In about 36 to 48 hours, a lot of you will be walking into the December JLPT. The test is conducted twice a year, but the locations that put on the summer test can be limited. So, this might be the only chance for a lot of you to take the test until next year. [...]

 This is 5 Minute Kanji, and today we are going to go over a dancing kanji this time, the kanji for eight. Mnemonic: How CUte! Look at the 9 dancers, dressed to the 9s dancing to the KUs of the doves sitting on the KOKONOTSU. Onyomi: きゅう、く kyuu, ku Kunyomi: ここの.つ、ここの kokonotsu, kokono Like [...]

 Take the Quiz (casual form) Take the Quiz (polite form) Welcome everyone, this is Mac with another N5 Grammar Lesson from JLPT Boot Camp. Last episode, we learned about the uses of the が particle. Today, we are going to learn how to talk about the non-past form, which can refer to the present [...]

 This is 5 Minute Kanji, and today we are going to go over a cruising kanji this time, the kanji for eight. Mnemonic: YO! You want to party on my 8 YATTSU? I’ll pop the HACHI and let you inside. Onyomi: ハチ hachi Kunyomi: やっ.つ、や.つ、よう yattsu, yatsu, you Like the other number kanji, the [...]

 Take the Quiz Welcome everyone, this is Mac with another N5 Grammar Lesson from JLPT Boot Camp. Last episode, we learned about は, the tricky topic marking particle. Today, we are going learn how to use が, the subject marking particle. We are going to look at a few, very short exchanges. Let’s give [...]

 This is 5 Minute Kanji, and today we are going to go over a crazy nana of a kanji this time, the kanji for seven. Mnemonic: My girlfriend, SHE CHIlls by NA-NAing on a baNANA TSU relax. Onyomi: シチ shichi Kunyomi: なな、なな.つ nana, nanatsu Like the other number kanji, the onyomi is used when [...]

 Take the Quiz (appearances) Take the Quiz (personalities) Welcome everyone, this is Mac with another N5 Grammar Lesson from JLPT Boot Camp. Last episode, we learned how to use adjectives to talk about things in the past politely. Today, we are going learn how to use the は particle, sometimes called the topic marking [...]

For us here in Asia (and some places in Europe and North America), we are lucky enough to be able to take the JLPT in July.  Lucky for us, the rainy season ended just in time to give us a hot and humid weekend to take the test.  I hope everyone had a good test-taking [...]

 This is 5 Minute Kanji, and today we are going to go over a fairly easy kanji this time, the kanji for five. Mnemonic: The other day, I’m watching a ROKU and roller play the 6 string, but then my wife MUTSU the channel. Life is so unfair. Onyomi: ろく roku Kunyomi: む、む.つ, むっ.つ [...]

Take the Quiz Welcome everyone, this is Mac with another N5 Grammar Lesson from JLPT Boot Camp. Last episode, we learned how to use adjectives to talk about things in the past casually. Today, we are going learn how to use adjectives to talk about things in the past politely. We are going to look [...]

 This is 5 Minute Kanji, and today we are going to go over a fairly easy kanji this time, the kanji for five. Mnemonic: IT’S a GO! We GO in 5 minITSU! Onyomi: ご go Kunyomi: いつ、いつ.つ itsu,     itsutsu Like the other number kanji, the onyomi is used when counting up in Japanese, [...]