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How to carry on a conversation after initial small talk in Japanese visualisation

How to carry on a conversation after initial small talk in Japanese

Chat in Japanese Small Talk - Connect with Friends: How to carry on a conversation after initial small talk in Japanese
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To carry on a conversation in Japanese after the initial small talk, try these effective strategies:

  1. Start with a compliment or an observation related to the person or the environment to show attentiveness. For example, “そのバッグ、素敵ですね！” (Sono baggu, suteki desu ne! – That bag is lovely!) or comment on the weather or surroundings.

  2. Ask open-ended questions that encourage the other person to share stories or opinions, such as “日本で一番好きな場所はどこですか？” (Nihon de ichiban suki na basho wa doko desu ka? – Where is your favorite place in Japan?) or ask about recent movies or hobbies.

  3. Share a little about yourself first to ease cultural reserve, like “この前、日本の神社に行きましたが、とても静かで綺麗でした。” (Kono mae, Nihon no jinja ni ikimashita ga, totemo shizuka de kirei deshita. – I recently visited a shrine in Japan and it was very peaceful and beautiful.)

  4. Listen actively and respond with thoughtful comments or follow-up questions, using phrases like “そうなんですね。” (Sou nan desu ne. – I see.) or “へぇ、面白いですね！” (Hee, omoshiroi desu ne! – Wow, that’s interesting!)

  5. Find shared interests to deepen the conversation, for example, “ハイキングが好きなんですね。どこがおすすめですか？” (Haikingu ga suki nan desu ne. Doko ga osusume desu ka? – You like hiking, right? Where do you recommend?)

  6. Use casual language appropriately as the conversation becomes more comfortable to create a natural flow, such as “そうだね。” (Sou da ne. – That’s right.) or “ほんとに？” (Honto ni? – Really?)

  7. Express genuine curiosity about Japanese culture with questions like “お正月の過ごし方はどんな感じですか？” (Oshougatsu no sugoshikata wa donna kanji desu ka? – What’s New Year’s like for you?)

Additionally, in casual Japanese conversations, try to express emotions and feelings about topics rather than just facts, use supportive reactions (aizuchi) like “ええ” or “そうですね”, and avoid shutting down the conversation with negations. Shift topics smoothly if needed using phrases like “別件ですが” (bekken desu ga – changing topics, but…) instead of abruptly changing the subject.

References

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