Chapter 5 Shopping

5.01 At a Convenience Store

5.02 At the Pharmacy

5.03 More Ailments

5.04 Going to a Dry Cleaner

5.05 Trying on a Garment

5.06 Shopping for Shoes

5.07 Discount Terms

5.08 Internet Shopping

5.09 Bargaining

5.10 Getting Gas

5.11 Returning a Product

5.12 Complaining About Defects

5.13 Describing Breakdowns

5.14 Words and Expressions

Chapter5

Shopping

If you’re lucky, you might still find in your neighborhood the kind of shop where the owner greets everyone with a loud and hearty Irasshai (Welcome!) and sends his regular customers off with an equally spirited Maido arigatō gozaimasu! (Thank you for patronizing the shop). But these neighborhood stores are now few and far between.

You don’t need to converse much to go shopping these days, so this chapter includes sections on how to deal with auto mated gas pumps and introduces the basic terms for internet shopping. A dialogue at the pharmacy introduces some medical vocabulary. The rest of the chapter aims to show you what’s available, how to master the basics of everyday shopping, and how to explain when things go wrong.

Not that shopping poses a problem in Japan. You'll be spoiled for choice: upmarket department stores, supermarkets, outlet malls, discount stores, huge electrical appliance stores and, of course, the konbini.

There are more than 40,000 convenience stores in Japan, far more than the number of neighborhood police boxes or post offices, and the range of services they offer increases year by year. In addition to buying basic foodstuffs and daily necessities, you can pay your bills, post letters, use the ATM for your banking, buy concert tickets, as well as make copies and print out photos. Not only can you send parcels but you can have your local konbini receive your parcels (your internet shopping, for example) ready for you to pick up and pay for. Convenience stores also offer that most important facility, a toilet.

But when you feel like a treat, spend a few hours in one of Japan’s department stores. Though no longer the central retail institutions they once were, they offer impeccable service and you can easily spend several hours admiring the merchandise, perhaps visiting an art exhibition, and sampling the hustle, bustle and culinary delights of the basement food halls.

Japan has had deflation for decades since the bubble burst in the early 1990s and prices are not high. Bargaining is not practiced except perhaps in flea markets and second-hand stores but competition in most industries is intense and you should shop around when making a big purchase as large electronics and camera stores do give good discounts.

Shops and department stores open at around 10:00 a.m. but the time they close varies, any time between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. or later. Convenience stores are often open twenty-four hours. Big shops are open for business on Sundays, although you may find that your local neighborhood greengrocer closes on Sunday for a well-earned rest.

5.01 At a Convenience Store

Kim Young Hee pays a bill and buys some riceballs for lunch. The shop assistant offers to heat them up.

SHOP ASSISTANT:

Irasshaimase. Konnichi wa. Gosen gohyaku gojū en ni narimasu.

いらっしゃいませ。こんにちは。5，550円になります。

Welcome! Hello. That will be 5,550 yen.

KIM:

Hai.

はい。

Here you are (handing over the money).

SHOP ASSISTANT:

Ichiman-en, o-azukari itashimasu. Pointo cādo, o-mochi deshō ka.

10,000円、お預かりします。ポイントカード、お持ちでし よう力、。

Ten thousand yen. Thank you. Do you have a point card?

KIM:

lie.

いいえ。

No, I don’t.

SHOP ASSISTANT:

Okii hō kara, ichi, ni, san, yon sen en to yonhyaku gojū en no o-kaeshi desu. Hai, ryōkin no hikae desu. O-nigiri at’ta memasu ka?

大きい方から、一、ニ、三、四千円ど450円のお返しになり ます。はい、料金の控えです。おにぎり、温めますか。

Large amounts first, (counting the notes) that’s one, two, three, four thousand yen and 450 yen change. Here’s your receipt for the bill. Do you want the riceballs heated up?

KIM:

O-negai shimasu.

お願いします。

Yes, please.

SHOP ASSISTANT:

Mai-baggu, o-mochi deshō ka?

マイバッグお持ちでしょうか。

Do you have your own bag?

KIM:

Hai, arimasu. Arigatō gozaimashita.

はい、あります。ありがどうございました。

Yes, I do. Thanks.

5.02 At the Pharmacy

Max goes to a pharmacy to get something for his headache. At the same time he asks about doctors in the area. In Japan you have to do a mini-diagnosis on yourself before choosing which doctor to see. The pharmacist tells him he needs a specialist in internal medicine.

MAX:

Sumimasen. Atama ga itakute, yoku kiku kusuri kudasai.

すみません。頭が痛くて、よく効く薬ください。

Excuse me. I’ve got a headache. Please give me some good medicine.

PHARMACIST:

Do iu fū na itami desu ka? Kirikiri to itamimasu ka? Shiku shiku to nibui itami desu ka? Soretomo zuki zuki to ita mimasu ka?

どういう風な痛みです力、。きりきりど痛みますか？しくしくど 鈍い痛みですか？それどもずきずきど痛みます力、。

What kind of pain? Is it a sharp pain? A dull pain? Or a throbbing pain?

MAX:

Gyū to shimetsukeru yō na itami desu yo. Atama mo, kubi mo, kata mo.

ギューッどしめつけるような痛みですよ。頭も、首も、肩も。

It’s a heavy, dull, pressing ache. In my head, my neck and my shoulders.

PHARMACIST:

Kinchōtsū desu ne. Kono kusuri ga ii deshō. Yoku kiku shi, i ni mo yasashii desu. Shokugo, ni-jō nonde kudasai. Ashita made naoranakereba, isha ni mite moratte kudasai.

緊張痛ですね。この薬がいいでしょう。よく効くし、胃にも やさしいです。食後、2錠飲んでください。明日まで直らな ければ、医者に見てもらってください。

It’s a tension-related headache. This medicine is good. It’s effective and easy on the stomach. Take two tablets after meals. If you’re not better by tomorrow, go and see a doctor.

MAX:

Arigatō gozaimasu. Tokorode, kono chikaku no isha, wa karimasen.

ありがどうございます。どころで、この近くの医者、分かり ません。

Thank you. But, I don’t know a doctor in this area.

PHARMACIST:

Naika no sensei nē. Ōdori ni Kikuchi naika ga arimasu. Mata, Nishimachi ni ōkina sōgō byōin ga arimasu ne.

内科の先生ねえ。大通りに菊池内科があります。また、西 町に大きな総合病院がありますね。

Let me see, a doctor of internal medicine. On the main street there’s the Kikuchi Medical Clinic. And then in Nishimachi there’s a big general hospital.

MAX:

Arigatō gozaimasu.

ありがどうございます。

Thank you.

PHARMACIST:

O-daiji ni. Sore kara, o-sake wa nonde ikemasen yo.

お大事に。それから、お酒は飲んでいけませんよ。

Take care. And one more thing, you mustn’t drink!

5.03 More Ailments

memai ga suru	めまいがする	I feel dizzy, faint
hakike ga suru	吐き気がする	I feel nauseous
nodo/mimi/mune/i ga itai	のど*耳.胸. 胃が痛い	my throat/ear/chest/ stomach aches
kaze	風邪	common cold
infuruenza	インフルエンザ	influenza
zensoku	ぜんそく	asthma
shokuchūdoku	食中毒	food poisoning
netchūshō	熱中症	heatstroke
seiritsū	生理痛	period pains
bōkōen	膀胱炎	cystitis
tōnyōbyō	糖尿病	diabetes
nenza	ねんざ	sprain
kossetsu	骨折	fracture

5.04 Going to a Dry Cleaner

Because summers in Japan are hot and humid, clothes left in the closet may develop mildew. Most Japanese pack away off-season clothes with mothballs (bōchū-zai 防虫剤) in airtight boxes or drawers, a practice known as koromo-gae (衣替え, changing clothes over for the season). Despite these precautions, you may end up having to take some of your clothes to the dry cleaner.

DRY CLEANER:

Konnichi wa. li aki-bare desu ne.

こんにちは。いい秋隋れですね。

Hello. Beautiful autumn weather, isn’t it?

KATE:

Sō desu ne. Demo natsu wa shikke ga ōkute. Mite, kono sētā. Natsu-jū hikidashi ni shimatte oitara, kabi-darake ni natchatta. Kirei ni narimasu ka?

そうですね。でも夏は湿気が多くて。見て、このセーター。 夏中引き出しにしまっておいたら、カビだらけになっちゃっ た。きれいにになります力、。

Yes, it is. But it was so humid this summer. Look at these sweaters. I left them in the drawer all summer, and now they’re covered with mildew. Will they come clean?

DRY CLEANER:

Yatte minai to wakaranai kedo, tabun daijōbu deshō.

やってみないど分からないけど、たぶん大文夫でしょう。

I can’t say until we’ve tried, but they’ll probably be OK.

KATE:

Ikura kakarimsu ka?

いくらかかりますか。

How much will it cost?

DRY CLEANER:

Futsū wa ichi-mai gohyaku-en desu kedo, shimi no guai ni yotte mō sukoshi kakaru ka mo shirenai. Hatsuka ikō nara dekite imasu kara.

普通は一枚500円ですけど、しみの具合によってもう少し かかるかも知れない。20日以降ならできていますから。

Usually it costs 550 yen each, but it depends on the stain. It may cost a little more. They'll be ready after the twentieth.

KATE:

O-negai shimasu.

お願いします。

Thank you.

5.05 Trying on a Garment

Emily is shopping for clothes. But she can’t find what she wants.

EMILY:

Kore o shichaku shite ii desu ka?

これを試着していいですか。

May I try this on?

SALESPERSON:

Dōzo, kochira e. Ikaga desu ka?

どうぞ、こちらへ。いかがですか。

Certainly. This way, please. How do you like it?

EMILY:

Omotta hodo yoku nai desu ne. Mō sukoshi mite mimasu. Sumimasen deshita.

思ったほどよくないですね。もう少しみてみます。すみませ んでした。

It’s not as good as I hoped. I’m going to look around a bit more. Sorry to have troubled you.

SALESPERSON:

Mata, o-koshi kudasai. O-machi shite orimasu.

また、お越しください。お待ちしております。

Please come again. We’ll be waiting.

5.06 Shopping for Shoes

Although Japanese stores often have very stylish shoes on display, you might discover that most of them are too small. But things are changing and with a bit of luck, you might find some that fit. By the way, remember that the verb for wearing anything below the waist (shoes, socks, trousers) is haku (履く).

EMILY:

Ano kutsu, nijū-yon ten go, arimasu ka?

あの靴、24.5、ありますか。

Those shoes over there, do you have them in size 24.5?

ASSISTANT:

Shōshō o-machi kudasai. Dōzo, o-haki ni natte kudasai.

少々お待ちください。どうぞ、お履きになってください。

One moment, please. Here we are. Please try them on.

CUSTOMER:

Kitsukute hakinikui desu ne. Ue no saizu, arimasen ka?

きつくて履きにくいですね。上のサイズありません力、。

They’re tight and don’t feel good. Do you have the next size up?

ASSISTANT:

Nijū-yon ten-go made nan’ desu yo. Kore wa ikaga desu ka?

24.5までなんですよ。これはいかがですか。

They only go up to 24.5. How about these?

CUSTOMER:

Kore wa hakiyasui desu ne. Kore ni shimasu.

これは履きやすいですね。これにします。

These are comfortable. I’ll take these.

5.07 Discount Terms

A sale is usually sēru (セ一ル) or bāgen (バーゲン). Price reductions are expressed either as a percentage or in units of ten percent, wari. So, 10パーセント引き (juppāsento-biki) is ten percent off, as is 1割びき (ichiwari-biki). 3割引 (sanwari-biki) is thirty percent off.

You may also come across these phrases:

• O-kaidoku desu yo
お買い得ですよ。
It’s a bargain.

• Yasuku natte orimasu
安くなっております。
It’s reduced.

• Hangaku desu
半額です。
It’s half price.

5.08 Internet Shopping

Many sites have an English version and there are also search engines in English, but for those of you who want to try shopping on Japanese only websites here’s a guide to the language used. These sites are based on the premise that you have a delivery address in Japan and a local method of payment. If you know your way around sites in English a lot of it will be second nature, but there are some pitfalls. For instance, you need to be careful when you input the letters in Japanese. There’s a choice of hiragana and katakana in two sizes, plus the alphabet, so you may get error messages because you input the data in the wrong format.

Here are the basic terms for the buttons. You may be familiar with them already.

Depending on the site, you may start off with a screen like this to browse:

If it’s a bigger site and you’re a new customer you’ll need to register. The word for registration is 登録 (tōroku) so look for phrases like this:

ID登録していない方はこちら（はじめての方）

ID tōroku shite inai kata wa kochira (hajimete no kata)

This (button) for those who are not registered (first time visitors)

You’ll be asked to agree to the terms and conditions:

同意する	同意しない
dōi shinai	dōi suru
I do not consent	I consent

Then you’ll be able to browse as above. On the confirmation screen you can check the contents of your cart and change if necessary:

Now for the difficult part—the customer information screen where you need to input your contact details, delivery address and so on. As stated earlier, you must be very careful how you type in the details. The choices are as follows and you’ll see directions on screen:

zenkaku	全角	full size hiragana or kanji (for your name)
zenkaku katakana	全角力夕カナ	full size katakana (for your name)
hankaku sūji	半角数字	half size numbers (for phone numbers etc)
hankaku eisūji	半角英数字	half size numbers and alphabet (for e-mail address and passwords)

You’ll also need to give details of how you intend to pay, usually credit card, cash on delivery (daikin hikikae 代金引換), or bank or post office payment.

Finally, choose the date and time you want your shopping delivered, check all the details, press the confirm button and you’re done.

5.09 Bargaining

Internet shopping is fine but sometimes it’s worth trying to negotiate a reduction in person. Here Lin tries to get a good price at an antiques market.

LIN:

Konnichi wa. Sono kabin wa ikura desu ka?

こんにちは。その花瓶はいくらです力、。

Hello. How much is that vase, near you?

ANTIQUE DEALER:

Ichiman-en desu ne.

一万円ですね。

Ten thousand yen.

LIN:

Ichiman!

一万！

Ten thousand!

ANTIQUE DEALER:

Kore wa horidashi-mono desu.

これは掘り出し物です。

It’s a good buy.

LIN:

Mō sukoshi yasuku shite moraemasen ka?

もう少し安くしてもらえません力、。

Can you reduce it a little bit?

ANTIQUE DEALER:

Jā, benkyō shite, hassen-en.

じや、勉強して、八千円。

OK. I’ll knock it down to eight thousand yen.

LIN:

Gosen ni shite yo.

5,000円にしてよ。

Make it five thousand.

ANTIQUE DEALER:

Iya, sore wa muri desu yo.

いや、それは無理ですよ。

No, that’s impossible.

LIN:

Jā, rokusen-en.

じや、6,000円。

How about six thousand yen?

ANTIQUE DEALER:

li deshō. O-make shimashō.

いいでしよう。おまけしましよう。

All right. It’s a deal.

5.10 Getting Gas

A visit to the gas station used to be a pleasure rather than a chore: attendants would appear from nowhere and, with loud shouts of Irasshaimase!, they would fill your tank, take your money, and even step into the road to stop the traffic, seeing you off with a low bow. You didn’t need to get out of the car; you felt like royalty. Alas, such service is a thing of the past, self-service pumps are now common place and you may find you have to contend with a machine.

After making your selection, you will hear the following instructions (or something similar):

• Seidenki shiito o furete kara, nenryō kyappu o ake, akai iro no nozuru de kyūyu shite kudasai.
静電気シートを触れてから、燃料キャップを開け、赤い色 のノゾルで給油してください。
After touching the anti-static sheet, open the fuel cap, and fill up with the red nozzle.

And don’t forget to pick up your receipt.

5.11 Returning a Product

Michael’s not happy with the vacuum cleaner he bought and wants his money back.

MICHAEL:

Kono sōjiki ga kyōryoku da to osshaimashita ga, chittomo gomi o suikomimasen.

この掃除機が強力だどおっしゃいました力ぐ、ちっともゴミ を吸い込みません。

You said this was a powerful vacuum cleaner, but it doesn’t suck up dirt at all.

SALESPERSON:

Mōshiwake arimasen. Hoka no mono to torikaemashō ka.

申し訳ありません。他のものど取り替えましよう力、。

I do apologise. Shall we exchange it for another one?

MICHAEL:

So desu ne. Chiisakute shizuka na mono ga iin’ desu ga.

そうですね。小さくて静かなものがいいんですが。

Yes, please. But one that’s small and quiet would be good (is what I’m looking for).

SALESPERSON:

Dōzo. O-tashikame kudasai.

どうぞ。お確かめください。

Here you are. Check them out.

MICHAEL:

Dame desu ne. Yappari, daikin o kaeshite moraimasho.

だめですね。やっぱり、代金を返してもらいましょう。

They’re no good. I’ll have my money back after all.

SALESPERSON:

Mōshiwake gozaimasen.

申し訳ございません。

I do apologize.

5.12 Complaining About Defects

• Shimi/kizu ga tsuite imasu.
しみ/傷がついています。
This is stained/chipped.

• Hibi ga haitte imasu.
ひびが入っています。
This is cracked.

• Kono chiizu wa kinō kattan’ desu ga, furukute taberaremasen.
このチーズは昨日かったんです力《、古くてたべられません。
I bought this cheese yesterday but it’s so old that we can’t eat it.

• Kono wain no koruku ga kawaite ite, poro-poro shite nukenakattan’ desu yo.
このワインのコルクが乾いていて、ぽろぽろして抜けなかっ たんですよ。
The cork in this wine was so dried up that it crumbled and couldn’t be pulled out.

• Raberu no tōri sentaku shitara, chijinde shimattan’ desu.
ラベルの通り洗濯したら、縮んでしまったんです。
It shrank, even though I washed it according to the instructions on the label.

5.13 Describing Breakdowns

When one of the machines in your life breaks down you’ll have to describe the symptoms to find out if it can be repaired. The Japanese language is rich in onomatopoeic words to describe sounds; and this section includes some of these. I hope they’re useful as well as fun to learn.

PLUMBING:

• Toire ga tsumatte imasu.
トイレが詰まっています。
The toilet’s clogged.

• Nagashi no mizu ga nagaremasen.
流しの水が流れません。
The sink won’t drain.

• Furo ga kusai.
風呂がくさい。
The bath smells bad.

TELEVISION:

• Dengen wa hairimasu ga, gamen mo oto mo demasen.
電源は入ります力\画面も音もでません。
It switches on, but there’s no picture or sound.

• Gamen ga masshiro de, eizō ga demasen.
画面が真っ白で、映像がでません。
The screen is white and there's no picture.

• Gamen ga chira-chira shite, zatsuon ga shimasu.
画面がちらちらして、雑音がします。
The picture jumps and the sound buzzes.

PHONE:

• Pipipi to iu keikokuon ga natte imasu.
ピピピどいう警告音が嗚っています。
It’s beeping—the alarm’s sounding.

• Deisupurei ga kuraku nari, nanimo hyōji saremasen.
デイスプレイが暗くなり、何も表示されません。
The display’s gone dark; nothing is shown.

• Mēru o jushin dekimasu ga, hasshin wa dekimasen.
メールを受信できます力\発信はできません。
I can receive messages but I can’t send any.

APPLIANCES:

• Suitchi wa hairimasu ga, atatamaranai/hienai/mawaranai/ no desu.
スイツチは入りますカ\温まらない/冷えない/回らな いのです。
It switches on but doesn’t heat/cool/go.

• Taimā/Sāmosutatto ga kowarete imasu.
タイマー/サーモスタットがこわれています。
The timer/thermostat is broken.

• Sentakki wa dassui no toki ni gata gata to ōki na oto ga narimasu.
洗濯機は脱水のどきにガ夕ガ夕ど大きな音が嗚ります。
The washing machine when it spins makes a loud clattering noise.

CARS:

• Enjin ga kakarimasen.
エンジンがかかりません。
The engine won’t start.

• Enjin ga burun-burun to natte, togireru kanji ga shimasu.
エンジンがぶるんぶるんどなって、途切れる感じがします。
The engine’s running unevenly. It feels like it’s jerking.

• Akuseru o fumu to, ushiro kara gishi gishi to oto ga shimasu.
アクセルを踏むど、後ろからぎしぎしど音がします。
When I tread on the accelerator, it makes a creaking noise at the back.

COMPUTER:

• Passwādo o wasurete shimaimashita.
パスワードを忘れてしまいました。
I’ve forgotten the password.

• Dengen o ireru to, erā-messēji ga hyōji sare, OS ga kidō dekimasen.
電源を入れるど、エラーメッセージが表示され、OSが起勳 できません。
When I switch it on, a message is displayed and the OS doesn’t start.

• Hādo deisuku ga kakkon kakkon, kacha kacha to iu oto o shimashita.
ハードディスクがカッコンカッコン、カチャカチャどいう音 をしました。
The hard disc clinked and clattered.

• Hādo deisuku no naiyō o ayamatte keshite shimaimashita.
ハードディスクの内容を誤って消してしまいました。
I deleted the contents of the hard disc by mistake.

5.14 Words and Expressions

o-tsukai	ぉ使い	daily errands
kaimono	買い物	shopping (usually in the neighborhood)
shoppingu	ショッピング	shopping expedition (usually to a large shopping district)
mise/shōten	店•商店	shop
shōtengai	商店街	shopping street, arcade
sūpā	スーパ—	supermarket
yakkyoku	薬局	pharmacy
sakaya	酒屋	liquor store
hanaya	花屋	florist
kuriininguya	クリーニング屋	dry cleaner
depāto	デパート	department store
depachika	デパチカ	basement food hall in a department store
konbini	コンビニ	convenience store
kyaku	客	customer
reji	レジ	cash register
o-tsuri, o-kaeshi	おつり•お返し	change
denshi manē o-saifu keitai	電子マネー おサイフケイタイ	e-money, cell phone e-money
netto tsūhan	ネット通販	internet shopping
koshō (suru)	故障（する）	breakdown, to breakdown
hoshōsho	保証書	guarantee, warranty
shūri (suru)	修理（する）	repairs
hokōsha tengoku	歩行者天国	pedestrians’ paradise (shopping street closed to traffic)