Asking a coworker to re-explain: Explained too fast and need them to go step by step

💬 Super flexible: use [すみません] to get attention, to apologize, or even to thank someone (like “sorry to bother you”). In shops you can call staff with [すみません！] (sue-mee-mah-sen).

🇯🇵 In Japan it’s normal to start with [すみません] before a question—sounds considerate, not overly apologetic. It’s also a common “thank you” after someone helps you.

💬 [さっき] means “a little while ago.” It’s casual; for more formal speech you can use [先ほど].

🇯🇵 Japanese conversation often references timing precisely; [さっき] is a handy everyday word when retracing steps (“Where was it earlier?”).

💬 [説明] is a noun; with [する] it becomes a verb: [説明する] “to explain.” In service settings you’ll hear [ご説明します].

🇯🇵 In offices/counters, staff may give step-by-step [説明]. It’s common to pause for confirmation like [ここまで大丈夫ですか].

💬 [ちょっと] is “a little,” but also a softener: [ちょっと…] can mean “um, actually…” or a gentle refusal. Also used for quick requests: [ちょっと待って].

🇯🇵 A very Japanese “polite dodge”: [ちょっと…] often signals “no/it’s difficult” without saying [いいえ] directly.

💬 [早かった] is past tense of [早い]. It can mean “early” (timing) or “fast” (speed), so context matters. For “fast” only, [速かった] is clearer.

🇯🇵 In lessons and meetings, people often say [早かったです] meaning “That was too fast (for me).” It’s a normal, helpful comment.

💬 [です] makes statements polite. Past is [でした]. It attaches to nouns/na-adjectives easily: [学生です], [きれいです].

🇯🇵 Politeness level matters in Japanese. Using [です] (and [ます]) is the safe default with strangers, staff, and coworkers.

💬 [早かったです] is polite past. Often implies “too fast for me” in context; you can add [ちょっと] to soften: [ちょっと早かったです].

🇯🇵 Saying something was fast is a socially acceptable way to request repetition without blaming the other person.

💬 [ごめんね] is casual and warm; the [ね] makes it softer. More formal: [ごめんなさい] or [申し訳ありません].

🇯🇵 Use [ごめんね] with friends/family. With strangers or at work, it can sound too casual—[すみません] is safer.

💬 [どこ] is “where.” With [が] it can mean “which part (specifically)?” like [どこが分かりにくい？].

🇯🇵 When clarifying problems, Japanese often asks for the “spot” that’s wrong: [どこが？] feels natural and efficient.