How To Converse in Japanese, Or At Least Pretend You Know What You’re Doing

According to the Foreign Service Institute, Japanese is one of the hardest languages for native English speakers to learn. Requiring an average of 88 weeks to achieve speaking and reading proficiency (source), you’re not going to master it overnight. While you’re in Japan, you’re going to need to know some basic Japanese. Sometimes, you may even find yourself conversing with the locals in Japanese (although sometimes in English). On the night of February 23, I visited a local Izakaya and ended up having a conversation with a man named Yousuke. Despite my very limited Japanese (and this is what I remember after three years of studying it), I was able to comprehend that Yousuke is a fisherman who lives near the area and likes to go skiing during the Winter. His sister has traveled the world and he is jealous of her. So how did I do it, and how was I able to comprehend what I did despite 90% of everything else going over my head?

Aside from my previous studies, I used some linguistic devices to at least give the appearance that I was listening. A key phrase to learn is “そうですか” (sou desu ka)(Is that so?). This one phrase shows that you are listening and are interested in what your conversation partner is saying. It allowed me to continue the conversation and at least give the appearance that I was interested in what he was saying (I actually was).

Another key device is the phrase “もう一度言ってください” (mou ichido itte kudasai)(Could you say it one more time please?). If you are uncertain about what your conversation partner said, don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat it. This helps with comprehension and allows you to pick up on what you may have missed. I used this phrase quite a lot over the course of my conversation with Yousuke and we were able to keep the conversation going.

Don’t be afraid to apologize! The Japanese people, despite what they might tell you, are incredibly patient with anyone who attempts to speak Japanese. If you find yourself resorting to a translator in order to keep the conversation going, say “すみません” (sumimasen)(sorry). Another key phrase that will help you is “日本語をちょっと分かります” (Nihongo-o chotto wakarimasu) (I understand a little Japanese). What I have found in my many instances of uttering the latter phrase is that people are more patient and willing to help out in whatever way they can. Not only are you showing that you are attempting to speak Japanese, but you are making it clear that your Japanese knowledge is limited. This phrase is most helpful when you’re doing anything that requires spending money.

Are you uncertain about what something says? Don’t be afraid to ask someone “これは読んで下さい” (Kore-wa yonde kudasai)(Could you please read this for me?) Because the menu at this Izakaya was completely in Japanese, I saw an item written in Katakana. I was not sure what it said, so I asked the server to read it for me. Because of this key phrase, I was able to order some delicious Yakisoba. Yummy.

At the end of the day, just remember that you are capable of more than you think. You will realize at some point on your study abroad journey in Japan that you can speak more Japanese than you ever expected. Over the course of this trip, I was able to hold some conversations and even buy train tickets to Osaka; all in Japanese.

I wasn’t expecting to make a new friend here in Japan the other night, but I somehow did. The tips provided in this article were crucial for making it happen. Study them.