One of the most difficult parts of Japanese is is keigo (polite Japanese). It’s representative of Japanese
culture (or East Asian culture), where hierarchy and the relationship between employers
and employees play an important role. I strongly feel that culture and its
language play off each other in this respect.
As you know, Japanese people are taught to use
keigo when speaking to those older than themselves, their superiors, customers,
or strangers, so Japanese store staff can’t stop speaking that way even to
children or non-Japanese people who don’t know keigo. That’s why you can’t
figure out what they are saying and experience difficulties. If they spoke normally,
you would understand them better.
Let’s have a look at some phrases store staff often
use in the chart below. Normal sentences are written in the left column and
polite sentences that store staff use are in the right column. Red text
indicates keigo into which blue words transform.
Normal sentences
|
Polite sentences (keigo)
|
Chumon
onegai shimas.
Can I take
your order?
|
① Gochumon onegai shimas.
|
Koko de tabemas
ka?
Will you be
eating here?
|
② Kochira de
omeshiagari des ka?
|
Wakarimashita.
I
understand.
|
③ Kashikomarimashita.
|
M size de
ii des ka?
Would you
like M size?
|
④ M size de yoroshii
des ka?
|
480 en
des.
Your total will be 480
yen.
|
⑤ 480 en ni narimas.
|
500 en
azukarimas.
I’ve received 500
yen from you./That's out of 500 yen.
|
⑥ 500 en oazukari shimas.
|
20 en
kaeshimas.
Your
change is 20 yen.
|
⑦ 20 en no okaeshi des.
|
Shohin wa
counter de dashimas.
We’ll give
you the item at the counter.
|
⑧ Shohin wa counter de odashi shimas.
|
Matasemashita.
Sorry to
have kept you waiting.
|
⑨ Omatase shimashita.
|
Card o
motteimas ka?
Do you
have a membership card?
|
⑩ Card o omochi des ka?
|
Hukuro o
tsukaimas ka?
Do you have
your own bag?
|
⑪ Hukuro o goriyo des
ka?
|
Sumimasen.
I’m sorry./I
apologize.
|
⑫ Moshiwake gozaimasen.
|
Chotto
matte kudasai.
Please
wait a second.
|
⑬ Shosho omachi kudasai.
|
In sentences
1, 6, 7, 8, and 9, the changes are minor. Only the honorific markers “go” and
“o” are placed in front of words and verb endings are slightly changed, so if
you know the normal sentences, it’s still easy to guess the meaning of the
polite ones.
In sentences
2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, and 13, the red and blue have the same meanings, but
different words are used or else most of the sentences have changed. Thus, if you
don’t already know the keigo words, you can’t guess what they mean.
“Tabemas
ka?” becomes “omeshiagari des ka?” and “Sumimasen” becomes “moshiwake
gozaimasen.”
They
are completely different. You probably wonder why, but just need to accept that
that’s how it is and learn the keigo words and phrases. You’ll get used to them
if you live in Japan and hear them every day.
So, how should customers speak politely to store
staff? Well, they don’t need to be super polite or rude. Just use normal Japanese.
For example,
Coffee hitotsu to cheesecake hitotsu kudasai/onegai shimas. (Can I have one coffee and one cheesecake, please?)
M size/mochikaeri onegai shimas. (I’d like M size/take out.)
Hukuro wa kekko des. (I don’t need a bag, thanks.)And so on.
Also, store staff often ask the following questions.
Hot to ice, dochira ga yoroshii des ka? (Which would you like, a hot one or cold one?)
Kami no cup to tennaiyo no mug cup, dochira ga yoroshii des ka? (Which would you prefer, a paper cup or a mug?)
(Tabemono o) atatamemas ka? (Shall I warm up this food?)
Ijo de yoroshii des ka? (Is that everything?)Please ask me about other expressions you always come across and can’t figure out in the comment section.
Recently two of my students told me that "reshito (receipt) kekko des." was the most useful expression I'd ever taught them. I think I've taught them more important things, but apparently they need practical phrases!
Japan is famous worldwide for its high quality of service. I totally agree with this. I experience good service everywhere, but they often lack flexibility when something unexpected occurs. At supermarkets outside of Japan, I see store staff chatting with customers in a relaxed manner, but some staff don’t smile and look unsatisfied with their work. I think they are always honest.
me too, I totally agree with that and that's the sole reason I want to visit japan soon
返信削除I hope you can enjoy speaking some Japanese at shops when you visit Japan.
削除Many people will get lot of benefits by reading this kind of informational stuff .Thank you so much for this .
返信削除Phrases