9 Japanese Phrases You Can Use At The Drugstore

Let’s Go to a Drugstore for Some Shopping

Are you looking for some cosmetic products to buy as a souvenir? Are you not feeling well and need some medicine? In any of these cases you will probably want to go to the drugstore. 

However, there might be times when you just can’t find the one item you’re looking for in between all the different products. To aid you in such a case, we prepared 9 useful phrases in Japanese to use when you have a problem at the drugstore!

When Looking for an Item

1.Do you have ◯◯ ?

[◯◯wa arimaska]

◯◯ refers to the item you’re searching for. By using this phrase, you can ask if they have the item you are looking for.

Examples

Do you have foundation?
[fande:shonwa arimaska]

Do you have mascara?
[maskarawa arimaska]

Useful Words

・Primer [kesho:shitaji]

・Foundation [fande:shon]

・Mascara [maskara]

・Eyeshadow [aishado:]

・Eyebrow [aiburo:]

・Eyeliner [airaina:]

You can also ask these questions while showing the photo of the desired item on the smartphone.

Do you have this?
[korewa arimaska]

Use this method to ask the shop staff about the item you would like to purchase.

2. My ◯◯ hurts.

[◯◯ga itaides]

In the case you’re feeling sick or in pain. Explain your symptoms to the shop staff in the most understandable way using phrases such as “My head hurts,” “My stomach hurts,” and “I’m feeling nauseous”. They can find the appropriate medicine for you.

Examples

My head hurts.
[atamaga itaides]

If you have a fever, just say,

”I caught a cold”.
[kazeo hikimashita]

3. Do you have any recommendations?

[osusumewa arimaska]

Usually, there are many different kinds of cosmetic products. It is quite difficult to figure out which one is the best. If you’re feeling confused, use this phrase to ask the staff about recommended items.

You can also use a phrase to inquire about items that are popular with other customers.

Which items are popular?
[ninkiwa doredeska]

4. Do you have different types (of this item)?

[chigaushuruiwa arimaska]

Use this phrase to ask about items you’re interested in which are not displayed in the store.

5. Do you have a smaller or bigger size?

Do you have a smaller size?
[chi:saisaizuwa arimaska]

Do you have a bigger size?
[o:ki:saizuwa arimaska]

These two phrases are convenient when you want to check if there are smaller or bigger sizes of the item you are interested in.

6. I want ◯ (number) of these.

[◯◯ko hoshi:des]

By using this phrase, you can tell the staff how many pieces of that particular item you want to buy. Take a look below to check how to count items.

1 piece [ikko], 2 pieces [niko], 3 pieces [sanko], 4 pieces [yonko], 5 pieces [goko]

Example

I want five of these.
[goko hoshi:des]

At the Cashier

7. How much is it?

[ikura deska]

Use this phrase when you want to ask about the price of an item or the total sum.

8. Can I buy this item (these items) duty-free?

[menzei dekimaska]

Visitors to Japan have the possibility to buy items duty-free if their purchase in the particular drugstores is over 5000 yen. With this phrase, you can double-check at the cashier if it is possible to buy the products duty-free.

9. Can I pay with credit card?

[ka:dowa tsukaemaska]

Use this phrase to ask whether you can use a credit card to pay for your items.

These days, it is possible to use a credit card to pay at most drugstores. However, you can always double-check if you’re not sure about the payment methods.

Review

1. Do you have a foundation?
[fande:shonwa arimaska]

2. Do you have this?
[korewa arimaska]

3. My head hurts.
[atamaga itaides]

4. Do you have any recommendations?
[osusumewa arimaska]

5. Do you have different types (of this item)?
[chigausyuruinomonowa arimaska]

6. Do you have a smaller size?
[chi:sai/o:ki:saizuwa arimaska]

7. Do you have a bigger size?
[o:ki:saizuwa arimaska]

8. I want five of these.
[goko hoshi:des]

9. How much is it?
[ikuradeska]

10. Can I buy this item (these items) duty-free?
[menze: arimaska]

11. Can I pay with credit card?
[ka:dowa tsukaemaska]

Did you remember everything? The next time you go shopping at a drugstore, don’t be shy, use these Japanese phrases to purchase desired items without any hassle.