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39. Neighborhood

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Vocabulary

スーパー suupaa

supermarket

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

スーパーで水を買います
suupaa de mizu o kaimasu — I buy water at the supermarket
あのスーパーは安いです
ano suupaa wa yasui desu — That supermarket is cheap
スーパーはどこですか
suupaa wa doko desu ka — Where is the supermarket?
コンビニ konbini

convenience store

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

コンビニはここです
konbini wa koko desu — The convenience store is here
コンビニでご飯を買いました
konbini de gohan o kaimashita — I bought a meal at the convenience store
駅の隣にコンビニがあります
eki no tonari ni konbini ga arimasu — There is a convenience store next to the station
交番 (こうばん) kouban

police box

Noun

A word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

交番はあそこです
kouban wa asoko desu — The police box is over there
交番で聞きました
kouban de kikimashita — I asked at the police box
公園の前に交番があります
kouen no mae ni kouban ga arimasu — There is a police box in front of the park

Cultural Notes

交番 - Japan's Neighborhood Police Boxes

You'll see small police boxes called 交番 on street corners all over Japan. They're not like a full police station - think of them as a tiny neighborhood outpost where a 警官 sits and helps people. If you're lost, a 交番 is the best place to ask for directions.

お寺 vs 神社 - Temples and Shrines Are Different

お寺 are Buddhist temples and 神社 are Shinto shrines - two different religions, two different kinds of places. Most Japanese people visit both depending on the occasion. A quick way to tell them apart: 神社 have a gate called a torii at the entrance, while お寺 usually have a large gate with a roof.

コンビニ Culture

コンビニ in Japan are nothing like convenience stores in other countries. They sell fresh food, have ATMs, let you pay bills, and are open 24 hours. Many people grab breakfast or lunch at a コンビニ every day - the food is surprisingly good and cheap.