少々お待ちください
shōshō omachi kudasai
The English phrase "please wait a moment" is expressed in Japanese as 少々お待ちください (shōshō omachi kudasai).
少々お待ちください is a polite request for someone to wait for a short period of time. It is the standard way for staff in shops, restaurants or offices to ask a customer to wait.
Which one should you use?
少々お待ちください is a formal expression, whereas ちょっと待って (chotto matte) is an informal version used to mean "wait a sec" or "just a moment".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
少々お待ちください is a formal and polite expression used frequently in customer service or professional settings. This is even more polite than the formal お待ちください. For friends or family, the casual ちょっと待って is more appropriate.
How do you pronounce it?
shōshō omachi kudasai
Did you know?
- If you are in a very casual setting, saying 少々お待ちください can actually sound strangely stiff or even sarcastic, as if you are role-playing as a shop assistant.
- In high-end Japanese hospitality, known as 'Omotenashi', a staff member might say 少々お待ちください while performing a subtle bow. The depth and duration of the bow signal the level of apology for the wait.
- While 少々お待ちください is the gold standard for service, saying it to a boss or a high-ranking official can actually be seen as rude because it is a request for the other person to do something. In those cases, staff use 少々お待ちいただけますでしょうか to ask if it is possible for the person to wait.
Examples in context
- 受付: 申し訳ございませんが、少々お待ちください。(Moushiwake gozaimasen ga, shoushou omachikudasai.)Receptionist: I'm sorry, but please wait a moment.
- 兄: 水を取ってきて。(Ani: Mizu o totte kite.)
妹: ちょっと待って。(Imouto: Chotto matte.)Brother: Get me some water.
Sister: Just a moment. - 少々お待ちください。Shōshō omachi kudasai.Please wait a moment.
- 確認しますので、少々お待ちください。Kakunin shimasu node, shōshō omachi kudasai.I will check, so please wait a moment.
- 少々お待ちください。すぐ戻ります。Shōshō omachi kudasai. Sugu modorimasu.Please wait a moment. I will be back soon.
Example conversation
A customer asks a staff member at a cafe about a menu.
- 陽太 Yotaすみません、メニューを見せてください。Sumimasen, menyū o misete kudasai.Excuse me, please show me the menu.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、少々お待ちください。Hai, shōshō omachi kudasai.Yes, please wait a moment.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you.
- 陽葵 Himariこちらになります。Kochira ni narimasu.Here it is.
