JLPT N5
Asking the Price
Japanese
おいくらですか？
Oikura desuka?
Lesson & Usage
- [English equivalent: "How much is it?"] A polite way to ask for the price. While "Ikura desuka" is also correct, adding the "O" at the beginning makes it sound softer and more respectful, which is ideal for small shops or traditional markets.
Culture & Etiquette
- Japanese has a system of "Bikago" (beautified speech). Adding "O" or "Go" to nouns shows respect and changes a simple transaction into a polite social interaction.
