The vocabulary of condition
Second-hand shops grade items and label them consistently, and knowing the vocabulary means you can judge from the tag rather than asking about everything.
The grades are applied fairly honestly in the major chains, which is what makes the market work. A description noting a small scratch usually means exactly that.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 新品同様 | shinpin dōyō | As good as new |
| 美品 | bihin | Excellent condition |
| 中古 | chūko | Used |
| 傷あり | kizu ari | Has scratches or damage |
| ジャンク品 | janku-hin | For parts, not working |
| 動作確認済み | dōsa kakuninzumi | Function confirmed |
The last one matters for electronics. Function confirmed means it has been tested; without it, assume it has not been.
Questions before you buy
Four questions cover most purchases: does it work, what is missing, can it be returned, and is there a warranty. Asking them takes a minute and prevents most of the disappointments.
Accessories are the commonest gap. A camera without its charger or a console without its cables is cheap for a reason.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 動作確認はされていますか。 | Dōsa kakunin wa sarete imasu ka. | Has it been tested? |
| 付属品は全部ありますか。 | Fuzokuhin wa zenbu arimasu ka. | Are all the accessories included? |
| 返品はできますか。 | Henpin wa dekimasu ka. | Can it be returned? |
| 保証はつきますか。 | Hoshō wa tsukimasu ka. | Does it come with a warranty? |
| 傷はどこですか。 | Kizu wa doko desu ka. | Where is the damage? |
| 試してもいいですか。 | Tameshite mo ii desu ka. | May I try it? |
Where haggling works
Visitors often assume second-hand means negotiable, and in Japan that is only true in specific places. Flea markets, antique fairs and individual sellers expect a mild negotiation; chain recycle shops do not, and asking there is mildly awkward.
Where it is acceptable, the convention is a small, polite request rather than a serious negotiation.
| Place | Haggling | How |
|---|---|---|
| Flea market | Expected, mildly | Ask for a small reduction |
| Antique fair | Expected | Ask, especially for multiple items |
| Individual seller | Sometimes | Politely, once |
| Recycle shop chain | No | Prices are fixed |
| Online marketplace | Sometimes | Via the app, before agreeing |
Buying several items is the strongest basis for a discount at a market, and asking on that basis is entirely normal.
At a flea market
Markets are relaxed and conversational, and the seller is often the owner of the items, which makes it one of the more enjoyable places to practise Japanese.
A mild request is the convention. Pressing hard is not, and will usually end the conversation rather than the price.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| これ、いくらですか。 | Kore, ikura desu ka. | How much is this? |
| 少し安くなりませんか。 | Sukoshi yasuku narimasen ka. | Could it be a little cheaper? |
| 二つ買うので、まけてもらえますか。 | Futatsu kau node, makete moraemasu ka. | I will take two; could you reduce it? |
| これはいつごろのものですか。 | Kore wa itsu goro no mono desu ka. | Roughly when is this from? |
| 動きますか。 | Ugokimasu ka. | Does it work? |
| じゃあ、これをください。 | Jā, kore o kudasai. | In that case, I will take this. |
Online pickups
Buying through an app and collecting in person is common, and the meeting is short and scripted: confirm who you are, hand over, check, and confirm on the app.
Meetings are usually at a station, in a public place, in daylight. Both sides expect it to take a minute.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アプリで購入した田中です。 | Apuri de kōnyū shita Tanaka desu. | I am Tanaka, who bought it on the app. |
| 確認させていただきます。 | Kakunin sasete itadakimasu. | Let me check it. |
| 問題ありません。ありがとうございます。 | Mondai arimasen. Arigatō gozaimasu. | No problems. Thank you. |
| 受け取り評価をしておきます。 | Uketori hyōka o shite okimasu. | I will complete the receipt confirmation. |
| 改札の外で待っています。 | Kaisatsu no soto de matte imasu. | I will wait outside the ticket gates. |
| 赤い上着を着ています。 | Akai uwagi o kite imasu. | I am wearing a red jacket. |
Describing what you are wearing is standard for these meetings and saves several minutes of looking around.
A short exchange worth rehearsing
The online pickup is the one worth practising, because it is a brief exchange with a stranger where both people want it to take a minute, and hesitating is more uncomfortable than the Japanese is difficult.
It is also entirely scripted, which makes it ideal for a roleplay. Running it with an AI Sensei in Unihongo's immersive 3D classroom a couple of times means the four sentences arrive without composition, and that is the whole exchange.
The shop questions are worth having automatic for the same reason. Asking whether something has been tested is a sentence you will use every time you buy anything second-hand, which makes it worth more than its length suggests.
Japan's second-hand market rewards asking. The condition grades are honest, and the four questions in this guide are what turn a good grade into a good purchase.