I’m in Japan right now, I am half japanese and somewhat fluent but I do forget how to say things sometimes. How do I say pardon or sorry when I dont understand what someone is saying and I need them to repeat? Or in general what is a good thing to say when you don’t understand what someone is saying?
3 comments
すいません、すみません
わかりません means “I don’t understand.” もういちどおねがいします、ゆっくりおねがいします means “One more time please, slowly please.”
The longest and most polite way to put it is this:
Once you say it politely, I think the rest of the time you can say “すみません” + appropriate begging-a-pardon gesture, and she/he would rephrase it without offending.
すみません、よく聞こえなかったので、もういちどお願いできますか？ (Sorry, I didn’t hear you well, could you repeat that?)