Feb 19, 2014

useful Japanese expressions 4: Kekko desu (No thank you)

Hi everyone!

I sometimes think Japan is not a very eco-friendly country. When you buy a sweater at a department store, for example, they nicely wrap it with thin delicate paper, then put in a white plastic bag, and finally put it in a paper bag with the logo of the store printed.

That would be OK if it's a gift for someone. But if you buy it for yourself, you will probably throw away all those wrapping materials once you arrive home. What a waste!

At many supermarkets as well, they automatically give you plastic bags, so if you have your own shopping bags or you simply don't need them, please say:  けっこうです。 Kekko desu. = No thank you.

To specify what you don't need you can say as follows:
袋は けっこうです。 Fukuro wa kekko desu = I don't need a bag, thank you.
はしは けっこうです。 Hashi wa kekko desu = I don't need chopsticks. 
スプーンは けっこうです。 Supu-n wa kekko desu. = I don't need spoons.  

At some supermarkets started to charge customers 2-10 yen for a single-use plastic bag. At those places they may ask you: 袋はお持ちですか。 Fukuro wa omochi desuka. = Do you have your own bag? 

If you want one, please say: いいえ、一枚お願いします。 Iie, ichimai onegai shimasu.  = No, can I have one?  


By the way, the single-use plastic grocery bags are commonly called レジ袋(reji bukuro), because you can get those bags at the register. (=reji) 

4 comments:

  1. こんばんは、ゆうこさん!

    そうですね。In Australia, the issue is with the supermarket checkouts... They pack items into so many plastic bags, because they have to distribute the weight evenly (even if the bag is half full..). >.<

    Another interesting & useful phrase~~ ありがとうございます、ゆうこさん!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. サマンサさん、こんにちは!
      Interesting! They adjust the weight with plastic bags in Australia... I didn't know that. But why do they have to distribute the weight evenly? If you happen to know why, please let me know! I'm just curious.

      Delete
  2. I have a tote bag which is in my car all the time. It has a few more folded in it, so with all those I never need to accept a plastic tote bag.

    ReplyDelete
  3. then put in a white plastic bag, and finally put it in a paper bag with the logo of the store printed. Corrugated Plastic Sign

    ReplyDelete