Learn Japanese: JLPT N5 – Talk About Weekend Plans

The JLPT N5 exam focuses on basic conversational skills. One key area is talking about your weekend plans and what you usually do. This article will walk you through the essential phrases, vocabulary, and dialogues to help you confidently discuss your weekends.

Essential Phrases & Vocabulary

• Greetings: こんにちは (Konnichiwa – Hello) / こんばんは (Konbanwa – Good evening)
• Asking about Plans: 週末は何するの？ (Shuumatsu wa nani suru no?) – What are you doing this weekend?
• Expressing Your Plans: 私は…をします。(Watashi wa … o shimasu.) – I will do…
• Common Weekend Activities:
  • 映画を見ます (Eiga o mimasu) – I’ll watch a movie.
  • ショッピングをします (Shopping o shimasu) – I’ll go shopping.
  • 料理を食べます (Ryouri o tabemasu) – I will eat delicious food. (Literally: cook and eat.)
  • 家でゆっくりします (Ie de yukkuri shimasu) – I’ll relax at home.
• Responding to Offers: いいですね！(Ii desu ne! – That sounds good!) / どういたしまして (Dou itashimashite – You’re welcome/Don’t worry about it).
• Negative Response (Politely): できません (Dekimasen – I can’t). / 行きません (Iki masen – I won’t go).

Dialogue Example 1: Simple Conversation

Person A: こんにちは！週末は何するの？ (Konnichiwa! Shuumatsu wa nani suru no?)

Person B: こんにちは！映画を見ます。それに、ショッピングもします。(Konnichiwa! Eiga o mimasu. Sore ni, shoppingu mo shimasu.) – Hello! I’ll watch a movie and go shopping too.

Person A: いいですね！ (Ii desu ne!)

Breakdown & Corrections: Person B uses “それに” (sore ni) – “and”, which is common for adding activities. Notice the polite “〜ます” form of verbs used throughout. If someone said “映画を見る” (eiga o miru) without the “masu”, it’s perfectly understandable but slightly less formal.

Dialogue Example 2: Making Plans

Person A: 週末何する？(Shuumatsu nani suru?)

Person B: 私は家でゆっくりします。本を読んだり、料理を食べたりしたいです。(Watashi wa ie de yukkuri shimasu. Hon o yondari, ryouri o tabetari shitai desu.) – I want to relax at home, read a book, and eat delicious food.

Person A: それは楽しそう！(Sore wa tanoshisou!) – That sounds fun!

Mistake & Correction: Person B could have said “〜たいです” (～tai desu) – “I want to”. The polite form is more suitable for conversation. A less formal response might be “家でゆっくりします。” alone, depending on the context.

Tips for Practice

• Start Small: Begin with simple phrases like “Watashi wa … o shimasu.”
• Role-Play: Practice conversations with a friend or language partner.
• Listen to Japanese: Expose yourself to native speakers through music, podcasts, or videos (even if you don’t understand everything).
• Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes!: Everyone makes mistakes when learning a new language! It’s part of the process.

Good luck with your Japanese studies!