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How to Say ‘There's something I'd like to ask your advice about...’ in Japanese

ちょっとご相談したいことがあるんですが…。

chotto go soudan shi tai koto ga aru n desu ga

[chotto go soh-dahn shi tie koto ga aru n dess gah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Trailing off with が… and leaving the request unsaid is the polite way to open. The pharmacist will step in and ask what's wrong, so you don't need to finish the sentence.

Phrase Breakdown

ちょっとご相談したい

chotto go soudan shi tai

I'd like to consult (you) a little

A polite opening. ちょっと softens the request, and ご相談 is the humble form of 'consultation'.

Example

ちょっとご相談したいんですが。

I'd like to ask your advice about something.

Words in this phrase

ちょっと

chotto

[chotto]

a little

Indicating a small quantity or amount.

Example

ちょっと待って。

Wait a little.

ご

[go]

polite prefix

An honorific prefix added to some nouns to make the expression more polite, common in customer service.

Example

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.

Example

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

shi

[shi]

to do

The verb for carrying out or performing an action.

Example

そのことをしました。

I did that thing.

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.

ことがあるんですが…。

koto ga aru n desu ga

there's something…, but…

こと means 'a matter'. んですが leaves the sentence open, which invites the listener to respond. Let your voice trail off gently.

Example

聞きたいことがあるんですが…。

There's something I'd like to ask…

Words in this phrase

こと

koto

[koto]

thing

Refers to an object or matter.

Example

面白いことがあった。

Something interesting happened.

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.

ある

aru

[aru]

there is; to have

Used for the existence of things, such as items on a ticket.

Example

スープもあるね。

There’s soup too, right.

ん

[n]

(explanatory n)

Casual form of の; adds a tone of seeking or giving an explanation, often before です.

Example

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.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

が

[gah]

(softening ending)

Ending a sentence with ga softens a request politely.

Example

お願いしたいんですが。

I'd like to ask a favor...

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