●和初次见面的人交谈

您是哪里人?
Where are you from?
My country has a lot of mountains... (我的家乡有很多山……)
Oh, yeah? Where are you from? (哦，是吗?您是哪儿人?)
Where are you from? (您是哪里人?)
I'm from Japan. (我是日本人。)

我是加拿大人。
I'm from Canada.

我从加拿大来。
I come from Canada. *①I'm from Canada.和②I come from Canada.的意思几乎一样。但是②含有两种意思：一种是“自加拿大来，但并非是加拿大籍”；另一种意思是“我是加拿大人”。
I was born in Canada. (我出生在加拿大。)
Chicago is my hometown. (我的故乡是芝加哥。)

你觉得日本怎么样?
How do you like Japan?
What do you think about Japan?

我很喜欢。
I like it.

是个好地方。
It's a good place.

你都去过日本的哪些地方?
Where have you been in Japan?

你现在住在哪儿?
Where do you live now?

我住在东京。
I live in Tokyo.

您是来度假的吗?
Are you here on vacation? *on business是“因公”，on vacation是“度假”。
Are you vacationing?
Are you here for a vacation?
Is this a pleasure trip?
Are you here on business or for pleasure? (您来这是工作还是游玩?)

我是来工作的。
I'm here on business.
My trip is business related. (我的旅行和工作有关。)
I'm on a business trip.

您来日本多长时间了?
How long have you been in Japan?
How long have you been in Japan? (您来日本多长时间了?)
I just arrived last week. (上星期刚来。)
How long have you been in Japan? (您来日本多长时间了?)
About three years. (大概3年左右了。)
4个月左右。
About four months.

你习惯日本的生活了吗?
Are you used to life in Japan? *be used to “习惯”，注意“d”不发音。
Are you used to life in Japan? (你习惯日本的生活了吗?)
No, not yet. (没有，还不习惯。)
Have you gotten used to life in Japan?
Have you grown accustomed to Japan?

你在日本呆到什么时候?
How long will you be in Japan?
How long will you be in Japan? (你在日本呆到什么时候?)
Until next month. (呆到下个月。)
How long do you plan to stay?

呆到12月。
Until December.

你说日语吗?
Do you speak Japanese?
Do you speak Japanese? (你说日语吗?)
Unfortunately, no. (很遗憾，我不会。)
Can you speak Japanese? (你能说日语吗?)
Are you a Japanese speaker?

只会一点儿。
A little.
Just a little.
Some. (一点儿。)

我一点儿都不会说。
I can't speak Japanese at all. *not...at all “一点都不……”。

我会一点儿日常会话。
I know (everyday) conversational Japanese.

你是在哪儿学的日语?
Where did you learn Japanese?

在学校。
At school.

我自学的。
I learned it on my own. *on my own “自学”、“靠自己的力量”。
I learned it by myself. *by oneself “一个人”、“靠自己的力量”。

你什么时候过生日?
When's your birthday?
When's your birthday? (你什么时候过生日?)
It's May 24th. (5月24日。)

●有关工作

你了解他的背景吗?
Do you know his background?
Do you know his background? (你了解他的背景吗?)
I know very little about him. (我一点儿也不了解。)

我在一家电脑公司工作。
I work for a computer company.

我是国家公务员。
I'm a government employee.

我是个体经营者。
I'm self-employed.

你在哪个部门工作?
Which department do you work for?
I work for ABC Company. (我在ABC公司工作。)
Which department do you work for? (你在哪个部门工作?)

搞销售的。
Sales.

这个工作你做了多长时间了?
How long have you been doing that job?

10年了。
For 10 years.

你的公司在哪儿?
Where is your company?
Where is your company located?

在新宿。
In Shinjuku.

上下班路上要花多长时间?
How long does it take (you) to commute? *commute “上班，上学”。

1个小时左右。
About one hour.
Around one hour.
It takes about one hour.
About an hour.

你怎么去上班?
How do you get to work?
How do you go to work?

我坐地铁。
I ride the subway.
I use the subway.
I take the subway.

我正在调工作。
I'm changing jobs.

我正在找工作。
I'm job hunting now.
I'm looking for work now.

我明年退休。
I'm retiring next year.

我现在失业了。
I'm out of work now. *out of work “失业”。
I don't have a job now.
I'm not working right now.
I'm unemployed. (现在失业了。)