Japanese for the konbini: paying, heating food and finding things
The konbini is where most first conversations in Japan happen, and the staff will ask you two or three questions before you can leave. Here is what they ask, what you answer, and the English-looking words that mean something else.
At the register
これ、お願いします。
Kore, onegaishimasu.
Just this, please.
カードで払えますか？
Kādo de haraemasu ka?
Can I pay by card?
現金でお願いします。
Genkin de onegaishimasu.
Cash, please.
袋はいりません。
Fukuro wa irimasen.
No bag, thank you.
You will be asked 袋はいりますか (fukuro wa irimasu ka).
温めてください。
Atatamete kudasai.
Could you heat this up?
お箸をください。
Ohashi o kudasai.
Chopsticks, please.
別々でお願いします。
Betsubetsu de onegaishimasu.
Separate bags, please.
Finding things
すみません、お水はどこですか？
Sumimasen, omizu wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me, where is the water?
コンセントはありますか？
Konsento wa arimasu ka?
Is there a power outlet?
ATMはありますか？
Eetiiemu wa arimasu ka?
Is there an ATM here?
トイレを使ってもいいですか？
Toire o tsukatte mo ii desu ka?
Can I use the restroom?
ホットコーヒーはありますか？
Hotto koohii wa arimasu ka?
Do you have hot coffee?
これは辛いですか？
Kore wa karai desu ka?
Is this spicy?
When something goes wrong
すみません、日本語が下手です。
Sumimasen, nihongo ga heta desu.
Sorry, my Japanese is not good.
もう一度、ゆっくりお願いします。
Mou ichido, yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Could you say that again, slowly?
カードが使えませんでした。
Kaado ga tsukaemasen deshita.
My card did not work.
レシートをください。
Reshiito o kudasai.
A receipt, please.
以上です。ありがとうございます。
Ijou desu. Arigatou gozaimasu.
That is everything, thank you.
Wasei-eigo traps
コンセント (konsento) looks like consent, but means power outlet
From 'concentric plug'. Asking for コンセント asks where to plug in your charger, nothing else.
レンジ (renji) looks like range, as in a cooker, but means microwave
電子レンジ is the microwave. Staff may also say チンしますか, from the sound the microwave makes.
サービス (saabisu) looks like service, but means free of charge
If something is サービスです, it is on the house. Customer service is 接客 (sekkyaku).
ホット (hotto) looks like hot, as in spicy, but means hot in temperature
ホット always means temperature, usually about coffee. Spicy is 辛い (karai).
ビニール (biniiru) looks like vinyl, but means plastic
ビニール袋 is a plastic bag. Vinyl records are レコード (rekoodo).
FAQ
Common questions
Short answers to what people ask most about this situation.
What does いらっしゃいませ mean?
It is the greeting staff call out when anyone enters a shop. It means roughly 'welcome', and no reply is expected. A small nod is more than enough.
What will the cashier ask me?
Usually three things: whether you want a bag (袋はいりますか), whether to heat the food (温めますか), and whether you need chopsticks or a spoon (お箸はいりますか). はい and いりません cover almost every answer.
Can I use Suica or Pasmo at a konbini?
Yes. Say スイカで (Suika de) or just tap when prompted, and hold the card on the reader until it beeps. IC cards work at almost every chain nationwide.
Should I tip?
No. Tipping is not a thing in Japan, and leaving money behind usually means staff will chase you down the street to return it. Put your money in the tray, not into the cashier's hand.