Eng 
日本語 
Finally, you are living the dream here in Tokyo! Do you enjoy discovering Japanese culture and traditional food? Any difficulty shopping in Japanese?
If so, we are here to help you!
But first, let us give you an overview on Japanese size.
Firstly, Japanese body structure is quite different from foreigners. Even skinny foreigners have to admit it is difficult to find something in which they will fit. Difficult, but not impossible!
The usual Japanese size is a (tiny) S. M is also available, but can be a little tight for shoulders. L size is not that common for pure Japanese brands, but overseas fashion brands such as Gap, H&M and Zara are in Japan.
Therefore, you will be able to find more choices and recently Japanese fashion is also evolving and creating “special size”.
This problem is faced by foreign men as well since shops will very often stop at XL – called LL. Whether those sizes are similar to your country’s is questionable. You will easily find some size comparison online.
We also know that buying shoes can be a challenge for foreigners! Japanese shoe sizes are very small. Women shoes often don’t go beyond at 24 (US 7) and men shoes often don’t go beyond 28 (US 10). That being said, foreign brands are really popular in Japan and can offer you more choices!
Now that you are more informed about Japanese shops, let’s do a lesson to learn how to do shopping in Japanese!
会話例：
お客様：すみません、これ、サイズはなんですか。
Okyakusama: Sumimasen, kore, saizu wa nan desu ka.
店員：Sですね。
Ten’in: S (Esu) desu ne.
お客様：そうですか。もう少し大きいのありませんか。
Okyakusama: Sou desu ka. Mou sukoshi ookiino arimasen ka?
店員：Lまでありますが。
Ten’in: L (Eru) made arimasuga.
お客様：じゃ、Lをきてもいいですか。
Okyakusama: Ja, L (eru) o kite mo ii desu ka.
・・・
店員：いかがでしょうか。
Ten’in: Ikagadeshou ka.
お客様：うん、ちょっと袖が短いです。
Okyakusama: Un, chotto sode ga mijikai desu.
店員：そうですか。
Ten’in: Sou desu ka.
お客様：残念です。
Okyakusama: Zan’nen desu.
店員：このブラウスの代わりに、このTシャツはどうでしょうか。
Ten’in: Kono burausu no kawari ni, kono tii shatsu wa dou deshou ka.
Conversation example:
Customer: Excuse me, what’s this size?
Store staff: It is a size S.
Customer: Okay. Do you have something a bit bigger?
Store staff: We have up until size L.
Customer: Can I try L then?
(…)
Store staff: How is it?
Customer: Hum, the sleeves are a bit short.
Store staff: I see.
Customer: It’s too bad.
Store staff: Instead of this blouse, what about this T-shirt?
Let’s check useful vocabulary and phrases to do shopping in Japanese!
I am looking for …
・・・を探しています：wo sagashite imasu.
Do you have something a bit …
もう少し大きいのありますか：
“mou sukoshi ookii no arimasu ka? (bigger)
もう少し小さいのありますか：
“mou sukoshi chiisai no arimasu ka? (smaller)
もう少し長いのありますか：
“mou sukoshi nagai no arimasu ka? (longer)
もう少し短いのありますか：
“mou sukoshi mijikai no arimasu ka? (shorter)
Can I try it on?
きてもみてもいいですか：
Kite mite mo ii desu ka? (clothes)
はいてみてももいいですか：
Haite mite mo ii desu ka? (shoes)
How is it?
いかがでしょうか：
Ikaga deshou ka.
ちょっと小さいです：
It is a little small.
ちょっと大きいです：
It is a little big.
きれいです：
It is beautiful.
ぴったりです：
It fits perfectly.
What about …?
この＿＿＿はどうでしょうか：
Kono ha＿＿＿＿dou deshou ka?
Have you decided?
お決まりですか：おきまりですか：
O kimari desu ka?
I will take this.
これにします：
Kore ni shimasu.
服：ふく：fuku (clothes)
ズボン：zubon (trousers)
スカと：sukato (skirt)
靴：くつ：kutsu (shoes)
袖：そで：sode (sleeves)
ワンピース：wanpiisu (dress)
試着室：しちゃくしつ：
Shichakushitsu: Fitting room
ドレッシングルーム：
doresshinguruumu: Fitting room
色：いろ：color
青：あお：blue
赤：あか：red
茶色：ちゃいろ：brown
グレ：grey
黄色：きいろ：yellow
黒：くろ（ブラック）：black
緑：みどり：green
ピンク：pink
白：しろ：white
What is your favorite color?
好きな色は何ですか：すきないろはなんですか
With this lesson, challenge yourself and try to do shopping in Japanese!
