How to Say ‘May I ask?’ in Japanese
伺ってもよろしいですか。
ukagatsu te mo yoroshii desu ka
[oo-KAHG teh mo yo-ro-SHEE dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: 伺う (ukagau) is the humble "ask". The speaker lowers their own action to show respect, so staff use it when asking you something.
Phrase Breakdown
伺っても
ukagatsu te mo
even if I ask; may I ask
伺う (ukagau) is a humble verb meaning 'to ask', and ても means 'even if'. Hold the small っ as a short pause: u-ka-ga-t-te-mo.
お名前を伺っても？
May I ask your name?
Words in this phrase
伺っ
ukagatsu
[oo-KAHG]
ask; hear (humble)
Humble form of 'ask' or 'hear', used when speaking to someone of higher status.
先生にお話を伺いました。
I heard a talk from the teacher.
て
te
[teh]
te-form ending
This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.
てをつけると、つぎのどうさにつなげられます。
When you add -te, you can connect it to the next action.
も
mo
[mo]
even
Indicating emphasis or inclusion.
私も驚いた。
Even I was surprised.
よろしいですか。
yoroshii desu ka
is it all right?
A polite way to ask for permission (yoroshii desu ka). Let the final か rise slightly.
ここに座ってもよろしいですか。
May I sit here?
Words in this phrase
よろしい
yoroshii
[yo-ro-SHEE]
all right; acceptable (polite)
Polite form of 'good'; used in asking permission.
お電話してもよろしいですか。
May I call you?
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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