Texting & dating apps: Making plans to meet by text

💬 Swap the question word to ask about anything else: どこがいいですか？ "where works for you?", 何がいいですか？ "what would you like?"

💬 Each day of the week ends in 曜日 (yōbi), so you only need to learn the first part: 月曜日 "Monday", 金曜日 "Friday", 日曜日 "Sunday".

💬 午後 (gogo) also means "p.m." when you put it before a time: 午後3時 "3 p.m." The opposite is 午前 (gozen) "morning, a.m."

💬 Put any suggestion in front with は (wa) to offer it: 明日はどうですか？ "how about tomorrow?" It's the easiest way to propose a time or place.

💬 大丈夫 (daijōbu) can mean either "yes, that works" or "no thanks", depending on context. When someone offers you something and you reply 大丈夫です, it usually means you're turning it down politely.

💬 で marks where something happens: 駅で会います "we'll meet at the station". Don't mix it up with に, which you'd use for a time like 2時に.

🇯🇵 A café in the daytime is the typical, low-pressure choice for a first meeting from a dating app in Japan. It's public, easy to leave, and feels safe for both people.

💬 にする means "to decide on" or "to go with". You'll hear it everywhere, from making plans to ordering food: コーヒーにします "I'll have coffee".

💬 Watch the shapes of some hours: 4時 is (yo-ji), 7時 is (shichi-ji), and 9時 is (ku-ji). 2時 itself is the regular (ni-ji).

💬 Add 前 (mae) after a place to mean "in front of" it: 駅前 (eki-mae) "in front of the station".

🇯🇵 The Hachiko dog statue outside Shibuya Station is one of Tokyo's most famous meeting spots. Because of that it gets very crowded, so people often text a more exact spot or what they're wearing once they arrive.

🇯🇵 This is the standard warm sign-off once plans are fixed. It shows enthusiasm without being too forward.

💬 も after a word means "too" or "also": 私も "me too".

🇯🇵 僕 (boku) is a casual, gentle way for men to say "I". Women would usually say 私 (watashi) instead.

💬 Put any day or time in front of に for a quick "see you then": じゃあ、明日に！ "see you tomorrow, then!" Many people shorten it further to じゃあ、また明日！.

🇯🇵 Texting おやすみなさい is a common, friendly way to end a late-night chat with someone you're getting to know. Close friends often shorten it to おやすみ.