Joining a gym in Japan: Japanese phrases

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:

• 

  健康診断けんこうしんだんで言いわれまして…一緒いっしょにどうですか？

  Kenkō shindan de iwaremashite… Issho ni dō desu ka?

  The health check had a word with me… How about joining me?

  You could say

  いいですね。月つきいくらですか？

  Ii desu ne. Tsuki ikura desu ka?

  Sounds good. How much is it a month?

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:

• 

  見みてください、機械きかいがたくさんありますね。

  Mite kudasai, kikai ga takusan arimasu ne.

  Look at that — there are so many machines, aren't there?

  You could say

  本当ほんとうですね。すごいです。

  Hontō desu ne. Sugoi desu.

  You're right. That's amazing.

• 

  実じつは、ジムは初はじめてなんです。

  Jitsu wa, jimu wa hajimete nan desu.

  Actually, this is my first time at a gym.

  You could say

  私わたしも初はじめてですよ。

  Watashi mo hajimete desu yo.

  It's my first time too.

• 

  運動うんどう、何なにかしていますか？

  Undō, nanika shite imasu ka?

  Do you do any kind of exercise?

  You could say

  時々ときどき歩あるいています。

  Tokidoki aruite imasu.

  I walk sometimes.

• 

  会費かいひは月つき六千円ろくせんえんだそうですよ。

  Kaihi wa tsuki rokusen-en da sō desu yo.

  They say the membership is six thousand yen a month.

  You could say

  へえ、安やすいですね。

  Hē, yasui desu ne.

  Oh, that's cheap.

• 

  プールもあるそうです。泳およぎますか？

  Pūru mo aru sō desu. Oyogimasu ka?

  Apparently there's a pool too. Do you swim?

  You could say

  いいですね、泳およぎたいです。

  Ii desu ne, oyogitai desu.

  Nice — I'd like to swim.

Phrases worth knowing here

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

• 入会にゅうかいを考かんがえているんですが。Nyūkai o kangaete iru n desu ga.I'm thinking about joining.Your opening line at the reception desk.
• 見学けんがくだけでもいいですか。Kengaku dake demo ii desu ka.Is it okay if we just look around?When you're not ready to sign up yet, only to see the place.
• 月会費げつかいひはいくらですか。Gekkaihi wa ikura desu ka.How much is the monthly fee?Asking about price while the staff explains the plans.
• 体験たいけんは今日きょうできますか。Taiken wa kyō dekimasu ka.Can we do a trial today?When you want to try the machines before deciding.
• 運動うんどうは久ひさしぶりなんです。Undō wa hisashiburi nan desu.It's been a while since I exercised.Small talk with Kenji or the staff to explain you're out of shape.

Words you'll hear

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.

More scenes with Kenji

• Running into a neighbor健二（けんじ） · Convenience storepolite
• A sales meeting健二（けんじ） · Meeting roomformal
• Yakitori under the tracks健二（けんじ） · Yakitori barcasual
• Picking up a prescription健二（けんじ） · Pharmacypolite
• Bargains at the supermarket健二（けんじ） · Supermarketpolite
• Buying a rice cooker健二（けんじ） · Electronics storepolite
• Booking the bullet train健二（けんじ） · Ticket officepolite
• Picking up the rental car健二（けんじ） · Car rentalpolite
• A night at the ballpark健二（けんじ） · Baseball stadiumpolite

Or see every scene, with all four characters.