Japanese from Scratch with YUKO

Do you like soccer? Even if you're not a big soccer fan, I think you'll enjoy today's episode. Today’s episode is a little different. It's a special episode because the FIFA World Cup is happening now! By the end of this episode, you'll be able to cheer for Japan just like Japanese fans!

Today, we're continuing our series on transitive and intransitive verbs. Have you ever wondered about the difference between ireru and hairu , dasu and deru , or nakusu and nakunaru ? In this episode, we'll learn how to use these common verb pairs in everyday Japanese.

Today, we’re continuing our series on transitive and intransitive verbs. This time, we’ll look at another group of really useful verbs— like tomeru / tomaru, mawasu / mawaru, and hajimeru / hajimaru. These verbs are great for describing things that stop, start, or move—either by themselves or because someone makes them happen. Please enjoy listening!

Today, we’re starting a new series about something many Japanese learners find confusing: transitive and intransitive verbs. In Japanese, there are many verb pairs like akeru and aku, and choosing the right one can be tricky at first. In this first episode, we’ll focus on simple and practical verbs you can use when talking about doors and lights!

Today, we’re continuing our series Japanese Adjectives You Always Mix Up .In Part 3, we focus on temperature and feelings. You’ll learn the difference between words like atsui , atatakai , samui , suzushii , and tsumetai . Perfect for helping you avoid common mistakes and sound more natural in Japanese!

Today, we’re continuing our series on confusing Japanese adjectives. We’ll start with three words that many learners mix up: “ookii,” “ooi,” and “hiroi.” We’ll also learn how to say “busy” naturally in Japanese, and what “takai” really means. I hope you enjoy this episode and learn a lot!

Do you know the difference between むずかしい and たいへん? They both mean “difficult,” but they’re actually quite different. Today’s topic is confusing Japanese adjectives. In Japanese, there are many adjectives that seem similar, but actually have slightly different meanings depending on the situation. Learning these differences will help you sound more natural and confident in Japanese.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about confusing words related to time. You’ll learn the difference between words like asa and gozen, hiru and gogo, and yoru and ban. And we’ll also look at an important difference between ichi-ji (one o’clock) and ichi-jikan (one hour). Let's get started!

Today, we’re going to focus similar nouns and pronouns used to talk about people. If you’ve ever been unsure about words like kare, kanojo, or when to say someone’s name instead of “he” or “she,” this episode is for you!

Today, we’re going to look at similar nouns. Our topic is words for students and teachers in Japanese. In English, we usually just say student or teacher, but in Japanese there are several different words depending on the situation. After listening to this episode, you will feel more confident using the right words in the right situations.

Last week, we talked about some Japanese verbs that have similar meanings but are used differently. In today’s episode, we’ll continue that topic and look at four more verb pairs like "anpo o shimasu" and " arukimasu" that learners often mix up.

Do you know the difference between "hanashimasu" and "iimasu"? Today, we’re going to look at verbs that have similar meanings but are used in different situations. I’ll introduce four pairs of verbs, so you can really see how they’re different.

Today, we’re going to introduce more pairs of Japanese verbs that are easily mixed up. Do you know what kimasu means? It means “to come” and also “to wear”! So complicated, right? I hope today’s episode will help you remember these confusing verbs correctly.

Have you ever mixed up Japanese verbs that sound very similar? Today, we’re going to explore commonly confused verbs that many learners struggle with such as karimasu, kashimasu, kaeshimasu, karimasu. Let’s take it step by step and untangle these tricky verbs together.

Today, we will learn expressions about food and drinks. Do you know How to say "I'm hungry." "I'm thirsty." "The soup is salty." in Japanese? Let’s learn these expressions and enjoy Japanese mealtimes!

Today’s topic is a very small word in Japanese — “sou.” A student recently asked me,“What does sou mean?” And honestly, that’s a hard question. Because Japanese people use sou all the time, but we rarely think about its meaning.　 So today, let’s take a closer look at sou, and see why this simple word is actually very Japanese!

In our past episodes, we have spent a lot of time learning polite Japanese—the style that ends with Desu and Masu. But, have you ever felt a little bit of a "wall" when talking to Japanese friends? Today, we would like to talk 3 easy tips to master casual Japanese!

Watching Japanese movies, TV dramas, and anime is a really good way to learn Japanese and Japanese culture. So today, I’d like to introduce some of my favorite Japanese TV dramas. Please enjoy listening!

In the last episode, we talked about Japanese music. Listening to Japanese music is a great way to study Japanese. But music isn’t the only option. Watching Japanese movies, TV dramas, and anime is also a really good way to learn. So today, I’d like to introduce famous Japanese film directors and some of my favorite Japanese movies. Please enjoy listening!

Today, I’d like to talk about Japanese songs. Do you like listening to music? If you do, Japanese songs can be a great way to learn Japanese. I'll introduce various Japanese music and popular J-pos artists!

Some Japanese expressions that are used very often in daily life can be confusing. Today, we’ll talk about one of the most useful phrases in Japanese —“yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” Also I will answer to a very common question the difference between "Sumimasen" and "Sumimasen deshita". Please enjoy!

Do you know some of Japanese onomatopia? In Japanese, onomatopoeia are words that describe sounds, feelings, movements, or the way things look. Today, I will introduce 10 beginner-friendly onomatopoeia with example sentences. Please enjoy!

Do you have any trip plans coming up? Today, I’m going to introduce some phrases you can use to talk about what you have to do before a trip. I have a small announcement. We’ll be taking a short break for a few weeks—or maybe about a month, but please listen to the past episodes during the break, and feel free to leave comments with topic ideas or questions!

Today, we are going to talk about katakana words in Japanese. Words borrowed from foreign languages are usually written in katakana. For English speakers, katakana words might look easy at first. But in reality, their pronunciation and sometimes even the meaning can be quite different from English. So today, we will introduce katakana words in three categories to help you understand and use them m...

Today, we’re going to talk about weather expressions in Japanese. You’ll learn how to say things like “It’s sunny,” “It’s raining,” and “The wind is blowing.” Please enjoy listening!