Casual Recognition

You can keep polite speaking while your ear learns what people actually say.

Polite and casual pair map

何をしていますか。

What are you doing? (polite)

何してる？

What are you doing? (casual)

大丈夫ですか。

Are you okay? (polite)

大丈夫？

Are you okay? (casual)

ここにいますか。

Are you here? (polite)

ここにいる？

Are you here? (casual)

Helpful listening rules

Casual forms can shorten endings and drop particles.

• ている -> てる / てます
• ですか -> ですか or ？ dropping particles around context
• では -> じゃ
• 〜ます -> 〜る in some verbs from compression

Common casual phrases to recognize

じゃ、行く。

Okay, I am going.

これ、何。

What is this?

もう食べた？

Did you already eat?

ちょっと待って。

Wait a little.

どうする？

What will you do?

Practice strategy

1. Listen first for the core verb and nouns.
2. Only later restore the missing polite particles in your mouth.
3. Do not force perfect reproduction; stabilize recognition of chunks.