In this workshop you practice a short, realistic ticket-buying exchange. You will first learn a few useful lines, then use them in three speaking tasks. The recordings give you the exact Japanese lines to listen to and repeat. You can practice the customer role and the staff role separately, but there is no automatic scoring, so check your own answers with the notes after each task. Keep your voice calm and clear, and say each line slowly before trying a natural speed.
Useful lines for buying one ticket
Start with the shortest request. «ワンウェイでお願いします。» means "One-way, please." This is a simple way to say you are not coming back. If you want to name the destination, use «市の中心まで、一枚お願いします。», which means "One ticket to the city center, please." A very short and general request is «切符を一枚ください。», meaning "One ticket, please." When you do not know where to buy it, «どこで切符を買えますか。» means "Where can I buy a ticket?" Listen to each line, repeat it, and notice the polite ending. These lines are useful in stations, bus counters, and small ticket windows.
A full exchange: customer and staff
Now listen to a longer customer line. «すみません、市の中心まで、ワンウェイで一枚お願いします。» means "Excuse me, one ticket to the city center, one-way, please." The staff replies with a check: «はい、ワンウェイですね。大人一枚でよろしいですか。» means "Yes, one-way, right? One adult ticket, is that correct?" The customer confirms and asks the price: «はい、大人一枚です。いくらですか。» means "Yes, one adult ticket. How much is it?" The staff gives the price: «二百円です。ありがとうございました。» means "It's 200 yen. Thank you very much." In this scene, the customer asks and confirms, and the staff checks the order and gives the price. Practice the customer lines first, then the staff lines, so you can understand the reply as well as speak your part.
Listening for the key words
When you listen to the staff check in «はい、ワンウェイですね。大人一枚でよろしいですか。», focus on two things: the type of ticket and the number of people. The staff repeats the one-way detail and asks about one adult ticket. Your answer in «はい、大人一枚です。いくらですか。» confirms both. Then the price comes in «二百円です。ありがとうございました。». You do not need to understand every sound; listen for the number and the polite ending. If you hear the price, you can answer or pay. Practice by playing the recording and pausing after each line. Repeat the customer lines until they feel easy, then try the staff lines.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
ワンウェイでお願いします。
One-way, please.
wan wei de onegaishimasu
市の中心まで、一枚お願いします。
One ticket to the city center, please.
shi no chūshin made, ichimai onegaishimasu
切符を一枚ください。
One ticket, please.
kippu o ichimai kudasai
どこで切符を買えますか。
Where can I buy a ticket?
doko de kippu o kaemasu ka
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
すみません、市の中心まで、ワンウェイで一枚お願いします。
Excuse me, one ticket to the city center, one-way, please.はい、ワンウェイですね。大人一枚でよろしいですか。
Yes, one-way, right? One adult ticket, is that correct?はい、大人一枚です。いくらですか。
Yes, one adult ticket. How much is it?二百円です。ありがとうございました。
It's 200 yen. Thank you very much.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 for one ticket
Imagine you are at a ticket counter. You want one ticket to the city center and you are not coming back. Use the recordings to guide your speaking.
Your task: First, listen to «すみません、市の中心まで、ワンウェイで一枚お願いします。» and repeat it. Then say the same request in a shorter form using «市の中心まで、一枚お願いします。». Finally, practice the staff check by listening to «はい、ワンウェイですね。大人一枚でよろしいですか。» and repeating it. Say your customer line, then say the staff line as if you were the staff member.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct response
You are the customer. The staff has just asked a checking question. You need to choose the best reply from the lines you have learned.
Your task: Listen to the staff line «はい、ワンウェイですね。大人一枚でよろしいですか。». It means the staff is checking your order. Now choose the best customer reply: «はい、大人一枚です。いくらですか。» or «切符を一枚ください。». Say your chosen line aloud. Then listen to «二百円です。ありがとうございました。» and decide whether the staff is asking a new question or giving the price.
Recall and role switch: customer then staff
Now try the full exchange from memory. You will play the customer first, then switch to the staff role. Use the recordings only to check yourself after speaking.
Your task: As the customer, say a polite request for one ticket to the city center, one-way. Then, as the staff, say the checking line. Switch back to the customer and confirm one adult ticket and ask the price. Finally, as the staff, give the price. After your attempt, listen to «すみません、市の中心まで、ワンウェイで一枚お願いします。», «はい、ワンウェイですね。大人一枚でよろしいですか。», «はい、大人一枚です。いくらですか。», and «二百円です。ありがとうございました。» to compare.
Common questions
Do I need to memorize every line before speaking?
No. Start by listening and repeating. Use the recordings as your model, and practice one line at a time. Short lines like «ワンウェイでお願いします。» and «切符を一枚ください。» are easy to begin with. Then build up to the full exchange with «すみません、市の中心まで、ワンウェイで一枚お願いします。», «はい、ワンウェイですね。大人一枚でよろしいですか。», «はい、大人一枚です。いくらですか。», and «二百円です。ありがとうございました。». Repetition over several short sessions is more useful than trying to memorize everything at once.
How do I know if my answer is correct without a teacher?
Use the recordings as your model. After each task, replay the relevant line and compare your words and rhythm. For the choice task, check the follow-up note: «はい、大人一枚です。いくらですか。» fits after the staff check in «はい、ワンウェイですね。大人一枚でよろしいですか。», while «切符を一枚ください。» does not answer that check. For the full exchange, make sure your lines follow the same order as the recordings.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: buy a single ticketChecked September 2026
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