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Conversation phrases, Stage 4chunk 8 of 23Errands and service
Keep shop staff at bay, try things on and leave without buying.
- miteru dake desuI'm just looking
- chotto kangaemasuI'll think about it
- ato de mata kimasuI'll come back later
- shichaku shite mo ii desu kacan I try this on?
Mix-ups Chotto kangaemasu and ato de mata kimasu both usually mean no sale, not a real promise to come back.
miteru dake desu
I'm just looking
Answer to a shop assistant who asks if you're looking for something.
Also means I'm only watching when someone asks you to join in.
a, daijoubu desu. miteru dake desu.
Oh, I'm fine. Just looking.
あ、大丈夫です。見てるだけです。
Written 見てるだけです · みてるだけですWho you say itHeard 118× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
chotto kangaemasu
I'll think about it
Polite way to leave without buying or to end a sales pitch; it usually means no.
Casual version: chotto kangaete miru.
sou desu ne... chotto kangaemasu.
Hmm... I'll think about it.
そうですね…ちょっと考えます。
Written ちょっと考えます · ちょっとかんがえますWho you say itHeard 1× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
ato de mata kimasu
I'll come back later
Polite way to leave a shop or counter without buying now.
Casual version: mata kuru ne.
sumimasen, ato de mata kimasu.
Sorry, I'll come back later.
すみません、あとでまた来ます。
Written あとでまた来ます · あとでまたきますWho you say itHeard 16× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
shichaku shite mo ii desu ka
can I try this on?
Ask a clothes-shop assistant before taking things to the fitting room (shichakushitsu).
Staff usually answer douzo, kochira e (sure, this way).
sumimasen, kore shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?
Excuse me, can I try this on?
すみません、これ試着してもいいですか？
Written 試着してもいいですか · しちゃくしてもいいですかWho you say itHeard too rare in film subtitles to count