politeLesson 8

Viewing an Apartment — Senior colleague

Situation

Where
A real estate agency
Who
You and a senior colleague
Goal
To view a property and ask about conditions.

Conversation

Show

A

I'm looking for a place close to the station.

B

What budget do you have in mind?

A

Rent within eighty thousand yen, and ideally second floor or higher.

B

How about this property? The sunlight is good, too.

A

Nice. Can I view it?

Vocabulary (10)

bukken

property / listing

駅から近い物件 = "a place near the station."

yosan

budget

ご予算 with the honorific ご.

yachin

rent

家賃は八万円 = "rent is 80,000 yen."

〜inai

within

八万円以内 = "within 80,000 yen."

hiatari

sunlight exposure

日当たりが良い = "gets good sunlight."

naiken

property viewing

内見できますか = "can I view it?"

otsukaresamadesu

thank you for your work

The all-purpose workplace greeting, used like hello and goodbye between coworkers.

yoroshikuonegaishimasu

thank you in advance

Closes most requests and emails; sets a cooperative tone.

kakunin

confirmation / check

Daily-use word: ご確認お願いします means "please check."

shouchishimashita

understood (polite)

Politer than 分かりました; use with managers and clients.

Grammar

お + Verb stem + ですか

Honorific: お考えですか = "are you thinking?"

できれば + preference

If possible: できれば二階以上.

Noun + 以上

Or more: 二階以上 = "second floor or higher."

Cultural Notes

Workplace etiquette

Renting often involves key money (礼金), deposit (敷金), and a guarantor. Ask about total move-in costs.

Formality level

Polite. Stating budget and must-haves clearly helps the agent find suitable places.

Common mistake

Initial costs can be 4–5 months' rent. Ask about 初期費用 (move-in costs) up front, not just monthly rent.

Quiz

What does "物件" mean?

What does "予算" mean?

What does "家賃" mean?

What does "〜以内" mean?

What does "日当たり" mean?

What does "内見" mean?

How is the pattern "お〜ですか" used?

How is the pattern "できれば〜" used?

How is the pattern "〜以上" used?

What is the goal of this conversation?

Flashcards

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