【市役所（しやくしょ）】”SHIYAKU-SHO”
Meaning:
city office/city hall
Usage:
「引っ越しをしたら、まず市役所に行って転入手続きをしてください。」
（ひっこしをしたら、まずしやくしょにいっててんにゅうてつづきをしてください。）
(Hikkoshi o shitara, mazu shiyakusho ni itte ten-nyū-tetsudsuki o shite-kudasai.)
”When you move (to a new city), first of all, you need to go to the city office to complete the moving-in procedures.”
- In large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, there are not only cities, towns, and villages, but also administrative divisions called 「区 (く / ku / “wards”)」. If you move into a ward, you can complete the procedure at 「区役所 (くやくしょ / kuyakusho / “ward office”)」.
Glossary:
- 引っ越し（ひっこし）: moving (house)
- ～したら: when you do/did […] ; if you do/did […]
- まず: first (of all)
- 市役所（しやくしょ）: city office; city hall
- 転入手続き（てんにゅうてつづき） : procedures of moving in *that of moving out is 「転出手続き（てんしゅつてつづき）」.
- ～してください: Please do […].
【学校（がっこう）】”GAKKŌ”
Meaning:
school
Usage:
「この町には学校が多くて、治安も良いですよ。」
（このまちにはがっこうがおおくて、ちあんもいいですよ。）
(Kono machi niwa gakkō ga ōkute, chian mo ī-desuyo.)
“There are many schools in this town, and it is very safe.”
- In the neighborhood of schools (within a 200-meter radius), national laws and local ordinances restrict the construction of businesses and facilities that may have a negative impact on children. As a result, areas with many schools are said to be safe throughout the town, making it a popular area for families with children and women living alone.
Glossary:
- この～: this
- 町（まち）: town
- 学校（がっこう）: school
- 多い（おおい）: many
- 治安（ちあん）: (public) security
- 治安がいい（ちあんがいい）: (the area is) safe
【スーパー（すーぱー）】”SŪPĀ”
Meaning:
supermarket/grocery store
Usage:
「駅前のスーパーは少し高いけど、仕事帰りに寄れて便利。」
（えきまえのすーぱーはすこしたかいけど、しごとがえりによれてべんり。）
(Ekimae no sūpā wa sukoshi takai kedo, shigoto-gaeri ni yorete benri.)
“The supermarket in front of the station is a bit expensive, but it’s convenient to stop by after work.”
- The actual name of the supermarket is 「スーパーマーケット (すーぱーまーけっと / sūpā māketto)」in Japanese, but everyone abbreviates it like this.
Glossary:
- 駅前（えきまえ）: in front of the station
- スーパー（すーぱー）: supermarket; grocery store
- 少し（すこし）: a little
- 高い（たかい）: expensive; tall; high.
- 仕事（しごと）: job; work
- 仕事帰り（しごとがえり）: on the way home from work
【コンビニ（こんびに）】”KONBINI”
Meaning:
convenience store
Usage:
「旅行中に日本円が必要になったら、コンビニのATMでも日本円をおろせますよ。」
（りょこうちゅうににほんえんがひつようになったら、こんびにのえーてぃーえむでもにほんえんをおろせますよ。）
(Ryokō-chū ni nihon-en ga hitsuyou ni nattara, konbini no ē-tī-emu demo nihon-en o oroserumasuyo.)
“If you need to withdraw Japanese yen during your trip, you can do it at ATMs in convenience stores.”
- 「コンビニ」is an abbreviation of 「コンビニエンスストア (こんびにえんすすとあ / konbiniensu sutoa)」. Most people call it 「コンビニ」.
- For more about ATMs in convenience stores:
Exchange and Withdraw Cash in Japan
Glossary:
- 旅行（りょこう）: trip; travel
- ～中（ちゅう）: during […]
- 日本円（にほんえん）: Japanese Yen
- 必要になる（ひつようになる）: to need; to be needed
- コンビニ（こんびに）: convenience store
- ATM（えーてぃーえむ）: ATM (Automatic Teller Machine)
- おろす: to withdraw money; to take down; to bring down; to abort (a baby)
【病院（びょういん）】”BYŌIN”
Meaning:
hospital/clinic
Usage:
「一度病院の先生に診てもらったほうがいいよ。」
（いちどびょういんのせんせいにみてもらったほうがいいよ。）
(Ichido byōin no sensei ni mite-moratta-hō ga īyo.)
“You should see a doctor once.”
- 「先生 (せんせい / sensei)」 generally means a school teacher, but 「病院の先生 (びょういんのせんせい / byōin no sensei)」 means a doctor.
- In English, you say “to see a doctor”; the subject is a patient. In Japanese, on the contrary, the subject is a doctor. We say, 「先生に診てもらう (せんせいにみてもらう / sensei ni mitemorau); the literal translation is “to have a doctor diagnosis you”.
Glossary:
- 一度（いちど）: once
- 病院（びょういん）: hospital; clinic
- 先生（せんせい）: teacher; doctor
- 診る（みる）: to examine; to diagnose
- ～してもらう: to have someone do […]
- ～した方がいい（したほうがいい）: someone should do […]; it is better for someone to do […]
【駅（えき）】”EKI”
Meaning:
station
Usage:
「駅前でタクシーを拾おう。」
（えきまえでたくしーをひろおう。）
(Ekimae de takushī o hiro-ō.
“Let’s catch a taxi in front of the station.”
- The original meaning of the verb 「拾う (ひろう / hirou)」 is to pick up something on the ground, but it is also used to catch a vehicle and get on board. There are many other definitions for this verb, so please look them up. If you don’t know how to use it, feel free to ask us!
Glossary:
- 駅前（えきまえ）: in front of
- タクシー（たくしー）: taxi
- 拾う（ひろう）: to pick up; to catch a vehicle; to catch sound; to pick someone up in a vehicle on the way and take them with you
【銀行（ぎんこう）】”GINKŌ”
Meaning:
bank
Usage:
「銀行口座をお持ちですか？」
（ぎんこうこうざをおもちですか？）
(Ginkō-kōza o omochi-desuka?)
“Do you have a bank account?”
- A bank account is called 「口座 (こうざ / kōza)」 in Japanese.
Glossary:
- 銀行（ぎんこう）: bank
- 口座（こうざ）: account
- 銀行口座（ぎんこうこうざ）: bank account
- 持つ（もつ）: to have