In this workshop you will practice a small but useful conversation about lease length. You will learn how to ask what the minimum lease period is, how to say a short minimum, and how to talk about one-year and two-year contracts. You will also hear a short exchange between two speakers and decide who is asking and who is answering. Each recorded line is shown with its English meaning before you use it, so you always know what you are saying. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic scoring, so check your answers with the notes after each task.
Asking the basic question
Start with the key question. The line «最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。» means "What is the minimum lease period?" This is a direct question you can use when you want to know the shortest time you can rent. If you want to be more polite, add an opening word. The line «すみません、最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。» means "Excuse me, what is the minimum lease period?" The first part gets attention, and the rest is the same question. Practice saying both lines slowly. Then imagine you are at a small rental office and you want to know the shortest contract. Say the polite version out loud. After you ask, listen for a number of months or years in the answer.
Understanding short and long answers
Now look at possible answers. The line «最低でも六か月です。» means "It is at least six months." This tells you the shortest period is six months. The line «一年契約です。» means "It is a one-year contract." Here the contract length is one year. The line «二年契約が多いです。» means "Two-year contracts are common." This says that two-year contracts happen often, but it does not say they are required. Listen carefully to the difference between a minimum and a common choice. When you hear a number, repeat it to yourself. Then decide if the speaker is giving a minimum, a fixed length, or a common pattern.
Following a short exchange
The next lines form a short conversation. Speaker A asks the polite question in «すみません、最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。». Speaker B answers with «二年契約が多いですが、この部屋は一年から大丈夫です。», which means "Two-year contracts are common, but for this room one year is fine." Speaker A then asks «六か月でもいいですか。», "Is six months also okay?" Speaker B replies with «六か月は難しいですが、相談できますよ。», "Six months is difficult, but we can discuss it." Notice how the answer changes from a general pattern to a specific room, and then to a shorter request. The final answer is not a clear yes or no. It says six months is difficult but open to discussion. When you practice, keep the roles clear: one person asks, the other answers.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。
What is the minimum lease period?
Saitei keiyaku kikan wa dono kurai desu ka.
最低でも六か月です。
It is at least six months.
Saitei demo rokkagetsu desu.
一年契約です。
It is a one-year contract.
Ichinen keiyaku desu.
二年契約が多いです。
Two-year contracts are common.
Ninen keiyaku ga ooi desu.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。
Excuse me, what is the minimum lease period?二年契約が多いですが、この部屋は一年から大丈夫です。
Two-year contracts are common, but for this room one year is fine.六か月でもいいですか。
Is six months also okay?六か月は難しいですが、相談できますよ。
Six months is difficult, but we can discuss it.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
You are a customer at a small rental office. The staff member is ready to talk about lease length. Use the recorded lines to guide your speaking.
Your task: First play the customer role. Say the polite question from «すみません、最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。». Then play the staff role and answer with «最低でも六か月です。». Repeat the exchange two times. Then switch: play the staff role first and answer with «一年契約です。», and play the customer role by asking «最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。».
Reply comprehension: choose the meaning
You will hear or read three possible answers about lease length. Decide what each one means in plain English.
Your task: Read the three recorded answers: «最低でも六か月です。», «一年契約です。», and «二年契約が多いです。». For each one, choose the correct meaning: a) the shortest period is six months, b) the contract is one year, c) two-year contracts are common. Then check your choices.
Recall with correct roles
Two speakers talk about a room. One asks about lease length, and the other answers. You will rebuild the exchange from memory.
Your task: Look at the four lines «すみません、最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。», «二年契約が多いですが、この部屋は一年から大丈夫です。», «六か月でもいいですか。», and «六か月は難しいですが、相談できますよ。». Decide which speaker asks and which speaker answers. Then say the exchange out loud with the correct roles. After that, cover the lines and try to recall the order: polite question, answer about this room, question about six months, final answer.
Common questions
Do I need to memorize every line exactly?
No. Start by understanding the meaning of each recorded line, such as «最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。» and «最低でも六か月です。». Then practice saying them slowly. You can use the lines as models for your own speaking, but you do not need to memorize them perfectly before moving on.
What if I cannot tell who is asking and who is answering?
Look at the shape of the line. A question often ends with a rising tone, and an answer gives information such as a length of time. In the recorded exchange, «すみません、最短契約期間はどのくらいですか。» and «六か月でもいいですか。» are questions, while «二年契約が多いですが、この部屋は一年から大丈夫です。» and «六か月は難しいですが、相談できますよ。» are answers. Practice the roles separately, then put them together.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: ask about lease lengthChecked September 2026
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