Japanese for Browsing: Saying 'I'm Just Looking, Thanks'
Learn how to reply to a shop assistant's 'Can I help you?' in Japanese by saying you are just looking, and how this differs from asking for help.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In Japanese shops, staff often greet you with a polite offer of help. If you only want to browse, you need a short, polite reply that does not sound rude. This lesson teaches the key phrase 見ているだけです (mite iru dake desu), which means 'I'm just looking.' You will also learn how to soften it with 大丈夫です (daijōbu desu) and how to ask for help when you actually need it. The focus is on the difference between declining help and requesting it, so you can shop comfortably without feeling pressured to buy.
By the end, you can…
- respond politely to a shop assistant's offer of help by saying I am just looking.
- distinguish between declining help and asking for help in a Japanese shop.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
見ているだけです。
I'm just looking.
mi-te-i-ru da-ke de-su
A polite, neutral way to say you are only browsing. Use it after a staff member offers help.
大丈夫です。
I'm fine, thank you. / No, thank you.
dai-jō-bu de-su
A polite refusal. It can stand alone or follow 見ているだけです to soften the reply.
見ているだけです、大丈夫です。
I'm just looking, thanks.
mi-te-i-ru da-ke de-su, dai-jō-bu de-su
The full, natural reply that combines browsing and a polite refusal.
何かお探しですか。
Are you looking for something?
na-ni-ka o-sa-ga-shi de-su ka
A common polite question from staff. It is an offer of help, not a demand.
すみません、これを探しています。
Excuse me, I'm looking for this.
su-mi-ma-sen, ko-re o sa-ga-shi-te-i-ma-su
Use this when you actually need help. It contrasts with the browsing reply.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 〜ているだけです (〜te iru dake desu) means 'I am just doing 〜.' Here, 見ている (mite iru) means 'am looking,' and だけ (dake) means 'only.' Together, 見ているだけです (mite iru dake desu) means 'I'm just looking.' You can use the same pattern with other verbs: 待っているだけです (matte iru dake desu) means 'I'm just waiting.' Adding 大丈夫です (daijōbu desu) at the end makes the refusal softer and more polite.
When to use it
Use 見ているだけです when a staff member asks 何かお探しですか (nanika o-sagashi desu ka) or says いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase). It tells them you do not need help right now. If you do need help, do not use this phrase. Instead, say すみません、これを探しています (sumimasen, kore o sagashite imasu) or ちょっと聞いてもいいですか (chotto kiite mo ii desu ka), which means 'May I ask you something?' This keeps the interaction clear and polite.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
いらっしゃいませ。何かお探しですか。
Welcome. Are you looking for something?i-ras-shai-ma-se. na-ni-ka o-sa-ga-shi de-su ka見ているだけです、大丈夫です。
I'm just looking, thanks.mi-te-i-ru da-ke de-su, dai-jō-bu de-suかしこまりました。ごゆっくりどうぞ。
Certainly. Please take your time.ka-shi-ko-ma-ri-ma-shi-ta. go-yuk-ku-ri dō-zoすみません、ちょっと聞いてもいいですか。
Excuse me, may I ask you something?su-mi-ma-sen, chot-to kii-te mo ii de-su kaA little context goes a long way
In Japanese shops, staff often greet every customer with いらっしゃいませ and may ask if you need help. A short, polite reply is expected and appreciated. Saying 見ているだけです、大丈夫です is not rude; it clearly signals that you want to browse without assistance. If you later need help, simply call すみません (sumimasen) to get a staff member's attention.
One thing to watch for
Using 見ているだけです when you actually want help, or saying only いいえ (iie) as a blunt refusal.
Try this instead: If you need help, say すみません、これを探しています (sumimasen, kore o sagashite imasu). A bare いいえ can sound abrupt; use 大丈夫です (daijōbu desu) or 結構です (kekkō desu) for a polite refusal.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1A staff member asks 何かお探しですか。 You only want to browse. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
見ているだけです、大丈夫です。
This politely says you are just looking and declines help. You can also say 見ているだけです alone, but adding 大丈夫です sounds softer.
2You need help finding a specific item. Which phrase should you use instead of 見ているだけです?
Show a sample answer
すみません、これを探しています。
This asks for help directly. Other valid options include ちょっと聞いてもいいですか or これを探していますが、どこにありますか.
3What does だけ mean in 見ているだけです?
Show a sample answer
'Only' or 'just.'
だけ limits the action to 'just looking.' It is a common particle for expressing 'only' in Japanese.
Use 見ているだけです、大丈夫です to say 'I'm just looking, thanks' when you want to browse. If you need help, switch to すみません、これを探しています.
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