How to Say ‘I'd like to ask’ in Japanese
聞きたいんですが
kiki tai n desu ga
[kee-KEE tie n dess gah]
💬 Usage Tip: Ending with んですが "but..." and stopping there makes this a soft opener, and the listener knows to jump in and help. Try 予約したいんですが "I'd like to make a booking...".
Phrase Breakdown
聞き
kiki
[kee-KEE]
ask; hear
Stem of 聞く, here meaning to ask someone something.
受付で聞きました。
I asked at the reception.
たい
tai
[tie]
want to
Added to a verb stem to express the speaker's desire to do something.
前の方の席を予約したいです。
I want to reserve seats toward the front.
ん
n
[n]
(explanatory n)
Casual form of の; adds a tone of seeking or giving an explanation, often before です.
どうしたんですか。
What happened?
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
が
ga
[gah]
(softening ending)
Ending a sentence with ga softens a request politely.
お願いしたいんですが。
I'd like to ask a favor...
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