How to Say ‘Sorry, once more, please.’ in Japanese
すみません、もう一度お願いします。
sumi mase n mou itsu do o negai shi masu
[soo-mee mah-seh n moh ichi doh oh neh-guy shee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Cashiers hear this often and won't mind. Many will also turn the register display toward you or point at the total.
Phrase Breakdown
すみません、
sumi mase n
Excuse me / Sorry,
Softens the request that follows. Pause briefly after it.
すみません、わかりません。
Sorry, I don't understand.
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.
もう一度
mou itsu do
once more
Say it 'mō ichido' and hold the long 'o' in mō.
もう一度見せてください。
Please show me once more.
Words in this phrase
もう
mou
[moh]
another; one more
Used to add one more person, often when changing a reservation number.
予約は四人ですが、もう一人来ます。
The reservation is for four people, but one more person is coming.
一
itsu
[ichi]
one
Refers to the number one in counting or sequencing.
一つください。
Please give me one.
度
do
[doh]
time / occurrence
Counter-like word meaning occurrence or time. 一度 means once.
もう一度お願いします、ゆっくりで大丈夫です。
One more time, please; slowly is fine.
お願いします。
o negai shi masu
please
A polite request ending, 'onegai shimas'.
お水をお願いします。
Water, please.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix that makes the expression sound more courteous.
お名前をお願いします。
Your name, please.
願い
negai
[neh-guy]
request; favor
願い refers to a wish or request, and in お願い it forms a polite request expression.
お願いがあります。
I have a request.
し
shi
[shee]
do
し is the stem of する, meaning to do.
予約しします。
I do the reservation.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A polite ending for verbs in present or non-past form.
空いています、だいじょうぶです。
It is available, so it’s okay.
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