Shopping in Japan: Japanese Phrases for Clothes and Gifts

Shopping for clothes, shoes or gifts in Japan usually comes with attentive service and a lot of polite questions. A few phrases for sizes, colours, fitting rooms and wrapping will help you get exactly what you want, and enjoy the conversation along the way.

Browsing and asking for help

In clothing shops and department stores, staff may greet you and then ask 何かお探しですか？ nanika osagashi desu ka?, “are you looking for anything?”. If you would rather browse, 見ているだけです mite iru dake desu, “I’m just looking”, is perfectly polite. If you need something, say what it is followed by はありますか？ wa arimasu ka?: コートはありますか？ kōto wa arimasu ka?, “do you have coats?”.

Department stores (デパート, depāto) are organised by floor, with each section called a 売り場 uriba. Food halls are usually in the basement, known as デパ地下 depachika. There is often an information desk (案内所, annaijo) near the entrance.

Sizes and colours

Clothes are often labelled S, M and L, but cuts can be smaller than you may be used to, so trying things on is worth it. Shoe sizes are usually given in centimetres, such as 25.5. Some useful words:

• サイズ saizu – size; 大きいサイズ ōkii saizu – a bigger size; 小さいサイズ chiisai saizu – a smaller size
• 色 iro – colour; 色違い irochigai – the same item in a different colour
• 黒 kuro (black), 白 shiro (white), 紺 kon (navy), グレー gurē (grey), ベージュ bēju (beige)

Trying things on: 試着

To try something on, ask 試着してもいいですか？ shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?. The fitting room is the 試着室 shichakushitsu. A few customs are worth knowing:

• Take your shoes off before stepping into the fitting room. There is usually a small step or mat where you leave them.
• Face covers (フェイスカバー, feisu kabā) are sometimes provided to keep make-up off tops you pull over your head.
• Staff may check on you with いかがですか？ ikaga desu ka?, “how is it?”. Some shops limit how many items you can take in.

To describe the fit: ちょうどいいです chōdo ii desu (it fits well), 少しきついです sukoshi kitsui desu (a little tight), ちょっと大きいです chotto ōkii desu (a bit big), 丈が長いです take ga nagai desu (it’s too long). When you have decided, これにします kore ni shimasu, “I’ll take this”.

Gift wrapping

Many shops, and especially department stores, will wrap purchases neatly, sometimes free and sometimes for a fee. Staff may ask ご自宅用ですか？ gojitaku-yō desu ka?, “is it for yourself?”, to decide how to wrap it.

• プレゼント用でお願いします purezento-yō de onegai shimasu – It’s a gift, please wrap it
• 自宅用です jitaku-yō desu – It’s for me (simple packaging)
• 別々に包んでいただけますか？ betsubetsu ni tsutsunde itadakemasu ka? – Could you wrap them separately?
• 紙袋をもう一つもらえますか？ kamibukuro o mō hitotsu moraemasu ka? – Could I have an extra paper bag?

For formal gifts, department stores can add a のし noshi, a decorative paper wrap whose style depends on the occasion. Staff will ask what the gift is for, so be ready to say, for example, お礼です orei desu (it’s a thank-you gift).

Returns and exchanges

Return policies vary from shop to shop. Some accept returns of unused items with a receipt within a set period, some offer exchanges only, and sale items are often final. Check before you buy if you are unsure: 返品できますか？ henpin dekimasu ka? (can I return it?) and 交換できますか？ kōkan dekimasu ka? (can I exchange it?). Keep the receipt (レシート) and tags.

Tax-free shopping

Short-term visitors can buy some goods tax-free (免税, menzei) at participating shops, usually by showing their passport. The eligibility rules, minimum amounts and procedures have changed over the years and may change again, so check the latest guidance from the official Japanese government sources or ask at the shop’s tax-free counter before you rely on it.

Practise the conversation

Shopping is a friendly place to practise, but staff speak quickly and very politely. A Hanabuddies tutor can play the shop assistant, from nanika osagashi desu ka? to wrapping a gift, so you recognise the questions and answer naturally. If you also want everyday checkout phrases, see our guide to convenience store Japanese.