How to Ask ChatGPT Questions [For Beginners]: Let's Try Conversing with AI in Natural Japanese

The ChatGPT screen is open, and you have confirmed the location of the input field. You are ready to start using it.

……However, once you are faced with the screen where the cursor is blinking, don't you find yourself freezing up, thinking, 'So, what should I write?'

The first hurdle isn't the operation method, but the 'first character'.

If you search online, you will find an abundance of explanations saying that 'the format of the prompt (instruction) is important,' but if you start studying prompts before you have ever used them, it will immediately feel difficult.

In this second installment, we will not use any difficult prompts at all.

Talk to it in natural Japanese, look at the answer that comes back, and add requests like 'do a little more like this'.

First, let's get a feel for this conversation on your own screen.

What we will do in this article (3 steps)

1. Ask ChatGPT for dinner menu ideas
2. Try adding conditions later, such as 'on the way home from work' or 'within 20 minutes'
3. Convey one wish you thought of and see how the answer changes

You don't need to think deeply about 'prompts' at first

'Prompt' refers to the questions or requests (instructions) you input into ChatGPT.

For example, inputting 'What should I make for dinner tonight?' is also a perfectly valid prompt.

Once you get used to it, techniques for specifying complex conditions will be useful, but there is no need to learn them at this stage.

'First, try asking once ➔ When you get a reply, add your next wish'

It is fine to start with this back-and-forth.

The reason why the first practice is intentionally 'dinner'

There is a reason why I chose 'dinner' instead of a side job as the first theme this time.

Even if you ask, "What should I do for a side job?", it would be difficult to judge whether the answer you get is right for you.

But what about dinner?

• "It's a hassle to make this after coming home from work"
• "A 20-minute cooking time seems tough"
• "I'd prefer fish over meat today"

You can judge these things immediately based on your own feelings, right?

The important thing in your first practice session is not to look at the AI's impressive answers, but to see if you can add your own requirements after seeing the response.

Step 1: First, try asking normally

Please try copying and pasting the following text into the ChatGPT input field and sending it.

Once you send it, three dish suggestions will be returned.

First, if you can confirm the screen where "you asked a question in natural Japanese and received a reply from the AI," you have succeeded.

Step 2: Try adding conditions (requests) afterward

Suppose you look at the dishes that came up and feel, "That seems a bit difficult to make after coming home tired..."

In such a case, there is no need to start the question over from the beginning. Try entering the following text in the continuation of the same chat.

Then, the answer will be revised to "easy menus" that are different from the first ones.

You didn't write "50-year-old" or "after work" in the first question. Even so, if you add conditions later, ChatGPT will re-answer based on the previous conversation.

In a conversation with an actual person, you would also layer the conversation by saying, "What should we have for dinner?" and "I'm tired, so I'd like something simple." You can use ChatGPT with the exact same feeling.

Step 3: Try adding one more condition

Let's continue the conversation and try entering the following.

With this, the condition of "no salmon, as cheap as possible" has been added.

Even if you don't write the perfect sentence in your first question, you can get closer and closer to the answer you want by continuing the conversation.

Step 4: Finally, try ordering in your own words

Finally, let's try conveying one condition in your own words.

Look at the dishes that appeared on the screen and try entering exactly what you felt.

• "Please make it a fish dish."
• "Make it so there are fewer dishes to wash."
• "I want to use the eggs I have at home."

The moment you convey your wishes and the answer changes, you have already moved past the stage of just following a manual and are in a state of conversing with AI based on your own intent.

Caution: Regarding personal information and misinformation

While you can talk to ChatGPT about anything, please be careful about the following two points.

1. Do not enter personal information

• Be careful not to enter names, addresses, phone numbers, passwords, or account numbers.

2. It may provide incorrect answers

• For important information such as health, money, or procedures, always check official websites or information from experts.

If it's for dinner practice, you can rest assured because you can judge for yourself if a menu doesn't suit your tastes by saying "this isn't it."

Next time, try giving your own text to ChatGPT

Great work!

You have gone from being lost at the start, wondering "what should I write?", to being able to send questions, look at the answers, add conditions, and convey your own wishes.

You don't need a perfect prompt. Just add words as you see the response—once you get the hang of this, that's enough.

Next time (Part 3), we will experience giving a short piece of text you wrote to ChatGPT and having it 'polished to be more readable'.

When you ask that, how will your text change? That is when you will truly get a feel for 'AI writing.' Let's try it together next time!

Reference Information

In this article, we have verified information regarding basic ChatGPT operations and how to ask questions using official OpenAI sources.

・OpenAI Academy "Getting Started with ChatGPT"

https://openai.com/ja-JP/academy/getting-started/

・OpenAI Academy "Meet ChatGPT: Ask Your First Question"

https://academy.openai.com/public/videos/meet-chatgpt-older-adults

・OpenAI Academy "How to Ask ChatGPT Better Questions"

https://academy.openai.com/public/videos/ask-better-questions-older-adults

・OpenAI Help Center "What is ChatGPT: FAQ"

https://help.openai.com/ja-jp/articles/12677804-what-is-chatgpt-faq

※ChatGPT features, screens, and terms of use are subject to change. If you are unsure about how to operate it, please also check the latest official information from OpenAI.

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