A friend of mine, who is local to Japan, noticed someone from abroad with a folding map who looked lost, and would like to know whether or not she could say "Can I help you?".
She had overheard the expression "Can I help you?" while inside stores, but she doesn't know whether it sounds natural for English speakers. Is it natural? Does it matter that she's not a staff member being paid to provide a service? If not, are there better alternatives?
Best Answer
Not only is it acceptable, it is also used quite frequently. You can also use other phrases such as "May I help you?", "Do you need help?", or "Would you like some help?". However, "Can I help you?" is probably used more often than other forms.
See Google Ngram Viewer: Can I help you, May I help you, Do you need help, Would you like some help: