How to Ask Someone to Repeat Themselves Politely in Japanese
Learn intermediate Japanese phrases for asking someone to say something again, from casual もう一回 to formal 恐れ入りますが、もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you miss part of what someone said in Japanese, the goal is not to demand an explanation but simply to hear the same words again. Japanese has several polite ways to do this, and the right choice depends on who you are talking to and how formal the situation is. This lesson teaches you to request repetition clearly and politely, using natural phrases such as もう一度お願いします and すみません、聞き取れませんでした. You will practise choosing between casual, polite, and formal options, and you will learn how to check that you heard a specific word correctly.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone to repeat what they just said at a polite level.
- use more formal repetition requests in service or workplace situations.
- check whether I heard a particular word correctly.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
すみません、もう一度お願いします。
Excuse me, could you say that again?
sumimasen, mō ichido onegai shimasu.
The standard polite request. Safe in shops, offices, and with people you have just met.
もう一回言ってください。
Please say that one more time.
mō ikkai itte kudasai.
Casual but still polite enough with friends, close colleagues, or family. 一回 is more conversational than 一度.
恐れ入りますが、もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか。
I am sorry to trouble you, but could you say that again?
osoreirimasu ga, mō ichido osshatte itadakemasu ka.
Formal business Japanese. おっしゃる is the honorific form of 言う, and いただけますか is a very polite request.
すみません、聞き取れませんでした。
Sorry, I could not catch that.
sumimasen, kikitoremasen deshita.
Useful when the problem is hearing or catching the words, not understanding the meaning. It softens the request by taking responsibility.
「よやく」ですか。「よやく」ですね。
Was it 'yoyaku'? 'Yoyaku', right?
“yoyaku” desu ka. “yoyaku” desu ne.
Repeat the word you think you heard and confirm it. This is efficient when only one word was unclear.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
A reliable polite pattern is すみません、もう一度 + request form. With お願いします it is neutral polite: すみません、もう一度お願いします。 With 言ってください it is a little more direct: もう一度言ってください。 In formal settings, use おっしゃっていただけますか: 恐れ入りますが、もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか。 You can also add ゆっくり to ask for slower speech: すみません、もう一度ゆっくりお願いします。
When to use it
Use もう一回言ってください with friends or people you know well. Use すみません、もう一度お願いします in most everyday polite situations, such as shops, stations, or a teacher's office. Use 恐れ入りますが、もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか in business meetings, on the phone with clients, or when speaking to someone clearly senior. If you only missed one word, repeat it and confirm: 「よやく」ですか。「よやく」ですね。
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
明日の会議は三時からです。
Tomorrow's meeting is from three o'clock.ashita no kaigi wa sanji kara desu.すみません、聞き取れませんでした。もう一度お願いします。
Sorry, I could not catch that. Could you say that again?sumimasen, kikitoremasen deshita. mō ichido onegai shimasu.はい。明日の会議は三時からです。
Yes. Tomorrow's meeting is from three o'clock.hai. ashita no kaigi wa sanji kara desu.三時ですね。ありがとうございます。
Three o'clock, right? Thank you.sanji desu ne. arigatō gozaimasu.A little context goes a long way
Politeness in Japanese repetition requests often comes from softening the imposition on the listener. Adding すみません or 恐れ入りますが signals that you know you are asking for extra effort. In formal contexts, honorific and humble forms such as おっしゃる and いただけますか are expected, while casual もう一回 is fine among close friends but can sound abrupt to a stranger or senior colleague.
One thing to watch for
Using もう一度言ってください in a formal business situation because it contains ください.
Try this instead: ください is polite, but it is still a direct request. In formal settings, use 恐れ入りますが、もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか, or at least すみません、もう一度お願いします. The honorific おっしゃる and the request form いただけますか raise the level appropriately.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are at a train station and did not catch the platform number. What polite phrase can you use?
Show a sample answer
すみません、もう一度お願いします。
This is neutral polite and works well with station staff. すみません、聞き取れませんでした。もう一度お願いします。 is also correct and adds a reason.
2You are in a meeting with a client and need the client to repeat a date. Which phrase is most appropriate?
Show a sample answer
恐れ入りますが、もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか。
This uses honorific おっしゃる and the very polite request いただけますか, which suits a client meeting. A slightly less formal but still acceptable option is すみません、もう一度お願いします。
3You think the other person said よやく, but you are not sure. How do you confirm it?
Show a sample answer
「よやく」ですか。「よやく」ですね。
Repeating the word and adding ですか and ですね checks your hearing efficiently. You could also say 「よやく」で合っていますか。 to confirm more explicitly.
For everyday polite Japanese, すみません、もう一度お願いします is your safest default; in formal situations, use 恐れ入りますが、もう一度おっしゃっていただけますか.
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