Drop です and ます entirely and you’re speaking casually — the register friends, family, shows, and games actually use. 学生だ instead of 学生です, 行く instead of 行きます. Same meaning, lower formality. Knowing when to switch is half of sounding natural.
Today's words
連れる
to take (someone) with one; to bring along
二死
two out; two down (and one to go)
形
(physical) form; shape
手紙
letter; note
店員
employee (of a store); shop assistant
しばらく
for a moment; for a minute
彼ら
they; them
Write today's kanji — tap to replay
連
二
死
形
手
紙
店
員
See it in real sentences
彼が大きな顔をしていた。
He acted like he owned the place.
発疹が出ました。
I have a skin eruption.
猫の手も借りたいくらいだ。
We are so busy we'll take any help we can get.
日が出ている。
The sun is up.
電話が切れた。
The telephone was still.
通路側には座れる。
Could I sit on the aisle?
Practice
Spaced review — recall from earlier days (tap to flip)
to add (numbers)
足す
1d ago
movie
映画
1d ago
enough
十分
3d ago
to erase
消す
3d ago
water (esp. cool or cold)
水
7d ago
how much
いくら
7d ago
Recall
Which word means “letter”?
Which word means “employee (of a store)”?
Which word means “for a moment”?
Which word means “to take (someone) with one”?
Listen and choose
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Your turn — say it, then check
Say: “He acted like he owned the place.”
彼が大きな顔をしていた。
Say: “I have a skin eruption.”
発疹が出ました。
👀 Today’s input · ~15 min — where fluency actually comes from
Real-world Japanese
NHK News Web Easy is now within reach — simplified news with furigana *and* audio, so you can read and listen at the same time. Do one short article a day; hover past what you don’t know.