話している
hanashite iru
The English phrase "talking" is translated to Japanese as 話している (hanashite iru).
話している refers to the act of speaking or having a conversation with someone.
Which one should you use?
話している is used to describe a continuous action currently in progress. In contrast, the simple form 話す can be used to mean "to talk" in a general or future sense.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite, change the ending from いる to います to form 話しています.
How do you pronounce it?
hanashite iru
Did you know?
- If you are talking to a superior, you might replace 話す with the humble verb 申す (mousu) to show respect to the person you are addressing.
- When talking on the phone, Japanese speakers use the phrase もしもし, which is believed to have originated from the way people used to check if someone was awake or present.
- Japanese has a specific term 独り言 for 'talking to oneself', which literally translates to 'single-person word'.
Examples in context
- 何を話しているの？What are you talking about?This sentence is useful for asking what someone is talking about using 話している.Tatoeba #5271 by bunbuku, translation #2066 by CK
- 私は誰と話しているの？Who am I talking with?This sentence is useful for asking who someone is talking with using 話している.Tatoeba #5194 by wakatyann630, translation #1825 by Swift
- 彼は電話で話している。He's talking on the telephone.This sentence is useful for describing someone talking on the telephone using 話している.Tatoeba #101879 by bunbuku, translation #301814 by CK
- 彼と話をするI will talk with him.
- 友達と話すI will talk with my friends.
- 今日お父さんと話しますI will talk with dad today.
- 日本語で話しかけるTo talk to someone in Japanese.
- 彼女と話し合いが必要だIt is necessary to have a talk with her.
- あの人は上手に話すThat person speaks fluently.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota see a friend chatting with someone in the hallway.
- 結衣 Yuiあそこに誰が話しているの？Asoko ni dare ga hanashite iru no?Who is talking over there?
- 陽太 Yota田中さんと先生が話しているよ。Tanaka-san to sensei ga hanashite iru yo.Mr. Tanaka and the teacher are talking.
- 結衣 Yui真剣に話しているみたいだね。Shinken ni hanashite iru mitai da ne.They seem to be talking seriously.
- 陽太 Yotaそうだね。邪魔しないでおこう。Sou da ne. Jama shinai de okou.You're right. Let's not disturb them.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
