Model conversations ザンマイ

Kaito and John are talking about a new store next to the station.

Did you hear about the new store next to the station?

It is opening next week.

No, what kind of store?

A clothes store.

I saw the leaflet yesterday.

The clothes looked very good.

The clothing designs are influenced by the latest trends from America.

They are also sold online.

It sounds good.

I was just thinking that I should buy some new shirts.

I want to try some on in the store.

Let’s go next week then.

There will be an opening sale.

It looks like everything will be discounted.

Sounds great.

I hope I can find some nice shirts.

Misaki and John are talking about the clothes store they went to.

Is that a new shirt?

It looks really nice.

Yes, I bought it yesterday.

Kaito took me to a new clothes store.

He told me about it, too.

I went there this morning actually.

It was filled with people!

It was really busy when I went there, too.

People were lined up around the corner to get in!

When I got in, I was amazed at the selection of clothes.

I’m glad that I went there.

It was worth the wait.

Definately.

I was surprised at the low prices, too.

I got some good bargains.

Yes, I really want to go back.

Do you want to go tomorrow?

John and Kaito are talking about a Japanese expression.

Kaito, I’m doing well with Japanese but I still don’t know when to say Otsukaresama.

It’s a phrase which we use to show our appreciation to others.

It basically means Thank you for your hard work.

I see.

What a useful expression!

But I have many friends who use it when they say goodbye.

Oh, right.

Young people use it more casually when they want to say goodbye.

Now I understand.

So, it can be used to say both thank you and goodbye.

Oh, we use it to say hello, too.

Really?

Kaito and John are talking about Australian money.

I was looking at some Australian money and found there is no 1 cent coin!

That’s right.

They stopped using it because it’s too expensive to make the coins.

But the prices haven’t changed.

So, the price tag might say $1.99, but you can’t pay what it says on the tag in cash.

Well, for prices ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7, you round down.

And for prices ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9, you round up, which means that $1.99 becomes $2.

In other words, you often have to pay a little extra.

It balances out, as you often pay a little less, too.

The ways in which people pay for things are changing, too.

Digital payment is getting common nowadays.

Kaito and John are talking about Christmas.

John, I heard you’re going home this winter break.

Yes.

My relatives are getting together at my family’s house to celebrate Christmas.

That’s why I decided to go back, even for a little while.

That sounds like how we spend the New Year.

In Japan, the New Year is the time when families get together.

Will you have a big turkey dinner?

Well, traditionally people eat turkey.

But nowadays, many people eat whatever they like.

How will you spend Christmas, then?

I’ll probably have a party with some friends.

That’s what we do for the New Year.