Tweet of the Week #154: Do Not Eat, Drink or Break up in Our Store

The popular Japanese discount chain store Don Quijote (ドン キホーテ) is a must-experience attraction in Japan. With a wide range of discounted products, you can find everything from souvenirs to daily necessities, Halloween costumes, and products beyond your imagination.

So take a step in a “Donki” (ドンキ) and brace yourself for a sensory overload between maze-like aisles, jingles blasting at every corner of the store and the constantly looping catchy song in the background.

Because Don Quijote stores are utterly chaotic, locals are tempted to make themselves at home. But, unfortunately, something was too much for this Osaka store, which needs to ask its customers to behave.

Keep it outside

地元のドンキはすごい

“My hometown Donki is amazing

On the red and yellow poster at the store entrance:”

お客様へお願い

店内でご飲食及びカップルの別れ話はご遠慮ください

“A request to all customers:

Please refrain from drinking, eating, and breaking up in our store.”

How to express ‘Please refrain from’ in Japanese

The phrase ご遠慮ください is used to politely ask people to refrain from doing something in a roundabout way. Originally, the word 遠慮 doesn’t express a prohibition and is just about asking people to restrain themselves if possible.

But over time the word took a stricter meaning and combined with the imperative ください, it basically means “please don’t do that (here).”

Here are some examples:

Due to its strong tone, the phrase should always be used with care when spoken to a customer or a superior. You can use the following cushion words to soften your order:

Vocabulary

地元	jimoto	Hometown
すごい	sugoi	Amazing, great
お客様	o kyaku sama	Client (polite)
お願い	onegai	Request, wish
店内	tenai	Inside the store
飲食	inshoku	Eat and drink
及び	oyobi	And (formal)
カップルの別れ話	kappuru no wakarepanashi	Couple’s break-up talks
ご遠慮ください	go enryo kudasai	Please refrain from doing…