How do I politely inquire about prices in Japanese shops

To politely inquire about prices in Japanese shops, a common and polite phrase to use is:

「すみません、これはいくらですか？」

Pronounced “Sumimasen, kore wa ikura desu ka?”, this means “Excuse me, how much is this?” Using “すみません” (sumimasen) adds politeness by getting the shop clerk’s attention respectfully. You can point to or hold up the item when asking.

Another polite way is to use the phrase:

「おいくらでしょうか？」

Pronounced “Oikura deshou ka?”, this is a very polite and slightly softer way of asking “How much is it?”

These phrases are commonly used in Japanese shops and show courteous respect while asking about prices, fitting social norms on politeness in Japan. ^{1, 4}

References

• Discourse Structure Analysis of Making Request in Japanese Conversation

• Maintaining Language Politeness Through Learning Advice in Japanese

• Japanese Keigo: ‘Situational Context Analysis’ and ‘Politeness Strategies’ in Violet Evergarden Anime

• Request Expressions in Japanese Language for Educational Purpose

• A Study of Linguistic Politeness in Japanese

• Exploring wordplay and humour in English usage within Japanese texts

• The politeness of criticism speech acts in Japanese and Minangkabau films

• Transfer of Knowledge Related to the Management of Department Stores