The Big Idea
You do not need to pretend you understood. Use one short phrase to ask again and keep going.
Your brain just went blank.
Someone said something in English, you missed it, and now you are trying not to panic.
Good news: you do not need a perfect sentence. You just need one of these five simple lines.
1. “Sorry?”
Short, natural, and useful when you did not hear or understand.
Japanese support: すみません？
2. “Could you repeat that?”
Use this when you missed the information and need the person to say it again.
Japanese support: もう一度言ってもらえますか？
3. “I didn’t catch that.”
This is a very natural way to say you missed what the person said.
Japanese support: ちょっと聞き取れませんでした。
4. “Could you say that a little slower?”
Use this when you understand some of the conversation but the person is speaking too quickly.
Japanese support: もう少しゆっくり言ってもらえますか？
5. “Could you show me?”
This is perfect when a visual explanation would help: a map, ticket, menu, gate number, address, or location.
Japanese support: 見せてもらえますか？
Do not pretend you understood
Smiling and nodding when you are completely lost usually makes the conversation harder later.
Stop for a second.
Take a breath.
Use one of the five lines.
Keep going.
Practice the situation, not just the phrase
Imagine someone at an airport speaks too fast.
You can say:
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Could you say that a little slower?”
That is real English practice.
Stop memorizing English. Start using it.
What do you say when someone speaks too fast?
THE FOUR FINGER RULE
Stop memorizing English.
Start using it.
52 weeks. 52 real-world missions.
US$52 once.
Keep Practising
How to Ask “Where Is My Gate?” in English
AI-assisted illustrations used for learning.
