Reading Glaze Sample Labels in Japanese: Ask About Names and Written Text
Learn elementary Japanese for pottery workshops: ask what a glaze is called and what its label says, using 釉薬, サンプル, この釉薬の名前は何ですか and ラベルに何と書いてありますか.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At a craft workshop, glaze samples are often stored in small test bowls or jars with handwritten labels. The label may show a name, a number, a firing range, or a short note. To choose or record a glaze, you need two practical questions in Japanese: asking what the glaze is called, and asking what is written on the label. This lesson gives you those patterns, the key words 釉薬 (glaze) and サンプル (sample), and a short workshop role-play. You will also learn how to ask staff to read or point to a label when the handwriting is unclear. The language stays at elementary level: polite です/ます forms, simple question words, and the useful expression 書いてあります (is written).
By the end, you can…
- ask what a glaze sample is called in Japanese.
- ask what is written on a glaze label.
- understand and use the words 釉薬 and サンプル.
- politely ask workshop staff for help reading a label.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
この釉薬の名前は何ですか。
What is the name of this glaze?
Kono yūyaku no namae wa nan desu ka.
Point to one specific sample pot or test tile. この means 'this' and makes the question concrete.
ラベルに何と書いてありますか。
What is written on the label?
Raberu ni nan to kaite arimasu ka.
Use when you can see a label but cannot read the handwriting or the term. 書いてあります means 'is written'.
このサンプルの釉薬はどれですか。
Which one is the glaze for this sample?
Kono sanpuru no yūyaku wa dore desu ka.
Useful when several sample jars or tiles are on the same shelf and you want to match a sample to its glaze. このサンプルの釉薬 means 'the glaze of this sample'.
すみません、ラベルを読んでください。
Excuse me, please read the label.
Sumimasen, raberu o yonde kudasai.
A polite request to staff. すみません opens the request softly; 読んでください asks them to read it aloud.
釉薬のサンプルはどこにありますか。
Where are the glaze samples?
Yūyaku no sanpuru wa doko ni arimasu ka.
Use at the start of the workshop when you need to find the sample area.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 名前は何ですか means 'What is the name?' Put the object before it: この釉薬の名前は何ですか (What is the name of this glaze?). For written text, use ラベルに何と書いてありますか. Here 何と means 'as what' and 書いてあります describes a state that exists because someone wrote it. If you want to ask about a different object, replace ラベル with ふた (lid) or 箱 (box): 箱に何と書いてありますか (What is written on the box?). Keep the particle に after the surface where the writing appears.
When to use it
Use この釉薬の名前は何ですか when you are holding or pointing at one sample and want its name. Use ラベルに何と書いてありますか when the label is visible but you cannot read the characters, or when you want the staff to confirm a number or note. If the label is handwritten and unclear, add すみません and ask 読んでください (please read it). In a workshop, staff may answer with a glaze name, a code such as テスト1 (Test 1), or a firing note. Listen for the final です or ます to know the sentence has ended.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、この釉薬の名前は何ですか。
Excuse me, what is the name of this glaze?Sumimasen, kono yūyaku no namae wa nan desu ka.それは「あおつゆ」です。ラベルにも書いてありますよ。
That is 'aotsuyu'. It is written on the label too.Sore wa 'aotsuyu' desu. Raberu ni mo kaite arimasu yo.ラベルに何と書いてありますか。読んでください。
What is written on the label? Please read it.Raberu ni nan to kaite arimasu ka. Yonde kudasai.「あおつゆ、テスト1」と書いてあります。
It says 'aotsuyu, Test 1'.'Aotsuyu, tesuto ichi' to kaite arimasu.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese workshops, staff often use polite です/ます with visitors, and a soft すみません is a normal way to get attention before a question. Handwritten labels may mix kanji, kana, and numbers, so asking staff to read them aloud is practical and not rude. Avoid touching samples without permission; point and ask instead.
One thing to watch for
Using この釉薬は何ですか to ask for a glaze name.
Try this instead: この釉薬は何ですか literally asks 'What is this glaze?', which sounds like you want a definition or category. For a name, say この釉薬の名前は何ですか. The particle の connects 釉薬 and 名前, making 'the name of this glaze' clear.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are holding one glaze sample and want its name. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
この釉薬の名前は何ですか。
This uses この for the sample in your hand and 名前は何ですか for 'what is the name?'. You could also point and say これは何という釉薬ですか, but the lesson pattern is the most direct.
2The label is handwritten and you cannot read it. How do you ask what is written?
Show a sample answer
ラベルに何と書いてありますか。
This asks about the written content on the label. Adding すみません、読んでください makes the request more polite, but the core question is correct on its own.
3You need to find the glaze samples at the workshop. What question fits?
Show a sample answer
釉薬のサンプルはどこにありますか。
どこにありますか asks 'where is/are?'. 釉薬のサンプル means 'glaze samples'. Another valid form is 釉薬のサンプルはどこですか, which is slightly more casual but still polite.
Point to one sample, ask この釉薬の名前は何ですか for its name, and ask ラベルに何と書いてありますか when you need the label read. Keep すみません ready for polite staff requests.
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