# Moments by Sayuri JP Teacher **@AnywhereJP** ## Quick Navigation - [Find Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/partners.md): Discover language exchange partners worldwide - [Language Exchange](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/partners/exchange.md): Practice with native speakers worldwide - [Moments](https://www.hellotalk.com/moments.md): Share your language learning journey - [Topics](https://www.hellotalk.com/topics.md): Explore trending topics and discussions - [Chat & Messaging](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/features/chat.md): Text, voice, and video conversations - [Voice Rooms](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/features/voiceroom.md): Join live audio conversations - [Live Streaming](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/features/live-streaming.md): Interactive classes and language sessions - [Certified Teachers](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/features/certified-teachers.md): Learn from professional language instructors - [Immersive Learning](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/features/immersive-learning.md): Learn everywhere with instant translations - [Translation Tools](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/features/translation.md): Instant translation between any languages - [AI-Powered Apps](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/aiapps.md): Access specialized learning tools - [Language AI Apps](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/aiapps.md): Discover our AI-powered language learning applications - [All Features](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/features.md): Explore all learning features and tools - [Download](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/download.md): Get HelloTalk on iOS and Android Showing 3 of 29 moments --- ## 1. 8/14/2025 🇯🇵 What Japan Is Really Like 👘 ⛩️ Belief in Gods Even Non-Religious Mostly we don’t follow one religion, but we mix traditions: praying at shrines, holding Buddhist funerals, and enjoying Christmas. We grow up hearing, “Everything has a spirit, there are 8 million of gods, and if you do something bad, the sun is watching you”🌞 ♨️ Tattoos Keep You Out of Hot Springs & Pools Tattoos are more common now, but the old link with organized crime remains. If you have one, choose a ryokan with a private open-air bath💡 💭 Even Natives Sometimes Struggle With Dialects Different pitch accents can make Japanese hard to catch. For learners, pitch accent is a survival skill💪🏻 💴 Be Careful Talking About Age & Money Asking a woman’s age is rude. If she asks, “How old do I look?” answer must be younger than actual. Salaries or savings? Not preferred. Living costs? Fine👍🏻 🍚 Wasting Food Is a Taboo Ordering more than you can eat is frowned upon, and most restaurants have no box for leftovers. Once, people bought Happy Meals just for Pokémon cards and dumped the food… they were roasted🍟 ㊙️ We Often Forget Kanji We can read kanji, but writing them? Thank goodness for smartphones. And people/place’s names often have unusual readings🥹 🆖 We Often Say “No” Without Saying “No” Instead of “I can’t” or “I don’t wanna”, we say “It might be difficult” or “I’ll check my schedule” (and sometimes vanish)📆 📣 We’re Weak Against “Limited” & “Everyone’s Doing It” Ads love “limited time,” “only a few left,” and “Everyone’s started!”—instant FOMO💨 💬 Use Polite Speech, At First Meetings Casual speech in first meetings is fine only if they’re little. Even online, we start polite but switch to casual faster🤝🏻 🔤 Reading/Writing Was Major in English Class We studied basic English in a middle school, but didn’t really practice speaking😵‍💫 🚃 Stay Quiet on Trains, No Phone Call If you hear loud voices, they’re probably from drunk people, kids, groups of students… or foreigners😂 **Language**: English *35 likes · 4 comments · 240 views* [View this moment](https://www.hellotalk.com/moments/pQXFWtZ1ILMjHD.md) --- ## 2. 8/14/2025 💭How can I distinguish them?!🤔 🔥そう vs らしい vs よう/みたい🔥 💡(今にも) + ますform(dropます) + そう → Signs or a high possibility that is about to happen, often beyond one’s control. “about to” 💬わ！落ちそう！ Ugh! It’s about to fall! 💡いadj.(dropい) + そう 💡なadj.(dropな) + そう 💡ますform(dropます) + そう 💡ないform(dropい) + そう 💡てform + そう 💡potential form(dropます) + そう → A guess or intuitive impression based on visual cues, sound, or smell. *An invalid guess by a rumor/gossip in casual scene. “It looks…” → A conclusion or overall judgment based on prior experience or knowledge. Can avoid sounding too direct or giving a softer impression. “It is likely…” “It seems…” 💬おいしそう！（❌おいしいそう） Looks tasty! 📝〜(だ/である)と言えそう/と考えられそう *良いです（いい/よいです）→よさそう 💡いadj. + そう 💡verb’s plain form + そう 💡なadj.(dropな)/noun + だそう → A formal way to pass information get from others or media. The speaker is interested in the information and believes it is quite accurate. “I’ve heard…” 💬おいしいそうです。（❌おいしそう） I heard it’s tasty. *良いです（いい/よいです）→良いそう 💡いadj. + らしい 💡verb’s plain form + らしい 💡なadj.(dropな)/noun + らしい → A casual way to pass information or rumors get from others or social media. The speaker is less personally invested in the information and considers it less certain. “Apparently…” 💬おいしいらしいです。 I heard it’s tasty. 💡いadj. + よう/みたい 💡verb’s plain form + よう/みたい 💡なadj. + よう/みたい 💡noun + のよう/みたい → よう=formal / みたい=casual Subjective opinion or conjecture based on information guessed by the speaker’s senses. The speaker is not fully certain and giving a personal impression. “It seems” “I guess” “I think” 💬おいしいようです。 It seems tasty. 💡verb’s plain form + よう/みたい 💡noun + のよう/みたい 💡verb’s plain form + ような/みたいな + noun 💡noun + のような/みたいな + noun 💡verb’s plain form + ように/みたいに + verb 💡noun + のように/みたいに + verb → Used when it’s not actually the same but very similar. “It’s just like…” “as if…” Feel free to my live stream on HelloTalk if you’d like to learn more🌸 **Language**: Japanese *24 likes · 8 comments · 235 views* [View this moment](https://www.hellotalk.com/moments/MRxjIuvRZ1MjHD.md) --- ## 3. 8/13/2025 👀 Purpose expressions ために vs ように 🔥 Today, I will explain these two expressions that confuse many Japanese learners☝🏻✨ 💡 Volitional verbs vs Non-volitional verbs 🔴 “Volitional verbs” + ために → Something you can control to some extent with your own will or effort 行く　見る　聞く　理解する 合格するために勉強します。 I study to pass the exam. 🔵 “Non-volitional verbs” + ように 🔵 potential form + ように → Verbs that describe things you cannot change immediately with just your own will or effort: states, natural phenomena, abilities, feelings 見える　聞こえる　できる　分かる 合格できるように勉強します。 I study so that I can pass the exam. * できる can be achieved through effort, so intuitively it feels “controllable,” but grammatically it is treated as a stative verb, classified as non-volitional verbs. * 理解する has a deliberate and analytical nuance of “organizing and internalizing knowledge,” while 分かる refers to an instantaneous, receptive feeling like “realizing” or “clicking.” They are similar but slightly different. 💡 Verb form & connection 🔴 noun + の + ために 🔵 potential form + ように 🔵 ない form + ように 試験のために勉強します。 I study for the exam. 忘れないようにメモします。 I write down a note so I won’t forget. 📝 By adding the particle は to mark the topic, even “ない form + ために” can sound natural. 学んだことを忘れないためには、意識してアウトプットすることが重要です。 To avoid forgetting what you learned, actively outputting/practicing it is important. 💡 Difference in subject 🔵 In general, ように is tend to be used if the subject in the first and second half is different. 子どもが勉強に集中できるように、新しい椅子を買いました。 I bought a new chair so my child can concentrate on studying. 💡 Nuance difference ために carries the impression of a strong determination to “definitely achieve” something. ように carries a nuance of effort or hope, such as “trying so that…” or “hoping that…” In fact, JLPTに合格するために〜 conveys strong determination, while 合格できるように〜 gives the image of working toward the result. Other uses exist, but I’ll explain them another time💪🏻 **Language**: Japanese *26 likes · 6 comments · 243 views* [View this moment](https://www.hellotalk.com/moments/EFSjqjXSN4IjHD.md) --- [View all moments on HelloTalk](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners/AnywhereJP/moments.md) [Back to Sayuri JP Teacher's profile](https://www.hellotalk.com/partners/AnywhereJP.md) --- ## Language Exchange Partners - [English Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/partners/exchange/english.md): Connect with native English speakers - [Spanish Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/partners/exchange/spanish.md): Connect with native Spanish speakers - [French Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/partners/exchange/french.md): Connect with native French speakers - [Japanese Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/partners/exchange/japanese.md): Connect with native Japanese speakers - [German Exchange Partners](https://www.hellotalk.com/en/partners/exchange/german.md): Connect with native German speakers - 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