Buying a rice cooker

Buying a rice cooker in Japan: Japanese phrases

You and Kenji are old friends from the university baseball club. Your rice cooker has died, and he cooks every weekend and knows every model on the shelf, so he came along after work. Kenji speaks first, in polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers. Here is how it can begin, and the phrases and words worth having ready.

politeWith Kenji, at the electronics store

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How Kenji opens the conversation

Kenji always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:

炊飯器すいはんきですか。予算よさんはどのくらいですか？
Suihanki desu ka. Yosan wa dono kurai desu ka?
A rice cooker, is it? What sort of budget are you thinking of?
You could say
一万円いちまんえんくらいで探さがしています。
Ichiman-en kurai de sagashite imasu.
I'm looking for something around ten thousand 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:

わあ、炊飯器すいはんきがたくさんありますね。
Wā, suihanki ga takusan arimasu ne.
Wow, there are so many rice cookers here.
You could say
本当ほんとうだね。どれがいいか分わからないよ。
Hontō da ne. Dore ga ii ka wakaranai yo.
Seriously. I have no idea which one is good.
実じつは、うちも同おなじのを使つかってますよ。
Jitsu wa, uchi mo onaji no o tsukattemasu yo.
Actually, we use this same one at home.
You could say
へえ、使つかいやすい？
Hē, tsukaiyasui?
Huh, is it easy to use?
ご飯はん、いつも何合なんごう炊たきますか？
Gohan, itsumo nangō takimasu ka?
How many cups of rice do you usually cook?
You could say
うーん、二合にごうくらいかな。
Ūn, nigō kurai ka na.
Hmm, about two cups, I guess.
ちょっと持もってみましょうか。軽かるいですよ。
Chotto motte mimashō ka. Karui desu yo.
Want to try lifting it? It's light.
You could say
本当ほんとうだ、思おもったより軽かるいね。
Hontō da, omotta yori karui ne.
Oh wow, it's lighter than I thought.
最近さいきん、新あたらしいモデルが出でたそうですよ。
Saikin, atarashii moderu ga deta sō desu yo.
I hear a new model came out recently.
You could say
へえ、どこにあるの？
Hē, doko ni aru no?
Oh really? Where is it?

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the electronics store, each with when you'd say it.

何合なんごう炊だきがいいでしょうか。Nangōdaki ga ii deshō ka.What capacity should I get?Ask Kenji at the shelf, when deciding size for your household.
保温ほおんはどのくらい持もちますか。Hoon wa dono kurai mochimasu ka.How long does it keep the rice warm?To a clerk or to Kenji when comparing two models' specs.
一ひとつ前まえのモデルでも十分じゅうぶんですよ。Hitotsu mae no moderu demo jūbun desu yo.Last year's model is plenty good.Kenji's advice; you can say it back when the newest one looks too pricey.
古ふるい炊飯器すいはんきは引ひき取とってもらえますか。Furui suihanki wa hikitotte moraemasu ka.Could you take away my old rice cooker?Ask the clerk at the register about disposal of the broken one.
配送はいそうもお願ねがいできますか。Haisō mo onegai dekimasu ka.Could I get it delivered too?At checkout, when the box is too big to carry home.

Words you'll hear

Japanese	Romaji	Meaning
炊飯器すいはんき	suihanki	rice cooker
内釜うちがま	uchigama	inner pot (of a rice cooker)
保温ほおん	hoon	keep-warm function
五合ごごう炊だき	gogōdaki	5-cup capacity (about 5 servings)
機能きのう	kinō	function, feature
値段ねだん	nedan	price
旧きゅうモデル	kyū moderu	last year's model
延長保証えんちょうほしょう	enchō hoshō	extended warranty
配送はいそう	haisō	delivery
売うり場ば	uriba	sales floor, department

How polite to be

polite Here Kenji speaks polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers, 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, Kenji 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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More scenes with Kenji

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