Meeting / Gathering / Party
集会 – meeting, gathering, rally
面会 – meeting (face-to-face)
宴会 – banquet, party
飲み会 – drinking party
歓迎会 – welcome party
送別会 – farewell party

Assembly / Conference
大会 – mass meeting, convention
総会 – general meeting
学会 – learned society / academic conference

Athletic Meet
運動会 – sports day / athletic meet
競技会 – athletic meet
記録会 – track meet

Society / Association / Club
協会 – association
同好会 – association of like-minded people
研究会 – research society

Kai wanted to have a meeting/party about the KAYAKING club

お is an honorific prefix. はやい means 'early'.
ございます is formal for 'it is'. So in a way, remember it as: It is early in the morning.

Can also mean "who knows"

Can be used when you feel unsure about what you’re going to say.

さあ、アメリカ人 かどうか わかりません。I don’t know whether (the person) is an American or not.

さあ COME ON, eat your Breakfast (あさごはん/朝ご飯) now!

Listed below, for reference, are several words that mean 'finally'

到頭 (とうとう) : Has the nuance that after a long effort, journey or wait, something has ended and a conclusion has been reached, positive or negative.

遂に (ついに) : Somewhat more formal or literary than 到頭. Also used to highlight events reaching a resolution after significant time or effort, but the emphasis is more on the final result and what could follow, positive or negative.

愈々 (いよいよ) : Expresses anticipation, but can also mean 'increasingly' or 'more and more'

漸く (ようやく) : Expresses relief after difficulty, generally positive.

やっと : Casual version of 漸く, though the relief expressed with やっと is stronger, perhaps after barely succeeding with some difficult endeavor.

Has the nuance of anticipation/looking forward to the upcoming event. As opposed to ますます, which does not have this nuance.

The yoyo(いよいよ) man just kept on yoing more and more.

At last the electric yoyos were brought to the market. Eyoyo いよいよ

Both の and こと turn verbs into nouns, but they feel different:
————————

こと is more conceptual and abstract. It treats the action as a general idea and sounds more detached. It's often used for information, ideas, or facts.

の feels more direct and personal. It points to the actual action as it happens. It sounds more immediate, and it's commonly used for things you directly see, hear, feel, or control.
————————

→ 私は死ぬことが怖い = "I'm afraid of death"
Here, the action is treated as a general concept.

→ 私は死ぬのが怖い = "I'm afraid of dying"
This feels more immediate and personal, as if you're afraid of dying rather than death as an abstract idea.
————————

The difference becomes clearer with direct perception. When you directly witness something, you usually use の.

→ 私は子どもが泣いているのを見た = "I saw a child crying"
What you saw wasn't the concept of a child crying—you saw the action itself.

The same contrast appears with hearing, especially when comparing direct perception and reported information.

→ 火山が噴火したことを聞いた = What you heard was the news of the volcano erupting.
Here, you received information about the event.

→ 火山が噴火したのを聞いた = You were there when the volcano erupted. You directly heard it.
In this case, you experienced the sound itself.
————————

Finally, when talking about actions you can directly control, の is usually preferred.
→ 酒を飲むのをやめた = "I quit drinking"

Here, the action feels concrete and personally managed rather than abstract.
————————

Quick rule of thumb:

Directly experienced / immediate / personal → の
Abstract / conceptual / informational → こと

Source: part of this video: [www.youtube.com]

The open 開 and the beginning 始 is the start

開始/かいし kaiSHI

会社/かいしゃ kaiSHA

to START a company

In casual speech, だ is often dropped, but だ is not dropped in だよ and だね. (Genki II)

まず - used with the first thing to do from a sequence, like instructions, or the first point of your explanation

先に (さきに) - used for talking about the first thing before anything else (‘first things first’) or the thing before another thing (and also for talking about what happened previously)

先ず滅多に~ない is often translated as “seldom, if ever,” but it is not considered a set phrase that you would find in a dictionary, because both 先ず “first of all” and 滅多に “rarely” retain their independent meanings.

When used with a negative verb, まず means that the action almost never occurs.

First of all まず this tastes bad まずい

Speaking of Japanese, most likely ( まず ) you'll think of their polite speech (~ます)

First of all, you look aMAZUing (amazing)!

To quote Cure Dolly: 'anything contained in the は particle only 'flags' what the sentence is talking about, and is never part of the grammatical structure as a whole.'

[youtu.be]

Can be used like “Xは?: As for X?” Usually used when asking for opinion of someone or when a customer is asked what they would like. Very contextual can be used in many senses like “Where?” “What?” Or even complex sentences.

Other particles like も can be used similarly, but this particle directly uses the information from the conversation to ask about another thing/situation. Similar to “What about” in “Mom is at home.” “What about Dad?”.

Pronounced as "wa" (not "ha") when used as the topic-marking particle.

watashi (what did she) say about *me*?!

Also used to quote a whole clause of a sentence, similar in a way to how the particle の and the noun こと converts a clause into the equivalent of a noun.

When using と it means you are listing the items that are the only possibilities, whereas や means there are others.

(あか)と(くろ) が すき です。
(あか)や(くろ) が すき です。
Both sentence meaning the same :
I like red and black colors.

The first sentence specifically states you like red and black colors.

The second sentence states that you like red and black colors, and maybe other colors too.

It's like a partial list when using や apart from と (when using it) which you can take as a full list

TOES together with eachother

Can also be placed at the end of a clause to show that the following clause is different or unexpected. It essentially makes it a BUT statement. Example: 多い友だちがいるーがー全てが優しくない。(I have many friends BUT none of them are nice.)

Notes from Kaname Naito's YouTube Video "けど Is Not Always But"
(use hlthere's link to view the video)
1. used to express opposition or contrast of two sentences (e.g. 頑張って勉強したけど、試験に落ちた。I studied hard, "but" failed the exam.)
2. used to introduce condition or situation before main point (e.g. さっき田中さんにメロンもらったんだけど、食べる? Tanaka gave me a melon just now, do you want to eat it? - where 食べる/do you want to eat it? is the main point)
3. used to request someone do something without directly stating the request/command, which could sound impolite or too invasive if stated directly (e.g. すみません、さっき注文したビールまだ来てないんですけど。Excuse me, we still haven't gotten the beer we ordered. - here けど implies 早くしてください please bring it quickly, without actually saying it)
4. used to identify yourself over the phone to people who already know you (e.g. もしもし? 要だけど。Hello, it's Kaname.)
5. the function of けど and が are basically the same, but が is more formal and is used more for very formal speech and writing, whereas けど is used more often when speaking, especially casually

if youve watched Kaiju no. 8:

The Kaiju meet at the Kaijo (かいじょう)

The 会長 (かいちょう) often goes to the 会場 (かいじょう).

Meeting the Kai for a cup of Joe on turtle island.

KAI and JOE met at the assembly hall

- Kaichou (会長 - かいちょう), where is the meeting place?
- In the kaijou (会場 - かいじょう) of course, where else?!

This particle has a lot of uses, but here are some of them:

Tells where an action takes place. Example:

図書館で勉強する。
I study at the library

Tells what something is made of. Example

家は木で作った。
The house is made of wood.

Tells what is an action made with, like reading emails on your computer. Example:

フォークでピザを食べない。
I do not eat pizza with a fork.

Tells about ways of transportation, like going to somewhere by car. Example:

飛行機で旅行する。
I travel by plane.

This particle has a lot of usages, but these are the most common ones. If you know others, feel free to tell us.

Another usage of で (correct me if I’m wrong though) is to say that you will do or did something for a specific duration of time.

For example: 3時間で晩御飯を料理ました (I cooked dinner in three hours)

Quoting sources of information (でVSを):

ラジオを聞く VS ラジオで聞く
I listen to the radio vs I hear from the radio
新聞を読む VS 新聞で読む
I read the newspaper vs I read from the newspaper

Eg: ラジオで聞いたんですが、明日天気がいいそうです。
→I heard from the radio that the weather would be good tomorrow.

(One use I don't think has been mentioned)

You can use で to indicate the condition or manner in which you want something to be served. Usually when you're presented with options.

Let's say you're in the middle of ordering coffee, and you get asked about the portion size:

サイズはいかがなさいますか？ ("What size would you like?")
じゃあラージで。("Large please")

Note: You can't use で with the main item, only for options or how you want it served.

E.g. 味噌ラーメン一つ、麺は硬めで、味は濃いめで、油は少なめでお願いします。("A bowl of miso ramen, firm noodles, thick soup, and less oil, please")

Source for more information: [www.youtube.com]

Another usage of で: the language in which an action is conducted. E.g. フランス語で葉書を書いた。I wrote a postcard in French.

Just for information, へ / に are used to MARK location. They are locations where the action is GOING. Whereas で is used where the action is HAPPENING/TAKING PLACE.

My uncle Joe got a PARTICIPATION trophy in the bamboo-eating contest! They told him, “good job eating so many bamboo SHOOTS, JOE!”

Ready

Differences explained by cooking/travelling:

準備:
晩ごはん の準備をする - You have to think about what you cook, and what you have to buy at a supermarket. 準備する is used for planning or preparing, so it takes time.
旅行 の準備をする - May include making plans and, if traveling by plane, buying tickets. Could also include putting your travel items in your bag the day before.

用意:
晩ごはんの用意をする - You have already bought whatever you need for dinner and just need to cook. Takes less time than 準備する.
旅行の用意をする - This includes knowing when your trip will depart and buying a plane ticket, but it probably doesn't include making plans. Can include packing a bag with things you need.

支度:
晩ごはん - You have almost done cooking, and just need to serve on a plate or to clean up the table. Takes much less time than the others.
旅行 - May include, at most, what you do the day before. Doesn't include making a plan, or getting plane tickets. It mainly referring to packing your bag the day before, and can include getting your outfit ready for the day.

see also note at 準備する

Source: HiNative, gimon-sukkiri.jp

The JUNE BEE has finished preparations for the hive and is ready to fill it with summer honey.

By JUNE you better BE PREPARED for the exam season.

You need to "soon be" ready with your preparations!

While preparing 準備する for a trip, if the quantity of food is proportional 準 to the provision 備 needed for your stomack then you're making a good preparation.

our level of preparation is proportinate to 準 our number or provisions 備

I have to get prepared, I have a JUNE baBY on the way!

Pitch accent: じゅ＼んび.

Basically pronounced "o" in this context

Person を Event に 誘う→To invite a person to an event

Eg: ジョンさんはマリさんを映画に誘いました。→John invited Mary to the movies.

Pronounced as 'O', not as 'Wo'. The sound is actually extremely close to that of お.
But to write を on a Japanese keyboard based on the English layout you will need to type 'wo'.

"O" is for "Object".

Pronounced as O, (apparently), but think of it as a man on a surfboard!
"WOw!! I can surf!!!!"

A long time ago in a land far, far away (Nara period, which wasn't that long ago) (in Japan, which isn't particularly far because plane), this was once pronounced /wo/, similar to わ. Over many (actually just nine) centuries, this slowly merged with /o/ (お) to become the を we know today around the Edo period.

It's still を when used as a particle, though every case that was once /wo/ was replaced with お when Japan decided to standardize kana.

Various verbs for putting things on one's body (unrelated senses not mentioned):
- 着る: To wear upper body or full body clothing, usually through arm sleeves. It is used more generally when used with clothing in general e.g. 服を着る, when used in compounds such as 着こなす, 着込む, etc., in certain collocations, and other cases.
- 履く: To wear on the feet, such as shoes and socks.
- 穿く: To wear lower body clothing, such as pants and skirts. Usually kana.
- 掛ける: To hook/hang something on one's body, such as glasses, bags, pendants. Usually kana.
- 被る: To wear on/cover the head/face, such as hats and masks.
- 嵌める: To put on something that envelops, such as rings and gloves. Usually kana.
- 羽織る: To wear items not through sleeves, but e.g. by putting on one's shoulders and fastening buttons, such as coats and gowns. See 羽織.
- 着ける: To wear something, encompasses 着る, はく, etc. and includes accessories (glasses, necklaces, rings, etc.). Often in kana or as 付ける.
- 身に着ける: Essentially the same as 着ける. Often with つける in kana or with 付ける.
- 着する: Essentially the same as 着ける, though more formal.
- 着用(する): Essentially the same as 着ける, though more formal.
- する: To wear accessories (glasses, necklaces, rings, etc.), to be showing an expression, to have a certain quality, etc.
- 纏う: To wrap or wear something around the whole of or part of one's body. Usually kana.

Other verbs:
- 佩く: To affix to one's hip, such as a sword. Usually kana.
- 帯びる: To wear, to carry, usually of a sword on one's hip or an insignia.
- 提げる: To hang from the shoulder or waist or hold hanging from the hand. Also as 下げる.
- 突っかける: To slip on, to quickly wear shoes, slippers, etc.
- 召す: Honorific (尊敬語) form for 着る, e.g. 和服をお召しになる.

Sources:
- 使い方の分かる 類語例解辞典
- 大辞林
- 明鏡国語辞典
- Tofugu

"to cause to become", transitive counterpart to なる

行う is basically similar to する but 行う sounds more formal and stiff.
The more formal the situation is, the more likely 行う is chosen.
It can also be used in sentences where it usually sounds grandiose.
It can also appear in casual conversations.
There is also a verb 執り行う which sounds even stiffer and is only used with big ceremonies such as wedding ceremonies.

To wear small items (necktie, watch etc.)

する is one of the two irregular verb conjugations. To conjugate into this present form you would use します.

I have things suru(to do).

Monkey (さる) see, monkey do (する)

Mr. Sulu has a lot To Do on board the Enterprise.

Suru sounds like sudo, a Linux codeword that means "Super User DO."

To conjugate する, I like to think that it’s a godan and an ichidan verb at the same time. So to conjugate the stem the ichidan would do する -> す and the godan would do す -> し. Then I know that the stem of する is し.

わかい means ‘young’ and is usually used for teenagers or adults, but not for children.
(Source:Nakama1)

like kawaii in the i-less form, with the first 2 kana reversed.

Why cry? This is why I hate young children

Tsamina mina, eh, eh
Waka waka (わかわか), eh, eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa (Shakira)

the young are (は) KInd (かい）

Young people today have some Wack-y ideas

Wakai children are kawaii

Young (わかい) people think they know (わかる) everything.

Wow! Kai! You're so young!

If you've played Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Ichiban often refers to Masato Arakawa as Young Master (Waka)

Immature 若い (わかい) people are often the most childish 可愛い (かわいい) people.

If you’re young enough, a walrus will carry you. But only if you’re young.

That cute(かわい) kid is young(わかい).

Young people wakai understand things well wakarimasu

Young vaca (cow in Spanish)

Conversational contraction. しているんだ。ー＞　してんだ。

re: sense 3

Confusingly, ん after the negative stem of a verb can be both a contraction of the negative ない / ぬ ending, or of the archaic volitional む ending -- which have completely opposite meanings.

Fortunately the volitional ん verb ending (which is a different dictionary entry, flagged as an archaism) is rather uncommon in modern speech and mostly restricted to specific grammar patterns or intentionally formal/stylistic use of archaic language, so you don't often have to guess whether what looks like a negative is actually a positive.

For the first meaning, ん is most likely not a contraction of いる after the て form but rather a contraction of る.
In the case of ～ている, the contraction is done in two step:
～ている -> ～てる -> ～てん

And that last る -> ん contraction can also be use with verb ending in る like:
する->すん
来る->来ん
It's particularly common when combined with the particle な (the "not" one) for comical effects in casual conversation between friends. As in:
すんな (DON'T do that!)
来んな (DON'T come here!)
One of my favorite example is:
"話しかけてくんな"
Which is quite rude but gives a "Don't you dare come to talk to me!" vibes between friends. That the kind of feeling it can creates (so be careful with that).
Other than that, the ら->ん contraction is also possible as in:
分からない -> 分かんない
Which is relatively common too in casual speech between friends.

I tried to search for some formal explanation but couldn’t find anything that could give me a final answer. Apparently, it could be either some kind of dialect or a general kind of contraction where the entire ラ行 (the ら, れ, る, り, ろ sounds) and な行 (the な, に, ぬ, の, ねsounds) can be replaced with ん. At that point, I gave up because both feel correct and I couldn’t access to more information (nor can I still read research level article… for now). I pretty sure some of those ん contraction are really common mainly because of the kansai dialect combined with manzai comedy for example. But at the same time, I also feel like native used that contraction a bit randomly trough Japanese history. Hence why you have that damn ん which can mean either る、ら、に、の、ぬ、etc. I got traumatized by that ん when I first started to talk with some japanese friends and also when watching youtube. Hope that explanation will help you at least a bit for that (Also now, it’s fun and ん contraction + kansai ben + manzai → best way to make Japaneses laugh)

PS : Just remembered another one but I’m not redoing the entire explanation for that, so I will just leave that here :
やるのか？→ やんのか？ (“wanna fight ?” with a fake yankee vibe kinda, very common between friends)
So, that る → ん contraction can theoretically be applied to any verb with a る ending but in practice, it’s not used everywhere. Like, it’s not common in standard written Japanese, it’s not really “grammatical” either but it’s still extremely common in casual spoken Japanese (especially in those expression). So yeah, don’t know if that explanation is useful or confusing anymore but at least, you will be aware of them if you encounter those expression in the wild x)

From the stem of 為合う/しあう meaning to do (する) + to/with each other (合う/あう)

Also spelt 仕合 reflecting the connection to する (as in 仕事)

If you're shy (SHIAI), your performance might suffer in a public match or game.

Picture a sports match where "She" is an athlete intensely focusing her "Eye" on the game. She's determined, watching every move in the match with keen eyes.
Visualize this scene: "She" is in the game, her "Eye" on the ball, ready to react.

A team competition is just a (test) of how well you can (join) together with your teammates.

SHI loved *AI to watch football and was present at every game of her fav club.

Don't be shiai, give it a try! (the competition)

she gets shy (shiai) when she plays a match

しあい games are part of しあわせ happiness

One kind of competition my parents watch regularly is biathlon.
It has し あthletes いn snow.
Kanji: It's a test where people are matched against each other.

Sounds like "try". So, try to win a competition.

A competition is a test to see how fit you are. Don’t be SHY (しあい), show them how good you are.

I know you are shy (しあい), but this is more than a game. This is a test 試 to see if you are fit 合 to go to the contest/match.