Conversation, misunderstanding, polite language and saying what you mean.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Japanese has a rich vocabulary for how things are said as well as what is said, including a pair with no neat English equivalent: 本音, what you really think, and 建前, what it is proper to say. Note also 相槌, the small sounds a listener keeps making to show attention; English speakers tend to listen more quietly, and in Japanese that quiet can sound as if you have stopped listening.
The words
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Verb (5)
話しかけるto speak to; to start talking toVerbN3
電車で隣の人に話しかけられました。The person next to me on the train started talking to me.
Takes に for the person addressed.
言い換えるto rephrase; to put another wayVerbN3
難しい言葉を簡単な言葉に言い換えてください。Please put the difficult words into simpler ones.
頷くto nodVerbN3
先生は私の話を聞きながら、何度も頷きました。The teacher nodded again and again as she listened to me.
Often written in kana.
尋ねるto ask; to enquireVerbN3
駅で道を尋ねました。I asked the way at the station.
More formal than 聞く; not to be confused with 訪ねる, to visit.
聞き返すto ask again; to ask someone to repeatVerbN3
よく聞こえなかったので、もう一度聞き返しました。I didn't catch it, so I asked again.
Noun (35)
会話conversationNounN4
日本人の友達と日本語で会話を楽しんでいます。I enjoy chatting in Japanese with my Japanese friends.
雑談chat; small talkNounN3
会議の前に、少し雑談をしました。We chatted for a while before the meeting.
挨拶greeting; a few words (at an event)NounN3
朝、近所の人に会ったら挨拶をします。When I meet the neighbours in the morning, I say hello.
Also a short formal speech: 開会の挨拶.
意見opinion; viewNounN4
会議では、みんなが自由に意見を言いました。At the meeting, everyone gave their views freely.
説得persuasionNounN3
父を説得して、留学を許してもらいました。I persuaded my father to let me study abroad.
Also a verb: 説得する.
返事reply; answerNounN4
友達にメールを送ったのに、まだ返事が来ません。I emailed my friend, but there's still no reply.
Also answering when your name is called: はい.
表現expression; way of putting somethingNounN3
この気持ちは言葉でうまく表現できません。I can't put this feeling into words.
Also a verb: 表現する.
言い方way of saying somethingNounN3
もう少し優しい言い方をしてください。Please could you put it a bit more kindly?
口調tone (of voice)NounN3
彼は優しい口調で話しました。He spoke in a gentle tone.
早口fast talkingNounN3
彼は早口なので、何を言っているかよく分かりません。He talks so fast that I can't really follow what he is saying.
言葉遣いchoice of words; manner of speakingNounN3
面接では言葉遣いに気をつけてください。Be careful how you speak in the interview.
敬語polite language; honorificsNounN3
お客さんと話すときは敬語を使います。I use polite language when I talk to customers.
Covers both respectful and humble forms.
標準語standard JapaneseNounN3
テレビのニュースは標準語で話されます。The television news is read in standard Japanese.
方言dialectNounN3
祖母の方言は時々分かりません。Sometimes I can't understand my grandmother's dialect.
言語languageNounN3
世界にはたくさんの言語があります。There are a great many languages in the world.
The general, scholarly word; everyday speech says 言葉.
母語mother tongue; first languageNounN3
私の母語は英語ですが、家ではスペイン語も話します。My first language is English, but I speak Spanish at home as well.
翻訳translation (written)NounN3
日本の漫画を英語に翻訳する仕事がしたいです。I want a job translating Japanese manga into English.
Spoken interpreting is 通訳.
手話sign languageNounN3
彼女は手話で友達と話しています。She is talking with her friend in sign language.
身振りgestureNounN3
言葉が通じないので、身振りで説明しました。We had no language in common, so I explained with gestures.
表情facial expressionNounN3
彼女はうれしそうな表情をしていました。She had a happy look on her face.
合図signal; signNounN3
先生の合図で、生徒たちは走り出しました。At the teacher's signal, the pupils started running.
相槌listening noises (that show you are following)NounN3
日本語の会話では、聞く人がよく相槌を打ちます。In Japanese conversation, the listener keeps making little sounds to show they are following.
The はい, ええ, そうですね a listener keeps up; the verb is 打つ.
誤解misunderstandingNounN3
私の言い方が悪くて、誤解されてしまいました。I put it badly and was misunderstood.
Also a verb: 誤解する.
納得being convinced; accepting (a reason)NounN3
何度説明されても、納得できません。However many times it is explained to me, I'm not convinced.
Also a verb: 納得する.
冗談jokeNounN3
冗談を言ったつもりだったのに、本気にされてしまいました。I meant it as a joke, but they took it seriously.
文句complaint; grumblingNounN3
兄はいつも料理に文句を言います。My brother is always complaining about the food.
悪口speaking ill (of someone)NounN3
人の悪口を言うのはやめましょう。Let's not speak ill of other people.
言い訳excuseNounN3
遅刻の言い訳はもう聞きたくありません。I don't want to hear any more excuses for being late.
嘘lieNounN4
子供のころ、母に嘘をついて叱られました。As a child I was told off for lying to my mother.
The verb is つく: 嘘をつく, to tell a lie. Often written in kana.
秘密secretNounN3
これは二人だけの秘密です。This is a secret between the two of us.
内緒secret (casual)NounN3
このことは母には内緒にしておいてね。Don't tell Mum about this, all right?
Casual; 秘密 is the neutral word.
本音one's true feelingsNounN3
彼はなかなか本音を言いません。He rarely says what he really thinks.
建前what one is expected to say; the official lineNounN3
本音と建前を使い分けるのは難しいです。It's hard to know when to say what you think and when to say what is expected.
口癖pet phrase; habit of sayingNounN3
「忙しい」が父の口癖です。"I'm busy" is my father's favourite phrase.
独り言talking to oneselfNounN3
祖父はよく独り言を言っています。My grandfather often talks to himself.
