiwan to be more immersed in the language. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/IMG_7092.jpg) Justin and Xiamen officials chatting about why he is learning Chinese. Justin was pleased with how far he progressed just using language apps on his commute: “It certainly gave me the basic foundation, I was aware of the writing system and how there is a stroke order to write characters. Upon arriving in Taiwan, I could say the basic travel phrases, and get around with what I had learned.” Learning basic vocabulary and grammar only during your daily commute can let you communicate and solve problems in person. But with Chinese, the writing system is a more difficult hurdle, “At that time, I found it extremely difficult to remember how to write a character. It wasn’t until I started classes that I got more proficient.” ### Intensive courses must suit your goals While Justin appreciated the intensive course’s focus on reading and writing, he wanted to use Chinese conversationally, and to choose topics to study that were more closely aligned to his interests. “It was nice for that aspect \[writing and reading\], but I felt that my speaking and listening wasn’t improving at the rate that I wanted to. I enrolled for three months then I left to have more time for meeting up with local students who were interested in language exchange – I found that that was a little more helpful to learn how to speak naturally.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-1-1.jpg) Learning Chinese calligraphy After finishing the course, Justin continued to study on his own, reaching HSK2-3 before embarking on a solo trip around China. “I used more apps, including spaced repetition flashcards and various Chinese learning apps to supplement my learning, and reading through the next textbook in the series on my own.” As he was able to design an approach to learning that suited him specifically, Justin was able to learn specific grammar and vocabulary faster. It was also easier to immerse himself in the language naturally while travelling. “In China, there were fewer English speakers and I was able to get around, communicate and make friends, talk with the locals”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-2-1.jpg) Making friends in Xi’an. Justin still enjoys playing with her hacky sack gift today. ## Time management: learning a language while working As Justin now has a lot of experience studying while working full time, he has developed strategies to schedule his learning and balance work, study and life. “Because I don’t have kids, I still have the free time to spend as I see fit, which definitely makes it easier. While learning and working, **the commute was by far the best thing for my language development**. By walking or taking the bus to work, I had time where I could build a habit and automatically use an app or something to learn a language.” ### Schedule time to make language learning a daily habit “Now it’s more difficult. I have to schedule time in my calendar, such as lessons or tutor sessions. I need to set aside time to study and learn because work can get really busy, and life gets busy, so unless you stake out a time ahead of time to learn, it’s easy to let it slide. “ Justin has found that **stacking language learning on another daily activity helps him**, even though he no longer commutes. “When I go to the gym, I can listen to language learning podcasts while working out – I can get two things done at the same time. As I don’t have a commute, I rely on that as a daily thing to work language learning into my schedule.” ## Top 3 tips for staying motivated when learning a language **一. Switch it up**: Boredom makes you lose motivation. Engage your curiosity by switching learning methods or materials regularly. > “There are so many different ways to learn these days, with technology. You can jump on an online tutoring session, or download a podcast or a book, or use really amazing apps. You can try multiple features in apps like with LingoDeer – there’s the main app and LingoDeer Plus for drilling characters – you can always be changing your method.” **二. Find something entertaining**: Ask for recommendations of shows you are interested in, but watch them in your target language with subtitles. > “中餐馆 (Chinese Restaurants) is this show where Chinese people go to a different country with the goal to open a Chinese restaurant and make money. But they have to encounter all of the cultural differences. They speak Mandarin throughout, so it has been really cool to watch – we are really interested in Chinese food, and also the culture clash in general. We really love this show.” **三. Make it part of your life**: Build the cultural aspects into your life, and the language learning will follow naturally. This will keep you engaged in the long term. > **“The best way to learn something is if you genuinely have an interest in it – that will carry you through the hard times.** Anyone can be dedicated and study every day for a period of time, but language learning is a lot more long term. Even though I have had some breaks, I see myself learning Chinese over several years to get to the level I want. The thing that keeps me going is that I’m really interested in the cultural differences, I love Chinese food … these things will always keep bringing me back to learning more. “ \------ **Want to be featured in a community story like Justin's? Sign up here and a deer agent will be in touch! We look forward to hearing your story!** ### Contact LingoDeer Please include the following information in your email: - Name **(required)** - Email **(required)** - I **(required)** [Email blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com?subject=Community%20story%20volunteer&body=Name%3A%20%0A%0AEmail%3A%20%0A%0AI%3A%20) This opens your email app with the subject and field template prefilled. No information is submitted on this page. ### How LingoDeer user Chlöe learned Korean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/interview-chloe-learn-korean-lingodeer/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:30:25.000Z *For this year's Mother's Day we asked our Instagram followers to post a video or photo of themselves speaking/writing about their mothers in their target language. Here's the video of our winner, Chl* öe. Her speech about her drama-addicting mother will make you smile. **LD: Tell us about yourself and how you got into Korean?** **C:** Hi! My name is Chlöe and I’m a cat loving, K drama bingeing pet portrait artist from England. It’s always been my dream to be bilingual but I’m so interested in everything I kept getting distracted. Then last July something amazing came into my life...Korean dramas! It started with Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. Things were pretty hard at the time and K-Dramas filled me and Mum’s world with light! We watched it, then we watched it again! And again! When Dad commented we were watching too much TV Mum said “it’s only Tv. It’s not like I’m having an affair!” and soon he was just as obsessed too! I was entranced! The language called to me. I immediately started reading about Korean culture and fell in love. I knew I had to learn it. **I researched for the best ways to learn Korean which is how I found LingoDeer.** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-5.jpg) **LD: Name 3 things you want to do with the Korean language** C: I think the dream of all language learners is to go to the country where it’s spoken. So I want to go to Korea, see all the amazing places, talk in Korean visit JeJu Island and probably come back with a tonne of merch (and maybe my favourite actor Lee Jong Suk, if he agrees. 😆 So many interviews with our Korean idols don’t have subtitles and I always see comments begging for an English translation. So I would love one day to be fluent enough to translate the videos on YouTube. I want to do it for all the fellow Korean lovers who don’t know the language. And 3\. I’ve always felt like I learnt Korean for a reason. Like it’s a path I’ve always been meant to follow. Haha, destiny! So I’m really excited to find out what is on that path. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-7.jpg) **LD: How did you complete the challenge? How did you feel after you completed it?** C: I desperately wanted to win. I was also excited to see if I knew enough words to talk for two minutes. I felt so nervous like I was going to perform on stage. All night I kept dreaming that the LingoDeer teacher was saying how bad my pronunciation was.” Haha as you can see it really meant a lot to me. I’d wake up thinking “ahh I said half past Saturday! Idiot Chlöe!” So I just kept my fingers crossed. When I won I smiled all day and just walked around in a daze not knowing what to do I was so happy.😄 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-2.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-4.jpg) **LD: How do you stay motivated? What do you do when you feel stuck or frustrated by learning?** **C:** My sheer love for the language motivates me and I love creating K-Drama drawings for my Instagram. Creating my account was the best thing I’ve done. I’ve met such lovely people who inspire me on a daily basis with their motivation and love of languages. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-12.jpg) If I’m stuck and feel I’ll never ever be fluent I’ll watch a K drama and feel the love of language rushing back. I’ll watch my favourite idols or listen to music. Children songs are great to learn from (mainly because they get stuck in your head) Baby shark... If that doesn’t work I’ll just do something that isn’t related to language. But K-Dramas are usually the answer.❤ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-6.jpg) Now Korean fills my every day and I’ve happily let it take over. I feel so lucky to have found something that I love so much (even though I accidentally bowed to a non Korean and replied in Korean too. I’m excited to see where the langua ge takes me. **LD: What's your Korean learning routine these days? How do you use LingoDeer?** C: I study for half an hour at the kitchen table when I wake up with a big cup of tea and **I make sure I write everything down**. It’s so important to have a routine with learning a language, like brushing your teeth, so I also study Lingodeer when I’m brushing my teeth! My teeth get super clean. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-8.jpg) I love LingoDeer **because it pushes you in the deep end with the grammar but in a way that you think you’re in the shallow end.** Before you know it you’re talking in sentences from the off and I always want to unlock the achievements and keep my study streak up. Each lesson is the perfect length, not too short or long so I can do a quick lesson wherever I am. I try and do all the lessons for each unit everyday, **but it’s so addictive, sometimes I do more.** Spelling is my weakness so the spelling test at the end helps so much. When I get it wrong and LingoDeer cries, my heart breaks too. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/unnamed-3.jpg) **We hope you enjoyed the story as much as we did!!** ### 5 Unexpected Celebrities that Know Different Languages! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/multilingual-celebrities-polyglots/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:27:47.000Z There are many reasons why people learn a second language: improving memory, business opportunities, learning different cultures, and so on! Celebrities tend to pick up languages from acting in diverse roles and traveling the world. However, it takes much more dedication and passion to become fluent in different languages, such as these 5 celebrities! **John Cena** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/pasted-image-0.png) In America, John Cena is known as a multi-champion pro wrestler, actor, and….rapper. What isn’t commonly known is his fascination with learning languages. Despite having a limited amount of free time, he pushes for time to expand his knowledge of **Mandarin Chinese**. He is very dedicated to learning -- he even has a personal tutor to practice conversation in Mandarin! In 2018, he temporarily lived in China for several months for a movie. During that time, he was able to learn plenty about Chinese culture. John Cena has posted about his love for Lao Gan Ma, a Chinese hot sauce. Recently, he also proclaimed that he is one of BTS’ biggest fans?! He listens to BTS and states that he loves the message of their music. Who knows, John Cena might be fluent in Korean next! *“I have a desire to learn Chinese. I know my Chinese has a lot of problems. It’s not easy, but if I have a problem with learning Chinese...I tell myself that I have a passion for this”* \- John Cena **Tom Hiddleston** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/pasted-image-0-1.png) **Movies:* Thor, Avengers, Kong: Skull Island* Tom Hiddleston, aka Loki from Thor, is known for his charisma and charm. The skilled actor absolutely appreciates other cultures and loves learning languages. Tom speaks **Spanish**, **French**, **Italian**, and Greek. In addition, he speaks conversational **Korean**, **Mandarin Chinese**, and **Russian**! 😱 He explained how going on press tours around the world allows him to learn and practice the language of the country. There are interviews that feature him talking about his love for learning languages and how it’s played a big role in his career. When he is on a press tour, he would talk to the fans in their native language. When he stayed in Korea to promote the upcoming Avengers film, Hiddleston stated that Korea is a beautiful country and he sees himself coming back soon. At the end of his interview, he told his Korean fans: 사랑해요 ❤️ *“Language has always fascinated me ever since I was in school...it is our primary tool of externalizing the many complex feelings we have as human beings.”* \-Tom Hiddleston **Natalie Portman** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/pasted-image-0-2.png) **Movies:* Black Swan, Thor, Star Wars, V for Vendetta* Natalie Portman is one of Hollywood’s leading actresses. She won an Oscar for Best Actress from playing the lead in Black Swan. Her work includes Star Wars Prequel Saga, and...the upcoming Marvel films as Female Thor! The talented actress is also known to be very intelligent. In high school, Portman graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She attended Harvard and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Since a young age, she has always enjoyed learning, especially languages. Her native language is both English and Hebrew. Born in Jerusalem, she moved to America at a young age and entered the entertainment industry when she was scouted as a model at age 12\. Natalie attended a Jewish elementary school in Long Island, where she learned to speak **Hebrew** fluently. Natalie Portman’s passion for learning languages expanded to studying **French**, **Japanese, German, and Spanish.** *“Learning gives you an open mind. Knowing languages is a tool that helps in some situations where all you do is just, you don't even think about it, you just keep moving forward.”* \-Natalie Portman **Bradley Cooper** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/pasted-image-0-3.png) **Movies:* The Hangover, A Star is Born, Guardians of the Galaxy, American Sniper* *Oh là là!* From his press tour in France, Bradley Cooper impressed the world with his **French** skills. The interviewer was so impressed by the Hollywood star and stated that his French is like a native! Bradley revealed that he lived in France for a few months and picked up the language from conversation. He also studied French while he was attending college. The Hangover actor explained that he challenges himself to speak French completely when he is in a conversation with someone who speaks French. Furthermore, he also speaks conversational Italian because of his mother, who is Italian descent. *“There's a scene where a guy was speaking French and I thought, 'Man, that sounds so cool.”* \- Bradley Cooper (talking about the movie, Chariots on Fire, which fueled his passion to learn French) **Audrey Hepburn** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/pasted-image-0-4.png) **Movies:* Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman Holiday, My Fair Lady* One of Hollywood’s most famous actresses, fashion icon, humanitarian, and also polyglot! Audrey Hepburn grew up exposed to many cultures. She was the daughter of a Dutch Baroness and British businessman. Growing up, she travelled to various places and became fluent in both **English** and **Dutch**. When she arrived in Hollywood, Audrey travelled around the world for acting, but also got involved in philanthropy. She volunteered to help children in various countries, including India and Vietnam. Audrey Hepburn was known for her beauty inside-out and open mindedness. From her travels for acting, she learned **French, Spanish, German, and Italian.** In total, Audrey Hepburn reportedly knew 6 languages fluently! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC7Jy0x89FQ *“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!”* ― Audrey Hepburn It’s always possible for you to learn another language. At LingoDeer, you can learn a wide variety of languages, including Chinese, Portugeuse, French, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, and so much more! In order to achieve learning another language, it requires studying the language and practicing conversations. LingoDeer is a great aid for language learning, especially for beginners. The program is crafted by language teachers and audio is by native speakers, which is absolutely helpful during the language learning process. For more information about LingoDeer, check out [https://www.lingodeer.com/](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) or download LingoDeer in the App Store/Play Store! --- **Check out LingoDeer now to get started on your learning journey!** [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) --- ### 17 Websites of Free Ebooks and Audio Books for Language Learners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/free-ebooks/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:30:20.000Z You may not be able to go to a library, but a library can come to you. This is thanks to a wide range of websites that provide free ebooks in many languages online. ## German - **Project Gutenberg** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-e703063f2349438a.png) [gutenberg.org/](http://gutenberg.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Project Gutenberg has published more than 60,000 books about literature online, where you can also download them to read offline. Check out the list of the Top 100 popular books of the month if you don't know where to start. - **Bibliothek Zeno** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-9ee50960fcf60f55.png) [zeno.org/](http://zeno.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) If you are a big fan of German literature, you must not miss the Bibliothek Zeno which includes plenty of German literature masterpieces as free ebooks. - **Vorleser** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-e92426fa3068a46f.png) [vorleser.net/](http://vorleser.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Just as its name implies, Voeleser is an audiobook website. You will find detective novels, poems and children's literature amongst its selection. ## ## French - **Ebooks libres & gratuits** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-78e0b090973d5f03.png) [ebooksgratuits.com/](http://ebooksgratuits.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Ebooks libres & gratuits is totally free! You can search books by title, author and genre. - **Litterature audio** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/f.png) [litteratureaudio.com/](http://litteratureaudio.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Litterature audio provides a good range of listening materials with more than 6,000 audiobooks available, which can be downloaded as MP3 audio files. - **Gallica** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-86b6b29ec59fab9c.jpg) [gallica.bnf.fr/](http://gallica.bnf.fr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Gallica is the digital branch of the French National Library (BnF). It provides access to many types of documents: printed documents (books, press and magazines) in image and text mode, plus manuscripts, sound and iconographic documents, as well as maps and plans. It is a good way to immerse yourself in the French language and culture. ## Spanish - **Casa del Libro** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-9b74ba5ca44d3c0e.png) [casadellibro.com/](http://casadellibro.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Casa del Libro translates as the home of books and is the digital branch of the famous chain bookstore in Spain. - **24symbols** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-d765ff6369839372.png) [24symbols.com/](http://24symbols.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 24 Symbols is one of the most popular ebook websites in Spain. The app is beautiful, making sure you can enjoy reading ebooks on your computer, tablet or smartphone. They also have a recommended book list and a subscription option. - **Rakuten kobo** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-9e365f096765ed18.jpg) [kobo.com/](http://kobo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Rakuten kobo has a wide range of audiobooks. You can use it both on your laptop and smartphone. As well as the usual way of searching a book by title and author, you can also search for it by ISBN. ## ## Japanese - **TADOKU** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/1.png) [tadoku.org/](http://tadoku.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Tadoku has plenty of books for every level. At the lower levels, the books include many pictures, so you don’t have to constantly refer to a dictionary. You can download PDF ebooks or MP3 audiobooks. 無料の読みもの means to read for free, where the books are both beginner-friendly and high quality. - **Aozora Bunko (青空文库)** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/2..png) [aozora.gr.jp/](http://www.aozora.gr.jp/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Azora is a digital library. Although the interface may be old-fashioned, the library contains many resources. There are more than 10,000 books in literature alone! Beginners can start with children's literature, and you can even choose to read the books in their original vertical Japanese print layout. ## Korean - **KYOBO Ebook** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/3.png) [digital.kyobobook.co.kr/](http://digital.kyobobook.co.kr/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) From comics to academic thesis, you can buy or rent ebooks from Kyobo, where there are also many free ebooks available. - **Naver Ebook** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/4.png) [series.naver.com/ebook/freeList.nhn](http://series.naver.com/ebook/freeList.nhn?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Naver is a famous dictionary publisher for Korean language learners, but did you know that Naver also provides free ebooks? It has a wide and varied selection of books with more than 1,500 available for free. However, it is not all that friendly for beginners. ## Chinese - Haodoo（好读） ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-14d66500d04d3856.png) [Haodoo.net](https://link.zhihu.com/?target=http%3A//haodoo.net&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Haodoo is a traditional Chinese website which provides novels as ebooks and audiobooks in a wide range of genres, including Kong fu novels. - Jiumodiary（鸠摩搜索） ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-3d500e1cdf3c95ad.png) [http://Jiumodiary.com](http://jiumodiary.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Jiumodiary is a powerful search engine where you can find free ebooks, audiobooks and printed books, as long as they are available on the internet, by searching for the book’s title. ## ## Portuguese - **LELIVROS** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-6ccbbb6812152964.jpg) [lelivros.love/](http://lelivros.love/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) You will find popular novels such as A Song of Ice and Fire in Portuguese available for download at Lelivros. The site has many free ebooks for children, teenagers and beginner language learners. - **Amazon** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/05/ld-image-b4d86cfafda885cf.png) [amazon.com.br/](http://amazon.com.br/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Are you looking for some free Portuguese ebooks to read? All you need is the Kindle app on your computer, smartphone or tablet. Amazon has made over 50,000 ebooks free on their website. Enjoy reading from a wide selection from classic novels to books about food, travel, health and business for free. Many can also be read aloud to you by the Kindle app. ### Intro to Japanese Verb Types and Verb Conjugation URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-verbs-type/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:52.000Z Unlike English, verbs, in Japanese, always come at the end of a sentence or a clause. We will now learn the types of verbs, which will allow us to define conjugation rules. Before learning any verb conjugations, first, we need to learn how verbs are categorized. ## Japanese Verb Types 1 Basically, there are three main categories of verbs. The first type of Japanese verbs is called u-verbs, which is referred to “ V1” in LingoDeer Japanese lessons. V1 always ends with anう(u) sound when in plain form. The second type of Japanese verbs, V2, is called ru-verbs. V2 are verbs whose endings are a combination of "any kana in the い(i)/え(e) column + る(ru)". This is why sometimes ru-verbs are also known as iru-verbs and eru-verbs. V3 are verbs constructed in the form of "Kanji+する(suru)", including these two: "来る(kuru/to come)" and "する(suru/to do). | **V1/u-verbs** | **V2/ru-verbs** | **V3** | | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | 私は明日行く。 (I will go tomorrow.) | 李さんは毎日カレーを食べる。 (Mr. Li eats curry everyday.) | 私は毎日日本語を勉強する (I study Japanese everyday.) | | 飲む, 買う, 書く, etc. | 寝る, 食べる, 着る, etc. | 来る, する, 散歩する, etc. | ## Japanese Verb Types 2 If you try to categorize Japanese verbs in a more familiar way, there will be another verb type. In English, verbs which take an object are called transitive verbs, and verbs which do not take an object are called intransitive verbs. In Japanese these are called tadōshi (他動詞) and jidōshi (自動詞) respectively. | **Intransitive Verbs** | **Transitive Verbs** | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | | ドアが開く。 (A door opens itself) | ドアを開ける。 (to open a door) | | 閉まる, つく, 消える, 止まる, etc. | 閉める, つける, 消す, 止める, etc. | | **Features of a Jidoushi-Tadoushi/intransitive-transitive pair:** ① a pair usually shares the same root but differs by the endings. ② Tadoushi comes after the direct object particle "**を**", whereas Jidoushi follows the particle "**が**". | | | **Exceptions:** Apart from verbs that come in transitive-intransitive pairs, there are verbs that are always intransitive those always transitive, and some are both transitive and intransitive. ① Only intransitive: 行く, 来る, 住む, 走る, 泣く, etc. ② Only transitive: 聞く, 話す, 読む, 書く, 食べる, etc. ③ Intransitive form=transitive form: 開く, 休む, 笑う, 終わる, 吹く, etc. | | Being able to conjugate each verb into its respective stems in order to add suffixes to verbs and convey specific meanings is an essential step in increasing your Japanese proficiency. The conjugation tables below will show how verbs in the Japanese language are conjugated on the basis of the Verb Types 1\. All of these is included in LingoDeer Japanese lessons. ## Japanese Verb Conjugations I | | **Plain** | **\-Masu** | **\-Te** | **\-Ta** | **\-Nai** | | ----------------- | ----------------- | ---------- | -------- | -------- | --------- | | **V1** | **～う** | ～い | ～って | ～った | ～わない | | **～つ** | ～ち | ～たない | | | | | **～る** | ～り | ～らない | | | | | **～く** | ～き | ～いて | ～いた | ～かない | | | **～ぐ** | ～ぎ | ～いで | ～いだ | ～がない | | | **～ぬ** | ～に | ～んで | ～んだ | ～なない | | | **～ぶ** | ～び | ～ばない | | | | | **～む** | ～み | ～まない | | | | | **～す** | ～し | ～して | ～した | ～さない | | | **V2** | **～** **i** **る** | ～i | ～て | ～た | ～ない | | **～** **e** **る** | ～e | | | | | | **V3** | **～する** | し | して | した | しない | | **～くる** | き | きて | きた | こない | | ## Japanese Verb Conjugations II | | **Plain** | **Potential** | **Conditional** | **Volitional** | **Imperative** | | ----------------- | ----------------- | ------------- | --------------- | -------------- | -------------- | | **V1** | **～う** | ～える | ～えば | ～おう | ～え | | **～つ** | ～てる | ～てば | ～とう | ～て | | | **～る** | ～れる | ～れば | ～ろう | ～れ | | | **～く** | ～ける | ～けば | ～こう | ～け | | | **～ぐ** | ～げる | ～げば | ～ごう | ～げ | | | **～ぬ** | ～ねる | ～ねば | ～のう | ～ね | | | **～ぶ** | ～べる | ～べば | ～ぼう | ～べ | | | **～む** | ～める | ～めば | ～もう | ～め | | | **～す** | ～せる | ～せば | ～そう | ～せ | | | **V2** | **～** **i** **る** | ～られる | ～れば | ～よう | ～ろ | | **～** **e** **る** | | | | | | | **V3** | **～する** | できる | すれば | しよう | しろ | | **～くる** | こられる | くれば | こよう | こい | | ## Japanese Verb Conjugations III | | **Plain** | **Passive** | **Causative** | **Passive causative** | | ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------- | ------------- | --------------------- | | **V1** | **～う** | ～われる | ～わせる | ～わせられる | | **～つ** | ～たれる | ～たせる | ～たせられる | | | **～る** | ～られる | ～らせる | ～らせられる | | | **～く** | ～かれる | ～かせる | ～かせられる | | | **～ぐ** | ～がれる | ～がせる | ～がせられる | | | **～ぬ** | ～なれる | ～なせる | ～なせられる | | | **～ぶ** | ～ばれる | ～ばせる | ～ばせられる | | | **～む** | ～まれる | ～ませる | ～ませられる | | | **～す** | ～される | ～させる | ～させられる | | | **V2** | **～** **i** **る** | ～られる | | | | **～** **e** **る** | | | | | | **V3** | **～する** | される | させる | させられる | | **～くる** | こられる | こさせる | こさせられる | | #### Conclusion: We learned a lot about Japanese verbs today! I know it is difficult to remember all of it, but it will become clearer the more you hear it and use it. If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or contact us via social media @lingodeer If you want to do exercises on Japanese verbs, you must check out LingoDeer's Japanese lessons! Our verb chapters explain in detail how to use them in a sentence. Download the app now! If you're looking for useful information on how to go about learning Japanese comprehensively as a language, come check out this [essential guide to learning Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese/) written by a fellow learner. Wondering [how long it may take to Japanese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/)? Keep calm and read on =) ### LingoDeer Chinese vs Integrated Chinese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-chinese-integrated-chinese/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:39.000Z Thank you for choosing LingoDeer! LingoDeer was born with the mission to serve as the main guide for beginner learners, so **our courses are designed to meet requirements of standardized tests (HSK 1-3) and match textbooks.** We are proud to share a comparison between LingoDeer Chinese and Integrate Chinese Level 1, the most used textbook in university Chinese classes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-02-at-6.41.03-PM.png) **Learning Chinese with LingoDeer is structured, fun and convenient.** LingoDeer is not only the perfect guide book that comes with audio but also an interactive workbook you can bring with you anywhere. **So get unlimited access to LingoDeer today by choosing the right plan for you.** Contact [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) if you have any questions about subscribing to LingoDeer. Happy learning! ### Verbs in Japanese Honorific and Humble Language URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-honorific-humble/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:30:03.000Z The Japanese language makes extensive use of honorifics and humble language in many situations. Let's learn about them in this short article.Honorific suffixes are attached to the end of names, such as さん in 田中さん, and are often gender-neutral. Honorific suffixes also indicate the relationship between the speaker and referred individual's and are often used alongside other forms of formal and polite expressions like Humble Language.The difficult thing about learning honorifics and humble expressions is that we need to memorize the words that have special forms when they are in honorific or humble forms.Anything that does not have its own special expression fall under the general rules of humble and honorific conjugations. | Basic Honorific & Humble Expressions | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | Honorific | Humble | | | to put the other party at a higher status than our own with the use of **respectful language** | to use **the humble language** to voluntarily put down ourselves to show respect to the other party. | | | | **Regular** | V1 & V2 | お + V~~ます~~form + になる | お + V~~ます~~form + する/いたす | | Most V3 (Kanji+する) | ご + Kanji~~する~~ \+ になる | ご + Kanji~~する~~ \+ する/いたす いたす is more modest than する | | | **Iregular** | \\ | 食べる/飲む - 召し上がる 見る - ご覧（らん）になる 行く/来る/いる - いらっしゃる 言う - おっしゃる する - なさる 知っている - ご存知だ 寝る - お休みになる 着る -お召しになる | 食べる - いただく 見る - 拝見する 行く/来る- 参る 聞く/訪ねる- 伺う いる - おる 言う - 申す/申し上げる する - いたす 知っている - 存じている 会う - お目にかかる | ### LingoDeer Korean vs Integrated Korean vs HowToStudyKorean URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-korean-integrated-korean-howtostudykorean/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:40.000Z Thank you for choosing LingoDeer! LingoDeer was born with the mission to serve as the main guide for beginner learners, so **our courses are designed to meet requirements of standardized tests (TOPIK 1-3) and match textbooks.** We are proud to share a comparison between LingoDeer Korean and two popular Korean learning resources -- Integrated Korean and How To Study Korean. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-02-at-6.06.16-PM.png) **Learning Korean with LingoDeer is structured, fun and convenient.** LingoDeer is not only the perfect guide book that comes with audio but also an interactive workbook you can bring with you anywhere. **So get unlimited access to LingoDeer today by choosing the right plan for you.** Contact [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) if you have any questions about subscribing to LingoDeer. Happy learning! ### LingoDeer Japanese vs Genki vs Minna no Nihongo URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-japanese-genki-minna-no-nihongo/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:41.000Z Welcome to the world of LingoDeer! LingoDeer was born with the mission to help beginner learners, so **our courses are designed to meet requirements of standardized tests (JLPTN5-3) and match textbooks.** We are proud to share a comparison between LingoDeer Japanese and two popular Japanese learning resources -- Genki and Minna no Nihongo. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-02-at-5.41.47-PM.png) **Learning Japanese with LingoDeer is structured, fun and convenient.** LingoDeer is not only the perfect guide book that comes with audio but also an interactive workbook you can bring with you anywhere. **So get unlimited access to LingoDeer today by choosing the right plan for you.** Contact [blog@lingodeer.com](mailto:blog@lingodeer.com) if you have any questions about subscribing to LingoDeer. ### Talk About Language Learning and Earn Free Membership! URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/create-for-free-access/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:52:42.000Z LingoDeer wants to empower you by learning a new language. If you currently aren’t able to purchase a premium membership, you have a chance to get it for free! All you need to do is flex on your language learning buddies and share your study routine or setup. **Show the world how you learn a language and how LingoDeer has helped you in a video or text post and get another ONE - TWO months free.** **A Text Post that meets the following requirements gets you ONE month free:** - The post must be created for the topic "My X study setup" or My X study routine" (X = your target language; example: *My Chinese study routine*); - Include at least two images, with at least one picture of your device showing LingoDeer (see examples below); - The post should have at least 300 words; - Your post must talk about how LingoDeer has helped you learn; - Must include at least 15 relevant hashtags, such as #languagelearning #studytips #studygram; - Tag our official account @lingodeer on the social media; - **Eligible platforms:** Instagram (as a feed post), Tumblr, Medium. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-31-at-3.48.11-PM.png) **A Video Post that meets the following requirements gets you TWO months free:** - Publish a video under the topic "My X study setup" or My X study routine" (X = your target language) - The total video length should be at least 4 minutes and has at least 30 seconds of you interacting with the LingoDeer app (see example) - Talk about how LingoDeer has helped you learn better - Post must include these hashtags #languagelearning #studytips or one more that's relevant - Eligible platforms: YouTube ### FAQs: **Q: How do I claim the reward after I post?**A: After you publish the content, please send us an email at blog@lingodeer.com with the subject line \[REVIEW MY POST\]. Make sure you include the link to your post and your LingoDeer account email. We will review your content and verify that it has met all the requirements within 5 working days. For those that are verified, we will add the awarded time to your account immediately. **Q: Can I do this more than once?** A: Yes, each LingoDeer account can get in total up to 4 months free by creating text/video posts that meet the above requirements. But please do not copy and paste any existing posts from yourself or others. **Each piece should be unique.** Also, please don't cheat. If we discovered any suspicious activities or attempts to abuse the rules, we reserve the right to invalidate the application and/or revoke access. **Q: I don't have an active membership. Can I get a free trial to do this?** A: If you don't have an active membership, you can use the code 'CHALLENGE' to get 15 days free trial following a monthly subscription. You will need to enter the subscription in order to activate the free trial, but you won't be charged during the free trial. You will be charged if you don't cancel before the full price period starts. ### Duolingo Korean Review - Should You Use It? [2020 Edition] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/duolingo-korean-review-good-bad/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T09:27:44.000Z So you're interested in Duolingo Korean but sure if it's right for you? You're in the right place! 5 years ago, I was first recommended to try Duolingo to learn English. After English, I’ve dabbled in Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese with this app. After learning that Duolingo added a Korean course, as a Korean teacher, I got curious and tried to see if it is worth recommending to my students and Korean-learning friends. Duolingo, with over 300 million users across the world and more than 30 language courses, is the largest language learning platform today. But is it effective for learning Korean? Is it the app for you? This is a thorough and honest review from the perspective of a native Korean teacher. I will go over its teaching style, content, strengths and weaknesses and best alternatives. ## How does Duolingo work? “Learn a language for free. Forever.” That is Duolingo’s slogan. All Duolingo courses are free of charge and accessible to everyone. It can do so because it relies on volunteers from all over the world to contribute to course development. So where’s the catch? ![Duolingo's desktop homepage](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-20-at-3.07.49-PM.png) Duolingo's desktop homepage Duolingo runs advertisements between lessons, but they are easy to skip. Alternatively, Duolingo also offers a premium service for a fee. If you purchase the “Plus” plan, it eliminates ads and provides additional features. ## Underlying Principles of Duolingo’s Teaching “Scientifically proven to be effective.” Duolingo teaches users with an inductive and implicit teaching method. Inductive learning is a process of learning by example, and implicit learning is a method that allows learners to discover patterns without their conscious attention. Both inductive and implicit learning approaches are similar to the ways we learned our first language as kids. Based on these methods, Duolingo steers users away from traditional learning methods like lectures or reading-based lessons. Instead, you are immersed in information without explanation and immediately asked to answer questions about it. Simply put, the app lets you guess until you get it right, even if you don't understand why you got it right. In addition, Duolingo’s content doesn't go into detail about grammar rules. When it comes to some complex grammar principles, the lessons may be an ultimate guessing game of trial and error. This approach may be useful for some users, but for others, it may seem ineffective. ## Duolingo’s Game-like Lessons ![Duolingo's gamified features](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/duolingo1.jpg) Duolingo's gamified features Duolingo has adopted a mobile game style to engage its users. You can earn virtual currencies like Lingots and Gems, which you can spend on customizing the little owl character. ![different levels of Duolingo Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-20-at-1.22.02-PM.png) Choose your daily preferred XP goal You can also earn and level up from XPs (experience points), a system that shows your skill-level. The team also designed a lot of badges to encourage actions like completing specific challenges or adding friends from your contact list. These gamified elements are implemented to motivate you to keep coming back to learn every day. ## How does Duolingo teach Korean? The first few lessons are all about Hangul. Then, you begin learning basic phrases, verbs, and sentences from a daily selection. Overall, Duolingo’s study process combines various methods and exercises. ### What kinds of exercises can you access? - **Making pairs and selecting the correct characters:** questions especially for practicing Hangul - **Listening:** Tap what you hear and choose the right pronunciation and words - **Translation:** many exercises based on “translate this sentence” to practice forming the right phrases and sentences - **Speaking:** speak-to-text to answer the questions ![duolingo Korean question types](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/duolingo-2.jpg) Pairing, Listening, Translation, and Speaking exercises ### Building Up Vocabulary and Phrases Duolingo can be a big help in building vocabulary. For instance, the Duolingo Incubator is where multilingual volunteers build the language courses for Duolingo. According to this platform, you can learn over 3,000 words in the Duolingo Korean course. ![Duolingo Korean for English Speakers](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-20-at-3.48.17-PM.png) Duolingo Incubator website for Korean language contributors With this, it’s safe to say that Duolingo Korean covers the most common vocabulary and phrases to communicate and write basic thoughts and ideas in present, past, and future tenses. To make learning easier, lessons are grouped into themes, so you can practice vocabulary related to a specific topic. Duolingo gradually teaches vocabulary and finetunes the level of difficulty according to your skill level, ranging from “not-too-easy” to “not-too-difficult” tasks. Therefore, it’s a very good resource to boost your vocabulary. ## ## Is Duolingo Korean helpful for TOPIK test preparation? TOPIK level 1 requires knowledge of 800 basic words and 1,500-2,000 words for level 2\. Tests for both levels focus on 70 listening and reading skill questions. If you are working hard and have a good Korean language sense, you may be able to pass the test, but it may be unrealistic to expect to pass the TOPIK level 3 or above with Duolingo alone. This is because the app makes you practice vocabulary, phrases and sentences without emphasizing grammatical components in detail. ## ## Does it teach honorifics and speech levels? The Korean language has a unique speaking style called “honorifics” and speech levels. These are ways of delivering the right amount of respect and formality to the people you speak to or speak of. If you’re talking about someone senior or elder, an honorific should be applied by replacing nouns, verbs or adjectives with respectful forms, otherwise you risk sounding very impolite. In addition, from a cultural perspective, Koreans use formal or informal speech according to the situation. By using the proper speech levels, (Korean has seven levels, by the way), it shows respect towards the people they are talking to or about. Duolingo’s Korean course includes commonly used speech levels such as the "formal polite", (하십시오체/합쇼체) and “polite” (해요체) randomly. More importantly, there are three lessons that teach another speech level and help you practice honorific forms, but the lessons don’t provide a clear indication of which the speech level is to be used in the exercise. The lack of clarity and organization doesn’t help you understand honorifics, a concept that can scare foreigners away from learning Korean. ## ## Special lessons on pop culture and 2018 Winter Olympics Thanks to the Korean Wave, known as the rise in the popularity Korean pop culture around the world, many are hungry for learning more about this phenomenon! To satisfy its users’ appetite, Duolingo added a special lesson dedicated to aspects of Korean pop culture at the end of the course. If you are a huge sports fan, you may be interested in another bonus lesson dedicated to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics! ![Duolingo Korean question type: select a translation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/IMG_3941.png) ## ## Problems with Duolingo Korean Duolingo first released its Korean course back in October 2017\. Since it’s relatively new and not as developed as Duolingo’s French and Spanish programs, for instance, some errors and issues remain despite its recent updates and improvements over time. Let’s look closely at where Duolingo falls short, and to see if it’s still worth your precious time. ### Problem #1: Lack of explanation Korean is a fundamentally different language compared to western languages like French, German and Spanish. It is also one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to learn, along with Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. Since Korean is hard to grasp for beginners, understanding the rules behind Korean grammar is essential. For instance, Korean has a relatively flexible word order and uses sentence particles such as, 은, 는, 이, 가, etc., which are not found in English. On the other hand, Korean language doesn’t use articles and usually omits plural markers in sentences. So Duolingo’s style can be summarized as leaving the users in the dark and expecting them to figure out the rules on their own. This style of language learning is like a double-edged sword; it may work for some people but definitely not everyone. ### ### Problem #2: It's not the best format for learning Hangul Hangul is the Korean alphabet. Consisting of 21 vowels and 19 consonants, Korean letters are written in syllable blocks, which each block represents a single syllable with two to four letters. In Duolingo, Hangul is presented as syllable blocks, but the app does not have the best format for learning the alphabet. ![Duolingo's Hangul Alphabet Exercise](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-20-at-2.59.10-PM.png) Duolingo's Hangul Alphabet Exercise The problem is that there’s no indication that Hangul is an alphabet, definition of vowels and consonants, or how the letters come together to form words. It just dives right into sound combination questions and shows new words and phrases. With no guidance, learners must guess how to use Hangul, which might overwhelm absolute beginners. One of Duolingo Korean’s biggest criticisms is that it relies too much on romanization to teach Hangul from the beginning. Usually once the alphabet is introduced properly, the learner shouldn’t need to use romanization again. ### ### Problem #3: Useless, nonsensical and too basic sentences ![Duolingo Korean listening question](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/unnamed-7.jpg) This sentence translates to "A man who is drinking sweat". Pretty bizarre, huh? Duolingo uses strange and nonsensical sentences like *“The bus climbs up to a chair”* and *"A man who is drinking sweat"* intentionally to make phrases more fun to learn, and in hopes to bring people’s attention to the sentence structure. However, these sentences aren’t really useful and practical because they don’t occur in everyday speech! Despite the app updates constantly to improve, mistakes, strange sentences and awkward translations remain. Duolingo’s Korean course covers a good amount of basic words, which is a good starting point. But this course fails to go beyond beginner level, so users shouldn’t expect to achieve high level fluency by only using this app. ### ### Problem #4: Poor audio quality Duolingo is not a helpful resource for practicing listening and pronunciation skills. For one, the lessons have a robotic, monotone computer-generated female voice, which doesn’t sound natural at all. “Her” tone is really unhelpful for learning the right way to speak in a culture that highly values respect and social hierarchy. Not to mention that it’s bad for anyone who attempts to imitate the pronunciation. ## ## Should you learn Korean with Duolingo? Duolingo can be a great tool for what it offers. But whether it is really helpful or not depends on your Korean learning style and goal. Duolingo is good if you: - **need to brush up on Korean:** repeating exercises can help refresh your memory especially in times like grabbing lunch or waiting in line. - **need a game-like environment to learn:** if this is your case, Duolingo is the perfect one for you. You can literally enjoy learning with this gamified method. - **don’t plan to spend any money on learning a language:** it can be done, but it may not be so efficient. ## ## Who shouldn’t learn Korean with Duolingo? - **Total beginners:** It is not suitable for newbies to start learning Korean with Duolingo for obvious reasons. With Duolingo, you must guess how everything works, which may end up making you give up learning Korean. - **Intermediate Students:** It's not great at teaching anything beyond vocabulary and basic phrases. - **People who learn better with explanations:** If you want to understand Korean alphabet and grammar, Duolingo would not be for you. - **Students preparing for TOPIK tests:** needless to say, Duolingo is not for test prepping. ## ## Good Alternatives to Duolingo Korean ### LingoDeer ![Alternative to Duolingo Korean: LingoDeer Korean](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/unnamed-8.jpg) Practice Reading and Listing Skills with LingoDeer's Story feature It’s safe to say [LingoDeer](http://www.lingodeer.com/?utm%5Fmedium=official%5Fblog&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is the best alternative to Duolingo Korean if you like learning with apps or programs. According to the app’s description pages, LingoDeer is more geared towards Asian languages. And after playing with it, I find myself nodding. Personally, I love the fact that LingoDeer starts with Hangul and goes over the pronunciation. It has over a hundred detailed grammar explanation articles for beginners and intermediates. The [order of lessons](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer/) is well designed and organized. There are a lot of various exercise types in the lessons, such as removing improper words, spelling the word, adding words to the right place, filling in the blank, and so on. The variety of exercises keeps you motivated throughout the lessons. Especially since the sentences are recorded by native speakers and in high definition, you can actually improve listening and speaking skills by shadowing the audio. ### ### Korean Grammar in Use If you like sitting down with a book, you can get both the textbook and the workbook. Korean Grammar in Use has so much grammar packed into each book. There are 3 books (beginner, intermediate, advanced) and they come with audio CDs. ![Korean grammar books](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-20-at-9.32.35-PM.png) Photo courtesy of Amazon It explains the grammar point, gives example sentences in Korean and English, and provides some practice dialogue as well as fill in the blank. It covers the grammar in the first and second grade of the textbooks taught at Korean university institutions. ### ### Talk To Me In Korean ![Talk to Me in Korean Books](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-20-at-3.58.46-PM.png) Books from Talk To Me In Korean (talktomeinkorean.com) Another famous textbook series is Talk to me in Korean. They offer various sets for beginners and intermediate learners as well as for absolute beginners who want to practice Hangul. Click [here](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-korean/) to learn more things about Korean Learning. ### An Italian Lesson from an Italian Mayor URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/italian-lesson-mayor-italy/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:59.000Z As our healthcare workers are battling with the virus on the frontlines, we think one of the best ways to help them is stay home and use this time to learn a new language. Today, we are presenting you a special Italian lesson. Luckily, **we have secured an instructional video from an Italian mayor, Gianfilippo Bancheri, the mayor of Delia.** As always, let's take a look at the grammar we will learn in this lesson: - Simple gerund in Italian - The conditional mood - Rhetorical questions - Present continuous tense - Bonus lesson: cheering people in Italian ## The Simple Gerund The simple gerund can be used to indicate one acting happening simultaneously with another action. Let’s watch the first 5 seconds of the video: Now we will break down the sentence: | **Italian** | **English** | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Moltissimi di voi hanno fatto dei cartelloni scrivendo “Andrà tutto bene”. | Literally: Many/ of/ you/ have/ made/ posters/ writing/, “everything/ is going to be/ okay”. | **Grammar Explanation:** - “hanno fatto dei cartelloni (have created posters)” is the main action of the statement, and the second action “scrivendo ‘Andrà tutto bene’ (writing ‘everything will be ok’)” is the action that accompanies the former. - All Italian verbs have one of these three endings: -are, -ere or -ire. - We get the simple gerund of -ere ending verbs by replacing “-ere” at the end with “-endo”. For example: scrivere (to write) → replace -ere with -endo → scrivendo (simple gerund form) ## The Conditional Mood The conditional can be used to make one’s demand sound more indirect and polite. Click play and watch the part he uses the conditional mood: Now we will break down the sentence: | **Italian** | **English** | | ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Ma io vorrei capire come andrà tutto bene? | But I’d like to know how everything is going to be okay? (literally: but/ I/ would like/ to know/ how/ will be/ everything/ ok?) Grammar Explanation: | **Grammar explanation:** - The word “vorrei” is the conditional form of “volere” (to want). The Italian mayor would sound too aggressive if he uses “volere” directly. ## Rhetorical questions Rhetorical questions are asked in order to produce an effect or to make a statement rather than to elicit information. Again, we will let Mayor Bancheri show us how to urge your audience with rhetorical questions. **Examples:** | **Italian** | **English** | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Come andrà tutto bene se la gente va e viene dal benzinaio? Ma questa benzina a cosa serve se dovete rimanere a casa? | Literally: how/ will be/ everything/ okay/ if/ the/ people/ come/ and/ go/ to the/ gas station? But what’s the use of this gas if you have to stay at home? (literally: but/ this/ gas/ at/ what/ serve/ if/ you must/ stay/ at/ home.) | **Grammar explanation:** - the expression “va e viene” (infinitive: andare e venire) means “come and go”. - the expression “servire a...” means “to serve/ to be useful for...” ## Present Continuous The use of "verb-ing" is the present continuous tense in English. To say "be doing" in Italian, we just need the auxiliary verb "stare (to be)" and the main verb in the right conjugated form. We need to hear it from Bancheri because he's very sincere: Breaking it down: | **Italian** | **English** | | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Ma stiamo giocando con la pelle nostra di tutta la cittadinanza! | But we are playing with the life of the whole nation! (literally: but/ we are/ playing/ with/ the skin/ our/ of/ all/ the citizenship.) | **Grammar explanation:** - The present progressive in Italian consists of “stare (to be)” in present simple and the simple gerund of the action verb. “Stiamo giocando” means “we are having fun (right now)”. - By definition, “pelle” means “skin”, but in colloquial Italian, it often takes on the figurative meaning of “life”. We hope you enjoyed learning Italian! If you meet a fellow Italian friend online these days, be sure to share with them the Italian you've learned in this session. Stay safe by staying home 🏡! Stay sane by learning a language 🧠! ### Visiting Tokyo 2020? Tickets, Corona Virus + 7 Important Travel Tips URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/tokyo-2020-olympics/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:30:47.000Z > The Tokyo 2020 Olympics have now been rescheduled to 2021 to make sure that athletes, spectators and support staff remain as safe as possible from the COVID-19 corona virus. Keep an eye on the official website for more details and updates. With 11,000 athletes from 200+ nations, competing for medals in 339 events across 33 sports and 50 disciplines, the atmosphere will be electric. The events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are scheduled from 24 July – 9 August, followed by the Paralympics from 25 August – 6 September. If you are planning to visit during this period, you are guaranteed an unforgettable experience that you will want to make the most of. It’s exactly the right time now to be finalizing your plans, making a list of things to see and do, booking tickets, and [learning the phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-phrases/) you need to get you around. Follow this guide and get ready for your trip of a lifetime to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. ## 1\. How do I get tickets to Tokyo 2020? **Only 30% of event tickets are allocated to international visitors**, so demand will likely be very high and tickets will sell out fast. Tickets to both Olympic and Paralympic events are being released in a number of stages. ### Where to buy Tokyo 2020 tickets for olympic events If you are not a resident of Japan, you can only buy your tickets from a [Tokyo 2020 authorized ticket reseller](https://ticket.tokyo2020.org/Home/ATRList?culture=en-us&%5Fga=2.221273368.1635753763.1582116523-620051870.1582116523&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) *(click on the region tabs on that page to find your country’s authorized resellers.)* ![tokyo 2020 tickets](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/Ticket-sale.tokyo2020.org_.jpg) Photo credit: tokyo2020.org Many resellers may indicate that events are already ‘Sold Out’ when tickets have not even gone on sale yet. Keep in mind that sales windows for tickets are different in each country. Some ticket resellers sell package deals including accommodation, tickets to various events and entrance fees to landmarks and sights around Tokyo, if you don’t want to plan all of the details of your trip yourself. ### What's the latest you can purchase Tokyo 2020 tickets? An additional round of Tokyo 2020 tickets will be released to both locals and international visitors in spring, and will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis. Register your interest with your authorized ticket reseller to make sure you don’t miss out. Tickets for events will be available from ticket box offices on location in Tokyo from spring 2020 onwards. ## 2\. Get around Tokyo with the JR Pass The most cost-effective way to travel in Japan as an overseas visitor is on the trains with a JR Pass. This allows you to travel on all JR Tokyo metropolitan train lines, buses, ferry services, airport transfers, and take a shinkansen bullet train to the remote Olympic venues. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/Bullet-train-Unsplash.com_.jpg) Photo credit: Unsplash ### How to buy a JR Pass 1. Purchase an exchange voucher from the [official Japan Rail Pass website](https://www.jrailpass.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and it will be shipped to you by post either before you leave or to your accommodation in Japan. 2. Once in Japan, take the exchange order and your passport with your temporary visitor stamp in it to any JR Exchange counters at the airport terminal, shinkansen or metro stations to swap it for your JR Pass. ## 3\. Is it hard to travel if I don't know Japanese? The Japanese government has invested a lot into training hospitality staff to speak and understand English. If you stick to the event venues, you'll probably get by. However, if you want to shop, book tickets and see the sights around Tokyo, you'll definitely need to know some basic Japanese phrases! Use the [Travel Phrasebook section in LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/LM96?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! You'll be up and chatting to the locals in Japanese in no time. We also wrote another article about[ how to cheer athletes on in different languages](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-to-cheer-on-athletes-in-different-languages/), check it out and be prepared! ![LingoDeer Japanese phrasebook for travelers](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/WechatIMG36.jpeg) Screenshots from LingoDeer ## 4\. Accommodation in Tokyo If you check the popular hotel booking websites, you’ll see that many people have booked their accommodation well in advance. Book your accommodation as soon as you have finalized your travel dates! - **Ryokans** – smaller inns or rooming houses are often more affordable than big hotels. These may provide you with a traditional cooked breakfast. - **Hostels and inns** – Similar to Ryokans, you’ll find hostels and budget inns around the main stations near event venues. - **Airbnb and private rooms** – Private rooms or tiny apartments will likely be available long after the hotels have booked out. These are great options located close to the Olympic venues. If you plan to use a JR Pass to get around, you may find accommodation easier (and cheaper) in the outskirts of Tokyo, for example in Tachikawa or Shinagawa. If you don’t mind a bit more travel time, a short shinkansen ride to the next interchange is also a good option. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/Tachikawa.Google-Maps.jpg) Photo credit: Google maps ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/Shinagawa.Google-Maps.jpg) Photo credit: Google maps ## 5\. Tokyo 2020 sports and venues In Tokyo, the venues are situated in two major zones: The Heritage Zone makes use of the venues built originally for the Tokyo 1964 Games, and the Tokyo Bay Zone contains the state-of-the-art venues built for Tokyo 2020. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/The-Heritage-Zone-tokyo-and-The-Tokyo-Bay-Zone.realestate.co_.jp_.png) Photo credit: realestate.co.jp Use the [interactive map of event venues on the Tokyo 2020 website](https://tokyo2020.org/en/games/venue/olympic/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to see where they are and how to get to them. **Tip:** Wikipedia has the clearest [calendar of events for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%5FSummer%5FOlympics?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#Calendar). Use this to plan your schedule. ### Around Japan The baseball and softball games will be played at the Fukushima Azuma Baseball and the Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Most of the football (soccer) games will be played outside Tokyo at the Sapporo, Miyagi, Ibaraki Kashima, Saitama, and the International Yokohama stadiums. Sapporo will also host the marathon and race-walking events as it is much cooler than Tokyo. ### Want to see the 5 new sports of the 2020 Olympics? This year's Olympics in Tokyo adds five new sports, popular with younger athletes: baseball and softball (in Fukushima and Yokohama as mentioned above), as well as skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and karate. Catch both the judo and karate events at the Nippon Budokan, while sport climbing is paired with 3x3 basketball at the Aomi Urban Sports Park. You'll find the skateboarding at the Ariake Urban Sports Park, along with the BMX events. Depending on the weather and the waves, surfing events will be at the Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach. ### Visiting Japan but not the Olympics Keep the dates of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in mind if you are planning to visit Japan and want to avoid pricey accommodation. The Olympics run from the 24 July – 9 August, and the Paralympics from 25 August – 6 September. If you avoid staying close to the event locations around those dates, you'll find affordable accommodation easily. ### Want to see the Tokyo 2020 torch relay in Japan? It starts in Fukushima on 26 March and will visit all 47 prefectures before arriving at the New National Stadium in Tokyo for the Opening Ceremony. Japan wants to highlight the reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, which is why the Olympic flame will stay in Miyake, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures for a few days each. The flame's route is scheduled to coincide with the sakura (cherry blossom) season so it is a fantastic time to visit Japan and experience the lead-up to the Olympics, even if you don't want to attend any of the sporting events. Use the [Olympic Torch Relay map and schedule](https://tokyo2020.org/en/special/torch/olympic/schedule/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to plan your trip to Japan to coincide with this event. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/Olympic-Torch-Relay-map.-tokyo2020.org_.jpg) Photo credit: tokyo2020.org ## 6\. Tips to help you with the summer heat and humidity Japanese summers are famous for being hot and sticky. They typically last from the end of May to the end of September and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics falls right in the middle of this time. As it’s easy to get carried away in the heat of an exciting event in the center of the crowd, here are some tips that will help you stay cool. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/Japan-summer-2.unsplash.com_.jpg) Photo credit: Unsplash - **Dry yourself off**: Carry a hand towel with you to dry your hands after you visit the restrooms, and a light handkerchief to wipe away any sweat. [Tenugui are traditional long cotton towels](https://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en/1310%5Ftenugui.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)– dampen one with a little water from your water bottle and wear it as a scarf or hat. - **Get that air moving**: Grab a [traditional uchiwa or folding fan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand%5Ffan?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#Japanese%5Fhand%5Ffan), or see if you can find a tiny battery-powered personal fan while you are in Akihabara. - **Protect yourself from the sun**: Wear a hat, sunscreen or use a parasol to get out of the sun. - **Take a cool break**: Convenience stores (konbini) are stocked with cold drinks, snacks, and are typically very well air-conditioned. - **Stay hydrated**: Carry a bottle of water, and pop into a convenience store to buy a new one when you run out. ## 7\. Foods you simply must try in Tokyo Japan is well known for its amazing fresh seafood, usually prepared as sushi, sashimi and tempura. But there are many other taste sensations that residents will swear cool you down and provide you with tons of energy in summer. Try some **unagi eel** in a sticky and sweet soy sauce served on a bed of rice. Buckwheat **soba noodles** or **somen noodles** made from wheat are both fabulous and cooling when dipped into a cold soup. If you are looking for something sweet, **kakigori** will cool you down with shaved ice, traditionally served with chewy **mochi** bits, sweet red bean paste and a green tea syrup. ## 8\. Best sights in and around Tokyo that you can’t miss In between Olympic events, you will definitely have time to visit the shrines, museums, traditional gardens, shops and restaurants near the sporting venues. The events in Tokyo, especially in the Heritage Zone are conveniently located near popular shopping and tourist locations. - Don’t miss **Shinjuku** for its wide array of fashion outlets, bars, restaurants and the Shinjyku Gyoen National Garden. - Stop by **Akihabara** for electronics, gaming, manga and anime. - The New National Stadium is located in **Yoyogi** with a great collection of bars, restaurants, shops, and the Meiji Jingu Gaien sporting park. Souvenir stands with a wide variety of products featuring the Tokyo 2020 mascots, Miraitowa ミライトワ and Someity ソメイティ, located in and around the event venues in Tokyo and in other major cities. **Did you know?** [*The original 2020 Tokyo logo was dropped*](https://www.dezeen.com/2015/08/06/tokyo-2020-olympics-logo-designer-kenjiro-sano-refutes-plagiarism-accussations-theatre-de-liege-olivier-debie/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) *because a designer from Belgium claimed it plagiarized his work? The new checkerboard Tokyo 2020 logos, designed by Asao Tokolo were chosen instead.* ### Day trips in and around Tokyo If you are interested in Japanese history, the **Nikko Heritage Area** north of Tokyo is another day trip you can’t miss, full of famous shrines, mausoleums and museums in the middle of beautiful mountain, lakes and waterfalls. If you love theme parks, Tokyo has some of the best. Don’t miss **Tokyo Disneyland**, **Tokyo Dome**, and the **Ghibli Museum** in Mitaka. *It is recommended to book your tickets for these destinations early though!* ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/03/Gibli-museum.istockphoto.com_.jpg) Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan-August 17, 2019: The Ghibli Museum is a museum showcasing the work of the Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli. Photo credit: istockphoto.com **Hakone** is a must-see for onsen lovers, and who doesn't love a hot spring! It’s a short train ride away from Tokyo, but feels like it is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. It’s a beautiful area, surrounded by nature, with many excellent onsen and ryokan. ### 2023年の語学学習アプリベスト８ URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-application-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:54.000Z 外出先で言語学習をできるようにしたいと思ったときに、悩みの種を取り除けるよう簡単な方法を用意しました。LingoDeerの製品チームは、2023年におけるベスト語学学習アプリの調査とテストを行い、最も実用的で信頼性の高い8つの選択肢をまとめました。 ## 語学アプリに求めるもの - **言語に合ったカリキュラム** よい語学学習アプリには、それぞれの言語に合った独自のコースが用意されているはずです。同じアプリ内の韓国語のカリキュラムと、例えば、スペイン語のカリキュラムを比較して確かめてみてください。 - **音声の質** アプリの中ではテキスト読み上げ音声が使われていますか、それとも、ネイティブスピーカーの本物の音声が使われていますか。言うまでもなく、目標は本物の人間のように話すことで、ロボットのように話すことではありません。 - **文脈と説明** 言葉は、単純に公式に当てはめることのできる数とは違います。よいコースでは、いつ、どのように音声要素を使うのかがはっきりと説明してあるはずです。 - **練習問題の構成** アプリで学習したことを自分で考えて使うように促していますか。戦略的にスキルを試さないような練習問題は効果的ではありません。 - **評価** これはどちらかというと主観的ですが、カスタマーレビューを「最新」で並べ替えて、警告となるサインが多くないかを確認してください。 それぞれのアプリには、独自の特典と目的があります。次のそれぞれのアプリの詳細を見て、どのアプリを試したいか確認してください。 ## 1.Duolingo: 語学学習者のための最大コミュニティ ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/08/ld-image-1d5753467e6c5dd5.png) 利用可能な最も人気のある言語学習アプリであるDuolingoのメンバーシップは0ドルからです。つまり、**無料で**始めることができます。ゲームのような体験と独特な（時には脅しのような）通知は、順調に学習を継続できるようやる気を出させるのに役立ちます。 Duolingoの教育方法は「自由放任(laissez-faire)」システムです。つまり、繰り返しの翻訳練習問題を通じて、ユーザーがパターンやルールを理解することが求められます。コースは、言語教授法の訓練を受けているかどうか分からない**ボランティアが作っている**ため、レッスンの質は保証されていません。おそらくレベル差もあるでしょう。多くの人は、奇妙な文や効果的ではない練習問題があると不満を漏らしています。さらに、ロボットのような音声はかなり不快でやる気を失います。要約すると、**Duolingoは無料で使えるアプリを探している、上達を急がない気軽な学習者に最適です。** ## 2\. LingoDeer - 最高の独立型語学アプリ ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/08/ld-image-5ffea7ebdaaded69.png) [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/8h91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)は**Duolingoの緑色のフクロウのオタクっぽいいとこ**です。黒縁メガネは、輝かしいGPA 4.0の学生のような印象です。これは、このアプリの**4.9/5という驚くほど高いユーザー評価**に反映されています。**論理的なカリキュラム、効果的な練習問題、はっきりした音声と文法の説明**が、語学アプリへの新しい取り組み方を示しています。 各ユニットには、例や説明を含む「学習のヒント」が豊富に用意されています。これは、母語と大きく異なる言語を学習するためにはきわめて重要です。アジア言語のコースでは、ユーザーが**ライティングシステムを切り替える**こともできます。細部において、LingoDeerは**教えることに非常に真剣**であることが分かります。 では、 LingoDeerがDuolingoより人気がないのはなぜでしょうか。答えは簡単です。それは、無料ではないから、そしてかなり新しいアプリだからです。LingoDeerは2017年に発表されたアプリで、メンバーシップは月3～4ドルからです。しかし**、**無料のアプリよりも、**言語学習の質はきちんと保証されています**。これは、LingoDeerは資格をもった言語学者が開発してきたからです。 全体的に見て、**Lingodeerはより明確な方法で、より効率的に効果を上げたいと思うユーザーにとって最適です。2023年に流暢に話せるようになりたい**と思う方によいお知らせです。 ## 3\. Anki: 最高の無料SRSフラッシュカードアプリ 新しい語彙を記憶するということになると、Ankiはスペシャリストです。Ankiを使用することの大きなメリットは、SRS（間隔反復システム）にあります。Ankiを使い始めるには少し忍耐が必要ですが、直接インポートできるあらかじめ用意された語彙パックがたくさんあります。そのため、**Ankiはテストのために詰め込み学習をしている人、語彙力を急激にそして戦略的に伸ばしたい人におすすめです。** ## 4.Drops: 最高の語彙ゲーム DropsはAnkiの正反対で、使いやすく、視覚的に興味をそそります。新しい単語は、雨粒のように画面の上から下に滑り落ちてきます。単語には、すでに意味を知っているので捨てる、または、小さな脳のアイコンに追加するという２つの選択肢があります。新しい単語と識別されたものは、単語と正しいイラストを結びつけ、音節を並べ替えて単語を綴り、ちょっとした練習問題を数回繰り返すように求められます。 Ankiとは異なり、Dropsには、自分のリストを作ったり、Dropsの制作チームが監修したリストに単語を追加したりできる柔軟さはありません。長期的に単語を暗記しているかを確かめるためには、単語を定期的に見直す必要もあります。**気軽に学習をしたい人が、毎日いくつかの単語を選んで学習するのに適したアプリです。「たくさんの雨粒(drops)で海ができる」(塵も積もれば山となる)という言葉に共感できる学習スタイルです。** ## 5.Beelinguapp: レベルに基づいた最高のオーディオブック 新しい言語を学習するには、膨大な量の視覚的および音声的なインプットが必要です。Beelinguaには、学習したい言語の子ども向けの物語、おとぎ話、ニュース記事、さらに歌といった大きな選択肢があり、ネイティブの音声録音と一緒に読むことができます。画面は2つに分かれており、学習したい言語のテキストは上部に、ユーザーが選んだ参照言語のテキストが下部に表示されます。 確かに、Beelinguaは全くの初心者には向いていません。ユーザーはアプリを使う前に、その言語について十分な知識を持っていなければいけません。しかし、本物の素材を使って言語を学習し、十分な文脈で語彙を習得するための素晴らしい方法です。**Beelinguaはさまざまな文脈で言語力を磨くことに興味のある中級レベルの学習者**におすすめです。 ## 6.LingQ: イマーシブ・ラーニング（没入型学習）に最適 LingQのモットーは「誰も言語を教えることはできない。自分自身で学ばなければいけない」です。これは、言語を学ぶ人は誰でも、知っているかどうかに関わらず最高の専門家であることを意味しています。レッスンは、選択したテキストから始まります。よく知らないと思われる単語は青色で強調して表示されます。次に、その青い単語を LingQユーザーのコミュニティから送信された翻訳にリンクします（アプリ名はここからきており、実際に「link」と発音されます）。そして、青い単語が黄色に変わり、次のレッスンで再び現れます。単語に十分に慣れたら、その単語を知っている単語として印を付けることができます。 LingQの方法では、全くの初心者は、新しい単語がたくさんあるテキストに自分の力で取り組まなければいけません。このため、**LingQはすでに言語の基本を知っている中級レベルの学習者に向いています。** ## 7.HelloTalk: 言語交換相手探しに最適 HelloTalkは、世界中が手のひらに収まっているように感じられる最高のツールの1つです。アプリの背景にあるアイデアは、ネイティブとチャットしたり、フィードバックを交換したりするという、とてもシンプルなコンセプトです。これは、語学学習コミュニティ向けのWhatsAppによく似たツールです。 このアプリを実際に面白くしているのは、メッセージをやり取りする中で、すぐに翻訳したり、単語を調べたり、間違いを訂正したりするという点です。また、Facebookのようなニュースフィードも用意されており、語学学習仲間で共有する短い投稿を読んだり、修正やコメントをしてもらうことができます。**中級レベルまたは上級レベルの学習者にとっては、指を一本動かすだけのバーチャル・イマージョン・プログラム（仮想の没入型プログラム）です。** ## 8.Preply: 講師と生徒のマッチングに最適なプラットフォーム Preplyはもう1つの言語交換アプリですが、HelloTalkの方法とは違い、特に、母語を教えたい講師と生徒を結び付けます。予定表、料金、経験などに応じて講師を選ぶことができます。これは、ネイティブスピーカーの個人レッスンを予約するようなもので、完全にオンラインというだけです。 唯一の欠点は費用です。しかし、学習に専念して、全力を尽くしたい場合は、Preplyはありうる選択肢です。なぜなら、理想の講師との1対1のレッスンは、受講する生徒に合ったレッスンとなり、必ずよい結果をもたらすからです。優れた講師は、自分が何をしているのかを分かっており、また、いろいろなタイプの生徒をサポートする最善の方法を知っています。専門的な学習指導は、指導するトレーニングを受けたことのないネイティブスピーカーにはできません。そのため、**Preplyは専門的な意見が欲しい、より早く上達したい学習者に最適です**。 #### アプリを使った語学学習についてのまとめ Apple App StoreとGoogle Playストアの両方には、数百種類の言語学習アプリがあります。しかし、それぞれをダウンロードして試すのはとても時間がかかります。私たちはアプリ開発者ですので、これら8つのアプリの開発者が言語学習者の真のニーズを本当の意味で理解していることが分かります。そしてそれは、それぞれのアプリの効果に反映されています。 このレビューが、新しい言語を習得する際に、それぞれのアプリの特徴の理解と、そのアプリを最大限に活用する方法を知る手助けになったことを願っています。 ### 8 Best Language Learning Apps You Should Try URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-language-learning-apps/ Last updated: 2026-09-28T13:00:18.000Z If you'd like to be able to learn a language on the go, we've got a headache-saving shortcut for you — we have researched and tested the popular language learning apps currently to string together a list of the 8 most viable and credible options. Now read on to find out what are the 8 best language learning apps! ## What We Look For in Language Apps ### 1\. Language-specific curricula A good program should have course plans that are unique to the languages. So make sure to compare their Korean curriculum with their, say, Spanish curriculum. ### 2\. Audio quality Does the program use text-to-speech audio or real recordings by native speakers? Needless to say, your goal is to speak like a real human, not a robot. ### 3\. Contexts and explanations Words are not like numbers that you can simply plug into any formula. A good course should explain when and how to use speech elements clearly. ### 4\. Exercise design Does the program prompt you to think and use what you've learned? Exercises that don't test a skill strategically are ineffective. ### 5\. Value This is relatively subjective, but sort customer reviews by "most recent" to see if there are more warning signs.Each app has its own perks and purpose, so take a look at the details for each app down below and see which you'd like to try out. ## 1\. [Duolingo](http://www.duolingo.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Largest Community for Language Learners ![Duolingo: the best language learning app for casual learners](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechatimg567-jpeg.jpg) Memberships for Duolingo, the most popular language-learning app available, start from $0\. That's right — you can get started for **free**. The game-like experience and creative (sometimes threatening) notifications do a great job at motivating you to stay on track and maintain consistency. Duolingo’s teaching method is a 'laissez-faire' system, meaning that users are expected to figure out the patterns and rules through repetitive translation exercises. Since its courses are **created by volunteers** who may or may not be trained in language pedagogy, the quality of the lessons is not guaranteed and will likely vary. Many complain that they come across bizarre sentences and/or ineffective exercises, while the robotic audio can prove rather unpleasant and demotivating. To summarize, **Duolingo is best suited to casual learners who are looking for a free option and not in a hurry to progress.** ## 2\. [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- Best Standalone Language App ![Best Language Learning Apps LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechatimg577-jpeg.jpg) LingoDeer is the nerdy cousin of Duolingo's green owl mascot. His black-rim glasses give him the look of a shining GPA 4.0 student, which is reflected in the app's incredibly high 4.8/5 user rating. Its **logical curricula, effective exercises, clear audio and grammar explanations** offer a new approach to language apps. Each unit offers **substantial “learning tips”** with examples and explanations, which are crucial for learning languages that are very different from your own. For the Asian language courses, it even allows users to **switch between writing systems**. In every detail you can tell LingoDeer is very **serious about teaching**. So, why isn’t LingoDeer more popular than Duolingo? The answer is simple: it isn't free, and it's fairly new. LingoDeer was introduced in 2017 and its memberships starts at $9-15/mo. However, **the quality of language learning can be more accurately guaranteed** **than that of free providers,** seeing as LingoDeer has been developed by qualified linguists. Overall, LingoDeer is best for users who want to learn with **a more logical, block-building approach and progress more efficiently**. LingoDeer also provides a practice app [LingoDeer Plus](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-plus/) with which you can practice a variety of language skills intensively. ## 3\. A[nki](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Best Free SRS Flashcard App When it comes to memorizing new vocabulary, Anki is the specialist you should employ. The great benefits of using Anki are rooted in the use of SRS (Spaced Repetition System). Getting started with Anki does require a bit of patience, but there are plenty of pre-made vocabulary packs that you can import directly. So, **Anki is recommended for those who are cramming for tests and hope to expand their word bank rapidly and strategically.** ![Anki: Best SRS Flashcard App](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechatimg562-e1562055733713-jpeg.jpg) ## 4\. [Drops](https://languagedrops.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Best Vocabulary Game Drops is the direct opposite of Anki – simple to use and visually engaging. New words slide down from the top of the screen like raindrops, and you get two options: discard them because you already know their meaning or add them into the little brain icon. For the words identified as new, you are then prompted to associate the words with the right illustrations, spell the words by ordering the syllables and repeat these small exercises a few times. Unlike Anki, Drops does not give you the flexibility to create your own list or add any word to the lists curated by the Drops team. To make sure that you memorize them in the long run, you will also need to review the words on a regular basis. **It is a suitable app for casual learners to pick up a few words every day, a learning style that resonates with the saying “many drops make an ocean.”** ![Drops screenshots](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechatimg566-jpeg.jpg) ## 5\. [Babbel](https://uk.babbel.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Best European languages learning app Babbel is also a language learning app that offers paid courses and, like LingoDeer, allows you to learn whenever and anywhere you like. Moreover, Babbel majors in offering **more niche European languages** such as Danish and Dutch. In addition, the **internal game** is somewhat motivating, as you can earn bonus time after meeting your daily goals! Similarly, **Babbel has its own drawbacks, such as the absence of popular Asian languages like Japanese and Chinese.** Meanwhile, although Babbel offers systematic grammar teaching, the lessons are less articulated and less suitable for beginners. Another big flaw is its price. While [LingoDeer](https://blog.lingodeer.com/p/caa935c1-95e6-4b9d-b9e4-a4c7011274b9/) costs $119 to buy the lifetime membership, Babbel costs $388 to unlock for only a single year, which many users find prohibitively expensive. ![babbel](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/babbel.png) ## 6\. [LingQ](https://www.lingq.com/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Best for Immersive Learning LingQ’s motto is “Nobody can teach you a language, you have to learn it yourself”, implying that anyone learning a language is the utmost expert in what they know or do not. The lesson begins with a text of your choice. Words that are supposedly unfamiliar are highlighted in blue. Then, you link these blue words to the translations submitted by the LingQ user community (hence the name of the app, which is actually pronounced “link”). The blue words then turn into yellow and reappear in following lessons. As you get more and more familiar with the words, you can then mark the words as known. LingQ’s method requires a complete beginner to work through texts with plenty of new words independently. For this reason, **LingQ is better suited for intermediate students who already know the basics of the language.** ![LingQ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechatimg574-e1562056055790-jpeg.jpg) ## 7\. [HelloTalk](http://www.hellotalk.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Best Language Buddy Finder HelloTalk is one of the best tools out there to feel like the whole world fits in the palm of your hand. The idea behind the app is a very simple concept: chat with natives and exchange feedback. It is a WhatsApp look-alike tool just for the language learning community. ![HelloTalk screenshots](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/wechatimg570-jpeg.jpg) What makes it really interesting are the features that instantly translate, look up words or correct mistakes in the messages you exchange. And it also has a news feed like Facebook’s where you can read short posts shared by your language buddies and get corrections and comments. **For intermediate or advanced students, it is a virtual immersion program at your fingertips.** ## 8\. [Memrise](https://www.memrise.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com): Best learning in real situations. The most significant advantage of Memrise is that it offers many recorded videos of native speakers. This helps you to experience and quickly master each phrase through real situations. Also, Memrise contains built-in incentives, such as setting memorization as planting the flowers and setting review as watering. Furthermore, Memrise pushes you to think deeply rather than simply memorize. In the few minutes of each learning, you need to be 100% committed to grasping a new foreign language's idea. Unfortunately, although Memrise boasts of being a course designed by linguists, many learners still point out faults during learning. Simultaneously, the courses for some languages lack systematization, such as Arabic, where words are not marked in singular and plural. It requires a certain level of identification on learners. Likewise, there is no practice for French verb conjugations, as long as learners memorize them according to sentences. For example, "*Je parle l'anglais.*" is studied without mentioning that the original form of *parle* is *parler*. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2026/07/memrise.png) ## Final Thoughts on Learning Languages with Apps On both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, there are hundreds of language learning apps to choose from. However, it is really time-consuming to download each one of them and test them out. As app developers ourselves, we can tell the developers of these eight apps genuinely understand the true needs of language learners, as is reflected in the effectiveness of their applications. We hope our review has helped you to understand their unique specialties and how to make most out of apps in general when learning a new language. ### 5 Chrome Extensions for Language Learners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/chrome-extensions-for-language-learners/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:48.000Z Not long ago, if you wanted to look up a word in the language you were studying, you’d have to flip through a heavy dictionary. The world, and how we learn languages, has changed dramatically in the last few decades. If you, like [64% of Internet users](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage%5Fshare%5Fof%5Fweb%5Fbrowsers?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), choose Chrome as your web browser of choice, then this article is for you. You might already know that Chrome offers a variety of extensions for just about everything imaginable through their Web Store. But perhaps you never thought about how you could make use of these to help you learn a new language. Here are some of my favorite Chrome extensions that are specifically designed for language acquisition, making it even easier to study a new language. ## Readlang ![Screen Shot 2020-01-19 at 9.47.45 PM](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-19-at-9.47.45-PM.png) Readlang Web Reader on Chrome Web Store Readlang is an excellent resource for helping improve reading comprehension. Once you download Readlang from the Chrome Web Store, it’ll become easier to read the text of almost any webpage in the language you’re trying to learn. If you see a word or phrase that you don’t recognize, you can click on it to see its English equivalent, helping you to absorb new vocabulary words in the context that they naturally appear. Better still, these words you look up will automatically be saved to your word list, along with the sentence in which they appeared, making it incredibly easy to review. Readlang also provides a variety of pre-made flashcards, public texts, and videos, arranged by difficulty level, length, or content type. Plus, not unlike [LingQ](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/lingq-review/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), learners can upload their own texts to study with. There are also some videos, but the number is pretty limited. However, I’m hopeful that this part of Readlang grows over time as it’s an excellent feature. With it, as you watch a YouTube video, the captions are automatically highlighted as the dialogue is spoken (or sung!), and of course, you can click on unknown words to see their meanings. While Readlang is amazing and supports over 500 different languages, it’s definitely better for languages that use the Latin alphabet. Those studying Chinese might want to try the [Zhongwen extension](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/zhongwen-chinese-english/kkmlkkjojmombglmlpbpapmhcaljjkde?hl=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), while Japanese learners may be better off using [Rikaikun](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/rikaikun/jipdnfibhldikgcjhfnomkfpcebammhp?hl=en&ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ## ## Language Learning with Netflix ![Screen Shot 2020-01-19 at 9.49.00 PM](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-19-at-9.49.00-PM.png) Language Learning with Netflix is an excellent tool to combine relaxation with language learning — as you enjoy binge-watching your favorite TV shows or movies after a long day at work or school, you can also work on your language acquisition! This extension provides translated subtitles for a wide variety of Netflix shows and movies in addition to the English subtitles that already come with Netflix. As you watch, you can read along and look up unfamiliar words in the language you’re trying to learn, making the experience of improving reading and listening comprehension much more enjoyable! If you’re a beginning language learner, you can also change the speed of the subtitles or gray out more difficult words that you can skip in favor of easier words. If you’re more advanced, you can increase the subtitle speed to help train you to read faster! Finally, the Language Learning with Netflix site has a list of Netflix titles that have high-quality language subtitles, sorted by country availability, making it super easy to find a new show or movie to watch. The end result is something pretty similar to FluentU, but has more interesting content and no subscription cost. ## Google Input Tools ![Screen Shot 2020-01-19 at 9.50.13 PM](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-19-at-9.50.13-PM.png) Ok, this one may not be as exciting as the other options on this list, but hear me out. I spent years living in Latin America and never bothered to figure out how to type using accents or the ñ. Don’t be like me - type like you know the language. That way, when you go and have your writing corrected by other language learners for free with [italki's](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/italki-review/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Notebooks, it’s obvious that you know what you’re doing. Google Input Tools is a transliteration tool, which means that if you type any foreign word phonetically using the Latin alphabet, this extension will automatically translate it into the language of your choice. If it’s confused about what you typed, it will provide a variety of possible transliterations, and you can manually pick the one that you meant to type. It also provides virtual keyboards for over 90 languages, so if you’re trying to learn a language that uses a non-Latin alphabet, it makes it much faster and easier for you to type. Finally, it has a handwriting option — you can use your cursor to draw out the shape of the letters or characters that you’re trying to type, and Google Input Tools will convert your drawing into the correct letter or character. ## Langly ![Screen Shot 2020-01-19 at 9.50.46 PM](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-19-at-9.50.46-PM.png) Langly is a simple but impressive tool for growing your vocabulary. Every time you open a new tab on Google Chrome, Langly will automatically present you with a new vocabulary word and its English translation on your home screen. On this home screen, you can also click a button that plays the word, allowing you to hear a native speaker saying the word! For those of you who love aesthetically pleasing backgrounds, you’ll be pleased to find out that Langly’s home screens also depict beautiful snapshots of gorgeous landscapes, in addition to new vocabulary words. The drawbacks to Langly are that it only provides new vocabulary words for French, Spanish, and German languages, and sentences are isolated, without any example sentences. However, it’s still an easy way to add a little extra practice every time you open a new tab. ## Rememberry ![Screen Shot 2020-01-19 at 9.51.38 PM](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-19-at-9.51.38-PM.png) Rememberry is another super useful vocabulary translation and flashcard extension that helps you improve your reading comprehension as you browse the Internet. In this regard, it’s fairly similar to Readlang. Also, Rememberry automatically translates the text of any given webpage. Once the text is translated, you can click unfamiliar words and get their English translations, synonyms, as well as their pronunciations, although, unfortunately, it does rely on text to speech. You can add these new vocabulary words to flashcard decks and sort them by category. Later, you can use these flashcards to review the vocabulary you encountered with any of their four options for reviewing: translate, reverse translate, listening, and typing. Plus, Rememberry uses [Spaced Repetition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced%5Frepetition?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to calculate the order and frequency with which each vocabulary word appears in your flashcard decks, optimizing new vocabulary acquisition. Finally, Rememberry can alert you with notifications if it’s been a while since you’ve used your flashcards, which helps hold you accountable for learning new vocabulary words! ## What have we missed? These Google Chrome extensions are an excellent way to multitask — so many of us already spend so much time browsing the Internet for work, for school, and for fun, and by using these extensions, it’s easy to squeeze in some extra studying time! Are there any other extensions you’d recommend? Let us know in the comments! ### Dear Deer, How Can I Make That New-Year Momentum Last? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/2020-momentum-staying-motivated/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:46.000Z You might have taken a break from learning because you feel there’s been little progress or life simply gets too busy. ![LingoDeer Back to School Sale](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/01/b2s-banner2.png) Do you ever wonder how some LingoDeer members keep up a streak like 365 days? Here’s a tip on how to stay motivated throughout 2020 -- find your aha moment. Just like you, at first, many LingoDeer users faced difficulty learning a foreign language, but with their effort and our help, they discovered their AHA moment in using the language to connect with love ones; > Being able to speak a little to my parents in korean and them looking at me shocked xD like woaaah you can speak korean > > — Louise=) (@Louisetrencher) [December 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/Louisetrencher/status/1210652260818128896?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in their classroom at school; > during my Japanese finals, the Professor decided to have us recognize a kanji (pronunciation + meaning) that she only really showed us once during the year, nobody had any idea except me... ‘cause I had learnt it through LingoDeer [pic.twitter.com/XhOvLMa9v2](https://t.co/XhOvLMa9v2?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) > > — ♡ federica ♡ (@fedmoon) [December 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/fedmoon/status/1210439231002337281?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in consuming media content in a new language; > My aha moment was when I started understanding random things from Japanese media after using LingoDeer for a month or so. From darkness to some comprehension, very pleasant experience! > > — Inu doggu (@bray\_keenan) [December 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/bray%5Fkeenan/status/1210417893554499585?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) in remembering important personal stories... > My aha moment was after my high school Japanese teacher passed away, I finally started working through my Japanese again after years of not studying, and it all started to come back to me. > > — Beth Campbell-Adams (@KayoSmada) [December 27, 2019](https://twitter.com/KayoSmada/status/1210430090234023936?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Anyone can learn a new language if the motivation is strong! Now pick up your phone and launch LingoDeer’s 5 minute review quiz and pick up where you left off. We look forward to reading your AHA moment soon. 😉 ![LingoDeer Back to School Sale](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/01/b2s-banner1.png) See you there! Instagram: [@lingodeerapp](http://instagram.com/lingodeerapp?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Twitter: [@lingodeer](http://twitter.com/lingodeer?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Facebook: [lingodeer](http://www.facebook.com/lingodeer) ### Die 8 besten Sprachen Lernen Apps 2020 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/besten-sprachen-lernen-apps/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:19.000Z Wenn Du unterwegs eine neue Sprache lernen möchtest, dann haben wir eine kleine Abkürzung für Dich, die Dir so einige Kopfschmerzen ersparen wird: Das LingoDeer Produktteam hat die besten Sprachen Lernen Apps 2019 für Dich zusammengestellt und getestet, und Dir eine Liste der acht hilfreichsten und besten Optionen zusammengestellt. Hier die Übersicht: 1. Duolingo 2. LingoDeer 3. Anki 4. Drops 5. Beelinguapp 6. LingQ 7. HelloTalk 8. Preply Jede dieser Sprachen Lernen Apps hat ihre Vorteile und ist auf einen bestimmten Zweck ausgelegt. Sieh Dir also unten die entsprechenden Details an, um herauszufinden, welche Du selbst testen willst. ## 1\. Duolingo: Die größte Community für Sprachenlernende Eine Mitgliedschaft bei Duolingo, der beliebtesten Sprachen Lernen Apps auf dem Markt, startet bei 0$. Ja genau, Du kannst vollkommen kostenlos starten. Das Spiel-artige Lernerlebnis und die kreativen (und manchmal etwas bedrohlichen) Benachrichtigungen sind sehr effektiv, um Dich zum Lernen zu motivieren und sicherzustellen, dass Du Dich stetig verbesserst. Duolingos Lehrmethode ist ein “laissez-faire”-System, was bedeutet, dass von den Nutzern erwartet wird, dass sie sich die Sprachmuster- und -Regeln durch wiederholte Übersetzungsübungen selbst aneignen. Da die Kurse von Freiwilligen erstellt werden, die nicht unbedingt eine Pädagogikausbildung absolviert haben, wird die Qualität der Lektionen wahrscheinlich variieren. Viele beschweren sich daher, dass sie auf merkwürdige Sätze und / oder ineffektive Übungen gestoßen sind. Auch die Roboter-artige Sprachausgabe kann sich als eher unangenehm und demotivierend erweisen. Zusammengefasst: **Duolingo ist am besten für Hobby-Sprachlernende geeignet, die nach kostenlosen Optionen suchen und es nicht eilig haben, Fortschritte zu machen.** ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/WechatIMG567.jpeg) ## 2\. LingoDeer – Die besten Anfängerkurse [LingoDeer](https://c85vz.app.goo.gl/Tr5H?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ist der Streber-Cousin von Duolingos grünem Eulen-Maskottchen. Die schwarze Brille verleiht ihm das Aussehen eines Einserschülers, was sich auch in den Lehrmethoden der App widerspiegelt. Das logische Curriculum, die effektiven Übungen sowie die präzisen Audio- und die Grammatik-Erklärungen stellen eine völlig neue Herangehensweise an das Erlernen einer neuen Sprache per App dar. Jede Lerneinheit bietet Dir hilfreiche „Lerntipps“ mit Beispielen und Erklärungen, die zum Erlernen von Sprachen, die sich stark von der eigenen unterscheiden, unverzichtbar sind. Für asiatische Sprachkurse ermöglicht die App den Nutzern sogar zwischen den verschiedenen Schreibsystemen zu wechseln. An jedem Detail kann man sehen, dass LingoDeer die Qualität der Lerninhalte und das Lernen selbst sehr ernst nimmt. ![Best Language Learning App LingoDeer](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/WechatIMG577.jpeg) Wieso ist LingoDeer dann nicht beliebter als Duolingo? Die Antwort ist ganz einfach: Die App ist nicht kostenlos und noch recht neu auf dem Markt. LingoDeer wird seit 2017 angeboten und eine Mitgliedschaft ist ab 3,49$ pro Monat (bei jährlicher Zahlung) zu haben. Die Qualität von LingoDeer ist allerdings sehr viel besser, als bei kostenlosen Anbietern – besonders, wenn man bedenkt, dass die App von qualifizierten Linguisten entwickelt wurde. Die Herangehensweise von LingoDeer verlässt sich weniger auf das Konzept, dass Du die Sprachmuster durch Wiederholungen selbst erkennst. Stattdessen beruht die Sprachlern-App eher auf der Überzeugung, dass Du sehr viel effizienter lernen wirst, wenn man Dir zunächst die Sprachmuster beibringt. **Insgesamt ist LingoDeer am besten für Nutzer geeignet, die mit einer aktiveren Herangehensweise lernen und schneller Fortschritte machen wollen.** ## 3\. Anki: Die beste kostenlose SRS-Vokabelkarten-App Geht es darum, sich neue Vokabeln zu merken, dann ist Anki genau die richtige App für Dich. Der große Vorteil der App ist die Verwendung von SRS (engl.: Space Repetition System, ein System, das darauf beruht, Vokabeln durch die Wiederholung in bestimmten Zeitabständen zu lernen). Bis Du mit Anki loslegen kannst, ist zunächst etwas Geduld notwendig. Es gibt allerdings auch zahlreiche vorgefertigte Vokabelkarten-Sets, die direkt importiert werden können. [**Anki**](https://apps.ankiweb.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **ist vor allem für diejenigen empfehlenswert, die sich auf Tests vorbereiten und schnell und strategisch ihren Wortschatz ausbauen wollen.** ![Anki: Best SRS Flashcard App](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/WechatIMG562-e1562055733713.jpeg) ## 4\. Drops: Das beste Vokabel-Spiel Drops ist das genaue Gegenteil von Anki – es ist einfach zu nutzen und ganz auf visuelles Lernen ausgelegt. Die neuen Vokabeln fallen auf dem Bildschirm wie Regentropfen von oben nach unten und Du hast zwei Optionen: Sie wegzuwerfen, da Du schon längst ihre Bedeutung kennst oder sie auf das kleine Gehirn-Icon zu schieben. Für die Wörter, die als neu klassifiziert wurden, wirst Du anschließend gebeten, sie mit den richtigen Bildern zu verbinden und durch das richtige Anordnen der einzelnen Silben zu buchstabieren. Anschließend sollst Du diese Übungen ein paar Mal wiederholen. Anders als bei Anki, gibt es bei Drops nicht die Flexibilität, Deine eigenen Vokabellisten zu erstellen oder neue Worte in der durch das Drops Team zusammengestellten Liste zu ergänzen. Um sicherzustellen, dass Du sie Dir langfristig merkst, musst Du die Vokabeln in der App in regelmäßigen Abständen wiederholen. **Bei Drops handelt es sich damit um eine praktischeApp für Hobby-Sprachlernende, die täglich ein paar neue Wörter lernen wollen und einen Lernstil bevorzugen, der dem Motto „Der stete Tropfen höhlt den Stein“ folgt.** ![Drops screenshots](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/WechatIMG566.jpeg) ## 5\. Beelinguapp: Die beste Leseübungs-App mit verschiedenen Schwierigkeitsstufen Eine neue Sprache zu lernen, erfordert jede Mengeaudio-visuellen Input. Beelingua bietet Dir eine große Auswahl an Kindergeschichten, Märchen, Nachrichtenartikeln und sogar Songs in der Sprache, die Du lernen willst, an. Diese können von Dir im Einklang mit der Sprachaufnahme eines Muttersprachlers gelesen werden. Im Anschluss daran, wird der Bildschirm in zwei Teile geteilt: Der Text in der zu lernenden Sprache erscheint oben und darunter wird er in der angegebenen Sprache des Nutzers angezeigt. Beelingua ist somit leider nicht für blutige Anfänger geeignet: Die Nutzer müssen vor der Verwendung der App bereits über ein ausreichendes Sprachwissen verfügen. Trotzdem handelt es sich um eine gute Methode, um eine Sprache mit authentischen Materialien zu lernen und sich Vokabeln im Kontext anzueignen. **Ich würde Beelingua für fortgeschrittene Sprachlernende empfehlen, die daran interessiert sind, die Sprache in verschiedenen Kontexten anzuwenden.** ![Beelinguapp screenshots](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/WechatIMG565.jpeg) ## 6\. LingQ: Die beste App für immersives Lernen Das Motto von LingQ lautet: „Niemand kann Dir eine Sprache beibringen. Du musst sie selbst lernen.“ Das impliziert im Grunde, dass jeder Sprachenlernende selbst am besten weiß, was er kann und was er noch lernen muss. Die Lektion beginnt mit einem Text Deiner Wahl. Die Wörter, die Du noch nicht gelernt hast, werden dabei in blau angezeigt. Anschließend kannst Du die blauen Wörter mit den Übersetzungen der LinQ Nutzer-Community verbinden (daher auch der Name der App, der eigentlich „Link“ ausgesprochen wird). Die blauen Wörter werden anschließend gelb und tauchen in späteren Lektionen noch einmal auf. Während Du Dich mit den Wörtern mehr und mehr vertraut machst, kannst Du sie nach und nach als gelernt markieren. Die LingQ Methode erfordert, dass blutige Anfänger selbstständig Texte voller neuer Wörter durcharbeiten. Auf diesem Grund **ist LingQ besser für Fortgeschrittene geeignet, die die Grundlage der Sprache bereits kennen.** ![LingQ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/WechatIMG574-e1562056055790.jpeg) ## 7\. HelloTalk: Der beste Sprachpartner-Vermittler HelloTalk ist eines der besten Tools auf dem Markt, um zu erkennen, wie klein die Welt eigentlich ist. Die Idee hinter der App ist ein sehr einfaches Konzept: Unterhalte Dich mit Muttersprachlern und tausche Feedback mit ihnen aus. Im Grunde handelt es sich um ein WhatsApp-ähnliches Tool für die Sprachlern-Community. ![HelloTalk screenshots](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/WechatIMG570.jpeg) Was die App besonders interessant macht, ist die Möglichkeit, die ausgetauschten Nachrichtensofort zu übersetzen, die verwendeten Wörter nachzuschlagen oder Fehler darin zu korrigieren. Es gibt außerdem einen Nachrichten-Feed wie bei Facebook, in dem Du kurze Posts Deiner Sprachpartner lesen und Korrekturen und Kommentare erhalten kannst. **Fürfortgeschrittene oder erfahrene Sprachschüler ist HelloTalk somit ein hilfreiches Tool zur virtuellen Immersion, das jederzeit genutzt werden kann.** ## 8\. [Preply: Die beste Vermittlungsplattform](http://www.preply.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) für Tutoren Preply ist eine weitere Sprachpartner-App. Anders als HelloTalk, vermittelt Preply Sprachlernenden allerdings Sprachlehrer, die ihnen ihre Muttersprache beibringen. Deinen ganz persönlichen Lehrer kannst Du Dir dabei je nach Verfügbarkeit, Kosten, Erfahrung und vielem mehr aussuchen. Im Grunde bucht man also Privatunterricht mit einem Muttersprachler – nur eben im Internet. Der einzige wirkliche Nachteil sind die Kosten. Willst Du allerdings unbedingt die Sprache lernen und möglichst schnell Fortschritte machen, dann ist Preply eine hilfreiche Option. Schließlich sollte Einzelunterricht mit dem richtigen Lehrer in Kombination mit einem engagierten Schüler unweigerlich für Resultate sorgen, die sich sehen lassen können. Gute Lehrer wissen eben, was sie tun und wie sie ihre Sprachschüler am besten unterstützen können. Hinzu kommt, dass das professionelles Feedback, dass Du dabei erhältst, nichts ist, was Du von der Interaktion mit einem Muttersprachler ohne Lehrerausbildung erwarten kannst. **Preply ist somit am besten für Sprachschüler geeignet, die sich professionelles Feedback wünschen und schneller Fortschritte machen wollen.** ![Preply app screenshots](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/WechatIMG576.jpeg) ## Das Fazit zum Sprachenlernen per App Sowohl im Apple App Store als auch im Google Play Store finden sich Hunderte von Sprachen Lernen Apps. Sich jede einzelne von ihnen herunterzuladen und selbst zu testen, ist allerdings sehr zeitaufwendig. Als App-Entwickler sehen wir, dass die Entwickler der oben aufgeführten acht Apps die wahren Bedürfnisse von Sprachenlernenden verstanden haben. Das wirkt sich natürlich auch auf die Effektivität ihrer Apps aus. Wir hoffen, unsere Rezension hat Dir einen guten Überblick über die Vorteile der einzelnen Apps gegeben und Dir gezeigt, wie Du beim Fremdsprachenlernen das Beste aus ihnen herausholen kannst. ### How to Spot Bad Language Apps: 5 Warning Signs URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-app-qualities/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:44.000Z **There’s no shortage of language learning apps.** It seems like every other week a new app hits the market and claims that it’ll have you fluently speaking a new language in a matter of months. More often than not, these **apps end up being ‘me-too’** apps that essentially do the same thing as other apps without excelling in any particular area. The truth is that there are a wide variety of language learning apps available, so to be deserving of language learners’ time and attention, **it’s essential that they do a few things very well.** Of course, **not every app is out to accomplish the same goals.** Some are much more niche-focused and will, therefore, be judged by a different set of criteria. But, for those that aim to help learners in the early stages of their language learning journey, **it’s essential that they excel in the following areas:** - Unique curriculum and content for every language - Crystal-clear audio recordings - Teaches pronunciation and grammar - Variety of exercise types - Great value ## Curriculum and content for different languages ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/2-1.png) Every language is unique and deserves to be taught in a way that takes this into account. This should be obvious, but somewhat surprisingly, **many language learning apps teach every language in the exact same way.** It’s not at all uncommon for an app to create a course in one language, then essentially translate that course into a bunch of different languages. While this might cut costs for them and make it possible to offer a course in multiple languages, it comes at **a major cost to students**. This can lead to important topics being taught poorly, such as differences between formal and informal tenses or teaching greetings that aren’t commonly used in your target language. Some apps, such as [Mondly](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/mondly/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), look pretty good on the surface. But, it’s not until you dig a bit deeper that you’ll find the content is exactly the same in every language. > > ## Quality of audio recordings ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/3-1.png) Nearly every person who endeavors to learn a language does so in order to communicate with other people. While reading and writing are, of course, a very important part of the process, being able to speak and understand the spoken language is absolutely essential. This is why it’s so surprising to see some apps **using text-to-speech computer-generated audio** recordings instead of hiring native speakers to create high-quality audio recordings. When you’re starting out in a new language, you may not realize what sounds natural and what is a bit strange. Having the audio come from non-native speakers or be computer-generated puts learners at a major disadvantage. After all, the quality audio recordings will influence your own pronunciation as you should be practicing mimicking what you hear. Plus, this will be the first step in training your listening comprehension skills. So unless you’re trying to sound like a robot or are more interested in hearing what Siri has to say than the new friends you’ll make, be sure that the app you choose uses natural-sounding audio. > > ## Explains pronunciation and grammar ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/4-1.png) For most people, it won’t be possible to listen to an audio recording and perfectly reproduce that sound. When learning a new language, it’s very likely you’ll have never made a sound that’s common in your target language. An app that teaches you **the differences between** the sound in your native language and your target language can be extremely helpful. Learning about common mistakes made and ways to avoid them can save you years of saying things the wrong way. Sometimes you need to get a bit nerdy and look at diagrams of where your tongue should be and whether the sound is aspirated or not, among other things. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for apps to claim that teaching grammar is unnecessary and unnatural. Sure, **a four-year-old may not need to learn grammar rules** to internalize the language, but that doesn’t mean you don’t. And while I wouldn’t recommend sitting down and memorizing grammar books before you’ve begun communicating in your target language, that doesn’t make grammar unimportant. Learning some basic rules that are suitable to your level can **save you countless hours** of not quite understanding why a sentence pattern is the way it is. [Rosetta Stone](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/rosetta-stone/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is probably the most well-known language learning program out there. However, it can be extremely frustrating to use as **they never actually explain** important grammar concepts. Instead, they leave you trying to infer grammar rules, which can lead to lots of second-guessing yourself. > > ## Variety of exercise types ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/5-1.png) We often think of language learning as a singular skill, but in reality, **language is used in multiple ways**. This could be asking for directions, reading a menu at an unfamiliar restaurant, understanding a TV show, or writing a resume. While a general understanding of your target language is important for all of these, they’re slightly different, but related skills. This is especially true for a language that has a different writing system than your own. Since these skills are all a bit different, it’s important for a language learning app to **practice all of them**. For example, if the app only tests you on vocabulary, then you may have a difficult time constructing a sentence. Likewise, if an app only asks you to listen to content and never speak, your spoken language skills are likely to lag behind. Another benefit of using an app that enables you to practice with a variety of exercises is that it can **help keep things interesting**. Learning a language is a slow process that requires consistent practice. An app that relies too heavily on a couple of exercise types can quickly become boring, making it harder for language learners to come back to it each day. One final, yet important factor is that these **exercises should be created by human teachers** as often as possible. Using AI to generate different exercise types can work in some instances, such as spelling words or matching pictures. However, in other cases, it’s not yet possible for their algorithms to create exercises that actually challenge and test the users’ understanding. Lots of different language learning resources, such as [Glossika](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/glossika/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), include multiple-choice questions in which only one answer may make any sense at all. This can create the illusion of understanding, but in reality, it’d be hard to actually answer some of the questions incorrectly. > > ## Great value ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/6-1.png) Most of us have a limited budget and not enough time. Money spent on language learning shouldn’t feel like it’s being wasted. Time spent using an app shouldn’t feel like it would have been better spent doing something else. A good language learning app should make you feel great about the value you’re getting in return. **This doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be cheap or free**. Something can be excellent value even if it’s more expensive than other options. Similarly, a resource that is completely free but wastes your time isn’t great value. Some people may feel like apps ought to be free and think that anyone serious about learning a language should be using textbooks and workbooks. And while books definitely have their place, and I’m not arguing that apps are necessarily superior, I do feel like people often undervalue the benefits that language learning apps can provide. A good app may cost less than a textbook, while providing equally valuable content, a tracking system, audio and images, instant feedback, and can even make you feel like you’re playing a game - which gets you to study even more! An app that offers great value is worth the time and/or money you spend with it. It’s one that makes your life better, and it's likely most users would agree. > > In the end, let's not forget a good app can't do the real work of studying for you. A good tool helps you achieve your goal much faster while a bad one wastes your time and energy. I hope you haven't paid for any apps that had these warning signs. If you have, please share your experience in the comment to help others avoid them! About the author: Nick Dahlhoff started [All Language Resources](http://www.alllanguageresources.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to help people figure out which language learning resources are worth using and which ones would be better off avoiding. Since starting the site, he has tried out hundreds of apps, courses, podcasts, etc and written many in-depth reviews. He's currently living in Beijing and studying Chinese. ### 法语数字1-100：一次性掌握和数字有关的所有单词【有音频】 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-numbers-cn/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T08:28:32.000Z Download [11-19.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/07/11-19.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **让人头痛的法语数字** Bonjour ! 如果你曾接触过法语，那你应该对法语中奇葩的数字有所耳闻。法国人在数字上绞尽脑汁，加法乘法无所不用其极。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/ld-image-698498240ecafd7b.png) 习惯了异常简洁的中文数字表达，突然来到法语数字的世界，你一定会觉得水土不服。通过这篇文章，让我们全面学习一下法语的数字表达吧！ 以下是本篇文章的内容概览： - 法语数字：1-100 - 法语数字：100-1000 - 法语数字：大于1000 - 法语年份，分数，百分比，电话号码 - 法语中的算数 - 法语数字趣闻 让我们一起看看法语数字到底如何表达！ ## 法语数字1-10 首先，让我们从最基础的基数词开始。法语中由1到10的表达简单易懂，大家只需记住拼写就可以了。 - 0 ***Zéro*** - 1 **Un** - 2 ***Deux*** - 3 ***Trois*** - 4 ***Quatre*** - 5 ***Cinq*** - 6 ***Six*** - 7 ***Sept*** - 8 ***Huit*** - 9 ***Neuf*** - 10 ***Dix*** 这有一首颇为洗脑的[法语数字儿歌](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsc3qLMaCu8&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)，听上个四五遍，法语数字1-10保证你想忘都忘不了\~！ ## 法语数字11-19 - 11-onze - 12-douze - 13 - treize - 14 - quatorze - 15 - quinze - 16 - seize - **17 - dix-sept** - **18 - dix-huit** - **19 - dix-neuf** 观察法语数字10-19，我们开始接触到除了 **独立数词** 外的另一种数词： **复合数词** 。 - **复合数词**是指由两个独立数词组成的数词，复合数词中间一般都有连字符“**\-**”连接。 - **独立数词**由一个单独的词表示。 ## 法语数字20-100 20过后，规则稍稍开始复杂一些了\~ 从20数到100，需要分成三组记忆： - 20-69为一组 - 70-79为一组 - 80-99为一组 ## 法语数字21-69 21-69的法语数词按照：“十位”-“个位”的结构组成。 首先，记住“**整** 十 ”的表达方式： | 数字 | 法语 | 中文 | | -- | --------- | -- | | 20 | vingt | 二十 | | 30 | trente | 三十 | | 40 | quarante | 四十 | | 50 | cinquante | 五十 | | 60 | soixante | 六十 | 除了尾数为1的数字（21,31,41,51,61）， ”几十几“的数字组成规律很简单：**整十-个位。**注意要有连字符哦！ | 数字 | 法语 | 中文 | | -- | --------------- | ---- | | 22 | vingt-deux | 二十-二 | | 33 | trente-trois | 三十-三 | | 44 | quarante-quatre | 四十-四 | | 55 | cinquante-cinq | 五十-五 | | 66 | soixante-six | 六十-六 | 尾数为1的数字（21,31,41,51,61）的结构是“整十 **et un**”，没有连字符。如： - vingt **et un** (21) - trente **et un** (31) - quarante **et un** (41) - cinquante **et un** (51) - soixante **et un** (61) ## 法语数字70-79 因为70没有独立数词，所以70-79的法语由**60和10-19组成：** | 数字 | 法语 | 中文 | | -- | ----------------- | ------- | | 70 | Soixante-dix | 六十-十 | | 71 | Soixante et onze | 六十-和-十一 | | 72 | Soixante-douze | 六十-十二 | | 73 | Soixante-treize | 六十-十三 | | 74 | Soixante-quatorze | 六十-十四 | | 75 | Soixante-quinze | 六十-十五 | | 76 | Soixante-seize | 六十-十六 | | 77 | Soixante-dix-sept | 六十-十-七 | | 78 | Soixante-dix-huit | 六十-十-八 | | 79 | Soixante-dix-neuf | 六十-十-九 | 为啥不给70独立的数词？不要问我为什么，高卢人民就是这么有个性的民族…… ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/9150e4e5gy1g8on7qt1rxj20jg0jgacb.jpg) ## 法语数词80-99 80和70一样没有自己的独立数词。80在法语里是quatre-vingts，即“四个二十“。 然后，81到99的数词是以**”四个二十“为基础做加法：** | 数字 | 法语 | 中文 | | -- | --------------------- | ------- | | 80 | Quatre-vingts | 四-二十 | | 81 | Quatre-vingt-un | 四-二十-一 | | 82 | Quatre-vingt-deux | 四-二十-二 | | 83 | Quatre-vingt-trois | 四-二十-三 | | 84 | Quatre-vingt-quatre | 四-二十-四 | | 85 | Quatre-vingt-cinq | 四-二十-五 | | 86 | Quatre-vingt-six | 四-二十-六 | | 87 | Quatre-vingt-sept | 四-二十-七 | | 88 | Quatre-vingt-huit | 四-二十-八 | | 89 | Quatre-vingt-neuf | 四-二十-九 | | 90 | Quatre-vingt-dix | 四-二十-十 | | 91 | Quatre-vingt-onze | 四-二十-十一 | | 92 | Quatre-vingt-douze | 四-二十-十二 | | 93 | Quatre-vingt-treize | 四-二十-十三 | | 94 | Quatre-vingt-quatorze | 四-二十-十四 | | 95 | Quatre-vingt-quinze | 四-二十-十五 | | 96 | Quatre-vingt-seize | 四-二十-十六 | | 97 | Quatre-vingt-dix-sept | 四-二十-十七 | | 98 | Quatre-vingt-dix-huit | 四-二十-十八 | | 99 | Quatre-vingt-dix-neuf | 四-二十-十九 | **注意**：“quatre-vingts（80）”有**s，**但是在81-99里，没有s 。 Maintenant, c'est à vous ! 现在，轮到你啦！ 试着用法语说出以下数字，然后拖动鼠标查看隐藏答案！ 答案: quatre-vingt-sept / quatre-vingt-treize *现在，你已经掌握前100个法语数字了。让我们通过视频回顾一下吧*：[French Lesson 1-100数字](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij3fpaHnWs0&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 不管你是法语初学者还是正在寻找法语入门教材的小伙伴，[LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)和Deerplus的法语课程都可以满足你，在中国的朋友也可以去[App Store或Google Play](https://www.lingodeer.cn/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 下载鹿老师说外语app，互动式地学习法语数字\~ ![travelphrases on lingodeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/Screenshot_20200918_101358_com.lingodeer-e1600396389712.jpg) ![french number on lingodeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/Screenshot_20200918_101339_com.lingodeer-1-e1600396664182.jpg) ![french number on lingodeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/Screenshot_20200918_101443_com.lingodeer-e1600396544511.jpg) ## 法语数字：100以上的数字 - 100 = Cent - 200 = Deux-cents - 300 = Trois-cents - 400 = Quatre-cents - 500 = Cinq-cents - 600 = Six-cents - 700 = Sept-cents - 800 = Huit-cents - 900 = Neuf-cents 要表达**几百几十几**，法语也是一样滴，先说**几百，再说几十几**（几十几的规则就是上面刚学过的）。 - 152 = *cent-cinquante-deux* - 368 = *trois-cent-soixante-huit* 大家注意到了吗? **"*trois-cents*"中的"*s*" 消失了。** 它的配合方法和 "*quatre-vingts*" 中的 "*s*" 一样: 仅在它为**整数**且后面**没有其他数词**时，词尾加“*s*”(*deux-cents, trois-cents...*)。如果后面还有其他数词，不加“*s*”。 在学习下一个部分前，试着说出以下数字的法语表达吧: > **145、324、294、569、812、900** 答案: Cent-quarante-cinq / Trois-cent-vingt-quatre / Deux-cent-quatre-vingt-quatorze / Cinq-cent-soixante-neuf / Huit-cent-douze / Neuf-cents. ## 法语数字：一千以上 相对而言，一千以上的数词法语表达很简单 | Thousands (milliers) | FR | | -------------------- | --------------- | | 1000 | Mille | | 2000 | Deux-mille | | 3000 | Trois-mille | | 4000 | Quatre-mille | | 5000 | Cinq-mille | | 6000 | Six-mille | | 7000 | Sept-mille | | 8000 | Huit-mille | | 9000 | Neuf-mille | | 10 000 | Dix-mille | | 100 000 | Cent-mille | | 500 000 | Cinq-cent-mille | **注意**："*mille*"是不变数词，在任何情况下都不用加"*s*"。 ## 法国数字：千位数以上 法语里没有“万”“亿”，只有“千（mille）” “百万（million）” “十亿（milliard）” **million (EN) = million (FR)** **billion (EN) = milliard (FR)** million和milliard都是名词。 若其后接名词，要加介词“*de*”；若其后接其他数词，则不加。 ## 法语数字中的连字符 看到这里你是否会奇怪，法语数词中的连字符”-“怎么有时加，有时不加，有没有什么规律啊？ 其实一般情况下我们不需要把大数字用字母写出来，如果真的（那么倒霉）要用拼写大数字，我们可以参照一条简单粗暴的规律：**复合数字的每个单词都用连字符 - 连接。** 这个规则收录在了1990年法国政府颁布的正字法 (Rectifications orthographiques du français en 1990) 。 ## 法语表达：年份 学会了数字的表达，你会发现用法语说年份很简单。只需将年份分解为**千位+百位+十位和个位**： 1952年= Mille-neuf-cent-cinquante-deux（1000/900/52） 1879年= Mille-huit-cent-soixante-dix-neuf（1000/800/79） 轮到你了！ 试着大声读出这些年份： > **2014、1789、1515、1981、1993、2003** 答案: Deux-mille-quatorze / Mille-sept-cent-quatre-vingt-neuf / Mille-cinq-cent-quinze / Mille-neuf-cent-quatre-vingt-un / Mille-neuf-cent-quatre-vingt-treize / Deux-mille-trois. ## 法语表达：分数 那如何用法语表达分数呢？ 以下这张表中给出了一些常用表达： | 常用分数 | 法语 | | ---- | ------------ | | 1/2 | Un demi | | 1/3 | Un tiers | | 1/4 | Un quart | | 1/5 | Un cinquième | | 1/10 | Un dixième | | 1/20 | Un vingtième | 若分数的分子数目较大，我们用介词“***sur***”表示分数关系：（数字）sur（数字） 让我们看个例子： - 5/20 = cinq sur vingt 法语和中文的小数很不一样。法国人不使用小数点分隔符“.”，他们用逗号“**，**”分隔小数：0,5 2,9 ... 如何读呢？只需在两个基数词间加“ virgule”（逗号）。 - 0,5 =zéro **virgule** cinq - 2,9 = deux **virgule** neuf ## 法语表达：百分比 法语的百分比的表示方法也很简单。我们只需在基数词的末尾添加“ pourcent（s）”或“ pour cent”）。 - 15％=quinze pourcents / pour cent **注意**：“ pourcent”要**性数变化且**与**数字配合**（如果大于1％，则“ pourcent”将写有“ s”）， 但“pour cent”**始终不变**。 ## 法语表达：电话号码 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/ld-image-fb136150e87404ec.png) 多数情况下，法国电话号码都用以下格式书写： *0x xx xx xx xx (例: 04 . 98 . 10 . 20 . 32)* 所以法国人报电话号码是两位数一组读的： *zéro quatre, quatre-vingt-dix-huit, dix, vingt, trente-deux* 但你也可以选择自由选择间隔，比如三位数字一停，那就用“百位”来读: 851 - 121 (huit-cent-cinquante-et-un, cent-vingt-et-un) ## 法语中的算数：加减乘除 为了全面地掌握法语的计数方法，我们还需要了解一些算数的读法。 | 法语 | 中文 | 例 | | -------------- | -- | ---------------------------------------- | | Addition | 加 | Un plus deux | | Soustraction | 减 | Deux moins un | | Multiplication | 乘 | Trois fois cinq Trois multiplié par cinq | | Division | 除以 | Dix divisé par deux | | Egalité | 等于 | Un plus deux est égal à trois | ## 法语数字趣闻 其实，在同属法语区的比利时和瑞士，也有比较正常的70，80，90： ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/ld-image-5f0099836c32204a.png) Septante，而不是 **Soixante-dix** 。 Octante/Huitante，代替**Quatre-vingts**（仅在瑞士)。 Nonante，代替**Quatre-vingt-dix**。 曾经有法国人提议学习比利时和瑞士，简化法语中数字的表达方式。结果嘛... 傲娇的法国人当然反对了，继续遵守着他们的数字“规律”。 ## 结语 Félicitations ! 我们终于全面学习了法语中数字相关的知识，现在你可以开始用法语进行计数了。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/11/ld-image-95bb5fe729d4d7af.png) 多读多练，才能更好的掌握法语数字。不妨与 [LingoDeer](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) 一起，每天练习一点法语词汇！ 那我们下次再见。Au revoir\~ ### 【実体験レビュー】中国語勉強アプリlingodeerとduolingoリアルな感想 URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-vs-duolingo-chinese-review-japanese/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T03:14:37.000Z はじめまして！中国語を勉強中のmingziです。 今、世界的に中国が注目され、日本でも中国語を勉強する人が増えているのだとか。 日本人が中国語を勉強する目的はさまざま、ビジネスだったり、趣味だったり、中国人の方との交流だったり。。。 日本にもよく中国人観光客や在住中国人の方を見かけるようになりましたよね。 中国語を習得して、中国の方たちと実際にお話できるようになったら楽しい経験になりそう♪ さてさて、今日は少し私自身の中国語とのつながりについて紹介させてください。 私は、小さい頃から（なぜか）中国語が大好きでした。というのも、母がたくさん映画を観る人で、日本の映画はもちろん、 海外の映画もレンタルして来るので、母と一緒によく観ていました。そんな中で出会った「カンフーキッド」や「キョンシー」など ![「カンフーキッド」の画像検索結果](https://auctions.afimg.jp/item_data/image/20180513/yahoo/r/r242651657.1.jpg) 中国（台湾）映画がとても大好きになり、何度も何度も繰り返し観るようになりました。 特に、映画の中で話される言葉の響きの虜になり、小さいなりに「**私も中国語を話せるようになりたい！**」と思うようになりました。 話せるようになりたかったけど、その頃はまだ中国語学習のための本など簡単に入手できるものではなくて、 探しに探してやっと中国語の辞書をお年玉で買ったのをおぼえています。 その後、大学で勉強し、中国語会話教室にも行き、今は独学で勉強を続けています。 私がはじめて中国語に興味を持ったときとは違って、今ではたくさんの「中国語学習アプリ」が普及していますよね。 ![IMG_5757.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/IMG_5757-1.jpg) 楽しみながら勉強できる学習アプリなんかもたくさんあって、どれにしようか迷うほど！ 無料のものもたくさんあり、お試しでいろいろ体験してみて、自分に合ったものを探すのがおすすめです。 どんなに評価の良いものでも時分に合っていなかったら楽しく勉強できないし、中国語をマスターする夢からも遠ざかってしまいます。 私もいくつかアプリを試しましたが、**lingodeerとduolingo**がとても楽しく中国語を勉強できるのでおすすめしたいと思います。 まず、lingodeerは基礎的な **単語からセンテンス、発音や読解、リスニングなど幅広い分野** で中国語を学ぶことができます。 項目ごとにとても丁寧に解説されていて初心者でもわかりやすい内容になっていて、ゲームのような感覚で楽しめるので ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/821570605794_.pic_hd.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/831570605794_.pic_hd.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/801570605793_.pic_hd.png) 続けやすいという点も嬉しいポイント ♪旅行などですぐに使える挨拶や言い回しなど も多数収録されています。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/771570605201_.pic_.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/791570605351_.pic_hd.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/781570605351_.pic_hd.png) duolingoは、ユーザーのレベルに合わせて学習できるので初心者はもちろん、ある程度中国語の学習を進めている方にも使いやすい内容になっています。ただし、 **duolingoは日本語に対応していないので、英語⇔中国語でしか学習することはできないという注意点** があります。 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/841570606136_.pic_hd.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/861570606145_.pic_.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/10/871570606148_.pic_hd.png) どちらのアプリも少しずつ学習できるので、ちょっとした空き時間を使って勉強したり、ストレスを感じずに楽しく学習できるのでおすすめです。 是非ぜひ、試してみてくださいね！ ### Tandem App Review: Best Place for Meeting Like-Minded Language Partners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/tandem-app-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:36.000Z ## Why Use A Language Exchange App? As a language student, you are probably familiar with language exchange events and websites. Both my Japanese and German classes organized such conversational events in the hope that people new to the country would integrate and make friends, and that their language students would improve their skills and confidence by chatting with native speakers in a less formal setting. **In reality, it was hard to find a language partner with compatible interests, so the conversations always fizzled out quickly.** It was a little easier to find partners with similar hobbies when the first language exchange websites appeared over a decade ago. But, because we only could chat via email (and everyone's inbox was always overflowing), these didn't work well either. Responses were few and far between, and ghosting was common. Speaking and writing in your target language as part of a natural conversation builds fluency much faster than attending language classes. **Being able to integrate it into your normal day-to-day routine helps you improve quickly.** But now that there are many free apps for language exchange, it's easier to keep in touch with your language partners! One of the better ones I have found is the [Tandem app](https://www.tandem.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), available for both iOS and Android smartphones. Tandem's aim is to give everyone the opportunity to practice languages for free. ## Getting Started with Tandem I joined the Tandem community a little over a week ago. While I can practice my German on family and friends locally, I had no regular contact with Japanese speakers. That has certainly changed in just a week! The registration was easy, although I found it a little odd that paid accounts could *skip the line* and not go through the approval process. I think it's a great idea that staff members check that new members have reasonable profiles and use their real name and photo - it makes the community feel a lot safer and more welcoming. You can choose multiple languages to learn and you can set a level for each of these languages. It's great not being limited to a single language pair, and suited my goals of improving my written German grammar, and chatting conversationally in Japanese. The app has an on-boarding process with tips and mini-goals. They also provide plenty of advice on what to put in your profile and explain how you can use the App in the best way - these are useful features for people who are less comfortable with technology or language exchanges. ![tandem-language-exchange-app.png](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/09/tandem-language-exchange-app.png) ## Taking Control of Your Language Exchange Experience Once your registration has been approved, you'll be automatically featured and listed in search results, before you've had a chance to change any of the default settings for who you want to meet. This caught me by surprise. As soon as I joined, I was contacted by a guy in Germany who very quickly started flirting with the aim of meeting me in person. I would have preferred to remain unlisted until I had changed those settings. Unfortunately, unwanted flirting is a problem with all language exchange apps and websites. But it *is* against the [Tandem Community Principles](https://www.tandem.net/tandem-community-principles?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) and thankfully, it's very easy to report and block such people from their user profiles. In the app settings, you can limit who you want to meet by age and gender, as well as customize your notification preferences. Limiting my profile in this way completely stopped non-serious users, those who try to use Tandem as a dating app, from contacting me. In your learning preferences, you can specify how you'd like to communicate, how much time you can commit each week, what times you are available to chat, and how often you'd like to be corrected. Learning preferences are listed on Tandem profiles along with the topics the Tandem users are interested in and their goals, so you can find a partner with similar preferences and interests easily. ### Find and chat with language partners This works really well - simply type in any topics, hobbies, interests or even locations to find a list of potential partners. Check out their profiles, and when you find someone you like, start chatting! The premium features are convenient - the translation tool is particularly helpful for understanding Japanese as I don't know enough of the kanji yet. There is also a correction tool where you can correct what your language partner has written. You can leave audio messages and even video chat with your partners, if you'd like to. If you are overwhelmed by a huge number of chats, firstly - that's brilliant! You can set your profile to offline (and not featured), and while your current partners can still chat with you, you won't appear in any search results. ![tandem-language-exchange-app-conversations](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/09/tandem-language-exchange-app-conversations.png) ### Engagement may vary based on your target language I found few responsive German conversation partners who wanted to correct my German grammar and chat about a range of topics - most wanted to practice basic phrases and small talk in English. It was a stark contrast to my Japanese conversation partners, who have been very active and interested in discussing all sorts of things in both languages - we chat every evening around the time difference! I could work on my German grammar by booking a Tandem tutor for 1-1 lessons, ranging from 20-90 minutes per lesson. This is similar to booking a language tutor in real life. Tandem tutors are better when you'd like to focus on grammar or improve something specific in your target language, rather than just improve your conversational language. All of the tutors have professional language teaching qualifications and have been approved by Tandem. Sessions are paid in advance, with the rates set by the tutors themselves. The [Tandem app](https://www.tandem.net/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), available on iOS and Android, is a great conversation practice tool to use alongside your other language learning apps. It's likely many of your conversation partners around the world will turn into good friends! ### User Story: How language learning failure shouldn’t define your future URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/language-learning-failure/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:32.000Z When I first started learning a language, Korean in particular, it would be fair to say my confidence in my language learning aptitude was low. I believed that some people simply don’t have that ability to learn a language, and I was one of them. My only language learning experience before I started to learn Korean was five years of learning German in secondary school, and it didn't help AT ALL. My German learning was significantly hampered by the course’s archaic curriculum design and my own lack of enthusiasm towards the language culture. At that time, ***I foolishly thought that speaking a foreign tongue was ‘useless’***. Therefore, my German learning process was severely hindered and after five years and over 360 accumulated hours, I apathetically walked into the GCSE test for German. Unsurprisingly, I failed. ![when learning is tiring](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/09/ld-image-db23f95e6b6b2888.png) Fortunately, I achieved better grades in other subjects, so I went on to go to college, ***without a single thought of learning a new language*.** I pursued a future in business, which ironically led me into fields that require communicating with people, oftentimes from other cultures. This filled me with regret for wasting the chances that I had while in school. When you’re a student, ***it’s easy to dismiss the idea of learning a new language as worthwhile or important***. I believe this is especially the case for native English speakers. Luckily, I was at a stage in life where I could still make a change. If you’re a student reading this article, I’d urge you to ***reassess how important language learning is***. Last year, I moved to South Korea, one of the world's most innovative countries, to pursue a career as an English teacher. I experienced much apprehension towards learning Korean. Mentally I was still that student who believed he could never become fluent in a new language, who had failed the GCSE despite a successful weekly teaching structure. I constantly question myself, ***how could I (ever) succeed, on my own***? How could I learn a language so difficult as Korean? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/09/South-Korea-1.jpg) ## How I became a more efficient language learner ***To be honest, I had no real idea of how to improve myself at first.*** I knew that I needed to change, but I didn’t have a clue which changes to make. Throughout my life, I’ve always had the opinion that one of the best ways to learn is from a mentor, someone that you can base yourself on and from whom you draw the positives to implement in your life. In today’s world, we are fortunate to have access to the internet, which provides us with more tools to do this. ***My first step*** was to conduct thorough researches, not on the subject (Korean Learning), but on people who had written or made content about learning efficiency or putting that initial belief in yourself into actual practice (mainly regarding languages). I discovered a wealth of people: [*Benny*](https://www.youtube.com/user/irishpolyglot?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) the Irish polyglot, whose belief system is to ‘hack’ language learning in a short amount of time, [*Thomas Frank*](https://www.youtube.com/user/electrickeye91?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) the productivity wizard on YouTube and, strangely, the comedian turned YouTube activist [*Russell Brand*](https://www.youtube.com/user/russellbrand?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Each of these three content creators were very important in getting me into the state of mind to get started. **Most people, myself included, stuck in this state of mind of ‘it’s not possible’.** However, witnessing other people succeed has a certain effect. It’s like it shatters your pessimism and shows you that it really is possible. Watching someone who had a starting point very similar to mine master 6 languages gave me an almost tangible belief that I could do it too. Those content creators combined gave me the belief, which transitioned into motivation, to get up and stop being pessimistic and to, even if just for a moment, ***try***. It’s incredible because once you put in those first few steps of effort, you get a snowball effect. Like exercise or any other beneficial activity, ***the act of completion energizes you to continue***. Day after day, it turns into something of a second nature, a habit, which once established, becomes hard to break. ## ## How being a teacher changes my own language learning Actually I feel fortunate to be in my current position as ***an English teacher***, as I can witness the first-hand effects of different methods regarding language learning. ![photo-1523240795612-9a054b0db644.jpeg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/09/photo-1523240795612-9a054b0db644.jpeg) Witnessing the curriculum design for the school was incredibly eye-opening. Depending on the student’s age when entering the school, they’re tested on their English language proficiency on four dimensions: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Those criteria both identify their current level and show their strengths. For example, a student who's considerably stronger at listening is often placed at a higher level because of their potential to understand what teachers say and learn. This spurred my interest in testing my own levels to know ***what type of learner I am***, and in turn ***what types of specific methods I should be focusing on***. I attempted numerous tests and examined a lot of studies. However, the theory I felt most applicable to myself was [*David Kolb*’s learning style theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolb%27s%5Fexperiential%5Flearning?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), which I believe is a very credible source to evaluate one's learning style. ## Discovering my learning style After completing a few of this theory’s questionnaires and tests. I managed to identify myself as an ‘***Assimilating***’ learner: one who focuses more on ***a logical approach to learning*** focusing on ***ideas and concepts***. ![language-sciences-language-development-msc.png](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/09/language-sciences-language-development-msc-1.png) four types of learners It essentially means that I’m better at learning from a more structured and clearer path explaining what is important in each section, with regular tests to build a foundation. To me, incorporating auditory learning while doing all these is also important. This leads to my discovery of[ LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) for learning Korean. #### ## Why I started using LingoDeer to learn Korean My previously established assumption that Korean learning was hard requires me to find **structured and reliable sources** that are suitable for both visual and auditory learners. As a teacher myself, I also know language books can be out of date very quickly, especially with new expressions coming up on the internet every day. Therefore, I decided to mostly focus on **apps that are constantly updating**. Finally, after comparing several different apps, I settled on LingoDeer, whose course design fits my established learning methods. I began with hopes that this would help my learning immensely, especially in the learning of [the Korean alphabet](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/kr/en/learn-korean-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2021/07/Korean-Alphabet.png) Korean alphabet taught in the LingoDeer app The Korean alphabet, which is somewhat famous for its ease of learning, was actually very difficult for me. I had used a lot of books and other materials in an attempt to learn but was still stuck at the first step. Upon using LingoDeer for around 2-3 days, I could already identify many Korean letters. I felt I had accomplished something. I felt more motivated to keep on learning than ever. Those feelings have accompanied me throughout my whole journey with LingoDeer. Now on a 93-day LingoDeer streak, I’m proud to say that although I haven't mastered the language, my skill is constantly improving. ***Language learning is now a fun daily activity***, rather than a chore as it was before. Are there other great language learning tools out there? Of course. I'm not saying LingoDeer is the ultimate answer for anyone who's struggling with language learning. It's simply a great tool that works for me and suits my learning style. There is no "magic fix" to all the difficulties in learning a new language, ***it takes intense dedication and strong motivation***. However, I hope that upon reading this, any one who might once be disappointed in language learning, will give it another chance. ### The Best Way to Learn German: The Intentional Immersion Method URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-german/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:24:21.000Z Just like all languages, the best way to learn German is through immersion. But you don’t have to travel all the way to Germany to immerse yourself in the language as you are learning it. The best way to learn German is by following these steps: 1. Work out why you want to learn German. 2. Get used to how German sounds and speak from day one. 3. Build your language learning toolbox with fun resources and friends. 4. Do something in German, every day. **Intentional immersion** Immersion without conscious practice doesn’t help you learn a language. When I initially moved to Germany, I didn’t speak or understand a single word. I did what most people do when moving into a new country without language skills - I attended an intensive course at the local community college. I picked up some vocabulary and grammar, enough to cover the basic things taught in the textbook - directions, prices, where I was from. But even though I was living in Germany, I couldn’t understand or speak German - I was an English teacher, spoke English at home, watched movies and TV in English, and surfed the English web for information. I didn’t intentionally immerse myself and therefore it didn’t stick. Four years later, I decided to get serious about learning German. I’m now working as German-English translator on legal and medical content, so I know that intentional immersion really works! ## Why are you learning German? ![The Best Way to Learn German ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/roman-kraft-g_gwdpsCVAY-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash I agree with the many polyglots and language hackers - the first and most important step is to work out your why. Once you find your why, you’ll find your motivation. And instead of German being too difficult, it’ll become a fun challenge. My reason for improving my German? First, to be able to chat with researchers and hospital staff and then to become a skilled translator. You may want to learn German for school classes, to pass an exam, apply for jobs, travel on holidays, chat with German-speaking family members and friends, or simply because you love languages. Whatever your reason, let it guide how you immerse yourself in the German language. Make sure you pick the language learning tools and tasks that you enjoy, and that are relevant to your non-language interests. The best way to learn German is to have fun while doing it! ## German reading, writing, speaking and listening By working on all four skills from the start, you will build a more powerful language-learning network in your brain. You’ll be able to remember words and phrases more quickly, and learn many more new words because of the associations you’ve already built in your mind. This is especially important if you intend to sit any of the [official German exams](https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/kup/prf/prf.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), where reading and listening skills are assessed with multiple choice questions, written skills with a short essay, and speaking skills with an interview. The structure of a typical standardized language test ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/1565264103916.jpg) Source: Goethe Institute **Learn German faster: Speak from day one!** In my opinion, both as a language learner and a language teacher, speaking is by far the most powerful skill for learning a language quickly. Of course, this means you shouldn’t be afraid of making mistakes - no one will hate you for using the wrong words or grammar! Speak aloud, right from your first steps as a beginner: Name things, repeat simple sentences, repeat the words you heard and try to mimic their pronunciation, and sing along to German lyrics. It can take a little while to build your German pronunciation 'muscle memory'. ## Use the best tools for learning German Don't stick to one learning tool, like a single textbook, a course you attend in person, an audio program or even a single app. Have a variety of interesting tools in your toolbox and your motivation will stick around. Don’t keep doing something you hate - that’s deadly to your German learning goals! If you aren’t having fun with one or more of the tools, books or courses, drop it and find another one that you *do* enjoy. Consider some or all of the following tools and activities: - textbooks - in-person courses and/or online tutoring - mobile apps (dictionaries, language acquisition apps like [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), games) - movies and TV shows - podcasts and music - online language exchange communities - streamers and hobbyists ## Building German listening skills **Movies and TV shows** made outside Germany are almost always dubbed in German - check the language settings of your favorites to see if there is a German audio track. Just don't look at their mouths when they speak - when it's not perfectly synchronized, dubbed audio can be very distracting. **Kaberett shows** on TV are great once you reach an intermediate level. These satirical revues with a little standup comedy are fantastic both for building skills and for gauging your progress. [Die Anstalt](https://www.zdf.de/comedy/die-anstalt?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is one of my favorites. **German podcasts** are very helpful, especially as a beginner. The [Slow German podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slow-german/id1085828103?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) was very useful to listen to as I walked to work. But I believe it’s much better if you don't only listen to language teaching podcasts. Listening to people talking about normal topics in German will level up your conversational skills more naturally. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/slow-german.png) Source: Slow German mit Annik Rubens → Browse through the [German podcast directory on Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/de/genre/podcasts/id26?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). **Native speakers** in natural settings are best. Are you having trouble finding a native speaker? Try Twitch - it's not just for games these days. Twitch categories like Art and Real Life have German-speaking streamers and audiences that you can chat with. → [Browse the Twitch directory](https://www.twitch.tv/directory?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to find a category you are interested in, then add “German” to the filter to find German-speaking streamers. ### Developing an ear for German accents If you use an app to build vocabulary and grammar, make sure the exercises give you an option to hear the words, spoken by a native speaker. Look for a textbook that comes with audio or video versions of the conversations. Don’t forget to listen to a wide range of speakers to understand the different accents and dialects: Swiss German, Austrian German, and people in each of the states have different ways of pronouncing German. People in Bayern and Sachsen have some of the stronger accents, even when they aren't speaking in their own dialects! ## Practice speaking German Tutors, language classes, friends, family, meetups - the more German speakers you can actively practice speaking with the better! - If you're a gamer, join a guild or team that speaks German and chat in voice channels. - Try [meetup](https://www.meetup.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to find a local German-speaking group around your interests. - Check for German-speaking groups on the online platforms you use for your hobbies: Ravelry, Facebook and special interest sites often have German-language groups. - Find a tandem partner on [myLanguageExchange](https://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Search.asp?selX3=23&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [Polyglot club](https://polyglotclub.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), or [iTalki](https://www.italki.com/partners?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- you might become great friends! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/polyglot-club.jpg) Source: Polyglot Club Don't worry about making mistakes - every German speaker I have met was excited when I spoke to them in German, even when I made mistakes. Apps that record you speaking are very useful, especially if you can compare your phrase with one recorded by a native speaker. These are perfect for working on your pronunciation! And finally, turn your voice-assistants to German: Siri, Cortana, Google and Alexa are infinitely patient! ## Reading German One of the easiest ways to get started in German and build basic your vocabulary and grammar is to use a language acquisition app or a textbook. **German textbooks** When I started seriously learning several years ago, German apps were few and far between, so I used a set of textbooks from Heuber to get my language certification quickly. There are better German self-study textbooks available today than there were back then. **German grammar books** One of the best grammar explanations I found is [English Grammar for Students of German. ](https://www.amazon.com/English-Grammar-Students-German-Learning/dp/0934034435?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)[Schaum's Outline of German Grammar](https://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-German-Grammar-Outlines/dp/1260120996?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is also a good reference with useful exercises. [The Practice Makes Perfect series](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=practice+makes+perfect+german&ref=blog.lingodeer.com) is great for targeted practice exercises. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/german-grammar-books.jpeg) Source: Amazon.com **Books and news in German** Read your favorite books translated into German - you already know the story, and if you pick something easier, it will expand your vocabulary quickly. Graded German readers are easily available from online stores and even in public libraries. Reading is especially important for German language learning because the written past tense of verbs does not match how they are spoken! **Mobile devices and computers** Turn your computer and mobile devices into German if you are familiar enough with the menu options to turn them back. ## Improving your German writing skills The language exchange websites mentioned above also list German language exchange partners looking for an email or chat penpal. You could also find an online group or forum on any topic that you are interested in, and start chatting in German. There are a couple of aspects of German that scare learners, especially when writing or speaking in German: The gendered articles for nouns (der, die, das) and the various cases (nominative, accusative, dative and genitive). ## The best way to learn "der, die, das" and the cases The articles used with nouns, der, die, das and the four cases are considered to be the most difficult parts of German grammar to master. That’s partly because they are so tightly interwoven - the case affects which article is used, and the article even has a knock-on effect on adjectives! ![Best way to learn German by LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/ger-meme.png) Source: LingoDeer Many German learners, including me, struggle to use these correctly. But don’t worry - even if you make a mistake, German speakers will understand, and some will offer helpful corrections. The best way to learn the German articles is to learn them like local children did - memorize both the article and the noun together. For example, when you learn the word for "cup", you should memorize "die Tasse" not just "Tasse". An app that regularly drills you on nouns and their correct gendered articles using flashcards and exercises is invaluable for memorizing the articles. ![LingoDeer blog: the best way to learn German](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/german-articles.png) Source: LingoDeer The case affects which form of the article you use, and is one of the trickier aspects of German grammar for English speakers to get comfortable with. Of course, it’s made more difficult by knowing which article goes with which noun. The best way to learn German cases would be through lots of listening and speaking practice. The more you hear and use phrases and combinations that include these different cases, the faster you’ll memorize them. ## Use an app that lets you work on all four skills [Language acquisition apps like LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) are convenient - you can fill all the dead time you have in your day with German language studies. Only have a couple of minutes between classes? Step through vocabulary and grammar flashcards. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/IMG_1B5BC6686A51-1.jpeg) Waiting for a while at the doctor's or for a bus to arrive? Grab your phone and do an exercise or two. You don’t always need sound or voice input to complete these lessons. People are late for a meeting? Complete a short quiz! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/08/IMG_C3FB34489CCD-1.jpeg) Can’t sleep? … Maybe don’t use your app. Soft music with German lyrics would work better. ### The best way to learn German is daily practice with an app Apps are masters at encouraging us to use them every day. With reminders and notifications, streak tracking, spaced repetition features that take the tedium out of flashcards, you name it: language acquisition apps are definitely one of the best ways to learn German, if only because they keep our motivation high! ## What are your favorite ways to learn German? What tools, platforms, tricks and tips do you use to learn German? ### The Best Way To Learn French for Complete Beginners URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-french/ Last updated: 2026-08-11T06:13:23.000Z Bonjour ! So you have finally decided to learn French by yourself. However, as a complete beginner, you don’t know what's the best way to learn French. As a French language teacher, I have been confronted by this one particular question many times, “how can I learn French by myself fast?”. Of course, living in a French-speaking country will definitely help, but I don’t think that alone is enough to master the language. On the other hand, learning **only** grammar rules or [conjugation patterns](https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-verb-conjugation/) without any context is the ”best way“ to make you QUIT learning French. As a total beginner, you may be asking yourself some typical questions such as : - Where do I start? - How do I build a good foundation? - What grammar do I need to learn? - How can I build up my vocabulary fast? - What comes next after the beginner stage? - Are there any DOs and DON’Ts of learning French? In this article, I will be answering those common questions and guiding you through the best way to learn French. Although it may seem quite long and you might need to focus and take notes, why not **bookmark** it and [this guide to learning a language](https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/) to your favorites and come back whenever you want! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Warming up: The French Alphabet & Pronunciation First of all, let’s start from the beginning. The best way to learn French by yourself starts with knowing the [French alphabet and pronunciation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-alphabet-and-pronunciation/). Let me show you how it works. In France, we use the typical “western” alphabet, which would be the Latin alphabet. We only add some accents and ligatures to it. ### Accents, Ligatures, and Vowels In French, accents will either change the pronunciation of a letter (mostly on the letter "e"), or the definition of a word (ou ≠ où). Accents only exist on some letters, which you may see in the grid below. Ligatures, on the other hand, are two letters stuck together. Here is the complete list of vowels that are used in the French language: | Letter | Accent | Pronunciation (English) | | ------ | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | a | à â æ | ah (*k*a*rm*a**) ah eh | | e | é è ê ë | eeh (sharper “e”, try to smile!) eh (deeper “e” = eh) eh eh | | i | î ï | ee (*f* ***ee*** *l , kn* ***ee*** *,* ***i*** *mpress* ***i*** *ve*) ee | | o | ô œ | o (*hell* ***o***) euh (**international phonetic alphabet** sound “œ”) | | u | û ü ù | u (*ass*u*me, perf*u*me*) | | y | ÿ | ee | There is only one accent on a consonant in French and you might have already encountered it, the famous *cédille* “**ç**” of “*Comment ça va?*” or “*Français*“. ### Reading the French ABC Here is an image that will help you read out loud the **French alphabet** (and perhaps… sing it?), or you can have a [free French alphabet lesson with Lingodeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/learn-languages/fr/en/learn-french-online/alphabet?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ![best way to learn french by Lingodeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/07/A-B-C.png) ### Most common syllables or letter combos in French Before we move on, there is one last thing you need to know regarding syllables in French. Here is how you pronounce basic combinations of letters (syllables): | Syllable | Examples | Pronunciation | | -------- | ---------------------- | ------------------- | | ai / ei | Aimer, mais, neige | eh | | ou | Bougie | ooh | | oi | Moi, François | wah | | au / eau | Beau, Audrey | oh | | qu+vowel | Quelque, quoi, magique | The “u” is silent | | gu+vowel | Vague, vogue | The “u” is silent | | aï | Maïs, aïe | “Mah-ees” , “ah-ee” | | oï | Eloïse | “Eh-lo-eez” | ### Silent letters It wouldn’t be French if it were too easy, right? That’s the reason why we have a lot of silent letters, especially at the end of words. The most common silent letters at the end of words are: | Silent letter | Examples | Pronunciation | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | \-e | Danse, mère, père | The **e** at the end of a French word is silent. *Danss, mehr, pehr* | | \-e**r** \-ez | Manger, chanter, danser Mangez, chantez, dansez. | If the final **\-r** or **\-z** have an **e** before, they are silent: *Manjeh, chanteh, danser* | | \-t | Jouet, constat | The letter **t** at the end of a word is silent: *Foueh, joueh* | | \-s / -x | Danses, chapeaux | The final **\-s** in a French words is silent: *Danss, shapoh* | A good way to master the pronunciation of the French language would be to listen to as much French as possible. Internet, podcasts and videos are great ways to find the best resources! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Form Zero to Novice: Common Phrases in French Now, let’s start talking. Another chapter that you should include in your French learning journey is the common phrases. ### Greetings and introductions | **FR** | **EN** | | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | Bonjour (formal) Salut (informal) | Hello Hey | | Au revoir | Goodbye | | Bonsoir | Good evening | | Bonne journée Bonne soirée Bon après-midi | Have a nice day Have a nice evening Have a nice afternoon | | Bonne nuit | Good night | ### Common phrases and questions Politeness and being courteous is a must. Wherever you go, any shop or place you will visit in France, **always greet the people** who work there when you arrive and don't forget to bid them goodbye once you leave. | **FR** | **EN** | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------- | | Merci | Thank you | | S’il vous plaît (formal) S’il te plaît (informal) | Please | | De rien | You’re welcome | | Comment allez-vous? (formal) Comment ça va? (informal) ça va? (informal) | How are you doing? / How are you? | | Je vais bien, merci. (formal) ça va bien, merci. (informal) ça va, merci. (informal) | I’m doing well, thank you. | | Comment vous appelez-vous? (formal) Comment tu t’appelles? (informal) | What’s your name? | | Je m’appelle … | My name is … | | Quel âge avez-vous? (formal) Vous avez quel âge? (formal)Tu as quel âge? (informal) | How old are you? | | J’ai … ans | I am … years old | | Et vous? (formal) Et toi? (informal) | And you? / How about you? | ### Saying where you come from Now that you have finally introduced yourself, you need to learn how to say where you come from. Before you go ahead and read the next grid, you should first know that in French, countries have genders: France and China are feminine and Canada is masculine. How can you see if a country is feminine or masculine, or even plural? There is a rule, to which exceptions may apply (of course). **Feminine country** \= country that ends with an “**e**” : la France, la Chine, la Russie (aside from le *Mexique*, le *Mozambique*, le *Zimbabwe* and le *Cambodge*). **Plural country** \= country that ends with an “s” and archipelagos: les Philippines, les Maldives, les Etats-Unis. **Masculine country** \= country that ends with all all other letters : le Canada, le Sénégal, le Danemark, le Vietnam (+ le *Mexique*, le *Mozambique*, le *Zimbabwe* and le *Cambodge*). | **FR** | **EN** | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | D’où venez-vous? (formal) D’où viens-tu? (informal)Vous venez d’où? (formal)Tu viens d’où? (informal) | Where do you come from? | | Je viens du + pays masculin Je viens de + pays féminin Je viens d’ + pays commençant par une voyelle Je viens des + pays au pluriel | I come from + masculine country I come from + feminine country I come from + country starting with a vowel I come from + plural country | ### Other themes to explore as a beginner Here is a list of **other topics** to explore and learn, as a beginner in French. - Describing your hometown: the different places in town. - Your daily routines and activities/hobbies - Food: what you like/don’t like, allergies… - Films and TV series - Your family and friends - Your home and your neighborhood (description) - Francophony and the French language all around the world ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## From beginner to intermediate: Grammar and Conjugation Let me show you the best way to learn French grammar, step by step. ### French Articles If you haven’t noticed it yet, you should know that French nouns have genders. A table (*une table*) is feminine and a book is masculine (*un livre*). There is a word that comes before a noun, which is similar to the English language. We call this word an **article**. We have **definite** and **indefinite** articles. Each article changes depending on the gender and number of the noun (if there is more than one). Here’s how I would sum it up: **Indefinite articles** (*articles indéfinis*) are what you use to refer to something for the first time, or that is not precise. In English, this article would be the word “a” or “an”. | **Indefinite article** | Example | English equivalent | English example | | ---------------------------------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------- | --------------- | | Un + masculine noun (singular) | Un livre | *A* or *an* | A book | | Une + feminine noun (singular) | Une table | *A* or *an* | A table | | Des + masculine & feminine noun (plural) | Des tables Des livres | *Some*or *article zero* | Books Tables | For English speakers, the indefinite article for plural nouns "des" can be hard to get used to. **Definite articles** (articles définis) are what you will use if you want to refer to something known by all parties in an exchange. In English, this article would be the word “the”. | **Definite article** | Example | English equivalent | English example | | ------------------------------------------ | --------------------- | ------------------ | -------------------- | | Le + masculine noun (singular) | Le livre | The | The book | | La + feminine noun (singular) | La table | The | The table | | L’ + noun starting with a vowel (singular) | L’oiseau | The | The bird | | Les + masculine & feminine noun (plural) | Les livres Les tables | The (plural) | The books The tables | ### How to conjugate verbs When it comes to conjugating regular verbs, there is a simple way to memorize them. If you remove the ending of each verb in its infinitive form (-er and -ir), you will have a part that is called the “radical” or the “**root**” of a verb. Then, just add the right ending after the root to form the conjugated verb. Here’s an example: | Verbal group | Root | Present tense ending | | ---------------------------- | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Regular -er *Danser Chanter* | Dans- Chant- | Je + ROOT +e Tu + ROOT +es Il / elle + ROOT +e Nous + ROOT +ons Vous + ROOT +ez Ils / elles + ROOT +ent | | Regular -ir *Finir Réussir* | Fin- Réuss- | Je + ROOT+is Tu + ROOT +is Il / elle + ROOT +it Nous + ROOT +issons Vous + ROOT +issez Ils / elles + ROOT +issent | Regarding verbs of the 3rd group, you will need to memorize them little by little, as there is no particular pattern to conjugate them. This article explains more about [French verb conjugation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/french-verb-conjugation/). Take a look if you wish to learn further! ### Adjectives An adjective is a word used to describe something. French adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun. What does this mean? Well, if the noun is masculine (singular or plural), so will be the adjective. Same case for feminine nouns and adjectives. - Un pull noir (*a black sweater*). - **Un pull** \= masculine singular - **Noir** \= masculine singular - Des pulls noirs (black sweaters). - **Des pulls** \= masculine plural. - **Noirs** \= masculine plural. - Une chemise rouge (*a red shirt*). - **Une chemise** \= feminine singular. - **Rouge** \= feminine singular. - Des chemises rouges (red shirts). - **Des chemises** \= feminine plural. - **Rouges** \= feminine plural. In French, the adjective is placed most of the time **after the noun**, as you can see in the examples above. There are some exceptions. Adjectives describing **beauty**, **age**, **good / bad**and **size** (B.A.G.S, to help you remember!) will come **before the noun**: *beau, belle, vieux, jeune, bon, mauvais, grand, petit*… ### Adverbs An adverb, on the other hand, is an invariable word used to modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb. Most of the time, it will be placed before the element that it modifies : Il a **beaucoup** mangé / He ate **a lot**. Je mange **souvent** des légumes / I **often** eat vegetables. Here is a list of the most common adverbs used in French. | **FR** | **EN** | | ----------- | ------------- | | aujourd’hui | today | | beaucoup | a lot / many | | bien | well | | mal | badly | | plus | more, …-er | | moins | less | | toujours | always | | très | very | | trop | too, too much | | maintenant | now | | hier | yesterday | | demain | tomorrow | Of course, this list does not include all of the adverbs! Generally speaking, most French words ending in *\-ment* are adverbs, and it’s very similar to the english suffix *\-ly* : - Actuelle**ment** / Actual**ly** - Douce**ment** / Slow**ly** Now, isn’t that easy? ### Learning how to use prepositions in French What is a preposition? A preposition is a word that links two parts of a sentence. In French, they are placed **after** a verb, adjective, adverb or even a noun and **before** a noun (or a pronoun) : - J’habite ***à*** Paris (I live in Paris) - Je viens ***de*** France (I come from France) - Je vais ***en*** France (I’m going to France) Here are the most important prepositions to know, as a beginner: | Preposition | English | Notes | | ----------- | --------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | à | to, in, at | To be used before **a city**. **J’habite à Lyon**To be used if you want to talk about a (masculine) country you're going to:**Je vais au Cameroun**If you’re going to use nouns , use : *à la* \+ feminine noun, **Je vais à la poste** *au +* maculine noun (*à + le* becomes “au” and not “à le”) **Je suis au marché** *à l’* \+ noun starting with vowel **Je vais à l’église** *aux* \+ plural noun (*à + les* becomes “aux”) **Je vais aux galeries marchandes** | | de | of, from, about | Very similar to the English prepositions : of, from, about. **Elle parle de danse.Je viens de Paris**. | | en | in, to, on | Use this to talk about the (feminine) country you're going to. **Je vais en France** | | chez | at | Use “chez” to talk about someone’s place or a professional’s place: **Chez le docteur.Chez moi.Chez Alexandra.** | ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Tips for hacking French Learning ### The most important verbs in French As a complete beginner in French, there are 4 verbs that you need to master, at the **present tense**. There are no mastering verbs without knowing the pronouns used, here’s an image to help you memorize the **French personal pronouns**: ![Personal pronouns in French](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/07/Pronoms.png) | Verbs | Conjugation | English | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | être (to be) | Je suis Tu es Il / elle estNous sommes Vous êtes Ils / elles sont | I am You are He / she isWe are You are (plural) They (masc.) / They are (fem.) | | avoir (to have) | J’ai Tu as Il / elle aNous avons Vous avez Ils / elles ont | I have You have He / she hasWe have You have (plural) They have | | aller (to go) | Je vais Tu vas Il / elle vaNous allons Vous allez Ils / Elles vont | I go / I’m going You go / you’re going He / she goes He’s / she’s goingWe go / we’re going You go / you’re going (pl.) They go / they’re going | | venir (to come) | Je viens Tu viens Il / elle vientNous venons Vous venez Ils / elles viennent\* | I come You come He / She comesWe come You come (plural) They come | Note: “Ils viennent” = the final “-ent” is **silent for conjugated verb**s. (Ils *vienn*) In the French language, verbs are divided into 3 categories: - Regular **\-er** verbs (1st group): the easiest ones to conjugate, as they follow the same pattern of conjugation. Examples: danser, chanter, chercher, bouger… - Regular **\-ir** verbs (2nd group): another conjugation-friendly verbal group! Same pattern for same group of verbs. - Irregular verbs (**\-re, -ir, -oir, aller**…) (3rd group): A little bit more difficult to conjugate, as these verbs are mostly irregular and have different patterns of conjugation. ### The most important tenses for beginners Regarding conjugation, you might also need to focus on the most important tenses first. This next grid will sum it up for you in a crystal clear way! | **Tense** | **When should I use it?** | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Le présent de l’indicatif | Commonly called “le présent”. When you want to speak at the present simple tense or present progressive tense. *Je vais au marché.* (I’m going to the market) *Je mange une pomme.* (I’m eating an apple) | | Le passé composé | “Composed past”. This tense is used to talk about finished actions in the past. The equivalent would be the past simple tense in English. It is composed of an **auxiliary** (être or avoir, at the present tense), followed by the **past participle** of a verb. *Je suis allé au marché* … (I went to the market) *J’ai mangé une pomme*… (I ate an apple) | | L’imparfait | 1\. When you want to talk about continuous action in the past. 2\. To describe past habits. 3\. To describe something, in the past.*J’allais au marché…* (I was going to the market) *Je mangeais une pomme…* (I was eating an apple) | | Le futur proche | To talk about immediate action in the future. Mostly used in spoken French. It is composed of the verb “**aller**” (présent) + the **infinitive form** of the action verb.*Je vais aller au marché.* (I am going to go to the market) *Je vais manger une pomme.* (I am going to eat an apple) | | Le futur simple | To talk about plans in the future, the weather forecast… this is the most “formal” type of future tense. *J’irai au marché*. (I will go to the market) *Je mangerai une pomme.* (I will eat an apple) | If you would like to know more about French verbs and conjugations, take a look at the **LingoDeer app** to find more about the best way to learn French by yourself, and start learning! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## From intermediate to advanced: ## building up vocabulary ### Learning with goals Finally, setting goals and milestones is one of the best ways to learn French. Once your theme has been chosen, explore the vocabulary. Look for videos, texts, even magazines or books in French. You like cooking? Then look for French recipes online! The goals would be more specific and go deeper into the theme. For example, if you have studied the theme of **travels** and you know more or less the basic vocabulary, you may now dive into… **grammar** and/or **conjugation**, related to traveling. Ask yourself these questions: > “What would I want to do ? How can I say it in French?” In the era of technology, we have tons of resources for learning a language online. Once you have set your next goal, you may now narrow your search for dialogues or videos. Short texts can even do the trick. I would always advise having a conjugation tool or table (which you can find online) in case you stumble upon an unknown verb structure or tense and then study it from there. The key here is to **analyze** your source, don’t just read or listen to it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## DOs and DON’Ts of learning French ### DO - Be curious about the language and culture. Curiosity will lead you to fall in love with the language and culture. - Take note of your mistakes. You will be able to remember them if you take the time to analyze where you went wrong. - Practice with any type of material. Videos, films, TV series, news articles… The Internet is your friend, which will bring me to my last point… - …use technology. There are many resources to learn a language, but an easy way to learn French would be having guidance with premade lessons and goals that you can find in apps such as [**LingoDeer**](https://www.lingodeer.com/home?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)**.** ### DON’T - Be too hard on yourself. Learning a language should be a fun and agreeable experience, not a torture. - Be afraid. Especially: don’t be afraid to speak. Stay confident, you can do it! We have finally reached the end of this article. I hope that you now have more confidence and I trust that you will accomplish your new learning goals! ### Votre drapeau national en personnage de manga japonais: Génial ou Bof? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/les-drapeaux-de-pays-en-personnages-de-manga/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:56:59.000Z Avez-vous déjà imaginé à quoi ressemblerait votre drapeau national en tant que **personnage de manga japonais**? Pour la plupart des gens, je ne pense pas. Pour préparer l'arrivée des jeux Olympiques de Tokyo 2020, un groupe d'artistes japonais ont créé de superbes illustrations de manga et ont transformé vos drapeaux nationaux en personnages de mangas (samouraïs, moines, etc.). Voyons voir si elles sont effectivement des représentations incroyablement créatives du drapeau de votre pays ou alors… des interprétations intéressantes d’un point de vue japonais ? Commençons par **le Groupe des Huit**. ## La France en personnage de manga > Citation: Battez le fer pendant qu'il est chaud. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/france-min-1.png) Le drapeau tricolore représente la liberté, l'égalité et la fraternité. Le bleu et le blanc représentent l'armée civile et le rouge, la dynastie des Bourbons. Le caractère kanji est « 仏 ». En tant que membre du G8, il espère promouvoir le développement économique mondial. Oh là là, quel beau mec, avec une pointe d'assurance, sa couleur de cheveux et sa peau me rappellent peut-être quelqu'un… Monsieur Macron, n'est-ce pas? Alors que le drapeau français pourrait être considéré comme assez simple pour certains, ce personnage capture l’histoire longue et intéressante de l’art et de la culture française avec son armure ornée et ses couleurs vibrantes. Monsieur France possède également le look mature d'un ancien combattant ayant survécu à de nombreuses révolutions. ## Les États-Unis en personnage de manga ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-19-at-9.03.36-PM.png) Le drapeau des États-Unis. Police du monde. L'origine du divertissement. Les étoiles et les bandes représentent le nombre d'états. Le lieu sacré où les gens cherchent le Rêve Américain. Les artistes l'ont probablement fait jeune et beau gosse pour symboliser le jeune âge des États-Unis ainsi que l'attrait mondial pour le divertissement américain parmi la jeunesse internationale. > Nom: Dustin Samouraï du Groupe des Huit, il détient le joyau de «l'Amérique». Il est connu comme la police du monde, dont la décision l'emporte sur tout, une fine lame incomparable. Son passe-temps est de regarder le football américain. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/americaf.png) Avec son joli petit minois, peut-être que les États-Unis de nos jours seraient un environnement trop difficile pour un beau garçon comme Dustin. ## Le Canada en personnage de manga ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-19-at-9.16.11-PM.png) Traduction: le drapeau du Canada. Le chasseur qui gouverne les régions glacées et arctiques d'Amérique du Nord. Le drapeau national présente un type de feuilles dont le jus peut vaincre la faim, et le rouge des deux côtés représente l’océan. Les artistes ont vraiment capturé la hardiesse de ceux qui vivent dans le Grand Nord, mais vous pouvez être certain que derrière son apparence froide, M. Canada peut présenter des excuses chaleureuses et du sirop d'érable sucré à ceux qu'il apprécie plutôt bien. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/canadaf.png) > Nom: Keanu Le chasseur du Groupe des Huit détient le joyau de «加». Il part souvent à la chasse en suivant le délicieux parfum du sirop d'érable. Son passe-temps est le patin à glace. ## Le Royaume-Uni en personnage de manga > Citation: Espérez le meilleur et soyez toujours prêt. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/igirisu-min-1.png) Armure: le drapeau de l'Union Jack. Il porte un drapeau qui réunit les caractéristiques principales des drapeaux anglais, écossais et irlandais, également appelés drapeau Union Jack ou drapeau de l'Union. Son caractère kanji est « 英 ». Il tient les rênes de l'économie mondiale. Les artistes personnifient très bien l'élégance de l'histoire britannique et l'attitude de ce qui était autrefois la superpuissance mondiale avec M. Royaume-Uni. Bien qu'il puisse avoir l'air un peu coincé, la plupart des gens respectent le fait que M. Royaume-Uni soit assez influent et qu'il mérite une certaine reconnaissance. ## L'Allemagne en personnage de manga > Citation: Plus il y a d'ennemis, plus l'honneur est grand. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/doituf.png) Le pays qui détient la clé de l'Europe. Les couleurs du drapeau représentent différentes qualités: le noir pour l’honneur, le rouge pour la liberté et l'or pour la patrie, caractéristiques utilisées ici pour représenter l’uniforme du soldat. Les nombreux muscles et la nature confiante de l’Allemagne peuvent également être interprétés comme la puissance économique de l’Allemagne, une qualité que beaucoup d’artistes japonais admirent. ***Also, wie findet ihr diese Darstellung? Ja oder nein?*** (Alors, que pensez-vous de cette représentation? Oui ou non?) ## La Russie en personnage de manga > Citation: Même un chat apprécie les paroles douces. (Proverbe russe) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/russia-min-1.png) M. Russie est un combattant au sabre aux cheveux aussi blancs que la toundra enneigée de la Sibérie. Il semble à la fois à l'aise et confiant dans sa tenue. Son armure n'est pas aussi lourde et détaillée que celle de ses cousins ​​européens, mais elle reflète toujours la nature assez « terre-à-terre » du peuple russe. ## L'Italie en personnage de manga > Le temps venteux de demain n’affecte que demain. (traduction littérale) Tout ira pour le mieux. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/italy-min-1.png) M. Italie est un jeune homme fringant qui a l'air aussi confiant dans son apparence que dans sa cuisine. ## L'hôte, le Japon, en personnage de manga > De l'aube au crépuscule, la belle pourrait se transformer en squelette. (traduction littérale) Le changement est imprévisible, alors saisissez l'instant présent! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/japan-min-1.png) Arborant le look du héro de manga classique, *Japon-san* a l'air plutôt doux et détendu à travers ce personnage. Les artistes montrent bien la nature plus paisible et simple du Japon actuel, bien que les épées puissent probablement être assez menaçantes. ## La Corée en personnage de manga > Commencer, c'est déjà la moitié de la réussite. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/07/korea_s-min.png) M. Corée correspond parfaitement au garçon [Bishie](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bish%C5%8Dnen?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (un beau jeune homme), et cela démontre à la façon dont la Corée a volé le cœur des filles du monde entier avec sa musique pop et ses séries télévisées. Le tambour est peut-être ce qui aide la Corée à produire le nouvel *Oppa Gangnam Style* et M. Corée est l’*Oppa* idéal de cette liste. ## La Chine > La victoire appartient aux hommes avec des raisons. Ceux qui sont déraisonnables perdent. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/c13dceabcb143acd6c9298265d618a9f.png) M. Chine a les cheveux les plus longs et la plus longue histoire des personnages de notre groupe. Il a l'air calme, déterminé et prêt à tout combat qui pourrait se présenter. ## L'Espagne en personnage de manga > La gentillesse et la beauté ne durent pas. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/8bc697f91534507b292e4cfc480dbd3d.png) Señor Espagne semble avoir la finesse de combattre un taureau, mais ses yeux donneront envie à votre cœur de danser le Tango. Son armure est colorée et brillante, mais cache sur son visage la sombre histoire d’un pays qui a subi des inquisitions et a perdu ses nombreuses anciennes colonies. Les artistes reflètent assez bien le passé complexe et difficile de Señor Espagne. ## Le Vietnam comme personnage de manga > Vivre, c'est ne pas que respirer. C'est d'agir. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/betonamu-min.png) M. Vietnam est représenté comme un homme plutôt mystique qui personnifie l’intérêt du Japon pour l’ANASE (l'**Association des Nations de l'Asie du Sud-Est**). Le Vietnam est à la fois très familier pour les artistes, car il s’agit d’un autre pays confucéen comme le Japon, mais de nombreuses pratiques peuvent paraître étranges et exotiques, comme elles existent encore en Asie du Sud-Est. Vous pouvez voir l’immense valeur que M. Vietnam accorde à l’éducation grâce au fait qu’il est le seul pays à porter des tenues de savants. ## Le Mexique > Les bébés apportent des gâteaux avec eux. (littéral) Les enfants sont nés avec une bonne fortune. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/mexicoface-min.png) Señor Mexique est animé par une vie et un symbolisme traditionnel assez impressionnant. Les plumes sur ses épaules rappellent le peuple Aztèque qui occupaient autrefois le même territoire. À bien des égards, le Mexique est tout aussi coloré et intéressant. ## Conclusion Il y a beaucoup plus de personnages que vous pourrez admirer sur le site officiel, [World of Flags](https://world-flags.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Vous pouvez soutenir la campagne Tokyo 2020 en partageant l'article et en tweetant avec le hashtag [#worldflags\_fa](https://twitter.com/hashtag/worldflags%5Ffa?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Ou, encore mieux,[ apprendre le japonais avec LingoDeer](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) et voyager à Tokyo en 2020\. En résumé, tous les personnages sont sublimes, malgré le fait qu'ils ne soient que des hommes. En tant qu’équipe enseignante et qui aime promouvoir les langues et les cultures du monde, nous pensons que pour représenter la diversité du monde, un peu plus de personnages différents auraient été les bienvenus. Mais dans l’ensemble, nous apprécions sans réserve les efforts des artistes pour promouvoir les jeux Olympiques de Tokyo 2020\. N'oubliez pas de laisser un commentaire et dites-nous ce que vous pensez du personnage de manga de votre pays! ### Deine Nationalflagge als Japanischer Anime Charakter: Super oder doch eher meh? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/nationalflagge-japanischer-anime/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:24.000Z Hast du dir jemals vorgestellt, wie deine Nationalflagge als **Anime Charakter** aussehen würde? Die meisten wahrscheinlich eher nicht. Zur Feierlichkeit von Tokyo 2020 hat eine Gruppe japanischer Künstler super coole Anime Kreationen erschaffen und aus euren Nationalflaggen ein Team aus Anime Charakteren zusammengestellt (Samurai, Mönche usw.). **Mal sehen ob sie coole und kreative Repräsentationen eurer Flaggen sind oder..naja…doch eher interessante Interpretationen aus Japanischer Perspektive.** Lass uns mit der **Gruppe der Acht** anfangen. ## Deutschland als Anime Charakter > *Je mehr Feinde, desto höher die Anerkennung.* ![germany-min](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/germany-min.png) *Das Land das den Schlüssel zu Europa trägt. Die Farben in der Flagge stehen für verschiedene Qualitäten: Schwarz für Anerkennung und Ehre, Rot für Freiheit und Gold für das Heimatland, hier ein Merkmal um die Uniform des Soldaten zu porträtieren.* Die vielen Muskeln und die selbstbewusste Ausstrahlung des Charakters kann auch als Symbol für Deutschlands starke wirtschaftliche Kraft interpretiert werden, eine Besonderheit, die viele japanische Künstler beneiden. Also, wie findet ihre diese Darstellung? Ja oder nein? ## USA als Anime Charakter ![America as anime character](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-19-at-9.03.36-PM.png) *Die Flagge der USA. Weltpolizei. Der Ursprung des Entertainment. Sterne und Streifen repräsentieren die Anzahl der Saaten. Die USA - Der Ort an dem Menschen den „American Dream“ (- den amerikanischen Traum) suchen.* Die Künstler haben Herrn USA demnach auch jung und attraktiv gestaltet, um das moderne Amerika zu repräsentieren, genauso wie die weltweite Anziehung der amerikanischen Unterhaltungskultur die vor allem unter jungen Menschen beliebt ist. „Name: Dustin Ein Samurai in der Gruppe der acht. Er ist das Juwel von Amerika. Bekannt ist er auch als die Weltpolizei, deren Entscheidungen alles außer Kraft setzen, ein dominanter Fechter. Sein Hobby ist es, American Football zu schauen.“ ![americaf](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/americaf.png) Vielleicht wären die Umstände in den USA aber gerade auch zu ruppig für einen hübschen Jungen wie Dustin… ## Kanada als Anime Charakter ![Screenshot 2019-06-19 at 9.16.11 PM.png](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-19-at-9.16.11-PM.png) *Die Flagge von Kanada. Der Jäger, der die eisigen, arktischen Regionen Nordamerikas regiert. Die Nationalflagge beinhaltet eine bestimmte Blätterart, deren Saft Hunger besiegen soll, das Rot auf beiden Seiten steht für den Ozean.*Die Künstler habend die raue Natur derer, die im Großen Weißen Norden leben, perfekt eingefangen, aber es ist offensichtlich, dass Herr Kanada unter seinem kühlen Äußeren auch ein paar warme Entschuldigungen und süßen Ahornsirup anbieten kann, zumindest für diejenigen, die er mag. „Name: Keanu Der Jäger der G8 Gruppe symbolisiert das Juwel von Kanada. Er geht oft auf die Jagd, dem süßlichen Geruch des Ahornsirups folgend. Sein Hobby ist Eislaufen.“ ![canadaf](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/canadaf.png) ## Vereinigtes Königreich als Anime Charakter > Hoffe auf das Beste und sei immer vorbereitet. ![igirisu-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/igirisu-min-1.png) *Seine Rüstung: Die Britische Flagge. Sie ist eine Flagge die alle essenziellen Bestandteile von England, Schottland und Irland vereint und sie ist auch bekannt unter dem Namen Union Jack Flag oder Union Flag. „*英*" ist sein Kanji Charakter. Er führt die Weltwirtschaft mit Bündnissen.* Die Künstler haben definitiv die Eleganz der britischen Geschichte widergespiegelt und die Attitude als einstige Weltmacht. Herr Vereinigtes Königreich mag vielleicht etwas spießig wirken, aber er verdient den Respekt für seinen Einfluss in unserer Welt. ## Frankreich als Anime Charakter > *Bearbeite das Eisen solange es heiß ist. (Mache Heu solange die Sonne scheint.)* ![france-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/france-min-1.png) *Die dreifarbige Flagge steht für Freiheit, Frieden und Brüderlichkeit. Das Blau und Weiß repräsentiert die Zivilarmee und Rot steht für die Bourbon Dynastie. Das Kanji für den Charakter ist „*仏*“. Als ein Mitglied von G8, wirbt er weiter für die wirtschaftliche Weiterentwicklung der Welt.* Oh là là, was für ein gut aussehender Typ, mit einem Hauch von Selbstbehauptung. Seine Haare und Hautfarbe erinnern mich irgendwie an jemanden…Monsieur Macron…nein? Während die französische Flagge eher simple wirken mag, spiegelt dieser Charakter die lange und interessante Geschichte Frankreichs Kunst und Kultur wieder, mit seiner kunstvollen Rüstung und lebhaften Farben. Monsieur Frankreich behält außerdem die reife Ausstrahlung eines Veteranen der viele Revolutionen überstanden hat. ## Russland als Anime Charakter > *Sogar eine Katze würdigt freundliche Worte. (Russisches Sprichwort)* ![russia-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/russia-min-1.png) Herr Russland ist ein Schwertkämpfer mit Haaren so weiß wie die sibirische Tundra. In seiner Tracht wirkt er einerseits lässig aber auch selbstbewusst. Seine Rüstung ist nicht so schwer oder detailliert wie die seiner Europäischen Verwandten aber sie spiegelt perfekt die bodenständige Natur der russischen Bevölkerung wieder. ## Italien als Anime Charakter > *Der morgige Wind beeinflusst nur den morgigen Tag. (Wortwörtlich) Alles wird sich zum Guten wenden.* ![italy-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/italy-min-1.png) Herr Italien ist ein verwegner junger Mann, der genauso selbstbewusst in seinem Look wirkt, wie in seinen Kochkünsten. ## Der Gastgeber, Japan, als Anime Charakter > *Von der Morgendämmerung zur Abenddämmerung kann sich Schönheit in ein Skelett verwandeln. (Wortwörtlich) Veränderung ist unvorhersehbar, also ergreife den Moment!* ![japan-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/japan-min-1.png) Durch seinem klassischen Anime Protagonisten Look erscheint Japan-San recht weich und entspannt. Die Künstler symbolisierten die eher friedliche und einfache Natur des Alltags in Japan, wobei die Schwerter dennoch recht bedrohlich wirken. ## Korea als Anime Charakter > *Der Beginn ist nur die Hälfte des Erfolges.* ![](https://world-flags.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/korea_s-min.png) Herr Korea ist in dieser Liste eher der Bishie (ein schöner junger Mann) und es passt zum Bild von Korea, das tausenden jungen Mädchen mit seiner Pop Musik und seinen Dramen die Herzen gestohlen hat. Die Trommel ist vielleicht der Gegenstand, der Korea hilft den nächsten Oppa Gangnam Style zu produzieren und Herr Korea ist wahrscheinlich der perfekte Oppa in dieser Liste. ## China als Anime Charakter > *Der Sieg gehört Männern mit Gründen. Die Unbegründeten verlieren.* ![c13dceabcb143acd6c9298265d618a9f](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/c13dceabcb143acd6c9298265d618a9f.png) Herr China hat die längsten Haare und die längste Geschichte in dieser Liste. Er wirkt ruhig, entschlossen und bereit für jeden Kampf der ihm vielleicht über den Weg läuft. ## Spanien als Anime Charakter > *Freundlichkeit und Schönheit sind vergänglich.* ![8bc697f91534507b292e4cfc480dbd3d](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/8bc697f91534507b292e4cfc480dbd3d.png) Señor Spanien sieht aus, als hätte er die Raffinesse einen Stier zu bekämpfen aber seine Augen lassen dein Herz Tango tanzen wollen. Seine Rüstung ist bunt und strahlend aber in seinem Gesicht sieht man die dunkle Geschichte eines Landes, das Inquisitionen erfahren musste und viele seiner alten Kolonien verloren hat. Die Künstler spiegeln perfekt Señor Spaniens komplexe und vielschichtige Vergangenheit wieder. ## Vietnam als Anime Charakter > *Zu leben bedeutet nicht zu atmen sondern zu Schauspielern.* ![betonamu-min](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/betonamu-min.png) Herr Vietnam wird als eher mysteriöser Mann dargestellt, der Japans Interesse in ASEAN repräsentiert. Vietnam ist für die Künstler sehr vertraut, da es ein weiteres Konfuzius Land wie Japan ist. Einige Bräuche könnten seltsam oder exotisch wirken, in Südasien sind sie jedoch noch weit verbreitet. Ihr könnt die immense Wertigkeit, die Herr Vietnam auf Schulbildung legt, an seinem Outfit erkennen, da er der einzige in der Liste ist, der eine Schulrobe trägt. ## Mexiko als Anime Charakter > *Babies bringen Kuchen mit. (Wortwörtlich) Kinder werden mit Glück geboren.* ![mexicoface-min](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/mexicoface-min.png) Señor Mexiko ist lebhaft und besitzt traditionelle Symbole die ziemlich beeindruckend sind nicht wahr? Die Federn auf seinen Schultern sind Überbleibsel der Azteken, die das Land zuvor bewohnten und Mexiko ist in vielen Aspekten genauso bunt und interessant wie sie es einst waren. ## Abschlusswort Auf der offiziellen Website World of Flags findet ihr viele weitere Charaktere. Ihr könnt die Tokyo 2020 Campagne unterstützen, indem ihr diesen Artikel teilt und unter dem Hashtag #worldflags\_fa twittert. Oder, was sogar noch besser ist, lernt ein bisschen Japanisch mit LingoDeer und reist 2020 nach Tokyo. Zusammenfassend sind alle Charaktere zweifellos umwerfend trotz dass sie alle Männer sind. Als Team das Weltsprachen und Kulturen unterrichtet und promotet, denken wir, dass mehr Rollen genutzt werden könnten um unsere Vielfalt in der Welt zu porträtieren. Insgesamt würdigen wir die Arbeit und Mühe der Künstler, die Tokyo 2020 mit Herzblut zu fördern. **Lass ein Kommentar da und erzähl uns, was du über den Anime Charakter deines Landes denkst!** ### 42 grundlegende japanische Phrasen, um in Japan zu überleben [mit Audio] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanische-phrasen/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:01:11.000Z Download [42-sc-jp-m-535.mp3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/media/2020/08/42-sc-jp-m-535.mp3?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Die Schönheit Japans ist in Asien wirklich einzigartig und zieht Millionen von Touristen aus der ganzen Welt an. Wer hat nicht schon mindestens einmal gedacht: > Hier würde ich mich gerne einmal verlaufen. Sich mit einigen grundlegenden japanischen Redewendungen vertraut zu machen, wird Dir nicht nur helfen, in Japan zu überleben, sondern auch Deine Chancen erhöhen, sich mit gebürtigen Japanern zu unterhalten. Es wird ohne Zweifel dazu beitragen, auf Deiner Reise einzigartige Erfahrung zu machen. ![Fuji mountain](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/Mount-Fuji-image-from-JRailPass.jpg) Der Fuji Vulkan - Quelle: JRailPass In diesem Artikel lernst Du 42 grundlegende japanische Redewendungen, die Dich durch Deinen Aufenthalt in Japan führen werden. Von der Selbstvorstellung, dem Navigieren in öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln, dem Erkunden nach dem Weg bis hin zum Einkaufen, Essengehen und der Bewältigung von Notfällen. Grundlegende Sprachkenntnisse werden Dir auf Deiner Reise durch die luxuriösen Straßen von Japan in jedem Fall sehr hilfreich sein. Dieser Artikel deckt fast **alle grundlegenden japanischen Redewendungen** für Touristen ab. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDiQ3LzeWtk5iXA_92_98.png) ## Japanische Phrasen für Begegnung und Begrüßung Hier findest Du daher ein paar Tipps und Phrasen, mit denen Deine Japanreise noch problemloser verlaufen wird. Wir alle wissen, wie höflich sich Japaner verhalten und sprechen. Hier sind einige Begrüßungen, die Dir das Leben in Japan deutlich leichter machen werden. Wenn Du mit jemandem sprechen möchtest, fängst Du am besten mit einer Begrüßung an. Wenn Du morgens jemanden triffst, kannst Du das Gespräch mit folgendem Gruß beginnen: 1. **Guten Morgen -** Ohayou gozaimasu - おはようございます Du kannst tatsächlich jede Person auf der Straße mit “おはようございます” ansprechen, um Deine Freundlichkeit zu zeigen. Triffst Du jemanden am Nachmittag, dann kannst Du folgendes sagen: 1. **Guten Tag / Hallo -** Konnichiwa - こんにちは Wenn die Sonne bereits untergegangen ist: 1. **Guten Abend -** Konbanwa - こんばんは Wenn Du jemanden zum ersten Mal triffst, kannst Du Deine Freundlichkeit hiermit ausdrücken: 1. **Schön, Sie kennenzulernen -** Hajime mashite - はじめまして Um sich vorzustellen, verwendest Du: 1. **Mein Name ist... -** Watashi wa ... desu - 私は...です Nach einem schönen Treffen, kannst Du das Gespräch mit diesem Abschiedsgruß beenden: 1. **Auf Wiedersehen** \- Sayounara - さようなら Dabei ist allerdings zu beachten, dass Du für den Fall, dass Du die Person in Kürze wiedersiehst, folgendes verwendest: 1. **Tschüss** \- jaane - じゃあね Die Japaner benutzen “すみません” häufig, um sich für Dinge, die aus Versehen passiert sind, wie das Treten auf die Füße von jemandem im Zug, zu entschuldigen. Deswegen könnte dies also eine der nützlichsten japanischen Redewendungen sein, die Du im Kopf behalten möchtest: 1. **Entschuldigung -** Sumimasen - すみません ![Japanese Geisha](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/Image-from-iStock.jpg) Quelle: iStock ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhJztf-zqqliWw_91_98.png) ## Japanische Phrasen für die Fortbewegung mit öffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln ### ### Bei Benutzung öffentlicher Verkehrsmittel Du hast vielleicht schon mal davon gehört, dass japanische Städte, wie Tokio, eines der komplexesten Bahnsysteme der Welt haben. Aber mach dir keine Sorgen, mit Hilfe einiger nützlicher Ausdrücke kannst Du Dich schnell durch das U-Bahn-Labyrinth navigieren. Die öffentlichen Verkehrsmittel in Japan sind schnell, sauber und effizient. Sobald Du Dich an sie gewöhnt hast, bringen sie Dich an jeden Ort günstiger und schneller als ein Taxi. Zuerst solltest Du die Bushaltestelle (バス停, basutei) oder den Bahnhof (駅, eki) finden. 1. **Wo ist die Bushaltestelle?** \-basutei wa doko desuka? - バス停はどこですか？ Die Bahnhöfe sind äußerst touristenfreundlich. An den Bushaltestellen und U-Bahn-Stationen findest Du für gewöhnlich Abfahrtszeiten und Fahrpläne auf Englisch. Auch die Fahrkartenautomaten sind auf Englisch nutzbar. Du kannst nachfragen, wo die Automaten stehen: 1. **Wo ist der Fahrkartenautomat?** \- kenbaiki wa doko desuka? - 券売機はどこですか？ Oder sich einfach an das Personal in der Station wenden: 1. **Wie kann ich ein Ticket kaufen?** \- douyatte kippu o kai masuka? - どうやって切符を買いますか？ 1. **Wie viel kosten die Fahrkarten?** \- chiketto wa ikura desuka? - チケットはいくらですか？ 1. **Fährt dieser (Zug oder Bus) nach Ikebukuro?** \- kore wa ikebukuro ni ikimasuka? - これは池袋（いけぶくろ）にいきますか？ Sag, wie viele Fahrkarten Du kaufen möchtest: 1. **Zwei Fahrkarten, bitte.** \- chiketto nimai, onegaishimasu. - チケット二枚、お願いします。 Wenn Du beim Fahren Zeit und Geld sparen möchtest, kannst Du gerne den[ Japan Rail Pass](https://www.jrailpass.com/?utm%5Fsource=aff&utm%5Fmedium=cpa&utm%5Fcampaign=&affiliate=https://toomanyadapterscom0362361001514891806) ausprobieren. Es gibt eine hilfreiche App [HyperDia](http://www.hyperdia.com/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), mit der Du leicht erkennen kannst, welche Züge Du mit dem [Japan Rail Pass](https://www.jrailpass.com/?utm%5Fsource=aff&utm%5Fmedium=cpa&utm%5Fcampaign=&affiliate=https://toomanyadapterscom0362361001514891806) benutzen darfst, und welche nicht. ![Japanese public transportation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/Shinkansen-image-from-JRailPass.jpg) das Bild zeigt einen Shinkansen, der Hochgeschwindigkeitszug des japanischen Streckennetzes – Quelle: JRailPass ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/ld-image-ccc85df7812d56c6.png) ### Fragen nach Wegbeschreibung Manchmal möchtest Du auch gerne zu Fuß irgendwo hingehen: 1. **Kann ich von hier bis nach Asakusa laufen?** \- Koko kara, asakusa made aruite ikemasu ka? - ここから、浅草まで歩いて行けますか。 1. **Wie lange dauert es bis zum Tokyo Tower?** \- Tokyou tawa made donokurai kakarimasuka? - 東京タワーまでどのくらいかかりますか？ Möglicherweise musst Du mehrmals am Tag nach dem Weg fragen, zum Beispiel: 1. **Wo ist die Toilette?** \- toire wa doko desu ka?- トイレはどこですか？ Wenn Du Antworten und Wegbeschreibungen bekommst, solltest Du auch in der Lage sein, diese zu verstehen. Hier sind die häufigsten japanischen Ausdrücke dafür: 1. **Gehen Sie bitte geradeaus.** \- massugu ittekudasai. - まっすぐ行ってください。 1. **Biegen Sie bitte an der zweiten Ecke rechts (links) ab.** \- hutatsume no kado o migi (hidari) ni magattekudasai. - 二つ目の角を右(左)に曲がってください。 Wenn Du die Wegbeschreibung nicht nachvollziehen oder im Kopf behalten kannst, kannst Du auch nach einer Karte fragen: 1. **Können Sie mir eine Karte zeichnen?** \- chizu o kaite morae masuka? - 地図を書いてもらえますか？ Du kannst[ JNTO-Travel Brochures](https://www.jnto.go.jp/brochures/eng/index.php??ref=blog.lingodeer.com) benutzen, um einige digitale Karten oder Reisebroschüren zu finden. Wenn Du dich für all die Hilfe, die Du erhalten hast, bedanken möchtest, kannst Du Deine Dankbarkeit mit diesem einfachen Satz ausdrücken: 1. **Vielen, vielen Dank. -** Arigatou gozaimasu - ありがとうございます。 ## ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDhmOs0lDNk9iWw_91_98.png) ## Japanische Phrasen zum Shoppen Shopping ist eine großartige Möglichkeit, um ein „おみやげ“ (omiyage / Souvenir) von Deiner Japanreise mit nach Hause zu bringen. 1. **Wie viel kostet das?** \- Kore wa ikura desu ka? - これはいくらですか。 1. **Was empfehlen Sie?** \- Osusume wa nan desuka? - おすすめは何ですか？ 1. **Was ist das?** \- Kore wa nan desu ka? - これは何ですか？ 1. **Gibt es auch T-shirts?** \- Ti-shatsu wa arimasu ka? - Tシャツはありますか？ Vergiss nicht, dass Du einige Produkte steuerfrei kaufen kannst, wenn Du dich als internationaler Tourist weniger als 6 Monate in Japan aufhältst. 1. **Kann ich es steuerfrei kaufen?** \- menzei de kaemasu ka? - 免税で買えますか？ ![Night view of Japanese street](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/Busy-Shopping-Street-in-Japan-image-from-Webretailer.jpg) eine belebte Einkaufsstraße in Japan – Quelle: Webretailer ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgQ9u2yVN7NiWw_91_98.png) ## Japanische Phrasen zum Essen im Restaurant Nach all dem Sightseeing und Shopping hast Du sicher schon bald Hunger und möchtest die authentische Japanische Küche ausprobieren. Mit den folgenden grundlegenden Redewendungen besteht beim Betreten eines Restaurants kein Grund zur Panik: 1. **Die Speisekarte, bitte.** \- menyu, onegaishimasu. - メニュー、お願いします。 Falls Du gerne eine englische Speisekarte haben möchtest, kannst Du sagen: 英語のメニュー、お願いします。(eigo no menyu, onegaishimasu.) Wenn Du Dich für irgendwelche Speisen auf der Karte interessierst, kannst Du Dein Essen einfach auf der Speisekarte auswählen: 1. **(Ich hätte gerne) drei von diesen, bitte. -** kore mittsu, onegaishimasu - これ、三つ、お願いします。 Wenn Du eine bestimmte Speise bestellen möchtest, dann benutzt Du den Satzbau: “\[Speise\] + を + ください (kudasai)”. Falls Du zum Beispiel einen Tee bestellen möchtest, kannst Du sagen: 1. **Ich hätte gerne Tee, bitte.** \- ocha o kudasai. - お茶をください。 ![Japanese food](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/Japanese-Food-image-from-Culture-Trip.jpg) die Japanische Küche – Quelle: Culture Trip Wie man sich vorstellen kann, hängt die Hilfe, die Du erhältst, nicht nur von der Freundlichkeit Deines Gastgebers, sondern auch davon ab, wie respektvoll Du bist. **Tipps: Japanische Essens-Knigge 101** 1. Zeig niemals mit Deinen Stäbchen auf eine Person oder ein Objekt. 2. Benutze die Stäbchen immer nur um das Essen zu greifen, nicht als Gabel – steche die Stäbchen nicht in das Essen! 3. Lass Deine Stäbchen nicht senkrecht im Reis stecken. 4. Gebe das Essen nicht von Stäbchen zu Stäbchen an jemand Anderen weiter Die ersten zwei Punkte sind reine Höflichkeit. Die anderen zwei Punkte erinnern an Praktiken einer Beerdigung und sollten daher unbedingt vermieden werden! Jetzt bist Du bereit, eine gute Mahlzeit zu Dir zu nehmen. Isst Du mit einer anderen japanischen Person, dann sage vor dem Essen: 1. **Lass uns essen!** \- itadakimasu - いただきます。 Die Japaner benutzen “いただきます” ähnlich wie “Guten Appetit” auf Deutsch, richten ihre Worte aber an das Essen und nicht an eine Person. Bist Du mit dem Essen zufrieden, dann kannst Du Folgendes sagen, um das Essen zu loben: 1. **(Es ist) lecker -** oishii - おいしい！ Die Japaner sind auch daran gewöhnt, “ごちそうさまでした”, “Danke für die Mahlzeit” zu sagen, um ihre Dankbarkeit für das Essen zu bekunden, nachdem sie aufgegessen haben. Wenn Du "ごちそうさまでした" zum Restaurantbesitzer sagst, wird er oder sie sich sehr darüber freuen. 1. **Das war eine köstliche Mahlzeit./Danke für das Essen!** \- Gochisou sama deshita - ごちそうさまでした。 Noch besser lässt sich deine (kulinarische) Reise mit [Japan Travel](https://www.japan.travel/en/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [Japan-Guide](https://www.japan-guide.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) und [Gurunavi](https://gurunavi.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) planen. Es wird auch hilfreich sein, sich mit den Japanischen Umgangsformen - [Japanese Manners Do's and Don'ts](https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/japanese-manners-dos-and-donts/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) \- vertraut zu machen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDgtYuLYmqqdiWw_91_98.png) ## Japanische Phrasen für den Notfall Ich drücke Dir die Daumen, dass Du nicht in unangenehme Situationen geraten wirst. Aber Vorsicht ist besser als Nachsicht - nicht wahr? Es wäre gut, wenn Du Dir die folgenden Ausdrücke merkst, um Dich besser auf eventuelle Notfälle vorzubereiten. Im Notfall ist es wichtig, sich schnell und gezielt verständlich machen zu können, weshalb es eine gute Lösung ist, jemanden zu finden, der Englisch sprechen kann. 1. **Versteht jemand Englisch?** \- Eigo ga wakaru hito, imasuka? - 英語が分かる人、いますか？ Wenn Gefahr droht oder wenn Du Hilfe brauchst, rufe einfach: 1. **Hilfe!** \- Tasukete! - 助けて！ 1. **Bitte rufen Sie die Polizei.** \- Keisatsu o yondekudasai. - 警察を呼んでください。 Falls Du Dich verlaufen hast, versuche Deine Situation Anderen zu erklären: 1. **Ich habe mich verlaufen.** \- maigo ni narimashita. - 迷子になりました。 Du solltest Dich in dieser Situation daran erinnern, dass du Hilfe von der Botschaft erhalten kannst und notiere Dir die Telefonnummer und Adresse der Botschaft Deines Landes. Wenn Du Dein Telefon nicht benutzen kannst, versuche einfach Andere um Hilfe zu bitten: 1. **Ich möchte mit der Botschaft Kontakt aufnehmen.** \- taishikan ni renraku shitaindesuga. - 大使館に連絡したいんですが。 Ich hoffe jedoch, dass Du während Deiner Reise diese Sätze (33-37) nicht verwenden musst! Die anderen Ausdrücke werden Dir während Deiner Reise aber mindestens genauso viel helfen! Als Bonus werde ich einige niedliche japanische Phrasen hinzufügen, mit denen Du Deine Emotionen im Gespräch mit Muttersprachlern ausdrücken kannst! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/07/lALPDg7mN1rtKqhiWw_91_98.png) ## Japanische Phrasen zum Ausdruck von Emotionen 1. **Süß** \- Kawaii - かわいい Du hast vielleicht schon einmal von diesem Wort gehört. Die Japaner benutzen das Wort "かわいい" in allen möglichen Situationen. “かわいい” benutzt man, um seine Vorliebe für fast alles zu zeigen, von Kleidung und Schreibwaren bis hin zu Gebäuden und Geschäften. Diese "Niedlichkeitsästhetik" ist sehr stark in die japanische Kultur integriert. 1. **Wow!** Sugoi - すごい！ Ein anderer Satz, den du mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit in Japan hören wirst, ist “すごい”. Lobe andere Leute mit “すごい” und Du wirst vielleicht einige einheimische Freunde finden. 1. **Cool** \- Kakkoii - かっこいい 1. **Es ist großartig/wunderbar.** \- rippa desune. - 立派ですね。 1. **Wie schön!/Das ist großartig.** \- subarashii desune. -素晴らしいですね。 Na, Japanisch lernen ist gar nicht so schwer, oder? Vor allem macht es Spaß! ![Japanese monument](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/Hirosaki-Castle-image-from-JRailPass.jpg) die Burg Hirosaki – Quelle: JRailPass Danke, dass Du bis hierhin gelesen hast! Ich hoffe der Artikel hat Dir weitergeholfen. Wenn Dein Interesse für das Japanisch-Lernen geweckt wurde, kannst Du gleich weitermachen und hier den Artikel "[Wie lange dauert es Japanisch zu lernen?](https://blog.lingodeer.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-japanese/)" lesen. Dafür zu sorgen, dass Dein Lernerlebnis so viel Spaß wie möglich macht, ist mit einer guten App, wie LingoDeer gar nicht mal so schwer. Eine seriöse App mit pädagogischer Herangehensweise auszuwählen, ist essentiell für einen effektiven Fortschritt. Die LingoDeer App ([Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lingodeer&hl=de&ref=blog.lingodeer.com)/[iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lingodeer-learn-languages/id1261193709?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)) bietet dir über 1000 alltägliche Ausdrücke in seinem kostenlosen Kurs "Reise-Sprachführer" an! Beginne Deine Reise, Japanisch zu lernen, noch heute! Deer begleitet Dich gerne! ![LingoDeer Japanese learning interface](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/09/2a.anime1_.png) Japanisch lernen mit LingoDeer ### The Best Way to Learn a Language: A Step-By-Step Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/best-way-to-learn-a-language/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:01:14.000Z It's no secret that learning a language independently is hard work. So, to take some of the weight off your shoulders, we’ve written a step-by-step guide to teach you the best way to learn a language. We'll be addressing the necessary steps to language success, the most efficient and effective learning plan, and all the ingredients you need to supplement your determination. ## Preparing to Learn a Language The phrase “measure twice, cut once” couldn’t be more relevant than it is here. Preparing yourself for the journey ahead puts you miles in front of most language learners. Our first four tips address determining your focus, selecting your tools, setting goals, and preparing your environment. ![The best way to learn a language: preparation](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/Preparation.png) ### Step 1: Setting the Main Focus Before anything, you need to know what it is you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Having too many options can cause hesitancy and procrastination, so we cut that out first. Ask yourself the following: 1. Which language am I going to learn? 2. Why do I want to learn this language? How will I use it? Yes, answering the first question is obviously essential. But the second question is just as important. It's crucial to have a clear understanding of what you would like to achieve with the language as this will help you gear your learning methods toward your end goal. Each journey differs depending on the reasoning for the learner's desire to learn a language. ### Step 2: Picking Your Tools There are a lot of tools on the market for beginners to choose from. We recommend you **choose one source as the main guide** that navigates you through the basic framework of your chosen language. After that, we recommend you **use other resources for supplementary practice.** There are so many ways to start learning and it's important that your primary tool/source is well suited to your personal needs and preferences. Good questions to ask yourself are: 1. Do I prefer independent study or sitting in a classroom? 2. Do I like textbooks or applications better?” For textbook and app reviews, we recommend [Nick’s All Language Resources](https://www.alllanguageresources.com/author/admin/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) blog. Nick writes extensively on popular learning resources and provide an in-depth analysis. You can also see our guide to The 8 Best Language Learning Apps. ### Step 3: Preparing Your Environment One of the things people often overlook when mapping out their journey to language success is the influence of their physical environment. Here, we’ll give you advice on how to make your environment more study-friendly! #### Study In The Same Area When you have one particular area designated for language learning, your brain will immediately hop into learning mode as soon as you enter it, instead of spending time distracted. Make sure that this area is compatible with how you study. For example, you might prefer studying on your couch at home or at a coffee shop with some background noise. Make sure you’re going to be comfortable where you’re at. **By going to the same spot to study, you prime yourself for studying instead of doing something else.** Keep your study area consistent, that way you won’t have to think twice about finding a place to study at. #### Remove All Distractions This should be blatant, but many people don’t follow it. Removing all your distractions helps you focus on the task at hand. Yes cat videos are hilarious, but distractions will only prolong your learning process and demotivate you. Some things you can do to eliminate distractions: - Set your phone to silent - If you’re studying online, remove all the distracting tabs on your laptop and turn off the notifications - Turn off the TV or music if you find these things distracting - If you're at home and your family are too, close the door and isolate yourself We want high-quality study time. You can either work long or work smart, and working smart is the best choice there is for those on a time crunch. #### Prepare In Advance If you know you’re going to be studying, set out the materials you need beforehand so that it’s easier for you to jump right in. Much like working out at the gym, it can sometimes even take longer to get yourself prepared than it does to do the actual workout. With that in mind, here are some examples to get you into the flow of studying. 1. If you’re going to be studying on your laptop, open up the applications/websites before closing your laptop. Then, once you’re ready to study at your favorite coffee shop, you can just open up and start moving along! 2. If you know you’ll be studying at your desk tomorrow morning, prepare the materials you want to use the night before. When the morning comes, you can get right into studying without having to get distracted by menial tasks. When you prepare these things in advance, you remove the friction from starting (which could otherwise cause hesitation) and make it easier to flow right into it. ### Step 4: Making SMART Goals Once you have established your end goal, picked the tools and found your favorite places to study, it’s time to **master the secret recipe for getting things done - the SMART planning**. SMART planning is one of the best productivity hacks. Here is what each letter stands for and what they mean when setting a goal. - S = Specific - Make your goal as specific as possible - M = Measurable - Provide a way to evaluate your goals using data and metrics - A = Achievable - Make sure your goal is achievable to you - R = Realistic - Your goal has to relate to the main focus and not something else - T = Time-Bound - Give yourself a reasonable deadline to complete it by SMART goals are only useful if you **write them down and keep them where you can see them every day**. A constant reminder will force you to keep going. Keep them on your laptop, write them into your phone, or write them on a sticky note and place it where you'll see it every day! The more you remind yourself, the more you can stay on track. Here are some great SMART goal examples: - I will learn 25 Japanese words every other day so that I can talk about Pokemon Go with a native speaker in two months' time - I will practice reading Spanish news every day for one hour after I get home using Spanish news sites for 30 days - From Monday to Friday, I will spend 20 minutes on my way to school learning new Portuguese words to get a vocabulary of at least 2000 words You are not limited to just one goal, either. You can break them down into subcategories to make sure you’ve covered all your bases! But remember to keep them “achievable” and “realistic”. Visualise your end goal each day and remind yourself that your SMART goals are the key to getting there. ## How to Learn a Language: Execution Now that we’ve covered all the prep work, let’s get to the real work of learning a language: the execution of your learning program. The day-to-day plan varies with each person; the key to a successful one is to design it to work around your schedule and then stick with it consistently. The final four steps in our guide will focus on this element. ![How to learn a language: full guide](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/Execution.png) ### Step 5: Setting Your Agenda Before you start, be sure that you can make time to commit to a consistent language-learning schedule. If you can carve out two hours a day, then work your schedule to allocate two hours for your new project. If you only have 30 minutes, then focus hard for those 30 minutes and supplement it with fragmented times like waiting for appointments or commuting to work. And remember, **spreading your time out over the week is usually much more effective than bunching it all up into one day per week**. This is even true if you can only spare ten minutes per day, for example - a ten minute session each day would be more effective than a one-hour session per week. If you don't already have a plan, here are some suggested milestones: #### Milestone #1: The Alphabet - Recommended Time: 1-2 Weeks - Purpose: To be able to read, write, and speak new words that you come across. - Goal: Memorize and recall the alphabet as quickly as you can Whether it’s an app or a book or a podcast, you want to start memorizing the alphabet and some simple vocab that’s common in every language. Make sure to record down what you know and review it with Anki. #### Milestone #2: Self-Introduction - Recommended Time: 2-3 Weeks - Purpose: To start working with words and phrases using the alphabet - Goal: To write a short and simple bio about yourself in your target language Take the time to learn simple grammar and vocabulary with phrases like *"I am...", "I study ...", "My hobby is ...", "I can...", “I work as…”*. Once you can introduce yourself briefly to other people in your target language, you can move on to the next milestone, small talk! #### Milestone #3: Small Talk - Recommended Time: 3-4 weeks - Purpose: To get comfortable using the language in simple terms - Goal: Have small talk with a couple of people in your target language Most of the time, you can have small talk with people online or use apps to help you connect to other people. It might seem scary to initiate small talk, but most native speakers would be surprised you’re learning their language and would gladly help you out with speaking! To reach out for professional help, you can also attend some [online language classes.](https://www.languagetrainers.com/online-classes.php?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) #### Milestone #4: Tasks and Missions - Recommended Time: 4-8 weeks - Purpose: To be able to use your language to complete daily tasks - Goal: Buy groceries, deliver items, finding directions to a location, etc. Remember, you don’t have to go outside and practice this if you can’t. You can practice with yourself by recording audio and playing it back. Or you can recreate these situations by practicing with your tutor or a buddy. #### Milestone #5: Expressing yourself - Recommended Time: 8-12 weeks - Purpose: To able to elaborate on your points - Goal: Talk about an issue with some reasoning and examples you have prepared. You can really start to make your conversations more advanced by adding your own views, retelling events in various tenses and moods and weaving sentences together with [connectors](https://www.fluentin3months.com/conversational-connectors-how-to-fake-having-a-conversation-just-after-starting-to-learn-a-language/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). You can start with a generous amount of preparation time and a full script, and then work toward reducing that time to just 5 minutes and using a rough outline. By reaching this milestone, the use of your language is now more sophisticated. #### Milestone #6: Improvisation - Recommended Time: 4-8 weeks - Purpose: To use the language more freely - Goal: Talk about a subject you’re familiar with completely off-script. Everything you’ve learned and all the milestones you’ve accomplished up until this point have led up to this point. It will be hard to improvise from the beginning and that’s okay. You can start by practicing with a script, then move on to mental preparation only, and finally pure improvisation. ### Step 6: Speaking From Day One This is the best way to start learning a language. No grammar rules or book work. Learning a new language requires you to participate in it actively, and there’s no better way to do it than to speak it! Whether it’s using an app or reading a book, you *must* speak what you are practicing. Reading the texts out loud will lead to better retention than reading quietly. You can read more about reading out loud and retention based on the University of Waterloo’s study [here](https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1360&context=education%5FETD%5Fmasters&ref=blog.lingodeer.com), as well as [here](https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13423-011-0168-8?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). ### Step 7: Memorizing More Words Imagine what you could do if you remembered literally everything you encountered in your day. You could cram as much as possible into one day and become fluent fin no time. While this unfortunately isn't possible, there are certain things you can do to make the most of your memory and further enhance your learning speed and capacity. Here are the three we suggest trying: 1. **Mnemonics** This is a way to encode textual information into weird and wacky images that are much easier to remember. You can read more about a study using them [here](http://www.rca.ucsd.edu/selected%5Fpapers/12%5FMnemotechnics%20in%20second%20language%20learning.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), a user guide on the artofmemory forum [here](https://forum.artofmemory.com/t/many-and-i-mean-it-useful-tips-you-need-to-learn-massive-vocabulary-with-mnemonics/29486?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and the wiki [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art%5Fof%5Fmemory?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Basically, people who use mnemonics are 88% more likely to recall the things they’ve learned compared to the people who don’t use mnemonics. 2. **Memory palace** A method used by the ancient Greeks to memorize swaths of information for a long period of time. You can read more about it in [this blog article](https://www.learnfortwo.com/memory-palace/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [what it is](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method%5Fof%5Floci?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), and [how to build one](https://artofmemory.com/wiki/How%5Fto%5FBuild%5Fa%5FMemory%5FPalace?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). By using a memory palace, you can store information, in order, and be able to recall it many months in the future. 3. **Spaced Repetition System (SRS)** Written and raved about by many for its learning and memory enhancing abilities. Anki is the best tool for using the SRS and you can read more about it on [their website](https://apps.ankiweb.net/docs/manual.html?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#introduction). In essence, an SRS works by having you actively recall information in spaced amounts of time to drastically reduce the time you need to memorize it. You can shorten your time to learning new words from a week to a few days! Using these three techniques in conjunction with each other makes learning more active instead of passive. Active learning is a tried and tested technique to memorize new information, so go ahead and try these techniques out for yourself! ### Step 8: Maximizing Input Immersing yourself in your language is the best way to gain every other skill than pronunciation. Immersion doesn’t mean going and dropping a couple grand to travel into another country and experience their language. Here are some quick actions you can take immediately to maximize input: - **Virtual immersion:** You don’t have to spend a dime to immerse yourself in another language. You can easily change the language on your phone and laptop to your target language. You can also watch videos with subtitles in your target language. - **Audio immersion:** There are some great podcasts out there teaching languages. One of our favorites is the [Coffee Break Language](https://radiolingua.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) series. For beginners, you can just start with listening to songs in your target language. Don’t sweat if you don’t get the lyrics. That’ll come sooner or later. - **Social immersion:** Partnering up with a native speaker can help accelerate your learning. They can catch you on your grammar or pronunciation and help you get on the right path. A tutor can be expensive, but it might be worth the investment if you’re willing to become fluent. A cheaper alternative is working with your friend and going along the same study schedule together. You can correct your partner, and they can fix you. Plus, it’s more fun studying with someone else tagging along. ### Moving Forward So now you’re comfortable speaking the language to other people and you’ve gotten the basics down. You can hold a small conversation and make your way around town. What now? Depending on your goals and where you want to go with this skill, such as using the language for a job interview or academic purposes, you want to start accumulating more advanced vocabulary or phrases and produce more sophisticated expressions. Oh, and you'll want to make sure you're maintaining a daily practice routine. It's *crucial* that you keep up the consistency - otherwise you risk forgetting parts of the language over time! Some of the practices we recommend: - **Read in-depth articles or watch documentaries** in your target language that relate to the industry that you’re in. This would give you a new breadth of vocabulary that you normally don’t use in a day to day conversation. - **Try preparing for a language test.** Even if you don’t need the certificate for anything specific, it’s still a great thing to do. The exercises and mock tests will further push you to hone specific skills, and it will also give you a strong sense of accomplishment and closure for the effort you’ve made so far. - **Write more.** Give yourself a writing assignment every other day and try to make use of the new words and phrases you learned through reading. Send your drafts to a native friend or a tutor to get feedback. ### Hitting A Plateau? Most intermediate learners find themselves stagnating after reaching B1 or B2\. A lot of the resources available are too slow or easy for upper-intermediate learners. They’re completely left on their own to figure out a path to near-native proficiency. This is what we call the plateau of language learning. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. Every upper-intermediate learner needs to **do a thorough audit of their skills and design their own improvement strategies.** A good way to break out of this plateau is to find yourself a project. For example, while [interpreting](https://dayinterpreting.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) may seem like something only professionals do, you can still try shadowing or interpreting to practice your oral skills. Also, combine the project with your hobbies, such as translating your favorite shows or video blogging in your target language. ## What Do You Do With A Second Language? Even reaching intermediate in a new language starts to generate interest in terms of career development. Bilinguals or polyglots mainly have two tracks to consider: linguistic track and non-linguistic track. The linguistic track includes all professions that use language skills for most of the job responsibilities, such as translation, interpretation, teaching or research. The options aren’t as diverse, and they are best suited for those who are truly obsessed with languages. The non-linguistic track has a lot more options: essentially, you are to distinguish yourself by combining your language skill with another professional skill. For example, if you're bilingual or trilingual wine expert, you have an edge over the monolingual sommeliers, for you can use your second language to serve a new clientele or negotiate with the suppliers. The modern workplace is constantly reinventing itself and updating its labor demand. The world we’re in calls for M-shaped individuals (as opposed to T-shaped individuals) who specialize in two or more areas and continue to pick up more skills along their careers. To any employer with a sharp eye for talent, your ability to speak another language and the ability to teach yourself a new skill translate to these highly desirable qualities: high intelligence, a respectable level of self-discipline and connections to a new demographic that was previously unknown to them. ### How To Find A Good Tutor: An 8-Step Guide URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/find-a-good-tutor/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:09.000Z Is your child struggling at school? Do they have a big exam coming up? Or are you an adult learner looking to pick up a few new skills? Then you might be looking to [hire a tutor](https://www.tutorfair.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Luckily for you, there is an abundance of options when it comes to looking for private tuition. From online lessons and video classes to 1:1 tuition and group classes, there is something to suit every student and budget. With a wealth of options available, it can sometimes be tricky to work out how to find a good tutor which suits your learning style and needs. Thankfully, we’ve put together this **eight-step guide on how to find a good tutor**. Below we’ll cover all the essential things to consider when looking for a tutor - from your goals and budget to conducting interviews and assessing trial lessons. So what are you waiting for, have a read below and find out how to find the perfect tutor... ## Step 1: Know what you want Before you begin any search for a tutor it’s great to understand **what you want and why you want them**. Are you looking for an online tutor who can help guide your child through the last two years of secondary school? Or maybe you’re an adult learner looking for a one-off face-to-face lesson before a work-related exam? Whatever you’re looking for, it’s best to have an understanding of how many lessons you want a week, how long you’re planning to have the tutor for and whether you want an online or face-to-face tutor. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/brendan-church-pKeF6Tt3c08-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Brendan Church](https://unsplash.com/@bdchu614?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/search/photos/road-sign?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) ## Step 2: Know your goals Similarly to knowing what sort of tutor you want and how often you want them, it's great to know *why* you want them to. **What are your goals?** Consider what you want to achieve in the long-term and short-term. Do you want to pass an exam at the end of the month or do you want to become fluent in another language? Knowing what you want will help when looking for a good tutor. **Not only will it help you narrow down your search, but telling your new tutor what you want from the outset will ensure they align their lessons with your goals.** A good tutor is one who not only helps you get to your final goal but will ensure you’re aware of you’ll reach it. ## Step 3: Know your budget When looking for a tutor to support yours or your child’s education, it’s crucial to consider **how much you’re willing to spend**. Whether you have lots of money to spend or small amounts of spare cash, it’s important to assess how much you can realistically afford per lesson. Once you have assessed this, you can work out how much you’ll expect to spend over a certain period of time and therefore budget in order to sensibly afford your tutor. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/alexander-mils-lCPhGxs7pww-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Alexander Mils](https://unsplash.com/@alexandermils?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/search/photos/budget?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) It is important to note that the decision about which tutor you hire should *not* solely be made on the cost. Many people fall into the trap of assuming an expensive tutor will be the best educator. However this isn’t always true, **the best educator will be one who aligns with what you want and your goals**. For example, if you want to improve your spoken French, you may be better hiring a native French speaker instead of someone who has a degree in French Literature. However, someone wanting to study French Literature at university may learn more from a recent graduate who understands the current academic landscape. With this in mind, it is important to consider your budget alongside your goals and what you’re looking for in a tutor. ## Step 4: Consider your options In this modern age, there are multiple ways in which you can hire a tutor. From online tutors who teach over video calls to face-to-face 1:1 lessons and group classes, it’s important to consider **how you or your child want to learn**. For some children, a group class can be great for socializing and for others it can a distraction. For some parents, online lessons can seem daunting whereas for busier parents online lessons are a great time saver. Consider your options, align them with your goals and your budget and you’ll be one step closer to finding a great tutor. ## Step 5: Read Reviews After you’ve considered what you’re looking for, your goals, your budget and the different type of tutors available, you’ll be ready to start actively looking. Whilst price, location and some of the logistical elements can be a great way to narrow down your search for a tutor, we’d definitely recommend **reading reviews**. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/john-schnobrich-2FPjlAyMQTA-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [John Schnobrich](https://unsplash.com/@johnschno?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/search/photos/teacher?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Learning more about a tutor, how they teach and how effective they’ve been for their other students enables you to understand whether they’d work for you or your child. That being said, always remember **reviews are people’s opinions and learning and teaching styles can vary for everyone**. ## Step 6: Conduct Interviews The next step after reading reviews is to **get in contact with your shortlist of tutors** to assess which ones are the best fit. Informal interviews over an online chat or the phone are a great opportunity to ask questions about their background, teaching methods and success stories. Interviews are also an ideal way to work out whether you think you or your child will get along with the tutor. After all, if you’re paying for the pleasure to be taught, it’s best to be taught by someone you can work well with. ## Step 7: Try a Trial Lesson After you’ve conducted your interviews, there’s always an option to **ask for a trial lesson with one or two of your favorite candidates**. Whilst you will have to pay for the one-off lesson, a trial is a great way to assess a tutor before committing to a longer-term education plan. ![](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/07/you-x-ventures-6awfTPLGaCE-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [You X Ventures](https://unsplash.com/@youxventures?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/search/photos/teacher?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Organize a trial lesson and explain that you want to see how they will teach you or your child and how you would expect them to progress. This is also a great opportunity for the tutor to find out whether they’re able to provide you with the difficulty of the subject you want to learn and whether you get along. ## Step 8: Assess your trial lesson or ask your child Finally, **assess your trial lesson**. This may involve some personal-reflection or sitting with your child and asking them how their lesson went. The assessment stage is as important as any other when looking for a good tutor. At this point, you have the chance to consider whether the tutor is what you’re looking for, if they’ll be able to **help you reach your goals, whether you’re getting value for money and whether the type of tutoring suits you**. Sometimes it can take several trial lessons with several different tutors, but if you’re looking for the perfect tutor this lengthy process can be worth the wait. After you’ve found a tutor that ticks all of your boxes with regards to teaching style, personality and goals you’ll have found yourself the perfect tutor. Congratulations! ### Ces phrases qui vous sauveront si vous vous perdez au Japon URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/bonjour-en-japonais/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:14.000Z La beauté du Japon est unique en Asie et attire des millions de gens du monde entier. Voyageurs et aventuriers viennent en quête de saveurs exotiques, d’un patrimoine historique riche et des paysages uniques du pays. D’autres voyagent avec l’idée d’apprendre le Japonais. Qui ne s’est jamais dit au moins une fois “J’adorerais me perdre ici”. ![Learn japanese online with LingoDeer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2018/08/sorasak-252182-unsplash.jpg) Cependant, soyez prêt à faire face à un défi: La langue et la culture Japonaise sont très différentes de tout ce que vous avez connu auparavant. Que ce soit pour acheter quelque chose dans un magasin, se faire servir à manger dans un restaurant ou simplement recharger votre téléphone; Avoir quelques bases de langues vous sera absolument utile pour trouver son chemin à travers les rues luxuriantes du Japon. A cet effet, voici donc quelques conseils et expressions bien utiles pour rendre votre expérience au Japon inoubliable. D’abord voyons comment éviter le stress d’une batterie à plat. ## Charger son téléphone Personne ne veut être coincé dans un pays étranger avec sa batterie à plat, surtout qu’un téléphone est le principal outil de communication. Heureusement, vous pouvez charger un téléphone presque partout. Si vous ne trouvez pas de prise électrique, n’hésitez pas à demander de l’aide à quelqu’un. - Commencez avec: **“すみません (Sumimasen / pardon / Excusez moi)”,** en hochant légèrement la tête vers le bas, c’est toujours apprécié. - Montrez le téléphone en disant simplement **“どこ** (**doko / où** )”. Même si ce n’est qu’un mot, vous serez compris et on vous montrera un emplacement de charge. - N’oubliez pas de dire merci avec **“ありがとう (arigatou)**. Avec ce problème en moins, pourquoi n’iriez vous pas dans un restaurant local pour prendre un bon repas ? ## Manger ! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/mgg-vitchakorn-527296-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Mgg Vitchakorn](https://unsplash.com/photos/16uhRJI96Yw?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/search/photos/japan?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Dans un magasin ou un restaurant, vous entendrez le personnel vous dire (ou vous crier) “**いらっしゃいません** ! **(i ra ssha i ma sen)”,** ce signifie **“Bienvenue!”** Vous pouvez répondre avec un “**こんにちは**” **(kon ni chi wa/bonjour)** amical en retour, ou simplement hocher votre tête en salutation. Une fois assis(e) et qu’on prend votre commande, placez l’index sous la ligne de ce que vous désirez dans le menu. Dites **“これです”** (**ko re de su / celui-ci**) et ensuite **“ください”** (**ku da sai / s’il vous plait**) pour respecter la politesse. Quand la commande est arrivée, remerciez le serveur ou la serveuse **“ありがとう” (a ri ga tou)**. Même si vous ne parlez pas du tout Japonais, un simple merci fait très plaisir. Comme vous pouvez l’imaginer, l’hospitalité de vos hôtes ne dépend pas que de leur nature généreuse mais aussi de votre propre sens du respect. **Astuce : Faites attention aux règles de la table** - Ne pointez pas quelqu’un ou quelque chose avec vos baguettes. - Utilisez vos baguettes pour saisir et non piquer la nourriture. - Ne laissez pas les baguettes plantées dans le riz. - Ne vous échangez pas de la nourriture entre amis de baguettes à baguettes. Les deux premières ne sont qu’une question de politesse alors que les deux autres font référence à des actes qui rappellent aux gens des gestes propres aux cérémonies funéraires. Cela serait mal vu. Vous êtes désormais prêt(e) pour un bon repas. Si vous le partagez avec une personne Japonaise, dites **“いただきます” (i ta da ki ma su / Je prends part humblement à ce repas)** avant de commencer et **“ごちそう様でした” (gochisou sama deshita ! / C’était délicieux)** quand vous avez fini. Ces phrases feront une très bonne impression. Une bonne façon de continuer la journée et la digestion est de faire une balade dans les rues et peut être un peu de shopping. ## Shopping Le shopping c’est l’occasion rêvée de ramener un **“おみやげ”** **(omiyage / souvenir)** du Japon. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/alex-knight-326742-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Alex Knight](https://unsplash.com/photos/DpPutJwgyW8?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/search/photos/japan?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Au magasin, pointez ce que vous voulez avec la main ouverte et la paume vers le haut. Tout vos doigts pointent vers l’objet voulu. Un poing fermé avec juste un doigt qui pointe, c’est un symbole d’accusation au Japon. Pour connaître le prix de quelque chose, vous pouvez dire **“お金”** (**O-kane / l’argent**) avec le ton interrogatif. Pour être bien clair, faites le symbole habituel du prix en vous frottant les trois premiers doigts de la main ensemble. Le prix est affiché en nombres et le reçu est imprimé de la même façon. Il y a parfois beaucoup de monde dans les magasins, si vous ne savez pas si quelqu’un essaye de vous parler, collez votre index et votre majeur ensemble et pointez les vers votre nez. C’est comme ça que vous demandez “moi?” avec vos geste en Japonais. Comme on l’a vu plus haut, n’oubliez pas de remercier le personnel **“ありがとう”(a ri ga tou)** et aussi leur dire au revoir **“失礼します” (shi tsu rei shi ma su)**. Après avoir passé du temps à vous balader et faire du shopping, vous pourriez avoir besoin de trouver des toilettes. Savoir comment demander les toilettes les plus proches est un aspect très important de chaque voyage. ## Les besoins naturels Heureusement pour ceux qui ne parlent pas Japonais, beaucoup de mots sont empruntés à l’Anglais comme “girlfriend” (petite amie) or “pool” (piscine). C’est aussi le cas de “toilets”. Si vous cherchez les toilettes, la phrase exacte à savoir est la suivante **“トイレはどこにありますか” (Toire wa doko ni arimasu ka ? / Où sont les toilettes ?)** **Astuce: Une phrase plus courte avec le même sens :** Vous pouvez abréger avec **“すみませんトイレはどこ”** **(Su mi ma sen, toire wa, doko ?) “Excusez moi, les toilettes, où ?”** Ce n’est pas la phrase la plus correcte grammatiquement, mais n’importe qui au Japon comprendra et vous montrera le chemin. Comme dans n’importe quelle situation, finissez avec **“ありがとう” (a ri ga tou)** pour remercier celui ou celle qui vous a aidé. Si les toilettes technologiquement avancées, avec leurs lumières, radios et jets d’eau ne vous ont pas encore convaincu que le Japon est un pays ultra moderne, attendez de voir leurs transports en commun. ## Utiliser les transports en commun Pour trouver un taxi ou point de taxi, cherchez les plus grandes routes et les voies rapides. Vous aurez de meilleures chances de trouver un point de taxi ou même un taxi en train de passer et il ne vous manquera plus qu’à lui faire signe. **Astuce : Ecrivez votre adresse locale en Japonais** A l’hôtel ou sur votre lieu de résidence, demandez à quelqu’un d’écrire l’adresse sur un bout de papier. Entrainez vous à prononcer (ou même écrire) cette adresse si jamais vous deviez perdre ce papier. N’oubliez pas de l’écrire dans votre langue maternelle et en anglais aussi pour plus de prudence. Si vous devez faire un trajet en taxi ou demander votre chemin, vous aurez l’adresse déjà prête sur papier et vous pourrez le montrer. **“ここに”** (**koko ni / juste ici**) est une expression utile que vous pouvez utiliser quand vous donnez l’adresse au chauffeur ou pour lui demander de vous arrêter. Quand vous aurez payé, la facture sera imprimée en nombres, vous pourrez alors dire au revoir comme appris plus haut. Mais faites attention car les taxi sont plus chers que les transports en commun. **Astuce : Comment utiliser les transports en commun** Les transports en commun du Japon sont rapides, propres et efficaces. Une fois que vous aurez l’habitude, ils vous conduiront à votre destination plus rapidement et moins cher que n’importe quel taxi. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/05/lex-sirikiat-276089-unsplash.jpg) Photo by [Lex Sirikiat](https://unsplash.com/photos/hmcyWDzjWHo?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/search/photos/japan-train?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) Les gares sont pensées pour les touristes. Les horaires et cartes du métro peuvent être trouvés aux arrêts de bus, stations de métro et gares. Vous pouvez même payer vos tickets de train ou de métro en anglais sur les bornes. Vous trouverez aussi d’autres informations dans les bus et aux différents arrêts, cela vaut bien le détour si vous êtes perdu. Quand vous vous êtes déjà autant amusé au Japon, pourquoi ne pas communiquer encore plus en apprenant la langue ? Vous vous demandez surement “par où commencer?” ## Comment puis-je commencer l’apprentissage du Japonais? Tout d’abord, merci d’avoir lu jusqu’ici ! J’espère que l’article vous aide bien. Je m’appelle John, j’ai vécu dans le quartier de Shinjuku à Tokyo. En tant que coach en langue et en parlant 6, la pédagogie c’est le coeur de mon métier. J’ai passé 10 ans a apprendre le Japonais, cela peut être dur de garder cela amusant et intuitif, mais le mieux c’est de commencer avec ces trois étapes de base : 1. Apprendre les alphabets Japonais **Hiragana** (**symboles simplifiés**) **Katakana** (**symboles simplifiés pour les mots étrangers**) et des **Kanji** (**symboles de Chine**) 2. Habituez-vous à la structure des phrases, elles sont très différentes du français. 3. Enrichissez votre vocabulaire progressivement. Garder votre apprentissage amusant et source de fierté est facile avec une bonne application. En choisir une qui soit sérieuse et pédagogique est essentiel à une progression efficace. **Quelles sont les meilleures ressources pour apprendre le Japonais?** J’ai essayé de nombreuses applications en espérant trouver la meilleure. La langue Japonaise est superbe mais très complexe à apprendre par soi même. **LingoDeer** est ma préférée en tant que coach et en tant qu’étudiant en Japonais. Elle permet de rendre l’apprentissage facile, ludique et pourtant très complet; C’est d’ailleurs une application gratuite. En supplément je recommande hautement **“Busuu”** et **“Learning Japanese”** (Binary Inc.) Malgré le manque relatif de profondeur de contenu pour ces deux applications, elles sont plutôt bonnes pour une initiation à la langue Japonaise. Si je devais faire un top 3, ces deux là viendraient dans cet ordre, juste en dessous de LingoDeer. ## Liste d’expressions utiles 1. **Désolé / Excusez moi :** Gomen nasai ごめんなさい or Sumimasen :すみません 2. **Bonjour (matin) :** Ohayou gozaimasu おはようございます 3. **Bonjour (après midi) :** Konnichiwa こんにちは 4. **Bonsoir :** Konbanwa こんばんは 5. **Enchanté:** Hajimemashite はじめまして 6. **Merci (beaucoup) :** Arigato ありがとう (ございます) (gozaimasu) 7. **Au revoir** **:** Shitsurei shimasu 失礼します 8. **J’ai besoin d’aide :** Tasukete kudasai 助けてください 9. **Je m’appelle… :** Watashi no namae wa (votre nom) desu. 私の名前は...です 10. **Je prends part humblement (à ce repas) :** Itadakimasu : いただきます 11. **C’était délicieux / Merci pour ce repas :** Gochisou sama deshita : ごちそう様でした 12. **Bienvenue :** Irasshaimasen いらっしゃいませ 13. **Celui ci :** kore desu これです 14. **S’il vous plait :** Kudasai ください 15. **Où :** Doko : どこ 16. **Souvenir :** omiyage : おみやげ 17. **L’argent :** okane : お金 18. **Où sont les toilettes ? :** Toire wa doko ni arimasu ka ? トイレはどこにありますか 19. **Juste ici :** Koko ni ここに ### 24 American Slang Terms About Relationships That You Need to Know URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/american-slang-relationships/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:24:24.000Z ## What counts as American Slang? Slang is informal language more often found in verbal communication than in written form. **This sort of casual speech is often based on common knowledge and has little to do with the literal definitions of words.** American slang is no different. As a result, language learners can struggle to understand what native speakers are saying when they use slang. For example, the term “date” means to set up romantic, one-on-one time with someone. Traditionally this means going out do something (watch a movie, go to a concert) and have dinner. It is one of the most fundamental terms you will hear in conversations about American relationships. You will hear things like, “they are dating” or “I have a date tonight.” However, the literal definition is “the day of the month or year as specified by a number.” If you don’t understand this American slang term, the entire conversation will be lost. Slang is particularly important in relationships because intimate relationships are rarely formal in America. Instead, intimate relationships are marked by their informality and closeness. So, slang is a huge part of contemporary relationship vocabulary and is important to learn. One word of warning, while it may be tempting to start using all the new slang words and phrases you learn, if you don’t have a basic knowledge of the language, then you will not be able to properly communicate. **So you shouldn’t begin using slang until you have a general grasp on to communicate properly.** If you are looking to develop a fundamental understanding of English, then you should try LingoDeer. It is a thorough and user friendly program to help you [learn English and many other languages](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). If you have the basics down and are looking to develop your fluency further, then American slang is what you need to learn. It will help you both understand spoken English better and communicate more clearly. This article will particularly help you talk about relationships with American English speakers. ## American Slang Terms for People in Relationships ### **1\. Babe** **This term refers to a person who is considered attractive by a lot of people.** There is general agreement that they are an attractive person. It can be used to refer to both men and women. While you may still hear this term used, it is an older slang and appears less frequently. Example: > Chris is a babe. All the girls want to date him. ### **2\. BAE** **Babe was the original and has been replaced by the more popular term “BAE.”** It means “before anyone else” and is used to refer to the person you are in relationship with. It can also be used to describe an attractive person, similar to babe. Example: > Mark is Ashley’s BAE. They’ve been together forever. Or > She’s a BAE. ### **3\. Ex** **An ex is someone that you used to be in a romantic relationship with.** Typically, when you refer to someone as an ex it’s a negative thing. ![A guy set his car on fire](https://media.giphy.com/media/1YdwaHhbB9C55D9hFY/giphy.gif) Example: > My ex is a jerk. > I’m so glad we aren’t together anymore. ### **4\. Player** **This term refers to a person who dates a lot of people.** They may even engage with them sexually. Usually these people are very charming and interesting. Unfortunately, they don’t really care about people or their feelings. Example: > John is such a player. He was dating Megan, while talking to Jessica, and texting Mary. ### **5\. Old flame** **An old flame is someone who you once had a relationship with and still like.** Unlike an ex, this term is not negative, but rather a positive statement. Example: > I saw my old flame yesterday, and she looked great. ### **6\. Chick** **The term chick refers to a woman in a neutral sense.** It doesn’t carry a negative or positive meaning. Instead, it is simply another way to talk about a woman. ![A group of chickens](https://media.giphy.com/media/teNIxdOwyPC3C/giphy.gif) Example: > There was a new chick at my work today. She seemed chill. ### **7\. Stud** **A stud is a man who is known to be strong, attractive, kind, and successful.** It doesn’t only refer to his physical strength, but also to his character and personality. Example: > Mark is such a stud. He plays football, does well in school, and is nice to everyone. ### **8\. Wingman/wingwoman** **A wingman is a friend who helps you meet people.** They help make things less awkward by being there for you and helping keep the conversation going. Example: > Jake is the best wingman. Whenever we go to a bar, he helps me meet women. ## American Slang Verbs About Relationships ### **9\. Dating** The term originates from when you set a date to spend time with someone on a calendar. **Now it refers to when two people are spending intentional time together in the form of “dates.”** This time together is more than just spending time with friends because it is in a romantic, one-on-one context. Dating can refer to people who are in a relationship or to two people who are deciding whether they want to be in a relationship. ![A man asks a woman out on a date](https://media.giphy.com/media/7XHG0Le1Q2YoM/giphy.gif) Example: > Ashley and Mark have been dating for a month now. Or > I’ve got a date tonight. ### **10\. Make out** **Often heard as “making out” means to kiss passionately and for extended periods of time.** Usually you make out laying down on top of each other. Making out is something you don’t do in front of other people. If you do, you will be perceived as inappropriate or weird. Example: > We were making out when my roommate walked in. Awkward… ### **11\. Crushing** **Crushing or having a crush one someone is when you are romantically interested in someone but haven’t told them.** It’s the time when you hope to see them and talk to them, but don’t know whether they are interested in you back. ![A blushing girl](https://media.giphy.com/media/bMLGNRoAy0Yko/giphy.gif) Example: > I’m crushing on him so hard. Or > I have a huge crush on Justin Bieber. ### **12\. Hit on** **Hitting on someone is when you say something to them to get their attention.** Usually you hit on someone who you are romantically interested in. Typically, men are known for hitting on women, but women can hit on men. ![A girl who winks](https://media.giphy.com/media/xUA7b2NcGGx9yuMGTC/giphy.gif) Example: > Jake told Emily that she looked great in her jeans. He was hitting on her again. ### **13\. Dump** **When someone gets dumped it means that someone ended a relationship with them.** It is not a decision both people make. Instead, one person “dumps” or ends the relationship with the other person. Example: > After dating for two months, Jake Dumped Amanda. She is very sad. ### **14\. Hook up** **Hooking up means to interact with someone sexually whom you are not in a relationship with.** The sexual behavior can vary from making out to sexual intercourse. Example: > John and Mary always hook up at parties even though they aren’t dating. ### **15\. Netflix and chill** **This term refers to when you spend time with someone to watch tv but know that it will likely lead to some sort of sexual activity.** It is a coded message, which is now known to mean a casual night of watching tv and having sex. Example: > Jake invited me over to Netflix and chill, but I know he just wants to have sex. ### **16\. Ghosting** **Ghosting is when someone will not respond to messages.** This can either be in a one-on-one message or a group message. The person will respond for a while and then suddenly stop. Example: > I was texting Megan and asked her if she wanted to Netflix and chill, but then she ghosted me. ### **17\. Go out with** **This term refers to spending time with a person who you are interested in romantically.** It is usually at the beginning of a relationship when there is no serious commitment. It can refer to one date or a series of dates. For example: > Are you going out with Matt? ### **18\. Lead on** **Leading someone on is when you give them lots of attention but don’t actually want to be in a romantic relationship with them.** It’s common to lead people on for what you get from them, without committing to a relationship. Example: > Jake led me on for a month. I should have known he never actually wanted to date me. ### **19\. Ask out** **Asking someone out is when you ask them if they want to go on a date with you.** This can be scary because you don’t know what they are going to say. Example: > I’m trying to work up the courage to ask Ashley out this weekend. ### **20\. Cheat on** **This term refers to when someone acts out sexually with someone else when they are in a relationship.** It is usually a secret and is inappropriate. ![A cartoon plot](https://media.giphy.com/media/J8Plsh8drss3C/giphy.gif) Example: > Jay cheated on me with Lindsey. It broke my heart. We had been dating for over a year. ## American Slang Adjectives for Relationships ### **21\. Knocked up** **This adjective refers to when someone gets pregnant.** It is a very informal and impolite term. ![A woman sneezing](https://media.giphy.com/media/dZ858lbbBTDwI/giphy.gif) Example: > Katie got knocked up by Tom and doesn’t know what to do. **22\. Thirsty** **Thirsty is used to describe men or women who are desperate for sex or a relationship.** The term is not positive because it describes people who will date or sleep with anyone available at the time. Example: > Sarah is super thirsty. She wants a boyfriend and will date anyone. ### **23\. Hot** **By far, this is one of the most common and popular slang terms in America.** It is used to describe an attractive person. The person can be male or female. Example: > Cait is really hot. ### **24\. Fine** This is a less popular term than hot but carries generally the same meaning. **It refers to someone as attractive.** Example: > Gerald is looking fine tonight. ## The Need to Understand American Slang for Relationships: American slang is key to communicating fluently and naturally, especially when it comes to talking about relationships. So, learning how to use slang will take your language learning to the next level. It will also help you understand American movies and will definitely impress your American friends. With that being said, you shouldn’t start using slang before you are read. You need a knowledge of the basic mechanics of the language first. If you are looking to build a stronger foundation, then [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) can help. It’s an easy to use and intuitive language learning program to help you learn English. LingoDeer can give you a good foundation so you can start using slang with all your English friends as soon as possible! We will be teaching you more slang in another article. Make sure to follow us on [Instagram](http://www.instagram.com/lingodeerapp?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), [Facebook](http://facebook.com/lingodeer) and [Twitter](http://twitter.com/lingodeer?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)! ### How to Find a Language School: Top 6 Tips + Bonus URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/find-a-language-school-tips/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:01.000Z A well-suited language school can help propel you to the land of dream achievers, while a school that isn’t catered to your needs can do exactly the opposite. That said, choosing the right school can be far from a walk in the park; it’s a long process that involves a series of steps. However, fear not. Whether you are considering learning Chinese, Spanish, French, or any other foreign language, our action-oriented guide will help you find a language school in the easiest and most stress-free way possible. ## Tip #1: Define your needs The first thing to do in your hunt to find a language school is to define your needs. Of course, becoming fluent in your desired foreign language is the endgame. But, what really motivates you to want to learn the language? Are you preparing for a specific test, perhaps a visa test? Are you planning to join a university abroad? Or perhaps you just love the culture of the country (or countries) that speak the language? Whatever the reason, it’s important you know that different classes offer different training, which is therefore suited to different purposes. As a result, you must precisely understand your need to be able to **choose a school that best suits your specific purpose**. ## Tip #2: Research the school Now that you know the language you want to learn and your drive for doing so, you’re going to need to put on your research hat. There are likely many language schools in your area, but not all can guarantee quality services, or the right services for you. When narrowing down your options, it’s advisable that you check on things such as the school’s accreditation, online reviews from former students, and the application processes. If possible, visit the school to meet the staff and ask if you can **sit in on a class for trial purposes.** **Here are some red flags to look out for:** - No online presence - No accreditation - A learning program dominated by more out-of-classroom activities than in-classroom time - More freelancing, part-time teachers than full-time, in-house teachers ## Tip #3: Research the teaching staff There is a saying among the education community: a learner is only as good as their teacher. While this isn’t supposed to apply to every case in existence, it certainly applies to most. Nobody wants to be taught by a teacher who doesn’t get the best out of them, do they? ![Teacher student ratio matters](https://blog.lingodeer.com/content/images/2019/06/neonbrand-zFSo6bnZJTw-unsplash.jpg) Image from unsplash Therefore, it’s important to **find credible information about the teaching staff** working at the schools you’re considering. Here, you must be bold enough to ask as many questions as possible to get sufficient information about your would-be teacher. **Questions you should consider asking include:** - What is the teacher's highest level of education? - Is the teacher qualified to teach the language? - Has the teacher received any further training? - Does the teacher have reputable and legitimate testimonials? ## Tip #4: Teacher-to-student ratio The next thing you need to confirm to find a language school that works for you is the teacher-to-student ratio, as class sizes vary from school to school. Some institutions will have a max class size of six, others 14, and some even as many as 40. A [school with a smaller class size](https://ltl-school.com/learn-chinese-in-china/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) (ideally eight to ten students) is usually preferable, as this will mean more time and personal attention will be dedicated per student. Smaller class sizes can also make for more comfortable learning environments especially when you are just starting out. ## Tip #5: Availability This is largely associated with the type of teachers the school has and the teacher-to-student ratio. **Ask yourself:** - Will you be able to contact the teachers after class hours? - How fast do teachers answer emails? - Do they have office hours? In most cases, teachers love being in contact with their students. However, if you are in a big class, some of these privileges may not be granted as the teachers simply won't have as much time for each student as a teacher with less students would. Either that or the teachers just don't allow questions etc. outside of office hours because the school might not pay them for this time. ## Tip #6: Personal Reasons Once you have considered the six preceding steps, you'll then need to make your final decision. If everything has gone well, you'll probably have narrowed your decision down to two or three schools. Now, it’s all about **weighing in your personal preferences to make an informed decision.** **Factors you should now consider include:** - **Your budget**: Prices vary drastically between course types, duration and the qualification of the teachers. - **Payment options:** Do they require full payment upfront or offer some financing plans? - **Refund policy:** Is their refund policy fair? - **Course duration:** How long will the course take to complete? Is it long enough/short enough? - **Schedule:** Does the program favor your schedule? Ideally, you won't need to choose between language learning and a life. ## BONUS TIP: Going abroad? Pick your location wisely **Location, location, location.** It makes a sizeable difference and must be considered when **choosing a language school in another country**. Options are plentiful but where do you really want to spend your time? Which countries are more affordable, which countries perhaps offer a [more immersive environment](https://ltl-beihai.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) than others, which have the best food! Certain languages of course, such as Italian, offer one country to study in. But then where do you go inside Italy? Accents vary throughout the country as does cost of living. Then you have languages like Portuguese and Spanish which don’t just offer different cities, but different continents to choose from, where is the best country and city for you? Take also Mandarin Chinese as an example. The characters even change depending on location. Mainland China using a simplified version of the language and [Taiwan](https://ltl-taiwan.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) using the traditional characters. It’s like learning a whole different language, or so it will feel! When deciding which school to pick, it is therefore absolutely key to make sure you spend some time researching the perfect country and perfect city to suit your needs. ## Conclusion We hope this guide has offered all the information you need to find a language school suited to your personal situation and needs. Please know that you should always contact your prospective school with enough advance and request advice before making any decision with regard to payments and accommodation. If classroom study isn't an option for you, however, you can always teach yourself a new skill. There are plenty of [language apps](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com), textbook PDFs, YouTube channels and online tutors that can help you learn anytime, anywhere. Leave a comment below if you have questions about language schools, or tell us about your experience and attempts to find a language school that worked for you. ### Follow These 6 YouTubers to Learn Japanese URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-japanese-youtubers/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:29:03.000Z If you're looking for upper intermediate resources or a senpai to share tips and hacks, there are 6 awesome channels you should follow to learn Japanese on YouTube. When we dive into Japanese, we are constantly looking for new content. When I started learning Japanese, it seemed like the main search results always landed on two different sites: Tai Kim and Tofugu. There is absolutely nothing wrong with either of these resources. However, if you are looking to dive a little deeper into Japanese and get some really good lessons, or simply follow along with someone who is learning Japanese, then I have a few of my favorite accounts that I’ve rounded up for you. ## Japanese Ammo With Misa Japanese Ammo with Misa has 143 videos as of this writing. She teaches a variety of topics, including feeling sick/having a headache, Japanese gaming and internet slang, and grammar lessons on how to conjugate verbs. Lessons are subtitled so that you can listen and read along helping you to not leave any critical learning area out. For those struggling with Kanji, she offers both the Kanji and the Hiragana/Katakana versions of subtitles. Links: - Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBSyd8tXJoEJKIXfrwkPdbA](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBSyd8tXJoEJKIXfrwkPdbA?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Twitter: [https://twitter.com/japaneseammo](https://twitter.com/japaneseammo?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/japaneseammo\_misa/](https://www.instagram.com/japaneseammo%5Fmisa/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Matt vs Japan ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/mattvsjapan.jpg) Matt began studying Japanese with the All Japanese All The Time (AJATT) method. What makes Matt an amazing follow is that he has learned Japanese mostly from outside of Japan, even though most people think you have to visit or live in a country in order to learn the language. He is developing (along with another Japanese enthusiast named “Yoga”) an approach called **“Mass Input Approach” (MIA)** that will expose learners to the language as much as possible. There are a lot of different opinions in the language community about input vs. output, but Matt has some really good information about the importance of input. Links: - Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/user/MATTvsJapan](https://www.youtube.com/user/MATTvsJapan?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Twitter: [https://twitter.com/mattvsjapan](https://twitter.com/mattvsjapan?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Facebook: ## Evan’s Easy Japanese If you are looking for something more specific such as passing a JLPT test, then Evan’s Easy Japanese is for you. Evan breaks down practice tests and gives grammar points and vocabulary help along the way. He is very thorough and leaves nothing out. He doesn’t just have one video on the JLPT tests; his JLPT N5 series has 85 parts. It’s a great channel to follow if you want every possible solution broken down and want to leave no stone unturned. - Links: - Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/user/evangrogers](https://www.youtube.com/user/evangrogers?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Twitter: [https://twitter.com/EvansEZJapanese](https://twitter.com/EvansEZJapanese?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Facebook: ## Lindie Botes ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/lindie.jpg) I wanted to put Lindie on this list simply because if not for her, I would never have discovered [Lingodeer](http://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). Lindie speaks Japanese, Chinese, Korean and a few other languages as well. She is very active on social media and posts to her Youtube channel regularly. Her Youtube channel has tons of info including some “Study With Me” style videos so you can follow in her footsteps as to how she’s mastered so many languages. Links: - Website: [https://lindiebotes.com/](https://lindiebotes.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjVwBKqRh8ckPWhfD5UDKcg](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjVwBKqRh8ckPWhfD5UDKcg?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Twitter: [https://twitter.com/lindiebee](https://twitter.com/lindiebee?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) - Facebook: - Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/lindiebotes/](https://www.instagram.com/lindiebotes/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) ## Japanese word of the day If you are like me, sometimes we fall into a lull on social media and forget to practice. Luckily there are accounts that can help prevent that. On Instagram, one of my favorites is **Japanese Words Daily.** Each day there is a new Japanese word at your fingertips to give you some practice. There is also a picture with it (since it’s Instagram, after all), that you can perhaps attach meaning to in order to help you remember. It’s a great way to “plug and play” words into different sentence structures that you already know. Link: Instagram- [https://www.instagram.com/japanesewordsdaily/](https://www.instagram.com/japanesewordsdaily/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **BONUS CONTENT** ## Japanese In A Year This Youtube channel isn’t active anymore, but it is filled with vlogs and study techniques from Shawn. He embarked on a journey starting January 1, 2017 to learn Japanese by December 31, 2017\. There isn’t much else to say about this; it’s a channel you simply need to watch yourself. Link: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwV0yvyOYea4EieewSSQOMg](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwV0yvyOYea4EieewSSQOMg?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) **OhTalkWho** Dave has been studying Japanese for about a year. His channel has a lot of good information if you are into creating **Subtitles to Spaced Repetition System (Sub2SRS)** flashcards or other things like that. He found a file of every downloaded subtitle from Japanese Netflix movies and TV, ran them through a text analyzer, and then had them broken down into the frequency in which they were used. After learning about 5,000 words with this method, you can understand over 90% of spoken Japanese on Netflix. **He gives you the links to download these lists so you can put them into use for yourself.** Link: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYalapqSS8UlC1wOl5uKPLw](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYalapqSS8UlC1wOl5uKPLw?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) In closing, Japanese is a very hard language that I’m still struggling with. What I've found is, **if you follow several people with the same struggle, it’s easier to stick to.** There is absolutely no shame in watching others’ videos and looking through their content to get tips. People who have learned the language can point you in the right direction and give you proper tips on how to study more efficiently. Follow me on Twitter, Instagram or Youtube by the handle "SeaboltSpeaks" to join me on my language learning journey. Shoot me your favorite social media account or vlogger that helps you learn! ### Your National Flag as a Japanese Anime Character: Amazing or Meh? URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/world-flags-anime-character/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T11:01:19.000Z Have you ever imagined what your national flag would look like as a **Japanese anime character**? For most people, probably not. To celebrate Tokyo 2020, a group of Japanese artists have created some awesome anime art and turned your national flags into a team of anime characters (samurais, monks, etc.). **Let's see if they are amazingly creative representations of your country flags or ... well, interesting interpretations from a Japanese perspective?** Let's start with **the Group of Eight.** ## United States as an Anime Character ![Screenshot 2019-06-19 at 9.03.36 PM.png](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-19-at-9.03.36-PM.png) Flag of the USA. World police. The origin of entertainment. Stars and banners represent the number of states. The sacred place where people seek the American Dream. The artists likely made him look youthful and attractive to reflect the young age of the United States as well as the worldwide appeal of American Entertainment among international youth. > Name: Dustin > > A samurai in the Group of Eight, he holds the glowing gem of "America". He's known as the world police whose decision overrides everything, a dominant swordsman. His hobby is to watch American football. ![americaf](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/americaf.png) Maybe the US right now would be too rough for a pretty boy like Dustin though. ## Canada as an Anime Character ![Screenshot 2019-06-19 at 9.16.11 PM.png](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/Screenshot-2019-06-19-at-9.16.11-PM.png) Translation: the flag of Canada. The hunter that rules the icy, arctic regions in North America. The national flag features a type of leaves whose juice can defeat hunger, and the red on both sides represent the ocean. The artists really captured the hardy nature of those living in the Great White North, but you can be sure that underneath his cool exterior Mr. Canada can offer some warm apologies and sweet maple syrup for those he is friendly with. > Name: Keanu > > The hunter of the Group of Eight holds the glowing gem of "加". He often goes on a hunting trip following the beautiful scent of the maple syrup. His hobby is ice skating. ![canadaf](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/canadaf.png) ## United Kingdom as an Anime Character > Quote: Hope for the best, and always be prepared. ![igirisu-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/igirisu-min-1.png) Armour: the Union Jack flag. He holds a flag that unites the essential features of the flags of England, Scotland and Ireland, also known as the Union Jack Flag or the Union Flag. "英" is his kanji character. He leads the world economy with bonds. The artists definitely reflect the elegance of UK history and the attitude of what was once the world superpower with Mr. UK. While he may look a little stuck up, most respect that Mr. UK is quite influential and deserving of his recognition. ## Germany as an Anime Character > Quote: The more enemies, the greater the honour. ![germany-min](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/germany-min.png) The country that holds the key to Europe. The colours in the flag represent different qualities: black for honour, red for freedom and gold for homeland, a feature used in portraying the soldier's uniform here. The many muscles and confident nature of Germany can also be interpreted as showing off Germany's strong economic power, which is a quality that many Japanese artists admire about the country. **Also, wie findet ihr diese Darstellung? Ja oder nein?* (So what do you think of this representation? Yes or no?)* ## France as an Anime Character > Quote: Beat the iron when it's still hot. (Make hay while the sun shines.) ![france-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/france-min-1.png) The tricolour flag represents freedom, peace and fraternity. The blue and white colours represent the civilian army, and red represents the Bourbon Dynasty. The kanji character is "仏". As a member of the G8, he hopes to promote further economic development of the world Oh là là, what a handsome fella with a streak of assertiveness, and his hair and skin tone kind of remind me of someone... Monsieur Macron, non? While the French flag can be considered rather simple to some, this character captures the long and interesting history of French art and culture with his ornate armor and vibrant colors. Monsieur France also keeps the mature look of a veteran who has survived many revolutions. ## Russia as an Anime Character > Quote: Even a cat appreciates kind words. (Russian proverb) ![russia-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/russia-min-1.png) Mr. Russia is a sword fighter with hair as white as the snowy Siberian tundra, and he appears both comfortable and confident in his attire. His armour is not as heavy or detailed like that of his European cousins, but it still reflects the down to earth nature of the Russian people. ## Italy as an Anime Character > Tomorrow's windy weather affects only tomorrow. (literal) > > Everything will turn out for the best. ![italy-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/italy-min-1.png) Mr. Italy is a dashing young man who looks as confident in his looks as he is his cooking. ## The host, Japan, as an Anime Character > From dawn to dusk, the beauty could turn into a skeleton. (literal) > > Change is unpredictable, so seize the moment! ![japan-min-1](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/japan-min-1.png) Sporting the classic anime protagonist look, Japan-san looks quite soft and relaxed through this character. The artists reflect the more peaceful and simple nature of present day Japan well, although the swords could probably still be quite menacing. ## Korea as an Anime Character > Starting is half of the success. ![](https://world-flags.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/korea_s-min.png) Mr. Korea is quite the [Bishie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bish%C5%8Dnen?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) boy (a beautiful young man) here, and it fits with how Korea has stolen the hearts of girls across the world with its pop music and dramas. The drum may be what helps Korea produce the next Oppa Gangnam Style and Mr. Korea may be the ideal Oppa of this list. ## China > Victory belongs to men with reasons. The unreasonable lose. ![c13dceabcb143acd6c9298265d618a9f](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/c13dceabcb143acd6c9298265d618a9f.png) Mr. China has the longest hair and the longest history out of our group. He looks calm, determined, and ready for any fight that may come his way. ## Spain as an Anime Chracter > Kindness and beauty don't last. ![8bc697f91534507b292e4cfc480dbd3d](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/8bc697f91534507b292e4cfc480dbd3d.png) Señor Spain looks like he has the finesse to fight a bull, but his eyes will make your heart want to Tango. His armour is colourful and bright, but on his face hides the dark history of a country that has undergone inquisitions and lost its many old colonies. The artists reflect well Señor Spain's complex and layered past. ## Vietnam as an Anime Character > To live, it is not to breathe. It is to act. ![betonamu-min](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/betonamu-min.png) Mr. Vietnam is represented as a rather mystical man who represents Japan's interest in ASEAN. Vietnam is both very familiar for the artists as it is another Confucian country like Japan, but many practices may seem strange and exotic as it still exists in Southeast Asia. You can see the immense value Mr. Vietnam places on education through the fact he is the only country wearing scholarly robes. ## Mexico > Babies bring cakes with them. (literal) > > Children are born with good fortune. ![mexicoface-min](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/mexicoface-min.png) Señor Mexico is vibrant with life and traditional symbolism that is quite impressive. The feathers on his shoulders are reminiscent of the Aztecs who inhabited the land before, and in many ways Mexico is just as colourful and interesting as them. ## Final Word To sum it up, all the characters are hands-down gorgeous despite the fact that they're all men. There are many more characters to drool over on the official website, [World of Flags](https://world-flags.org/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com). As a team that teaches and promotes world languages and cultures, we think it could use more personas to portray world diversity. But overall we appreciate the artists' effort in promoting Tokyo 2020 wholeheartedly. **Leave a comment and tell us what you think of the anime character of your country!** Related post:[ Essential list of Japanese travel phrases](https://blog.lingodeer.com/japanese-phrases/). ### My Failure to Learn Japanese While Living in Japan URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/phillips-story/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T06:30:29.000Z I assumed that if I teach English in Japan for a while, my Japanese would begin to flow naturally, and that I would deftly navigate my way through the complex socio-linguistic maze of modern Japan. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong… In retrospect, this assumption was like submerging myself and expecting to learn to breathe underwater as a survival instinct — *it just doesn’t work.* --- I grew up with the stereotypes of Japan that pervaded Australian television in the 1990s; the sweeping generalisations of salarymen, sumo, samurai and pop culture. Growing up in rural Victoria, my only exposure to the language itself came via video games or exchange students. ![Teach English in Japan](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2019/06/erik-eastman-354264-unsplash.jpg) Photo by Erik Eastman After I finished my Arts degree, I decided I would become a teacher and was drawn to the *Teach in Japan*\-style advertisements that popped up in newspapers and even played on the radio. So, Japan it was. I would travel, earn a reasonable wage, gain valuable teaching experience and come back fluent in another language; a seemingly perfect plan. Arriving in Japan, I followed the instructions I’d been sent and left Narita airport, taking the bus north to Ibaraki prefecture and Tsuchiura -- my new home. I worked in a prominent *eikawa*, and so I soon got to know other teachers from every corner of the English-speaking world, as well as my British and Canadian housemates. It certainly proved for a smooth introduction to a foreign world, we socialised, shopped, ate out and explored the surrounding areas. We had a great time. Months passed and I had a nice routine going, or so I thought. I knew a few little phrases and words — *toire wa doko desu ka? (where is the bathroom?)*, *ikura desu ka? (how much is it?),* *kyou wa nani o shimasu ka?* *(what are you doing today?)* — and could get around easily. Indeed, with English and just a smattering of Japanese, one can do just about everything they need to do in a modern Japanese city. However, this wasn’t really inline with my original goal. My initial goal to teach English in Japan and learn Japanese at the same time wasn’t really going to plan. By the end of each working day, my brain wanted nothing more than to relax; to chat in my native tongue, to use natural colloquial expressions, to understand and be understood as an adult. After a hard day of slogging through the present tense, passive voice and conditionals, **the thought of sitting down to learn basic grammar in another language was suddenly very unappealing**, so I wasn’t really speaking or learning much Japanese at all.I wasn’t truly conscious of all this at the time, but I soon would be, as subtle warning signs started to appear all around me that hinted my mistake. For instance, many of the other teachers had been in Japan for years. It didn’t really alarm me that most spoke barely any Japanese. Indeed, the only ones who seemed to speak the language were the same ones who didn’t really hang out with us or left after just one drink. **Boring!** Only in retrospect did I see what was actually happening. Then, one day, I got lost... --- I fell asleep on the bus and woke up at the last stop, miles past my stop on the final bus of the day. The driver urged me off and the bus left; I stood alone and half-awake on a dark road in the Ibaraki countryside. I had no idea where I was nor what I would do. Suddenly there were no signs in English, nor were there any friends or colleagues to help me out. Having parked the bus at the depot, the senior bus driver walked past, obviously heading home. He could see I was still standing where he left me and spoke with me in Japanese. All I could do was shrug and, on the verge of tears, let out a pathetic *wakarimasen (I don't understand)*. He gestured for me to follow him and took me back to his home nearby, where his elderly wife cheerily greeted me in Japanese. Again, *wakarimasen*. They spoke in Japanese for a while as she made tea and sat me down. Their efforts to make conversation were sadly all in vain — all I could blurt out was *Osutoraria (Australia)* and *Tsuchiura ni sunde imasu (I live in Tsuchiura)*. The bus driver then picked up the landline phone and called someone, chatting briefly in Japanese. He handed the receiver to me and a voice in broken English said to me: *they want to help you.* I almost wept with relief. --- For so much of the time I was in Japan, I was never an active participant in language learning. I never really sought out opportunities to use Japanese, even though they were all around me. I took shortcuts, hung out with other English speakers and pointed at menus, rather than actually ordering. I left Japan with a mind full of memories and a big hole where some degree of Japanese fluency should have been. It took me too long to realise I had wasted my opportunity. When I returned to Australia, my lack of fluency gnawed away at me, I felt hideously embarrassed every time the topic came up; people expected me to be fluent but I wasn’t even close. I knew exactly what I’d have done if I could redo it: I would have prepared, I would have engaged and I would have been more disciplined. And so that’s exactly what I did... I bought books, used flashcards and made new friends. I watched movies and listened to music. I completed a Diploma of Modern Language in Japanese — **I *used* the language.** I spent a week with a language school in Fukuoka and did all the things I did before; the only difference now was that I was using Japanese as much as I could. I put myself in situations where I had to use it. No more pointing at menus or items in shops. No more subtitles. No more phrasebooks. Just me and my slowly improving Japanese. Little by little, things began to make sense. ## My Advice to You With all this in mind, if you one day find yourself on a plane to Japan (or anywhere else for that matter) and you want to learn its language, here are some of my top tips on **how to learn a foreign language immersively**: - **Don’t wait for the ‘right’ moment** **Learning a language takes time, desire and persistence. The sooner you start, the better. With helpful language learning apps like LingoDeer, you can learn or practice any time of the day.** - **Befriend a native** **Ideally, this will be a native speaker who also speaks your native language or is learning it but already has a reasonable enough level for the two of you to communicate.** - **Prioritize relevancy** Don’t open a textbook and start memorising things that are irrelevant to your lifestyle and interests; you should first fill your vocabulary with things you’ll likely use and encounter. - **Learn and use new words at every opportunity** Don’t know what something means? Find out. Be curious and ask people how to say things. - **Persistence and discipline pays off** If you can learn three words a day, you’ll have a *thousand* within a year. Many drops make an ocean. - **Repetition is key** The more you use, the less you’ll forget. Keep a notepad with you (or use the one on your phone) to note down the words you learn along with their translations. Then, try to recite them later on in the day simply by looking at their translations, or without looking at anything at all if possible. - **Don’t worry about what other people think** You might sound like a child initially, but that’s a heck of a lot better than saying nothing at all. Don’t stress about speaking perfectly — the main aim is to communicate. Fluency comes from understanding and being understood, not from sounding like a native speaker. You can iron out the flaws later on. ## Final Words/Where I am Now To conclude, I’m still not fluent. I don’t think I’ll ever be, as true dedication is required to achieve that status, but I can read and write and get around by myself all in Japanese. I learn from my mistakes, both in terms of my language learning and life experiences. One day I hope very much to return to Ibaraki and have a real conversation with the kind bus driver and his wife. --- **More stories from LingoDeer users:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/chloe.jpg) Chloe from England ### "Before you know it you’re talking in sentences" I always want to unlock the achievements and keep my study streak up. Each lesson is the perfect length, not too short or long so I can do a quick lesson wherever I am. I try and do all the lessons for each unit everyday, but it’s so addictive, sometimes I do more." [Read Chloe's Story](https://blog.lingodeer.com/interview-chloe-learn-korean-lingodeer/) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/2020/11/norby.png) Norbi from Canada ### "No better resource for quick refreshers" These days I still refer to the LingoDeer Lesson Tips, and Knowledge Cards, when I want to clarify something. They’re fantastically laid out, have built in human audio, and are in my pocket all the time. There’s really no better resource for quick refreshers. [Read Norbi's Story](https://blog.lingodeer.com/lingodeer-user-norbi-on-japanese/) ### HSK 3 Vocabulary 600 Words Full List [PDF] URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-3-vocabulary-full-list/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:56.000Z **Hey Chinese learners, to help you** [**study Chinese**](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/) **and pass HSK successfully, we present you the full list of 600 words required to know to pass HSK 3\. It has been updated to meet the new requirements of HSK 3.0** Please note, to pass HSK 3, you'll also need the [150 HSK 1 words](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-1-vocabulary-list/) and [the 150 HSK 2 words](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-2-vocabulary-full-list/). [HSK ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanyu%5FShuiping%5FKaoshi?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)(Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi or Chinese Proficiency Test) is a standardized Chinese proficiency test administered by Confucius Institute Headquarters (also known as Hanban). And HSK 3 is the third level among HSK 1 to 6, with HSK 1 being the easiest level. The list below is summarized based on the *International Curriculum for Chinese Language Education*, a book published by Hanban to for those who teach Chinese as a second language. Click[ here](https://www.cbs.dk/files/cbs.dk/vocabulary%5Fhsk3.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to download the pdf of HSK 3 provided by Copenhagen business school. ### 600 Words Required for HSK 3 | Chinese | Pinyin | Role | English | | ------- | -------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 阿姨 | āyí | noun | aunt or maid | | 啊 | a | particle | exclamatory particle | | 矮 | ǎi | adj | short (in height) | | 爱 | ài | verb | to love | | 爱好 | àihào | noun | hobby | | 安静 | ānjìng | adj | quiet | | 八 | bā | noun | eight | | 把 | bǎ | prep | indicate the result of an action | | 爸爸 | bàba | noun | dad | | 吧 | ba | particle | question particle | | 白 | bái | adj | white | | 百 | bǎi | counter | hundred | | 班 | bān | noun | class | | 搬 | bān | verb | to move | | 办法 | bànfǎ | noun | method | | 办公室 | bàngōngshì | noun | office | | 半 | bàn | noun | half | | 帮忙 | bāngmáng | verb | to help | | 帮助 | bāngzhù | verb | to help | | 包 | bāo | noun | bag | | 饱 | bǎo | adj | full | | 报纸 | bàozhǐ | noun | newspaper | | 杯子 | bēizi | noun | cup or glass | | 北方 | běifāng | prep | north or northern China | | 北京 | Běijīng | noun | Beijing | | 被 | bèi | verb | by | | 本 | běn | noun | for books | | 鼻子 | bízi | noun | nose | | 比 | bǐ | prep | than | | 比较 | bǐjiào | verb | to compare | | 比赛 | bǐsài | noun | match | | 必须 | bìxū | verb | must | | 变化 | biànhuà | verb | to change | | 便宜 | piányi | adj | cheap | | 表示 | biǎoshì | verb | to express | | 表演 | biǎoyǎn | verb | to perform | | 别 | bié | adv | don’t… | | 别人 | biéren | noun | other people | | 宾馆 | bīngguǎn | noun | hotel | | 冰箱 | bīngxiāng | noun | refrigerator | | 不 | bù | adv | not | | 不客气 | bú kèqi | / | you’re welcome | | 才 | cái | adv | just | | 菜 | cài | noun | dish | | 菜单 | càidān | noun | menu | | 参加 | cānjiā | verb | to attend | | 草 | cǎo | noun | grass | | 层 | céng | noun | floor | | 茶 | chá | noun | tea | | 差 | chà | adj | bad (in quality) | | 唱歌 | chàng gē | verb | to sing | | 超市 | chāoshì | noun | supermarket | | 衬衫 | chènshān | noun | shirt | | 成绩 | chéngjì | noun | score | | 城市 | chéngshì | noun | city | | 吃 | chī | verb | to eat | | 迟到 | chídào | verb | to be late | | 出 | chū | verb | to go out of | | 出现 | chūxiàn | verb | to appear | | 出租车 | chūzūchē | noun | taxi | | 除了 | chúle | verb | besides or except | | 厨房 | chúfáng | noun | kitchen | | 穿 | chuān | verb | to wear | | 船 | chuán | noun | boat | | 春 | chūn | noun | spring | | 词语 | cíyǔ | noun | word | | 次 | cì | counter | time (frequency of an act) | | 聪明 | cōngming | adj | smart | | 从 | cóng | verb | from | | 错 | cuò | adj | wrong | | 打电话 | dǎ diànhuà | / | to make a phone call | | 打篮球 | dǎ lánqiú | / | to play basketball | | 打扫 | dǎsǎo | verb | to clean | | 打算 | dǎsuàn | verb | to plan | | 大 | dà | adj | big | | 大家 | dàjiā | pronoun | everybody | | 带 | dài | verb | to bring | | 担心 | dānxīn | verb | to worry | | 但是 | dànshì | adv | but | | 蛋糕 | dàngāo | noun | cake | | 当然 | dāngrán | adv | of course | | 到 | dào | prep | until, to have done | | 得 | de | particle | structure particle | | 地 | de | particle | structure particle | | 地方 | dìfāng | noun | place | | 地铁 | dìtiě | noun | metro | | 地图 | dìtú | noun | map | | 的 | de | particle | possession particle | | 灯 | dēng | noun | light | | 等 | děng | verb | to wait | | 低 | dī | adj | low | | 弟弟 | dìdi | noun | younger brother | | 第一 | dì-yī | noun | first | | 点 | diǎn | noun | o’clock | | 电脑 | diànnǎo | noun | computer | | 电视 | diànshì | noun | TV | | 电梯 | diàntī | noun | elevator | | 电影 | diànyǐng | noun | movie | | 电子邮件 | diànzǐ yóujiàn | noun | email | | 东 | dōng | prep | east | | 东西 | dōngxi | noun | thing | | 冬 | dōng | noun | winter | | 懂 | dǒng | verb | to understand | | 动物 | dòngwù | noun | animal | | 都 | dōu | adv | both or all | | 读 | dú | verb | to read | | 短 | duǎn | adj | short | | 段 | duàn | noun | span of time or distance | | 锻炼 | duànliàn | verb | to work out | | 对 | duì | adj | right | | 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | / | sorry | | 多 | duō | adj | many | | 多么 | duōme | adv | how… | | 多少 | duōshao | noun | how many or how much | | 饿 | è | adj | hungry | | 儿子 | érzi | noun | son | | 而且 | érqiě | verb | moreover | | 耳朵 | ěrduo | noun | ear | | 二 | èr | noun | two | | 发烧 | fāshāo | verb | to have a fever | | 发现 | fāxiàn | verb | to discover | | 饭馆 | fànguǎn | noun | restaurant | | 方便 | fāngbiàn | adj | convenient | | 房间 | fángjiān | noun | room | | 放 | fàng | verb | to put | | 放心 | fàngxīn | verb | to rest assured | | 飞机 | fēijī | noun | plane | | 非常 | fēicháng | adv | extremely | | 分 | fēn | verb | to divide or separate | | 分钟 | fēnzhōng | noun | minute | | 服务员 | fúwùyuán | noun | waiter or waitress | | 附近 | fùjìn | prep | surrounding area | | 复习 | fùxí | verb | to review | | 敢 | gǎn | verb | to dare | | 感冒 | gǎnmào | verb | to have a cold | | 干净 | gānjìng | adj | clean | | 刚才 | gāngcái | adv | just now | | 高 | gāo | adj | tall or high | | 高兴 | gāoxìng | adj | happy | | 告诉 | gàosù | verb | to tell | | 哥哥 | gēge | noun | elder brother | | 个 | gè | counter | generic measure word | | 给 | gěi | verb | to encounter | | 根据 | gēnjù | verb | according to | | 跟 | gēn | verb | with | | 更 | gèng | adv | more | | 工作 | gōngzuò | verb | to work | | 公共汽车 | gōnggòng qìchē | noun | bus | | 公斤 | gōngjīn | noun | kilo | | 公司 | gōngsī | noun | company | | 公园 | gōngyuán | noun | park | | 狗 | gǒu | noun | dog | | 故事 | gùshi | noun | story | | 刮风 | guā fēng | verb | to blow (wind) | | 关 | guān | verb | to close or to shut | | 关系 | guānxì | noun | relation | | 关心 | guānxīn | verb | to concern | | 关于 | guānyú | verb | about, regarding | | 贵 | guì | adj | expensive | | 国家 | guójiā | noun | nation | | 果汁 | guǒzhī | noun | juice | | 过 | guò | verb | aspect particle | | 过去 | guòqù | noun | past | | 还 | huán | verb | to return (sth) | | 还 | hái | adv | still | | 还是 | háishì | verb | or | | 孩子 | háizi | noun | child | | 害怕 | hàipà | verb | to fear | | 汉语 | Hànyǔ | noun | Chinese (language) | | 好 | hǎo | adj | good | | 好吃 | hǎochī | adj | tasty | | 号 | hào | noun | date or number | | 喝 | hē | verb | to drink | | 和 | hé | verb | and | | 河 | hé | noun | river | | 黑 | hēi | adj | black | | 黑板 | hēibǎn | noun | blackboard | | 很 | hěn | adj/adv | very | | 红 | hóng | adj | red | | 后面 | hòumiàn | prep | back | | 护照 | hùzhào | noun | passport | | 花 | huā | verb | to spend or to cost | | 花园 | huāyuán | noun | garden | | 画 | huà | verb | to draw or to paint | | 坏 | huài | adj | bad | | 欢迎 | huānyíng | verb | to welcome | | 环境 | huánjìng | noun | environment | | 换 | huàn | verb | to exchange | | 黄 | huáng | adj | yellow | | 回 | huí | verb | to be | | 回答 | huídá | verb | to answer | | 会 | huì | verb | can (to know how to) | | 会议 | huìyì | noun | meeting | | 火车站 | huǒchēzhàn | noun | train station | | 或者 | huòzhě | verb | or | | 机场 | jīchǎng | noun | airport | | 机会 | jīhuì | noun | opportunity or chance | | 鸡蛋 | jīdàn | noun | egg | | 极 | jí | adv | extremely | | 几 | jǐ | / | how many or how much | | 几乎 | jīhū | adv | almost | | 记得 | jìde | verb | to remember | | 季节 | jìjié | noun | season | | 家 | jiā | noun | home or family | | 检查 | jiǎnchá | verb | to check | | 简单 | jiǎndān | adj | simple | | 见面 | jiànmiàn | verb | to cry | | 件 | jiàn | counter | counter for tasks, clothes, furnitures etc. | | 健康 | jiànkāng | adj | healthy | | 讲 | jiǎng | verb | to say or to speak | | 角 | jiǎo | noun | 1/10 of Chinese Yuan | | 脚 | jiǎo | noun | foot | | 叫 | jiào | verb | to call | | 教 | jiāo | verb | to teach | | 教室 | jiàoshì | noun | classroom | | 接 | jiē | verb | to catch or to pick up | | 街道 | jiēdào | noun | street | | 节目 | jiémù | noun | program | | 节日 | jiérì | noun | festival | | 结婚 | jiéhūn | verb | to marry | | 结束 | jiéshù | verb | to end | | 姐姐 | jiějie | noun | elder sister | | 解决 | jiějué | verb | to solve | | 介绍 | jièshào | verb | to introduce | | 借 | jiè | verb | to borrow or to lend | | 今天 | jīntiān | noun | today | | 近 | jìn | adj | near | | 进 | jìn | verb | to be surnamed | | 经常 | jīngcháng | adv | often | | 经过 | jīngguò | verb | to pass | | 经理 | jīnglǐ | noun | manager | | 九 | jiǔ | noun | nine | | 久 | jiǔ | adj | long (in time) | | 旧 | jiù | adj | old or used | | 就 | jiǜ | adv | at once | | 举行 | jǔxíng | verb | to hold (event) | | 句子 | jùzi | noun | sentence | | 决定 | juédìng | verb | to decide | | 觉得 | juédé | verb | to feel or to think | | 咖啡 | kāfēi | noun | coffee | | 开 | kāi | verb | to drive or to open | | 开始 | kāishǐ | verb | to begin | | 看 | kàn | verb | to look, to read, to watch | | 看见 | kànjiàn | verb | to look or to watch | | 考试 | kǎoshì | noun | exam | | 可爱 | Kě’ài | adj | cute | | 可能 | kěnéng | adv | maybe | | 可以 | kěyǐ | verb | can (to be permitted to) | | 渴 | kě | adj | thirsty | | 刻 | kè | noun | quarter (time) | | 客人 | kèren | noun | guest | | 课 | kè | noun | lesson | | 空调 | kōngtiáo | noun | air conditioner | | 口 | kǒu | noun | mouth | | 哭 | kū | verb | to smile or to laugh | | 裤子 | kùzi | noun | pants | | 块 | kuài | counter | counter for money, rocks, chocolate etc. | | 快 | kuài | adj | fast | | 快乐 | kuàilè | adj | happy | | 筷子 | kuàizi | noun | chopsticks | | 来 | lái | verb | to come | | 蓝 | lán | adj | blue | | 老 | lǎo | adj | old (in age) | | 老师 | lǎoshī | noun | teacher | | 了 | le | particle | aspect particle | | 了解 | liǎojiě | verb | to know well | | 累 | lèi | adj | tired | | 冷 | lěng | adj | cold | | 离 | lí | verb | away from | | 离开 | líkāi | verb | to leave | | 礼物 | lǐwù | noun | gift | | 里 | lǐ | prep | inside | | 历史 | lìshǐ | noun | history | | 脸 | liǎn | noun | face | | 练习 | liànxí | verb | to practice | | 两 | liǎng | noun | two | | 辆 | liàng | noun | for [vehicles](https://improvemandarin.com/transportation-in-chinese/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) | | 邻居 | línjū | noun | neighbor | | 零 | líng | noun | zero | | 六 | liù | number | six | | 楼 | lóu | noun | building or floor | | 路 | lù | noun | road | | 旅游 | lǚyóu | verb | to travel | | 绿 | lǜ | adj | green | | 妈妈 | māma | noun | mom | | 马 | mǎ | noun | horse | | 马上 | mǎshàng | adv | immediately | | 吗 | ma | verb | question particle | | 买 | mǎi | verb | to buy | | 卖 | mài | verb | to sell | | 慢 | màn | adj | slow | | 忙 | máng | adj | busy | | 猫 | māo | noun | cat | | 帽子 | màozi | noun | hat or cap | | 没 | méi | adv | not | | 没关系 | méi guānxi | / | it’s all right | | 每 | měi | adv | every | | 妹妹 | mèimei | noun | younger sister | | 门 | mén | noun | door | | 米 | mǐ | noun | meter | | 米饭 | mǐfàn | noun | (cooked) rice | | 面包 | miànbāo | noun | bread | | 面条 | miàntiáo | noun | noodle | | 名字 | míngzì | noun | name | | 明白 | míngbai | verb | to understand | | 明天 | míngtiān | noun | tomorrow | | 拿 | ná | verb | to hold or to take | | 哪/哪儿 | nǎ/nǎr | noun | which/where | | 那/那儿 | nà/nàr | noun | that/there | | 奶奶 | nǎinai | noun | grandma | | 男人 | nánrén | noun | man | | 南 | nán | prep | south | | 难 | nán | adj | difficult | | 难过 | nánguò | adj | sad | | 呢 | ne | verb | question particle | | 能 | néng | verb | can (to be able to) | | 你 | nǐ | pronoun | you (singular) | | 年 | nián | noun | year | | 年级 | niánjí | noun | grade | | 年轻 | niánqīng | adj | young | | 鸟 | niǎo | noun | bird | | 您 | nín | noun | you (singular/honorific) | | 牛奶 | niúnǎi | noun | milk | | 努力 | nǔlì | adj | studious or hard working | | 女儿 | nǚ’ér | noun | daughter | | 女人 | nǚrén | noun | woman | | 爬山 | pá shān | verb | to climb mountain | | 盘子 | pánzi | noun | plate | | 旁边 | pángbiān | prep | side | | 胖 | pàng | adj | fat | | 跑步 | pǎo bù | verb | to run | | 朋友 | péngyǒu | noun | friend | | 啤酒 | píjiǔ | noun | beer | | 票 | piào | noun | ticket | | 漂亮 | piàoliang | adj | pretty | | 苹果 | píngguǒ | noun | apple | | 葡萄 | pútáo | noun | grape | | 普通话 | pǔtōnghuà | noun | (standard) Mandarin | | 七 | qī | number | seven | | 妻子 | qīzi | noun | wife | | 其实 | qíshí | adv | actually | | 其他 | qítā | adj | other | | 奇怪 | qíguài | adj | strange | | 骑 | qí | verb | to ride | | 起床 | qǐ chuáng | verb | to get up | | 千 | qiān | counter | thousand | | 铅笔 | qiānbǐ | noun | pencil | | 前面 | qiánmiàn | prep | front | | 钱 | qián | noun | money | | 清楚 | qīngchu | adj | clear | | 晴 | qíng | adj | sunny | | 请 | qǐng | adv | please… | | 秋 | qiū | noun | autumn | | 去 | qù | verb | to do | | 去年 | qùnián | noun | last year | | 裙子 | qúnzi | noun | skirt | | 然后 | ránhòu | adv | then, afterwards | | 让 | ràng | verb | to let | | 热 | rè | adj | hot | | 热情 | rèqíng | adj | enthusiastic | | 人 | rén | noun | person or people | | 认识 | rènshi | verb | to know | | 认为 | rènwéi | verb | to think or to consider | | 认真 | rènzhēn | adj | serious or careful | | 日 | rì | noun | day | | 容易 | róngyì | adj | easy | | 如果 | rúguǒ | conj | if | | 三 | sān | number | three | | 伞 | sǎn | noun | umbrella | | 商店 | shāngdiàn | noun | shop | | 上 | shàng | prep | on, above or last | | 上班 | shàng bān | verb | to go to work | | 上网 | shàngwǎng | verb | to get online | | 上午 | shàngwǔ | noun | morning | | 少 | shǎo | adj | few | | 谁 | shéi | noun | who | | 身体 | shēntǐ | noun | body | | 什么 | shénme | pronoun | what | | 生病 | shēng bìng | verb | to get sick | | 生气 | shēngqì | verb | to get angry | | 生日 | shēngrì | noun | birthday | | 声音 | shēngyīn | noun | sound or voice | | 十 | shí | noun | ten | | 时候 | shíhou | noun | a certain point in time | | 时间 | shíjiān | noun | a period of time | | 使 | shǐ | verb | to make | | 世界 | shìjiè | noun | world | | 事情 | shìqing | noun | matter | | 是 | shì | verb | to be | | 手表 | shǒubiǎo | noun | watch | | 手机 | shǒujī | noun | mobile phone | | 瘦 | shòu | adj | thin | | 书 | shū | noun | book | | 叔叔 | shūshu | noun | uncle | | 舒服 | shūfu | adj | comfortable | | 树 | shù | noun | tree | | 数学 | shùxué | noun | math | | 刷牙 | shuāyá | verb | to brush teeth | | 双 | shuāng | counter | pair | | 水 | shuǐ | noun | water | | 水果 | shuǐguǒ | noun | fruit | | 水平 | shuǐpíng | noun | level or standard | | 睡觉 | shuìjiào | verb | to sleep | | 说话 | shuōhuà | verb | to speak | | 司机 | sījī | noun | driver | | 四 | sì | number | four | | 送 | sòng | verb | to give as a gift or to deliver | | 虽然 | suīrán | conj | although | | 岁 | suì | noun | year (of age) | | 所以 | suǒyǐ | conj | so | | 他 | tā | pronoun | he or him | | 它 | tā | pronoun | it | | 她 | tā | pronoun | she or her | | 太 | tài | adv | too… | | 太阳 | tàiyáng | noun | sun | | 糖 | táng | noun | candy or sugar | | 特别 | tèbié | adj | special | | 疼 | téng | verb | to ache | | 踢足球 | tī zúqiú | / | to play soccer | | 提高 | tígāo | verb | to improve | | 题 | tí | noun | question (exam, exercise) | | 体育 | tǐyù | noun | sports or physical education | | 天气 | tiānqì | noun | weather | | 甜 | tián | adj | sweet | | 条 | tiáo | noun | for long objects | | 跳舞 | tiào wǔ | verb | to dance | | 听 | tīng | verb | to see | | 同事 | tóngshì | noun | colleague | | 同学 | tóngxué | noun | schoolmate | | 同意 | tóngyì | verb | to agree | | 头发 | tóufa | noun | hair | | 突然 | tūrán | adv | suddenly | | 图书馆 | túshūguǎn | noun | library | | 腿 | tuǐ | noun | leg | | 外 | wài | prep | outside | | 完 | wán | verb | to finish | | 完成 | wánchéng | verb | to complete or accomplish | | 玩 | wán | verb | to play | | 晚上 | wǎnshàng | noun | evening | | 碗 | wǎn | noun | bowl | | 万 | wàn | counter | ten thousand | | 忘记 | wàngjì | verb | to forget | | 为 | wèi | verb | for (sb/sth) | | 为了 | wèile | verb | for (purpose) | | 为什么 | wèi shénme | adv | why | | 位 | wèi | counter | counter for people (formal) | | 喂 | wèi | / | hello? (on the phone) | | 文化 | wénhuà | noun | culture | | 问 | wèn | verb | to ask | | 问题 | wèntí | noun | question | | 我 | wǒ | pronoun | I or me | | 我们 | wǒmen | pronoun | we or me | | 五 | wǔ | number | five | | 西 | xī | prep | west | | 西瓜 | xīguā | noun | watermelon | | 希望 | xīwàng | verb | to hope | | 习惯 | xíguàn | noun | habit | | 洗 | xǐ | verb | to wash | | 洗手间 | xǐshǒujiān | noun | washroom | | 洗澡 | xǐzǎo | verb | to bathe | | 喜欢 | xǐhuan | verb | to like | | 下 | xià | prep | under, below or next | | 下午 | xiàwǔ | noun | afternoon | | 下雨 | xià yǔ | verb | to rain | | 夏 | xià | noun | summer | | 先 | xiān | adv | first | | 先生 | xiānsheng | noun | Mr or sir | | 现在 | xiànzài | adv | now | | 相同 | xiāngtóng | adj | same | | 相信 | xiāngxìn | verb | to believe | | 香蕉 | xiāngjiāo | noun | banana | | 想 | xiǎng | verb | to live or to stay | | 向 | xiàng | verb | towards | | 像 | xiàng | verb | as or like | | 小 | xiǎo | adj | small | | 小姐 | xiǎojiě | noun | Miss | | 小时 | xiǎoshí | noun | hour | | 小心 | xiǎoxīn | verb | to be careful | | 校长 | xiàozhǎng | noun | head of a school | | 笑 | xiào | verb | to listen | | 些 | xiē | counter | some | | 鞋 | xié | noun | shoe | | 写 | xiě | verb | to write | | 谢谢 | xièxie | verb | thanks | | 新 | xīn | adj | new | | 新闻 | xīnwén | noun | news | | 新鲜 | xīnxiān | adj | fresh | | 信 | xìn | noun | letter | | 星期 | xīngqī | noun | week | | 行李箱 | xínglǐxiāng | noun | suitcase | | 兴趣 | xìngqù | noun | interest | | 姓 | xìng | verb | to be surnamed | | 熊猫 | xióngmāo | noun | panda | | 休息 | xiūxi | verb | to rest | | 需要 | xūyào | verb | to need | | 选择 | xuǎnzé | verb | to choose | | 学生 | xuésheng | noun | student | | 学习 | xuéxí | verb | to learn | | 学校 | xuéxiào | noun | school | | 雪 | xuě | noun | snow | | 颜色 | yánsè | noun | color | | 眼睛 | yǎnjīng | noun | eye | | 眼镜 | yǎnjìng | noun | glasses | | 羊肉 | yángròu | noun | lamb or mutton | | 药 | yào | noun | medicine | | 要 | yào | verb | to want | | 要求 | yāoqiú | verb | to require | | 爷爷 | yéye | noun | grandpa | | 也 | yě | adv | also | | 一 | yī | number | one | | 一般 | yìbān | adv | generally | | 一边 | yìbiān | adv | at the same time | | 一定 | yídìng | adv | definitely | | 一共 | yígòng | adv | altogether | | 一会儿 | yíhuìr | noun | a short while | | 一起 | yìqǐ | adv | together | | 一样 | yíyàng | adj | same | | 一直 | yìzhí | adv | constantly | | 衣服 | yīfu | noun | clothes | | 医生 | yīshēng | noun | doctor | | 医院 | yīyuàn | noun | hospital | | 已经 | yǐjīng | adv | already | | 以后 | yǐhòu | adv | after, later | | 以前 | yǐqián | adv | before, ago | | 以为 | yǐwéi | verb | to think (wrongly) | | 椅子 | yǐzi | noun | chair | | 意思 | yìsi | noun | meaning | | 因为 | yīnwèi | verb | because | | 阴 | yīn | adj | cloudy | | 音乐 | yīnyuè | noun | music | | 银行 | yínháng | noun | bank | | 应该 | yīnggāi | verb | should | | 影响 | yǐngxiǎng | verb | to affect | | 用 | yòng | verb | to use | | 游戏 | yóuxì | noun | game | | 游泳 | yóu yǒng | verb | to swim | | 有 | yǒu | verb | to have | | 有名 | yǒumíng | adj | famous | | 又 | yòu | adv | again | | 右边 | yòubiān | prep | right | | 鱼 | yú | noun | fish | | 遇到 | yùdào | verb | to meet | | 元 | yuán | noun | basic monetary unit of China | | 远 | yuǎn | adj | far | | 愿意 | yuànyì | verb | to be willing to | | 月 | yuè | noun | month | | 月亮 | yuèliang | noun | moon | | 越 | yuè | adv | more | | 云 | yún | noun | cloud | | 运动 | yùndòng | verb | to do sports | | 再 | zài | adv | again | | 再见 | zàijiàn | verb | goodbye | | 在 | zài | verb | to be in | | 早上 | zǎoshàng | noun | early morning | | 怎么 | zěnme | adv | how | | 怎么样 | zěnmeyàng | / | how about | | 站 | zhàn | verb | to stand | | 张 | zhāng | counter | counter for flat objects (paper, face…) | | 长 | zhǎng | verb | to grow | | 长 | cháng | adj | long | | 丈夫 | zhàngfu | noun | husband | | 找 | zhǎo | verb | to find | | 照顾 | zhàogù | verb | to look after | | 照片 | zhàopiàn | noun | photo | | 照相机 | zhàoxiàngjī | noun | camera | | 这/这儿 | zhè/zhèr | noun | this/here | | 着 | zhe | verb | aspect particle | | 着急 | zháojí | verb | to worry | | 真 | zhēn | adv | really | | 正在 | zhèngzài | adv | indicating action in progress | | 知道 | zhīdao | verb | to know | | 只 | zhǐ | adv | only | | 中国 | Zhōngguó | noun | China | | 中间 | zhōngjiān | prep | middle | | 中午 | zhōngwǔ | noun | noon | | 终于 | zhōngyú | adv | finally | | 种 | zhǒng | noun | type | | 重要 | zhòngyào | adj | important | | 周末 | zhōumò | noun | weekend | | 主要 | zhǔyào | adj | main | | 住 | zhù | verb | to live or to stay | | 注意 | zhùyì | verb | to pay attention to | | 祝 | zhù | verb | to wish | | 准备. | zhǔnbèi | verb | to prepare | | 桌子 | zhuōzi | noun | table or desk | | 字 | zì | noun | character | | 字典 | zìdiǎn | noun | dictionary | | 自己 | zìjǐ | noun | oneself | | 自行车 | zìxíngchē | noun | bike | | 总是 | zǒngshì | adv | always | | 走 | zǒu | verb | to walk | | 最 | zuì | adv | most | | 最近 | zuìjìn | noun | recent time | | 昨天 | zuótiān | noun | yesterday | | 左边 | zuǒbiān | prep | left | | 作业 | zuòyè | noun | homework | | 作用 | zuòyòng | noun | effect | | 坐 | zuò | verb | to sit | | 做 | zuò | verb | to do | Want to take a break from HSK cramming? Check out our [explanation of the Xue Hua Piao Piao meme. ](https://blog.lingodeer.com/xue-hua-piao-piao-origin-and-meaning-explained/) ### HSK 2 Vocabulary 300 Words Full List URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-2-vocabulary-full-list/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:20:59.000Z **Hey Chinese learners, to help you study Chinese and pass HSK successfully, we present you the full list of 300 words required to know to pass HSK 2\.** [HSK ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanyu%5FShuiping%5FKaoshi?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)(Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi or Chinese Proficiency Test) is a standardized Chinese proficiency test administered by Confucius Institute Headquarters (also known as Hanban). And HSK 2 is the second easiest level among HSK 1 to 6. The list below is summarized based on the *International Curriculum for Chinese Language Education*, a book published by Hanban to for those who teach Chinese as a second language. If you are looking for more useful learning tips, don't forget to check out [*Learn Chinese from Zero to Advanced*](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/), it may give you some inspiration. Click [here](https://www.cbs.dk/files/cbs.dk/vocabulary%5Fhsk2.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to download the pdf of HSK 2 provided by Copenhagen business school. ### 150 Words Required for HSK 2 + [150 HSK 1 Words](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-1-vocabulary-list/) | Word | Pinyin | Role | English translation | | ---- | ---------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------------ | | 吧 | ba | auxiliary | (suggestion) | | 白 | bái | adjective | white | | 百 | bǎi | numeral | hundred | | 帮助 | bāng zhù | verb | to help | | 比 | bǐ | preposition | to compare with | | 别 | bié | adverb | do not | | 长 | zhǎng | adjective | long | | 唱歌 | chàng gē | verb | to sing | | 出 | chū | verb | to go out | | 穿 | chuān | verb | to wear | | 船 | chuán | noun | boat | | 次 | cì | classifier | time | | 从 | cóng | preposition | from | | 错 | cuò | adjective | wrong | | 打篮球 | dǎ lán qiú | phrase | to play basketball | | 大家 | dà jiā | pronoun | everyone | | 但是 | dàn shì | conjunction | but | | 到 | dào | verb | to arrive | | 地 | dì | auxiliary | (adverbial particle) | | 得 | děi | auxiliary | (adverbial particle) | | 等 | děng | verb | to wait | | 弟弟 | dì di | noun | younger brother | | 第一 | dì yī | numeral | first | | 对 | duì | adjective | right | | 对 | duì | preposition | towards | | 房间 | fáng jiān | noun | room | | 非常 | fēi cháng | adverb | very | | 分钟 | fēn zhōng | noun | minute | | 服务员 | fú wù yuán | noun | waiter | | 高 | gāo | adjective | tall | | 告诉 | gào sù | verb | to tell | | 哥哥 | gē ge | noun | older brother | | 给 | gěi | verb | to give | | 公共汽车 | gōng gòng qì chē | noun | bus | | 公斤 | gōng jīn | classifier | kilogram | | 公司 | gōng sī | noun | company | | 贵 | guì | adjective | expensive | | 过 | guò | auxiliary | (perfect tense) | | 还 | huán | adverb | still | | 孩子 | hái zi | noun | child | | 好吃 | hǎo chī | adjective | delicious | | 号 | hào | noun | number | | 黑 | hēi | adjective | black | | 红 | hóng | adjective | red | | 欢迎 | huān yíng | verb | to welcome | | 回答 | huí dá | verb | to answer | | 机场 | jī chǎng | noun | airport | | 鸡蛋 | jī dàn | noun | egg | | 件 | jiàn | classifier | measure word for clothing or matters | | 教室 | jiào shì | noun | classroom | | 姐姐 | jiě jie | noun | older sister | | 介绍 | jiè shào | verb | to introduce | | 进 | jìn | verb | to enter | | 近 | jìn | adjective | close | | 就 | jiù | adverb | only | | 觉得 | jué de | verb | to think | | 咖啡 | kā fēi | noun | coffee | | 开始 | kāi shǐ | verb | to begin | | 考试 | kǎo shì | noun | exam | | 可能 | kě néng | verb | to be possible | | 可以 | kě yǐ | verb | can | | 课 | kè | noun | lesson | | 快 | kuài | adjective | quick | | 快乐 | kuài lè | adjective | happy | | 累 | lèi | adjective | tired | | 离 | lí | preposition | from | | 两 | liǎng | numeral | two | | 路 | lù | noun | road | | 旅游 | lǚ yóu | verb | to travel | | 慢 | màn | adjective | slow | | 忙 | máng | adjective | busy | | 每 | měi | pronoun | every | | 妹妹 | mèi mei | noun | younger sister | | 男人 | nán rén | noun | man | | 您 | nín | pronoun | you | | 牛奶 | niú nǎi | noun | milk | | 女人 | nǚ rén | noun | woman | | 旁边 | páng biān | noun | side | | 跑步 | pǎo bù | verb | to run | | 便宜 | pián yi | adjective | cheap | | 票 | piào | noun | ticket | | 漂亮 | piào liang | adjective | beautiful | | 妻子 | qī zi | noun | wife | | 起床 | qǐ chuáng | verb | to get up | | 千 | qiān | numeral | thousand | | 晴 | qíng | adjective | sunny | | 去年 | qù nián | noun | last year | | 让 | ràng | verb | to let | | 上班 | shàng bān | verb | to go to work | | 身体 | shēn tǐ | noun | body, health | | 生病 | shēng bìng | verb | to get sick | | 生日 | shēng rì | noun | birthday | | 时间 | shí jiān | noun | time | | 事情 | shì qing | noun | matter | | 手表 | shǒu biǎo | noun | watch | | 送 | sòng | verb | to give, to send | | 所以 | suǒ yǐ | conjunction | so | | 它 | tā | pronoun | it | | 踢足球 | tī zú qiú | verb | to play football | | 题 | tí | noun | question | | 跳舞 | tiào wǔ | verb | to dance | | 外 | wài | noun | outside | | 玩 | wán | verb | to play | | 完 | wán | verb | to finish | | 晚上 | wǎn shang | noun | evening | | 喂 | wèi | interjection | hey | | 为什么 | wèi shén me | pronoun | why | | 问 | wèn | verb | to ask | | 问题 | wèn tí | noun | question | | 西瓜 | xī guā | noun | watermelon | | 希望 | xī wàng | verb | to hope | | 洗 | xǐ | verb | to wash | | 向 | xiàng | preposition | towards | | 小时 | xiǎo shí | noun | hour | | 笑 | xiào | verb | to smile | | 新 | xīn | adjective | new | | 姓 | xìng | noun | family name | | 休息 | xiū xi | verb | to rest | | 雪 | xuě | noun | snow | | 颜色 | yán sè | noun | color | | 眼睛 | yǎn jing | noun | eye | | 羊肉 | yáng ròu | noun | lamb | | 药 | yào | noun | medicine | | 要 | yào | verb | to want, will | | 也 | yě | adverb | also | | 已经 | yǐ jing | adverb | already | | 一起 | yī qǐ | adverb | together | | 意思 | yì si | noun | meaning | | 阴 | yīn | adjective | cloudy | | 因为 | yīn wèi | conjunction | because | | 游泳 | yóu yǒng | verb | to swim | | 右边 | yòu bian | noun | right side | | 鱼 | yú | noun | fish | | 元 | yuán | classifier | yuan | | 远 | yuǎn | adjective | far | | 运动 | yùn dòng | verb | to work out | | 再 | zài | adverb | again | | 早上 | zǎo shang | noun | morning | | 张 | zhāng | classifier | piece | | 丈夫 | zhàng fu | noun | husband | | 找 | zhǎo | verb | to look for | | 着 | zhuó | auxiliary | (continuing tense) | | 真 | zhēn | adverb | really | | 正在 | zhèng zài | adverb | currently | | 知道 | zhī dào | verb | to know | | 准备 | zhǔn bèi | verb | to prepare | | 自行车 | zì xíng chē | noun | bicycle | | 走 | zǒu | verb | to walk | | 最 | zuì | adverb | most | | 左边 | zuǒ bian | noun | left side | ### HSK 1 Vocabulary 150 Words Full List URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-1-vocabulary-list/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T03:21:02.000Z **Hey Chinese learners, to help you better learn Chinese and pass HSK 1 successfully, we present you the full list of 150 must-know words to pass HSK 1.** [HSK ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanyu%5FShuiping%5FKaoshi?ref=blog.lingodeer.com)(Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, or Chinese Proficiency Test) is a standardized Chinese test administered by Confucius Institute Headquarters (also known as Hanban). And Among the 6 levels of HSK 1 is the easiest level among HSK 1 to 6. The list below is summarized based on the *International Curriculum for Chinese Language Education*, a book published by [Hanban](http://www.chinese.cn/page/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com#/pcpage/mainpage) for those who teach Chinese as a second language. [Learning Chinese](https://blog.lingodeer.com/learn-chinese/) can be a difficult journey without the right methods. Luckily, you can use [LingoDeer](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to master the fundamentals or level up your learning easily. Check it out [Try LingoDeer for FREE](https://www.lingodeer.com/?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) Click [here](https://www.cbs.dk/files/cbs.dk/vocabulary%5Fhsk1.pdf?ref=blog.lingodeer.com) to download the pdf of HSK 1 provided by Copenhagen business school. ## 150 Chinese Words Tested in HSK 1 | Chinese | Pinyin | Role | English | | ------- | ------------ | ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | | 爱 | ài | verb | to love | | 八 | bā | numeral | eight | | 爸爸 | bà ba | noun | father | | 杯子 | bēi zi | noun | cup | | 北京 | běi jīng | noun | Beijing | | 本 | běn | measure word | volume (of books） | | 不客气 | bú kè qì | verb | you're welcome | | 不 | bù | adverb | no | | 菜 | cài | noun | dish | | 茶 | chá | noun | tea | | 吃 | chī | verb | to eat | | 出租车 | chū zū chē | noun | taxi | | 打电话 | dǎ diàn huà | verb | to make a phone call | | 大 | dà | adjective | big, large | | 的 | de | auxiliary | a subordinating particle that can be used to indicate possession | | 点 | diǎn | noun | o'clock | | 电脑 | diàn nǎo | noun | computer | | 电视 | diàn shì | noun | television | | 电影 | diàn yǐng | noun | movie | | 东西 | dōng xi | noun | thing, stuff | | 都 | dōu | adverb | both, all | | 读 | dú | verb | to read | | 对不起 | duì bu qǐ | verb | sorry | | 多 | duō | adjective | many, much | | 多少 | duō shao | pronoun | how many, how much | | 儿子 | ér zi | noun | son | | 二 | èr | numeral | two | | 饭店 | fàn diàn | noun | restaurant | | 飞机 | fēi jī | noun | airplane | | 高兴 | gāo xìng | adjective | happy | | 个 | gè | measure word | measure word | | 工作 | gōng zuò | verb & noun | to work, job | | 狗 | gǒu | noun | dog | | 汉语 | hàn yǔ | noun | Chinese language | | 好 | hǎo | adjective | good, nice | | 喝 | hē | verb | to drink | | 和 | hé | conjunction | and | | 很 | hěn | adverb | very | | 后面 | hòu mian | noun | back | | 回 | huí | verb | to return | | 会 | huì | verb | can, know how to | | 火车站 | huǒ chē zhàn | noun | railway station | | 几 | jǐ | pronoun | how many | | 岁 | suì | measure word | years, age | | 家 | jiā | noun | home | | 叫 | jiào | verb | to call | | 今天 | jīn tiān | noun | today | | 九 | jiǔ | numeral | nine | | 开 | kāi | verb | to open | | 看 | kān | verb | to look at | | 看见 | kàn jiàn | verb | to see | | 块 | kuài | measure word | piece | | 来 | lái | verb | to come | | 老师 | lǎo shī | noun | teacher | | 冷 | lěng | adjective | cold | | 里 | lǐ | noun | inside | | 零 | líng | numeral | zero | | 六 | liù | numeral | six | | 妈妈 | mā ma | noun | mother | | 吗 | ma | auxiliary | question marker | | 买 | mǎi | verb | to buy | | 猫 | māo | noun | cat | | 没 | méi | adverb | not | | 没关系 | méi guān xi | verb | it doesn't matter | | 米饭 | mǐ fàn | noun | rice | | 名字 | míng zi | noun | name | | 明天 | míng tiān | noun | tomorrow | | 哪儿 | nǎ'er | pronoun | where | | 那 | nà | pronoun | that | | 呢 | ne | auxiliary | particle used for suggestion | | 能 | néng | verb | to be able to | | 你 | nǐ | pronoun | you (singular) | | 你们 | nǐ men | pronoun | you (plural) | | 年 | nián | noun | year | | 女儿 | nǚ ' ér | noun | daughter | | 朋友 | péng you | noun | friend | | 苹果 | píng guǒ | noun | apple | | 七 | qī | numeral | seven | | 钱 | qián | noun | money | | 前面 | qián mian | noun | front | | 请 | qǐng | verb | please | | 去 | qù | verb | to go | | 热 | rè | adjective | hot | | 人 | rén | noun | people | | 认识 | rèn shi | verb | to know | | 日 | rì | noun | day | | 三 | sān | numeral | three | | 商店 | shāng diàn | noun | shop | | 上 | shàng | noun | above | | 上午 | shàng wǔ | noun | morning | | 少 | shǎo | adjective | few (not much/many) | | 什么 | shén me | pronoun | what | | 十 | shí | numeral | ten | | 时候 | shí hou | noun | a point of time | | 是 | shì | verb | to be | | 书 | shū | noun | book | | 谁 | shuí | pronoun | who | | 水 | shuǐ | noun | water | | 水果 | shuǐ guǒ | noun | fruit | | 睡觉 | shuìjiào | verb | to sleep | | 说话 | shuō huà | verb | to say, to speak | | 四 | sì | numeral | four | | 他 | tā | pronoun | he, him | | 她 | tā | pronoun | she, her | | 他们 | tā men | pronoun | they, them | | 她们 | tā men | pronoun | they, them | | 太 | tài | adverb | too | | 天气 | tiān qì | noun | weather | | 听 | tīng | verb | to listen | | 同学 | tóng xué | noun | classmate | | 我 | wǒ | pronoun | I, me | | 我们 | wǒ men | pronoun | we, us | | 五 | wǔ | numeral | five | | 喜欢 | xǐ huan | verb | to like | | 下 | xià | noun | below | | 下午 | xià wǔ | noun | afternoon | | 下雨 | xià yǔ | verb | to rain | | 先生 | xiān sheng | noun | mister | | 现在 | xiàn zài | noun | now | | 想 | xiǎng | verb | to think | | 小 | xiǎo | adjective | small, little | | 小姐 | xiǎo jie | noun | miss | | 些 | xiē | measure word | a few | | 写 | xiě | verb | to write | | 谢谢 | xiè xie | verb | thanks | | 星期 | xīng qī | noun | week | | 学生 | xué sheng | noun | student | | 学习 | xué xí | verb | to study | | 学校 | xué xiào | noun | school | | 一 | yī | numeral | one | | 衣服 | yī fu | noun | clothing | | 医生 | yī shēng | noun | doctor | | 医院 | yī yuàn | noun | hospital | | 椅子 | yǐ zi | noun | chair | | 有 | yǒu | verb | to have | | 月 | yuè | noun | month | | 在 | zài | preposition | at | | 再见 | zài jiàn | verb | good-bye | | 怎么 | zěn me | pronoun | how | | 怎么样 | zěn me yàng | pronoun | how about | | 这 | zhè | pronoun | this | | 中国 | zhōng guó | noun | China | | 中午 | zhōng wǔ | noun | noon | | 住 | zhù | verb | to live | | 桌子 | zhuō zi | noun | table | | 字 | zì | noun | Chinese character | | 昨天 | zuó tiān | noun | yesterday | | 做 | zuò | verb | to do | | 坐 | zuò | verb | to sit | ## More About HSK Vocabulary [HSK 2 Vocabulary List](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-2-vocabulary-full-list/) [HSK 3 Vocabulary List](https://blog.lingodeer.com/chinese-hsk-3-vocabulary-full-list/)