Learning Japanese grammar and vocabulary is essential, but the real test comes when you try to have an actual conversation. Many beginners feel confident reading textbooks but freeze when speaking with native speakers. The secret? Practice with realistic dialogues and common conversation patterns.
This comprehensive guide provides practical Japanese conversation practice for beginners. You’ll learn essential phrases, study real-world dialogues, and master the conversation patterns you’ll actually use in daily life. Each dialogue includes Japanese text, romaji, English translation, and cultural notes to help you understand not just what to say, but how and when to say it.
Basic Conversation Essentials
Before diving into full conversations, let’s cover the essential phrases every beginner needs:
Core Conversation Starters
ใใฟใพใใ
Sumimasen
Excuse me / Sorry
ใกใใฃใจใใใงใใ
Chotto ii desu ka?
Can I ask you something? / Do you have a moment?
ใใไธๅบฆใ้กใใใพใ
Mou ichido onegaishimasu
One more time please
ใใฃใใ่ฉฑใใฆใใ ใใ
Yukkuri hanashite kudasai
Please speak slowly
ๅใใใพใใ
Wakarimasen
I don’t understand
ใฉใใใๆๅณใงใใ
Dou iu imi desu ka?
What does that mean?
Survival Phrase:ๆฅๆฌ่ชใใใพใ่ฉฑใใพใใ (Nihongo ga amari hanasemasen) – “I can’t speak Japanese very well”
This phrase is your best friend as a beginner! It lets people know to speak slowly and simply.
Self-Introduction Dialogues
Meeting Someone for the First Time
๐ Formal Introduction
Person A:
ๅใใพใใฆใ็ฐไธญใจ็ณใใพใใ
Hajimemashite. Tanaka to moushimasu.
Nice to meet you. I’m called Tanaka.
Person B:
ๅใใพใใฆใในใในใงใใใใใใใ้กใใใพใใ
Hajimemashite. Sumisu desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Nice to meet you. I’m Smith. Pleased to meet you.
Person A:
ใใกใใใใใใใใใ้กใใใพใใ
Kochira koso, yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Likewise, pleased to meet you.
Cultural Note: ็ณใใพใ (moushimasu) is more formal than ใงใ (desu). Use it when introducing yourself in business or formal settings.
๐ Student Introduction
Student A:
ใฏใใใพใใฆใใธใงใณใงใใใขใกใชใซใใๆฅใพใใใ
Hajimemashite. Jon desu. Amerika kara kimashita.
Nice to meet you. I’m John. I came from America.
Student B:
ใใใงใใใ็งใฏๆฅๆฌไบบใงใใๆฑไบฌใซไฝใใงใใพใใ
Sou desu ka. Watashi wa nihonjin desu. Tลkyล ni sunde imasu.
I see. I’m Japanese. I live in Tokyo.
Student A:
ใใใงใใญใ็งใฏไปใๆฅๆฌ่ชใๅๅผทใใฆใใพใใ
Ii desu ne. Watashi wa ima, nihongo wo benkyou shite imasu.
That’s nice. I’m studying Japanese now.
Usage Tip: ๏ฝใใๆฅใพใใ (kara kimashita) means “came from” and is perfect for saying where you’re from.
Essential Introduction Vocabulary
ๅญฆ็ (ใใใใ)
student
ไผ็คพๅก (ใใใใใใ)
office worker
ๅบ่บซ (ใใ
ใฃใใ)
hometown / origin
ๅฐๆป (ใใใใ)
major (subject of study)
Daily Conversation Scenarios
Morning Greetings
๐
Greeting a Neighbor
You:
ใใฏใใใใใใพใ!
Ohayou gozaimasu!
Good morning!
Neighbor:
ใใฏใใใใใใพใใใใๅคฉๆฐใงใใญใ
Ohayou gozaimasu. Ii tenki desu ne.
Good morning. Nice weather, isn’t it?
You:
ใใใงใใญใไปๆฅใฏๆใใใงใใญใ
Sou desu ne. Kyou wa atatakai desu ne.
Yes, it is. It’s warm today, isn’t it?
Pattern: Adding ใญ (ne) at the end seeks agreement – like “isn’t it?” or “right?” in English.
Making Plans
๐
Inviting a Friend
You:
้ฑๆซใๆ ็ปใ่ฆใซ่กใใพใใใใ
Shuumatsu, eiga wo mi ni ikimasen ka?
Would you like to go see a movie this weekend?
Friend:
ใใใงใใญ!ไฝๆใใใใงใใใ
Ii desu ne! Nanji ga ii desu ka?
That sounds good! What time is good?
You:
ๅๅพ3ๆใฏใฉใใงใใใ
Gogo sanji wa dou desu ka?
How about 3 PM?
Friend:
ๅคงไธๅคซใงใใใใใใใพใ้ฃ็ตกใใพใใ
Daijoubu desu. Jaa, mata renraku shimasu.
That’s fine. I’ll contact you again later.
Invitation Pattern: ๏ฝใพใใใ (masen ka) is the polite way to invite someone. Literally “Won’t you…?”
At a Restaurant
Server:
ใใใฃใใใใพใใไฝๅๆงใงใใใ
Irasshaimase. Nanmei-sama desu ka?
Welcome. How many people?
You:
ไบไบบใงใใ
Futari desu.
Two people.
Server:
ใใกใใธใฉใใใใๆณจๆใฏใๆฑบใพใใงใใใ
Kochira e douzo. Gochuumon wa okimari desu ka?
This way please. Have you decided on your order?
You:
ใฉใผใกใณใไบใคใ้กใใใพใใ
Rฤmen wo futatsu onegaishimasu.
Two ramen, please.
Server:
ใใใใพใใพใใใ
Kashikomarimashita.
Certainly.
You:
ใใฟใพใใใใไผ่จใ้กใใใพใใ
Sumimasen, okaikei onegaishimasu.
Excuse me, the bill please.
Server:
ใฏใใ2,500ๅใซใชใใพใใ
Hai, nisen gohyaku en ni narimasu.
Yes, that will be 2,500 yen.
You:
ใซใผใใงใใใใงใใใ
Kฤdo demo ii desu ka?
Is it okay with card?
Server:
ใฏใใๅคงไธๅคซใงใใใใใใจใใใใใพใใใ
Hai, daijoubu desu. Arigatou gozaimashita.
Yes, that’s fine. Thank you very much.
Restaurant Vocabulary
ๆณจๆ (ใกใ
ใใใ)
order
ใๆฐด (ใใฟใ)
water (polite)
ใไผ่จ (ใใใใใ)
bill / check
ใใใใ
recommendation
At a Store
๐๏ธ Looking for Items
Store Clerk:
ใใใฃใใใใพใใไฝใใๆขใใงใใใ
Irasshaimase. Nanika osagashi desu ka?
Welcome. Are you looking for something?
You:
Tใทใฃใใๆขใใฆใใพใใ
T-shatsu wo sagashite imasu.
I’m looking for a T-shirt.
Store Clerk:
ใใกใใซใใใใพใใใตใคใบใฏใใใใงใใใ
Kochira ni gozaimasu. Saizu wa ikaga desu ka?
They’re over here. What size would you like?
You:
Mใตใคใบใฏใใใพใใใ
M saizu wa arimasu ka?
Do you have size M?
Store Clerk:
ใฏใใใใกใใงใใ่ฉฆ็ๅฎคใฏใใกใใงใใ
Hai, kochira desu. Shichaku-shitsu wa achira desu.
Yes, here it is. The fitting room is over there.
Shopping Pattern: ๏ฝใๆขใใฆใใพใ (wo sagashite imasu) – “I’m looking for…”
Asking for Directions
Finding Your Way
๐บ๏ธ Getting to the Station
You:
ใใฟใพใใใ้ง
ใฏใฉใใงใใใ
Sumimasen, eki wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me, where is the station?
Person:
ใพใฃใใ่กใฃใฆใไบใค็ฎใฎไฟกๅทใๅณใซๆฒใใฃใฆใใ ใใใ
Massugu itte, futatsu-me no shingou wo migi ni magatte kudasai.
Go straight, then turn right at the second traffic light.
You:
ใฉใฎใใใใใใใพใใใ
Dono kurai kakarimasu ka?
About how long will it take?
Person:
ๆญฉใใฆ10ๅใใใใงใใ
Aruite juppun kurai desu.
About 10 minutes on foot.
You:
ใใใใจใใใใใพใ!
Arigatou gozaimasu!
Thank you very much!
Direction Vocabulary:- ใพใฃใใ (massugu) – straight
- ๅณ (migi) – right
- ๅทฆ (hidari) – left
- ๆฒใใ (magaru) – to turn
Phone Conversations
You:
ใใใใใ็ฐไธญใใใงใใใ
Moshi moshi, Tanaka-san desu ka?
Hello, is this Tanaka-san?
Friend:
ใฏใใ็ฐไธญใงใใ
Hai, Tanaka desu.
Yes, this is Tanaka.
You:
ใธใงใณใงใใไปใๅคงไธๅคซใงใใใ
Jon desu. Ima, daijoubu desu ka?
It’s John. Is now a good time?
Friend:
ใฏใใๅคงไธๅคซใงใใใฉใใใใใงใใใ
Hai, daijoubu desu. Dou shitan desu ka?
Yes, it’s fine. What’s up?
Phone Etiquette:ใใใใ (moshi moshi) is used ONLY on the phone. Don’t use it face-to-face!
Small Talk Topics
Weather Talk
ใใๅคฉๆฐใงใใญ
Ii tenki desu ne
Nice weather, isn’t it?
ไปๆฅใฏๆใใงใใญ
Kyou wa atsui desu ne
It’s hot today, isn’t it?
ๅฏใใชใใพใใใญ
Samuku narimashita ne
It’s gotten cold, hasn’t it?
้จใ้ใใใใงใใญ
Ame ga furisou desu ne
It looks like it will rain, doesn’t it?
Cultural Note: Weather TalkJapanese people frequently discuss the weather as small talk. It’s a safe, neutral topic that helps build rapport without being too personal.
Conversation Practice Tips
1
Shadow Native Speakers
Listen to Japanese conversations and repeat immediately after what you hear. This improves pronunciation, rhythm, and natural flow.
2
Record Yourself
Practice dialogues and record yourself speaking. Listen back to identify areas for improvement in pronunciation and fluency.
3
Use Language Exchange
Find a language exchange partner (in person or online). Practice real conversations with native speakers regularly.
4
Start with Scripts
Memorize complete dialogues first, then gradually learn to improvise and adapt them to different situations.
5
Focus on Listening
Good conversation starts with good listening. Watch Japanese media with Japanese subtitles to improve comprehension.
6
Don’t Fear Mistakes
Making mistakes is part of learning. Native speakers appreciate your effort and will usually help correct you kindly.
Practice Exercises
Conversation Role-Play Exercises
Exercise 1: You meet someone at a party. Introduce yourself, ask their name, and make small talk about the weather.
Sample Answer:
You: ๅใใพใใฆใ[Your name]ใงใใ
Them: ๅใใพใใฆใ[Their name]ใงใใ
You: ไปๆฅใฏใใๅคฉๆฐใงใใญใ
Them: ใใใงใใญใๆใใใงใใญใ
Exercise 2: You’re at a restaurant. Order ramen and ask for water.
Sample Answer:
You: ใใฟใพใใใใฉใผใกใณใใ้กใใใพใใ
Server: ใใใใพใใพใใใ
You: ใใจใใๆฐดใใ้กใใใพใใ
Exercise 3: You’re lost. Ask someone for directions to the nearest convenience store.
Sample Answer:
You: ใใฟใพใใใใณใณใใใฏใฉใใงใใใ
Person: ใใใใซ่ฆใใพใใใใพใฃใใ่กใฃใฆใใ ใใใ
You: ใใใใจใใใใใพใ!
Key Takeaways:
- โ
Master survival phrases first: ใใฟใพใใ, ๅใใใพใใ, ใใไธๅบฆใ้กใใใพใ
- โ
Practice complete dialogues, not just individual sentences
- โ
Learn patterns you can adapt: ๏ฝใพใใใ for invitations, ๏ฝใๆขใใฆใใพใ for shopping
- โ
Pay attention to context – formal vs. casual situations require different language
- โ
Weather talk is safe small talk in Japanese culture
- โ
Record yourself practicing to identify pronunciation issues
- โ
Find language exchange partners for real conversation practice
- โ
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes – it’s part of learning!
Start Speaking Today
The best way to improve your Japanese conversation skills is through consistent practice. Start with these basic dialogues, memorize the patterns, and gradually build your confidence. Even if you make mistakes, native speakers will appreciate your effort to communicate in their language.
Remember: every fluent speaker started as a beginner. The difference between those who become conversational and those who don’t isn’t talentโit’s consistent practice and willingness to make mistakes. Use these dialogues as your foundation, find opportunities to practice, and watch your conversation skills improve week by week.
Your challenge: Choose one dialogue from this guide and practice it out loud 10 times today. Tomorrow, try using it in a real conversation or with a language exchange partner. Start small, stay consistent, and you’ll be having natural Japanese conversations before you know it!
