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
[soo-mee mah-seh n choht-toh ee dess kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the polite way to stop a stranger on the street. Station staff, shopkeepers and kōban (police box) officers are the most reliable people to approach.
Phrase Breakdown
すみません、
sumi mase n
excuse me,
Opens the request politely. Pause briefly at the comma.
すみません、トイレはどこですか。
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
Words in this phrase
すみ
sumi
[soo-mee]
excuse me; sorry
A polite attention-getter and light apology. Used to call a pharmacist/staff or to be polite before asking for help.
すみません、薬剤師さん。
Excuse me, pharmacist.
ませ
mase
[mah-seh]
polite negative (part of ません)
「ませ」 is part of 「ません」, the polite negative form.
はいていません。
I haven’t vomited.
ん
n
[n]
negative ending
The final sound completing the negative polite form.
一人は魚が食べられません。
One person cannot eat fish.
ちょっといいですか。
chotto ii desu ka
do you have a moment?
A polite request for someone's time. Make the small っ a short stop: 'chot-to ii desu ka'.
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
[choht-toh]
a little; a bit
A very common adverb meaning “a little” or “a bit,” often used to soften statements.
ちょっと静かな場所がいいです。
A slightly quieter place would be nice.
いい
ii
[ee]
good; okay
A common word for something being good, fine, or acceptable.
その形でいいです。
That shape is fine.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
Polite form of 'to be' used in many basic sentences.
こちらで大丈夫です。
This is fine.
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
「か」で依頼を質問の形にします。語尾を上げると自然です。
手順を説明してもらえますか。
Could you explain the procedure?
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