When an instruction is unclear, ask for repetition and check the action before you begin. The examples use polite everyday workplace speech.

The idea

Start with すみません to get attention politely. もう一度いちど言いってください asks for repetition; ゆっくり話はなしてください asks for slower speech. これはどうしますか asks what to do with something. Repeat a specific step as a question to check it.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
すみません、もう一度いちど言いってください。Excuse me, please say that again.
すみません、ゆっくり話はなしてください。Excuse me, please speak slowly.
これはどうしますか。What should I do with this?
ここに名前なまえを書かきますか。Do I write my name here?
すみません、まだよくわかりません。Excuse me, I still do not understand very well.

Examples

  • すみません、もう一度いちど言いってください。Excuse me, please say that again.
  • すみません、ゆっくり話はなしてください。Excuse me, please speak slowly.
  • これはどうしますか。What should I do with this?
  • ここに名前なまえを書かきますか。Do I write my name here?
  • わかりました。箱はこに入いれます。I understand. I will put it in the box.
  • すみません、まだよくわかりません。Excuse me, I still do not understand very well.

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

Watch out

わかりました means you understood; do not use it to pretend you understood. If you are still unsure, say まだよくわかりません and ask again.

Try it yourself

  1. 「すみません、もう一度いちど＿ください。」（言いう→て）

    Show answer or example answer

    言って

    言いって is the て form of 言いう; before ください it asks the speaker to say it again.

  2. 「すみません、＿話はなしてください。」（ゆっくり／たくさん）

    Show answer or example answer

    ゆっくり

    ゆっくり means slowly, so it requests a slower explanation rather than more words.

  3. 「ここ＿名前なまえを書かきますか。」（に／を）

    Show answer or example answer

    に

    に marks the place where the name is to be written. The question checks the instruction.

Use it today

Role-play an instruction with a colleague: ask for repetition, confirm where to write, and say what you will do next. Swap roles.