{"id":27074,"date":"2021-05-19T15:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-05-19T15:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=27074"},"modified":"2023-05-12T12:54:44","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T12:54:44","slug":"japanese-for-the-convenience-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/japanese-for-the-convenience-store\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese phrases you\u2019ll hear at the convenience store"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you live in Japan, convenience stores will become an integral part of your life. Whether you\u2019re looking for an early morning breakfast on the go, paying your utilities bills, or you need last-minute toiletries, Japanese convenience stores will have you sorted.\u00a0<\/span>With the convenience store, or <\/span>konbini<\/span><\/i> \u30b3\u30f3\u30d3\u30cb, featuring so heavily in your daily life in Japan, you\u2019ll want to learn some common Japanese phrases that you\u2019ll hear there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"4<\/p>\n

Irasshaimase!<\/b> \u3044\u3089\u3063\u3057\u3083\u3044\u307e\u305b\uff01<\/b><\/h2>\n

This is the standard greeting you\u2019ll hear across Japan by staff of not just convenience stores, but of cafes, restaurants, shops – most places where retail and customer service are present.<\/span><\/p>\n

It basically means: \u201cwelcome, come in\u201d and it comes from<\/span> irassharu<\/span><\/i> \u3044\u3089\u3063\u3057\u3083\u308b, which is<\/span> the polite form of \u201cto be\u201d (<\/span>iru<\/span><\/i> \u3044\u308b)<\/span> or \u201cto come\/go\u201d (<\/span>kuru<\/span><\/i> \u304f\u308b, <\/span>iru<\/span><\/i> \u3044\u304f<\/span>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to respond or acknowledge the greeting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Note that in Japanese, <\/span>y\u014dkoso<\/span><\/i> \u3088\u3046\u3053\u305d also means \u201cwelcome\u201d, however you wouldn\u2019t hear someone welcoming customers into a store with this word.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sh\u014d sh\u014d omachi kudasai \u5c11\u3005\u304a\u5f85\u3061\u304f\u3060\u3055\u3044<\/b><\/h2>\n

This is a formal way of asking someone to please wait briefly. It\u2019s very typically heard in customer service and business settings, for example at restaurants, banks, department stores, post offices and of course, convenience stores.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Machi<\/span><\/i> \u5f85\u3061 means \u201cto wait\u201d and <\/span>sh\u014d sh\u014d<\/span><\/i> \u5c11\u3005means \u201cjust a moment\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Omatase itashimashita \u304a\u5f85\u305f\u305b\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3057\u305f<\/b><\/h2>\n

Often following the phrase, \u201c<\/span>Sh\u014d sh\u014d omachi kudasai<\/span><\/i>\u201d will be \u201c<\/span>omatase itashimashita<\/span><\/i>\u201d, which means: \u201cthank you for waiting\u201d. Again, it\u2019s a formal saying often used in customer service and business settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Itashimasu <\/span><\/i>\u3044\u305f\u3057\u307e\u3059 is the formal version of \u201cto do\u201d, <\/span>shimasu <\/span><\/i>\u3057\u307e\u3059.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Otsugi no kata d\u014dzo \u304a\u6b21\u306e\u65b9\u3069\u3046\u305e<\/b><\/h2>\n

This means, \u201cNext in line please\u201d and you\u2019ll hear this when you\u2019re waiting in line and the cashier is calling for the next customer. <\/span>Tsugi<\/span><\/i> \u6b21 means \u201cnext\u201d and <\/span>d\u014dzo <\/span><\/i>means \u201cplease go ahead\u201d, or \u201chere you are\u201d if you\u2019re offering someone something. <\/span>Kata <\/span><\/i>\u65b9 in this context means \u201cperson\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may also hear:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u304a<\/b>\u6b21\u3067\u304a\u5f85\u3061\u306e\u65b9<\/b>\u3069\u3046\u305e
<\/b>Otsugi de omachi no kata d\u014dzo<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

This means the same thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another common variation of this is:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u304a\u6b21\u306e\u304a\u5ba2\u69d8\u3069\u3046\u305e
<\/b>Otsugi no okyakusama d\u014dzo<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Or\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u304a<\/b>\u6b21\u3067\u304a\u5f85\u3061\u306e<\/b>\u304a\u5ba2\u69d8\u3069\u3046\u305e
<\/b>Otsugi de omachi no okyakusama d\u014dzo<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kyaku<\/span><\/i> \u5ba2 means \u201ccustomer\u201d and <\/span>sama<\/span><\/i> \u69d8 is a formal honorific often used for clients and customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lawson<\/p>\n

At the cashier<\/b><\/h2>\n

You\u2019ll hear the bulk of Japanese phrases when it\u2019s your turn to pay for your goods at the convenience store. Here are some of the most common!<\/span><\/p>\n

Pointo k\u0101do wa omochi desuka? \u30dd\u30a4\u30f3\u30c8\u30ab\u30fc\u30c9\u306f\u304a\u6301\u3061\u3067\u3059\u304b?<\/b><\/h3>\n

This means: \u201cDo you have a point card?\u201d You\u2019ll soon realise how commonplace point cards are in Japan. Whether or not your sign up for them is your prerogative (you can get member-only deals and discounts if you shop at those places regularly), but if you don\u2019t have a point card, you can say:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u6301\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u305b\u3093\u3002
<\/b>Motte imasen.
<\/span><\/i>I don\u2019t have it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or you can just tell them:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/b>Daij\u014dbu desu<\/span><\/i>
<\/span>It\u2019s okay.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obent\u014d atatamemasuka? \u304a\u5f01\u5f53\u6e29\u3081\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/b><\/h3>\n

This means: \u201cDo you want your <\/span>bent\u014d<\/span><\/a> heated up?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s really useful if you want to eat your food immediately, so if you want them to warm up your food, you can say:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u306f\u3044\u3001\u304a\u9858\u3044\u3057\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/b>Hai, onegaishimasu.
<\/span><\/i>Yes please.<\/span><\/p>\n

If not, you can simply say:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u5927\u4e08\u592b\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/b>Daij\u014dbu desu.<\/span><\/i>
<\/span>It\u2019s okay.<\/span><\/p>\n

To read more about how to use these phrases, read our article on the <\/span>top essential Japanese basics for daily life<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ohashi wo otsukeshimasuka? \u304a\u7bb8\u3092\u304a\u4ed8\u3051\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b?<\/b><\/h3>\n

This means: \u201cDo you want chopsticks?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, this can be handy if you don\u2019t have utensils with you and you can respond in the same way as above.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kono mama de yoroshii desuka?<\/b> \u3053\u306e\u307e\u307e\u3067\u5b9c\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b?<\/b><\/h3>\n

This literally translates to, \u201cIs it okay as it is?\u201d but in this particular context, it\u2019s often used to ask: \u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t need a bag?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s more commonplace for places to charge you for bags, the cashier may ask you:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u888b\u306b\u304a\u5165\u308c\u3057\u307e\u3059\u304b\uff1f
<\/b>Fukuro ni oire shimasuka?
<\/span><\/i>Do you want (your items) in a plastic bag?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u888b\u306f\u3044\u308a\u307e\u3059\u304b?
<\/b>Fukuro wa irimasuka?
<\/span><\/i>Do you need a plastic bag?<\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to tell the cashier that you don\u2019t need a bag, you can say:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u3053\u306e\u307e\u307e\u3067\u3044\u3044\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/strong>
<\/b>Kono mama de ii desu.
<\/span><\/i>It\u2019s fine as it is.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sh\u012bru de yoroshii deshouka? \u30b7\u30fc\u30eb\u3067\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3057\u3087\u3046\u304b?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

This means: \u201cIs it okay to put a sticker on?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t as widespread of a question, but you may get asked this to show that you have purchased an item.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ichiman-en kara de yoroshii desuka? \u4e00\u4e07\u5186\u304b\u3089\u3067\u3088\u308d\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re paying with a 10,000 yen bill, is this correct?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Often cashiers will confirm the amount you give them when you pay, but it\u2019s as much a confirmation for themselves as it is for you to help them do their job more accurately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to respond with anything unless the amount they say is different to what you gave them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Resh\u012bto wa yoroshii desuka? \u30ec\u30b7\u30fc\u30c8\u306f\u5b9c\u3057\u3044\u3067\u3059\u304b\uff1f<\/b><\/h3>\n

\u201cDo you want your receipt?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Similar to the above questions, you can respond to this question with either, \u201cHai, onegaishimasu\u201d or \u201cDaij\u014dbu desu.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As you may have noticed, the language used by convenience store staff is formal Japanese. If you\u2019re unfamiliar with formal Japanese, or <\/span>keigo <\/span><\/i>\u656c\u8a9e, then you can read more about it in our <\/span>article<\/span><\/a>. Even if you haven\u2019t started learning keigo yet, you will hear it being used around you from the moment you step off the plane so you\u2019ve probably heard some of these phrases before.<\/span><\/p>\n

The convenience store is a great place for learners to practise their Japanese communication skills and you\u2019ll be more than prepared with these Japanese phrases!<\/span><\/p>\n

Read our <\/span>article<\/span><\/a> to learn more about all the things you can do at convenience stores in Japan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Check out more of our <\/b>blog articles<\/b><\/a> to learn more about Japanese language, life in Japan, society and culture, and more.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you live in Japan, convenience stores will become an integral part of your life. Whether you\u2019re looking for an early morning breakfast on the go, paying your utilities bills, or you need last-minute toiletries, Japanese convenience stores will have you sorted.\u00a0With the convenience store, or konbini \u30b3\u30f3\u30d3\u30cb, featuring so heavily in your daily life […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":26606,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[404],"tags":[698,690],"class_list":["post-27074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-japanese","tag-japanese-lessons","tag-living-abroad"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}