Polite small talk
Conversation phrases, Stage 3chunk 2 of 21Small talk
Handle formal small talk with older people or acquaintances.
- atsui desu nehot, isn't it?
- samui desu necold, isn't it?
- ii tenki desu nenice weather, isn't it?
- okagesama deI'm well, thank you; thanks to you
Mix-ups desu ne is polite; with friends it drops to atsui ne.
atsui desu ne
hot, isn't it?
The default summer opener with neighbours, shop staff or coworkers; agree with hontou ni, atsui desu ne.
With friends: atsui ne. Hot food and baths are atsui too.
kyou mo atsui desu ne. ase ga tomaranai desu.
Hot again today, isn't it? I can't stop sweating.
今日も暑いですね。汗が止まらないです。
Written 暑いですね · あついですねWho you say it and hear itHeard 4× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
samui desu ne
cold, isn't it?
The winter version of atsui desu ne; an easy way to greet anyone.
With friends: samui ne. For cold drinks or water, use tsumetai, not samui.
kesa wa hontou ni samui desu ne.
It's really cold this morning, isn't it?
今朝は本当に寒いですね。
Written 寒いですね · さむいですねWho you say it and hear itHeard 4× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
ii tenki desu ne
nice weather, isn't it?
Light opener with a neighbour or someone at a bus stop; agree with sou desu ne.
With friends: ii tenki da ne.
kyou wa ii tenki desu ne. osanpo desu ka?
Lovely day today. Out for a walk?
今日はいい天気ですね。お散歩ですか？
Written いい天気ですね · いいてんきですねWho you say it and hear itHeard 11× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
okagesama de
I'm well, thank you; thanks to you
Polite answer when asked how you or your family are, or when congratulated.
Thanks for general goodwill, not for something they actually did.
okagesama de, kodomo mo genki desu.
We're well, thank you. The kids are fine too.
おかげさまで、子供も元気です。
Written おかげさまでWho you say itHeard 41× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles