How to Say ‘I'd like to ask your advice’ in Japanese
ご相談したいんですが
go soudan shi tai n desu ga
[go soh-dahn shi tie n dess gah]
💬 Usage Tip: Ending with んですが "but..." and stopping there is a polite way to ask. The listener fills in the rest, like trailing off with "I was hoping..."
Phrase Breakdown
ご相談
go soudan
consultation
相談 (soudan) means 'consultation' or 'asking for advice', and ご makes it humble and polite. そう is a long 'o'.
ご相談があります。
I have something to consult you about.
Words in this phrase
ご
go
[go]
polite prefix
An honorific prefix added to some nouns to make the expression more polite, common in customer service.
ご予約を確認します。
I will confirm your reservation.
相談
soudan
[soh-dahn]
consultation; advice
Refers to discussing a problem or asking for advice.
上司に相談しやすい職場は安心です。
A workplace where it is easy to consult your manager feels reassuring.
したいんですが
shi tai n desu ga
I would like to do, but...
したい means 'want to do'. んですが softens the sentence and leaves it open, as a polite lead-in. Say shitai-n-desu-ga.
予約したいんですが。
I'd like to make a reservation...
Words in this phrase
し
shi
[shi]
to do
The verb for carrying out or performing an action.
そのことをしました。
I did that thing.
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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