Phone and internet

Practice the phrases you use when your phone has no internet, whether you're at a café, a hotel, or out on the street.

1. Wi-Fiのパスワードを教おしえてもらえますか。

   Could you tell me the Wi-Fi password?

   「教えてもらえますか」 is one notch softer than 「教えてください」; a go-to phrase at cafés and hotel front desks. Wi-Fi is read as 「ワイファイ」.

2. Wi-Fiがつながらないんですが。

   The Wi-Fi won't connect...

   「つながる」means to get connected (used for both the internet and phone calls); 「〜ないんですが」puts the problem out there and waits for the other person to help.

3. プリペイドSIMはありますか。

   Do you have prepaid SIM cards?

   SIM is read シム in Japanese; available at airports and electronics stores, and for short-term use choose プリペイド (pay as you go, no contract).

4. 電波でんぱが悪わるいので、もう一度いちどかけます。

   The signal's bad, so I'll call you again.

   **For a bad signal, say 「電波が悪い」**, not シグナル — translating "signal" straight into Japanese is the easiest way to end up with a word Japanese speakers won't understand; 「かける」 = to make a phone call.

5. ここで充電じゅうでんしてもいいですか。

   Is it okay if I charge my phone here?

   In shops, outlets aren't free to use by default, so ask before you plug in — 「〜てもいいですか」 is for asking permission.

6. スマホの調子ちょうしが悪わるいんです。

   My phone's acting up.

   「調子が悪い」 means something's off — an all-purpose expression that works for phones, your body, and machines alike, and the one to open with when you take something in for repair.

Say how many days you'll use it, pick a plan, and ask the clerk to help set it up — all in one go.

1. Customer

   すみません、SIMカードを買かいたいんですが。

   Excuse me, I'd like to buy a SIM card...
2. clerk

   ご利用りようは何日間なんにちかんですか。

   How many days will you be using it?

   「ご利用」 is the honorific shop staff use to refer to a customer's usage; plans are tiered by number of days, so answer this first and the conversation can move forward.
3. Customer

   十日間とおかかんぐらいです。

   About ten days.

   **十日 is read とおか, not じゅうにち** — the whole set from day one through day ten uses native Japanese readings (ついたち/ふつか/.../とおか), and you'll rely on it every time you give a number of days or a date.
4. clerk

   でしたら、こちらのプランがおすすめです。

   In that case, I'd recommend this plan.

   「でしたら」 is the honorific version of 「それなら」, a fixed opener shop staff use to lead into a suggestion after taking in the customer's requirements.
5. Customer

   設定せっていもお願ねがいできますか。

   Could I also ask you to set it up for me?

   「お願いできますか」 = "could I ask you to ...?"; have the staff set up the APN on the spot so you don't end up unable to connect later.
6. clerk

   はい。パスポートをお願ねがいします。

   Sure. Your passport, please.

   In Japan, buying a SIM requires real-name registration, so a passport (or residence card) is a must.
7. Customer

   助たすかります。お願ねがいします。

   That's a big help. I'll leave it to you.

   「助かります」= “that's a huge help” — it carries an extra layer of genuine feeling beyond just saying ありがとう, and it's high-frequency in daily life.