Confusing Pairs, Compared
The look-alike expressions everyone mixes up — explained side by side with the real differences, plenty of examples, and a drill to make the distinction automatic.
N4
- と vs ば vs たら vs なら: Japanese Conditionals Compared — Japanese has four 'if/when' conditionals — と, ば, たら, なら. Learn what makes each different, when to use which, and see them side by side with clear examples.
- ようだ vs らしい vs みたい: The Real Difference (with 30 Examples) — ようだ, らしい and みたい all mean 'seems like' — but they differ in evidence and formality. A clear comparison table, a when-to-use decision guide, and side-by-side examples.
- ようになる vs ようにする: The Difference (with Examples) — ようになる and ようにする look almost identical but mean opposite things: a change that happens vs. an effort you make. A clear, example-led comparison for JLPT N4.
N5
- は vs が: The Real Difference (with Plenty of Examples) — は marks the topic; が marks the subject — but the real difference is about what's already known vs. what's new. A clear, example-led guide to は vs が for JLPT learners.