Conversation Phrases– category –
Practical Japanese phrases for real conversations. Greetings, daily talk, restaurant and travel situations with natural usage examples. Browse by topic: Greetings, Daily Expressions, Situational Phrases. Full overview at the Conversation Hub.
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誰かいますか？: How to Say “Is Anyone Here?” in Japanese
ExpressionReadingMeaning誰かいますか？dareka imasu ka?Is anyone here? / Is someone there?誰かいる？dareka iru?Is anyone here? (casual)ご在席ですか？go zaiseki desu ka?Are you at your desk? (formal/business)いらっしゃいますか？irasshaimas... -
おしゃべり: How to Say “Talkative” or “Chatty” in Japanese
ExpressionReadingMeaningおしゃべりoshaberiTalkative / chatty / a chatterbox / chattingおしゃべりな人oshaberi na hitoA talkative personおしゃべりをするoshaberi wo suruTo chat / to have a chatおしゃべり好きoshaberi zukiSomeone who loves to... -
またね: How to Say “See You Later” in Japanese
ExpressionReadingMeaning / Registerまたねmata neSee you later (casual)またね！mata ne!Bye! / See ya! (very casual)またいつかmata itsukaSee you someday / until we meet againまた来てねmata kite neCome again / please come back How do Japane... -
難しい: How to Say “Difficult” in Japanese
ExpressionReadingMeaning難しいmuzukashiiDifficult / hard / complex難しそうmuzukashisouLooks difficult / seems hard難しくないmuzukashikunaiNot difficult / not hard難易度が高いnani-ido ga takaiHigh difficulty level (formal) 難しい seems li... -
わざわざ: Going Out of Your Way in Japanese
ExpressionReadingMeaningわざわざwazawazaGoing out of one’s way / specially / deliberately (often for someone else)わざとwazatoOn purpose / deliberately (for own reasons)せっかくsekkakuSince you’ve gone to the trouble / making... -
汚い言葉: Japanese Swear Words and Rude Expressions Explained
JapaneseReadingMeaning / StrengthくそkusoDamn / crap (mild-strong)うるさいurusaiShut up! / You’re annoying! (mild)バカbakaIdiot / fool (very common)アホahoIdiot (Kansai dialect, softer in West Japan)死ねshineDrop dead / go die (ver... -
さあ: The Japanese Word That Means Everything from “Come On” to “Who Knows?”
ExpressionReadingMeaning / UseさあsaaWho knows? / Hmm... / Well... / Come on!さあ、行こうsaa, ikouCome on, let’s go! (prompting action)さあ、どうぞsaa, douzoHere you go / Please (offering something)さあねsaa neWho knows? / I really... -
Naze Darou Meaning: “I Wonder Why” in Japanese (Nande Darou vs Naze Darou)
Naze darou (なぜだろう) means "I wonder why" — it expresses curiosity or puzzlement. Nande darou is the casual version. Learn the meaning, nuance, and when to use each with examples from real conversation. -
たぶん vs きっと vs おそらく: How to Say “Probably” in Japanese
ExpressionReadingCertaintyMeaningたぶんtabun~70%Probably / I think soおそらくosoraku~80%Probably / most likely (more formal)きっとkitto~90%Surely / certainly / I’m pretty sureかもしれないkamoshirenai~50%Maybe / might / possibly絶対... -
だんだん: How to Say “Gradually” in Japanese
ExpressionReadingMeaningだんだんdandanGradually / little by little / more and moreだんだん〜になるdandan ~ ni naruTo gradually become ~だんだんとdandan toGradually (slightly more formal/emphatic form) だんだん is one of the first Japanes...
