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How to Say ‘Could you say it a bit more simply?’ in Japanese

もう少し簡単に言ってもらえますか。

mou sukoshi kantan ni itsu te morae masu ka

[moh soo-koh-shee kahn-TAHN nee eet teh moh-rah-eh mahss kah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: もう少し "a little more" puts the problem on your side rather than suggesting the explanation was bad. That makes this safe to say even to a boss. Many Japanese coworkers will happily switch to plainer wording once asked.

Phrase Breakdown

もう少し簡単に

mou sukoshi kantan ni

a little more simply

This says how you want it explained. Keep もう少し and 簡単に flowing together.

Example

もう少し簡単に話してください。

Please speak a little more simply.

Words in this phrase

もう

mou

[moh]

a bit more; another

Means 'more' or 'another.' Often used to gently ask for a little more time or conversation.

Example

もう話したいです。

I want to talk a little more.

少し

sukoshi

[soo-koh-shee]

a little; slightly

Softens the criticism by saying it was only a little bit of a detour.

Example

少し遠回りだったかもしれません。

It may have been a slight detour.

簡単

kantan

[kahn-TAHN]

simple; easy

A na-adjective meaning simple or easy; with に it becomes 'simply'.

Example

この問題は簡単です。

This problem is easy.

に

[nee]

(adverb-forming particle)

Turns a na-adjective into an adverb, like English '-ly'.

Example

静かに話してください。

Please speak quietly.

言ってもらえますか。

itsu te morae masu ka

could you say (it)?

This is the polite request. Pause on the double 't' in itte and let your voice rise on か.

Example

もう一度言ってもらえますか。

Could you say it once more?

Words in this phrase

言っ

itsu

[eet]

said; told (te-form, contracted)

From 言う → 言って. The small っ shows a pause (geminate). Used in “thank you for telling me.”

Example

教えて言ってくれて助かりました。

It helped that you told me (and let me know).

て

[teh]

te-form ending

て connects actions or makes polite requests and set expressions.

Example

座ってください。

Please sit down.

もらえ

morae

[moh-rah-eh]

receive the favor of

Part of a pattern meaning to have someone do something for you.

Example

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.

Example

ますを使うと丁寧です。

Using ます makes it polite.

か

[kah]

question particle

か is placed at the end of a sentence to mark it as a question in polite Japanese.

Example

先生ですか。

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