Learning Japanese through JLPT N5 Reading: Prices and Simple Shopping Information

The JLPT N5 is the first step in learning Japanese! It focuses on basic everyday conversation and reading simple texts. This article will help you practice reading prices, understanding shopping phrases, and recognizing common situations you’ll encounter when buying things. We’ll focus on practical language you can use right away.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Let’s start with some essential vocabulary:

• 値段 (nedan): Price
• いくら (ikura): How much?
• 円 (en): Yen (the Japanese currency)
• これ (kore): This (referring to an item)
• それ (sore): That (referring to an item)
• あれ (are): Over there (referring to an item)
• 安い (yasu): Cheap
• 高い (takai): Expensive
• おねがいします (onegai shimasu): Please

Here are some useful phrases:

• “この値段はいくらですか？” (Kono nedan wa ikura desu ka?) – “What is the price of this?”
• “それは高いですね。” (Sore wa takai desu ne.) – “That’s expensive.”
• “これは安いですね。” (Kore wa yasui desu ne.) – “This is cheap.”
• “おねがいします、これひとつください。” (Onegai shimasu, kore hitotsu kudasai.) – “Please, one of these, please.”

Reading Practice: Simple Shopping Scenarios

Let’s look at some examples you might see in a shop:

Scenario 1: Asking the Price

Shopkeeper: “このりんごは、いくらですか？” (Kono ringo wa, ikura desu ka?) – “How much is this apple?”

Customer: “すみません。これは、200円です。”(Sumimasen. Kore wa, 200 en desu.) – “Excuse me. This is 200 yen.” (Note: ‘Sumimasen’ means ‘excuse me’ and is always polite).

Customer: “200円ですね。おねがいします。”(200 en desu ne. Onegai shimasu.) – “200 yen, please.”

Scenario 2: Comparing Prices

Customer: “この鉛筆は、いくらですか？” (Kono penitsu wa, ikura desu ka?) – “How much is this pencil?”

Shopkeeper: “これは50円です。それも見てください。”(Kore wa 50 en desu. Sore mo mite kudasai.) – “This is 50 yen. Please take a look at that one too.”

Scenario 3: Common Mistakes & Corrections

A common mistake beginners make is forgetting the polite particle “です” (desu). Saying “これ200円” instead of “これは200円です” sounds less formal. Also, note the use of ‘kudasai’ – it’s crucial for politeness!

Putting It All Together

To practice, try this: Imagine you are in a convenience store (konbini). What would you say if you wanted to buy an orange? Think about how you might ask the price and make your purchase.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Japanese people appreciate your effort to speak their language, even if it’s not perfect. Keep practicing with these phrases and reading examples, and you’ll quickly improve your N5 reading skills.