UNIT 4
Shopping & Convenience Stores
Shopping & Convenience Stores
Lesson 4: Looking for Items in a Store
〇〇はどこですか — Finding What You Need
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
Walking into a Japanese convenience store or supermarket and not being able to find what you need can be frustrating. In this lesson, you’ll learn three simple, powerful patterns for asking store staff where items are, whether they have them, and for help locating them.
What you’ll learn:
- Ask where an item is — 〇〇はどこですか
- Ask if a store has something — 〇〇はありますか
- Tell staff what you’re looking for — 〇〇を探しています
- Understand simple store directions
- Respond when the store doesn’t have an item
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
〇〇はどこですか。
〇〇 wa doko desu ka.
Where is 〇〇?
〇〇はありますか。
〇〇 wa arimasu ka.
Do you have 〇〇?
〇〇を探しています。
〇〇 o sagashite imasu.
I am looking for 〇〇.
こちらです。
Kochira desu.
This way. / Here it is.
あちらです。
Achira desu.
Over there.
右です。
Migi desu.
It is on the right.
左です。
Hidari desu.
It is on the left.
レジの近くです。
Reji no chikaku desu.
It is near the register.
ありません。
Arimasen.
We don’t have it. / There isn’t any.
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 〇〇はどこですか — where is it?
Replace 〇〇 with any item name to ask its location. Always start with すみません to get staff attention first.
水はどこですか。Where is the water?
パンはどこですか。Where is the bread?
トイレはどこですか。Where is the restroom?
レジはどこですか。Where is the register?
② 〇〇はありますか — do you have it?
Use this when you’re not sure the store carries the item. The answer will be はい、あります (yes, we do) or ありません (we don’t have it).
③ 〇〇を探しています — I’m looking for it
This is a complete sentence that tells the staff exactly what you need. It’s often more helpful than just asking どこですか because the staff can guide you directly.
④ Store directions — what staff will say
こちらです。 This way / Here.
あちらです。 Over there.
右です。 On the right.
左です。 On the left.
奥です。 In the back.
レジの近くです。 Near the register.
⚠️ Common Mistake
Don’t forget すみません before your question. In Japan, addressing someone without this polite opener can feel abrupt. Starting with すみません。水はどこですか。 sounds natural and respectful.
Don’t forget すみません before your question. In Japan, addressing someone without this polite opener can feel abrupt. Starting with すみません。水はどこですか。 sounds natural and respectful.
3. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Looking for Water
💬 Conversation 2 — Looking for an Umbrella
💬 Conversation 3 — Looking for Batteries
💬 Conversation 4 — Store Doesn’t Have It
💬 Conversation 5 — Finding the Register
4. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| どこ | doko | where |
| こちら | kochira | this way / here |
| あちら | achira | over there |
| 右 | migi | right |
| 左 | hidari | left |
| 奥 | oku | back / inside |
| 近く | chikaku | near |
| 棚 | tana | shelf |
| 入口 | iriguchi | entrance |
| 出口 | deguchi | exit |
| 傘 | kasa | umbrella |
| 電池 | denchi | battery |
| 薬 | kusuri | medicine |
| マスク | masuku | mask |
| ティッシュ | tisshu | tissue |
5. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. The answer and explanation are shown below each one.
Q1. How do you ask “Where is the water?” in Japanese?
A. 水はどこですか。 B. 水はいくらですか。 C. 水は何時ですか。
Answer: A
〇〇はどこですか = “Where is 〇〇?” Replace 〇〇 with any item. いくらですか means “How much?” and 何時ですか means “What time?”
〇〇はどこですか = “Where is 〇〇?” Replace 〇〇 with any item. いくらですか means “How much?” and 何時ですか means “What time?”
Q2. How do you ask “Do you have umbrellas?” in Japanese?
A. 傘はありますか。 B. 傘はどこですか。 C. 傘をください。
Answer: A
〇〇はありますか = “Do you have 〇〇?” Use this to check if the store carries something. どこですか asks for a location and をください requests the item.
〇〇はありますか = “Do you have 〇〇?” Use this to check if the store carries something. どこですか asks for a location and をください requests the item.
Q3. What does 「電池を探しています。」 mean?
A. I am looking for batteries. B. I am buying batteries. C. I have batteries.
Answer: A
〇〇を探しています means “I am looking for 〇〇.” This is a useful, complete sentence that tells staff exactly what you need.
〇〇を探しています means “I am looking for 〇〇.” This is a useful, complete sentence that tells staff exactly what you need.
Q4. What does 「あちらです。」 mean?
A. Over there. B. Thank you. C. I don’t understand.
Answer: A
あちら means “over there” (away from both speaker and listener). こちら means “this way / here” (near the speaker).
あちら means “over there” (away from both speaker and listener). こちら means “this way / here” (near the speaker).
Q5. What does 「レジの近くです。」 mean?
A. It is near the register. B. It is expensive. C. It is not here.
Answer: A
レジ = register / cashier, の近く = near/close to. Many small items in convenience stores (umbrellas, medicines) are kept near the register.
レジ = register / cashier, の近く = near/close to. Many small items in convenience stores (umbrellas, medicines) are kept near the register.
6. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
Match each phrase with its English meaning. Check your answers below.
〇〇はどこですか。 → ______
〇〇はありますか。 → ______
〇〇を探しています。 → ______
こちらです。 → ______
あちらです。 → ______
右です。 → ______
左です。 → ______
Choices: A. It is on the right. B. I am looking for 〇〇. C. Where is 〇〇? D. This way / Here. E. Do you have 〇〇? F. It is on the left. G. Over there.
Answers: 〇〇はどこですか = C ／ 〇〇はありますか = E ／ 〇〇を探しています = B ／ こちらです = D ／ あちらです = G ／ 右です = A ／ 左です = F
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice asking where things are in Japanese.
Try these at a Japanese shop, or practice with your teacher:
水はどこですか。／ 傘はありますか。／ 電池を探しています。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson, you learned three essential patterns for finding items in a store. Use all three:
水はどこですか。(Where is it?)
傘はありますか。(Do you have it?)
電池を探しています。(I’m looking for it.)
傘はありますか。(Do you have it?)
電池を探しています。(I’m looking for it.)
💡 Always start with すみません before your question. When the store doesn’t have what you need, respond with わかりました。ありがとうございます。
FAQ
Q. What is the difference between 〇〇はどこですか and 〇〇はありますか?
〇〇はどこですか assumes the store has the item — you’re asking for its location. 〇〇はありますか first checks whether the store has it at all. When you’re not sure the item is stocked, ask ありますか first, then follow up with どこですか.
Q. What does 申し訳ありません mean? Is it different from すみません?
申し訳ありません is a more formal, deeper apology — closer to “I’m terribly sorry.” Store staff use it when they can’t help you (e.g., out of stock). すみません is for everyday, lighter apologies or getting attention.
Q. What if I can’t remember the item’s name in Japanese?
Show a photo on your phone, or draw a quick picture. Japanese store staff are very helpful and used to international customers. You can also try describing the item, or look up the word quickly and show it to them. Don’t be afraid to ask — even a simple すみません with a gesture goes a long way.
🌿 Practice with a real teacher
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
Finding items, asking for help, and understanding directions in a real store takes practice. Try a free trial lesson with a professional teacher and get ready for real-life shopping in Japan.
Online or in-person — both available on request.