Lesson #8 - Can You Speak English?
June 18th, 2007Learn Japanese travel phrases with SurvivalPhrases.com! A little Japanese can go such a long way! Whether you’re traveling to Japan for business or pleasure, these phrases will help make your trip much more pleasant and meaningful!
Today, we’ll cover the phrase, “Can you speak English?” Using this phrase — as opposed to suddenly speaking English — is important for many reasons. If the party you’re speaking to doesn’t understand English, at least they’ll know what you’re asking. And, they’ll respect your effort to learn even a little bit of their language. To learn more about Japanese customs and phrases, be sure to comb through SurvivalPhrases.com.
Audio: 
Premium PDF Guide: 
Tags: 
what happen if I use hanashimasu instead of hanasemasu … what’s the difference?
DOmoU
Salchiko-san
I agree with Rubens-san
I also would like to know if I can use vego agasemaska instead of ego because my english is American not British.
What English do Japanese prefer to learn American one, British one or both? S_R_C
Hey, thanks for those comments.
To answer Rubens’ question:
hanashimasuka would be fine. The literal translation of hanashimasuka is “do you speak”
whereas hanasemasuka would be “can you speak.”
As for Sindy’s questions:
You could say “beigo” for American English. But the younger generation may not be familiar with that word. Most under-40 Japanese consider “Eigo” as the English in America as well as other countries. And I think many Japanese prefer to learn American English because they are familiar with it. American English is what they learn in school and what they hear in Hollywood movies. (People interested in British culture, would of course, prefer to learn British English.)
Sachiko
Sachiko-san
Thank you for your reply, it was very useful, Keep up!
S_R_C
Thanks Sachiko,
I also have had questions about “can speak, “to speak” and the Amercan/British English issue. This clarification was helpful.
JS
there IS a difference between hanashimasu & hanasemasu…one is polite & the other isn’t….believe me would know my mom is korean so yeah, im half korean