How to Exchange Money at a Japanese Bank or Exchange Office
Learn to ask to exchange dollars for euros at a Japanese bank or currency exchange counter, understand the posted rate, and tell this service apart from simply using an ATM.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
In Japan, exchanging cash at a bank counter or a currency exchange office is a different procedure from withdrawing yen at an ATM. At a counter you speak with a staff member, state which currencies you hold and which you want, show your passport, and often sign a short form. This lesson gives you the exact phrases for that conversation, including how to say you would like to exchange dollars for euros, how to ask about the exchange rate, and how to check the commission. You will also learn why the ATM is not the right place for this task.
By the end, you can…
- ask a bank or exchange office staff member to exchange dollars for euros.
- ask what today's exchange rate is and whether a commission is charged.
- say how much money I want to exchange and understand the staff's reply.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
ドルをユーロに両替したいです。
I'd like to exchange dollars for euros.
doru o yūro ni ryōgae shitai desu
The core request. Put the currency you have first, then を, then the currency you want plus に. Works at a bank counter or an exchange office.
今日の為替レートはいくらですか。
What is today's exchange rate?
kyō no kawase rēto wa ikura desu ka
Use this before agreeing to exchange, so you know how many euros you will receive for your dollars.
手数料はかかりますか。
Is there a commission or fee?
tesūryō wa kakarimasu ka
Banks and exchange offices may add a fee or build it into the rate. Ask this to compare places.
千ドルを両替してください。
Please exchange one thousand dollars.
sen doru o ryōgae shite kudasai
State the amount with を and use 〜てください for a polite request. Change 千 to another number as needed.
パスポートは必要ですか。
Is a passport required?
pasupōto wa hitsuyō desu ka
In Japan, passport identification is normally required for currency exchange at a counter.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern A を B に両替する means 'exchange A into B.' For example, ドルをユーロに両替します (doru o yūro ni ryōgae shimasu) means 'I exchange dollars into euros.' To make a request, change the ending to 両替したいです (ryōgae shitai desu), 'I'd like to exchange,' or 両替してください (ryōgae shite kudasai), 'please exchange.' Keep the currency you give with を and the currency you receive with に. This word order is fixed, so ユーロをドルに would mean the opposite direction.
When to use it
Use these phrases at a staffed counter, not at an ATM. At a bank, say 両替をお願いします (ryōgae o onegai shimasu) to open the transaction, then give the amount and currencies. At a dedicated exchange office, the same phrases work. If you only need yen from your home debit card, that is an ATM task and you would say ATMを使いたいです (ATM o tsukaitai desu). For cash-to-cash exchange with a person, use the counter phrases in this lesson.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、ドルをユーロに両替したいです。
Excuse me, I'd like to exchange dollars for euros.sumimasen, doru o yūro ni ryōgae shitai desuかしこまりました。今日の為替レートは一ユーロ百五十円です。手数料は五百円です。
Certainly. Today's exchange rate is 150 yen per euro. The commission is 500 yen.kashikomarimashita. kyō no kawase rēto wa ichi yūro hyaku gojū en desu. tesūryō wa gohyaku en desuわかりました。千ドルを両替してください。パスポートは必要ですか。
I understand. Please exchange one thousand dollars. Is a passport required?wakarimashita. sen doru o ryōgae shite kudasai. pasupōto wa hitsuyō desu kaはい、パスポートをお願いします。こちらにご記入ください。
Yes, your passport, please. Please fill in this form.hai, pasupōto o onegai shimasu. kochira ni gokinyū kudasaiA little context goes a long way
At Japanese bank counters, staff usually speak polite keigo, so short polite forms such as 〜たいです and 〜てください are appropriate and safe for learners. Exchange offices in tourist areas may have English-speaking staff, but opening in Japanese is appreciated. Rates and fees differ between banks and exchange offices, so asking 手数料はかかりますか before agreeing is normal and not rude.
One thing to watch for
Saying ドルにユーロを両替したいです, putting the currencies in the wrong order.
Try this instead: The currency you give takes を and the currency you receive takes に: ドルをユーロに両替したいです (doru o yūro ni ryōgae shitai desu). If you reverse them, staff may think you want to exchange euros into dollars.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I'd like to exchange dollars for euros' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
ドルをユーロに両替したいです。
This uses A を B に両替したいです with dollars as A and euros as B. You could also say ドルをユーロに両替してください to make it a direct polite request.
2You want to know the cost before exchanging. What question do you ask about the fee?
Show a sample answer
手数料はかかりますか。
This asks whether a commission applies. You may also ask 手数料はいくらですか (tesūryō wa ikura desu ka), 'how much is the commission,' which is equally correct.
3You only want to withdraw yen using your foreign card. Is the counter phrase 両替をお願いします the best choice?
Show a sample answer
No. Say ATMを使いたいです。
Cash-to-cash exchange at a counter is different from withdrawing yen at an ATM. Use ATMを使いたいです (ATM o tsukaitai desu) for the machine, and keep 両替 phrases for staffed exchange.
At a Japanese bank or exchange office, say ドルをユーロに両替したいです, then ask 為替レートはいくらですか and 手数料はかかりますか before agreeing; use ATM phrases only for machine withdrawals.
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