Key phrases
kore this
sore that
are that over there
kore o kudasai this, please
kurejitto ka‾do credit card
torabera‾zu chekku traveller’s cheques
kurejitto kaa‾do ga tsukaemasu ka? can I use credit card?
hai, tsukaemasu yes, you can use it
sumimasen. tsukaemasen sorry, you can’t use it
Note
okane = money
Listening and speaking
Sumimasen. Kore o kudasai. Excuse me. This, please.
Hai. Yes (certainly).
Kurejitto ka‾do ga tsukaemasu ka? Can I use credit card?
Hai, tsukaemasu. Yes, you can use it.
Sumimasen. Are o kudasai. Excuse me. That over there, please.
Hai. Yes (certainly).
Torabera‾zu chekku ga tsukaemasu ka? Can I use traveller’s cheques?
Iee, tsukaemasen. No, you can’t use them.
Sumimasen. Chiketto o kudasai. Excuse me. A ticket, please.
Hai. Yes (certainly).
Kurejitto ka‾do ga tsukaemasu ka? Can I use credit card?
Hai, tsukaemasu Yes, you can use
Note
kono/kore – “this”
Both of these words mean “this”, but with kono you always need to specify what you’re talking about, e.g. this train – kono densha, this credit card – kono kurejitto
ka–do. If you just want to say “this” on its own, use kore.
Conversation 1
Irasshaimase. Welcome.
Sumimasen. Kore o kudasai. Excuse me. This, please.
Hai. Arigato – gozaimasu. Yes (certainly). Thank you.
Kurejitto ka–do ga tsukaemasu ka? Can I use credit card?
Sumimasen. Tsukaemasen. Sorry. You can’t use it.
So‾ desu ka. Is that right?
Ja, ryo‾gaesho wa doko desu ka? Well then, where is the bureau de change?
Asoko desu. It’s over there.
So‾desu ka. Arigato– gozaimasu. Is that right? Thank you.
Note
ryo‾gaesho = bureau de change
Conversation 2
Sumimasen. Okanjo‾o kudasai. Excuse me. The bill, please.
Hai. Yes (certainly).
Kurejitto ka‾do ga tsukaemasu ka? Can I use credit card?
Hai, tsukaemasu. Yes, you can use it.
So‾ desu ka. Is that right?
Gochiso‾ sama deshita. I really enjoyed the meal, thank you.
Arigato– gozaimasu. Thank you.
CULTURAL INFORMATION
Japanese people say itadakimasu before they start eating. It literally means “I will receive” and is used in a similar way as “bon appétit”. And when they finish a meal, they say gochiso‾sama deshita, which literally means “it was a feast”.
In Japan, you don’t have to worry about tipping because a service charge is already included in your bill.
Japanese Yen
The Japanese currency is the yen (which is actually pronounced en in Japanese). There are six coins – 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen – and four notes – 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000 yen. The 5 and 50 yen coins have a small hole in the middle of them. Each note features a different portrait of a famous Japanese person, including a
philosopher, a novelist, a poet and a bacteriologist. To prevent forgery, Japanese notes use different types of technology such as watermarks, micro-letters and special luminous ink. A hologram is used on 5,000 and 10,000 yen notes – cherry blossoms appear in the bottom left corner of the portrait side of the notes when they are turned at an angle.
Japan is still very much a “cash culture”, so it’s advisable to always have some cash on you to pay for things. Larger restaurants or department stores may accept some credit cards, but it’s best not to rely on this – especially outside of Tokyo. Also be aware that when you see a credit card sign, it may well be that they only accept credit cards issued in Japan. It pays to always ask first.