How to pay and ask for a receipt in Japanese
カードは使えますか。
kādo wa tsukaemasu ka.
“Can I pay by card?”
When: At the register, before paying
The moment
You are at the register of a shop in Tokyo Station with a jacket in your hands. You need to check they take cards, pay, and leave with the receipt.
A1 · Unit 5 · Shopping
The lines
Asking if they take card
Before they ring you up, ask 「カードは使えますか。」 Plenty of small Japanese shops are still cash only, so it is worth asking first.
カードは使えますか。
kādo wa tsukaemasu ka.
“Can I pay by card?”
When to use it: At the register, before paying
What you’ll hear back: はい、お使いいただけます。 hai, o-tsukai itadakemasu. (Yes, you can use one.)
Saying how you will pay
Answer with 「カードでお願いします。」 If you are paying cash, the same shape works: 「現金でお願いします。」
カードでお願いします。
kādo de onegai shimasu.
“By card, please.”
When to use it: Handing over your card or cash
What you’ll hear back: かしこまりました。四千三百円になります。 kashikomarimashita. yonsen sanbyaku en ni narimasu. (Certainly. That comes to 4,300 yen.)
Words for this scene
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 全部でいくらですか。 | zenbu de ikura desu ka | How much is it all together? |
すみません、全部でいくらですか。 Excuse me, how much is it all together? Tip: Totals come back as 「〜円になります」 — listen for the number. | ||
| レシートをください。 | reshīto o kudasai | Could I have the receipt? |
すみません、レシートをください。 Excuse me, could I have the receipt? Tip: No receipt, no return — Japanese shops ask for it every time. | ||
| 袋は大丈夫です。 | fukuro wa daijōbu desu | I don't need a bag, thanks. |
ありがとうございます。袋は大丈夫です。 Thank you. I don't need a bag. Tip: 大丈夫です is the polite 'no thanks' at any Japanese register. | ||
Your objective
Ask if they take cards, check the total, and ask for a receipt.
- paying by card
- the total
- a receipt
Lines that get it done
- カードは使えますか。
- 全部でいくらですか。 · zenbu de ikura desu ka · How much is it all together?
- レシートをください。 · reshīto o kudasai · Could I have the receipt?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You want to check whether the shop takes cards before you pay. What do you ask?
- カードは使えますか。
- カードはいくらですか。
- カードをください。
- カードはどこですか。
Show the answer
カードは使えますか。
使えますか asks whether something can be used, which is exactly the question here.
2. The cashier asks how you would like to pay and you only have cash. What do you say?
- 現金でお願いします。
- 現金はありますか。
- 現金をください。
- 現金は使えますか。
Show the answer
現金でお願いします。
「〜でお願いします」 names the payment method you are choosing.
3. Staff hold up a shopping bag, but you already have your own. What do you say?
- 袋は大丈夫です。
- 袋をください。
- 袋はいくらですか。
- 袋は使えますか。
Show the answer
袋は大丈夫です。
大丈夫です turns down the bag politely without a flat 'no'.