Learn Japanese from the News
Lessons on this site use content from the NHK WORLD JAPAN program "Learn Japanese from the News." Use the news to learn Japanese and take conversations to a new level.
Learn Japanese from the News
Lessons on this site use content from the NHK WORLD JAPAN program "Learn Japanese from the News." Use the news to learn Japanese and take conversations to a new level.
銀行口座を作ることが難しいと感じている外国人のために、スマートフォンのアプリで口座が作りやすくなるサービスが始まった、というニュースです。このニュースを通して、銀行で必要な手続きに関する表現を学びましょう。
ぎんこうこうざを つくることが むずかしいと かんじている がいこくじんのために すまーとふぉんの あぷりで こうざが つくりやすくなる さーびすが はじまった というにゅーすです。 このにゅーすを とおして、 ぎんこうで ひつような てつづきに かんする ひょうげんを まなびましょう。
Ginkoo-kooza o tsukuru koto ga muzukashii to kanjite iru gaikokujin no tame ni, sumaatofuon no apuri de kooza ga tsukuriyasuku naru saabisu ga hajimatta, to iu nyuusu desu. Kono nyuusu o tooshite, ginkoo de hitsuyoo na tetsuzuki ni kansuru hyoogen o manabimashoo.
Today’s news story is about a new service that makes it possible to easily open a bank account through a smartphone app. This service will be helpful for international residents in Japan who have felt that opening a bank account was complicated. Follow along to learn expressions related to procedures at a bank.
外国人がスマートフォンで銀行の口座が作りやすくなるサービスができました。
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English
A new service makes it easier for international residents to open bank accounts on their smartphone.
Explanation
「口座(kooza)」 refers to an account at a bank or other financial institution. For example, 「預金口座(yokin-kooza)」 means “deposit account.” The key phrase in this sentence is 「作りやすくなる(tsukuriyasuku naru)」, which means “become easier to make.” It’s made up of three components: the verb 「作る(tsukuru)」, the adjective 「やすい(yasui)」, and the verb 「なる(naru)」. 「やすい」 means “easy.” 「なる」 means “to become.” It indicates a change in state. For example, 「便利になる(benri ni naru)」 refers to something becoming more convenient. When 「なる」 is preceded by an adjective that ends in 「い(i)」 like 「やすい(yasui)」, we change the 「い」 to 「く(ku)」. So it’s 「やすくなる(yasuku naru)」.
スマートフォンのアプリを使って、短い時間で口座を作ることができます。
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Using a smartphone app, you can open an account in a short time.
お金を送ることもできて、料金は1か月1100円と決まっています。
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You can also send money for a set fee of 1,100 yen a month.
英語とベトナム語で利用できます。
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The service is available in English and Vietnamese.
外国人が日本の銀行などに口座を作るのは、複雑で言葉が違うため簡単ではありません。
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It’s not easy for international residents to open an account at a Japanese bank due to the complicated process and language barrier.
Explanation
「複雑(fukuzatsu)」 means “complicated.” It describes a situation that is not easily understood or explained. It’s the opposite of 「単純(tanjun)」(simple).
In today’s story,「複雑」 refers to the fact that there are many steps and procedures needed to open a bank account. 「複雑」 is an adjective, and when we want to attach it in front of a noun we add the particle 「な」. So 「複雑な手続き(fukuzatsu na tetsuzuki)」 means “complicated procedure.”
外国にお金を送るときの料金も安くなくて大変です。
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Also, the fee for sending money overseas is not cheap, which can be a burden.
サービスを作った会社の人は「スマートフォンで簡単にできるので、日本で働く外国人がたくさん利用すると思います」と言っています。
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The company behind the service says, “It’s easy to use on your smartphone. We believe expats working in Japan will really make use of this service.”
bank
銀行
ぎんこう
ginkoo
account
口座
こうざ
kooza
complicated
複雑
ふくざつ
fukuzatsu
Shuffle
日
Japanese
E
English
ロン(Long)
最近日本の会社で働き始めた。ソフィアの後輩。
アン、一恵と同じマンションの住人。
ソフィア(Sophia)
ロンと同じ会社で働く先輩。子育てをしながら、日本で5年間働いている。
田中健司
ロンの上司。中学生と、小学生の2人の子どもがいる。
アン(An)
夫が日本で働くことになり、一緒に日本で暮らしている。小学生の娘がいる。
鈴木一恵
ロン、アンと同じマンションの住人。現在は一人暮らし。
After seeing the news about how you can open a bank account through an app, An’s husband suggests to her that she open a bank account. He explains that there are benefits but also risks, and he offers a solution to one such issue.
夫:銀行口座が簡単に作れるアプリができたんだって。知ってた?
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English
There’s a new app that allows you to easily open a bank account. Did you know?
Explanation
An’s husband finds out about the app through the news and tells An about it. Because it is a conversation between a couple, they are using casual Japanese. You use the expression “知ってた?” to someone you are close to when talking about a piece of information the other may not know about. Be careful not to use it with someone whom that information does not concern. It may offend them, as it is like saying that they should know something.
アン:へえ、銀行に行かないでアプリで口座が開けるなんて、すごいね。
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English
Wow, I can’t believe you can open a bank account through an app and not have to go to a bank. That’s amazing.
夫:アンもアルバイト用の口座をもう一つ作ったらどう?
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Why don’t you make another bank account for your part time job?
アン:うーん。でも銀行口座もアプリだと、個人情報とかだいじょうぶかなあ。何だか心配。
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But...I’m concerned about the security of my personal information if I make a bank account though an app. I’m a bit worried.
Explanation
Use the word 「何だか」when you don’t know what exactly it is that makes you feel a certain way about something. You can also say 「何となく」. 「何だか」is also used to express an intuitive feeling. It is used with words that express feelings such as 「何だかうれしい」 and 「何だかあやしい」.
夫:でも信頼できる会社のアプリだったら安全だと思うよ。
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I think it’s safe if the app is from a company that you can trust.
アン:あと、パスワードとか盗まれたら、お金も盗まれるかもしれないし・・・。
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And if your password gets stolen, your money could get stolen too...
夫:ぼくだったら毎月パスワードを変えるけどね。ま、いろいろと考えてみたら?
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English
If it were me, I would change my password every month. Why don’t you think it over?
Explanation
This is a phrase used to express your opinion without denying the other person’s words. An was worried about her password being stolen, so An’s husband tells her a solution to that issue by using the hypothetical form,「もし、ぼくだったら」.
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