When in a Japanese environment you will find that there will most likely be things that you will need to buy. Whether you are shopping for necessities or for souvenirs there are words and phrases that the Japanese use that you will find handy. If you learn the basics for buying in Japanese you will find it to be very helpful.

The word Kudasai (which is pronounced coo-da-si) means please give me. This word will be useful in any store, restaurant or any location where you will need to ask for something.

If you want to ask how much or how many you would use the word Ikura (which is pronounced ee-coo-ra).

When you are looking for something and the price is not apparent you may want to ask the cost. To do this you would use the phrase Ikura Desu Ka (which is pronounced ee-coo-ra des-ka) that means how much is it?

You may also find the need to bargain for one or more items if you think the price is not quite to your liking. In that case you would use the word Takai (which is pronounced ta-ki) and means cost too much or too expensive. When the bargaining is done and you are satisfied with the price you would likely want to let them know by saying daibu that tells them it is a good deal.

When you are ready to make your purchase or purchases you will need to let the vendor know. To do this you would say Kaikei o onegaishimasu (which is pronounced ki-kee oh oh-ney-gigh-she-mah-soo) that translates to can I pay? Kaikei means payment, onegaishimasu means please and o is used to tie more than one word together.

Most stores in Japan only accept cash. At some point you may find the need to ask if you can use a credit card. To ask this you would say kurejitto kado desu ka which means can I use a credit card? Alternately you could use the phrase kurjitto kado wa tsukae masuka which means can I use credit card?

If a vendor says genkin dake desu this means that they accept cash only.

When ka (kah) is used at the end of a sentence it indicates that it is a question.

It is not customary to tip in Japan. There is no need to pay anything extra at a hotel, restaurant or to any taxi driver.

When at a restaurant you would pay at the cash register need the exit, not at your table.

Check out these other helpful How Tos to learn more about Japanese.

1. How to Say Hello in Japanese
2. How to Say Goodbye in Japanese
3. How to Flirt in Japanese
4. How to Ask For Directions in Japanese
5. How to Order Food in Japanese
6. How to Pronounce Japanese Words
7. How to Ask Questions in Japanese
8. How to Count in Japanese
9. How to Greet Somebdoy in Japanese
10. How to Say No in Japanese
11. How to Say Excuse Me in Japanese
12. How to Say Please in Japanese
13. How to Say Thank You in Japanese
14. How to Ask For Help in Japanese
15. How to Say I Want to in Japanese
16. How to Say This and That in Japanese
17. How to Say I Dont Understand in Japanese
18. How to Say Common Hotel Phrases in Japanese
19. How to Ride the Train in Japanese
20. How to Buy Something in Japanese
21. How to Say Cheers in Japanese
22. How to Read Basic Japanese
23. How to Say Good Morning in Japanese
24. How to Say Good Afternoon in Japanese
25. How to Say Good Evening in Japanese