Common Expressions

Common expressions are the building blocks of natural Japanese conversation. These phrases go beyond literal translations and capture the essence of how native speakers actually communicate in everyday situations.

Textbook: 今何時ですか
Common: 今何時？
"What time is it now?"

Natural speech patterns
Contextual appropriateness

Agreement and Acknowledgment

Showing understanding

そうですね
"That's right / I see"

なるほど
"I see / That makes sense"

確かに
"Certainly / Indeed"

まあね
"Well, yeah"

Understanding and agreement
Common in conversation

Strong agreement

本当に
"Really / Truly"

全くその通り
"Exactly / Absolutely right"

間違いない
"No doubt / For sure"

だよね
"Right? / Isn't it?"

Emphatic agreement
Casual to formal

Expressing Surprise

Mild surprise

えっ
"Eh? / What?"

へえ
"Huh / Oh really?"

そうなんだ
"Is that so?"

マジで
"Seriously?" (casual)

Natural reactions
Common interjections

Strong surprise

本当に？
"Really?"

嘘！
"No way! / Literally: Lie!"

信じられない
"I can't believe it"

びっくりした
"I was surprised"

Genuine shock
Everyday usage

Hesitation and Thinking

Filler words

えーと
"Um / Let me see"

あのー
"Well / Um"

そうですね
"Let's see"

ちょっと
"A moment"

Natural pauses
Thinking time

Expressing uncertainty

どうかな
"I wonder / Not sure"

分からない
"I don't know"

多分
"Maybe / Probably"

かもしれない
"Might be"

Showing doubt
Avoiding assertion

Making Requests

Polite requests

すみません
"Excuse me"

お願いします
"Please"

～てもらえますか
"Could you...?"

～ていただけますか
"Would you kindly...?"

Polite and practical
Daily necessity

Casual requests

ちょっと
"Hey / Quick favor"

悪いけど
"Sorry but"

～てくれる？
"Can you...?"

頼むよ
"Come on / Please"

Among friends
Informal settings

Declining and Refusing

Soft refusals

ちょっと...
"Well... (implied no)"

難しいです
"It's difficult"

遠慮します
"I'll refrain"

今日はちょっと
"Today is a bit..."

Indirect rejection
Culturally appropriate

Direct refusals

無理です
"It's impossible"

できません
"I can't"

ごめんなさい
"I'm sorry (no)"

やめとく
"I'll pass" (casual)

More direct
Still polite

Checking Understanding

Confirming comprehension

分かりますか
"Do you understand?"

大丈夫ですか
"Are you okay? / Is it alright?"

いいですか
"Is it good? / Okay?"

～ですよね
"...right?"

Ensuring clarity
Common in explanations

Asking for repetition

もう一度お願いします
"Once more please"

すみません、何ですか
"Sorry, what was that?"

聞こえませんでした
"I couldn't hear"

ゆっくり話してください
"Please speak slowly"

No shame in asking
Better than misunderstanding

Showing Interest

Encouraging continuation

それで？
"And then?"

へえ、そうなんだ
"Oh really?"

続けて
"Go on / Continue"

もっと教えて
"Tell me more"

Active listening
Engagement signals

Expressing interest

面白い
"Interesting"

いいね
"That's nice / Cool"

すごい
"Amazing / Wow"

さすが
"As expected (of you)"

Positive reactions
Genuine interest

Temporal markers

ちょうど
"Just now / Exactly"

さっき
"A moment ago"

もうすぐ
"Soon / Almost"

今ちょっと
"Right now (busy)"

Time context
Frequently used

Duration and frequency

いつも
"Always"

たまに
"Sometimes"

最近
"Recently"

この間
"The other day"

Temporal relationship
Natural conversation

Degree and Extent

Intensifiers

とても
"Very"

かなり
"Quite / Pretty"

めちゃくちゃ
"Extremely" (casual)

超
"Super" (casual)

Degree markers
Common modifiers

Minimizers

ちょっと
"A little / Somewhat"

あまり～ない
"Not very"

全然～ない
"Not at all"

ほとんど～ない
"Hardly / Barely"

Downplaying
Modest expression

Reactions to Bad News

Sympathy expressions

それは大変ですね
"That's tough"

お気の毒に
"I'm sorry to hear that"

残念ですね
"That's unfortunate"

困りましたね
"That's troubling"

Showing empathy
Appropriate response

Offering support

何かできることは？
"Is there anything I can do?"

大丈夫？
"Are you okay?"

頑張って
"Hang in there"

心配しないで
"Don't worry"

Supportive phrases
Caring response

Phone and Communication

Phone-specific

もしもし
"Hello" (phone only)

お電話変わりました
"This is [name] now"

少々お待ちください
"Please wait a moment"

また後でかけます
"I'll call again later"

Phone etiquette
Specific context

Messaging conventions

了解
"Roger / Understood"

おつかれさま
"Good work" (common message)

よろしく
"Please / Thanks"

OK
"Okay" (borrowed)

Text and chat
Modern usage

Shopping and Service

Customer phrases

見てるだけです
"Just looking"

これください
"I'll take this"

いくらですか
"How much?"

袋いりません
"I don't need a bag"

Shopping essentials
Practical daily use

Staff responses

いらっしゃいませ
"Welcome"

かしこまりました
"Certainly"

少々お待ちください
"One moment please"

ありがとうございました
"Thank you very much"

Service industry
Standard phrases

Changing Topics

Topic transitions

ところで
"By the way"

そういえば
"Speaking of which"

話は変わるけど
"Changing the subject"

あ、そうだ
"Oh, that reminds me"

Smooth transitions
Natural flow

Expressing Opinions

Softening opinions

個人的には
"Personally"

私の意見では
"In my opinion"

と思います
"I think"

～じゃないかな
"Don't you think...?"

Humble expression
Not imposing

Showing preference

～の方がいい
"... is better"

どちらかというと
"If I had to choose"

～が好き
"I like..."

できれば
"If possible / Preferably"

Personal taste
Diplomatic phrasing

Common Casual Expressions

Among friends

マジ
"Seriously / Really"

ヤバイ
"Crazy / Awesome / Bad"

うざい
"Annoying"

ダサい
"Uncool / Lame"

Youth language
Casual only

Exclamations

やった！
"Yes! / I did it!"

しまった！
"Oh no! / Darn!"

よかった
"I'm glad / That's good"

最高
"The best / Awesome"

Emotional reactions
Natural outbursts

Context-Dependent Phrases

Situation-specific

At work: お疲れ様です
At home: ただいま / おかえり
Eating: いただきます / ごちそうさま
Meeting: よろしくお願いします

Each has its place
Cultural rituals

Understanding Nuance

Same word, different feelings

そうですね
(Agreeing): "Yes, that's right"
(Hesitating): "Well, let me think"
(Dismissing): "Yeah, whatever"

Context is everything
Tone matters

Reading between lines

ちょっと... = Usually means "no"
考えておきます = "I'll think about it" (soft no)
そうですね... = May indicate disagreement

Indirect communication
Cultural awareness needed

Regional Variations

Common dialect phrases

じゃん (Kanto): "isn't it?"
やん (Kansai): "isn't it?"
ばい (Kyushu): sentence ending
だべ (Tohoku): "right?"

Regional flavor
Understanding variety

Borrowed Expressions

English influence

OK / オーケー
"Okay"

ナイス
"Nice"

グッド
"Good"

チェック
"Check"

Modern Japanese
International words