Japanese You Keep Seeing:レジで聞く「袋はどうしますか？」って何を聞かれている｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)

( A convenience store clerk asking Joy “Fukuro wa dou shimasu ka?”, with Raya pulling out an eco-bag, Ken pointing at it, and an orange cat playing on the ATM)

Welcome to “Japanese You Keep Seeing”!

You have successfully gathered your snacks, walked up to the convenience store register, and prepared your money. Suddenly, the cashier rapidly fires a question at you: 袋はどうしますか？ (Fukuro wa dou shimasu ka?). If you don’t know this phrase, you might freeze up! Since Japan introduced a mandatory fee for plastic bags in 2020, this has become the most frequently asked question in the entire country. Let’s learn how to answer it!

🗣 Conversation Scene

Joy, Ken, and Raya are at a local Konbini (convenience store) buying drinks and snacks for their afternoon break. Joy goes to the register to pay, but the clerk asks her a question.

Clerk

Line 1: 袋はどうしますか？ Line 2: Fukuro wa dō shimasu ka? Line 3: (Would you like a bag?)

お次のお客様どうぞ。袋はどうしますか？ (Next customer, please. Would you like a bag?)

Joy

えっと…フクロ…？ (Umm… Fukuro…?)

Raya

大丈夫です！マイバッグを持っています。(We are fine! I have my own bag.)

💡 Explanation: The Plastic Bag Fee

By law, all shops in Japan must charge for plastic shopping bags (usually between 3 to 5 yen). Therefore, cashiers must ask every single customer if they want to buy one.

1. What does it literally mean? 🛍️

袋 (Fukuro) means “Bag,” and どうしますか？ (Dou shimasu ka?) means “What will you do (about it)?” So, the clerk is literally asking, “What will you do about a bag?” Sometimes they might say レジ袋 (Reji-bukuro), which specifically means a plastic checkout bag.

2. How to say YES (I want to buy a bag) 🟢

If you don’t have an eco-bag and need a plastic bag, you can respond simply and politely: ✅ お願いします (Onegaishimasu): “Please.” ✅ 袋、ください (Fukuro, kudasai): “A bag, please.”

3. How to say NO (I don’t need a bag) 🔴

If you have your own bag or can just carry the item in your hands, you can decline smoothly: ✅ 大丈夫です (Daijoubu desu): “I’m fine / It’s okay.” (This is the most common and natural response!) ✅ いりません (Irimasen): “I don’t need it.” ✅ そのままでいいです (Sono mama de ii desu): “It’s fine as it is.”

💎 Pro Tip: The “My Bag” Culture

Reusable shopping bags are highly encouraged in Japan. They are called マイバッグ (Mai baggu – My Bag) or エコバッグ (Eko baggu – Eco Bag). If the clerk asks you the bag question, you can simply hold up your reusable bag and smile—they will immediately understand!

🔥 Practice Quiz

Q1. The cashier scans your items and says “Fukuro wa dou shimasu ka?”. What are they asking? A. Do you have a point card? B. Do you want to buy a plastic bag?

Answer: B “Fukuro” means bag. They need to know if they should add the 3 to 5 yen bag fee to your total.

Q2. You bought a single bottle of water and want to carry it in your hand. How do you refuse the bag politely? A. Daijoubu desu. B. Onegaishimasu.

Answer: A (Daijoubu desu) “Daijoubu desu” (I’m fine) is the most natural way to decline something in Japanese daily life.

Q3. You forgot your eco-bag and need the cashier to give you a plastic bag. What should you say? A. Irimasen. B. Fukuro, kudasai. (Or simply “Onegaishimasu”)

Answer: B Saying “Fukuro kudasai” (A bag, please) clearly tells them you want to purchase one.

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!