JLPT N4EverydayPolite

んですがleading into a request or question

You explain your situation with んです, and が hands over to what you want to ask. No "but" is meant. It is the everyday polite way to open a request or a question.

a request

道みちに迷まよったんですが、駅えきまでの行いき方かたを教おしえていただけますか。

I'm lost. Could you tell me how to get to the station?

a question

先さきほどメールを送おくったんですが、届とどいていますか。

I sent an email a little while ago. Has it arrived?

the rest unsaid

すみません、予よ約やくしたいんですが……。

Excuse me, I'd like to make a reservation…

How to form it

Plain form + んですが

行いくんですが, 行いきたいんですが, 分わからないんですが, 送おくったんですが, 痛いたいんですが.

Noun or な-adjective

〜 + な + んですが

二人ふたりなんですが, 初はじめてなんですが.

Other shapes

んですけど　／　のですが　／　んだけど

んですけど is the same thing, a little more relaxed. のですが is for careful speech and email. んだけど is for friends.

Your situation first, then what you want

A request out of nowhere is abrupt. This way the other person knows why you are asking before you ask. English uses two sentences, or "so".

コピー機きが動うごかないんですが、見みてもらえますか。

The copier isn't working. Could you take a look at it?

この仕し事ごとは初はじめてなんですが、何なにから始はじめればいいですか。

This is my first time doing this job. Where should I start?

来らい週しゅう、京きょう都とへ行いくんですが、おすすめの寺てらを教おしえていただけませんか。

I'm going to Kyoto next week. Could you recommend a temple?

部屋へやの鍵かぎをなくしたんですけど、どうすればいいですか。

I've lost my room key. What should I do?

With けど, at a hotel desk.

A noun with なんですが can also raise a subject: "about…".

明日あしたの予よ約やくなんですが、時じ間かんを変かえられますか。

About tomorrow's reservation: could I change the time?

Stopping at が

When it is plain what you want, you can stop there. Nothing is missing: the other person takes it from you.

すみません。二人ふたりなんですが…。

Excuse me. There are two of us…

はい、ただいまお席せきを確かく認にんします。

Certainly. I'll check for a table now.

At the door of a restaurant. A wants a table and doesn't need to say so.

It is also a soft way to say no: you give your situation and leave the refusal unsaid.

to an invitation

その日ひは別べつの予よ定ていがあるんですが……。

I have other plans that day, I'm afraid…

Things you'll say

ちょっと聞ききたいんですがMay I ask you something?

すみません、ちょっと聞ききたいんですが、この電でん車しゃは空くう港こうに行いきますか。

Excuse me, may I ask you something? Does this train go to the airport?

お願ねがいがあるんですがI have a favor to ask.

お願ねがいがあるんですが、今いま、いいですか。

I have a favor to ask. Is now a good time?

〜たいんですがI'd like to…

この荷に物もつを送おくりたいんですが……。

I'd like to send this parcel…

〜を探さがしているんですがI'm looking for…

黒くろいかばんを探さがしているんですが、ありますか。

I'm looking for a black bag. Do you have any?

Not から

English "so" makes から tempting. Then your situation becomes the reason the other person has to help. To a friend that is fine. To a stranger it is pushy; the "because" for a stranger is the softer ので.

Sounds odd: 道みちに迷まよったから、駅えきまでの行いき方かたを教おしえてください。

I'm lost, so tell me how to get to the station.

To a stranger: 道みちに迷まよったんですが、….

With friends: んだけど

ちょっと聞ききたいんだけど、この漢かん字じ、何なんて読よむの？

Can I ask you something? How do you read this kanji?

Close neighbours

んですN5

Without が, it explains and stops: why you are late, why you said no.

電でん車しゃが遅おくれたんです。

The train was delayed.

が・けどN5

The same が. When the second half goes against the first, it is a real "but".

この店みせは安やすいですが、味あじはあまりよくありません。

This restaurant is cheap, but the food isn't very good.

ていただけませんかN4

"Could you please…?" The careful request that often comes after it.

すみません、写しゃ真しんを一いち枚まい撮とっていただけませんか。

Excuse me, could you take a photo?

Check yourself

1You and two friends walk into a restaurant. What do you say to the staff?

Choose an answer to see why.

2You stop a stranger in the street. Which is the polite way to ask?

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

頭あたまが痛いたいんですが、薬くすりはありますか。

I have a headache. Do you have any medicine?

日本にほん語ごがまだ下手へたなんですが、大だい丈じょう夫ぶですか。

My Japanese still isn't good. Is that all right?

careful, or in an email

一ひとつ質しつ問もんがあるのですが、よろしいでしょうか。

I have one question. Would that be all right?