Shopping at a Japanese supermarket: words and phrases

How Kenji opens the conversation

Kenji always speaks first. This is the scene's own opening line, with a reply you could give back at the same level:

• 

  この刺身さしみ、もう半額はんがくですよ。買かいましょう。

  Kono sashimi, mō hangaku desu yo. Kaimashō.

  This sashimi is half price already. Let's get it.

  You could say

  本当ほんとうですね。どうやって食たべますか？

  Hontō desu ne. Dō yatte tabemasu ka?

  So it is. How should I eat it?

Other ways it can begin

No two conversations go the same way, and the first line changes too. Each of these can open the scene:

• 

  お、コロッケが半額はんがくですよ。晩ばんごはんはこれですね。

  O, korokke ga hangaku desu yo. Bangohan wa kore desu ne.

  Oh, the croquettes are half price. That's dinner, then.

  You could say

  いいですね。私わたしも買かいます。

  Ii desu ne. Watashi mo kaimasu.

  Nice. I'll get some too.

• 

  週末しゅうまつはいつも私わたしが料理りょうりします。今日きょうは肉にくじゃがです。

  Shūmatsu wa itsumo watashi ga ryōri shimasu. Kyō wa nikujaga desu.

  On weekends I always do the cooking. Today it's nikujaga.

  You could say

  すごいですね。おいしそうです。

  Sugoi desu ne. Oishisō desu.

  That's impressive. Sounds delicious.

• 

  実じつは、あのソース、うちの会社かいしゃのなんですよ。

  Jitsu wa, ano sōsu, uchi no kaisha no nan desu yo.

  Actually, that sauce over there is my company's.

  You could say

  え、本当ほんとうですか。今度こんど買かいます。

  E, hontō desu ka. Kondo kaimasu.

  Really? I'll buy some next time.

• 

  今日きょうはトマトが安やすいですね。何なにを買かいますか。

  Kyō wa tomato ga yasui desu ne. Nani o kaimasu ka.

  The tomatoes are cheap today. What are you buying?

  You could say

  私わたしはたまごと牛乳ぎゅうにゅうだけです。

  Watashi wa tamago to gyūnyū dake desu.

  Just eggs and milk for me.

• 

  このイカも安やすいですよ。イカがですか。

  Kono ika mo yasui desu yo. Ikaga desu ka.

  This squid is cheap too. How about it? ("Squid-how about it?")

  You could say

  ふふ、上手じょうずですね。一ひとつもらいます。

  Fufu, jōzu desu ne. Hitotsu moraimasu.

  Haha, good one. I'll take one.

Phrases worth knowing here

Lines for what you do at the supermarket, each with when you'd say it.

• これ、半額はんがくになってますよ。Kore, hangaku ni natte masu yo.This one's half price now.Say it when you spot a discount sticker and want to point it out to Kenji.
• 今日きょうの晩ばんご飯はん、何なににしますか。Kyō no ban-gohan, nani ni shimasu ka.What are you making for dinner tonight?Natural small talk with a neighbor who cooks, while browsing the counter.
• もう少すこし待まてば、安やすくなりますかね。Mō sukoshi mateba, yasuku narimasu ka ne.Think it'll get cheaper if we wait a bit longer?When you're debating whether to grab a tray now or hold out for a deeper markdown.
• この魚さかな、新あたらしそうですね。Kono sakana, atarashisō desu ne.This fish looks fresh.Use when commenting on the quality of something on the discount counter.
• おすすめはどれですか。Osusume wa dore desu ka.Which one do you recommend?Ask Kenji, who has an opinion about every tray.

Words you'll hear

How polite to be

polite Here Kenji speaks polite Japanese: です and ます, the way people talk with strangers, neighbors, and coworkers, and the replies suggested to you match the level you'd use back. The guide to keigo explains the three levels, and when each is right.

Eating out somewhere else? The guide to ordering food in Japanese walks through a whole meal, from the door to the check.

More scenes with Kenji

• Running into a neighbor健二（けんじ） · Convenience storepolite
• A sales meeting健二（けんじ） · Meeting roomformal
• Yakitori under the tracks健二（けんじ） · Yakitori barcasual
• Picking up a prescription健二（けんじ） · Pharmacypolite
• Buying a rice cooker健二（けんじ） · Electronics storepolite
• Booking the bullet train健二（けんじ） · Ticket officepolite
• Signing up at the gym健二（けんじ） · Gympolite
• Picking up the rental car健二（けんじ） · Car rentalpolite
• A night at the ballpark健二（けんじ） · Baseball stadiumpolite

Or see every scene, with all four characters.