Information Search — Menus, Ads, Schedules
Find specific details quickly in menus, advertisements, and schedule grids. Practice scanning rather than reading every word.
🎯 Goal: To equip learners with the scanning and skimming strategies necessary to quickly locate and extract specific details (such as dates, conditions, pricing, and times) from authentic Japanese menus, advertisements, and schedules, thereby improving both real-world navigation skills and performance on the JLPT N3 information retrieval section.
Introduction
Navigating daily life in Japan requires the ability to quickly extract key information from various real-world texts. This lesson focuses on the essential JLPT N3 skill of "Information Search" (情報検索), targeting authentic materials such as restaurant menus, promotional advertisements, and transportation or event schedules. Students will learn scanning and skimming strategies to locate specific details—such as pricing, dates, conditions, and time constraints—without getting bogged down by unfamiliar vocabulary. By mastering these practical reading techniques, learners will build the confidence needed to make swift, accurate decisions in everyday Japanese environments and excel in the reading section of the N3 exam.
Lesson Content
Mastering JLPT N3 Information Search (情報検索)
In the JLPT N3 reading section, the Information Search (情報検索 - Jouhou Kensaku) task tests your ability to quickly scan real-world documents—like restaurant menus, event flyers, and train schedules—to find specific details.
To ace this section, you do not need to read every single word. Instead, you must become a master of conditional filtering.
1. Core Strategy: The "Three-Step Scan"
When facing an information search task, always follow this workflow:
- Read the Question & Options First: Identify the specific constraints (e.g., budget, date, number of people, age).
- Scan for Footnotes (※): The most critical conditions, exceptions, and extra fees are almost always hidden in tiny print at the bottom.
- Eliminate and Match: Cross out options that violate even one condition.
2. Essential N3 Grammar & Vocabulary
Advertisements and schedules use highly concise, formal Japanese. Memorize these key grammar patterns and terms:
Key Grammar Patterns
① 〜に限り / 〜に限る (~ni kagiri / ~ni kagiru)
- Meaning: Limited to... / Only for...
- Usage: Specifies a strict restriction or exclusive offer.
- Example:
- 本日限りに限り、全品半額。
- Honjitsu ni kagiri, zenpin hangaku.
- (Limited to today only, all items are half-price.)
② 〜につき (~ni tsuki)
- Meaning: Per... / Due to...
- Usage: Indicates a rate/ratio, or states a reason for a schedule change.
- Example:
- チケットは一家族につき2枚まで。
- Chiketto wa hito-kazoku ni tsuki nimai made.
- (Limit of 2 tickets per family.)
③ 〜を除く (~o nozoku)
- Meaning: Excluding... / Except for...
- Usage: Crucial for identifying days of the week or demographic exceptions.
- Example:
- 祝日を除く月曜日から金曜日まで営業。
- Shukujitsu o nozoku getsuyoubi kara kinyoubi made eigyou.
- (Open Monday through Friday, excluding national holidays.)
Crucial Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 有効期限 | yuukou kigen | Expiration Date |
| 定休日 | teikyubi | Regular Holiday (Closed) |
| 税込 / 税別 | zeikomi / zeibetsu | Tax Included / Tax Excluded |
| 以降 / 以前 | ikou / izen | From... onward / Prior to... |
| 事前予約 | jizen yoyaku | Advance Reservation |
3. Practical Drill: Reading an Ad
Read the coupon advertisement below and solve the query.
==================================================
【さくら居酒屋 (Sakura Izakaya) - 秋の割引】
★ 平日ディナー限定：お会計から 15% OFF！
※ 金曜日・祝前日を除く。
※ お一人様につき、3,000円以上のご注文に限り有効。
※ 他のクーポンとの併用はできません。
==================================================
Scenario:
- Tanaka-san wants to use this coupon.
- He plans to go with a friend on Friday night.
- They expect to spend 3,500 yen per person.
Can Tanaka-san use this coupon?
Analysis:
- Day Condition: The coupon is for weekdays (平日), but excludes Fridays (金曜日を除く). Since Tanaka-san wants to go on a Friday, he fails this condition.
- Price Condition: They plan to spend 3,500 yen per person, which satisfies the "3,000 yen or more per person" (お一人様につき3,000円以上) condition.
- Verdict: No. He cannot use the coupon because Friday is excluded.
Pro-Tip for Exam Day
Look out for double conditions (e.g., "Must book 3 days in advance AND group must be 4+ people"). If an option meets only one of these criteria, it is incorrect. Happy studying!
Exercises
Information Search — Menus, Ads, Schedules (Exercises)
Exercises for Information Search — Menus, Ads, Schedules
Review the grammar and vocabulary, and try to fill in the blanks or write sentences based on the prompts.
Examples
メニューを見ると、このランチセットにはドリンクがついているようです。
Menyū o miruto, kono ranchi setto ni wa dorinku ga tsuite iru yō desu.
Looking at the menu, it seems that this lunch set comes with a drink.
広告によると、この商品を3つ買うと10パーセント割引になるそうです。
Kōkoku ni yoru to, kono shōhin o mittsu kau to jippāsento waribiki ni naru sō desu.
According to the advertisement, if you buy three of these products, you get a 10% discount.
時刻表を確認したところ、平日の最終電車は午後11時半に出発するようです。
Jikokuhyō o kakunin shita tokoro, heijitsu no saishū densha wa gogo jūichiji-han ni shuppatsu suru yō desu.
Upon checking the timetable, it seems the last train on weekdays departs at 11:30 PM.
Practice Drills
Lesson Materials
Vocabulary (5)
Grammar (3)
Kanji (0)
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Kana (0)
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