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About This Lesson
In this lesson, you'll learn how to greet a neighbor in the hallway or elevator in Japanese. Practice natural small talk phrases like commenting on the weather and saying goodbye politely.
Dialogue
A
あ、こんにちは！
ah, kohn-nee-CHEE-wah! Oh, hi there!
B
こんにちは！今日はいい天気ですね。
kohn-nee-CHEE-wah! KYOH-wah EE-ee TEN-kee deh-SUH-neh. Hello! Nice weather today.
A
そうですね、とてもきれいです。
SOH-deh-su-neh, TOH-teh-moh kee-REH-ee deh-SU. Yes, it is beautiful.
B
お出かけですか？
oh-deh-KAH-keh deh-SU-kah? Are you going out?
A
ちょっとお店まで。
CHOT-toh oh-MEE-seh mah-DEH. Just to the store.
B
そうですか、いってらっしゃい！
SOH-deh-su-kah, eet-teh-RAHS-sha-ee! Okay, have a good one!
A
ありがとう、あなたもね！
ah-ree-GAH-toh, ah-NAH-tah moh-NEH! Thanks, you too!Word by Word
あ
An exclamation used when you suddenly notice or realize something. Similar to 'Oh!' in English.
こんにちは
The standard greeting used during the daytime, meaning 'hello' or 'good afternoon.'
今日
Means 'today.' Pronounced 'きょう' (kyou) — one of the most common time expressions in Japanese.
は
The topic marker particle. It marks what the sentence is about — here, 'today' (今日) is the topic.
いい
Means 'good' or 'nice.' It is an i-adjective used to describe something positive.
天気
Means 'weather.' Combined with いい to form 'nice weather' (いい天気).
です
The polite copula, equivalent to 'is/are.' It adds formality to the sentence.
ね
A sentence-final particle that seeks agreement or confirmation, like 'isn't it?' or 'right?' in English.
そうですね
A set phrase meaning 'Yes, that's right' or 'Indeed.' Used to agree with what someone just said.
とても
An adverb meaning 'very' or 'really.' It intensifies the adjective that follows.
きれい
A na-adjective meaning 'beautiful' or 'pretty.' Here it describes how nice the weather looks.
お出かけ
A polite way to say 'going out' or 'outing.' The お prefix adds politeness. Used to ask a neighbor if they are heading out.
か
A question-marking particle placed at the end of a sentence to turn it into a yes/no question.
ちょっと
An adverb meaning 'just' or 'a little.' Here it means 'just (a quick errand).'
お店
Means 'store' or 'shop.' The お prefix is an honorific that adds politeness to the word 店 (みせ).
まで
A particle meaning 'to' or 'up to.' Here, ちょっとお店まで means 'just (going) to the store.'
そうですか
A set phrase meaning 'Is that so?' or 'Oh, I see.' It shows the listener has understood what was said.
いってらっしゃい
A farewell phrase said to someone leaving. It means 'Have a good trip' or 'Take care,' and is commonly used when someone goes on an errand.
ありがとう
Means 'thank you.' This is the casual form — the polite form is ありがとうございます.
あなた
Means 'you.' In Japanese, it is often omitted in natural speech, but used here for emphasis.
も
A particle meaning 'also' or 'too.' Here, あなたもね means 'you too.'
もね
The combination of も (also/too) and ね (agreement particle), creating a casual 'you too!' expression.
Grammar Points
〜ですね
今日はいい天気ですね。
KYOH-wah EE-ee TEN-kee deh-SUH-neh.Nice weather today, isn't it?
共感・同意を求める文末表現
〜ですか
お出かけですか？
oh-deh-KAH-keh deh-SU-kah?Are you going out?
丁寧な疑問文の作り方
Japanese Vocabulary
ありがとう
intj
ah-ree-GAH-toh
thanks / thank you
Casual expression of gratitude
いい
adj
EE-ee
good / nice
Describing nice weather
いってらっしゃい
phrase
eet-teh-RAHS-sha-ee
have a good one / take care (farewell)
Said to someone leaving home or going on an errand
お出かけ
noun
oh-deh-KAH-keh
going out / outing
出かけ
Polite way to ask if someone is going out
お店
noun
oh-MEE-seh
store / shop
店
Used in ちょっとお店まで
きれい
adj
kee-REH-ee
beautiful / pretty
Used in とてもきれいです
こんにちは
intj
kohn-nee-CHEE-wah
hello / good afternoon
Standard daytime greeting
そうですね
phrase
SOH-deh-su-neh
yes, that's right / I agree
Expression of agreement/confirmation
ちょっと
adv
CHOT-toh
just / a little
Indicates a short/quick errand
天気
noun
TEN-kee
weather
Used in 今日はいい天気ですね
Alternative Expressions
こんにちは (hello)
- やあ kohn-nee-CHEE-wah (hey (casual)) - Casual greeting between friends
- どうも (hi (informal)) - Very casual, informal greeting
- おはようございます (good morning) - Morning greeting
ありがとう (thanks)
- ありがとうございます ah-ree-GAH-toh (thank you (polite)) - More formal/polite form
- どうもありがとう (thank you very much) - Emphasizes gratitude
いってらっしゃい (have a good one / see you later)
- またね eet-teh-RAHS-sha-ee (see you later (casual)) - Casual farewell
- 気をつけて (take care) - Wishing safety
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Nice weather today.
Show Answer
今日はいい天気ですね。Are you going out?
Show Answer
お出かけですか？It is very beautiful.
Show Answer
とてもきれいです。Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
hello (daytime greeting)
Show Answer
こんにちはthank you (casual)
Show Answer
ありがとうjust a little / just