Top asked Japanese questions and answers
The most frequently asked question & answer patterns in Japan as a foreigner. You will learn how to start basic converation with Japanese people. And you can respond their questions appropriately like: "日本語を話しますか? (Do you speak Japanese?)", "お国は? (Where are you from?)", "お仕事は? (What are you doing?)", etc.

語彙-国 (Words about countries and areas)

アジアAsia日本にほんJapan韓国かんこく北朝鮮きたちょうせん中国ちゅうごく台湾たいわんベトナム (越南)VietnamフィリピンPhilippinesシンガポール (新嘉坡)SingaporeオーストリアAustriaタイ (泰)ThailandロシアRussiaイングランド (英蘭)Englandイギリス (英吉利)Englandフランス (仏蘭西)FranceアメリカAmericaカナダCanadaメキシコMexicoブラジルBrazil

1. 日本語を話しますか? (Do you speak Japanese?)

あなた日本語はなします
Do you speak Japanese? ("Do you ~" sounds more polite than "Can you ~")
日本語話せます
Can you speak Japanese?
すみませんもういちください
Execuse me, may you speak it again?
すみませんもう一寸ちょっとゆっくりはなしてください
Execuse me, please speak a little more slowly.
Yes, I speak a little Japanese.
はいしかしあまり上手じょうず話せません
Yes, but not very well.
はいわたくし日本語話せます
Yes, I can speak Japanese.
はいわたくし日本語はなします
Yes, I speak Japanese.

2. お名前は? (What's your name?)

まえなんです
What's your name?
スミスジョンもうします
I am John Smith (For full name, given name first, then family name). (Very polite — 敬語・honorific language)
わたくしまえ山本です
My name is Yamamoto. (Polite)
わたくし山本です
(I am) Yamamoto. (Casual polite)

3. お国は? (Where are you from?)

くにどちらです
Which country are you from?
どちらくに方(ですか)
Which country are you from?
しゅっしんどちら
Where are you from?
もとどちら
Where are you from?
英吉利しゅっしんです
I am from England.
わたくしフランスパリからました
I came from Paris of France.
韓国からました
I came from Korea.
韓国どちら
Where in Korea?
ソウルです
Seoul.

4. お仕事は? (What are you doing?)

お仕事なん
What are you doing?
お仕事なんされています
What are you doing? (More polite)
お仕事なんしています
What are you doing?
What's your job?
わたくし会社員です
I am a company employee.
ごとしてません.
I don't have a job.
べんきょうしています
I’m studing.
ITかいはつです
IT development.
タイりゅうがくせいですいま新宿がっこう日本語べんきょうしています
I am an international student from Tailand. I'm currently studying Japanese at a school in Shinjuku.
あなたがくせいです
I am an international student from Tailand.
いいえがくせいありませんわたくし会社員です
No, I am not a student. I am a company employee. (Polite)
いいえがくせいじゃありませんわたくし会社員です
No, I am not a student. I am a company employee. (Casual polite)

5. 何で日本へ来たんですか? (Why did you come to Japan?)

あなたなん日本にっぽんです
Why did you come to Japan? ("んです" sounds a bit more personal feelings than "ですか")
What brings you to Japan? ("のです" is same as "んです" but a bit more formal.
どうして日本にっぽんです
Why did you come to Japan?.
日本語べんきょうするため日本にっぽんました
I came Japan to study Japanese.
日本語べんきょうするためでした
I was to study Japanese.
きだから
Because I like Japan.
あそいます
I am here for pleasure.

6. おいくつですか? (How old are you?)

いくつです
How old are you? (Very polite)
何歳です
How old are you? (Polite)
いくつです
How old are you? (To children)
It's a secret.
十八歳です
Eighteen years old.

7. 日本は初めてですか? (Is it your first time in Japan?)

Is it your first time in Japan?
はいはじめてです
Yes, it's my first time.
いいえさん日本にっぽんんでいます
No. I've been living in Japanese for 3 years?

8. いつ日本へ来ましたか? (When did you come to Japan?)

(When did you come to Japan?
今年ことしよん中国上海からました
This April, from Shanghai of China.

9. 日本の料理の話題 (About Japanese food)

生卵べます
Do you eat raw eggs?
納豆べます
Do you eat natto?
納豆べられます
Can you eat natto?
I can't eat raw eggs.
It's kind of not my taste.
はいです
Yes, I like it.
もちろんだいです
Of course, I like it very much.
にがものあります
Is there any food you don’t like?
What food you don’t like?
納豆一寸ちょっと
Natto is a little not (my taste).
I don't like sashimi.
Do you like Japanese food?
はい日本食けんこうだいです
Japanese food is healthy, I like it very much.