Wa Tanoshii is a web magazine to introduce everyday things in Japan to people who is interested in the country and its language. The articles are written in simple Japanese so is suitable for Japanese learners from the basic to intermediate levels!
The more articles you read the more information you gather and it'll help improve your Japanese. You will realize that by using relatively simple Japanese words you can express many things.
I can't wait to read articles.
Characteristics of the articles
1.Levels of Japanese Vocabularies used in the articles
Japanese vocabularies used in the articles match Japanese Language Proficiency Test N4/N5. Each articles have titles ending with (n5) or (n4) to indicate the levels of reading. It is also suitable for the learners at N3 level to revise what they've already learnt.
Regardless of whether you intend to take Japanese Language Proficiency Test or not, N5 articles are suitable for basic levels and N4 for elementary levels.
*Japanese Language Proficiency Test is to evaluate Japanese language abilities. With levels N1-N5, N5 being the lowest.
2.Who writes the articles?
Written daily by Japanese writers based in Japan. We also work together with Japanese language teachers and foreign students living in Japan.
3.Contents of the articles
We cover wide variety of topics including small local shops which you would not find in travel guides, useful information for daily tasks such as average salaries for part time work etc.
I can't wait to read articles.
Study Support Function
1.Kantan Dictionary
When you come across a word you are not sure of you simply click the word or tap the screen in case of Smartphone and the meaning of the word comes up on the screen. It also shows grammatical conjugation of verbs/adjectives so you do not need to look them up on a dictionary!
★hover the mouse over the word or click it.
日本 楽しく ゆうすけ
2.Symbols
Symbols used in Kantan Dictionary
| Symbols | Parts of Speech and Conjugation Marks |
|---|---|
| (いA) | い adjective |
| (なA) | な adjective |
| (Vます) | ます form |
| (Vじ) | Dictionary form |
| (Vた) | た from |
| (Vて) | て from |
| (Vない) | ない from |
| (Vかのう) | Potential form |
| (Vうけみ) | Passive form |
| (Vいこう) | Volitional form |
| (Vしえき) | Causative form |
| (Vじょう) | Conditional form |
| (Vめい) | Imperative form |
| (ふつう) | Plain form |
| (ていねい) | Polite form |
| (自) | intransitive verb (jidoushi) |
| (他) | transitive verb (tadoushi) |
What is Wa Tanoshii?
The name of this web magazine "Wa Tanoshii" has two meanings:
One being "Japan is fun". "和" means Japan and" タのC" is a made up word which has the same pronunciation as "楽しい(fun)". This represents our wish for everyone to think "Japan is fun".
The other represents Japanese language history. Japanese did not have written language until Kanji was brought in from China some 1500 years ago. Since then Japanese invented Katakana and Hiragana almost at the same time. English alphabet was introduced around 500 years ago. "和タのC" has the letters in order (Kanji, Katakana, Hiragana, Alphabet) which Japanese language was formed.