Shopping

Situation

田中さんと山田さんはデパートで買い物をしています。田中さんは新しいシャツを買いたいと思っています。二人は洋服売り場に来ました。

Dialogue

山田: 田中たなかさん、何なにか欲ほしいものがありますか。

Yamada: Tanaka-san, nani ka hoshii mono ga arimasu ka?

Yamada: Tanaka, is there anything you'd like?

田中: はい、新あたらしいシャツが欲ほしいです。このお店は良よいシャツがありますか。

Tanaka: Hai, atarashii shatsu ga hoshii desu. Kono omise wa yoi shatsu ga arimasu ka?

Tanaka: Yes, I want a new shirt. Does this store have nice shirts?

山田: ええ、たくさんありますよ。どのシャツがいいですか。

Yamada: Ee, takusan arimasu yo. Dono shatsu ga ii desu ka?

Yamada: Yes, they have many! Which shirt do you like?

田中: うーん、この青あおいシャツは素敵すてきですね。いくらですか。

Tanaka: Uun, kono aoi shatsu wa suteki desu ne. Ikura desu ka?

Tanaka: Hmm, this blue shirt is lovely, isn't it? How much is it?

山田: 3500円えんですよ。ちょっと高たかいですか。

Yamada: Sanzen-gohyaku-en desu yo. Chotto takai desu ka?

Yamada: It's 3500 yen. Is that a bit expensive?

田中: いいえ、ちょうどいいです。Lサイズはありますか。

Tanaka: Iie, choudo ii desu. Eru saizu wa arimasu ka?

Tanaka: No, it's just right. Do you have it in L size?

店員: (スタッフが来きて) はい、Lサイズもございます。お試着しちゃくなさいますか。

Ten'in: (Sutaffu ga kite) Hai, Eru saizu mo gozaimasu. O-shichaku nasaimasu ka?

Shop Assistant: (A staff member approaches) Yes, we have L size as well. Would you like to try it on?

田中: はい、お願ねがいします。試着室しちゃくしつはどこですか。

Tanaka: Hai, onegaishimasu. Shichakushitsu wa doko desu ka?

Tanaka: Yes, please. Where is the fitting room?

店員: あちらです。どうぞ。

Ten'in: Achira desu. Douzo.

Shop Assistant: It's over there. Please go ahead.

田中: (しばらくして)山田やまださん、どうですか。

Tanaka: (Shibaraku shite) Yamada-san, dou desu ka?

Tanaka: (After a while) Yamada, what do you think?

山田: とてもよく似合にあっていますよ！買かいましょう。

Yamada: Totemo yoku niatte imasu yo! Kaimashou.

Yamada: It looks great on you! Let's buy it.

田中: そうですね。これにします。店員てんいんさん、これをください。

Tanaka: Sou desu ne. Kore ni shimasu. Ten'in-san, kore o kudasai.

Tanaka: You're right. I'll take this one. Excuse me, I'd like to buy this.

店員: ありがとうございます。お会計かいけいはレジで願ねがいします。

Ten'in: Arigatou gozaimasu. Okaikei wa reji de onegai shimasu.

Shop Assistant: Thank you very much. Please proceed to the cash register for payment.

Key Vocabulary

欲ほしい

hoshii

— to want

シャツ

shatsu

— shirt

良よい

yoi

— good

素敵すてき

suteki

— nice, wonderful

いくら

ikura

— how much?

高たかい

takai

— expensive, tall

試着しちゃく

shichaku

— trying on clothes

試着室しちゃくしつ

shichakushitsu

— fitting room

どこ

doko

— where?

似合にあう

niau

— to suit, to look good on

買かう

kau

— to buy

店員てんいん

ten'in

— shop assistant, clerk

お会計おかいけい

okaikei

— payment, bill

レジ

reji

— cash register

これをください

kore o kudasai

— I'll take this, please.

Grammar Notes

〜が欲しいです (〜がほしいです): This phrase expresses a desire for something. For example, 「新しいシャツが欲しいです。」 (Atarashii shatsu ga hoshii desu.) means "I want a new shirt."
〜はどうですか (〜はどうですか): Use this to ask for an opinion or suggestion about something. For instance, 「この服、どうですか。」 (Kono fuku, dou desu ka?) translates to "How about these clothes?" or "What do you think of these clothes?"
〜てもいいですか (〜てもいいですか): This structure asks for permission to do something. For example, 「試着してもいいですか。」 (Shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?) means "May I try it on?"
どの〜 (どの〜): Use 「どの〜」 when asking "which (of three or more)" when choosing from multiple options. In the dialogue, 「どのシャツがいいですか。」 (Dono shatsu ga ii desu ka?) means "Which shirt is good?"
〜にします (〜にします): This phrase means "to decide on something" or "to choose something." For example, 「これにします。」 (Kore ni shimasu.) means "I'll take this one / I'll decide on this."
〜をください / 〜でお願いします (〜をください / 〜でおねがいします): These are polite ways to make requests. 「〜をください」 means "Please give me ~" or "I'll take ~". 「〜でお願いします」 is often used to indicate where or how an action should be performed, translating to "Please do it at/with/by means of ~" or simply "at/with/by means of ~ please." In our dialogue, 「お会計はレジでお願いします。」 (Okaikei wa reji de onegai shimasu.) means "Please pay at the cash register."

Cultural Notes

In Japan, customer service is exceptionally high, making shopping typically a polite and pleasant experience. Store clerks often greet customers with a warm 「いらっしゃいませ」 (Irasshaimase - Welcome!). They are usually very helpful and might approach you to offer assistance, though they often wait for you to make eye contact first.

When trying on clothes, it's common practice to ask for permission using 「試着してもいいですか？」 (Shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?). Some stores even offer a face cover to prevent makeup from staining the clothes—a thoughtful gesture of hospitality that ensures the garments remain pristine for all customers.

When you're ready to pay, it's customary to go to a dedicated cash register (レジ). It's also common practice to place your money, whether cash or card, on a small tray provided by the cashier rather than directly handing it to them. This is considered a polite and hygienic way to exchange money in Japan.

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At School (Conversation N5)
Making Friends (Conversation N5)
Phone Call (Conversation N5)

Practice

Here are some suggestions for practicing this conversation:

Role-play: Practice the dialogue by playing each role (Tanaka, Yamada, and the Store Assistant). Focus on intonation and appropriate politeness levels for each character.
Substitution Drills:
Replace the item Tanaka wants:
シャツ (shatsu - shirt) → スカート (sukaato - skirt)
シャツ (shatsu) → ズボン (zubon - pants)
シャツ (shatsu) → バッグ (baggu - bag)
シャツ (shatsu) → 靴 (kutsu - shoes)
Replace the color/description of the shirt:
青い (aoi - blue) → 赤い (akai - red)
青い (aoi) → 白い (shiroi - white)
青い (aoi) → 黒い (kuroi - black)
Replace the size:
Lサイズ (eru saizu - L size) → Mサイズ (emu saizu - M size)
Lサイズ (eru saizu) → 小さいの (chiisai no - a small one)
Variation Scenario: Imagine you are shopping for groceries at a supermarket. Try asking for specific vegetables or fruits, their prices, and where they are located in the store.