Japanese You Keep Seeing: 「こちらになります」と店員さんがよく言うのはなぜ？｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)

( A cafe clerk serving a fluffy pancake to Joy and saying “Kochira ni narimasu”, with Ken and Raya smiling, and an orange cat peeking from behind a menu)

Welcome to “Japanese You Keep Seeing”!

If you order a coffee, buy a shirt, or get seated at a restaurant in Japan, the staff will almost always present the item to you while saying: こちらになります (Kochira ni narimasu). It is the ultimate phrase of Japanese customer service. However, did you know that many strict Japanese grammar teachers actually hate this phrase? Let’s decode the meaning and the controversy behind “Kochira ni narimasu”!

🗣 Conversation Scene

Joy, Ken, and Raya are taking a break at a popular Tokyo cafe famous for its thick, fluffy soufflé pancakes. The clerk arrives at their table to deliver Joy’s highly anticipated order.

Clerk

Line 1: こちらになります。 Line 2: Kochira ni narimasu. Line 3: (Here is your order.)

お待たせいたしました。特製パンケーキ、こちらになります。 (Thank you for waiting. Here is your special pancake.)

Joy

わあ、美味しそう！ありがとうございます！ (Wow, it looks delicious! Thank you!)

Ken

In Japan, whenever a clerk hands you something, they always say “Kochira ni narimasu.”

💡 Explanation: The “Manual Keigo” Controversy

This phrase is the polite equivalent of saying “Here you go” or “This is the item.” But its literal translation reveals why it is a bit weird!

1. What does it literally mean? 🥞

Let’s break down the grammar: ✅ こちら (Kochira): The polite version of “Kore” (This) or “Koko” (Here). ✅ 〜になります (~ni narimasu): The verb “to become” or “will change into.” So, if a waiter sets a pancake down and says “Kochira ni narimasu,” they are literally saying: “This will become a pancake.” Wait… isn’t it ALREADY a pancake?!

2. Why do clerks use it? 🛡️

Because the grammatically correct phrase—こちらでございます (Kochira de gozaimasu – Here it is)—sounds very stiff and old-fashioned. Over the last few decades, young part-time workers (Baito) started replacing “de gozaimasu” with “ni narimasu” to make their customer service sound softer and friendlier. Today, it is part of the standard customer service manual everywhere in Japan, known as Baito Keigo (Part-timer Honorifics).

3. How should you reply? 🗣️

When a clerk hands you your food, your change, or your shopping bag and says “Kochira ni narimasu,” you do not need to say anything complicated in return. Simply smile and say: ✅ ありがとうございます (Arigatou gozaimasu) – Thank you. ✅ どうも (Doumo) – Thanks (a casual, quick acknowledgement).

💎 Pro Tip: More Baito Keigo

You might also hear a cashier say: 「1,000円からお預かりします」(Sen-en kara oazukari shimasu) when you hand them a 1,000 yen bill. Literally, this means “I will keep it *from* 1,000 yen.” Grammarians hate the word “from” (kara) here too! But just like “ni narimasu,” it is accepted everywhere as soft, polite customer service.

🔥 Practice Quiz

Q1. A shop clerk hands you a bag and says “Kochira ni narimasu.” What is the literal translation of the verb “narimasu”? A. To sell. B. To become.

Answer: B (To become) This is why strict grammarians dislike the phrase! The item isn’t “becoming” a bag, it already is one.

Q2. Why do store clerks use “Kochira ni narimasu” instead of the grammatically correct “Kochira de gozaimasu”? A. Because it sounds softer, friendlier, and less stiff. B. Because it is faster to say.

Answer: A Retail culture in Japan created “Baito Keigo” to make interactions with customers feel softer and more welcoming.

Q3. A waiter sets a coffee on your table and says “Kochira ni narimasu.” What is the best way to respond? A. Arigatou gozaimasu. (Thank you) B. Omatase itashimashita. (Thanks for waiting)

Answer: A (Arigatou gozaimasu) A simple “Thank you” or “Doumo” is all you need to acknowledge the service!

Ready to master the Ko-So-A-Do system?

Want to dive deeper? Check out our official Beginner’s Grammar Book for more examples, detailed explanations, and practice exercises to perfect your Japanese pointing skills!