How to Say ‘Is this seat next to you free?’ in Japanese
ここ、隣いいですか。
koko tonari ii desu ka
[koh-koh toh-nah-ree ee dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: In [ここ、隣いいですか。], the seat is left unsaid; Japanese often drops obvious words from the situation. You can reuse this with place words like [そこ、いいですか。] when the context makes the meaning clear.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a natural, light way to ask to sit near someone at a bar, but it works best when there's an actual open seat and the vibe is relaxed. With strangers, a soft tone matters a lot more than the exact wording.
Phrase Breakdown
ここ
koko
[koh-koh]
here
A casual word for “here,” often used when pointing out a nearby seat or spot.
ここ、隣いいですか。
Is this seat next to you okay?
隣
tonari
[toh-nah-ree]
next to; beside
Refers to the space next to someone. Common when politely asking about a seat beside them.
ここ、隣いいですか。
Is this seat next to you okay?
いいですか
ii desu ka
is it okay?; may I?
Polite way to ask for permission or check if something is acceptable.
ここに座ってもいいですか。
May I sit here?
Words in this phrase
いい
ii
[ee]
good; okay
Here, いい means “okay” in the sense of asking permission or checking if something is acceptable.
ここ、隣いいですか。
Is this seat next to you okay?
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
Adds politeness and softness to the question, making it suitable for first contact.
ここ、隣いいですか。
Is this seat next to you okay?
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Marks the sentence as a polite question. Useful for sounding respectful and natural.
ここ、隣いいですか。
Is this seat next to you okay?
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