About This Episode
Practice your JLPT N4 Japanese listening skills with one of Japan's most iconic everyday spots — the convenience store, or konbini! In this natural-speed listening episode, I share what makes them so special, from sending packages and paying bills to printing a newspaper from the day you were born. You'll pick up everyday vocabulary like 新聞 (shinbun — newspaper), 機械 (kikai — machine), and 商品 (shouhin — product) — all spoken at natural conversational speed with full English subtitles throughout.
Episode Details
Key Vocabulary
Here are the key words and phrases you will hear in this episode.
Grammar Points Covered
Using 〜ことができます to express ability and possibility
This grammar pattern expresses that something is possible or that you have the ability to do something. It is formed with the dictionary form of a verb followed by ことができます.
Example: いろいろなものをかうことができます。
You can buy all kinds of things there.
Using 〜たことがあります to express past experience
This pattern expresses that you have had the experience of doing something at least once. It is formed with the ta-form of a verb followed by ことがあります.
Example: にほんをりょこうしたことがある人がいますか？
Have any of you ever travelled to Japan?
Using 〜たら to express a conditional situation
The 〜たら conditional is used when you want to say 'when' or 'if' something happens. Once that condition is met, the action in the second clause follows naturally.
Example: にほんにきたら、いろいろなコンビニにいってみてください。
When you come to Japan, please try visiting various convenience stores.
Episode Transcript
Follow along while you listen. Japanese script first, then the English translation below.
Japanese (日本語)
みなさん、こんにちは！かなみです。きょうは、にほんのコンビニについておはなししましょう。みなさんは、コンビニをしっていますか？にほんのコンビニは、ほんとうにとくべつです！コンビニは、にほんのまちのなかにたくさんあります。
まず、コンビニとはなんですか？コンビニは、ちいさいおみせです。でも、ただのちいさいおみせではありません。いろいろなものをかうことができます。そして、いろいろなサービスもあります。コンビニは、にほんのせいかつにとてもたいせつなばしょです。
コンビニでは、たべものをかうことができます。のみものもかうことができます。でも、それだけではありません！コンビニでは、にもつをおくることもできます。ゆうびんきょくのようなサービスがあります。コンサートや、スポーツのチケットをかうこともできます。びっくりしますね！そして、でんきやガスのりょうきんをはらうことができます。
コンビニは、まるでちいさなまちのようです。わたしは、コンビニがとてもすきです。みなさんはコンビニのきかいをしっていますか？コンビニには、たくさんのきかいがあります。そのなかで、わたしがとくにすきなものがあります。それは、しんぶん（新聞）のプリントきかいです。このきかいで、むかしのしんぶん（新聞）をプリントすることができます。
たとえば、じぶんがうまれたひのしんぶん（新聞）をプリントすることができます。これはとてもすてきだとおもいます。ともだちや、かぞくへのたんじょうびプレゼントにもなります。わたしはこのプレゼントをおすすめします！みなさんもぜひためしてみてください。
つぎに、りょこうのときのことをはなしましょう。りょこうのとき、トイレをさがすことがありますね。コンビニには、たいていトイレがあります。だから、りょこうのとき、コンビニはとてもやくにたちます。にほんをりょこうしたことがある人がいますか？にほんのまちをあるいているとき、コンビニをよくみつけます。
そのとき、ぜひはいってみてください。トイレもつかうことができるし、のみものもかえます。コンビニがあったら、りょこうがとてもらくになります。つぎに、コンビニのとくべつなしょうひんについてはなしましょう。コンビニには、コンビニでしかかえないしょうひんがあります。スーパーでもかえないものです。
たとえば、コンビニのオリジナルおかしがあります。セブンイレブンには、セブンイレブンだけのしょうひんがあります。ローソンや、ファミリーマートもおなじです。だから、いろいろなコンビニにいくのがたのしいです。わたしは、コンビニのデザートがとくにすきです。シュークリームや、プリンがとてもおいしいです。ぜひためしてみてください！にほんにきたら、いろいろなコンビニにいってみてください。きっとすきなしょうひんがみつかります。
English Translation
Hey everyone! I'm Kanami. Today, let's talk about Japanese convenience stores. Have you heard of a 'konbini' before? Japanese convenience stores are genuinely unlike anything else. You'll find konbini all over every town and city in Japan.
So first — what exactly is a konbini? A konbini is a small shop. But it's not just a regular small shop. You can buy all kinds of things there. And there are all kinds of services too. The konbini is a really important part of daily life in Japan.
At a konbini, you can buy food. Drinks too. But here's the thing — that's not all! You can also send packages from a konbini. It works a bit like a post office. You can even buy concert tickets or sports tickets there. Surprising, right? And you can pay your electricity and gas bills there too.
A konbini is almost like a little town all by itself. I absolutely love konbini. Have you ever used the machines inside a konbini? There are all kinds of machines in there. And there's one in particular that I absolutely love. It's a newspaper printing machine. With this machine, you can print an old newspaper from the past.
For example — you can print the newspaper from the day you were born. I think that's really something special. And it makes a wonderful birthday gift for a friend or family member. I genuinely recommend it — it's one of my favourite gift ideas. Please do give it a try.
Next, let's talk about when you're travelling. When you're travelling, you sometimes need to find a bathroom, right? Konbini usually have bathrooms. So when you're travelling, konbini are incredibly helpful. Have any of you travelled to Japan before? Walking around any Japanese town, you'll spot a konbini very easily.
When you do — please go inside! You can use the bathroom, and pick up a drink. Having a konbini nearby makes travelling so much easier. Now let's talk about something really interesting — konbini-exclusive products. There are products you can only buy at a konbini — not anywhere else. Not even at the supermarket.
For example, each konbini has its own original snacks. Seven-Eleven has products that are exclusive to Seven-Eleven. Lawson and FamilyMart are the same. That's what makes visiting different konbini so much fun. Personally, I'm a huge fan of konbini desserts. The cream puffs and pudding are absolutely delicious. You have to try them! When you come to Japan, visit as many different konbini as you can. I'm sure you'll find something you love.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this episode for?
This episode is designed for intermediate Japanese learners studying at the JLPT N4 level. If you have been studying Japanese for 1 to 2 years and want to practise listening at a natural conversational speed, this is for you. It is ideal for students in Japademy's Intermediate courses or anyone preparing for the JLPT N4 exam.
What is this episode about?
This episode explores Japanese convenience stores, known as konbini — one of the most iconic parts of everyday life in Japan. We cover everything from buying food and drinks to sending packages, paying utility bills, and printing a newspaper from the day you were born. You will also discover exclusive konbini-only products and useful tips for travellers visiting Japan.
What vocabulary will I hear?
You will hear key words like konbini (convenience store), shinbun (newspaper), kikai (machine), shouhin (product), and nimotsu (package). These are practical everyday Japanese words that come up regularly in conversations about shopping and daily life in Japan.
How do I get the full transcript?
Subscribe to our free newsletter at japademy.com/japanese-listening-practice and we will send you the full PDF transcript for this episode, plus new episodes as they are released.
How can I keep improving my Japanese?
The best next step is to practise speaking as well as listening. At Japademy, Kanami teaches Japanese in small online classes of no more than 8 students, with certified native Japanese teachers. There are JLPT-focused courses designed for N4 preparation. A free trial lesson is available — check the link in the description or visit japademy.com/jlpt-online-courses.
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