Plus is free for everyoneuntil Nov 30 · 16 days leftStart free →
Japanese for “Reporting a lost item at a police box”
You've lost your wallet and go to the nearest police box (交番) to report it. A police officer greets you and begins asking for details about what happened.
Sample dialogue
You (You)
あの、すみません。財布をなくしてしまったんです。ano, sumimasen. saifu o nakushiteshimatta n desu.
Excuse me, I've lost my wallet.
Police officer
そうですか。大変ですね。いつ、どこでなくしましたか？sou desu ka. taihen desu ne. itsu, doko de nakushimashita ka?
I see. That's too bad. When and where did you lose it?
You (You)
今日の午後、駅の近くだと思うんです。kyou no gogo, eki no chikaku da to omou n desu.
I think it was this afternoon, near the station.
Police officer
わかりました。財布はどんな様子ですか？色とか形とか教えてください。wakarimashita. saifu wa donna yousu desu ka?shoku toka katachi toka oshietekudasai.
Got it. Can you describe your wallet? Tell me the color and shape.
You (You)
黒い革の小さい財布です。正方形に近いです。kuroi kawa no chiisai saifu desu. seihoukei ni chikai desu.
It's a small black leather wallet. It's almost square-shaped.
Police officer
中には何が入っていましたか？naka ni wa nani ga haitteimashita ka?
What was inside?
You (You)
お金と、クレジットカード、それから身分証明書が入っていました。okane to, kurejittokaado, sorekara mibun shoumeisho ga haitteimashita.
There was cash, a credit card, and an ID card inside.
Police officer
連絡先を教えていただけますか？電話番号とメールアドレス、あるいは住所を教えてください。renrakusaki o oshiete itadakemasu ka? denwa bangou to meeruadoresu, aruiha juusho o oshietekudasai.
Could you give me your contact information? A phone number, email address, or address please.
You (You)
電話番号は09012345678です。住所は渋谷区の道玄坂2丁目です。denwa bangou wa 09012345678 desu. juusho wa shibuyaku no dougenzaka 2choume desu.
My phone number is 090-1234-5678. My address is Dogenzaka 2-chome, Shibuya Ward.
Police officer
かしこまりました。もし見つかったら、すぐにご連絡します。kashikomarimashita. moshi mitsukattara, sugu ni go renraku shimasu.
Understood. If we find it, we'll contact you right away.
Phrases you can use
財布をなくしてしまったさいふをなくしてしまったsaifu o nakushiteshimatta
I've lost my wallet
Use this when reporting a lost item; なくしてしまう emphasizes the unfortunate situation
パスポートをなくしてしまいました。pasupooto o nakushiteshimaimashita.
I lost my passport.
〜だと思うんです〜だとおもうんですda to omou n desu
I think that…
Use this to express something you're not completely certain about; a softer way to state an assumption
明日は雨だと思うんです。ashita wa ame da to omou n desu.
I think it'll rain tomorrow.
どんな様子ですかどんなようすですかdonna yousu desu ka
What does it look like? / How would you describe it?
Use this when asking someone to describe the appearance or condition of something
その猫はどんな様子ですか？sono neko wa donna yousu desu ka?
What does that cat look like?
連絡先を教えていただけますかれんらくさきをおしえていただけますかrenrakusaki o oshiete itadakemasu ka
Could you give me your contact information?
Polite and respectful way to ask for someone's contact details, commonly used by staff and officials
お名前
Casual vs polite
Casual財布をなくしちゃった。saifu o naku shichatta.
Polite財布をなくしてしまいました。saifu o nakushiteshimaimashita.
The casual version (なくしちゃった) is friendly and more emotional; the polite version (なくしてしまいました) is more formal and appropriate when speaking to a stranger or authority figure like a police officer.
Casual黒い革の財布。kuroi kawa no saifu.
Polite黒い革の財布です。kuroi kawa no saifu desu.
The casual version drops です; use it with friends. The polite version with です is necessary when speaking to official staff or people you don't know well.
Casual見つかったら、連絡するね。mitsukattara, renraku suru ne.
Polite見つかったら、ご連絡します。mitsukattara, go renraku shimasu.
The casual version (連絡するね) is what you'd say to a friend; the polite version uses ご and ます form, which is appropriate for a police officer or service worker.
Culture tip
At a Japanese police box (交番), politeness and clear communication are important. Officers expect you to be respectful and provide details as accurately as possible. Always use polite form (です/ます) unless invited to be casual. Keep your answers specific—vague descriptions make it harder to find your item. If your wallet is found, the police will hold it for a set period (usually 3 months); if no one claims it, it goes to the lost-and-found office (遺失物センター).
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.