hundredwords

What will people in Japan ask you when they want to chat?

Expect to hear どこから来ましたか？ (doko kara kimashita ka, "Where are you from?"), 日本は初めてですか？ (Nihon wa hajimete desu ka, "Is this your first time in Japan?"), 何を食べましたか？ (nani o tabemashita ka, "What have you eaten?"). Useful things to say: シンガポールから来ました。 (Shingapōru kara kimashita, "I'm from Singapore") and よろしくお願いします。 (yoroshiku onegai shimasu, "Nice to meet you").

The whole conversation: Chatting with people you meet

Someone at the next seat in the izakaya, or the owner of a tiny bar, wants to know about you.

  1. You hear
    どこから来ましたか？ doko kara kimashita ka Where are you from?
  2. You say
    シンガポールから来ました。 Shingapōru kara kimashita I'm from Singapore.

    Swap in your own country: Igirisu (UK), Amerika (US), Ōsutoraria (Australia).

  3. You say
    よろしくお願いします。 yoroshiku onegai shimasu Nice to meet you.
  4. You hear
    日本は初めてですか？ Nihon wa hajimete desu ka Is this your first time in Japan?
  5. You say
    二回目です。 nikai-me desu It's my second time.
  6. You hear
    日本語上手ですね！ Nihongo jōzu desu ne Your Japanese is good!

    You will hear this after your first two words. The modest reply is the next line.

  7. You say
    いえいえ、まだまだです。 ie ie, madamada desu Oh no, I've a long way to go.
  8. You hear
    何を食べましたか？ nani o tabemashita ka What have you eaten?
  9. You say
    ラーメンが大好きです。 rāmen ga daisuki desu I love ramen.
  10. You say
    おいしい！ oishii Delicious!
  11. You say
    また来ます。 mata kimasu I'll come again.
  12. You say
    じゃあね！ jā ne Bye!

    Sayōnara sounds like goodbye for ever. Friends say jā ne.

Is this what people really say here?

Questions about this scene

What will people in Japan ask you when they want to chat?

Expect to hear どこから来ましたか？ (doko kara kimashita ka, "Where are you from?"), 日本は初めてですか？ (Nihon wa hajimete desu ka, "Is this your first time in Japan?"), 何を食べましたか？ (nani o tabemashita ka, "What have you eaten?"). Useful things to say: シンガポールから来ました。 (Shingapōru kara kimashita, "I'm from Singapore") and よろしくお願いします。 (yoroshiku onegai shimasu, "Nice to meet you").

What does "どこから来ましたか？" mean in Japanese?

It means "Where are you from?". It is pronounced doko kara kimashita ka. A natural reply is シンガポールから来ました。 (Shingapōru kara kimashita), "I'm from Singapore".

What does "日本は初めてですか？" mean in Japanese?

It means "Is this your first time in Japan?". It is pronounced Nihon wa hajimete desu ka. A natural reply is 二回目です。 (nikai-me desu), "It's my second time".

What does "何を食べましたか？" mean in Japanese?

It means "What have you eaten?". It is pronounced nani o tabemashita ka. A natural reply is ラーメンが大好きです。 (rāmen ga daisuki desu), "I love ramen".