Food & Drink
Speakin’ Japanese: Day at the market
Stripes Japan
April 23, 2025
(Stripes Japan)
Do you have your shopping list? = “Kaimono risuto wa mottekimashitaka?” 買い物リストは持って来ましたか？
I want to get good deals on fresh fish. = “Osakana wo yasuku kaitaidesu.” お魚を安く買いたいです。
Do you carry miso paste? = “Miso wa kaimonokago ni iremashitaka?” 味噌は買い物かごに入れましたか？
What is today’s special? = “Kyo no tokubaihin wa nandesuka?” 今日の特売品は何ですか？
I’ll take one kilo of this. How much? = “Korewo ichi-kiro itadakimasu. Ikura desuka?” これを１キロいだたきます。いくらですか？
I’m hungry! Let’s grab a quick bite from the food stall over there. = “Onakaga sukimashita. Asokono yataide nanika tabemasho.” お腹が空きました。あそこの屋台で何かたべましょう。
Crab legs = kani no ashi 蟹の足
Salmon = sake/saamon 鮭 / サーモン
Tuna = maguro 鮪
Salmon caviar = ikura/sujiko いくら / 筋子
Octopus = tako 蛸
Seaweed = nori/wakame/konbu 海苔
Eggs = tamago 玉子 / 卵
Onion = tamanegi 玉葱
Pumpkin = kabocha かぼちゃ
Strawberries = ichigo いちご
Persimmon = kaki 柿
Discount = nebiki 値引き
Busy = nigiyaka 賑やか
Crowded = kondeiru 混んでいる
Pronunciation key: “A” is short (like “ah”); “E” is short (like “get”); “I” is short (like “it”); “O” is long (like “old”); “U” is long (like “tube”); and “AI” is a long “I” (like “hike”). Most words are pronounced with equal emphasis on each syllable, but “OU” is a long “O” with emphasis on that syllable.