Japanese Conversation Starters for Language Exchange
Easy Japanese conversation starters for your first language exchange — self-introductions, questions about hobbies, food and daily life — with kana, romaji and meaning.
The first message is the hardest. These starters use polite Japanese (です／ます form), which is the safe default with someone you've just met.
Introducing yourself
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| はじめまして | hajimemashite | Nice to meet you (first meeting) |
| 〇〇と申します | __ to mōshimasu | My name is __ (polite) |
| 日本語を勉強しています | nihongo o benkyō shite imasu | I'm studying Japanese |
| よろしくお願いします | yoroshiku onegaishimasu | I look forward to talking with you |
Questions that start real conversations
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| 趣味は何ですか？ | shumi wa nan desu ka? | What are your hobbies? |
| どこに住んでいますか？ | doko ni sunde imasu ka? | Where do you live? |
| おすすめの食べ物はありますか？ | osusume no tabemono wa arimasu ka? | Is there a food you'd recommend? |
| 週末は何をしましたか？ | shūmatsu wa nani o shimashita ka? | What did you do at the weekend? |
| 最近ハマっていることは？ | saikin hamatte iru koto wa? | What are you into lately? |
Useful during the exchange
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| もう一度お願いします | mō ichido onegaishimasu | Could you say that again? |
| ゆっくり話してください | yukkuri hanashite kudasai | Please speak slowly |
| 〇〇は日本語で何と言いますか？ | __ wa nihongo de nan to iimasu ka? | How do you say __ in Japanese? |
| 間違っていたら教えてください | machigatte itara oshiete kudasai | Please tell me if I make a mistake |
Closing
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|
| 今日はありがとうございました | kyō wa arigatō gozaimashita | Thank you for today |
| また話しましょう | mata hanashimashō | Let's talk again |
Tip: offer help in return straight away — “英語の質問があれば何でも聞いてください” (eigo no shitsumon ga areba nan demo kiite kudasai — ask me anything about English).