Lesson03番号札

窓口で話すまどぐちではなす · madoguchi de hanasu

Now it's your turn to speak: what to say at the counter. Tap any row to hear it, then say it out loud 2–3 times.

Speed

Say each phrase twice

窓口 1

Saying what you need · ごようけん

Tip: When the staff ask ご用件は？ (go-yōken wa?), answer with one of these. You don't need a long sentence: 住民票、お願いします。 also works.

窓口 2

Answering the staff · こたえる

Tip: あります (arimasu) = I have it. ありません (arimasen) = I don't have it. The ending ～ません makes any polite verb negative.

窓口 3

When you don't understand · こまったとき

Tip: Start with すみません (sumimasen, excuse me). It makes any request softer and friendlier.

窓口 4

Before you leave · おわり

Tip: Bow a little when you say ありがとうございました. Staff will usually bow back.

The big pattern: "I'd like to…"

To say what you want to do, change the verb to its stem and add たいです (tai desu).

verb stem+たいです

Verb	ます-form	I'd like to…	Meaning
出すだす · dasu	出します	出したいですだしたいです · dashitai desu	I'd like to hand in
入るはいる · hairu	入ります	入りたいですはいりたいです · hairitai desu	I'd like to join
する suru	します	したいです shitai desu	I'd like to do

For things, use Thing + をください (o kudasai): 住民票をください。 (じゅうみんひょうをください) "A residence certificate, please."

Watch the video

The YouTube video for this lesson is coming soon.

Prefer to practise speaking? Open the interactive video with "Your turn" pauses.

Check your understanding

Answer in the chat (romaji, hiragana, or English all fine). Use a hint only if you're stuck.

You are moving out of this ward. Tell the staff: "I'd like to submit a moving-out notice."

Listen. What are you asking the staff to do?

Staff: 在留カードをお持ちですか。 You forgot it at home. What do you answer?

Challenge: 国民健康保険 (こくみんけんこうほけん · kokumin kenkō hoken) is national health insurance. Using 入る → 入ります, say "I'd like to join national health insurance."

国民	citizens (こくみん)
健康	health (けんこう)
保険	insurance (ほけん)
に入る	to join (literally: enter into)

転出届	moving-out notice
を	object marker
出したいです	I'd like to hand in