Laid-back Japanese

For many learners, kanji is a scary word. But it doesn't have to be! Chie and Ty talk about how they both learned kanji as a native and as a second language learner, and give advice on what is helpful and what just isn't. Get over any kanji fears with the help of NativShark: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes: https://www.nativshark.com/tools/using-nativshark/lbjp-kanji

One of the coolest parts about visiting Japan is checking out all the shrines and temples that you can find just everywhere. But if you're anything like Ty, sometimes you're a bit nervous that you might be being rude. Fear shrine and temple visits no longer as Chie and Ty discuss the dos and dont's! One of the easiest ways to understand shrines and temples is to understand the language as well: Sh...

One of the best ways to learn Japanese is doing something that keeps your motivation high. Playing video games along with going through your core studies is an excellent way to improve your Japanese while maintaining motivation. In fact, most of Ty's Japanese exposure for the first 4 years or so was through video games. Chie and Ty talk about how to learn from video games, answer common questions,...

Whether you're living or traveling in Japan, knowing how to reach the police in the case of an emergency is always important. In this episode, Chie and Ty talk about 交番, kouban, or police boxes, which are smaller police hubs that make it easy for you to find or reach the police if you need them. NativShark also has a lesson on asking people to call the police or an ambulance: https://www.nativsh...

がり gari is a great word with lots of uses. It also is used in some grammar points and onomatopoeia. Get a thorough understanding of this word with Chie and Ty because we know you are 知りたがるing. Want to study more Japanese? Sign up and get extra time on your trial with this link: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes: https://www.nativshark.com/tools/using-nativshark/lbjp-gari

Every language has its different ways to talk about relationships, but why does Japanese have this extra word for them called ご縁 goen? What's the difference of this word and the normal word for relationships, 関係 kankei? Chie gives us her 知恵 (chie, wisdom) and Ty tries to tie his brain around this word that doesn't quite exist in English. Understanding a wide variety of concepts is very helpf...

One thing that definitely has stayed in our minds for the past almost two years now is COVID, and more recently, the vaccine. What is some language we might see when getting the vaccine or visiting a doctor? How about common side effects? Chie and Ty talk about their experiences getting the vaccine in both Japan and the US. Learn how to describe what you feel with NativShark: https://www.nativshar...

What up, my fellow kids? In today's LBJP lesson Chie and Ty will be talking about all the hip slang you hear the cool people using nowadays. Sometimes words we use commonly are actually quite casual or slangy without us even realizing it, so come and join us as we explore these and talk about when would be the best time to use phrases like ドン引き and むねきゅん! Stop talking like a textbook and...

In Japan, basically everybody knows their blood type. And they'll even assign certain personality traits to having certain blood types. What's the difference of Japan and America regarding blood type? Is it similar to horoscopes? Join Chie and Ty as we explore this topic (and also side track and rant about the food we've been making recently). Get a deeper look into Japan's culture and tendencies...

One thing you'll find yourself dealing with if you're in Japan during the summer is 梅雨 tsuyu, or the rainy season. Just what is this season and what should we keep an eye out for if we're over here during it? Chie and Ty talk about some tips and language useful for this wonderful (but sometimes dangerous) season. Fear no weather reports in Japanese by getting an extra week on your free trial: ht...

One thing that should not be ignored when learning Japanese is formality levels. That being said, do not fear! Getting a full understanding of these will come naturally with time... and with getting a foundation with Chie and Ty in this episode. Master all the formality levels with help of formality markers on every sentence by signing up with NativShark at: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show no...

Bakeries, or パン屋さん pannyasan, are a wonderful experience that you should not miss out on when you come to Japan. What wonders are they filled with? How are they different from other places like America? Chie and Ty explore this and talk about some Japanese you might run into while enjoying one. Get an extra week to the start of your Japanese studies and fear no パン屋さん interaction by signi...

Chie and Ty fix the issue of not having an episode about relaxing in Japanese despite the podcast being called Laid-back Japanese. Let's relax extra today and explore this language... but not too much because we'll also talk about how to say we couldn't relax as well. Need to calm down with your Japanese studies? Keep up your progression and get rid of the stress by signing up with NativShark: htt...

One thing a learner of Japanese can never look too much at is onomatopoeia, so Chie and Ty bring you another episode of just that. Let's sit back, relax, and talk about Japanese onomatopoeia for fluffy things and then check out some language we can say when talking about hard things as well. Master using onomatopoeia naturally (and get yourself extra time on a free trial) by signing up with NativS...

Let's talk trash. Not that kind of trash talk, I mean Japan's sometimes confusing trash system. The amount of rules can be a bit overwhelming if it's your first time in Japan, so come relax with Chie and Ty as they attempt to dispel the confusion about this topic. Learn other cultural and general rule differences at: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes: https://www.nativshark.com/tools/usin...

There's a lot to talk about in regards to Japanese pronunciation. What is the Japanese R and N sound? What's pitch accent? Should I worry about it? Whether you're new to Japanese or have been studying for a few years, it's usually not a bad idea to go over this topic every now and then and keep in it the back of our minds as we continue to progress through our studies. Join Chie and Ty as they go...

しっかり shikkari is a highly useful and common word that isn't always the easiest to translate into English at times. Why isn't is easy to bring into English? How can I use it and sound like a native when speaking Japanese? Come relax with Chie and Ty and get a nice しっかり understanding of the word しっかり. Don't forget to しっかり continue your studies and get an extra week on your free trial...

一生 isshou and 二度と nidoto are great when talking about once in a lifetime opportunities and things you'll never do again. How exactly can we use both of these naturally? What are some points to be careful about? Chie and Ty break it down and talk about their own once in a lifetime chances as well. Share your once in a lifetime chances in our community at https://www.nativshark.com/community an...

～ばいい and ～ばよかった are a great way to say "should" in Japanese. Chie and Ty explore this N3 grammar point and Ty talks a bit about his experience with the N1 using this language as well. Want to learn Japanese? NativSharkに登録すればいいよ。(You should sign up for NativShark): https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes here: https://www.nativshark.com/tools/using-nativshark/lbjp-ba-ii

We covered counters and owning pets in part one, but there's so much more to talk about. Here in part two, Chie and Ty talk about commands you can give your pets along with our oh so beloved Japanese onomatopoeia related to pets, and how we can use them elsewhere as well. Get used to onomatopoeia from the start with NativShark: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes: https://www.nativshark.com...

Pets are always a great topic to get to know people with, so what is some useful Japanese we can use when talking about them? Japanese counters are definitely on the list, along with some language for what pets you want to own or have owned before. Sign up for NativShark and don't be afraid to practice speaking Japanese to your dog: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes: https://www.nativshar...

Pizza is tasty no matter where you go, but in Japan it's probably very different from what you're expecting. Come relax with Chie and Ty and let's talk about how it's different and share some delicious stories while we're at it. Struggle through no food orders in Japan by learning with NativShark: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes: https://www.nativshark.com/tools/using-nativshark/lbjp-pi...

A great way to express something is spite of the fact of something else is to use くせに kuse ni. It's similar to のに but also different in a few key ways. Join Chie and Ty as they explore this further, and ask us questions in the community discord at https://www.nativshark.com/community. Build the habit of studying Japanese that's actually used by people: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show not...

One experience to not miss out on when in Japan is going to カラオケ karaoke. But what is some useful language for going to カラオケ? Chie and Ty explore this listener-requested topic and talk about some times they went to カラオケ as well. Practice your reading abilities with NativShark so you can make sure to keep up with the Japanese lyrics on screen: https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes...

It seems like Chie and Ty are taking a look at the grammar pointっぽい. っぽい ppoi is an extremely useful grammar point and we think it being in the JLPT N2 category is quite unfair for something so useful. So let's kick back, relax, and learn just how useful this really is. 日本語勉強したいっぽいですね！ (It seems like you want to study Japanese^^): https://www.nativshark.com/lbjp Show notes: ht...