In this episode, Kimi shares a small but very important cultural difference in Japanese conversation: why people rarely use “anata,” and how they actually call each other in real life.

You will learn why Japanese often drop the subject in sentences, and why using a person’s name with “さん” or “ちゃん” is much more natural than saying “あなたは…”

Kimi also explains how names and forms of address change depending on closeness, and why even close friends sometimes keep using the same name style for years.

If you are not sure what to call someone, the simple rule is: start with “きみさん” or ask directly:
「なんてよべばいいですか？」

It is always better than guessing, because every person feels a little different about names.

And if you want to practice natural Japanese conversation more deeply, Kimi also offers lessons on iTalki⁠.

Thanks for listening, and see you in the next episode!

In this practice episode, you’ll review Japanese supermarket vocabulary while practicing simple, useful sentences.

Today’s vocabulary:

🥬 やさい (vegetables)
🍅 とまと (tomato)
🥒 きゅうり (cucumber)
🥬 きゃべつ (cabbage)
🥔 じゃがいも (potato)
🥕 にんじん (carrot)
🧅 たまねぎ (onion)
🍉 すいか (watermelon)
🍒 さくらんぼ (cherry)
🥚 たまご (egg)
🥛 ぎゅうにゅう (milk)
🍞 ぱん (bread)

You will practice:

・きのう すーぱーに いきました。
・きょう とまとと きゅうりを かいました。
・まいあさ ぎゅうにゅうを のみます。
・あさ ぱんと たまごを たべます。
・なつに すいかを たべます。
・はるに さくらんぼを たべます。
・ときどき ぎゅうにくを たべます。
・あした たまごを かいます。
・きゃべつを きります。
・ぱんを やきます。

Practice with me, then test yourself by answering before you hear the Japanese!

Book a lesson with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Today we’re taking a tour through a Japanese supermarket!

Learn useful Japanese vocabulary for vegetables, meat, bread, milk, and more while discovering some fun cultural differences you’ll notice when shopping in Japan.

In this episode, you’ll learn words like:

• やさい (vegetables)
• トマト (tomato)
• きゅうり (cucumber)
• キャベツ (cabbage)
• にんじん (carrot)
• たまねぎ (onion)
• じゃがいも (potato)
• とりにく (chicken)
• ぶたにく (pork)
• ぎゅうにく (beef)
• たまご (eggs)
• ぎゅうにゅう (milk)
• パン (bread)

We’ll also talk about:

• Seasonal food in Japan (旬)
• Japanese cherries vs. American cherries
• Why Japanese meat is usually sliced thin
• What あいびきにく means
• Bread surprises like あんこ and カレーパン
• Organic, free-range, and cage-free products in Japan

Next episode, we’ll practice using all of these words in Japanese!