Japanese for Craft Workshops: Asking an Instructor to Demonstrate Again
Learn intermediate Japanese phrases for asking a craft instructor to repeat a demonstration, using もう一度お願いできますか and もう一度見せてもらえますか, plus the vocabulary 実演 and お手本.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you are learning a hands-on craft, the moment you fall behind is often the moment you most need to speak up. Perhaps the instructor shaped a piece of clay, folded paper, or joined a seam while you were still adjusting your tools. In Japanese, the key is not simply saying "again," but choosing a request that is clear, polite, and specific about what you missed. This lesson gives you reusable patterns for asking an instructor to demonstrate once more, and for checking which step or motion you should watch.
By the end, you can…
- ask an instructor to demonstrate a step again using もう一度お願いできますか and もう一度見せてもらえますか.
- name a demonstration and a model example with 実演 and お手本.
- explain that I missed a step and ask the instructor to show that part again.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
すみません、もう一度お願いできますか。
Excuse me, could you do that once more?
Sumimasen, mō ichido onegai dekimasu ka.
A general, polite request to repeat an action or explanation. It works when the instructor has just demonstrated something and you want the same thing again. Note that お願いできますか asks for a favor rather than naming the action, so it is most natural when the action is already clear from context.
もう一度見せてもらえますか。
Could you show me once more?
Mō ichido misete moraemasu ka.
This focuses on seeing the demonstration. Use it when you want to watch the instructor's hands or movements again, not just hear the explanation.
途中で見逃してしまったのですが、もう一度実演していただけますか。
I missed part of it along the way; could you demonstrate it once more?
Tochū de minogashite shimatta no desu ga, mō ichido jitsuen shite itadakemasu ka.
A more formal and specific request. 実演 means a practical demonstration, so this is suitable for a workshop setting. 見逃してしまった conveys that you missed seeing part of it, with しまった adding a nuance of regret.
お手本をもう一度見せていただけますか。
Could you show me the model example once more?
Otehon o mō ichido misete itadakemasu ka.
お手本 refers to a model or exemplary piece to imitate. Use this when you want to compare your work with the instructor's example. 見せていただけますか is a polite request form, more formal than 見せてもらえますか.
この部分の手の動きをもう一度お願いします。
Please show me the hand movement for this part once more.
Kono bubun no te no ugoki o mō ichido onegai shimasu.
A concrete request that names the part and the action. It helps the instructor know exactly what to repeat.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is もう一度 (once more) plus a request form. お願いできますか is a polite way to ask for a favor: もう一度お願いできますか. 見せてもらえますか asks whether you can receive the action of seeing: もう一度見せてもらえますか. For a more formal request, use していただけますか: もう一度実演していただけますか. If you want to name the object, add を: お手本をもう一度見せていただけますか. Note that 見せてもらえますか and 見せていただけますか differ in politeness level: もらえますか is appropriate with a friendly instructor, while いただけますか is safer in formal situations.
When to use it
Use もう一度お願いできますか when the instructor has just finished a step and you want the same action repeated. Use もう一度見せてもらえますか when you specifically need to watch the motion again. If you missed only one part, say この部分をもう一度お願いします or ここが分かりませんでした. If you want to see the example piece again, say お手本をもう一度見せてください. These choices show the instructor whether you need a full repeat or only a small part. When you name the specific part, the instructor can focus on just that step rather than repeating the whole demonstration.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、途中で見逃してしまったのですが、もう一度実演していただけますか。
Excuse me, I missed part of it along the way; could you demonstrate it once more?Sumimasen, tochū de minogashite shimatta no desu ga, mō ichido jitsuen shite itadakemasu ka.はい、もちろんです。どの部分をもう一度お見せしましょうか。
Yes, of course. Which part shall I show you again?Hai, mochiron desu. Dono bubun o mō ichido omise shimashō ka.この部分の手の動きです。もう一度見せてもらえますか。
The hand movement for this part. Could you show me once more?Kono bubun no te no ugoki desu. Mō ichido misete moraemasu ka.わかりました。ゆっくりお手本を見せながら、もう一度やってみますね。
Understood. I will show you the model example slowly and try it once more.Wakarimashita. Yukkuri otehon o misenagara, mō ichido yatte mimasu ne.A little context goes a long way
In a Japanese workshop, a polite request with すみません or 恐れ入りますが before もう一度 softens the interruption. Instructors often respond positively when you name the exact part you missed, because it shows you are paying attention. Avoid demanding a repeat with a bare もう一度; add お願いできますか or 見せてもらえますか to keep the tone cooperative. In many craft settings, the instructor may also come to your workspace to check your work, so you can combine your request with 見ていただけますか (could you take a look) if you want individual guidance.
One thing to watch for
Saying もう一度ください as a direct translation of "one more time, please."
Try this instead: Use a request form that fits the action. Say もう一度お願いできますか for a general repeat, or もう一度見せてもらえますか when you want to see the demonstration again. もう一度ください sounds as if you are asking for a physical object, because ください directly requests an item.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You missed how the instructor folded the paper. Ask them to demonstrate that part again, using 実演.
Show a sample answer
すみません、途中で見逃してしまったのですが、もう一度実演していただけますか。
This works because it states that you missed part of the demonstration and politely asks for a repeat. You could also say もう一度お願いできますか if you do not need to mention 実演. If you want to be more specific, add the part: この部分をもう一度実演していただけますか.
2You want to see the instructor's model piece again. Which phrase uses お手本 naturally?
Show a sample answer
お手本をもう一度見せていただけますか。
お手本 means a model example, and 見せていただけますか is a polite request to show it. もう一度見せてもらえますか is also correct if you do not need to name お手本, though it is slightly less formal.
3You only missed the hand movement in one part. Make a specific request.
Show a sample answer
この部分の手の動きをもう一度お願いします。
This names the part and the action, so the instructor knows exactly what to repeat. ここをもう一度お願いします is a shorter valid alternative. You can also point and say この手の動きです to make it even clearer.
To ask for a repeat demonstration in Japanese, use もう一度お願いできますか for a general repeat and もう一度見せてもらえますか when you need to watch again. Name the part or use 実演 and お手本 to make your request precise and polite.
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