N3 · 40 words

Talking and being understood

Conversation, misunderstanding, polite language and saying what you mean.

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(ほんね), what you really think, and 建前(たてまえ), what it is proper to say. Note also 相槌(あいづち), 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

Verb (5)

話しかけるto speak to; to start talking toVerbN3

電車(でんしゃ)で隣(となり)の人(ひと)に話(はな)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(むずか)しい言葉(ことば)を簡単(かんたん)な言葉(ことば)に言(い)い換(か)えてください。Please put the difficult words into simpler ones.

頷くto nodVerbN3

先生(せんせい)は私(わたし)の話(はなし)を聞(き)きながら、何度(なんど)も頷(うなず)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(えき)で道(みち)を尋(たず)ねました。I asked the way at the station.

More formal than 聞(き)く; not to be confused with 訪(たず)ねる, to visit.

聞き返すto ask again; to ask someone to repeatVerbN3

よく聞(き)こえなかったので、もう一度(いちど)聞(き)き返(かえ)しました。I didn't catch it, so I asked again.

This list belongs to Politeness, favours and manners — six lists and 240 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.