By taking the time to understand how the Japanese language works, you'll be able to speak Japanese naturally, and read and write in Japanese. We know this can be one of the more challenging parts of your course, and we’re here to help! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!
Help with Japanese Grammar Understanding
Hello, I’ve been studying Japanese on and off for 3 or 4 years, and I’m currently on Section 3 in Rocket Japanese. But I realized I never had a strong grasp on the grammar even when I started — I often skipped the extra lesson parts, so now I can only mak...
0 replies - Last post by Hero of Dragon Quest V (account shared) - May 6, 2025
空港までタクシーに乗って来たCan sometime please tell me if this sentence (last lesson in Module 9) is said by someone who is at the airport (having just arrived), or can it be said by anyone at any time and place ? Or some other restriction? I'm finding the use of 来た (...
3 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - February 17, 2025
In module 9 we have自転車でも学校に行きます。じてんしゃ で も がっこう に いきます。Jitensha de mo gakkō ni ikimasu.(I) also go to school by bike. Does this implyBy bike, I go to school, ‘in addition to other destinations’, or I go to school by bike ‘as well as by other means of trans...
1 reply - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - February 2, 2025
Course content and JLPT coverage
Hello, So I know that you guys say that the 3 levels will cover N5 and N4. However when I analysed the content outline (topic titles on dashboard) for all 3 levels using ChatGPT, it showed me that the course actually covers like 70% (majority) of N3 level...
1 reply - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - November 10, 2024
Lesson 9.5 Double Particles からは and までは
I think I understood about the other double particles but I don't quite understand からは and までは Ex : このレストランは5時からは開いています。Tell me if I'm wrong, does this mean that the restaurant opens at 5 a.m. and NOT at any other time? Ex : 家から駅までは近いです。And here, it means...
1 reply - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - April 23, 2024
Hi. Can someone help me to understand the difference between the plain form of aku あく vs aite あいて ? Is aite considered the ing form of aku? Ie to open vs opening? Thank you!
2 replies - Last post by Heru- - March 9, 2024
Ohayogosaimasu I'm not understanding what the “de” means in “wa suki de wa arimasen”. Arigato
5 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - July 11, 2023
Te form (Tabete) vs (Tabemasu) vs (Taberu)
Hajimemashite everyone! Can some help me to differentiate between the Te form of Tabe, vs Taberu vs Tabemasu? Arigato!
3 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - July 9, 2023
Hajimemashite! I'm in the very beginning stages of learning Japanese and stuck on comprehending the difference between Doko (Where), Kara (From) and Kimashite (come). I can kinda see Kimashite being different, but Doko and Kara seem very similar, since wh...
2 replies - Last post by Heru- - June 18, 2023
I am not able to access the microphone in order to playback my responsesThank you, Joan
1 reply - Last post by Margaret-RocketLanguages - May 7, 2023
I am sure we will get into it more in depth later on as I am only on my 3rd lesson but I am obviously having a hard time understanding the sentence structure and the in between or linking words such as ga, and when they are used. Again I know I literally ...
6 replies - Last post by AJ-Rocket-Languages - December 1, 2022
Lesson 2.4 Grammar へやをよやくしたいのですが.
Hi, So I'm trying to parse out the meaning of this sentence from lesson 2.4, and I can't figure out what the の is for: へや を よやく したい の です が。 I understand that: へや を よやく is “room reservation" and since よやく is a noun, you can add します “to do”, to make it into...
2 replies - Last post by Michi Tsubasa - September 12, 2022
Up until lesson 8.1, “Let's listen.” has been:聞いてみましょう Kiite mimashouIn lesson 8.1 it iis:聞きましょう KikimashouI'm wondering what the difference is?
1 reply - Last post by Margaret-RocketLanguages - March 7, 2022
Hey, I am trying to learn the Japanese Language, and I was wondering if someone could tell me when to put the “O” honorific since I had seen it pop up so many times while I was doing the lessons. I hope you all are having a nice morning, evening, or night...
5 replies - Last post by Nekojita - November 11, 2021
Hi all,so we learnt that, when put at the end of a sentence, “ka” will turn that sentence into a question, like in “Ogenki desu ka”.Then, why is not the same with “Anata wa” for example? It is a question, but no “ka” at the end.Thanks for your help.Francesco
1 reply - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - September 7, 2021
Sensei used twice in the same sentence?
In Lesson 1.7, to point out Tanaka is the teacher, we're given the phrase,たなか せんせい が せんせい ですTanaka sensei ga sensei desu.From the content of the lesson, I was expecting to see something likeTanaka-san ga sensei desu.But instead, the word for teacher is us...
2 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - June 10, 2021
I don't understand the use of the “na” in the expression “suki na dake desu”Thanks in advance for your answer
1 reply - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - May 27, 2021
I'm not very far into the course, but in Lesson 1.3 “At the sushi bar”, the first sentence used is "osushi wa tsuki desu ka?". But in grammar lesson 1.6 “To Like or Not Like”, they say that "tsuki" always goes with “ga”. Is this an error on the part of th...
2 replies - Last post by JohnH197 - May 27, 2021
Lesson 5.9 When Something Is Happening
I was just looking for a little bit of a clarification, as some of the flash cards at the end of the lesson brought up a few questions. I understand that you can て あります and て います along with a Transitive and Intransitive verb respectively to show a change...
1 reply - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - May 6, 2021
I know that some kanji in Japanese can be and are typically written in kana, and that there are not exactly any set in stone rules over these usages. However, I was wondering, is there some kind of nuance or implication for the use of a kanji and then the...
1 reply - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - April 6, 2021
KonnichiwaI'm a little bit lost with the “oiwai de mo”. What is the construction of “oiwai de arimasu”. Why isn't it “oiwai ga arimasu” ? This refers to lesson 7.4ArigotoOlivier
2 replies - Last post by Abgueguen - March 27, 2021
In Lesson 2.8 there are the sentences らいしゅう かぞく に あいます (I will meet my family next week.) and しち じ に いきます (I will go at 7 o'clock).In the first sentence, に is used to show a point of contact, and in the second sentence に is used to note the specific t...
2 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - March 5, 2021
What is the difference between だいじょうぶ and いいですか and how they are used? Thanks.
2 replies - Last post by ClaudiaR27 - February 26, 2021
Hello,Can someone please explain the difference to me between 都合が悪い and 不便? I'm familiar with 不便/fuben and 便利/benri. In lesson 4.5, it introduces 都合が悪い as inconvenient. すみません、ちょっと都合が悪いです / sumimasen, chotto tsugō ga warui desu.Would it be acceptable to...
2 replies - Last post by JohnH197 - February 21, 2021
Shashin o totte moratte mo ii desu ka.
In one of the early lessons, Kenny asks Sayaka if she will take a picture for him by saying “shashin o totte moratte mo ii desu ka.” I understand shashin o totte means “taking a picture”, that the mo following the te might act as “even”, and that ii desu ...
3 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - February 21, 2021
KonnichiwaI'm trying to understand the structure of “omachi kudasai”. Normally it should be “matte kudasai” but how do you build the polite form ?Arigato gozaimasu
2 replies - Last post by Abgueguen - February 12, 2021
Are both of these sentences correct?
Hello,When I was testing myself on lesson 3.8, I translated the sentence “(I will) read (my) book under the tree” as follows: 本を木 の 下で読みます/ hon o ki no shita de yomimasuThe correct answer was:木 の 下で本を読みます / Ki no shita de hon o yomimasuCould you please te...
3 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - February 11, 2021
Hello!I'm really confused by the use of the “no” particle when I compare the following two sentences: That building over there is famousAchira no biru wa yūmē desu / あちらのビルは有名ですThat building over there is tall Ano biru wa takai desu /...
2 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - January 21, 2021
Mou sukoshi dake de ii. This little phrase was from a song. What I do understand is “More by a little only de is good” or more understandably, “Just a little more de is good”. However, I'm not sure I understand the use of de here. De is the particle which...
2 replies - Last post by Jyuune - January 8, 2021
Hello,I was starting module 6 and took a break to go back through all the previous modules again to learn the new content that was added. I realized that I'm not quite understanding something. Could someone please enlighten me on the use of を in the exa...
2 replies - Last post by イ リ ニ - January 4, 2021
In lessons 2.9, it is written :"To say “there is” something, we use います or あります with the particle が . "But in lessons 2.4, Kenny uses は instead of が with います :"英語を話せる人はいますか？"Why that ?
4 replies - Last post by GregV84 - October 29, 2020
Lesson 2.7 Question, Nouns Used as Verbs?
Sooo, this sentence in Lesson 2.7: 私は 料理も 絵も 上手 です。 (わたしは りょうりも えも じょうず です。) …is translated as “I am good at (both) cooking and drawing.” I'm not sure about that word for cooking, but I thought 絵 meant a painting or drawing (noun; with something like 描く b...
2 replies - Last post by EarleyGrave - October 29, 2020
difference between "wa" and "ga"
if both are used to clear the topic of a sentence and what is spoken about, who do i know wich one to use?
3 replies - Last post by EarleyGrave - October 29, 2020
Using the 'wa' particle twice in a sentence...
Hello everyone, I'm a little confused about the use of particles in a module 4.2 sentence: わたし に は そんな に おもしろ そう に は みえません。 Watashi ni wa sonnani omoshiro sō ni wa mie masen / It does not look very fun to me. I understand the usage of わたし に は (to me/a...
9 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 29, 2020
In lesson 1.2 atatakai/ 暖かい is not used correctly. atatakai/ 暖かい = Warm atsui/ 暑い = Hot.
7 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 23, 2020
Double usage of "ni wa" particle (Module 4.2)
In Module 4.2, “What Are You Reading?”, there is the line, Watashi ni wa sonnani omoshirosou ni wa miemasen. It does not look very fun to me. If I attempt to translate more literally I get… Watashi ni wa … sonnani omoshirosou … ni wa … miemasen. To ...
4 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 12, 2020
Hi everybody I don't understand the construction in lesson 3.5. To say "it seems i can sleep" they say "nemure sō desu" but I would have expected "nemureru sō desu". What is the construction of sō desu with a verb ? Thank you Olivier
4 replies - Last post by Abgueguen - October 11, 2020
Confused about the usage of tense in this sentence...
Hello everyone! I'd like to ask for some help in understanding the use of kaetta vs. kaerimasu in this sentence from module 5.3. You should return home for Christmas: クリスマスに帰ったほうがいいですよ / Kurisumasu ni kaetta hō ga īdesu yo Why isn't it: クリスマス に 帰ります ほ...
2 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 10, 2020
Can this sentence be said both ways?
Hello! In lesson 5.1, the sentence given is: I'm already full / もう おなか が いっぱい です / Mō onaka ga ippai desu. I always try to go through the lessons and see how well I can translate before looking at the answer, and I would have swapped "stomach" for "ful...
3 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 10, 2020
”あっ” ... Why a small つ？(Lesson 2.4)
こんにちは、みなさん。 In Lesson 2.4 there is the statement: あっ、タクシー が き ました。 What's the function of the small つ in this instance being placed after the あ? Are there other places this occurs that are worth knowing about? Using the Japanese IME keyboard for Wind...
2 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 10, 2020
して います vs. しますwhen asking if someone plays a sport
Hello, I have a question from module 4.8. Do you play any sports? なにか スポーツ を して います か？/ Nanika supōtsu o shite imasu ka? I like to try the translations myself before looking at the correct translation, and for this sentence, I put: なにか スポーツ を します か M...
4 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 10, 2020
Question about meaning of 飲み (飲み過ぎ)
Hello, I have a question about how the verb 飲む is being used in module 4.1: 飲み過ぎですよ / you drank too much Where exactly do you get 飲み from (it doesn't seem to be listed as any tense or form when I look up different conjugations of the verb). Is this a c...
3 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 9, 2020
Hello everyone, Every time I think I have a clear grasp of で, I get thrown for a loop. I have an every-growing list of the differences between で and に, but I seem to be not understanding clearly the difference sometimes between using で vs. を Could you ...
3 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 9, 2020
So in 4.4 we are introduced to ninki and the lesson likens the usage to kirei with: totemo ninki as very popular and totemo kirei as very beautiful. When I learned this originally, I could swear I learned that despite the way we use popular in English, it...
1 reply - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 9, 2020
Why does this sentence use 'ga arimasu' and not 'desu'?
This is from the sporting section in level 1 - but all the forums seem to say that 'ga arimasu' should be when something exists, and 'desu' when it IS that thing. If the player IS very popular, why have we used 'ga arimasu'???? Thanks to anyone who can he...
3 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 9, 2020
Incorrect translation in Module 2.8?
In module 2.8, translations are given such as: toire de ikimasu to go to the bathroom and tabako o kaimasu to buy cigarettes In the "imasu" form they're in, don't they mean "I will go to the bathroom" and "I will buy cigarettes," respectively (with ...
2 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 9, 2020
im currently in 2.2 of rocket Japanese and ive enjoying it a lot. however i am really struggling with subject particles. Like WA, O, and GA. i get why they are used i dont understand when im supposed to use each one. ive also seen more then just these thr...
3 replies - Last post by Emma-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 9, 2020
I've worked on Modules 1.0-1.8 and now my brain has frozen. Things have been gradually been making some sense to me, but, using both RJ and outside sources, I can't seem to comprehend this... In module 1.8, phrases are given such as, "Sushi wa suki desu ...
4 replies - Last post by JohnB232 - March 15, 2020
"~imasu" and singularity/plurality (re: Lesson 1.7)
Konnichi wa. In lesson 1.7, under the "~imasu" section, there are two examples: Nihon jin imasu ka? Is there a Japanese person? Neko imasu ka? Are there cats? Why are the given translations in singular and plural, respectively? Couldn't they also be...
1 reply - Last post by teacup - March 9, 2020
Just a beginner here. I'm hung up on the difference with verb form adding masu vs verb form adding shimasu. I plucked these examples out of the lessons. I'm trying to figure out how they would differently translate into english. Is one a future tense. Man...
2 replies - Last post by Tony-S10 - December 13, 2019