How to Say ‘Please take the shortest route.’ in Japanese
一番近い道でお願いします。
ichiban chikai michi de o negai shi masu
[ee-chee-bahn chee-kah-ee mee-chee deh oh neh-gah-ee shee mahs]
💬 Usage Tip: [近い] means "near/close." In this phrase, it means the route with the shortest distance, not necessarily the quickest time.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This can be useful if you want to avoid a long detour, but the shortest route may still be slower if roads are busy.
Phrase Breakdown
一番
ichiban
[ee-chee-bahn]
number one; most
Used to mean the most, here the nearest or closest.
一番近い道でお願いします。
Please take the closest route.
近い
chikai
[chee-kah-ee]
near; close
Describes distance. Here it means the closest route.
一番近い道でお願いします。
Please take the closest route.
道
michi
[mee-chee]
road; route
Means road or route, especially the path the taxi should take.
一番近い道でお願いします。
Please take the closest route.
で
de
[deh]
by; with
Shows the route or means, here meaning by that road.
一番近い道でお願いします。
Please take the closest route.
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
Adds politeness to the request.
一番近い道でお願いします。
Please take the closest route.
願い
negai
[neh-gah-ee]
request; wish
Part of お願いします, used to make polite requests.
一番近い道でお願いします。
Please take the closest route.
し
shi
[shee]
do
Part of します in the polite request phrase.
一番近い道でお願いします。
Please take the closest route.
ます
masu
[mahs]
polite verb ending
Adds a respectful tone to the request.
一番近い道でお願いします。
Please take the closest route.
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