UNIT 10 Workplace and School Basic Conversations
Lesson 2: Asking Questions and Asking for Helpしつもんがあります — Getting the Support You Need
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
In any workplace or classroom in Japan, the ability to ask a question politely and request help when you don’t understand is essential. Struggling in silence is not valued — asking clearly and politely is. This lesson gives you the phrases to open a conversation with a colleague or teacher, signal confusion, and request slower or repeated explanations.
What you will learn:
- Signal a question — 質問があります
- Ask for a moment of someone’s time — 少しよろしいですか
- Say you don’t understand — わかりません
- Ask for repetition — もう一度お願いします
- Ask for slower speech — ゆっくりお願いします
- Request help — 手伝ってください
- Ask what to do — どうすればいいですか
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
質問があります。
Shitsumon ga arimasu.
I have a question.
少しよろしいですか。
Sukoshi yoroshii desu ka.
Do you have a moment?
わかりません。
Wakarimasen.
I do not understand.
もう一度お願いします。
Moo ichido onegaishimasu.
Please say it again.
ゆっくりお願いします。
Yukkuri onegaishimasu.
Slowly, please.
手伝ってください。
Tetsudatte kudasai.
Please help me.
どうすればいいですか。
Doo sureba ii desu ka.
What should I do?
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 少しよろしいですか — the professional “excuse me”
少しよろしいですか = “Do you have a moment?” The word 少し = “a little / a moment” softens the request. Always use this before interrupting someone who appears busy. Paired with 失礼します it becomes the standard polite interruption.
失礼します。少しよろしいですか。Excuse me. Do you have a moment?
先生、少しよろしいですか。Teacher, do you have a moment?
② もう一度 vs ゆっくり — repetition vs pace
もう一度お願いします = “Please say it again” — you didn’t catch it at all. ゆっくりお願いします = “Please speak more slowly” — you understood the words but couldn’t follow the speed. Use both together when needed: もう一度、ゆっくりお願いします = “Please say it again, slowly.”
③ どうすればいいですか — asking for direction
どうすればいいですか = “What should I do?” This is the ideal phrase when you are unsure of the next step in a task. It is direct, clear, and completely appropriate in any professional setting. You can add a topic: これはどうすればいいですか = “What should I do about this?”
⚠️ Cultural Note
In Japan, saying わかりません (I don’t understand) without a follow-up request can feel abrupt. Always pair it with a solution request: わかりません。もう一度お願いします or わかりません。どうすればいいですか. This shows you are actively trying to solve the problem rather than just signalling confusion.
In Japan, saying わかりません (I don’t understand) without a follow-up request can feel abrupt. Always pair it with a solution request: わかりません。もう一度お願いします or わかりません。どうすればいいですか. This shows you are actively trying to solve the problem rather than just signalling confusion.
3. Key Words ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 質問 | shitsumon | question |
| 少し | sukoshi | a little / a moment |
| もう一度 | moo ichido | one more time / again |
| ゆっくり | yukkuri | slowly |
| 手伝います | tetsudaimasu | help |
| どうすれば | doo sureba | what should / how should |
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Asking the Teacher a Question
💬 Conversation 2 — Asking for Repetition
💬 Conversation 3 — Asking to Slow Down
💬 Conversation 4 — Asking for Help with a Task
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 質問があります | shitsumon ga arimasu | I have a question |
| 少しよろしいですか | sukoshi yoroshii desu ka | do you have a moment? |
| わかりません | wakarimasen | I don’t understand |
| もう一度 | moo ichido | one more time |
| ゆっくり | yukkuri | slowly |
| 手伝ってください | tetsudatte kudasai | please help me |
| どうすればいいですか | doo sureba ii desu ka | what should I do? |
6. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. Answers and explanations are shown below.
Q1. What does 「質問があります。」 mean?
A. I have an answer. B. I have a problem. C. I have a question. D. I have a request.
Answer: C
質問があります = “I have a question.” Use this to politely signal you want to ask something before launching into the question.
質問があります = “I have a question.” Use this to politely signal you want to ask something before launching into the question.
Q2. What does 「少しよろしいですか。」 mean?
A. Are you a little tired? B. Do you have a moment? C. Is it a little late? D. Are you a little slow?
Answer: B
少しよろしいですか = “Do you have a moment?” 少し = a little. よろしい = good / okay. The polite way to ask for someone’s time.
少しよろしいですか = “Do you have a moment?” 少し = a little. よろしい = good / okay. The polite way to ask for someone’s time.
Q3. How do you ask someone to repeat what they said?
A. ゆっくりお願いします。 B. どうすればいいですか。 C. もう一度お願いします。 D. 手伝ってください。
Answer: C
もう一度お願いします = “Please say it again.” ゆっくりお願いします = “Please speak slowly” — for speed. Use both together if needed.
もう一度お願いします = “Please say it again.” ゆっくりお願いします = “Please speak slowly” — for speed. Use both together if needed.
Q4. What does 「ゆっくりお願いします。」 mean?
A. Please say it again. B. Please write it down. C. Please be careful. D. Please speak slowly.
Answer: D
ゆっくりお願いします = “Please speak slowly.” ゆっくり = slowly. Essential when you can understand the content but the pace is too fast.
ゆっくりお願いします = “Please speak slowly.” ゆっくり = slowly. Essential when you can understand the content but the pace is too fast.
Q5. What does 「どうすればいいですか。」 mean?
A. How are you? B. What time is it? C. What should I do? D. Is this okay?
Answer: C
どうすればいいですか = “What should I do?” Use this when unsure of the next step. Add context: これはどうすればいいですか = “What should I do about this?”
どうすればいいですか = “What should I do?” Use this when unsure of the next step. Add context: これはどうすればいいですか = “What should I do about this?”
Q6. You don’t understand what your boss just said. What is the best thing to say?
A. わかりました。 B. わかりません。もう一度お願いします。 C. ゆっくり来てください。 D. お疲れさまです。
Answer: B
わかりません。もう一度お願いします。 = “I don’t understand. Please say it again.” Always follow わかりません with a request for help — never leave it as a dead end.
わかりません。もう一度お願いします。 = “I don’t understand. Please say it again.” Always follow わかりません with a request for help — never leave it as a dead end.
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
質問があります。 → ______
少しよろしいですか。 → ______
わかりません。 → ______
もう一度お願いします。 → ______
ゆっくりお願いします。 → ______
手伝ってください。 → ______
どうすればいいですか。 → ______
Choices: A. Please help me. B. I don’t understand. C. What should I do? D. I have a question. E. Please say it again. F. Do you have a moment? G. Please speak slowly.
Answers: 質問があります = D ／ 少しよろしいですか = F ／ わかりません = B ／ もう一度お願いします = E ／ ゆっくりお願いします = G ／ 手伝ってください = A ／ どうすればいいですか = C
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice the full help-request sequence in Japanese.
Role-play with your teacher. Student asks for help; teacher gives an instruction the student doesn’t understand:
失礼します。少しよろしいですか。／ 質問があります。／ わかりません。／ もう一度、ゆっくりお願いします。／ どうすればいいですか。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson you learned how to ask questions and request help in a Japanese workplace or classroom.
質問があります。(I have a question.)
わかりません。(I don’t understand.)
もう一度お願いします。(Please repeat.)
どうすればいいですか。(What should I do?)
わかりません。(I don’t understand.)
もう一度お願いします。(Please repeat.)
どうすればいいですか。(What should I do?)
💡 Key sequence: 少しよろしいですか → 質問があります → わかりません → もう一度ゆっくりお願いします. This four-step pattern covers almost every help-seeking situation.
FAQ
Q. Is it okay to ask questions frequently at a Japanese workplace?
Yes — asking questions appropriately is valued. However, Japanese workplace culture expects you to try to find the answer first before asking. If you ask too often for information that’s easily available, it may reflect poorly. But for genuine clarification, always ask: わかりません。確認してもいいですか = “I’m not sure. Can I confirm?”
Q. How do I say “I understood” to show I caught what was said?
わかりました = “I understood / I got it.” This is the natural affirmation after receiving instructions. 承知しました is more formal and used in business emails or with senior staff.
Q. What if I still don’t understand after someone repeats themselves?
Ask them to write it down: 書いてもらえますか = “Could you write it down for me?” Or ask for a simpler explanation: やさしく説明してください = “Please explain it simply.” Never nod and pretend to understand — this causes more problems later.
💼 Practice with a real teacher
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
Being able to ask for help naturally is one of the most valuable skills at any Japanese workplace or school. Try a free trial lesson today.
Online or in-person — both available on request.