さいふ
saifunoun
In hiragana, "wallet" is さいふ (saifu). It covers a purse, a billfold or a coin purse.
Typical phrases are さいふをわすれました (saifu o wasuremashita), I forgot my wallet, and さいふをなくしました (saifu o nakushimashita), I lost my wallet.
Meaning: a wallet (noun)
When do people say it?
Many people in Japan still carry cash, and a small coin pouch such as the がまぐち (gamaguchi), with a metal clasp, is a traditional choice.
Did you know?
- The kanji for the word is 財布 (saifu), and the characters mean wealth and cloth.
Examples in context
- さいふをわすれました。Saifu o wasuremashita.I forgot my wallet.
- さいふのなかにおかねがあります。Saifu no naka ni okane ga arimasu.There is money in the wallet.
- あたらしいさいふをかいました。Atarashii saifu o kaimashita.I bought a new wallet.
Example conversation
Ayumi realizes she has lost something at a train station and speaks with the staff member Mr. Inoue.
- Ayumiすみません、さいふをなくしました。Sumimasen, saifu o nakushimashita.Excuse me, I lost my wallet.
- Mr. Inoueどんなさいふですか。Donna saifu desu ka.What kind of wallet is it?
- Ayumiくろいながいさいふです。Kuroi nagai saifu desu.It is a long black one.
