Shopping Fun: Understanding Price & Items
Shopping Fun: Understanding Price & Items
Shopping in Japan is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the culture and put your Japanese skills to the test! Building upon what you learned in "Ordering Food: Understanding Restaurant Phrases", this lesson will equip you with the essential vocabulary and phrases to confidently navigate the world of Japanese shopping. We'll cover asking about prices, understanding numbers, identifying common items, and handling basic transactions.
Key Vocabulary
Let's expand our shopping vocabulary!
| Japanese | Pronunciation | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| いくら | ikura | How much? | Used to ask the price of something. |
| これ | kore | This | Refers to something close to the speaker. |
| それ | sore | That | Refers to something close to the listener. |
| あれ | are | That (over there) | Refers to something far from both the speaker and the listener. |
| ください | kudasai | Please (give me) | Used when requesting something politely. |
| 円 | en | Yen (currency) | The Japanese currency. |
| たかい | takai | Expensive | |
| やすい | yasui | Cheap | |
| もの | mono | Thing/item | A general word for "thing". |
| おかね | okane | Money | 金 (kané) is also used, but おかね (okane) is more polite. |
| おつり | otsuri | Change (money) | Change received after paying. |
| おねがいします | onegaishimasu | Please | Another polite way to ask for something or make a request. |
| みせてください | misete kudasai | Please show me | Used to ask to see something. |
| ありますか | arimasu ka | Do you have...? | Used to inquire about the availability of something. |
| すみません | sumimasen | Excuse me/Sorry | Useful for getting attention or apologizing. |
| かしこまりました | kashikomarimashita | Certainly!/Understood! | Used by shop staff to acknowledge and accept a customer's request. |
| いらっしゃいませ | irasshaimase | Welcome! | A common greeting used by shop staff to welcome customers. |
| 袋 (ふくろ) | fukuro | Bag | |
| 袋は要りますか(ふくろはいりますか) | Fukuro wa irimasu ka? | Do you need a bag? | Shop assistants often ask this. |
| 結構です (けっこうです) | Kekkou desu | No, thank you | Politely decline the bag offer. |
| Tax (消費税 - しょうひぜい) | Shouhizei | Sales Tax | It's good to be aware of sales tax in Japan, currently at 10%. |
Useful Phrases
Let's build some more sophisticated phrases for different shopping scenarios.
これはいくらですか？ Kore wa ikura desu ka? How much is this? (Referring to something close to you)
それはいくらですか？ Sore wa ikura desu ka? How much is that? (Referring to something close to the other person)
あれはいくらですか？ Are wa ikura desu ka? How much is that over there? (Referring to something far from both of you)
それをください。 Sore o kudasai. I'll take that, please. (Referring to something close to the listener)
これをください。 Kore o kudasai. I'll take this, please. (Referring to something close to the speaker)
もっとやすいものはありますか？ Motto yasui mono wa arimasu ka? Do you have something cheaper?
ほかの色(いろ)はありますか？ Hoka no iro wa arimasu ka? Do you have it in other colors?
サイズはありますか？ Saizu wa arimasu ka? Do you have it in other sizes?
試着(しちゃく)してもいいですか？ Shichaku shitemo ii desu ka? Can I try it on?
これは試着室(しちゃくしつ)ですか？ Kore wa shichakushitsu desu ka? Is this the fitting room?
どこで試着(しちゃく)できますか？ Doko de shichaku dekimasu ka? Where can I try it on?
これ、プレゼント用(よう)です。 Kore, purezento you desu. This is for a gift.
包んで(つつんで)もらえますか？ Tsutsunde moraemasu ka? Could you wrap it (for a gift)?
クレジットカードは使(つか)えますか？ Kurejitto kaado wa tsukaemasu ka? Can I use a credit card?
現金(げんきん)で払(はら)います。 Genkin de haraimasu. I'll pay with cash.
[金額] (金額)になります。 [kingaku] ni narimasu. It will be [amount]. (Said by the shopkeeper)
おつりはいりません。 Otsuri wa irimasen. Keep the change.
レシートをください。 Reshiito o kudasai. Please give me the receipt.
Numbers in Japanese: Expanding Our Knowledge
Let's go beyond the basics and learn larger numbers and some number-related expressions.
| Number | Japanese | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 六 | roku | |
| 7 | 七 | nana/shichi | Both pronunciations are common; shichi is more formal. |
| 8 | 八 | hachi | |
| 9 | 九 | kyuu/ku | Both pronunciations are common; kyuu is more common. |
| 20 | 二十 | nijuu | |
| 30 | 三十 | sanjuu | |
| 40 | 四十 | yonjuu | |
| 50 | 五十 | gojuu | |
| 60 | 六十 | rokujuu | |
| 70 | 七十 | nanajuu | |
| 80 | 八十 | hachijuu | |
| 90 | 九十 | kyuujuu | |
| 200 | 二百 | nihyaku | |
| 300 | 三百 | sanbyaku | Note the change in pronunciation - byaku instead of hyaku |
| 600 | 六百 | roppyaku | Note the change in pronunciation - ppyaku instead of hyaku |
| 800 | 八百 | happyaku | Note the change in pronunciation - ppyaku instead of hyaku |
| 1,000 | 千 | sen | |
| 3,000 | 三千 | sanzen | Note the change in pronunciation - zen instead of sen |
| 8,000 | 八千 | hassen | Note the change in pronunciation - ssen instead of sen |
| 10,000 | 一万 | ichiman | |
| 100,000 | 十万 | juuman | |
| 1,000,000 | 百万 | hyakuman | |
| 10,000,000 | 一千万 | issenman | |
| 100,000,000 | 一億 | ichioku |
Important Notes on Counting:
- When counting objects, you'll often encounter counters (助数詞, josuushi). These are special words that are used depending on what you are counting (e.g., long objects, flat objects, people). We won't cover them extensively here, but be aware of their existence.
Example Prices:
- 150円 (Hyaku gojuu en): 150 yen
- 780円 (Nanahyaku hachijuu en): 780 yen
- 1,250円 (Sen nihyaku gojuu en): 1,250 yen
- 5,000円 (Go sen en): 5,000 yen
- 12,000円 (Ichi-man ni-sen en): 12,000 yen
- 25,800円 (Ni-man go-sen happyaku en): 25,800 yen
Practice: Write these prices in Japanese (both kanji/kana and romaji)
- 350 yen
- 920 yen
- 2,700 yen
- 6,400 yen
- 18,500 yen
Answer:
- 三百五十円 (Sanbyaku gojuu en)
- 九百二十円 (Kyuuhyaku nijuu en)
- 二千七百円 (Ni-sen nanahyaku en)
- 六千四百円 (Roku-sen yonhyaku en)
- 一万八千五百円 (Ichi-man hassen gohyaku en)
Example Conversations
Let's explore some more realistic shopping scenarios.
Scenario 1: Buying a T-shirt
Customer: すみません、このTシャツはいくらですか？ Sumimasen, kono T-shatsu wa ikura desu ka? (Excuse me, how much is this T-shirt?)
Shopkeeper: 2500円です。 Ni-sen gohyaku en desu. (It's 2500 yen.)
Customer: 他の色はありますか？ Hoka no iro wa arimasu ka? (Do you have it in other colors?)
Shopkeeper: はい、白と黒があります。 Hai, shiro to kuro ga arimasu. (Yes, we have white and black.)
Customer: 白いのを見せてください。 Shiroi no o misete kudasai. (Please show me the white one.)
Shopkeeper: こちらです。 Kochira desu. (Here it is.)
Customer: 試着してもいいですか？ Shichaku shitemo ii desu ka? (Can I try it on?)
Shopkeeper: はい、どうぞ。試着室はあちらです。 Hai, douzo. Shichakushitsu wa achira desu. (Yes, please. The fitting room is over there.)
(After trying it on)
Customer: これを買います。 Kore o kaimasu. (I'll buy this.)
Shopkeeper: ありがとうございます。全部で2500円になります。お支払いはどうなさいますか？ Arigatou gozaimasu. Zenbu de ni-sen gohyaku en ni narimasu. O-shiharai wa dou nasaimasu ka? (Thank you very much. It will be 2500 yen in total. How will you be paying?)
Customer: クレジットカードでお願いします。 Kurejitto kaado de onegaishimasu. (With a credit card, please.)
Shopkeeper: かしこまりました。 Kashikomarimashita. (Certainly!)
Scenario 2: Buying Souvenirs
Customer: すみません、このお菓子(okashi)はいくらですか？ Sumimasen, kono okashi wa ikura desu ka? (Excuse me, how much are these sweets?)
Shopkeeper: 一つ300円です。 Hitotsu sanbyaku en desu. (They are 300 yen each.)
Customer: 三つください。 Mittsu kudasai. (Three, please.)
Shopkeeper: 他(ほ)に何かありますか？ Hoka ni nani ka arimasu ka? (Anything else?)
Customer: いいえ、結構です。 Iie, kekkou desu. (No, that's all.)
Shopkeeper: ありがとうございます。全部で900円です。 Arigatou gozaimasu. Zenbu de kyuuhyaku en desu. (Thank you. That will be 900 yen in total.)
Customer: これでお願いします。(Handing over 1000 yen) Kore de onegaishimasu. (With this, please.)
Shopkeeper: 100円のおつりです。ありがとうございました。 Hyaku en no otsuri desu. Arigatou gozaimashita. (100 yen is your change. Thank you very much.)
Practice: Translate this shopping conversation into English.
Customer: すみません、このペンはいくらですか？ Shopkeeper: 150円です。 Customer: それを二つください。 Shopkeeper: はい、かしこまりました。他に何かありますか。 Customer: いいえ、結構です。 Shopkeeper: 300円になります。 Customer: (Hands over 500 yen) Shopkeeper: 200円のおつりです。ありがとうございました！
Answer:
Customer: Excuse me, how much is this pen? Shopkeeper: It's 150 yen. Customer: I'll take two of those. Shopkeeper: Yes, certainly. Is there anything else? Customer: No, that's all. Shopkeeper: That will be 300 yen. Customer: (Hands over 500 yen) Shopkeeper: Here is your change of 200 yen. Thank you!
Common Items Vocabulary
To make your shopping experience even smoother, here’s a list of common items you might want to buy.
| Category | Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing | 服 | fuku | Clothes |
| Tシャツ | T-shatsu | T-shirt | |
| ズボン | zubon | Pants | |
| スカート | sukaato | Skirt | |
| 靴 (くつ) | kutsu | Shoes | |
| ジャケット | jaketto | Jacket | |
| Books/Stationery | 本 (ほん) | hon | Book |
| ノート | nooto | Notebook | |
| ペン | pen | Pen | |
| 鉛筆 (えんぴつ) | enpitsu | Pencil | |
| 消しゴム(けしごむ) | keshigomu | Eraser | |
| Food | 食べ物 (たべもの) | tabemono | Food |
| お菓子 (おかし) | okashi | Snacks/Sweets | |
| パン | pan | Bread | |
| 水 (みず) | mizu | Water | |
| Electronics | 電化製品 (でんかせいひん) | denka seihin | Electronics |
| スマートフォン | sumaato fon | Smartphone | |
| パソコン | pasokon | Computer | |
| カメラ | kamera | Camera | |
| Cosmetics | 化粧品 (けしょうひん) | keshouhin | Cosmetics |
| 口紅 (くちべに) | kuchibeni | Lipstick | |
| ファンデーション | fandeeshon | Foundation | |
| Household Goods | 日用品 (にちようひん) | nichiyouhin | Daily goods |
| ティッシュ | tisshu | Tissue | |
| 洗剤 (せんざい) | senzai | Detergent | |
| Medicine | 薬 (くすり) | kusuri | Medicine |
| 絆創膏（ばんそうこう） | bansoukou | Band-aid |
Quiz: Match the Japanese word to its English meaning.
- 本
- 口紅
- ズボン
- 水
- カメラ
a. Pants b. Camera c. Book d. Lipstick e. Water
Answer:
- c
- d
- a
- e
- b
Practice
- Role-Playing: Practice the example conversations with a friend, focusing on pronunciation and intonation. Try modifying the scenarios – perhaps you're buying a different item or need a different size.
- Online Shopping: Browse a Japanese online store (e.g., Amazon.co.jp, Rakuten) and try to identify items and their prices. Write down the item name, price, and a brief description in Japanese.
- Real-World Application: Next time you're in an Asian grocery store, try asking for the price of an item in Japanese.
- Number Practice: Get a Japanese catalog or flyer and practice reading the prices aloud. Challenge yourself to go faster and faster.
- Create Your Own Conversation: Write a short shopping conversation based on a store you would visit. Include greetings, asking for the price, asking about other options, and making a purchase.
Remember to listen to Japanese audio (podcasts, music, etc.) to get used to the rhythm and intonation of the language. Don't be afraid to make mistakes – it's all part of the learning process! With a little practice, you'll be shopping like a pro in no time.