A night at the arcade
Japanese at an arcade: claw machine words and phrases
You're friends, trying your luck at the claw machines late one night. Ren speaks first, in casual Japanese: plain forms, without です and ます, the way friends and family talk. Here is how it can begin, and the phrases and words worth having ready.
casualWith Ren, at the game center
How Ren opens the conversation
Ren always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:
このぬいぐるみ、あと少しで取れそうなんだけど…やってみる？
Kono nuigurumi, ato sukoshi de toresō nan da kedo… yatte miru?
This plushie's so close to dropping… want to give it a try?
You could say
うん、やってみる！百円ある？
Un, yatte miru! Hyaku-en aru?
Sure, I'll try! Got a hundred yen?
Other ways it can begin
No two conversations go the same way, and the first line changes too. Each of these can open the scene:
見て、この台。ぬいぐるみが山になってる。
Mite, kono dai. Nuigurumi ga yama ni natteru.
Look at this machine. The plushies are piled up in a mountain.
You could say
本当だ、すごいね。
Hontō da, sugoi ne.
You're right, that's amazing.
先週、ここでカエルのぬいぐるみ取ったんだ。
Senshū, koko de kaeru no nuigurumi totta n da.
Last week I got a frog plushie right here.
You could say
えっ、見せて！
E', misete!
What? Show me!
クレーンゲーム、得意？俺は下手なんだ。
Kurēn gēmu, tokui? Ore wa heta na n da.
Are you good at claw machines? I'm terrible at them.
You could say
あんまり得意じゃないな。
Anmari tokui ja nai na.
I'm not really that good either.
次はあの猫のぬいぐるみ、狙ってみたい。
Tsugi wa ano neko no nuigurumi, neratte mitai.
Next I want to go for that cat plushie.
You could say
いいね、やってみよう。
Ii ne, yatte miyō.
Nice, let's give it a shot.
この時間、人が少ないね。静かで楽しい。
Kono jikan, hito ga sukunai ne. Shizuka de tanoshii.
There's hardly anyone here at this hour. It's quiet and kind of fun.
You could say
うん、落ち着くね。
Un, ochitsuku ne.
Yeah, it's relaxing.
Phrases worth knowing here
Lines for what you do at the game center, each with when you'd say it.
- 両替してくるねryōgae shite kuru neI'll go get some change.Say it when you're out of 100-yen coins and head to the change machine.
- あと一回だけやってみるato ikkai dake yatte miruI'll try just one more time.Classic last-coin line at the claw machine.
- これ、取れそう？kore, toresō?Think we can get this one?Ask Ren while sizing up a prize in the machine.
- アーム、弱すぎない？āmu, yowasuginai?Isn't the claw way too weak?Complain after the claw drops the prize.
- 惜しい！もうちょっとだったのにoshii! mō chotto datta no niSo close! It almost dropped.For a near miss — the prize moved but didn't fall.
Words you'll hear
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ゲームセンター | gēmu sentā | arcade, game center |
| クレーンゲーム | kurēn gēmu | claw machine |
| 景品 | keihin | prize |
| ぬいぐるみ | nuigurumi | stuffed animal |
| 両替 | ryōgae | changing money (into coins) |
| 百円玉 | hyakuendama | 100-yen coin |
| アーム | āmu | the claw (arm) |
| 惜しい | oshii | so close! |
| 下手 | heta | bad at something |
| 最後 | saigo | the last (try) |
How polite to be
casual Here Ren speaks casual Japanese: plain forms, without です and ます, the way friends and family talk, and the replies suggested to you match the level you'd use back. The guide to keigo explains the three levels, and when each is right.
Try it out loud
In Unsubtitled, Ren says these lines in their own voice, and answers whatever you say back, typed or dictated, with furigana, romaji, and a translation until you no longer need them.
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Or see every scene, with all four characters.