Sample dialogues for ATM and teller interactions in Japanese
Here are sample dialogues for ATM and teller interactions in Japanese, including common phrases used in each context:
ATM Interaction Dialogue in Japanese
At Japanese ATMs, the most useful words are お引き出し (withdrawal), 預け入れ (deposit), 残高照会 (balance inquiry), and 振込 (bank transfer). The machine usually uses polite, short instructions, and the exact wording may vary by bank, but the core phrases are very consistent.
User approaching ATM for withdrawal:
-
ATM画面 (ATM screen shows options)
- お引き出し (Withdrawal)
- 預け入れ (Deposit)
- 残高照会 (Balance Inquiry)
- 振込 (Transfer)
-
User selects:
- お引き出ししてください。(Please withdraw money.)
- 金額を入力してください。(Please enter the amount.)
- 暗証番号を入力してください。(Please enter your PIN code.)
-
ATM confirms transaction:
- お取り扱いありがとうございます。(Thank you for your transaction.)
- 現金と明細書をお取りください。(Please take your cash and receipt.)
In real use, the ATM often does not require a full spoken sentence from the user. The important part is recognizing the screen labels and responding to prompts such as 金額 (amount) and 暗証番号 (PIN). 暗証番号 is the standard banking term for a PIN in Japan, and it is used across ATMs, card payments, and many account-verification screens.
A practical listening point is that ATM instructions often rely on polite imperative forms. 〜してください means “please do,” so 金額を入力してください and 暗証番号を入力してください are straightforward instructions rather than conversational small talk. For learners, this kind of fixed banking language is especially useful because it appears in many everyday situations and can be practiced as a complete routine rather than as isolated vocabulary. Active conversation practice helps this kind of language become automatic, especially when the goal is to react quickly to short prompts.
Teller Interaction Dialogue in Japanese
At a bank counter, the conversation is usually more formal than at an ATM. Staff commonly use polite language, and customers often mirror that level of politeness with 〜たいです or 〜お願いします.
At the bank counter:
-
銀行員 (Bank teller): いらっしゃいませ。ご用件は何ですか？
(Welcome. How can I help you?) -
顧客 (Customer): お金を引き出したいです。
(I want to withdraw money.) -
銀行員: 口座番号をお持ちですか？
(Do you have your account number?) -
顧客: はい、こちらです。
(Yes, here it is.) -
銀行員: いくら引き出しますか？
(How much would you like to withdraw?) -
顧客: 10,000円お願いします。
(10,000 yen please.) -
銀行員: はい、少々お待ちください。
(Okay, please wait a moment.) -
銀行員: お待たせしました。こちらがお引き出しの現金です。
(Thank you for waiting. Here is your cash withdrawal.) -
顧客: ありがとうございます。
(Thank you very much.)
A teller conversation may include extra verification steps that do not appear at an ATM. For example, the staff may ask for an account book, bank card, identification, or a seal depending on the bank and the type of transaction. In Japan, some transactions still rely on highly specific paperwork or identity checks, so the bank visit can feel more procedural than in many other countries.
Useful phrases for banking in Japanese
These phrases cover the most common actions in an ATM or bank counter interaction:
- お金を引き出す — to withdraw money
- お金を預ける — to deposit money
- 残高を確認する — to check the balance
- 振り込む — to make a bank transfer
- 口座 — bank account
- 口座番号 — account number
- キャッシュカード — cash card
- 通帳 — passbook
- 暗証番号 — PIN code
- 明細書 — receipt or transaction slip
- こちらです — here it is
- 少々お待ちください — please wait a moment
Some of these forms are more natural in speech than others. For example, お引き出し and お預け入れ are common banking nouns, while お金を引き出したいです is a natural way for a customer to state the request politely. The noun form is especially common on ATM screens, while the verb form is often more useful in spoken conversation.
Common politeness patterns
Japanese banking interactions depend heavily on polite forms. The most common patterns are:
- 〜お願いします for a request: 10,000円お願いします。
- 〜たいです for stating a desire: お金を引き出したいです。
- 〜ください for giving or receiving instructions: 暗証番号を入力してください。
- お待ちください for asking someone to wait politely: 少々お待ちください。
These patterns are compact and predictable, which makes them ideal for memorizing as chunks. A learner who can say 10,000円お願いします or understand 現金と明細書をお取りください is already equipped for a real banking exchange.
Example mini-dialogue for a deposit
ATM and teller conversations are not limited to withdrawals. Deposit language is equally important:
-
顧客: 預け入れをしたいです。
(I want to make a deposit.) -
銀行員: 金額をお願いします。
(Please give me the amount.) -
顧客: 5,000円です。
(It is 5,000 yen.) -
銀行員: ありがとうございました。
(Thank you very much.)
At an ATM, the screen may simply say 預け入れ, and the process may require inserting cash directly into the machine. At a counter, the wording tends to be slightly more formal and may include checking the amount out loud.
Common mistakes to avoid
A few language points can make banking Japanese sound more natural:
- お金を引き出す is natural for “withdraw money,” while お金を下ろす is also common in daily speech.
- 口座番号 means account number, not just bank number.
- 暗証番号 is the usual term for PIN, not パスワード in this context.
- 明細書 is the slip or receipt printed by the machine, not a statement in the broader sense.
The difference between ATM vocabulary and counter vocabulary is important. ATMs rely on short labels and commands, while bank tellers usually use fuller polite sentences. Recognizing that shift makes real transactions much easier to follow.
Quick reference dialogue set
ATM
- お引き出し
- 金額を入力してください。
- 暗証番号を入力してください。
- 現金と明細書をお取りください。
Bank teller
- いらっしゃいませ。ご用件は何ですか？
- お金を引き出したいです。
- いくら引き出しますか？
- 10,000円お願いします。
- 少々お待ちください。
- ありがとうございます。
These dialogues cover standard phrases and exchanges both at an ATM and with a bank teller in Japan, useful for everyday banking interactions. The key vocabulary includes お引き出し (withdrawal), 預け入れ (deposit), 残高照会 (balance inquiry), 暗証番号 (PIN code), and basic polite conversational phrases at the teller.