How to Say ‘Do you have a moment?’ in Japanese
ちょっといいですか。
chotto ii desu ka
[choht-toh ee dess ka]
💬 Usage Tip: いい means "good" or "okay", so this is literally "Is it okay for a little bit?" ちょっと "a little" softens almost any request.
Phrase Breakdown
ちょっと
chotto
[choht-toh]
a little; just a moment
ちょっと softens the command and means for a moment.
ちょっとまってね。
Wait a moment, okay?
いいですか。
ii desu ka
Is it okay?
いい means 'good/okay', and ですか makes it a polite question. Stretch the 'ii' into a long 'ee' sound.
ここに座ってもいいですか。
May I sit here?
Words in this phrase
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
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
[ka]
question particle
Indicates a question.
大丈夫ですか？
Are you okay?
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