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<rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Hitokuchi blog</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/</link><description>Guides to learning Japanese.</description><language>en</language>
<item><title>How to learn hiragana: a calm one-week plan</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/how-to-learn-hiragana.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/how-to-learn-hiragana.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>A realistic plan to learn all 46 hiragana in about a week, with memory pictures, the order to learn them in, and the mix-ups almost everyone makes.</description></item>
<item><title>Hiragana, katakana and kanji: what each one is for</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/hiragana-katakana-kanji.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/hiragana-katakana-kanji.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>Japanese uses three scripts at once. Here's what hiragana, katakana and kanji each do, why you need all three, and the order to learn them in.</description></item>
<item><title>The JLPT N5: a beginner's guide to the first Japanese exam</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/jlpt-n5-guide.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/jlpt-n5-guide.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>What the JLPT N5 tests, how long each part takes, the pass marks, the 2026 test dates, and how to prepare for it, in plain English.</description></item>
<item><title>25 Japanese phrases for your first trip to Japan</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-phrases-for-travel.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-phrases-for-travel.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>The Japanese phrases that actually get used on a trip to Japan, for shops, restaurants, trains and getting help, with romaji and what people will say back.</description></item>
<item><title>How to make matcha at home (and the Japanese words for it)</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/how-to-make-matcha-at-home.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/how-to-make-matcha-at-home.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>A simple, step-by-step guide to whisking a bowl of matcha at home, the tools you need, how to choose good matcha, and the Japanese words that go with it.</description></item>
<item><title>Japanese greetings for every time of day</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-greetings.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-greetings.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>How to say hello, good morning, goodnight and goodbye in Japanese, when to use each one, and the everyday set phrases Japanese people say at home and work.</description></item>
<item><title>How to introduce yourself in Japanese (jikoshōkai)</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/self-introduction-in-japanese.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/self-introduction-in-japanese.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>A simple Japanese self-introduction you can learn today, line by line, with your name, where you're from, what you do and the polite phrases that start and end it.</description></item>
<item><title>Japanese particles for beginners: は, が, を, に, で, へ and more</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-particles.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-particles.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>Japanese particles are the small words that show how a sentence fits together. Here are the ten you need first, each with simple examples.</description></item>
<item><title>は vs が: the simple explanation</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/wa-vs-ga.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/wa-vs-ga.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>The difference between the Japanese particles は (wa) and が (ga), explained simply, with the four rules that cover most beginner sentences.</description></item>
<item><title>Polite vs casual Japanese: です/ます and when to drop them</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/polite-and-casual-japanese.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/polite-and-casual-japanese.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>Japanese changes depending on who you're talking to. Here's how polite です/ます forms work, what casual Japanese looks like, and which to use when.</description></item>
<item><title>How to count in Japanese: numbers and counters made simple</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/counting-in-japanese.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/counting-in-japanese.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>Learn Japanese numbers from 1 to 10,000, why some numbers have two readings, and the handful of counters you need for things, people and drinks.</description></item>
<item><title>Telling the time in Japanese, plus days and dates</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/telling-time-in-japanese.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/telling-time-in-japanese.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>How to say the time, the days of the week and dates in Japanese, including the irregular readings everyone has to learn.</description></item>
<item><title>The Japanese て-form explained, with an easy way to remember it</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/te-form-explained.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/te-form-explained.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>The て-form is one of the most useful verb forms in Japanese. Here's what it does, how to make it from any verb, and a simple way to remember the rules.</description></item>
<item><title>A 3-month JLPT N5 study plan (20–30 minutes a day)</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/n5-study-plan.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/n5-study-plan.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>A realistic week-by-week plan to get from zero to JLPT N5 level in about three months, with what to study each week and how to review.</description></item>
<item><title>Konbini Japanese: phrases for Japan's convenience stores</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/konbini-japanese.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/konbini-japanese.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>What staff say at a Japanese convenience store, how to answer, and the phrases you need for heating food, bags, chopsticks and paying.</description></item>
<item><title>How to order food in Japanese at a restaurant</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/ordering-at-a-restaurant.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/ordering-at-a-restaurant.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>Every step of eating out in Japan, in Japanese: getting a table, ordering, asking about the menu, saying thank you and paying the bill.</description></item>
<item><title>さん, くん, ちゃん, さま: Japanese name endings explained</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-honorifics.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-honorifics.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>What the Japanese honorifics san, kun, chan, sama and sensei mean, who uses them for whom, and the one name you never add them to.</description></item>
<item><title>Matcha grades explained: what “ceremonial grade” really means</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/matcha-grades-explained.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/matcha-grades-explained.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>Why &quot;ceremonial grade&quot; isn't an official Japanese matcha grade, what actually decides matcha quality, and how to choose a good one, with the Japanese words on the label.</description></item>
<item><title>The Japanese tea ceremony: a simple guide for guests</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/tea-ceremony-for-guests.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/tea-ceremony-for-guests.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>What happens at a Japanese tea ceremony, how to receive and drink a bowl of matcha, and the few phrases a guest says, explained simply for first-timers.</description></item>
<item><title>Japan's seasons in words: hanami, tsuyu, momiji and more</title><link>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-seasons.html</link><guid>https://hitokuchijapanese.com/blog/japanese-seasons.html</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2026 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><description>The Japanese words for the four seasons, and the seasonal customs and words everyone in Japan knows, from cherry blossom viewing to autumn leaves.</description></item>
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