Japanese for the Coin Laundry: Asking Whether Staff Will Fold Your Load
Learn polite Japanese for asking a coin laundry attendant whether folding is available, what is included, and how to request it as an add-on, using 〜てもらえますか and 〜は含まれていますか.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
At a Japanese coin laundry, you may finish washing and drying with a large pile of clothes and wonder whether staff will fold it for you. This lesson gives you the polite question forms to ask about that service without assuming it exists. You will learn 畳んでもらえますか (tatande moraemasu ka), 折りたたむ (oritatamu), そのまま (sono mama), 仕上がり (shiagari), and 追加でお願いできますか (tsuika de onegai dekimasu ka). The core pattern is 〜てもらえますか, which asks whether someone can do something for you. You will also learn to ask what is included with 〜は含まれていますか (wa fukumarete imasu ka) rather than guessing. The tone throughout is appreciative and polite, suitable for speaking with staff at a shop you are visiting.
By the end, you can…
- politely ask whether staff will fold my laundry using 〜てもらえますか.
- ask what a service includes with 〜は含まれていますか.
- request folding as an add-on with 追加でお願いできますか.
- distinguish 畳む, 折りたたむ, そのまま, and 仕上がり in a laundry context.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
これ、畳んでもらえますか。
Could you fold this for me?
kore, tatande moraemasu ka
Point to your pile of clean laundry. 畳む (tatamu) is the everyday verb for folding clothes and towels.
折りたたむだけでいいです。
Just folding it is fine.
oritatamu dake de ii desu
折りたたむ (oritatamu) is a close synonym of 畳む, often used for flat folding such as shirts. Use it when you want simple folding, not pressing or hanging.
そのままで大丈夫です。
It's fine to leave it as it is.
sono mama de daijōbu desu
そのまま (sono mama) means keeping something in its current state, so this tells staff not to fold or sort it further.
仕上がりはいつごろになりますか。
About when will it be ready?
shiagari wa itsugoro ni narimasu ka
仕上がり (shiagari) refers to the finished result or completion time. Ask this after confirming what service you want.
追加でお願いできますか。
Could I request that as an addition?
tsuika de onegai dekimasu ka
追加 (tsuika) means an addition or extra. Use it to ask whether folding can be added to what you already requested.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 〜てもらえますか asks whether someone can do something for you. Put the verb in its て-form before もらえますか: 畳む becomes 畳んで, so 畳んでもらえますか means 'Could you fold it for me?' For a flat-folding request, 折りたたんでもらえますか (oritatande moraemasu ka) works the same way. To ask what is included, use 〜は含まれていますか: 折りたたみは含まれていますか (oritatami wa fukumarete imasu ka) means 'Is folding included?' This lets staff explain the actual service instead of you assuming it.
When to use it
Use these questions at the counter before handing over your load, when staff can still confirm the details. そのままで大丈夫です is useful if you prefer your clothes left unfolded, for example そのままで大丈夫です。袋に入れてください (sono mama de daijōbu desu. fukuro ni irete kudasai), meaning 'It's fine as it is. Please put them in a bag.' Ask 仕上がりはいつごろになりますか after agreeing on the service, so you know when to return. If folding is not part of the standard service, ask 追加でお願いできますか to see whether it can be added.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、この洗濯物なんですが、畳んでもらえますか。
Excuse me, about this laundry, could you fold it for me?sumimasen, kono sentakumono nan desu ga, tatande moraemasu kaはい、折りたたむことはできますよ。仕上がりは明日の午後になります。
Yes, we can fold it. It will be ready tomorrow afternoon.hai, oritatamu koto wa dekimasu yo. shiagari wa ashita no gogo ni narimasuありがとうございます。折りたたみは料金に含まれていますか。
Thank you. Is folding included in the price?arigatō gozaimasu. oritatami wa ryōkin ni fukumarete imasu kaいいえ、追加でお願いできますよ。受付でお伝えください。
No, you can request it as an addition. Please tell us at the reception.iie, tsuika de onegai dekimasu yo. uketsuke de otsutae kudasaiA little context goes a long way
At Japanese coin laundries, staff may or may not offer folding, and policies differ by shop. Asking 〜は含まれていますか shows respect for the staff's time and avoids assuming a service exists. A brief すみません before your question and ありがとうございます after the answer keep the exchange warm and polite.
One thing to watch for
Using そのまま to mean 'please fold it as usual.'
Try this instead: そのまま means keeping things in their current state, so そのままで大丈夫です tells staff not to fold. To ask for folding, say 畳んでもらえますか or 折りたたんでもらえますか.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you politely ask staff to fold your laundry?
Show a sample answer
畳んでもらえますか。
This uses the て-form 畳んで plus もらえますか to request a service. 折りたたんでもらえますか is also correct, especially for flat folding.
2How do you ask whether folding is included in the service?
Show a sample answer
折りたたみは含まれていますか。
This asks about inclusion without assuming. You could also ask 畳むのは含まれていますか, which is equally natural.
3How do you ask whether folding can be added as an extra?
Show a sample answer
追加でお願いできますか。
追加で marks it as an addition, and お願いできますか is a polite way to ask. 追加で頼めますか is a slightly less formal alternative.
Ask before you assume: use 〜てもらえますか to request folding, 〜は含まれていますか to check what is included, and 追加でお願いできますか for an add-on, all with a polite, appreciative tone.
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