Before you learn scenario-specific Japanese, start with the small set of words that show up everywhere else in this series — greetings, "please," "thank you," and a couple of lines for when you get stuck.
Key Phrases
- Excuse me / sorry — すみません (Sumimasen) — "Excuse me" — the single most useful word for getting a staff member's attention, and also a general "sorry."
- Hello — こんにちは (Konnichiwa) — a daytime greeting.
- Thank you — ありがとうございます (Arigatō gozaimasu) — "Thank you."
- Please (for a thing) — お願いします (Onegai shimasu) — attach this after a noun to politely ask for something, e.g. 「これ、お願いします」(Kore, onegai shimasu) — "This one, please."
- I don't understand Japanese — 日本語が分かりません (Nihongo ga wakarimasen).
- Can you speak English? — 英語を話せますか？ (Eigo o hanasemasu ka?)
- Yes / No — はい / いいえ (Hai / Iie).
Dialogue
いらっしゃいませ！
Irasshaimase!
"Welcome!" (said by staff to every customer who enters — no reply needed)
すみません、英語を話せますか？
Sumimasen, eigo o hanasemasu ka?
"Excuse me, can you speak English?"
はい、少し話せます。
Hai, sukoshi hanasemasu.
"Yes, I can speak a little."
Notice that いらっしゃいませ (Irasshaimase) is a one-way greeting — staff say it to everyone who walks in, and you're not expected to answer it at all.
Related: see Otaku Glossary 1: Shop & Floor Words and Shopping Manners 1: Queue Etiquette.
Quick Check
Q1. What do you say to politely get a shop staff member's attention?
A. すみません (Sumimasen).
Q2. What does a shop staff member say the moment you walk in, and do you need to answer it?
A. いらっしゃいませ (Irasshaimase, "Welcome!") — it's a one-way greeting, so no reply is expected.
Q3. How do you say "This one, please" when pointing at an item?
A. これ、お願いします (Kore, onegai shimasu).
Q4. How do you say "I don't understand Japanese"?
A. 日本語が分かりません (Nihongo ga wakarimasen).