How to Say ‘Could you explain it?’ in Japanese
説明してもらえますか。
setsumei shi te morae masu ka
[setsumei shee teh moh-rah-eh mahss kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking it as a question about whether you could receive the favour sounds softer than a direct request. That makes it a safe way to ask a coworker or senior to go over something again.
Phrase Breakdown
説明して
setsumei shi te
explain
This is the te-form of 説明する (to explain). It connects to the request that follows.
使い方を説明して。
Explain how to use it.
Words in this phrase
説明
setsumei
[setsumei]
explanation
説明 means 'explanation'.
説明が必要です。
An explanation is necessary.
し
shi
[shee]
do (stem)
The stem of する, used to turn nouns like 確認 into verbs such as 'to check.'
確認しお願いします。
Please check it.
て
te
[teh]
te-form ending
て connects actions or makes polite requests and set expressions.
座ってください。
Please sit down.
もらえますか。
morae masu ka
could you (do it for me)?
Placed after a te-form verb, this turns the sentence into a polite request.
待ってもらえますか。
Could you wait?
Words in this phrase
もらえ
morae
[moh-rah-eh]
receive the favor of
Part of a pattern meaning to have someone do something for you.
運転手さんに待ってもらえますか。
Could the driver wait for me?
ます
masu
[mahss]
polite verb ending
A polite ending often used in Japanese verbs, such as します and あります.
ますを使うと丁寧です。
Using ます makes it polite.
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
か is placed at the end of a sentence to mark it as a question in polite Japanese.
先生ですか。
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