Tips of Conversation in Japanese: Practice Methods to Talk in Japanese

When do you want to talk in Japanese?
I want to have a chat with my coworker, drinking coffee. I want to ask about famous foods or sightseeing spots when I travel. I have a job meeting with Japanese people. I want to make new friends at a party. I want to talk with my neighbor. etc…
We have lots of situations to “talk in Japanese.” When you want to do so, at first, you should think “who” you want to talk with, “when” you talk, and “what” you want to talk about. After imaging them, you start to learn Japanese phrases that you can use in these situations.

For example, it is a situation where I want to talk in a foreign language. “When I travel and find a strange thing, I want to ask what it is, when it is used and who uses it.” Let’s see the conversation in Japanese.

I:あの、ちょっとすみません。(Ano Chotto sumimasen.): Excuse me?
Other:  はい、なんですか。(Hi, Nandesuka.): Hi, what happened?
I:これ、なんですか。(Kore, Nandesuka.): What is this?
Other:  え…。(E…): Umm…
I: わたしは旅行者です。(Watashi wa ryokosha desu.): I am a traveler.
これを初めて見ました。(Kore wo hajimete mimashita.): I saw this for the first time.
これはなんですか。(Kore wa nan desuka.): What is this?
Other:  あー。これは鍋ですよ。(A, kore wa nabe desu yo.): Umm, this is a pot.
I: 鍋ですか。(Nabe desuka.): A pot.
どんな料理の時に使いますか。(Don na ryori no toki ni tsukaimasuka.): What dish is made with the pot?

What kind of situation motivates you to speak Japanese?

Most people want to speak Japanese, but they do not have friends who practice speaking Japanese together. But we have some ways to practice it alone.
One is listening to what people around you talk about in Japanese. A short phrase is enough. Find some phrases that you hear many times, listen to them and copy them. It is a good chance to listen when your coworker speaks, when you join in a company meeting and when you are in a café or train. If Japanese speakers are not around you, you can watch videos of Japanese creators explaining the Japanese language on SNS such as YouTube or TikTok. Some creators teach Japanese in their own language.  It is effective to imitate their pronunciation and say it loudly, rather than watching explanations. Another way is to watch anime but be aware that the way anime characters speak is sometimes unnatural. For example, Japanese people will be surprised to hear someone who likes anime say “俺 (ore): I” or “お前 (omae): you” to someone they have just met.

The third way to practice on your own to improve your conversational skills is to say Japanese phrases out loud. Try saying Japanese sentences out loud for one minute every day. You can also try saying one thought or idea in Japanese every day.
If you like singing, it is also interesting to try singing the lyrics of Japanese songs.

Now, let’s introduce some phrases that you can use to get a conversation going smoothly.

These are the phrases to talk to someone at first like “Excuse me.”

あの、すみません (Ano, sumimasen)

ちょっといいですか (Cyotto iidesuka)

If you know the name of the person, you should call it. Calling the person “あなた (anata): you” makes him/her anxiety.
Sometimes, we have no topic to talk after greeting. In Japan, we usually talk about the weather or how they are.

〇〇さん、こんにちは。毎日暑いですね。
〇〇san Konnichiwa Mainichi Atsuidesune
Mr./Ms. ○○, hello. It is hot every day.

〇〇さん、子どもさんはお元気ですか。
〇〇san kodomosan wa ogenkidesuka.
Mr./Ms. ○○, how is your child?

If you ask a question that it can be rude such as an age or a home address, you should say “失礼ですが (shitsureidesuga): I don’t know if I’m allowed to ask this” at first.

しつれいですが、ちょっと聞いてもいいですか。
Shitsureidesuga,cyotto kiitemo iidesuka.
I don’t know if I’m allowed to ask this, but can I ask a question?

聞きたいことがあるんですが、いいですか。
Kikitai kotoga arundesuga iidesuka.
I have a question. May I ask?

Ask many kinds of questions. If you ask what you do not know or what you want to know, it makes another person talk easily.

いつ (itu): when
次のレッスンはいつですか
Tugi no lesson wa itudesuka.
When does the next lesson start?

どこ (doko): where
きれいな桜が見たいです。どこがいいですか。
Kirei na sakura ga mitaidesu. Doko ga iidesuka.
I want to see beautiful cherry blossoms. Where is the good place?

なに/なん (nani/nan): what
これ は なんですか Korewa nandesuka
What is this?

なぜ/どうして (naze/doushite): why
なぜ　駅や公園に　ごみ箱が　ないのですか
Naze eki ya kouen ni gomibako ga nainodesuka
Why aren’t there any trash boxes in the station or park?

いくら (ikura): how much
これ　は　いくらですか Kore wa ikuradesuka
How much is this?

どれ (dore): which
どれがいちばんおいしいですか。
Dore　ga ichiban oisi desuka.
Which is the best dish?

どうやって (dou yatte): how
どうやって食べますか Do yatte tabemasuka
How do I eat this?

“～ですか (~ desuka)” “～ますか (~ masuka)”
If you add “～か (~ ka)” to the end of a sentence, it become a question sentence.

日本では日曜日にお店が開いています
Nihon dewa niciyobi ni omise ga aiteimasu
In Japan, shops are open even on Sunday.

日本では日曜日にお店が開いていますか
Nihon dewa niciyobi ni omise ga aiteimasu ka
In Japan, are shops open on Sunday?

The phrases can be used when you want to listen to someone’s story more.

どうしたんですか (Dousitandesuka): What happened? / Why?

I : うれしそうですね。どうしたんですか。
Uresisoudesune. Dousitandesuka.
You look happy. Why?

Other: 仕事が決まったんです。
Shigoto ga kimattanndesu.
I got a job.

I : おめでとう。
Omedeto
Congratulations.

This is a way of reacting to what the other person says.

These are phrases that you empathize with the other person.
そうですね (soudesune): I see.
そうだよね (soudayone): That’s right.
うん、うん (un un): Uh-huh
私もそう思う (watashi mo sou omou): I think so.
わかる (wakaru): I know.

These are phrases when you are surprised.
わあ (wa) / ええ (ee): Wow
本当/本当ですか (hontou/hontou desuka): Really?
信じられない (shin ji rarenai): Unbelievable
まじで/まじですか (majide/majidesuka): For sure?

If you can give a good compliment in a conversation, you and other people will feel better and enjoy their conversation. Finally, here are some ways to praise.

すごい (sugoi): Wonderful
いいね/いいですね (iine/iidesune): Nice
きれいです (kirei desun): Beautiful
すばらしい (subarasii): Great
さすがです (sasuga desu): That’s just like you.
すてきです (suteki desu): Nice
かわいいです (kawaii desu): Cute
かっこいいです (kakko ii desu): Cool

At TCJ, there are plenty of opportunities to speak, both in class lessons and in private lessons. Teachers listen to and analyze learners’ Japanese, while teachers also enjoy conversation. They then give feedback to the learners on “easier ways to say” or new words. The biggest advantage of taking a conversation lesson with a teacher is that you can immediately ask about things you do not understand and learn new words and phrases. When you want to practice conversation in a private lesson, it would be better if you tell the teacher in detail “where, with whom and what kind of conversation you want to have.”
Let’s talk a lot together. We are looking forward to seeing you soon.