How to Say ‘Excuse me, do you have a moment?’ in Japanese
すみません、ちょっといいですか？
sumi mase n chotto ii desu ka
[sue-mee mah-SEH n chotto ee-ee dess kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the standard polite way to stop a stranger on the street; people are used to hearing it for directions, so it doesn't feel pushy. Keep some distance and let them stop walking before you go on.
Phrase Breakdown
すみません、
sumi mase n
Excuse me,
An attention-getter that opens the request politely. Pause briefly at the comma.
すみません、これは何ですか？
Excuse me, what is this?
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.
ちょっといいですか？
chotto ii desu ka
do you have a moment?
A soft request for someone's time. Hold the small っ as a short pause, then raise your pitch at the end.
ちょっといいですか？質問があります。
Do you have a moment? I have a question.
Words in this phrase
ちょっと
chotto
[chotto]
a little
Indicating a small quantity or amount.
ちょっと待って。
Wait a little.
いい
ii
[ee-ee]
good; nice
A common adjective used to show approval or a positive impression.
その考えはいいですね。
That idea is nice.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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