Japanese phrase
___を言ってもいいですか？ ___ o i tte mo i i de su ka
Meaning
May I say ___?
When to use it
Requests permission before saying something. The polite wording can soften a personal comment or a statement that may surprise the listener.
Example dialogue
冗談を言ってもいいですか？ jō dan o i tte mo i i de su ka
May I tell a joke?
はい、どうぞ。 ha i dō zo
Sure, go ahead.