Question
I’m planning to travel around Japan by train. I often hear announcements that I can’t understand. How do I ask a staff member, “Can you speak English?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
英語（えいご）を話（はな）せますか。
Eego o hanasemasu ka?
Can you speak English?
When traveling in Japan, you might encounter situations where you need assistance from staff who may not immediately speak English. Use this practical phrase, “Eego o hanasemasu ka?” to politely inquire if the person can communicate in English.
“Eego” means “English”, and “hanasemasu ka?” is a question phrase meaning “can you speak?” Memorizing this phrase will help you navigate your trip more smoothly when language barriers arise.
