Japanese - Quick Conversation Openers

Lesson 147 of 168

A friendly office scene where two colleagues in Japan use short polite phrases to check timing and ask quick questions.

Goal: Polite phrases to start or pause a chat

Free Japanese lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome — quick, friendly practice! This short lesson helps you start, pause, or check timing in Japanese conversations. Try them aloud and imagine real situations: at work, in a store, or with a friend.

Level A1: In Lesson 147 you'll learn four very useful, Japan-specific conversation phrases for opening a short talk or asking someone to wait. This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson focuses on: ちょっと待ってください。, 今いいですか。, お時間ありますか。, and ちょっといいですか。. We'll listen, practice with short quizzes, and speak each phrase aloud.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and understand four polite conversation-management phrases (Level A1).
  • Know when to use each phrase in everyday contexts (work, shop, with friends).
  • Be able to say each phrase aloud and use it to start, interrupt, or pause conversations.
Close-up of a person about to speak and practicing polite openers in Japanese: a real-world moment for conversation management.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

ちょっと待ってください。

Chotto matte kudasai.

Please wait a moment.

Meaning: Please wait a moment.

When to use: Use this when you need someone to pause briefly — on the phone, in a line, or while you fetch something.

Tip: Beginners sometimes drop ください and say ちょっと待って — that’s casual. Use ください in polite situations.

店員：ちょっと待ってください。財布を取りに戻ります。

Tennin: Chotto matte kudasai. Saifu o tori ni modorimasu.

Clerk: Please wait a moment. I'll go get my wallet.
電話で：ちょっと待ってください。確認します。

Denwa de: Chotto matte kudasai. Kakunin shimasu.

On the phone: Please wait a moment. I'll check.

今いいですか

Ima ii desu ka.

Is now a good time?

Meaning: Is now a good time?

When to use: Say this before starting a question or brief conversation to check if it's a convenient moment.

田中さん、今いいですか。短い質問があるんです。

Tanaka-san, Ima ii desu ka. Mijikai shitsumon ga arun desu.

Mr. Tanaka, is now a good time? I have a quick question.
上司に：今いいですか。レポートの件です。

Jōshi ni: Ima ii desu ka. Repōto no ken desu.

To your boss: Is now a good time? It's about the report.

お時間ありますか。

Ojikan arimasu ka.

Do you have time?

Meaning: Do you have time?

When to use: A polite way to ask if someone has a moment, often for a slightly longer conversation or meeting.

Tip: This is a polite phrase — avoid using it for tiny interruptions with very close friends where ちょっといいですか is fine.

すみません、お時間ありますか。プロジェクトについて話したいです。

Sumimasen, Ojikan arimasu ka. Purojekuto ni tsuite hanashitai desu.

Excuse me, do you have time? I'd like to talk about the project.
お時間ありますか。5分で終わります。

Ojikan arimasu ka. Go-fun de owarimasu.

Do you have time? It will finish in five minutes.

ちょっといいですか。

Chotto ii desu ka.

Do you have a moment?

Meaning: Do you have a moment?

When to use: A common opener before asking something small — widely used and can be polite in many settings.

Tip: Learners sometimes think ちょっといいですか is always casual — it's fine in many polite situations, but tone matters.

ねえ、ちょっといいですか。これの使い方を教えてください。

Nee, Chotto ii desu ka. Kore no tsukaikata o oshiete kudasai.

Hey, do you have a moment? Please show me how to use this.
すみません、ちょっといいですか。写真をお願いできますか？

Sumimasen, Chotto ii desu ka. Shashin o onegai dekimasu ka?

Excuse me, do you have a moment? Could you take a photo for me?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At the office: Anna needs a quick chat about a report.

Two coworkers at a desk in Japan using phrases like ちょっといいですか and ちょっと待ってください during a quick chat.

What does Anna want to talk about?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

すみません、ちょっといいですか。

Sumimasen, Chotto ii desu ka.

Excuse me, do you have a moment?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

はい、今いいですよ。

Hai, Ima ii desu yo.

Yes, now is good.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

レポートについて少し相談したいです。お時間ありますか。

Repōto ni tsuite sukoshi sōdan shitai desu. Ojikan arimasu ka.

I want to consult about the report. Do you have time?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

ちょっと待ってください。今電話に出ます。

Chotto matte kudasai. Ima denwa ni demasu.

Please wait a moment. I'll take this call now.

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

すみません、戻りました。今、大丈夫です。

Sumimasen, modorimashita. Ima, daijōbu desu.

Sorry, I'm back. Now it's fine.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means 'Please wait a moment.'?

You want to politely start a short, casual question. Which opener fits best?

Which phrase is best when you need a slightly longer conversation and want to be polite?

You're on the phone and need the other person to hold for a short moment. Which do you say?

Excuse me, please wait a moment. It will finish soon.

すみません、___。すぐ終わります。

Mr. Yamada, is now a good time? It's urgent and will finish quickly.

山田さん、___。急ぎの件で、すぐ終わります。

Teacher, do you have time? I want to ask about the homework in detail.

先生、___。宿題について詳しく聞きたいです。

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

ちょっと待ってください。

Chotto matte kudasai.

Please wait a moment.

Say this phrase out loud:

今いいですか

Ima ii desu ka.

Is now a good time?

Say this phrase out loud:

お時間ありますか。

Ojikan arimasu ka.

Do you have time?

Say this phrase out loud:

ちょっといいですか。

Chotto ii desu ka.

Do you have a moment?