Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Notes

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Lesson Transcript

Introduction
John: Asking How Much Something Costs. In this lesson, you'll learn how to ask how much something costs in Japanese.
Body
John: Here's a formal way to ask "How much does this cost?" in Japanese.
Risa: [Normal] これはいくらですか。(Kore wa ikura desu ka.)
John: First is a word meaning "this."
Risa: [Normal] これ [Slow] これ (kore)
John: Next is the topic particle.
Risa: [Normal] は [Slow] は (wa)
John: Next is the word meaning "how much."
Risa: [Normal] いくら [Slow] いくら(ikura)
John: Next is the word meaning "is."
Risa: [Normal] です [Slow] です(desu)
John: Last is the question particle.
Risa: [Normal] か [Slow] か(ka)
John: Note the rising intonation. Listen again to the formal question meaning "How much does this cost?"
Risa: [Slow] これはいくらですか。 [Normal] これはいくらですか。
John: Now, imagine you’re pointing at an item. Here's an informal way to ask, "How much does this cost?"
Risa: [Normal] これ、いくら?(Kore, ikura ?)
John: First is a word meaning "this."
Risa: [Normal] これ [Slow] これ (kore)
John: Next is the word meaning "how much."
Risa: [Normal] いくら [Slow] いくら(ikura)
John: Note the pause after "kore" and the rising intonation at the end. Listen again to the informal question meaning "How much does this cost?"
Risa: [Slow] これ、いくら? [Normal] これ、いくら?
John: Here's a response meaning "Okay, I'll take it."
Risa: [Normal] じゃあ、これをください。(Jā, kore o kudasai.)
John: First is a word meaning "well,” “then."
Risa: [Normal] じゃあ [Slow] じゃあ (jā)
John: Next is the word meaning "this."
Risa: [Normal] これ [Slow] これ (kore)
John: Next is the object particle.
Risa: [Normal] を [Slow] を(o)
John: Last is the word meaning "please give me."
Risa: [Normal] ください [Slow] ください(kudasai)
John: Listen again to the response, "Okay, I'll take it."
Risa: [Slow] じゃあ、これをください。 [Normal] じゃあ、これをください。
John: Here's a response meaning, "No, thanks. It's too expensive." or literally “No, thanks. It’s a bit expensive.”
Risa: [Normal] すみません、ちょっと高いです。(Sumimasen, chotto takai desu.)
John: First is a word literally meaning "sorry."
Risa: [Normal] すみません [Slow] すみません(sumimasen)
John: Next is the word meaning "a bit."
Risa: [Normal] ちょっと [Slow] ちょっと (chotto)
John: Next is the word meaning "expensive."
Risa: [Normal] 高い [Slow] 高い(takai)
John: Last is the word meaning "is."
Risa: [Normal] です [Slow] です (desu)
John: Note the pause after the word meaning “sorry,” and that Japanese people tend to say “a bit expensive” even if it is “too” expensive. It's a way to deliver negative feedback. Listen again to the response, "No, thanks. It's too expensive."
Risa: [Slow] すみません、ちょっと高いです。 [Normal] すみません、ちょっと高いです。
Cultural Insight
John: Now, it's time for a quick cultural insight.
Risa: In Japan, there are many household goods stores called "100-yen shops" where you can buy everything for one coin before tax. You don't even need to ask “How much?” (Kore wa ikura desu ka.) there, right?

Outro

John: And that's all for this lesson. Don't forget to check out the lesson notes, and we'll see you in the next lesson!
Risa: またね!(mata ne!)

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