Keep a conversation going when you miss something. Choose between asking for the whole message again, asking for slower speech, and checking one detail.
Ask for the smallest useful repair
もう一度お願いします asks for another repetition. もう少しゆっくり話してください asks for slightly slower speech. If you understood everything except the time, 何時ですか or 七時ですか is more efficient than repeating the entire conversation.
A useful reply after clarification is 七時ですね, confirming the detail you heard. The final ね invites alignment or confirmation; it does not make an incorrect number safe. Wait for the other person’s response.
Acknowledge without pretending to understand
すみません is a simple way to introduce the repair. There is no need to apologise repeatedly or claim that your Japanese is terrible. The dialogue below gives a complete short repair sequence: signal the difficulty, ask a precise question, and confirm the answer.
Examples to read before you practise
Japanese | Reading / English |
|---|---|
A：明日は七時に駅で会いましょう。 | A: Let’s meet at the station at seven tomorrow. |
B：すみません、もう一度お願いします。 | B: Sorry, once more, please. |
A：七時です。 | A: Seven o’clock. |
B：七時ですね。 | B: Seven, correct? |
B：もう少しゆっくり話してください。 | B: Please speak a little more slowly. |
A：はい、わかりました。 | A: Yes, understood. |
Try six questions
Use the interactive practice below. Type only the requested expression. Kanji and kana alternatives are accepted where listed in the answer key. Completing a question records a result; opening the answer key does not.
Once more: もう（ ）お願いします。
More slowly: もう少し（ ）話してください。
Speak: dictionary form of 話してください’s verb.
Confirm seven: 七時です（ ）。 Supply the confirmation particle.
Where will they meet? Copy the place noun.
When will they meet: today or tomorrow? Copy the Japanese time word.
Answer key and explanations
一度 / いちど — 一度 means one time.
ゆっくり — ゆっくり asks for slower speech here.
話す / はなす — The dictionary verb is 話す.
ね — ね invites confirmation.
駅 / えき — 駅で marks the meeting place.
明日 / あした / あす — The plan begins 明日は.
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History and self-check answers
The answers below are for self-study and do not record a score. Mixed practice uses topics you have practised.
Recorded questions in this set: 0
Correct on first attempt: 0
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