Lesson 15: 電池がほしいんですが – I Want Batteries (Shopping in Japanese)

Shopping and describing items

Learn vocabulary for shopping, describing items, and expressing needs. This lesson focuses on shopping-related vocabulary, item descriptions, and store navigation.

Key topics:

・Shopping for various items
・Describing items with adjectives
・Expressing needs and wants
・Store types and departments
・Asking for specific items
・Understanding store layouts

Vocabulary

おす

osu

押おす

to push

Example

このボタンをおしてください.

Kono botan o oshite kudasai.

Please push this button.

ひく

hiku

引ひく

to pull

Example

ひもをひいてください.

Himo o hiite kudasai.

Please pull the string.

とじる

tojiru

閉とじる

to close

Example

まどをとじてください.

Mado o tojite kudasai.

Please close the window.

あける

akeru

開あける

to open

Example

とをあけてください.

To o akete kudasai.

Please open the door.

ほしい

hoshii

欲ほしい

want

Example

あたらしいかばんがほしいんですが

Atarashii kaban ga hoshiin desu ga.

I want a new bag.

きゃくさま

kyakusama

お客きゃく様ゃくさま

customer

Example

きゃくさま、いらっしゃいませ.

Kyakusama, irasshaimase.

Welcome, customer.

けしょうしつ

keshoushitsu

化粧けしょう室けしょうしつ

restroom, toilet

Example

けしょうしつはどこですか.

Keshoushitsu wa doko desu ka.

Where is the restroom?

ひじょうぐち

hijouguchi

非常ひじょう口ひじょうぐち

emergency exit

Example

ひじょうぐちはあちらです.

Hijouguchi wa achira desu.

The emergency exit is over there.

のぼり

nobori

上のぼり

up, ascending

Example

のぼりのエスカレーターです.

Nobori no esukareetaa desu.

It's the up escalator.

くだり

kudari

下くだり

down

Example

くだりのエスカレーターです.

Kudari no esukareetaa desu.

It's the down escalator.

くらし

kurashi

暮くらし

home

Example

くらしのどうぐです.

Kurashi no dougu desu.

It's a tool for home life.

おもしろい

omoshiroi

interesting

Example

おもしろいほんです.

Omoshiroi hon desu.

It's an interesting book.

かっこいい

kakkoii

cool

Example

かっこいいかばんです.

Kakkoii kaban desu.

It's a cool bag.

かわいい

kawaii

cute

Example

かわいいぬいぐるみです.

Kawaii nuigurumi desu.

It's a cute stuffed animal.

きれいな

kirei na

pretty / beautiful

Example

きれいなふくです.

Kirei na fuku desu.

It's pretty clothing.

たかい

takai

高たかい

high / expensive

Example

たかいたてものです.

Takai tatemono desu.

It's a high building.

やすい

yasui

安やすい

cheap

Example

やすいかばんです.

Yasui kaban desu.

It's a cheap bag.

へんな

hen na

変へんな

strange

Example

へんなふくです.

Hen na fuku desu.

It's strange clothing.

すてきな

suteki na

nice / wonderful

Example

すてきなふくです.

Suteki na fuku desu.

It's nice clothing.

おしゃれな

oshare na

stylish

Example

おしゃれなふくです.

Oshare na fuku desu.

It's stylish clothing.

えんちょうコード

enchou koodo

延長えんちょうコード

extension cord

Example

えんちょうコードがほしいんですが

Enchou koodo ga hoshiin desu ga.

I want an extension cord.

はし

hashi

chopsticks

Example

はしをください.

Hashi o kudasai.

Please give me chopsticks.

かいちゅうでんとう

kaichuu dentou

懐中かいちゅう電灯かいちゅうでんとう

torch

Example

かいちゅうでんとうがほしいんですが

Kaichuu dentou ga hoshiin desu ga.

I want a torch.

かばん

kaban

bag

Example

かばんをかいたいです.

Kaban o kaitai desu.

I want to buy a bag.

かさ

kasa

傘かさ

umbrella

Example

これはかさです.

Kore wa kasa desu.

This is an umbrella.

カメラ

kamera

camera

Example

カメラをかいました.

Kamera o kaimashita.

I bought a camera.

コート

kooto

coat

Example

ふゆはコートがひつようです.

Fuyu wa kooto ga hitsuyou desu.

In winter, a coat is necessary.

しょうゆ

shouyu

醤油しょうゆ

soy sauce

Example

しょうゆをください.

Shouyu o kudasai.

Please give me soy sauce.

しょくひん

shokuhin

食品しょくひん

food

Example

しょくひんコーナーです.

Shokuhin koonaa desu.

It's the food corner.

しんし

shinshi

紳士しんし

men

Example

しんしふくコーナーです.

Shinshi fuku koonaa desu.

It's the men's clothing corner.

べんとうばこ

bentoubako

弁当べんとう箱べんとうばこ

lunchbox

Example

べんとうばこをかいました.

Bentoubako o kaimashita.

I bought a lunchbox.

くつ

kutsu

shoes

Example

あたらしいくつがほしいんですが

Atarashii kutsu ga hoshiin desu ga.

I want new shoes.

けいこうとう

keikoutou

蛍光けいこう灯けいこうとう

fluorescent light

Example

けいこうとうがきれました.

Keikoutou ga kiremashita.

The fluorescent light burned out.

ココナッツミルク

kokonattsu miruku

coconut milk

Example

ココナッツミルクがありますか.

Kokonattsu miruku ga arimasu ka.

Do you have coconut milk?

ごちら

gochira

here

Example

ごちらへどうぞ.

Gochira e douzo.

Please come here.

ジャケット

jaketto

jacket

Example

あたらしいジャケットをかいました.

Atarashii jaketto o kaimashita.

I bought a new jacket.

スカート

sukaato

skirt

Example

スカートをみにいきます.

Sukaato o mi ni ikimasu.

I go to look at skirts.

とか

toka

for example (used when giving an example)

Example

かばんとかほしいんですが

Kaban toka hoshiin desu ga.

I want things like bags.

ネクタイ

nekutai

neckite

Example

ネクタイをかいました.

Nekutai o kaimashita.

I bought a necktie.

ふく

fuku

服ふく

clothing

Example

ふくをかいにいきます.

Fuku o kai ni ikimasu.

I go to buy clothing.

ゆかた

yukata

浴衣ゆかた

yukata (Japanese summer robe)

Example

ゆかたをきてまつりにいきます.

Yukata o kite matsuri ni ikimasu.

I wear a yukata and go to the festival.

ズボン

zubon

trousers

Example

ズボンをかいたいです.

Zubon o kaitai desu.

I want to buy trousers.

それに

sore ni

besides

Example

かばんそれにくつがほしいんですが

Kaban sore ni kutsu ga hoshiin desu ga.

I want a bag, and besides that, shoes.

でんち

denchi

電池でんち

battery

Example

でんちがほしいんですが

Denchi ga hoshiin desu ga.

I want batteries.

みせ

mise

店みせ

store

Example

このみせでかいます.

Kono mise de kaimasu.

I'll buy it at this store.

コンビニ

konbini

convenience store

Example

コンビニでかいものをします.

Konbini de kaimono o shimasu.

I do shopping at the convenience store.

ドラッグストア

doraggusutoa

drugstore

Example

ドラッグストアでかいます.

Doraggusutoa de kaimasu.

I buy it at the drugstore.

ひゃくえんショップ

hyaku en shoppu

100円えんショップ

100-yen shop

Example

ひゃくえんショップでかいます.

Hyaku en shoppu de kaimasu.

I buy it at the 100-yen shop.

Conversation

でんちがほしいんですが

Denchiga hoshiin desu ga.

I want batteries.

Example Usage

すみませんでんちがほしいんですが

Sumimasen, denchi ga hoshiin desu ga.

Excuse me, I want batteries.

かばんとかほしいんですが

Kaban toka hoshiin desu ga.

I want things like bags.

Example Usage

かばんとかくつとかほしいんですが

Kaban toka kutsu toka hoshiin desu ga.

I want things like bags and shoes.

ごあんないします.

Goannai shimasu.

I'll show you.

Example Usage

かばんコーナーはこちらです.ごあんないします.

Kaban koonaa wa kochira desu. Goannai shimasu.

The bag corner is here. I'll show you.

ここでございます.

Koko de gozaimasu.

It is here.

Example Usage

でんちはここでございます.

Denchi wa koko de gozaimasu .

The batteries are here.

ほんとう！

Hontou!

It really is!

Example Usage

かわいいかばん！本当ほんとう！

Kawaii kaban! Hontou!

A cute bag! It really is!

Kanji

押おす

to push, to press

押🎬

push, press

Example

このボタンをおしてください.

Kono botan o oshite kudasai.

Please push this button.

引ひく

to pull

引🎬

pull

Example

ひもをひいてください.

Himo o hiite kudasai.

Please pull the string.

安やすい

cheap, inexpensive

安🎬

cheap, peaceful

Example

やすいかばんです.

Yasui kaban desu.

It's a cheap bag.

閉とじる

to close

閉🎬

close, shut

Example

まどをとじてください.

Mado o tojite kudasai.

Please close the window.

開あける

to open

開🎬

open

Example

とをあけてください.

To o akete kudasai.

Please open the door.

高たかい

expensive

高🎬

high, expensive

Example

たかいかばんです.

Takai kaban desu.

It's an expensive bag.

店みせ

store

店🎬

store, shop

Example

このみせでかいます.

Kono mise de kaimasu.

I'll buy it at this store.

傘かさ

umbrella

傘🎬

umbrella

Example

あめの日ひはかさがひつようです.

Ame no hi wa kasa ga hitsuyou desu.

On rainy days, an umbrella is necessary.

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Saying what you want and asking for help

Structure: N + が + ほしいんですが

This expression tells the other person that you want something and asks for advice or a response. It is used here to ask where products are sold. ～んですが describes your situation and asks the other person for help.

How to use: Use N + が + ほしいんですが. ほしい is an イ-adjective meaning「 wanted," and が marks the thing wanted. The negative is ほしくないです or ほしくありません. The question form is 何なにがほしいですか？. To ask where to buy it, use どこで買かえますか？. Inside a store, ask どこですか？, どこにありますか？, or 何なにかいですか？. You can also trail off with ～がほしいんですが… to signal your intention.

💡 Pro Tip: Use が, not を, with ほしい. Do not use ほしい for actions; use V-たい for「 want to do.」～んですが softens the request and often invites help; it is not a strong contrast here. For a third person's desire, use ほしがっています rather than ほしいです.

Examples

でんちがほしいんですが、どこで買かえますか？

Denchi ga hoshii n desu ga, doko de kaemasu ka?

I need some batteries. Where can I buy them?

新あたらしいじゅうでんきがほしいんですが、どこで買かえますか？

Atarashii juudenki ga hoshii n desu ga, doko de kaemasu ka?

I want a new charger. Where can I buy one?

Rule 2: Sharing impressions while shopping

Structure: ナA + ですね / イA + いですね / ナA！ / イA + い！

This expression shares impressions about an item while shopping. ～ですね is often used when sharing impressions with other people, and ね asks for empathy from the other person. Simple expressions such as かわいい！ and すてき！ with ですね omitted are also used to express feelings out loud to oneself.

How to use: For ナ-adjectives, add ですね directly: ナA + ですね. For イ-adjectives, keep the final い and add ですね: イA + い + ですね. To exclaim without seeking agreement, omit です and ね: ナA！ or イA + い！. To ask for an impression, use どう？ or どうですか？. Negative impressions can use ナA + じゃないですね or イA + くないですね.

💡 Pro Tip: ね seeks empathy or agreement, while a bare exclamation like かわいい！ is often just thinking out loud. きれい and すてき are ナ-adjectives even though they end in い, so say すてき！ not すてきい！. かっこいい is an イ-adjective. Register: ですね is polite; bare exclamations are casual and common while shopping.

Type	Pattern	Example
ナA	～ですね	おしゃれですね
イA	～いですね	おもしろいですね
Exclamation	～！	かわいい！

Examples

このコート、おしゃれですね.

Kono kooto, oshare desu ne.

This coat is stylish.

このかばん、かわいいですね.

Kono kaban, kawaii desu ne.

This bag is cute.

Rule 3: Asking permission to do something first

Structure: その前まえに、[Place] + に + V-て + いいですか？

This expression asks permission to do something before the previously mentioned action or event. その前まえに means「 before that." It is useful when you want to go somewhere or do something first.

How to use: Use その前まえに、[Place] + に + V-て + いいですか？. Add に to the destination, as in トイレに. Use V-て + いいですか to ask permission; the standard polite form is V-ても + いいですか, as in トイレに行いってもいいですか. The negative permission answer is いいえ、ちょっと… or だめです. Prohibition is V-てはいけません.

💡 Pro Tip: 行いっていいですか is casual and omits も from 行いってもいいですか; both are common, but 行いってもいいですか is safer in formal situations. Do not use を with 行いきます; say トイレに行いって. その前まえに refers to before the previous topic or planned action, not simply「 earlier in time."

Examples

その前まえに、トイレに行いっていいですか？

Sono mae ni, toire ni itte ii desu ka?

Before that, may I go to the toilet?

その前まえに、ここにすわっていいですか？

Sono mae ni, koko ni suwatte ii desu ka?

Before that, may I sit here?

Lesson 15: 電池がほしいんですが – I Want Batteries (Shopping in Japanese)

Shopping and describing items

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Saying what you want and asking for help

Rule 2: Sharing impressions while shopping

Rule 3: Asking permission to do something first

Exercises

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20