Short, polite phrases help colleagues share the information they need. Read the examples and adapt them to your own workplace.

The idea

Get attention with すみません and use room はどこですか to ask where it is. どちら is a more polite way to ask. An answer can give a floor with 二階です or a landmark with エレベーターの隣です.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
すみません、休憩室きゅうけいしつはどこですか。Excuse me, where is the break room?
会議室かいぎしつは二階にかいです。The meeting room is on the second floor.
エレベーターの隣となりです。It is next to the lift.

Examples

  • すみません、休憩室きゅうけいしつはどこですか。Excuse me, where is the break room?
  • 会議室かいぎしつは二階にかいです。The meeting room is on the second floor.
  • トイレはどちらですか。Where is the restroom?
  • エレベーターの隣となりです。It is next to the lift.
  • まっすぐ行いって、右みぎです。Go straight ahead; it is on the right.
  • ありがとうございます。わかりました。Thank you. I understand.

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

Watch out

どこ asks where; どちら is a more polite alternative. In Japan 二階 usually means the floor immediately above the ground floor; numbering conventions differ elsewhere.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the answer that completes the sentence: 休憩室きゅうけいしつは＿ですか。（どこ／何時なんじ）

    Show answer or example answer

    どこ

    どこ asks for a place.

  2. Choose the answer that completes the sentence: 会議室かいぎしつは二階にかい＿。（です／ます）

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    です

    です completes a polite statement after the noun 二階.

  3. Choose the answer that completes the sentence: エレベーターの＿です。（隣となり／何分なんぷん）

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    隣

    隣 means next to; の connects it to the lift.

Use it today

Practise these lines aloud with a colleague: すみません、休憩室きゅうけいしつはどこですか。 エレベーターの隣となりです。 Replace one detail to fit your own situation.