Japanese for English speakers Farm · Lesson 2

It's time to leave

Polite phrases for leaving someone's house — そろそろ帰ります (sorosoro kaerimasu, 'I should be heading back soon') — plus 今度 (kondo, next time) for parting words.

Conversation

  1. Pishi Pishi

    あっ！もうこんな時間になりました！

    ah! mō konna jikan ni narimashita!

    Ah! It's already this late!

    Tip: <konna> = such, this kind of ... <narimasu> = become, turn into

  2. Pishi Pishi

    そろそろ帰りますね

    sorosoro kaerimasu ne

    I have to go any time now

    Tip: <sorosoro> = soon, any time now

  3. Cassian Cassian

    へえ？もう帰りますか？

    hē? mō kaerimasu ka?

    Eh? Are you going already?

  4. Cassian Cassian

    今度はいつ来ますか？

    kondo wa itsu kimasu ka?

    When are you coming here again?

    Tip: <kondo> = next time <itsu> = when, which time <kimasu> = to come, to come over

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What does そろそろ mean?

'Any time now' or 'about time' — softens an announcement that you're going to do something soon, like leaving.

What does 今度 mean?

'Next time' — used in social goodbyes: 今度また会いましょう = 'let's meet again next time'.

What is the polite leave-taking phrase?

そろそろ失礼します (sorosoro shitsurei shimasu) — 'I'll soon excuse myself' — is the most polite, used in business contexts.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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