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Japanese for “Small talk with a neighbor”
You meet your neighbor in front of your apartment building on a sunny morning. You greet each other and chat briefly about the weather and your weekend plans.
Sample dialogue
Neighbor
おはようございます。いい天気ですね。ohayougozaimasu. ii tenki desu ne.
Good morning. Nice weather, isn't it?
You (Resident)
おはようございます。本当にいい天気ですね。ohayougozaimasu. hontouni ii tenki desu ne.
Good morning. It really is nice weather.
Neighbor
今度の週末は、何か予定がありますか。kondo no shuumatsu wa, nani ka yotei ga arimasu ka.
Do you have any plans for this weekend?
You (Resident)
土曜日は買い物に行く予定です。日曜日は家でゆっくりします。doyoubi wa kaimono ni iku yotei desu. nichiyoubi wa ie de yukkuri shimasu.
I plan to go shopping on Saturday. On Sunday I'll take it easy at home.
Neighbor
いいですね。私は日曜日に、子どもと公園へ行きます。ii desu ne. watashi wa nichiyoubi ni, kodomo to kouen e ikimasu.
That sounds nice. On Sunday I'm going to the park with my kids.
You (Resident)
楽しそうですね。雨が降らないといいですね。tanoshisou desu ne. ame ga furanai to ii desu ne.
That sounds fun. I hope it doesn't rain.
Neighbor
天気予報では、日曜日は晴れだそうです。tenki yohou de wa, nichiyoubi wa hare da sou desu.
According to the weather forecast, it will be sunny on Sunday.
You (Resident)
それは良かったです。sore wa yokatta desu.
That's good to hear.
Neighbor
では、私はそろそろ行きます。deha, watashi wa sorosoro ikimasu.
Well, I'm going to get going now.
You (Resident)
そうですか。いってらっしゃい。sou desu ka. itterasshai.
I see. Have a good day.
Phrases you can use
いい天気ですねいいてんきですねii tenki desu ne
Nice weather, isn't it?
Use this easy opener with neighbors or people you see often when the weather is nice.
今日はいい天気ですね。kyou wa ii tenki desu ne.
The weather is nice today, isn't it?
〜といいですねto ii desu ne
I hope ~, don't you think?
Add it after a verb or ない-form to share a hope about something that may or may not happen.
明日は晴れるといいですね。ashita wa hareru to ii desu ne.
I hope it's sunny tomorrow.
〜そうですsou desu
I hear that ~ / It seems that ~
Use it to pass on information you heard, like from the weather forecast or the news.
明日は雨が降るそうです。ashita wa ame ga furu sou desu.
I hear it will rain tomorrow.
〜の予定です〜のよていですno yotei desu
I plan to ~ / I'm going to ~
Use it to politely say what you are planning to do, especially when talking about your schedule.
来週、友だちと会う予定
Casual vs polite
Casualいい天気だね。ii tenki da ne.
Politeいい天気ですね。ii tenki desu ne.
Use the casual form with close friends or family. Use the polite form with neighbors, shop staff, or people you just met.
Casual雨が降らないといいね。ame ga furanai to ii ne.
Polite雨が降らないといいですね。ame ga furanai to ii desu ne.
Use the casual form only with people you know well. With a neighbor, the polite form です/ます is the safer choice.
Casualそろそろ行くね。sorosoro iku ne.
Politeそろそろ失礼します。sorosoro shitsurei shimasu.
Use the casual form with friends or family. Use 失礼します with a neighbor or someone older when you leave a conversation politely.
Culture tip
In Japan, neighbors often greet each other with a short おはようございます and a small bow, and talking about the weather is a very common way to start a friendly chat. Keep these talks short and light, and end them politely when you need to leave.
Ready to say it out loud?
On Tuned you can practice this scene in 3 steps: copy the model, build it up bit by bit, then role-play with an AI partner — at your level.