When you listen to real Japanese conversations, you’ll notice certain expressions popping up all the time. These words don’t always translate directly into English, but they give sentences a natural, conversational flow. In this post, let’s explore some of the most common ones you’ll hear daily—and start sounding more like a native speaker!

✅ やっぱり — “As I thought / After all / I knew it”

Meaning: Used when something matches your expectation, or when you return to the original idea after hesitating.

Examples:

• やっぱり雨あめが降ふったね。
• Just as I thought, it rained.
  
• やっぱり行いくことにする。
• After all, I decided to go.

Nuance: Softens the sentence and shows reflection or confirmation.

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✅ なんか — “Like / Kind of / Sort of”

Meaning: A filler word to make speech softer, vague, or more casual.

Examples:

• 今日きょうなんかすごく暑あついね。
• It’s, like… super hot today.
  
• なんか疲つかれた。
• I’m kind of tired.

Nuance: Often used when searching for words or speaking casually.

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✅ とりあえず — “For now / First of all / Anyway”

Meaning: Used when deciding on something temporary or doing something as the first step.

Examples:

• とりあえずコーヒーください。
• For now, I’ll have a coffee.
  
• とりあえずこれでやってみよう。
• Let’s try this for now.

Nuance: Implies that it might not be the final answer.

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✅ そういえば — “Speaking of which / That reminds me”

Meaning: Used when you suddenly remember something related (or unrelated!) to the current topic.

Examples:

• そういえば、明日休あしたやすみだったよね。
• Oh yeah, speaking of which, you’re off tomorrow, right?
  
• そういえば、あの店みせどうだった？
• By the way, how was that restaurant?

Nuance: Smoothly changes the topic.

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✅ 〜っけ？ — “What was it again…?”

Meaning: Used when trying to remember something forgotten.

Examples:

• 今日きょうって何時なんじに会あうんだっけ？
• What time were we meeting again?
  
• あの人ひと、名前なまえなんだっけ？
• What was that person’s name again?

Nuance: Very conversational. Sounds natural and a bit cute.

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✅ 〜かな？ — “I wonder / Maybe…”

Meaning: Shows uncertainty or gentle thinking to oneself.

Examples:

• 間まに合あうかな？
• I wonder if I’ll make it on time.
  
• どれがいいかな？
• Which one should I pick, I wonder?

Nuance: Softens the tone, making it less direct.

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✅ つい — “Accidentally / Without thinking”

Examples:

• 甘あまいものをつい食たべちゃう。
• I end up eating sweets without thinking.
  
• つい遅おそくまで起おきてしまった。
• I stayed up late without meaning to.

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✅ まさか — “No way! / You’re kidding!”

Examples:

• まさか本当ほんとうに来くるとは！
• No way, I didn’t think you’d actually come!
  
• まさか、忘わすれたの？
• Don’t tell me… you forgot?

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✅ なるほど — “I see / That makes sense”

Examples:

• なるほど、それは大変たいへんだね。
• I see, that must be tough.
  
• なるほど、だから遅おくれたんだ。
• Ah, I get it. That’s why you were late.

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Mini Conversation Using These Expressions

A: 今日きょう、なんか元気げんきないね。
B: うん、つい寝坊ねぼうしちゃって…。
A: そういえば、昨日遅きのうおそくまで仕事しごとしてたんだっけ？
B: そうそう。だから、とりあえずコーヒー飲のみたい。
A: やっぱり。私わたしも飲のもうかな。
B: まさか、今日きょうは会議かいぎないよね？
A: 大丈夫だいじょうぶ、大丈夫だいじょうぶ。たしか11時じからだったかな？

Takeaway

These expressions won’t appear much in textbooks, but you’ll hear them every single day in Japan. Mastering them will help you:

✨ Sound more natural
✨ Understand real conversations
✨ Express nuance like native speakers

Try adding one or two of these into your conversations each week!

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