Speaking in Japanese

Say you're learning and steer the chat into Japanese.

Mix-ups hanaseru? (can you speak) vs hanasou (let's speak).

nihongo benkyou shiteru n da

polite nihongo o benkyou shite iru n desu

I'm learning Japanese

Tells people why your Japanese is limited; the n da makes it an explanation that invites patience.

casual

ima, nihongo benkyou shiteru n da. yukkuri hanashite kureru?

I'm learning Japanese at the moment. Could you speak slowly?

今、日本語勉強してるんだ。ゆっくり話してくれる？

polite

ima, nihongo o benkyou shite iru n desu. yukkuri hanashite kudasai.

I'm learning Japanese at the moment. Please speak slowly.

今、日本語を勉強しているんです。ゆっくり話してください。

Written 日本語勉強してるんだ · にほんごべんきょうしてるんだ · 日本語を勉強しているんですWho you say itHeard too rare in film subtitles to count

polite nihongo de hanashimashou

let's talk in Japanese

Ask for this when someone switches to English to help you; it's how you keep getting practice.

Softer: nihongo de hanashite mo ii? (is it OK if we speak Japanese?).

casual

renshuu shitai kara, nihongo de hanasou yo.

I want the practice, so let's talk in Japanese.

練習したいから、日本語で話そうよ。

polite

renshuu shitai node, nihongo de hanashimashou.

I'd like the practice, so let's speak Japanese.

練習したいので、日本語で話しましょう。

Written 日本語で話そう · にほんごではなそう · 日本語で話しましょうWho you say itHeard too rare in film subtitles to count

polite eigo hanasemasu ka?

do you speak English?; can you speak English?

You'll hear it from people keen to switch to English; to keep practising, answer with nihongo de hanasou.

Hanaseru is the 'can' form of hanasu.

casual

gomen, eigo hanaseru? nihongo mada heta de.

Sorry, do you speak English? My Japanese is still bad.

ごめん、英語話せる？日本語まだ下手で。

polite

sumimasen, eigo hanasemasu ka? nihongo ga mada heta de.

Excuse me, do you speak English? My Japanese is still bad.

すみません、英語話せますか？日本語がまだ下手で。

Written 英語話せる？ · えいごはなせる？ · 英語話せますか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 10× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles