Every Shop in Japan Shouts This at You. You Are Not Supposed to Answer.
To say welcome in (said by shop staff) in Japanese, say いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase).
Three staff just yelled the same word at you the second you walked in. Saying it back is the one real mistake.
In this video
- いらっしゃいませ。 irasshaimase. Welcome in.
- すみません。 sumimasen. Excuse me.
Why this phrase
Within ten minutes of landing, every tourist hears this word shouted at them and freezes. It is one directional shop language, not a greeting exchange, so there is no reply to get wrong. A nod is a complete answer, and the word you actually need comes later, when you want a member of staff.
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More phrases like this
- Did You Catch That? The Door Is Four Cars From the Front. You Counted From the Back. · mae kara nan-ryōme desu ka?
- Did You Catch That? Nodding in Akihabara Just Sold You a Warranty. · hoshō wa ikaga desu ka?
- Did You Catch That? You Nodded. That Was Not Large. · Nami de onegai shimasu
- That Sentence Means There Is No Seat. · washiki shika arimasen
- Her Long Goodbye Was Not a Question · mata okoshi kudasaimase
- Did You Catch That? That Train Will Skip Your Hotel. · kaisoku
- That Station Voice Is Not Being Polite. The Train Is Closer Than You Think. · Kiiroi sen made osagari kudasai
- Both Trains Say Yamanote. One of Them Is the Long Way Around. · uchimawari
- She Looked at Both of You and Said Three Syllables. She Is Not Asking If You Are Dating. · go-issho desu ka?
- The Doors Are Open. The Voice Just Said This Car Is Full. · man'in desu
- The Cart Lady Said One Sentence. You Have Eight Seconds. · shanai hanbai desu
- The Lights Just Dimmed and She Said One English Word. The Kitchen Is About to Close on You. · rasuto ōdā desu
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