Sending a parcel home
Sending a parcel from a Japanese post office
You're friends. Ren posts records for the shop every week, so he knows this counter well, and he's come with you to send a box overseas. Your number is a few away. 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 post office
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:
船便と航空便、どっちにする？
Funabin to kōkūbin, dotchi ni suru?
Surface or airmail — which are you going with?
You could say
安い方がいいな。船便にする。
Yasui hō ga ii na. Funabin ni suru.
The cheaper one. I'll go with surface mail.
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:
その箱、けっこう重いな。持とうか？
Sono hako, kekkō omoi na. Motō ka?
That box is pretty heavy, huh. Want me to carry it?
You could say
ありがとう、お願い！
Arigatō, onegai!
Thanks, please!
中身、何入れたの？
Nakami, nani ireta no?
What did you put inside?
You could say
お菓子と服だよ。
Okashi to fuku da yo.
Snacks and clothes.
あの緑の紙、それが伝票だよ。
Ano midori no kami, sore ga denpyō da yo.
That green paper over there — that's the shipping form.
You could say
じゃあ、取ってくる。
Jā, totte kuru.
Okay, I'll go get one.
ここの切手、かわいいの多いよ。
Koko no kitte, kawaii no ōi yo.
They've got a lot of cute stamps here.
You could say
え、見たい！
E, mitai!
Oh, I want to see!
先週送ったレコード、もう着いたって。
Senshū okutta rekōdo, mō tsuita tte.
The records I sent last week have already arrived, apparently.
You could say
早いね！よかった。
Hayai ne! Yokatta.
That's fast! Good to hear.
Phrases worth knowing here
Lines for what you do at the post office, each with when you'd say it.
- 伝票、先に書いとこうdenpyō, saki ni kaitokōLet's fill in the form while we wait.Say it while your number is still a few away.
- 中身、何て書けばいい？nakami, nante kakeba ii?What should I put for the contents?Ask Ren when stuck on the customs declaration line.
- 船便と航空便、どっちがいいかなfunabin to kōkūbin, dotchi ga ii kanaSea mail or air mail—which is better?Thinking out loud about cost vs. speed before your turn.
- 割れ物シール、貼ってもらおうwaremono shīru, hatte moraōLet's have them put a fragile sticker on it.When the box has something breakable inside.
- 次、呼ばれたよtsugi, yobareta yoThat's us—they called our number.When your number comes up on the display.
Words you'll hear
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 小包 | kozutsumi | parcel, package |
| 送る | okuru | to send |
| 船便 | funabin | sea mail |
| 航空便 | kōkūbin | air mail |
| 伝票 | denpyō | shipping slip/form |
| 中身 | nakami | contents |
| 割れ物 | waremono | fragile item |
| 重さ | omosa | weight |
| 番号札 | bangōfuda | number ticket |
| 窓口 | madoguchi | service counter |
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.