Learning from Real Mistakes: The “Treasures” of Our Lessons

At Niko Niko Japanese, I provide detailed feedback in lesson reports after every free talk or writing session. These reports are filled with common Japanese mistakes that every learner encounters—from tricky particles (#particles) to confusing vocabulary (#vocabulary).

生徒さんは、間違いを見つけるとメモをしたり、その場で何度も言い直したり、「なぜ間違いか」が分かるまで話し合ったり、本当に熱心な方ばかりです。
このページは、そんな皆さんの挑戦から生まれた「宝の山」です。いつも素晴らしい質問や、新しい表現への挑戦を本当にありがとう！

▼ Click to read in English
My students are incredibly dedicated—taking notes when they find a mistake, practicing the correct phrasing over and over, and discussing until they truly understand the “why.” This page is a “treasure trove” born from all of their hard work and challenges. Thank you always for your insightful questions and for your courage to challenge yourself with new expressions!

— Koyama

Improve your natural Japanese phrasing by exploring these real-life corrections. New tips are added weekly!

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❌ BEFORE

ゆきをふります

➡ CORRECTION

ゆきがふります

The verb furu takes the subject particle が, not を.

#particles #weather
❌ BEFORE

ちゅうごくの　くみひもを　しります

➡ CORRECTION

ちゅうごくの　くみひもを　しっています

Shitteimasu expresses a continuing state of knowledge. Use shirimasu only for the moment you “get to know” something.

#verbs #natural_japanese
❌ BEFORE

1mのゆきがあります

➡ CORRECTION

1mのゆきがつもります

Aru simply means “exists,” but tsumoru specifically describes the process of snow accumulating on the ground.

#weather #verbs
🤔 WHICH ONE IS NATURAL?

A: 1mのゆきがふりそう / B: 1mのゆきがつもりそう

➡ BOTH ARE OK!

1mのゆきがつもりそう / ふりそう

Sensei’s Note: 降る (Furu) is for falling, 積もる (Tsumoru) is for accumulating. While 降る is used in news for depth, 積もる is very common in daily life!

#weather #synonyms
❌ BEFORE

なおすします

➡ CORRECTION

いま なおしています

You cannot add suru to a verb like naosu. The corrected sentence uses 〜ています for current actions.

#verbs #grammar
❌ BEFORE

ゆきをふりました

➡ CORRECTION

ゆきがふりました

Natural phenomena are subjects that occur spontaneously. We use the subject marker が (ga).

#particles #weather
❓ CONFUSING ORDER

こおりのうえに　みちがあります

➡ NATURAL ORDER

みちのうえに　こおりがあります

The first one implies a road built on a lake! To say the road is icy, use “Ice is on the road.”

#logic #natural_japanese
🤔 WHICH ONE TO USE?

Detaku-nai vs Dekaketu-nai

➡ CONTEXT MATTERS

でたくない vs でかけたくない

Detaku-nai: Physical act of exiting a room/bed. Dekaketu-nai: Going out for a purpose (shopping, etc.).

#vocabulary #nuance

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