Department stores used to be called "hyakkaten (百貨店)," but the term "depaato (デパート)" is more common today. | Welcome. |
Nanika osagashi desu ka.何かお探しですか。 | May I help you? (Literally means, "Are you looking for something?") |
Ikaga desu ka.いかがですか。 | How do you like it? |
Kashikomarimashita.かしこまりました。 | Certainly. |
Omatase itashimashita.お待たせいたしました。 | Sorry to have kept you waiting. |
Here are some useful expressions for shopping.
Kore wa ikura desu ka.これはいくらですか。 | How much is this? |
Mite mo ii desu ka.見てもいいですか。 | Can I look at it? |
~ wa doko ni arimasu ka.~はどこにありますか。 | Where is ~? |
~ (ga) arimasu ka.~ (が) ありますか。 | Do you have ~? |
~ o misete kudasai.~を見せてください。 | Please show me ~. |
Kore ni shimasu.これにします。 | I'll take it. |
Miteiru dake desu.見ているだけです。 | I'm just looking. |
How to Ask for Advice
[Noun] wa watashi ni wa [Adjective] kana/kashira/deshou ka.
(I wonder if [Noun] is too [Adjective] for me.) | |
Kore wa watashi ni wa ookii kana.これは私には大きいかな。 | I wonder if this is too big for me. |
Kono iro watashi ni wa hade kashira.この色私には派手かしら。 | Is this color too loud for me? |
"~ kashira (~かしら)" is used only by female speakers.
Dochira ga ii to omoimasu ka.どちらがいいと思いますか。 | Which do you think is better? |
Kono naka de dore ga ichiban ii kana.この中でどれが一番いいかな。 | Which one is the best among these? |
Donna no ga ii deshou ka.どんなのがいいでしょうか。 | What do you think is suitable? |
How to Decline Politely
~ no hou ga ii n desu kedo.~のほうがいいんですけど。 | I prefer ~. |
Sumimasen kedo, mata ni shimasu.すみませんけど、またにします。 | I'm sorry, but some other time. |
How to Exchange or Return of a Purchase
Saizu ga awanai node, torikaete moraemasu ka.サイズが合わないので、 取り替えてもらえますか。 | The size is not right. Can I exchange it? |
Henpin suru koto ga dekimasu ka.返品することができますか。 | Can I return it? |