Japanese at the convenience store
Japan’s convenience stores, or konbini (コンビニ), are open long hours and sell far more than snacks. The checkout conversation is short and follows a pattern, so a handful of phrases goes a long way.
What the staff will ask you
Staff speak quickly and politely, and the questions come in roughly the same order. Listen for the key word rather than the whole sentence.
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いらっしゃいませ | irasshaimase | Welcome. No reply is needed. |
| ポイントカードはお持ちですか？ | pointo kādo wa omochi desu ka? | Do you have a point card? |
| レジ袋はご利用ですか？ | reji bukuro wa goriyō desu ka? | Would you like a plastic bag? |
| 温めますか？ | atatamemasu ka? | Shall I heat it up? (for bento and similar food) |
| お箸はおつけしますか？ | ohashi wa otsuke shimasu ka? | Would you like chopsticks? |
| スプーンはおつけしますか？ | supūn wa otsuke shimasu ka? | Would you like a spoon? |
| お支払い方法は？ | oshiharai hōhō wa? | How will you pay? |
| 袋、分けますか？ | fukuro, wakemasu ka? | Shall I put hot and cold items in separate bags? |
How to answer
Most answers are just yes or no. The simplest polite forms work for almost everything.
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| お願いします | onegai shimasu | Yes, please |
| 大丈夫です | daijōbu desu | No, thank you |
| いりません | irimasen | I don’t need it |
| ないです | nai desu | I don’t have one (a point card) |
| 袋をください | fukuro o kudasai | A bag, please |
| お箸を二膳ください | ohashi o nizen kudasai | Two pairs of chopsticks, please |
Plastic bags are not free in Japan, which is why staff ask. If you carry your own bag, a simple 大丈夫です is enough.
Paying
Most konbini accept cash, and many also take credit cards, transport IC cards and smartphone payment, though the options vary by chain and store. Some stores have self-checkouts or a machine where you insert cash yourself after staff scan your items.
- 現金で (genkin de) – with cash
- カードで (kādo de) – by card
- 交通系ICで (kōtsūkei ai shī de) – with a transport IC card
- レシートはいりません (reshīto wa irimasen) – I don’t need the receipt
When you buy alcohol or tobacco, the register may ask you to confirm your age by tapping a button on the screen. Staff may say 画面のタッチをお願いします (gamen no tacchi o onegai shimasu), “please touch the screen”.
More than a shop
Konbini are useful for everyday errands. Services differ between chains and stores, so ask staff if you are unsure, but common ones include:
- Paying bills (支払い, shiharai). Many utility and other bills come with a payment slip you can pay at the register.
- Sending and collecting parcels (宅配便, takuhaibin). Many stores handle parcels for delivery companies.
- ATMs, often usable with cards issued abroad, depending on the machine.
- Copying and printing (コピー, kopī) from a multifunction machine.
- Tickets for events, bought through an in-store terminal.
Useful sentences here: これを払いたいです (kore o haraitai desu, “I’d like to pay this”) and 荷物を送りたいです (nimotsu o okuritai desu, “I’d like to send a parcel”).
A few small courtesies
- Put cash in the tray. There is often a small tray at the register. Place money there rather than handing it over.
- Say thank you on the way out. ありがとうございます or a small nod is perfectly natural.
- Eat-in areas (イートイン) exist in some stores. If there isn’t one, it’s polite to eat elsewhere rather than walking while eating.
From phrases to real conversations
The konbini is a great place to practise, because the conversation repeats every day. The hard part is catching fast, polite Japanese the first time. In a lesson, a Hanabuddies tutor can play the clerk at natural speed until the questions sound familiar, then move on to the bank, the post office or the city office.