買い物Shopping
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Name common shopping vocabulary, including colors, sizes, and product types.
- Describe things using い-adjectives and な-adjectives in the nonpast and past, affirmative and negative.
- Compare two items using より and ほう.
- Identify the most extreme item in a group using いちばん.
- Ask for and state prices using 円 and the kanji numerals 百・千・万.
- Count objects using the counters つ, 個, and 枚, and choose the correct counter for common items.
- Make simple purchase requests and ask about price, size, and color.
- Recognize and read the eleven Chapter 9 kanji in familiar words, with furigana support.
Communication Scenario
Tom needs a new bag for school and a small gift for Priya's birthday. Mrs. Tanaka takes him to a shop near the station where they look at bags, notebooks, and other items together, comparing colors, sizes, and prices before Tom decides what to buy.
- This chapter builds on the ordering language and the つ counter from Chapter 8, adding full adjective forms, comparison, and two new counters for shopping.
- By the end of the chapter, you will be able to describe products, compare two options, ask the price, and complete a simple purchase.
Core Vocabulary
This chapter's vocabulary covers shopping, colors, sizes, prices, and simple product description.
いろ — Colors
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| あか | あか | red |
| あお | あお | blue |
| くろ | くろ | black |
| しろ | しろ | white |
| きいろ | きいろ | yellow |
| みどり | みどり | green |
Colors such as あか and あお are nouns; to describe an object directly, this chapter uses them with the pattern Nいろ or as the noun-modifying form Nの, as in あかいかばん (a red bag), which uses the related い-adjective あかい. Adjectival color words are listed with the product vocabulary below.
しなもの — Shopping items
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| かばん | かばん | bag |
| ノート | ノート | notebook |
| ペン | ペン | pen |
| とけい | とけい | clock; watch |
| ふく | ふく | clothing |
| くつ | くつ | shoes |
| プレゼント | プレゼント | present; gift |
| みせ | みせ | shop; store |
| レシート | レシート | receipt |
けいようし — Descriptive words
| Japanese | Reading | Type | English meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大きい | おおきい | い-adjective | big |
| 小さい | ちいさい | い-adjective | small |
| 新しい | あたらしい | い-adjective | new |
| 古い | ふるい | い-adjective | old (things) |
| 高い | たかい | い-adjective | expensive; tall; high |
| 安い | やすい | い-adjective | cheap; inexpensive |
| かわいい | かわいい | い-adjective | cute |
| あかい | あかい | い-adjective | red |
| きれいです | きれいです | な-adjective | pretty; clean |
| べんりです | べんりです | な-adjective | convenient |
| じょうぶです | じょうぶです | な-adjective | sturdy; durable |
かいもののことば — Shopping and price words
| Japanese | Reading | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| いくらですか | いくらですか | How much is it? |
| ～円 | ～えん | ～yen |
| これにします | これにします | I'll take this one |
| どちら | どちら | which (of two) |
Words such as 大きい and 高い end in い and are called い-adjectives. Words such as きれいです and べんりです are な-adjectives; their dictionary form does not end in a predictable い, and the です shown here is part of their polite predicate form, not part of the word itself. You already used 好き and きらい as formulaic な-adjectives in Chapter 8; this chapter teaches the full conjugation pattern that both types follow.
Script Focus: Numbers, Prices, and Description Kanji
Unit II かんじ — Eleven new kanji
These eleven kanji support prices, quantities, and common product descriptions. Furigana continues to support every kanji in this chapter's reading passages.
Each descriptive kanji in this chapter keeps a fixed kanji base with a changing hiragana ending, exactly as 食べる and 飲む did in Chapter 8: 大きい → 大きくない → 大きかった, 高い → 高くない → 高かった. The kanji itself never changes; only the okurigana ending changes to show negative and past forms. You will practice this pattern fully in the grammar section below.
百, 千, and 万 combine with the numbers 一 through 五 from Chapter 8 to build prices, but some combinations change their sound. 三百 is read さんびゃく, not さんひゃく, and 三千 is read さんぜん. This chapter presents only the specific price amounts used in its examples and exercises; the complete pattern of sound changes across all numbers is not required at this stage.
れんしゅう — Practice: Write the eleven new kanji next to their readings from memory, then write three prices in kanji numerals using 円.
Pronunciation Focus
Practice these prices aloud, tapping once per mora:
- 百円 — ひゃくえん — 100 yen (4 morae: ひ・ゃ・く・え・ん, counting the small ゃ and the following vowel together as taught in earlier chapters)
- 三百円 — さんびゃくえん — 300 yen
- 千円 — せんえん — 1,000 yen
- 五千円 — ごせんえん — 5,000 yen
Hold the moraic ん in 千円 and 三百円 for its own full beat, and keep the geminate consonant in いっぴゃく-type combinations distinct if your instructor introduces them, without inserting an extra vowel.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
9.1 い-adjective forms
Purpose: describe things in the nonpast and past, affirmative and negative.
- このかばんは大きいです。Kono kaban wa ōkii desu. — This bag is big.nonpast affirmative: 大きい + です
- このかばんは大きくないです。Kono kaban wa ōkikunai desu. — This bag is not big.nonpast negative: 大き + くない + です
- このかばんは大きかったです。Kono kaban wa ōkikatta desu. — This bag was big.past affirmative: 大き + かった + です
- このかばんは大きくなかったです。Kono kaban wa ōkikunakatta desu. — This bag was not big.past negative: 大き + くなかった + です
Drop the final い from the dictionary form to find the stem: 大き. Add い for the plain nonpast, くない for the plain negative, かった for the plain past, and くなかった for the plain past negative. です is added after any of these forms to make the sentence polite; it does not change the adjective's own conjugation. The adjective いい ("good") is irregular: its negative and past forms are built from よく, not いく — よくない, よかった.
9.2 な-adjective forms
Purpose: describe things using な-adjectives in the nonpast and past, affirmative and negative.
- このみせはべんりです。Kono mise wa benri desu. — This shop is convenient.nonpast affirmative: べんり + です
- このみせはべんりじゃないです。Kono mise wa benri janai desu. — This shop is not convenient.nonpast negative: べんり + じゃないです
- このみせはべんりでした。Kono mise wa benri deshita. — This shop was convenient.past affirmative: べんり + でした
- このみせはべんりじゃなかったです。Kono mise wa benri janakatta desu. — This shop was not convenient.past negative: べんり + じゃなかったです
な-adjectives conjugate like です predicates: the descriptive word itself stays fixed, and only the です part changes for negative and past. This is different from い-adjectives, whose own ending changes. When a な-adjective directly modifies a noun, it takes な, as in きれいなかばん ("a pretty bag"); this noun-modifying use is presented here for recognition and will be practiced more fully in later chapters.
Error: *大きいじゃないです。
Correction: 大きくないです。 — い-adjectives never take じゃない. Only な-adjectives and nouns use the じゃない pattern you learned with です/じゃないです in earlier chapters.
9.3 より — Comparing two items
Purpose: say that one thing has more of a quality than another.
- このかばんはあのかばんより高いです。Kono kaban wa ano kaban yori takai desu. — This bag is more expensive than that bag.Aは Bより + adjective
- くろいくつはしろいくつより安いです。Kuroi kutsu wa shiroi kutsu yori yasui desu. — The black shoes are cheaper than the white shoes.
9.4 ほう — Stating a preference between two items
Purpose: say which of two items you prefer or which has more of a quality, using ほう ("side; direction").
- あかいかばんのほうが好きです。Akai kaban no hō ga suki desu. — I like the red bag better.Nのほうが好きです (compared with the other option in context)
- 新しいほうが高いです。Atarashii hō ga takai desu. — The new one is more expensive.adjective + ほうが + adjective
より attaches to the item being compared against, and the adjective describes the other item: Aは Bより 高いです ("A is more expensive than B"). ほう attaches to the item being highlighted, often when the other item is already clear from context, and always takes が before the adjective: Aのほうが 高いです ("A is the more expensive one"). The two patterns describe the same comparison from different starting points and are often combined: Aのほうが Bより 高いです.
9.5 いちばん — Saying "the most"
Purpose: identify the item with the most of a quality within a group of three or more.
- このみせでこのかばんがいちばん安いです。Kono mise de kono kaban ga ichiban yasui desu. — In this shop, this bag is the cheapest.場所で Nが いちばん + adjective
- どれがいちばん大きいですか。Dore ga ichiban ōkii desu ka. — Which one is the biggest?
いちばん ("number one") comes directly before the adjective and does not require の or ほう.
9.6 個 and 枚 — Two more counters
Purpose: count objects using counters suited to their shape, in addition to the general counter つ from Chapter 8.
- ノートを二個ください。Nōto o niko kudasai. — Two notebooks, please.N を + [number]個 + ください
- ペンを三枚ください。Pen o sanmai kudasai. — Wait, pens use a different counter — see the note below.
個 counts small, roughly round or compact objects such as apples, boxes, or small bags. 枚 counts flat, thin objects such as paper, tickets, or shirts, but not most pens, which are long, thin objects using a different counter not introduced in this chapter. This chapter limits productive practice to 個 and 枚 for clearly countable, round or flat shopping items, alongside the general counter つ, which remains usable for almost any small countable item when the specific counter is unfamiliar. The complete counter system continues to develop in later volumes.
From naming to describing and comparing. Earlier chapters let you name things, state preferences, and make simple requests. This chapter adds the tools to describe things fully across time, compare two options, identify the best of several options, and complete a purchase with the right quantity and counter.
Practice — Description and comparison
Complete each sentence with the correct adjective form or particle.
- このノートはあのノート＿＿高いです。 (comparison)
- このかばんは大き＿＿ないです。 (negative)
- あの店はきれい＿＿でした。 (past)
- このみせでどれ＿＿いちばん安いですか。
Model Dialogue
Setting: Tom and Mrs. Tanaka look at bags in a shop near the station.
ないようりかい — Comprehension questions:
- How much is the red bag, and how much is the black bag?
- According to the staff member, how do the two bags compare in size and sturdiness?
- What does Tom decide to buy, and how many notebooks does he order?
- Identify each use of より and ほう in this dialogue and explain what each is comparing.
Guided Practice
タスク１ — Describe and compare. Choose two objects in the room around you. Write four sentences: one describing each object with an adjective, one comparison using より, and one preference statement using ほう.
タスク２ — Ask the price. Write a short exchange in which one person asks いくらですか about two different items and the other answers with a price in yen for each.
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following description aloud at a clear, moderate pace.
きくタスク — Comparing two watches
この店にとけいが二つあります。一つは新しいとけいです。もう一つは古いとけいです。新しいとけいは八千円です。古いとけいは新しいとけいより安いです。四千円です。新しいとけいのほうがきれいですが、古いとけいのほうがじょうぶです。わたしは古いとけいのほうが好きです。
聞くタスク — Listening task: Draw a simple two-column chart labeled with each watch, then fill in its price and one quality mentioned about it. Compare your chart with a partner or check it against the passage above.
Speaking Practice
コントロールされた練習 — Controlled practice: Describing objects
Ask and answer the following, substituting real objects and adjectives.
- このかばんはどうですか。
- これはあれより高いですか、安いですか。
- どれがいちばん大きいですか。
コミュニケーションタスク — Shop for a gift
One partner plays a shop staff member and describes two items, including prices. The other partner compares the items using より or ほう, chooses one, and completes the purchase with これにします and a quantity.
ひとりでもできる練習 — Solo practice: My shopping preferences
Record yourself describing two items you own or would like to buy, comparing them, and saying which one you like better, in five to six sentences.
Reading Practice
Read the following short shop sign and receipt, then answer the questions below.
みせのかんばんとレシート — A shop sign and a receipt
このみせのかばんはとても安いです。大きいかばんは千五百円で、小さいかばんは八百円です。新しいノートも安くて、百円です。トムさんは小さいかばんを一つと、ノートを三個買いました。ぜんぶで千百円でした。
ないようりかい — Comprehension questions:
- How much is the large bag, and how much is the small bag?
- How much is one new notebook?
- What did Tom buy, and how many of each item?
- How much did Tom pay in total, and does the math match the individual prices? Check by calculating.
- Write one additional sentence in Japanese describing what you would buy from this shop.
Writing Workshop
In this workshop you will write a short shopping note comparing two items and describing a purchase.
- Choose two items to compare in English first. Note at least one difference in price, size, or quality for each.
- Write two to three sentences describing each item. Use at least one い-adjective and one な-adjective.
- Write one comparison sentence using より and one preference sentence using ほう.
- Write a short purchase note stating what you bought, with a quantity and the correct counter, and the total price in yen.
- Revise and check using the checklist below before finalizing your work.
チェックリスト — Editing checklist:
- I built い-adjective negative and past forms from the stem correctly.
- I built な-adjective negative and past forms using じゃない and でした correctly.
- I used より with the item being compared against, and ほう with が for the highlighted item.
- I used いちばん correctly for the most extreme item in a group of three or more.
- I chose an appropriate counter (つ, 個, or 枚) for each item.
- I wrote prices accurately using 円, 百, 千, and 万.
- I used the eleven new kanji correctly, with furigana.
- I ended each sentence with 。.
Culture and Communication
Many shops in Japan provide a printed receipt, レシート, automatically after a purchase, and cashiers commonly place change on a small tray rather than directly into a customer's hand. Payment methods vary by shop, region, and generation: cash remains widely used in many smaller shops, while cashless payment methods are increasingly common in larger stores. It is useful to be able to ask いくらですか and understand a spoken price clearly before paying.
Shoppers in many parts of Japan commonly compare price, durability, and appearance before deciding on a purchase, much as this chapter's dialogue does. Attitudes toward spending more for durability versus choosing the cheaper option vary by individual, household, and item, so avoid assuming that any one shopping style is typical of all shoppers.
Common Mistakes
Error: *安いじゃないです。
Correction: 安くないです。 — い-adjectives form their negative by changing い to くない, never with じゃない.
Error: *あかいかばんのほう好きです。
Correction: あかいかばんのほうが好きです。 — ほう always takes が before the following adjective or predicate.
Error: Using いちばん to compare only two bags.
Correction: With exactly two items, use より or ほう: このかばんのほうが安いです。 Reserve いちばん for groups of three or more.
Chapter Review
Section A — ごい (Vocabulary)
1. Name four colors and four shopping items in Japanese.
2. Give three い-adjectives and two な-adjectives from this chapter.
3. Give the Japanese for "How much is it?" and "I'll take this one."
Section B — もじ (Script)
1. Write the eleven Chapter 9 kanji and give one word using each.
2. Write the following prices in kanji numerals: 100 yen, 300 yen, 1,000 yen, 5,000 yen.
Section C — ぶんぽう (Grammar)
1. Give the nonpast negative, past affirmative, and past negative forms of 高い.
2. Give the nonpast negative and past affirmative forms of きれいです.
3. Write a sentence comparing two items using より.
4. Write a sentence stating a preference using ほう, and a sentence using いちばん for a group of three or more.
5. Write a request for three of an item, using an appropriate counter.
Section D — どっかいりかい (Reading comprehension)
1. Look again at the shop sign and receipt in the Reading Practice section. Write two sentences summarizing what Tom bought and how much he paid.
Section E — かくこと (Writing)
1. Write a five-sentence comparison of two items and a simple purchase note.
Section F — はなすこと (Speaking)
1. Describe and compare two objects aloud without reading from the page, then state which one you prefer and why.
Practical Performance Task
パフォーマンスタスク
みせでかいものをする — Shopping at a store
You are shopping for yourself or a gift at a small shop, comparing two items before deciding what to buy.
- Written: Write a shopping note of at least eight sentences describing two items, comparing them with より and ほう, stating a preference, and recording your purchase with a quantity, counter, and price.
- Spoken: Give a short spoken description of your two items and your final choice from memory, as if speaking to a shop staff member.
- Interaction: Answer at least three questions a partner asks about your items, using いくらですか, どうですか, or どちらが好きですか.
- Script check: Hand-write the eleven Chapter 9 kanji from memory, and write three prices correctly in kanji numerals.
Assessment focus: correct い-adjective and な-adjective conjugation across nonpast, past, affirmative, and negative; correct use of より and ほう; correct use of いちばん where appropriate; correct choice of counter; accurate prices and new kanji; and an organized, connected description of a comparison and a purchase.
Answer Key
Practice — Description and comparison
1. このノートはあのノートより高いです。 2. このかばんは大きくないです。 3. あの店はきれいだった／きれいでした。 4. このみせでどれがいちばん安いですか。
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- The red bag is 5,000 yen; the black bag is 3,000 yen.
- They are the same size, but the black bag is sturdier than the red bag.
- Tom buys the black bag and two notebooks.
- より in あかいかばんより小さいですか compares the black bag against the red bag for size; ほう in くろいかばんのほうが安いですね highlights the black bag as the cheaper of the two.
Listening task — Model description
New watch: 8,000 yen, prettier. Old watch: 4,000 yen, cheaper, sturdier. The speaker prefers the old watch.
Reading — Comprehension
- The large bag is 1,500 yen; the small bag is 800 yen.
- One new notebook is 100 yen.
- Tom bought one small bag and three notebooks.
- Tom paid 1,100 yen in total; 800 + (100 × 3) = 1,100, so the total matches.
- Open-ended; accept any accurate sentence about a purchase from the shop.
Chapter Review — Section A
- Any four of: あか、あお、くろ、しろ、きいろ、みどり; any four of: かばん、ノート、ペン、とけい、ふく、くつ、プレゼント.
- い-adjectives: any three of 大きい、小さい、新しい、古い、高い、安い、かわいい、あかい; な-adjectives: any two of きれいです、べんりです、じょうぶです.
- いくらですか / これにします.
Chapter Review — Section B
- 円・百・千・万・大・小・新・古・高・安・買 — check against the kanji grids above.
- 百円・三百円・千円・五千円.
Chapter Review — Section C
- 高くないです・高かったです・高くなかったです.
- きれいじゃないです・きれいでした.
- Model: このペンはあのペンより安いです。
- Model: このかばんのほうが好きです。 / この店でこのノートがいちばん安いです。
- Model: ノートを三個ください。
Chapter Review — Section D
Model answer: トムさんは小さいかばんを一つとノートを三個買いました。ぜんぶで千百円でした。 (Other accurate answers accepted.)
Chapter Review — Section E and F
These are open-ended production tasks. Evaluate written work against the Writing Workshop checklist above, and evaluate spoken work against the Performance Task assessment focus.
Looking Ahead
いまできること — What you can do now
You can describe things using い-adjectives and な-adjectives in the nonpast and past, compare two items with より and ほう, identify the most extreme item in a group with いちばん, ask and state prices using 円, 百, 千, and 万, and choose an appropriate counter among つ, 個, and 枚 when shopping.