Requesting a Copy of a Document | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At a service desk, one adult asks for a copy of a stamped document page and confirms how the original will be handled..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Requesting a Copy of a Document to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

この書類のコピーをいただけますか。

koh-noh shoh-ree-noh koh-pee-oh ee-tah-dah-keh-mahs-kah Could I get a copy of this document?
B

まず原本を確認する必要があります。

mah-zoo gohn-pohn-oh kah-koo-nin-soo-roo hee-tsuh-YOH ah-ree-mahs I need to see the original first.
A

申請書に記入すればいいですか。

sheen-SAY-shoh-nee kee-NYOO-soo-reh-bah EE-dess-kah Should I fill out a request form?
B

申請書に記入してください。

sheen-SAY-shoh-nee kee-NYOO-shee-teh koo-dah-SAI Please complete the form.
B

そうすれば、コピーを取れます。

soh-oo-soo-reh-bah, koh-pee-oh toh-reh-mahs Then I can make the copy.
A

スタンプがあるページだけ必要です。

suh-TAHM-poo-gah ah-roo PAY-jee dah-keh hee-tsuh-YOH dess I only need the page with the stamp.
B

そのページをコピーして、ほかのページは一緒にしておきます。

soh-noh PAY-jee-oh koh-pee-shee-teh, hoh-kah-noh PAY-jee-wah ee-SHOH-nee shee-teh oh-kee-mahs I will copy that page and keep the other pages together.
A

原本は丁寧に扱ってください。

gohn-pohn-wah tee-NAY-nee ah-tsut-teh koo-dah-SAI Please handle the original carefully.
B

すべて一緒にお返しします。

soo-beh-teh ee-SHOH-nee oh-kah-eh-shee-shee-mahs I will return everything together.

Word by Word

この この means “this” and points to the document near the speaker, as in この書類. It is placed before a noun to identify a specific nearby item, such as このページ.
書類 書類 means “document” in この書類のコピー. It refers here to the document presented at the service desk. This word is useful when asking about, submitting, or copying official paperwork.
の の links この書類 to コピー and shows the relationship “of” or “belonging to” in この書類のコピー. A reliable reuse pattern is a noun followed by の and another noun to specify what kind of thing it is.
コピー コピー means “copy” in この書類のコピー and コピーを取れます. At a service desk, you use it when requesting or discussing a reproduced document. It commonly appears with を when it is the thing being made or taken.
を を marks コピー as the thing requested in コピーをいただけますか and the thing that can be made in コピーを取れます. It commonly follows the direct object of an action.
いただけますか いただけますか is a polite request asking whether the speaker may receive or get something, here この書類のコピー. Within this expression, いただけ contributes the possibility of receiving, ます makes the request polite, and か turns it into a question. You can use this expression at a service desk when making a respectful request.
まず まず means “first” and shows that checking the original must happen before the next step in まず原本を確認する必要があります. It is useful for putting the first action in a sequence, especially when explaining procedures.
原本 原本 means “the original document” in 原本を確認する and 原本は丁寧に扱ってください. It distinguishes the original from its copy. This word is useful when discussing checking, handling, or returning an original document.
確認する 確認する means “to check” or “to confirm,” referring here to checking the original in 原本を確認する必要があります. It is used when someone must verify information or an item before continuing. At a service desk, it can describe checking a document, form, or detail.
必要 必要 expresses “need” or “necessity” in 原本を確認する必要があります. It says that checking the original is required before the copy can be made. A reliable reuse pattern is an action followed by 必要があります when that action is necessary.
が が marks 必要 as the thing that exists in 原本を確認する必要があります, giving the sense that there is a need to check the original. It commonly links a subject or required thing with あります.
あります あります means “there is” or “exists,” and in 原本を確認する必要があります it expresses that a need exists. The polite form is suitable for explaining a procedure to a customer. It is also used for stating that an inanimate item or condition exists.
申請書 申請書 means “application form” in 申請書に記入すればいいですか and 申請書に記入してください. It is the form the customer must fill in to request the copy. This word is useful when asking someone to complete an official application.
に に marks 申請書 as the form on which the information is entered in 申請書に記入してください. It identifies the destination or place of the action. A reliable reuse pattern is a document followed by に when saying that something is written or entered on it.
記入 記入 refers to entering information or filling in a form, as in 申請書に記入すればいいですか and 申請書に記入してください. It is used for written information on an official form. At a service desk, it helps explain what the customer needs to do before the request is processed.
すれば すれば marks the condition “if I do it” in 記入すればいいですか, so the speaker asks whether filling in the form is the correct step. It is useful when asking what action should be taken under a particular condition. The pattern can introduce an action whose result or suitability is being questioned.
いい いい contributes the idea of “okay” or “acceptable” in 記入すればいいですか. Together with すれば and ですか, it asks whether filling in the form is the right thing to do. This is useful when checking the correct procedure politely.
です です gives polite framing to いいですか in the question 記入すればいいですか. It helps make the question suitable for a service-desk interaction. It commonly follows a description or evaluation when speaking politely.
か か marks 記入すればいいですか as a question. At the end of a polite sentence, it signals that the speaker is asking for confirmation or information. Here the speaker wants to confirm the required procedure.
して して appears in both 記入してください and コピーして、ほかのページは一緒にしておきます. In 記入してください it connects the filling-in action to the request, while in コピーして it connects copying to the following action. It is useful for linking actions or forming a polite request with ください.
ください ください makes 記入してください a polite request for the listener to fill in the form. It follows the action the speaker wants the listener to perform. At a service desk, this form is useful when giving a respectful instruction.
そう そう means “that way” in そうすれば, referring to completing the form as the condition for the next step. It connects the stated action with the resulting possibility of making the copy. Use it when referring back to an immediately preceding condition or method.
取れます 取れます means “can make” or “can take” in コピーを取れます, expressing that the staff member can make the copy. The object コピー is marked by を. This form is useful when explaining that a requested service can be provided.
スタンプ スタンプ means “stamp” in スタンプがあるページ. It identifies the mark that determines which page the customer wants copied. This word is useful when pointing out a particular feature on a document.
ある ある means that the stamp exists or is present in スタンプがあるページ. It describes the presence of an inanimate thing. A reliable reuse pattern is an item followed by がある when identifying what is present somewhere.
ページ ページ means “page” in スタンプがあるページだけ必要です and そのページをコピーして. Here it refers to the specific page containing the stamp. It is useful when selecting, copying, or referring to one part of a document.
だけ だけ means “only” and limits the request to the page with the stamp in スタンプがあるページだけ必要です. It shows that the other pages are not needed for the copy. It can be placed after the item being limited, such as a page or document.
その その means “that” and points back to the page already identified in スタンプがあるページだけ必要です. In そのページをコピーして, it specifies which page the staff member will copy. It is placed before a noun when referring to an already mentioned item.
ほか ほか means “other” or “the others” in ほかのページは. It refers to the pages apart from the page being copied. It commonly appears before の and a noun when identifying other items in the same group.
は は marks ほかのページ as the topic in ほかのページは一緒にしておきます. It sets the other pages apart as the items that will be kept together. It is useful when shifting attention to a different item or contrasting it with the main item.
一緒に 一緒に means “together” in 一緒にしておきます and 一緒にお返しします. It describes keeping the other pages together and returning all the items together. Use it when items should remain grouped or be handled as one set.
おきます おきます means “keep” or “leave in a certain state” in 一緒にしておきます. It says that the other pages will be kept together after the copying step. This is useful when explaining that an arrangement will be maintained for later handling.
丁寧に 丁寧に means “carefully” in 原本は丁寧に扱ってください. It describes the careful manner requested for handling the original document. It commonly comes before an action to explain how that action should be done.
扱って 扱って means “handle” in 原本は丁寧に扱ってください. Together with 丁寧に and ください, it asks the listener to treat the original carefully. This expression is useful when asking staff to take care with documents or other items.
すべて すべて means “everything” or “all of it” in すべて一緒にお返しします. It refers to all the document materials being handled, not just the copied page. It is useful when confirming that the complete set will be returned.
お返し お返し is polite wording for returning something in すべて一緒にお返しします. Here it refers to giving all the document materials back to the customer. At a service desk, it is useful when explaining how and when items will be returned.
します します expresses the polite intended action in お返しします, meaning the staff member will return the items. It completes the statement about what will happen after handling the documents. This polite action form is suitable when staff explain a service or procedure.

Grammar Points

～いただけますか

原本のコピーをいただけますか。

gohn-pohn-noh koh-pee-oh ee-tah-dah-keh-mahs-kah

Could I get a copy of the original document?

A very polite way to make a request. The humble form いただけますか sounds more formal than もらえますか.

そうすれば、～

そうすれば、スタンプが取れます。

soh-oo-soo-reh-bah, suh-TAHM-poo-gah toh-reh-mahs

Then, you can get a stamp.

そうすれば means “if that is done” or “then.” It connects an action with its expected result.

Japanese Vocabulary

いただけますか phrase
ee-tah-dah-keh-mahs-kah could I get
コピー noun
koh-pee copy
スタンプ noun
suh-TAHM-poo stamp
そうすれば conj
soh-oo-soo-reh-bah then; if that is done
ページ noun
PAY-jee page
まず adv
mah-zoo first
確認 noun
kah-koo-nin checking; confirmation
記入 noun
kee-NYOO filling in; entry
原本 noun
gohn-pohn original document
取れます verb
toh-reh-mahs can make; can take
書類 noun
shoh-ree document
申請書 noun
sheen-SAY-shoh application form

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

could I get

Show Answerいただけますか

then; if that is done

Show Answerそうすれば

stamp

Show Answerスタンプ

can make; can take

Show Answer取れます