How to Say ‘Could you stop the meter in the meantime?’ in Japanese
その間、メーターは止めておいてもらえますか？
sono aida meetaa wa tome te oi te morae masu ka
[sono ai-DAH may-ah-TAA wah toh-meh te OY te mo-ra-e mahs kah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking a driver to pause the meter while you fetch cash is a reasonable request. Many drivers will offer it themselves when the problem is on their side.
Phrase Breakdown
その間、
sono aida
during that time,
Pronounced 'sono aida'. Pause briefly at the comma.
その間、ここで待ちます。
Meanwhile, I'll wait here.
Words in this phrase
その
sono
[sono]
that
Indicates something already known or mentioned.
その車で行きます。
I will go in that car.
間
aida
[ai-DAH]
meanwhile; interval
A span of time during which something happens.
夏休みの間、旅行します。
I'll travel during summer vacation.
メーターは
meetaa wa
the (taxi) meter
Pronounced 'mētā wa', with both vowels long. は is read 'wa'.
メーターは動いています。
The meter is running.
Words in this phrase
メーター
meetaa
[may-ah-TAA]
meter
A device measuring fare based on distance/time.
メーターが動いている。
The meter is running.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
は marks the topic of the sentence.
空席はありますか。
Are there any seats available?
止めておいて
tome te oi te
keep it stopped
Pronounced 'tomete oite'. It means stopping something and leaving it stopped.
エンジンを止めておいて。
Keep the engine off.
Words in this phrase
止め
tome
[toh-meh]
stop
From 止める, meaning to stop something, such as the taxi.
ここで止めてください。
Please stop here.
て
te
[te]
te-form ending
Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.
ドアが開いて、入ります。
The door opens, and then I go in.
おい
oi
[OY]
keep; leave in place (stem)
From おく; after te-form means doing something in advance or leaving a state.
窓を開けておいてください。
Please leave the window open.
て
te
[te]
te-form ending
Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.
ドアが開いて、入ります。
The door opens, and then I go in.
もらえますか？
morae masu ka
could you?
Pronounced 'moraemasu ka', with a rising tone at the end.
見せてもらえますか？
Could you show me?
Words in this phrase
もらえ
morae
[mo-ra-e]
receive (benefit)
To obtain or get something, usually a service or information.
説明をもらえますか？
Can I receive an explanation?
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.
予約を確認し ます。
I will confirm the reservation.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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