What are common topics for starting conversations in Japanese
Common topics for starting conversations in Japanese include greetings and introductions, asking about someone’s name and where they are from, and talking about everyday subjects like the weather, hobbies, or recent experiences. Popular polite conversation starters are asking about the kanji in someone’s name or their hometown, which can lead to interesting discussions about meanings or local culture.
Here are some typical conversation starters:
- Greetings: こんにちは (Konnichiwa - Hello), おはようございます (Ohayou gozaimasu - Good morning), こんばんは (Konbanwa - Good evening).
- Introducing yourself: 初めまして (Hajimemashite - Nice to meet you), [Your name] と申します ([Your name] to moushimasu - My name is [Your name]).
- Asking about others:
- お名前は何ですか (Onamae wa nan desu ka) – What is your name?
- どこ出身ですか (Doko shusshin desu ka) – Where are you from?
- 何が好きですか (Nani ga suki desu ka) – What do you like?
- Neutral everyday topics:
- The weather (いい天気ですね Ī tenki desu ne – Nice weather, isn’t it?)
- A recent restaurant or movie
- Hobbies or interests
- Food preferences or recommendations
- Polite questions about work, studies, or recent experiences are also common but usually phrased carefully to avoid overly personal questions.
Starting with your own experiences or comments (e.g., about the weather or something you recently did) is a good way to open the conversation and give the other person room to share what they want. 4, 5, 6, 7
These polite, neutral topics help avoid overly personal subjects at the beginning of conversations, which is a cultural norm in Japan.