How to Ask for an Audio Guide in Japanese: Spanish-Language Rentals
Learn to ask whether an audio guide is available in Spanish, request one at the rental counter, and understand the difference between an audio guide and a guided tour in Japanese.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
When you visit a museum or temple in Japan, staff may offer you a guided tour, but what you actually want is an audio guide you can use at your own pace, in Spanish. This lesson teaches the exact question スペイン語の音声ガイドはありますか (Supeingo no onsei gaido wa arimasu ka) and the vocabulary you need at the rental counter. You will also learn how to say you want to rent one, how to ask about the price, and how to politely decline a guided tour without confusion. All phrases use natural Japanese script with Hepburn romanization so you can read and say them confidently.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether an audio guide in Spanish is available.
- say I want to rent an audio guide and ask how much it costs.
- distinguish an audio guide (音声ガイド) from a guided tour (ガイドツアー) in Japanese.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
スペイン語の音声ガイドはありますか。
Do you have an audio guide in Spanish?
Supeingo no onsei gaido wa arimasu ka.
The core question. スペイン語 (Supeingo) means Spanish; replace it with 英語 (Eigo, English), 中国語 (Chūgokugo, Chinese), or 韓国語 (Kankokugo, Korean) as needed.
音声ガイドを借りたいです。
I would like to rent an audio guide.
Onsei gaido o karitai desu.
Use this at the rental counter. 借りたい (karitai) expresses 'want to rent/borrow'. It is polite and direct without being rude.
料金はいくらですか。
How much is the fee?
Ryōkin wa ikura desu ka.
Ask this after confirming availability. 料金 (ryōkin) means fee or charge; いくら (ikura) means how much.
ガイドツアーではなく、音声ガイドをお願いします。
Not a guided tour, but an audio guide, please.
Gaido tsuā de wa naku, onsei gaido o onegai shimasu.
Use this when staff offer a guided tour instead. ではなく (de wa naku) means 'not ... but'. お願いします (onegai shimasu) makes the request polite. Note that ガイドツアー is often written ガイドツアー, but the more common Japanese term is ガイド付きツアー (gaido-tsuki tsuā).
スペイン語の音声ガイドは何時まで借りられますか。
Until what time can I rent the Spanish audio guide?
Supeingo no onsei gaido wa nanji made kariraremasu ka.
Useful for planning your visit. 何時まで (nanji made) means 'until what time'; 借りられますか (kariraremasu ka) is the polite potential form of 借ります (karimasu, to rent).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern [language] の音声ガイドはありますか ([language] no onsei gaido wa arimasu ka) lets you ask about any language audio guide. スペイン語の音声ガイドはありますか means 'Do you have a Spanish audio guide?' If you want to be more specific, you can say スペイン語版の音声ガイド (Supeingo-ban no onsei gaido), meaning 'Spanish-language version audio guide'. To ask about renting, use 音声ガイドを借りたいです (Onsei gaido o karitai desu). The particle を (o) marks the object, and 借りたい (karitai) is the tai-form of 借ります (karimasu), expressing desire. For price, 料金はいくらですか (Ryōkin wa ikura desu ka) is a safe, polite question.
When to use it
Use スペイン語の音声ガイドはありますか at the ticket counter, information desk, or museum entrance before you pay. If the answer is はい、あります (Hai, arimasu, 'Yes, we have one'), follow with 音声ガイドを借りたいです (Onsei gaido o karitai desu) and 料金はいくらですか (Ryōkin wa ikura desu ka). If staff offer a guided tour instead, say ガイドツアーではなく、音声ガイドをお願いします (Gaido tsuā de wa naku, onsei gaido o onegai shimasu). This clearly distinguishes the two services. If you need to know how long you can keep it, ask 何時まで借りられますか (Nanji made kariraremasu ka).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、スペイン語の音声ガイドはありますか。
Excuse me, do you have an audio guide in Spanish?Sumimasen, Supeingo no onsei gaido wa arimasu ka.はい、あります。料金は五百円です。
Yes, we do. The fee is 500 yen.Hai, arimasu. Ryōkin wa gohyaku en desu.音声ガイドを借りたいです。何時まで借りられますか。
I would like to rent an audio guide. Until what time can I rent it?Onsei gaido o karitai desu. Nanji made kariraremasu ka.五時までです。ガイドツアーもございますが、いかがですか。
Until 5 o'clock. We also have a guided tour; would you like that?Goji made desu. Gaido tsuā mo gozaimasu ga, ikaga desu ka.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese service settings, 音声ガイド (onsei gaido) and ガイドツアー (gaido tsuā) are clearly separate services. Staff may offer a guided tour first because it is more interactive, but it is perfectly polite to decline and ask for an audio guide instead. Use お願いします (onegai shimasu) to soften your request, and avoid saying いいです (ii desu) alone when declining, as it can sound like you are accepting. Instead, say 大丈夫です (daijōbu desu) or use the ではなく pattern shown above.
One thing to watch for
Saying スペイン語の音声ガイドがありますか (Supeingo no onsei gaido ga arimasu ka) with が (ga) instead of は (wa).
Try this instead: For asking whether something is available, use はありますか (wa arimasu ka): スペイン語の音声ガイドはありますか (Supeingo no onsei gaido wa arimasu ka). The particle が (ga) is used for neutral descriptions like 音声ガイドがあります (Onsei gaido ga arimasu, 'There is an audio guide'), but in a question about availability, は is the natural choice.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Do you have an audio guide in Spanish?' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
スペイン語の音声ガイドはありますか。
This uses the pattern [language] の音声ガイドはありますか. You could also say スペイン語版の音声ガイドはありますか (Supeingo-ban no onsei gaido wa arimasu ka) for 'Spanish-language version audio guide', which is equally correct.
2You want to rent an audio guide. What do you say at the counter?
Show a sample answer
音声ガイドを借りたいです。
This expresses 'I would like to rent an audio guide.' You could also say 音声ガイドを借りられますか (Onsei gaido o kariraremasu ka, 'Can I rent an audio guide?'), which is a polite question rather than a statement of desire.
3Staff offer you a guided tour, but you want an audio guide. How do you politely clarify?
Show a sample answer
ガイドツアーではなく、音声ガイドをお願いします。
This means 'Not a guided tour, but an audio guide, please.' The ではなく pattern contrasts the two. A softer alternative is 音声ガイドのほうがいいです (Onsei gaido no hō ga ii desu, 'I prefer the audio guide'), which is also polite.
Use スペイン語の音声ガイドはありますか to check availability, 音声ガイドを借りたいです to rent one, and ガイドツアーではなく、音声ガイドをお願いします to clearly choose an audio guide over a guided tour.
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