Cashier Moving Too Quick? The Polite Way to Say 'Hold On a Second' in Japan
To say wait a moment, please in Japanese, say ちょっと待ってください (chotto matte kudasai).
The cashier is already scanning and you are still digging for your wallet. Here is how to say hold on, politely.
ちょっと待ってください
chotto matte kudasai
wait a moment, please
In this video
- ちょっと待ってください chotto matte kudasai Just say 「ちょっと待ってください」. It means 'please wait a moment.'
- ちょっと待ってください chotto matte kudasai Please wait a moment.
- ちょっと待ってください chotto matte kudasai Hold on a moment, please.
Why this phrase
ちょっと待ってください buys you a moment without ever sounding rude: the survival phrase for any wait-give-me-a-second moment in Japan.
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- The Phrase That Saves You When the Line Forms Behind You · chotto matte kudasai
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