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Japanese for “Asking how to sort the trash”
You've just moved into a new apartment and need to know the trash collection rules. You ask your landlord about which days are for burnable, non-burnable, and recyclable trash, where to put it, and how to dispose of plastic bottles and large items.
Sample dialogue
Landlord
あ、住民さんですね。何かご質問ですか？a, juuminsan desu ne. nani ka go shitsumon desu ka?
Oh, you're the new resident. Do you have any questions?
You (Resident)
あのう、ゴミの出し方についてお聞きしたいんですが。ano u, gomi no dashikata nitsuite o kiki shitai n desu ga.
Um, I'd like to ask about how to put out the trash.
Landlord
ああ、そうですね。燃えるゴミは火曜日と金曜日です。燃えないゴミは日曜日ですよ。aa, soudesune. moeru gomi wa kayoubi to kin'youbi desu. moenai gomi wa nichiyoubi desu yo.
Ah, yes. Burnable trash is Tuesdays and Fridays. Non-burnable trash is Sundays.
You (Resident)
分かりました。それでは、リサイクルはどの日ですか？wakarimashita. soredeha, risaikuru wa dono hi desu ka?
Got it. Then, which day is for recycling?
Landlord
リサイクルは水曜日です。ペットボトルも含めて、あそこの緑色の箱に入れてください。risaikuru wa suiyoubi desu. pettobotoru mo fukumete, asoko no ryokushoku no hako ni iretekudasai.
Recycling is Wednesday. Please put plastic bottles and everything in that green box over there.
You (Resident)
緑色の箱ですね。あ、それから大きなゴミはどうしますか？ryokushoku no hako desu ne. a, sorekara ookina gomi wa dou shimasu ka?
The green box, got it. Um, and what about large items?
Landlord
大きなゴミは、粗大ゴミの申込書が必要です。ここに書いてあります。ookina gomi wa, sodai gomi no moushikomisho ga hitsuyou desu. koko ni kaitearimasu.
For large items, you need a rough waste application form. It's explained here.
あ、朝八時までに出してくださいね。では、頑張ってください。a, asa hachiji made ni dashitekudasai ne. deha, ganbattekudasai.
Oh, and please put it out by 8 a.m. Good luck with your move.
Phrases you can use
ゴミの出し方ごみのだしかたgomi no dashikata
how to put out the trash; trash rules
Use this when you want to ask or talk about disposal procedures.
ゴミの出し方が分かりませんでした。gomi no dashikata ga wakarimasen deshita.
I didn't understand the trash disposal rules.
燃えるゴミもえるごみmoeru gomi
burnable trash; combustible waste
Use this to refer to kitchen waste, paper, and other items that burn.
燃えるゴミは週に何日ですか？moeru gomi wa shuu ni nannichi desu ka?
How many days a week do you put out burnable trash?
～に入れてください～にいれてください～ ni iretekudasai
please put it in ~; please put it into ~
A polite instruction form used by staff or authority figures to tell someone where to place something.
この箱に入れてください。kono hako ni iretekudasai.
Please put it in this box.
あそこasoko
over there; that place over there
Use to point to something that is visible but not close by.
Casual vs polite
Casual燃えるゴミは火曜と金曜だよ。moeru gomi wa kayou to kin'you da yo.
Polite燃えるゴミは火曜日と金曜日です。moeru gomi wa kayoubi to kin'youbi desu.
The casual version uses だよ at the end and drops に; the polite version uses です and the full day names. Use casual with friends and family, polite with landlords and strangers.
Casualペットボトルもここに入れて。pettobotoru mo koko ni irete.
Politeペットボトルもここに入れてください。pettobotoru mo koko ni iretekudasai.
Casual ending is short and direct (~て); polite version uses てください. Use casual when you know someone well, polite when making a request to someone you don't know well.
Casual大きいゴミはどうすればいい？ookii gomi wa dou sure ba ii?
Polite大きなゴミはどうしますか？ookina gomi wa dou shimasu ka?
Casual uses どうすればいい with informal grammar; polite uses どうしますか with です/ます style. Use casual with friends, polite with authority figures like landlords.
Culture tip
In Japan, following trash collection rules is very important and expected of all residents. Putting trash out on the wrong day or not following sorting rules can result in your trash being left behind and you being asked to take it back. Always ask your landlord about local rules on your first day, as systems vary by neighborhood. Showing respect and asking politely (as in this scene) will make a good impression.
Ready to say it out loud?
On Tuned you can practice this scene in 3 steps: copy the model, build it up bit by bit, then role-play with an AI partner — at your level.