At a party, you may want to talk to someone you do not know. In this workshop, you will practice a short, polite exchange in Japanese. You will greet the person, comment on the music, ask if they come often, and ask how they know the host. You will also practice understanding a reply and choosing the correct response. All native examples come from the recordings. You can play both roles with audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so use the answer keys to check yourself.
Starting a Polite Conversation
A simple greeting opens the door. The recording «こんにちは。» means "Hello." It is safe and polite with a stranger. After greeting, you can comment on the music. The recording «いい音楽ですね。» means "Great music, isn't it?" The ending ne invites the other person to agree. Together, these two lines make a gentle start. In the dialogue, speaker A uses both: «こんにちは。いい音楽ですね。» means "Hello. Great music, isn't it?" Speaker B agrees and asks a question: «そうですね。よく来るんですか？» means "Yes, it is. Do you come here often?" Notice that B answers the comment first, then asks a new question. This keeps the conversation moving.
Asking About the Host
To learn how someone is connected to the party, use the polite question in «ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？», which means "How do you know the host?" This is suitable for a stranger. In the dialogue, speaker A answers B's question and then asks about the host: «いいえ、初めてです。ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？» means "No, it's my first time. How do you know the host?" Speaker B gives a simple answer: «大学の友達です。» means "We're university friends." The pattern is: answer, then ask. You can use «よく来るんですか？», which means "Do you come here often?", to keep the conversation going. The ending n desu ka adds a soft, explanatory tone. Practice these lines in order so the exchange feels natural.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
こんにちは。
Hello.
Konnichiwa.
ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？
How do you know the host?
Hosuto to wa dō iu go-kankei desu ka?
いい音楽ですね。
Great music, isn't it?
Ii ongaku desu ne.
よく来るんですか？
Do you come here often?
Yoku kuru n desu ka?
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
こんにちは。いい音楽ですね。
Hello. Great music, isn't it?そうですね。よく来るんですか？
Yes, it is. Do you come here often?いいえ、初めてです。ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？
No, it's my first time. How do you know the host?大学の友達です。
We're university friends.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Greet and Comment
Imagine you are at a party and see someone you do not know. You will play speaker A. Use the recording references to build your lines. The other person's lines are given.
Your task: Say your first line using «こんにちは。» and «いい音楽ですね。» together. Then listen to the other person say «そうですね。よく来るんですか？». After that, answer with «いいえ、初めてです。ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？». Finally, listen to «大学の友達です。».
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Right Response
You will hear a line from the dialogue. Then choose the best reply from two options. Both options are from the recordings.
Your task: Listen to «そうですね。よく来るんですか？». It means "Yes, it is. Do you come here often?" Which reply fits better: «いいえ、初めてです。ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？» or «大学の友達です。»? Say your choice aloud. Then listen to «いいえ、初めてです。ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？» and «大学の友達です。» again to check.
Recall and Role Swap: Ask About the Host
Now play speaker B. Your partner will say lines from speaker A. You will respond with the correct lines from speaker B.
Your task: Listen to «こんにちは。いい音楽ですね。». Reply with «そうですね。よく来るんですか？». Then listen to «いいえ、初めてです。ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？». Reply with «大学の友達です。». After that, swap roles and try again. When you are speaker A, use «こんにちは。いい音楽ですね。» and «いいえ、初めてです。ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？». When you are speaker B, use «そうですね。よく来るんですか？» and «大学の友達です。».
Common questions
Can I use these lines with anyone at a party?
These lines are polite and safe for a first conversation with a stranger. The greeting «こんにちは。» and the music comment «いい音楽ですね。» are light and friendly. The question «ホストとはどういうご関係ですか？» is polite because it uses go-kankei. If you are unsure, start with «こんにちは。» and «いい音楽ですね。», then wait for the other person's response.
What if I do not understand the other person's reply?
You can listen again for key words like tomodachi or daigaku. In this workshop, focus on recognizing «そうですね。よく来るんですか？» and «大学の友達です。» as replies. The source lesson also advises using polite forms with strangers and avoiding overly casual speech until you know each other better.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: make small talk at partyChecked September 2026
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