How to Say ‘May I wait on those chairs over there?’ in Japanese
あそこのいすで待ってもいいですか？
asoko no isu de matsu te mo ii desu ka
[ah-soh-koh noh ee-soo de maht teh moh ee dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: で marks where an action happens, so いすで待つ is "wait on the chairs". The same works for other actions: ここで食べる means "eat here".
Phrase Breakdown
あそこのいすで
asoko no isu de
on the chairs over there
で marks the place where an action happens.
あそこのいすで休みます。
I'll rest on the chairs over there.
Words in this phrase
あそこ
asoko
[ah-soh-koh]
over there
Points to a place far from both the speaker and listener.
あそこにあります。
It is over there.
の
no
[noh]
of; linking particle
Connects 'usual' to 'road.'
いつもの道を使いたいです。
I'd like to use the usual road.
いす
isu
[ee-soo]
chair
Used when asking for seating, such as a child’s chair.
子ども用のいすをお願いします。
A chair for a child, please.
で
de
[de]
at; in
A particle showing the place where an action happens.
家でキリンを飲みます。
I drink Kirin at home.
待ってもいいですか？
matsu te mo ii desu ka
may I wait?
A polite request for permission to wait. Keep the small pause in 'matte'.
ここで待ってもいいですか？
May I wait here?
Words in this phrase
待っ
matsu
[maht]
wait
From 待つ, meaning to wait.
家族が待っています。
My family is waiting.
て
te
[teh]
te-form ending
て connects actions or makes polite requests and set expressions.
座ってください。
Please sit down.
も
mo
[moh]
also; even
With で, it forms でも, meaning but.
はい、でも、もう少し先です。
Yes, but it is a little farther ahead.
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; am; are
The polite copula used to say something is a certain way.
赤は人気です。
Red is popular.
か
ka
[kah]
question particle
か is placed at the end of a sentence to mark it as a question in polite Japanese.
先生ですか。
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