How to Say ‘Please take the shorter route.’ in Japanese
近い道でお願いします。
chikai michi de o negai shi masu
[chee-kai mee-chee deh o neh-gai shee mahs]
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a natural, polite way to ask for a shorter route without sounding accusatory. In Japan, asking for your preference often lands better than directly saying the driver is wrong.
Phrase Breakdown
近い道
chikai michi
the shorter road; the closer route
A route that is near or short in distance.
近い道を選びます。
I'll choose the shorter route.
Words in this phrase
近い
chikai
[chee-kai]
near; short
An i-adjective meaning near, close, or in this context shorter.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
道
michi
[mee-chee]
road; way
A noun meaning road, street, or route.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
で
de
[deh]
by; with; as
A particle that can indicate method, means, or basis; here it links the requested route.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
お願いします
o negai shi masu
please; I'd like to ask for that
Polite request expression used to ask someone to do something.
水をお願いします。
Water, please.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[o]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix used in set expressions like お願いします.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
願い
negai
[neh-gai]
request; wish
Part of 願い, related to requesting or asking for something.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
し
shi
[shee]
do
Part of します, the polite form of する, to do.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite ending
The polite non-past ending used in formal speech.
近い道でお願いします。
Please take the shorter road.
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