Learning Japanese: Asking About Prices (JLPT N5 Speaking)

Starting your journey into Japanese can feel overwhelming! But don’t worry – you can start building confidence quickly with simple conversations. This article focuses on a common and useful skill: asking about the price of something, geared towards the JLPT N5 level.

Why Focus on Asking About Prices?

Knowing how to ask about prices is incredibly practical. You’ll use it when shopping in a store, at a market, or even when ordering food. It’s one of the most frequent phrases beginners learn and allows you to begin communicating directly.

Key Japanese Phrases & Vocabulary

• これは何ですか？ (Kore wa nan desu ka?) – What is this?
• 値段はいくらですか？ (Nedan wa ikura desu ka?) – How much does it cost?
• いくら (Ikura) – How much?
• 円 (En) – Yen (the Japanese currency)
• ちょっと高いです (Chotto takai desu) – It’s a little expensive.
• お安いものですね (Osaneni mono desu ne) – That’s a good price! (Literally: “It’s an affordable thing.”)

Building Simple Dialogues

Here are some example dialogues you can practice:

Dialogue 1: At a Fruit Stand

Seller: こんにちは！(Konnichiwa!) – Hello! Buyer: こんにちは！これはりんごですか？ (Konnichiwa! Kore wa ringo desu ka?) – Hello! Is this an apple?

Seller: はい、これはいちごです。値段はいくらですか？(Hai, kore wa ichigo desu. Nedan wa ikura desu ka?) – Yes, this is a strawberry. How much does it cost?

Buyer: えっと…３つくらいです。(etto… san tsutsu kurai desu.) – Uh… maybe 3 of them? (Note: “tsutsu” means “pieces” or “count.”)

Seller: １００円です。 (Hyaku en desu) – It’s 100 yen.

Buyer: １００円ですね！ありがとうございます。(Hyaku en desu ne! Arigatou gozaimasu!) – 100 yen! Thank you very much!

Dialogue 2: In a Small Shop

Customer: すみません、これは何ですか？(Sumimasen, kore wa nan desu ka?) – Excuse me, what is this?

Shopkeeper: これは本です。値段はいくらですか？(Kore wa hon desu. Nedan wa ikura desu ka?) – This is a book. How much does it cost?

Customer: ５００円ですか？ちょっと高いですね。(500 en desu ka? Chotto takai desu ne.) – 500 yen? That’s a little expensive.

Shopkeeper: ４００円です。 (Yon-hyaku en desu) – It’s 400 yen.

Common Mistakes & Corrections

Incorrect: “いくらですか？(Ikura desu ka?)” – This is technically correct, but sounds unnatural. Use “値段はいくらですか？ (Nedan wa ikura desu ka?)” for a more natural flow.
Missing Politeness: Always start with a polite greeting like “こんにちは！” (Konnichiwa!) or “すみません！” (Sumimasen!). Adding “お願いします” (Onegai shimasu – Please) to the end of your questions makes them even more courteous.
Overcomplicating Numbers: Stick to simple numbers like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… and use “tsutsu” (pieces) when asking about quantity.

Practice Tips for JLPT N5 Speaking

• Repeat the dialogues aloud: Practice saying the phrases and sentences repeatedly until they feel comfortable.
• Role-play with a friend: Simulate buying items in different scenarios.
• Focus on pronunciation: Listen to native speakers and try to mimic their pronunciation.
• Start small: Don’t worry about perfect fluency at first; just focus on communicating your needs.

Asking about prices is a fantastic starting point for your Japanese language learning journey! With consistent practice, you’ll be confidently navigating everyday situations in no time.