How to Say ‘Sorry, could you say that again, please?’ in Japanese
すみません、もう一度お願いします。
sumi mase n mou itsu do o negai shi masu
[sue-mee mah-SEH n MOH ee-CHEE do oh neh-guy shee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Opening with すみません softens the request and is completely normal. Locals won't mind repeating themselves, especially in a noisy festival crowd.
Phrase Breakdown
すみません、
sumi mase n
excuse me / sorry
Use this to get attention or to apologize. Say it 'su-mi-ma-sen'.
すみません、駅はどこですか。
Excuse me, where is the station?
Words in this phrase
すみ
sumi
[sue-mee]
excuse
A stem used in polite expressions like apologies or getting someone's attention.
すみません、コンサートのチケットについて聞きたいです。
Excuse me, I would like to ask about the concert tickets.
ませ
mase
[mah-SEH]
polite verb form (here part of 'sumimasen')
The polite auxiliary 'masu' in its stem form 'mase', followed by 'n' to make it negative. Together with 'sumi' it forms 'sumimasen', meaning 'excuse me'.
まだ決まっていません。
It hasn't been decided yet.
ん
n
[n]
(negative ending)
Contracted form of the polite negative ending, as in ありません.
今日は時間がありません。
I don't have time today.
もう一度
mou itsu do
one more time
This means 'once more'. Stretch the 'o' in 'mou' a little.
もう一度見たいです。
I want to see it again.
Words in this phrase
もう
mou
[MOH]
once more; another
With a number, もう means 'another' or 'one more'.
もう一つください。
One more, please.
一
itsu
[ee-CHEE]
one
The number one, combined with counters.
一つください。
One, please.
度
do
[do]
times
Counter for occurrences.
三度目の正直。
Third time's the charm.
お願いします。
o negai shi masu
please
This is a polite request. Say it 'o-ne-ga-i-shi-mas'.
ゆっくりお願いします。
Slowly, please.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix used in polite expressions
The polite prefix お makes the following word sound more courteous.
お願いできますか。
Could you please do that?
願い
negai
[neh-guy]
request; favor
願い refers to a wish or request, and in お願い it forms a polite request expression.
お願いがあります。
I have a request.
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
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