TolkivoJapanese ↔ English translation for face-to-face conversations
Tolkivo translates a conversation between a Japanese speaker and an English speaker live, in both directions, on one shared phone or tablet. The original and the translation appear side by side, so each person can check what was said.
How Japanese ↔ English works in Tolkivo
Choose Japanese and English, pick a scene and start. Tolkivo detects which of the two languages is being spoken, so neither person has to switch direction by hand. Translations can be read aloud through the speaker, or automatically when you wear headphones.
Where people use Japanese and English
Typical situations are a hotel front desk, a station counter, a restaurant, a clinic reception desk and a meeting with a client or supplier. It is useful for visitors to Japan, for Japanese speakers travelling abroad and for staff who serve international guests.
After the conversation
The conversation is saved as text on your device. When you ask for it, AI review gives a one-line summary, key points and decisions, to-dos and open questions. Context hints explain the possible meaning of indirect Japanese phrases, and every item links back to the original and translation.
Example: checking in at a hotel
いらっしゃいませ。ご予約はされていますか。
Welcome. Do you have a reservation?
Yes, I booked a twin room for two nights from today.
はい、今日から2泊でツインルームを予約しています。
ありがとうございます。パスポートを拝見してもよろしいですか。
Thank you. May I see your passport?
Here you are. What time is breakfast?
どうぞ。朝食は何時ですか。
朝食は7時から9時半まで、1階のレストランでご利用いただけます。
Breakfast is served from 7:00 to 9:30 in the restaurant on the first floor.
Thank you. Could you keep my luggage after I check out?
ありがとうございます。チェックアウトの後、荷物を預かっていただけますか。
Good to know about Japanese and English
- Japanese has several politeness levels. The translation carries the meaning, but the level of formality in English may not match the Japanese sentence exactly.
- Japanese often leaves out the subject of a sentence. If it is not clear who does what, ask again with the person or thing named.
- Names of people and places, numbers and dates are easy to mishear in any language. Confirm them on the screen.
- Indirect phrases can mean something different from the literal words. Use the context hints in AI review as a suggestion, not as a fact.
A language being listed does not mean that every language pair has been manually verified, so check important details against the original.
Use cases
Translation for business meetings
Talk terms with a client or supplier in your own languages, then let AI review list the decisions and who does what by when.
Travel
Ask for directions, check in at a hotel or report a lost item, with both languages on one screen.
Doctor visits
Describe symptoms, name your medication and get through reception paperwork, as a non-diagnostic communication aid.
Popular language pairs
Questions people ask before they start
Does Tolkivo use polite Japanese?
Tolkivo translates what you say and does not let you choose a politeness level. Speaking in polite, complete English sentences helps, and you can check the Japanese on the screen with the other person.
Do I have to tell Tolkivo who is speaking Japanese and who is speaking English?
No. After you choose the two languages, Tolkivo detects which one is being spoken each time someone talks.
Try Tolkivo in your browser
No download needed: try it for up to 5 minutes without an account.
Use Tolkivo in your browser