Reporting a lost wallet in Japan: Japanese at a koban

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:

• 

  財布さいふ、どんなやつだっけ？色いろは？

  Saifu, donna yatsu dakke? Iro wa?

  What does the wallet look like again? What color?

  You could say

  茶色ちゃいろの小ちいさい革かわの財布さいふだよ。

  Chairo no chiisai kawa no saifu da yo.

  It's a small brown leather one.

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:

• 

  おまわりさん、今電話中いまでんわちゅうみたいだね。

  Omawari-san, ima denwa-chū mitai da ne.

  Looks like the officer's on the phone right now.

  You could say

  ほんとだ。ちょっと待まとう。

  Honto da. Chotto matō.

  You're right. Let's wait a bit.

• 

  とりあえず座すわろう。そこ空あいてる。

  Toriaezu suwarō. Soko aiteru.

  Let's sit down for now. That seat's free.

  You could say

  うん、そうする。ありがとう。

  Un, sō suru. Arigatō.

  Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks.

• 

  俺おれも前まえに定期ていきなくしたけど、出でてきたよ。

  Ore mo mae ni teiki nakushita kedo, detekita yo.

  I lost my train pass once too, but it turned up.

  You could say

  ほんと？ちょっと安心あんしんした。

  Honto? Chotto anshin shita.

  Really? That makes me feel a little better.

• 

  何号車なんごうしゃに乗のってたか覚おぼえてる？

  Nangōsha ni notteta ka oboeteru?

  Do you remember which car you were in?

  You could say

  たぶん、一番いちばん前まえの車両しゃりょう。

  Tabun, ichiban mae no sharyō.

  Probably the very first car.

• 

  中なかに何なに入はいってた？カードとか？

  Naka ni nani haitteta? Kādo toka?

  What was inside it? Cards and stuff?

  You could say

  カードと、あと現金げんきんが少すこし。

  Kādo to, ato genkin ga sukoshi.

  Cards, and a little cash.

Phrases worth knowing here

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

• 財布さいふ、電車でんしゃに忘わすれたかもsaifu, densha ni wasureta kamoI might've left my wallet on the train.Say this first, to Ren or to the officer, when you realize it's gone.
• とりあえず届とどけ出だしとこうtoriaezu todokede shitokouLet's file a report for now.Ren's suggestion as you walk in; you can echo it to agree.
• 何線なにせんに乗のってたんだっけ？nanisen ni notteta n dakke?Which line were you on again?Ren will ask this while you try to remember; useful to understand and answer.
• 中身なかみ、何なに入はいってた？nakami, nani haitteta?What was in it?Asked when listing the contents for the report — cash, cards, ID.
• 見みつかったら連絡れんらくくれるってmitsukattara renraku kureru tteThey said they'll call if it turns up.Say this to wrap up after the officer explains what happens next.

Words you'll hear

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.

More scenes with Ren

• Asking the way蓮（れん） · Train stationpolite
• At the record shop蓮（れん） · Record shopformal
• Drinks after work蓮（れん） · Izakayacasual
• A night at the arcade蓮（れん） · Game centercasual
• Cherry blossoms in the park蓮（れん） · Parkcasual
• Sending a parcel home蓮（れん） · Post officecasual
• Looking for a place to live蓮（れん） · Real estate agencycasual
• Choosing new glasses蓮（れん） · Glasses shopcasual
• At the top of the mountain蓮（れん） · Mountain summitcasual

Or see every scene, with all four characters.