I will try to speak Japanese. I will try and learn this language. I will try. I am trying. These are common phrases that seem to throw people off. How do you say to try and do something? Today I break that down and deliver this ultra common phrase in under 5 minutes. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoFFlkWw Website: man...
Jul 07, 2018•4 min
[Phrase] When you want to say that you or someone else is going to or went somewhere, the simplest way is to say: Noun (the target location) にいく (ni iku) The に particle indicates direction, and the verb いく means go.
Jul 03, 2018•4 min
[noun] 一番 means the ‘number one’ or ‘first place’ of someone or something. This is often used in idiomatic phrases to indicate when someone thinks something is the best. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoFFlkWw Website: manga-sensei.com Music by Gizmo...
Jul 03, 2018•4 min
So I was at the store and I made a total fool of myself. Which is why today we are talking about screwing up. Which I tend to do everyone once and a while. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoFFlkWw Website: manga-sensei.com Music by Gizmo...
Jul 02, 2018•8 min
No f***ing way?! Dude? For real?! Because people want to know how to say some very important and often colorful things, I bring you a little more informal lesson. Usso means lie, but when used in spoken Japanese, it carries a lot more meaning.
Jun 29, 2018•4 min
Learning Japanese can be confusing. Particularly when it comes to hierarchy and the levels of formality. I often have questions about how this exactly works. Sometimes people get confused and think this is something divisive and fracturing, when it couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Jun 29, 2018•4 min
Today’s episode is dedicated to something kinda fun. I won’t spoil it, just give it a listen. It is freaking fun and cool. Manga-sensei.com
Jun 28, 2018•4 min
何しろ (nani shiro) is used when someone feels very strongly about some unusual or extreme situation. It is different from 本当に because 本当に simply means “really”, without any connotation of something extreme. 何しろ is close to the English expression “believe it or not”, “think what you may”, and “in fact”. Note that this expression is mainly spoken. Learn more at: Manga-sensei.com
Jun 26, 2018•4 min
いかにも (Ikanimo), similar to 本当に (hontou ni), is used when you want to express that you really believe what you say. Difference between the two is merely the level of formality… meaning that it is a slightly more polite way to say 本当に. It usually comes in a pair with a statement of conjecture. Meaning that something really seems a certain way, or you really feel a certain way about something.
Jun 26, 2018•4 min
This is REALLY REALLY important. That is HontoNi is really, like literally really. Really?! Really. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoFFlkWw Website: manga-sensei.com Music by Gizmo...
Jun 23, 2018•4 min
Today's sexy Japanese lesson is all about expressing "through" things. ことによる (koto ni yoru) is used when you want to be specific about what events led up to something else. The よる is the same one that makes によって, so you’ll often see/hear ことによって. In English we express this idea by saying things like “through verbing” or “due to the fact that”. [N の+こと+に+よる] [V こと+に+よる] [Adj. こと+に+よる] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twit...
Jun 22, 2018•5 min
を通して (wo tooshite) shows that something is done through some means, or happens through some time period. On the surface it is quite similar to によって, but there is a subtle difference. によって has a TON of other meanings in addition to the meaning above. So, if you want to be very clear that what you mark is the means, not the indirect agent or something, then you should use を通して. It literally means “passing through ___”, so translates quite directly to the English “through”. [noun を通して) Instagram: h...
Jun 21, 2018•5 min
Today's awesome grammar point it やっと (yatto) is used to express that what the subject wanted has “finally” been achieved, or that it was just “barely” possible for the subject to do. This can work in a few ways, for instance: It is hard work to get into college, it is also hard work to wait for summer break. When やっと is used, the speaker or subject has a degree of ownership over the action that has been achieved, there is a certain level of work/struggle to recognize a result. In English, it usu...
Jun 20, 2018•4 min
Today we are talking about a 'fun' yet sad words called Toutou. とうとう (toutou) Something that the speaker or subject has been expecting “finally” happened. It might sound similar to やっと, but it doesn’t carry the positive connotation of the thing being desirable. Quite the opposite, frequently the thing that happens in a とうとう sentence is something undesirable that one has no control over. However, if the thing was something in your control than it expresses a sense of satisfaction over the process...
Jun 19, 2018•4 min
For all those people wondering. It is back up! The 30 day Japanese Challenge, the challenge to learn the basics of Japanese in 30 days is back in full swing with a whole new look. Check out our website for our free challenge to kick some butt and learn some epic Japanese. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoFFlkWw Website...
Jun 18, 2018•4 min
Today I interview my friend Kyle from Tokyo Munchiez! This is a feelgood fun episode where we talk about food in Japan, culture, candy, and Kyle is an insane crazy dude who loves skateboarding like I do so we talk alot about that. This super fun episode also ends in talking about taking life by the horns and rocking it. Enjoy this wide-ranging conversation with my homie Kyle. https://www.google.com/maps?q=sekiya+skateboard+park+japan&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiozYyY_9nbAhWI6IMKHR8LAz4Q_AUICi...
Jun 17, 2018•35 min
Today was a good day. This episode we finish up talking about koto and mono the two SUPER useful nominalizers. These two grammar points should open all kinds of doors and ideas for your Japanese brain to use. Also, make sure to check out our comic on the website. WE have been working hard on it. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCV...
Jun 15, 2018•5 min
Koto and Mono are two very popular nominalizers, but powerful opposites. Now that we know what mono is, we are ready to discuss the more common and maybe even more useful thing that is koto. Koto is an intangible "thing" like an idea, method, concept or something else of that nature. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoFF...
Jun 14, 2018•5 min
While mono is a thing, like we talked about yesterday there are somethings that we need to clear up about this incredibly common and useful "thing" that is mono. If you are unfamiliar with what I am talking about, mak sure to listen to yesterday's podcast, so this episode makes sense. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoF...
Jun 13, 2018•5 min
This thing is the thing that makes things things. That's right that was a completely accurate sentence. This is an EXTREMELY important episode for understanding a super amazing grammar point. Mono or is the thing that actually means "thing" and is a literal physical object. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoFFlkWw Websi...
Jun 12, 2018•4 min
John Sensei goes off on a little bit of a rant. Not kidding, it may be a little harsh, but then again he is really passionate about this topic. So hope this doesn't get you too wound up, but we hope you enjoy this... candid diatribe.
Jun 11, 2018•9 min
While this week we have been talking about greetings I have had alot of people requesting that I teach a little bit of colloquial slang, and though I am no native of Japanese, I am a grammarian and will grant your wish. With that in mind these slang words work around the greetings theme and I find quite fun to use. Enjoy.
Jun 08, 2018•4 min
Did you know your greetings change when you come home or leave your house? Well... have we got a fun episode for you then. Check it out! (Also the site will be up again soon. Don’t worry) Manga-sensei.com/podcast
Jun 08, 2018•4 min
We continue our visiting and greeting grammar. This is a really fun and heartwarming episode that will hopefully make you Japanese better and help you sound a little bit more friendly and respectful when visiting someone's house in Japan. We talk a bit about comings and goings and how to enter and exit; plus a little bit of Japanese culture.
Jun 06, 2018•4 min
Much like yesterday, we are talking about how to make Japanese more fluent even though it is very simple. Saying "Goodbye" in Japanese can be alot more tricky than you may initially think. We combat some of those little confusing things and make your Japanese just that much better.
Jun 05, 2018•4 min
People tend to get confused about how to actually say hello in Japanese. They often confused how you spell Konnichiwa and Konbanwa, not to mention the pronunciation of alot of these people are dreadful. You only need to look as far as weeaboo cringe compilations to see what I am talking about. This episode is to put all of that to rest and make you "hellos" better.
Jun 05, 2018•4 min
Are there ways to think about learning a language? There are more than one way to attack a language, and many ways to think about one. This META episode is kinda fun in the it get yo thinking and hopefully helps your brain grow a bit.
Jun 03, 2018•8 min
Today we interview the guy who you here at the beginning and end of each episode. You're boy, Gizmo. The Man from Kuro Kouch. This dude is awesome and we are so happy to be part of his official launch. I hope you enjoy this AMAZING interview and check out his CD: Tokyo Ronin. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkL93Aa7R0Q&list=PLE5Y_mmgGjMCRUaRW6WT_Iz9m6oFKA10b Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0PofOjlM0uGYVN85BdoCXQ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tokyo-ronin/1386129925 Ba...
Jun 02, 2018•31 min
Would you please... Would you mind... Would you... All those wonderful things are in today's ultra mega awesome itadaku podcast. Enjoy. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themangasensei/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themangasensei/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/themangasensei Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyhPCVFsM_0D0YtoFFlkWw Website: manga-sensei.com Music by Gizmo...
Jun 01, 2018•5 min
I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about this important part of Japanese culture with ya’ll before moving to other grammar points. Have you ever heard of this important part of Japanese culture? Thought about doing business in Japan but didn’t know where to start? Start here. This little lesson might save you a lot of pain.
Jun 01, 2018•4 min
