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Going To Different Shops

Going to a Department Store

Depato (deh-pahh-toh; department stores) are very convenient. Which departments interest you?

fujinfuku (foo-jeen-foo-koo; women's clothes)
hoseki (hohh-seh-kee; jewelry)
kaban (kah-bahn; luggage)
kagu (kah-goo; furniture)
keshohin (keh-shohh-heen; cosmetics)
kodomofuku (koh-doh-moh-foo-koo; children's clothes
kutsu (koo-tsoo; shoes)
shinshifuku (sheen-shee-foo-koo; men's clothes)
shoseki (shoh-seh-kee; books)
supotsu yohin (soo-pohh-tsoo yohh-heen; sporting goods)

Grocery Shopping

Restaurants are great, but if you want to save time or money, shop for food. If you go to a supamaketto (sooo-pahh-mahh-keht-toh; supermarket), you can get most of the items you need in one trip, including:

aisukurimu (ah-ee-soo-koo-reee-moo; ice cream)
gyunyti (gyooo-nyooo; milk)
jusu (jooo-soo; juice)
o-kome (oh-koh-meh; uncooked rice)
pan (pahn; bread)
tamago (tah-mah-goh; eggs)

Going to a butcher

You can find these niku (nee-koo; meats) at a nikuya-san (nee-koo-yah-sahn; meat store):

butaniku (boo-tah-nee-koo; pork)
gyuniku (gyooo-nee-koo; beef)
shichimencho (shee-chee-mehn-chohh; turkey)
toriniku (toh-ree-nee-koo; chicken)
hamu (hah-moo; ham)
soseji (sohh-sehh-jee; sausage)

Buying Vegetables and fruit

You can buy yasai (yah-seh-ee; vegetables) and kuda-mono (koo-dah-moh-noh; fruits) in supermarkets, but if you go to a farm stand or a yaoya-san (yah-oh-yah-sahn; produce store/greenmarket), you'll get the freshest produce. Include some of the following healthful items on your shoppingu risuto (shohp-peen-goo ree-soo-toh; shopping list):

jagaimo (jah-gah-ee-moh; potatoes)
mikan (mee-kahn; oranges)
ninjin (neen-jeen; carrots)
piman (peee-mahn; green peppers)
remon (reh-mohn; lemons)
retasu (reh-tah-soo; lettuce)
ringo (reen-goh; apples)
tamanegi (tah-mah-neh-gee; onions)
ichigo (ee-chee-goh; strawberries)

Buying fresh fish

The Japanese are big fish eaters. If you're a fish lover, too, a fish market is the place for you. Remember the names of your favorite fish when you make the trip:

maguro (mah-goo-roh; tuna)
masu (mah-soo; trout)
sake (sah-keh; salmon)
tal (tah-ee; red snapper)
tara (tah-rah; cod)

Negotiating Prices

Kaimono (kah-ee-moh-noh; shopping) can be exciting. Visiting different mise (mee-seh; stores), checking out all the items, and comparing nedan (neh-dahn; prices) is my idea of a great afternoon. Are you good at asking for nebiki (neh-bee-kee; discounts)? You can't just expect a discount - you have to be firm about asking for it. Here are a few phrases for talking about nedan:

Ikura desu ka. (ee-koo-rah deh-soo kah; How much is it?)
Chotto takai desu. (choht-toh tah-kah-ee deh-soo; It's a little expensive.)
Mo chotto yasuku shite kudasai. (mohh choht-toh yah-soo-koo shee-teh koo-dah-sah-ee; Make it a bit cheaper please.)
Mama yasui desu ne. (mahh mahh yah-soo-ee deh-soo neh; It's relatively cheap.)

Conjugate the u-verb kau (to buy). Watch out for the w sound that appears in the negative form.

Form	Pronunciation
kau	kah-oo
kawanai	kah-wah-nah-ee
kai	kah-ee
katte	kaht-teh

Words to Know
kaimono	kah-ee-moh-noh	shopping
Ikura desu ka?	ee-koo-rah deh-soo kah	How much?
nebiki	neh-bee-kee	discount
takai	tah-kah-ee	expensive
yasui	yah-soo-ee	cheap

Paying for your Purchases

If you're going shopping, you need a kurejitto kado (koo-reh-jeet-toh kahh-doh; credit card) or some o-satsu (oh-sah-tsoo; bills) and a few koka (kohh-kah; coins). When you harau (hah-rah-oo; pay), don't forget your o-tsuri (oh-tsoo-ree; change).

Conjugate the u-verb harau (hah-rah-oo; to pay). Watch out for the w sound that shows up in the negative form.

Form	Pronunciation
harau	hah-rah-oo
harawanai	hah-rah-wah-nah-ee
harai	hah-rah-ee
haratte	har-raht-teh

Words to Know
o-tsuri	oh-tsoo-ree	change
ryoshusho	ryohh-shooo-shoh	receipt
shohizei	shohh-hee-zehh	sales tax
subete	soo-beh-teh	everything

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Going To Different Shops