People 交流 · Stop P02
リアクション
React like a local: sugoi, kawaii, oishii
You're exploring Nara Park with a local friend, surrounded by friendly deer. React with wow, cute, beautiful and delicious, and ask 'Really?'
Phrases
すごい！
sugoi!
Wow! / Amazing!casual
Casual, and you'll hear it everywhere. Add ですね (すごいですね) to sound polite.
かわいい！
kawaii!
So cute!casual
Casual. Works for deer, mascots, souvenirs and babies.
きれい！
kirei!
Beautiful!casual
Casual. It also means 'clean'. Polite version: きれいですね.
おいしい！
oishii!
Delicious!casual
Casual, for friends or to yourself. To the chef, おいしいです is politer.
本当ですか？
ほんとうですか？
hontou desu ka?
Really?
Polite. With friends, just ほんと？ (honto?).
いいですね！
ii desu ne!
Sounds great! / Nice!
Polite. Use it when someone suggests a plan or shows you something they like.
What you’ll hear
Staff talk fast. Here’s what they are likely to say at this stop, and a good answer.
見て！鹿がおじぎしてるよ。
mite! shika ga ojigi shiteru yo.
Look! The deer is bowing!
Casual: a friend pointing out one of Nara's famous bowing deer.
かわいい！
kawaii!
So cute!
東大寺の大仏は、十五メートルぐらいあるんですよ。
Todaiji no daibutsu wa, juugo meetoru gurai aru n desu yo.
Todai-ji's Great Buddha is about 15 metres tall, you know.
A local sharing a fun fact.
本当ですか？
hontou desu ka?
Really?
これ、食べてみて！
kore, tabete mite!
Here, try this!
Casual: a friend offering you a bite of something.
おいしい！
oishii!
Delicious!
Culture tip
Aizuchi: I'm Listening
Japanese listeners nod and say はい, ええ or そうですね a lot while you talk. These little responses (aizuchi) mean 'I'm following you', not always 'I agree'. Try nodding along too: silence can feel cold.
“When a Japanese listener keeps saying はい, it always means they agree with you.”
Often it just means 'I'm listening'. These responses are called aizuchi.
Practice scene
Deer and the Daibutsu
Nara Park on a sunny afternoon. Your local friend Yui is showing you around and chatting casually.
Yui · Local friend
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見て！鹿がおじぎしてるよ。
mite! shika ga ojigi shiteru yo.
Look! The deer is bowing!
-
Your turn: A deer bows its head to you. React!
かわいい！
kawaii!
So cute!
-
あっちが東大寺。大仏は十五メートルぐらいあるよ。
atchi ga Todaiji. daibutsu wa juugo meetoru gurai aru yo.
That's Todai-ji over there. Its Great Buddha is about 15 metres tall.
-
Your turn: Fifteen metres? Show your surprise and check she means it.
本当ですか？
hontou desu ka?
Really?
-
本当だよ！あ、これ食べてみて。
hontou da yo! a, kore tabete mite.
Really! Oh, try this.
-
Your turn: She hands you a local sweet. It tastes amazing. Tell her!
おいしい！
oishii!
Delicious!
-
でしょう？じゃあ、大仏を見に行こう！
deshou? jaa, daibutsu o mi ni ikou!
Right? Okay, let's go see the Great Buddha!
Scene complete! You earned the Nara Park stamp.
Phrases from Ekiben content v3