»

Securing a Rental Car by Molly Hakes

Public transportation in Japan is safe, clean, economical, fast, and convenient. Outside of major cities, however, options are more limited. If you want the freedom to explore the countryside on your own, rental cars are the way to go.

Japan is filled with interesting cars, many as petite as the alleyways of Tookyoo. You will need to determine what type of car is best for you, depending on the number of passengers, your luggage, and where you plan to go.

Rental Car Vocabulary

rentakaa

rental car

dai

counter for cars and other large objects

ookisa

size

chiisai

small

chuukurai

medium

ookii

big, large

nin

person, people

22

Here's the kind of conversation you might have at a rental agency.

<tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><B>Traveler:</B></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Konnichiwa. Rentakaa o ichi-dai onegai shimasu</emphasis>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>Hello, I'd like to rent a car, please.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Rental Agent:</B></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Arigatoo gozaimasu. Ookisa wa dore gurai ga yoroshii desu ka</emphasis>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>Thank you. What size would you like?</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Traveler:</B></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Soo, desu ne. San-nin iru shi, nimotsu mo aru shi, chuu gurai no ga ii desu</emphasis>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>Hmm, there are three of us, and we have luggage, a medium-sized car should be fine.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Rental Agent:</B></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Hai, wakarimashita. Nan-nichi o-tsukai ni narimasu ka</emphasis>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>I see. How many days will you be using the car?</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Traveler:</B></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Mikka kan de ii desu</emphasis>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>We will need it for three days.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Rental Agent:</B></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Wakarimashita. Sumimasen, menkyoshoo o misete kudasai</emphasis>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>May I see your license, please?</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Traveler:</B></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Kokusai menkyo desu ga yoroshii desu ka</emphasis>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>It's an international driving permit, is that okay?</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><B>Rental Agent:</B></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Hai, kekko desu</emphasis>.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><para/></td> <td><p>That's fine.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p>In the third line of the dialogue, notice the use of the particle <emphasis>no</emphasis>. The particle <emphasis>no</emphasis> is a kind of pronoun, because it takes the place of the name of the object being talked about. In this case, it takes the place of “car,” although the English translation does not use a pronoun in its place. <emphasis>No</emphasis> is often translated as “one,” and it can be used in connection with size, color, shape, or any other characteristic. Study these examples:</p> <div class="npsb"> <p><emphasis>Ookii no ga ii desu ka</emphasis>.</p> <p>Would you like the big one?</p> <p><emphasis>Akai no ga yoroshii desu ka</emphasis>.</p> <p>Do you prefer the red one?</p> </div> <div class="npsb"> <h2></h2> <p>As with the dialogue concerning the price of the hotel room, a similar pattern of the verb <emphasis>narimasu</emphasis> can be found in the phrase <emphasis>otsukai ni narimasu ka</emphasis>. This is just a polite way of asking how long they plan to use the vehicle.</p> </div> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/local-trains-and-buses.htm" title="Local Trains and Buses">Local Trains and Buses</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/joining-a-tour.htm" title="Joining a Tour">Joining a Tour</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://honeymoons.about.com/od/mexicohotels/ss/xcanatun_9.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Is Hacienda Xcanatun Right for You? </a></li> <li><a href="http://grammar.about.com/od/d/g/deicticterm.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> deictic word - definition and examples of deictic words - deixis </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More Where the Streets Have No Names</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/in-the-subway.htm">In the Subway</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/taking-the-bullet-train.htm">Taking the Bullet Train</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/local-trains-and-buses.htm">Local Trains and Buses</a></li> <li class="btO">Securing a Rental Car</li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/joining-a-tour.htm">Joining a Tour</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/go-hitchhiking.htm">Go Hitchhiking</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/quizzes-and-exercises-3.htm">Quizzes and Exercises</a></li> </ul></ul></div> </div> <script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script> </div> <div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script> <div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/japanese/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">THE EVERYTHING CONVERSATIONAL JAPANESE BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">By Molly Hakes</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/category/the-everything-series/">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div> <div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">Japanese Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/japanese-through-the-centuries/">Japanese Through the Centuries</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/working-in-syllables/">Working in Syllables</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/japan-at-a-glance/">Japan at a Glance</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/first-impressions/">First Impressions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/negotiating-a-good-nights-sleep/">Negotiating a Good Night's Sleep</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/">Where the Streets Have No Names</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/shop-till-you-drop/">Shop Till You Drop</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/tummy-talk/">Tummy Talk</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-introductions/">Making Introductions</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/easy-greetings/">Easy Greetings</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/making-friends/">Making Friends</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/letting-loose-party-dialogues/">Letting Loose: Party Dialogues</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/the-guest-of-honor/">The Guest of Honor</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/countryside-quaintness/">Countryside Quaintness</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/school-and-office-life/">School and Office Life</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/hot-springs/">Hot Springs</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/hosting-a-student-from-japan/">Hosting a Student from Japan</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/especially-for-vacationers/">Especially for Vacationers</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/business-etiquette/">Business Etiquette</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/putting-it-all-into-practice/">Putting It All into Practice</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/appendix-a-japanese-to-english-glossary/">Japanese-to-English Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/appendix-b-english-to-japanese-glossary/">English-to-Japanese Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/appendix-c-answer-key/">Answer Key</a></li> </ul></div></div> <script type="text/javascript">zCi();validateForms();</script> <div id="abf" style="padding-right:0"><ol class="crumbtrail"><li class="home"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/">Home</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/">Japanese</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/japanese/where-the-streets-have-no-names/">Where the Streets Have No Names</a></li><li>Securing a Rental Car</li></ol></div> <div id="aboutinfo" class="hlist"><div id="morefrom"><h6>Visit other About.com sites:</h6><ul><li><a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/" rel="nofollow">Calorie Count</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.allexperts.com/" rel="nofollow">Allexperts.com</a></li></ul></div> <ul id="siteinfo"><li><a href="http://spiderbites.about.com/sitemap.htm">SiteMap</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/hc.htm" rel="nofollow">Help</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm#adchoices" rel="nofollow">Your Ad Choices</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/pform.htm" rel="nofollow">Contact Us</a></li></ul> <ul id="companyinfo"><li class="last"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/ " rel="nofollow">Buy Books</a></li></ul><div id="disclaimer"> </div></div></div> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- zPxA[zPxC]=new Image();zPxA[zPxC++].src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6036459&c7=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enetplaces%2ecom%2fjapanese%2fwhere%2dthe%2dstreets%2dhave%2dno%2dnames%2fsecuring%2da%2drental%2dcar%2ehtm&c8=Securing%20a%20Rental%20Car&c9=&cv=2.0&cj=1"; adclose() //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(){var po=document.createElement('script');po.type='text/javascript';po.async=true;po.src='https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(po,s)})();</script> </body></html>