keigo phrases at Japanese stores 2

＊Please read the previous post, keigo phrases at Japanese stores 1 before reading this post.

I’d especially like to explain sentence E, “480 en ni narimasu” First of all, can “narimasu/naru (become)” be treated as keigo? This is not a patricularly polite word. However, when someone says “anata no kaimono no goukei kingaku wa 480 en ni narimasu” (The total amount of your purchase has become 480 yen), they are trying to avoid being too assertive. It gives a softer, nicer impression than saying “480 en desu (It’s 480 yen) does. The store staff is informing the customer of the amount in a reserved manner. Store requiring a polite attitude towards customers without exceptions is representative of Japanese cutlure.

So, how should customers speak to polite store staff? Well, they don’t need to be super polite or rude. Just use normal Japanese. For example,

Coffee hitosu to cheesscake hitotsu kudasai. (Can I have one coffee and one cheesecake, please?)

M size/ mochikaeri onegai shimasu. (I’d like M size/ takeout.)

Fukuro wa kekko desu. (I don’t need a bag, thanks.)

And so on.

Also, store staff often ask the following questions.

Hot to ice, dochira ga yoroshii desu ka? (Which would you like, a hot one or cold one?)

Kami no cup to tennaiyo no mug cup, dochira ga yoroshii desu ka? (Which woud you prefer, a paper cup or a mug?)

“Yoroshii” is a polite word for “ii (good)”. So, “dochira ga yoroshii desu ka? (Which is good?)” when the store staff ask the customer about thier preference.

“Yoroshii desu ka” is also used for confirmation. The store staff doublechecks the customer’s requests.

Customer: Cafe latte no M size onegai shimasu. (Can I have a medium cafe latte, please?)

Store staff: M size de yoroshii desu ka? (Would M size be good for you?)

Customer: Hai. (Yes.)

Store staff: Ijou de yoroshii desu ka? (Is that everything?)

Japan is famous worldwide for its hight 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.