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How to Say ‘Excuse me, is the seat next to you free?’ in Japanese

すみません、隣、空いてますか？

sumi mase n tonari ai te masu ka

[soo-mee mah-seh n toh-NAH-ree ah-ee te mahs kah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: This is the natural, low-pressure way to sit next to someone at a bar counter in Japan. Polite ですか keeps it from sounding like a come-on.

Phrase Breakdown

すみません、

sumi mase n

Excuse me,

A polite way to get someone's attention. It often sounds like 'suimasen' in fast speech.

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.

隣、空いてますか？

tonari ai te masu ka

is the seat next to you free?

Pause slightly after 隣, then use a rising tone on か.

Example

隣、空いてますか？座ってもいいですか？

Is the seat next to you free? May I sit?

Words in this phrase

隣

tonari

[toh-NAH-ree]

next to; neighboring seat

Noun for the place or seat right beside someone.

Example

隣の席に座ります。

I'll sit in the next seat.

空い

[ah-ee]

be available; be open

Refers to having free tables or open availability.

Example

空いていますかと聞きました。

I asked, 'Are you available?'

て

[te]

te-form ending

Connects actions in sequence, like 'and' or 'then'.

Example

ドアが開いて、入ります。

The door opens, and then I go in.

ます

masu

[mahs]

polite verb ending

A standard polite ending added to verbs, often used in customer service and formal speech.

Example

予約を確認します。

I will confirm the reservation.

か

[kah]

question marker

Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.

Example

A席はありますか。

Are there A seats available?

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