雑 談(ざつだん)

ざつだん

noun

chat; small talk; casual conversation

informalbusinesscommunication

1. chat; small talk; casual conversation

Informal conversation on random topics, not focused on any particular subject or purpose.

休憩時間(きゅうけいじかん)に同僚(どうりょう)と雑談(ざつだん)をした。

I chatted with my coworker during the break.

雑談(ざつだん)で盛(も)り上(あ)がった。

We got excited chatting about random things.

仕事(しごと)の話(はなし)はやめて雑談(ざつだん)しよう。

Let's stop talking about work and just chat.

Forms

雑(ざつ) (miscellaneous, various) + 談(だん) (talk, conversation) → miscellaneous talk

Common expressions

雑談(ざつだん)する (to chat, to have small talk)
雑談(ざつだん)で盛(も)り上(あ)がる (to get excited chatting)
雑談(ざつだん)力(りょく) (ability to make small talk - a valued social skill)

Similar words

世間話(せけんばなし) (small talk) - more about everyday topics, news
おしゃべり (chatting) - more casual, often longer conversations
雑談(ざつだん) - general casual talk, often in work/formal settings
井戸端(いどばた)会議(かいぎ) (gossip session) - informal neighborhood gossip

Usage

雑談(ざつだん) is neutral and often used in workplace contexts. 雑談(ざつだん)力(りょく) (small talk skills) is considered an important social skill in Japanese business culture for building relationships.

Related Words

Synonym: 世間話(せけんばなし) (small talk about everyday topics)

Related: お喋(しゃべ)り (chatting; talkative)

Compare: 井戸端会議(いどばたかいぎ) (gossip session)

Compare: 談話(だんわ) (conversation)

Compare: 話(はな)し込(こ)む (to get deeply involved in conversation)

Compare: 漫談(まんだん) (comic talk)

Compare: よもやま話(ばなし) (miscellaneous chat)

general

Added 2026.1.18 12:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

06500/06639_zatsudan