New here? This is lesson 65 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Co-working small talk in Japanese
Leo walks into Haruka's co-working space near Ueno. Desks are full, and she is already holding two cups. He still asks what she wants.
You will make small talk about a busy day, ask how the weekend went, and offer to get coffee.
Keep it polite. These lines fit a shared desk, not a night out with close friends.
By the end of this lesson
Make small talk about a busy day, the weekend, and getting a coffee.
- 今日はけっこう忙しいですね。It's pretty busy today, isn't it?
- 週末はどうでしたか。How was your weekend?
- ちょっと休憩しませんか。Shall we take a quick break?
- コーヒーを買ってきます。I'm going to get coffee.
- 何か買ってきましょうか。Shall I get you something?
- 仕事の後、予定がありますか。Do you have plans after work?
Scene — two cups already
Near Ueno, Haruka's co-working space is packed. Laptops, cables, and sketchbooks cover every table. Leo finds her by the window.
She already holds two paper cups. Steam fogs the lids. Leo still wants to offer something, as if the cups were not there.
Learn — desk-side small talk
These six lines help you chat at a shared desk. You comment on a busy day, ask about the weekend, and offer a coffee run.
ね checks that the other person agrees. か turns a line into a polite question.
今日はけっこう忙しいですね。
It's pretty busy today, isn't it?
When to use it: Use this to comment that the day feels packed, and check they agree.
ね at the end checks that the other person agrees.
Say it: Pause briefly before こう in けっこう; the small っ doubles the k.
週末はどうでしたか。
How was your weekend?
When to use it: Ask this when you want to hear about their Saturday and Sunday.
でした is the past of です, so this asks how the weekend went.
ちょっと休憩しませんか。
Shall we take a quick break?
When to use it: Use this to invite a short pause from work together.
ませんか turns the verb into a polite invitation, not a no.
コーヒーを買ってきます。
I'm going to get coffee.
When to use it: Say this when you will go buy coffee and come back.
買ってきます uses the て-form plus きます: you go, buy, and return.
何か買ってきましょうか。
Shall I get you something?
When to use it: Use this to offer to pick something up for the other person.
ましょうか makes a polite offer to do something for them.
Say it: Keep the ょう in きましょう long.
仕事の後、予定がありますか。
Do you have plans after work?
When to use it: Ask this when you want to know if they are free after work.
が marks 予定 as the thing you ask whether they have.
Story — she already got them
Leo finds Haruka already holding two cups. He still offers to buy coffee.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Leo finds Haruka by the window. She already holds two paper cups.
Leoこんにちは。Hello.
Harukaあ、レオさん。どうぞ。Oh, Leo. Come on in.- Every table has a laptop. Someone types without looking up.
- Leo今日はけっこう忙しいですね。It's pretty busy today, isn't it?
- Harukaそうだね。席がいっぱいだね。Yeah. The seats are all full, aren't they.
- Leo週末はどうでしたか。How was your weekend?
- Harukaうちで絵を描いてた。I was drawing at home.
- Leoちょっと休憩しませんか。Shall we take a quick break?
- Harukaいいよ。Sure.
- Leoコーヒーを買ってきます。I'm going to get coffee.
- He stands up, then notices the two cups in her hands.
- Leo何か買ってきましょうか。Shall I get you something?
- Harukaもう買ってきたよ。I already went and got them.
- Leo仕事の後、予定がありますか。Do you have plans after work?
- Haruka予定がある。I have plans.
Practice — pick the right chat
Eleven short tasks wait in this round. You will listen, match meanings, fill a gap, and build a line.
Each one is small, so you move on quickly.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
週末はどうでしたか。Drop the English hereコーヒーを買ってきます。Drop the English here何か買ってきましょうか。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
It is Monday at the co-working space. Ask Haruka about Saturday and Sunday.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Do you have plans after work?
仕事の後、予定____ありますか。
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
何か買ってきましょうか。
Pick the reply
Haruka says:
Pick the reply
少し疲れました。
I'm a little tired.
And you reply with:
Build the line
Build the line
I'm going to get coffee.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
The room is packed. Comment on that and check that Haruka agrees.
今日はけっこう忙しいです____。
True or false?
True or false?
Use this hello from late morning through the afternoon.
Which one doesn’t belong?
Which one doesn’t belong?
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo at Haruka's co-working space near Ueno. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.
Tap play first if you want to hear it. The recording stays on this device.
- Harukaあ、レオさん。こんにちは。Oh, Leo. Hello.
- Leo (you)Look around the packed room and comment on it.
Look around the packed room and comment on it.
今日はけっこう忙しいですね。
It's pretty busy today, isn't it?
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 今日はけっこう忙しいですね。 | It's pretty busy today, isn't it? | |
| 週末はどうでしたか。 | How was your weekend? | |
| ちょっと休憩しませんか。 | Shall we take a quick break? | |
| コーヒーを買ってきます。 | I'm going to get coffee. | |
| 何か買ってきましょうか。 | Shall I get you something? | |
| 仕事の後、予定がありますか。 | Do you have plans after work? |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep this desk chat in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round before work keeps small talk ready at the desk.
Open Yak Cards