🙋❓💭

How to Say ‘I have something I'd like to ask’ in Japanese

少しお伺いしたいことがありまして

sukoshi o ukagai shi tai koto ga ari mashi te

[skoo-shee oh oo-kah-gah-ee shee tie koh-toh ga ah-ree mah-shee teh]

💬 Usage Tip: The sentence ends on ありまして, which means "and so...", and it's left hanging on purpose. It invites the listener to say something before you get to your actual question.

🇯🇵 In Japan: Opening with a softener like this before asking something is standard phone etiquette in Japan. It sounds far more natural than jumping straight to your question.

Phrase Breakdown

少しお伺いしたいことが

sukoshi o ukagai shi tai koto ga

a little something I'd like to ask

少し (sukoshi) means 'a little,' and the 'u' is nearly silent. お伺いしたいこと means 'something I'd like to ask.'

Example

少しお時間がありますか。

Do you have a little time?

Words in this phrase

少し

sukoshi

[skoo-shee]

a little; a bit

Used to soften a request ("just a little"). In noise situations, it makes your ask sound gentle and reasonable.

Example

音楽の音、少し小さくしてもらえますか。

Could you turn the music down a little?

お

[oh]

honorific/polite prefix

A polite prefix that makes a word sound more refined or respectful.

Example

おすすめのおは、ことばを丁寧にします。

The o in osusume makes the word more polite.

伺い

ukagai

[oo-kah-gah-ee]

to ask; to visit; to hear (humble)

A humble verb used in polite business Japanese when asking or hearing from someone.

Example

御社の雰囲気について伺いたいです。

I would like to ask about your company's atmosphere.

し

shi

[shee]

do (stem)

Verb stem used as part of the fixed polite request phrase.

Example

注文をお願いし、ます。

I would like to place the order, please.

たい

tai

[tie]

want to do

Shows the speaker's desire to do an action.

Example

住民登録をしたいです。

I would like to do residency registration.

こと

koto

[koh-toh]

thing; matter; (nominalizer)

Turns verbs/clauses into a “thing/matter.” In relationship talk: 「話したいこと」 = “something I want to talk about.”

Example

話したいことがある。

There’s something I want to talk about.

が

[ga]

subject marker

A particle marking the subject of the sentence.

Example

興味がある分野を教えてください。

Please tell me the field you are interested in.

ありまして

ari mashi te

there is, and so…

This is the polite te-form of ある. It softly leads into a request without finishing the sentence.

Example

用事がありまして、遅れます。

I have an errand, so I'll be late.

Words in this phrase

あり

ari

[ah-ree]

exist; have

Stem of あります, used for existence or possession of non-living things.

Example

はい、あります。

Yes, I have it.

まし

mashi

[mah-shee]

polite verb ending part

Part of polite verb forms used in formal speech.

Example

丁寧に話しました。

I spoke politely.

て

[teh]

and; -te form

A linking form used to connect verbs to following grammar, such as progressive or polite forms.

Example

仕事を探している人と話しました。

I spoke with a person who is looking for work.

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