Translation guide
Describes someone who talks a lot. Japanese has many nuanced words for this, ranging from neutral to negative. The most common and neutral term is おしゃべり (oshaberi).
Describing someone who enjoys talking and is sociable, without negative judgment.
The most common and neutral word for 'talkative'. Can be used as a noun or na-adjective. Often implies a friendly, chatty nature.
彼女はとてもおしゃべりだ。
She is very talkative.
おしゃべりな人と一緒にいると楽しい。
It's fun to be with talkative people.
Literally 'fond of talking'. A straightforward, neutral way to say someone likes to talk.
うちの祖母は話し好きで、よく昔の話をしてくれる。
My grandmother is talkative and often tells me stories from the past.
A verb phrase meaning 'talks a lot'. Very common in casual speech.
あの子は本当によくしゃべるね。
That kid really talks a lot, doesn't he?
Expressing that someone talks excessively, often annoyingly.
Can also be used negatively depending on context, like 'chatterbox'.
彼はおしゃべりが過ぎる。
He talks too much.
Literally 'has many words'. A slightly formal way to say someone is talkative, often with a negative nuance of being verbose.
彼は口数が多いが、内容は薄い。
He's talkative, but what he says lacks substance.
An onomatopoeic adverb describing non-stop, often glib talking. Can be negative when implying thoughtless chatter.
A formal, literary word for 'talkative' or 'voluble'. Often carries a negative connotation of being long-winded.
Describing someone, often a woman, who is sociable and chatty in a pleasant way.
Again, the default. Often used for women without negative connotation.
彼女は明るくておしゃべりな人だ。
She is a cheerful and talkative person.
Describes a young girl who is precociously talkative or pert. Slightly old-fashioned.
Describing someone who becomes talkative under certain conditions.
A common pattern: 'becomes talkative when drinking'.
彼は酒を飲むとおしゃべりになる。
He gets talkative when he drinks.
Pattern: 'becomes talkative when...'
緊張するとおしゃべりになるタイプだ。
I'm the type who gets talkative when nervous.
The English word 'talkative' is often translated as おしゃべり, but direct translations like 話し好きな or 口数が多い may sound unnatural if used in the wrong context. Pay attention to the nuance you want to convey.
おしゃべり is an adjective/noun and can describe a person's character. よくしゃべる is a verb phrase and focuses on the action of talking a lot. Use おしゃべり for personality, and よくしゃべる for behavior.
彼女はおしゃべりな人だ。
She is a talkative person.
今日は彼女、よくしゃべるね。
She's talking a lot today, isn't she?
彼はぺらぺらとよくしゃべる。
He chatters on and on.
彼の饒舌な演説にはうんざりした。
I got fed up with his long-winded speech.
That girl is a chatterbox and talks like an adult.