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How to Say ‘Being able to talk’ in Japanese

話しできて

hanashi deki te

[hah-nah-shee deh-kee teh]

💬 Usage Tip: できて often means "being able to do" something, not just "doing" it. In networking Japanese, お話しできて feels like "I'm glad I had the chance to speak with you."

Phrase Breakdown

話し

hanashi

[hah-nah-shee]

talk; speaking

Comes from 話す or 話, and here relates to speaking or having a conversation.

Example

少し話しできてよかったです。

I'm glad we could talk a little.

でき

deki

[deh-kee]

can do; be able to

From できる, meaning to be able to do something. Here it means 'be able to talk.'

Example

直接話しできて安心しました。

I felt relieved that we could talk directly.

て

te

[teh]

and; having done

Te-form ending that connects to what follows, as in 'being able to talk, ...'

Example

話しできてうれしかったです。

I was happy to be able to talk.

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