⏳🙏

How to Say ‘Not yet, please wait a moment.’ in Japanese

もう少し待ってください。

mou sukoshi matsu te kudasai

[MOH soo-koh-shee matte teh kudasai]

💬 Usage Tip: てください after a verb turns it into a polite request: 待って "wait" becomes 待ってください "please wait". The small っ in 待って (matte) is a short held pause before the (t).

Phrase Breakdown

もう少し

mou sukoshi

a little more

もう (mou) means 'more', and 少し (sukoshi) means 'a little'. The 'u' in 'su' is almost silent: 'mou skoshi'.

Example

もう少しください。

A little more, please.

Words in this phrase

もう

mou

[MOH]

a bit more

Adverb meaning 'more'; with 少し it means 'a little more'.

Example

もう少し待ってください。

Please wait a little longer.

少し

sukoshi

[soo-koh-shee]

a little; a moment

Used to ask for a short wait or small amount of time.

Example

少し待ってください。

Please wait a moment.

待ってください。

matsu te kudasai

please wait

待つ (matsu) means 'to wait'. Pause briefly at the small っ: 'mat-te'.

Example

ちょっと待ってください。

Please wait a moment.

Words in this phrase

待っ

matsu

[matte]

wait

The act of waiting or pausing.

Example

少し待ってください。

Please wait a moment.

て

[teh]

te-form ending

This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.

Example

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.

ください

kudasai

[kudasai]

please (do)

Used to make a polite request.

Example

手伝ってください。

Please help me.

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