Japanese for English speakers Clothes · Lesson 2

Bargaining

Politely decline a high price in Japanese by trailing off with ちょっと... (chotto..., a little ...). Learn the cultural pattern of avoiding direct 'no' and the な-adjective 嫌い (kirai).

Conversation

Pronunciation Translations Tips

Rose

お客さま、このモデルはいかがですか？

Okyakusama, kono moderu wa ikaga desu ka?

Dear customer, what do you think of this model?

Tip: <Moderu> = Model
Rose

八万円です

Hachi man en desu

It's 80,000 yen

Tip: <Man> = Ten thousand
Magicat

嫌いではありませんが、

Kirai dewa arimasen ga,

It's not that I don't like it,

Tip: <Kirai> = Obnoxious/Hateful In Japanese there are two categories of adjectives. We are now studying "na" adjectives. When "kiraina" is at the end of the sentence (meaning "I don't like it"), it drops the final "na". When it is placed before a noun (meaning "a hateful" something), it keeps "na".
Magicat

値段はちょっと～

Nedan wa chotto...

but the price is a little bit...

Tip: <Nedan> = Price/Value <Chotto> = A little/A bit <...Wa chotto...> = "Actually I don't..." In Japanese, saying "no" is not very common, so people find other ways to refuse an offer - such as saying, literally, "it's a little..." and not finishing the sentence

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'it's too expensive' politely in Japanese?

Don't say 'no' directly. Try 値段はちょっと... (the price is a bit...) and let the sentence trail off — the listener will understand.

Why doesn't Japanese use a direct 'no' often?

Direct refusal is considered rude in many Japanese contexts. Indirect phrases let both speakers preserve face and maintain harmony.

What is a な-adjective?

Japanese adjectives that need な before nouns (and don't end in い). Examples: 嫌い, 綺麗, 静か. They use です for present and でした for past.

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.