Why you came to Japan
Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 4 of 68Getting to know you
Answer and ask the 'why Japan' question and what sparked it.
- nande nihon ni kita no?what made you come to Japan?; why did you come to Japan?
- kikkake wa?what got you started?; how did that come about?
- shigoto de kitaI came over for work
- zutto nihon ni kitakatta n daI'd always wanted to come to Japan
- ... ga kikkake deit started with ...; ... is what got me into it
Mix-ups nande asks for the reason; kikkake asks what set it off.
nande nihon ni kita no?
polite doushite nihon ni kita n desu ka?
what made you come to Japan?; why did you come to Japan?
Asked of almost every foreigner; a short reason is enough (shigoto de kita, anime ga suki de).
Nande and doushite both mean why; nande is more casual.
nande nihon ni kita no? anime toka?
What made you come to Japan? Anime or something?
なんで日本に来たの？アニメとか？
doushite nihon ni kita n desu ka? anime toka desu ka?
Why did you come to Japan? Was it anime or something?
どうして日本に来たんですか？アニメとかですか？
Written なんで日本に来たの？ · なんでにほんにきたの？ · どうして日本に来たんですか？Who said to youHeard too rare in film subtitles to count
kikkake wa?
polite kikkake wa nan desu ka?
what got you started?; how did that come about?
Follow-up after someone mentions a hobby, a move or how they met someone; answer with ... ga kikkake de.
Kikkake is the trigger or starting point; riyuu is the reason.
e, sonna ni nagaku yatteru n da. kikkake wa?
Wow, you've been doing it that long? What got you into it?
え、そんなに長くやってるんだ。きっかけは？
sonna ni nagaku yatte iru n desu ne. kikkake wa nan desu ka?
You've been doing it that long? What got you started?
そんなに長くやっているんですね。きっかけは何ですか？
Written きっかけは？ · きっかけは何ですか？Who you say it and hear itHeard 24× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
shigoto de kita
polite shigoto de kimashita
I came over for work
De gives the reason: ryuugaku de kita (came to study), ryokou de kita (came as a tourist).
For a short work trip: shutchou de kita (here on business).
kyonen shigoto de kita n da. sannen no yotei.
I came over for work last year. It's meant to be for three years.
去年仕事で来たんだ。3年の予定。
kyonen shigoto de kimashita. sannen no yotei desu.
I came for work last year. I'm planning to stay three years.
去年仕事で来ました。3年の予定です。
Written 仕事で来た · しごとできた · 仕事で来ましたWho you say itHeard 9× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
zutto nihon ni kitakatta n da
polite zutto nihon ni kitakatta n desu
I'd always wanted to come to Japan
An easy, warm answer to why you came; add the reason after if you like.
Zutto = all along; -takatta is the past of -tai (wanted to).
kodomo no koro kara, zutto nihon ni kitakatta n da.
I'd wanted to come to Japan ever since I was a kid.
子供の頃から、ずっと日本に来たかったんだ。
kodomo no koro kara, zutto nihon ni kitakatta n desu.
I'd wanted to come to Japan since I was a child.
子供の頃から、ずっと日本に来たかったんです。
Written ずっと日本に来たかったんだ · ずっとにほんにきたかったんだ · ずっと日本に来たかったんですWho you say itHeard too rare in film subtitles to count
... ga kikkake de
it started with ...; ... is what got me into it
Answer to kikkake wa?; name the trigger, then what followed.
On its own, ... ga kikkake da yo answers the question too.
anime ga kikkake de, nihongo o hajimeta n da.
Anime is what got me into Japanese.
アニメがきっかけで、日本語を始めたんだ。
anime ga kikkake de, nihongo o hajimeta n desu.
Anime is what got me started with Japanese.
アニメがきっかけで、日本語を始めたんです。
Written 〜がきっかけでWho you say itHeard 13× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles