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How do you ask someone to speak slowly in Japanese?

Yukkuri hanashite kudasai. (ゆっくり話してください。)

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  1. Moo ichi-do itte kudasai. (もう一度言ってください。)
  2. Yukkuri hanashite kudasai. (ゆっくり話してください。) ✔
  3. Yoku wakarimasen. (よくわかりません。)

Why: Yukkuri means slowly and kudasai makes it a polite request. The other choices mean 'please say it again' and 'I don't quite understand'. Together they are your best travel survival set.

Huh, didn't know that: NHK's Tam combines 'Sumimasen. Yoku wakarimasen.' with this request.

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References

Answer: Yukkuri hanashite kudasai. (ゆっくり話してください。). Yukkuri means slowly and kudasai makes it a polite request. The other choices mean 'please say it again' and 'I don't quite understand'. Together they are your best travel survival set.

  1. NHK WORLD-JAPAN Easy Japanese, Lesson 7 www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/lesson/en/lessons/07.html
    Yukkuri hanashite kudasai. Please speak slowly.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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