Japanese Conversation Practice: What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say

First, make it clear where you got lost

Nodding can buy you a second. Unfortunately, it can also encourage someone to continue a story you stopped understanding three sentences ago.

You’re allowed to interrupt politely. These phrases suit everyday conversations with someone you’re getting to know:

When you need…	What to say	Meaning
To hear something again	もう一度お願いします。 Mō ichido onegaishimasu.	Please say that again.
Slower speech	もう少しゆっくり話してもらえますか？ Mō sukoshi yukkuri hanashite moraemasu ka?	Could you speak a little more slowly?
Help with a particular word	「〇〇」はどういう意味ですか？ “〇〇” wa dō iu imi desu ka?	What does “〇〇” mean?
A moment to think	ちょっと考えてもいいですか？ Chotto kangaete mo ii desu ka?	Can I think for a moment?
A Japanese word you’re missing	これは日本語で何と言いますか？ Kore wa Nihongo de nan to iimasu ka?	What do you call this in Japanese?

That last phrase works especially well when you can point to something or show a picture. Without a visible object, name the word you need: “〇〇” は日本語で何と言いますか？

And if you understood most of the sentence, ask about the missing part. You don’t have to restart the entire conversation because one unfamiliar word wandered in.

When you understand but can’t think of a reply, react first

A reply can be short.

Japanese listening responses, known as aizuchi, help show attention and feeling. Your tone and relationship matter: そうなんですね (sō nan desu ne, “Oh, I see”) is a useful polite response; そうなんだ (sō nan da) is more casual. For good news, いいですね (ii desu ne, “That sounds nice”) may fit. For a difficult experience, 大変でしたね (taihen deshita ne, “That sounds like it was tough”) makes more sense.

You don’t need to sound amazed by everything. Someone buying washing powder probably doesn’t require a breathless “Wow!”

Respond to what they actually said. Then see whether there’s one detail you’re curious about.

Follow the detail that interests you

Imagine a new Japanese friend tells you they enjoy photography. Here’s a possible exchange:

You now have something specific to talk about. Perhaps they have a cat. Perhaps they photograph neighborhood cats, most of whom refuse to cooperate with their artistic direction.

Share something about yourself, too—if it’s true. A small personal detail gives your partner something to ask about. Otherwise, even friendly questions can start to feel like a very polite survey.

Street Interviews: Starbucks in Japanese

Langmate takes conversations to the streets of Japan, asking Japanese people and international visitors fun questions about language and culture — then sharing the moments on Instagram and TikTok.

This time, we asked Japanese women to pronounce familiar international brand names in Japanese.

Starbucks → スターバックス

It is a tiny example, but also a surprisingly good conversation starter. When you do not know what to say in Japanese, try talking about something you already recognize — a brand, restaurant, movie, or favorite food — and ask how Japanese people say it.

You do not always need an interesting topic. Sometimes comparing how the same word sounds in two languages is enough to get a real conversation moving.

See more language and culture street interviews on Langmate’s Instagram 🎵
Check Langmate Official Instagram

A small exchange is still real progress

In a personal account published on JapanTravel, Emma Sletteland described arriving in Japan with almost no Japanese. After struggling through early classes, she managed a six-sentence self-introduction and understood her classmates’ introductions. Later, she understood someone asking where she was from on a train and answered them. Those ordinary exchanges felt significant to her.

That’s a useful way to measure your own Japanese conversation practice. Did you understand a question? Explain one preference? Ask someone to repeat something and then catch it?

Keep track of those moments. “I found out what my friend likes photographing” is a perfectly worthwhile result.

Give your next conversation somewhere to begin

Before chatting, prepare one thing you can share: a photo, something you tried, or a small plan for the weekend. Choose something you’d enjoy discussing in any language.

Afterward, save one expression you wanted but couldn’t find. Try using it next time. A short, useful phrase you return to is easier to fit into your life than a long list you never open again.

For Japanese conversation practice online, you can also begin with text and suggest exchanging short voice messages once you’re both comfortable. Ask about their language goals as well; make room for what they want from the exchange.

Ready to find someone to talk with? Langmate is available on the App Store and Google Play.

Start with something you genuinely want to know. And if the words disappear halfway through, you already have a sentence for that.