The Staff Says One Sentence, Then Walks Away. You Are Not Being Ignored.
To say One moment, please in Japanese, say 少々お待ちください (shoushou omachi kudasai).
You ask a question in Japan. They answer with one sentence, then they just leave.
In this video
- 少々お待ちください。 shoushou omachi kudasai. One moment, please.
- はい、お願いします。 hai, onegai shimasu. Yes, please.
Why this phrase
A convenience store counter. Kōfuku plays the traveller asking a question; Hana plays the staff member who says 「少々お待ちください」 and disappears into the back. It's the most common thing Japanese staff say to a tourist and the one most often read as a brush-off. You don't have to produce it, only recognise it and answer 「はい、お願いします」. One takeaway: 「少々お待ちください」 means stay put, they're coming back.
Up next
Survival
▶
You Drilled the Long One. They Said the Short One.
wakannai · I don't get it
Beginner
▶
She Had to Walk Around for Your Chicken.
jibun de o-tori kudasai · Please take it yourself
Survival
▶
Your Train Is a Bus at the Curb.
basu daikō ga dete imasu · A replacement bus is running.
Survival
▶
She Said Take Your Time. You Stood Up.
go-yukkuri · Please take your time.
More phrases like this
- Did You Catch That? The Door Is Four Cars From the Front. You Counted From the Back. · mae kara nan-ryōme desu ka?
- Did You Catch That? Nodding in Akihabara Just Sold You a Warranty. · hoshō wa ikaga desu ka?
- Did You Catch That? You Nodded. That Was Not Large. · Nami de onegai shimasu
- That Sentence Means There Is No Seat. · washiki shika arimasen
- Her Long Goodbye Was Not a Question · mata okoshi kudasaimase
- Did You Catch That? That Train Will Skip Your Hotel. · kaisoku
- That Station Voice Is Not Being Polite. The Train Is Closer Than You Think. · Kiiroi sen made osagari kudasai
- Both Trains Say Yamanote. One of Them Is the Long Way Around. · uchimawari
- She Looked at Both of You and Said Three Syllables. She Is Not Asking If You Are Dating. · go-issho desu ka?
- The Doors Are Open. The Voice Just Said This Car Is Full. · man'in desu
- The Cart Lady Said One Sentence. You Have Eight Seconds. · shanai hanbai desu
- The Lights Just Dimmed and She Said One English Word. The Kitchen Is About to Close on You. · rasuto ōdā desu
Get the free phrasebook
15 essential phrases for your trip — romaji included, zero studying.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.