Visiting the convenience store: The basic checkout

💬 [こんにちは] is a standard greeting, but at a convenience store you'll hear [いらっしゃいませ] from staff more often than [こんにちは].

🇯🇵 In Japanese shops, customers usually don't need to greet loudly first. A small nod and smile is perfectly fine.

💬 [これ] means "this" near the speaker. It's super useful when pointing at an item you want to buy.

🇯🇵 Pointing gently at a product while saying [これ] is normal in stores in Japan.

💬 [を] marks the thing affected by the action. In [これをお願いします], it marks "this" as the item you want.

🇯🇵 This is grammar glue: tiny, but it makes your request sound natural and polite.

💬 [お願いします] is a very handy polite phrase. It can mean "please" or "I'd like it," depending on the situation.

🇯🇵 Using [お願いします] in shops sounds soft and friendly—like a magic politeness button.

💬 A perfect beginner checkout phrase: [これ] + [を] + [お願いします]. You can use it while pointing.

🇯🇵 This is one of the easiest and most natural ways for foreigners to buy something without needing a full sentence.

💬 [ありがとう] is casual. It's fine in many situations, but [ありがとうございます] is safer with store staff.

🇯🇵 Japanese has politeness levels, so even "thank you" changes depending on the setting.

💬 [ございます] adds politeness to phrases like [ありがとうございます]. It's not used by itself very often in conversation.

🇯🇵 You'll hear this in stores, hotels, and announcements—formal Japanese loves [ございます].

💬 [ありがとうございます] is the polite, go-to way to say thanks in shops. Great phrase to keep ready.

🇯🇵 Even a simple [ありがとうございます] at the register is appreciated and sounds very natural in Japan.

💬 [おにぎり] is a rice ball, often filled with fish, pickled plum, or other fillings. A convenience store classic.

🇯🇵 Convenience store [おにぎり] is famous in Japan—cheap, quick, and surprisingly delicious.