Japanese course

Lesson 63 of 240

New here? This is lesson 63 of a free 240-lesson Japanese course.

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Do you have a minute in Japanese

Leo needs a minute at the counter of Kissa Hotaru. Masako is already pouring, and Goro has toast in both hands.

You will stop someone politely, ask if now is a good time, and offer to wait until later.

A short pause word softens the interruption. Keep it short; Masako will not wait through a long speech.

By the end of this lesson

Get someone's attention and ask if now is a good time.

  • 今(いま)いいですか。Is now a good time?
  • ちょっといいですか。Do you have a moment?
  • お時間(じかん)ありますか。Do you have time?
  • すみません、ちょっと。Excuse me, just a second.
  • 少(すこ)しだけいいですか。Do you have just a second?
  • 後(あと)でいいですか。Is later okay?

Scene — coffee still pouring

Kissa Hotaru is quiet after the morning rush. Masako stands at the siphon, pouring a dark cup. Leo waits at the wooden counter with his bag on his shoulder.

In the corner booth, Goro holds thick toast in both hands. His blend coffee sits untouched, as always.

Masako pours coffee while Leo waits at the counter and Goro eats toast in the corner booth.

Learn — a polite minute

These six lines help you stop someone without taking too much of their time.

Ask about now, a short moment, or a later time.

  1. Leo waits beside the counter for a pause in Masako’s coffee pour.

    今(いま)いいですか。

    Is now a good time?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to talk right now.

    Learn it as one piece to ask if now works.

  2. Leo lifts a hand slightly to catch Masako’s attention as she tends the siphon.

    ちょっといいですか。

    Do you have a moment?

    When to use it: Use this to ask for a short moment of their time.

    Learn it as one piece for a small, polite ask.

    Say it: The small っ briefly closes the sound before the next consonant.

  3. Leo makes a small polite bow while Masako continues pouring and Goro watches from the booth.

    お時間(じかん)ありますか。

    Do you have time?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need more than a second.

    Learn it as one piece to ask if they have time.

  4. Leo leans in politely at the counter to ask whether now is a good time.

    すみません、ちょっと。

    Excuse me, just a second.

    When to use it: Use this to stop someone as they pass.

    Learn it as one piece to stop someone for a second.

  5. Leo signals for a brief pause beside Masako’s ongoing coffee pour.

    少(すこ)しだけいいですか。

    Do you have just a second?

    When to use it: Ask this when you truly need only a moment.

    Learn it as one piece for a very short ask.

  6. Leo steps back from the counter and turns toward Goro’s booth after Masako indicates that later is okay.

    後(あと)でいいですか。

    Is later okay?

    When to use it: Use this when now is not a good time.

    Learn it as one piece to offer a later time.

Story — toast in both hands

Leo needs a minute, but Masako is pouring and Goro is still working on his toast.

Highlighted phrases are the new lines. Turn on Show English if you want a gloss.

  1. Leo steps up to the counter. Steam rises from the siphon.
  2. Leoこんにちは。Hello.
  3. Masakoいらっしゃいませ。Welcome.
  4. Leoすみません、ちょっと。Excuse me, just a second.
  5. Leo今(いま)いいですか。Is now a good time?
  6. Masakoちょっと待(ま)ってください。Just a moment, please.
  7. Masako keeps her eyes on the cup. Leo nods and offers to wait.
  8. Leo後(あと)でいいですか。Is later okay?
  9. Masakoはい。Yes.
  10. Leo turns to the booth. Goro looks up from his toast, cheeks full.
  11. Leoちょっといいですか。Do you have a moment?
  12. Leoお時間(じかん)ありますか。Do you have time?
  13. Leo少(すこ)しだけいいですか。Do you have just a second?
  14. Goro tries to answer, but he is still chewing.

Practice — pick the right ask

Ten short tasks are waiting in this round. You will listen, fill a gap, build a line, and choose a reply.

Each task is small, so you can move on quickly.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You walk into Kissa Hotaru in the afternoon. Masako looks up from the siphon.

  3. What does it mean?

    お時間(じかん)ありますか。

  4. Pick the reply

    Masako says:

    今(いま)は忙(いそが)しいです。

    I'm busy right now.

    And you reply with:

  5. Fill the gap

    Do you have just a second?

    少(すこ)し____いいですか。

  6. What do you say?

    Masako walks past with the coffee pot. Call out to stop her for a second.

  7. Build the line

    Do you have a moment?

    。

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Swap the word

    You need to ask if this moment works, not ask for a short general moment.

    ____いいですか。

  9. Find the mistake

  10. What do you say?

    Someone reaches for your cup before you are ready. Ask them to wait a moment.

Say it — your turn to speak

You are Leo at the counter. When the cue is yours, tap the microphone and say the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear it. This is a recording activity, not a pronunciation score.

  1. Masakoいらっしゃいませ。Welcome.
  2. Leo (you)Stop her for a moment as she walks by.

    すみません、ちょっと。

    Excuse me, just a second.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

JapaneseEnglish
今(いま)いいですか。Is now a good time?
ちょっといいですか。Do you have a moment?
お時間(じかん)ありますか。Do you have time?
すみません、ちょっと。Excuse me, just a second.
少(すこ)しだけいいですか。Do you have just a second?
後(あと)でいいですか。Is later okay?
Next: lesson 64Are you from around here

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Keep these openers in your pocket. Open the Yak Cards for this lesson and run them on the train.

A short Yak Cards round keeps a polite minute ready at the counter.

Open Yak Cards