UNIT 8
City Hall, Address & Basic Procedures
City Hall, Address & Basic Procedures
Lesson 5: Asking About Documents and Certificates
しょうめいしょをください — Requesting Official Documents
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
Japanese government offices issue a wide range of official certificates — residence certificates, family register copies, seal registration certificates, and more. In this lesson you will learn how to ask what documents you need for a given purpose, request the certificate you want, specify how many copies, ask about fees, and check how long you will need to wait.
What you will learn:
- Ask what you need — 何が必要ですか
- Ask which documents are needed — どの書類が必要ですか
- Request a certificate — 証明書がほしいです
- Specify the number of copies — 1通お願いします
- Ask the fee — いくらですか
- Ask how long it takes — 何分ぐらいかかりますか
- Ask when it will be ready — いつできますか
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
何が必要ですか。
Nani ga hitsuyoo desu ka.
What do I need?
どの書類が必要ですか。
Dono shorui ga hitsuyoo desu ka.
Which documents do I need?
証明書がほしいです。
Shoomeesho ga hoshii desu.
I would like a certificate.
1通お願いします。
Ittsuu onegaishimasu.
One copy, please.
いくらですか。
Ikura desu ka.
How much is it?
何分ぐらいかかりますか。
Nanpun gurai kakarimasu ka.
About how many minutes does it take?
いつできますか。
Itsu dekimasu ka.
When will it be ready?
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 何が必要ですか vs どの書類が必要ですか
何が必要ですか = “What do I need?” — a broad, open question for when you are starting from zero. どの書類が必要ですか = “Which documents do I need?” — more specific, asking about paperwork in particular. Use the first when you arrive and aren’t sure of anything. Use the second once you know you need documents but don’t know which ones.
② 〇通 — counting copies of documents
In Japanese, copies of official documents are counted using the counter 通 (tsuu). This counter is used specifically for letters, documents, and certificates.
1通 (ittsuu) — one copy
2通 (ni tsuu) — two copies
3通 (san tsuu) — three copies
③ 何分ぐらいかかりますか — asking the wait time
かかります = “it takes (time/money).” The ぐらい softens the question to “about how long.” Typical answers: 10分ぐらいです (about 10 minutes) or 30分ぐらいかかります (it takes about 30 minutes).
⚠️ Common Mistake
Don’t say 証明書を1つください. Documents use the counter 通, not つ. Say 1通お願いします. Using the wrong counter is a very common mistake for learners — but staff will understand and gently correct you.
Don’t say 証明書を1つください. Documents use the counter 通, not つ. Say 1通お願いします. Using the wrong counter is a very common mistake for learners — but staff will understand and gently correct you.
3. Common Documents & Certificates ／ よく使う書類
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 住民票 | juuminhyoo | residence certificate |
| 証明書 | shoomeesho | certificate (general) |
| 戸籍謄本 | koseki toohon | family register (full copy) |
| 印鑑登録証明書 | inkan tooroku shoomeesho | seal registration certificate |
| 書類 | shorui | documents (general) |
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Requesting a Residence Certificate
💬 Conversation 2 — Asking What Documents Are Needed
💬 Conversation 3 — Fee and Waiting Time
💬 Conversation 4 — Two Copies
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 必要 | hitsuyoo | necessary / needed |
| 書類 | shorui | documents |
| 証明書 | shoomeesho | certificate |
| 〇通 | 〇tsuu | 〇 copies (counter for documents) |
| かかります | kakarimasu | it takes (time / money) |
| ぐらい | gurai | about / approximately |
| ほしいです | hoshii desu | I would like / I want |
| いくら | ikura | how much |
6. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. Answers and explanations are shown below.
Q1. How do you say “I would like a certificate”?
A. 証明書はどこですか。 B. 証明書が必要ですか。 C. 証明書がほしいです。 D. 証明書をください。
Answer: C
証明書がほしいです = “I would like a certificate.” 〇〇がほしいです is a polite way to express wanting something.
証明書がほしいです = “I would like a certificate.” 〇〇がほしいです is a polite way to express wanting something.
Q2. How do you request one copy of a document?
A. 1枚お願いします。 B. 1個お願いします。 C. 1本お願いします。 D. 1通お願いします。
Answer: D
1通お願いします = “One copy, please.” Documents and official letters use the counter 通. Two copies = 2通.
1通お願いします = “One copy, please.” Documents and official letters use the counter 通. Two copies = 2通.
Q3. How do you ask “How much is it?”
A. 何分ですか。 B. いくらですか。 C. いつできますか。 D. 何通ですか。
Answer: B
いくらですか = “How much is it?” Most government certificates cost 300–400 yen per copy, payable at the counter.
いくらですか = “How much is it?” Most government certificates cost 300–400 yen per copy, payable at the counter.
Q4. What does 「何分ぐらいかかりますか。」 mean?
A. How many copies? B. How much is it? C. About how many minutes does it take? D. When will it be ready?
Answer: C
何分ぐらいかかりますか = “About how many minutes does it take?” かかります = takes (time). ぐらい = about.
何分ぐらいかかりますか = “About how many minutes does it take?” かかります = takes (time). ぐらい = about.
Q5. What does 「いつできますか。」 mean?
A. What do I need? B. Can I do it today? C. When can I pick it up? / When will it be ready? D. How long does it take?
Answer: C
いつできますか = “When will it be ready?” いつ = when. できます = is finished / ready.
いつできますか = “When will it be ready?” いつ = when. できます = is finished / ready.
Q6. How do you ask which documents are needed?
A. 何が必要ですか。 B. どの書類が必要ですか。 C. 何通ですか。 D. 書類はどこですか。
Answer: B
どの書類が必要ですか = “Which documents do I need?” More specific than A (何が必要ですか = “What do I need?” in general).
どの書類が必要ですか = “Which documents do I need?” More specific than A (何が必要ですか = “What do I need?” in general).
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
何が必要ですか。 → ______
どの書類が必要ですか。 → ______
証明書がほしいです。 → ______
1通お願いします。 → ______
いくらですか。 → ______
何分ぐらいかかりますか。 → ______
いつできますか。 → ______
Choices: A. One copy, please. B. How much is it? C. When will it be ready? D. What do I need? E. About how many minutes does it take? F. Which documents do I need? G. I would like a certificate.
Answers: 何が必要ですか = D ／ どの書類が必要ですか = F ／ 証明書がほしいです = G ／ 1通お願いします = A ／ いくらですか = B ／ 何分ぐらいかかりますか = E ／ いつできますか = C
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice requesting an official document at the ward office.
Try this complete sequence with your teacher:
住民票がほしいです。／ 1通お願いします。／ いくらですか。／ 何分ぐらいかかりますか。／ ありがとうございます。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson you learned how to request official documents and certificates at the ward office.
住民票がほしいです。(I’d like a certificate.)
1通お願いします。(One copy, please.)
いくらですか。(How much?)
何分ぐらいかかりますか。(About how long?)
1通お願いします。(One copy, please.)
いくらですか。(How much?)
何分ぐらいかかりますか。(About how long?)
💡 Key counter: 通 is used for official documents and letters — not 枚 (flat sheets) or 個 (objects). Using the correct counter shows confidence and makes your request completely clear.
FAQ
Q. Can I get a residence certificate at a convenience store?
Yes — if you have a マイナンバーカード (My Number Card), you can use the multi-function kiosk (マルチコピー機) at most convenience stores 24 hours a day. The cost is the same as at the ward office (300 yen). This is the fastest option and avoids queuing entirely.
Q. What is the difference between 住民票 and 戸籍謄本?
住民票 (juuminhyoo) shows your current registered address in Japan. 戸籍謄本 (koseki toohon) is the family register — it shows family relationships, births, marriages, and deaths. The 住民票 is more commonly needed for everyday procedures; the 戸籍謄本 is required for marriage registration, citizenship, and similar formal events.
Q. Do I need to pay at the counter when I request the document?
Yes. Payment is made at the counter when you pick up the completed document, not when you submit the request. Have exact change or a small bill ready — 300 yen per 住民票 copy is most common. Some ward offices also accept IC cards for payment.
📄 Practice with a real teacher
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
Requesting official documents in Japanese is a real-life skill you will use often. Try a free trial lesson and practice the complete document request conversation with a professional teacher.
Online or in-person — both available on request.