How to Say ‘Are you looking for something?’ in Japanese
何かお探しですか。
nani ka o sagashi desu ka
[nah-nee kah oh sah-gah-shee dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: お探し is the polite form of the verb 探す "to look for," made by adding お in front. Staff use this form to talk about what customers are doing.
Phrase Breakdown
何か
nani ka
something / anything
何 (nani, what) + か makes it indefinite: 'something'. Pronounced 'nanika'.
何か飲みますか。
Would you like something to drink?
Words in this phrase
何
nani
[nah-nee]
what; something (with か)
何 by itself is “what.” In 何か, it becomes “something / anything” depending on context.
何か気になることがあったら言ってください。
If there’s anything that bothers you, please tell me.
か
ka
[kah]
some- (indefinite)
After a question word, makes it indefinite: 何か = something.
何か食べたいです。
I want to eat something.
お探しですか。
o sagashi desu ka
are you looking for?
Polite shop-staff form of 探す (sagasu, to look for): お + stem + ですか. Pronounced 'osagashi desu ka'.
どの本をお探しですか。
Which book are you looking for?
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.
チケットを二枚お願いします。
Two tickets, please.
探し
sagashi
[sah-gah-shee]
search for
The stem of 探す, meaning to look for or search for something such as a job opportunity.
自分に合う会社を探し続けています。
I continue searching for a company that suits me.
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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