Comprehensive Japanese Shopping Interview Study Guide

Japanese Shopping Interview Dialogue Structure

The following script details a structured Japanese interview regarding personal shopping habits, reasons for venue selection, item purchases, and pricing.

• Interviewer (Speaker A): Initiates the interaction, asks targeted questions regarding locations, motivations, specific purchases, and prices, and concludes with polite expressions.
• Interviewee (Speaker B): Responds using varying adverbs of frequency, store types, evaluative adjectives, item categories, and monetary values.

Line-by-Line Dialogue Breakdown

Phase 1: Opening Request and Consent

• Speaker A (Interviewer):
  • Japanese Text: あのう、 ちょっと おねがいします。 インタビュー
  • Romaji: anou, chotto onegaishimasu. in tabyuu
  • Meaning: Excuse me, could you please spare a moment? (I would like to conduct an) interview.
• Speaker B (Interviewee):
  • Japanese Text: はい、 どうぞ
  • Romaji: hai, douzo
  • Meaning: Yes, go ahead.

Phase 2: Shopping Location and Frequency

• Speaker A (Interviewer):
  • Japanese Text: どこで買い物をしますか。
  • Romaji: doko de ka i mono 0 shimasu ka (Where 0 represents the object marker particle を / o)
  • Meaning: Where do you shop?
• Speaker B (Interviewee Options):
  • Frequency Adverbs & Connectives: たいてい (taitei - usually), でも (demo - but), よく (yoku - often), いつも (itsumo - always), そして (soshite - and), 每日 (mainichi - every day), しかし (shikashi - however), 時々 (tokidoki - sometimes).
  • Shopping Venues: デパート (depaato - department store), スーパー (suupaa - supermarket), 百円ショップ (hyakuens hoppu - 100-yen shop), ブティック (butikku - boutique), ネット (netto - internet/online).
  • Full Sample Pattern: たいてい デパート、 でも よく スーパー、 いつも 百円ショップ で 買い物をします。 そして 每日 ブティック、 しかし 時々 ネット。 (taitei depaato, demo yoku suupaa, itsumo hyakuens hoppu de ka i mono o shimasu. soshite mainichi butikku, shikashi tokidoki netto.)

Phase 3: Reason for Shopping Venue Selection

• Speaker A (Interviewer):
  • Japanese Text: どうして [Place] で 買い物をしますか。
  • Romaji: doushite [Place] de ka i mono 0 shimasu ka
  • Meaning: Why do you shop at [Place]?
• Speaker B (Interviewee Options):
  • Reasons / Descriptors: サービスがいい (saabisu ga ii - service is good), イメージがいい (imeeji ga ii - image/reputation is good), 高い (takai - expensive / premium), 安い (yasui - cheap / inexpensive), おしゃれ (oshare - stylish / fashionable), べんり (benri - convenient), こうきゅう (koukyuu - high-class / luxury).
  • Ending Pattern: だからです (dakara desu - because / that is why).
  • Full Sample Pattern: サービスがいい だからです。 / べんり だからです。 (saabisu ga ii dakara desu / benri dakara desu)

Phase 4: Specific Purchases Made Today

• Speaker A (Interviewer):
  • Japanese Text: きょうは 何 を買いましたか。
  • Romaji: kyou wa nani 0 kaimashita ka
  • Meaning: What did you buy today?
• Speaker B (Interviewee Options):
  • Purchased Items: アクセサリー (akusesarii - accessories), くつ (kutsu - shoes), バッグ (baggu - bag), スポーツウェア (supo-tsuuea - sportswear), ケーキ (keeki - cake), Other item.
  • Grammar Pattern: [Item] を 買いました (o kaimashita / 0 kaimashita - bought [Item]) or [Reason/Item] からです (kara desu).

Phase 5: Cost Inquiry and Pricing Details

• Speaker A (Interviewer):
  • Japanese Text: そうですか。 いいですね。 それはいくらでしたか。
  • Romaji: soudesu ka. i i desu ne. sore wa ikura deshita ka
  • Meaning: Is that so? That is nice. How much was that?
• Speaker B (Interviewee Options):
  • Hesitation Filler: ええっと (e e to - Let me see / Well…)
  • Price Options:
    • $5000\text{円}$ (go-sen en - 5,000 yen)
    • $300000\text{円}$ (san-juu-man en - 300,000 yen)
    • $1500\text{円}$ (sen-go-hyaku en - 1,500 yen)
    • $780\text{円}$ (nana-hyaku-hachi-juu en - 780 yen)
  • Ending: です (desu - it is).

Phase 6: Interview Conclusion

• Speaker A (Interviewer):
  • Japanese Text: そうですか。 ありがとうございます。
  • Romaji: soudesu ka. arigatougozaimasu
  • Meaning: I see. Thank you very much.

Vocabulary Reference List

Adverbs of Frequency and Conjunctions

• たいてい (taitei): Usually / Mostly
• いつも (itsumo): Always
• よく (yoku): Often / Frequently
• 時々 / ときどき (tokidoki): Sometimes / Occasionally
• 每日 / まいにち (mainichi): Every day
• しかし (shikashi): However / But
• でも (demo): But / However
• そして (soshite): And / And then

Shopping Venues (場所)

• デパート (depaato): Department store
• スーパー (suupaa): Supermarket
• 百円ショップ (hyakuens hoppu / hyakuen shoppu): 100-yen shop
• ブティック (butikku): Boutique
• ネット (netto): Internet / Online shopping

Adjectives and Descriptive Phrases

• サービスがいい (saabisu ga ii): Good customer service
• イメージがいい (imeeji ga ii): Good store image / favorable reputation
• 高い (takai): Expensive / High-priced
• 安い (yasui): Cheap / Inexpensive
• おしゃれ (oshare): Stylish / Fashionable / Chic
• べんり (benri): Convenient / Handy
• こうきゅう (koukyuu): High-class / Luxurious / Deluxe

Merchandise and Items (品物)

• アクセサリー (akusesarii): Accessories / Jewelry
• くつ (kutsu): Shoes / Footwear
• バッグ (baggu): Bag / Handbag
• スポーツウェア (supo-tsuuea): Sportswear / Athletic clothing
• ケーキ (keeki): Cake / Pastry

Conversational Expressions and Fillers

• あのう (anou): Um / Excuse me (used to get someone's attention)
• ちょっと (chotto): A little bit / A moment
• おねがいします (onegaishimasu): Please / I request your assistance
• インタビュー (in tabyuu): Interview
• はい、どうぞ (hai, douzo): Yes, go ahead / Here you are
• そうですか (soudesu ka): Is that so? / I see
• いいですね (ii desu ne): That's nice / Sounds good
• ええっと (e e to): Let me see / Well / Um
• ありがとうございます (arigatougozaimasu): Thank you very much

Structural Grammar and Sentence Patterns

Location of Action Particle: で (de)

• Pattern: [Place] + で + 買い物をします ([Place] de kaimono o shimasu)
• Function: Specifies the location where an action (shopping) takes place.
• Example: 百円ショップで 買い物をします (hyakuenshoppu de kaimono o shimasu - I shop at a 100-yen shop).

Object Marker Particle: を (o / rendered as 0 in raw script transcriptions)

• Pattern: [Item] + を + 買いました ([Item] o kaimashita)
• Function: Marks the direct object receiving the action of buying in past tense.
• Example: バッグを 買いました (baggu o kaimashita - I bought a bag).

Stating Reasons: だからです (dakara desu) / からです (kara desu)

• Pattern: [Reason / Adjective] + だからです (dakara desu)
• Function: Explains the cause or motive in response to a どうして (doushite - why) question.
• Examples:
  • べんり だからです (benri dakara desu - Because it is convenient).
  • サービスがいい だからです (saabisu ga ii dakara desu - Because the service is good).

Inquiring and Stating Cost

• Question Pattern: それは いくら でしたか (sore wa ikura deshita ka - How much was that?)
• Response Pattern: [Amount] + 円 + です ([Amount] en desu)
• Numerical Figures Cited:
  • $780\text{円}$ (nana-hyaku-hachi-juu en)
  • $1500\text{円}$ (sen-go-hyaku en)
  • $5000\text{円}$ (go-sen en)
  • $300000\text{円}$ (san-juu-man en)