Guide · What you will hear
When You Don’t Understand What Japanese Staff Said
6 situations · updated
Not understanding is not the problem. Freezing is.
The difficulty is that a silent pause looks the same as thinking it over. Until you show that you didn’t follow, nothing changes.
Each of these six moves says “I missed that” clearly and politely, and each one gives you something to work with.
At a glance
1. Ask for it one more time
What you hear
◯◯はよろしいですか
[word] wa yoroshii desu ka
Is ... all right?
◯◯はいかがですか
[word] wa ikaga desu ka
How about ...?
What it means
A yes/no question where you caught the shape of it but not the word in the middle.
What you need to notice
The voice rises at the end, then there’s a short pause while they wait for you.
What to do
- Say the line below at normal volume — it’s a completely ordinary thing to say.
- Then listen for the repeat, which usually comes more slowly.
Do you need to reply?
You do need to say something — silence just stalls things for both of you.
すみません、もう一度お願いします
sumimasen, mou ichido onegai shimasu
“Sorry, once more please.”
If you missed it
If the repeat doesn’t help either, go straight to move 3.
2. Ask them to slow down
What you hear
ポイントカードお持ちでしたらお出しください
pointo kaado omochi deshitara odashi kudasai
If you have a point card, please take it out.
What it means
A longer, run-together sentence. The words themselves are ordinary, but the speed turns them into one block of sound.
What you need to notice
You know it’s this case by the length of the sentence, not by any unfamiliar word in it.
What to do
- Ask for slower rather than for a repeat — the same sentence at the same speed won’t help.
Do you need to reply?
Asking for slower, rather than just again, is what makes this work.
ゆっくりお願いします
yukkuri onegai shimasu
“Slowly, please.”
もう少しゆっくりお願いします
mou sukoshi yukkuri onegai shimasu
“A little more slowly, please.”
If you missed it
Combine both moves: sumimasen, mou ichido, yukkuri onegai shimasu.
3. Say you don’t understand Japanese
What you hear
英語のメニューをお持ちします
eigo no menyuu o omochi shimasu
I’ll bring an English menu.
少々お待ちください
shou shou omachi kudasai
Please wait a moment.
What it means
These are the kinds of reply that come back once you say you don’t understand Japanese: an offer to fetch an English menu, or a request to wait while something is found.
What you need to notice
英語 (eigo) = English. お待ちください (omachi kudasai) = please wait. Both mean help is on its way.
What to do
- Say the line below early, rather than after three failed attempts.
- Then wait rather than repeating yourself.
Do you need to reply?
This is the one move that changes how the rest of the conversation goes.
日本語がわかりません
nihongo ga wakarimasen
“I don’t understand Japanese.”
英語のメニューはありますか
eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka
“Do you have an English menu?”
If you missed it
If nothing comes back, point at what you want instead — move 4.
Varies / context
Whether an English menu, a translation app or a colleague appears depends entirely on the place.
4. Point, and use one phrase
What you hear
ご注文はお決まりですか
gochuumon wa okimari desu ka
Have you decided your order?
What it means
They’re asking you to order. This is the moment where it’s easiest to freeze.
What you need to notice
It comes when staff arrive at the table with a notepad, or at a counter when it’s your turn.
What to do
- Point at the item.
- Say the line below.
- Hold up fingers for the quantity.
Do you need to reply?
Pointing alone works, but pairing it with one phrase removes any doubt.
これをお願いします
kore o onegai shimasu
“This one, please.”
これを二つお願いします
kore o futatsu onegai shimasu
“Two of these, please.”
If you missed it
Show a photo on your phone — pointing at a picture works when words don’t.
5. Decline clearly instead of guessing
What you hear
◯◯はいかがですか
[word] wa ikaga desu ka
How about ...?
ご一緒にいかがですか
goissho ni ikaga desu ka
How about one along with that?
What it means
An offer — an extra item, a bag, something heated up, a larger size. If you didn’t catch what’s being offered, the safe answer is no.
What you need to notice
いかがですか (ikaga desu ka) marks an offer rather than a required step.
What to do
- Shake your head once and say the line below.
- Don’t nod just to end the conversation — you may be agreeing to something you didn’t want.
Do you need to reply?
A clear no is safer than a guess.
いいえ、けっこうです
iie, kekkou desu
“No, thank you.”
いりません
irimasen
“I don’t need it.”
If you missed it
If you accidentally accepted something, point at it and say kore wa irimasen — “I don’t need this”.
Varies / context
One phrase to be careful with: 大丈夫です (daijoubu desu) is used both to accept and to decline, and which one it means depends on tone and context. iie, kekkou desu is the clearer choice.
6. Get the number shown to you
What you hear
◯◯円になります
[amount] en ni narimasu
It comes to ... yen.
お会計は◯◯円です
okaikei wa [amount] en desu
The bill is ... yen.
What it means
A price or an amount. Spoken numbers are the hardest thing to catch by ear and the least necessary to catch.
What you need to notice
The sentence ends in 円 (en, “yen”). It’s a statement, not a question.
What to do
- Look at the small screen facing you beside the register — the amount is shown there.
- If there’s no screen, ask them to write it down: kaite moraemasu ka.
- Or hand over a larger banknote and take the change.
Do you need to reply?
You don’t need to say anything — paying is the answer.
If you missed it
Hold out your palm with the coins showing, so the right ones can be picked out.
Varies / context
Not every register has a screen facing you, and some small shops still work from a handwritten bill.
None of these six lines are advanced Japanese, and none of them need a good accent. They work because each one tells the other person exactly which kind of help you need.
The only thing that doesn’t work is silence.