How to Speak Conversational Japanese : How to Talk About Yourself in Japanese

Find out how to talk about yourself in Japanese. Learn practical Japanese in this free video series on questions and telling about yourself.

Expert: Yuu Asakura
Bio: Born and raised in Japan, Yuu Asakura moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Tokyo University for Foreign Study where she acquired B.A. in linguistics and area studies.
Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Japanese language
• Japanese classes
• Japanese speaking
• conversational Japanese
• speak Japanese
• Japanese grammar
• Japanese speaking tips
• natural Japanese speaking

[TayoEXE]

I don't know why they don't acknowledge that this is not English. Listen fellow English speakers, get English out of your minds if you're ever to learn Japanese. There are several ways to refer to yourself or someone else. Anata, anta, kimi, omae, etc. can all mean "you", but there's a time and place for each. Just to note also, usually if you can help it, the most polite and easiest way to refer to "you" is by just leaving it out. If I'm talking to you, it's implied. Btw, kawaii means cute.

[msher179]

I hate the ads. OMG

[RinzuRozu]

@TayoEXE I agree. I've heard from reliable sources that avoiding "anata" when at all possible is best. Japanese people find it much more polite when you use someone's name, and most times you won't even have to use pronouns if it's obvious who you're talking about. Also, use "-san" at the end of their names when you refer to them. It's the polite thing to do over there :3

[xpertshooter95]

i dnt usually hear that desu part

[SchroedingersGato]

Very very helpful.  preparing to meet a friends parents at her wedding for the first time. This is wonderful

[TayoEXE]

@DistressedDamsel79

Because in Japanese, the sounds are short. Sounds that end u or i for example are so shortly said that it's almost unheard. Such as shimashita and desu. But they ARE there.

[TayoEXE]

@SatanKreator

*こんにちは

[TayoEXE]

@dogsrul1234543

Are you trying to say "かっこいい"? (Kakkoii)

[dogsrul1234543]

anata wa kakaio desu

[123narutoblade]

Watashi mo DK anata wa ____?I speak english LOL



[radiozoto2006]

@tidenburg you're welcome... I could care less