Latest / Learn Japanese with Fexingo / Japanese at the Post Office Basics
Transcript
- Lucas: Hey there. Welcome back to another episode of Learn Japanese with Fexingo. Luna: Hi everyone! I am so glad to be here again. Lucas: We have been doing a lot of travel-related vocabulary lately, haven't we? Luna: Yeah, from hair salons to convenience stores. Lucas: Exactly. And today, we are going to one more very practical place. Luna: Oh, where is it? Lucas: The post office. Luna: Oh, right. I need to send some souvenirs home sometimes. Lucas: It is super useful. Let's start with how to say you want to go there. Luna: Okay, I am ready. Lucas: Here is the first phrase: I want to go to the post office. Lucas: Let's listen closely. Yūbin-kyoku ni ikitai desu. Luna: Yūbin-kyoku ni ikitai desu. Lucas: Perfect. Notice the 'ni' particle? It points to the destination. Luna: Got it. Destination marker. I got it. Lucas: Now, let's break down the word for post office itself. Lucas: Yūbin-kyoku. Mail office. Luna: Yūbin-kyoku. That sounds formal but clear. Lucas: It is standard. So, if you are on the street, you can say this. Lucas: Yūbin-kyoku ni ikitai desu. Luna: Yūbin-kyoku ni ikitai desu. Lucas: Great job. You are speaking naturally already. Luna: I feel like I am almost there. Lucas: You are close. Now, imagine you are inside the building. Luna: What do I say then? Lucas: You might want to send a package. Lucas: Here is the phrase: I want to send a small package. Lucas: Kotobukuro o okuritai desu. Luna: Kotobukuro o okuritai desu. Lucas: Very good. Kotobukuro means small package or parcel. Luna: And 'okuri' is to send, right? Lucas: Yes. Okiru. To send. And 'tai' means you want to do it. Luna: So, I want to send the parcel. Got it. Lucas: Let's try it together one more time. Lucas: Kotobukuro o okuritai desu. Luna: Kotobukuro o okuritai desu. Lucas: Nailed it. The rhythm is perfect. Luna: I love when it clicks like that. Lucas: Next, you will probably need stamps. Luna: Oh, yes. Stamps are important. Lucas: Here is how to ask for them politely. Lucas: Please give me stamps. Lucas: Kiritsu o kudasai. Luna: Kiritsu o kudasai. Lucas: Simple and direct. Kiritsu means stamp. Luna: And kudasai is please give me. Lucas: Exactly. It is the most common way to order things. Lucas: Kiritsu o kudasai. Luna: Kiritsu o kudasai. Lucas: You are picking these up so fast. Luna: Thanks to your patience, Lucas. Lucas: Now, a tricky part. How long will it take? Luna: That is a good question. Time matters. Lucas: Here is the full sentence. Lucas: How much time does it take? Lucas: Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka. Luna: Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka. Lucas: Wow. That was a mouthful. But very useful. Luna: It feels long to say. Lucas: Break it down. Dono kurai means approximately how much. Luna: Approximately how much. Okay. Lucas: Jikan means time. And kakarimasu means takes. Luna: Time takes. That makes sense. Lucas: Let's repeat it slowly. Lucas: Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka. Luna: Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka. Lucas: There you go. It flows better now. Luna: I think I can remember that structure. Lucas: Last one. Tracking your package. Luna: Oh, tracking is so modern. Lucas: Can you tell me the tracking number? Lucas: Outeki bangō o oshiete itadakemasu ka. Luna: Outeki bangō o oshiete itadakemasu ka. Lucas: Polite level high. Very good choice. Luna: I felt brave saying that. Lucas: Outeki bangō is tracking number. Luna: Tracking number. Yes. Lucas: Oshiete itadakemasu ka is a polite way to ask someone to teach/show you. Luna: Teach me. Got it. Lucas: Let's say the whole thing. Lucas: Outeki bangō o oshiete itadakemasu ka. Luna: Outeki bangō o oshiete itadakemasu ka. Lucas: Excellent. You sound like a pro. Luna: I feel ready to mail anything. Lucas: Let's review what we learned today. Luna: I am ready for the recap. Lucas: First, Yūbin-kyoku ni ikitai desu. I want to go to the post office. Luna: Yūbin-kyoku ni ikitai desu. Lucas: Second, Kotobukuro o okuritai desu. I want to send a small package. Luna: Kotobukuro o okuritai desu. Lucas: Third, Kiritsu o kudasai. Please give me stamps. Luna: Kiritsu o kudasai. Lucas: Fourth, Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka. How long does it take? Luna: Dono kurai jikan ga kakarimasu ka. Lucas: And finally, Outeki bangō o oshiete itadakemasu ka. Can you tell me the tracking number? Luna: Outeki bangō o oshiete itadakemasu ka. Lucas: You did amazing work today. Luna: Thank you, Lucas. Lucas: Before we go, a quick note on support. Luna: Sure. Lucas: If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language... Luna: It really has helped me. Lucas: A couple of dollars a month is genuinely what keeps these going. Luna: That helps us keep the quality up. Lucas: You can check out buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Thanks for supporting independent learning. Lucas: Anyway, back to our phrases. Luna: Wait, I forgot one thing. Lucas: What is it? Luna: How do I say thank you after buying stamps? Lucas: Ah, good catch. Just say Arigatou gozaimasu. Luna: Arigatou gozaimasu. Simple. Lucas: Always polite. That is key in Japan. Luna: I will remember that. Lucas: Practice these until we chat again. Luna: See you next time!