Japanese - Encouragement

Lesson 95 of 168

A warm scene of two friends in a cozy cafe speaking Japanese, the lesson is about encouragement phrases in Japanese.

Goal: Short, kind phrases to support friends

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome back — Lesson 95! Small encouragements make a big difference. In this short lesson we'll listen, practice, and say supportive phrases aloud.

Level A2: In this lesson you’ll practice three friendly Japanese encouragement phrases: offering to do something together, gently reassuring someone who made a mistake, and praising effort. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson helps you hear these phrases in context, try quick quizzes, and say them out loud so they feel natural.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Understand and use 一緒に___しましょう。 (Issho ni ___ shimashō.) to offer shared help or practice.
  • Comfort someone with だれでも間違えますよ。 (Dare demo machigaemasu yo.) after a mistake.
  • Praise effort with よくがんばりましたね。 (Yoku ganbarimashita ne.).
  • Practice listening, recognition, and speaking at A2 level.
Two coworkers pause at a park bench; one offers to practice together — a visual for Japanese encouragement phrases.

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.

一緒に___しましょう。

Issho ni ___ shimashō.

Let's ___ together.

Meaning: Let's ___ together.

When to use: Use when you want to offer shared help or to practice something with someone. Put a noun like 勉強 (study), 練習 (practice), 確認 (check) in the blank. If you want to use a verb directly, change the verb form (e.g., 一緒に行きましょう。).

Tip: Beginners sometimes try to put an unconjugated verb into the blank (e.g., 一緒に行くしましょう). Use the full polite form: 一緒に行きましょう。

一緒に勉強しましょう。

Issho ni benkyō shimashō.

Let's study together.
試合前に一緒に練習しましょう。

Shiai mae ni issho ni renshū shimashō.

Let's practice together before the match.

だれでも間違えますよ。

Dare demo machigaemasu yo.

Everyone makes mistakes.

Meaning: Everyone makes mistakes.

When to use: Say this to comfort someone after an error or when they feel embarrassed. The sentence-ending よ makes the phrase gentle and reassuring.

Tip: Don't omit よ if you want a soft, encouraging tone — saying it without よ can sound flatter.

新しい言葉を覚えるときは、だれでも間違えますよ。

Atarashii kotoba o oboeru toki wa, dare demo machigaemasu yo.

When you learn new words, everyone makes mistakes.
プレゼンで失敗しても、だれでも間違えますよ。

Purezen de shippai shite mo, dare demo machigaemasu yo.

Even if you mess up the presentation, everyone makes mistakes.

よくがんばりましたね。

Yoku ganbarimashita ne.

You did your best.

Meaning: You did your best.

When to use: Use to recognize someone's effort after work, practice, or a test. It's polite and warm; the casual form is よくがんばったね。

今日の練習、よくがんばりましたね。

Kyō no renshū, yoku ganbarimashita ne.

You did your best in today's practice.
試験のあとで先生が言いました：よくがんばりましたね。

Shiken no ato de sensei ga iimashita: yoku ganbarimashita ne.

After the exam the teacher said: You did your best.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Anna is nervous before a class presentation; David encourages her.

Anna and David sit with notes and a laptop, using encouraging Japanese phrases while preparing a presentation.

What do Anna and David decide to do together?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

発表が心配です…

Happyō ga shinpai desu...

I'm worried about the presentation...

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

大丈夫。だれでも間違えますよ。

Daijōbu. Dare demo machigaemasu yo.

It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

でも、緊張します。

Demo, kinchō shimasu.

But I'm nervous.

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

じゃあ、一緒に練習しましょう。

Jā, issho ni renshū shimashō.

Then let's practice together.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

ありがとう。よくがんばりましたね、と言ってもらえるようにがんばります。

Arigatō. Yoku ganbarimashita ne to itte moraeru yō ni ganbarimasu.

Thanks. I'll try hard so someone can say, 'You did your best.'

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which sentence means 'Let's check together.'?

Which phrase is best to say after someone makes a small mistake to comfort them?

Which sentence uses ね at the end to show empathy or shared feeling?

Which phrase is an offer to do something together (polite suggestion)?

Before the presentation, the friend said: 'Let's practice together.'

発表の前、友だちが言いました：___

To a student disappointed by low test scores, the teacher said: 'Everyone makes mistakes.'

テストの点数が低くてがっかりしている学生に先生が言いました：___

After the match, the coach said to the players: 'You did your best.'

試合の後、コーチが選手に言いました：___

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.

Say this phrase out loud:

一緒に___しましょう。

Issho ni ___ shimashō.

Let's ___ together.

Say this phrase out loud:

だれでも間違えますよ。

Dare demo machigaemasu yo.

Everyone makes mistakes.

Say this phrase out loud:

よくがんばりましたね。

Yoku ganbarimashita ne.

You did your best.