Japanese for Sending a Package at the Post Office
Learn to say you want to send a package to a place, choose a shipping option, and handle the basics at a Japanese post office with polite, natural phrasing.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
At a Japanese post office (郵便局, yūbin-kyoku), sending a package is usually a short, predictable exchange: you state what you want to send, where it is going, and then choose a service. The key sentence pattern is 〜を〜に送りたいのですが (~ o ~ ni okuritai no desu ga), which softens a request and signals that you need help. This lesson focuses only on package sending, so you will practice the vocabulary for parcels, destinations, and shipping choices rather than general post office chat. You will also learn how to ask about cost, speed, and tracking.
By the end, you can…
- say I want to send a package to a specific place using 〜に送りたいのですが.
- ask about shipping options such as EMS, tracking, and delivery time.
- understand and respond to basic counter questions about size, weight, and contents.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
この荷物をアメリカに送りたいのですが。
I'd like to send this package to America.
Kono nimotsu o Amerika ni okuritai no desu ga.
The core pattern. この荷物 (this package) + を + destination + に + 送りたいのですが. The final のですが makes the request indirect and polite.
送り方には何がありますか。
What shipping methods are there?
Okurikata ni wa nani ga arimasu ka.
Use this after stating your destination. 送り方 means 'shipping method'. The には marks the topic within the range of options, so the clerk can list what is available.
EMSでお願いします。
EMS, please.
Ī-emu-esu de onegaishimasu.
EMS is the common international express service. で marks the chosen method, and お願いします is the standard polite way to confirm a choice.
追跡番号はありますか。
Is there a tracking number?
Tsuiseki bangō wa arimasu ka.
追跡番号 means 'tracking number'. Use this when you want confirmation that the package can be tracked.
何日ぐらいかかりますか。
About how many days will it take?
Nan-nichi gurai kakarimasu ka.
何日ぐらい (about how many days) + かかりますか (does it take). Useful for comparing speed and cost.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 〜を〜に送りたいのですが is made of three parts: the object with を, the destination with に, and 送りたい (want to send) followed by のですが. For example, この荷物を日本に送りたいのですが (I'd like to send this package to Japan). To change the destination, replace 日本 with カナダ (Kanada, Canada) or イギリス (Igirisu, the UK). If you are sending it to a person rather than a country, use 〜さんに, as in 田中さんに送りたいのですが. The のですが ending is not a question; it presents your wish as a lead-in, so the clerk can respond with options. Note that 送る takes the thing sent with を and the destination with に; the destination is never marked with を.
When to use it
Use the full 〜たいのですが pattern at the counter when you need assistance. If the clerk has already asked what you want, a shorter answer is fine: アメリカに送りたいです (I want to send it to America). When choosing a service, say the service name plus でお願いします, for example 船便でお願いします (Funabin de onegaishimasu, by surface mail, please) or EMSでお願いします. For questions about time and cost, keep the polite ます form: 何日ぐらいかかりますか and いくらですか (Ikura desu ka, how much is it?). Avoid plain forms like 送りたい or かかる？ at the counter, because they can sound abrupt. When asking what options exist, 送り方には何がありますか is more natural than 送り方は何がありますか, because には frames the range of choices.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、この荷物をフランスに送りたいのですが。
Excuse me, I'd like to send this package to France.Sumimasen, kono nimotsu o Furansu ni okuritai no desu ga.はい、送り方にはEMSと船便があります。どちらになさいますか。
Yes, we have EMS and surface mail. Which would you like?Hai, okurikata ni wa ī-emu-esu to funabin ga arimasu. Dochira ni nasaimasu ka.EMSでお願いします。追跡番号はありますか。
EMS, please. Is there a tracking number?Ī-emu-esu de onegaishimasu. Tsuiseki bangō wa arimasu ka.はい、あります。こちらに住所と電話番号をお願いします。
Yes, there is. Please write the address and phone number here.Hai, arimasu. Kochira ni jūsho to denwa bangō o onegaishimasu.A little context goes a long way
At Japanese post offices, clerks often use keigo (honorific language), so you may hear どちらになさいますか (which would you like?) instead of a plain question. You do not need to reply in keigo; polite ます forms such as 〜でお願いします are perfectly appropriate. For international mail, you may be asked to describe the contents, and some items are restricted or require a customs declaration, so be ready to say what is inside.
One thing to watch for
Marking the destination with を and the package with に, as in この荷物にアメリカを送りたい.
Try this instead: Mark the thing you send with を and the destination with に: この荷物をアメリカに送りたいのですが. The verb 送る takes the object with を and the goal with に, so keep those roles clear.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I'd like to send this package to Germany' politely at the counter?
Show a sample answer
この荷物をドイツに送りたいのですが。
This uses この荷物を (object), ドイツに (destination), and 送りたいのですが (polite lead-in). ドイツに送りたいです is also acceptable if the clerk has already asked you.
2You want surface mail instead of EMS. What do you say to confirm your choice?
Show a sample answer
船便でお願いします。
The service name plus でお願いします confirms your choice politely. You could also say 船便にします, which is slightly more casual but still fine.
3Ask how many days an international package will take.
Show a sample answer
何日ぐらいかかりますか。
何日ぐらい asks 'about how many days', and かかりますか asks about time or cost. どのくらいかかりますか is a valid alternative when you are less specific.
State the package with を, the destination with に, and use 送りたいのですが to ask for help; then confirm your shipping choice with 〜でお願いします.
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