LESSON NOTES

Learn Japanese Grammar Video Absolute Beginner S1 #6

Asking for Something in Japanese

CONTENTS
2
2
2
2
2
3
3

Kanji
Kana
Romanization
English
Vocabulary
Sample Sentences
Grammar

#
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KANJI
1.

2.

KANA
1.

2.

ROMANIZATION
1.

Sumimasen.

2.

Mizu, onegai shimasu.

ENGLISH
1.

Excuse me.

2.

Can I have some water, please?

VOCABULARY
Kanji

Kana

R omaji

English

meny

menu

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LEARN JAPANESE GRAMMAR VIDEO - ABSOLUTE BEGINNER S1 #6 - ASKING FOR SOMETHING IN JAPANESE

chmon

order

Sumimasen

Excuse me

onegai shimasu

please

SAMPLE SENTENCES

Eigo no meny wo kudasai.

Go-chmon wa.

Can you give me an English menu?

What would you like to order?

O-kyaku-sama, sumimasen.

Kh onegai shimasu.

Excuse me, sir/ma'am.

Coffee please.

GRAMMAR
T he f ocus of t his le sson is Asking For Some t hing in Japane se

Ge t t ing Some one 's At t e nt ion wit h Sumimase n

In Japanese, the phrase that covers both "excuse me" and "I'm sorry" is sumimasen (
).
Sumimase n.

"Excuse me ."

Sumimasen is the same as "excuse me" in English, and we can use it to get the attention
of someone, like a stranger or a clerk in a store or restaurant.
Asking f or Some t hing wit h One gai Shimasu

The phrase o-negai shimasu basically means "please" in English, and we use it when
asking for something. To ask for something, simply say o-negai shimasu after you say the
name of the item or service that you want.

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LEARN JAPANESE GRAMMAR VIDEO - ABSOLUTE BEGINNER S1 #6 - ASKING FOR SOMETHING IN JAPANESE

Format ion
[item/service that you want] + one gai shimasu
For Example :

It e m/Se rvice T hat You

Want

+ one gai shimasu

"English"

menyu ()

onegai shimasu
()

"Can I get a menu?"

(literally, "Menu, please.")

onegai shimasu
()

"Can I get some water?"

(literally,
Water, please.")

onegai shimasu
()

"Can you take my order?"

(literally, "Order, please.")

mizu ()
ch mon ()

Note that as seen in the examples above, we can use onegai shimasu to ask for things like
that aren't tangible (like a service).
The third example, ch mon onegai shimasu, literally means "order, please," and we use it
to ask the clerk to take the order.
Example Se nt e nce s

1.

2.

O-kaikei one gai shimasu.

"Can I get the check?" (literally, "Check, please.")

Sain one gai shimasu.

"Can I have your signature/autograph?" (literally, "Sign, please.")

JAPANESEPOD101.COM

LEARN JAPANESE GRAMMAR VIDEO - ABSOLUTE BEGINNER S1 #6 - ASKING FOR SOMETHING IN JAPANESE