Out & About
1At the Konbiniコンビニ
The shop counter is the lowest-stakes conversation in the country — a few set phrases and a smile do the whole thing. Nail these and you'll never freeze when the cashier rattles something off.
| Japanese | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| これ、いくらですか？ | kore, ikura desu ka? | How much is this? | Point at the item |
これkorethisいくらikurahow muchですdesuisかka(question) | |||
| これ、お願いします | kore, onegai shimasu | This one, please | Point and nod |
これkorethisお願いしますonegai shimasuplease | |||
| 袋ください | fukuro kudasai | A bag, please | Often a few yen now |
袋fukurobagくださいkudasaiplease give | |||
| カードで | kaado de | By card | Hold up the card |
カードkaadocardでdeby/with | |||
| 袋いりません | fukuro irimasen | No bag, thanks | |
袋fukurobagいりませんirimasendon't need | |||
| 温めますか？ | atatamemasu ka? | “Shall I heat it up?” | You'll hear this — say hai / iie |
温めますatatamemasu(I) heat upかka(question) | |||
You almost never need a full sentence at a counter. Set your item down, say the short phrase, and let the cashier guide you — a nod handles everything you didn't catch.
2Ordering注文
Pointing plus one polite word gets you fed anywhere. You don't need the menu memorised — “this one, please” and a finger covers most of it, and asking what's good opens an actual chat.
| Japanese | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 二人です | futari desu | Table for two | Hold up two fingers |
二人futaritwo peopleですdesuis | |||
| これください | kore kudasai | This one, please | Point at the menu |
これkorethisくださいkudasaiplease give | |||
| おすすめは？ | osusume wa? | What do you recommend? | Opens a chat |
おすすめosusumerecommendationはwa(topic) | |||
| 同じものを | onaji mono wo | The same, please | Order what they had |
同じonajisameものmonothingをwo(object) | |||
| お水ください | o-mizu kudasai | Water, please | Usually free |
お水o-mizuwaterくださいkudasaiplease give | |||
| すみません！ | sumimasen! | Excuse me! (calling staff) | Catch the server's eye |
Point at the dish — on the menu, on the next table, on your phone — and add the polite word. Staff would much rather you point than stay silent.
3Payingお会計
Asking for the bill and paying cleanly is its own tiny social skill. Get it smooth and you walk out looking like you've done it a hundred times — and “it's on me” is a warm little offer.
| Japanese | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| お会計お願いします | o-kaikei onegai shimasu | The bill, please | |
お会計o-kaikeithe billお願いしますonegai shimasuplease | |||
| カードで払えますか？ | kaado de haraemasu ka? | Can I pay by card? | Cash still common |
カードkaadocardでdeby払えますharaemasucan payかka(question) | |||
| 別々で払えますか？ | betsubetsu de haraemasu ka? | Can we pay separately? | |
別々betsubetsuseparatelyでdeby払えますharaemasucan payかka(question) | |||
| おごります | ogorimasu | It's on me | A warm offer |
| ごちそうさまでした | gochisousama deshita | Thanks for the meal | Say it on the way out |
ごちそうさまgochisousamathanks for the feastでしたdeshita(past, polite) | |||
| おいしかったです | oishikatta desu | It was delicious | Always appreciated |
おいしかったoishikattawas deliciousですdesu(polite) | |||
Service is included, and leaving coins behind just causes confusion. A warm “gochisousama deshita” on your way out is the real tip.
4At the Barバー
The bar is where a phrase becomes a moment. “What are you having?” and “may I buy you a drink?” are tiny lines that can open a whole evening — say them light, smile, and let the drink do the rest.
| Japanese | Sounds like | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 何飲んでるんですか？ | nani nonderu n desu ka? | What are you drinking? | Easy opener |
何naniwhat飲んでるnonderudrinkingんですn desu(explaining)かka(question) | |||
| 一杯おごってもいいですか？ | ippai ogotte mo ii desu ka? | May I buy you a drink? | Light and warm |
一杯ippaione drinkおごってもogotte moeven if (I) treatいいですかii desu kais it okay? | |||
| もう一杯どうですか？ | mou ippai dou desu ka? | One more? | |
もうmouanother一杯ippaione drinkどうですかdou desu kahow about? | |||
| 乾杯！ | kanpai! | Cheers! | Glasses up |
乾kandry杯paicup | |||
| よく来るんですか？ | yoku kuru n desu ka? | Do you come here often? | Classic, and it works |
よくyokuoften来るkurucomeんですn desu(explaining)かka(question) | |||
| いい雰囲気ですね | ii fun'iki desu ne | Nice atmosphere, huh | A shared observation |
いいiinice雰囲気fun'ikiatmosphereですねdesu neisn't it | |||
“May I buy you a drink?” lands as a light, easy offer — not a transaction. Ask, smile, and be just as happy with a no. The relaxedness is the attractive part, not the drink.
nani nonderu n desu ka?
What are you drinking?
haibooru desu.
A highball.
ippai ogotte mo ii desu ka?
May I buy you a drink?
ii n desu ka? arigatou.
Really? Thanks.
kanpai! yoku kuru n desu ka?
Cheers! Do you come here often?
★Pocket Linesひとこと
When your brain blanks, these are the words that still come out. One or two syllables each — impossible to fumble. Keep them on the tip of your tongue.
| Japanese | Sounds like | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| これ | kore | This one | Point and you're understood |
| 同じで | onaji de | Same for me | Order what they had |
同じonajisameでde(with/for) | |||
| いくら？ | ikura? | How much? | Works anywhere |
| 乾杯！ | kanpai! | Cheers! | Glasses up |
乾kandry杯paicup | |||
| おいしい！ | oishii! | Yum! | Say it mid-bite |
| お願いします | onegai shimasu | Please / yes please | The all-purpose word |
One confident word with a smile beats a perfect sentence mumbled. These six get you through almost any counter, table or bar — lean on them when your mind goes blank.