「いらっしゃいませ！何をお探しですか？」
= Irasshaimase! Nani wo osagashi desu ka?
= “Welcome to our store! May I help you ?”
:maggie-small: 「もっと痩せて見える服を下さい。」
= Motto yasete mieru fuku wo kudasai.
= “I want some clothes which will make me look thinner.”
Today we’ll learn “shopping Japanese”. There are tons of interesting things for you to buy in Japan and I hope this lesson will give you enough confidence to try and go shopping alone.
Shopping is 買い物 ( = kaimono) in Japanese.
（お買い物 ( = okaimono) is more polite.)
1) 買い物をする ( = Kaimono wo suru.) : literally “to do shopping”
2) 買い物に（へ）行く ( = Kaimono ni (e) iku) to go shopping.
(or It will be more polite if you add “お ” ( = o) on top of 買い物 ( = kaimono) →お買い物 ( = okaimono)
a shopping bag : 買い物袋 ( = kaimono bukuro) →お買い物袋 ( = okaimono bukuro) more polite
Ex. 1-1) お買い物をする ( = okaimono wo suru)
2-2) お買い物に（へ）行く（ = okaimono ni (e) iku)
Note : if you are an adult and a man and say
「 僕は、これからお買い物に（へ）行きます。」
= Boku wa kore kara okaimono ni（e) ikimasu.
= “I will go shopping now.”
it may sound a bit effeminate.
But if you are a male clerk you may refer to your customers’ shopping as お買い物 ( = okaimono)
Once you are in a big store, it is divided into many sections
売り場 (or 売場）( = uriba)
Ex. 靴売り場 ( = kutsu uriba) or 靴売場 ( = kutsu uriba) a shoes section
靴 ( = kutsu) shoes
売り場 or 売場 ( = uriba) department
婦人靴 （ = fujin gutsu) shoes for women
紳士靴（ = shinshi gutsu) shoes for men
When we refer to something for women, we say
婦人用 ( = fujin you),
and for men,
紳士用 ( = shinshi you) ：用（ = you) means “for” 子供用 ( = kodomo you) for children.
Ex. 婦人服売り場 (or 売場）( = fujin fuku uriba) a women’s clothing section
紳士服売り場 (or 売場）( = shishifuku uriba) a men’s clothing section
子供服売場 (or 売場）( = kodomofuku uriba) a children’s clothing section
Here are other items that you may find in a big store.
• 日常品 ( = nichijyouhin) daily commodity
• 化粧品 ( = keshouhin) cosmetic products
• 衣料品（ = iryouhin ) clothing
• 電化製品（ = denka seihin) electric appliances
• ぺット用品 ( = petto youhin ) pet-accessory （including pet food )
:i: From Maggie : A very important section!!! :maggie-small:
• 食料品 （ = shokuryouhin) food items
Note : デパ地下 ( = depachika)
In Japan, most of the department stores have a food section on the underground floor. We call it 「デパ地下」( = depa chika) in modern Japanese. デパ（ = depa) is short for デパート ( = depaato) “department store”. 「デパ地下」( = depa chika) refers to the food floor of a department store. Here you’ll find a variety of food — from sweets to delicacies.
• サービスカウンター ( = service counter) customer service desk
:k: 店員 ( = teiin) a clerk → (more polite) 店員さん ( = ten-in san)
客 ( = kyaku)
→ (more polite) お客（ = okyaku) a customer
→お客さん ( = okyaku san)
→ (more polite) お客様 ( = okyaku sama)
Note : Clerks are required to call customers as お客さん ( = okyaku san) or お客様 ( = okyaku sama ).
They will never address you directly as “客” ( = kyaku)
Also if you are a customer, you should refer to shop clerks as 店員さん ( = ten-in san) not just 店員 ( = ten-in). The point being to remember to add さん ( = san).
:ii: ブティックでの会話 （ = Butikku deno kaiwa) A conversation at a boutique.
When you entered the store, 店員 ( = ten-in) a shop clerk will say、
•「いらっしゃいませ」
= Irasshaimase.
= Welcome to our store.”
• 「何かお探しですか？」
= Nani ka osagashi desuka?
= “What are you looking for?”→ “May I help you?”
If you are just looking,
•「いえ、見ているだけです。」
= Ie, miteiru dake desu.
= “No, I’m just looking. “
• 「いえ、ちょっと見せて下さい。」
= Ie, chotto misete kudasai.
= No, thank you. Do you mind if I just look around.”
If you know what to buy, talk to a clerk,
• 「 すみません、（ちょっといいですか？） 」
= “Suminasen, (Chotto iidesu ka?)
= “Excuse me, Could you help me?”
•「〜が欲しいんですが」
= ~ ga hoshiin desu ga
= “I would like ~ .”
• 「〜はありますか？」
= ~ wa arimasu ka?
= ” Do you have ~?”” Is there ~? “
:l: If you’d like to try something on or take a closer look at it…
•「このスカート見させてもらっても（頂いても）いいですか？」
= “Kono sukaato misete morattemo (itadaitemo) iidesu ka?”
= “May I see this skirt?”
(もらう ( = morau)
もらってもいいですか？
= Morattemo iidesu ka?
:u: more polite
頂く ( = tadaku)
頂いてもいいですか？ (more polite)
= Itadaitemo iidesu ka?
Maggie sensei said,
「もっと痩せてみえる服を下さい。」
=Motto yasete mieru fuku wo kudasai.
= I want (I am looking for) some clothes that makes me look thinner.
*もっと ( = motto) more
* 痩せてみえる ( = yasete mieru) to make someone look thinner
= 細くみえる（ = hosoku mieru)
Ex. この服は細く見える
= Kono fuku wa hosoku mieru
= “This dress makes me look thin.”
* 〜下さい ( = kudasai) : give me〜 →(At a store) I want (I would like) 〜
:l: If you are looking at some clothes, the shop clerk might talk to you.
•「それ可愛いですよね。」
= Sore kawaii desu yone.
= “It is very cute. “
•「それ可愛いくないですか？」
= Sore kawaiku nai desu ka?.)
= “Isn’t it cute? “
•「その色いいですよね。」
= Sono iro iidesu yone.)
= “It’s a nice color, isn’t it?”
•「それ私も同じの持っているんですよ。」
= Watashi mo onaji no motte irun desu yo.
= “I have the same one.”
•「これ最後の一点なんですよ。」
= Kore saigo no itten nan desu yo.)
「これラス一なんですよ。」
=Kore rasu ichi nan desu yo.
= “This is the last one!”
(ラス一 ( = rasu ichi) ：See the“Enryo no katamari” lesson )
•「鏡で合わせてみますか？」
= Kagami de awasete mimaska?
= “Would you like to use a mirror?”
:s: If you can’t see the price tag, you ask them,
•「これおいくらですか？」
= Kore oikura desu ka?
•「これいくらですか?」casual
= Kore ikura desuka?
= “How much is it?”
•「おいくらですか？」more polite
= Oikura desuka?
Or if you want to know the size,
•「これ、サイズはいくつですか？」
=Kore saizu wa ikutsu desu ka?
= “What is the size of this?”
If you need a mirror, you ask,
:w: Now, you found the clothes you like. Do you want to try it on?
•「鏡はどこですか？」
=Kagami wa doko desu ka?
= “Where is the mirror?”
•「これ試着できますか？」
= Kore shichaku dekimasu ka?)
= ” May I try this on?”
• 「試着室はどこですか？」
= Shichakushitsu wa doko desu ka?
= “Where’s the fitting room?”
While you are in the fitting room, they ask you,
•「如何ですか？」
= Ikaga desu ka?
“How do you like it?”
•「サイズの方は如何ですか？」
= Saizu no hou wa Ikaga desu ka?
= “How‘s the size?”
Usually no matter how you look(!?) 
they say,
• 「（とても）お似合いですよ。」
= (Totemo) oniai desu yo.)
=“You really look good (great) in it.”
似合う （ = niau) : to look good in something お似合い ( = oniai) more polite
Ex. マギーは赤が似合う
= Maggie wa aka ga niau
= Maggie looks nice in red.
:u: (negative)
Ex. マギーはピンクが似合わない。
= Maggie wa pinku ga niawanai
= Maggie doesn’t look good in pink.
You can also use this for people
Ex. マギーとマックスはお似合いだ。
=Maggie to Max wa oniai da.
= They are a good match.
Do you wanna different size or color?
:u:
「もっと大きいサイズはありますか？」
= Motto ookii saizu wa arimasu ka?)
= “Do you have that in a bigger size?”
もっと小さい ( = motto chiisai) smaller
•「この９号はありますか？」
= Kono kyuugou wa arimasu ka?
= “Do you have it in size-9?? “
•「違う色はありますか？」
=Chigau iro wa arimasu ka?
= “Do you have it in different colors?” or
•「これの（この）青ありますか？」
= Kore no (Kono) ao arimasu ka?
= “Do you have it in in blue?”
If they do, they will bring it right away saying
•「只今、お持ち致します。」
= Tadaima omochi itashimasu.
=“I will bring it to you right away. “
只今 （ = tadaima) ：right now, right away,
持って来る( = motte kuru) to bring
持って来ます。
= mottekimasu.
= I will bring (it).)
お持ちします。
= omochi shimasu.
= “I’ll bring it for you.” polite.
•「少々、お待ち下さい。」
= Shoushou omachi kudasai.)
= ” Just a moment, please.”
少々： ( = shoushou ) a short period or time.for a minute
待つ （ = matsu) to wait
待って( = mattte) to wait
→ 待って下さい。( = Matte kudasai.)
Please wait
→お待ち下さい。(polite)
= Omachi kudasai.
= “Could you wait.”) polite
•「只今、在庫があるか見て参ります。」
= Tadaima zaiko ga aruka mite mairimasu.
= “I’ll go check if we have that in stock.”
* 在庫 ( = zaiko) a stock
*〜があるか見て来る ( = ga aruka mite kuru) to go see if there is –
〜があるか見て来ます。
=~ga aruka mite kimasu.
= I’ll go see if there is~
〜があるか 見て参ります。(more polite)
= ~ ga aru ka mite mairimasu.
If they don’t, they say,
• 「すみません。在庫が切れていました。」
=Sumimasen. Zaiko ga kirette imashita.
= Sorry. It was out of stock.
• 「申し訳ありません。そちらの色しかございません。」
=Moushiwake arimasen.Sochira no iro shika gozaimasen.
= “I am so sorry but we only have that color.”
* 在庫が切れる ( = zaiko ga kireru) out of stock.
(Noun form is 在庫切れ」（ = zaiko gire) “No stock” (or 在庫なし( = zaiko nashi)、在庫有り（ = zaiko ari) “In stock” You might see these in internet shopping site.)
* すみません ( = Sumimasen) can be used for “Excuse me! (When you talk to people.) ” or “I am sorry. (I apologize..)” When you apologize,
「申し訳ありません」（ =Moushiwake arimasen) is more polite than 「すみません。」( = sumimasen) .
「申し訳ございません。」(=Moushiwake gozaimasen.) is even more polite.
あります( = arimasu)
→ ございます (=gozaimasu.) (more polite)
= There is (are) / We have
negative form :u:
ありません ( = arimasen)
→ ございません ( = gozaimasen. ) (more polite)
= There isn’t / We don’t have ~
:ee: Do you like it? Then you tell them,
•「(じゃあ）これにします。」
= (Jaa) Kore ni shimasu.
= “I’ll take it. “
じゃあ ( = jaa) is a colloquial way of saying 「それでは」 ( = soredewa) or 「では」( = dewa) means “then”
•「これ買います。」
= Kore kaimasu.
= “I’ll buy this. ”
(It is more direct compare to the above sentence but people say that.)
Or they might talk to you,
•「お決まりですか？」
= Okimari desuka?
= “Did you decide what to buy?”
They will lead you to 「レジ」( = reji) or「お会計」( = okaikei) the cashier .
•「こちらでよろしかったですか？」
= Kochira de yoroshikatta desu ka?)
(To make sure the item you are buying.)
“Is that all?”
•「お支払い(方法）は如何なさいますか？」
= Oshiharai (houhou) wa ikaga nasai masu ka?
= “How would you like to pay for this?”
* 支払い ( = shiharai) ：payment
お支払い ( = oshiharai) more polite.
* お支払い方法 ( = oshiharai houhou) how to pay
*どうする? very casual
= Dousuru?
=“What do you wanna do?”
どうしますか？more polite
= Dou shimasu ka?
如何なさいますか？very polite
= Ikaga nasai masu ka?
= ” How would like… “
You’ll say..
•「カードでお願いします。」
=Kaado de onegai shimasu.
= “With a credit card please.”
If you use your credit card, they will ask you,
•「お支払い方法は？」
=Oshiharai houhou wa?
= “How would you like to break up your credit card payments? “
* 方法 (=houhou) method, way
• 「一括で宜しかったですか？」
=Ikkatsu de yoroshikatta desu ka?
= “By single payment? “
:ee:Note: In Japan there are a couple of ways to pay by credit card. You can choose to pay with one payment or break it up into monthly payments.
* 一括払い ( = ikkatsu barai) single payment ,one-off payment
* 一括（ = ikkatsu) noninstallment
* 払い（ = harai/barai) payment
verb : 払う ( = harau) to pay
*分割払い ( = bunkatsu barai) by installments, easy payment
*分割 ( = bunkatsu) installments
•「こちらに御署名(or サイン）お願い致します。」
= Kochira ni goshomei (or sain) onegai itashimasu.
= “Please sign here.”
* こちら ( = kochira) here
* 署名 ( =shomei) sign
御署名（ = goshomei) more polite.
お願い致します。（ = onegai itashimasu.) = please (very polite)
•「こちらがお釣りです。」
= Kochiraga otsuri desu.
= Here’s your change.
or 「こちらがお釣りになります。」
= Kochiraga otsuri ni narimasu.
→Grammatically not corrrect but they say that.
* お釣り ( = otsuri)more polite. ← 釣り ( = tsuri) change
•「こちらがお客様のお控えになります。」
= Kochira ga ohikae ni narimasu.
= Here is your copy/ receipt.
控え ( = hikae) copy, reference, usually a piece of the form for the credit card purchase. receipt
(→ レシート ( = reshiito) receipt
Usually in Japan they wrap things very nicely without asking. They ask you if it is for a gift so that they can even more nicely.
•「贈り物用ですか？」
= Okuri mono you desu ka?
= “Is it for a gift?”
贈り物 ( = okurimono) present, gift 〜用 ( = you)
= 「御自宅用ですか？」
= Gojitaku you desu ka?
= Is it for yourself?
* 自宅 ( = jitaku) one’s own house. ->yourself.
You can answer
•はい、贈り物です。
= Hai, okuri mono desu.
= “Yes, it is for gift.”
• いえ、自宅用です。
= Ie, jitaku you desu.
= No, for myself.” If you buy a gift in a department store, they will ask you,
• お印はどうされますか？
= Oshirushi wa dou saremasuka?
= “Would like to put shirushi (a special paper to indicate a certain occasions )” ?
Culture note :
（お）印 ( = (o)shirushi) The way they wrapping with a certain paper to show the gift is for special occasion. We use a special paper called 「のし紙」( = noshigami) with a short message and your name under a gift paper. That is called (o) shirushi. Here are some examples,
• 御礼（ = Orei) To show your appreciation
• 御中元 ( = Ochuugen) Summer gift
• 御歳暮 ( = Oseibo) Year end gift
• 御結婚祝い ( = Gokekkon iwai) Wedding gift
• 御祝い ( = Oiwai) To congratulate some happy occasions.
(• 御入学祝い ( = Gonyuugaku iwai) To congratulate someone who has entered a school.
• 御卒業祝い( = Gosotsugyou iwai ) to congratulate someone’s graduation.
• 出産祝い( = Shussan iwai) To congratulate someone who has just had a baby.)
Not just happy occasion but there is also some funeral gift as well. So if you want the gift specially wrapped as a summer gift
•「御中元でお願いします。」
= Ochuugen de onegai shimasu
= As a summer gift,please.
:l: If you go somewhere more casual, you ask shopkeepers or clerks,
•「すみません、〜ありますか？」
= Sumimasen, ~ arimasuka?)
= “Excuse me. Is there~? (Do you have ~)?”
• 「すみません、（〜は）どこにありますか？」
= Sumimasen, ~ （wa）doko ni arimasu ka?)
= ” Excuse me. Where is ?”
Ex. 「すみません。歯ブラシはどこにありますか？ 」
= Sumimasen. Haburashi （wa) doko ni arimasuka?)
= “Excuse me, where is toothbrushes?” Or if you already find what you want,
•「大根１本下さい。」
= Daikon ippon kudasai.
= “One Japanese radish please.”
• 「豚のひき肉２００グラム下さい。」
= Buta no hikiniku nihyaku guramu kudasai.
= “May I buy 200 grams of ground pork.”
• 「アルミホイルありますか？」
=Arumi foiru arimasu ka?
= “Do you have an aluminum foil?”
• 「これ下さい。」
=Kore kudasai.
=I will buy this.
• 「これ３つ下さい。」
=Kore mittsu kudasai.
= “Please give me three of this.”
If the store is very casual such as a fish market, food stools, grocery store, etc, not much formality so they don’t talk to you with excessive formality.
• 「いらっしゃい、いらっしゃい！＊」「安いよ！安いよ！！」
=Irasshai, irasshai! Yasuiyo! Yasuiyo!!
＊It may sound らっしゃい、らっしゃい ( = Rasshai, Rasshai)
”Come on!” “They are very cheap!” (A shop clerk will shout this in a very lively voice to get customers’ attention.)
• 「お客さん、これ美味しいよ！食べてみて！」
=Okyakusan kore oishii yo! Tabete mite!)
“This is really good! Taste it!”
!Fork! Note : 試食 ( = shishoku) Tasting
Many places offer food sampling — called 試食品 ( = shishokuhin )
試食コーナー ( = shishoku koonaa) “A sampling corner” is always very popular.
The verb form is 試食する ( =shishoku suru) “to taste”
If it is something to drink like wine, sake or juice,
試飲 ( = shiin) The verb form is 試飲する ( = shiin suru)
Ex. ワインを試飲する
= Wain wo shiiin suru
= To taste wine.
:: コンビニで ( = konbini de) At a convenience stores
You don’t need too talk much at a convenience store. It will be enough if you understand a couple phrases.
A cashier says:
•「お決まりの方からどうぞ！」
= Okimari no kata kara douzo!
= “If you are ready, please come to the cashier!”
•「袋はいりますか？」(or レジ袋）
= Fukuro wa irimasu ka? (Or rejibukuro)
= “Do you need a bag?”
• 「袋にお入れしますか？」
= Fukuro ni oire shimasu ka?
= “Would want it/ them in a bag?”
(They have started to charge for a plastic bag in a supermarket in Japan.)
•「温めますか？」
=Atatame masu ka?
= “Do you want us to heat this up (with a microwave?)”
温める ( = atatameru) to warm up
• 「お箸はいりますか（御入用ですか？）？」
=Ohashi wa irimasu ka (goiriyou desu ka) ?)
= ”Would like chopsticks?”
* いる ( = iru) to need, to want
more formal
* 御入用 ( = goiriyou)(more polite) to need
•「スプーンはおつけしますか？」
=Supuun wa otsuke shimasu ka?
= “Would like a spoon?”
* つける(=tsukeru) to add, to include,
おつけする(=otsuke suru) more polite
•「はい」 ( = Hai) “Yes.”
「はい、お願いします。」
=Hai, onegai shimasu.
= “Yes, please.” A bit more polite
• 「いいえ」 ( = Iie) “No.”
「いいえ、結構です。」a bit more polite
=Iie kekkou desu.
= “No thank you. “
マギー先生より = Maggie-sensei yori = From Maggie-sensei
OK, that’s all for today.
Go enjoy shopping!!
行ってらっしゃい！！( = Itterasshai!)
53 Comments
Hi Maggie-sensei,
I have a question sort of related to shopping, but hard to categorise.
I left a clothes shop the other day and as I was exiting, the alarm went off.
I waited politely for someone to come and check, but I didn’t know how to say:
“Your store alarms went off.’
Or
“I am not sure why… but your store alarms went off?”
Thank you so much!
Hi Mini
When you want to tell them the alarm goes off even though you paid
すみません、アラームが鳴ったんですが…
= Sumimasen. Alarm ga nattan desu ga…
= Excuse me. The alarm went off..
You can add
このまま出てもいいですか？
= Kono mama dete mo ii desu ka?
= Can I just leave?
Maggie先生、いつもお世辞になっております。
最近、日本に引っ越して、コンビニに行く時、わからないことがあったので、もしよかったら教えていただけないでしょうか？
袋ご利用なさいますか？って聞かれたら、袋が要る時や要らない時に何を答えたらいいでしょうか？
よろしくお願い致します。
こんにちは、Yui!
コンビニやスーパーなど今は、ほとんどのお店で聞かれますね。
袋がいらない時は
（袋は）いりません。
（袋は）持っています。
大丈夫です。持っています。
袋、あります。
袋が欲しいときは
はい、お願いします。
で答えたらいいと思いますよ。
Maggie-sensei,
Konnichiwa from Kanagawa! Your website has been tremendously helpful as a Japanese language learner and much more practical than textbooks!
One question on shopping etiquette in Japan: are you supposed to say anything (other than thank you) when cashiers hand your change/receipt back?
Thanks,
Sarah
Hello Sarah,
normally in department stores you probably don’t see that people use any special words of thankfulness and gratitude, and I would stick to it. A simple どうも is good enough.
Observe the people and do like they do.
What do people do or how do they react, when a sweet Japanese girl greets them with a いらっしゃいませ♪ ? Well, they do nothing, they imply just ignore </3. There are different customs in different countries, you know.
I would – for example – ask for her phone number, cuz that's my lovely custom, hohoho ^ ^
( ｀・∀・´)ﾉﾖﾛｼｸ。
@Sarah
Thank you ＠天人さん for helping everybody while I was gone.
Sarah, as 天人 said, many people don’t usually say anything when they receive their change/receipt back. Some nod lightly or greet with their eyes with a subtle smile.
If they wrap something nicely or help you a lot, then you say ありがとう.
Hi Maggie sensei! I was wondering, when a shop clerk compliments you, what should you say back?
And in general, if anyone compliments you, what should you say back? Saying ‘arigatou’ doesn’t sound right. xD
@Louisa
Hi Louisa,
You can say ありがとう but in some occasion, ありがとう may sound like you are aware of your beauty. :)
So, how about just saying そうですか？or tell them how much you like the outfits (if you like them). いいですね。/ 色がいいですね。/ かわいいですね。/ デザインがいいですね。or デザインが気に入りました。etc.
Thank you for this lesson !
When you are in the fitting room and the shop clerk ask you “如何ですか？” what do you usually respond ?
@Louise
Hi Louise,
If the size fits OK or you like it, you say
はい、いいみたいです。
= Hai, ii mitai desu.
= It seems to be OK./ It fits OK.
If it is a little too small,
少し小さいです。
= Sukoshi chiisai desu.
If it is too big,
少し大きいです。
= Sukoshi ookii desu.
Hi Maggie sensei, thanks very much, these are very useful!
I have a question, I went shopping for clothes today and when I went into the fitting room, the 店員さん asked me something which I later figured should be asking me if I wanted to try on the clothes. However I did not catch what she said, would you be able to share what does the 店員さん usually say when we enter the fitting room and how we can respond to that? Thanks!
@valen
Hello Valen,
Hmm it is hard to guess what they said but let me try.
If you went to the big store where there are a lot of fitting rooms, they talked to you to check how many items you have.
Then
こちらの１点でよろしかったですか？
= Kochira no itten de yoroshikatta desuka?
= So you have one item, right?
→You can just say はい and if you have more items, you say あとこれも試着したいです。= Ato kore mo shichaku shitaidesu.
They might have double checked the size,
Mサイズでよろしかったですか？
= M saizu de yoroshikatta desuka?
= This is size M, is that all right?
Again if so, you can say はい(=hai) if not, you can ask them ~~~サイズをお願いします。= ~~~ saizu wo onegai shimasu.
Or if they want to see how you look when you try it on, they might ask you
ご試着終わりましたら一度出て見せて頂けますか？
= Goshichaku owarimashitara ichido dete misete itadakemasu ka?
= Could you come out once when you try it on?
If you are already in the fitting room,
they probably asked you
如何ですか？
= Ikaga desuka?
= How is it?
サイズの方は、如何ですか？
= Saizu no hou wa ikaga desuka?
= Does it fit you? / How’s the size?
If it fits you perfectly you can say
ちょうどいいです。
= Choudo iidesu
= Just right.
If not, you can say すこし大きいです(=sukoshi ookii desu, This is a little too big.)・少し小さいです。(=Sukoshi chiisai desu. This is a little too small)
= Ikaga desuka?
= How is it?
Wow, thanks for the very detailed reply! That really helps a lot!
I thought I might have heard something ～おしゃれって…, is that an honorific form?
@valen
If they say the word おしゃれ. It is not an honorific expression but it means “fashionable”.
i see, thanks for the explanation! :)
@valen
Douitashimashite!
Thank you for this article. I’ve been looking for a phrase/terms collection like this. It’ll be super useful when I’m in Japan this year （＾Ｏ＾）
Hi Maggie!
Thank you so much for the lessons.
Could you explain the sentence お決まりの方からどうぞ?
I understand “If you’ve decided, from that person please”
Best regards from Spain.
@Casiel
Hola Casiel,
お決まりの方からどうぞ?
決める means “to decide to buy something” → to know what to buy →to be ready to buy something
So the literal translation is,
“We will attend from that person who have decide to buy something, so please come (to the cashier)”
We use お決まり at the restaurant or fast food as well.
ご注文はお決まりですか？
= Gochuumon wa okimari desu ka?
= Do you know what to order?
Saludos de Japón. :)
Ohayo Maggie Sensie, Your lesson is very helpful. Domo arigato gozaimasu. Do you have a lesson specifically at a grocery store when you pay at the cashier. They say or ask you so many things once you paid. For example, my bill was 526 yen so I gave them 1,026 yen so I get a full 500 yen back. They said or asked something and i could not understand. They also ask me so many things before they give me plastic bags, is it possible for you to please give me a list of what they actually say versus the questuons they actually want answers..?
@carlainjapan
Hi Carla!
I don’t have a particular lesson for grocery store.
Usually when you pay money, they repeat
~円お預かり致します。
= ~ en oazukari itahsimasu.
=(The direct translation is ” I have received ~ yen from you.”)
Now let’s see your question :
My bill was 526 yen so I gave them 1,026 yen so I get a full 500 yen back. They said or asked something and i could not understand.
↓
Probably they were just saying how much they have received and how much change they give you.
This is a typical pattern.
~~~円お預かり致しましたので〜円のお返しになります。
= ~~~ en oazukari itashimashita node ~ en no okaeshi ni narimasu.
= Since we have received ~~ yen from you, I will give you ~ yen change.
Ex.１０２６円お預かり致しましたので５百円のお返しになります。
= Sen nijuurokuen oazukari itashimashita node gohyakuen no okaeshi ni narimasu.
= Since we have received 1026 yen from you, I will give you back 5,00 yen change.
If you just give them a bill, they might ask you
Ex. １万円からでよろしかったでしょうか？
= Ichimanen kara de yoroshikatta deshouka?
= (Technically it is a wrong Japanese but they say that because it is written in their manual)
= From 10,000 yen, right?
Or they might check if you want to pay small changes
細かい方、よろしかったでしょうか？
= Komakai hou yoroshikatta deshouka?
= Would like to pay small change?
About a plastic bag, レジ袋= reji bukuro many places charge for a plastic bag now so they ask you if you have your own bag or you need a plastic bag.
It is possible that they are asking you
Ex. 袋は必要ですか？= Fukuro wa hitsuyou desuka?
Ex.袋はお持ちですか？ = Fukuro wa omochi desuka?
Ex.袋は御入用ですか？ = Fukuro wa goiriyou desuka?
Ex.袋はご利用でしょうか？ = Fukuro wa goriyou desuka?
If I think of any other expressions, I will keep adding them here.
Maggiesensei, these questions attacked me while reading this lesson.
いえ、ちょっと見せて下さい。
No, thank you. Do you mind if I just look around.
1) a) Wouldn’t this sentence be used to ask the store clerk to show you some stuff to buy? Or to let you see the store?
b) I may be confusing the meaning of the words “miseru” and “misaseru” though. :/ Sensei, could you tell me the difference between these two words?
鏡で合わせてみますか？
“Would you like to use a mirror?”
2) Sensei, I am trying to understand the causative usage of the verb “au” in here. Doing so I get this rough translation of the sentence, is it alright:
“Would you like to try making it fit in front of the mirror?”
Or am I completely off, sensei? lol What I am not sure is if what is made to fit in this sentence is the “piece of clothing” in question.
只今、在庫があるか見て参ります。
3) Is mairimasu used as a polite form of kuru, as in “mite kuru”?
この服は細く見える
This dress makes me look fat.
Maggiesensei isn’t this sentence supposed to mean “This dress makes me look thin.”
4) ございます
Can gozaimasu be used as a substitute for “imasu” as well? I have listened to the expression of “de gozaimasu” while a person addresses himself in an anime.
御入学祝い
Do I read this as “gonyuugaku iwai” or “onyuugaku iwai”?
Thank you sensei for your time and as always, no rush. :) Whenever sensei has the time. :)
@NecroMadMat
Hello, NMM!
1) a)
ちょっと見せて下さい
The direct translation is : Will you show me / May I see / Let me see (what you have in this store).
You can use this phrase to ask someone to show something or someplace.
Since you are asking a shop clerk to show you what they have, you can use this phrase.
And yes, you can use this phrase to ask a shop clerk to show you something.
すみません、この帽子を見せて下さい。
= Excuse me. May I see this hat, please? / Could you show me this hat please?
ショーウィンドーにある青いセーターを見せて下さい。
= May I see / Could you show me the blue sweater in the store window please?
見せる vs 見させる
見せる means “to show something to someone”
見させる= could be two things and that is why it is confusing.
1) When it is uses as a causative verb = to make someone see something.
Ex. Aにsomethingを見させた。= I made A see seomething.
2) When it is used as an honorific
Ex. 見させてください。＝Please let me see
******
2) OK, Not bad.
鏡で合わせる is an idiom. You put on the clothes or simply holding the clothes as if you wear them in front of the mirror and see if you like the design, size or color would fit you.
3) Exactly
見てきます→(polite form ) 見て参ります。
4) Ahh, you are right! Thank you for spotting the mistake. I will fix it.
Right ございます can be used to address yourself. Very polite. マギーでございます！= I am Maggie.
5) gonyuugaku iwai.
I have been officially abbreviated. XD It took me a while to realize what NMM meant sensei, lol sometimes I am a little slow. lol
I think I got it now. In “misete” someone will show you something while in “misasete” someone will make you or let you see.
What was kind of confusing is that the end result is similar, by the action of someone I see, being it either by being shown or made/allowed to see.
Thank you Maggiesensei, as always. :D
@NecroMadMat
Hola NMM!
I think you got it but just in case I will type out the basic forms below.
見る= to see
見せる= to show
見せられる= (passive form) You are forced to see something by someone
見させる = to force someone to see something
*******
When you ask someone to show you something
a) 見せて下さい。
b) 見させて下さい。
The both mean the same thing. Please let me see something/Show something to me.
But b) sounds a bit more humble and polite.
Sensei, seems like one of the things that got me confused is that “miseru” is not an inflection of “miru”, in other words: “miru” =/= “miseru”. “Miseru” is a verb on its own, right?
Sensei, with the first explanation it was clearer than water, with the second explanation it is clearer than air. XD Thank you Maggiesensei. :)
Maggiesensei, “making my life a lot simpler since 2012.” XD
@NecroMadMat
見せる is a one form of 見る but when we translate it look the different words. to see / to show
But you are right. It is easier to think they are different words at the moment.
Good that my explanation cleared things up.
Oh is that so? The plot thickens. lol I’ll follow your advice sensei. :)
Edit: I couldn’t find the reply option to sensei’s last comment, I meant to reply to sensei’s last comment just in case. :)
hai maggie sensei
how to say..i’m sorry,i don’t have a small change..
or sorry i don’t have enough small change to give..
arigatou…
@aid
Hi, aid!
OK, small change is 小銭= こぜに= Kozeni. We also say 細かいお金 = こまかいおかね = komakai okane (You can contract it as 細かいの= komakai no)
So when we buy something and don’t have small change we say
すみません。小銭がないので…
すみません。細かいお金がなくて…
kozeni -small change..
nai no de -i don’t hve
maggie sensei..what does nakute mean..
i have been in nihon for a month..so i always get stuck at cashier counter when buying something.. :)..but u really help me a lot..
@aid
nai = there is not
node = because/since / so… (giving a reason)
kozeni nai node = Since I don’t have small change so…
We often don’t finish the sentence and let the listener figure out the rest.
But you can also say
ごめんなさい。（or すみません）小銭を持っていません。/ or 小銭がありません。
= Gomennasai (or Sumimasen.) Kozeni wo motte imasen. or Kozeni ga arimasen.
Enjoy your shopping!
thanks for that phrase..that is what i’m looking for..sorry coz i am a new learner..hiii.. :)
arigatou gozaimashita
@aid
どういたしまして！= Dou itashimashite = You’re very welcome!
Feel free to ask me a question anytime. :h:
電化製品 hey I recognize the first kanji! it’s from densha=train?
会話 ian’t kai=party kanji? so like a “talk party” heheheh
are… majide? the sale people there are SO polite!! I think it would feel kinda strange at first if people were talking to me in such keigo way! I guess I would have to get used to it ne :)
and they really tell u it looks good on you and ask if the size and color is ok?? heheh yasashi yo^^ here they usually don’t make any comments and u usually have to go find them yourself and call out to them and then ask them….
and it’s nice that they wrap up things, they don’t do that in the States.. not much 試食品 here either…
one more question! (iroiro questions ano gomenne
m(__)m) what’s included in 日常品 ?? I’ve never heard of such a section before!
Maggie sensei makes shopping sound easy :) okie when I go to Japan I’ll make sure I use this lesson^^ arigatou <333
@Aki
Hi Aki!
日常品 is also called 日用品 = nichiyouhin and it includes all kinds of articles for everyday such as detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, kitchen paper, clothes hangers, etc.etc.
Oh, I bet you will LOVE shopping in Japan!!
sensei I also heard of this word “pittari” so is that the same as 似合う?
@Aki
ぴったりis usually used when something is just the right size or something fits perfectly.
But you can also say when it looks good on you as well.
Also you can use ぴったり for people or intangible things as well.
Ex. 私にぴったりの人を見つけた。= I found a right (perfect) person for me.
Ex. 息がぴっったり= iki ga pittari = to have a perfect harmony, etc.
hi Ms. Maggie!
me again! i just wanna to say im enjoying studying/reading your lessons!
i am literally writing them down on my notes!
とても助かります！
maple-san,
Thank you for your comment! Hope you can use this lesson when you go shopping!
Aha! That makes a lot of sense. Thanks! I always learn a lot from these lessons.
Xeric-san,
Dou itashimashite! Anytime!
This was a great lesson! Thanks for all your hard work, I really appreciate it.
Please excuse my ignorance, I’m just beginning with Japanese and I can’t read kanji yet. I have a small question; When one says “Tadaima omochi itashimasu” is this the same “tadaima” that one would say upon returning home? Do they have the same literal meaning?
Hajimemashite (=Nice to meet you!), Xeric-san,
Tadaima “只今” means “(right) now”. When we come back home, we say “Tadaima” to our family that means “只今、帰りました。”(Tadaima kaerimashita.) 帰る(=to return)-> I just came back home “now”. A lot of Japanese say just the first part (=tadaima) without saying ( “kaerimashita.”).
So it is the same meaning of “只今、お持ちします。”(=Tadaima omochi shimashita.)-> I will bring it to you right now.
Dou?
I love you maggie! <3 maggie sensei Kawaii ne~~~
Super riceball-san,
I love you,too! Datte watashi no koto kawaii tte itte kuretashi…(’cause you told me I am cute!)
That was so comprehensive! It’s going to take me a couple of days to absorb it I think. ^^ Thank you very much. レッソンは日常／自然な日本語ですから、すごい便利ですよ。☆
yumyumsesame-san,
便利？よかった〜！！長くなっちゃったけど１つのレッスンでいろいろなレベル＋目的の友達みんなが勉強できたらなって願っています。
(Benri? Yokatta~! Nagaku nacchatta kedo hitotsu no ressun de iroirona reberu + mokuteki no tomodachi minna ga benkyou dekinatara natte negatte imasu.)
I’m very happy to hear it is useful. It ended up a long lesson but hope all my friends with different levels + purposes of learning Japanese can use my blog to study.
Thank you! Arigatou!! :maggie-small:
Eeeto… Nihon no depaato de ha “本売場” ga arimasu ka ? Watashi ha hon ga suki dakara ^^;
Laetitia-san e
Depaato ni mo 本売場 arimasuyo. 書籍売場（=shoseki uriba) tomo iimasu.
Mata kite ne! :maggie-small:
Maggie sensei ha nani ga ichiban suki desu ka, shokuryouhin to ka, iryouhin desu ka ? ;D
Arigatou for today’s lesson,
mata ne ! :)
Hi Laetitia-san!
Watashi no sukina uriba wa 「お肉売場」”oniku uriba” (=meat section) to 「ペット用品」”petto youhin uriba” desu.
Laetitia-san wa?