Japanese passive forms can be difficult to get used to at first. Finding a few phrases you understand, such as 初めて言われました, can make it easier to access others.

I like to think of these words (which are literally polite ways to say "your company" and "my company") as "replacement pronouns." Once you learn to differentiate them, this concept makes using them a breeze.

I'm taking a break this month, so enjoy this look back at my online writing over the past 18 years.

当日 may be difficult to get a handle on at first, but that's potentially due to the fact that it can refer to any day in the past or future depending on context.

謎 is a funny Japanese word that can easily be used to create a moment of levity when you don’t understand something.