Lesson 41 · about 3 minutes
Get through the airport: check-in, gate, customs
chekkuin kauntaa wa doko desu ka? · nimotsu o azukemasu · geeto wa nanban desu ka? · kankou desu · nanimo arimasen
ちぇっくいん かうんたー は どこ ですか・にもつ を あずけます・げーと は なんばん ですか・かんこう です・なにも ありません
You'll learn five lines to check in for a flight, find your gate, and get through customs.
The words
| Romaji | Japanese | Reading | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chekkuin kauntaa wa doko desu ka? | チェックイン カウンター は どこ ですか? | ちぇっくいん かうんたー は どこ ですか | where is the check-in counter? | |
| nimotsu o azukemasu | にもつ を あずけます | にもつ を あずけます | I'll check my bag | |
| geeto wa nanban desu ka? | ゲート は なんばん ですか? | げーと は なんばん ですか | what number is the gate? | |
| kankou desu | かんこう です | かんこう です | it's for sightseeing | |
| nanimo arimasen | なにも ありません | なにも ありません | I have nothing (to declare) |
Say it out loud
ゲート は なんばん ですか?かんこう です。なにも ありません。
How they differ
The pattern in plain English: thing + wa + question word + desu ka? You already know doko (どこ), where. The airport adds nanban (なんばん), "what number." Chekkuin kauntaa wa doko desu ka? finds the counter. Geeto wa nanban desu ka? finds the gate. Answers sound like juugo-ban, number 15.
At the counter, staff ask about bags. Nimotsu o azukemasu means "I'll check my bag." Nimotsu (にもつ) is luggage. If you're carry-on only, point and say kore dake desu, "just this."
Arriving in Japan, the immigration officer may ask why you came. Kankou desu means "sightseeing." Kankou (かんこう) is sightseeing. For work, say shigoto desu. Short answers are best here.
At customs, you'll be asked if you have anything to declare. Nanimo arimasen is "nothing." Nanimo (なにも) means nothing at all. Be honest; if you do have something, say arimasu (あります) and show it.
Staff lines to recognize: pasupooto o onegaishimasu, "passport, please," and mokuteki wa?, "purpose?" Mokuteki (もくてき) is purpose. You don't need to say them back.
Memory trick: nan-BAN = "number band" on the gate sign. Kankou: "can go" see things.
Say it out loud in line, then try this: ask your gate and answer the purpose question. You'll see this next: getting from the airport to your hotel by train.
See it in a sentence
sumimasen, chekkuin kauntaa wa doko desu ka?
すみません、チェックイン カウンター は どこ ですか?
Excuse me, where is the check-in counter?
nimotsu o hitotsu azukemasu.
にもつ を ひとつ あずけます。
I'll check one bag.
geeto wa nanban desu ka?
ゲート は なんばん ですか?
What number is the gate?
kankou desu. isshuukan desu.
かんこう です。いっしゅうかん です。
Sightseeing. For one week.
iie, nanimo arimasen.
いいえ、なにも ありません。
No, I have nothing.
Staff say this — recognize only
Understand these; do not produce them as a customer.
pasupooto o onegaishimasu
パスポート を おねがいします
passport, please (staff)
nyuukoku no mokuteki wa?
にゅうこく の もくてき は?
purpose of your visit? (officer)
shoushou omachi kudasai
しょうしょう おまち ください
one moment, please (staff)
Watch out
nimotsu (にもつ) = your luggage or bags in general; tenimotsu (てにもつ) = carry-on, the bag you keep with you. nanban (なんばん) = what number (gate); nanji (なんじ) = what time (boarding). kankou (かんこう) = sightseeing; kankoku (かんこく) = Korea — listen for the ku.
Try it
Ask what number the gate is.
geeto wa nanban desu ka? · ゲート は なんばん ですか? · What number is the gate?
The officer asks your purpose. Answer: work.
shigoto desu. · しごと です。 · It's work.
Customs: say you have nothing.
nanimo arimasen. · なにも ありません。 · I have nothing.