Are you overusing "めっちゃ" — without realizing it?

In this episode of 日本語耳 (Nihongomimi), Marie breaks down why this common word often sounds unnatural in real conversations, and how it connects to one of the most important concepts in Japanese: understanding "air (空気)."

She also talks about why building a textbook foundation actually helps you sound more natural, not less — and shares practical tips on how to use AI effectively in your Japanese studies.

このエピソードでは、「めっちゃ」を使いすぎていないか？というテーマから、日本語における「空気」の重要性についてお話しします。教科書で学ぶことの大切さと、リアルな日本語とのバランス、そしてAIを活用した学習のコツも紹介します。

Listen as if you’re sitting with a Japanese friend, hearing natural, unfiltered Japanese at real speed.

You can read the full Japanese transcript here:https://www.marienukaya.com/nihongomimi

For serious learners: This episode also comes with my Listening Mastery Pack, designed to help you internalize natural Japanese faster and more effectively. https://www.marienukaya.com/category/all-products

Let’s make your ears 日本語耳.