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: ちょっと means "a little", so this is literally "Is a little okay?". ちょっと softens many requests: ちょっと待ってください "please wait a moment".
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' (good/okay) + 'ですか' (polite question). Hold 'ii' long. 'desu' sounds like 'des'.
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
Used to ask if something is acceptable or suitable.
この場所でいいですか。
Is this place okay?
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
A particle used at the end of a sentence to form a question.
それは大丈夫ですか？
Is that okay?
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