Talking to people
Collocations, Stage 1chunk 9 of 22People & talk
The four everyday hanashi sets: talking, listening, opening a serious talk, and someone who goes on and on.
- hanashi o surutalk, have a talk
- hanashi o kikulisten to someone, hear someone out
- hanashi ga aruneed to talk (to you)
- hanashi ga nagaibe long-winded, go on forever
Mix-ups All four share hanashi, so drill them together: hanashi o suru (you talk), hanashi o kiku (you listen, or do what someone says), hanashi ga aru (I need to talk to you) and hanashi ga nagai (they go on forever), which is not nagai hanashi (a long story: nagai hanashi ni naru kedo...).
hanashi o suru
polite hanashi o shimasutalk, have a talk
話をする はなしをする 話をします
verbsuru するdo; with a noun, carry out that activity (here, have a talk)typical 35% of hanashi
Used for having a conversation, with to for the person and no for the topic: kare to sono hanashi shita (I talked to him about that), shigoto no hanashi shiteta (we were talking about work). X ni tsuite hanasu is fine too but sounds more structured. Casual speech drops o when hanashi has a word in front of it.
nan no hanashi shiteta no?
What were you guys talking about?
何の話してたの？
nan no hanashi o shiteta n desu ka?
What were you talking about?
何の話をしてたんですか？
nan no hanashi? on its own means 'what are you talking about?', when you're lost or denying something.
Same verb: uwasa (talking about someone who isn't there: X no uwasa shiteta = we were just talking about X), kenka (argument, fight), sekenbanashi (small talk)Learn alongside: hanashi o kiku, hanashi ga aru, hanashi ga nagaiMain list: hanasu (Stage 2), suru (Stage 1), -ni tsuite (Stage 2), -teru (Stage 1)
hanashi o kiku
polite hanashi o kikimasulisten to someone, hear someone out
話を聞く はなしをきく 話を聞きます
verbkiku 聞くlisten, hear; also asktypical 21% of hanashi
trap English 'listen to me' leads to watashi o kiite, but kiku takes what is said, not the person: watashi no hanashi kiite, or just chotto kiite. And kare ni kiku means ask him (or hear it from him), never listen to him.
The everyday way to ask for or offer an ear: chotto hanashi kiite (just hear me out), hanashi kiku yo (I'm happy to listen). hito no hanashi kiitenai desho is the complaint 'you're not listening to me' (hito here means me, the speaker). It also covers hearing about something: sono hanashi kiita (I heard about that).
chotto, hanashi kiite yo.
Hey, just listen to me.
ちょっと、話聞いてよ。
chotto hanashi o kiite kudasai.
Please just hear me out.
ちょっと話を聞いてください。
X no iu koto o kiku = do what X says (oya no iu koto kikinasai). Listening to a friend's problem and helping them think it through is soudan ni noru.
Same verb: guchi (venting: guchi kiku yo = I'll hear you vent), uwasa (rumour: sonna uwasa kiita = I heard a rumour like that), iken (opinion), setsumei (explanation)Learn alongside: hanashi o suru, hanashi ga aru, hanashi ga nagaiMain list: kiku (Stage 2), -te (Stage 2), -teru (Stage 1)
hanashi ga aru
polite hanashi ga arimasuneed to talk (to you)
話がある はなしがある 話があります
verbaru あるthere is; have (things, plans, something to bring up)typical 11% of hanashi
trap English 'I need to talk to you' leads to hanasu hitsuyou ga aru, which sounds stiff and official; the everyday opener is chotto hanashi ga aru n da kedo.
Opens a serious or personal talk and usually trails off with n da kedo: chotto hanashi ga aru n da kedo... Natives usually keep the ga here, though chotto hanashi aru n da kedo is heard too. Politely it's hanashi ga aru n desu kedo, and to a boss or client often ohanashi ga aru n desu ga.
chotto hanashi ga aru n da kedo, ima ii?
I need to talk to you. Got a minute?
ちょっと話があるんだけど、今いい？
chotto ohanashi ga aru n desu kedo, ima ii desu ka?
There's something I'd like to discuss. Do you have a moment?
ちょっとお話があるんですけど、今いいですか？
ii hanashi ga aru n da kedo = I've got a good offer for you (a classic sales opener). Plain good news is more often ii shirase.
Same verb: soudan (something to talk over), onegai (a favour), shitsumon (a question), youji (something to see to: kimi ni youji ga aru = I need you for something)Learn alongside: hanashi o suru, hanashi o kiku, hanashi ga nagaiMain list: aru (Stage 1), n da kedo (Stage 1), chotto ii? (Stage 3)
hanashi ga nagai
polite hanashi ga nagai desube long-winded, go on forever
話が長い はなしがながい 話が長いです
adjectivenagai 長いlong (length or time)typical <1% of hanashi
A stock grumble about bosses, principals and relatives: buchou no hanashi nagai n da yo (my boss goes on forever), with ga dropped. Before a noun it becomes nagai hanashi (a long talk), and 'it's a long story' is hanaseba nagaku naru.
buchou no hanashi, honto nagai yo ne.
The boss's talks go on forever, huh.
部長の話、ほんと長いよね。
buchou no hanashi wa hontou ni nagai desu yo ne.
The manager's talks really do go on, don't they.
部長の話は本当に長いですよね。
nagabanashi = a long chat: nagabanashi shichatte gomen (sorry for keeping you). Someone who just talks a lot is oshaberi, or yoku shaberu.
Same adjective: denwa (phone calls: denwa nagai = always on the phone for ages), ofuro (baths: ofuro nagai ne = you take long baths), toire (toilet trips)Learn alongside: hanashi o suru, hanashi o kiku, hanashi ga aruMain list: nagai (Stage 4), hanasu (Stage 2), yo ne (Stage 1)