Listen for the purpose of a set phrase during a service encounter.

The idea

いらっしゃいませ welcomes a customer; 少々お待ちください asks them to wait briefly; かしこまりました acknowledges a request politely. The speaker and situation help identify the function.

Examples

  • いらっしゃいませ。店みせへようこそ。Welcome. Welcome to our shop.
  • 少々しょうしょうお待まちください。Please wait a moment.
  • かしこまりました。すぐに確認かくにんいたします。Certainly. I will check immediately.
  • ご注文ちゅうもんはお決きまりですか。Have you decided what to order?
  • お会計かいけいはあちらでお願ねがいします。Please pay over there.
  • ありがとうございました。またお越こしください。Thank you very much. Please come again.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

A welcome is usually addressed to customers generally; it is not necessarily a question requiring a reply. かしこまりました confirms understanding, not completion.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the welcome: （いらっしゃいませ／かしこまりました）

    Show answer or example answer

    いらっしゃいませ

    いらっしゃいませ is the welcome used on arrival.

  2. Choose the request to wait: （少々しょうしょうお待まちください／いらっしゃいませ）

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    少々お待ちください

    少々お待ちください asks the customer to wait briefly.

  3. Choose the acknowledgement: （かしこまりました／少々しょうしょうお待まちください）

    Show answer or example answer

    かしこまりました

    かしこまりました politely acknowledges the request.

Use it today

Imagine ordering a drink. Identify the welcome, request and acknowledgement.