[Easy Japanese - Beginner's Guide #19] Essential "Supermarket and Grocery Shopping" Phrases for Living in Japan

 Earlier we touched on general shopping and convenience store phrases, but doing your weekly grocery shopping at a local supermarket is a great way to save money and discover fresh ingredients. Knowing how to read price tags, check discounts, and use the checkout counters will make your cooking routine much easier.

Don't worry—you don't need difficult vocabulary. Let's learn the essential phrases for supermarket shopping!

1. Finding Sections and Products (Uriba to Shōhin)

Supermarkets in Japan are organized into clear sections. Finding what you need is easy once you know the basic names.

  • 「生鮮食品 (Seisen shokuhin):」 Fresh food / Produce (vegetables, meat, fish).

  • 「お惣菜 (Osōzai):」 Prepared side dishes / Ready-to-eat meals.

  • 「特売品 (Tokubai-hin):」 Special sale item / Bargain.

💡 Tip: Look out for yellow or red discount stickers (割引 / Waribiki or 半額 / Hangaku) on bento boxes and prepared foods in the evening. It's a popular way to buy delicious meals at half price!

2. Useful Phrases at the Register (Reji de no Fureezu)

Whether you use a traditional cashier or a semi-self checkout counter, a few basic phrases will help you complete your payment smoothly.

  • 「マイバッグを使います。」 (Mai-baggu o tsukaimasu.) – I will use my own shopping bag.

  • 「お箸 / スプーンをください。」 (O-hashi / supuun o kudasai.) – Please give me chopsticks / a spoon.

  • 「ポイントカードを持っていません。」 (Pointo kādo o motteimasen.) – I don't have a loyalty card.

💡 Tip: Many supermarkets in Japan have "semi-self" registers where the cashier scans your items, and then you move to a separate machine to insert your cash or card for payment. Take your time and check the screen for English support!

3. Checking Ingredients and Expiration Dates (Shōmi-kigen)

Checking freshness dates and ingredient labels ensures you eat safely and avoid food waste.

  • 「消費期限 (Shōhi-kigen):」 Expiration date (must be eaten by this date).

  • 「賞味期限 (Shōmi-kigen):」 Best-before date (quality remains high until this date).

  • 「国産 (Kokusan):」 Made or produced in Japan.

💡 Tip: Japanese expiration labels are written in the format "Year / Month / Day" (e.g., 26.9.25 means September 25, 2026). Always check the label before putting items into your shopping basket!

Figure: Use-by vs best-before dates
消費期限 vs 賞味期限: two different dates消費期限Shōhi kigenUse-by dateEat by this date (bento, meat, fish)賞味期限Shōmi kigenBest-before dateTastes best until this date (snacks, cans)After 賞味期限 it is usually still safe — after 消費期限, don't eat it.

Summary: Smart Shopping, Delicious Meals

Cooking your own meals with fresh ingredients from the local supermarket is healthy, budget-friendly, and a fun part of independent living in Japan.

"Xana Lab" is always here to support your daily life and work in Japan!

コメント

このブログの人気の投稿

設備設計一級建築士 分野別対策テキスト【頻出計算式インデックス+ひっかけパターン総まとめ】

【保存版】大学受験 頻出英単語帳②(難関大対応)|テーマ別学術語彙+論理接続表現+重要多義語

[Easy Japanese - Beginner's Guide #1] Essential "Site Safety and Communication" for Foreign Workers in Japan

設備設計一級建築士 法適合確認【平成27年度】過去問学習ノート(要約・言い換え版)

一級建築士【構造】なぜ・比較・ひっかけ徹底解剖|静定不静定/断面性能/耐震制振免震・全肢解説8問

設備設計一級建築士【法適合確認】対策テキスト全14章|排煙・換気・給排水・非常照明・避雷・昇降機の頻出数値とひっかけ(H24〜29過去問対応)

1級建築施工管理技士 合格バイブル【完全版】|なぜ・比較・ひっかけ・経験記述添削まで徹底解説(出典付き)

マンション管理士 合格攻略③|消防・電気の法規+コンクリート劣化+長期修繕計画+適正化法(重要事項説明)

宅建試験対策 過去最強バイブル

このブログの人気の投稿

設備設計一級建築士 分野別対策テキスト【頻出計算式インデックス+ひっかけパターン総まとめ】

【保存版】大学受験 頻出英単語帳②(難関大対応)|テーマ別学術語彙+論理接続表現+重要多義語

[Easy Japanese - Beginner's Guide #1] Essential "Site Safety and Communication" for Foreign Workers in Japan

設備設計一級建築士 法適合確認【平成27年度】過去問学習ノート(要約・言い換え版)

一級建築士【構造】なぜ・比較・ひっかけ徹底解剖|静定不静定/断面性能/耐震制振免震・全肢解説8問

設備設計一級建築士【法適合確認】対策テキスト全14章|排煙・換気・給排水・非常照明・避雷・昇降機の頻出数値とひっかけ(H24〜29過去問対応)

1級建築施工管理技士 合格バイブル【完全版】|なぜ・比較・ひっかけ・経験記述添削まで徹底解説(出典付き)

マンション管理士 合格攻略③|消防・電気の法規+コンクリート劣化+長期修繕計画+適正化法(重要事項説明)

宅建試験対策 過去最強バイブル