Chapter 20: Casual Speech, Pronouns, and Everyday Expressions

Learn casual speech forms, personal pronouns, directional words, and expressions for daily communication

In this chapter, you will learn casual speech patterns, personal pronouns, everyday expressions, and vocabulary for communication, repairs, and daily life. You

Key topics:

・Casual speech and informal expressions
・Personal pronouns (casual)
・Everyday vocabulary and objects
・Directional words and locations
・Communication and telephone vocabulary
・Casual conjunctions and connectors

Vocabulary

いります

irimasu

要ります

need, require

Example

パスポートがいります。

Pasupōto ga irimasu.

I need a passport.

しらべます

shirabemasu

調べます

investigate, look up, check

Example

ことばのいみをしらべます。

Kotoba no imi o shirabemasu.

I look up the meaning of a word.

なおします

naoshimasu

直します

fix, repair, correct

Example

とけいをなおします。

Tokei o naoshimasu.

I fix the clock.

しゅうりします

shūri shimasu

修理します

repair, mend (often for machines)

Example

パソコンをしゅうりします。

Pasokon o shūri shimasu.

I repair the computer.

でんわします

denwa shimasu

電話します

telephone, call, make a phone call

Example

あしたでんわします。

Ashita denwa shimasu.

ぼく

boku

僕

I, me (used by males, casual)

Example

ぼくはがくせいです。

Boku wa gakusei desu.

きみ

kimi

君

you (casual, often to address equals or juniors)

Example

きみはどこにすんでる？

Kimi wa doko ni sunderu?

Where do you live? (casual)

くん

kun

suffix -kun (for boys, male friends, juniors)

Example

たけしくん、おはよう。

Takeshi-kun, ohayō.

Good morning, Takeshi.

うん

yes, yeah (casual)

Example

「コーヒーいる？」「うん。」

「Kōhī iru?」「Un.」

「Do you want coffee?」「Yes.」

ううん

uun

no, nah (casual)

Example

「たばこすう？」「ううん、すわない。」

「Tabako suu?」「Uun, suwanai.」

「Do you smoke?」「No, I don

サラリーマン

sararīman

salaryman, office worker

Example

おとうとはサラリーマンです。

Otōto wa sararīman desu.

My younger brother is a salaryman.

ことば

kotoba

言葉

word, language, speech

Example

やさしいことばでいって下さい。

Yasashii kotoba de itte kudasai.

Please say it in easy words.

ぶっか

bukka

物価

prices, cost of living

Example

とうきょうのぶっかはたかいです。

Tōkyō no bukka wa takai desu.

Tokyo

きもの

kimono

着物

kimono, traditional Japanese clothing

Example

はれのひにきものをきます。

Hare no hi ni kimono o kimasu.

I wear a kimono on sunny days.

ビザ

biza

visa

Example

りょこうにビザがいります。

Ryokō ni biza ga irimasu.

I need a visa for travel.

はじめ

hajime

初め／始め

beginning, start

Example

えいがのはじめがおもしろい。

Eiga no hajime ga omoshiroi.

The beginning of the movie is interesting.

おわり

owari

終わり

end, finish, conclusion

Example

しごとのおわりにビールをのみます。

Shigoto no owari ni bīru o nomimasu.

I drink beer at the end of work.

こっち

kotchi

this way, this place (casual of こちら)

Example

こっちへおいで。

Kotchi e oide.

Come here. (casual)

そっち

sotchi

that way, that place (near you, casual of そちら)

Example

そっちはあつい？

Sotchi wa atsui?

Is it hot there? (casual)

あっち

atchi

that way over there (casual of あちら)

Example

あっちのたてものがゆうめいだ。

Atchi no tatemono ga yūmei da.

That building over there is famous. (casual)

どっち

dotchi

which way, which one (casual of どちら)

Example

どっちがすき？

Dotchi ga suki?

Which one do you like? (casual)

このあいだ

kono aida

この間

the other day, recently, a while ago

Example

このあいだはありがとう。

Kono aida wa arigatō.

Thank you for the other day.

みんなで

minna de

with everyone, all together

Example

みんなでりょこうにいきます。

Minna de ryokō ni ikimasu.

We go on a trip all together.

けど

kedo

but, however, although (casual of が)

Example

いきたかったけど、いけなかった。

Ikitakatta kedo, ikenakatta.

I wanted to go, but couldn

Conversation

くにへかえるの？

kuni e kaeru no?

Are you returning to your home country?

Example Usage

らいげつくにへかえるの？

Raigetsu kuni e kaeru no?

Are you returning to your home country next month?

どうするの？

dou suru no?

What are you going to do?

Example Usage

しゅうまつにどうするの？

Shuumatsu ni dou suru no?

What are you going to do on the weekend?

どうしようかな

dou shiyou kana

What should I do? / I wonder what to do

Example Usage

ぷれぜんとはなにがいい？どうしようかな。

Purezento wa nani ga ii? Dou shiyou kana.

What

よかったら

yokattara

If you like / If it

Example Usage

よかったら、いっしょにいきませんか。

Yokattara, issho ni ikimasen ka.

If you like, would you like to go together?

いろいろ

iroiro

Various / Various things / All sorts of

Example Usage

にほんでいろいろなけいけんをしました。

Nihon de iroiro na keiken wo shimashita.

I had various experiences in Japan.

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Casual speech particles and endings

Structure: [Plain form sentence] + けど / けれども / けれど

Use けど at the end of a clause to mean

How to use: Take a sentence in plain form (dictionary form for verbs, い-adjective as-is, な-adjective + だ, noun + だ), then add けど. Then continue with the second clause. Example: あしたひまだけど、なにしよう？ (I

💡 Pro Tip: Do not confuse けど (but) with から (because). Also, do not use けど in formal writing or with superiors — use が instead. けど can also mean

Examples

あしたひまだけど、なにしよう？

Ashita hima da kedo, nani shiyō?

→ I

たべたいけど、おかねがない。

Tabetai kedo, okane ga nai.

→ I want to eat, but I have no money.

Rule 2: Casual pronouns and address forms

Structure: ぼく (I, male casual) / きみ (you, casual, often male to female/junior) / ～くん (suffix for boys/male juniors)

In casual Japanese, there are many ways to say

How to use: For

💡 Pro Tip: Be very careful using きみ — it can sound condescending or overly familiar. Safer to use the person

Examples

たなかくん、こっちきて。

Tanaka-kun, kocchi kite.

→ Tanaka, come here.

ぼくはすしがすきです。

Boku wa sushi ga suki desu.

→ I like sushi. (casual, male speaker)

Rule 3: Casual yes/no responses

Structure: うん (yes) / ううん (no) / ん (yeah, very casual)

In casual conversation with friends and family, Japanese people use うん for

How to use: Use うん to agree or answer

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use うん or ううん with teachers or bosses — always use はい/いいえ. Also, うん can sound childish if overused. For

Examples

「コーヒーいる？」「うん、おねがい。」

「Kōhī iru?」「Un, onegai.」

→ 「Do you want coffee?」「Yeah, please.」

「たのしかった？」「ううん、あまり。」

「Tanoshikatta?」「Uun, amari.」

→ 「Was it fun?」「No, not really.」

Rule 4: Directional words in casual speech

Structure: こっち (this way) / そっち (that way) / あっち (over there) / どっち (which way)

Use こっち, そっち, あっち, and どっち as casual alternatives to こちら, そちら, あちら, and どちら. These words indicate direction, location, or choice. こっち means

How to use: Use these just like their polite forms, but only with friends or in casual settings. Example: こっちにきて (Come here). そっちはどう？ (How about that one?). あっちのみせ (That store over there). どっちがいい？ (Which one is better?). For objects, they mean

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use these in formal situations or with superiors — use こちら/そちら/あちら/どちら. こっち etc. are for close friends, family, or children. For

Examples

どっちがいい？

Docchi ga ii?

→ Which one is better?

こっちにきて下さい。

Kocchi ni kite kudasai.

→ Please come this way. (casual but with please)

Chapter 20: Casual Speech, Pronouns, and Everyday Expressions

Learn casual speech forms, personal pronouns, directional words, and expressions for daily communication

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Casual speech particles and endings

Rule 2: Casual pronouns and address forms

Rule 3: Casual yes/no responses

Rule 4: Directional words in casual speech

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20