Duration of the online course: 13 hours and 36 minutes
New
Sound natural in casual Japanese—learn slang, Tokyo expressions, and real-life vocabulary in this free online course with practice exercises and a certificate option.
In this free course, learn about
Casual Japanese slang for daily talk (e.g., yabai, tonikaku) and what they imply
Rude/unsafe words to avoid with friends and polite alternatives to sound natural
Natural self-introductions and basic identity phrases (e.g., 'I am a student')
How anime-style speech differs from real Japanese (cat-speech, catchphrases, quirks)
Tokyo-native casual phrasing, including informal ways to say 'I don't understand'
Humble phrases for language ability (e.g., saying your Japanese is poor/rusty)
Compliments/flirty lines in informal Japanese (e.g., 'amazingly cute')
Keigo basics: sonkeigo vs kenjogo; respectful suffixes like -sama in business
Polite conversation helpers: asking someone to speak a little more slowly
Partner/living-together phrases (e.g., what to say before leaving the house)
Directions and everyday situational vocab (go straight, turn, next to, etc.)
Health/emotion slang: not feeling well, angry/pissed off, and humor responses (samu)
Want Japanese that sounds real, not scripted? This course helps you move beyond textbook phrases and build the kind of vocabulary people actually use in everyday conversation. You will learn how to express yourself naturally in casual settings, recognize common slang, and understand the tone behind words that can sound friendly, blunt, playful, or rude depending on context. It is designed for learners who want to feel confident speaking with friends, texting, or chatting without accidentally sounding like an anime character or using expressions that feel outdated or too intense.
Instead of memorizing isolated words, you will train your ear and instincts for what feels native. You will practice simple, natural self-introductions, everyday reactions, and useful conversational phrasing, while also learning what not to say and why. Along the way, you will develop better control of politeness and distance, including when a respectful style is appropriate and how Japanese communication often stays indirect even in emotional moments. This makes the course practical for real relationships, travel, and living situations where nuance matters.
You will also expand your vocabulary around modern life: expressing frustration, giving compliments, joking, talking about health, food cravings, entertainment, and current events. The focus is always on meaning plus impact, so you understand not only what a word translates to, but what it implies when a native speaker hears it. Short practice checks help reinforce comprehension and usage so the new expressions become easy to recall in conversation.
Because it is a free online course, you can learn at your own pace and revisit key moments whenever you need. By the end, you should be able to sound more natural, avoid common pitfalls, and choose words that match the situation—whether you want to be polite, casual, funny, or simply clear.
Course content
Video class: KUSO 101?How to Swear Like the Japanese25m
Exercise: In Japanese, how would you express the feeling that something is 'very busy' using slang vocabulary?
Video class: RUDE Japanese Words You Use Without Knowing What You Should Say Instead29m
Exercise: Which of the following Japanese phrases should be avoided when speaking casually with friends?
Video class: How to INTRODUCE Yourself (Without Sounding Annoying) in Japanese19m
Exercise: In Japanese, how do you say 'I am a student' using the most common and natural expression?
Video class: Top 5 Words You Should Use When Speaking Casual Japanese28m
Exercise: What does the Japanese slang word 'tonikaku' imply when used in conversation?
Video class: How To / How Not To Speak Like ANIME characters in Japanese34m
Exercise: In anime speech, how do characters typically indicate they are speaking like a cat or cat girl in Japanese?
Video class: How to Sound Like a Native Speaker from Tokyo (Casual Japanese)29m
Exercise: What is an informal way to say 'I don't understand' in Japanese that makes you sound like a native speaker from Tokyo?
Video class: How to Say My Japanese is Bad18m
Exercise: In Japanese, how do you express that you are not very good at speaking Japanese in a humble way?
Video class: Best Compliments / Flirty Lines39m
Exercise: In Japanese, which phrase would you use to informally compliment someone by saying they are 'amazingly cute'?
Video class: Japanese Business Speech (KEIGO) Sonkei-go - Respectful, Kenjou-go - Humble38m
Video class: Improve Your Vocabulary: Speaking, Chatting, Conversation12m
Exercise: In the context of Japanese language, how do you politely ask someone to speak a bit more slowly?
Video class: OMAE WA MOU SHINDEIRU - Anime Catchphrases in Japanese22m
Exercise: In Japanese slang, what does the phrase 'Oh my wa mou shindeiru' famously mean?
Video class: Video Lesson 1226m
Video class: No More AISHITERU - I Love You in Japanese ?The Native Way22m
Exercise: In Japanese culture, what phrase is often used instead of directly saying 'I love you' due to its indirect nature?
Video class: How to Use Yabai: OMG! Japanese Slang 10118m
Exercise: In Japanese slang, how is the word 'やばい' (yabai) most commonly used?
Video class: MUST KNOW Phrases When Living with a Japanese Partner30m
Exercise: In Japanese, which phrase should you say before leaving the house to assure someone you will return?
Video class: How to Text Friends in Japanese (Asking for a Phone Number, Asking out)34m
Video class: What Japanese Girls Look For in A Guy13m
Exercise: In Japanese slang, what does the term 'moteru' refer to?
Video class: How to Give Directions in Japanese: Go Straight, Turn, Next to...33m
Video class: Insult in Japanese like a Pro BAKA! KIMO! UZA!26m
Exercise: Which of the following Japanese words is commonly used in the Kansai region to mean 'stupid' or 'foolish'?
Video class: Japanese Gaming28m
Exercise: In Japanese slang, what is the term 'biajuu' primarily used to describe?
Video class: Japanese Introverted Otaku vs Extroverted Girl03m
Exercise: In Japanese slang, how would you say 'let's go get a drink'?
Video class: Headache? Caught a Cold? Must Know Health26m
Exercise: In Japanese, how would you express that you are not feeling well?
Exercise: Which Japanese word is used to express that someone is not feeling well or is 'out of touch' with their usual energetic self?
Video class: Japanese Humor 101 - Puns21m
Exercise: What does the Japanese slang 'samu' (寒い) imply when used in response to a joke?
Video class: Video Lesson 2432m
Exercise: In the context of remembering names or events, how would you say 'If I remember correctly' in Japanese?
Video class: COVID-19 / Coronavirus Vocabulary23m
Exercise: In the given Japanese context, what does the term 'shin gotta corona' refer to?
Video class: How to Talk About FILMS / MOVIES in Japanese ( Detective Pikachu Spoiler-Free Review in JP)14m
Video class: PISSED OFF! ANGRY! ?Japanese Slang19m
Exercise: In Japanese, which phrase would you use to express being 'pissed off' in a slang context?
Video class: Do You Need a Hand? Let Me Help You. - To Help in Japanese10m
Exercise: What does the term 'tetsudau' (助け合う) mean in Japanese and how is it commonly used?
Video class: Japanese Introverted Customer vs Extroverted Sales Clerk02m
Video class: Delicious - Oishii vs Umai Slang21m
Video class: CHAN! KUN! SAMA! Honorifics and Nicknames in Japanese25m
Exercise: In Japanese culture, how is the honorific 'san' typically used?
Exercise: In Japanese, which suffix would you use to address someone with the utmost respect, often used for clients or customers in a business setting?
Video class: How to say I'm HUNGRY / PECKISH / STARVING / FULL SLANGS ?JAPANESE AMMO10m
Exercise: How do you say 'I'm hungry' in Japanese in the most natural and informal way?
Video class: My Japanese is Rusty! in Japanese?The Native Way10m
Video class: Animal Sounds23m
Exercise: In Japanese, what sound is attributed to mice or rats?
Video class: Dreams and Nightmares in Japanese: My Dream Is To11m
Exercise: In Japanese, which verb is typically used to express the idea of 'having a dream' while sleeping?
Video class: Tastes in Japanese: sweet tooth vs spicy tooth17m
Video class: Can't Remember the Words? / On the Tip of My Tongue in Japanese?the Native Way06m
Video class: #1 Japanese Riddle Improve Your Vocabulary02m
