これを買ってもいいですか？
kore o kattemo ii desu ka?
To say "can I buy this?" in Japanese, you say これを買ってもいいですか？ (kore o kattemo ii desu ka?)
This phrase is most commonly used when asking a shopkeeper for permission to purchase an item that might be on display or restricted.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase これを買ってもいいですか？ literally translates to 'Is it okay even if I buy this?'
Which one should you use?
You can use これ買ってもいい？ for an informal tone or これ、買える？ as a casual way to ask if an item is available for purchase, which is suitable for friends or casual settings. For a very formal context, such as luxury retail or business settings, use こちらを購入してもよろしいでしょうか？ There is also a formal version of the basic request: これを買うことはできますか？
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Use これ買ってもいい？ or これ、買える？ in informal situations with friends. In highly formal settings like luxury shops, use こちらを購入してもよろしいでしょうか？ or これを買うことはできますか？
How do you pronounce it?
kore o kattemo ii desu ka?
Did you know?
- In some traditional Japanese shops, a customer might not ask to buy an item at all but instead use the phrase kudasai, which literally means 'please give me', to signal their intent to purchase.
- The formal word kochira used in こちらを購入してもよろしいでしょうか？ literally treats the object as a direction or a person-like entity rather than a thing.
- In high-end boutiques, staff may avoid the word kau ('buy') entirely and instead use terms for 'receiving' or 'acquiring' to maintain a sophisticated atmosphere.
Examples in context
- これを買ってもいいですか？Kore o katte mo ii desu ka?Can I buy this?
- すみません、これを買ってもいいですか？Sumimasen, kore o katte mo ii desu ka?Excuse me, can I buy this?
- この店でこれを買ってもいいですか？Kono mise de kore o katte mo ii desu ka?Can I buy this at this shop?
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are at a craft fair.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さん、見て！これを買ってもいいですか？Hiroto-san, mite! Kore o katte mo ii desu ka?Hiroto, look! Can I buy this?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、いいと思うよ。Un, ii to omou yo.Yeah, I think that's fine.
- 美咲 Misakiよかった！すごく可愛いですよね。Yokatta! Sugoku kawaii desu yo ne.Great! It's really cute, isn't it?
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだね。買おうか。Sō da ne. Kaō ka.It is. Shall we buy it?
