Didn't catch that
Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 56 of 68Clarifying
Asks for a repeat or slower speech when you're lost.
- mou ichido onegai shimasuonce more, please; could you say that again?
- kikoenakattaI didn't catch that; I couldn't hear
- yukkuri hanashite kudasaiplease speak slowly
- gomen, kiitenakattasorry, I wasn't listening
- wakarimasenI don't understand; I don't know
Mix-ups The kudasai and onegai shimasu forms are polite; wakarimasen can mean 'I don't know'.
mou ichido onegai shimasu
once more, please; could you say that again?
Ask someone to repeat what they said; staff and teachers hear it from learners all the time.
Casual: mou ikkai itte. Add yukkuri (slowly) if speed is the problem.
sumimasen, mou ichido onegai shimasu.
Sorry, could you say that again?
すみません、もう一度お願いします。
Written もう一度お願いします · もういちどおねがいしますWho you say itHeard 19× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
kikoenakatta
polite kikoemasen deshita
I didn't catch that; I couldn't hear
When noise or a quiet voice is the problem; usually followed by a request to repeat.
kikoeru is 'can be heard'; kiku is 'listen' or 'ask'.
gomen, kikoenakatta. mou ikkai itte?
Sorry, I didn't catch that. Say it again?
ごめん、聞こえなかった。もう一回言って？
sumimasen, kikoemasen deshita. mou ichido onegai shimasu.
Sorry, I couldn't hear. Once more, please.
すみません、聞こえませんでした。もう一度お願いします。
Written 聞こえなかった · きこえなかった · 聞こえませんでしたWho you say itHeard 180× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
yukkuri hanashite kudasai
please speak slowly
Ask a fast speaker to slow down; mou sukoshi (a bit more) makes it softer.
With friends, just yukkuri itte.
sumimasen, mou sukoshi yukkuri hanashite kudasai.
Sorry, could you speak a little more slowly?
すみません、もう少しゆっくり話してください。
Written ゆっくり話してください · ゆっくりはなしてくださいWho you say itHeard 11× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
gomen, kiitenakatta
polite sumimasen, kiite imasen deshita
sorry, I wasn't listening
Own up when you zoned out, then ask them to repeat with 'mou ikkai itte'.
Kiitenakatta can also mean 'nobody told me': 'sonna no kiitenakatta' is 'I wasn't told that'.
gomen, kiitenakatta. mou ikkai itte?
Sorry, I wasn't listening. Say that again?
ごめん、聞いてなかった。もう一回言って？
sumimasen, kiite imasen deshita. mou ichido onegai shimasu.
Sorry, I wasn't listening. Could you say it once more?
すみません、聞いていませんでした。もう一度お願いします。
Written ごめん、聞いてなかった · ごめん、きいてなかった · すみません、聞いていませんでしたWho you say itHeard 127× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
wakarimasen
I don't understand; I don't know
Polite way to say you don't follow or can't answer; with friends, say wakannai.
For facts, shirimasen also means 'I don't know' but can sound cold; wakarimasen is softer.
sumimasen, nihongo ga yoku wakarimasen.
Sorry, I don't really understand Japanese.
すみません、日本語がよくわかりません。
Written わかりませんWho you say itHeard 1283× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles