Learn what obi (帯) means, whether “obi belt” is correct, how an obi is worn with kimono and yukata, and the differences between fukuro obi, Nagoya obi, hanhaba obi, kaku obi, obijime, and obiage.
Learn what wasabi means in Japanese, how to write and pronounce it, what real wasabi is, why many green pastes use horseradish, and how fresh, tube, and imitation wasabi differ.
Learn essential Japanese sushi vocabulary and how to order sushi in Japan. Includes sushi types, fish names, restaurant lingo, ordering phrases, etiquette, pronunciation, and beginner FAQs.
Learn the meaning of inemuri (居眠り), how to pronounce and use it, and why people sometimes doze at work, school, or on trains in Japan. This beginner-friendly guide also explains why inemuri does not mean that sleeping at work is always acceptable.
Learn how to say sleep in Japanese with beginner-friendly explanations of 寝る, 眠る, 睡眠, 昼寝, 居眠り, ぐっすり, and more. This guide also introduces Japanese sleep culture, including futons, family co-sleeping, inemuri, bathing, and common bedtime phrases.
The ginger served with sushi is called gari. Learn what gari means in Japanese, why it has that name, how it is made, why it comes with sushi, how to eat it, and how it differs from beni shoga.
Learn the difference between neru (寝る) and nemuru (眠る), two common Japanese verbs meaning “to sleep.” This beginner-friendly guide explains lying down, going to bed, being asleep, conjugations, natural examples, and related expressions.
Learn what gussuri (ぐっすり) means in Japanese, how to pronounce and use it, and how it differs from suyasuya, utouto, guuguu, and jukusui. This beginner-friendly guide also explains whether gussuri comes from “good sleep.”
Learn what hirune (昼寝) means in Japanese, how to pronounce and use it, and how it differs from inemuri, utatane, kamin, and gosui. Includes beginner-friendly explanations, natural examples, and common phrases such as ohirune.
Learn what ki wo tsukete (気をつけて) means in Japanese, how it differs from ki wo tsukete ne and ki wo tsukete kudasai, when it means “take care,” “be careful,” or “watch out,” and how to reply naturally.
