The Magic Word for Getting Attention
To say Excuse me in Japanese, say すみません (sumimasen).
Can't get a waiter's attention? This one word opens every door in Japan.
すみません
sumimasen
Excuse me
In this video
- すみません sumimasen Excuse me.
- It's the universal 'excuse me' — use it at restaurants, in crowds, or when asking for help. It's the universal 'excuse me' — use it at restaurants, in crowds, or when asking for help.
- すみません！ sumimasen! Excuse me!
- すみません、ちょっといいですか？ sumimasen, chotto ii desu ka? Excuse me, do you have a moment?
Why this phrase
Using 'sumimasen' to get attention politely in public spaces.
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Sumimasen, futari desu. Ohiya o onegaishimasu. Okaikei o onegaishimasu. · Excuse me, table for two. Water, please. The check, please.
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tishu arimasu ka? · Napkin, do you have one?
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More phrases like this
- Winding Mountain Roads in Japan? Ask for This Before You Board. · yoidome wa arimasu ka?
- The Ramen Line Wraps the Block. Ten Minutes or an Hour? Ask This. · dono kurai machimasu ka?
- Got Directions in Japan but No Idea How Far? Ask This. · tōi desu ka?
- Phone Dead in Shibuya? The Two Words That Get You the Time · ima, nanji desu ka?
- Asked for Directions in Japan? Now Actually Understand the Answer · massugu / migi / hidari
- The Polite Way to Ask About English · eigo o hanasemasu ka?
- Is This Okay? · kore de ii desu ka?
- The Most Useful Phrase in All of Japan · onegai shimasu
- You Said Two and They Lit a Second Stove · nininmae de onegai shimasu
- You Ordered Kaki and They Brought the Oyster · kudamono no kaki o kudasai
- The Taxi Hasn't Moved. · hatsunori
- Those Two Kanji Were the Fee. · haikanryō
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