ついつい誰かに話したくなってしまう日本のこと。
今回は独自の進化をフカボリ！
『コンビニ』を説明してみましょう。

まずはKey Words & Phrasesから。

テーマに関連する語句

convenience store / corner shop《英》 / drug store《米》（コンビニエンスストア）
open 24/7（年中《twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week》無休で２４時間営業）
commodity（日用品・生活必需品）
alcoholic beverage（アルコール飲料）
ATM（《Automated Teller Machineの略》現金自動支払い機）　
utilities（公共料金）

一般的な語句

unlike（～とは違って）
wide variety of（多種多様の・多岐にわたる）
great selection of goods（豊富な品揃え）
original concept（当初のコンセプト・構想）
become widespread（広まる・浸透する）
evolve（進化する）
affectionately called（親しみを込めて～と呼ばれる）
abbreviation（略称）
guaranteed to （間違いなく～する・～することを保証する）
for the price（値段の割に）
hospitality（親切なもてなし・もてなしの心）

続いて、今回のテーマに挑戦！

Did you know that a convenience store has uniquely developed in Japan?
（コンビニエンスストアは日本で独自に進化したことを知ってましたか？）

・Unlike other countries, Japanese convenience stores offer a wide variety of additional services with a great selection of goods like a small supermarket.
・Although the original concept of a convenience store is said to be invented in the United States, they became widespread and uniquely evolved in Japan.
・There are currently more than 50,000 stores across the country and many of them are open 24/7. They are much appreciated and affectionately called “conbini”, which is an abbreviation for convenience store.
・Japanese convenience stores are guaranteed to make many people’s daily lives easier.

3 Questions for Digging Deeper! 《 もっと掘り下げてみよう！ 》

1. What’s great about Japanese convenience stores?
（日本のコンビニエンスストアは何がすごいの？）

The selection of items is simply amazing. They sell a large range of meals, sweets, alcoholic beverages as well as commodities. Generally, high quality foods are available and in particular, “conbini sweets” taste great for the price and attract popularity.

2. What kind of service does Japanese convenience store provide?
（日本のコンビニエンスストアはどんなサービスを提供しているの？）

The convenience stores in Japan provide services for shipping, photocopier & scanner, bank ATM, and even payment for utilities and tax. These services are extremely useful for people who don’t have time to go to a bank, city office and post office, because they are closed on weekends.

3. Why do Japanese convenience stores have a lot of useful services?
（どうして便利なサービスがたくさんあるの？）

There are probably several reasons, but one possible answer would be Japanese hospitality, which offer services from the customers’ point of view. It promotes services that customers really seek.

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各国のコンビニ事情を比較してみると会話も盛り上がりそうですね。

まずはビジネス英会話力チェック(無料)をお試しください

BBTオンライン英会話はポイント制で、 受講ペースと4つのコースの組み合わせは自由自在です。