Listening to a brief drama over and over will help you get comfortable with Japanese and pick it up without effort!
These expressions highlight daily conversational phrases you’re likely to encounter in polite interactions, showing empathy and humility.
Practice Japanese in a fun way with subtitles in all 11 languages
This episode includes useful phrases for responding to compliments, expressing concern, and politely getting someone’s attention—perfect for improving natural fluency and nuance.
Key Expressions and Meanings
Expression 1: いえいえ
| Language | Translation |
|---|---|
| Japanese | いえいえ |
| English (US) | Not at all |
| English (UK) | Not at all |
| Korean | 아니에요 |
| French | Pas du tout |
| German | Ganz und gar nicht |
| Spanish | Para nada |
| Portuguese (BR) | De jeito nenhum |
| Hindi | बिलकुल नहीं |
| Indonesian | Tidak sama sekali |
| Vietnamese | Không đâu |
| Thai | ไม่เลย |
Meaning & Usage:
Used to humbly reject praise or when responding modestly. Very common in Japanese to express humility or politeness.
Example Sentence:
「ありがとうございます」「いえいえ、そんなことないです！」
“Thank you.” “No, not at all, it’s nothing!”
Expression 2: この人ばっかりだと大変ですよね
| Language | Translation |
|---|---|
| Japanese | この人ばっかりだと大変ですよね |
| English (US) | It’s tough if one person does it all |
| English (UK) | It’s hard if one person does everything |
| Korean | 혼자만 계속하면 힘들죠 |
| French | C’est dur si une seule personne fait tout |
| German | Es ist anstrengend, wenn nur eine Person alles macht |
| Spanish | Es difícil si solo una persona lo hace todo |
| Portuguese (BR) | É difícil se só uma pessoa faz tudo |
| Hindi | अगर सब कुछ एक ही व्यक्ति को करना पड़े तो यह मुश्किल है |
| Indonesian | Berat kalau hanya satu orang yang melakukannya |
| Vietnamese | Thật vất vả nếu chỉ một người làm mọi việc |
| Thai | เหนื่อยแน่ถ้ามีแค่คนเดียวที่ทำทุกอย่าง |
Meaning & Usage:
This empathetic comment acknowledges someone else’s burden. Often said to recognize someone’s hard work and encourage sharing responsibilities.
Example Sentence:
この人ばっかりに任せるのは大変ですよね。
It’s hard on them if we leave it all to one person.
Expression 3: そっか
| Language | Translation |
|---|---|
| Japanese | そっか |
| English (US) | I see |
| English (UK) | I see |
| Korean | 그렇구나 |
| French | Je vois |
| German | Ach so |
| Spanish | Ya veo |
| Portuguese (BR) | Entendi |
| Hindi | समझ गया |
| Indonesian | Oh, begitu |
| Vietnamese | À, ra vậy |
| Thai | อ๋อ เข้าใจแล้ว |
Meaning & Usage:
A casual and friendly way to show understanding. Often used in informal settings.
Example Sentence:
そっか、それで遅れたんだね。
I see, that’s why you were late.
Expression 4: あ、ごめんなさい
| Language | Translation |
|---|---|
| Japanese | あ、ごめんなさい |
| English (US) | Excuse me, but… |
| English (UK) | Excuse me, but… |
| Korean | 죄송한데요… |
| French | Excusez-moi, mais… |
| German | Entschuldigung, aber… |
| Spanish | Disculpa, pero… |
| Portuguese (BR) | Com licença, mas… |
| Hindi | माफ कीजिए, लेकिन… |
| Indonesian | Permisi, tapi… |
| Vietnamese | Xin lỗi, nhưng… |
| Thai | ขอโทษนะ แต่… |
Meaning & Usage:
This is a polite phrase to gently interrupt or ask for something. Common in daily conversation when requesting attention.
Example Sentence:
あ、ごめんなさい。今ちょっとお時間いいですか？
Excuse me, but do you have a moment?
Final Note
This episode is filled with polite, everyday expressions that help you navigate real-life social situations with grace. Mastering these soft and thoughtful phrases will make your Japanese sound more natural and considerate.
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