In this workshop you will practice a very practical money situation: you have a large banknote and you want smaller bills or coins. You will hear short recorded lines and use them as your model. You will first repeat and understand each line, then choose the right reply, and finally recall the exchange with the correct roles. The recordings include a request to break a 10,000-yen note into 1,000-yen bills, a request to exchange money, a request for a specific mix of bills and coins, a request for change in 1,000-yen bills, and a short exchange where the other person politely says they cannot break it right now. Listen for the polite request patterns and the polite refusal. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so use the answer checks to judge yourself.
Understanding the request lines
Start by listening to the request lines and reading the English meaning. «この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。» means you are asking someone to break a 10,000-yen note into 1,000-yen bills. «両替できますか。» is a general question: can you exchange money? «千円札を五枚と五百円玉を十枚にしてください。» asks for a specific mix: five 1,000-yen bills and ten 500-yen coins. «お釣りは千円札でお願いします。» asks for your change in 1,000-yen bills. Notice that each line is polite and clear. When you speak, keep a calm, friendly tone and say the amount clearly. Do not rush the numbers. Practice each line slowly, then at a natural speed. If a line feels long, say it in two parts: first the polite opening, then the request.
Understanding the refusal and the reply
Now listen to the short exchange. «すみません、この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。» is the same kind of request: excuse me, could you break this 10,000-yen note into 1,000-yen bills? «申し訳ありませんが、今は崩せません。» is a polite refusal: I'm sorry, but I can't break it right now. «分かりました。ありがとうございます。» accepts the answer: I understand. Thank you. «申し訳ありません。» is a simple apology: I am sorry. These lines show a complete, polite exchange. The person asking stays polite even when the answer is no. The person answering apologizes and explains that it is not possible right now. When you practice, keep the same polite tone in both roles. Do not add new requests or new reasons; use only the recorded lines.
Using the lines in a shop or station
Imagine you are at a shop counter or a station window. You have a 10,000-yen note and you want smaller bills for a machine or for a small purchase. You can use «この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。» or «すみません、この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。» to make the request. If you need a specific mix, use «千円札を五枚と五百円玉を十枚にしてください。». If you are asking about change, use «お釣りは千円札でお願いします。». If you are not sure whether the place can exchange money at all, use «両替できますか。». If the staff member cannot help, you may hear «申し訳ありませんが、今は崩せません。» or «申し訳ありません。». You can reply with «分かりました。ありがとうございます。». Practice the lines in this order: request, refusal, acceptance. Then switch roles. This helps you understand both sides of the conversation.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。
Could you break this 10,000-yen note into 1,000-yen bills?
Kono ichiman-en satsu o sen-en satsu ni kuzushite itadakemasu ka.
両替できますか。
Can you exchange money?
Ryōgae dekimasu ka.
千円札を五枚と五百円玉を十枚にしてください。
Please make it five 1,000-yen bills and ten 500-yen coins.
Sen-en satsu o go-mai to gohyaku-en dama o jū-mai ni shite kudasai.
お釣りは千円札でお願いします。
Please give my change in 1,000-yen bills.
Otsuri wa sen-en satsu de onegaishimasu.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。
Excuse me, could you break this 10,000-yen note into 1,000-yen bills?申し訳ありませんが、今は崩せません。
I'm sorry, but I can't break it right now.分かりました。ありがとうございます。
I understand. Thank you.申し訳ありません。
I am sorry.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 to break a large note
You are at a shop counter. You have a 10,000-yen note and you want 1,000-yen bills. The staff member is ready to listen.
Your task: Say the polite request line «この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。» slowly, then say it again at a natural speed. After that, say «すみません、この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。» as a slightly longer, more polite version. Focus on clear numbers and a friendly tone.
Reply comprehension: choose the right response
You will hear or read a line from the recordings. Your job is to choose the best next line from the options. This checks whether you understand the meaning, not just the sound.
Your task: Situation 1: A staff member says «申し訳ありませんが、今は崩せません。». Choose your reply: (a) «分かりました。ありがとうございます。» or (b) «千円札を五枚と五百円玉を十枚にしてください。». Situation 2: You want a specific mix of bills and coins. Choose your request: (a) «千円札を五枚と五百円玉を十枚にしてください。» or (b) «申し訳ありません。». Situation 3: You want to know if a place can exchange money at all. Choose your question: (a) «両替できますか。» or (b) «お釣りは千円札でお願いします。».
Recall with correct roles: customer and staff
You will now recall the short exchange from memory. One role is the customer who asks to break a large note. The other role is the staff member who cannot help right now.
Your task: First, play the customer. Say «すみません、この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。». Then play the staff member and say «申し訳ありませんが、今は崩せません。». Then play the customer again and say «分かりました。ありがとうございます。». Finally, play the staff member and say «申し訳ありません。». Do this once with the text visible, then once without looking.
Common questions
What should I do if I cannot say the long request line smoothly?
Break the line into two parts. First say the polite opening, then say the request about the 10,000-yen note and the 1,000-yen bills. Practice each part slowly, then join them. You can also listen to «この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。» and «すみません、この一万円札を千円札に崩していただけますか。» again and copy the rhythm. Do not worry about speed at first; clear numbers are more important than fast speech.
How do I know whether the other person is refusing or just apologizing?
Listen for the refusal line «申し訳ありませんが、今は崩せません。», which says the person cannot break the note right now. The apology line «申し訳ありません。» is shorter and only says sorry. In the recorded exchange, «申し訳ありませんが、今は崩せません。» comes first and «申し訳ありません。» comes later. If you hear «申し訳ありませんが、今は崩せません。», you can reply with «分かりました。ありがとうございます。» to show you understand. If you only hear «申し訳ありません。», you can still reply politely with «分かりました。ありがとうございます。».
Sources and further reading
- japanese: break large banknote smaller billsChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's Japanese into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr