Japanese for English speakers Clothes · Lesson 0

Location of products in stores

Ask where to find an item in a Japanese shop with ...はどこですか. Learn 浴衣 (yukata, summer kimono) and the floor counter 〜階 (kai) for first/second/third floor.

Conversation

  1. Magicat Magicat

    すみません、お祭りの服はありますか？

    Sumimasen, o matsuri no fuku wa arimasu ka?

    Excuse me, do you have clothes for the festival?

    Tip: <O matsuri> = Traditional Japanese festival <Fuku> = Clothes

  2. Rose Rose

    浴衣のことですか？

    Yukata no koto desu ka?

    Do you mean a yukata?

    Tip: <...No koto> = Are you talking about ...? <Yukata> = traditional Japanese dress, similar to a short kimono.

  3. Magicat Magicat

    はい、浴衣はどこですか？

    Hai, yukata wa doko desu ka?

    Yes, where are yukatas?

  4. Rose Rose

    浴衣は三階ですよ

    Yukata wa sankai desu yo

    Yukatas are on the third floor

    Tip: <Kai> = Counter for floors/ stories In Japanese, you should use "counter" words with numbers to indicate the type of object you are talking about

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What is a yukata?

A light, casual Japanese kimono made of cotton, worn in summer or at festivals. Less formal than a kimono and easier to put on.

How do you say 'what floor'?

何階 (nankai) — uses the floor counter 階. Examples: 一階 (1F, ikkai), 二階 (2F, nikai), 三階 (3F, sankai).

What does ...のことですか mean?

'Do you mean ...?' — a polite way to confirm what someone is referring to.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

Next lesson in Clothes Asking about characteristics of products →