Got a minute
Conversation phrases, Stage 2chunk 62 of 71Opening and changing the subject
Opens a request, a serious talk, or a call for attention.
- ima daijoubu?is now a good time?; got a minute?
- chotto hanashi ga aru n da kedothere's something I want to talk to you about
- onegai ga aru n da kedoI have a favour to ask
- ooihey!; hello? (calling out)
- nanka you?what do you want?; what is it?
Mix-ups chotto hanashi ga aru can sound ominous; nanka you? is blunt.
ima daijoubu?
polite ima daijoubu desu ka
is now a good time?; got a minute?
Asked at the start of a call or before interrupting someone; answer un, daijoubu or gomen, ato de.
To a boss or client, ima ojikan yoroshii desu ka is safer.
moshimoshi, ima daijoubu? chotto kikitai koto ga atte.
Hi, is now a good time? There's something I want to ask.
もしもし、今大丈夫？ちょっと聞きたいことがあって。
sumimasen, ima daijoubu desu ka? sugu sumimasu.
Excuse me, do you have a moment? It won't take long.
すみません、今大丈夫ですか？すぐ済みます。
Written 今大丈夫？ · いまだいじょうぶ · 今大丈夫ですかWho you say it and hear itHeard 2× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
chotto hanashi ga aru n da kedo
polite chotto ohanashi ga aru n desu kedo
there's something I want to talk to you about
Asks for a serious talk, and can make the listener nervous; they'll answer 'nani?' or 'ima?'.
Ending on kedo leaves the request hanging, which is the polite part.
ima ii? chotto hanashi ga aru n da kedo.
Got a sec? There's something I need to talk about.
今いい？ちょっと話があるんだけど。
sumimasen, chotto ohanashi ga aru n desu kedo.
Excuse me, there's something I'd like to discuss.
すみません、ちょっとお話があるんですけど。
Written ちょっと話があるんだけど · ちょっとはなしがあるんだけど · ちょっとお話があるんですけどWho you say it and hear itHeard 159× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
onegai ga aru n da kedo
polite onegai ga aru n desu ga
I have a favour to ask
Opens a bigger favour; the other person usually answers nani? and then you explain.
nee, chotto onegai ga aru n da kedo.
Hey, I've got a favour to ask.
ねえ、ちょっとお願いがあるんだけど。
sumimasen, onegai ga aru n desu ga.
Excuse me, I have a favour to ask.
すみません、お願いがあるんですが。
Written お願いがあるんだけど · おねがいがあるんだけど · お願いがあるんですがWho you say itHeard 21× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
ooi
hey!; hello? (calling out)
Call to someone far off or not paying attention; also 'anyone there?'
To get a stranger's attention, say sumimasen instead.
ooi, kotchi da yo! hayaku oide!
Hey, over here! Come on!
おーい、こっちだよ！早くおいで！
Written おーいWho you say it and hear itHeard 235× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
nanka you?
polite nanika goyou desu ka
what do you want?; what is it?
Asked when someone calls you or turns up; can sound curt depending on tone.
nanika you? is the same, a touch less blunt. Staff use the polite form to mean 'Can I help you?'.
nanka you? ima chotto isogashii n da kedo.
What is it? I'm a bit busy right now.
何か用？今ちょっと忙しいんだけど。
nanika goyou desu ka? ima chotto isogashii n desu ga.
Can I help you? I'm a bit busy right now.
何かご用ですか？今ちょっと忙しいんですが。
Written 何か用？ · なんかよう · 何かご用ですかWho you say it and hear itHeard 250× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles