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Top 15 Shopping Phrases in Japanese : Cash or Credit? :It’s time to whip out those credit cards! Today we’re going to hit up a trendy clothing store and learn the top 15 useful phrases for shopping in Japan!     

It’s Saturday afternoon. The sky is blue, and the sun is shining. What a perfect day to go shopping! You text some of your friends to see if they’re free.

Top 15 Shopping Phrases in Japanese

Kyō kaimono ni ikanai? (Do you want to go shopping today?)

Indeed they are free, so you all decide to meet up in Shibuya, one of the top shopping districts in Tokyo. Dress to impress is the only thing on your mind, so you all decide to check out 109, a fashion mecca for the young and stylish. 

You’re in the market for a cute dress to wear when you’re out at night, and one of your friends points out a sign in front of a store. She tells you that it says they’re having a sale.

Kono o-mise sēru chū da yo.(They are having a sale now.)

When you enter the store, the saleswoman approaches you and asks if you’re looking for anything in particular. You tell her no, that you’re just looking for the time being.

Mite iru dake desu, arigatō gozaimasu. (I’m just looking, thank you.)

You browse the racks of colorful dresses for a few minutes until you see a plain red one that you fall in love with.

“I must have this,” you think. “I hope it fits!”

You locate the saleswoman again and ask if it’s okay for you to try it on.

Kore o shichaku shite mo ī desu ka? (Can I try this on?)

You take the dress into the fitting room with you. You slip it on and observe yourself in the mirror. It fits perfectly and really accentuates your form. Everyone will love you in this dress without a doubt, but you wish it were blue so it would match your blue heels. The saleswoman asks if everything is all right from behind the door, and you open it and ask if they have the dress in any other colors.

Kono iro chigai wa arimasu ka? (Do you have this in another color?)

Unfortunately, they don’t have any other colors for that particular style, but they do have similar ones in blue. The saleswoman brings you a few more varieties, and you like the strapless one even better than the first one! The shade of blue is perfect for your blue heels. Now, if only it were one size bigger! You call for the saleswoman. 

Kore wa watashi ni wa sukoshi chīsa-sugimasu. Mō hitotsu ōkī saizu arimasu ka? (This is a little too small for me. Do you have a size bigger?)

You’re in luck! She manages to find one just your size. You observe yourself in the mirror. You look hot! However, you want a second opinion just in case. You text your friends to come over to the shop you’re at, and they all cheer you on as you fling the fitting room door open and make a dramatic exit like a model at a fashion show. You flash them a seductive Bond-girl look over your shoulder.

Dō? Niau? (How do I look?)

There’s no question. You are definitely a 10.

You decide to buy it, but when you search for the tag to see how much it is, you can’t find it. You approach the saleswoman again and ask her how much the dress is.

Kore wa ikura desu ka? (How much is this?)

The saleswoman searches the back of the dress, where the tag should be, but can’t find it either. She disappears into the back and returns with the answer. It’s a bit more expensive than you would like, but you remember the sign out front that said everything was on sale. Some items were even as much as 10% off.

Kore wa jū pāsento ofu desu ka? (Is this 10% off?)

The saleswoman looks at you and smiles. She says that since you looked so cute in the dress, she’ll let you have it for 10% off.

What an awesome day you’re having! You take your dress and approach the cash registers. Two of them are open, and only one customer stands at each one. You turn around to see a few people behind you and approach them to ask if they’re standing in line.

Narande imasu ka? (Are you standing in line?)

The blonde Japanese girl you ask nods her head and points behind her. You go to the back of the line and wait until it’s your turn.  

When you approach the register, the cashier rings up your total, and you ask if they’ll accept your American Express card.

Amerikan Ekusupuresu de haraemasu ka? (Can I pay with my American Express?)

They don’t accept American Express, but they do accept Visa or Mastercard. Luckily you still have some wiggle room left on your Visa before it’s maxed out, so you decide to use that one.

Before you leave, they ask if you would like it gift wrapped.

Gifuto hōsō wa ikaga deshō ka? (Would you like it gift wrapped?)

You think about having it gift wrapped so you can open it later like a Christmas present to yourself, but you don’t want to keep your friends waiting. The cashier puts your dress in a bag, and off you go with them to have some bubble tea.

Essential Japanese shopping phrases

Shopping in Japanese: Your guide to the essential Japanese shopping phrases : Hello everyone and welcome to today’s online Japanese lesson. Have you ever wanted to go shopping in Japan? Today we are delving into the world of shopping and looking at the essential Japanese phrases you need to know so you will be able to shop in style no matter where you go.

Shopping in Japanese: Your guide to the essential Japanese shopping phrases

Imagine it for a second, you are walking down the luxurious shopping streets of Ginza and find yourself in a conversational exchange with the retail staff. Wouldn’t it be nice to ask for some discount? Well today we are going to learn all about that and more, you are going to be a shopping pro by the end of this lesson. Without further hesitation, lets get straight into today online Japanese lesson.

いくらですか Ikura desu ka How much is it?

Our first phrase is possibly the most important, “how much is it” you can point to something and say いくらですか or you can add a nous to the beginning to be more specific kore wa ikura desu ka “how much is this” You don’t want to be caught out at the checkout without enough money. Make sure to ask before you get ripped off, this could end up saving you a lot of money..

割引ありますか Waribiki arimasu ka Do you have discount?

Once you’ve defined a price you should always try and push for a bit of a discount, especially if you are at the market or independent store. The way you as this is わりびきありますか Waribiki arimasu ka?

Odds are the friendly Japanese trader will be so impressed by your Japanese that they will apply discount without question. Remember to smile while saying this, that may be the deal breaker. It’s probably best not to use this while your in chain stores or more high class establishments, you may be laughed out the door or severely frowned upon.

黒はありますか Kuro wa arimasu ka Do you have it in black?

Struggling to find the colour that you like? Why not try asking for it in a different colour. Kuro ha arimasu ka means “ do you have one in black” but you can replace “kuro” with any colour that you like. If you’re like me then you pretty much want the cheapest and most comfortable thing, however if you are more fashion conscious, this will be a handy little phrase for you to utilize.

袋おねがいします Fukuro Onegaishimasu Can I have bag please

Thinking of carrying the items that you have just purchase home? Think again. With this next phrase you wont have to worry about being inconvenienced by carrying multiple items ever again. Fukuro onegaishimasu means “can I have a bag”. In Japan, bags are free so take as many as you like. With this phrase you will be able to solve all of your retail problems and unlock the power to obtain the epic “bag”.

何時まで空いてますかNanji made aitemasuka? What time are you open until?

Wondering what time the store is open until? Don’t sweat it. With this next phrase you will always be on time and ready to shop. If you are in a store and thinking of coming back later you can ask, “nanji made aitemasuka” this means “what time are you open until” This will help you avoid the disappointment of turning up later to buy your onions, only to find out that the store is closed, what a nightmare.

を探しています O sagashite imasu. I’m looking for.

Another important shopping factor is the ability to tell someone what you are looking for so they can help you find that item. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of chop sticks or the latest pokemon game, this phrase can help you find that item you are looking for. Use “ITEMをさがしています” to say “I’m looking for ITEM”. This is a really handy phrase for any shopping experience. The Japanese pride themselves on customer service, so they will be more than happy to assist you. 

試着できますか Shichaku Dekimasu Ka Can I try it on?

You can use “Shichaku Dekimasu ka” to ask a member of staff if you can try something on. This is really useful if you are wanting to see how something fits before committing to the purchase. It’s always polite to ask first before heading straight to the changing room. 

カードでお願いします  Kado de onegai shimasu I’ll pay with card please

カードでお願いします is a great phrase to use if you want to use card to pay for you items. Nowadays people dont really carry cash anyway so this is a great phrase to use.

これを返品していもいいですか？ Kore o henpin shite mo ii desu ka – Can I return this?

If you have purchased an item that you found fault with, you can return it with the phrase これをへんぴんしてもいいですか This means “Can i return this Item” This will definitely be helpful for you if you are looking to get your money back.

It’s a great idea to note down all of these phrases and practice them first in your head. Create some imaginary scenarios where you are in a store situation. You can now ask about a lot of things when it comes to shopping so make sure that you practice. If you do this, when it comes to the real deal, you should have no problem recalling these phrases.

Other Japanese Shopping Phrases

Shopping in Japan is a cinch as long as you have a few phrases under your belt. Next time you travel to Japan, keep these 15 phrases handy to ensure nothing but smooth sailing for your next impulse buy (shōdōgai)!

Remember in order to learn a new language, it’s important to practice it so you don’t forget what you learned! So, everyone, don’t forget to get out there and practice, practice, practice!   

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