How to Say ‘Could you tell me’ in Japanese
教えていただけますか
oshie te itadake masu ka
[oshie te itadake masu ka]
💬 Usage Tip: A formal way to ask for information.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This allows you to maintain a respectful tone, essential in Japan.
Phrase Breakdown
教えて
oshie te
please teach/tell/inform
A polite way to ask for information or instruction.
教えてください。
Please tell me.
Words in this phrase
教え
oshie
[oshie]
teach; instruct
Means to teach, inform, or instruct.
道を教えていただけますか。
Could you please tell me the way?
て
te
[te]
and; connecting particle
A particle to connect parts of a sentence.
教えていただけますか。
Could you please tell me?
いただけますか
itadake masu ka
could I receive this?
A polite phrase used when requesting something.
水をいただけますか。
Could I have some water?
Words in this phrase
いただけ
itadake
[itadake]
can receive; potential form
Indicates the potentiality of receiving something.
手伝っていただけますか。
Could you help me?
ます
masu
[masu]
politeness marker
A polite form marker for verbs.
教えていただけますか。
Could you please tell me?
か
ka
[ka]
question marker
Indicates a question when placed at the end of a sentence.
どこですか。
Where is it?
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