三つ買う

Using this phrase is easier than you think. You usually put the item first, then the number, then the verb. For example, Ringo o mitsu kau (I'll buy three apples). In casual speech, you can even drop the o particle. Just say Ringo mitsu kau. It sounds very natural! If you want to be polite to a shopkeeper, change kau to kaimasu. It’s like switching from "buying three" to "I will buy three, please."

You’ll use this everywhere. Imagine you're at a 7-Eleven and see those delicious egg sandwiches. You want one for now, one for later, and one for your friend. You tell yourself, Mitsu kau. Or maybe you're at a festival looking at cute charms. It’s perfect for any situation where you are physically or digitally picking up three items. It works for fruit, tickets, souvenirs, and even apps on your phone.

Don't use mitsu for everything! Japanese is famous for its specific counters. If you are buying three people (wait, don't do that!), you use sannin. If you're buying three long things like umbrellas, use sanbon. If you're buying three flat things like shirts, use sanmai. Using mitsu for a person sounds like you're buying an object. It’s a bit of a social faux pas, or at least very confusing! Also, don't use this in high-end business negotiations; use more formal terms like kounyuu instead.

In Japan, the number three is considered very stable and lucky. You’ll see it everywhere. There are the "Three Great Views of Japan" and the "Three Famous Gardens." Even in food, sets of three are common. Buying three items often feels more "complete" than buying two. There is a famous Japanese proverb, Sannin yoreba monju no chie, which means "three people together have the wisdom of a Buddha." So, buying three of something might just bring you a little extra luck!

If you want to sound more polite, use mitsu kaimasu. If you are asking someone else to buy three, say mitsu katte. If you want to say you *already* bought three, say mitsu katta. A very common shopping phrase is mitsu kudasai, which means "three, please." This is actually more common than mitsu kau when you are talking directly to a clerk at a counter. Keep these in your back pocket for your next trip to Tokyo!