Running into a friend in Japanese: from hello to a plan
木村さんは、今日はどうでしたか。
Kimura-san wa, kyō wa dō deshita ka.
“And how was your day, Kimura-san?”
When: Opening the small talk
The moment
On a Tokyo station platform you run into someone you met once at a language exchange. Greet them, ask how their day went, react to their news, and agree on a day, a time and a place to meet again.
A1 · Unit 4 · People · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
Asking about their day
Once you have said hello, 「今日はどうでしたか。」 gets them talking. Adding their name in front sounds warmer: 「木村さんは、今日はどうでしたか。」
木村さんは、今日はどうでしたか。
Kimura-san wa, kyō wa dō deshita ka.
“And how was your day, Kimura-san?”
When to use it: Opening the small talk
What you’ll hear back: 忙しかったです。 isogashikatta desu. (It was busy.)
Inviting them out
When the chat is going well, invite them with 「今度、一緒にお茶を飲みませんか。」 Then follow up straight away with a day and time so the plan is real.
今度、一緒にお茶を飲みませんか。
kondo, issho ni o-cha o nomimasen ka.
“Would you like to have tea together sometime?”
When to use it: Turning a chat into a plan
What you’ll hear back: いいですね。いつがいいですか。 ii desu ne. itsu ga ii desu ka. (Sounds good. When suits you?)
Words for this scene
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| お久しぶりです。 | ohisashiburi desu | It's been a while / Long time no see. |
あ、お久しぶりです。お元気ですか。 Oh, it's been a while. How are you? Tip: For someone you have not seen in weeks; add a small bow. | ||
| 今日は仕事に行きました。 | kyō wa shigoto ni ikimashita | I went to work today. |
今日は仕事に行きました。少し疲れました。 I went to work today. I'm a little tired. Tip: Swap 仕事 for スーパー or ジム to reuse the whole sentence. | ||
| じゃあ、また土曜日に。 | jā, mata doyōbi ni | See you Saturday, then. |
じゃあ、また土曜日に。楽しみです。 See you Saturday, then. I'm looking forward to it. Tip: Repeat the agreed day out loud — it confirms the plan for both of you. | ||
Your objective
Say hello, ask about their day, tell them one thing about yours, and leave with a plan: a day, a time and a place.
- a question about their day
- something about your day
- a day, a time and a place
Lines that get it done
- 木村さんは、今日はどうでしたか。
- 今日は仕事に行きました。 · kyō wa shigoto ni ikimashita · I went to work today.
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You bump into someone you met a month ago. What do you say first?
- お久しぶりです。
- はじめまして。
- いってきます。
- おかえりなさい。
Show the answer
お久しぶりです。
はじめまして is only for a first meeting; you have already met this person.
2. You want to hear how their day went. What do you ask?
- 今日はどうでしたか。
- 今日はどこでしたか。
- 今日はだれですか。
- 今日はいくつですか。
Show the answer
今日はどうでしたか。
どうでしたか asks how it was; the others ask where, who and how many.
3. You have agreed on Saturday at three. How do you settle the place?
- 三時に駅で会いましょう。
- 三時に駅を行きます。
- 駅は三時です。
- 駅で三時が好きです。
Show the answer
三時に駅で会いましょう。
〜で会いましょう proposes where the two of you will meet.