Japanify

Lesson 2: すみません、わかりません – Sorry, I Don't Understand

Asking for clarification, numbers, and basic information about language and objects.

This lesson focuses on asking for clarification when you don't understand something, learning numbers 0-10, and asking basic questions about language, objects, and personal information.

Lesson 2: すみません、わかりません – Sorry, I Don't Understand image

Key topics:

  • ・Numbers 0-10
  • ・Asking 'What is this in Japanese?'
  • ・Requesting clarification and repetition
  • ・Expressing understanding or lack of understanding
  • ・Asking about languages and nationalities
  • ・Basic classroom and office items
  • ・Polite requests for information

Vocabulary

1
みせてください
misete kudasai
見みせてください
Please show me __.
Example
ざいりゅうかーどをみせてください.
Zairyuu kaado o misete kudasai.
Please show me your residence card.
2
よんでください
yonde kudasai
読よんでください
Please read __.
Example
このことばをよんでください.
Kono kotoba o yonde kudasai.
Please read this word.
3
かいてください
kaite kudasai
書かいてください
Please write __.
Example
なまえをかいてください.
Namae o kaite kudasai.
Please write your name.
4
すこし
sukoshi
少すこし
a little / a few
Example
日本にっぽん語ごがすこしわかります.
Nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu.
I understand a little Japanese.
5
いんどねしあご
indoneshia-go
インドネシア語ご
Indonesian language
Example
いんどねしあごができますか？
Indoneshia-go ga dekimasu ka?
Can you speak Indonesian?
6
か
ka
蚊か
mosquito
Example
「mosquito」は、日本にっぽん語ごで「か」です.
「Mosquito」wa, nihongo de 「ka」desu.
'Mosquito' is 'ka' in Japanese.
7
ざいりゅうかーど
zairyuu kaado
在留ざいりゅう(ざいりゅうかーど)カード
residence card
Example
ざいりゅうかーどをみせてください.
Zairyuu kaado o misete kudasai.
Please show me your residence card.
8
ちゅうごくご
chuugoku-go
中国ちゅうごく語ちゅうごくご
Chinese language
Example
ちゅうごくごがわかりますか？
Chuugoku-go ga wakarimasu ka?
Do you understand Chinese?
9
えいご
eigo
英語えいご
English language
Example
えいごができますか？
Eigo ga dekimasu ka?
Can you speak English?
10
日本語
nihongo
日本にっぽん語ご
Japanese language
Example
日本にっぽん語ごをべんきょうしています.
Nihongo o benkyou shiteimasu.
I am studying Japanese.
11
かさ
kasa
傘かさ
umbrella
Example
これはかさです.
Kore wa kasa desu.
This is an umbrella.
12
なまえ
namae
名前なまえ
name
Example
おなまえはなんですか？
O-namae wa nan desu ka?
What is your name?
13
へや
heya
部屋へや
room
Example
これはへやです.
Kore wa heya desu.
This is a room.
14
あのう
anou
-
excuse me / er
Example
あのう、すみません.
Anou, sumimasen.
Um, excuse me.
15
スマホ
sumaho
スマホ
smartphone
Example
スマホがありますか？
Sumaho ga arimasu ka?
Do you have a smartphone?
16
めんきょしょう
menkyoshou
免許めんきょ証めんきょしょう
license
Example
うんてんめんきょしょうをみせてください.
Unten menkyoshou o misete kudasai.
Please show me your driver's license.
17
じゃあ
jaa
-
Well then __
Example
じゃあ、はじめましょう.
Jaa, hajimemashou.
Well then, let's begin.
18
そうそう
sousou
-
That's right.
Example
そうそう、それです.
Sousou, sore desu.
That's right, that's it.
19
ぜろ
zero
零ぜろ
zero
Example
ぜろからはじめてください.
Zero kara hajimete kudasai.
Please start from zero.
20
いち
ichi
一いち
one
Example
いちからじゅうまで
Ichi kara juu made
From one to ten
21
に
ni
二に
two
Example
いち、に
Ichi, ni
One, two
22
さん
san
三さん
three
Example
いち、に、さん
Ichi, ni, san
One, two, three
23
よん
yon
四よん
four
Example
さん、よん、ご
San, yon, go
Three, four, five
24
ご
go
五ご
five
Example
よん、ご、ろく
Yon, go, roku
Four, five, six
25
ろく
roku
六ろく
six
Example
ご、ろく、しち
Go, roku, shichi
Five, six, seven
26
なな
nana
七なな
seven
Example
ろく、なな、はち
Roku, nana, hachi
Six, seven, eight
27
はち
hachi
八はち
eight
Example
なな、はち、きゅう
Nana, hachi, kyuu
Seven, eight, nine
28
きゅう
kyuu
九きゅう
nine
Example
はち、きゅう、じゅう
Hachi, kyuu, juu
Eight, nine, ten
29
じゅう
juu
十じゅう
ten
Example
きゅう、じゅう
Kyuu, juu
Nine, ten

Conversation

1
もういちど、お願いします.
Mou ichido, onegaishimasu.
Can you say that again please.
Example Usage
すみません、もういちど、お願ねがいします.
Sumimasen, mou ichido, onegaishimasu.
Excuse me, can you say that again please.
2
もうすこし、ゆっくりいってください
mou sukoshi, yukkuri itte kudasai
Can you say that a little slower please.
Example Usage
もうすこし、ゆっくりいってください.
Mou sukoshi, yukkuri itte kudasai.
Can you say that a little slower please.
3
これは、日本語でなんですか？
Kore wa, nihongo de nan desu ka?
What's this in Japanese?
Example Usage
これは、日本にっぽん語ごでなんですか？ - かさです.
Kore wa, nihongo de nan desu ka? - Kasa desu.
What's this in Japanese? - It's an umbrella.
4
日本語でなんといいますか？
Nihongo de nan to iimasu ka?
What do you call this in Japanese?
Example Usage
「mosquito」は、日本にっぽん語ごでなんといいますか？
「Mosquito」wa, nihongo de nan to iimasu ka?
What do you call 'mosquito' in Japanese?
5
__ ができますか？
ga dekimasu ka?
Can you speak __?
Example Usage
えいごができますか？ - はい、できます.
Eigo ga dekimasu ka? - Hai, dekimasu.
Can you speak English? - Yes, I can.
6
__ がわかりますか？
ga wakarimasu ka?
Do you understand __?
Example Usage
日本にっぽん語ごがわかりますか？
Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka?
Do you understand Japanese?
7
よくわかりません.
Yoku wakarimasen.
I'm not sure I understand.
Example Usage
すみません、よくわかりません.
Sumimasen, yoku wakarimasen.
I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand.

Kanji

1
名前なまえ
name
名🎬
name
前🎬
front, before
Example
おなまえはなんですか？
O-namae wa nan desu ka?
What is your name?
2
国くに
country
国🎬
country
Example
どこの国こくですか.
Doko no kuni desu ka.
Which country are you from?

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Asking how to say something in Japanese

Structure: Word/Phrase + は + 日本語にほんごで + 何なんですか？

Used to ask 'What is __ in Japanese?' This pattern asks for the translation or Japanese name of a word or phrase. The thing you're asking about is the topic, marked with は, followed by 日本語にほんごで ('in Japanese') and 何なんですか？ ('what is it?').

How to use: Put the word or phrase first, mark it with は, then say 日本語にほんごで何なんですか？. The で in 日本語にほんごで marks the language as the means of saying something — the same で used in ペンで書かきます ('write with a pen'). For other languages, swap the language: 英語えいごで何なんですか？ = 'What is it in English?'.
💡 Pro Tip: You can also use the fuller set phrase 日本語にほんごで何なんと言いいますか？ ('How do you say it in Japanese?') — it's more natural in conversation than 何なんですか？ alone. Note that 何なに is read なん before です (なんですか), but なに in most other positions. Also, the thing you're asking about is often written in quotes or katakana when it's a foreign word.
Examples
「mosquito」は、日本にっぽん語にほんごでなんですか？
「Mosquito」wa, nihongo de nan desu ka?
What is 'mosquito' in Japanese?
これは英語えいごで何なんですか？
Kore wa eigo de nan desu ka?
What is this in English?

Rule 2: Asking someone to say or repeat something

Structure: Word + を + 言いって下ください

A polite request meaning 'Please say __' or 'Please tell me __'. Used when asking someone to pronounce or state something. 言いって is the て-form of 言いう (iu, 'to say'), and 下ください makes it a polite request.

How to use: Put the thing to be said first, mark it with を, then follow with 言いって下ください. To ask how to say something and then request the pronunciation, combine the two: 日本語にほんごで何なんと言いいますか.言いって下ください. The と in 何なんと言いいますか is the quotation particle, marking what is being said.
💡 Pro Tip: 言いって下ください (itte kudasai) uses a small っ — it's the て-form of 言いう, not 言いいて. This is a common mistake. For softer requests, use 言いってもらえますか ('Could you say it for me?'). In casual speech, 言いって alone works as a request among friends.
Examples
ゆっくり言いって下ください.
Yukkuri itte kudasai.
Please say it slowly.
日本にっぽん語にほんごで何なんと言いいますか.言いって下ください.
Nihongo de nan to iimasu ka. Itte kudasai.
How do you say it in Japanese? Please say it.

Rule 3: Asking if someone understands

Structure: Topic + が + わかりますか？

Used to ask 'Do you understand __?' The particle が marks the object of understanding. わかります (wakarimasu) means 'to understand' and takes が for the thing being understood — not を.

How to use: Put the thing to be understood first, mark it with が, then follow with わかりますか？. The same pattern works for languages (日本語にほんごがわかりますか？), content (い味あじがわかりますか？ = 'Do you understand the meaning?'), and situations. To say you don't understand, use わかりません.
💡 Pro Tip: わかる takes が, not を — this is a common mistake for learners. Other verbs that behave similarly include すき, きらい, ほしい, できる, and みえる. When answering, はい、わかります / いいえ、わかりません are both fine, but すみません、わかりません sounds softer than いいえ.
Examples
日本にっぽん語にほんごがわかりますか？
Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka?
Do you understand Japanese?
すみません、いみがわかりません.
Sumimasen, imi ga wakarimasen.
Sorry, I don't understand the meaning.

Rule 4: Asking someone to repeat

Structure: もういちど + おがんいします

A polite phrase meaning 'One more time, please' or 'Can you repeat that, please?' Used when you didn't hear or understand something. もういちど means 'one more time', and おがんいします is a polite request.

How to use: Say もういちどおがんいします on its own as a complete request. You can also add ゆっくり ('slowly') for ゆっくりもういちどおがんいします = 'One more time, slowly, please.' To ask for repetition more politely, use もういちど言いって下ください or もういちど言いっていただけますか.
💡 Pro Tip: This is one of the most useful phrases for language learners — memorize it early. もういちど is often written in kanji as もう一いちど, but the hiragana form is common in textbooks and beginner materials. If you need a stronger apology, prefix with すみません: すみません、もういちどおがんいします.
Examples
もういちどおねがいします.
Mou ichido onegaishimasu.
One more time, please.
すみません、ゆっくりもういちどおねがいします.
Sumimasen, yukkuri mou ichido onegaishimasu.
Sorry, one more time slowly, please.

Exercises

Question 1

Choose the correct way to ask 'What is 'mosquito' in Japanese?'

「mosquito」は、日本語にほんごで ______ ですか？

Question 2

Complete the question meaning 'Do you understand Japanese?'

日本語にほんご ______ わかりますか？

Question 3

What does 'もういちどお願いします' mean?

Question 4

How do you say 'Please say it in Japanese'?

Question 5

Choose the correct reading of 名前

______ は なんですか.

Question 6

You want to ask 'What is 先生せんせい in English?' Which is correct?

Question 7

Complete the request meaning 'Please say your name.'

なまえを ______ 下ください.

Question 8

How do you say 'I don't understand Japanese'?

Question 9

Choose the correct reading of 国

どこの ______ ですか.

Question 10

You didn't catch what the teacher said. What do you say?

Question 11

Complete the question meaning 'Do you understand the meaning?'

いみ ______ わかりますか.

Question 12

Choose the correct reading of 私

______ は がくせい です.

Question 13

Complete the question and request meaning 'What do you say it in Japanese? Please say it.'

日本語にほんごで なんと ______ か.______ 下ください.

Question 14

How do you ask 'What is 'apple' in Japanese?'

Question 15

'I didn't understand the teacher's words.'

せんせいの ことば ______ わかりませんでした.

Question 16

What is the casual way to say 'One more time' to a close friend?

Question 17

Choose the correct reading of 名前

あなたの ______ は？

Question 18

How do you ask 'Do you understand the meaning of this kanji?'

Question 19

Complete the request meaning 'Please don't say that.'

それを ______ 下ください.

Question 20

Choose the most appropriate response if you don't understand the question.

On'yomi:
Kun'yomi: