【 Podcast NIHONGO CANDY #112 】 忘れ物・落とし物をしたとき \/ Wasuremono Otoshimono o shita toki \/ When You Lose or Forget Something

Introduction

Today's topic is 「忘れ物・落とし物をしたとき」(wasuremono otoshimono wo shita toki) When you lose or forget something. By the end of this episode, you'll know the essential phrases for reporting lost items at train stations, shopping malls, and police boxes in Japan. We'll cover different types of lost items and the proper procedures for each location.

Section 1: Difference Between Forgotten Items and Lost Items

Before we learn the specific phrases, let's understand the difference between 「忘れ物」(wasuremono) and「落とし物」(otoshimono).

「忘れ物」(wasuremono) means "forgotten item" - something you left behind somewhere, like leaving your umbrella at a restaurant or your phone charger in a hotel room. You know where you might have left it.

「落とし物」(otoshimono) means "lost item" - something you dropped or lost without knowing where, like dropping your wallet on the street or losing your keys somewhere during the day.

Common lost items include 「財布」(saifu) wallet, 「スマホ」(sumaho) or「携帯」(keitai) mobile phone, 「かぎ」(kagi) key, 「かばん」(kaban) bag or backpack, 「傘」(kasa) umbrella, 「イヤホン」(iyahon) earphones or earbuds, and 「ヘッドホン」(heddohon) headphones or headset.

Section 2: At the Station Lost and Found

Train stations in Japan have dedicated lost and found offices called like 「落とし物センター」(otoshimono sentaa). Let's learn how to report lost items there.

When you approach the lost and found counter, start with 「すみません」(sumimasen) to get the staff's attention. Then explain your situation: 「電車の中に財布を忘れました」(densha no naka ni saifu wo wasuremashita) I left my wallet on the train or 「改札でカードを落としました」(kaisatsu de kaado wo otoshimashita) I dropped my card at the ticket gate.

The staff will ask several questions to help locate your item. They might ask 「何時ごろですか」(nanji goro desu ka) Around what time?, 「どちらの電車ですか」(dochira no densha desu ka) Which train?, or 「何線ですか」(nansen desu ka) Which line?. Be prepared to answer with specific information like 「今朝の8時半ごろです」(kesa no hachiji han goro desu) Around 8:30 this morning or 「山手線です」(yamanote sen desu) The Yamanote Line.

For describing your lost item, you'll need to give details. They'll ask 「どんな財布ですか」(donna saifu desu ka) What kind of wallet is it?. You can answer with 「黒い革の財布です」(kuroi kawa no saifu desu) It's a black leather wallet or 「茶色の長い財布です」(chairo no nagai saifu desu) It's a brown long wallet. Useful vocabulary for describing wallets includes 「革」(kawa) leather, 「長い財布」(nagai saifu) long wallet, and 「二つ折り」(futatsu-ori) bi-fold wallet.

If you need to describe the contents, you can say 「中にクレジットカードと現金が入っています」(naka ni kurejitto kaado to genkin ga haitte imasu) There are credit cards and cash inside or 「免許証と在留カードが入っています」(menkyoshoo to zairyuu kaado ga haitte imasu) There's a driver's license and residence card inside.

The staff will check their system and might say 「確認いたします」(kakunin itashimasu) I'll check for you. If your item is found, they'll say 「ありました」(arimashita) We found it. If not, they might say 「まだ届いていません」(mada todoite imasen) It hasn't been turned in yet and suggest you check back later or at other locations.

To claim your item, you'll need identification. They'll ask 「身分証明書はお持ちですか」(mibun shooměisho wa omochi desu ka) Do you have identification?. You can show your 「運転免許証」(unten menkyoshoo) driver's license, 「パスポート」(pasupooto) passport, or 「在留カード」(zairyuu kaado) residence card.

Section 3: At the Shopping Mall Information Desk

Shopping malls have information desks called 「案内所」(annaijo) or「インフォメーション」(infomeeshon) where you can report lost items.

When approaching the information desk, say 「すみません、落とし物をしました」(sumimasen, otoshimono wo shimashita) Excuse me, I lost something. The staff will guide you through the process.

They'll ask 「どちらで落とされましたか」(dochira de otosaremashita ka) Where did you lose it?. You can answer with specific locations like 「フードコートです」(fuudo kooto desu) At the food court, 「トイレです」(toire desu) In the restroom, 「駐車場です」(chuushajoo desu) In the parking lot, or 「どこかわかりません」(doko ka wakarimasen) I don't know where.

For timing, they might ask 「何時ごろですか」(nanji goro desu ka) Around what time?. You can respond with 「2時間前ぐらいです」(nijikan mae gurai desu) About 2 hours ago or 「お昼ごろです」(ohiru goro desu) Around lunchtime.

The staff will take down your contact information. They'll ask 「お名前とお電話番号をおうかがいします」(onamae to odenwa bangoo wo oukagai shimasu) May I have your name and phone number?. If your item is found later, they'll contact you by saying 「見つかったらお電話いたします」(mitsukattara odenwa itashimasu) We'll call you if it's found.

If you're a tourist, you can explain your situation by saying 「今、旅行中です」(ima, ryokoo-chuu desu) I'm traveling now and 「明日帰国します」(ashita kikoku shimasu) I'm returning to my country tomorrow. This helps them understand the urgency of your situation.

Section 4: At the Police Box

If you lost something somewhere in the city while walking around and cannot identify the specific location, you should go to a 「交番」(police box).

When entering a police box, say 「すみません」and explain 「財布をなくしました」(I lost my wallet) or 「スマホを落としました」(I dropped my smartphone).

The police officer will ask you to fill out a form called 「遺失届」(lost property report). They'll ask detailed questions like 「お名前は」(Your name), 「ご住所は」(Your address), 「いつなくされましたか」(When did you lose it), and 「どこでなくされましたか」(Where did you lose it).

For international visitors, they might ask 「パスポートはお持ちですか」(Do you have your passport?) for identification. If you don't speak much Japanese, you can say 「日本語があまりわかりません」(I don't understand much Japanese), and they may find someone who speaks English or use translation tools.

Be prepared to describe your item in detail. For a wallet, they might ask about 「中身」(contents): 「現金はいくら入っていましたか」(How much cash was in it?), 「カードは何枚入っていましたか」(How many cards were in it?), and 「他に何が入っていましたか」(What else was in it?).

The officer will give you a copy of the report and a reference number. They'll explain 「何か分かったらご連絡します」(We'll contact you if we learn anything). Keep this document safe as you may need it for insurance claims or to cancel credit cards.

Section 5: Let's Practice

Situation 1: You forgot your wallet on the train, so you went to the station lost and found center. You were asked「いつなくされましたか」(itsu nakusaremashita ka) "When did you lose it?" How do you answer?

Example answer: 「今朝、8時半ごろです」(kesa, hachiji han goro desu) Around 8:30 this morning

Situation 2: You dropped your keys in a shopping mall. At the information desk, you were asked「どこで落とされましたか」(doko de otosaremashita ka) "Where did you drop them?" but you don't know.

Example answer: 「どこかわかりません」(doko ka wakarimasen) I don't know where

Situation 3: You're filling out a lost property report at a police box. You were asked「財布の中に何が入っていましたか」(saifu no naka ni nani ga haitte imashita ka) "What was in your wallet?"

Example answer: 「クレジットカード3枚と、現金20,000円が入っています」(kurejitto kaado sanmai to, genkin nijuuman en ga haitte imasu) There are 3 credit cards and 20,000 yen cash inside.

Situation 4: You were asked to describe your lost wallet. You were asked「どんな財布ですか」(donna saifu desu ka) "What kind of wallet is it?"

Example answer: 「茶色の、二つ折り財布です」(chairo no, futatsu-ori saifu desu) It's a brown, bi-fold wallet.