How to speak Japanese fluently in no time

Discover how to speak Japanese fluently

Most high school or regular Japanese courses start by teaching you dull grammar rules and complex language notions. There has to be a better way! We, at Mondly - the language app loved by millions of people worldwide, take a different approach.

• Our language experts prioritize your ability to have real conversations in Japanese quickly.
• We avoid overwhelming you with complex notions at the beginning of the course.
• Instead, we start by engaging you in a real conversation.
• This approach allows you to have your first Japanese conversation in just 5 minutes of using our app.
• This method is encouraging and effective for language learners.

Our linguists have also identified one of the major secrets of how to speak Japanese: listening to fluent speakers in a natural setting. Because our brain is wired to absorb the information we hear, our experts made listening an essential part of learning Japanese. As a result, during all our lessons you will hear natives speak in Japanese clearly, correctly and in context. This way, you will pick up the natural Japanese pronunciation of core words effortlessly.

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Speak Japanese fluently from day 1

Did you know that learning by doing is the most effective learning method? Practice Japanese a little bit every day and you’ll speak like a native forever! Start right now with these top 10 most common Japanese words and phrases pronounced by fluent Japanese speakers.

1. こんにちは。 = Hello.
First impressions matter. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Learning as little as “hello” in Japanese can work wonders in your interactions with the natives. So here’s exactly how to pronounce it:
こんにちは。
2. 元気？ = How are you?
The next polite thing to do is ask “how are you?”. Sometimes, you can even skip the hello and directly ask how things are going. Here’s how to pronounce it in Japanese:
元気？
3. お名前は？ = What is your name?
When you travel abroad, you usually make a lot of new friends. Whether we are talking about the nice stranger on the plane, your host or the driver, here’s how to ask them what their name is:
お名前は？
4. お会いできてうれしいです。 = Nice to meet you.
The natives will always regard your attempt to speak their language as a sign of respect towards their culture. Another basic phrase you can use when making new friends is “nice to meet you”. Click and listen to how is it pronounced:
お会いできてうれしいです。
5. お願いします。 = Please.
Manners are a must everywhere you go. And Japan makes no exception. Saying “please” the right way and at the right time will open many doors in your path. To pronounce it in Japanese, you simply say:
お願いします。
6. ありがとうございます。 = Thank you.
Mothers are the best thing that ever happened to us. Not only did they raise us, but they also taught us basic manners like saying “thank you” in the proper contexts. Following their example, here’s how to say “thank you” in Japanese:
ありがとうございます。
7. どういたしまして。 = You're welcome.
It doesn't matter where you are in the world. Common sense translates the same in all languages. Here's how a person from Tokyo would say “you’re welcome”:
どういたしまして。
8. すみません！ = Excuse me!
We only need 7 seconds to make an impression that may last a lifetime. And sometimes, the only difference between a good impression and a bad one is just a simple “excuse me”. Listen to how it's pronounced in Japanese:
すみません！
9. これはいくらですか？ = How much does it cost?
Shopping sprees are an essential part of every city break. The vacation isn’t over until you buy souvenirs for each member of your family. So here’s how to ask “how much does it cost?” in Japanese:
これはいくらですか？
10. さようなら。 = Goodbye.
If you want to maintain the good first impression you managed to make with your flawless Japanese greetings and introductions, end the conversation by saying “goodbye” exactly like a native:
さようなら。

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Japanese conversations for perfect pronunciations

The most important part of learning Japanese is getting a chance to practice what you learned by speaking the language. Otherwise, it’s all lost, like most of what we’ve learned in school. That’s exactly why our language experts have included Japanese speaking exercises in every lesson. No need to find a Japanese friend to help you rehearse. No need to go to a Japanese speaking country. How can this be possible? We have created a high-tech computer program you can use to have a smart conversation with (really!). We call it the Mondly Chatbot. Sit back, and it engages in a conversation with you using a friendly, native Japanese voice. Don’t be shy: respond to its questions or even ask it one. Like magic, it will understand what you are saying and respond as a regular person would. No wonder millions of people around the world have already tried our Chatbot to learn how to speak Japanese.

Learning to speak Japanese in Virtual Reality

The great minds of our time consider Virtual Reality (VR) to be the future of technology. Acknowledging the tremendous potential of this technology, we worked with our world-class linguists to shape the future of language learning through Virtual Reality.
Meet Mondly VR, the first virtual reality application that helps you learn to speak Japanese. Put your VR headset on and feel immersed in a world of languages. Order some sweet and sour chicken in a restaurant in Kyoto, have an exciting Japanese conversation on on a train going to Osaka or check into a hotel in Tokyo. It’s the closest thing to being there, and that’s precisely what makes it so useful in learning Japanese.
Remember that deer in the headlights feeling when someone asks you a question and you desperately dig through your memory trying to figure out what to say in response? In VR, you learn how to speak Japanese by practicing the same situations in the comfort of your own home. Practice as many times as you like in a safe environment and get instant feedback until you get it right. As a result, you’ll gain the confidence to apply what you have learned in the real world. Ultimately, Mondly is all about teaching you how to speak Japanese so you can have real-life conversations with natives. No doubt about it, Mondly VR supercharges your learning and makes learning to speak Japanese extremely effective.

Did you know?

Japanese landmark

Fluent Japanese speakers are profoundly attached to their mother language, and as a general rule, they are going to keep speaking Japanese in their communities even after settling down in other countries. This is especially true for countries like the United States, Philippines, China or Brazil, all of which have important Japanese communities.
If you thought Italian was a fast spoken language, you clearly haven't studied enough Japanese. As compared to English, which averages at about 6.2 syllables every second, Japanese has a rate of over 7.8 syllables per second. But this is where the interesting part comes in: even though Japanese is one of the fastest spoken languages in the world, the amount of information conveyed is actually quite low. In contrast, there are slower spoken languages which actually convey much more information.
Unlike other prominent languages from Asia, like Chinese, Thai or Vietnamese, Japanese is not a tonal based language, but it does use pitch accents where words may change their meaning if certain syllables are accentuated. But overall, if you are the fluent speaker of a western language, the lack of tonal rules may come as a relief.

Speaking Japanese has major benefits

Being able to speak with over 130 million Japanese speakers

Japanese is 13th most spoken language worldwide, so you'll definitely have a lot to gain by learning conversational Japanese. For example, you'll be able to interact with people anytime you visit Yokohama, Tokyo or Osaka.

Traveling to Japan gets way better

Wherever you plan to travel to Sapporo, Tokyo or Yokohama, speaking Japanese will enhance your experience significantly. You will be able to experience Japan as a native and have an authentic experience in the process.

Speaking Japanese can save your career

Being able to speak Japanese increases your employability significantly and makes you stand out from the crowd. This means that you will have better chances of getting a well-paid job in the first place, better chances of getting promoted or getting a better job in a Japanese speaking country.

Speaking Japanese makes you smarter

Studies indicate that being bilingual or a polyglot increases the grey matter in your brain. This means that speaking Japanese makes you smarter than you currently are. So, what are you waiting for?