🇯🇵🗣️👍

How to Say ‘Your Japanese is good.’ in Japanese

日本語、上手ですね。

nihon go jouzu desu ne

[nee-HOHN goh JOH-zoo dess neh]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Japanese people say this to foreigners after even a simple greeting, so it's friendliness rather than a real assessment; the expected reply is a modest denial, not "thank you, I study hard".

Phrase Breakdown

日本語、

nihon go

Your Japanese,

日本語 (nihongo) means the Japanese language. Here it introduces the topic, with the particle dropped.

Example

日本語、難しいですか？

Is Japanese difficult?

Words in this phrase

日本

nihon

[nee-HOHN]

Japan

The name of the country. Followed by 語 it makes 'Japanese language'.

Example

日本に住んでいます。

I live in Japan.

語

[goh]

language

Suffix meaning language, attached to country names.

Example

英語を話します。

I speak English.

上手ですね。

jouzu desu ne

is really good!

A common compliment. Hold the long 'jou' sound.

Example

歌、上手ですね。

You're a good singer!

Words in this phrase

上手

jouzu

[JOH-zoo]

skillful; good at

A na-adjective for praising someone's skill. People usually say it about others, not about themselves.

Example

料理が上手ですね。

You're a good cook.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

ね

[neh]

isn't it?; right?

A sentence-ending particle used to seek agreement or add warmth.

Example

すばらしい経験ですね。

That's wonderful experience, isn't it?

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