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English → Japanese · Cinema language versions
You recognize the film title, but the listing has 字幕 on one showing and 吹替 on another. Before choosing, check two things separately: which language you will hear and which language you will read. A “subtitled” label does not promise English subtitles, or even English dialogue.
First decide what you need: spoken English, written English, or both. This lesson gives you a short Japanese conversation for that check. Point to one exact showing, ask about its languages, and repeat the combination back. Bode and ShuShu’s dialogue is fictional practice, not a current cinema schedule.
TOHO Cinemas explains its subtitle/dubbing labels for foreign films. Treat that as the operator’s labeling guidance, not a rule for every cinema or every film. A label alone is not your full language check.
この回は字幕版ですか。
Kono kai wa jimaku-ban desu ka.
Is this showing the subtitled version?
Point to the specific showing while saying この回, “this showing.” This keeps the question tied to a session, not just the film title.
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音声は何語ですか。
Onsei wa nani-go desu ka.
What language is the audio in?
This question is useful even after the staff has said “subtitled.” The original dialogue could be in a language other than English.
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字幕は何語ですか。
Jimaku wa nani-go desu ka.
What language are the subtitles in?
Ask this separately. A spoken-language answer does not establish the subtitle language.
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英語の音声で、日本語の字幕が付きます。
Eigo no onsei de, Nihongo no jimaku ga tsukimasu.
It has English audio and Japanese subtitles.
This is one possible reply for the fictional showing, not a claim about every subtitled film.
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Slow
日本語の吹き替え版です。
Nihongo no fukikae-ban desu.
It is the Japanese-dubbed version.
This identifies the spoken dubbed language. It does not, by itself, tell you whether subtitles are provided.
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英語の字幕はありますか。
Eigo no jimaku wa arimasu ka.
Are there English subtitles?
Use this when written English matters to you. Keep pointing to the showing under discussion.
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この回には英語の字幕はありません。
Kono kai ni wa Eigo no jimaku wa arimasen.
This showing does not have English subtitles.
この回には limits the answer to this showing. It does not establish that the whole cinema never offers English subtitles.
Listen for ありません (arimasen), “there are none.” It is the negative counterpart of あります (arimasu), “there are.”
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Slow
英語の音声で、日本語の字幕ですね。
Eigo no onsei de, Nihongo no jimaku desu ne.
So, English audio and Japanese subtitles, right?
Use ですね here to check your understanding, then pause for confirmation. Repeat both languages rather than just saying “English.”
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はい、そうです。
Hai, sō desu.
Yes, that’s right.
This confirms the combination you just repeated. If the staff corrects it instead, update your choice.
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では、字幕版をお願いします。
Dewa, jimaku-ban o onegai shimasu.
Then I’d like the subtitled version, please.
Say this only after identifying the showing and checking the languages you need. It requests that version; it does not specify seats or ticket quantity.
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The reusable pattern is Xは何語ですか (“What language is X in?”). Put 音声 or 字幕 in the X position. You are checking two separate facts. An audio-only answer does not establish the subtitle language, but a single reply can give both facts, as line 4 does.
The label 日本語字幕付き can also appear for Japanese-language accessibility screenings. AEON Cinema’s official guidance describes Japanese-subtitled screenings for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and says the sound still plays. Do not infer an English soundtrack from the presence of Japanese subtitles.
Reading help: 字幕 is jimaku; 吹替 is fukikae, even when the kana are omitted on a listing. Read 何語 as nani-go. In the romanization, ō in sō marks a long vowel. The romanization is a guide to the written Japanese, not an English-style phonetic spelling.
Bode: この回は字幕版ですか。
ShuShu: はい、そうです。
Bode: 音声は何語ですか。
ShuShu: 英語の音声で、日本語の字幕が付きます。
Bode: 英語の音声で、日本語の字幕ですね。
ShuShu: はい、そうです。
Bode: では、字幕版をお願いします。
In this example, Bode understands spoken English, so Japanese subtitles are acceptable. If you need written English, ask line 6 and wait for the answer before choosing. When the staff has already given both languages, you do not need to ask line 3 again.
Choose your answer mentally first. Tab to “Show answer and reason,” then press Enter or Space to open it.
B. 字幕版 identifies a subtitled version, not an English-language combination. Ask about 音声 and 字幕 separately.
C. English describes the audio; Japanese describes the subtitles. If you need English text, this answer does not meet that need.
B. The reply rules out English subtitles for この回, this showing. It does not say there are no subtitles at all, and it tells you nothing about other sessions. Because written English is required in this question, do not choose this showing on the strength of that answer.
Cover the translations. Point to an imaginary showing and ask about the audio and subtitles. For a complete answer, have a partner use line 4; repeat that exact combination with line 8 and wait for line 9.
In a second round, let the partner give only line 5, “Japanese-dubbed.” Now the subtitle language is still unknown. Ask line 3 or, if you specifically need English text, line 6. Stop there until you receive a subtitle answer. Line 8 would be wrong here: it names English audio, which the partner did not say.
For a final decision round, say that you need written English. Ask line 6 and have the partner answer line 7. This showing does not meet your need. Do not finish with line 10; that would select a version before finding suitable subtitles.
TOHO Cinemas: identifying subtitled and Japanese-dubbed screenings; AEON Cinema: Japanese-subtitled screenings. Official pages checked on 17 October 2026. They support the labeling distinctions and the accessibility example, not the availability of a particular screening. All teaching dialogue, translations and exercises here are original.
No. 字幕版 tells you that subtitles are used; the original dialogue may be in another language. Ask 音声は何語ですか。 for the particular showing. Then confirm the subtitles separately.
No such conclusion follows from the dubbing label alone. 日本語の吹き替え版 identifies the dubbed spoken language. Ask whether the subtitle language you need is available; some special screenings have additional captions.
Point to the exact date and time you mean and use この回. Keep the conversation tied to that entry. Repeat the audio/subtitle combination before selecting it, because a different session may use a different version.