JLPT N4 Speaking: Arrange a Meeting and Change the Time

Passing the JLPT N4 requires you to be able to handle simple conversations in Japanese. One common scenario is arranging a meeting and then needing to change the time – a surprisingly tricky area for learners! This article will focus on practical phrases, vocabulary, and realistic dialogue examples to help you build confidence.

Understanding the Core Phrases

Before diving into dialogues, let’s look at some key phrases:

• Asking about a meeting: 予定はありますか？ (Yotei wa arimasu ka?) – Do you have any plans?
• Suggesting a time: 明日午後3時はいかがですか？ (Ashita gogo san ji haiga desu ka?) – How about tomorrow at 3 pm?
• Confirming the meeting: 明日、午後３時に会いますね。(Ashita, gogo san-ji ni aimasu ne.) – We’ll meet tomorrow at 3pm, right?
• Changing the time: すみません、少し時間変われますか？(Sumimasen, sukoshi jikan kawaremasu ka?) – Excuse me, can I change the time a little?
• Offering an alternative: 〇時なら都合いいです。(〇ji nara tsugōiidesu.) – If it’s at 〇 o’clock, that works for me. (Replace 〇 with the new time)
• Politely declining: ごめんなさい、その時間はいけません。(Gomen nasai, sono jikan wa ikemasen.) – I’m sorry, I can’t make that time.

Dialogue Example 1: Initial Arrangement

Person A (Kenji): こんにちは。来週の火曜日、午後2時からお話しませんか？(Konnichiwa. Raishuu no kaya biyou, gogo ni juuji kara ohanashi shimasen ka?) – Hello. How about talking next Tuesday at 2 pm?

Person B (Akari): こんにちは。いいですね！火曜日は大丈夫です。(Konnichiwa. Ii desu ne! Kaya biyou wa daijōbu desu.) – Hello! That sounds good! Tuesday is okay.

Note: “いいですね!” (Ii desu ne!) is a very common and useful phrase for expressing agreement. The use of “大丈夫です” (daijōbu desu) indicates availability.

Dialogue Example 2: Changing the Time

Kenji: あ、すみません。火曜日の午後2時から変更できますか？明日なら都合いい時間ありますか。(Aa, sumimasen. Kaya biyou no gogo ni juuji kara henkō dekimasu ka? Ashita nara tsugōi jikan arimasu ka?) – Oh, excuse me. Can I change the time from Tuesday at 2 pm? Do you have any convenient times tomorrow?

Akari: うーん、明日午後はちょっと忙しいです。水曜日なら午後4時はいかがですか？(Uun, ashita gogo wa chotto isogashii desu. Suiyōbi nara gogo yo yonji haiga desu ka?) – Hmm, I’m a little busy tomorrow afternoon. How about Wednesday at 4 pm?

Kenji: 水曜日なら４時で大丈夫です！ありがとうございます。(Suiyōbi nara yon-ji de daijōbu desu! Arigatō gozaimasu!) – Wednesday at 4 pm is fine! Thank you.

Common Mistakes & Corrections

Mistake: Using overly formal language like “お願いします” (Onegaishimasu) when asking for a change. It’s too polite for this casual interaction.
Correction: Stick to “変更できますか？”(Henkō dekimasu ka?) – Can I change it?

Mistake: Forgetting “ね” (ne) at the end of a statement to seek confirmation (“会いますね？”) – It’s a simple way to invite agreement and confirm understanding.

Practice Tips for N4 Speaking

• Role-play: Practice these dialogues with a friend or language partner.
• Focus on flow: Even if your grammar isn’t perfect, try to speak smoothly and naturally.
• Listen carefully: Pay attention to how native speakers actually phrase things when arranging meetings.

Remember, the JLPT N4 focuses on practical communication. By practicing these phrases and understanding common scenarios like rearranging a meeting, you’ll be well on your way to success!