Buying and Charging a Suica IC Card at the Station — JLPT N5 Japanese Conversation
The situation
Yattan (ヤッタン) stands at the ticket machine (券売機) and asks the station staff member (駅員さん) for help buying and charging a Suica card.
すみません、スイカを買いたいです。
すみません、すいかを かいたいです。
Excuse me, I'd like to buy a Suica card.
はい。この券売機でどうぞ。まず、ここを押してください。
はい。この けんばいきで どうぞ。まず、ここを おしてください。
Sure. Please use this machine. First, press here.
いくら分、入れますか。
いくらぶん、いれますか。
How much should I load onto it?
千円分から入れられます。デポジットが五百円かかります。
せんえんぶんから いれられます。でぽじっとが ごひゃくえん かかります。
You can load from 1,000 yen. There's also a 500-yen deposit.
じゃあ、二千円分、お願いします。
じゃあ、にせんえんぶん、おねがいします。
Then, 2,000 yen's worth, please.
お金をここに入れてください。
おかねを ここに いれてください。
Please put the money in here.
チャージも同じ機械でできますか。
ちゃーじも おなじ きかいで できますか。
Can I recharge it with the same machine too?
はい。次からはカードをここに置いてください。
はい。つぎからは かーどを ここに おいてください。
Yes. From next time, please place the card here.
わかりました。ありがとうございます！
わかりました。ありがとうございます！
Got it. Thank you so much!
Key expressions
- 〜を買いたいです — "I want to buy ~." The 〜たい ending turns a verb into "I want to (do)"; drop it onto the ます-stem (買います → 買いたい). See 〜たいです and expressing wants for the full pattern.
- いくら分 / 千円分 — 分 (ぶん) means "worth / portion," so いくら分 is "how much worth" and 千円分 is "1,000 yen's worth." This is exactly how you tell the machine how much to load.
- チャージ — the everyday word for topping up an IC card, straight from English "charge." 「チャージします」 = "I'll recharge (it)."
- ここに置いてください — "Please place (it) here." A clean て-form + ください request; see 〜てください and requests for how staff use it to guide you step by step.
About Suica and PASMO
Suica and PASMO are Japan's main rechargeable IC cards, and they are interchangeable — a Suica works on the trains and buses that accept PASMO, and vice versa, all over the country. Buying one costs a refundable ¥500 deposit (デポジット) on top of whatever you load, and you can tap the same card to pay at convenience stores, vending machines, and many shops, not just at the gate. Short-term visitors can grab a Welcome Suica, a tourist version with no deposit that is valid for 28 days. The one phrase worth memorizing at the machine is 「チャージしたいです」 ("I'd like to add money").
Frequently asked questions
Do I get the 500-yen deposit back?
Yes. The ¥500 デポジット is a refundable deposit, not a fee — when you return a regular Suica or PASMO at a station window, you get it back (minus a small handling charge on any remaining balance). The Welcome Suica has no deposit but simply expires after 28 days.
Can I use one card for trains, buses, and shopping?
Yes. A single Suica or PASMO works on trains and buses nationwide and pays at convenience stores, vending machines, and many shops. Just tap it and say nothing — no ticket needed.
How do I say 'I want to recharge' in Japanese?
チャージしたいです ('I'd like to add money'). At the machine you can also state the amount with 〜分: 千円分チャージしたいです ('I'd like to load 1,000 yen').