How to Say ‘Could you explain what you said earlier one more time?’ in Japanese
さっきの説明、もう一度お願いできますか。
sakki no setsumei mou itsu do o negai deki masu ka
[sahk-kee noh setsumei moh Ichi doh oh neh-guy deki mahss kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Notice there's no word for "explain" here. 説明 does the work, and お願いできますか stands in for the whole action. Japanese often drops the verb when the noun makes the request clear.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking a colleague to repeat something is normal and expected at a Japanese workplace. Pretending to understand and getting it wrong later causes far more trouble. Phrasing it as a polite request keeps it from sounding like a complaint about how they explained it.
Phrase Breakdown
さっきの説明、
sakki no setsumei
the explanation from earlier,
This names the topic. Pause briefly at the comma before the request.
さっきの説明、よくわかりました。
I understood the explanation from earlier well.
Words in this phrase
さっき
sakki
[sahk-kee]
earlier; a little while ago
Refers to something from just before, such as the route taken.
さっきの道を思い出しました。
I remembered the road from earlier.
の
no
[noh]
of; linking particle
Connects 'usual' to 'road.'
いつもの道を使いたいです。
I'd like to use the usual road.
説明
setsumei
[setsumei]
explanation
説明 means 'explanation'.
説明が必要です。
An explanation is necessary.
もう一度
mou itsu do
one more time
This tells the listener you want it repeated. Stretch the 'o' in もう.
もう一度見てください。
Please look one more time.
Words in this phrase
もう
mou
[moh]
another; one more
Used to add one more person, often when changing a reservation number.
予約は四人ですが、もう一人来ます。
The reservation is for four people, but one more person is coming.
一
itsu
[Ichi]
one; once
Refers to a single instance.
一回だけ彼に会いました。
I only met him once.
度
do
[doh]
time / occurrence
Counter-like word meaning occurrence or time. 一度 means once.
もう一度お願いします、ゆっくりで大丈夫です。
One more time, please; slowly is fine.
お願いできますか。
o negai deki masu ka
could I ask you (to do it)?
This polite ending turns the sentence into a request. Let your voice rise slightly on か.
説明をお願いできますか。
Could you explain, please?
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
Makes 荷物 more polite in customer service language.
おを付けると丁寧です。
Adding お makes it polite.
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.
でき
deki
[deki]
can do; be able to
Potential form element showing ability or possibility, from できる.
今後も相談でき たらうれしいです。
I would be happy if we could consult in the future too.
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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