Buying Glasses at a Tokyo Eyewear Shop — JLPT N4 Japanese Conversation
The situation
Yattan (ヤッタン) walks into an eyewear shop and speaks with the optician staff member (店員さん) about getting a new pair of glasses.
すみません、めがねを作りたいんですが。
すみません、めがねを つくりたいんですが。
Excuse me, I'd like to get some glasses made.
かしこまりました。今のめがねは合わなくなりましたか。
かしこまりました。いまの めがねは あわなく なりましたか。
Certainly. Have your current glasses stopped fitting your eyes?
はい。少し見えにくいので、視力を測ってもらえますか。
はい。すこし みえにくいので、しりょくを はかってもらえますか。
Yes. Things are a little hard to see, so could you measure my eyesight for me?
もちろんです。では、あちらの席で検査をしましょう。
もちろんです。では、あちらの せきで けんさを しましょう。
Of course. Let's do the test at that seat over there.
お願いします。……このフレーム、かけてみてもいいですか。
おねがいします。……この フレーム、かけてみても いいですか。
Please do. ...Can I try on this frame?
どうぞ。とてもお似合いですよ。軽くて丈夫なタイプです。
どうぞ。とても おにあいですよ。かるくて じょうぶな タイプです。
Go ahead. It suits you very well. It's a light and sturdy type.
いいですね。じゃあ、これにします。できあがりはいつごろですか。
いいですね。じゃあ、これに します。できあがりは いつごろですか。
Nice. Then I'll go with this one. About when will they be ready?
度が強くなければ、30分ほどでできあがります。
どが つよくなければ、さんじゅっぷんほどで できあがります。
If the prescription isn't too strong, they'll be ready in about 30 minutes.
そんなに早いんですね。助かります！
そんなに はやいんですね。たすかります！
That fast? That's a big help!
Key expressions
- 〜たいんですが — "I'd like to ~, (so...)." 〜たい is the "want to" form of a verb (作る → 作りたい), and 〜んですが softens it into a polite, open-ended opening that invites the staff to help. See 〜たい: wanting to do something for how to build the 〜たい form.
- 〜てもらえますか — "Could you ~ for me?" A polite way to request an action, built from もらう ("receive a favor"). 測って + もらえますか = "could I have you measure it?" It's softer and more common in shops than 〜てください. See もらう・くれる: receiving favors.
- 〜てみる — "try ~ing (and see)." かけてみる = "try putting them on (to see how they look)." Add もいいですか to ask permission: かけてみてもいいですか ("may I try them on?"). See 〜てみる: trying something out.
- できあがりは〜 — "As for when it's finished, ~." できあがり is the noun "completion/finished product," so できあがりはいつごろですか is the standard way to ask when an order will be ready.
About Japanese eyewear shops
Chains like JINS and Zoff revolutionized glasses in Japan by selling them at a single flat price with the lenses included (レンズ込み) — often around 5,000–8,000 yen for a complete pair. The eye test (視力検査) is free, walk-in, and takes just a few minutes, and for standard prescriptions many shops hand you the finished glasses the same day, in about 30 minutes. If your prescription is strong or you want special coatings, it may take longer. The one survival phrase worth memorizing: 「今日、受け取れますか」("Can I pick them up today?").
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 〜てください and 〜てもらえますか?
Both make requests, but 〜てもらえますか ('could you ~ for me?') is softer and more polite because it literally asks whether you may receive the favor. In shops and service situations, 〜てもらえますか sounds more natural and considerate than the more direct 〜てください.
Why does Yattan say 作りたいんですが and just stop?
The trailing 〜んですが means 'it's that I want to..., but...' and deliberately leaves the sentence open. It's a polite Japanese habit that hands the next move to the staff, rather than issuing a blunt command. Finishing every sentence can actually sound too forceful.
Do I really get glasses the same day in Japan?
Often, yes. At chains like JINS and Zoff, standard single-vision prescriptions are frequently ready in about 30 minutes while you wait. Strong prescriptions, progressive lenses, or special coatings can take a few days, so it's worth asking 「今日、受け取れますか」('Can I pick them up today?').