Learn Basic Conversation

---
name: learn-basic-japanese
description: Conversational Japanese basics — greetings, particles, and survival phrases
author: mager
version: 1.0.0
---

# Learn Basic Conversation

You can read characters and recognize kanji. Now let's talk. This skill covers the phrases and grammar you need to actually communicate in Japan.

## Teaching Approach (Genki-Inspired)

Every new concept starts with a short, natural conversation. Grammar comes AFTER you've seen it in context. Don't memorize rules — let the pattern click first.

## Greetings (挨拶 — Aisatsu)

| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning | When |
|----------|--------|---------|------|
| こんにちは | Konnichiwa | Hello | Daytime |
| おはようございます | Ohayou gozaimasu | Good morning | Before ~10am |
| こんばんは | Konbanwa | Good evening | After sunset |
| すみません | Sumimasen | Excuse me / Sorry | Getting attention, apologizing |
| ありがとうございます | Arigatou gozaimasu | Thank you (polite) | Default thank you |
| いただきます | Itadakimasu | I humbly receive | Before eating — ALWAYS |
| ごちそうさまでした | Gochisousama deshita | Thank you for the meal | After eating |

## Particles — The Secret to Japanese Grammar

Japanese grammar lives in its particles. Learn them one at a time:

### は (wa) — Topic Marker
"As for [topic]..."
- 私は学生です (Watashi wa gakusei desu) — "As for me, I'm a student"
- 東京はきれいです (Tokyo wa kirei desu) — "As for Tokyo, it's beautiful"

### を (o) — Object Marker
Marks what the verb acts on:
- ラーメンを食べます (Raamen o tabemasu) — "I eat ramen"
- 水を飲みます (Mizu o nomimasu) — "I drink water"

### に (ni) — Direction / Time
- 駅に行きます (Eki ni ikimasu) — "I go to the station"
- 7時に起きます (Shichi-ji ni okimasu) — "I wake up at 7"

### で (de) — Location of Action
- レストランで食べます (Resutoran de tabemasu) — "I eat at the restaurant"
- 家で勉強します (Ie de benkyou shimasu) — "I study at home"

### の (no) — Possession / Connection
- 私の名前 (Watashi no namae) — "My name"
- 日本の食べ物 (Nihon no tabemono) — "Japanese food"

## Sentence Building

Build like Lego blocks:
1. ＿＿です — "It's __"
2. ＿＿は＿＿です — "As for __, it's __"
3. ＿＿を＿＿ます — "I [verb] __"
4. ＿＿で＿＿を＿＿ます — "At __, I [verb] __"

## Basic Verbs (ます-form / Polite)

| Verb | Meaning | Negative | Past |
|------|---------|----------|------|
| 食べます (tabemasu) | eat | 食べません | 食べました |
| 飲みます (nomimasu) | drink | 飲みません | 飲みました |
| 行きます (ikimasu) | go | 行きません | 行きました |
| 見ます (mimasu) | see | 見ません | 見ました |
| 買います (kaimasu) | buy | 買いません | 買いました |

Pattern: ます → ません (negative), ます → ました (past)

## Survival Phrases

### At a Restaurant
| Japanese | Meaning |
|----------|---------|
| メニューをください | Menu please |
| これをください | This one please (point) |
| おすすめは？ | What do you recommend? |
| お会計お願いします | Check please |
| 美味しい！ | Delicious! |
| ビールをください | Beer please |

### Getting Around
| Japanese | Meaning |
|----------|---------|
| ＿＿はどこですか？ | Where is __? |
| 駅はどこですか？ | Where is the station? |
| トイレはどこですか？ | Where is the bathroom? |
| いくらですか？ | How much? |
| 右 / 左 / まっすぐ | Right / Left / Straight |

### Daily Life
| Japanese | Meaning |
|----------|---------|
| 大丈夫です | I'm fine / It's okay |
| わかりません | I don't understand |
| 英語を話せますか？ | Do you speak English? |
| 日本語が少しだけ | I only speak a little Japanese |

## Practice Scenarios

1. **Ordering food** — Be a waiter at a ramen shop
2. **Asking directions** — Be a helpful stranger at Shinjuku station
3. **Convenience store** — Buying onigiri, asking about items
4. **Hotel check-in** — Name, reservation, room questions

## Cultural Essentials

- **Bow slightly** when greeting
- **Don't tip** — service is pride, not transaction
- **Shoes off** when you see shoes at the entrance
- **Quiet on trains** — phones on silent
- **いただきます before eating** — every time
- **Carry cash** — many places are cash-only
- **No public trash cans** — carry a small bag
- **Slurp your noodles** — it's a compliment

## Agent Behavior

- Be warm and encouraging — like a friend who lives in Tokyo
- Start every practice response with Japanese, then romaji, then English
- Correct mistakes kindly: "Almost! Try: ..."
- Gradually drop English translations as the user improves
- Throw in cultural tips naturally
- Use emoji: 🇯🇵 🍜 ⛩️ 🚅