Situation
田中さん (Tanaka-san) has just moved to Japan and needs to open a bank account. He visits a local branch and talks with 山田さん (Yamada-san), a bank teller. Japanese banks run on strict protocols — formal language, specific documents, careful paperwork. Knowing the right phrases before you walk in makes a real difference.
Dialogue
田中: すみません、口座を開きたいんですが。
Tanaka: Sumimasen, kōza o hirakitain desu ga.
Tanaka: Excuse me, I would like to open a bank account.
山田: はい、かしこまりました。どのような口座をご希望ですか。
Yamada: Hai, kashikomarimashita. Dono yō na kōza o gokibō desu ka.
Yamada: Yes, certainly. What kind of account would you like?
田中: 普通預金口座をお願いしたいんですが。
Tanaka: Futsū yokin kōza o onegai shitain desu ga.
Tanaka: I would like a regular savings account.
山田: わかりました。身分証明書はお持ちですか。
Yamada: Wakarimashita. Mibunshōmeisho wa omochi desu ka.
Yamada: Understood. Do you have identification with you?
田中: はい、パスポートを持ってきました。これでいいですか。
Tanaka: Hai, pasupōto o motte kimashita. Kore de ii desu ka.
Tanaka: Yes, I brought my passport. Will this do?
山田: はい、大丈夫です。こちらの申し込み用紙にご記入いただけますか。
Yamada: Hai, daijōbu desu. Kochira no mōshikomi yōshi ni gokinyū itadakemasu ka.
Yamada: Yes, that is fine. Could you please fill out this application form?
田中: わかりました。住所はローマ字で書いてもいいですか。
Tanaka: Wakarimashita. Jūsho wa rōmaji de kaite mo ii desu ka.
Tanaka: Understood. Is it okay if I write my address in romaji?
山田: いいえ、日本語でお願いします。お手伝いしましょうか。
Yamada: Iie, nihongo de onegai shimasu. Otetsudai shimashō ka.
Yamada: No, please write in Japanese. Shall I help you?
田中: ありがとうございます。では、お願いします。最初の入金はいくらですか。
Tanaka: Arigatō gozaimasu. Dewa, onegai shimasu. Saisho no nyūkin wa ikura desu ka.
Tanaka: Thank you, then please help me. How much is the initial deposit?
山田: 最低千円からお預けいただけます。今日はいくら入金されますか。
Yamada: Saitei sen-en kara oazuke itadakemasu. Kyō wa ikura nyūkin saremasu ka.
Yamada: You can deposit from a minimum of 1,000 yen. How much will you deposit today?
田中: とりあえず、一万円を入金したいと思います。
Tanaka: Toriaezu, ichiman-en o nyūkin shitai to omoimasu.
Tanaka: For now, I think I would like to deposit 10,000 yen.
山田: かしこまりました。手続きが終わったら、キャッシュカードを後日郵送いたします。一週間ほどかかる予定です。
Yamada: Kashikomarimashita. Tetsuzuki ga owattara, kyasshu kādo o gojitsu yūsō itashimasu. Isshūkan hodo kakaru yotei desu.
Yamada: Certainly. Once the procedures are complete, we will mail the cash card to you at a later date. It is scheduled to take about one week.
Key Vocabulary
銀行
ginkō
— bank
口座
kōza
— bank account
普通預金
futsū yokin
— regular savings account
身分証明書
mibunshōmeisho
— identification document
申し込み用紙
mōshikomi yōshi
— application form
記入する
kinyū suru
— to fill out, to write in
入金する
nyūkin suru
— to deposit money
最低
saitei
— minimum
手続き
tetsuzuki
— procedure, process
郵送する
yūsō suru
— to mail, to send by post
後日
gojitsu
— at a later date, another day
予定
yotei
— plan, schedule, expectation
Grammar Notes
- ～たいんですが: Combines ～たい (want to do) with んですが to express a desire while leaving the sentence open-ended — an implicit invitation for the other person to respond. It feels softer and less blunt than a plain ～たいです. Example from the dialogue: 口座を開きたいんですが (I would like to open an account...).
- ていただけますか: A polite request meaning "Could you please...?" More respectful than ～てください, and a natural fit for formal settings like banks, hospitals, and government offices. Example: ご記入いただけますか (Could you please fill this out?).
- ～てもいいですか: Asks for permission — "Is it okay if I...?" or "May I...?" You will use this pattern in formal and casual situations alike. Example: ローマ字で書いてもいいですか (Is it okay if I write in romaji?).
- ～ましょうか: An offer form meaning "Shall I...?" Used when proactively stepping in to help. Example: お手伝いしましょうか (Shall I help you?).
- ～と思います: Expresses the speaker's intention or opinion, meaning "I think I will..." Ending on と思います softens the statement — less blunt than a plain したいです on its own. Example: 入金したいと思います (I think I would like to deposit).
- ～たら: A conditional meaning "once... then..." It marks a sequence where the second action follows the first's completion. Example: 手続きが終わったら、カードを郵送します (Once the procedures are done, we will mail the card).
Cultural Notes
Opening a Japanese bank account takes more preparation than you might expect. Bring photo ID — a passport (パスポート) or residence card (在留カード, zairyū kādo) both work. Traditionally a personal seal (はんこ or 印鑑, inkan) was also required, but many banks now accept a handwritten signature. Banking hours run from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on weekdays only. Branches are closed on weekends and public holidays — a genuine inconvenience if you are used to weekend banking elsewhere. ATMs are widely available but may carry their own time restrictions, particularly inside bank lobbies.
Formality is a constant in Japanese banks. Staff speak in keigo (敬語), a formal register used in professional service contexts. Expect to hear かしこまりました — a step above わかりました, closer to "certainly, as you wish" — and ございます where everyday speech would use あります or います. As a customer, polite ます and です forms are expected throughout. A small bow when greeting staff and again when leaving is standard. Budget 30 to 60 minutes for the whole process; Japanese banks are methodical with paperwork and verification, and staff expect you to wait patiently through each step.
Related Articles
- Job Interview (Conversation N4)
- At the Post Office (Conversation N4)
- At a Hotel (Conversation N4)
- Renting an Apartment (Conversation N4)
- Making a Complaint (Conversation N4)
- Visiting a Doctor (Conversation N4)
Practice
Ways to practice this conversation:
- Role-play both sides: Start as the customer (田中), focusing on polite requests and hesitant sentence endings. Then switch to the teller's role (山田) and practice keigo responses like かしこまりました and いただけますか. Pay attention to how each speaker's language reflects their role.
- Substitution drill 1 — Account types: Replace 普通預金口座 with other account types: 定期預金口座 (teiki yokin kōza — fixed-term deposit account) or 総合口座 (sōgō kōza — combined account). Run through the opening line with each substitution.
- Substitution drill 2 — Identification documents: Swap out パスポート for 在留カード (zairyū kādo — residence card) or 運転免許証 (unten menkyoshō — driver's license) and practice the ID exchange with each option.
- Substitution drill 3 — Deposit amounts: Say different amounts aloud: 五千円 (gosen-en — 5,000 yen), 三万円 (sanman-en — 30,000 yen), 十万円 (jūman-en — 100,000 yen). Japanese number-counter combinations are great speaking practice and trip up many learners.
- Variation scenario: When this dialogue feels natural, try a different banking situation: a domestic transfer (振り込み, furikomi). Key phrases to practice — 振り込みをしたいんですが (I would like to make a transfer), 口座番号を教えていただけますか (Could you tell me the account number?), and 手数料はいくらですか (How much is the fee?).