How to Say "A Bottle of Water, Please" in Japanese: Buying Water at a Shop or Kiosk
Learn to buy bottled water in Japanese: ask for mizu or o-mizu, say 'one bottle, please,' and choose between still and sparkling water at shops and kiosks.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Buying water in Japan is easy once you know three things: the word for water, how to ask for one bottle, and how to say 'please.' This lesson gives you the exact phrases for a convenience store, supermarket, or kiosk. You will learn to say 'A bottle of water, please' as Mizu o ippon kudasai, ask whether water is still or sparkling, and understand the reply. Japanese does not mark singular and plural on nouns the way English does, so ippon ('one long object') does the counting work for bottles. You do not need to master counters today; just use ippon for a bottle and you will be understood. Prices are usually shown, so you rarely need to ask, but you will also learn Kore wa ikura desu ka ('How much is this?') as a backup. All phrases use polite desu/masu style, which is safe with staff you do not know.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a bottle of water at a shop or kiosk using Mizu o ippon kudasai.
- ask whether water is still or sparkling and understand the answer.
- ask the price with Kore wa ikura desu ka if it is not displayed.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
水を一本ください。
A bottle of water, please.
Mizu o ippon kudasai.
The standard polite request. Use it at a convenience store, supermarket, or kiosk. Ippon is the counter for long, thin objects such as bottles. Note that ippon is used for one bottle; the counter changes with the number (see the explanation).
お水を一本お願いします。
A bottle of water, please. (a little softer)
O-mizu o ippon onegai shimasu.
O-mizu is a polite form of mizu. Onegai shimasu is very common in shops and sounds slightly softer than kudasai.
これは炭酸水ですか。
Is this sparkling water?
Kore wa tansansui desu ka.
Point to a bottle and ask this. Tansansui means carbonated or sparkling water. A plain yes/no question ends with ka.
普通の水はどれですか。
Which one is still water?
Futsū no mizu wa dore desu ka.
Futsū no mizu means ordinary or still water. Dore means 'which one' when choosing among three or more bottles.
これはいくらですか。
How much is this?
Kore wa ikura desu ka.
Use this if the price is not displayed. Point to the bottle while saying kore ('this').
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [item] o [counter] kudasai. The particle o marks the item you want, and kudasai means 'please give me.' For water: Mizu o ippon kudasai. For two bottles: Mizu o nihon kudasai. The counter changes with the number: ippon (1), nihon (2), sanbon (3). You can swap mizu for other drinks: Kōra o ippon kudasai ('A bottle of cola, please'). If you are unsure of the counter, you can also say Mizu o hitotsu kudasai ('One water, please'), using hitotsu, the general counter for one item. Staff will understand both, but ippon is more precise for bottles.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are at the counter or in front of a shelf and want to buy water. If the bottle is already in your hand, you can simply say Kore o kudasai ('This one, please') or Kore o onegai shimasu. If you want to confirm the type, ask Kore wa tansansui desu ka ('Is this sparkling water?'). For still water, ask Futsū no mizu wa dore desu ka ('Which one is still water?'). In a sit-down setting, such as a café, you might hear O-mizu wa ikaga desu ka ('Would you like water?'), which is a polite offer, not a request for you to buy. In that case, a simple Hai, onegai shimasu ('Yes, please') is enough.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、水を一本ください。
Excuse me, a bottle of water, please.Sumimasen, mizu o ippon kudasai.はい、炭酸水ですか、普通の水ですか。
Yes. Is it sparkling water or still water?Hai, tansansui desu ka, futsū no mizu desu ka.普通の水をお願いします。
Still water, please.Futsū no mizu o onegai shimasu.はい、どうぞ。百二十円です。
Here you are. That will be 120 yen.Hai, dōzo. Hyaku nijū en desu.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, o-mizu is the polite word you will hear in shops and restaurants, while mizu is neutral and fine in casual speech. Convenience stores and kiosks usually display prices clearly, so asking Kore wa ikura desu ka is less common but perfectly acceptable. Staff may ask Tansansui desu ka, futsū no mizu desu ka to confirm your choice; answering with just Futsū no mizu o onegai shimasu is polite and complete. Tipping is not customary, and payment is made at the register or counter.
One thing to watch for
Saying Mizu o kudasai without a counter, expecting it to mean 'a bottle of water.'
Try this instead: Mizu o kudasai is not wrong, but it does not specify a bottle and may sound incomplete. Add the counter: Mizu o ippon kudasai. If you do not know the counter, use the general one: Mizu o hitotsu kudasai. Both are understood, but ippon is clearer for a bottle.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You want one bottle of water at a kiosk. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
水を一本ください。 (Mizu o ippon kudasai.)
This uses the pattern [item] o [counter] kudasai. Ippon is the counter for one bottle. お水を一本お願いします (O-mizu o ippon onegai shimasu) is also correct and slightly softer.
2You are not sure if a bottle is sparkling. How do you ask?
Show a sample answer
これは炭酸水ですか。 (Kore wa tansansui desu ka.)
Kore wa tansansui desu ka asks 'Is this sparkling water?' Point to the bottle while asking. If you want to ask about still water instead, say これは普通の水ですか (Kore wa futsū no mizu desu ka).
3The price is not shown. How do you ask how much it is?
Show a sample answer
これはいくらですか。 (Kore wa ikura desu ka.)
Kore wa ikura desu ka means 'How much is this?' It works for any item you point to. In many shops the price is displayed, so you may not need it, but it is useful to know.
For a bottle of water, say Mizu o ippon kudasai. Use o-mizu for extra politeness, tansansui for sparkling, and futsū no mizu for still. Point and ask Kore wa ikura desu ka only if the price is not shown.
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