Situation
田中さんは大阪に住んでいる友達に荷物を送るために郵便局に来ました。窓口担当の山田さんが丁寧に対応します。日本の郵便局では速達や普通郵便など、様々なサービスが利用できます。
Tanaka needs to send a package to a friend in Osaka, so he stops by the local post office. Yamada is working the counter today. A Japanese 郵便局 covers a surprising range of services — parcels, stamps, ATM withdrawals, and even basic banking — often all in a single visit.
Dialogue
田中: すみません、この荷物を大阪に送りたいんですが。
Tanaka: Sumimasen, kono nimotsu o Ōsaka ni okuritain desu ga.
Tanaka: Excuse me, I'd like to send this package to Osaka.
山田: はい、かしこまりました。荷物をこちらに置いていただけますか。
Yamada: Hai, kashikomarimashita. Nimotsu o kochira ni oite itadakemasu ka.
Yamada: Of course. Could you set the package here for me?
田中: はい、どうぞ。大阪まで何日ぐらいかかりますか。
Tanaka: Hai, dōzo. Ōsaka made nannichi gurai kakarimasu ka.
Tanaka: Here you go. About how many days will it take to reach Osaka?
山田: 普通郵便だと三日から四日かかります。速達を使えば、明日届きますよ。
Yamada: Futsū yūbin dato mikka kara yokka kakarimasu. Sokutatsu o tsukaeba, ashita todokimasu yo.
Yamada: Regular mail takes three to four days. Express mail gets it there tomorrow.
田中: そうですか。速達の料金はいくらですか。
Tanaka: Sō desu ka. Sokutatsu no ryōkin wa ikura desu ka.
Tanaka: I see. How much does express mail cost?
山田: 少々お待ちください。荷物の重さを量りますね。…こちらは500グラムですので、普通郵便は510円、速達は810円になります。
Yamada: Shōshō omachi kudasai. Nimotsu no omosa o hakarimasu ne. ...Kochira wa gohyaku guramu desu node, futsū yūbin wa gohyakujūen, sokutatsu wa happyakujūen ni narimasu.
Yamada: One moment, please — let me weigh it. ...It comes to 500 grams, so regular mail is 510 yen and express is 810 yen.
田中: じゃあ、速達でお願いします。
Tanaka: Jā, sokutatsu de onegaishimasu.
Tanaka: Express mail, then, please.
山田: ありがとうございます。こちらの用紙に送り先の住所とお名前を書いていただけますか。
Yamada: Arigatō gozaimasu. Kochira no yōshi ni okurisaki no jūsho to onamae o kaite itadakemasu ka.
Yamada: Thank you. Could you fill in the recipient's address and name on this form?
田中: わかりました。えーと、ペンを貸してもらえますか。
Tanaka: Wakarimashita. Ēto, pen o kashite moraemasu ka.
Tanaka: Sure. Umm, could I borrow a pen?
山田: はい、どうぞ。書き終わったら、こちらへお出しください。
Yamada: Hai, dōzo. Kakiowattara, kochira e odashi kudasai.
Yamada: Here you go. Once you're done, hand it back to me here.
田中: ありがとうございます。書きました。それから、切手も買いたいんですが。
Tanaka: Arigatō gozaimasu. Kakimashita. Sorekara, kitte mo kaitain desu ga.
Tanaka: Thank you, all done. Also — I'd like to buy some stamps while I'm here.
山田: はい、何円の切手がよろしいですか。
Yamada: Hai, nanen no kitte ga yoroshii desu ka.
Yamada: Of course. What denomination would you like?
田中: 84円のを10枚お願いします。
Tanaka: Hachijūyoen no o jūmai onegaishimasu.
Tanaka: Ten 84-yen stamps, please.
山田: はい、合計で1,650円になります。領収書はよろしいですか。
Yamada: Hai, gōkei de senroppyakugojūen ni narimasu. Ryōshūsho wa yoroshii desu ka.
Yamada: Your total is 1,650 yen. Would you like a receipt?
Key Vocabulary
郵便局
yūbinkyoku
— post office
荷物
nimotsu
— package, luggage
送る
okuru
— to send
速達
sokutatsu
— express mail
普通郵便
futsū yūbin
— regular mail
料金
ryōkin
— fee, charge, rate
重さ
omosa
— weight
量る
hakaru
— to measure, to weigh
住所
jūsho
— address
用紙
yōshi
— form, sheet of paper
送り先
okurisaki
— recipient, destination address
切手
kitte
— postage stamp
合計
gōkei
— total amount
届く
todoku
— to arrive, to be delivered
領収書
ryōshūsho
— receipt
Grammar Notes
- ～たいんですが (～tai n desu ga): The trailing が leaves the sentence open-ended, signaling that you want something without spelling out the full request — the listener fills in the rest. The んです adds an explanatory tone, as if you are providing context for why you are standing at the counter. Together, the pattern is softer and more natural than a direct request. Example: 荷物を送りたいんですが (I'd like to send this package...) [the clerk understands the implied ask].
- ～ていただけますか (～te itadakemasu ka): A very polite request meaning "could you please...?" It is a step up from ～てください in formality and is the standard phrasing in shops, offices, and service settings. Example: 書いていただけますか (Could you please write it?).
- ～だと (～da to): A conditional meaning "if it is ~" or "in the case of ~". Useful for contrasting two options side by side. Example: 普通郵便だと三日かかります (If you go with regular mail, it takes three days).
- ～ば (conditional form): Expresses "if you do ~". Form it by changing the verb ending: 使う → 使えば. Example: 速達を使えば、明日届きます (If you use express mail, it will arrive tomorrow).
- ～ので (～no de): Means "because" or "since", used to give a reason politely. Softer in tone than から, which is why clerks and staff tend to prefer it. Example: 500グラムですので、810円になります (Since it is 500 grams, it comes to 810 yen).
- ～てもらえますか (～te moraemasu ka): Asks someone to do something as a personal favor. Slightly less formal than ～ていただけますか, making it natural for a customer to use when asking a small favor — like borrowing a pen. Example: ペンを貸してもらえますか (Could you lend me a pen?).
Cultural Notes
Step up to a 日本郵便 (Japan Post) counter and the shift in register is immediate. Staff use keigo (honorific language, 敬語) from the first word — that is simply the expected tone in any service setting. Two phrases come up constantly. かしこまりました means "certainly" — more deferential than わかりました, reserved for formal interactions with customers. 少々お待ちください (please wait just a moment) signals that the clerk is processing your request. A short はい in reply is all the acknowledgement needed.
Sending a package means filling out a 送り状 (okurijō, delivery form) with the recipient's name and address. The clerk will always weigh the item first and confirm the destination before quoting a price. 速達 (express mail) carries a surcharge on top of standard postage but guarantees next-day delivery to most addresses in Japan. For larger or more valuable items, ゆうパック is a better fit — it includes door-to-door tracking and optional insurance. One small etiquette point: most counters have a small tray (トレー) sitting on the desk. Place your cash in the tray rather than handing it directly to the clerk. The same custom applies at convenience stores and pharmacies across Japan.
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Practice
Suggestions for practicing this conversation:
- Role-play both sides: Start as the customer (田中), focusing on ～たいんですが and ～てもらえますか to make requests. Then switch to the clerk (山田) and practice presenting options with ～だと and ～ば. Each role pulls on different grammar, so working both sides gives you a fuller picture of how these patterns function in real exchanges.
- Substitution drill 1 — destinations: Replace 大阪 with other Japanese cities: この荷物を[東京 / 札幌 / 福岡 / 名古屋]に送りたいんですが. This keeps the ～たいんですが frame constant while expanding your city vocabulary.
- Substitution drill 2 — mail type choices: Practice choosing a service: [普通郵便 / 速達 / ゆうパック]でお願いします. Also try asking for clarification: 違いは何ですか (What is the difference?).
- Substitution drill 3 — stamp quantities and denominations: Order stamps with different numbers and values: [84円 / 110円 / 94円]のを[5枚 / 10枚 / 20枚]お願いします.
- Variation scenario — sending overseas: Try a scene where you want to ship something abroad. Key phrase: この荷物をアメリカに送りたいんですが、航空便と船便、どちらがいいですか。(I'd like to send this to the US — which is better, airmail or sea mail?) New vocabulary to pick up: 海外 (かいがい, overseas), 航空便 (こうくうびん, airmail), 船便 (ふなびん, sea mail).