How to Say ‘Please wait’ in Japanese
少々お待ちください
しょうしょうおまちください
💬 Usage Tip: Formal version of 'wait a moment'.
🇯🇵 In Japan: [少々] (shou-shou) literally means a 'little'. Used in various situations to politely ask someone to wait.
Phrase Breakdown
少々しょうしょう
a moment
Indicates a short amount of time.
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a moment.
お待ちおまち
wait
Polite request form of 'wait'.
お待ちください。
Please wait.
くださいください
please
Used to make a polite request.
手伝ってください。
Please help me.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
少々しょうしょう
[shoushou]
a little
Used to indicate a small amount or degree.
少々お待ちしてください。
Please wait a moment.
おお
[o]
honorific prefix
A prefix to add politeness to nouns, verbs and adjectives.
お水をいただけますか。
May I have some water?
待ちまち
[machi]
wait
The act of remaining ready until something expected happens.
少々お待ちください。
Please wait a moment.
くださいください
[kudasai]
please
Used to make polite requests.
こちらにお名前を記入してください。
Please fill in your name here.
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