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30 real-life Japanese speaking situations, with English translations

Short scenes from everyday life: cafés, markets, work, travel, friends. Four connected sentences each, from simple to richer. Read them aloud: speaking practice beats silent reading for getting words out when you need them.

Practise speaking freeNatural Japanese expressions

Ordering at the café

You walk into your neighbourhood café and order breakfast.

  1. すみません、コーヒーをひとつください。
    Excuse me, one coffee please.
  2. おなかがすいたので、パンもください。
    I am hungry, so please also give me some bread.
  3. まどの近くの席で、外を見るのが好きです。
    I like sitting near the window and watching outside.
  4. この店は私のお気に入りです。店員さんがいつも私の注文を覚えているからです。
    This shop is my favourite, because the staff always remember my order.

At the market

You are shopping for dinner at the local market.

  1. 晩ごはんのために、トマトとたまねぎがほしいです。
    I want tomatoes and onions for dinner.
  2. トマトは一キロいくらですか。
    How much is a kilo of tomatoes?
  3. 少し高いですが、とても新鮮に見えます。
    They are a little expensive, but they look very fresh.
  4. 最後にいちごも買います。家族がデザートにいちごを食べるのが大好きだからです。
    Finally I also buy strawberries, because my family loves eating them for dessert.

Weekend plans with a friend

A friend calls you to make plans for Saturday.

  1. 土曜日に、いっしょに映画を見たいです。
    On Saturday I want to watch a film together.
  2. 映画は夜七時に始まります。
    The film starts at seven in the evening.
  3. その前に、駅の近くの新しいレストランで晩ごはんを食べましょう。
    Before that, let's have dinner at the new restaurant near the station.
  4. 早く出れば、予約なしで席が取れるので、ずっと楽です。
    If we leave early, we can get seats without a reservation, which is much easier.

Asking for directions

You are lost in a new city and ask a passer-by for help.

  1. すみません、駅はどこですか。
    Excuse me, where is the station?
  2. 今日が初めてなので、少し道に迷いました。
    It is my first day, so I got a little lost.
  3. では、まっすぐ行って、広場を右に曲がります。
    So, I go straight and turn right at the square.
  4. 助けてくれてありがとうございます。この町の人はとても親切ですね。
    Thank you for helping me. The people in this town are very kind.

Talking about your day

A colleague asks how your day is going.

  1. 今日は会社で仕事がたくさんあります。
    Today I have a lot of work at the company.
  2. 朝はメールを書いて、午後は会議が二つあります。
    In the morning I write emails, and in the afternoon I have two meetings.
  3. 仕事のあとは、少しリラックスするためにジムに行きます。
    After work I go to the gym to relax a little.
  4. 長い一日ですが、毎週新しいことを学べるので、この生活が好きです。
    It is a long day, but I like this routine because I can learn something new every week.

Telling a friend about a trip

You just came back from a short trip and tell a friend about it.

  1. 先週末、姉と京都に行きました。
    Last weekend I went to Kyoto with my older sister.
  2. 古い町を歩いて、抹茶のおかしを食べました。
    We walked through the old town and ate matcha sweets.
  3. いちばん良かったのは、朝の静かなお寺です。
    The best part was the quiet temple in the morning.
  4. 秋にまた行きたいです。もみじがとてもきれいだと聞いたからです。
    I want to go again in autumn, because I heard the maple leaves are very beautiful.

Checking in at a hotel

You arrive at a small hotel with an onsen and check in at the front desk.

  1. こんにちは、今日から二泊、予約しています。
    Hello, I have a reservation for two nights starting today.
  2. 名前は山田です。よろしくお願いします。
    My name is Yamada. Thank you in advance.
  3. 朝ごはんは何時からですか。温泉も使いたいです。
    From what time is breakfast? I would also like to use the hot spring.
  4. 部屋から山が見えたら、うれしいです。写真をたくさん撮りたいので。
    If I can see the mountains from my room, I will be happy, because I want to take a lot of photos.

At the pharmacy

You have caught a cold and ask for medicine at the local pharmacy.

  1. すみません、かぜの薬はありますか。
    Excuse me, do you have cold medicine?
  2. 昨日の夜から、のどが痛いです。
    My throat has been hurting since last night.
  3. この薬は、一日に何回飲みますか。
    How many times a day do I take this medicine?
  4. 食後に飲んだら、早く良くなると聞いたので、今晩から始めます。
    I heard that if I take it after meals I will get better faster, so I will start tonight.

Visiting the doctor

Your stomach hurts, so you go to a small neighbourhood clinic.

  1. 先生、おなかが痛いです。
    Doctor, my stomach hurts.
  2. 三日前から、ごはんをあまり食べられません。
    Since three days ago, I have not been able to eat much.
  3. 熱はありませんが、夜はよく眠れません。
    I do not have a fever, but I cannot sleep well at night.
  4. 来週まで良くならなかったら、また来ます。仕事を休むのは大変ですから。
    If I am not better by next week, I will come again, because taking time off work is difficult.

Taking the train

You are at a big station in Tokyo, trying to catch the right train.

  1. すみません、この電車は新宿に行きますか。
    Excuse me, does this train go to Shinjuku?
  2. 切符ではなくて、ICカードで乗ります。
    I ride with an IC card, not a ticket.
  3. 次の急行は三番ホームから出ると、アナウンスで言いました。
    The announcement said the next express leaves from platform three.
  4. 朝の電車はこんでいるので、一本あとの電車に乗ったら、座れるかもしれません。
    The morning trains are crowded, so if I take the next one, I might be able to sit down.

Opening a bank account

You visit a Japanese bank to open your first account.

  1. こんにちは、口座を作りたいです。
    Hello, I would like to open an account.
  2. 在留カードとはんこを持ってきました。
    I brought my residence card and my personal seal.
  3. この紙に、名前と住所を書けばいいですか。
    Should I write my name and address on this paper?
  4. 口座ができたら、会社の給料をここで受け取るので、キャッシュカードもお願いします。
    Once the account is ready I will receive my salary from work here, so please also give me a cash card.

Looking for an apartment

You are at a real-estate office, searching for a small apartment near the station.

  1. 駅の近くの部屋をさがしています。
    I am looking for a room near the station.
  2. 家賃は七万円までがいいです。
    I would like the rent to be up to seventy thousand yen.
  3. コンビニとスーパーが近いと、生活が便利です。
    If a convenience store and a supermarket are close, life is convenient.
  4. 南向きの部屋だったら、冬も明るくてあたたかいので、すぐに決めたいです。
    If it is a south-facing room, it will be bright and warm even in winter, so I want to decide right away.

A job interview

You are at your first job interview at a Japanese company.

  1. はじめまして、田中と申します。
    Nice to meet you, my name is Tanaka.
  2. 前の会社で、三年間はたらきました。
    I worked at my previous company for three years.
  3. チームで新しいことを考えるのが、いちばん好きな仕事です。
    Thinking of new things as a team is the work I like best.
  4. この会社に入れたら、日本語ももっと勉強して、お客さまの役に立ちたいです。
    If I can join this company, I want to study Japanese more and be useful to the customers.

Making an appointment

You call a dental clinic to book a time for a check-up.

  1. もしもし、予約をお願いしたいです。
    Hello, I would like to make an appointment.
  2. 歯のチェックをしたいです。金曜日は空いていますか。
    I would like a dental check-up. Is Friday available?
  3. 午前は仕事があるので、午後三時ごろが便利です。
    I have work in the morning, so around three in the afternoon is convenient.
  4. もし時間が変わったら、また電話しますので、よろしくお願いします。
    If the time changes, I will call again, so thank you in advance.

Talking about the weather

You chat with a neighbour about the rainy season starting.

  1. 今日は朝から雨ですね。
    It has been raining since this morning, has it not?
  2. 六月は毎年、雨の日が多いです。
    Every year in June there are many rainy days.
  3. かさを持たないで出かけて、駅でこまりました。
    I went out without an umbrella and had trouble at the station.
  4. 梅雨が終わったら、暑い夏が来るので、今のうちに扇風機を買っておきます。
    When the rainy season ends, the hot summer will come, so I will buy a fan while I still can.

Cooking dinner at home

You try making curry rice at home for the first time.

  1. 今晩、はじめてカレーを作ります。
    Tonight I will make curry for the first time.
  2. にんじんとじゃがいもを小さく切ります。
    I cut the carrots and potatoes into small pieces.
  3. レシピを見ながら、ゆっくり作るので、失敗しないと思います。
    I cook slowly while looking at the recipe, so I think I will not fail.
  4. おいしくできたら、次は友だちを呼んで、いっしょに食べたいです。
    If it turns out delicious, next time I want to invite my friends and eat together.

Talking about your family

A classmate asks you about your family back home.

  1. 私の家族は四人です。
    There are four people in my family.
  2. 父と母と弟が、国に住んでいます。
    My father, mother, and younger brother live in my home country.
  3. 毎週日曜日に、ビデオ電話で話します。
    Every Sunday we talk by video call.
  4. 弟が来年日本に遊びに来たら、いっしょに富士山を見に行くつもりです。
    If my younger brother comes to visit Japan next year, I plan to go see Mount Fuji with him.

Studying at the library

You tell a friend about your Japanese study routine at the city library.

  1. 毎日、図書館で日本語を勉強します。
    Every day I study Japanese at the library.
  2. 午前は漢字を書いて、午後は文法をします。
    In the morning I write kanji, and in the afternoon I do grammar.
  3. 静かな場所なので、二時間でもすぐに終わります。
    Because it is a quiet place, even two hours pass quickly.
  4. 十二月の試験に合格したら、自分にごほうびのケーキを買うつもりです。
    If I pass the exam in December, I plan to buy myself a cake as a reward.

Returning a broken item

The kettle you bought last week stopped working, so you take it back to the shop.

  1. すみません、先週このケトルを買いました。
    Excuse me, I bought this kettle last week.
  2. 今朝、急に動かなくなりました。
    This morning it suddenly stopped working.
  3. レシートはここにあります。新しいものと交換できますか。
    The receipt is here. Can I exchange it for a new one?
  4. 交換ができなかったら、返金をお願いしたいです。毎朝お茶を飲むので、こまっています。
    If an exchange is not possible, I would like a refund. I drink tea every morning, so I am in trouble.

Sharing your opinion

After watching a film with friends, everyone shares what they thought.

  1. 私はこの映画がとても好きです。
    I like this film very much.
  2. 話は少し長いですが、音楽がすばらしいです。
    The story is a little long, but the music is wonderful.
  3. 最後のシーンで、少し泣きました。
    I cried a little at the last scene.
  4. みんなの意見はちがいますが、ちがうからこそ、話すのが楽しいと思います。
    Everyone has different opinions, but I think it is exactly because they differ that talking is fun.

Buying a new phone

Your old phone is slow, so you visit a phone shop to choose a new one.

  1. 新しいスマホを見たいです。
    I would like to look at a new smartphone.
  2. 今のスマホは古くて、とてもおそいです。
    My current smartphone is old and very slow.
  3. カメラがいいモデルは、どれですか。
    Which model has a good camera?
  4. 月々の料金が安くなるなら、プランも今日変えたいです。
    If the monthly fee will become cheaper, I would like to change my plan today too.

Joining a local event

You see a poster for a neighbourhood cleaning day and decide to take part.

  1. 日曜日に、町のそうじの日があります。
    On Sunday there is a town cleaning day.
  2. 朝九時に、公園の前に集まります。
    We gather in front of the park at nine in the morning.
  3. ご近所の人と話せるので、いいチャンスだと思います。
    I think it is a good chance, because I can talk with the people in the neighbourhood.
  4. そうじが終わったら、みんなでお茶を飲むので、今からとても楽しみです。
    When the cleaning is over, we will all drink tea together, so I am really looking forward to it.

At the summer festival

You go to a local summer festival with a friend, wearing a yukata.

  1. 今夜、友だちとお祭りに行きます。
    Tonight I am going to the festival with a friend.
  2. はじめてゆかたを着ました。少しうれしいです。
    I wore a yukata for the first time. I am a little happy.
  3. やたいで、たこ焼きとかき氷を買いました。
    At the food stalls I bought takoyaki and shaved ice.
  4. 花火が始まったら、川の近くで見るつもりです。空がきっときれいでしょう。
    When the fireworks start, I plan to watch near the river. The sky will surely be beautiful.

A hard day, a kind friend

You had a stressful day and talk honestly with a close friend.

  1. 今日はちょっと元気がないです。
    Today I am feeling a little down.
  2. 仕事でミスをして、はずかしかったです。
    I made a mistake at work and felt embarrassed.
  3. でも、あなたと話すと、心が軽くなります。
    But when I talk with you, my heart feels lighter.
  4. つらい日があっても、聞いてくれる友だちがいるので、明日もがんばれます。
    Even when there are hard days, I have a friend who listens, so I can do my best tomorrow too.

Ordering online

You order winter boots online and arrange the delivery.

  1. ネットで冬のくつを注文します。
    I am ordering winter boots online.
  2. サイズは二十四センチで、色は黒です。
    The size is twenty-four centimetres, and the colour is black.
  3. レビューを読んでから、いちばん人気のものを選びました。
    After reading the reviews, I chose the most popular ones.
  4. 留守の時に届いたら、コンビニで受け取れるので、安心です。
    If they arrive while I am out, I can pick them up at the convenience store, so I am not worried.

Dinner at an izakaya

You and a coworker go to an izakaya after work and order together.

  1. すみません、二人です。席はありますか。
    Excuse me, we are two people. Do you have a table?
  2. まず、やきとりとサラダをお願いします。
    First, we would like yakitori and a salad, please.
  3. 飲み物は、私はウーロン茶にします。
    For drinks, I will have oolong tea.
  4. ここの魚がおいしいと聞いたので、あとで刺身もたのむつもりです。
    I heard the fish here is delicious, so I plan to order sashimi later as well.

Starting at the gym

You sign up at a gym near your office and plan your new routine.

  1. 来週から、ジムに通います。
    Starting next week, I will go to the gym regularly.
  2. 火曜日と木曜日の夜に、運動します。
    I will exercise on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
  3. 最初は三十分だけ走って、少しずつ長くします。
    At first I will run for only thirty minutes, and make it longer little by little.
  4. 三か月続けたら、体が強くなって、階段もつかれないと思います。
    If I continue for three months, I think my body will get stronger and stairs will not tire me.

Greeting the new neighbours

You just moved in and go to greet the family next door with a small gift.

  1. はじめまして、となりに引っこしてきました。
    Nice to meet you, I just moved in next door.
  2. これ、小さいおかしですが、どうぞ。
    This is just a small sweet, but please accept it.
  3. ごみの日のルールを教えてもらえますか。
    Could you tell me the rules for garbage days?
  4. 何かうるさかったら、えんりょなく言ってください。仲良くしたいので。
    If I am ever noisy, please tell me without hesitation, because I want us to get along.

At the police box

You lost your wallet in the park and report it at the neighbourhood police box.

  1. すみません、さいふをなくしました。
    Excuse me, I lost my wallet.
  2. 今日の午後、公園のベンチに置いたと思います。
    I think I left it on a park bench this afternoon.
  3. 色は茶色で、中に千円と写真が入っています。
    It is brown, and inside there are a thousand yen and a photo.
  4. 交番に届いたら、電話をもらえますか。この番号にお願いします。
    If it is turned in to the police box, could you call me? Please use this number.

Planning a birthday surprise

Your best friend turns thirty soon, and you plan a surprise party.

  1. 来週は、親友のたんじょう日です。
    Next week is my best friend’s birthday.
  2. みんなでサプライズパーティーをします。
    We are all throwing a surprise party.
  3. 私はいちごのケーキと、小さいプレゼントを用意します。
    I will prepare a strawberry cake and a small present.
  4. 友だちがドアを開けたら、みんなで「おめでとう」と言うので、顔を見るのが楽しみです。
    When my friend opens the door, we will all say “congratulations”, so I cannot wait to see her face.

Questions

How should I practise these Japanese scenes?

Read a scene aloud once slowly, once at natural speed, then cover the text and say each line from its meaning. The sentences in each scene go from simple to richer, so stop at the line that feels hard and repeat it tomorrow.

Can I get feedback on my speaking?

Yes. In WordSlick each scene is a speaking exercise: you record yourself, get feedback, and the AI tutor AskSlick can role-play the situation with you.

From WordSlick’s speaking-scenario bank. Updated 2026-10-14.