Welcome back! In this short lesson you'll practice polite ways to say what you prefer, accept options, and suggest alternatives. Listen, repeat, and try the speaking prompts aloud — small steps make big gains.
Level A2: This lesson focuses on everyday phrases to talk about preferences: saying what you usually choose, what you like more, accepting options (e.g., どちらでもいいです), and offering alternatives. CEFR-aligned and practical — you'll practice repeating, a short conversation, and quick quizzes to make these phrases feel natural.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Use polite phrases to state preferences (e.g., 私には___のほうがいいです).
Accept options and suggest alternatives (e.g., どちらでもいいです / 代わりに___はどうですか).
Compare two choices and explain simple dislikes (e.g., ___のほうが、___より好きです / ___は私には___すぎます).
Level A2: speak these phrases clearly using polite forms.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
___はいやじゃないです。
___ wa iya ja nai desu.
I don't mind ___.
Meaning: I don't mind ___.
When to use: Use this when you want to say you are okay with a suggested option or you have no strong objection. Put a noun or an action (nominalized) in the blank.
Tip: Don't confuse with いやです (I don't like it). いやじゃないです is milder and means you don't mind it.
私はどちらでもいいです。特に嫌いなものはありません。___はいやじゃないです。
Watashi wa dochira demo ii desu. Tokuni kirai na mono wa arimasen. ___ wa iya ja nai desu.
I don't mind ___. (context: no strong dislike)
夏は暑いのはいやじゃないです。プールはいやじゃないです。
Natsu wa atsui no wa iya ja nai desu. Pūru wa iya ja nai desu.
I don't mind ___ (e.g., the pool).
たいてい___を選びます。
Taitei ___ o erabimasu.
I usually choose ___.
Meaning: I usually choose ___.
When to use: Use to say what you normally pick. Put the thing you choose (a noun) before を選びます。
カフェではたいていコーヒーを選びます。
Kafe de wa taitei kōhī o erabimasu.
At cafés I usually choose coffee.
ランチはたいていサンドイッチを選びます。
Ranchi wa taitei sandoicchi o erabimasu.
For lunch I usually choose a sandwich.
私には___のほうがいいです。
Watashi ni wa ___ no hō ga ii desu.
___ is better for me.
Meaning: ___ is better for me.
When to use: Use to state a practical preference or what suits you better. Put the preferred noun or option in the blank (___のほうがいいです).
私には窓側の席のほうがいいです。
Watashi ni wa madogawa no seki no hō ga ii desu.
The window seat is better for me.
この時間帯は私には静かな場所のほうがいいです。
Kono jikantai wa watashi ni wa shizuka na basho no hō ga ii desu.
At this time, a quiet place is better for me.
___は私には___すぎます。
___ wa watashi ni wa ___ sugimasu.
___ is too ___ for me.
Meaning: ___ is too ___ for me.
When to use: Use to explain a dislike or to decline with a simple reason. Put the item first and the adjective stem before すぎます (e.g., 高すぎます).
Tip: Remember to use the adjective stem + すぎます (e.g., 高すぎます), not the adjective full form twice.
このケーキは私には甘すぎます。
Kono kēki wa watashi ni wa ama sugimasu.
This cake is too sweet for me.
辛いラーメンは私には辛すぎます。
Karai rāmen wa watashi ni wa kara sugimasu.
Spicy ramen is too spicy for me.
好きな___はありますか。
Suki na ___ wa arimasu ka.
Do you have a favorite ___?
Meaning: Do you have a favorite ___?
When to use: Ask about someone's favorite in a category (e.g., 映画、レストラン). Put the category after 好きな___.
好きな映画はありますか。
Suki na eiga wa arimasu ka.
Do you have a favorite movie?
好きなレストランはありますか。おすすめはありますか。
Suki na resutoran wa arimasu ka. Osusume wa arimasu ka.
Do you have a favorite restaurant? Any recommendations?
___のほうが、___より好きです。
___ no hō ga, ___ yori suki desu.
I like ___ more than ___.
Meaning: I like ___ more than ___.
When to use: Use to compare two items. The first blank is the preferred item (___のほうが), the second is the comparison (___より).
私は寿司のほうが、天ぷらより好きです。
Watashi wa sushi no hō ga, tempura yori suki desu.
I like sushi more than tempura.
紅茶のほうが、コーヒーより好きです。
Kōcha no hō ga, kōhī yori suki desu.
I like tea more than coffee.
___ほうが、___よりいいです。
___ hō ga, ___ yori ii desu.
I'd rather ___ than ___.
Meaning: I'd rather ___ than ___.
When to use: Use to state a preferred action or choice. For nouns, use ___のほうが; for actions, use verb phrases before ほうが and より.
Tip: Make sure to use a verb phrase before ほうが for actions (e.g., 行くほうが), not just a bare noun.
行くほうが、待つよりいいです。
Iku hō ga, matsu yori ii desu.
I'd rather go than wait.
雨の日は家にいるほうが、外に出るよりいいです。
Ame no hi wa ie ni iru hō ga, soto ni deru yori ii desu.
On rainy days, staying home is better than going out.
どちらでもいいです。
Dochira demo ii desu.
Either is fine.
Meaning: Either is fine.
When to use: Use when choosing between two options and you have no strong preference. This is polite; casual is どっちでもいいよ.
お茶とコーヒー、どちらでもいいです。
Ocha to kōhī, dochira demo ii desu.
Tea or coffee — either is fine.
時間はどちらでもいいです。都合のいい方でお願いします。
Jikan wa dochira demo ii desu. Tsugō no ii hō de onegaishimasu.
Either time works for me. Please choose the convenient one.
どちらもいいです。
Dochira mo ii desu.
Both are good.
Meaning: Both are good.
When to use: Use when both (of two) options are acceptable or appealing. Casual: どっちもいいよ.
甘い料理と辛い料理、どちらもいいです。
Amai ryōri to karai ryōri, dochira mo ii desu.
Both sweet and spicy dishes are fine.
色は赤でも青でも、どちらもいいです。
Iro wa aka demo ao demo, dochira mo ii desu.
Red or blue — both are good.
どんな___が好きですか。
Donna ___ ga suki desu ka.
What kind of ___ do you like?
Meaning: What kind of ___ do you like?
When to use: Use to ask about preferred types or styles within a category (e.g., どんな映画). Put the category after どんな.
どんな音楽が好きですか。
Donna ongaku ga suki desu ka.
What kind of music do you like?
どんな映画が好きですか。アクションですか、それともドラマですか。
Donna eiga ga suki desu ka. Akushon desu ka, soretomo dorama desu ka.
What kind of movies do you like? Action or drama?
代わりに___はどうですか。
Kawari ni ___ wa dō desu ka.
How about ___ instead?
Meaning: How about ___ instead?
When to use: Use to suggest an alternative. Put the alternative before は; for actions, nominalize if needed (行くのはどうですか).
外で食べるのは混んでいます。代わりに家で食べるはどうですか。
Soto de taberu no wa konde imasu. Kawari ni ie de taberu wa dō desu ka.
Outside is crowded. How about eating at home instead?
今日は魚がありません。代わりにカレーはどうですか。
Kyō wa sakana ga arimasen. Kawari ni karē wa dō desu ka.
There is no fish today. How about curry instead?
___の気分です。
___ no kibun desu.
I'm in the mood for ___.
Meaning: I'm in the mood for ___.
When to use: Use to state a current desire for a noun (e.g., ラーメンの気分です). For actions it's often more natural to say ～したい気分です.
Tip: For actions, learners often prefer ～したい気分です (e.g., 散歩したい気分です) rather than this noun-only pattern.
今日はカレーの気分です。
Kyō wa karē no kibun desu.
I'm in the mood for curry today.
今は甘いものの気分です。ケーキが食べたいです。
Ima wa amai mono no kibun desu. Kēki ga tabetai desu.
I'm in the mood for something sweet now. I want cake.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Deciding dinner between ramen and pasta
What are Anna and David deciding about?
Anna
こんばんは。今晩ごはん、ラーメンとパスタ、どちらがいいですか。
Konban wa. Konban gohan, rāmen to pasuta, dochira ga ii desu ka.
Hi. For dinner tonight, ramen or pasta — which is good?
David
どちらでもいいです。
Dochira demo ii desu.
Either is fine.
Anna
私にはラーメンのほうがいいです。
Watashi ni wa rāmen no hō ga ii desu.
Ramen is better for me.
David
代わりにパスタはどうですか。
Kawari ni pasuta wa dō desu ka.
How about pasta instead?
Anna
このラーメンは私には辛すぎます。
Kono rāmen wa watashi ni wa kara sugimasu.
This ramen is too spicy for me.
David
じゃあ、今日はカレーの気分です。カレーにしましょうか。
Jā, kyō wa karē no kibun desu. Karē ni shimashō ka.
Then I'm in the mood for curry today. Shall we choose curry?
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase means "Either is fine"?
How do you say, "I usually choose tea" politely?
Which phrase asks 'How about ___ instead?'
Which pattern compares two likes ("I like A more than B")?
This restaurant is a bit expensive. Considering the price, the cheaper one is better for me.
このレストランはちょっと高いです。値段を考えると、私には___。
Kono resutoran wa chotto takai desu. Nedan o kangaeru to, watashi ni wa ___.
This curry is very spicy. Actually, it's too spicy for me.
このカレーはすごく辛いですね。実は、私には___。
Kono karē wa sugoku karai desu ne. Jitsu wa, watashi ni wa ___.
A: Movie or music today? B: I like movies more than music; I'm in the mood to watch a new movie.
A: 映画と音楽、今日はどっちにする？ B: ___、新しい映画を見たい気分です。
A: Eiga to ongaku, kyō wa docchi ni suru? B: ___, atarashii eiga o mitai kibun desu.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
