Which one should you use?
Using the form hanasemasu (can speak) instead of hanashimasu (speak) emphasizes your capability rather than the act of speaking itself. To add more emphasis to your limited ability, you can say 少しだけ話せます, which means "i can speak only a little".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 少し話せます is polite because it uses the -masu ending, making it suitable for talking to strangers, teachers or colleagues. For friends or family, you can use the informal dictionary form 少し話せる. Other informal variations include 少し話せるよ and ちょっと話せるんだ.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kansai region, you might hear the expression ちょっと話せるで to mean "I can speak a little".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb hanasemasu is the potential form of hanashimasu, which is used specifically to express the ability to do something.
How do you pronounce it?
sukoshi hanasemasu
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, saying sukoshi hanasemasu can sometimes be a form of 'enryo', or polite reserve, where you intentionally undersell your abilities to avoid appearing arrogant or to remain humble.
- The word 片言 (katakoto) is used to describe 'broken' speech and literally translates to 'single words', evoking the image of someone struggling to string a full sentence together.
- While 少し describes a small amount, the colloquial alternative ちょっと is frequently used by native speakers as a social 'cushion' to soften a refusal or a request.
Examples in context
- すみません、私は日本語が少し話せます。Sumimasen, watashi wa nihongo ga sukoshi hanasemasu.
- ちょっとだけ日本語を話せるよ。Chotto dake nihongo o hanaseru yo.
- 日本語は少し話せます。Nihongo wa sukoshi hanasemasu.I can speak a little Japanese.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Ren are meeting for the first time.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんは日本語が話せますか。Hiyori-san wa Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka.Hiyori, can you speak Japanese?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、少し話せます。Hai, sukoshi hanasemasu.Yes, I can speak a little.
- 蓮 Renすごいですね！Sugoi desu ne!That's amazing!
- 陽葵 Himariいいえ、まだまだです。Iie, madamada desu.No, I still have a long way to go.
