[erepsysoulptnw]

What is it that the people say when you enter a sushi restaurant? I used to go to this place in Los Angeles and the waitresses would always say something and I never caught it.

And what are you supposed to say in return, or when you leave?

Thanks!

[Usesdiums]

Irashaimase

and

Gochisosama deshita.

[Bounce]

Irashaimase, is the standard greeting at any Japanese business. Basically means welcome/ How may I help you!

[Dxwlxqvg]

Irashaimase, is the standard greeting at any Japanese business. Basically means welcome/ How may I help you!

RANT ALERT!

Irasshaimase, despite New Horizon's assertions, has nothing to do with "How may I help you?" "How may I help you?" is an initiation of a conversation. Irrashaimase is said with no response either required or expected. In stores larger than a phone book, it will be shouted by employees whenever a customer passes near. The only thing that the two phrases have in common is that they're both said by employees to customers.

Let me relate a recent, personal anecdote as an example. A few days ago I was in a large box-style home store. An employee walked by and said, "May I help you?" (pronounced so badly that I honestly thought he was either drunk or retarded before I figured out he Englishing me) and continued on his way without breaking stride.

[skupaemauto]

Irashaimase, is the standard greeting at any Japanese business. Basically means welcome/ How may I help you!

yeah and we have seen you enter and will serve you ...

[CoenceLomneedtrue]

Kent, again its retranslating into a different context!!! Since it is used most often in a business context, this is a easy way to refer it back those w/ limited experience of Japanese culture/ langauge. Its like trying to define a kotatsu to some one that has never been in Japan. Is it like a space blanket?? Kinda.... Again how far do you do a lit trans verses a lose trans ????

[courlerwele]

Again it could be considered a conversation starter cause you might then ask the person for a specific thing/ but it doesn`t have to be!!! Nor does How may I help you? Have to be a conversation starter cause the other person just might ignore it etc. Keep on browsing or what ever!

[Natashasuw]

Again it could be considered a conversation starter cause you might then ask the person for a specific thing/ but it doesn`t have to be!!! Nor does How may I help you? Have to be a conversation starter cause the other person just might ignore it etc. Keep on browsing or what ever!

I disagree, "How may I help you" is a definite opening for some level of conversation, and I think just ignoring it would be considered rude in most contexts that I can think of right this moment.

Whereas "irasshaimase" is mostly just a welcome, as far as I've seen it used. Not an opening for much beyond simple recognition that you're there or invitation to enter.

Its like trying to define a kotatsu to some one that has never been in Japan. Is it like a space blanket?? Kinda....

I don't buy the comparison, and kotatsu = space blanket? Not even similar, unless you've seen kotatsu that are radically different from the ones I've seen.

Then again, I've been wrong before.

-Charles

[vipBrooriErok]

I`m not saying that a kotatsu is a space blanket, but again how do you define it? I agree its rude not to acknowldge the greeting, but what I`m saying is that
that salution in a business sense does not have to lead into a conversation persay. Again my core reasoning on this is how do you relate it to a Western context/ audience that has limited knowledge about Japan? For me its kinda like this. Do you say welcome to every customer when you working in Walmart, K-mart etc etc. Not really, its more how may I help you is the standard line persay. In Japanese Irrashiamase can be a statement ie welcome! Or it can be a conversation starter Welcome...... Or After saying that I will ask something directly. Thus it takes the place of how may I help you in my mind. How ever its kinda a mute point. At its core its direct literal meaning is Welcome!!! However in my opinion (only) you can take on that as a reference point. Oh its kinda like this .......

[ExelePlavisseu]

Charles nailed it.

While the context in terms of store+customer+vendor is the same, the context in terms of usage is entirely different.

Consider four cases:
1) "Irasshaimase" and the ten'in walks off.
2) "Irasshaimase" and the customer ignores it and walks off.
3) "May I help you?" and the store clerk walks off.
4) "May I help you?" and the customer ignores it and walks off.

Numbers 1) and 2) are normal and expected. If I do need to ask the ten'in something, I'm probably going to use "Sumimasen ga . . . " (or at least a hesitation like "ano") which is the actual conversation starter. Compare those to numbers 3) and 4) which are both quite rude, number 3) so much so that I'd expect the employee to at least get a huge dressing down if not fired.

"Welcome" on the other hand works in a similar manner to irasshaimase. They're both both invitations to come into the store and acknowledgments of the customer's existence with no follow-up required.

[sandyphoebetvmaa]

Again my core reasoning on this is how do you relate it to a Western context/ audience that has limited knowledge about Japan?

Not by creating false equivalences. Explanations of ritual phrases require explanations of the ritual as well. Some things need more than a one or two word "translation".

[mobiphones]

Again all of this goes back to context and where you are using it. Just asked one of my JTEs about it. She said, in house context no, should trans it as different. But in a business setting like this -- its okay to trans it as how may I help you! My opinion is that depends on the setting and exactly the meaning/ self reminder you want. Anyways..... Probably ask 10 different Japanese and they will tell you 10 different answers for it lol. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Again those are various situations and for a very specific context situation then ya you need to trans diff. But for a basic context think this would be fine.

[Stivenslivakovishhhs]

I thought you had to answer "chinchin ...something..."

but fore some reasons its better so stay shut....
hahah kidding

[steevyjeors]

This video will answer all your sushi restaurant-related questions.

[seperalem]

Here you'll find all that you need:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pIb6ZSqal64

[nintenda]

Here you'll find all that you need:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pIb6ZSqal64

We have to fight now, you know.

[lE3l6Lgn]

And what are you supposed to say in return, or when you leave?

In LA right? How about "Thank you"? If you say anything back in Japanese they probably won't understand because they are most likely Korean.

[Jon Woodgate]

In LA right? How about "Thank you"? If you say anything back in Japanese they probably won't understand because they are most likely Korean.

The only time I ever say anything in Japanese to shop staff in the UK is when a) they are clearly Japanese and b) they're struggling a bit with English.

Or c) I'm showing off.

[viiagrag]

We have to fight now, you know.

Ahah, I look forward to that day...

Anyways, that 日本 の 形 series is damn hilarious. Get the dvd or check the other episodes on youtube.

[bixlewlyimila]

Ahah, I look forward to that day...

Anyways, that 日本 の 形 series is damn hilarious. Get the dvd or check the other episodes on youtube.

I'm not normally a big fan of Japanese comedy, but I really like ラーメンズ. 怪傑ギリ人 and 不思議な国のニッポン are on Youtube, I think. Well worth watching (if you speak Japanese).