Is this correct japanese?

Question

have a speaking test in a couple of hours and i have to ask for directions to somewhere using 'doyatte ikumasuka' but i wanted to make it more complex by saying 'excuse me but because i do not know the area, can you tell me how to get to the cafe?"

Is this how i would say it? I was trying to use potential form because that's what we're expected to do, but im still not sure if this is the correct use.

すみませんが、エ��アがわかりませんから、きっさてんではどうやっていっておしえてもらえますか。

Michiyo · Answer

> すみませんが、
すみません。is also OK.

> エリアがわかりませんから、
エリア is not the right word in this context. I would say, "このへんはよくわからないので" or "このへんは不案内なので(konohen wa buannai nanode)" to mean I am not familiar with this area.

> きっさてんではどうやっていっておしえてもらえますか。
きっさてんでは means "at/in the cafe" so you should say ”きっさてんへはどういけばいいか."
おしえてもらえますか。is of course fine, but in a little more polite way, you can say "おしえていただけますか"

Hope this helps :)

Is this correct japanese?

1 Answer