Social guide / NF 029
How do you ask someone to repeat in Japanese?Three phrases for when you lose the thread
Ask for repetition, slower speech or a different way to explain. A short, clear request is more useful than pretending you understood.
Evidence label / Japan Foundation learning material • Practical Japanese • Editorial examples
You catch the greeting and then lose the rest of the sentence. At a cafe counter, a hotel desk or a social gathering, the useful next step is to tell the other person what you need: the same words again, a slower pace, or another way to explain.
The Japan Foundation’s Irodori Starter lesson 2 teaches asking for repetition when something is unclear. The three expressions below come from that lesson; the scenarios and practice routine are our own suggestions for visitors. You do not need to turn a brief misunderstanding into a long apology.
1. Ask for the same words again
もういちど、お願いします。— Mō ichido, onegaishimasu. In this context: “Once more, please.” Irodori pairs this request with すみません (sumimasen), a brief “excuse me” or “sorry.” Use the whole request when you missed what was just said.
Our example: the server asks a question, but a grinder starts at the same moment. Wait for the noise to stop, make the request and listen to the answer. Keep the request connected to that conversation: said without context, “once more” does not specify what should be repeated.
2. Ask for a slower pace
もう少し、ゆっくり言ってください。— Mō sukoshi, yukkuri itte kudasai. “Please say it a little more slowly.” This is the lesson’s option when the speed is the obstacle. The mark over ō indicates a long vowel; the source writes the same sound as “oo.”
Our suggestion is to listen for one useful detail at a time. If you are trying to confirm a meeting time, focus on the time before asking about the meeting place. Repeating the whole exchange more loudly will not necessarily solve a problem caused by pace or unfamiliar vocabulary.
Ask for the missing information, then give the answer room to arrive.
3. Say when you still do not understand
よくわかりません。— Yoku wakarimasen. “I do not quite understand.” Irodori presents this alongside the repeat and slower-speech requests. It describes a gap in understanding; it does not tell the speaker exactly which word caused it.
Our practical next step is to identify the detail you need. Point to the relevant item on a menu or show the place name you are discussing. If both people share another language, ask whether switching would help. Avoid adding several new questions before the first one has been resolved.
Try a small practice routine before you go
Choose one everyday situation and decide what information you need from it. For a cafe, that might be whether your order is for takeaway. Practice making one request, pausing for the answer and checking the result. This is our suggested rehearsal, not a tested formula for language learning.
Keep the phrases in a note you can find quickly. Showing a short written request is an option if speaking feels difficult. Show only the text needed for the conversation, rather than handing over an unlocked phone full of messages or personal details. Thank the person once the point is clear.
Common misunderstandings—and the limits of this guide
A repeated sentence may still contain an unfamiliar word. Slower speech does not automatically explain that word. And a nod can leave the other person unsure whether you understood or are simply listening. Our advice is to confirm the detail that matters instead of treating the exchange as a performance.
These are beginner expressions from a language course, not evidence that every Japanese speaker responds in one way. A noisy room, limited time or different language abilities can still make communication difficult. Use the source lesson for its listening exercises and examples; treat our scenarios as adaptable suggestions, not promises of a particular reaction.
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The Japan Foundation supports the phrase examples. Scenarios, troubleshooting and rehearsal suggestions are editorial advice, not measured national behavior or guaranteed outcomes. The image is an AI-generated illustration.
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