Talking to your neighbor in Japanese: small talk phrases

How Kenji opens the conversation

Kenji always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:

• 

  あ、こんばんは。お隣となりの山本やまもとです。こんな時間じかんに会あうなんて、奇遇きぐうですね。

  A, konbanwa. Otonari no Yamamoto desu. Konna jikan ni au nante, kigū desu ne.

  Oh, good evening. It's Yamamoto, from next door. Fancy running into you at this hour.

  You could say

  こんばんは。お仕事しごとの帰かえりですか？

  Konbanwa. Oshigoto no kaeri desu ka?

  Good evening. On your way home from work?

Other ways it can begin

No two conversations go the same way, and the first line changes too. Each of these can open the scene:

• 

  こんばんは、お隣となりの山本やまもとです。お仕事しごと、今いまお帰かえりですか。

  Konbanwa, otonari no Yamamoto desu. Oshigoto, ima okaeri desu ka.

  Good evening, it's Yamamoto from next door. Are you just heading home from work?

  You could say

  はい、さっき帰かえりました。

  Hai, sakki kaerimashita.

  Yes, I got back a little while ago.

• 

  あ、こんばんは。妻つまにアイスを頼たのまれて来きました。

  A, konbanwa. Tsuma ni aisu o tanomarete kimashita.

  Oh, good evening. My wife asked me to buy ice cream, so here I am.

  You could say

  そうなんですか。やさしいですね。

  Sō nan desu ka. Yasashii desu ne.

  Is that so? That's kind of you.

• 

  こんばんは。この時間じかん、よく来こられるんですか。

  Konbanwa. Kono jikan, yoku korareru n desu ka.

  Good evening. Do you often come at this hour?

  You could say

  はい、ときどき来きます。

  Hai, tokidoki kimasu.

  Yes, I come sometimes.

• 

  あ、そのお弁当おべんとう、私わたしも好すきなんです。

  A, sono obentō, watashi mo suki nan desu.

  Oh, that bento — I like that one too.

  You could say

  本当ほんとうですか。おいしいですよね。

  Hontō desu ka. Oishii desu yo ne.

  Really? It's tasty, isn't it?

• 

  こんばんは。明日あしたの朝あさ、ゴミの日ひでしたよね。

  Konbanwa. Ashita no asa, gomi no hi deshita yo ne.

  Good evening. Tomorrow morning is trash day, isn't it?

  You could say

  はい、燃もえるゴミの日ひです。

  Hai, moeru gomi no hi desu.

  Yes, it's burnable trash day.

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the convenience store, each with when you'd say it.

• 奇遇きぐうですね。Kigū desu ne.What a coincidence.Say it right when you spot each other unexpectedly outside the building.
• こんな時間じかんにお買かい物ものですか。Konna jikan ni okaimono desu ka.Shopping at this hour?Light small talk to open the chat late at night; friendly, not nosy.
• 夜食やしょくを買かいに来きたんです。Yashoku o kai ni kita n desu.I came to get a late-night snack.Use when he asks what brings you out; swap 夜食 for whatever you're buying.
• ゴミ出だし、明日あしたでしたっけ。Gomi-dashi, ashita deshita kke.Trash day is tomorrow, right?Classic neighbor small talk when you run out of things to say.
• 帰かえり、ご一緒いっしょしませんか。Kaeri, goissho shimasen ka.Shall we walk back together?Say it at the register when you're both heading to the same building.

Words you'll hear

How polite to be

polite Here Kenji speaks polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers, and the replies suggested to you match the level you'd use back. The guide to keigo explains the three levels, and when each is right.

More scenes with Kenji

• A sales meeting健二（けんじ） · Meeting roomformal
• Yakitori under the tracks健二（けんじ） · Yakitori barcasual
• Picking up a prescription健二（けんじ） · Pharmacypolite
• Bargains at the supermarket健二（けんじ） · Supermarketpolite
• Buying a rice cooker健二（けんじ） · Electronics storepolite
• Booking the bullet train健二（けんじ） · Ticket officepolite
• Signing up at the gym健二（けんじ） · Gympolite
• Picking up the rental car健二（けんじ） · Car rentalpolite
• A night at the ballpark健二（けんじ） · Baseball stadiumpolite

Or see every scene, with all four characters.