Order anything by pointing in Japanese
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu. Play the ten Japanese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Japanese phrases in this lesson
- ...γγγ γγo ku-da-SAI
- I would like...
- γγko-REH
- This one
- γγγγ§γγEE-ku-ra des-KAH
- How much is it?
- γδΌθ¨γι‘γγγΎγo-kai-KEH o-ne-GAI shi-mas
- The bill, please
- γ«γΌγγ§KAH-do deh
- By card
- ηΎιγ§gen-KIN deh
- In cash
- ζ°΄mi-ZU
- Water
- γ³γΌγγΌKOH-hee
- Coffee
- γθΆo-CHA
- Tea
- γγΌγ«BEE-ru
- Beer
- ...ζγγ§NU-ki deh
- Without...
Literally "please give me ...": γ³γΌγγΌγγγ γγ (KOH-hee o ku-da-SAI). Pointing at the plastic food models works too.
Kore (this, near me), sore (that, near you), are (that, over there). Kore plus pointing is 90 percent of shopping. Point with the whole hand rather than one finger for extra politeness.
Prices are almost always displayed, and staff will type the number on a calculator to show you. Note that displayed prices sometimes exclude the 10 percent tax.
In most restaurants you take the slip to the register by the door rather than paying at the table. Crossing your index fingers in an X is the classic gesture for the bill.
Cards and IC transit cards (Suica, Pasmo) now work in most city shops. Charge a Suica and tap it everywhere: trains, konbini, vending machines. It is the real currency of urban Japan.
Still king at small restaurants, temples and rural anywhere. Always carry some. Place money on the small tray by the register, not into hands; the tray is the proper channel.
Tap water is safe everywhere in Japan. Restaurants serve free iced water (and often free tea) automatically; the bottled stuff is for vending machines on hot days.
Canned coffee from vending machines comes hot or cold, all year.
Usually green tea. γθΆγγ (o-CHA su-ru) means going out to a cafe.
The first order at any izakaya is usually ηγγΌγ« (na-MA BEE-ru), draft beer.
Literally "with ... taken out": ζ°·ζγγ§ (koh-RI NU-ki deh), without ice.