Lesson 19
Shopping, Prices, and Quantities
Asking for Prices with いくら (ikura)
In Japanese, the standard question word for 'how much (money)' is いくら (ikura). To ask the price of an item, you use the simple topic-marking pattern: [Noun] はいくらですか ([Noun] wa ikura desu ka). This directly translates to 'As for [Noun], how much is it?' You can substitute any item or demonstrative pronoun into the noun slot.
Demonstrative words such as これ (kore - this), それ (sore - that), and あれ (are - that over there) are frequently paired with this pattern when browsing a store. For example, pointing to an item near you and saying 「これはいくらですか」(Kore wa ikura desu ka?) means 'How much is this?' If you want to specify a particular item like a bag or a watch, you can use この (kono), その (sono), or あの (ano) before the noun: 「このかばんはいくらですか」(Kono kaban wa ikura desu ka? - How much is this bag?).
To answer a price inquiry, replace いくら with the amount followed by the Japanese currency unit 円 (えん / en, commonly written as 'yen' in English) and です (desu). For instance, 「これはせんえんです」(Kore wa sen-en desu) means 'This is 1,000 yen.'
Counting Money: Hundreds, Thousands, and Ten-Thousands
Japanese currency relies on the base numbers you have already learned, but prices often reach into the hundreds, thousands, and ten-thousands. The word for hundred is 百 (ひゃく / hyaku), thousand is 千 (せん / sen), and ten-thousand is 万 (まん / man). Unlike English, which groups large numbers by thousands (such as ten thousand or one hundred thousand), Japanese counts units of 万 (10,000). Thus, 20,000 is にまん (ni-man), and 50,000 is ごまん (go-man).
Be aware of sound changes (rendaku and gemination) with certain multiples of hundreds and thousands. For hundreds: 300 is さんびゃく (sanbyaku), 600 is ろっぴゃく (roppyaku), and 800 is はっぴゃく (happyaku). For thousands: 3,000 is さんぜん (sanzen), and 8,000 is はっせん (hassen). Note that 1,000 is usually just せん (sen) rather than いちせん (ichisen), whereas 10,000 must be pronounced with いち: いちまん (ichiman).
Here are a few practical examples of prices: 150 yen is ひゃくごじゅうえん (hyaku-gojū-en); 2,800 yen is にせんはっぴゃくえん (nisen-happyaku-en); and 12,000 yen is いちまんにせんえん (ichiman-nisen-en).
Native Japanese Counters: ひとつ Through とお
When counting physical objects in Japanese, you rarely use the bare numbers いち, に, さん by themselves. Instead, Japanese uses distinct counting systems. The most versatile system is the native Japanese counter series, which is used for general three-dimensional objects, abstract things, or whenever you do not know the specific counter word.
This native series runs from one to ten: ひとつ (hitotsu - 1), ふたつ (futatsu - 2), みっつ (mittsu - 3), よっつ (yottsu - 4), いつつ (itsutsu - 5), むっつ (muttsu - 6), ななつ (nanatsu - 7), やっつ (yattsu - 8), ここのつ (kokonotsu - 9), and とお (tō - 10). Notice that numbers 1 through 9 end in つ (tsu), but ten is simply とお (tō). Beyond ten, regular Sino-Japanese numbers (じゅういち, じゅうに, etc.) are generally used.
To ask 'how many' using this system, use the question word いくつ (ikutsu). In a sentence, the counter typically comes directly after the object and the particle を (o): 「りんごをみっつください」(Ringo o mittsu kudasai - Please give me three apples). Alternatively, it can quantify existence: 「みかんがよっつあります」(Mikan ga yottsu arimasu - There are four mandarin oranges).
Common Specific Counters: まい, さつ, ほん, and こ
In addition to the general native counters, Japanese uses specific suffix counters attached to Sino-Japanese numbers based on an object's shape or category. At the N5 level, four counters are especially common: 枚 (まい / mai), 冊 (さつ / satsu), 本 (ほん / hon), and 個 (こ / ko).
枚 (まい / mai) is used for flat, thin items such as paper, tickets, plates, and clothing like shirts: 「シャツをにまいかいました」(Shatsu o ni-mai kaimashita - I bought two shirts). 冊 (さつ / satsu) is used for bound volumes like books, magazines, and notebooks: 「ほんをいっさつよみました」(Hon o issatsu yomimashita - I read one book). Note the sound contraction in いっさつ (issatsu - 1 volume) and はっさつ (hassatsu - 8 volumes).
本 (ほん / hon) is used for long, cylindrical objects such as pens, bottles, and umbrellas. The pronunciation shifts between hon, bon, and pon depending on the preceding number: いっぽん (ippon - 1), にほん (nihon - 2), さんぼん (sanbon - 3), ろっぽん (roppon - 6), はっぽん (happon - 8), and じゅっぽん/じっぽん (juppon/jippon - 10). Finally, 個 (こ / ko) counts small, compact, or round items like apples, candies, and containers: いっこ (ikko - 1), にこ (niko - 2), さんこ (sanko - 3).
Essential Shopping Phrases
When you walk into a Japanese shop or restaurant, the staff will greet you with 「いらっしゃいませ」(Irasshaimase), meaning 'Welcome!' You do not need to reply to this greeting; a polite nod is sufficient.
When you have decided on an item to purchase, point to it and say 「これをください」(Kore o kudasai - Please give me this). If you want to see an item before buying, use the request pattern 「[Noun] をみせてください」([Noun] o misete kudasai - Please show me [Noun]). For example: 「そのとけいをみせてください」(Sono tokei o misete kudasai - Please show me that watch).
When checking out, the cashier might tell you the total using 全部で (ぜんぶで / zenbu de - in total, altogether): 「ぜんぶでさんぜんえんです」(Zenbu de sanzen-en desu - That is 3,000 yen altogether). Once the transaction is finished, the clerk will often say 「ありがとうございました」(Arigatō gozaimashita - Thank you very much).
Lesson quiz · 1 of 5
How do you ask 'How much is this umbrella?' in Japanese?