At the market
Vocabulary
- 個counter: small items
- 本counter: long items
- 枚counter: flat items
- いくらhow much
- 値段price
- 安いcheap
- 高いexpensive
- 新鮮fresh
- 袋bag
- おつりchange (money)
Counters and Shopping at the Market
Japanese uses different counters depending on the shape of objects. 個 (ko) counts small round things: りんごを３個ください (3 apples, please). 本 (hon) counts long thin things: にんじんを２本ください (2 carrots). 枚 (mai) counts flat things: のりを５枚ください (5 sheets of nori).
Counter readings change with numbers: 1個=いっこ, 3本=さんぼん, 6枚=ろくまい. These irregular readings take practice.
To ask prices: いくらですか (How much?). りんごは一個いくらですか (How much is one apple?). To buy: これを３個ください (3 of these, please). To discuss price: ちょっと高いです (It's a bit expensive). もう少し安くなりますか (Can it be a bit cheaper?). For payment: 千円でお願いします (With 1000 yen, please).
Expressions
- りんごを３個くださいOrdering with counters
- これはいくらですかAsking the price
- にんじんを２本お願いしますUsing counter for long items
- ちょっと高いですCommenting on price
- 袋をお願いしますRequesting a bag
- 千円でお願いしますPaying
Common mistakes
りんごを３つくださいりんごを３個ください個 for small round items; つ is generic
にんじんを２個くださいにんじんを２本くださいCarrots are long; use 本 not 個
いくらですか、これはこれはいくらですかTopic first in standard order
一本 read いちほん一本 read いっぽんSound change: 1本 = いっぽん
袋がお願いします袋をお願いしますを with お願いします, not が
Quick quiz
Question 1 of 5
How do you say “price” in Japanese?
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