Japanese: Beyond the Basics
Like Duolingo, but for Japanese: Beyond the Basics. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.
Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android
Key ideas in Japanese: Beyond the Basics
- Direct adjectives alone can sound too harsh in social settings
- Leaving room for others to disagree maintains social harmony
- Adding 'to omoimasu' changes a fact into a personal thought
- Absolute certainty can be perceived as aggressive or closed-minded
- Choosing the correct ending to soften a blunt statement
- Understanding the cultural purpose of uncertainty in speech
- 'To omoimasu' is the standard way to frame a personal view
- 'Kamo shirenai' adds a layer of possibility to soften a claim
- The opinion softener must come at the very end of the sentence
- The particle 'to' acts as a bridge between the idea and the verb 'think'
- Mapping specific sentence-ending particles to their tonal effect
- Correct grammatical placement of opinion softeners
- Softening is needed when giving feedback on someone's work
- Softening is used when sharing a preference that might differ from others
- Describing actions must come before the noun
- Time and action come first in the cluster
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives Japanese: Beyond the Basics the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
Why do Japanese speakers often avoid sounding 100% certain when sharing an opinion?
Get it right to open this lesson and 53 more in the app.
Where Japanese: Beyond the Basics takes you
Move past simple phrases and start expressing your personality. Learn to navigate real-life social nuances, describe complex feelings, and understand the 'why' behind natural Japanese conversation.
- 1
Expressing Yourself Naturally
- Sharing Personal Opinions and Softening Your Tone
- Describing Experiences with Relative Clauses
- Expressing Intentions and Future Plans
- Giving and Receiving Favors with Verbs
- 2
Navigating Social Situations
- Polite Requests and Asking for Permission
- Making Suggestions and Giving Advice
- Expressing Regret and Handling Mistakes
- Using Casual vs. Formal Speech Appropriately
- Expressing Gratitude in Different Contexts
- Understanding Indirect Refusals
- 3
Describing the World Around You
- Comparing Options and Making Choices
- Describing Changes in State and Habits
- Explaining Reasons and Causes Clearly
- 4
The Mechanics of Meaning
- How Passive Sentences Change Focus
- The Nuance of Potential and Ability
- Connecting Ideas with Advanced Conjunctions
- Expressing Hearsay and Reporting Information
- Using Conditionals to Talk About 'If' and 'When'
4 sections · 18 units · 54 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
You pick the voice
Japanese: Beyond the Basics is taught in the The Professor style: clear, structured, thorough. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
More Language on Tomo
Speak English Right Away
Stop memorizing grammar rules and start talking. Learn the essential phrases to introduce yourself, get what you need, and connect with people in everyday situations.
Start Speaking English Today
Stop studying grammar rules and start having real conversations. Learn the essential phrases to introduce yourself, get what you need, and connect with people in English.
Portuguese: Beyond the Basics
Move past simple greetings and start navigating real-life conversations with confidence. Master the nuances of social interaction, express complex opinions, and understand the cultural heartbeat of the Lusophone world.
Hindi: Beyond the Basics
Move past simple greetings and start expressing your opinions, sharing stories, and navigating real-world Indian social life with confidence. Learn to handle complex social situations and understand the nuances of daily conversation.
Russian for Real Life
Skip the boring grammar drills and start speaking Russian from day one. Learn to navigate Moscow, order like a local, and unlock the secrets of the Cyrillic alphabet through the lens of culture.
Speak Spanish from Day One
Stop memorizing grammar tables and start actually talking. Learn the shortcuts to fluency by focusing on high-impact phrases and the confidence to make mistakes.
Start Japanese: Beyond the Basics today.
Download Tomo, search Japanese: Beyond the Basics, and play your first lesson in under a minute.