In this workshop, you will practice a short exchange at a post office counter. You will learn to ask for stamps, say whether your postcards are for domestic or international mail, and ask about postage rates. The dialogue uses only the phrases from the recordings, so you can focus on speaking clearly and responding appropriately. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment. Use the self-checks to verify your answers.
Asking for Stamps and Specifying Postcards
Start with a simple request: «切手をください。» means “Stamps, please.” If you are holding postcards, you can say «この葉書に切手をください。» meaning “Stamps for this postcard, please.” The word «この» points to a specific postcard. When the clerk asks how many, you can reply with a number and counter, for example «五枚です。» meaning “Five stamps.” To ask about the rate for a postcard, use «葉書は何円ですか。» meaning “How much is it for a postcard?” For international mail, ask «国際郵便はいくらですか。» meaning “How much is international mail?” These phrases let you handle the basic counter interaction without extra vocabulary.
Understanding the Clerk’s Questions
The clerk may ask «はい、何枚ですか。» meaning “Yes, how many stamps?” You can answer with a number and «枚». The clerk may also ask «国内ですか、海外ですか。» meaning “Domestic or overseas?” This is a choice question. You can answer «国内です。» for domestic or «海外です。» for overseas. Notice that «国内» means domestic and «海外» means overseas. If you need to ask about the rate, you can use «葉書は何円ですか。» or «国際郵便はいくらですか。» These questions help you get the information you need before completing the purchase.
Putting It Together at the Counter
A full exchange might go like this: You say «すみません、切手をください。» (“Excuse me, stamps please.”). The clerk replies «はい、何枚ですか。» (“Yes, how many stamps?”). You then say «この葉書に切手をください。五枚です。» (“Stamps for this postcard, please. Five stamps.”). The clerk asks «国内ですか、海外ですか。» (“Domestic or overseas?”). You answer «海外です。» (“Overseas.”). If you need the rate, you can ask «国際郵便はいくらですか。» (“How much is international mail?”). This sequence covers the key phrases. Practice both roles so you can respond smoothly.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
切手をください。
Stamps, please.
Kitte o kudasai.
この葉書に切手をください。
Stamps for this postcard, please.
Kono hagaki ni kitte o kudasai.
葉書は何円ですか。
How much is it for a postcard?
Hagaki wa nan-en desu ka.
国際郵便はいくらですか。
How much is international mail?
Kokusai yūbin wa ikura 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、切手をください。
Excuse me, stamps please.はい、何枚ですか。
Yes, how many stamps?この葉書に切手をください。五枚です。
Stamps for this postcard, please. Five stamps.国内ですか、海外ですか。
Domestic or overseas?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Requesting Stamps
Imagine you are at a post office counter. You have five postcards to send overseas. The clerk is ready to help.
Your task: Say the following in Japanese: 1) Excuse me, stamps please. 2) Stamps for this postcard, please. Five stamps. 3) How much is international mail? Use the phrases from the recordings.
Reply Comprehension: Domestic or Overseas?
You are the clerk. A customer has just said «この葉書に切手をください。五枚です。» Now you need to ask whether the postcards are for domestic or overseas mail.
Your task: Ask the customer «国内ですか、海外ですか。» Then listen to the customer’s answer. If the customer says «海外です。» what does that mean in English? If the customer says «国内です。» what does that mean?
Recall with Correct Roles: Full Counter Exchange
Recreate the full exchange from the recordings. You will play both the customer and the clerk. Use only the phrases you have learned.
Your task: Start as the customer: say «すみません、切手をください。» Then switch to clerk: say «はい、何枚ですか。» Switch back to customer: say «この葉書に切手をください。五枚です。» Switch to clerk: say «国内ですか、海外ですか。» Finally, as customer, answer «海外です。» and ask «国際郵便はいくらですか。»
Common questions
What does «この葉書に切手をください。» mean?
It means “Stamps for this postcard, please.” You use it when you are holding or pointing to a specific postcard. The word «この» means “this” and modifies the noun «葉書» (postcard).
How do I ask about the postage rate for a postcard?
You can ask «葉書は何円ですか。» meaning “How much is it for a postcard?” For international mail, ask «国際郵便はいくらですか。» meaning “How much is international mail?” These questions help you find out the cost before buying stamps.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: buy a stampChecked September 2026
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