Plain Form (2): Casual Speech
Now use plain form to actually speak casually — with friends, family, and in your own head. Learn what drops, what changes, and what stays polite.
From です／ます to plain
Casual speech = plain forms + dropped particles + rising intonation for questions. • 食[た]べますか → 食べる？ (drop か, raise pitch) • 高[たか]いです → 高い • 学生[がくせい]です → 学生（だ）— women and casual speech often drop だ • 行きましょう → 行こう (volitional)
Common casual contractions
| Full | Casual |
|---|---|
| 〜ている | 〜てる |
| 〜ておく | 〜とく |
| 〜てしまう | 〜ちゃう |
| 〜なければならない | 〜なきゃ |
| 〜という | 〜って |
Register is a choice, not a default. Use plain form with people close to or below you; keep です／ます with strangers, customers, teachers, and anyone older you don't know well. When unsure, stay polite.
ねえ、今日 ひま？ — うん、ひまだよ。
Hey, are you free today? — Yeah, I'm free.
もう 昼ご飯 食べた？ — まだ。
Did you eat lunch yet? — Not yet.
明日までに 宿題 やらなきゃ。
I have to do the homework by tomorrow.
駅で 待ってる ね。
I'll be waiting at the station.
Exercises
Make it casual
Rewrite the underlined part in casual plain form.
Will you watch a movie tomorrow?
あした 映画を 見ますか → あした 映画 ？
Polite or casual?
Talking to a store customer, you should say: