Repeat in Japanese: もう一度いちどお願ねがいします mou ichido onegaishimasu

You ask a question you have practiced, and the answer comes back faster than you expected. You recognize the beginning, lose the middle, and smile because you cannot think of anything else to say. Having a few recovery phrases ready makes that moment easier to handle.

You do not need to explain your entire learning history before asking for help. A short request can tell the other person what would make their message clearer. The phrases below begin with beginner-friendly chunks, then introduce longer alternatives you can learn when you need them.

The basics

The first phrase to memorize

すみません、もう一度いちどお願ねがいします。 — Sorry, could you say that again?

もう一度いちど means “once more.” Its reading is もういちど, or mou ichido. お願ねがいします makes a polite request; in this context, the listener understands that you want them to repeat what they just said. すみません gets their attention and softens the interruption.

You can also leave out the opening apology:

もう一度いちどお願ねがいします。 — Once more, please.

This is a useful starting point with a teacher, a shop assistant, or someone giving you directions. It does not require you to identify exactly why you missed the message. Say it with a calm voice and give the other person time to respond.

A version that explicitly includes “say” is:

もう一度いちど言いってください。 — Please say that again.

言いって is the te-form of 言いう, “to say.” The pattern is a polite request, though tone and the relationship still affect how it sounds. If you want to build other requests with this structure, see how to use the te-form with kudasai.

Ask for the change you need

A second attempt may be enough if a passing train covered one sentence. If the difficulty was speed, make that clear too:

もう一度いちど、ゆっくりお願ねがいします。 — Once more, slowly, please.

もう少すこしゆっくり話はなしてください。 — Please speak a little more slowly.

ゆっくり means “slowly” here, and もう少すこし means “a little more.” 話はなしてください asks the person to speak in the requested way. This can apply to what they say next as well as to the sentence you missed.

“Again” does not necessarily mean “at the same speed”: a helpful listener may slow down without being asked. However, adding ゆっくり makes your request clearer. Slower speech also cannot solve every problem; an unfamiliar word may still need an explanation.

What you need	Useful Japanese	What the request communicates
A repeat	もう一度いちどお願ねがいします。	Please say it again.
A slower repeat	もう一度いちど、ゆっくりお願ねがいします。	Repeat it at a slower pace.
More volume	もう少すこし大おおきい声こえでお願ねがいします。	Please speak a little louder.
Easier wording	簡単かんたんな言葉ことばでお願ねがいします。	Please use simpler words.
A word explained	「最寄もより」はどういう意味いみですか。	Explain the meaning of this word.
A written version	ここに書かいてもらえますか。	Please put it in writing here.

The Japan Foundation includes requests for repetition and slower speech among its practical classroom communication phrases. Practice them as things you can say during a conversation, even before you can analyze every part.

What about え？

え？ — Huh?

え？ can show surprise or signal that you missed something. It is not automatically rude, and Japanese speakers use it in many relationships. A loud, sharp delivery can sound challenging, while a softer delivery can sound like a simple request to repeat.

For a learner talking with someone unfamiliar, a fuller request removes some of that ambiguity. If え？ comes out automatically, follow it with すみません、もう一度いちどお願ねがいします. Adding an apology does not magically make every tone polite; the clear request is what tells the listener how to help.

Beyond the basics

Separate hearing from understanding

すみません、聞きき取とれませんでした。 — Sorry, I could not catch what you said.

聞きき取とる means to catch or make out what someone says. 聞きき取とれませんでした is its polite past negative potential form: you were unable to catch it. That may happen because of noise, unfamiliar pronunciation, or difficulty separating the sounds into words. 聞きき取とる is one of several compounds built on 聞きく, and listen in Japanese sets it beside 聞きき返かえす, the verb for asking someone to say something again.

This sentence describes the problem, but does not explicitly request a solution. Follow it with もう一度いちどお願ねがいします or ゆっくりお願ねがいします if needed.

すみません、意味いみがわかりません。 — Sorry, I do not understand the meaning.

意味いみ means “meaning.” Use this when you heard the words but do not understand what they mean. On its own, わかりません is broader and can cover many kinds of uncertainty; it is not restricted to one precise listening problem. Adding 意味いみ makes the difficulty more specific.

Ask about a word instead of restarting everything

Suppose someone asks about your nearest station. You hear 最寄もより clearly, but have never learned it:

「最寄もより」はどういう意味いみですか。 — What does “moyori” mean?

最寄もより means “nearest” in expressions such as 最寄もよりの駅えき, “the nearest station.” A more conversational question is:

「最寄もより」って何なんですか。 — What is “moyori”?

Here, って introduces the word you are asking about. It is conversational, and the ending ですか gives the question a polite form. It can invite an explanation of a word or of the thing the word refers to. It does not specifically ask someone to repeat the sound.

If you missed the sound itself, ask for repetition of that part:

最後さいごの言葉ことばをもう一度いちどお願ねがいします。 — Could you repeat the last word?

最後さいご means “last,” and 言葉ことば means “word” or “language,” depending on context. Pointing to the missing part helps the speaker decide what to repeat. The Japan Foundation discusses this strategy in its Activate Your Japanese! strategy explanations.

For more ways to request a definition, read how to ask what something means in Japanese.

Ask for simpler wording or a different explanation

簡単かんたんな言葉ことばで説明せつめいしてもらえますか。 — Could you explain it using simple words?

別べつの言い方いいかたで説明せつめいしてもらえますか。 — Could you explain it in a different way?

簡単かんたんな言葉ことば asks for easier vocabulary. 別べつの言い方いいかた asks for different wording, which might include a paraphrase or a different way of presenting the idea. Use the first when the vocabulary is too difficult and the second when the explanation is still unclear after a repeat.

A shorter phrase is also useful:

やさしい日本語にほんごでお願ねがいします。 — In simple Japanese, please.

You can use this without knowing a long sentence. The listener may still need guidance about which words were difficult, so quote a specific word if you can. No phrase guarantees that another person will immediately find the right explanation.

Ask for writing when sounds are not enough

ここに書かいてもらえますか。 — Could you write it here?

ここ means “here.” Point to a notebook or a place on a screen so the request has a clear reference. This is useful for a 名前なまえ, “name,” or an 住所じゅうしょ, “address,” especially when you need to copy it accurately.

A written answer may introduce another problem: unfamiliar kanji. If reading is the issue, make a more specific request:

ひらがなで書かいてもらえますか。 — Could you write it in hiragana?

Writing is one option, not a guarantee of understanding. For directions, pointing to a map may be easier. For an address, seeing the original written form can still help you search for it even if you cannot read every character.

Confirm what you think you heard

三時さんじですね。 — Three o’clock, right?

三時さんじですか、四時よじですか。 — Is it three o’clock or four o’clock?

The first sentence checks a likely interpretation. The second makes your uncertainty explicit by giving two alternatives. 三時さんじですね is useful when you think you heard three; it is less useful if you are simply guessing and the listener mistakes your confidence for understanding.

Wait for the response before treating the detail as confirmed. If the person corrects you, repeat the corrected information once. Confirmation is especially useful for times, meeting places, and quantities, where one small mistake can change the practical meaning of the conversation.

Choose the amount of formality you need

もう一回いっかい言いって。 — Say that again.

This casual request is useful with friends or others with whom you already use plain speech. もう一回いっかい means “one more time.” The casual feel here comes especially from the ending 言いって; 一回いっかい itself is not inherently impolite.

For a more deferential request, you can say:

もう一度いちど言いっていただけますか。 — Could you please say that again?

You do not need to master this longer pattern before having everyday conversations. Start with もう一度いちどお願ねがいします, then add alternatives as your needs grow. A shorter phrase spoken clearly is often more useful than a formal phrase you cannot retrieve under pressure.

Common mistakes

Asking for the same thing after it has stopped helping

There is nothing wrong with asking for repetition twice. But if you still cannot understand, change the request. Try slower speech, a definition, different wording, or writing. This gives the other person new information about what is difficult.

Treating a meaning question as a repeat request

「最寄もより」って何なんですか asks about what 最寄もより means or refers to. It does not mean “repeat the word 最寄もより.” Choose between asking for the sound again and asking for an explanation. That distinction helps avoid a conversation in which each person answers a different question.

Assuming that louder means clearer

If you can hear the voice but cannot separate the words, more volume may not help. Ask for slower speech instead. If background noise really is the problem, this is appropriate:

もう少すこし大おおきい声こえでお願ねがいします。 — A little louder, please.

Apologizing so much that the request gets lost

A brief すみません is generally enough to open an ordinary repeat request. You can then say what you need. There is no need to describe yourself as bad at Japanese or give a long explanation before the other person can help.

Letting a nod replace a needed check

Nodding can simply show that you are listening; it does not always mean agreement or full understanding. Still, if a detail matters, use words to check it. A listener cannot reliably know which part you missed from your expression alone.

Practice

Say an answer aloud before opening each explanation. These are sample answers, not the only possible correct responses. For each situation, choose the request that addresses the actual problem.

1. A shop assistant said something you missed. Ask politely for a repeat, starting with a brief apology.

Show answer

すみません、もう一度いちどお願ねがいします。 — Sorry, could you say that again? This is a useful default when you do not need a more specific request.

2. You need the sentence repeated more slowly. Ask for both changes.

Show answer

もう一度いちど、ゆっくりお願ねがいします。 — Once more, slowly, please. The request specifies both repetition and speed.

3. You heard 最寄もより clearly, but do not know its meaning. Ask for a definition.

Show answer

「最寄もより」はどういう意味いみですか。 — What does “moyori” mean? Repeating the sound alone would not answer your question.

4. You understood the sentence except for its last word. Ask to hear that part again.

Show answer

最後さいごの言葉ことばをもう一度いちどお願ねがいします。 — Could you repeat the last word? You have identified the part that needs repeating.

5. The vocabulary in an explanation is too difficult. Ask for simpler words.

Show answer

簡単かんたんな言葉ことばで説明せつめいしてもらえますか。 — Could you explain it using simple words? You need a change in wording, not only speed.

6. You need a written version, but kanji would be difficult to read. Ask for hiragana.

Show answer

ひらがなで書かいてもらえますか。 — Could you write it in hiragana? This specifies the form of writing that will help you.

7. You are unsure whether the meeting is at three or four. Ask explicitly about both possibilities.

Show answer

三時さんじですか、四時よじですか。 — Is it three o’clock or four o’clock? This expresses uncertainty more clearly than confirming a guess.

8. Your friend said something you missed. Give a casual repeat request.

Show answer

もう一回いっかい言いって。 — Say that again. Use this with someone with whom you already speak casually.

9. Someone repeated a sentence, but you still cannot understand the explanation. Ask for different wording.

Show answer

別べつの言い方いいかたで説明せつめいしてもらえますか。 — Could you explain it in a different way? This invites a new explanation instead of another identical repeat.

For speaking practice, have a partner give you a time, a name, and a short explanation. Practice making a different follow-up request for each. The goal is to choose a useful response while listening, rather than recite every phrase in order.

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FAQ

Questions covered below:

Is え？ rude?

Can I just say もう一度いちど?

How do I ask someone to speak more slowly?

What if I still do not understand after a repeat?

Does 聞きき取とれませんでした mean I do not understand?

Is え？ rude?

Not necessarily. It can express surprise or a failure to hear, and its effect depends on tone and context. With someone unfamiliar, follow it with a clear polite request if you need repetition. Avoid assuming that one expression has the same effect in every relationship.

Can I just say もう一度いちど?

Yes, when the context makes your request clear. It means “once more,” but leaves the request ending unstated. もう一度いちどお願ねがいします is a more complete polite option that is useful when you are unsure how casually to speak.

How do I ask someone to speak more slowly?

Use ゆっくりお願ねがいします for a short request or もう少すこしゆっくり話はなしてください for “Please speak a little more slowly.” Add もう一度いちど if you also need the previous sentence repeated. Slower speech and repetition are related requests, but you may need either one or both.

What if I still do not understand after a repeat?

Identify what remains difficult. Ask about an unfamiliar word, request simpler wording, or ask the speaker to write the information. If you cannot identify the problem yet, say that you do not understand and ask for a different explanation. You do not have to pretend the repeat solved it.

Does 聞きき取とれませんでした mean I do not understand?

More specifically, it means you could not catch or make out what was said. If you heard the words but their meaning is unclear, 意味いみがわかりません describes that problem more directly. In real conversation, hearing and comprehension can overlap, so treat this as a useful distinction rather than an absolute boundary.

Vocabulary from this article

These words and expressions all appear above. Learn the short request chunks first; the individual words help you adapt them later.

Japanese	Reading	Meaning in this article
もう一度いちど	もういちど	once more
お願ねがいします	おねがいします	please; a polite request ending
ゆっくり	ゆっくり	slowly
もう少すこし	もうすこし	a little more
聞きき取とる	ききとる	to catch or make out speech
意味いみ	いみ	meaning
最寄もより	もより	nearest
最後さいご	さいご	last
言葉ことば	ことば	word; language
簡単かんたん	かんたん	simple; easy
別べつの言い方いいかた	べつのいいかた	different wording
名前なまえ	なまえ	name
住所じゅうしょ	じゅうしょ	address

For a tab-separated copy to import into flashcards, use the block below. Each line contains a term followed by its reading and meaning.

もう一度	もういちど — once more
お願いします	おねがいします — please; a polite request ending
ゆっくり	ゆっくり — slowly
もう少し	もうすこし — a little more
聞き取る	ききとる — to catch or make out speech
意味	いみ — meaning
最寄り	もより — nearest
最後	さいご — last
言葉	ことば — word; language
簡単	かんたん — simple; easy
別の言い方	べつのいいかた — different wording
名前	なまえ — name
住所	じゅうしょ — address

Sources

• The Japan Foundation, Sydney: Encouraging Students Talk — classroom expressions including requests for repetition and slower speech.
• The Japan Foundation: Activate Your Japanese! Strategy Explanations — Japanese-language teaching notes on communication strategies, including identifying and asking about the part you did not catch.

The practice situations and example translations in this article are teaching examples, not quotations from the sources.