Asking and declining politely
Conversation phrases, Stage 4chunk 1 of 23Errands and service
Ask if something is okay, offer something, ask a favour or turn an offer down in any polite setting.
- ii desu kais it okay?; may I?
- kekkou desuno, thank you; that's fine
- ikaga desu kawould you like some?; how about it?; how is it?
- onegai dekimasu kacould you do that for me?; could I ask for...?
- yoroshii desu kawould that be all right?; may I?
Mix-ups Kekkou desu usually means no thanks rather than great, and yoroshii desu ka is just a politer ii desu ka.
ii desu ka
is it okay?; may I?
Asks permission or checks something is fine; put the thing first (koko, ii desu ka?) or a -te mo verb (suwatte mo ii desu ka?).
Casual is just ii? with a rising tone. Yes is hai, douzo; a no usually starts with chotto...
sumimasen, koko suwatte mo ii desu ka?
Excuse me, is it okay if I sit here?
すみません、ここ座ってもいいですか？
Written いいですかWho you say it and hear itHeard 918× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
kekkou desu
no, thank you; that's fine
Firm, polite no to staff, salespeople or a host offering more; add iie or a reason to sound warmer.
Can sound cold to friends; use daijoubu instead. Kekkou also means quite: kekkou oishii (pretty tasty).
iie, kekkou desu. mou juubun itadakimashita.
No, thank you. I've had plenty.
いいえ、結構です。もう十分いただきました。
Written 結構です · けっこうですWho you say itHeard 402× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
ikaga desu ka
would you like some?; how about it?; how is it?
Polite offer or check-in from staff or a host (fukuro wa ikaga desu ka?); answer onegai shimasu or daijoubu desu.
Casual version: dou? Staff also say ikaga deshou ka, and ikaga deshita ka (how was it?).
koohii no okawari, ikaga desu ka?
Would you like more coffee?
コーヒーのおかわり、いかがですか？
Written いかがですかWho you say it and hear itHeard 206× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
onegai dekimasu ka
could you do that for me?; could I ask for...?
Polite request to staff, colleagues or strangers, after naming the thing or task.
Casual version: onegai dekiru?
kore, kopii onegai dekimasu ka?
Could you make a copy of this for me?
これ、コピーお願いできますか？
Written お願いできますか · おねがいできますかWho you say itHeard 65× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles
yoroshii desu ka
would that be all right?; may I?
Very polite ii desu ka; you hear it from staff checking an order, and can use it with bosses and strangers.
Staff also say yoroshii deshou ka, softer still.
kochira de yoroshii desu ka?
Will this one be all right?
こちらでよろしいですか？
Written よろしいですかWho you say it and hear itHeard 245× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles