This podcast episode is about various phrases you can use to start up a conversation in Japanese. It is important to remember that each conversation is unique and how you start one depends on who you are talking to and the situation. However, in this episode you will hear some of the most common phrases you are likely to hear used by Japanese people. One final thing to remember is that this episode focuses on casual conversations between friends. Here is a full vocabulary list taken from the podcast Japanese Pronunciation English 久しぶり Hisashiburi Long time no see 元気？ Genki? How you doing? 相変わらず Aikawarazu …as usual バタバタしてる Batabata shiteru Really busy / hectic 夏バテ Natsubate Exhaustion from the summer つらい Tsurai Tough 最近どう？ Saikin dō? How’ve you been? すごく暑い Sugoku Atsui Very hot すごく寒い Sugoku Samui Very cold 熱中症 Necchūshō Heat stroke 風邪をひいちゃった Kaze o hiichatta I caught a cold インフルエンザ Infuruenza Influenza 気をつけてね Ki o tsukete ne Take care   Podcast Dialog 1 A: 久しぶり元気？ Hisashiburi genki Long time no see, you good? B: 元気だよ。あみは？ Genki da yo. Ami wa? I’m good. And you Ami? A: 相変わらずバタバタしているよ。最近どう？ Aikawarazu batabata shiteru yo. Saikin dō? Busy as usual. How’ve you been? B: そうだね。ちょっと夏バテがつらい。 Sō da ne. Chotto natsubate ga tsurai. Well, I’ve been suffering due to the summer heat. A: 最近はすごく暑いよね。熱中症にならないように気をつけてね。 Saikin wa sugoku atsui yo ne. Necchūshō ni naranai yō ni ki o tsukete ne. It’s been really hot recently hasn’t it? Be careful not to get heat stroke. B: はーい！ Haai Sure. Dialog 2 A: 久しぶり元気？ Hisashiburi genki Long time no see, you good? B: 元気だよ。あみは？ Genki da yo. Ami wa? I’m good. And you Ami? A: 相変わらずバタバタしているよ。最近どう？ Aikawarazu batabata shiteru yo. Saikin dō? Busy as usual. How’ve you been? B: そうだね。ちょっと風邪をひいちゃったよ。 Sō da ne. Chotto kaze o hiichatta yo. Well, I caught a cold. A: 最近はすごく寒いよね。インフルエンザにならないように気をつけてね。 Saikin wa sugoku samui yo ne. Infuruenza ni naranai yō ni ki o tsukete ne. It’s been really cold recently hasn’t it? Be careful not to get influenza. B: はーい！ Haai Sure.