In this workshop, you will practice a short conversation at a post office. You will learn how to ask about delivery time, understand a staff member's answer, and choose express delivery. The recordings give you natural Japanese lines to listen to and repeat. You will play both the customer and the staff member. This helps you get ready for real situations where you need to send something and ask about speed and cost.
Asking How Long Delivery Takes
Start by learning how to ask about delivery time. The customer wants to know the number of days. Listen to «配達はどのくらいかかりますか。» and repeat it. This line means 'How long does delivery take?' It is a simple, direct question. You can use it when you are at a counter and want a general idea. Another way to ask is «届くまでどのくらいかかりますか。», which means 'How long will it take to arrive?' This focuses on the time until the item reaches the destination. Both are polite and useful. Practice saying them clearly. Then imagine you are at a post office. You have a package. You want to know the time. Say the line from «配達はどのくらいかかりますか。» or «届くまでどのくらいかかりますか。». The staff will understand you.
Understanding the Staff's Reply
Now listen to a full exchange. The customer says «すみません、これを大阪に送りたいのですが、配達はどのくらいかかりますか。», which means 'Excuse me, I'd like to send this to Osaka; how long does delivery take?' The staff answers with «普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。»: 'By regular mail it takes two days. If it's express, it will arrive tomorrow.' Notice the two options: regular mail and express. The staff gives a clear time for each. Then the customer decides. In «では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。», the customer says 'Then express, please. How much is the extra charge?' The staff replies with «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。»: 'The express fee is 300 yen. It will arrive tomorrow morning.' This shows a complete conversation. You can practice both roles. First, play the customer. Then, play the staff. Listen to the recording again and shadow the lines.
Choosing Express and Asking About Cost
When you want faster delivery, you can ask about express. The line «速達はありますか。» means 'Is there an express option?' Use this if you are not sure. In the full conversation, the customer already knows about express and chooses it. The customer asks about the extra charge with «では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。». The staff gives the price and the arrival time with «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。». Remember that the express fee is 300 yen in this recording. The item will arrive tomorrow morning. Practice saying «では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。» and «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。» until you are comfortable. Then try a role-play: you are the customer, and you want express. Ask the question from «では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。». Then switch roles and answer as the staff with «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。».
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
配達はどのくらいかかりますか。
How long does delivery take?
haitatsu wa donokurai kakarimasu ka
届くまでどのくらいかかりますか。
How long will it take to arrive?
todoku made donokurai kakarimasu ka
明日届きますか。
Will it arrive tomorrow?
ashita todokimasu ka
速達はありますか。
Is there an express option?
sokutatsu wa arimasu ka
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、これを大阪に送りたいのですが、配達はどのくらいかかりますか。
Excuse me, I'd like to send this to Osaka; how long does delivery take?普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。
By regular mail it takes two days. If it's express, it will arrive tomorrow.では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。
Then express, please. How much is the extra charge?速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。
The express fee is 300 yen. It will arrive tomorrow morning.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Customer Asks, Staff Answers
You are at a post office. You want to send a package to Osaka. You will play both roles. First, listen to the recordings «すみません、これを大阪に送りたいのですが、配達はどのくらいかかりますか。», «普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。», «では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。», and «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。» to hear the full conversation.
Your task: Play the customer. Say the line from «すみません、これを大阪に送りたいのですが、配達はどのくらいかかりますか。». Then play the staff and say the line from «普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。». Next, play the customer again and say «では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。». Finally, play the staff and say «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。». Repeat the whole exchange twice.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Correct Answer
Listen to the staff's reply in «普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。». It says: 'By regular mail it takes two days. If it's express, it will arrive tomorrow.' Now imagine a customer asks «配達はどのくらいかかりますか。»: 'How long does delivery take?'
Your task: Which answer matches the staff's reply? Option A: Regular mail takes two days. Option B: Express takes two days. Option C: Regular mail arrives tomorrow. Say your choice out loud, then say the correct line from «普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。».
Recall with Correct Roles: Customer and Staff
You will now recall the conversation without looking at the lines. Use the recordings «すみません、これを大阪に送りたいのですが、配達はどのくらいかかりますか。», «普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。», «では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。», and «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。» as your guide. Imagine you are at the post office again.
Your task: First, play the customer. Say the line from «すみません、これを大阪に送りたいのですが、配達はどのくらいかかりますか。». Then play the staff and say «普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。». Then play the customer and say «では、速達でお願いします。追加料金はいくらですか。». Finally, play the staff and say «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。». Try to do this without reading the lines. If you forget, listen to the recording again and repeat.
Common questions
Can I use these lines at any post office in Japan?
These lines are polite and standard for asking about delivery time and express options. They are useful in many post office situations. However, actual delivery times and fees may vary by location and service. Always check with the staff for the most accurate information.
What if I don't understand the staff's reply?
You can politely ask them to repeat or to confirm the arrival time. For example, you can use the recorded line «届くまでどのくらいかかりますか。», which means 'How long will it take to arrive?' You can also ask for the key information again by using «配達はどのくらいかかりますか。». Practice listening to «普通郵便ですと、二日かかります。速達でしたら、明日届きます。» and «速達料金は三百円です。明日の午前中に届きますよ。» to get used to the speed and words.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: ask about delivery timeChecked September 2026
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