How to Explain Your Culture in Japanese: Using では and と言います
Learn to share your own customs in Japanese using では, と言います, and ことが多いです. Say 'In my country, we usually...' naturally and politely.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you want to explain your own culture in Japanese, you need patterns that present information as general custom rather than personal opinion. The key is the particle では (de wa) after a place or group, combined with verbs like 言います (iimasu, 'say/call') and ことが多いです (koto ga ōi desu, 'there are many cases'). This lesson teaches you to say 'In my country, we usually...' and similar statements without asking about the listener's culture. You will learn to use では, と言います, ことが多いです, and ます-form verbs to describe customs politely. All examples use natural Japanese script with Hepburn romanization.
By the end, you can…
- say 'In my country, we usually...' using では and ことが多いです.
- explain what a custom is called using と言います.
- describe a typical practice with ます-form verbs and frequency words.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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私の国では、〜と言います。
In my country, we call it ~.
Watashi no kuni de wa, ~ to iimasu.
Use this to introduce a name or term for a custom. Replace ~ with the word. Note that と言います attaches to the name itself, so the full pattern is [name] と言います.
私の国では、〜ことが多いです。
In my country, we often ~.
Watashi no kuni de wa, ~ koto ga ōi desu.
Attach a verb in plain (dictionary) form directly before ことが多いです to describe a common practice.
〜のときは、〜ます。
When ~, we ~.
~ no toki wa, ~ masu.
Use this to explain what people do on a specific occasion, like a holiday or greeting. Put a noun before のときは and a ます-form verb at the end.
一般的に、〜ます。
Generally, we ~.
Ippanteki ni, ~ masu.
A polite way to state a general custom without saying 'everyone'. 一般的に is an adverb, so it is followed directly by the verb.
〜という習慣があります。
There is a custom called ~.
~ to iu shūkan ga arimasu.
Use this to introduce a named tradition or habit. The name goes before という習慣があります.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 私の国では、〜ことが多いです (Watashi no kuni de wa, ~ koto ga ōi desu) lets you describe a common practice without claiming it is absolute. Put a verb in plain (dictionary) form directly before ことが多いです. Example: 私の国では、誕生日にケーキを食べることが多いです (Watashi no kuni de wa, tanjōbi ni kēki o taberu koto ga ōi desu) — 'In my country, we often eat cake on birthdays.' For a more direct statement, use the ます-form: 私の国では、誕生日にケーキを食べます (Watashi no kuni de wa, tanjōbi ni kēki o tabemasu) — 'In my country, we eat cake on birthdays.' To name a custom, use と言います: 私の国では、それを「お盆」と言います (Watashi no kuni de wa, sore o 'obon' to iimasu) — 'In my country, we call it Obon.'
When to use it
Use these patterns when you are sharing information about your own background, not asking about the other person's. For example, if someone asks about your country's holidays, you can say 私の国では、年末に家族と過ごすことが多いです (Watashi no kuni de wa, nenmatsu ni kazoku to sugosu koto ga ōi desu) — 'In my country, we often spend the end of the year with family.' If you want to explain a greeting, say 私の国では、握手をします (Watashi no kuni de wa, akushu o shimasu) — 'In my country, we shake hands.' Avoid using では when talking about yourself only; for personal habits, use 私は (watashi wa) instead. These patterns are polite and safe in formal and informal conversations.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
私の国では、新年に家族と特別な料理を食べます。
In my country, we eat a special dish with family on New Year's.Watashi no kuni de wa, shinnen ni kazoku to tokubetsu na ryōri o tabemasu.へえ、それは何と言いますか。
Oh, what is that called?Hē, sore wa nan to iimasu ka.「おせち」と言います。一般的に、おせちを食べることが多いです。
It's called 'osechi'. Generally, we often eat osechi.'Osechi' to iimasu. Ippanteki ni, osechi o taberu koto ga ōi desu.なるほど。私の国では、新年に花火をします。
I see. In my country, we do fireworks on New Year's.Naruhodo. Watashi no kuni de wa, shinnen ni hanabi o shimasu.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese, stating customs with 〜ことが多いです or 一般的に softens the claim and avoids overgeneralizing. Using では after a place or group clearly marks the context. When you share your own culture, it is polite to use ます-form and avoid direct comparisons like 「〜と違います」 (chigaimasu, 'it's different') unless asked. This keeps the conversation respectful and focused on sharing, not evaluating.
One thing to watch for
Using は instead of では after 私の国, as in 私の国は、〜ます。
Try this instead: Use では to mean 'in' a place or group: 私の国では、〜ます (Watashi no kuni de wa, ~ masu). は alone would make 私の国 the topic, not the location. For example, say 私の国では、握手をします (Watashi no kuni de wa, akushu o shimasu) — 'In my country, we shake hands.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'In my country, we often eat rice' using ことが多いです?
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私の国では、ご飯を食べることが多いです。
This uses では after 私の国 and puts the plain verb 食べる before ことが多いです. You could also say 私の国では、ご飯をよく食べます, which is correct but slightly more direct.
2What pattern would you use to introduce the name of a custom, like 'We call it hanami'?
Show a sample answer
「花見」と言います。
The pattern と言います (to iimasu) names something. You can include 私の国では for context: 私の国では、「花見」と言います。
3Change 私の国は、〜ます to the correct location pattern.
Show a sample answer
私の国では、〜ます。
Adding で makes 私の国 the location where the action happens. は alone would make it the topic, which is less precise for describing customs.
Use 私の国では with ます-form verbs or ことが多いです to share your customs, and と言います to name them. Keep it polite and general.
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