JLPT
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How to use ほとんど (hotondo): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
Think of it like the word “almost” or “most” in English. It’s for when somethin’ is near completion, or when… Read More
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How to use ぜんぜん (zenzen): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
“not at all” or “completely not.” Read More
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How to use ごとに (goto ni): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
Yo, so check it. 「ごとに」 is all about sayin’ “each” or “every.” It’s like when you’re countin’ your stacks of… Read More
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How to use ～だんだん (~dan dan): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
It ain’t sudden. It’s that “little by little,” “step-by-step” action. Read More
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How to use ～ならまだしも (~nara madashimo): A Streetwise JLPT N1 Grammar Guide
It’s like sayin’, “A is one thing, I can maybe get with that, but B? Nah, son Read More
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How to use ～くなかった / ～じゃなかった (ku nakatta) /ja nakatta): A Streetwise JLPT N5 Grammar Guide
how to say “wasn’t hot” etc. Read More
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How to use ～かった / でした (~katta / deshita): A Streetwise JLPT N5 Grammar Guide
how to say “was not hot” etc. Read More
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How to use くない / じゃない (~ku nai / ja nai): A Streetwise JLPT N5 Grammar Guide
how to say “not big” etc. Read More
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馬券と捜査官 – The Betting Ticket and the Investigator (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
A quiet courier for a city cartel might be more than he seems. Read More
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ヤギと暗殺者 – The Goat and the Assassin (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
A goat herder with prosopagnosia lives a double life. Read More
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通りの仕立て屋 – The Street Tailor (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
An underground crew uses intricate clothing patterns to evade police and outsmart rival gangs. Read More
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電車とノート – The Train and the Notebook (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
A trainspotter might be watching more than just the trains. Read More
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チェスをする金貸し – The Chess-Playing Loan Shark (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
A loan shark uses high-stakes chess matches instead of violence, but why? Read More
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蜂と捜査官 – The Bees and the Detective (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
An undercover cop has an interesting way to use bees. Read More
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コインランドリーの告白 – Laundromat Confessions (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
A deaf laundromat owner secretly gives simple advice to mobsters who believe he is a wise, trusted confidant. Read More
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How to use ～てもらう (~te morau): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
“to have someone do something for you.” Read More
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How to use ～てあげる (~te ageru): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
It’s like “Here, fam, I got you,” Read More
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How to use ～がする (~ga suru): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
Used for explaining information from your senses, kinda like “give off” Read More
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How to use ～それで (~sore de): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
because of that,” “so,” or “that’s why. Read More
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How to use ～それでも (~Sore demo): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
“but still,” or “even so,” Read More
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How to use ～それに (~sore ni): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
It’s like sayin’ “on top of that,” “what’s more,” or “plus.” Read More
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How to use ～し～し (~shi ~shi): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
It’s your way of saying, “not only this, but also that, and on top of it all…” Read More
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How to use ～だけでなく (~dake de naku): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
“not only… but also.” Read More
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How to use ～んだけど (~n dakedo): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
It’s more like a polite way of leading into a request, an apology, or just dropping a hint about something… Read More
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Understanding ~なくて (~nakute): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
“I ain’t got the dough, and I can’t get that new ride.” That’s the vibe. Read More
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Understanding ～だが (~da ga): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
This ain’t your average “but,” fam. It’s got that old-school, formal vibe, like a mob boss layin’ down the law. Read More
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Understanding ～たとえば (~tatoeba): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
For example…” or “For instance…” Read More
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Understanding ～しか～ない (~shika ~nai): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
You’re sayin’ that the amount is disappointin’ly small. It’s like you got short-changed. Read More
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Understanding ～以上 (~ijou): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
You’re sayin’ “more than, and this number is the bottom line, the minimum, the whole enchilada. Read More
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Understanding ～ほど (~hodo): A Streetwise JLPT N3 Grammar Guide
It’s like sayin’ ‘to the extent that…’ or ‘so much so that…’ Read More
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Understanding ～うちに (~uchi ni): A Streetwise JLPT N3 Grammar Guide
“while you still can,” or “before it’s too late.” Read More
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オペラ座の掃除人 – Opera House Cleaner (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
A large and intimidating cleaner at an opera house secretly watches a beautiful ballerina. Read More
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ニワトリと少年 – The bird and the boy (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
Leo’s got a special touch with the syndicate’s prize fighting roosters, and the Boss sees him as the ticket to… Read More
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パン屋の男 – The bakery Man (JLPT N4 Graded Reader)
That old timer might be going to the bakery for sweets, or he might be going there for something else. Read More
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Understanding ～ばいい (~ba ii): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
It’s all about hope or a simple suggestion for the future Read More
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Understanding ～ものとして (~mono toshite): A Streetwise JLPT N1 Grammar Guide
You’re basically saying, “Let’s just pretend this is the situation,” or “Supposing this is how it is…” Read More
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Understanding ～きんじえない (~kinji enai): A Streetwise JLPT N1 Grammar Guide
This is all about a feeling that just takes over, you get me? Read More
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Understanding ～に堪えない (~ni taenai): A Streetwise JLPT N1 Grammar Guide
This is when something is so foul, so messed up, so utterly wack that your whole being just can’t handle… Read More
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Understanding ～並み (~nami): A Streetwise JLPT N1 Grammar Guide
You use this joint when you wanna say something is “on par with,” “like,” or “the same level as” something… Read More
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Understanding ～てはかなわない (~te wa kanawanai): A Streetwise JLPT N1 Grammar Guide
It’s got this vibe of “I can’t take this anymore,” or “This is just too much for me to handle.” Read More
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Understanding ～かねない (~kanenai): A Streetwise JLPT N2 Grammar Guide
When you use 〜かねない (kanenai), you’re basically sayin’ that there’s a chance somethin’ bad could pop off. Read More
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Understanding ~ものの (~monono): A Streetwise JLPT N2 Grammar Guide
It’s a bit like saying “even though” or “although” in English. Read More
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配達トラック – The Delivery Truck (JLPT N2 Graded Reader)
Two mobsters are tasked with guarding a delivery truck, but they’re stuck in traffic, and the cargo turns out to… Read More
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けんたの さいあくな いちにち (kenta no saiakuna ichinichi) – Kenta’s worst day (JLPT N5 Graded Reader)
Kenta is sick and keep throwing up in different embarrasing areas and situations. Read More
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壊れたコーヒーマシン – The Broken Coffee Machine (JLPT N3 Graded Reader)
Situation: The Broken Coffee Machine: The mob’s safe house has a perpetually broken coffee machine. The story follows the various… Read More
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シミのひみつ (Shimi no Himitsu) – The Secret of the Stain (JLPT N5 Graded Reader)
John and Mike are aruging over whose fault the stain in the back of the car is. Read More
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Straight Outta Textbooks: 10 Real Ways to Beat the JLPT
A’ight, listen up, fam. You wanna pass this JLPT thing? Read More
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The JLPT: It’s Your Ticket to Gettin’ That Paper
What the JLPT is, how long it takes to pass each level, comparison to CEFR, how to improve Read More
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Understanding ~のように (~no you ni): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
It’s like you’re sayin’ somethin’ is “like” or “just like” some other thing. Read More
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Understanding ~みたいに (mitaini): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
It means ‘like’ or ‘similar to.’ But it’s not just a simple comparison. It’s about a simile, a likeness. Read More
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Understanding souiu (そういう): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
These point out the kind of thing we’re on about. Read More
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Understanding mitai (みたい): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
Basically, ‘mitai’ is how you say something ‘looks like’ or ‘seems like’ something else. Read More
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Understanding など (nado): A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide
“など” is like sayin’ “and so on,” “etc.,” or “things like.” Read More
![How to use ～ように [理由] (~you ni) [reason]: A Streetwise JLPT N4 Grammar Guide](https://hoodjapanese.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/gemini_generated_image_ajdlf2ajdlf2ajdl.png?w=1024)
