How to Say ‘Can you speak?’ in Japanese
話せますか
hanase masu ka
[hah-nah-seh mah-su kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Often you’ll specify what: [優しく話せますか] (kindly) / [日本語で話せますか] (in Japanese).
🇯🇵 In Japan: Interviewers may check communication style, not just language ability—especially for sensitive care situations.
Phrase Breakdown
話せ
hanase
[hah-nah-seh]
can (you) speak?
話せ (can speak) used to ask about ability when followed by ますか. In interviews, the interviewer may ask this about communication style.
緊張している方にも落ち着いて話せますか。
Can you speak calmly even to someone who is nervous?
ます
masu
[mah-su]
(polite ending)
Polite ending used in questions too. Keeps the question respectful: 話せますか.
利用者さんに分かりやすく話せますか。
Can you speak in an easy-to-understand way to residents/clients?
か
ka
[kah]
question marker (polite)
Sentence-ending particle that makes a question. Common in formal interview questions.
優しく話せますか。
Can you speak gently?
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