10 Essential Japanese Expressions for Shopping | From Asking Prices to Paying
We've gathered the 10 most essential expressions used when shopping during a trip to Japan.
It includes tailored sentences for various situations, from asking for prices to changing sizes and making payments.
Memorize them as whole phrases without worrying about complex grammar, and try using them in real situations.
How this bundle was curated
All items at a glance
| Expression | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| これはいくらですか | これはいくらですか | How much is this? |
| これをください | これをください | I'll take this, please |
| 見てもいいですか | みてもいいですか | May I look at this? |
| 試着してもいいですか | しちゃくしてもいいですか | May I try this on? |
| もっと大きいサイズはありますか | もっとおおきいサイズはありますか | Do you have a larger size? |
| もっと小さいサイズはありますか | もっとちいさいサイズはありますか | Do you have a smaller size? |
| もう少し安いものはありますか | もうすこしやすいものはありますか | Do you have anything a little cheaper? |
| カードで払えますか | カードではらえますか | Can I pay by card? |
| 袋をください | ふくろをください | Please give me a bag |
| 少し考えます | すこしかんがえます | I'll think about it a little |
Item by item
Reading: これはいくらですか
How much is this?
This is the most basic expression for asking the price. You can also use 'それ (that)' or 'あれ (that over there)' instead of 'これ (this)'.
Reading: これをください
I'll take this, please
Use this expression when handing an item to the clerk after deciding to purchase it. You can also use the exact same phrase when ordering from a menu at a restaurant.
Reading: みてもいいですか
May I look at this?
This is a polite way to ask for permission when you want to take an item out of a showcase to look at it or touch it.
Reading: しちゃくしてもいいですか
May I try this on?
An essential expression for requesting to use the fitting room when you want to try on clothes at a clothing store. When trying on shoes, use '履(は)いてみてもいいですか (May I try these on?)'.
Reading: もっとおおきいサイズはありますか
Do you have a larger size?
Use this when the clothes you tried on are too small, or when you want to ask if they have a larger size in stock than the one on display.
Reading: もっとちいさいサイズはありますか
Do you have a smaller size?
Use this to check if they have a smaller size in stock when clothes or shoes are too big.
Reading: もうすこしやすいものはありますか
Do you have anything a little cheaper?
Useful when an item exceeds your budget and you want recommendations for cheaper items among similar products.
Reading: カードではらえますか
Can I pay by card?
Use this to ask if you can pay by credit card instead of cash. It is also natural to say 'カードは使えますか (Can I use a card?)'.
Reading: ふくろをください
Please give me a bag
In Japan, plastic bags often cost extra. This is the expression to use to request a bag when the clerk asks if you need one.
Reading: すこしかんがえます
I'll think about it a little
A polite expression to smoothly wrap up the situation rather than flatly refusing when you leave a store without buying the item you looked at.
Practice with examples
すみません、これはいくらですか。
Excuse me, how much is this?
このコート、試着してもいいですか。
May I try on this coat?
カードで払えますか。それとも現金だけですか。
Can I pay by card? Or is it cash only?
サイズが合わないので、少し考えます。
The size doesn't fit, so I'll think about it a little.
How to decide when unsure
- When pointing at items, it's convenient to appropriately use 'これ (this)', 'それ (that)', or 'あれ (that over there)' depending on the distance.
- When asking about size or price, adding adverbs like 'もっと (more)' or 'もう少し (a little more)' makes the expression much more natural.
- When you don't want to make a purchase, saying '少し考えます (I'll think about it a little)' is considered a softer and more natural shopping manner in Japan than flatly refusing.
Common mistakes
Learners sometimes mistakenly translate their native phrasing directly into 'カードになりますか'. However, in Japanese, it is much more natural to use the particle 'で (by/with)' indicating the payment method and ask 'カードで払えますか (Can I pay by card?)' or 'カードは使えますか (Can I use a card?)'.
Wrong example: カードになりますか。/Correct example: カードで払えますか。
The particle 'で' is usually used before the payment method.
Mini quiz
When you find clothes you like at a clothing store and want to ask the clerk if you can try them on, which expression is the most appropriate?
One-line summary
By mastering just these 10 frequently used expressions for shopping, you'll be able to easily purchase the items you want without panicking at any store during your trip to Japan.
FAQ
How do I ask if tax-free shopping is available?
You can ask '免税できますか (めんぜいできますか, Can I get a tax exemption?)' or use the loanword phrase 'タックスフリーですか (Is it tax-free?)'.
What should I say when I need a receipt?
Generally, for a standard receipt received after shopping, you say 'レシートをください (Please give me a receipt)'. If you need an official receipt (like a handwritten one for company submission), you say '領収書をください (りょうしゅうしょをください)'.