Compliments on your Japanese
Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 7 of 68Getting to know you
Handle the inevitable 'your Japanese is good' and the questions that follow.
- nihongo jouzu desu neyour Japanese is good
- mada mada desuI've still got a long way to go
- nihongo doko de benkyou shita no?where did you learn your Japanese?
- dokugaku da yoI taught myself; self-taught
Mix-ups dokugaku (self-taught) sounds close to daigaku (university).
nihongo jouzu desu ne
your Japanese is good
Said to learners, often after only a few words; answer iie, mada mada desu (no, I've a long way to go).
Usually politeness, not a real assessment. Friends say nihongo umai ne.
e, nihongo jouzu desu ne! doko de benkyou shita n desu ka?
Oh, your Japanese is good! Where did you learn?
え、日本語上手ですね！どこで勉強したんですか？
Written 日本語上手ですね · にほんごじょうずですねWho said to youHeard 1× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
mada mada desu
I've still got a long way to go
Modest reply to praise, especially of your Japanese; start with iie.
Casual: mada mada da yo.
iie, nihongo wa mada mada desu.
Oh no, my Japanese has a long way to go.
いいえ、日本語はまだまだです。
Written まだまだですWho you say itHeard 7× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nihongo doko de benkyou shita no?
polite nihongo wa doko de benkyou shita n desu ka?
where did you learn your Japanese?
Said to you by Japanese people, usually as a compliment; answer with a place, or dokugaku (self-taught).
sugoi ne! nihongo doko de benkyou shita no?
Wow! Where did you learn your Japanese?
すごいね！日本語どこで勉強したの？
sugoi desu ne! nihongo wa doko de benkyou shita n desu ka?
That's impressive! Where did you learn your Japanese?
すごいですね！日本語はどこで勉強したんですか？
Written 日本語どこで勉強したの？ · にほんごどこでべんきょうしたの？ · 日本語はどこで勉強したんですか？Who said to youHeard 3× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
dokugaku da yo
polite dokugaku desu
I taught myself; self-taught
Answer to where or how you learned something, Japanese or a hobby like guitar.
Dokugaku de benkyou shita = I studied it on my own.
gakkou toka wa kayotte nai. zenbu dokugaku da yo.
I don't go to classes or anything. I've taught myself all of it.
学校とかは通ってない。全部独学だよ。
gakkou ni wa kayotte imasen. zenbu dokugaku desu.
I don't take classes. I've taught myself everything.
学校には通っていません。全部独学です。
Written 独学だよ · どくがくだよ · 独学ですWho you say itHeard 9× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles