Trying on Clothes: 「試着してもいいですか？」

The Core Phrase: "Can I try this on?"

Imagine you're in a clothing store and you've found a jacket you like. To ask permission to try it on, you'll need the following phrase. It's a polite and standard way to ask.

これを試着してもいいですか？
Kore o shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?
(Can I try this on?)

Let's break this down:

• これ (kore): This means "this." You'd typically be holding the item or pointing to it.
• を (o): This is a particle that marks the object of the verb. In this case, it's the item you want to try on.
• 試着 (shichaku): This is the key vocabulary word. It means "trying on clothes." It's a noun that can also be used as a verb with します (shimasu). You might notice the kanji:
  • 試 (shi) means "to try" or "test."
  • 着 (chaku) means "to wear."
• してもいいですか (shite mo ii desu ka): This is a very useful grammatical pattern that means "Is it okay if I do...?" or "May I...?" It's a polite way to ask for permission.

Since you prefer a phrase-based approach, you can memorize shichaku shite mo ii desu ka? as a single block for asking to try on clothes.

To hear the pronunciation and see it written, please study the following resource.

The infographic below also presents this phrase clearly, which can serve as a quick visual reminder.

After You Ask: Finding the Fitting Room

Once you've asked to try an item on and the staff has agreed (usually with a はい、どうぞ / hai, dōzo - "Yes, please go ahead"), your next logical question is where to go.

You can ask, "Where is the fitting room?" using a pattern you've seen before (... wa doko desu ka?).

試着室はどこですか？
Shichakushitsu wa doko desu ka?
(Where is the fitting room?)

Let's look at the new vocabulary word here:

• 試着室 (shichakushitsu): This means "fitting room." You can see it's built from 試着 (shichaku)—"trying on clothes"—and 室 (shitsu), a kanji for "room."

This is a great example of how knowing one word helps you understand another. The same resource we just used also covers this essential follow-up question.

Understanding the Response

Most of the time, the staff will happily let you try things on. However, some stores may have restrictions, especially for items like white clothing or tops that are pulled over the head. In these cases, you might not be allowed to try the item on.

You don't need to understand the full explanation, but you should learn to recognize the opening of a negative response. If you ask shichaku shite mo ii desu ka? and the staff member replies starting with one of these phrases, it likely means "no":

• すみません、... (sumimasen, ...) - I'm sorry, ...
• 申し訳ございませんが、... (mōshiwake gozaimasen ga, ...) - This is a very formal way of saying "I'm very sorry, but..."

If you hear these, you can assume you're out of luck. Just smile, nod, and say わかりました (wakarimashita) - "I understand."

The following resource explains this scenario well.

Practice Scenario

Let's put it all together in a short dialogue.

1. You find a shirt you like. You get a staff member's attention:

   • You: すみません。 (Sumimasen.) - Excuse me.

2. You hold up the shirt and ask to try it on:

   • You: これを試着してもいいですか？ (Kore o shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?) - Can I try this on?

3. The staff member agrees and points:

   • Staff: はい、どうぞ。試着室はこちらです。 (Hai, dōzo. Shichakushitsu wa kochira desu.) - Yes, go ahead. The fitting room is this way.

4. You thank them:

   • You: ありがとうございます。 (Arigatō gozaimasu.) - Thank you.

You've now successfully navigated this key shopping interaction!

Conclusion

Excellent work. You've now mastered a critical phrase for clothes shopping in Japan. Combined with your previous lessons, you are building a solid foundation for practical, real-world interactions.

Key Takeaways:

• To ask to try an item on, use the phrase: これを試着してもいいですか？ (Kore o shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?).
• The key vocabulary is 試着 (shichaku) for "trying on clothes" and 試着室 (shichakushitsu) for "fitting room."
• To ask where the fitting room is, use the pattern you already know: 試着室はどこですか？ (Shichakushitsu wa doko desu ka?).
• If a staff member begins their reply with sumimasen or mōshiwake gozaimasen, it likely means you cannot try the item on.

Preview of the next lesson:
Before you can even start shopping, you need to know if the store is open. In our next lesson, we will focus on reading two of the most important kanji signs you'll see on store doors: 営業中 (eigyōchū) for "open" and 準備中 (jumbichū) for "closed/preparing."