Lost? Ask Like This

How it sounds発音の三つのコツ

Three rules cover most of the phrases on this page.

The u in desu and masu almost disappears.desu sounds like “dess,” arimasu like “ah-ree-mass.”
A doubled letter is a tiny stop.chotto is “chot · to,” with a beat of silence in the middle. Same for massugu and docchi.
A line over a vowel means hold it.kōban is “koh-oh-ban,” two beats on the o. Keep every syllable the same length and don't stress any of them.

Stop someone声をかける

Pick someone who isn't rushing. A small bow or a raised hand is enough.

You say

すみません、
ちょっといいですか？

Sumimasen, chotto ii desu ka?

Say it like soo-mee-mah-sen, chot-to ee dess ka

Excuse me, do you have a second?

Here すみません means “excuse me,” not “sorry.” It is the word that opens every request in this list.

Ask the way道を聞く

Choose where you want to go. Every phrase below changes to match.

Where to?

Somewhere else

You say

駅えきってどっちですか？

eki-tte docchi desu ka?

Say it like eh-kee-teh doh-chee dess ka

Which way is the station?

On the street people ask どっち (which way) more often than どこ (where). Both are fine.

You say

この辺へんに駅えきありますか？

Kono hen ni eki arimasu ka?

Say it like koh-noh hen nee eh-kee ah-ree-mass ka

Is there a station around here?

Use this when any one will do: any toilet, any konbini.

You say

ここに行いきたいんですけど…

Koko ni ikitai n desu kedo…

Say it like koh-koh nee ee-kee-tie n dess keh-doh

I'd like to go here… (show your phone)

Hold up the map on your phone while you say it. The trailing けど… is what people really say: you stop, and they take it from there.

You say

歩あるいて行いけますか？

Aruite ikemasu ka?

Say it like ah-roo-ee-teh ee-keh-mass ka

Can I walk there?

You say

歩あるいて何分なんぷんぐらいですか？

Aruite nanpun gurai desu ka?

Say it like ah-roo-ee-teh nahn-poon goo-rye dess ka

About how many minutes on foot?

You say

トイレお借かりしてもいいですか？

Toire okari shite mo ii desu ka?

Say it like toh-ee-reh oh-kah-ree shteh moh ee dess ka

May I use your toilet?

Say it to the clerk in a konbini. Most will say はい、どうぞ (yes, go ahead).

Catch the answer答えで聞こえる言葉

You won't follow every word, and you don't need to. Listen for these and watch where they point. Tap one to hear it.

手前 trips people up: it is the near side, before you reach the landmark, not “in front of” it.

You hear

二ふたつ目めの信号しんごうを
右みぎに曲まがって、すぐです。

Futatsume no shingō o migi ni magatte, sugu desu.

Say it like foo-tah-tsoo-meh noh sheen-goh oh mee-gee nee mah-gaht-teh, soo-goo dess

Turn right at the second light, and it's right there.

A typical answer. Pick out 二つ目, 信号, 右 and すぐ, and you have all of it.

Didn't catch it?聞き取れなかったとき

Nobody minds. Ask again, or hand them your phone.

You say

すみません、
もう一度いちどお願ねがいします。

Sumimasen, mō ichido onegai shimasu.

Say it like soo-mee-mah-sen, moh-oh ee-chee-doh oh-neh-guy shee-mass

Sorry, one more time, please.

You say

ゆっくりお願ねがいします。

Yukkuri onegai shimasu.

Say it like yook-koo-ree oh-neh-guy shee-mass

Slowly, please.

You say

地図ちずで教おしえてもらえますか？

Chizu de oshiete moraemasu ka?

Say it like chee-zoo deh oh-shee-eh-teh moh-rah-eh-mass ka

Could you show me on the map?

Hand them your phone with the map open. Pointing works in every language.

When they offer to take you「一緒に行きましょうか？」

It happens more often than you'd expect. You'll hear this:

You hear

一緒いっしょに行いきましょうか？

Issho ni ikimashō ka?

Say it like ees-shoh nee ee-kee-mah-shoh ka

Shall I take you there?

If yes

いいんですか？
ありがとうございます！

Ii n desu ka? Arigatō gozaimasu!

Say it like ee-n dess ka? ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zye-mass

Really? Thank you!

If no

あ、大丈夫だいじょうぶです。
ありがとうございます。

A, daijōbu desu. Arigatō gozaimasu.

Say it like ah, dye-joh-boo dess. ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zye-mass

I'm fine, thank you.

Both answers are polite. 大丈夫です here means “no need,” not “OK, yes.”

Say thanksお礼

You say

ありがとうございます、
助たすかりました！

Arigatō gozaimasu, tasukarimashita!

Say it like ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zye-mass, tah-soo-kah-ree-mash-ta

Thank you, that really helped!

助かりました (you saved me) sounds warmer than thank-you alone.

When someone asks you逆に聞かれたとき

Live here long enough and people will ask you the way too.

You say

すみません、
この辺へんあまり詳くわしくなくて…

Sumimasen, kono hen amari kuwashiku nakute…

Say it like soo-mee-mah-sen, koh-noh hen ah-mah-ree koo-wah-shkoo nah-koo-teh

Sorry, I don't really know this area…

You say

ちょっと調しらべてみますね。

Chotto shirabete mimasu ne.

Say it like chot-to shee-rah-beh-teh mee-mass neh

Let me check for you. (take out your phone)