Learn essential Japanese New Year words and traditions, including oshougatsu, akemashite omedetou, hatsumode, otoshidama, osechi, ozoni, kadomatsu, nengajo, and more.
Learn the meaning of hikari (光) in Japanese. Discover how it means physical light, hope, guidance, and brilliance, how the kanji originated, how to use it naturally, and what Hikari means as a Japanese name.
Learn the meaning of sekai (世界) in Japanese. Discover how it can mean the world, society, a realm, or a personal inner world, how the kanji and word originated, how to use it naturally, and how sekai differs from chikyū, uchū, shakai, isekai, and sekaikei.
Learn what otoshidama means, why Japanese children receive money at New Year, how to write お年玉 in kanji, and how to prepare an otoshidama envelope called a pochibukuro.
Learn the meaning of kokoro (心) in Japanese. Discover why it can mean heart, mind, feelings, or spirit, how the kanji originated, how to pronounce and use it, and why kokoro appears so often in anime songs and Japanese lyrics.
Learn the meaning of yume (夢) in Japanese. Discover how it means both a dream during sleep and a future aspiration, how the kanji originated, how to use it naturally, and what yume kawaii means.
Learn what oshougatsu means, how to write and pronounce お正月, when the Japanese New Year is celebrated, and the meanings of osechi, ozoni, kadomatsu, hatsumode, otoshidama, and other traditions.
Learn what akemashite omedetou and akemashite omedetou gozaimasu mean, how to write the phrase in kanji and hiragana, how to pronounce it, when to use it, and how to reply naturally.
Learn what hatsumode means, how to write and pronounce 初詣, when and how to do it, shrine and temple etiquette, and the best Tokyo shrines and temples for a New Year visit.
Learn what the Japanese particle よ (yo) means at the end of a sentence. This beginner-friendly guide explains yo vs ne, da yo, desu yo, yo ne, advice, warnings, anime usage, pronunciation, and natural examples.
