Learn Japanese: Talking About Your Family – JLPT N5 Conversational

This guide focuses on the “Talk About Your Family” section of the JLPT N5 exam. It’s designed for beginners, prioritizing practical conversation skills over complex grammar rules. We’ll cover key phrases, vocabulary, and common situations you might encounter when discussing your family in Japanese.

Essential Phrases & Vocabulary

Let’s start with some core phrases you’ll need:

• はじめまして (Hajimemashite) – Nice to meet you.
• どうぞよろしく (Douzo yoroshiku) – Pleased to make your acquaintance (often used after “Hajimemashite”).
• 私（わたし）は…です。(Watashi wa … desu.) – I am…
• 家族 (Kazoku) – Family
• お父さん (Otousan) – Father
• お母さん (Oyasumi) – Mother
• 兄弟 (Kyoudai) – Brother(s)
• 姉 (Abe) – Older sister
• 妹 (Imouto) – Younger sister
• 一人（ひとかれ）(Hitokare) – Only child.
• 元気です (Genki desu) – I’m fine / I’m well.

Example Dialogues

Here are a few simple dialogues to give you an idea:

Dialogue 1: Introducing Yourself

A:  こんにちは！ (Konnichiwa!) – Hello!
B:  はじめまして。田中です。(Hajimemashite. Tanaka desu.) - Nice to meet you, I'm Tanaka.
A:  私（わたし）は山田です。どうぞよろしく。(Watashi wa Yamada desu. Douzo yoroshiku.) – I’m Yamada. Pleased to make your acquaintance.
B: 元気ですか？(Genki desu ka?) - Are you well?
A: はい、元気です。(Hai, genki desu.) - Yes, I'm fine.

Dialogue 2: Talking About Your Parents

A:  お父さん (Otousan) はどんな人ですか？(Otousan wa donna hito desu ka?) – What kind of person is your father?
B:  お父さんは優しいです。(Otousan wa yasashii desu.) - My father is kind.
A: お母さん (Oyasumi) は？(Oyasumi wa?) – And your mother?
B: お母さんは賢いです。(Oyasumi wa katana desu.) – My mother is smart.

Common Mistakes & Corrections

Beginners often make these mistakes:

• Incorrect Politeness Level: Using casual speech (e.g., “Mama” for mother) in formal situations can be impolite. Use “Oyasumi” instead.
• Pronunciation of Katakana: Pay attention to the pronunciation of words written in katakana, like “desu.” It’s often pronounced “dess”.
• Omission of Particles: Japanese relies heavily on particles (wa, ga, o, ni, etc.). Don’t leave them out!

Example Correction: Instead of saying “Watashi wa Tanaka,” say correctly “私（わたし）は田中です。(Watashi wa Tanaka desu.)”

Real-World Situations & Practice

• Imagine you’re meeting someone for the first time and they ask about your family.
• Think about describing your family members’ jobs or hobbies to a new acquaintance.
• Practice saying “My brother is studying” (私の兄弟は勉強しています。(Watashi no kyoudai wa benkyou shite imasu.))

To practice, try this simple scenario: You are at a party and someone asks you about your family. Prepare 3 sentences to respond!