Talking About Yesterday: A Beginner’s Guide to JLPT N5 Conversation

Learning Japanese can seem daunting, but focusing on simple conversations is a fantastic way to start. This article focuses specifically on the “Talk About What You Did Yesterday” scenario, a common component of the JLPT N5 exam. We’ll break down the essential phrases, vocabulary, and realistic dialogue you need to build confidence.

Key Phrases & Vocabulary

Here’s a breakdown of essential Japanese phrases for this conversation:

• Yesterday: 昨天 (kyouon)
• What did you do?: 你はどうした？(Nani o shita ka?) – This is the most common and natural way to ask.
• I did…: 私は～した (Watashi wa ~ shita)
• Eat: 食べる (taberu)
• Study: 勉強する (benkyou suru)
• Go out: 外に出る (soto ni deru)
• Home: 家 (ie)
• Really?: 本当に？(Hontouni?) – Often used for emphasis or surprise.

Example Dialogue 1

Person A: こんにちは！(Konnichiwa!) – Hello!

Person B: こんにちは！今日はいい天気ですね。(Konnichiwa! Kyou wa ii tenki desu ne.) – Hello! The weather is nice today, isn’t it?

Person A: 昨天はどうしたの？(Kyouon wa dou shita no ka?) – What did you do yesterday?

Person B: 私は、家で勉強しました。(Watashi wa, ie de benkyou shimashita.) – I studied at home.

Person A: 本当に？(Hontouni?) – Really? Did you really study?

Person B: ええ、本当です。(Ee, honto desu.) – Yes, it’s true.

Example Dialogue 2: Adding Details

Person A: 昨日何してた？(Kinou nani shiteta?) – What were you doing yesterday?

Person B: 昨日、朝ご飯を食べました。(Kinou, asa gohan o tabemashita.) – Yesterday, I ate breakfast.

Person A: それだけ？(Sore dake?) – Just that?

Person B: その後、図書館に行きました。 (Sono ato, toshokan ni ikimashita.) – Afterwards, I went to the library. 本をたくさん読みました。(Hon o takusan yomimashita.) – I read a lot of books.

Common Mistakes & Corrections

Here are some common mistakes beginners make and how to correct them:

• Incorrect: 私は昨日食べました。(Watashi wa kyou tabemashita) – Mistake: Using “tabemashita” (past tense of eat) when talking about activities. Correction: Use “shita” (past tense of do).
• Incorrect: 何をしました？ (Nani o shimashita ka?) – Mistake: This translates to “What did you do?” but the polite form for asking someone is “Nani o shita no ka?” or “Kinou nani shiteta?”.Correction: Use the more natural and common phrasing.
• Incorrect: 外で食べました (Soto de tabemashita)- Mistake: While possible to say “I ate outside,” it’s less direct for this conversation. Correction: Emphasize where you did the activity “家で” or “図書館で(to shokan de)” which translates to “at home” or “at the library”.

Practice Tips for JLPT N5

To prepare for the JLPT N5, focus on practicing these dialogues with a language partner or online. Record yourself speaking and listen back – it’s a great way to identify areas for improvement. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! That’s part of the learning process.

Start by mastering these key phrases and vocabulary, then gradually build your ability to create longer, more complex conversations. Good luck!