N4 Series 3: Shopping & Daily Services (日本語 Talk Radio)

Master essential everyday Japanese services in Tokyo: navigating a Japanese hair salon consultation and thinning hair (すいてください), explaining cold symptoms and finding non-drowsy medication at the drugstore (眠くならない薬), and politely dodging over-eager fashion retail staff in Harajuku (見てるだけです).

Who this course is for

This course is designed for self-learners and JLPT candidates preparing for N4, N3, with emphasis on video, shopping, services, lifestyle, conversation through structured lessons and guided practice. Study 3 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. The Japanese Hair Salon Adventure — Experience a Japanese hair salon consultation: keeping length while trimming split ends (毛先を整える程度で), thinning out thick hair (すいてください), and polite answers during shampoo (お湯の温度・痒いところ).
  2. Catching a Cold — Surviving the Japanese Drugstore — Communicate health symptoms at a Japanese pharmacy: explaining fever and sore throat (熱・のどの痛み), requesting non-drowsy medication (眠くならない薬), and understanding meal-timed dosages (食前・食後).
  3. Just Looking, Thanks! — Dodging Eager Shop Clerks — Navigate Japanese fashion boutique shopping: politely dodging enthusiastic sales staff (見てるだけです), asking to try items on in fitting rooms (試着してもいいですか), asking for sizes, and gracefully declining (検討してまた来ます).

Sample vocabulary from this course

  • 風邪薬（かぜぐすり） (風邪薬): cold medicine
  • 店員（てんいん） (店員): shop assistant / store clerk
  • 美容室（びようしつ） (美容室): hair salon / beauty parlor
  • 症状（しょうじょう） (症状): symptoms
  • 毛先（けさき） (毛先): ends of the hair / hair tips
  • 見てるだけ（みてえるだけ） (見てるだけ): just looking / browsing
  • 試着（しちゃく） (試着): trying on clothes
  • すく (梳く): to thin out / reduce hair volume with thinning shears
  • 喉（のど） (喉): throat
  • 発熱（はつねつ） / 熱（ねつ） (熱): fever / high temperature
  • 試着室（しちゃくしつ） (試着室): fitting room / dressing room
  • お湯（おゆ） (お湯): hot/warm water
  • 鼻水（はなみず） (鼻水): runny nose / nasal mucus
  • 痒い（かゆい） (痒い): itchy
  • サイズ (サイズ): size (S, M, L)
  • 眠気（ねむけ） (眠気): drowsiness / sleepiness
  • ちょうどいい (丁度いい): just right / perfect
  • 検討する（けんとうする） (検討する): to consider / think over
  • 食後（しょくご） (食後): after meals (within 30 mins after eating)
  • 前髪（まえがみ） (前髪): bangs / fringe
  • 新作（しんさく） (新作): new arrival / new collection
  • 鏡（かがみ） (鏡): mirror
  • お大事に（おだいじに） (お大事に): take care of yourself / get well soon
  • 鏡（かがみ） (鏡): mirror

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