In this workshop you will practice a short, polite exchange about buying postcards and stamps. You will ask where to buy something, understand a simple answer that names a place, and check whether a second kind of shop also works. The recordings give you clear model lines, so you can listen, repeat, and then try both roles yourself. You do not need to invent new sentences; every native example comes from the recordings, and you can replay them as often as you like.
Asking the main question
Start with the polite question pattern for asking where you can buy something. The topic marker wa introduces the item, and doko de kaemasu ka asks 'where can I buy it?' Listen to the model line «ポストカードはどこで買えますか。» and notice how the item comes first, then the question. Repeat it slowly, then at a natural speed. When you hear an answer, listen for the place word and the particle de, which marks where the action happens. The short answer «郵便局で買えます。» shows this clearly: the place comes first, then de kaemasu. Practice saying the question and the answer as a pair, switching roles each time.
Checking a second place
After you hear one place, you may want to check another. The pattern de mo means 'also at' or 'even at,' and it lets you ask about a second option without starting over. Listen to «コンビニでも買えますか。» and notice how the question keeps the same shape as the first one, but adds mo after de. In a real exchange, the answer may be yes or no. The longer dialogue shows a clear no: «いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。» says that convenience stores do not have them, and then adds that stamps are also available at the post office. This is useful because it connects two items in one answer. Practice the question «コンビニでも買えますか。» and the answer «いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。» together, paying attention to the polite negative arimasen.
Adding a second item
You can also say that you want to buy something else. The particle mo replaces wa to mean 'also,' and kaitai desu expresses 'I want to buy.' Listen to «切手も買いたいです。» and notice how stamps are added to the same shopping trip. In the longer dialogue, the staff member answers the postcard question first, then mentions stamps in the same reply: «郵便局で買えますよ。駅の前にあります。» gives the post office location, and «いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。» confirms that stamps are sold there too. This means you can ask about postcards, hear the answer, and then use «切手も買いたいです。» to say you also want stamps. Practice linking the two ideas smoothly.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
ポストカードはどこで買えますか。
Where can I buy postcards?
posutokādo wa doko de kaemasu ka
郵便局で買えます。
You can buy them at a post office.
yūbinkyoku de kaemasu
コンビニでも買えますか。
Can I buy them at a convenience store too?
konbini de mo kaemasu ka
切手も買いたいです。
I also want to buy stamps.
kitte mo kaitai desu
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、ポストカードはどこで買えますか。
Excuse me, where can I buy postcards?郵便局で買えますよ。駅の前にあります。
You can buy them at a post office. There is one in front of the station.コンビニでも買えますか。
Can I buy them at a convenience store too?いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。
No, they are not at convenience stores. You can buy stamps at the post office too.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 at a station information desk. You want to buy postcards. Play the recording «すみません、ポストカードはどこで買えますか。» as the customer, then play «郵便局で買えますよ。駅の前にあります。» as the staff member. Then switch roles.
Your task: First, listen to «すみません、ポストカードはどこで買えますか。» and repeat it aloud. Then listen to «郵便局で買えますよ。駅の前にあります。» and repeat it aloud. Next, say «すみません、ポストカードはどこで買えますか。» yourself, then say «郵便局で買えますよ。駅の前にあります。» yourself. Finally, play both recordings again and shadow them, speaking along with the audio.
Reply comprehension: yes or no?
You have just asked whether convenience stores sell postcards. Listen to the answer «いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。» and decide whether the answer is yes or no. Then listen to «郵便局で買えます。» and decide what place is named.
Your task: Play «いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。» once. Choose: does the speaker say convenience stores have postcards, or not? Then play «郵便局で買えます。» and choose: is the place a post office or a convenience store? Say your choices aloud in English, then replay each recording to check.
Recall and role switch
Now try the full exchange from memory. Use the customer line «すみません、ポストカードはどこで買えますか。» and the staff line «郵便局で買えますよ。駅の前にあります。». Then add the second question «コンビニでも買えますか。» and the second answer «いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。». You can play the recordings again if you need help.
Your task: Say «すみません、ポストカードはどこで買えますか。» as the customer, then «郵便局で買えますよ。駅の前にあります。» as the staff member. Next, say «コンビニでも買えますか。» as the customer, then «いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。» as the staff member. After that, switch roles: say «郵便局で買えますよ。駅の前にあります。» and «いいえ、コンビニにはありません。切手も郵便局で買えます。» first, then «すみません、ポストカードはどこで買えますか。» and «コンビニでも買えますか。». Try to do this without looking at the text.
Common questions
Do I need to memorize every line exactly?
No. The goal is to become comfortable with the pattern. Use the recordings as models, and focus on the key parts: the item, the question word doko, the particle de, and the polite ending ka. Once those feel natural, you can use the same shape with other items you already know.
What if I cannot hear the difference between the question and the answer?
Listen for the rising intonation at the end of the question, and the falling intonation in the answer. The question ends with ka, while the answer often ends with desu or masu. Replay «ポストカードはどこで買えますか。» and «郵便局で買えます。» back to back several times, and try to hum the melody before saying the words.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: ask for a postcardChecked September 2026
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