Glossary (A–Z)
A quick reference for key vocabulary and concepts. Use the letters to jump.
- Agreement
-
When two words are linked (like a subject and a verb), the language may force them to “match” in certain features—like singular vs. plural, who’s doing the action (person), and in many languages gender or case. If one word changes, the other word has to change too.
English examples:
She runs (singular subject → singular verb form)
They run (plural subject → plural verb form) - Aisatsu（挨拶） あいさつ
- Set greetings used to open/close interactions.
- Beyond-Essential Japanese
- The next layer after “survival + smooth communication”: it’s where you can choose your Japanese strategically — and sometimes break expectations on purpose.
- Conjugation
-
Conjugation is the way a verb changes form to show grammar like tense (when), person (who), and sometimes number (how many).
English examples:
I walk / She walks
I walk / I walked
- Essential Japanese
- The minimum core you need for smooth, real-world communication — not “perfect Japanese,” but the stuff that keeps conversations working.
- First person
- Used when the speaker refers to themself, or to a group that includes the speaker. Typical English pronouns: I / we.
- Keishō（敬称） けいしょう
- Respect-marking words that you attach to someone’s name or title — or sometimes use on their own — to signal politeness or respect.
- Second person
- Used when the speaker addresses the listener directly — talking to the person (or people) they’re speaking with. Typical English pronouns: you (singular or plural).
- Third person
- Used when the speaker talks to the listener about someone or something else — not the speaker and not the listener. Typical English pronouns: he / she / it / they.