How to Ask to Buy Something in Japanese: これをください and 買いたいです
Learn elementary Japanese ways to ask to buy an item: use これをください for polite requests and 買いたいです to express what you want to buy, with a shop dialogue and practice.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In a Japanese shop, the simplest way to ask for an item is to point and say これをください (kore o kudasai), which means 'Please give me this.' If you want to say you want to buy something, use 買いたいです (kaitai desu). This lesson teaches both patterns, when to use each, and how to combine them with words like これ (this), それ (that near you), and あれ (that over there). You will also learn to ask staff for help without assuming what a shop offers. The focus is on polite, everyday spoken Japanese that works in many stores.
By the end, you can…
- ask a staff member for a specific item using これをください.
- say what I want to buy using 買いたいです and point to the item.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
これをください。
Please give me this.
ko-re o ku-da-sai
Point to the item you want. Polite and direct; works in most shops.
それをください。
Please give me that one (near you).
so-re o ku-da-sai
Use when the item is closer to the person you are speaking to.
あれをください。
Please give me that one over there.
a-re o ku-da-sai
Use when the item is away from both you and the listener.
これを買いたいです。
I want to buy this.
ko-re o ka-i-ta-i de-su
Expresses your desire to buy. Softer than a direct request; good when you are still deciding.
すみません、これはいくらですか。
Excuse me, how much is this?
su-mi-ma-sen, ko-re wa i-ku-ra de-su ka
Ask the price before buying. すみません gets a staff member's attention politely.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern [item] + を + ください means 'Please give me [item].' を marks the object, and ください is a polite request. For example, これをください (Please give me this) and それをください (Please give me that near you). To say you want to buy something, use [item] + を + 買いたいです. 買いたいです comes from the verb 買う (to buy) plus the desire ending たい, then です for politeness. Example: これを買いたいです (I want to buy this). You can also ask これはいくらですか (How much is this?) before deciding.
When to use it
Use これをください when you have decided and want to make a purchase request. It is polite and common in shops. Use 買いたいです when you want to express your intention or desire to buy, for example if a staff member asks if you need help. If you are just asking about an item, use これはいくらですか. Avoid using ください with a person's name to mean 'please do something' in this context; it is mainly for requesting items. For a more formal request, you can say これをくださいませんか, but これをください is fine for everyday shopping.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、これをください。
Excuse me, please give me this.su-mi-ma-sen, ko-re o ku-da-saiはい、どうぞ。
Yes, here you are.ha-i, dō-zoありがとうございます。これはいくらですか。
Thank you. How much is this?a-ri-ga-tō go-zai-ma-su. ko-re wa i-ku-ra de-su ka五百円です。
It is 500 yen.go-hya-ku en de-suA little context goes a long way
In Japanese shops, staff often greet you with いらっしゃいませ (welcome). You do not need to reply to the greeting; simply state your request when ready. Pointing with your finger is generally acceptable for items, but avoid pointing at people. Using すみません before a request is polite and common. The phrase これをください is standard and not rude, but if you want to be extra polite, you can say これをくださいませんか. Prices and availability vary by store, so ask これはいくらですか when needed.
One thing to watch for
Using これを買いたいです as a direct request to the staff, as if it means 'Please give me this.'
Try this instead: 買いたいです expresses your own desire, not a request for the staff to act. To ask the staff to give you the item, say これをください. For example, if you want the staff to hand you the item, say これをください. If you simply want to say you want to buy it, これを買いたいです is fine, but it is not a direct request.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are in a shop and want the item you are touching. What do you say to the staff?
Show a sample answer
これをください。
これをください politely asks the staff to give you the item. それをください could also work if the item is closer to the staff, but これをください is correct when you are touching it.
2How do you say 'I want to buy that one over there' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
あれを買いたいです。
あれ refers to something away from both you and the listener. を marks the object, and 買いたいです means 'want to buy.' それを買いたいです is also possible if the item is near the listener, but あれ matches 'over there.'
3You want to know the price of an item. What question do you ask?
Show a sample answer
これはいくらですか。
これはいくらですか means 'How much is this?' You can replace これ with それ or あれ depending on the item's location. This question is polite and widely understood.
Use これをください to ask for an item politely, and 買いたいです to say what you want to buy. Point, be polite, and ask いくらですか when you need the price.
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