Getting attention
Openers that call someone over, point something out, or stop things.
nee
polite anohey, listen
ねえ あの
Gets a friend's attention before a question, suggestion or piece of news; doubled 'nee nee' is eager.
nee, ashita hima?
Hey, are you free tomorrow?
ねえ、明日ひま？
ano, ashita ojikan arimasu ka?
Um, do you have time tomorrow?
あの、明日お時間ありますか？
nee opens a sentence; the ending ne closes one.
Learn alongside: hora, chotto matte, chotto ii?
hora
look! see? here
ほら
Points something out ('hora, mite'), says 'see, I told you', or hands something over.
hora, mite! niji da yo.
Look! There's a rainbow!
ほら、見て！虹だよ。
hora, mite kudasai. niji desu yo.
Look, there's a rainbow.
ほら、見てください。虹ですよ。
It can sound pushy to a superior.
Learn alongside: nee, chotto matte, chotto ii?
chotto matte
polite chotto matte kudasaiwait a moment
ちょっと待って ちょっとまって ちょっと待ってください
Asks someone to wait or stop, or holds the floor while you think or check something.
chotto matte, hanashi ga aru n da kedo.
Wait a sec, there's something I need to tell you.
ちょっと待って、話があるんだけど。
chotto matte kudasai, ohanashi ga aru n desu kedo.
Just a moment, there's something I'd like to talk to you about.
ちょっと待ってください、お話があるんですけど。
matte! on its own is the urgent 'wait!'.
Learn alongside: nee, hora, chotto ii?Learn first: chotto
chotto ii?
polite chotto ii desu kagot a sec?
ちょっといい？ ちょっといい ちょっといいですか
Opens a request, question or interruption by asking for a moment of someone's time, whether a friend's or a coworker's.
chotto ii? hanashi ga aru n da kedo.
Got a sec? There's something I need to tell you.
ちょっといい？話があるんだけど。
chotto ii desu ka? ohanashi ga aru n desu kedo.
Do you have a moment? There's something I'd like to talk to you about.
ちょっといいですか？お話があるんですけど。
The usual answers are 'un, nani?' or 'ii yo'. To a boss, say chotto yoroshii desu ka.
Learn alongside: nee, hora, chotto matteLearn first: chotto, ii