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How to Say ‘Excuse me, but I asked for the west exit.’ in Japanese

すみません、西口をお願いしたんですが。

sumi mase n nishiguchi o o negai shi ta n desu ga

[soo-mee mah-seh n nee-shee-GOO-chee oh oh neh-guy shee tah n dess gah]

💬 Usage Tip: Ending a sentence with んですが (n desu ga) leaves it hanging politely, like "…but". It lets you point out a problem without directly saying "you got it wrong".

🇯🇵 In Japan: Starting with すみません and trailing off softly is how locals correct someone without causing friction. A driver will usually apologize and fix it right away.

Phrase Breakdown

すみません、

sumi mase n

excuse me / sorry

Softens what comes next. The 'u' in 'su' is often nearly silent: 'sumimasen'.

Example

すみません、駅はどこですか。

Excuse me, where is the station?

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.

Example

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.

Example

はいていません。

I haven’t vomited.

ん

[n]

negative ending

The final sound completing the negative polite form.

Example

一人は魚が食べられません。

One person cannot eat fish.

西口を

nishiguchi o

the west exit (object)

'Nishiguchi' means 'west exit', and 'o' marks it as the object. Say 'ni-shi-gu-chi-o'.

Example

西口を出てください。

Please go out the west exit.

Words in this phrase

西口

nishiguchi

[nee-shee-GOO-chee]

west exit

The west exit or entrance of a station or building.

Example

西口はあちらです。

The west exit is over there.

を

[oh]

object marker

The particle を marks the direct object of a verb.

Example

チケットを二枚ください。

Two tickets, please.

お願いしたんですが。

o negai shi ta n desu ga

I asked for ... but

'-n desu ga' gently points out a problem. Let your voice trail off softly at the end.

Example

コーヒーをお願いしたんですが。

I ordered coffee, but...

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific prefix

お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.

Example

チケットを二枚お願いします。

Two tickets, 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.

Example

お願いがあります。

I have a request.

し

shi

[shee]

し is the stem of する, meaning to do.

Example

予約しします。

I do the reservation.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

ん

[n]

explanatory tone

ん adds an explanatory or noticing tone, like “so...” or “I see...”

Example

そう言うんですね。

So that’s how you say it, huh.

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

が

[gah]

but

Softens the phrase and leads into offering the gift politely.

Example

つまらないものですが、どうぞ。

It’s just a small thing, but please accept it.

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