Phrases

Question 1

Genki desu ka?

Genki?

Answer 1

How are you (feeling)?

Question 2

Kyou nani surun desu ka?
(Kyou wa nani o surun desu ka?)
(Kyou wa nani o shimasu ka?)

(Kyou nani suru no?)

Answer 2

What are you doing today?

1. Most natural (slightly less formal. Good for acquaintance)
2. Natural but more formal.
3. Textbook sentence. Very formal / somewhat unnatural.
4. Very informal. Talking to close friend.

Question 3

Kyou wa / shigoto wa isogashii desu ka?

Kyou isogashii?

Answer 3

Are you busy today / at work?

Informal

Question 4

Hisashiburi desu ne.

Hisashiburi

Answer 4

Long time no see / it’s been a while.

Ok to say even if you saw someone yesterday.

Question 5

Ii tenki desu ne.

Ii tenki da ne.

Answer 5

Good weather, isn’t it?

Informal

Question 6

Saikin dou desu ka?

Answer 6

How have you been lately?

Implies with work, family, etc. slightly different connotation than genki.

Question 7

Tanoshiinderu?

Answer 7

What’s up (that is fun)?

Very informal. Very close friends.

Question 8

Hai. Sou desu ne.

Sou da ne.

Answer 8

Yes. So it is.

Good response for phrases like Hisashiburi or ii tenki desu ne. Shows agreement. Used a lot in conversation.

Question 9

Maa maa.
Soko soko.
Anmari.

Answer 9

Ok or so, so.

Anmari is better than maa maa. Maa maa implies ok but not great. Anmari is more like ok or done or pretty good.

Question 10

Choushi ii?

Choushi ii.

Answer 10

Are you doing well?

I am well.

Informal conversation.

Question 11

Sou desu ne.
Sou omoimasu.
Ii desu ne.

Answer 11

Responses for when you agree (formal).

Question 11

Sou da ne.
Ii ne.
Sou sou.
Iin jyanai?

Answer 11

Responses for when you agree (informal).

Question 12

Sore wa chigaimasu.

Chigaimasu

Answer 12

Responses for when you disagree. (Formal)

Question 13

Sore wa chigau.
Chigau
Sou jyanai.

Answer 13

Responses for when you disagree. (Informal).

Question 14

Mata aimashou.
Mata kondo.
Mata ashita. (Raishuu etc.)

Answer 14

Different ways to say goodbye. (Formal).

Question 15

Matane
Jya mata
Jya ne

Answer 15

Different ways to say goodbye (informal).

Question 16

X wa eigo de nan desu ka?

Answer 16

What is X in English?

Question 17

X wa nihongo de nan desu ka?

Answer 17

What is X in Japanese?

Question 18

Yukkuri onegai shimasu.

Answer 18

Please slow down.

Question 19

Mou ikkai onegai shimasu.

Mou ichido onegai shimasu.

Answer 19

One more time.

Question 20

Chotto matte kudasai.

Answer 20

Wait a moment.

Question 21

Wakarimasu ka? / Wakaru?

Answer 21

Do you understand?

Question 22

Wakarimasu / Wakaru

Wakarimasita / wakatta

Answer 22

I understand.

I understood.

Question 23

X ga suki desu.

Answer 23

Likes X.

Question 24

X ga kirai desu.

Answer 24

Dislikes X.

Question 25

X ga ichiban suki desu.

Answer 25

Favorite is X.

Question 26

Ima nanji desu ka?

Answer 26

What time is it (now)?

Question 27

Doko ni ikimasu ka?

Answer 27

Where are you going? Particle ni = to / shows direction. When using no to indicate direction you always use it b

Question 28

Kinyoubi ni ikimasu.

Answer 28

I'm going on Friday. No = on or in - use no to mean on only when the time has a name. Do not use for relative time like next week. (If you would use in or in in English, use ni. If you wouldn't in English don't use ni)

Question 29

Doyoubi ni gakkou ni ikimasen.

Answer 29

I did not go to school on Friday. One ni for to and one ni for on.