Markets & Souvenirs

1. これはいくらですか

   ko-re wa i-ku-ra de-su ka

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   The most basic phrase for asking the price of an item at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "Ikura" is the standard price question word. Essential for stalls and markets without price tags

2. 値段を交渉できますか

   ne-dan o kō-shō de-ki-ma-su ka

   Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Politely checking whether the price is negotiable

   Grammar Note

   Regular Japanese shops have fixed prices, but tourist-area markets and souvenir stores often allow negotiation

3. 1000円でどうですか

   sen en de dō de-su ka

   How about 1000 yen?

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "〜de dō desu ka" proposes a price. Change the amount to suit your offer

4. たくさん買うので安くしてください

   ta-ku-san ka-u no-de ya-su-ku shi-te ku-da-sa-i

   I'm buying a lot, so please give me a discount

   Usage

   Requesting a bulk discount

   Grammar Note

   "〜node" gives a reason. "Yasuku suru" turns the adjective "yasui" (cheap) into a transitive verb meaning "make cheap"

5. これは手作りですか

   ko-re wa te-zu-ku-ri de-su ka

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Asking whether a souvenir is handmade or mass-produced

   Grammar Note

   "Tezukuri" means handmade. "Jimoto de tsukurarete imasu ka" asks if it is locally made

6. 素材は何ですか

   so-za-i wa nan de-su ka

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking the material of a craft or garment

   Grammar Note

   Knowing words like "kinu" (silk), "men" (cotton), "urushi" (lacquer) helps you understand the answer

7. ギフト包装をお願いします

   gi-fu-to hō-sō o o-ne-ga-i shi-ma-su

   Could you gift-wrap this please?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping for a present

   Grammar Note

   Japanese department stores often gift-wrap for free. A traditional "noshi" decoration can also be added

8. 夜市はどこですか

   yo-i-chi wa do-ko de-su ka

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   Japan has few year-round night markets, but festival "ennichi" stalls offer a similar atmosphere

9. 領収書をいただけますか

   ryō-shū-sho o i-ta-da-ke-ma-su ka

   Could I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Politely requesting a receipt

   Grammar Note

   "Itadakemasu ka" is more polite than "kudasai". Stalls usually only issue printed register receipts

10. 市場は何時から何時までですか

    i-chi-ba wa nan-ji ka-ra nan-ji ma-de de-su ka

    What are the market's opening hours?

    Usage

    Checking the operating hours of a market

    Grammar Note

    "〜kara〜made" expresses a range (from〜to〜). Very common for both time and place

11. 見ているだけです

    mi-te i-ru da-ke de-su

    I'm just looking, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a shopkeeper's sales pitch

    Grammar Note

    "〜te iru dake desu" softens the refusal. Adding "arigatō gozaimasu" keeps it polite

12. カードで払えますか

    kā-do de ha-ra-e-ma-su ka

    Can I pay by card?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    Japanese markets and stalls are still mostly cash-only. "Genkin nomi desu" means cash only

13. 家族へのお土産です

    ka-zo-ku e no o-mi-ya-ge de-su

    This is a souvenir for my family

    Usage

    Telling the shopkeeper who the souvenir is for

    Grammar Note

    "Omiyage" is a souvenir specifically meant as a gift. Japanese often share souvenirs with coworkers too

14. 海外発送はできますか

    ka-i-ga-i ha-ssō wa de-ki-ma-su ka

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping for items too large to carry home

    Grammar Note

    EMS is the common international postal option from Japan. Shipping fees can be high, so confirm in advance

15. 一番のおすすめは何ですか

    i-chi-ban no o-su-su-me wa nan de-su ka

    What's your best recommendation?

    Usage

    Asking the shopkeeper for their top recommendation

    Grammar Note

    A reliable conversation-starter when picking souvenirs. Shopkeepers usually love to share their favorites

16. この値段は交渉できますか

    ko-no ne-dan wa kō-shō de-ki-ma-su ka

    Is this price negotiable?

    Usage

    Asking directly whether the displayed price can be lowered

    Grammar Note

    "Kono" precedes a noun. The phrase is direct but not impolite

17. もっと大きいサイズはありますか

    mo-tto ō-ki-i sa-i-zu wa a-ri-ma-su ka

    Do you have a bigger size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size of clothing or goods

    Grammar Note

    Replace "ōkii" with "chiisai" to ask for a smaller size instead

18. ちょっと高すぎます

    cho-tto ta-ka-su-gi-ma-su

    That's a bit too expensive

    Usage

    Politely indicating the offered price is too high

    Grammar Note

    Adding "chotto" softens the statement and keeps room for negotiation. "〜sugimasu" means "too〜"

19. 玉ねぎ

    ta-ma-ne-gi

    Onion

    Usage

    Point at it to find or check onions at a market or greengrocer

20. にんにく

    nin-ni-ku

    Garlic

    Usage

    For buying garlic or checking whether a dish contains it

21. しょうが

    shō-ga

    Ginger

    Usage

    For buying ginger, widely used as a condiment in Japan

22. 唐辛子

    tō-ga-ra-shi

    Chili pepper

    Usage

    The chili itself; also useful when asking to adjust spiciness

23. パクチー

    pa-ku-chī

    Coriander (cilantro)

    Usage

    In Japan the usual name is "pakuchī", not the kanji 香菜; also used to ask for it to be left out

24. 果物

    ku-da-mo-no

    Fruit

    Usage

    The general word for fruit, e.g. when asking where it is sold

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