How to Say ‘Do you have a moment now?’ in Japanese
今ちょっといいですか。
ima chotto ii desu ka
[ima choht-toh ee dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: ちょっといいですか literally asks "is a little okay?" The ちょっと "a little" makes the request sound small and easy to grant.
Phrase Breakdown
今ちょっと
ima chotto
now, for a moment
今 (ima) means 'now'. ちょっと (chotto) means 'a little'. Hold the small っ as a short pause before 'to'.
今ちょっと忙しいです。
I'm a little busy right now.
Words in this phrase
今
ima
[ima]
now
A time word meaning now or just now.
今クラブハウスに入りました。
I just entered the clubhouse.
ちょっと
chotto
[choht-toh]
a little; just a moment
ちょっと softens the command and means for a moment.
ちょっとまってね。
Wait a moment, okay?
いいですか。
ii desu ka
is it okay?
いい means 'good/okay'. ですか makes it a polite question. 'desu ka' often sounds like 'des ka'.
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
Means “okay/allowed” in the permission expression.
ここに座ってもいい ですか。
May I sit here?
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.
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
Placed at the end of a sentence to make it a question.
A席はありますか。
Are there A seats available?
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