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How to Say ‘Excuse me, do you have a moment?’ in Japanese

すみません、今ちょっといいですか。

sumi mase n ima chotto ii desu ka

[soo-mee mah-seh n ima choht-toh ee dess kah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking permission to talk before explaining yourself is the polite way to approach a busy shop owner. Launching straight into your request would feel abrupt.

Phrase Breakdown

すみません、

sumi mase n

excuse me,

Used to get someone's attention politely. Pause briefly at the comma.

Example

すみません、これはいくらですか。

Excuse me, how much is this?

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.

今ちょっと

ima chotto

now, for a moment

今 (ima) means 'now'. ちょっと (chotto) means 'a little / a moment'. Make the small っ a short stop.

Example

今ちょっと時間があります。

I have a little time now.

Words in this phrase

今

ima

[ima]

now

A time word meaning now or just now.

Example

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.

Example

ちょっとまってね。

Wait a moment, okay?

いいですか。

ii desu ka

is it okay?

A polite question asking for permission. Let your voice rise slightly at the end.

Example

入ってもいいですか。

May I come in?

Words in this phrase

いい

[ee]

good; okay

Means “okay/allowed” in the permission expression.

Example

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.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

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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