Waku Waku Japanese Language Lessons!

Waku Waku Japanese – Language Lesson 46: I Don’t Understand

As we’re all learning Japanese, we’re bound to encounter many situations where we just won’t understand a word, a phrase or even complete sentences. Even for those fluent in Japanese, there are numerous situations where there’s a need to ask for someone to slow down and repeat what they just said or to go over what they meant. This lesson, Erin teaches you these valuable phrases to say when you’re in that confused state of not understanding!

Mou sukoshi yukkuri hanashite kudasai – Could you please speak a little more slowly
もうすこしゆっくりはなしてください／もうすこしゆっくり話してください

Mou ichido onegaishimasu – One more time please (please repeat what you just said)
もういちどおねがいします／もう一度お願いします

Kurikaeshite itadakemasuka? – Can you please repeat? (what you just said)
くりかえしていただけますか？／繰り返していただけますか？

E? / Nani? / N? – (casual) Huh? (what did you just say?)
え？なに？ん？／え？何？ん？

Sore wa douiu imi desu ka? – What does this/that mean? (particular part of the sentence/phrase)
それはどういういみですか？／それはどういう意味ですか？

Kantan na nihongo de hanashite kudasai – Please use (speak) in easier Japanese
かんたんなにほんごではなしてください／簡単な日本語で話してください

~ ni tsuite mou ichido setsumei shite kudasai – Please explain about (something) one more time
〜についてもういちどせつめいしてください／〜についてもう一度説明してください

Douzo, tsuzukete kudasai – please continue
どうぞ、つずけてください／どうぞ、続けてください

Wakarimasen – I don’t understand
わかりません／分かりません

Eigo de onegaishimasu – English please (please explain it in English)
えいごでおねがいします／英語でお願いします

Kiku wa ichido no haji, kikanu wa isshou no haji – Although you might be embarrassed to ask the question that one time, you would be oblivious about the topic forever for the rest of your life, and thus would embarrass yourself forever
きくはいちどのはじ、きかぬはいっしょうのはじ／聞くは一度の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥

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