Daily life: social media and technology (use of, advantages and disadvantages)

Q: What is the common Japanese abbreviation for "smartphone"?

スマホ ( sumaho ) is the standard everyday abbreviation for a smartphone.

Q: What term do Japanese people typically use for "Social Media"?

In Japan, people often use the term ＳＮＳ ( esu-enu-esu ), which stands for Social Networking Services.

Q: How do you say "to use a smartphone" in Japanese using the correct particle and verb?

スマホを使います ( sumaho o tsukaimasu ).

Q: What are two common Japanese phrases used to describe the advantages of technology?

便利 ( benri - convenient) and 役に立つ ( yakudatsu - useful/helpful).

Q: How do you say "waste of time" and "bad for the eyes" in Japanese?

時間の無駄 ( jikan no muda ) means "a waste of time," and 目に悪い ( me ni warui ) means "bad for the eyes."

Q: How do you give a reason for why something is convenient using 〜から ?

[Reason Sentence] + から 、[Result Sentence]. For example: はやいから、便利です (Because it is fast, it is convenient).

Q: How do you contrast an advantage and a disadvantage in one sentence using "but"?

Use the conjunctions 〜ですが ( desu ga ) or 〜けれど ( keredo ) to connect two opposing ideas.

Q: How do you express the purpose of using a device using "in order to" ( 〜ために )?

[Verb Plain Form] + ために . For example: 話すために、SNSを使います (In order to talk, I use social media).

Q: In Japanese technology vocabulary, what is the specific difference between メール and 手紙 ?

メール ( mēru ) refers to digital emails or texts, while 手紙 ( tegami ) refers to physical, postal letters.

Japanese (1JA0) · Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) · 6 min read · Updated: 27 Aug 2026

Welcome to your study guide for Social Media and Technology (ソーシャルメディアとテクノロジー)! Technology and social media are a huge part of our everyday routines, which makes this topic one of the most common and practical areas tested in your Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Japanese exam. Whether you are aiming for Foundation or Higher tier, being able to talk about what devices you use, what you do online, and the pros and cons of digital life will help you score top marks across Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.

Don't worry if Japanese technology terms look intimidating at first. A lot of modern tech vocabulary is borrowed from English and written in Katakana, making it quick and fun to learn!

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1. Core Vocabulary: Devices and Hardware

Let's start with the everyday gadgets and hardware you use at home and at school. Notice how many of these are Katakana loan words.

パソコン / コンピューター (pasokon / konpyūtā) — Personal computer / Computer
スマホ / スマートフォン (sumaho / sumātofon) — Smartphone (スマホ is the standard everyday abbreviation!)
ケータイ / けいたいでんわ (kētai / keitai denwa / 携帯電話) — Mobile phone
タブレット (taburetto) — Tablet
スクリーン / がめん (sukuriin / gamen / 画面) — Screen

Quick Tip: Always remember the long vowel mark (ー) when writing Katakana words like ケータイ, コンピューター, and スクリーン. Missing the dash is a very common spelling error!

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2. Core Vocabulary: Online Platforms and Digital Actions

Now, let's explore the online world and the verbs you need to describe your daily digital habits.

Online Platforms and Tools

インターネット / ネット (intānetto / netto) — Internet / The net
ソーシャルメディア / ＳＮＳ (sōsharu media / esu-enu-esu) — Social media / Social Networking Services (in Japan, people often say "SNS")
ウェブサイト / ホームページ (webusaito / hōmupēji) — Website / Homepage
ブログ (burogu) — Blog
メール / Ｅメール (mēru / īmēru) — Email / digital text message

Digital Actions (Verbs)

つかう / 使う (tsukau) — To use
Example: 毎日スマホを使います。(Mainichi sumaho o tsukaimasu. — I use my smartphone every day.)
おくる / 送る (okuru) — To send (messages/emails)
Example: 友だちにメールを送ります。(Tomodachi ni mēru o送rimasu. — I send an email/message to a friend.)
うけとる / 受け取る (uketoru) — To receive (messages/emails)
シェアする (shea suru) — To share (photos/posts)
アップロードする (appurōdo suru) — To upload
（しゃしんを）とる / 写真をとる (shashin o toru) — To take (photos)
ダウンロードする (daunrōdo suru) — To download
ネットサーフィンをする (netto sāfin o suru) — To surf the internet
（ゲームを）する / あそぶ (gēmu o suru / asobu) — To play games
チャットする / はなす (chatto suru / hanasu) — To chat / talk

Key Takeaway: Pair the noun with the object particle を (o) before the action verb: しゃしんをシェアする (to share photos), ゲームをする (to play games).

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3. Advantages and Disadvantages (利点と欠点 / メリットとデメリット)

In the GCSE exam, you will frequently be asked to evaluate both the good points (advantages) and bad points (disadvantages) of technology. Showing balance is essential for higher marks!

Advantages (べんり・良い点)

べんり（な） / 便利 (benri [na]) — Convenient
やくだつ / 役に立つ (yakudatsu) — Useful / helpful
はやい / 速い・早い (hayai) — Fast / quick
いつでも、どこでも (itsu demo, doko demo) — Anytime, anywhere
れんらくできる / 連絡できる (renraku dekiru) — Able to contact / stay in touch

Disadvantages (ふべん・悪い点)

ふべん（な） / 不便 (fuben [na]) — Inconvenient
じかんのむだ / 時間の無駄 (jikan no muda) — A waste of time
めにわるい / 目に悪い (me ni warui) — Bad for the eyes
あぶない / 危険（な） (abunai / kiken [na]) — Dangerous / hazardous
つかいすぎる / 使いすぎる (tsukaisugiru) — To overuse
いぞんしょう / 依存症 (izonshō) — Addiction / dependency

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4. Essential Grammar for Discussing Technology

Use these simple sentence structures to build balanced opinions and state clear reasons.

A. Giving Reasons: 〜から / 〜ので (Because...)

Explain why you like or dislike an app or device.

Structure: [Reason Sentence] + から / ので、[Result Sentence]
Example: はやいから、メールは便利です。(Hayai kara, mēru wa benri desu. — Because it is fast, email is convenient.)
Example: めにわるいので、スマホをつかいすぎないでください。(Me ni warui node, sumaho o tsukaisuginaide kudasai. — Because it is bad for the eyes, please do not overuse your smartphone.)

B. Contrasting Advantages and Disadvantages: 〜ですが / 〜けれど (..., but ...)

Combine positive and negative points in a single sentence to show sophisticated thinking.

Structure with な-adjectives: [Noun] は 便利ですが、[Noun] は 危険です。
Example: インターネットは便利ですが、少しあぶないです。(Intānetto wa benri desu ga, sukoshi abunai desu. — The internet is convenient, but it is a little dangerous.)
Example: スマホは役に立ちますが、時間の無駄になることがあります。(Sumaho wa yakudachimasu ga, jikan no muda ni naru koto ga arimasu. — Smartphones are useful, but they can become a waste of time.)

C. Expressing Purpose: 〜ために (In order to...)

Explain why you use a certain device or service.

Structure: [Verb Plain Form] + ために、〜
Example: 友だちと話すために、SNSを使います。(Tomodachi to hanasu tame ni, SNS o tsukaimasu. — In order to talk with friends, I use social media.)

D. Giving Opinions and Advice: 〜と思います / 〜方がいい

Structure: [Plain form sentence] + とおもいます (と思います) — I think that...
Example: スマホは便利だと思います。(Sumaho wa benri da to omoimasu. — I think smartphones are convenient.)
Structure: [Verb past plain / Verb negative plain] + ほうがいい (方がいい) — It is better to...
Example: ネットを使いすぎない方がいいです。(Netto o tsukaisuginai hō ga ii desu. — It is better not to overuse the internet.)

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5. Common Pitfalls & Examiner Advice

Avoid these frequent traps highlighted by GCSE examiners:

Pitfall 1: Confusing メール (mēru) with postal letters.
In Japanese, メール means digital email or instant messages. If you mean a physical postal letter, use 手紙 (てがみ / tegami).
Pitfall 2: Only discussing one side of the argument.
If an exam prompt asks about technology, don't just list what apps you like! Always mention at least one drawback (e.g., 目に悪い - bad for eyes, 時間の無駄 - waste of time) to fulfill the task and secure full marks.
Pitfall 3: Incorrect Adjective Joining.
Remember that 便利 (べんり) is a な-adjective. To say "it is convenient, but...", write 便利ですが (benri desu ga) or 便利だけれど (benri da keredo), NOT ~~便利けれども~~.
Pitfall 4: Prescribed Kanji usage.
Make sure you accurately write prescribed daily-life Kanji such as 使 (つかう), 友 (ともだち), 話 (はなす), 時 (とき/じ), 分 (ふん/ぷん), and 間 (かん/あいだ) rather than leaving them purely in Hiragana.

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6. Quick Review Checklist

Before moving on, make sure you can:

[ ] Name at least 3 digital devices in Katakana (パソコン, スマホ, タブレット).
[ ] Name 3 daily online activities using verbs (メールを送る, 写真をシェアする, ゲームをする).
[ ] State at least two advantages of tech (便利, 役に立つ, いつでも連絡できる).
[ ] State at least two disadvantages of tech (目に悪い, 時間の無駄, 危険).
[ ] Connect a positive and negative point using 〜ですが or 〜けれど.

Quick check

Can you answer these now?

Open each question to check the key ideas from this chapter.

What is the common Japanese abbreviation for "smartphone"?

スマホ (sumaho) is the standard everyday abbreviation for a smartphone.

What term do Japanese people typically use for "Social Media"?

In Japan, people often use the term ＳＮＳ (esu-enu-esu), which stands for Social Networking Services.

How do you say "to use a smartphone" in Japanese using the correct particle and verb?

スマホを使います (sumaho o tsukaimasu).

What are two common Japanese phrases used to describe the advantages of technology?

便利 (benri - convenient) and 役に立つ (yakudatsu - useful/helpful).

How do you say "waste of time" and "bad for the eyes" in Japanese?

時間の無駄 (jikan no muda) means "a waste of time," and 目に悪い (me ni warui) means "bad for the eyes."

How do you give a reason for why something is convenient using 〜から?

[Reason Sentence] + から、[Result Sentence]. For example: はやいから、便利です (Because it is fast, it is convenient).

How do you contrast an advantage and a disadvantage in one sentence using "but"?

Use the conjunctions 〜ですが (desu ga) or 〜けれど (keredo) to connect two opposing ideas.

How do you express the purpose of using a device using "in order to" (〜ために)?

[Verb Plain Form] + ために. For example: 話すために、SNSを使います (In order to talk, I use social media).

In Japanese technology vocabulary, what is the specific difference between メール and 手紙?

メール (mēru) refers to digital emails or texts, while 手紙 (tegami) refers to physical, postal letters.

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