10 Essential Japanese Expressions for Convenience Stores | Bags, Heating, and Payment
We have compiled 10 essential expressions most frequently used at convenience stores during a trip to Japan.
You can learn situation-specific phrases ranging from purchasing items to asking for them to be heated, making payments, and finding the restroom.
Memorize these phrases as a whole without worrying about complex grammar, and use them right away in real situations.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 袋を一枚お願いします | ふくろをいちまいおねがいします | One bag, please |
| 袋をください | ふくろをください | A bag, please |
| これをください | これをください | This one, please |
| 温めてください | あたためてください | Please heat this up |
| お箸をください | おはしをください | Chopsticks, please |
| レシートをください | レシートをください | A receipt, please |
| 大丈夫です | だいじょうぶです | I'm fine / No thank you |
| いくらですか | いくらですか | How much is it? |
| カードでお願いします | カードでおねがいします | By card, please |
| トイレはどこですか | トイレはどこですか | Where is the restroom? |
Item by item
Reading: ふくろをいちまいおねがいします
One bag, please
Since plastic bags are usually charged for in Japan, it is helpful to use this expression at the checkout if you need one.
Reading: ふくろをください
A bag, please
This is often used when you want to simply say 'A bag, please,' omitting '一枚 (one bag)'.
Reading: これをください
This one, please
This is very useful when pointing to and ordering hot snacks (like fried chicken or steamed buns) next to the register.
Reading: あたためてください
Please heat this up
When you buy a bento box or rice balls, the clerk will often ask you first, but you can use this when you want to request them to heat it up yourself.
Reading: おはしをください
Chopsticks, please
Use this expression when you buy noodles or a bento but aren't given chopsticks, or if you need extra. A spoon is called 'スプーン (supūn)'.
Reading: レシートをください
A receipt, please
In Japanese convenience stores, clerks sometimes throw away the receipt instead of handing it to you by default. It's best to ask for it if you need it for your records.
Reading: だいじょうぶです
I'm fine / No thank you
This is widely used to politely decline when a clerk asks if you need a bag, receipt, or chopsticks.
Reading: いくらですか
How much is it?
This is the most basic expression used to ask for the price.
Reading: カードでおねがいします
By card, please
Use this when you want to pay with a credit card or a travel card. For cash, you can say '現金(げんきん)で (genkin de)'.
Reading: トイレはどこですか
Where is the restroom?
Many convenience stores in Japan have restrooms available for customers. This is useful for asking where it is or getting permission to use it.
Practice with examples
お弁当を温めてください。
Please heat up the bento.
スプーンとお箸をください。
A spoon and chopsticks, please.
お支払いはカードでお願いします。
I would like to pay by card, please.
How to decide when unsure
- When pointing to an item to order, simply attaching 'ください (please give me)' to 'これ (this)' to say 'これをください' will generally cover most situations without needing complex vocabulary.
- If a clerk offers you something you don't need, replying with '大丈夫です (I'm fine)' is generally the most natural way to politely decline.
Common mistakes
When the clerk asks if you need a bag, saying '大丈夫です (I'm fine)' is a much softer and more natural way to decline than simply saying 'いいえ'.
Wrong example: いいえ。/Correct example: 大丈夫です。
Mini quiz
You bought a bento at a convenience store. What is the correct expression to tell the clerk, 'Please heat this up'?
One-line summary
By mastering these 10 essential convenience store expressions, you can purchase items and make requests with greater confidence during your trip to Japan.
FAQ
How should I answer if they ask about the bag size or type?
Usually, the clerk will show you the sizes while asking. In this case, nodding, saying 'はい (Yes)', or 'それでお願いします (That one, please)' is generally a natural way to respond.
What should I say when paying with cash?
Cash is '現金 (genkin)'. You can say '現金でお願いします (By cash, please)', or simply place your money on the cash tray without saying anything.
