#45

Making a request politely

日本語をチェックしてもらえませんか Would you check the Japanese?

Skit
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Japanese
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Tam seems to want to ask a favor of the robot landlady, Haru-san.

Listen #45 (10 min.)

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Skit

はるさん、お願いがあるんですが・・・。

Haru-san, onegai ga arun desu ga...

Haru-san, I have a favor to ask...

メールの日本語をチェックしてもらえませんか。

Meeru no Nihongo o chekku-shite moraemasen ka.

Would you check the Japanese in my email?

いいですよ。どれどれ・・・。

Ii desu yo. Dore dore...

Sure. Let's see…

「悠輝さん、お元気ですか。」

"Yuuki-san, ogenki desu ka."

"Yuuki-san, how are you?"

私の日本語、大丈夫ですか。

Watashi no Nihongo, daijoobu desu ka.

Is my Japanese OK?

とても上手ですよ。

Totemo joozu desu yo.

Very good.

Vocabulary

お願い

onegai

request

ある

aru

be/have

メール

meeru

日本語

Nihongo

Japanese language

チェックする

chekku-suru

check

いい

sure

どれどれ

dore dore

let's see

元気（な）

genki (na)

well

私

watashi

大丈夫（な）

daijoobu (na)

とても

totemo

very

上手（な）

joozu (na)

good

Key Phrase

Making a request politely

日本語をチェックしてもらえませんか。

Nihongo o chekku-shite moraemasen ka.

Would you check the Japanese?

To make a request politely, use "[the verb's TE-form] + moraemasen ka." "Moraemasen ka" literally means "couldn't I get? " It's an expression to ask whether the person will do what you're asking. It's more polite than "-te kudasai" or "please do XXX."

Learn more!

Verbs

Use It!

Listen

すみません。これ、もう少し安くしてもらえませんか。

Sumimasen. Kore, moo sukoshi yasuku shite moraemasen ka.

Excuse me. Would you discount this a little more?

そうですねえ・・・。

Soo desu nee...

Well, let's see…

Try It Out!

Try making a request politely

1Which of these three choices is the correct way to say this sentence in Japanese?

Would you make a reservation at this restaurant?

make a reservation at this restaurant

この店を予約する（→予約して）

kono mise o yoyaku-suru (→yoyaku-shite)

1

この店を予約してもらえませんか。

Kono mise o yoyaku-shite moraemasen ka.
2

Kono mise o yoyaku-shite moraeru ka.

Sorry, wrong Answer.
3

Kono mise o yoyaku-shite moraemasen.

Sorry, wrong Answer.

2Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

Would you XXX?

～てもらえませんか。

～te moraemasen ka.

keep the luggage

荷物を預かる（→預かって）

nimotsu o azukaru (→azukatte)

Answer

荷物を預かってもらえませんか。

Nimotsu o azukatte moraemasen ka.

3Say the sentence in Japanese, using the following word(s).

Would you XXX?

～てもらえませんか。

～te moraemasen ka.

change seats

席を替える（→替えて）

seki o kaeru (→kaete)

Answer

席を替えてもらえませんか。

Seki o kaete moraemasen ka.

Bonus Phrase: お願いがあるんですが・・・。

Onegai ga arun desu ga...

I have a favor to ask...

Add to My NotebookAdded to My Notebook

People's voices

You use this expression to start off a conversation when you're going to make a request.

Kanji

samurai (feudal era warrior)

Culture

Haru-san’s Bagful of Advice

Enjoying Shopping

Shopping is one of the top things to do for many visitors to Japan. At most stores, the price shown on the tag is firm. Asking for discounts is not common.
"Fukubukuro" are sold during the New Year's season. They're a bundle of items from the store. The price is less than that of all the items if purchased individually.

Another unique thing in Japan is unmanned fruit and vegetable stands along the roads, often near fields. To make a purchase, just put the appropriate amount of money in the box.

Trip tip