The Tofugu Podcast: Japan and Japanese Language

In this episode, Tofugu's research team answers questions about だ and です from our listeners, such as: "What would be the best translation of です?" "When and how does it make sense to switch between です to だ when meeting somebody new?" After listening to this episode, go check out our article on Tofugu.com for more info: "だ and です : Venturing beyond Textbook Rules into Real-Life Use" (www.tofugu.com/japanese/da-vs-desu-in-real-life/)

In this episode, the Tofugu research team answers questions about だ and です from our listeners, such as: "Is it true that だ isn't just a less polite form of です?" "What are the real differences between だ and です?" After listening to this episode, check out our article on Tofugu.com for more info: "だ and です : Venturing beyond Textbook Rules into Real-Life Use" (www.tofugu.com/japanese/da-vs-desu-in-real-life/)

This is the finale of our "First-Person Pronouns" series. In this episode, Kanae welcomes new co-hosts Cameron and Javi to discuss the use of traditionally male first-person pronouns such as 僕 or 俺 by female speakers. The discussion spans use in Japanese pop culture, media, celebrities, and the LGBTQ community. After you’ve listened to this episode, check out our article on Japanese first-person pronouns: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-first-person-pronouns/

This is the fifth episode in our "First-Person Pronouns" series. In this episode, we talk about using your own name as a first-person pronoun (and the anatomy of Anpanman). After you’ve listened to this episode, check out our article on Japanese first-person pronouns: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-first-person-pronouns/

This is the fourth episode in our "First-Person Pronouns" series. In this episode, we talk about 俺 (おれ) and why it is so tricky for Japanese learners to master. After you’ve listened to this episode, check out our article on Japanese first-person pronouns: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-first-person-pronouns/

This is the third episode in our "First-Person Pronouns" series. In this episode, Koichi, Michael, and Kanae discuss their own personal experiences with 僕 (ぼく), as well as how to sound more hip when using it. After you’ve listened to this episode, check out our article on Japanese first-person pronouns: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-first-person-pronouns/

This is the second episode in our "First-Person Pronouns" series. In this episode, we talk about うち. Though rarely taught in textbooks, うち is used fairly commonly in real life, especially in Kansai and between young females. After you’ve listened to this episode, check out our article on Japanese first-person pronouns: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-first-person-pronouns/

In this, the first episode in our "First-Person Pronouns" series, we talk about わたし, わたくし and あたし. Despite all coming from the kanji 私, each of these three pronouns carries a different level of formality and gives a different impression. We’ve included some exercises to practice things like which specific situations call for わたし and which call for わたくし. After you’ve listened to this episode, check out our article on Japanese first-person pronouns: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-first-person-pronouns/

We talk about the counters that count living things (頭, 匹, 人, and 羽) and how they overlap with each other. We also answer the hard Japanese counter questions like: can you count a robot with 人? What about a cyborg? How big can a 匹 animal be? What counter is worthy of the King of the Monsters? After you're done listening to this, learn way, way more about counters in our list of 350+ Japanese counters worth knowing: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/japanese-counters-list/

We talk about the counters 〜個 and 〜つ, the two counters that can count just about... anything! But, there are always going to be better counters out there for more specific things so we talk about those too. Consider this an overview on how to counter.