You are practising Japanese pronunciation with supplied native audio for greetings, self-introductions, and invitations. Your goal is to build a repeatable routine: listen closely to the model, break the phrase into manageable chunks, shadow the speaker, record yourself, and compare your recording against the original audio. You will work with the supplied phrases: おはようございます (polite morning greeting), こんにちは (daytime hello), さようなら (polite goodbye), 私はマリアです (self-introduction), お名前は何ですか (asking someone's name), どこから来ましたか (asking where someone is from), 一緒に映画を見ませんか (inviting someone to see a movie), 土曜日はどうですか (suggesting Saturday), いいですね。行きましょう (accepting), and ぜひお願いします (enthusiastic acceptance). This routine is for self-study; it is not a clinical or official pronunciation assessment, and an AI conversation partner is a practice tool rather than a formal evaluator. The supplied native audio is your primary model, so return to it whenever you are unsure. The steps below help you practise consistently without inventing new sound rules or relying on written approximations.
Set up your listening and recording routine
Choose a quiet moment and use headphones if possible. Open the supplied audio for one phrase, such as おはようございます or こんにちは. Listen once without speaking, then listen again and notice where the speaker pauses or where the pitch moves. Do not read a written approximation; let the audio be your reference. Next, play the phrase and hum along with the melody before adding words. Then break the phrase into two or three chunks by pausing the audio at natural points. For example, おはようございます may feel like two chunks, and 私はマリアです may feel like three. Repeat each chunk three times, matching the speaker's rhythm rather than speeding up. Finally, record yourself saying the whole phrase once, then play the original audio immediately after your recording. Write down one thing you noticed: a vowel length, a pause, or a pitch movement. Keep a simple log with the date, the phrase, and your observation so you can track changes over a week.
Handle the harder turn: shadowing longer polite phrases
Longer polite phrases, such as 私はアメリカから来ました or 一緒に映画を見ませんか, are harder because they contain several chunks and a steady polite rhythm. When you struggle, do not try to say the whole phrase at once. Instead, isolate the final chunk and loop it five times slowly. Then add the previous chunk and repeat. Use the supplied audio as your only model; if you are unsure about a particle or ending, listen again rather than guessing from writing. A useful trick is to shadow while walking or doing a simple task, because this forces you to keep a steady pace instead of stopping to analyse. If a phrase still feels difficult after several attempts, record only the first half and compare it with the model. Remember that self-checking and AI conversation are practice tools, not a clinical or official pronunciation assessment. Focus on matching the model's rhythm and pauses, and accept that some variation is normal.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
こんにちは
Hello / Good afternoon
kon-nee-chee-wah
おはようございます
Good morning (polite)
oh-hah-yoh go-zah-ee-mahs
こんばんは
Good evening
kon-bahn-wah
さようなら
Goodbye
sah-yoh-nah-rah
私はマリアです。
I am Maria.
wa-ta-shi wa ma-ri-a desu
私はアメリカから来ました。
I came from America. / I am from America.
wa-ta-shi wa a-me-ri-ka ka-ra ki-ma-shi-ta
お名前は何ですか。
What is your name?
o-na-ma-e wa nan desu ka
どこから来ましたか。
Where are you from? / Where did you come from?
do-ko ka-ra ki-ma-shi-ta ka
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、こんにちは。
Excuse me, hello.こんにちは。いらっしゃいませ。
Hello. Welcome.おはようございます。今日はよろしくお願いします。
Good morning. I look forward to working with you today.おはようございます。こちらこそ、よろしくお願いします。
Good morning. Likewise, I look forward to working with you.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Morning greeting at a language exchange
It is 9 a.m. on a Saturday. You arrive at a language exchange meetup at a community centre. A volunteer named Aiko greets you at the door. You want to practise the polite morning greeting from the supplied audio before you enter.
Your task: Play the supplied audio for おはようございます twice. Then say it aloud three times, matching the speaker's rhythm. Record your third attempt. After recording, play the original audio again and note one difference in pause or pitch. Do not use a written approximation; rely on the audio.
Introducing yourself at a community class
You are at a beginner Japanese class. The teacher, Mr. Tanaka, asks each student to introduce themselves. You want to use the supplied self-introduction phrase and the phrase for asking someone's name. Your name is Alex, and you are from Canada.
Your task: Listen to the supplied audio for 私はマリアです and お名前は何ですか. Say your self-introduction aloud twice, using your own name and country in place of the example, for example 私はアレックスです and 私はカナダから来ました. Then ask Mr. Tanaka お名前は何ですか, using the supplied phrase. Record both and compare the rhythm with the original audio.
Inviting a classmate to a movie
After class, you chat with a classmate named Yuki. You want to invite Yuki to see a movie on Saturday using the supplied invitation phrase. Yuki seems friendly but you are not close yet, so you use polite forms.
Your task: Play the supplied audio for 一緒に映画を見ませんか. Say it aloud twice, then record yourself. Next, listen to the supplied audio for 土曜日はどうですか and say that phrase aloud. Record both phrases and compare your rhythm with the model.
Common questions
How many times should I listen to the supplied audio before speaking?
Listen at least twice before speaking: once for overall rhythm, once for pauses and pitch. Then hum along before adding words. This helps you internalise the model rather than guessing from writing.
Can I use an AI conversation partner to check my pronunciation?
You can use an AI conversation partner for extra speaking practice, but treat its feedback as informal. It is not a clinical or official pronunciation assessment. Always compare your recording with the supplied native audio, which is your primary model.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: hello and goodbyeChecked September 2026
- japanese: introduce yourselfChecked September 2026
- japanese: make plansChecked September 2026
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