Clothes shopping

❃ Clothes shopping

これはいくらですか？ [ kore wa ikura desu ka ]: How much is this?
カードで払えますか？ [ kaado de haraemasu ka ]: Can I pay by card?
見てもいいですか？ [ Mite mo ii desu ka? ]: Can I look this?
これをください。 [ Kore o kudasai. ]: I’ll take this, please.
現金で払います。 [ Genkin de haraimasu ]: I’ll pay in cash.
袋に入れてください。 [ Fukuro ni irete kudasai. ]: Could you put this in a bag?
〜はありますか。 [ ~ wa arimasu ka? ]: Do you have ~?
〜はどこですか。 [ ~ wa doko desu ka? ]: Where is ~?
ほかの色はありますか。 [ Hoka no iro wa arimasu ka? ]: Do you have other colors?
試着室はどこですか。 [ Shichakushitsu wa doko desu ka? ]: Where is the fitting room?
税込みですか。 [ Zeikomi desu ka? ]: Is tax included?
レシートをください。 [ Reshīto o kudasai. ]: A receipt, please.
交換できますか。 [ Kōkan dekimasu ka? ]: Can I exchange it?
見ているだけです、ありがとう。 [ Mite iru dake desu, arigatou. ]: I'm just looking, thank you.
これを試着してもいいですか。 [ Kore o shichaku shite mo ii desu ka. ]: May I try this on?
試着室はあちらです。 [ Shichakushitsu wa achira desu. ]: The fitting room is over there.
靴をお脱ぎください。 [ Kutsu o onugi kudasai. ]: Please take off your shoes.
フェイスカバーをご利用ください。 [ Feisukabaa o goriyou kudasai. ]: Please use this face cover (to prevent makeup stains).
もっと大きいサイズはありますか。 [ Motto ookii saizu wa arimasu ka. ]: Do you have a larger size?
もっと小さいサイズはありますか。 [ Motto chiisai saizu wa arimasu ka. ]: Do you have a smaller size?
エムサイズが欲しいです。 [ Emu saizu ga hoshii desu. ]: I would like a size M.
少しきついです。 [ Sukoshi kitsui desu. ]: It's a little tight.
ぴったりです。 [ Pittari desu. ]: It fits perfectly.
別の色はありますか。 [ Betsu no iro wa arimasu ka. ]: Do you have this in other colors?
黒をお願いします。 [ Kuro o onegaishimasu. ]: Black, please.
洗うと縮みますか。 [ Arau to chijimimasu ka. ]: Does this shrink when washed?
よく似合っていますよ。 [ Yoku niatte imasu yo. ]: It looks good on you.
少し考えます。 [ Sukoshi kangaemasu. ]: I'll think about it.
これにします。 [ Kore ni shimasu. ]: I'll take this.
これはメンズですか、レディースですか。 [ Kore wa menzu desu ka, rediisu desu ka. ]: Is this for men or women?
この靴の二十七センチはありますか。 [ Kono kutsu no nijū-nana senchi wa arimasu ka. ]: Do you have these shoes in 27cm?
ゆったりしたパンツが欲しいです。 [ Yuttari shita pantsu ga hoshii desu. ]: I want relaxed-fit pants.
裾上げをお願いできますか。 [ Susoage o onegai dekimasu ka. ]: Could you alter the hem?

Cultural notes

Shopping for clothing in Japan involves an extremely high level of customer service, but it also requires shoppers to follow strict etiquette, particularly regarding cleanliness and fitting rooms. When you enter a boutique, the staff will welcome you warmly, but they generally leave you to browse in peace. If a staff member approaches to assist and you just want to look around, you can politely say "Mite iru dake desu, arigatou" (見ているだけです、ありがとう - I'm just looking, thank you). The real cultural difference occurs when you want to try something on. You must never just walk into a fitting room, or "Shichakushitsu" (試着室). You must always ask the staff first: "Kore o shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?" (これを試着してもいいですか - May I try this on?). Japanese fitting rooms are treated as clean, indoor spaces. Therefore, you must take off your shoes ("Kutsu o onugi kudasai" - 靴をお脱ぎください) before stepping onto the carpeted area inside the booth. Furthermore, if you are trying on tops, shirts, or dresses, the staff will hand you a small, white, non-woven fabric bag. This is a "Face cover" (フェイスカバー). You are required to put this cover over your head before pulling the garment over it. This brilliantly prevents any makeup, lipstick, or facial oils from staining the store's merchandise. Finally, international travelers must be aware that Japanese sizing ("Saizu" - サイズ) runs significantly smaller and slimmer than Western sizing. An Asian "Large" is often equivalent to a Western "Medium." It is entirely normal to need a larger size than you are used to back home, so do not hesitate to ask: "Motto ookii saizu wa arimasu ka?" (もっと大きいサイズはありますか - Do you have a larger size?).

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