How to Say ‘I found it at a secondhand shop.’ in Japanese
古着屋で見つけたんですよ。
furugi ya de mitsuke ta n desu yo
[foo-ROO-gee yah de mitsuke tah n dess yo]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Secondhand fashion (古着 (furugi)) is popular and stylish in Japan, especially in areas like Shimokitazawa and Koenji, so saying this is a point of pride, not an embarrassment.
Phrase Breakdown
古着屋で
furugi ya de
at a secondhand clothing shop
This part gives the place. Pause briefly after で.
古着屋で働いています。
I work at a vintage clothing store.
Words in this phrase
古着
furugi
[foo-ROO-gee]
used clothes; vintage clothing
Second-hand or vintage clothes.
古着が好きです。
I like vintage clothes.
屋
ya
[yah]
shop
A place where goods or services are sold.
その店は人気だ。
That shop is popular.
で
de
[de]
at; in
Indicates location or position.
学校で勉強します。
I study at school.
見つけたんですよ。
mitsuke ta n desu yo
I found it, you know.
This part explains, casually and politely, how you got the item.
駅の近くで見つけたんですよ。
I found it near the station.
Words in this phrase
見つけ
mitsuke
[mitsuke]
find
To locate or discover something.
落とし物を見つけた。
Found a lost item.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense ending
This ending completes the polite past tense form.
空席がございまし た。
There were vacant seats.
ん
n
[n]
explanatory tone
Adds explanation or background to what the speaker is saying.
写真のプロジェクトをしているんだ。
I'm doing a photography project, you know.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
よ
yo
[yo]
you know; emphasis
A sentence-ending particle that adds emphasis or gives new information.
これはおいしいよ。
This is delicious, you know.
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