Keigo phrases for Japanese stores 1

One of the most difficult part of Japanese is keigo (polite Japanese). It’s representative of Japanese culture (or Eastern Asian culture), where hierarchy and the relationship between employers and employees play an important role. I strongly feel that culture and language affect each other in this respect.

As you know, Japanese people are taught to use keigo when talking to those older than themselves, their superiors, customers, 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 phrase store staff often use in the chart below. Normal sentences are written in the sentence 1 and polite sentences store staff use are in the sentence 2. Red text indicates keigo into which blue words transform.

A: Can I take your order?

1. Chyumon onegai shimasu.

2. Gochyumon onegai shimasu.

B: Will you be eating here?

1. Koko de tabemasu ka?

2. Kochira de omeshiagari desu ka?

C: I understand.

1. Wakarimashita.

2. Kashikomarimashita.

D: Would you like M size?

1. M size de ii desu ka?

2. M size de yoroshii desu ka?

E: That will be 480 yen.

1. 480 en desu.

2. 480 en ni narimasu.

F: I’ve received 500 yen from you.

1. 500 en azukarimasu.

2. 500 en oazukari shimasu.

G: Your change is 20 yen.

1. 20 en kaeshimasu

2. 20 en okaeshi desu.

H: We’ll give you the item at the counter.

1. Shouhin wa counter de dashimasu.

2. Shouhin wa counter de odashi shimasu.

I: Sorry to have you kept waiting.

1. Matasemashita.

2. Omatase shimashita.

J: Do you have a membership card?

1. Point card o motteimasu ka?

2. Point card o omohi desu ka?

K: Do you use a plastic bag?

1. Fukuro o tsukaimasu ka?

2. Fukuro o goriyou desu ka?

L: I’m sorry/ I apologize.

1. Sumimasen.

2. Moushiwake gozaimasen.

M: Please wait a second.

1. Chotto matte kudasai.

2. Shoushou omachi kudasai.

In sentences A, F, G, H and I, the changes are minor. Only the honorific marker “o” or “go” 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 B, C, D, E, K, L and M, the red and blue have the same meanings, but different words are used or else most of the senteces have changed. Thus, if you don’t already know keigo words, you can’t guess what they mean.

“Tabemasu ka?” becomes “omeshiagari desu ka?” and “sumimasen” becomes “moushiwake gozaimasen.”

They are completely different. You may wonder why, but just need to accept that that’s how it is and learn the keigo words and phrases. You’ll get use to them if you live in Japan and hear them every day.

*Please wait for the next post. I’ll explain more about sentence D and E!