Declining an invitation: practice chat in English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish
You say no kindly and suggest another time. Six short lines in English, Japanese, Korean and Spanish, with a translation toggle and a button that opens any version in the editor. A practice tool, not a lesson.
The dialogue
About this dialogue
You say no kindly and suggest another time. It is a advanced-level exchange of six lines between Friend and Aiko, opening with "We are having a dinner on Saturday. Can you come?" and ending with "I would love that. Shall we meet the following weekend?".
You can switch between the four versions without losing your place. The longest English line is "Thank you so much for inviting me. Unfortunately, I cannot make it.", so give it extra time when you read it aloud.
How to practise it
Play both parts. Read Friend's lines in one voice and Aiko's in another, and when you are comfortable swap the roles. Pause on "Oh no. Is it something you can move?" until you can say it without looking.
Then open the version you want in the editor, change a few words so the chat is about your own day, and export it as a picture to keep. Writing a variation of a line beats reading it again.
Key phrases in four languages
"Thank you so much for inviting me. Unfortunately, I cannot make it." is "お誘いありがとうございます。あいにく、行けそうにありません。" in Japanese, "초대해 주셔서 정말 고마워요. 아쉽지만 못 갈 것 같아요." in Korean and "Muchas gracias por invitarme. Por desgracia, no puedo ir." in Spanish. "I wish I could, but I have a family commitment." is "動かせたらいいのですが、家の用事があります。" in Japanese, "그러고 싶지만 가족 일정이 있어요." in Korean and "Ojalá, pero tengo un compromiso familiar." in Spanish. "I would love that. Shall we meet the following weekend?" is "ぜひお願いします。翌週末はいかがですか。" in Japanese, "좋아요. 그다음 주말은 어때요?" in Korean and "Me encantaría. ¿Quedamos el fin de semana siguiente?" in Spanish.
Tips
- Say each line out loud twice, once at normal speed and once slowly, before moving to the next.
- Guess what "Thank you so much for inviting me..." means in the other language before you look at the translation.
- Swap the place or the item in line 3 for something from your own day and say it aloud.
- If a line sounds strange to you, check it with a teacher; the translations are unreviewed practice material.
Questions
Are the translations checked by a teacher?
No. The Japanese, Korean and Spanish lines were written by the ChatsRat team for practice and have not been reviewed by a native-speaker teacher. They are natural, polite everyday phrasing, but check anything important with a teacher or a native speaker before you teach or publish it.
Is this a language course?
No. It is a practice tool: a short, realistic chat you can read, say aloud and adapt. It does not track progress or teach grammar. Use it next to a course, a teacher or a tutor.
How do I open the Japanese, Korean or Spanish version in the editor?
Use the language buttons on the page, then press the open button under the chat. The editor loads that version of the six lines in a free look, and the first four messages are available on the Free plan.
Can I make my own version?
Yes. Open any version, edit the lines and names, and export it as a labelled mock-up. Do not use a practice chat to pass off an invented conversation as a real one.
Invented conversation. The people and the situation are made up for practice. Do not present a simulated chat as a real one. See the Acceptable Use policy. Exports on the Free plan carry a visible ChatsRat watermark; Plans list what changes on paid plans.
ChatsRat is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any messaging app. App names describe a style only.