Help translating this phrase?

Question

I have looked everywhere trying to find the literal meaning of this, but since I'm illiterate in kanji and don't know how to spell it, I can't find a meaning.

Whenever I go into a shop the salesclerks working there say something that, to my ignorant American ear, has a sound similar to "shoe-me-ma-sen". What does this mean and what is the appropriate response to it? I usually just smile and bow my head back, but I've noticed that many Japanese-speakers just ignore the clerks completely. What is polite to do?

Answer 1

♡Could they be saying "Irasshaimase!"? いらっしゃいませ

Whenever I go into the konbini or shops they always say this～Irasshaimase!!!

It's the greeting they use as "Welcome!" when you enter a shop. Usually everyone just ignores it, but you can acknowledge with a smile or slight bow of the head if you like.

http://rut.org/cgi-bin/j-e/dosearch?sDict=on&H=PS&L=J&T=Irashaimase&WC=none&FG=w&BG=b&S=26

Hope that helps!.♡

Take a look here too:

http://www.japonophile.com/article_irasshaimase_en.html

You can hear them say it here when the customer walks in:

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=jiNP8LfPbTc

Answer 2

The phrase might be " su-mi-ma-sen".　すみません



Japanese people use "sumimasen" at various scenes. Some Japanese-language authorities deplore an overuse of "sumimasen" .



Anyway, "sumimasen" means

thank you

I'm sorry

excuse me

would you mind.....?



I suppose salesclerks say sumimasen as "excuse me". But if they don't say anything after sumimasen, "excuse me" sounds slightly odd...



Or they possibly say "irasshai mase", which is a greeting which a salesclerk use.



Whatever, if a salesclerk says just one phrase, you can consider it as a greeting like "hello" or "good afternoon" or "irasshaimase" etc. and just smile and bow are enough as a response, I think.



Many Japanese ignore a salesclerk even if he/she says "hello" or "irasshaimase". I think it's a very bad habit of Japanese.



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Oh, while I was writing my answer *•.♡Cyn♡.•* guessed same thing waht I guessed!

Answer 3

it is すみません (sumimasen) and means "excuse me" or "I'm sorry"



the good response depends on context, but just say, "いいえ (iie)" which literally means no, but in this case, means like no problem or don't worry about it. that works for when it is the apologetic excuse me and if it's a clerk, that's probably it. however, you don't have to answer in japanese, just answer in english or something.



Why they would be excusing themselves, i don't understand unless it was to get by someone, but about the ignoring, i don't think they're ignoring the person on purpose, they just don't think they're talking to them. You should just politely move if they're passing by and if they're coming up to you to ask you something and say sumimasen, either say "はい (hai=yes)" and let them talk or jusst speak english.



was that helpful?

Answer 4

That's "sumimasen" which means "Excuse me" in English.



I don't know how to exactly respond it.



If you want to talk to them, just say "yes?" or something. If you don't, just ignore them or say "No, thank you.".

Answer 5

it's Sumimasen

it' can be translated to either, I am sorry

or excuse me.