Latest / Learn Japanese with Fexingo / Japanese at the Convenience Store
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Japanese with Fexingo. I am Lucas. Luna: And I am Luna. It is good to be back with you, Lucas. Lucas: It really is. We have covered so much ground recently. Luna: From winter sports to hair salons, it has been quite a journey. Lucas: That is true. And before we dive into today's topic, I want to mention that Fexingo provides these episodes because listeners like you support them. Luna: Yes. If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language, your support keeps the show going. Lucas: We are building a library of useful conversations for you. Luna: And if you want to help us keep making these small, digestible episodes, you can visit buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: A small contribution makes a real difference for the team here. Luna: Thanks for listening and supporting the learning process. Lucas: Now, let us get back to our lesson. Today is all about convenience stores. Luna: Oh, I love convenience stores. They are everywhere in Japan. Lucas: They are called konbini. And they are very different from other shops. Luna: Right. The service is so polite and efficient. Lucas: Exactly. Let us start with something simple. Food. Luna: I always buy rice balls there. They are delicious. Lucas: The word for rice ball is onigiri. Luna: Onigiri. I like onigiri. Lucas: To order one, we say o ni gi ri wo kudasai. Luna: Onigiri wo kudasai. Please give me an onigiri. Lucas: Let us break it down. o ni gi ri. Rice ball. Luna: o ni gi ri. Got it. Lucas: Then wo. This marks the object. Luna: Wo. Okay. Lucas: And kudasai means please or give me. Luna: Kudasai. So, Onigiri wo kudasai. Lucas: Perfect. Let us say it together slowly. Luna: Onigiri wo kudasai. Lucas: Again. Onigiri wo kudasai. Luna: Onigiri wo kudasai. That feels natural. Lucas: It is very standard. Now, imagine you are thirsty. Luna: Yes. I often buy water after walking around. Lucas: We use a specific phrase for bottled water. Luna: Is it just mizu? Lucas: Sometimes. But in a store, we usually say petto botooru no mizu. Luna: Petto botooru no mizu. Water in a PET bottle. Lucas: Correct. And then add kudasai. Luna: So, Petto botooru no mizu wo kudasai. Lucas: Let us try that. Slowly. Luna: Petto botooru no mizu wo kudasai. Lucas: Good. Petto botooru no mizu wo kudasai. Luna: Petto botooru no mizu wo kudasai. It is a bit long, but clear. Lucas: Clarity is important. Now, let us look at the checkout. Luna: This is where it gets interesting. In many places, you don't need a bag. Lucas: True. Plastic bags are not free anymore. They cost money. Luna: So if I want one, I must ask specifically. Lucas: Yes. The word for plastic bag is pori bukuro. Luna: Pori bukuro. Poly bag. Lucas: And again, we use wo kudasai. Luna: Pori bukuro wo kudasai. Please give me a plastic bag. Lucas: Let us practice that. Pori bukuro wo kudasai. Luna: Pori bukuro wo kudasai. Lucas: Nice. Pori bukuro wo kudasai. Luna: Pori bukuro wo kudasai. Simple and effective. Lucas: Now, imagine you have your onigiri, your water, and your bag. Luna: You put everything on the counter. Lucas: Yes. And the cashier might ask what you have. Luna: Or maybe you just point? No, words are better. Lucas: There is a very common phrase for this situation. Luna: What is it? Lucas: Hai, kore desu. Yes, this is it. Luna: Hai, kore desu. I use this when I slide my items forward. Lucas: Exactly. Hai means yes. Kore means this. Luna: Kore. Desu is the verb to be. Lucas: So, Hai, kore desu. Here you go. Luna: Hai, kore desu. Let me try. Lucas: Hai, kore desu. Luna: Hai, kore desu. It sounds polite. Lucas: It is very polite. And now, the transaction is done. Luna: Time to pay and leave. Lucas: Always remember to thank the staff. Luna: Of course. Arigato gozaimashita. Lucas: Arigato gozaimashita. Thank you very much. Luna: Past tense because it is over. Nice touch. Lucas: It shows respect for the interaction that just finished. Luna: Arigato gozaimashita. Let me repeat it. Lucas: Arigato gozaimashita. Luna: Arigato gozaimashita. Perfect. Lucas: Let us review the whole sequence quickly. Luna: Okay. First, the food. Lucas: Onigiri wo kudasai. Luna: Onigiri wo kudasai. Lucas: Then the drink. Luna: Petto botooru no mizu wo kudasai. Lucas: Then the bag. Luna: Pori bukuro wo kudasai. Lucas: Then handing it over. Luna: Hai, kore desu. Lucas: And finally, the thanks. Luna: Arigato gozaimashita. Lucas: Excellent. You have mastered the konbini flow. Luna: It feels much less scary now. Lucas: That is the goal. Small steps build big confidence. Luna: I think I will go practice at the local store tomorrow. Lucas: Do that. Say hello to the cashier. Luna: I will. Arigato, Lucas. Lucas: You are welcome, Luna. Keep practicing these phrases. Luna: See you next time. Lucas: Bye for now.