Japanese for English speakers Townhall · Lesson 2

Means of communication

Decide how to contact someone in Japanese — 電話します (denwa shimasu, to call) vs メールを書きます (write an email) — and use ましょう to agree on a plan.

Conversation

  1. Rocky Rocky

    一緒に旅館を予約しませんか？

    isshoni ryokan o yoyaku shimasenka?

    Shall we book the ryokan together?

    Tip: <yoyaku> = the reservation <yoyaku shimasu> = to book, to reserve

  2. Kyle Kyle

    うん、そうしましょう！

    un, sō shimashō!

    Yes, let's do it!

  3. Rocky Rocky

    旅館に電話しますか？

    ryokan ni denwa shimasu ka?

    Are we phone calling the ryokan?

    Tip: <denwa> = the phone <denwa shimasu> = to call, to phone

  4. Kyle Kyle

    いいえ、メールを書きましょう

    īe, mēru o kakimashō

    No, let's write an email

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What is 予約 (yoyaku)?

'Reservation' or 'booking'. 予約します = 'make a reservation', useful for restaurants, ryokan, doctor's appointments.

What is 電話する?

'To phone' or 'make a call' — 電話 (telephone) + する (do). 電話します is the polite form.

When to choose mail over phone in Japanese culture?

Email is often preferred for non-urgent matters and to avoid disturbing someone; calls are for urgent or interpersonal matters.

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.