N5 · 5 min

The Konbini コンビニ

9pm. First week in Japan. You're hungry, tired, and the only thing open is the glowing konbini on the corner. Tonight, you buy dinner — in Japanese.

🐱 You (Kitty) 🧑‍💼 Clerk Tap a bubble to see the meaning · 🔊 plays the Japanese

The door slides open. A little chime plays. Bright lights, warm air, shelves of everything.

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You grab a tuna onigiri and a warm green tea. Now the boss fight: the register.

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ピッ! You tap your IC card on the reader. Payment done — not a single coin fumbled.

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Warm onigiri in hand, you step back into the night. First solo konbini run: complete. 🎉

Phrases you take home

すみません

you say it

sumimasen

Excuse me (to get attention)

〜はどこですか

you say it

~ wa doko desu ka

Where is ~?

お願いします

you say it

onegai shimasu

Please (do it)

大丈夫です

you say it

daijoubu desu

I'm fine / no thanks

温めますか

you hear it

atatamemasu ka

Shall I heat it? (listen for this)

袋はいりますか

you hear it

fukuro wa irimasu ka

Need a bag? (listen for this)

Words in this scene

コンビニ konbini · convenience store おにぎり onigiri · rice ball お茶 ocha · green tea 袋 fukuro · bag 店員 ten'in · store clerk 〜円 ~ en · ~ yen

🏮 Culture note

The konbini is your life support

Japanese konbini are open 24/7 and do far more than sell snacks: heat your meals, take your parcels, print documents, pay your bills. Clerks speak fast set phrases — you don't need to catch everything. Survive by listening for just two questions: 温めますか (heat it?) and 袋はいりますか (bag?).

Did you survive?

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