Japanese - Hesitation

Lesson 90 of 168

Two people politely hesitating in Japanese conversation at a café; Japanese hesitation phrases and listening practice focus.

Goal: Polite phrases to buy time and show uncertainty

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

Ready to sound natural when you need a moment? This lesson will help you pause, search for words, and soften your answers in polite Japanese. Keep it relaxed — hesitation is social glue, not a mistake.

Level A2: In this short lesson you'll practice polite hesitation phrases (ええと…, ちょっと待ってください。, たぶん…など) to buy time, signal uncertainty, and search for words in conversation. This CEFR-aligned set helps you sound natural when you need to think or soften an opinion. Lesson 90: we'll learn simple, friendly ways to pause without awkward silence.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use polite hesitation phrases like ええと… (Ēto…) and ちょっと待ってください (Chotto matte kudasai).
  • Ask for a little time and express uncertainty politely (e.g., 少し考える時間をください (Sukoshi kangaeru jikan o kudasai)).
  • Use soft hedges and search-for-word phrases (何て言うんでしたっけ？ (Nan te iun deshita kke?) etc.) in short conversations.
A friendly café scene where one person asks a question and the other pauses to think using Japanese hesitation phrases.

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.

ええと、ちょっと考えさせてください。

ēto, chotto kangaesasete kudasai.

Um, let me think.

Meaning: Um, let me think.

When to use: Use when you want a little time before answering politely.

ええと、ちょっと考えさせてください。すぐ返事します。

ēto, chotto kangaesasete kudasai. Sugu henji shimasu.

Um, let me think. I'll reply soon.
会議で質問されたとき、ええと、ちょっと考えさせてくださいと言いました。

Kaigi de shitsumon sareta toki, ēto, chotto kangaesasete kudasai to iimashita.

When asked in the meeting, I said, 'Um, let me think.'

うーん、はっきりわかりません。

ūn, hakkiri wakarimasen.

Well, I'm not sure.

Meaning: Well, I’m not sure.

When to use: Use to soften an uncertain answer; polite and non-committal.

うーん、はっきりわかりませんが、あとで調べます。

ūn, hakkiri wakarimasen ga, ato de shirabemasu.

Well, I'm not sure, but I'll check later.
その値段はうーん、はっきりわかりません。レシートを見ます。

Sono nedan wa ūn, hakkiri wakarimasen. Reshīto o mimasu.

About that price—well, I'm not sure. I'll look at the receipt.

ちょっと待ってください。

chotto matte kudasai.

Just a second.

Meaning: Just a second.

When to use: Ask for a very short pause; polite form for formal situations.

ちょっと待ってください。今確認します。

Chotto matte kudasai. Ima kakunin shimasu.

Just a second. I'll check now.
電話が鳴ったので、ちょっと待ってくださいと言いました。

Denwa ga natta node, chotto matte kudasai to iimashita.

The phone rang, so I said, 'Just a second.'

少し考える時間をください。

sukoshi kangaeru jikan o kudasai.

Give me a moment.

Meaning: Give me a moment.

When to use: Politely ask for a little more time to think before answering.

少し考える時間をください。いい答えを出したいです。

Sukoshi kangaeru jikan o kudasai. Ii kotae o dashitai desu.

Give me a moment. I want to give a good answer.
その提案について少し考える時間をください。

Sono teian ni tsuite sukoshi kangaeru jikan o kudasai.

Please give me a moment to think about that proposal.

何て言うんでしたっけ？

nan te iun deshita kke?

What's the word?

Meaning: What’s the word?

When to use: Use when a specific word won't come to mind and you need time or help.

あの動物、何て言うんでしたっけ？忘れました。

Ano dōbutsu, nan te iun deshita kke? Wasuremashita.

That animal—what's it called again? I forgot.
彼の名前、何て言うんでしたっけ？思い出せない。

Kare no namae, nan te iun deshita kke? Omoidasenai.

His name—what was it again? I can't remember.

なんか___みたいな感じです。

nanka ___ mitai na kanji desu.

It's kind of ___.

Meaning: It’s kind of ___.

When to use: Put a close word or short phrase in ___ to give an approximate description.

Tip: Beginners sometimes add a verb after みたい; stick with short nouns or adjective phrases.

あの店はなんか安くて落ち着くみたいな感じです。

Ano mise wa nanka yasukute ochitsuku mitai na kanji desu.

That shop is kind of cheap and relaxing, kind of a vibe.
この色はなんか春っぽいみたいな感じです。

Kono iro wa nanka haru-ppoi mitai na kanji desu.

This color is kind of spring-like, sort of.

たぶん___かなと思います。

tabun ___ kana to omoimasu.

I think maybe ___.

Meaning: I think maybe ___.

When to use: Put a short plain-form phrase in ___ to express a tentative idea.

たぶん来週かなと思います。でもまだ確定していません。

Tabun raishū kana to omoimasu. Demo mada kakutei shite imasen.

I think maybe next week. But it's not confirmed.
たぶん彼は午後に来るかなと思います。

Tabun kare wa gogo ni kuru kana to omoimasu.

I think maybe he'll come in the afternoon.

___かもしれませんが、___。

___ kamoshiremasen ga, ___.

Maybe ___, but ___.

Meaning: Maybe ___, but ___.

When to use: Use to introduce a hesitant contrast or partial disagreement (fill blanks with short clauses).

Tip: Don't put だ after na-adjectives in the first blank (use the plain form without だ).

高いかもしれませんが、品質はとてもいいです。

Takai kamoshiremasen ga, hinshitsu wa totemo ii desu.

Maybe it's expensive, but the quality is very good.
雨が降るかもしれませんが、行くつもりです。

Ame ga furu kamoshiremasen ga, iku tsumori desu.

Maybe it will rain, but I plan to go.

ええと

Ēto...

Let me see.

Meaning: Let me see.

When to use: A short filler used before answering to buy a split second.

ええと…それは来月です。

Ēto... Sore wa raigetsu desu.

Let me see... that's next month.
ええと…どこだっけ？地図を見ます。

Ēto... Doko dakke? Chizu o mimasu.

Let me see... where was it? I'll look at the map.

何て言えばいいでしょうか。

Nan te ieba ii deshō ka.

How can I say it?

Meaning: How can I say it?

When to use: Use when searching for the best way to express something; polite.

何て言えばいいでしょうか。うまく説明できないです。

Nan te ieba ii deshō ka. Umaku setsumei dekinai desu.

How can I say it? I can't explain it well.
この色は、何て言えばいいでしょうか…淡いと言うべきですか？

Kono iro wa, nan te ieba ii deshō ka... Awa i to iu beki desu ka?

How can I say this color... should I call it pale?

今、思い出そうとしています。

Ima, omoidasō to shite imasu.

I'm trying to remember.

Meaning: I'm trying to remember.

When to use: Use when you are actively trying to recall a name, place, or detail.

今、思い出そうとしています。名前が出てこないんです。

Ima, omoidasō to shite imasu. Namae ga detekonai n desu.

I'm trying to remember now. The name won't come to me.
その住所、今思い出そうとしています。少し待ってください。

Sono jūsho, ima omoidasō to shite imasu. Sukoshi matte kudasai.

I'm trying to remember that address now. Please wait a moment.

説明するのが難しいです。

Setsumei suru no ga muzukashii desu.

It's hard to explain.

Meaning: It's hard to explain.

When to use: Use when an idea or situation is difficult to put into words.

説明するのが難しいです。写真を見せたほうが早いかもしれません。

Setsumei suru no ga muzukashii desu. Shashin o miseta hō ga hayai kamoshiremasen.

It's hard to explain. Showing a photo might be faster.
この感覚は説明するのが難しいです。でも特別です。

Kono kankaku wa setsumei suru no ga muzukashii desu. Demo tokubetsu desu.

This feeling is hard to explain. But it's special.

はっきりは思い出せません。

Hakkiri wa omoidasemasen.

I can't remember exactly.

Meaning: I can't remember exactly.

When to use: Use to hedge when you cannot recall details with confidence.

その日付は、はっきりは思い出せません。後で確認します。

Sono hizuke wa, hakkiri wa omoidasemasen. Ato de kakunin shimasu.

I can't remember the date exactly. I'll check later.
その映画のタイトルははっきりは思い出せませんが、主演はあの俳優でした。

Sono eiga no taitoru wa hakkiri wa omoidasemasen ga, shuen wa ano haiyū deshita.

I can't remember the movie title exactly, but the lead actor was that one.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Two colleagues decide on lunch; one hesitates and searches for words.

Close-up of a short dialogue in Japanese about plans, showing polite hesitation and search-for-word expressions.

What are Anna and David deciding?

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

明日のランチ、どこに行きましょうか？

Ashita no ranchi, doko ni ikimashō ka?

Where should we go for lunch tomorrow?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

ええと、ちょっと考えさせてください。

ēto, chotto kangaesasete kudasai.

Um, let me think.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

ちょっと待ってください。あの店、何て言うんでしたっけ？

Chotto matte kudasai. Ano mise, nan te iun deshita kke?

Just a second. That restaurant — what was it called again?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

うーん、はっきりわかりません。なんか安くて居心地のいいみたいな感じです。

Ūn, hakkiri wakarimasen. Nanka yasukute igokochi no ii mitai na kanji desu.

Hmm, I'm not sure. It's kind of cheap and cozy, kind of a vibe.

Portrait of Anna in a Japanese lesson dialogue

Anna

今、思い出そうとしていますか？

Ima, omoidasō to shite imasu ka?

Are you trying to remember it now?

Portrait of David in a Japanese lesson dialogue

David

はい。たぶん駅の近くかなと思います。でも説明するのが難しいです。

Hai. Tabun eki no chikaku kana to omoimasu. Demo setsumei suru no ga muzukashii desu.

Yes. I think maybe near the station. But it's hard to explain.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase best means 'Give me a moment.'?

Which phrase do you use when you can't recall a word?

Which phrase politely signals you are unsure?

Which short filler do you use to buy a tiny bit of time before speaking?

Um, let me think.

店員: メニューを説明します。客: ___、ちょっと考えさせてください。

I think maybe I can go.

同僚: 明日の会議に来られますか？ — たぶん___かなと思います。

This dish may be spicy, but it's worth trying.

レビュー: この料理は ___かもしれませんが、試してみる価値があります。

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:

ええと、ちょっと考えさせてください。

ēto, chotto kangaesasete kudasai.

Um, let me think.

Say this phrase out loud:

うーん、はっきりわかりません。

ūn, hakkiri wakarimasen.

Well, I’m not sure.

Say this phrase out loud:

ちょっと待ってください。

chotto matte kudasai.

Just a second.

Say this phrase out loud:

少し考える時間をください。

sukoshi kangaeru jikan o kudasai.

Give me a moment.

Say this phrase out loud:

何て言うんでしたっけ？

nan te iun deshita kke?

What’s the word?

Say this phrase out loud:

なんか___みたいな感じです。

nanka ___ mitai na kanji desu.

It’s kind of ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

たぶん___かなと思います。

tabun ___ kana to omoimasu.

I think maybe ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

___かもしれませんが、___。

___ kamoshiremasen ga, ___.

Maybe ___, but ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

ええと

Ēto...

Let me see.

Say this phrase out loud:

何て言えばいいでしょうか。

Nan te ieba ii deshō ka.

How can I say it?

Say this phrase out loud:

今、思い出そうとしています。

Ima, omoidasō to shite imasu.

I'm trying to remember.

Say this phrase out loud:

説明するのが難しいです。

Setsumei suru no ga muzukashii desu.

It's hard to explain.

Say this phrase out loud:

はっきりは思い出せません。

Hakkiri wa omoidasemasen.

I can't remember exactly.