Japanese for the Post Office: Buying Stamps for Postcards
Learn to buy stamps at a Japanese post office, ask for postcard stamps, and understand international rates with clear phrases and a practical dialogue.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn how to buy stamps at a Japanese post office (yūbin kyoku). You will practice asking for stamps for postcards, specifying domestic or international mail, and understanding basic rate information. The focus is on spoken exchanges at the counter, using polite Japanese that is appropriate for service interactions. By the end, you will be able to complete a simple stamp purchase and ask about international postage.
By the end, you can…
- ask for stamps for postcards at a post office counter.
- specify whether the postcards are domestic or international.
- ask how much postage is needed for international postcards.
- understand and respond to basic rate information.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
切手をください。
Stamps, please.
Kitte o kudasai.
A general request for stamps. Use this when you just need stamps and will specify details after.
この葉書に切手をください。
Stamps for this postcard, please.
Kono hagaki ni kitte o kudasai.
Use when you are holding or pointing to postcards. 'Kono' means 'this' and modifies a singular noun; for multiple postcards, use 'kono hagaki' while pointing, or 'korera no hagaki' for 'these postcards'.
葉書は何円ですか。
How much is it for a postcard?
Hagaki wa nan-en desu ka.
Ask about the postage rate for a postcard. 'Nan-en' means 'how many yen'.
国際郵便はいくらですか。
How much is international mail?
Kokusai yūbin wa ikura desu ka.
Use to ask about international postage rates. 'Ikura' is a general 'how much'.
海外の葉書に切手をください。
Stamps for overseas postcards, please.
Kaigai no hagaki ni kitte o kudasai.
Specify that the postcards are going overseas. 'Kaigai' means 'overseas'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern '[item] o kudasai' means 'Please give me [item]'. For example, 'kitte o kudasai' means 'Stamps, please'. To specify what the stamps are for, use '[item] ni kitte o kudasai', meaning 'Stamps for [item], please'. For example, 'kono hagaki ni kitte o kudasai' means 'Stamps for this postcard, please'. You can replace 'kono hagaki' with 'kaigai no hagaki' (overseas postcards) or 'kokunai no hagaki' (domestic postcards). This pattern is polite and suitable for service counters.
When to use it
Use these phrases at the post office counter when you need to buy stamps. Start with 'sumimasen' to get the clerk's attention. Then say 'kitte o kudasai' and specify the type if needed. If you are unsure about the rate, ask 'hagaki wa nan-en desu ka' for domestic postcards or 'kokusai yūbin wa ikura desu ka' for international mail. The clerk may ask 'kokunai desu ka, kaigai desu ka' (Domestic or overseas?). Answer with 'kokunai desu' or 'kaigai desu'. If you need a specific number of stamps, say the number plus 'mai': 'go-mai kudasai' (five stamps, please).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、切手をください。
Excuse me, stamps please.Sumimasen, kitte o kudasai.はい、何枚ですか。
Yes, how many stamps?Hai, nan-mai desu ka.この葉書に切手をください。五枚です。
Stamps for this postcard, please. Five stamps.Kono hagaki ni kitte o kudasai. Go-mai desu.国内ですか、海外ですか。
Domestic or overseas?Kokunai desu ka, kaigai desu ka.A little context goes a long way
At Japanese post offices, clerks are polite and may use keigo (honorific language). You can respond with simple polite forms. If you don't understand, say 'sumimasen, yoku wakarimasen' (Sorry, I don't understand well) or 'mō ichido onegaishimasu' (One more time, please). Many post offices have English-speaking staff or translation tools, but trying Japanese is appreciated. Note that 'yūbin kyoku' is the post office, and 'kitte' means stamp. For international mail, you may need to fill out a customs form for packages, but postcards usually just need correct postage.
One thing to watch for
Using 'kitte o kudasai' without specifying the type when buying international postage, leading to domestic stamps.
Try this instead: Specify 'kaigai no hagaki ni kitte o kudasai' (Stamps for overseas postcards, please) or 'kokusai yūbin no kitte o kudasai' (Stamps for international mail, please). For example, if you need stamps for postcards to the US, say 'Amerika no hagaki ni kitte o kudasai'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for stamps for this postcard in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
この葉書に切手をください。 (Kono hagaki ni kitte o kudasai.)
This uses the pattern '[item] ni kitte o kudasai' to specify the postcard. You can also say 'kono hagaki no kitte o kudasai', but 'ni' is more common for indicating purpose.
2What do you say to ask the price of international mail?
Show a sample answer
国際郵便はいくらですか。 (Kokusai yūbin wa ikura desu ka.)
This asks 'How much is international mail?' You could also ask 'kaigai no hagaki wa ikura desu ka' for overseas postcards specifically.
3If the clerk asks 'kokunai desu ka, kaigai desu ka', how do you answer 'overseas'?
Show a sample answer
海外です。 (Kaigai desu.)
This means 'It's overseas.' For domestic, you would say 'kokunai desu'. Both are polite and clear.
At the post office, start with 'sumimasen', then use 'kitte o kudasai' and specify the type with 'ni' or 'no'. Ask about rates with 'nan-en desu ka' or 'ikura desu ka'. Remember to specify 'kaigai' for international postcards to get the correct stamps.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Japanese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr