In this workshop you will practice a short, realistic shop exchange in Japanese. You will learn how to ask for a bottle of water politely, how to check whether a bottle is sparkling or still, and how to understand the price when the staff member tells you. Every native example comes from a recording, and the English meaning is provided. You can use the recorded lines as a model for live role-play, but there is no automatic scoring, so use the answer checks to judge yourself. The exchange is simple, so focus on clear, calm pronunciation and on listening for the key words.
Asking for one bottle of water
The most direct way to ask for a bottle of water is «水を一本ください。». The word mizu means water, ippon is the counter for one long, thin object such as a bottle, and kudasai makes the request polite. A slightly softer version is «お水を一本お願いします。», where o-mizu is a polite form of water and onegai shimasu is a common polite request in shops. Both lines are used in the recorded shop exchange. When you speak, keep the rhythm even and do not rush the ending. If you want to get the staff member's attention first, you can begin with sumimasen, as in «すみません、水を一本ください。». In that line the speaker says excuse me and then asks for a bottle of water. Practice «水を一本ください。» and «お水を一本お願いします。» out loud several times until the counter and the request sound natural together.
Checking sparkling or still
Sometimes a shop has more than one kind of water. To check whether a bottle is sparkling, you can point to it and ask «これは炭酸水ですか。». Kore wa means as for this, tansansui means sparkling water, and desu ka makes it a yes or no question. If you want to find the still water instead, ask «普通の水はどれですか。». Futsū no mizu means ordinary or still water, and dore means which one when you are choosing among three or more bottles. In the recorded exchange, the staff member asks which kind you want, as in «はい、炭酸水ですか、普通の水ですか。», which offers sparkling water or still water. You can answer with «普通の水をお願いします。», which asks for still water politely. Listen for tansansui and futsū no mizu, because these two words tell you which water is which.
Understanding the price
After you choose your water, the staff member may tell you the price. In «はい、どうぞ。百二十円です。» the staff member says here you are and then gives the price. The important pattern is the number followed by en, which means yen. You do not need to say a long sentence to respond; a small nod or a polite hai is enough in many shops. If the price is not clear, you can ask again slowly, but for this workshop focus on catching the number. Listen to «はい、どうぞ。百二十円です。» a few times and repeat the price line after the recording. Then try the whole exchange from beginning to end: greet, ask for water, answer the sparkling or still question, and listen for the price.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
水を一本ください。
A bottle of water, please.
Mizu o ippon kudasai.
お水を一本お願いします。
A bottle of water, please. (a little softer)
O-mizu o ippon onegai shimasu.
これは炭酸水ですか。
Is this sparkling water?
Kore wa tansansui desu ka.
普通の水はどれですか。
Which one is still water?
Futsū no mizu wa dore desu ka.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、水を一本ください。
Excuse me, a bottle of water, please.はい、炭酸水ですか、普通の水ですか。
Yes. Is it sparkling water or still water?普通の水をお願いします。
Still water, please.はい、どうぞ。百二十円です。
Here you are. That will be 120 yen.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 for water
You are the customer at a small kiosk. The staff member is ready to help you. Use the recorded lines to guide your speaking.
Your task: Play the role of the customer. First say the line from «すみません、水を一本ください。» to get attention and ask for a bottle of water. Then, when the staff member asks which kind you want, answer with the line from «普通の水をお願いします。». Say both lines out loud clearly.
Reply comprehension: sparkling or still
You are the customer, and the staff member asks you a question. You need to understand which two kinds of water are being offered.
Your task: Listen to «はい、炭酸水ですか、普通の水ですか。». The staff member asks whether you want sparkling water or still water. Choose the correct meaning: A) The staff member asks if you want sparkling water or still water. B) The staff member asks if you want a bag. Then answer out loud with the line from «普通の水をお願いします。» to ask for still water.
Recall with correct roles: complete the shop exchange
You will now practice the whole exchange from memory. One person is the customer and one person is the staff member. If you are alone, you can play both roles by changing your voice.
Your task: Customer: start with the line from «すみません、水を一本ください。». Staff: ask the question from «はい、炭酸水ですか、普通の水ですか。». Customer: answer with the line from «普通の水をお願いします。». Staff: finish with the line from «はい、どうぞ。百二十円です。». Do the exchange once with the recordings, then once without looking at the lines.
Common questions
What is the difference between the two request lines?
Both «水を一本ください。» and «お水を一本お願いします。» ask for a bottle of water. The first uses kudasai, which is polite and direct. The second uses o-mizu, a polite form of water, and onegai shimasu, which sounds a little softer. You can use either one in a shop.
How do I know if the water is sparkling or still?
Listen for tansansui, which means sparkling water, and futsū no mizu, which means ordinary or still water. In «はい、炭酸水ですか、普通の水ですか。» the staff member offers both. You can answer with «普通の水をお願いします。» if you want still water.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: buy a bottle of waterChecked September 2026
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