Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Japan is all about chocolate, and about who you give it to. This lesson gives you the words for the different kinds, for buying and making chocolate, and for giving something back on White Day. Tap to hear any line. The bar at the bottom plays a hands-free drill for walking.
About this festival
In Japan, Valentine's Day, 14 February, has traditionally been the day women give chocolate to men. Department stores hold huge chocolate fairs from late January, and many people buy for several people, not just one.
Each kind has a name. is for someone special, often expensive or homemade, . , "obligation chocolate" for male colleagues, is fading, and many workplaces have dropped it. is swapped between friends, especially schoolgirls, and is a treat for yourself. These days men give chocolate too.
The return gift comes a month later, on White Day (14 March): people who got chocolate give something back, , often sweets or a small present. Children often make chocolate at home with friends the weekend before. Many schools don't allow it to be brought in, so it's handed over after school.
25 Valentine's words
Each card shows a word and a sentence about buying, making and giving chocolate. Seven reuse words from earlier lessons.
Who gets which chocolate
The kinds of Valentine's chocolate, and the return gift on White Day.
| Kind | Who it's for | Word |
|---|
- チョコ. Short for チョコレート; it's what everyone says.
- Giving and getting. あげる is give and もらう is get, as in Lesson 3. Everyday Japanese 4 covers them fully.
- Who gives? Traditionally women give on the 14th and men give back on White Day. Now anyone gives, and many offices skip it.
Three patterns to use today
Say it in Japanese
Say each one out loud before you reveal the answer. Getting close counts.