N4 Topic-Based Conversation — City Hall Procedures (Yakuba)

N4 Topic-Based Conversation — City Hall Procedures (Yakuba) — N4 topic-conversation, conversation course thumbnail

An eight-lesson N4 course on everyday procedures at a Japanese city hall (yakuba): the reception desk and numbered tickets, moving-in notification, residence certificates, seal registration, My Number cards, national health insurance, resident tax, and moving-out deadlines.

Who this course is for

This course is designed for self-learners and JLPT candidates preparing for N4, with emphasis on topic-conversation, conversation through structured lessons and guided practice. Study 8 step-by-step lessons with free interactive quizzes on Minna Nihongo. Ideal if you want exam-style review, daily study habits, and measurable progress without a classroom schedule.

Lessons

  1. At the City Hall Reception Desk — Ask where to go, get a numbered ticket and fill in forms politely at a Japanese city hall.
  2. Moving-In Notification — Report a new address within 14 days, bring the right documents and explain your household.
  3. Getting a Residence Certificate — Request a copy of your resident record, choose what to include and pay the fee.
  4. Seal Registration — Register your seal, understand the difference between a registered seal and an everyday seal.
  5. Applying for a My Number Card — Apply for and receive a My Number card, set your PINs and understand the expiry dates.
  6. Joining National Health Insurance — Enrol in national health insurance after leaving a job, ask about premium reductions and use your insurance card.
  7. Resident Tax and Payments — Understand a resident tax notice, choose a payment method and ask about instalments.
  8. Moving Out and Deadlines — Report a move-out, handle utilities and mail forwarding, and keep every city hall deadline.

Sample vocabulary from this course

  • 市役所（しやくしょ） (市役所): city hall, municipal office
  • 住民票（じゅうみんひょう） (住民票): resident record
  • 転入届（てんにゅうとどけ） (転入届): moving-in notification
  • 印鑑（いんかん） (印鑑): seal, personal stamp
  • マイナンバー (マイナンバー): My Number (national ID number)
  • 窓口（まどぐち） (窓口): counter, service window
  • 個人番号（こじんばんごう） (個人番号): individual number
  • 写し（うつし） (写し): copy, transcript
  • 引っ越し（ひっこし） (引っ越し): moving house
  • 登録（とうろく） (登録): registration
  • 受付（うけつけ） (受付): reception desk
  • 交付（こうふ） (交付): issuance, issuing
  • 実印（じついん） (実印): officially registered seal
  • 住所（じゅうしょ） (住所): address
  • 通知カード（つうちカード） (通知カード): notification card
  • 世帯主（せたいぬし） (世帯主): head of household
  • 番号札（ばんごうふだ） (番号札): numbered ticket
  • 認印（みとめいん） (認印): everyday seal (not registered)
  • 申請（しんせい） (申請): application
  • 申請書（しんせいしょ） (申請書): application form
  • 用紙（ようし） (用紙): form, sheet of paper
  • 手数料（てすうりょう） (手数料): fee, handling charge
  • 同居（どうきょ） (同居): living together
  • 交付（こうふ） (交付): issuance
  • 印鑑登録証明書（いんかんとうろくしょうめいしょ） (印鑑登録証明書): registered seal certificate
  • 記入（きにゅう） (記入): filling in a form
  • 顔写真（かおじゃしん） (顔写真): face photo, portrait photo
  • 一通（いっつう） (一通): one copy (of a document)
  • 本人確認（ほんにんかくにん） (本人確認): identity verification
  • 前の住所（まえのじゅうしょ） (前の住所): previous address
  • 有効（ゆうこう） (有効): valid, effective
  • 暗証番号（あんしょうばんごう） (暗証番号): PIN, personal identification number
  • 転出証明書（てんしゅつしょうめいしょ） (転出証明書): moving-out certificate
  • 記入例（きにゅうれい） (記入例): example of how to fill in a form
  • 世帯全員（せたいぜんいん） (世帯全員): all members of the household
  • 本籍（ほんせき） (本籍): registered domicile
  • 提出（ていしゅつ） (提出): submission, handing in
  • 期限（きげん） (期限): deadline, time limit
  • 設定（せってい） (設定): setting, configuration
  • 紛失（ふんしつ） (紛失): loss, losing something

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