New here? This is lesson 97 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.
Soft replies in Japanese
Haruka wants a long walk after work. Leo still has notes on his desk, so a flat no would sound cold.
He needs a soft later, a not-today, and a please-ask-again.
At the Ueno office, Mori-san is still working. Leo leaves first and thanks her for the day.
You will turn down a plan without いいえ, then leave work politely.
By the end of this lesson
Turn down a plan softly, then leave work politely.
- また今度お願いします。Maybe another time.
- 今日はちょっと難しいです。Today is a bit difficult.
- 少し考えます。I'll think about it.
- また誘ってください。Please ask me again.
- お先に失礼します。I'll head out first.
- お疲れさまです。Thanks for your work today.
Scene — after work in Ueno
Haruka waits outside the Ueno office with her sketchbook under one arm. She wants a long walk toward Yanaka before dark.
Leo still has notes on his desk. Mori-san sits with a tablet, not ready to leave.
The printer hums by the door. Leo will need a soft no, then a polite exit.
Learn — a soft later
These six lines soften a no and close a workday.
The first four delay a plan. The last two let you leave the office first.
また今度お願いします。
Maybe another time.
When to use it: Use this to put a plan off without a hard no.
また今度 points to a later time, not a refusal.
今日はちょっと難しいです。
Today is a bit difficult.
When to use it: Use this when today will not work, but another day might.
は marks today as the topic; ちょっと softens the no.
Say it: Hold the small っ in ちょっと before と.
少し考えます。
I'll think about it.
When to use it: Use this when you need time before you answer.
少し plus a polite verb buys you a short pause.
また誘ってください。
Please ask me again.
When to use it: Use this after a soft no, so the invite can return.
誘って is the て-form; ください makes a polite request.
Say it: Hold the small っ in 誘って before て.
お先に失礼します。
I'll head out first.
When to use it: Use this when you leave work while others still stay.
に after お先 marks that you go first.
お疲れさまです。
Thanks for your work today.
When to use it: Use this to close a workday with people at the office.
Here it closes the workday; offices also use it as a greeting.
Story — the walk can wait
Haruka asks Leo to walk to Yanaka. He cannot go today, then he leaves the office first.
Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.
- Haruka waits by the office plants with her sketchbook.
Haruka谷中まで歩きませんか。Shall we walk as far as Yanaka?
Leoええと、今日はちょっと難しいです。Um, today is a bit difficult.- Harukaそうですね。Right, I see.
- Leoまた誘ってください。Please ask me again.
- Harukaわかりました。Got it.
- Inside, Mori-san is still at her desk with the tablet.
Moriこれ、どう思いますか。What do you think of this?- Leo少し考えます。I'll think about it.
- Mori来週、ランチしませんか。Shall we have lunch next week?
- Leoまた今度お願いします。Maybe another time.
- Moriそうですか。I see.
- Leoそろそろ失礼します。I should be going.
- Moriまだ作業中です。I'm still working.
- Leo森さん、お先に失礼します。Mori-san, I'll head out first.
- Moriお疲れさまです。Thanks for your work today.
- Leo bows a little too deep toward the printer.
- Leoお疲れさまです。Thanks for your work today.
- Moriプリンターですよ。That's the printer.
Practice — pick a soft no
Eleven short tasks wait here. You will listen, fill a gap, and pick a soft reply.
None of them want a flat no.
0 of 11 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
Japanese
また今度お願いします。Drop the English here今日はちょっと難しいです。Drop the English here少し考えます。Drop the English hereまた誘ってください。Drop the English hereお疲れさまです。Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
Haruka wants a long walk today. Today will not work for you.
True or false?
True or false?
Use this to ask if someone has plans after work.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I'll head out first.
お先____失礼します。
Pick the reply
Mori says:
Pick the reply
これ、どう思いますか。
What do you think of this?
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
予定があります。
Build the line
Build the line
Please ask me again.
。
Tap the words in order.
Swap the word
Swap the word
You want another time, not tomorrow. Fix the time word.
また____お願いします。
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
True or false?
True or false?
Say this when you should be going.
Say it — your turn to speak
You are Leo. Haruka asks you to walk, then you leave Mori-san's office.
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谷中まで歩きませんか。Shall we walk as far as Yanaka?
- Leo (you)Today will not work for you.
Today will not work for you.
今日はちょっと難しいです。
Today is a bit difficult.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Japanese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| また今度お願いします。 | Maybe another time. | |
| 今日はちょっと難しいです。 | Today is a bit difficult. | |
| 少し考えます。 | I'll think about it. | |
| また誘ってください。 | Please ask me again. | |
| お先に失礼します。 | I'll head out first. | |
| お疲れさまです。 | Thanks for your work today. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Keep these soft replies in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.
A short Yak Cards round keeps a soft no ready for the next invite.
Open Yak Cards